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Shorter Antibacterial Peptide Having High Selectivity for E. coli Membranes and Low Potential for Inducing Resistance

Adriana Barreto-Santamaría1,2, Zuly Jenny Rivera3, Javier Eduardo García4

  • 1Receptor-Ligand Department, Fundación Instituto de Inmunología de Colombia (FIDIC), Carrera 50#26-20, Bogotá 111321, Colombia.

Microorganisms
|June 12, 2020
PubMed

Insights

Researchers developed short synthetic antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) targeting bacterial membranes. A derivative, 35409-1, shows potent activity against multidrug-resistant E. coli with high selectivity and no hemolytic effects.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Biochemistry
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are crucial for combating resistant microbial infections.
  • A Plasmodium falciparum-derived peptide (35409) showed antibacterial and hemolytic activity, indicating a need for improved selectivity.
  • Developing AMPs that target bacterial membranes specifically is a key therapeutic goal.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To create and evaluate short synthetic peptides derived from peptide 35409.
  • To identify novel AMPs with potent antibacterial activity and reduced hemolytic effects.
  • To assess the therapeutic potential of these synthetic peptides against multidrug-resistant bacteria.

Main Methods:

  • Synthesis of sixteen short peptides (<20 residues) based on the 35409 template.
  • Evaluation of antibacterial activity against E. coli strains, including multidrug-resistant isolates.
  • Assessment of hemolytic activity and physicochemical properties, including stability in human sera.

Main Results:

  • Four synthetic peptides demonstrated activity against E. coli without hemolytic effects.
  • Peptide 35409-1 (17 residues) exhibited high selectivity for bacterial cells and stability in human sera.
  • 35409-1 showed potent membranolytic activity, low resistance induction potential, and effectiveness against multidrug-resistant E. coli.

Conclusions:

  • Peptide 35409-1 possesses promising therapeutic characteristics for combating E. coli infections.
  • This peptide serves as a potential alternative to existing antibiotics against multidrug-resistant bacteria.
  • The findings support the design of new AMPs with enhanced bacterial membrane targeting capabilities.
Keywords:
antimicrobial peptideminimum bactericidal concentration (MBC)minimum haemolytic concentration (MHC)minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC)therapeutic index (TI)

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