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Activity of airway antimicrobial peptides against cystic fibrosis pathogens

Andrea Cabak1, Gisela Hovold1, Ann-Cathrine Petersson2

  • 1Department of Clinical Sciences Lund, Division of Infection Medicine, Lund University, BMC B14, Sölvegatan 19, S-221 84 Lund, Sweden.

Pathogens and Disease
|August 29, 2020
PubMed

Insights

Airway antimicrobial peptides show varying activity against cystic fibrosis pathogens. Achromobacter xylosoxidans is more resistant than Pseudomonas aeruginosa, potentially due to differences in bacterial surface charge.

Area of Science:

  • Innate immunity
  • Microbiology
  • Host-pathogen interactions

Background:

  • Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are crucial for innate host defense against microbes.
  • Cystic Fibrosis (CF) patients are susceptible to infections by pathogens like Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Achromobacter xylosoxidans, and Stenotrophomonas maltophilia.
  • Understanding AMP activity against these CF pathogens is vital for developing new treatments.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess the activity of key airway antimicrobial peptides against common and emerging CF pathogens.
  • To compare the susceptibility of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Achromobacter xylosoxidans, and Stenotrophomonas maltophilia to AMPs.
  • To investigate the role of bacterial cell surface charge in AMP resistance.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized clinical isolates of P. aeruginosa, A. xylosoxidans, and S. maltophilia from CF patients.
  • Evaluated antimicrobial activity using radial diffusion assays and viable bacterial counts.
  • Assessed bacterial cell surface zeta potential to determine net surface charge.

Main Results:

  • Achromobacter xylosoxidans exhibited the highest resistance to tested antimicrobial peptides.
  • Pseudomonas aeruginosa demonstrated the greatest susceptibility to antimicrobial peptides.
  • A significantly more negative surface zeta potential was observed in P. aeruginosa compared to A. xylosoxidans.

Conclusions:

  • Bacterial surface charge significantly influences susceptibility to antimicrobial peptides.
  • A. xylosoxidans represents a more challenging target for antimicrobial peptides than P. aeruginosa in CF infections.
  • These findings highlight the need for tailored therapeutic strategies against specific CF pathogens.
Keywords:
Pseudomonas aeruginosaachromobacter xylosoxidansantimicrobial peptidescystic fibrosisinnate immunityresistance

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