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Published on: December 23, 2022
Characteristics of antimicrobial peptide OaBac5mini and its bactericidal mechanism against Escherichia coli
Shanshan Shen1,2, Yawei Sun2, Fei Ren2
1College of Veterinary Medicine, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu, Shanxi, China.
Introduction:
Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) play an important role in defending against the attack of pathogenic microorganisms. Among them, the proline-rich antibacterial peptides (PrAMPs) have been attracting close attention due to their simple structure, strong antibacterial activity, and low cell toxicity. OaBac5mini is an active fragment of the sheep-derived OaBac5 belonging to the PrAMPs family.
Methods:
In this study, the antibacterial activity of OaBac5mini was investigated by testing the MICs against different stains of E. coli and S. aureus as well as the time-kill curve. The bactericidal mechanism was explored by determining the effect of OaBac5mini on the cell membrane. The stability and biosafety were also evaluated.
Results:
The susceptibility test demonstrated that OaBac5mini showed potent antibacterial activity against the multidrug-resistant (MDR) E. coli isolates. It is noticeable that the absence of inner membrane protein SbmA in E. coli ATCC 25922 caused the MIC of OaBac5mini to increase 4-fold, implying OaBac5mini can enter into the cytoplasm via SbmA and plays its antibacterial activity. Moreover, the antibacterial activity of OaBac5mini against E. coli ATCC 25922 was not remarkably affected by the serum salts except for CaCl2 at a physiological concentration, pH, temperature, repeated freeze-thawing and proteases (trypsin < 20 μg/mL, pepsin or proteinase K). Time-kill curve analysis showed OaBac5mini at the concentration of 200 μg/mL (8 × MICs) could effectively kill E. coli ATCC 25922 after co-incubation for 12 h. In addition, OaBac5mini was not hemolytic against rabbit red blood cells and also was not cytotoxic to porcine small intestinal epithelial cells (IPEC-J2). Bioinformatic analysis indicated that OaBac5mini is a linear peptide with 8 net positive charges. Furthermore, OaBac5mini significantly increased the outer membrane permeability and impaired the inner membrane integrity and ultrastructure of E. coli ATCC25922.
Conclusion:
OaBac5mini is a stable and potent PrAMP that kills E. coli by two different modes of action - inhibiting intracellular target(s) and damaging cell membrane.
Insights
OaBac5mini, a proline-rich antibacterial peptide (PrAMP), effectively kills multidrug-resistant E. coli by damaging cell membranes and inhibiting intracellular targets. This stable peptide shows potent activity and low toxicity, offering a promising antimicrobial agent.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Microbiology
- Peptide Science
Background:
- Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are crucial for innate immunity against pathogens.
- Proline-rich antibacterial peptides (PrAMPs) are notable for their efficacy and low toxicity.
- OaBac5mini, a sheep-derived PrAMP fragment, warrants investigation for its antimicrobial properties.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the antibacterial activity of OaBac5mini against E. coli and S. aureus.
- To elucidate the bactericidal mechanism and cellular targets of OaBac5mini.
- To assess the stability and biosafety of OaBac5mini.
Main Methods:
- Minimum Inhibitory Concentrations (MICs) and time-kill curves were determined.
- Bactericidal mechanisms were explored through cell membrane integrity assays.
- Stability against serum salts, pH, temperature, and proteases was evaluated.
- Hemolytic and cytotoxic effects were assessed using red blood cells and IPEC-J2 cells.
Main Results:
- OaBac5mini demonstrated potent activity against multidrug-resistant E. coli, with uptake via the SbmA transporter identified.
- The peptide exhibited stability under various physiological conditions and resistance to proteases.
- OaBac5mini effectively killed E. coli within 12 hours and increased outer membrane permeability.
- No significant hemolytic or cytotoxic effects were observed.
Conclusions:
- OaBac5mini is a stable and potent PrAMP with dual modes of action against E. coli.
- It effectively kills bacteria by damaging the cell membrane and inhibiting intracellular targets.
- OaBac5mini represents a promising candidate for antimicrobial therapies.
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