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Updated: Jun 11, 2025
11:56
Antimicrobial Peptides Produced by Selective Pressure Incorporation of Non-canonical Amino Acids
Published on: May 4, 2018
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Microbiome-derived antimicrobial peptides show therapeutic activity against the critically important priority
P J Alexander1, L B Oyama1, H Olleik2
1Institute for Global Food Security, School of Biological Sciences, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, UK.
NPJ Biofilms and Microbiomes
|September 30, 2024
Summary
New antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), Lynronne-1, -2, and -3, show potent activity against the critical priority pathogen Acinetobacter baumannii. These AMPs exhibit anti-biofilm properties and low toxicity, offering a promising therapeutic avenue.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Biochemistry
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Acinetobacter baumannii is a critical priority pathogen identified by the World Health Organisation.
- Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) Lynronne-1, -2, and -3 have previously shown efficacy against Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the structure and efficacy of Lynronne-1, -2, and -3 AMPs against clinical strains of Acinetobacter baumannii.
- To investigate the potential therapeutic applications of these AMPs against multidrug-resistant bacteria.
Main Methods:
- Circular dichroism was used to determine the secondary structures of the Lynronne AMPs.
- Antimicrobial activity was evaluated against clinical A. baumannii strains using broth microdilution to determine Minimum Inhibitory Concentrations (MICs).
- Anti-biofilm activity, synergistic effects with existing antibiotics, cytotoxicity, and membrane-destabilising action were assessed.
Main Results:
- All Lynronne AMPs exhibited alpha-helical structures and demonstrated antimicrobial activity against all tested A. baumannii strains, with MICs ranging from 2-128 μg/ml.
- The AMPs displayed significant anti-biofilm activity and showed additive or synergistic effects when combined with antibiotics like amoxicillin, erythromycin, and gentamicin.
- Lynronne-1 and -3 showed greater membrane-destabilising effects on A. baumannii compared to Lynronne-2, with minimal toxicity observed in mammalian cell lines and Galleria mellonella.
Conclusions:
- Lynronne-1, -2, and -3 AMPs are effective against Acinetobacter baumannii, possessing antimicrobial and anti-biofilm properties.
- These AMPs demonstrate a favorable safety profile with low toxicity, suggesting their potential as therapeutic agents.
- The study establishes the therapeutic potential of Lynronne AMPs against Acinetobacter baumannii, a significant development in combating antibiotic resistance.
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