OBJECTIVES: The cathelicidin-derived peptide SMAP-29 exerts rapid and broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity against aerobic bacteria and fungi. In this study, the effects of the peptide against the Bacteroides fragilis group, including antibiotic-resistant isolates, Clostridium perfringens and Clostridium difficile reference and clinical isolates, were investigated. METHODS: The microbicidal activity of SMAP-29 against eight reference and 100 clinical anaerobic strains from a national collection was assessed using a microdilution susceptibility assay, and by determining the killing kinetics on selected strains. The killing mechanism was investigated further by means of a two-colour fluorescent permeabilization assay, and by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). RESULTS: The Bacteroides fragilis group, Clostridium reference strains and most clinical isolates were inhibited in vitro by 1-2 microM (3.2-6.4 mg/L) SMAP-29, and killed by 1.5- to 2-fold higher peptide concentrations. The anaerobic bacterial cells were 90%-100% permeabilized within 2 h of exposure to bactericidal concentrations of the peptide. The SEM images of bacteria exposed to SMAP-29 provide morphological evidence that the envelope is an important target of the bactericidal activity of this peptide. These results are consistent with earlier studies indicating that SMAP-29 kills aerobic bacteria with a membranolytic mechanism, and suggest that both aerobic and anaerobic bacteria share surface features that are targeted by this peptide. CONCLUSIONS: These studies demonstrate that the spectrum of antibacterial activity of SMAP-29 includes the B. fragilis group and Clostridium species, and encourage further investigations of the therapeutic potential of this peptide.
OBJECTIVES: The cathelicidin-derived peptide SMAP-29 exerts rapid and broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity against aerobic bacteria and fungi. In this study, the effects of the peptide against the Bacteroides fragilis group, including antibiotic-resistant isolates, Clostridium perfringens and Clostridium difficile reference and clinical isolates, were investigated. METHODS: The microbicidal activity of SMAP-29 against eight reference and 100 clinical anaerobic strains from a national collection was assessed using a microdilution susceptibility assay, and by determining the killing kinetics on selected strains. The killing mechanism was investigated further by means of a two-colour fluorescent permeabilization assay, and by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). RESULTS: The Bacteroides fragilis group, Clostridium reference strains and most clinical isolates were inhibited in vitro by 1-2 microM (3.2-6.4 mg/L) SMAP-29, and killed by 1.5- to 2-fold higher peptide concentrations. The anaerobic bacterial cells were 90%-100% permeabilized within 2 h of exposure to bactericidal concentrations of the peptide. The SEM images of bacteria exposed to SMAP-29 provide morphological evidence that the envelope is an important target of the bactericidal activity of this peptide. These results are consistent with earlier studies indicating that SMAP-29 kills aerobic bacteria with a membranolytic mechanism, and suggest that both aerobic and anaerobic bacteria share surface features that are targeted by this peptide. CONCLUSIONS: These studies demonstrate that the spectrum of antibacterial activity of SMAP-29 includes the B. fragilis group and Clostridium species, and encourage further investigations of the therapeutic potential of this peptide.
Authors: Maggie Chan; Heather J L Brooks; Stephen C Moratti; Lyall R Hanton; Jaydee D Cabral Journal: Int J Mol Sci Date: 2015-06-16 Impact factor: 5.923
Authors: Bonita Durnaś; Ewelina Piktel; Marzena Wątek; Tomasz Wollny; Stanisław Góźdź; Jolanta Smok-Kalwat; Katarzyna Niemirowicz; Paul B Savage; Robert Bucki Journal: BMC Microbiol Date: 2017-07-26 Impact factor: 3.605
Authors: Maaike R Scheenstra; Roel M van Harten; Edwin J A Veldhuizen; Henk P Haagsman; Maarten Coorens Journal: Front Immunol Date: 2020-06-09 Impact factor: 7.561