Antibacterial and anti-biofilm activity, and mechanism of action of pleurocidin against drug resistant Staphylococcus aureus.

Abstract

The abuse of antibiotics has resulted in the emergence of multi-drug-resistant bacteria. Staphylococcus aureus is a frequent cause of infections, and antibiotic-resistant S. aureus has become a serious problem. Antimicrobial peptides play an important role in innate immunity and are attracting increasing attention as alternative antibiotics. In a previous study, pleurocidin, derived from winter flounder, was identified as a 25-amino acid antimicrobial peptide with no cytotoxicity toward mammalian cells and low hemolytic activity. In the present study, pleurocidin was observed to exhibit antimicrobial activity against gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria, especially against drug resistant S. aureus. Pleurocidin retained its antibacterial activity against drug resistant S. aureus in the presence of a physiological salt concentration. Membrane depolarization assays and propidium iodide uptake indicated that pleurocidin kills bacteria by damaging the integrity of the bacterial membrane. DNA binding assays revealed that pleurocidin binds to DNA. Thus, pleurocidin targets not only the bacterial membrane, but also their DNA. S. aureus biofilms have become a serious problem because of increased resistance to antibiotics. Therefore, we investigated the effect of pleurocidin on biofilm inhibition and eradication using crystal violet staining and microscopic observation. Pleurocidin inhibited and eradicated biofilms at low concentrations. Taken together, the results suggested that pleurocidin is a promising candidate therapeutic agent to treat drug-resistant bacteria and biofilm-related infections.

• Authors: Su Jin Ko, Na Hee Kang, Min Kyung Kim, Jonggwan Park, Eunji Park, Ga Hyeon Park, Tae Woo Kang, Da Eun Na, Jin Bae Park, Yae Eun Yi, Seung Hun Jeon, Yoonkyung Park
• Journal: Microbial pathogenesis (Microb Pathog) Vol. 127 Pg. 70-78 (Feb 2019) ISSN: 1096-1208 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 30508627 (Publication Type: Journal Article)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2018. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Chemical References

• Anti-Bacterial Agents
• Fish Proteins
• pleurocidin
• DNA
• Gentian Violet

Topics

• Anti-Bacterial Agents (pharmacology)
• Biofilms (drug effects, growth & development)
• Cell Membrane (drug effects, physiology)
• DNA (metabolism)
• Fish Proteins (pharmacology)
• Gentian Violet (analysis)
• Membrane Potentials (drug effects)
• Microbial Viability (drug effects)
• Microscopy
• Protein Binding
• Staining and Labeling
• Staphylococcus aureus (drug effects, physiology)