Title:Bactericidal Activity of a Cationic Peptide on Neisseria meningitidis
Volume: 19
Issue: 4
Author(s): Salvatore G. De-Simone*, Andre L.A. Souza, Jorge L.S. Pina, Ivan N. Junior, Maria C. Lourenço and David W. Provance
Affiliation:
- FIOCRUZ, Center for Technological Development in Health (CDTS)/ National Institute of Science and Technology for Innovation in Neglected Diseases (INCT-IDN), Rio de Janeiro, RJ,Brazil
Keywords:
Neisseria meningitidis, antimicrobial peptide, membrane lysis, natural immunity, cecropin A, poly-leu, cationic
peptides.
Abstract: Background: The increasing prevalence of antibiotic resistant bacteria has raised an
urgent need for substitute remedies. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are considered promising
candidates to address infections by multidrug-resistant bacteria through new mechanisms of action
that require a careful evaluation of their performance.
Objective: Identification of effective AMPs against Neisseria meningitidis, which represents a
pathogen of great public health importance worldwide that is intrinsically resistant to some AMPs,
such as polymyxin B.
Methods: A cationic 11-residue peptide (KLKLLLLLKLK), referred to as poly-Leu, was synthesized
and its antimeningococcal activity was compared to cecropin A and poly-P
(KLKPPPPPKLK) through a variety of assays. Flow cytometry was used to measure propidium
iodide uptake by N. meningitidis serotype B as an indicator of the effectiveness of each peptide
when added to cultures at different concentrations.
Results: The addition of the poly-Leu peptide led to a 90.3% uptake of the dye with an EC50 value
of 7.9 µg mL-1. In contrast, uptake was <10% in cells grown in the absence of peptides or with an
identical concentration of cecropin and poly-Pro peptides. Electron micrographs indicated that the
integrity of the cellular wall and internal membrane was impacted in relation to peptide concentrations,
which was confirmed by the detection of released alkaline phosphatase from the periplasmic
space due to disruption of the external membrane.
Conclusion: Poly-Leu peptide demonstrated definitive antimicrobial activity against N. meningitidis.
