Potent cationic antimicrobial peptides against Mycobacterium tuberculosis in vitro

Silva, Sara; Santos-Silva, Anabela; da Costa, José Manuel Correia; Vale, Nuno

http://hdl.handle.net/10400.18/6603

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Authors

Silva, Sara

Santos-Silva, Anabela

da Costa, José Manuel Correia

Vale, Nuno

Abstract(s)

Background: Tuberculosis (TB) is known to be one of the 10 causes of global death by infectious agents. The increasing numbers of multiple antibiotic resistance (MDR-TB) and cases of extensive resistance to antibiotics (XDR-TB) have led to the development of new and effective TB therapy. Cationic antimicrobial peptides (CAMPs) have emerged in the research as a safe and effective treatment against a variable range of bacterial and fungi pathogens, including Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tuberculosis). Method: This study developed a new CAMP coupled with cinnamic acid derivatives, and studied the antimicrobial activity against clinical isolates of M. tuberculosis (H37Rv) and MDR-TB. Results: All modified CAMPs showed enhanced activity against both M. tuberculosis strains and were capable of disrupting heavy clumping of mycobacteria in culture. In addition, all modified CAMPs were able to substantially inhibit the intracellular growth of both strains at low concentrations. Conclusions: The characteristic proprieties of cinnamic acid+CAMP(n) successfully inhibited the growth of both clinical isolates M. tuberculosis and MDR-TB in vitro and have, for now, promising use as a drug adjuvant due to their effect on mycobacteria growth.

Highlights: The conjugation of cationic peptides with cinnamic acid derivates enhanced antimicrobial activity; All modified cationic antimicrobial peptides (CAMPs) presented an increased antimicrobial activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis; Microscopy visualisation demonstrated that modified CAMPs were able to inhibit cellular growth; These modified CAMPs presented antimicrobial activity against resistant strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

Keywords

Tuberculosis Antimicrobial Activity Cationic Antimicrobial Peptides (CAMP) Cinnamic Acid Mycobacterium Tuberculosis Resistant Strain Infecções Respiratórias Resistência aos Antimicrobianos