1. Antifungal efficacy of scorpion derived peptide K1K8 against Candida albicans in vitro and in vivo.
- Author
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Shui, Yingbin, Wang, Huayi, Chen, Yunqi, Hao, Yixuan, Li, Shasha, Zhang, Wenlu, Deng, Bo, Li, Wanwu, Wu, Pengfei, and Li, Zhongjie
- Subjects
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CANDIDA albicans , *PEPTIDES , *SKIN infections , *NUCLEAR membranes , *SCORPIONS , *ANTIFUNGAL agents - Abstract
As an alternative class of antimicrobial agents, antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) have gained significant attention. In this study, K1K8, a scorpion AMP derivative, showed effective activity against Candida albicans including clinically resistant strains. K1K8 killed C. albicans cells mainly by damaging the cell membrane and inducing necrosis via an ROS-related pathway. K1K8 could also interact with DNA after damaging the nuclear envelope. Moreover, K1K8 inhibited hyphal development and biofilm formation of C. albicans in a dose-dependent manner. In the mouse skin infection model, K1K8 significantly decreased the counts of C. albicans cells in the infection area. Overall, K1K8 is a potential anti-infective agent against skin infections caused by C. albicans. [Display omitted] • K1K8 showed effective activity against Candida albicans in vitro. • K1K8 damaged the cell membrane, induced necrosis, and interacted with DNA. • K1K8 inhibited hyphal development and biofilm formation of C. albicans. • K1K8 effectively inhibited C. albicans in a mouse skin infection model. • K1K8 is a potential anti-infective agent against skin infections caused by C. albicans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2024
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