1. Synergistic combinations of antimicrobial peptides against biofilms of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) on polystyrene and medical devices
- Author
-
Gianluca Morroni, Eleonora Ciandrini, Raffaella Campana, Lucia Brescini, Wojciech Kamysz, Elżbieta Kamysz, Oscar Cirioni, and Wally Baffone
- Subjects
Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus ,Pore Forming Cytotoxic Proteins ,0301 basic medicine ,Microbiology (medical) ,Staphylococcus aureus ,Medical device ,030106 microbiology ,Immunology ,Antimicrobial peptides ,MRSA ,medicine.disease_cause ,Microbiology ,03 medical and health sciences ,0302 clinical medicine ,medicine ,Central Venous Catheters ,Immunology and Allergy ,030212 general & internal medicine ,biology ,Chemistry ,Biofilm ,Synergistic activity ,biochemical phenomena, metabolism, and nutrition ,biology.organism_classification ,Antimicrobial ,Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus ,QR1-502 ,Temporin ,Anti-Bacterial Agents ,Biofilms ,Equipment Contamination ,Polystyrenes ,Antimicrobial peptide ,Bacteria - Abstract
Objectives Antimicrobial research is being focused to look for more effective therapeutics against antibiotic-resistant infections such as those caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). In this regard, antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) appear to be a promising solution. The aim of the present study was to investigate the potential activity of temporin A, citropin 1.1, CA(1–7)M(2–9)NH2 and Pal-KGK-NH2 in synergistic activity against MRSA biofilms developed on polystyrene surface (PSS) and central venous catheter (CVC). Methods The study was subdivided into distinct phases to assess the ability of AMPs to inhibit biofilm formation, to identify possible synergy between AMPs, and to eradicate preformed biofilms on PSS and CVC using AMPs alone or in combination. Results Activity of the AMPs was particularly evident in the inhibition of biofilm formation on PSS and CVC, whilst the eradication of preformed biofilms was more difficult and was reached only after 24 h of contact. The synergistic activity of AMP combinations, selected by their fractional inhibitory concentration index (FICI), led to an improvement in the performance of all of the molecules in the removal of different biofilms. Conclusion Overall, AMPs could represent the next generation of antimicrobial agents for a prophylactic or therapeutic tool to control biofilms of antibiotic-resistant bacteria and/or biofilm-associated infections on different medical devices.
- Published
- 2020