Antimicrobial activity of magainin analogues against anaerobic oral pathogens.
Magainins are a family of potent antimicrobial cationic peptides that possess antimicrobial activity against a wide range of target organisms. In this study, the antimicrobial activity of synthetic magainin-mimetic compounds MSI-751 and MSI-774 was investigated against the periodontal pathogens Porphyromonas gingivalis, Fusobacterium nucleatum, Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans, Eikenella corrodens, Prevotella loescheii and Prevotella intermedia. P. gingivalis was more susceptible to MSI-751 than to MSI-774, whereas the other oral pathogens showed little difference in susceptibility to the two compounds. MSI-751 exhibited a rapid, dose-dependent bactericidal effect on P. gingivalis. Electron microscopy of MSI-751-treated P. gingivalis revealed intact cell wall vesicles devoid of cell contents, suggesting perturbation of the cytoplasmic membrane by this compound, perhaps equivalent to formation of membrane-disruptive ion channels by magainin peptides. These studies demonstrate that synthetic magainin derivatives exhibit antimicrobial activity against oral pathogens by disruption of cell membrane integrity.
Genco
Caroline Attardo
CA
Section of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02118-2393, USA.
Maloy
W Lee
WL
Kari
U Prasad
UP
Motley
Milwood
M
D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001421:Bacteria, Anaerobic / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D010510:Periodontal Diseases / Q000382:microbiology*; D014982:Xenopus laevis
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides