title: Investigation of morphological changes to Staphylococcus aureus induced by ovine-derived antimicrobial peptides using TEM and AFM.
abstract: The effect of two ovine-derived peptides on the morphology of Staphylococcus aureus NCTC 4163 cells were investigated using transmission electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy. Both techniques showed that SMAP29, an alpha-helical peptide, induced cell lysis, whereas OaBac5mini, a proline/arginine-rich peptide, caused no observable morphological changes. This is consistent with previous experimental work which indicated that SMAP29 caused cell death and induced cell lysis, whereas OaBac5mini acted by interacting with the inner cellular contents.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Technology and Engineering, Massey University, Private Bag 11-222, Palmerston North, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Rachel Claire
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Anderson
authors.forename: Richard G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Haverkamp
authors.forename: Pak-Lam
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Yu
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D001798:Blood Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D054804:Cathelicidins; D018625:Microscopy, Atomic Force; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000648:ultrastructure*
chemical_list: D001798:Blood Proteins; D054804:Cathelicidins; C403305:SMAP29 protein, Ovis aries