title: Mode of action of the new antibiotic for Gram-positive pathogens daptomycin: comparison with cationic antimicrobial peptides and lipopeptides.
abstract: With the steady rise in the number of antibiotic-resistant Gram-positive pathogens, it has become increasingly important to find new antibacterial agents which are highly active and have novel and diversified mechanisms of action. Two classes will be discussed here: the cationic antimicrobial peptides, which are amphiphilic in nature, targeting membranes and increasing their permeability; and lipopeptides, which consist of linear or cyclic peptides with an N-terminus that is acylated with a fatty acid side chain. One member of the cyclic lipopeptide family, the anionic molecule daptomycin, has been extensively studied and is the major focus of this review. Models will be presented on its mode of action and comparisons will be made to the known modes of action of cationic antimicrobial peptides and other lipopeptides.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, University of British Columbia, 2036 Main Mall, Vancouver, BC, Canada V6T 1Z1. sstraus@chem.ubc.ca <sstraus@chem.ubc.ca>
authors.forename: Suzana K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Straus
authors.forename: Robert E W
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Hancock
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002412:Cations; D017576:Daptomycin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006094:Gram-Positive Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects*; D010455:Peptides / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D002412:Cations; D010455:Peptides; D017576:Daptomycin