title: De novo-derived cationic antimicrobial peptide activity in a murine model of Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteraemia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We describe the antimicrobial activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa of the de novo-derived antimicrobial peptide WLBU2 in an animal model of infection.
  
  
  METHODS
  For this study, an intravenous (iv) model of P. aeruginosa infection was established. The minimum lethal murine dose of P. aeruginosa strain PA01 was determined to be 3 x 10(7) cfu when bacteria were administered iv. Increasing concentrations of WLBU2 were instilled either prior to or following PA01 septic exposure.
  
  
  RESULTS
  For the mice given peptide post-bacterial infection, in the 1 mg/kg group, nine of nine animals died because of Pseudomonas sepsis; in the 3 mg/kg group, only one of nine succumbed to infection and in the 4 mg/kg group, all mice were protected (P < 0.0001). Similar results were obtained when WLBU2 was given 1 h prior to Pseudomonas infection.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although the therapeutic window in this model is narrow, the results nonetheless provide encouraging evidence for WLBU2 as a potential prophylactic or treatment of bacterial infection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Genetics and Biochemistry, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA.
authors.forename: Berthony
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Deslouches
authors.forename: Ivan A
authors.initials: IA
authors.lastname: Gonzalez
authors.forename: Dilhari
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: DeAlmeida
authors.forename: Kazi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Islam
authors.forename: Chad
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Steele
authors.forename: Ronald C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Montelaro
authors.forename: Timothy A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Mietzner
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016470:Bacteremia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology; D018450:Disease Progression; D051379:Mice; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D011552:Pseudomonas Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology; D018805:Sepsis / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D013534:Survival
chemical_list: D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides; C520840:WLBU2 peptide