Peptide-like substances as antimicrobial barriers to Corynebacterium sp. adhesion to silicone catheters.
OBJECTIVE
To show medical application of antimicrobial peptides such as Pep5 and epidermin in inhibiting adhesion of Corynebacterium spp. to silicone catheters.


RESULTS
The inhibitory activity of crude preparations of Pep5 and epidermin was tested on Corynebacterium spp. isolated from catheter-related infections. The addition of these substances at 640 AU ml(-1) to a cell suspension of Corynebacterium sp. 633544 resulted in a decrease of 3 log cycles in the number of viable cells over a period of 12 h. When Pep5 and epidermin were added to in vitro catheter colonization experiments, there was a decrease of 1 log unit (P < 0.01) in the cell number of Corynebacterium spp. adhered to silicone catheters. Scanning electron microscopy revealed that antimicrobial-treated catheters presented zones with absence of adhered cells, and some parts of the catheter presented aggregates suggesting damaged cells.


CONCLUSIONS
The crude preparations of Pep5 and epidermin were able to inhibit Corynebacterium sp. 633544 isolated from catheter-related infection. The capability of Pep5 and epidermin to inhibit catheter colonization may indicate their usefulness as a barrier to block or to reduce the bacteremia by Corynebacterium spp.


CONCLUSIONS
Peptide-like antimicrobial substances used to reduce bacterial attachment to medical devices may represent a novel strategy to control catheter-related infections.
Fontana
M B C
MB
Laboratório de Bioquímica e Microbiologia Aplicada, Departamento de Ciência de Alimentos, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.
Bastos
M C F
MC
Brandelli
A
A
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001422:Bacterial Adhesion / Q000187:drug effects*; D001430:Bacteriocins / Q000494:pharmacology; D002408:Catheters, Indwelling / Q000382:microbiology*; D003352:Corynebacterium / Q000145:classification / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology*; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D010455:Peptides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012828:Silicones / Q000737:chemistry; D013997:Time Factors
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D001430:Bacteriocins; D010455:Peptides; D012828:Silicones; C050558:epidermin