Di-K19Hc, an antimicrobial peptide as new ototopical agent for treatment of otitis media.
CONCLUSIONS
Di-K19Hc is a promising new ototopical antibiotic for treatment of middle ear infections associated with antibiotic-resistant bacteria.


OBJECTIVE
Di-K19Hc was previously shown to exert profound antimicrobial activity against a variety of antibiotic-resistant bacteria and fungi. In this study, we evaluated the potential use of di-K19Hc as a topical agent for the treatment of otitis media (OM) caused by a variety of microbial pathogens including bacteria resistant to conventional antibiotics.


METHODS
Antimicrobial activity of di-K19Hc was measured by colony count assay. Hearing threshold was determined by measurement of auditory brainstem response in mice treated with di-K19Hc. Mice treated with gentamicin were used as a control.


RESULTS
Di-K19Hc showed much stronger antimicrobial activity against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa associated with human OM than did ofloxacin. Also, it was shown that the peptide exhibited substantial dose-dependent antimicrobial activity against microbes from middle ear fluid of patients with OM. Topically applied di-K19Hc caused neither a decrease of hearing level nor loss of hair cells.
Lee
Young Shin
YS
Department of Biotechnology, Hoseo University, Asan, Chungnam-Do, Korea.
Kim
Young-Jin
YJ
Choi
Seung Hyo
SH
Shin
Kyoung Hwa
KH
Jang
Woong Sik
WS
Lee
In Hee
IH
Chung
Jong Woo
JW
D000287:Administration, Topical; D000818:Animals; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004353:Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; D006198:Hair Cells, Auditory / Q000187:drug effects; D006309:Hearing / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D055624:Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects*; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D010033:Otitis Media / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011552:Pseudomonas Infections / Q000188:drug therapy; D011550:Pseudomonas aeruginosa / Q000187:drug effects*; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000188:drug therapy; D018675:Toxicity Tests
D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides; C553095:di-K19Hc peptide