Synergistic effect and antibiofilm activity between the antimicrobial peptide coprisin and conventional antibiotics against opportunistic bacteria.
Coprisin is a 43-mer defensin-like peptide from the dung beetle, Copris tripartitus. In this study, we tested its minimum inhibitory concentration and performed combination assays to confirm the antibacterial susceptibility of coprisin and synergistic effects with antibiotics. The synergistic effects were evaluated by testing the effects of coprisin in combination with ampicillin, vancomycin, and chloramphenicol. The results showed that coprisin possessed antibacterial properties and had synergistic activities with the antibiotics. To understand the synergistic mechanism(s), we conducted hydroxyl radical assays. Coprisin alone and in combination with antibiotics generated hydroxyl radicals, which are highly reactive oxygen forms and the major property of bactericidal agents. Furthermore, the antibiofilm effect of coprisin alone and in combination with antibiotics was investigated. Biofilm formation is the source of many relentless and chronic bacterial infections. The results indicated that coprisin alone and in combination with antibiotics also had antibiofilm activity. Therefore, we conclude that coprisin has the potential to be used as a combinatorial therapeutic agent for the treatment of infectious diseases caused by bacteria.
School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, College of Natural Sciences, Kyungpook National University, Buk-gu, Daegu, Republic of Korea.
In-sok
IS
Hwang
Jae-Sam
JS
Hwang
Ji Hong
JH
Hwang
Hyemin
H
Choi
Eunjung
E
Lee
Yangmee
Y
Kim
Dong Gun
DG
Lee
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001419:Bacteria / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects*; D018407:Bacterial Physiological Phenomena; D018441:Biofilms / Q000187:drug effects*; D004357:Drug Synergism; D017665:Hydroxyl Radical / Q000032:analysis; D019476:Insect Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D019476:Insect Proteins; C570442:coprisin peptide, Copris tripartitus; D017665:Hydroxyl Radical