title: Comparing selection on S. aureus between antimicrobial peptides and common antibiotics.
abstract: With a diminishing number of effective antibiotics, there has been interest in developing antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) as drugs. However, any new drug faces potential bacterial resistance evolution. Here, we experimentally compare resistance evolution in Staphylococcus aureus selected by three AMPs (from mammals, amphibians and insects), a combination of two AMPs, and two antibiotics: the powerful last-resort vancomycin and the classic streptomycin. We find that resistance evolves readily against single AMPs and against streptomycin, with no detectable fitness cost. However the response to selection from our combination of AMPs led to extinction, in a fashion qualitatively similar to vancomycin. This is consistent with the hypothesis that simultaneous release of multiple AMPs during immune responses is a factor which constrains evolution of AMP resistant pathogens.
authors.affiliation: Animal & Plant Sciences, University of Sheffield, Western Bank, Sheffield, United Kingdom ; Department of Entomology, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, United States of America.
authors.forename: Adam J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Dobson
authors.forename: Joanne
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Purves
authors.forename: Wojciech
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Kamysz
authors.forename: Jens
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rolff
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D024881:Drug Resistance, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D020128:Inhibitory Concentration 50; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000382:microbiology; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics; D013997:Time Factors; D014640:Vancomycin / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides; D014640:Vancomycin