Additivity and synergy between an antimicrobial peptide and inhibitory ions.
Recently we described the pH dependence of activity for a family of cationic antimicrobial peptides (CAMPs) selected from a combinatorial library. In the current work we report on the effects of toxic ions (Cu(2+), Zn(2+), and F(-)) and the chelator EDTA on the activity profiles of one member of this family, the 12-residue cationic antimicrobial peptide *ARVA, against a panel of microorganisms. All four ions exhibited either synergy or additivity with *ARVA for all organisms tested with the exception of *ARVA combined with NaF against Candida albicans which exhibited indifference. CuCl2 and ZnCl2 exhibited synergy with *ARVA against both the Gram negative Pseudomonas aeruginosa and the Gram positive Staphylococcus aureus as well as strong additivity against Escherichia coli at submillimolar concentrations. The chelator EDTA was synergistic with *ARVA against the two Gram negative organisms but showed only simple additivity with S. aureus and C. albicans despite their much lower MICs with EDTA. This effect may be related to the known differences in the divalent ion binding properties of the Gram negative LPS layer as compared to the peptidoglycan layer of the Gram positive organism. Unlike the other ions, NaF showed only additivity or indifference when combined with *ARVA and required much higher concentrations for activity. The yeast C. albicans did not show synergy or strong additivity with any of the inhibitory compounds tested. The effects of toxic ions and chelators observed here have important implications for applications using CAMPs and for the design of novel formulations involving CAMPs. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Interfacially Active Peptides and Proteins. Guest Editors: William C. Wimley and Kalina Hristova.
Loyola University New Orleans, Department of Chemistry, 6363 St. Charles Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70118, USA. Electronic address: walken@loyno.edu.
William F
WF
Walkenhorst
Loyola University New Orleans, Department of Chemistry, 6363 St. Charles Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70118, USA.
Justine N
JN
Sundrud
Loyola University New Orleans, Department of Chemistry, 6363 St. Charles Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70118, USA.
Joshua M
JM
Laviolette
D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology; D002614:Chelating Agents / Q000737:chemistry; D003300:Copper / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000633:toxicity; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007477:Ions / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000633:toxicity; D007501:Iron / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000633:toxicity; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D011550:Pseudomonas aeruginosa / Q000187:drug effects; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects; D015032:Zinc / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000633:toxicity
D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides; D002614:Chelating Agents; D007477:Ions; D003300:Copper; D007501:Iron; D015032:Zinc
Antimicrobial peptides; Chelators; EDTA; Synergy; Topical formulations; Toxic ions