title: ZL-2, a cathelicidin-derived antimicrobial peptide, has a broad antimicrobial activity against gram-positive bacteria and gram-negative bacteria in vitro and in vivo.
abstract: Alloferons are a group of naturally occurring peptides primarily isolated from insects that are capable of stimulating mouse and human NK cell cytotoxicity toward cancer cells. In this study, we found that a modified antibacterial peptide had a broad range of action against both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. A time-course experiment showed that CFU counts rapidly decreased after ZL-2 treatment, with the bacteria nearly eliminated within 4 h. We also examined the synergy between the peptide and antibiotics. The peptide ZL-2 resulted in a significant synergistic improvement in the potencies of ampicillin, erythromycin and ceftazidime against methicillin-resistant bacteria. In addition, ZL-2 had no detectable cytotoxicity in mouse spleen cells or a mouse animal model. In the mouse model by i.p. inoculation with Escherichia coli, timely treatment of i.p. injection with ZL-2 resulted in 100-fold reduction in bacteria load in blood as well as 80% protection from death in the inoculated animals. In conclusion, we successfully identified a modified peptide with maximal bactericidal activity. This study also provides a potential therapeutic for the treatment of E. coli septicemia by increasing the activity of antimicrobials.
authors: Zhangjiagang First People's Hospital, Zhangjiagang, Suzhou, 215600, Jiangsu, China.
authors: Jiancheng
authors: J
authors: Tu
authors: Zhangjiagang First People's Hospital, Zhangjiagang, Suzhou, 215600, Jiangsu, China.
authors: Geping
authors: G
authors: Wu
authors: Zhangjiagang First People's Hospital, Zhangjiagang, Suzhou, 215600, Jiangsu, China.
authors: Yun
authors: Y
authors: Zuo
authors: Institute of Frontier Medical Science, Jilin University, Changchun, 130033, Jilin, China.
authors: Lei
authors: L
authors: Zhao
authors: Zhangjiagang First People's Hospital, Zhangjiagang, Suzhou, 215600, Jiangsu, China. wang_shushengzjg@163.com.
authors: Shusheng
authors: S
authors: Wang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000633:toxicity; D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides; D016470:Bacteremia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology; D054804:Cathelicidins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004357:Drug Synergism; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004927:Escherichia coli Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology; D006090:Gram-Negative Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects; D006094:Gram-Positive Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D010455:Peptides / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000633:toxicity; D013154:Spleen / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides; D054804:Cathelicidins; D010455:Peptides; C000609189:ZL-2 compound
keywords: Alloferon-1; Antimicrobial activity; Antimicrobial peptides; Bacteremia; ZL-2