title: Antimicrobial peptide protonectin disturbs the membrane integrity and induces ROS production in yeast cells.
abstract: Candidiasis is often observed in immunocompromised patients and is the 4th most common cause of bloodstream infections. However, antifungals are limited, so novel antifungal agents are urgently needed. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are considered as potential alternatives of conventional antibiotics. In the present study, antimicrobial peptide protonectin was chemically synthesized and its antifungal activity and mode of action were studied. Our results showed that protonectin has potent antifungal activity and fungicidal activity against the tested fungi cells. Its action mode involved the disruption of the membrane integrity and the inducing of the production of cellular ROS. Furthermore, protonectin could inhibit the formation of biofilm and kill the adherent fungi cells. In conclusion, with the increase of fungal infection, protonectin may offer a new strategy and be considered as a potential therapeutic agent against fungal disease.
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, School of Basic Medical Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, 222 Tian Shui South Road, Lanzhou 730000, PR China.
authors.forename: Kairong
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, School of Basic Medical Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, 222 Tian Shui South Road, Lanzhou 730000, PR China.
authors.forename: Wen
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Dang
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, School of Basic Medical Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, 222 Tian Shui South Road, Lanzhou 730000, PR China.
authors.forename: Junqiu
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Xie
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, School of Basic Medical Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, 222 Tian Shui South Road, Lanzhou 730000, PR China.
authors.forename: Ranran
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, School of Basic Medical Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, 222 Tian Shui South Road, Lanzhou 730000, PR China.
authors.forename: Mengyang
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, School of Basic Medical Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, 222 Tian Shui South Road, Lanzhou 730000, PR China.
authors.forename: Fengjing
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Jia
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, School of Basic Medical Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, 222 Tian Shui South Road, Lanzhou 730000, PR China.
authors.forename: Yanyan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, School of Basic Medical Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, 222 Tian Shui South Road, Lanzhou 730000, PR China.
authors.forename: Xiaoping
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: An
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, School of Basic Medical Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, 222 Tian Shui South Road, Lanzhou 730000, PR China.
authors.forename: Shuai
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Qiu
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, School of Basic Medical Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, 222 Tian Shui South Road, Lanzhou 730000, PR China.
authors.forename: Xiaoyuan
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, School of Basic Medical Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, 222 Tian Shui South Road, Lanzhou 730000, PR China.
authors.forename: Zelin
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, School of Basic Medical Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, 222 Tian Shui South Road, Lanzhou 730000, PR China. Electronic address: wangkr@lzu.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Wenjin
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Yan
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, School of Basic Medical Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, 222 Tian Shui South Road, Lanzhou 730000, PR China. Electronic address: wangrui@lzu.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Rui
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000494:pharmacology; D002175:Candida / Q000145:classification* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D002463:Cell Membrane Permeability / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D008560:Membrane Fluidity / Q000187:drug effects*; D009842:Oligopeptides / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism*; D014862:Wasp Venoms / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000935:Antifungal Agents; D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides; D009842:Oligopeptides; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D014862:Wasp Venoms; C554058:protonectin (1-6), Agelaia pallipes pallipes
keywords: Antifungal; Biofilm formation; Protonectin; ROS production