title: K1K8: an Hp1404-derived antibacterial peptide.
abstract: As an alternative class of antimicrobial agents used to overcome drug-resistant infections, antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) have recently gained significant attention. In this study, we designed an improved antimicrobial peptide, K1K8, based on the molecular template of Hp1404. Compared to the wild-type Hp1404, K1K8 showed an improved antibacterial spectrum in vitro, a lower hemolytic activity, and an enhanced serum stability. Importantly, K1K8 also decreased methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) bacterial counts in the wounded region in a mouse skin infection model. Interestingly, K1K8 did not induce bacterial resistance or non-specific immune response reactions. Moreover, the peptide killed bacterial cells mainly by disrupting the bacterial membrane. In summary, K1K8 has the potential to be used as an improved anti-infection agent for topical use, which opens an avenue that potential anti-infection drugs may be designed and developed from the molecular templates of AMPs.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Virology, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430072, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Zhongjie
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Virology, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430072, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Gaomin
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Virology, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430072, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Lanxia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Meng
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Virology, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430072, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Weiwei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Virology, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430072, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Xiaobo
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Virology, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430072, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Wenxin
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Virology, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430072, People's Republic of China. ylwu@whu.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Yingliang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Virology, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430072, People's Republic of China. zjcao@whu.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Zhijian
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Cao
mesh_terms: D000287:Administration, Topical; D000818:Animals; D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002942:Circular Dichroism; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D024901:Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial; D005260:Female; D006461:Hemolysis / Q000187:drug effects; D055624:Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D017192:Skin Diseases, Bacterial / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides
keywords: Antimicrobial peptides; Hemolysis; MRSA skin infection; Resistance; Serum stability