Kinetics Study of Antimicrobial Peptide, Melittin, in Simultaneous Biofilm Degradation and Eradication of Potent Biofilm Producing Mdr Pseudomonas Aeruginosa Isolates Publisher



Shams Khozani R¹ ; Shahbazzadeh D² ; Harzandi N¹ ; Feizabadi MM³ ; Pooshang Bagheri K² Show Affiliations
Source: International Journal of Peptide Research and Therapeutics Published:2019

Abstract

Biofilm associated Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections are of major clinical concern due to treatment failure by conventional antibiotics. Referring to many reports, antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) would be act as a new promising agent to overcome the issue. In this regard, our study was aimed to evaluate the kinetics of melittin as a natural AMP, in simultaneously degrading and killing potent biofilm producing multidrug-resistant (MDR) P. aeruginosa isolates. The sensitivity of P. aeruginosa clinical isolates against routinely prescribed antibiotics was evaluated using disc diffusion and micro-dilution broth methods. Biofilm formation ability of the isolates was determined by colorimetric method. The biofilm formation kinetics was evaluated in five highly biofilm producer MDR isolates during 48 h. The efficiency of melittin to degradation of biofilm biomass and killing the bacteria within the biofilm were kinetically performed. The degradation activity of melittin on preformed biofilm and also its effect on the morphology of P. aeruginosa within the biofilm was investigated by field emission-scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM). Melittin at the amount of 2 and 4 µg inhibited or killed all the examined strains in planktonic state while at 50 µg degraded the biofilm layer and killed all embedded bacteria after 24 and 48 h, respectively. FE-SEM results confirmed the biofilm removal and killing activities of melittin. Linear regression analysis verified the trend of melittin’s activities in a concentration and time dependent manner. In conclusion, it seems plausible that melittin should be further investigated in an animal model of biofilm associated burn infection as a new drug lead. © 2018, Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.