Comparative activities of cecropin A, melittin, and cecropin A-melittin peptide CA(1-7)M(2-9)NH2 against multidrug-resistant nosocomial isolates of Acinetobacter baumannii

• Published in: Peptides (New York, N.Y. : 1980) N.Y. : 1980), 2003-09, Vol.24 (9), p.1315-1318
• Main Authors: GIACOMETTI, Andrea, CIRIONI, Oscar, KAMYSZ, Wojciech, D'AMATO, Giuseppina, SILVESTRI, Carmela, DEL PRETE, Maria Simona, ŁUKASIAK, Jerzy, SCALISE, Giorgio
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acinetobacter - drug effects; Anti-Bacterial Agents - chemistry; Anti-Bacterial Agents - pharmacology; Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides - chemistry; Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides - pharmacology; Biological and medical sciences; Cross Infection - microbiology; Drug Resistance, Multiple; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Melitten - chemistry; Melitten - pharmacology; Vertebrates: endocrinology
• ISSN: 0196-9781; 1873-5169
• DOI: 10.1016/j.peptides.2003.08.003

The in vitro activity of three polycationic peptides, cecropin A, melittin, and cecropin A-melittin hybrid peptide CA(1-7)M(2-9)NH2, alone and in combination with various clinically used antimicrobial agents, was investigated against 32 nosocomial isolates of Acinetobacter baumannii. Antimicrobial activities were measured by MIC, MBC and bacterial killing assay. The peptides demonstrated different ranges of inhibitory values: overall, the organisms were more susceptible to CA(1-7)M(2-9)NH2 (MIC range, 0.25-16 mg/l) than to cecropin A (0.50-32 mg/l) and melittin (0.50-32 mg/l). Synergy was observed when CA(1-7)M(2-9)NH2 and melittin were combined with beta-lactam antibiotics.