Antibacterial and immunomodulatory activities of insect defensins-DLP2 and DLP4 against multidrug-resistant Staphylococcus aureus

Sci Rep. 2017 Sep 21;7(1):12124. doi: 10.1038/s41598-017-10839-4.

Abstract

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), are the most frequent cause of sepsis, which urgently demanding new drugs for treating infection. Two homologous insect CSαβ peptides-DLP2 and DLP4 from Hermetia illucens were firstly expressed in Pichia pastoris, with the yields of 873.5 and 801.3 mg/l, respectively. DLP2 and DLP4 displayed potent antimicrobial activity against Gram-positive bacteria especially MRSA and had greater potency, faster killing, and a longer postantibiotic effect than vancomycin. A 30-d serial passage of MRSA in the presence of DLP2/DLP4 failed to produce resistant mutants. Macromolecular synthesis showed that DLP2/DLP4 inhibited multi-macromolecular synthesis especially for RNA. Flow cytometry and electron microscopy results showed that the cell cycle was arrested at R-phase; the cytoplasmic membrane and cell wall were broken by DLP2/DLP4; mesosome-like structures were observed in MRSA. At the doses of 3‒7.5 mg/kg DLP2 or DLP4, the survival of mice challenged with MRSA were 80‒100%. DLP2 and DLP4 reduced the bacterial translocation burden over 95% in spleen and kidneys; reduced serum pro-inflammatory cytokines levels; promoted anti-inflammatory cytokines levels; and ameliorated lung and spleen injury. These data suggest that DLP2 and DLP4 may be excellent candidates for novel antimicrobial peptides against staphylococcal infections.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / chemistry
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / pharmacology
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Defensins / chemistry
  • Defensins / pharmacology
  • Defensins / therapeutic use*
  • Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial*
  • Female
  • Immunologic Factors / chemistry
  • Immunologic Factors / pharmacology
  • Immunologic Factors / therapeutic use*
  • Insecta / chemistry
  • Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus / drug effects
  • Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus / immunology
  • Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus / physiology
  • Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus / ultrastructure
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Models, Molecular
  • Staphylococcal Infections / drug therapy*
  • Staphylococcal Infections / immunology
  • Staphylococcal Infections / microbiology
  • Staphylococcus aureus / drug effects*
  • Staphylococcus aureus / immunology
  • Staphylococcus aureus / physiology
  • Staphylococcus aureus / ultrastructure

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Defensins
  • Immunologic Factors