Synthetic antimicrobial peptides control Penicillium digitatum infection in orange fruits

Patrícia G Lima; Cleverson D T Freitas; Jose T A Oliveira; Nilton A S Neto; Jackson L Amaral; Ayrles F B Silva; Jeanlex S Sousa; Octávio L Franco; Pedro F N Souza

doi:10.1016/j.foodres.2021.110582

Synthetic antimicrobial peptides control Penicillium digitatum infection in orange fruits

Food Res Int. 2021 Sep:147:110582. doi: 10.1016/j.foodres.2021.110582. Epub 2021 Jul 1.

Authors

Patrícia G Lima¹, Cleverson D T Freitas¹, Jose T A Oliveira¹, Nilton A S Neto¹, Jackson L Amaral², Ayrles F B Silva², Jeanlex S Sousa³, Octávio L Franco⁴, Pedro F N Souza⁵

Affiliations

¹ Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, Ceará CEP 60.440-554, Brazil.
² Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, Ceará CEP 60.440-554, Brazil; Department of Physics, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, Brazil.
³ Department of Physics, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, Brazil.
⁴ S-Inova Biotech, Programa de Pós Graduação em Biotecnologia, Universidade Católica Dom Bosco, Campo Grande 79117900, Brazil; Centro de Análises Proteômicas e Bioquímicas, Universidade Católica de Brasília, Brasília 70790160, Brazil.
⁵ Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, Ceará CEP 60.440-554, Brazil. Electronic address: pedrofilhobio@gmail.com.

PMID: 34399551
DOI: 10.1016/j.foodres.2021.110582

Abstract

Fungal contamination is among the main reasons for food spoilage, affecting food safety and the economy. Among fungi, Penicillium digitatum is a major agent of this problem. Here, the in vitro activity of eight synthetic antimicrobial peptides was assessed against P. digitatum, and their action mechanisms were evaluated. All peptides were able to inhibit fungal growth. Furthermore, atomic force and fluorescence microscopies revealed that all peptides targeted the fungal membrane leading to pore formation, loss of internal content, and death. The induction of high levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) was also a mechanism employed by some peptides. Interestingly, only three peptides (PepGAT, PepKAA, and Mo-CBP₃-PepI) effectively control P. digitatum colonization in orange fruits, at a concentration (50 µg mL^-1) 20-fold lower than the commercial food preservative (sodium propionate). Altogether, PepGAT, PepKAA, and Mo-CBP₃-PepI showed high biotechnological potential as new food preservatives to control food infection by P. digitatum.

Keywords: Antimicrobial Peptides (AMP); Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM); Food preservatives; Food spoilage; Synthetic peptides.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Citrus sinensis*
Fruit
Penicillium*
Pore Forming Cytotoxic Proteins

Substances

Pore Forming Cytotoxic Proteins

Supplementary concepts

Penicillium digitatum