Antifungal activity of synthetic peptide derived from halocidin, antimicrobial peptide from the tunicate, Halocynthia aurantium

FEBS Lett. 2006 Feb 20;580(5):1490-6. doi: 10.1016/j.febslet.2006.01.041. Epub 2006 Jan 23.

Abstract

Halocidin is an antimicrobial peptide isolated from the hemocytes of the tunicate. Among the several known synthetic halocidin analogues, di-K19Hc has been previously confirmed to have the most profound antibacterial activity against antibiotic-resistant bacteria. This peptide has been considered to be an effective candidate for the development of a new type of antibiotic. In this study, we have assessed the antifungal activity of di-K19Hc, against a panel of fungi including several strains of Aspergillus and Candida. As a result, we determined that the MICs of di-K19Hc against six Candida albicans and two Aspergillus species were below 4 and 16 microg/ml, respectively, thereby indicating that di-K19Hc may be appropriate for the treatment of several fungal diseases. We also conducted an investigation into di-K19Hc's mode of action against Candida albicans. Our colony count assay showed that di-K19Hc killed C. albicans within 30s. Di-K19Hc bound to the surface of C. albicans via a specific interaction with beta-1,3-glucan, which is one of fungal cell wall components. Di-K19Hc also induced the formation of ion channels within the membrane of C. albicans, and eventually observed cell death, which was confirmed via measurements of the K+ released from C. albicans cells which had been treated with di-K19Hc, as well as by monitoring of the uptake of propidium iodide into the C. albicans cells. This membrane-attacking quality of di-K19Hc was also visualized via confocal laser and scanning electron microscopy.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • Anti-Infective Agents
  • Antifungal Agents / chemistry
  • Antifungal Agents / pharmacology*
  • Aspergillus / drug effects
  • Candida albicans / drug effects
  • Ion Channels
  • Microbial Sensitivity Tests
  • Peptides / pharmacology*
  • Proteoglycans
  • Urochordata / chemistry*
  • beta-Glucans / metabolism

Substances

  • Anti-Infective Agents
  • Antifungal Agents
  • Ion Channels
  • Peptides
  • Proteoglycans
  • beta-Glucans
  • halocidin
  • polysaccharide-K