Antibiofilm activities of ceragenins and antimicrobial peptides against fungal-bacterial mono and multispecies biofilms

J Antibiot (Tokyo). 2020 Jul;73(7):455-462. doi: 10.1038/s41429-020-0299-0. Epub 2020 Mar 23.

Abstract

Multispecies biofilms, in which both fungus and bacteria species can be present, play a significant role in persistent infections, and new therapeutic options are needed against them. In this study, the activities of ceragenins and antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) (magainin, cecropin A, LL-37) were investigated against multispecies biofilms formed by Candida albicans and four clinically important Gram-negative bacteria, including Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Acinetobacter baumannii, Escherichia coli, and Klebsiella pneumoniae. Our results show that CSA-13 and CSA-90 were the most effective agents against both mono and multispecies biofilms (P < 0.05). CSA-131 and CSA-192 showed the least antimicrobial activity against mono and fungal-bacterial multispecies biofilms. Inhibition of multispecies biofilms with CSA-13 and CSA-90 was also confirmed through fluorescence microscopy images. When AMPs evaluated alone, they proved ineffective against both C. albicans and Gram-negative bacteria at the concentrations tested. In these studies, ceragenins were much more effective than AMPs against multi or monospecies biofilms, especially those containing C. albicans.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / pharmacology
  • Biofilms / drug effects*
  • Candida albicans / drug effects*
  • Gram-Negative Bacteria / drug effects*
  • Pore Forming Cytotoxic Proteins / pharmacology*
  • Steroids / pharmacology*

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Pore Forming Cytotoxic Proteins
  • Steroids
  • ceragenins