Identification of the scorpion venom-derived antimicrobial peptide Hp1404 as a new antimicrobial agent against carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii

Abstract

Carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (CRAB) is becoming a troublesome issue worldwide, and anti-CRAB drug research and development is urgently needed. To identify new anti-CRAB drug leads, we investigated seven scorpion venom-derived α-helical peptides that differ in their sequence composition and length. Three peptides, Hp1404, ctriporin and Im5, showed antimicrobial activities against Acinetobacter baumannii. Further antimicrobial assays revealed that Hp1404 exhibited the best cell selectivity with high anti-CRAB and low hemolytic activities. Fluorescence assays demonstrated that Hp1404 can induce dose-dependent disruptions of the bacterial cell membrane, implying a membrane-lytic mode of action. Taken together, our work sheds light on the potential of the scorpion venom-derived peptide Hp1404 for the development of novel antimicrobial agents against CRAB infections.

Keywords: Antimicrobial peptide; Carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii; Hp1404; Membrane disruption; Scorpion venom.