Antifungal efficacy of scorpion derived peptide K1K8 against Candida albicans in vitro and in vivo

Yingbin Shui; Huayi Wang; Yunqi Chen; Yixuan Hao; Shasha Li; Wenlu Zhang; Bo Deng; Wanwu Li; Pengfei Wu; Zhongjie Li

doi:10.1016/j.toxicon.2023.107593

Antifungal efficacy of scorpion derived peptide K1K8 against Candida albicans in vitro and in vivo

Toxicon. 2024 Feb 1:238:107593. doi: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2023.107593. Epub 2023 Dec 30.

Authors

Yingbin Shui¹, Huayi Wang¹, Yunqi Chen¹, Yixuan Hao¹, Shasha Li¹, Wenlu Zhang¹, Bo Deng¹, Wanwu Li¹, Pengfei Wu¹, Zhongjie Li²

Affiliations

¹ College of Basic Medicine and Forensic Medicine, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang, 471003, China.
² College of Basic Medicine and Forensic Medicine, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang, 471003, China. Electronic address: sui_feng5217@126.com.

PMID: 38163461
DOI: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2023.107593

Abstract

As an alternative class of antimicrobial agents, antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) have gained significant attention. In this study, K1K8, a scorpion AMP derivative, showed effective activity against Candida albicans including clinically resistant strains. K1K8 killed C. albicans cells mainly by damaging the cell membrane and inducing necrosis via an ROS-related pathway. K1K8 could also interact with DNA after damaging the nuclear envelope. Moreover, K1K8 inhibited hyphal development and biofilm formation of C. albicans in a dose-dependent manner. In the mouse skin infection model, K1K8 significantly decreased the counts of C. albicans cells in the infection area. Overall, K1K8 is a potential anti-infective agent against skin infections caused by C. albicans.

Keywords: Antimicrobial peptide; Candida albicans; Necrosis; Skin infection.

MeSH terms

Animals
Anti-Infective Agents* / pharmacology
Antifungal Agents* / pharmacology
Candida albicans
Mice
Microbial Sensitivity Tests
Peptides / pharmacology
Scorpions

Substances

Antifungal Agents
Peptides
Anti-Infective Agents