New antimicrobial peptide active against Gram-positive pathogens
Author
Summary, in English
Background & objectives: Human and animal cystatins have been shown to inhibit the replication of certain viruses and bacteria, though it is not directly demonstrated that the effects are due to protease inhibitory capacity of the cystatins. We report antibacterial properties of a novel antimicrobial peptidyl derivative, (2S)-2-(N-alpha-benzyloxycarbonyl-arginyl-leucylamido)-1-(E)-cinnamoyla mido-3-methylbutane, structurally based upon the aminoterminal segment of the inhibitory centre of the human cysteine protease inhibitor, cystatin C. Methods: Clinical isolates of group A, B, C and G streptococci were collected. The antibacterial activity of Cystapep 1 derivative was tested by agar well diffusion method. Results: Cystapep 1, displayed antibacterial activity against several clinically important Gram-positive bacteria. It displayed minimal inhibitory and bactericidal concentrations of about 16 mug/ml for both Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pyogenes. In radial agar diffusion assays, groups A, B, C and G streptococci as well as staphylococci were generally susceptible to the action of Cystapep 1, whereas pneumococci and enterococci were less susceptible. No activity against Gram-negative bacteria was observed. Interpretation & conclusion: Cystapep 1 also showed high activity against methicillin-resistant Staph. aureus (MRSA) and multi-antibiotic resistant coagulase negative staphylococci (CNS), suggesting its mechanism of action to be different from most currently used antibiotics.
Publishing year
2004
Language
English
Pages
74-76
Publication/Series
Indian Journal of Medical Research
Volume
119
Issue
Suppl.
Links
Document type
Journal article
Publisher
Council Of Medical Research
Topic
- Microbiology in the medical area
- Pharmacology and Toxicology
- Medicinal Chemistry
Keywords
- Staphylococcus aureus
- antimicrobial peptide
- cystatin C
- Streptococcus
- pyogenes
Status
Published
ISBN/ISSN/Other
- ISSN: 0971-5916