A Biosurfactant‐Inspired Heptapeptide with Improved Specificity to Kill MRSA. (11th January 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Liu, Yuan; Ding, Shuangyang; Dietrich, Richard; Märtlbauer, Erwin; Zhu, Kui
• Is Part Of: Angewandte Chemie. Volume 129:Number 6(2017)
• Page Start: 1508
• Page End: 1512
• Publication Date: 2017-01-11
• Subjects: Antibiotika -- Bakterien -- MRSA -- Peptide -- Wirkstoffentwicklung; Chemistry -- Periodicals; 540
• DOI: 10.1002/ange.201609277
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0044-8249

Abstract

Abstract: The emergence and rapid spread of methicillin‐resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) poses a serious threat to public health. New antibiotics and strategies are urgently needed to combat S. aureus associated infections. Bacaucin, a novel cyclic lipopeptide from Bacillus subtilis CAU21, is reported. Bacaucin shows broad antibacterial activity against Gram‐positive bacteria, but is also hemolytic and cytotoxic. However, bacaucin‐1, a bacaucin‐inspired ring‐opened heptapeptide, shows specific antibacterial activity against MRSA by a membrane‐disruptive mechanism without detectable toxicity to mammalian cells or induction of bacterial resistance. Bacaucin‐1 was efficient in preventing infections in both in vitro and in vivo models and is a valuable prototype antibiotic with high potential against S. aureus infections.