Synergistic Antipseudomonal Effects of Synthetic Peptide AMP38 and Carbapenems
Héctor Rudilla,
Ester Fusté,
Yolanda Cajal,
Francesc Rabanal,
Teresa Vinuesa,
Miguel Viñas
Affiliations
Héctor Rudilla
Molecular Microbiology and Antibiotics, Department of Pathology and Experimental Therapeutics, Medical School-IDIBELL, University of Barcelona, Hospitalet, Barcelona 08907, Spain
Ester Fusté
Molecular Microbiology and Antibiotics, Department of Pathology and Experimental Therapeutics, Medical School-IDIBELL, University of Barcelona, Hospitalet, Barcelona 08907, Spain
Yolanda Cajal
Department of Physical Chemistry and Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, University of Barcelona, Barcelona 08028, Spain
Francesc Rabanal
Department of Organic Chemistry, University of Barcelona, Barcelona 08028, Spain
Teresa Vinuesa
Molecular Microbiology and Antibiotics, Department of Pathology and Experimental Therapeutics, Medical School-IDIBELL, University of Barcelona, Hospitalet, Barcelona 08907, Spain
Miguel Viñas
Molecular Microbiology and Antibiotics, Department of Pathology and Experimental Therapeutics, Medical School-IDIBELL, University of Barcelona, Hospitalet, Barcelona 08907, Spain
The aim was to explore the antimicrobial activity of a synthetic peptide (AMP38) and its synergy with imipenem against imipenem-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The main mechanism of imipenem resistance is the loss or alteration of protein OprD. Time-kill and minimal biofilm eradication concentration (MBEC) determinations were carried out by using clinical imipenem-resistant strains. AMP38 was markedly synergistic with imipenem when determined in imipenem-resistant P. aeruginosa. MBEC obtained for the combination of AMP38 and imipenem was of 62.5 μg/mL, whereas the MBEC of each antimicrobial separately was 500 μg/mL. AMP38 should be regarded as a promising antimicrobial to fight MDR P. aeruginosa infections. Moreover, killing effect and antibiofilm activity of AMP38 plus imipenem was much higher than that of colistin plus imipenem.
