Open AccessInvestigation of morphological changes to Staphylococcus aureus induced by ovine‐derived antimicrobial peptides using TEM and AFM
Author(s) -
Anderson Rachel Claire,
Haverkamp Richard G.,
Yu PakLam
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
fems microbiology letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.899
H-Index - 151
eISSN - 1574-6968
pISSN - 0378-1097
DOI - 10.1016/j.femsle.2004.09.027
Subject(s) - staphylococcus aureus , antimicrobial , microbiology and biotechnology , atomic force microscopy , staphylococcus , antimicrobial peptides , biology , bacteria , chemistry , nanotechnology , materials science , genetics
The effect of two ovine‐derived peptides on the morphology of Staphylococcus aureus NCTC 4163 cells were investigated using transmission electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy. Both techniques showed that SMAP29, an α‐helical peptide, induced cell lysis, whereas OaBac5mini, a proline/arginine‐rich peptide, caused no observable morphological changes. This is consistent with previous experimental work which indicated that SMAP29 caused cell death and induced cell lysis, whereas OaBac5mini acted by interacting with the inner cellular contents.