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Peptide‐like substances as antimicrobial barriers to Corynebacterium sp. adhesion to silicone catheters
Author(s) -
Fontana M.B.C.,
Bastos M.C.F.,
Brandelli A.
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
letters in applied microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.698
H-Index - 110
eISSN - 1472-765X
pISSN - 0266-8254
DOI - 10.1111/j.1472-765x.2007.02193.x
Subject(s) - antimicrobial , corynebacterium , microbiology and biotechnology , catheter , silicone , bacteria , bacteremia , chemistry , biology , medicine , antibiotics , surgery , genetics , organic chemistry
Aims: To show medical application of antimicrobial peptides such as Pep5 and epidermin in inhibiting adhesion of Corynebacterium spp. to silicone catheters. Methods and Results: The inhibitory activity of crude preparations of Pep5 and epidermin was tested on Corynebacterium spp. isolated from catheter‐related infections. The addition of these substances at 640 AU ml −1 to a cell suspension of Corynebacterium sp. 633544 resulted in a decrease of 3 log cycles in the number of viable cells over a period of 12 h. When Pep5 and epidermin were added to in vitro catheter colonization experiments, there was a decrease of 1 log unit ( P < 0·01) in the cell number of Corynebacterium spp. adhered to silicone catheters. Scanning electron microscopy revealed that antimicrobial‐treated catheters presented zones with absence of adhered cells, and some parts of the catheter presented aggregates suggesting damaged cells. Conclusions: The crude preparations of Pep5 and epidermin were able to inhibit Corynebacterium sp. 633544 isolated from catheter‐related infection. The capability of Pep5 and epidermin to inhibit catheter colonization may indicate their usefulness as a barrier to block or to reduce the bacteremia by Corynebacterium spp. Significance and Impact of the Study: Peptide‐like antimicrobial substances used to reduce bacterial attachment to medical devices may represent a novel strategy to control catheter‐related infections.