Antimicrobial and Antibiofilm Effects of Peptides from Venom of Social Wasp and Scorpion on Multidrug-Resistant Acinetobacter baumannii

Abstract

Intravascular stent infection is a rare complication with a high morbidity and high mortality; bacteria from the hospital environment form biofilms and are often multidrug-resistant (MDR). Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) have been considered as alternatives to bacterial infection treatment. We analyzed the formation of the bacterial biofilm on the vascular stents and also tested the inhibition of this biofilm by AMPs to be used as treatment or coating. Antimicrobial activity and antibiofilm were tested with wasp (Agelaia-MPI, Polybia-MPII, Polydim-I) and scorpion (Con10 and NDBP5.8) AMPs against Acinetobacter baumannii clinical strains. A. baumannii formed a biofilm on the vascular stent. Agelaia-MPI and Polybia-MPII inhibited biofilm formation with bacterial cell wall degradation. Coating biofilms with polyethylene glycol (PEG 400) and Agelaia-MPI reduced 90% of A. baumannii adhesion on stents. The wasp AMPs Agelaia-MPI and Polybia-MPII had better action against MDR A. baumannii adherence and biofilm formation on vascular stents, preventing its formation and treating mature biofilm when compared to the other tested peptides.

Resistance of Gram-Positive Bacteria to Current Antibacterial Agents and Overcoming Approaches

“…Agelaia-MPI, Polybia-MPII, and Polydim-I derived from the venom of wasps and Con10 and NBDP-5.8 derived from the venom of scorpions are all AMPs with antimicrobial, antiviral, and antibiofilm activity [79]. Agelaia-MPI was superior to the other AMPs in inhibiting MDR-Acinetobacter baumannii [84]. Most AMPs in clinical use or clinical studies are restricted to the topical application or intravenous administration because of their short half-lives, as they are susceptible to proteolytic degradation [85].…”

Antibacterial Prodrugs to Overcome Bacterial Resistance

“…AMPs exert direct microbicidal activity by having an amphipathic and cationic nature that enables them to be inserted in microbial cytoplasmic membranes, increasing permeation and causing cell lysis [34][35][36]. Interests in the development of AMP antibiotics, especially against resistant bacteria, are increasing [37][38][39][40][41], but unwanted cell toxicity forms a major limitation for their improvement. The prodrug strategy is a promising solution to solve the toxicity problem and fulfill bacterial selectivity, by making AMP prodrugs that permit the cationic feature to be transiently reduced by the reversible conjugation of an anionic promoiety and that can be activated by specific bacterial enzymes [42].…”

Antimicrobial Properties of Apis mellifera’s Bee Venom

“…Venoms and their peptides from different animals or organisms such as bees, snakes, wasps, and scorpions, represent promising antimicrobial agents against various microbial pathogenesis [7][8][9][10][11][12]. BV is the venomous cocktail secreted by honeybee workers' poison glands as a protection mechanism [13].…”