Bee venom-derived antimicrobial peptide melectin has broad-spectrum potency, cell selectivity, and salt-resistant properties

Abstract Antimicrobial peptides have attracted attention as alternatives to conventional antibiotics. Previously, a novel antimicrobial peptide, melectin, consisting of 18 amino acids was isolated from the venom of a bee, Melecta albifrons. Here, we investigated the antibacterial activity of melecti...

Description complète

Enregistré dans:
Détails bibliographiques
Auteurs principaux: Su Jin Ko, Eunji Park, Alina Asandei, Jee-Young Choi, Seung-Chul Lee, Chang Ho Seo, Tudor Luchian, Yoonkyung Park
Format: article
Langue:EN
Publié: Nature Portfolio 2020
Sujets:
R
Q
Accès en ligne:https://doaj.org/article/bcd81e0dfe3d49aa8b83f3167750b21b
Tags: Ajouter un tag
Pas de tags, Soyez le premier à ajouter un tag!
Description
Résumé:Abstract Antimicrobial peptides have attracted attention as alternatives to conventional antibiotics. Previously, a novel antimicrobial peptide, melectin, consisting of 18 amino acids was isolated from the venom of a bee, Melecta albifrons. Here, we investigated the antibacterial activity of melectin against drug-resistant bacteria. Melectin showed broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity but low cytotoxicity and no hemolytic activity. Melectin maintained its antimicrobial activity at physiological salt concentrations. Melectin is an α-helical structure that binds to the bacterial membrane via electrostatic interactions and kills bacteria in a short time by bacterial membrane targeting. Collectively, our results suggest that melectin has antibacterial activity and anti-inflammatory activity.