Defining principles that influence antimicrobial peptide activity against capsulated Klebsiella pneumoniae.

ABSTRACT: The extracellular polysaccharide capsule of Klebsiella pneumoniae resists penetration by antimicrobials and protects the bacteria from the innate immune system. Host antimicrobial peptides are inactivated by the capsule as it impedes their penetration to the bacterial membrane. While the capsule sequesters most peptides, a few antimicrobial peptides have been identified that retain activity against encapsulated K. pneumoniae, suggesting that this bacterial defense can be overcome. However, it is unclear what factors allow peptides to avoid capsule inhibition. To address this, we created a peptide analog with strong antimicrobial activity toward several K. pneumoniae strains from a previously inactive peptide. We characterized the effects of these two peptides on K.

SUBMITTER: Fleeman RM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7959497 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature