Cationic Homopolymers Inhibit Spore and Vegetative Cell Growth of Clostridioides difficile.

ABSTRACT: A wide range of synthetic polymers have been explored for antimicrobial activity. These materials usually contain both cationic and hydrophobic subunits because these two characteristics are prominent among host-defense peptides. Here, we describe a series of nylon-3 polymers containing only cationic subunits and their evaluation against the gastrointestinal, spore-forming pathogen Clostridioides difficile. Despite their highly hydrophilic nature, these homopolymers showed efficacy against both the vegetative and spore forms of the bacterium, including an impact on C. difficile spore germination. The polymer designated P34 demonstrated the greatest efficacy against C. difficile strains, along with low propensities to lyse human red blood cells or intestinal epithelial

SUBMITTER: Jones JB 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8130196 | biostudies-literature | 2021 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature