Potential role of the antimicrobial peptide against multidrug-resistant and coinfection in an animal model.

BACKGROUND

, an antimicrobial peptide (AMP), provides protection against multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacterial infections and shows cytotoxicity to mammalian cells. Mixed bacterial infections, of which plus is the most common and dangerous combination, are critical contributors to the morbidity and mortality of long-term in-hospital respiratory medicine patients. Therefore, the development of effective therapeutic approaches to mixed bacterial infections is urgently needed.

METHODS AND RESULTS

In this study, we demonstrated that compared with individual infections, mixed infections with MDR bacteria and cause more serious diseases, with increased pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α) and chemokines (MCP-1/MIP-2) and reduced mouse survival. In vitro treatment with enhanced phagocytosis in a mouse alveolar macrophage cell line (MH-S). Strikingly, in vivo, demonstrated a potential role against mixed-MDR bacterial coinfection. The bacterial burden in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) was significantly reduced in the treated group. In addition, a systemic reduction in pro-inflammatory cytokines and decreased lung injury occurred with therapy.

CONCLUSION

Therefore, our study demonstrated that represents a potential therapeutic treatment against mixed-MDR bacterial infection in vivo, which sheds light on the development of therapeutic strategies against mixed-MDR bacterial infections.