Efficacy of short novel antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory peptides in a mouse model of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) skin infection

Abstract

The therapeutic efficacy of two novel short antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory peptides (RR and RRIKA) was evaluated in a mouse model of staphylococcal skin infection. RR (2%) and RRIKA (2%) significantly reduced the bacterial counts and the levels of proinflammatory cytokines, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, and interleukin (IL)-6, in methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus USA 300-0114 skin lesions. Furthermore, the combined therapy of RRIKA (1%) and lysostaphin (0.5%) had significantly higher antistaphylococcal and anti-inflammatory activity compared to monotherapy. This study supports the potential use of these peptides for topical treatment of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus skin infections.

Keywords:

• antimicrobial peptides
• MRSA
• lysostaphin
• skin infection
• mice

Acknowledgments

Mohamed F Mohamed is supported by a scholarship from the Egyptian Cultural and Educational Bureau (ECEB) in Washington, DC, USA. The bacterial strain used in this study was provided by the Network on Antimicrobial Resistance in Staphylococcus aureus (NARSA) for distribution by BEI Resources, NIAID, NIH: Staphylococcus aureus, strain USA300-0114, NR-46070.

Disclosure

The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work.