Antibacterial, anti-biofilm, and anti-adhesive activities of melittin, a honeybee venom-derived peptide, against quinolone-resistant uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC)

Abstract

Here, we demonstrated the in vitro and in vivo antibacterial and anti-biofilm activities of melittin, a peptide derived from honeybee venom, against uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) resistant to quinolones. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of melittin varied from 0.5 to 8 μM. The bactericidal effect was considered rapid and potent (ranging from 3.0 to 6.0 h after incubation) against a quinolone-resistant and Extended Spectrum Beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing UPEC strain. Prior exposure to melittin did not reduce the MIC of the quinolones tested, but it decreased the MIC of ceftizoxime by 8-fold due to its ability to form pores in the membrane. Furthermore, melittin disrupted mature biofilms (39.58% at 32 μM) and inhibited the adhesion of this uropathogen to the surfaces of urethral catheter. These results show that melittin is a promising molecule that can be incorporated into invasive urethral medical devices to prevent urinary infections caused by multidrug-resistant UPECs.

GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT

Keywords:

• Escherichia coli
• urinary tract infections
• urethral catheter
• antimicrobial peptides
• biofilm

Acknowledgments

W.G.L. is grateful to Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal do Nível Superior (CAPES) for a Ph.D. fellowship.

Disclosure statement

All authors report that they do not have any conflicts of interest.

Additional information

Funding

This study is funded by Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq), Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de Minas Gerais (FAPEMIG), and Pro-Reitoria de Pesquisa da Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (PRPq/UFMG).