Us. Sajjan et al., P-113D, an antimicrobial peptide active against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, retains activity in the presence of sputum from cystic fibrosis patients, ANTIM AG CH, 45(12), 2001, pp. 3437-3444
Antimicrobial peptides are a source of novel agents that could be useful fo
r treatment of the chronic lung infections that afflict cystic fibrosis (CF
) patients. Efficacy depends on antimicrobial activity against the major pa
thogens of CF patients, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, and
Haemophilus influenzae, in the environment of the CF patient's airway. We d
escribe the in vitro efficacies of derivatives of histatins, which are hist
idine-rich peptides produced by the salivary glands of humans and higher pr
imates. P-113, a peptide containing 12 of the 24 amino acid residues of the
parent molecule, histatin 5, retained full antibacterial activity and had
a good spectrum of activity in vitro against the prominent pathogens of CF
patients. However, P-113 was not active in the presence of purulent sputum
from CF patients. In contrast, P-113D the mirror-image peptide with the ami
no acid residues in the D configuration, was stable in sputum, was as activ
e as P-113 against pathogens of CF patients in the absence of sputum and re
tained significant activity in the presence of sputum from CF patients. Rec
ombinant human DNase, which effectively liquefies sputum, enhanced the acti
vity of P-113D in undiluted sputum against both exogenous (added) bacteria
and endogenous bacteria. Because of its properties, P-113D shows potential
as an inhalant in chronic suppressive therapy for CF patients.