New antimicrobial peptide combats drug resistant bacteria

Multidrug resistant bacteria that are hard to get rid of by antibiotics can be killed by a modified human peptide called SAAP-148. This peptide make the bacterial membrane leaky, even when they hide in a biofilm or are inactive. 

 

Leaky membranes visualised by cryo-EM

In a collaborative study between the Leiden University Medical Center, the Amsterdam Medical Center, the University of Graz Leiden University, the NeCEN, and he Association of Dutch Burn Centre a paper is published that is important to combat drug-resistant bacteria and biofilms.  

de Breij A, Riool M, Cordfunke RA, Malanovic N, de Boer L, Koning RI, Ravensbergen E, Franken M, van der Heijde T, Boekema BK, Kwakman PHS, Kamp N, El Ghalbzouri A, Lohner K, Zaat SAJ, Drijfhout JW, Nibbering PH., "The antimicrobial peptide SAAP-148 combats drug-resistant bacteria and biofilms." (2018) Sci Transl Med. 10 (423).

DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.aan4044.

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