“Antibiotic peptide derivative shows promise for drug-resistant infections”

“Scientists in the Netherlands are reporting early but promising results for an antibiotic alternative that’s highly effective against gram-positive and gram-negative pathogens.

In a study yesterday in Science Translational Medicine, a team led by researchers from Leiden University Medical Center report that the drug candidate, SAAP-148, killed several types of multidrug-resistant pathogens in lab cultures and was able to eliminate biofilm-associated skin infections in human skin and mouse models. A phase 1 clinical trial of a gel containing SAAP-148 that could be used as a topical treatment for wound infections is planned for this year.

Compound targets range of pathogens
SAAP-148 is one of several synthetic compounds derived from the human antimicrobial peptide LL-37, which plays a key role in the immune system’s response against bacterial infections.

Antimicrobial peptides have long been considered to hold potential as a novel class of antibiotics because they can kill a wide range of immune system invaders, including viruses and fungi, and have shown effectiveness against pathogens resistant to almost all conventional antibiotics. Because of its ability to kill bacteria by latching on to the bacterial membrane and making it permeable, LL-37 has been a particular focus for researchers.

The team decided to test SAAP-148 against a panel of the ESKAPE pathogens, which include Enterococcus faecium, S aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumannii, P aeruginosa, and Enterobacter species. These drug-resistant organisms are the leading cause of healthcare-associated infections and are becoming increasingly resistant to antibiotics. They are among the pathogens prioritized by the World Health Organization for antibiotic development.”

Source: CIDRAP