Journal of Bacteriology & Parasitology

A novel synthetic antimicrobial peptide for the cure of Gram-negative infections. Mechanism of action, efficacy in vivo, toxicity, biodistribution and resistance selection

3^rd International Congress on Bacteriology and Infectious Diseases

August 04-06, 2015 Valencia, Spain

Alessandro Pini

Scientific Tracks Abstracts: J Bacteriol Parasitol

Abstract:

A synthetic antimicrobial peptide was identified some years ago as possible candidate for the development of a new
antibacterial drug (Pini et al, 2010, FASEB J, 24:1015-22). The peptide showed a MIC 90 below 1.5 μM for Pseudomonas
aeruginosa and Klebsiella pneumonia. In models in vivo of P. aeruginosa lethal infections the peptide, and its pegylated form,
allowed a survival percentage ranging between 65-80% in sepsis and lung infections when injected IV, and completely resolved
skin infections when administered topically. Plasma clearance demonstrated different kinetics for both peptides, with a higher
persistence for the pegilated one after two hours from injection. Bio-distribution in organs did not show significant uptake
differences between the two peptides. Contrary to colistin, the molecule here described did not select resistant mutants in
bacterial cultures. Moreover it resulted not genotoxic and with an in vivo toxicity comparable to antimicrobial peptides already
used in clinic. The characterizations here reported are part of a preclinical development plan that should bring the molecule to
clinical trials in the next years.

Biography :

Alessandro Pini is Professor of Biochemistry at the University of Siena, Italy. He is founder and president of SetLance srl (www.setlance.com) a start-up company
based in Siena with a special focus in the identification and early development of peptide based-drug. He is author of dozens of publications and inventor in 10
patents.