Potencial antifouling da associação entre o peptídeo lys-a1 e ciprofloxacino

Abstract

Biofilms are complex and common microbial structures in nature, present in different places in the human body and the environment. However, the presence of these communities in the clinical environment has been considered a global socioeconomic problem. Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an opportunistic gram-negative bacillus, biofilm-forming and often involved in cases of serious infections. The formation of biofilms in medical devices has been one of the main causes of nosocomial infections, being called infections associated with biomaterials. Antifouling surfaces have been considered promising strategies to combat the formation of biofilms and are based on the application of bioactive substances on the surface of interest, preventing microbial colonization and the development of biofilm. Ciprofloxacino (CIP) is the antibiotic of choice for the treatment of infections related to P. aeruginosa and antimicrobial peptides (PAMs), which have been increasingly studied and applied as antimicrobial and antibiofilm tools. Combination therapy is based on the association of substances with different mechanisms of action, which in subinhibitory concentrations act synergistically in favoring activity. The objective of this work was to study the influence of the Lys-a1 peptide on the antimicrobial activity of CIP, as well as to evaluate the anti-adhesion and antibiofilm potential of the combination of the substances. The results showed that Lys-a1 had a greater influence on the CIP activity against Gram-negative bacteria, with emphasis on Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 9027. In addition, it was evidenced that the substances in combination seem to affect the structure of the P. aeruginosa biofilm by reduce EPS production. In conclusion, the combination of CIP and Lys-a1 represents an effective alternative against P. aeruginosa and has the potential to be used as a surface covering, bringing perspectives for the prevention of infections associated with biofilms and implantable devices.