D-LL-31 in combination with ceftazidime synergistically enhances bactericidal activity and biofilm destruction in <i>Burkholderia pseudomallei</i>.
Wongkaewkhiaw. Saharut S; Taweechaisupapong. Suwimol S; Anutrakunchai. Chitchanok C; Nazmi. Kamran K; Bolscher. Jan G M JGM; Wongratanacheewin. Surasakdi S; Kanthawong. Sakawrat S
Key Findings
- D‑LL‑31 alone kills Burkholderia pseudomallei strains at low micromolar concentrations (IC50 1‑6 µM).
- When combined with ceftazidime, D‑LL‑31 shows synergistic activity, lowering the needed dose of both agents.
- The combination also disrupts bacterial biofilms under flow conditions, which are usually hard to treat.
Practical Outcomes
- For most biohackers and self‑experimenters focused on longevity, metabolism, or performance, this study offers little direct use. It is mainly relevant for clinicians or researchers dealing with melioidosis infections, showing a potential new drug‑combination strategy rather than a protocol you can apply to everyday health optimization.
Summary
Scientists found that a synthetic version of the natural peptide LL‑37 (called D‑LL‑31) works together with the antibiotic ceftazidime to kill the bacteria that cause melioidosis more effectively and to break down the protective biofilm they form.
Abstract
Melioidosis is a severe disease caused by <i>Burkholderia pseudomallei</i>. The biofilm of <i>B. pseudomallei</i> acquires resistance to several antibiotics and may be related to relapse in melioidosis patients. Here, the killing activity of antimicrobial peptides (LL-37, LL-31) and the D-enantiomers (D-LL-37, D-LL-31) in combination with ceftazidime (CAZ) against <i>B. pseudomallei</i> 1026b, H777 and a biofilm mutant M10, derived from H777 grown under biofilm-stimulating conditions was observed. Using static conditions, D-LL-31 exhibited the strongest killing activity against the three isolates in a dose-dependent manner. IC<sub>50</sub> values for D-LL-31 ranged from 1 to 6 µM, for isolates M10, H777, and 1026b, respectively. Moreover, D-LL-31 combined with CAZ synergistically decreased the IC<sub>50</sub> values of the peptide and antibiotic and caused also disruption of biofilms of <i>B</i>. <i>pseudomallei</i> 1026b under flow conditions. Thus a combination of D-LL-31 and CAZ may enhance the efficacy of the currently used antibiotic treatments against <i>B. pseudomallei.</i>
Study Information
pubmed
2019
2019-07-08T00:00:00.000Z
10.1080/08927014.2019.1632835
18
66