Capsicumicine, a New Bioinspired Peptide from Red Peppers Prevents Staphylococcal Biofilm In Vitro and In Vivo via a Matrix Anti-Assembly Mechanism of Action

• Published in: Microbiology spectrum Vol. 9; no. 2; p. e0047121
• Main Authors: Gomes Von Borowski, Rafael, Chat, Sophie, Schneider, Rafael, Nonin-Lecomte, Sylvie, Bouaziz, Serge, Giudice, Emmanuel, Rigon Zimmer, Aline, Baggio Gnoatto, Simone Cristina, Macedo, Alexandre José, Gillet, Reynald
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States American Society for Microbiology 31.10.2021
• Subjects: anti-assembly; Anti-Bacterial Agents - chemistry; Anti-Bacterial Agents - pharmacology; antibiofilm; Antimicrobial Chemotherapy; Biochemistry, Molecular Biology; biofilm; Biofilms - drug effects; Capsicum - chemistry; Humans; Life Sciences; matrix; Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus - drug effects; Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus - genetics; Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus - physiology; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; peptides; Peptides - chemistry; Peptides - pharmacology; Research Article; resistance; Staphylococcal Infections - microbiology; Structural Biology; anti-assembly; antibiofilm; biofilm; peptides; matrix; Staphylococcus; antimicrobial peptides; resistance; tolerance; by 2a01; e0a; 7f6; 8b3; e419; e8ae; cbad; 2170
• ISSN: 2165-0497; 2165-0497
• DOI: 10.1128/Spectrum.00471-21

Staphylococci are pathogenic biofilm-forming bacteria and a source of multidrug resistance and/or tolerance causing a broad spectrum of infections. These bacteria are enclosed in a matrix that allows them to colonize medical devices, such as catheters and tissues, and that protects against antibiotics and immune systems. Advances in antibiofilm strategies for targeting this matrix are therefore extremely relevant. Here, we describe the development of the pepper bioinspired peptide "capsicumicine." By using microbiological, microscopic, and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) approaches, we demonstrate that capsicumicine strongly prevents methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus epidermidis biofilm via an extracellular "matrix anti-assembly" mechanism of action. The results were confirmed in a translational preclinical model that mimics medical device-related infection. Since capsicumicine is not cytotoxic, it is a promising candidate for complementary treatment of infectious diseases. Pathogenic biofilms are a global health care concern, as they can cause extensive antibiotic resistance, morbidity, mortality, and thereby substantial economic loss. So far, no effective treatments targeting the bacteria in biofilms have been developed. Plants are constantly attacked by a wide range of pathogens and have protective factors, such as peptides, to defend themselves. These peptides are common components in Capsicum baccatum (red pepper). Here, we provide insights into an antibiofilm strategy based on the development of capsicumicine, a natural peptide that strongly controls biofilm formation by Staphylococcus epidermidis, the most prevalent pathogen in device-related infections.