Antimicrobial peptide Mastoparan X has good activity against Escherichia coli in vitro and alleviates its pathogenicity in mice

Abstract

Escherichia coli is a facultative anaerobic bacterium that normally resides in the gastrointestinal tract of humans and animals but can cause diarrhea and enteritis. MPX is an antimicrobial peptide extracted from wasp venom and has potent bactericidal effects against many bacteria. This study aimed to investigate the mechanism of MPX’s bactericidal activity against E. coli in vitro, its effect on IPEC-J2 cell apoptosis and barrier function, and its therapeutic efficacy against E. coli infection in mice.