Increased potency of a novel d-β-naphthylalanine-substituted antimicrobial peptide against fluconazole-resistant fungal pathogens

Abstract

The antifungal activities of the known antimicrobial peptide, P-113, as well as a new type of Trp-rich peptide, Ac-KWRRWVRWI-NH2, Pac-525, and its modified peptide, d-Nal-Pac-525, were determined using the broth microdilution method in three different media. All peptides had similar activities against yeast pathogens in low-salt LYM media. However, only d-Nal-Pac-525 retained its antifungal activity in the media containing high concentrations of salt. Hence, d-Nal-Pac-525 has the potential of becoming a promising antifungal agent, especially for fungal pathogens with intrinsic resistance to fluconazole. © 2009 Federation of European Microbiological Societies. Published by Blackwell Publishing Ltd. All rights reserved.