GK-11: a Novel Cationic Peptide with Antibiofilm Activity against <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> and <i>Pseudomonas aeruginosa</i>
Aldag, Simay, Bugdaci, Guler Tuba, Cobanoglu, Seymanur, Erkengez, Erdem, Arslan, Mehmet Enes, Kadi, Abdurrahim, Ortucu, Serkan, Taskin, Mesut, Yazici, Aysenur
Biofilms are implicated in most chronic infections and exhibit up to 1000-fold higher antibiotic resistance than planktonic cells, creating an urgent need for new antibiofilm agents. Here, we characterized GK-11, an 11-amino acid derivative of pleurocidin. Although GK-11 showed limited antimicrobial activity (MIC: 64 & micro;g/mL for Staphylococcus aureus and 256 & micro;g/mL for Pseudomonas aeruginosa), it demonstrated potent antibiofilm effects at sub-MIC levels (MBIC: 32 & micro;g/mL and 16 & micro;g/mL, respectively). Microscopy and SEM confirmed disruption of biofilm structure, while qRT-PCR revealed downregulation of key virulence genes. GK-11 was non-toxic to Caenorhabditis elegans and maintained > 80% viability in human fibroblasts. In vivo, GK-11 improved worm survival against MRSA and PAO1 infection. These results identify GK-11 as a promising, low-toxicity peptide with selective antibiofilm activity for potential therapeutic development.
- Journal
- PROBIOTICS AND ANTIMICROBIAL PROTEINS
- Year
- 2026
- ISSN
- 1867-1306
- eISSN
- 1867-1314
- DOI
- 10.1007/s12602-026-10963-6
- WoS UID
- WOS:001705678000001