Antibacterial, anti-biofilm, and anti-adhesive activities of melittin, a honeybee venom-derived peptide, against quinolone-resistant uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC)

Abstract

Here, we demonstrated the in vitro and in vivo antibacterial and anti-biofilm activities of melittin, a peptide derived from honeybee venom, against uropathogenic E. coli (UPEC) resistant to quinolones. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of melittin varied from 0.5 to 8 μM. The bactericidal effect was considered rapid and potent (ranging from 3.0 to 6.0 h after incubation) against a quinolone-resistant and Extended Spectrum Betalactamase (ESBL)-producing UPEC strain. Prior exposure to melittin did not reduce the MIC of the quinolones tested, but it decreased the MIC of ceftizoxime by 8-fold due to its ability to form pores in the membrane. Furthermore, melittin disrupted mature biofilms (39.58% at 32 μM) and inhibited the adhesion of this uropathogen to the surfaces of urethral catheter. These results show that melittin is a promising molecule that can be incorporated into invasive urethral medical devices to prevent urinary infections caused by multidrug-resistant UPECs.

Jelleine, a Family of Peptides Isolated from the Royal Jelly of the Honey Bees (Apis mellifera), as a Promising Prototype for New Medicines: A Narrative Review

“…Despite their potent antibacterial effects, one of the main limitations of using AMPs is related to their toxicity [4,5,56]. This is because many of these compounds also act on the zwitterionic cell membrane characteristics of mammalian cells, resulting in significant cytotoxicity [101].…”

“…In the past, apitherapy products were frequently used as natural remedies and their roots can be traced back to ancient Egypt more than 6000 years ago [2]. Recently, bee products have been newly incorporated into medical practice with a focus on isolating bioactive molecules with various pharmacological properties, especially antimicrobial [3][4][5], anti-inflammatory [6], healing [7,8], antioxidant/antiaging [9], and antitumoral properties [10].…”