Comparing selection on S. aureus between antimicrobial peptides and common antibiotics

Dobson, A. J. , Purves, J., Kamysz, W. and Rolff, J. (2013) Comparing selection on S. aureus between antimicrobial peptides and common antibiotics. PLoS ONE, 8(10), e76521. (doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0076521) (PMID:24204634) (PMCID:PMC3799789)

Abstract

With a diminishing number of effective antibiotics, there has been interest in developing antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) as drugs. However, any new drug faces potential bacterial resistance evolution. Here, we experimentally compare resistance evolution in Staphylococcus aureus selected by three AMPs (from mammals, amphibians and insects), a combination of two AMPs, and two antibiotics: the powerful last-resort vancomycin and the classic streptomycin. We find that resistance evolves readily against single AMPs and against streptomycin, with no detectable fitness cost. However the response to selection from our combination of AMPs led to extinction, in a fashion qualitatively similar to vancomycin. This is consistent with the hypothesis that simultaneous release of multiple AMPs during immune responses is a factor which constrains evolution of AMP resistant pathogens.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Dobson, Dr Adam
• Authors: Dobson, A. J., Purves, J., Kamysz, W., and Rolff, J.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Molecular Biosciences
• Journal Name: PLoS ONE
• Publisher: Public Library of Science
• ISSN: 1932-6203
• ISSN (Online): 1932-6203
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2013 Dobson et al.
• First Published: First published in PLoS ONE 8(10): e76521
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced under a Creative Commons License