The efficacy of the P13#1 peptoid was evaluated by in-vitro and in-vivo assays, and its minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was measured. To test the antimicrobial activity, the researchers conducted experiments on a wide range of bacterial strains such as P. aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Acinetobacter baumanii. These tests gave positive results showing low MIC values, even on strains typically infecting CF patients. The efficacy of the synergistic activity of the peptoid with antibiotics and its ability to inhibit the formation of bacterial biofilms was also evaluated. These assays gave positive results for the synergistic effect between P13#1 and colistin, while not relevant to the ability to reduce the bacterial biofilms of P. aeruginosa.
In mouse models infected with P. aeruginosa developed by the FFC CFaCore facility, peptoid#1 has shown interesting results but further investigation would be necessary to improve its biodistribution and reduce the observed local toxic effect. A strategy to optimize the administration of P13#1 might improve its usefulness in lung infection.

Congress abstracts

• Bosso A, Gaglione R, Ambrosio R et al. GVF27 and IMY47: two novel human peptides with marked anti-biofilm and immune-modulatory propensities, 9th International Meeting on Antimicrobial Peptides (IMAP 2019), Utrecht University, The Netherlands, August 28 – 30, 2019
• Masino A, Cafaro V, Siepi M et al. Luciferin and aminoluciferin as environment sensitive fluorescent labels for recombinant and synthetic peptides, 9th International Meeting on Antimicrobial Peptides (IMAP 2019), Utrecht University, The Netherlands, August 28 – 30, 2019