Lentivirus Lytic Peptide 1 Perturbs both Outer and Inner Membranes of <i>Serratia marcescens</i>

Abstract

Bis-lentivirus lytic protein 1 (Bis-LLP1) and polymyxin B exhibited similar killing activities against Serratia marcescens. By electron microscopy, bis-LLP1 interacted with the outer and cytoplasmic bacterial membranes, while polymyxin B affected only the outer membrane. The results of standard biochemical probes supported the findings of the electron microscopy studies, suggesting that these antimicrobial peptides have different mechanisms of action.