Comparative activity and stability under salinity conditions of different antimicrobial peptides isolated from aquatic animals

Abstract

This study reports the in vitro activity of six antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) produced by aquatic animals (most marine invertebrates): tachyplesin (Tach), magainin (Mag), clavanin (Clav), penaeidin (Pen), mytilin (Myt) and antilipopolysaccharide factor (ALF) against marine vibrios, filamentous fungi and yeast. Their stability under salinity conditions and seawater was also examined. The results showed that Mag, Myt and especially Tach and ALF (minimum inhibitory concentration<1.5 μM) had a potent activity against all tested vibrio species, whereas Clav and Pen were ineffective (up to 50 μM). With respect to the antifungal activity, each AMP had a different potency according to the fungal species. In general terms, Tach was the most potent peptide, followed by Mag. Interestingly, Tach, Myt and ALF had a significant effect on the filamentous fungus Fusarium solani that could be pathogenic to marine organisms. All AMPs had a tendency to decrease or lose their activity at high salinity (>225 mM NaCl). Tach and Myt were the most stable peptides, maintaining significant activity under seawater salinity (450 mM). Curiously, all peptides lost their effect under seawater conditions. The results suggest that Tach, ALF and Myt are the most promising candidates for potential therapeutic use in farmed-marine species, because all have a significant and broad antimicrobial activity maintained at high salinity.