Antibacterial effects of two synthetic peptides against Enterococcus faecalis biofilms: a preliminary in vitro study


https://doi.org/10.32067/GIE.2020.34.01.15
Vol. 34 No. 1 (2020)
Submitted: 31 January 2020
Accepted: 25 February 2020
Published: 4 June 2020
antimicrobical peptides, biofilm, confocal laser scanner microscopy, enterococcus faecalis
Abstract Views: 506
PDF: 231
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Authors

  • Giovanni Mergoni
    gmergon@gmail.com
    Department of Medicine & Surgery, Dentistry Center, University of Parma, Italy.
  • Maddalena Manfredi Department of Medicine & Surgery, Dentistry Center, University of Parma, Italy.
  • Pio Bertani Department of Medicine & Surgery, Dentistry Center, University of Parma, Italy.
  • Tecla Ciociola Department of Medicine & Surgery, Laboratory of Microbiology & Virology, University of Parma, Parma, Italy.
  • Stefania Conti Department of Medicine & Surgery, Laboratory of Microbiology & Virology, University of Parma, Parma, Italy.
  • Laura Giovati Department of Medicine & Surgery, Laboratory of Microbiology & Virology, University of Parma, Parma, Italy.

Aim: Current endodontic techniques are unable to fully eradicate intracanal bacteria. Thus, new agents that effectively eliminate endodontic pathogens are needed. The aim of this study was to assess the antibacterial properties of two synthetic peptides, namely KP and L18R, against planktonic cells and biofilms of the endodontic pathogen Enterococcus faecalis.

Methodology:KP and L18R bactericidal activity against E. faecalisATCC 29212 was evaluated by colony forming unit assays and the half maximal effective concentration (EC50) was calculated. The effect of peptides on E. faecalis biofilm formation onto polystyrene plates was also assessed by the crystal violet assay. Confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) analysis was carried out to compare the effects of KP, L18R, and a Ca(OH)2saturated solution in an in vitro model of dental infection consisting in 2-day-old E. faecalisbiofilms grown on hydroxyapatite disks.

Results: Both KP and L18R showed strong bactericidal activity against planktonic E. faecalis. L18R proved to be 10-folds more effective than KP (KP and L18R EC50values = 4.520 × 10‑6 Mand 3.624 × 10-7 M, respectively). Peptides inhibited E. faecalis biofilm formation in a dose-dependent manner and L18R resulted more effective than KP.CLSM images showed that Ca(OH)2, KP and L18R remarkably impaired E. faecalis biofilms pre-grown on hydroxyapatite.

Conclusions: KP and L18R effectively inhibited E. faecalis, both in planktonic and biofilm form. L18R demonstrated a more potent antibacterial activity than KP. These preliminary results suggest that antimicrobial peptides may represent a promising new strategy for endodontic infection control.


Mergoni, G., Manfredi, M., Bertani, P., Ciociola, T., Conti, S., & Giovati, L. (2020). Antibacterial effects of two synthetic peptides against Enterococcus faecalis biofilms: a preliminary in vitro study. Giornale Italiano Di Endodonzia, 34(1). https://doi.org/10.32067/GIE.2020.34.01.15

Giornale Italiano di Endodonzia has chosen to apply the Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC 4.0) to all manuscripts to be published.

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