The novel cationic cell-penetrating peptide PEP-NJSM is highly active against Staphylococcus epidermidis biofilm

Abstract A cationic cell-penetrating peptide PEP-NJSM was identified in human virus proteomes by a screening of charge clusters in protein sequences generating cell penetrating peptides (CPP). PEP-NJSM was selectively active against Gram positive Staphylococcus epidermidis as antibacterial agent with MIC value of 128 μM compared to the Gram-negative Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain with MIC value exceeded 512 μM. The selected peptide exhibited an important anti-biofilm activity even at sub-MIC levels. PEP-NJSM could prevent biofilm formation and increase the mortality of cells inside mature S. epidermidis biofilm. The results demonstrated that PEP-NJSM presented an important anti-adherent activity. It showed a S. epidermidis inhibition of biofilm formation >84% at a concentration of 256 μM (2 X MIC) and remained active even at a concentration of 4 μM with 32% of inhibition. The eradication of the established biofilm was observed at a concentration of 256 μM with 55.7% of biofilm eradication. The peptide was active against mature biofilm even at low concentration of 0.5 μM with approximately 22.9% of eradication. PEP-NJSM exhibited low hemolytic activity and cytotoxicity against mammalian cells. Our results demonstrate that PEP-NJSM could have a potential role in the treatment of diseases related to Staphylococcus epidermidis infection.