2. Academic Validation
  3. Antibacterial efficacy and mechanism of the novel antimicrobial peptide lachnospirin-1 against Acinetobacter baumannii

Antibacterial efficacy and mechanism of the novel antimicrobial peptide lachnospirin-1 against Acinetobacter baumannii

  • Virulence. 2026 Dec 31;17(1):2646808. doi: 10.1080/21505594.2026.2646808.
Pengfei She 1,  Mengna Li 2 3,  Yiqing Liu 2 3,  Guanqing Huang 2 3,  Shaowei Guo 3 4,  Dan Xiao 3 4,  Yelan Hong 3 4,  Lihua Lu 3 4,  Yong Wu 2 3 4
Affiliations

Affiliations

  • 1 Department of Laboratory Medicine, The Third Xiangya Hosipital, Central South University, Changsha, China.
  • 2 Department of Laboratory Medicine, Xiangya Hosipital, Central South University, Changsha, China.
  • 3 Department of Laboratory Medicine, Changsha First Hospital (Affiliated Changsha Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine Central South University ), Changsha, China.
  • 4 Department of Laboratory Medicine, Postgraduate Cooperative Training Base of Changsha First Hospital, Hengyang Medical College, University of South China, Changsha, China.
PMID: 41838520 DOI: 10.1080/21505594.2026.2646808
Abstract

The treatment of carbapenem-resistant A. baumannii (CRAB) infections has become a major global medical challenge; therefore, there is an urgent need for new antimicrobial development. Antimicrobial peptides hold great promising potential due to their rapid bactericidal activity and low induction of drug resistance. In this study, we screened and synthesized the antimicrobial peptide lachnospirin-1, which exhibited significant bactericidal activity against CRAB and can also effectively eliminate its biofilms and persister cells. Mechanism studies, including fluorescent probe detection, transmission electron microscopy observations, and molecular dynamics simulations, et al. indicated that lachnospirin-1 exerts its effects through multiple mechanisms, such as disrupting Bacterial cell membranes, neutralizing lipopolysaccharide, as well as inducing oxidative stress, which also demonstrates its certain potential. In addition, the favorable safety profile and effective in vivo bactericidal activity of lachnospirin-1 were determined by mouse models. Overall, our study found that lachnospirin-1 has considerable research potential as a lead compound and possesses latent value as a clinical therapy for refractory infections caused by CRAB.

Keywords

Antimicrobial peptide; acinetobacter baumannii; carbapenem-resistance; cell membrane; lipopolysaccharide; oxidative stress.

Figures
Products