Potential therapeutic efficacy of a bactericidal-immunomodulatory fusion peptide against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus skin infection

To enhance the potential therapeutic efficacy of an antimicrobial peptide human beta-defensin 3, two fusion peptides, a bactericidal-immunomodulatory fusion peptide human beta-defensin 3-mannose-binding lectin and a bactericidal-bactericidal fusion peptide human beta-defensin 3-lysozyme were synthesized and the bactericidal activities in vitro and in vivo against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus N315 were demonstrated in this study. Peptide human beta-defensin 3-lysozyme showed the best bactericidal activity in vitro, but human beta-defensin 3-mannose-binding lectin showed a significant improvement in angiogenesis and tissue reconstruction. Our results illustrated that outstanding bactericidal activity in vitro is not essential in the development of antimicrobial peptides. Fusion strategy and immunomodulatory factors should be utilized in novel antimicrobial peptide development.