AUTHOR=Li Sushan , Tang Zhanhan , Liu Zhe , Lv Sha , Yao Chunli , Wang Shuang , Li Fuqiu 

TITLE=Antifungal activity of indolicidin-derived peptide In-58 against Sporothrix globosa in vitro and in vivo

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Medicine

VOLUME=11

YEAR=2024

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/medicine/articles/10.3389/fmed.2024.1458951

DOI=10.3389/fmed.2024.1458951

ISSN=2296-858X

ABSTRACT=<p>In-58, a peptide derived from indolicidin, shows extraordinary antibacterial activity and lower toxicity than indolicidin toward mammalian cells. Here, we investigated the antifungal activity of In-58 against the human pathogen <italic>Sporothrix globosa in vitro</italic> and <italic>in vivo</italic>. In-58 markedly inhibited the growth of <italic>Sporothrix globosa</italic> isolates in microdilution assays and showed no antagonism with any tested antifungal agent (itraconazole, terbinafine or amphotericin B). Scanning electron microscopy and propidium iodide staining indicated that In-58 alters the cell wall integrity and interacts with DNA, leading to disruption of <italic>S. globosa</italic> in a dose-dependent manner. In <italic>S. globosa</italic>, the mitochondrial membrane potential decreased and reactive oxygen species increased after treatment with In-58. <italic>In vivo</italic> experiments in the <italic>Galleria mellonella</italic> (greater wax moth) larval infection model revealed the effectiveness of In-58 against <italic>S. globosa</italic> infection with low toxicity. Our results indicate that In-58 possesses remarkable antifungal activity against <italic>S. globosa in vitro</italic> and <italic>in vivo</italic>. It has potential as a novel drug for the treatment of sporotrichosis.</p>