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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Auburn, Alabama » Aquatic Animal Health Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #386532
Research Project: Integrated Research to Improve Aquatic Animal Health in Warmwater Aquaculture

Location: Aquatic Animal Health Research

Title: The effect of piscidin antimicrobial peptides on the formation of Gram-negative bacterial biofilms

Author
item PRIOR, BENJAMIN - Auburn University
item Lange, Miles
item SALGER, SCOTT - Barton College
item READING, BENJAMIN - North Carolina State University
item PEATMAN, ERIC - Auburn University
item Beck, Benjamin

Submitted to: Journal of Fish Diseases
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/20/2021
Publication Date: 1/1/2022
Citation: Prior, B.S., Lange, M.D., Salger, S.A., Reading, B.J., Peatman, E., Beck, B.H. 2022. The effect of piscidin antimicrobial peptides on the formation of Gram-negative bacterial biofilms. Journal of Fish Diseases. 45(1):99-105. https://doi.org/10.1111/jfd.13540.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/jfd.13540

Interpretive Summary: Fish-derived antimicrobial peptides are an important part of the innate immune system because they often demonstrate potent antimicrobial properties. Piscidins are a class of antimicrobial peptides first described in hybrid striped bass but have also been identified in many other fish species. Previous work has shown broad antimicrobial activity of piscidins against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial species. We investigated the ability for bass piscidins to inhibit biofilm formation among different fish pathogens. The piscidins demonstrated broad inhibition against Flavobacterium columnare but had little to no activity against Aeromonas spp. The current study reveals potential mechanisms which could potentially be used to design new therapies to reduce disease problems among farmed fish.

Technical Abstract: Fish-derived antimicrobial peptides are an important part of the innate immune system because they often demonstrate potent antimicrobial properties. Piscidins are a class of antimicrobial peptides first described in hybrid striped bass (Morone chrysops, x Morone saxatilis) but have also been identified in many other fish species. Previous work has shown broad antimicrobial activity of piscidins against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial species. This study sought to determine the extent to which class I (striped bass piscidin 1, white bass piscidin 1 and striped bass/white bass piscidin 3) and class II (striped bass piscidin 4 and white bass piscidin 5) piscidins inhibit biofilm formation of different Gram-negative bacteria. In general, the class I and II piscidins demonstrate potent activity against Escherichia coli and Flavobacterium columnare biofilms. The class II piscidins showed more activity against E. coli and F. columnare isolates than did the class I piscidins. The piscidins in general were much less effective against inhibiting Aeromonas hydrophila and A. veronii biofilm growth. Only the class I piscidins showed significant growth inhibition among the Aeromonas spp. examined.