In vitro antibacterial activity of NET1 and NET3 peptide against carbapenem-resistant and susceptible Klebsiella pneumoniae

Nihan Ünübol; Tuba Polat; Merve Açıkel Elmas; Meltem Ayaş

doi:10.31067/acusaglik.1703845

In vitro antibacterial activity of NET1 and NET3 peptide against carbapenem-resistant and susceptible Klebsiella pneumoniae

Abstract

Purpose: In recent years, antimicrobial resistance is one of the biggest and most important reasons for the difficulties in treating infections and threatening public health. One of the priority pathogens listed by the World Health Organization is carbapenem resistant Enterobacterales (Klebsiella pneumoniae). Antimicrobial peptides are considered as alternatives to antibiotics due to their broad-spectrum antibacterial properties and the difficulty of developing resistance. In this study, we investigated the antimicrobial effects of NET1 and NET3 peptides, which are known to have antimicrobial effects on different bacteria, on carbapenem-resistant and -susceptible K. pneumoniae control strains. Methods: NET1 and NET3 peptides were synthesized and purified. In vitro antibacterial activity of the peptides against carbapenem-resistant and susceptible K. pneumoniae was demonstrated by minimum inhibitory concentration test and minimum bactericidal concentration test. In addition, the mechanism of action of the peptides on carbapenem-resistant K. pneumoniae cells was investigated by scanning electron microscopy. Results: The minimum inhibitory concentration and minimum bactericidal concentration results of NET1 peptide are 4 µg/ml for carbapenem-resistant K. pneumoniae and 2 µg/ml for NET3 peptide. Scanning electron microscope imaging has shown that NET3 peptide exhibits antibacterial activity by damaging the carbapenem-resistant K. pneumoniae cell membrane and disrupting the permeability of the outer membrane. Conclusion: When our results are evaluated, we show that NET1 and NET3 peptide has the potential to be a new generation broad-spectrum antibiotic candidate that can be used for the treatment of carbapenem-resistant K. pneumoniae infection.

Keywords

Supporting Institution

Acibadem University

Ethical Statement

This article does not contain any studies with human participants or animals performed by any of the authors.

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Infectious Diseases

Journal Section

Research Article

Authors

Nihan Ünübol ^*
0000-0003-4644-112X
Türkiye

Tuba Polat
0000-0001-6957-035X
Türkiye

Merve Açıkel Elmas
0000-0002-5992-8191
Türkiye

Meltem Ayaş
0000-0003-1920-9261
Türkiye

Early Pub Date

September 9, 2025

Publication Date

October 1, 2025

Submission Date

May 22, 2025

Acceptance Date

July 21, 2025

Published in Issue

Year 2025 Volume: 16 Number: 4

DOI

https://doi.org/10.31067/acusaglik.1703845

IZ

https://izlik.org/JA26UF82RN

Cite

RIS / Bibtex

EndNote

Ünübol N, Polat T, Açıkel Elmas M, Ayaş M (October 1, 2025) In vitro antibacterial activity of NET1 and NET3 peptide against carbapenem-resistant and susceptible Klebsiella pneumoniae. Acıbadem Üniversitesi Sağlık Bilimleri Dergisi 16 4 527–533.