%0 Journal Article
%T In Vitro and In Vivo Anti-Candida albicans Activity of a Scorpion-Derived Peptide.
%A Li Z
%A Shui Y
%A Wang H
%A Li S
%A Deng B
%A Zhang W
%A Gao S
%A Zhao L
%J Probiotics Antimicrob Proteins
%V 0
%N 0
%D 2024 Feb 19
%M 38372937
%F 5.265
%R 10.1007/s12602-024-10233-3
%X The increasing infection and drug resistance frequency has encouraged the exploration of new and effective anti-Candida albicans agents. In this study, CT-K3K7, a scorpion antimicrobial peptide derivative, effectively inhibit the growth of C. albicans. CT-K3K7 killed C. albicans cells in a dose-dependent manner, mainly by damaging the plasma membrane. CT-K3K7 could also disrupt the nucleus and interact with nucleic acid. Moreover, CT-K3K7 induced C. albicans cells necrosis via a reactive oxygen species (ROS)-related pathway. Furthermore, CT-K3K7 inhibited the hyphal and biofilm formation of C. albicans. In the mouse skin subcutaneous infection model, CT-K3K7 significantly prevented skin abscess formation and reduced the number of C. albicans cells recovered from the infection area. Taken together, CT-K3K7 has the potential to be a therapeutic for C. albicans skin infections.