Possible Antibiofilm Effect of Peptides Derived from IcaR Repressor of Staphylococcus epidermidis Responsible for Hospital-Acquired Sepsis

Antimicrobial peptides are alternatives to inhibit biofilm formation, which is mediated by ica ADBC and regulated by IcaR, as a mechanisms of virulence of S. epidermidis involved in hospital-acquired infections. Peptides with biological activity analog to the IcaR protein were designed using the prediction program Antibp; their chemical synthesis was carried out by Nα-Fmoc and the peptides were purified and characterized by RP-HPLC and MALDI-TOF. Red cells were used to determine their hemolytic activity. Peptides named IR1, IR2 and IR3, derived from IcaR, were characterized with a high degree of purity; their hemolytic activity was found to be less than 6 % and they were postulated as candidates with analog activity to the native IcaR repressor against the biofilm formation of S. epidermidis. Their low hemolytic potential, allow them to be use in future in vitro trials for therapeutic use.