S-thanatin (Ts) peptide is a short antimicrobial peptide (AMP) that exhibits lipopolysaccharide (LPS) binding affinity. The interaction between the Ts peptide and LPS could promote the intercalation of Ts into the cytoplastic membrane, subsequently resulting in a leaky cytoplastic membrane and the disintegration of bacterial respiration and energization. Ts peptide can kill bacteria in a membrane-dependent manner and has been shown to exhibit active antibacterial activity towards numerous gram-negative bacteria, including MDR bacteria. Ts peptide-functionalized levofloxacin-loaded liposomes showed targeted drug delivery to bacteria and exhibited an excellent therapeutic effect in the septic mouse model induced by MDR-KPN.
Fan X, Fan J, Wang X, Wu P, Wu G. S-thanatin functionalized liposome potentially targeting on Klebsiella pneumoniae and its application in sepsis mouse model. Front Pharmacol. 2015