2. Academic Validation
  3. Anti-Pseudomonas aeruginosa Activity of the Scorpion-Derived Peptide GK8

Anti-Pseudomonas aeruginosa Activity of the Scorpion-Derived Peptide GK8

  • Probiotics Antimicrob Proteins. 2025 Jul 3. doi: 10.1007/s12602-025-10590-7.
Zhongjie Li 1 2 3 4,  Huayi Wang 1 3,  Shasha Li 1 3,  Bo Deng 1 3,  Wenlu Zhang 5 6,  Pengfei Wu 1 3,  Wanwu Li 1 3,  Pengyang Xin 7,  Lingyu Zhao 8,  Shegan Gao 9 10
Affiliations

Affiliations

  • 1 Henan Provincial Key Laboratory of Microbiota and Esophageal Cancer Prevention and Control, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang, 471000, China.
  • 2 The First Affiliated Hospital of Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang, 471000, Henan, China.
  • 3 Microbial Pathogen and Anti-Infection Research Group, School of Basic Medicine and Forensic Medicine, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang, 471000, China.
  • 4 Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Translational Medicine Institute, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xi'an Jiao Tong University, Xi'an, 710049, Shaanxi, China.
  • 5 Henan Provincial Key Laboratory of Microbiota and Esophageal Cancer Prevention and Control, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang, 471000, China. z907733270@163.com.
  • 6 Microbial Pathogen and Anti-Infection Research Group, School of Basic Medicine and Forensic Medicine, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang, 471000, China. z907733270@163.com.
  • 7 State Key Laboratory of Antiviral Drugs, Pingyuan Laboratory, National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) Key Laboratory for Research and Evaluation of Innovative Drug, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Henan Normal University, Xinxiang, 453007, China. pyxin27@163.com.
  • 8 Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Translational Medicine Institute, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xi'an Jiao Tong University, Xi'an, 710049, Shaanxi, China. zhaolingyu@xjtu.edu.cn.
  • 9 Henan Provincial Key Laboratory of Microbiota and Esophageal Cancer Prevention and Control, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang, 471000, China. gsg112258@163.com.
  • 10 The First Affiliated Hospital of Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang, 471000, Henan, China. gsg112258@163.com.
PMID: 40608284 DOI: 10.1007/s12602-025-10590-7
Abstract

The increasing Infection and Antibiotic resistance of Pseudomonas aeruginosa has become a major threat to public health, making exploring new and effective antimicrobial agents particularly important. In this study, the scorpion-derived cationic peptide GK8 was designed, which showed effectiveness against P. aeruginosa including clinical resistance strains with low hemolytic activity. In the mouse skin subcutaneous Infection model, GK8 significantly decreased the number of P. aeruginosa cells and inflammatory infiltration in the infected area. Mechanism research showed that GK8 killed P. aeruginosa in a concentration- and time-dependent manner, damaging the membrane integrity and membrane potential, inducing ROS accumulation, and interacting with nucleic acids. Moreover, GK8 could inhibit the pathogenic factors of P. aeruginosa, including inhibiting adhesion, motility, pyocyanin production, protease and Elastase activities, and biofilm formation. Taken together, GK8 could be a potential alternative anti-infective agent against skin Infection caused by P. aeruginosa.

Keywords

Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Antimicrobial peptide; Scorpion; Skin infection.

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