Articles of Significant Interest in This Issue

Abstract

Peptides Affecting the MlaA-OmpC/F System Reduce Avian Pathogenic Escherichia coli (APEC) Colonization Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are promising antibacterials because of their low propensity for resistance development and their ability to kill resistant bacteria. Kathayat et al. (e00567-21) showed that small peptides (NPSRQERR, PDENK, and VHTAPK) were effective in reducing infections with avian pathogenic Escherichia coli (APEC), a form of extraintestinal pathogenic E. coli (ExPEC), in chickens. Further, they showed that these peptides likely affect MlaA-OmpC/F, a system critical for maintaining bacterial outer membrane lipid asymmetry, which represents a high-value target for treating antibiotic-resistant infections. This work highlights a valuable approach for development of novel therapies for ExPEC and other related Gram-negative pathogens.