Antimicrobial activity and mechanistic insights into the tick peptide persulcatusin against vancomycin-susceptible and vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium strains
Takashi Sasaki
IntroductionThe emergence of multidrug-resistant bacteria, particularly vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE), represents a critical threat to global public health. Therefore, the development of novel therapeutic strategies is urgently required. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are promising candidates for combating these infections. Persulcatusin (IP), an AMP from the hard tick Ixodes persulcatus, exhibits potent activity against Staphylococcus aureus via membrane disruption. However, IP’s effica