GVF27, a human derived peptide with anti-infective properties against biofilm forming members of the Burkholderia cepacia complex

Abstract Therapeutic solutions to counter Burkholderia cepacia complex (Bcc) bacteria are challenging due to their intrinsically high level of antibiotic resistance. Bcc organisms display a variety of potential virulence factors, have a distinct lipopolysaccharide naturally implicated in antimicrobial resistance and are able to form biofilms, which may further protect them from both host defence peptides (HDPs) and antibiotics. Here, we report the extremely promising anti-biofilm and immunomodulatory activities of human HDP GVF27 on two of the most clinically relevant Bcc members, as Burkholderia multivorans and Burkholderia cenocepacia. The effects of synthetic and labelled GVF27 were tested on B. cenocepacia and B. multivorans biofilms, at three different stages of formation, by alternative microscopy approaches. Assays on bacterial cultures and on human monocytes challenged with B. cenocepacia LPS, were also performed. GVF27 exerts, at different stages of formation, meaningful anti-biofilm effects towards both Bcc strains, a significant propensity to function in combination with ciprofloxacin, a relevant affinity for LPSs isolated from Burkholderia cenocepacia as well as a good propensity to mitigate the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines in human cells pre-treated with the same endotoxin. Overall, all these findings contribute to the elucidation of the main features that a good therapeutic agent directed against these extremely leathery biofilm-forming bacteria should possess.