Loot a burning house: Strategies to enhance the antibacterial activity of antimicrobial peptides

In recent years, antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are gaining remarkable interest in their application agriculture and food industry. Thanks to the bacteria cell membrane permeabilization capability of AMPs, treatment AMP potentially allows entry a secondary agent into bacterial cells. The fractional inhibitory concentration (FIC) assay showed synergy antibacterial effect AMPs combination with citric acid (CA) ΣFICI values 0.3 for IDR-1018 0.4 1018-K6 on Salmonella enterica. Under scanning electron microscopy (SEM), structural damages cells were observed after both CA but different manners. When used combination, demonstrated more pronounced deformation than individual treatment. This great potentials when applied onto fresh produce. After 120 min at room temperature, 2.5 μmol L−1 0.1% inactivated blueberries from 4.14 ± 0.05 log CFU/berry 2.26 0.39 CFU/berry. 1 day storage 4 °C, load treated berries further decreased 1.76 CFU/berry, whereas 2 onwards, was below enumeration limit (1.40 CFU/berry). Last, this strategy enhancing activity is also applicable other (as tested Escherichia coli) agents rose bengal).