# Antibiofilm activity of a chionodracine‐derived peptide by NMR‐based metabolomics of cell‐free supernatant of Acinetobacter baumannii clinical strains

## TL;DR

A chionodracine-derived peptide disrupts Acinetobacter baumannii biofilms and alters their metabolic pathways, suggesting potential as a treatment for biofilm-related infections.

## Contribution

The study reveals how a chionodracine-derived peptide affects A. baumannii biofilm metabolism through NMR-based metabolomics.

## Key findings

- KHS-Cnd impairs biofilm formation and disaggregates mature biofilms in A. baumannii clinical isolates.
- Peptide treatment alters extracellular metabolites linked to glyoxylate/dicarboxylate and amino acid metabolism.
- Changes in extracellular metabolites suggest therapeutic potential against biofilm-sustained infections.

## Abstract

The ability of Acinetobacter baumannii to form biofilm is correlated with its antimicrobial resistance. The identification of antimicrobial drugs acting on biofilm is crucial to develop effective therapies. Previously, we determined that a chionodracine‐derived peptide, KHS‐Cnd, was able to impair A. baumannii biofilm formation. Here, to investigate the physiological changes underlying this activity, extracellular metabolite profiles of four A. baumannii strains were analyzed by NMR during biofilm formation in the presence of KHS‐Cnd. Metabolites involved in biofilm energy metabolism were found extracellularly after KHS‐Cnd treatment. Significantly altered pathways were associated with glyoxylate/dicarboxylate and branched‐chain/aromatic amino acid metabolism. Overall, differences in extracellular metabolites reflect modifications of biofilm metabolism due to peptide treatment, thus highlighting its therapeutic potential against A. baumannii biofilm‐sustained infections.

KHS‐Cnd peptide is able to impair biofilm formation and disaggregate mature biofilms in Acinetobacter baumannii clinical isolates. Differences in extracellular metabolites reflect changes in biofilm metabolism due to KHS‐Cnd treatment. Among the differentially represented extracellular metabolites upon KHS‐Cnd treatment, the significantly altered pathways were highly associated with glyoxylate/dicarboxylate and branched‐chain/aromatic amino acid metabolism.