Results Phenotypic features and clonal relatedness of CF strains A total of 9 out of 25 P. aeruginosa strains tested showed mucoid phenotype on MHA, while 3 exhibited SCV phenotype. Among 15 S. aureus Eltanexor check details isolates tested, 7 were methicillin-resistant. PFGE analysis showed 8, 21, and 12 different pulsotypes among S. aureus, S. maltophilia, and P. aeruginosa isolates, respectively. Among S. aureus isolates, only the PFGE type 1 was shared by multiple

strains, which comprised 8 isolates and 7 PFGE subtypes. Among S. maltophilia isolates, 2 multiple-strains PFGE types were observed: PFGE type 23 (5 isolates, 2 PFGE subtypes), and PFGE type 73 (2 isolates with identical PFGE profile). Among P. aeruginosa isolates, 5 multiple-strains PFGE types were observed: PFGE type 5 (6 isolates, 2 PFGE subtypes), PFGE type 1 (4 isolates with indistinguishable PFGE profile), PFGE types 9 and 11 (3 isolates each, with identical PFGE pattern), and PFGE type 8 (2 isolates, one PFGE subtype) (data not shown). In vitro activity of AMPs and Tobramycin against planktonic cells: MIC, MBC In order to determine the efficacy of AMPs, the antimicrobial activity was measured against 67 CF clinical isolates, and results CDK inhibitor are summarized in Table 1. Overall, BMAP-28 showed the widest activity spectrum among AMPs tested, as suggested

by MIC90 and MBC90 values (16 μg/ml, for both), although all of them exhibited a species-specific Axenfeld syndrome activity. In fact, although AMPs showed comparable activity against P. aeruginosa, BMAP-28 was found to be more active than P19(9/B) against S. maltophilia, and resulted the best active AMP against S. aureus (MIC90: 32 μg/ml; MBC90: 32 μg/ml). Compared

to AMPs, Tobramycin exhibited a lower activity (MIC90 and MBC90: >64 μg/ml) regardless of the species considered. Killing quotient values, calculated as MBC/MIC ratio, were < 4 for all AMPs, as well as for Tobramycin, clearly suggesting a bactericidal activity. No differences in susceptibility levels to AMPs were found with regard to phenotype (mucoid, SCV, MRSA), pulsotype, or susceptibility to Tobramycin (data not shown). Table 1 In vitro activity of BMAP-27, BMAP-28, P19(9/B), and Tobramycin against P. aeruginosa, S. maltophilia and S. aureus CF strains Bacterial strains (n) Test agent: BMAP-27 BMAP-28 P19(9/B) TOBRAMYCIN P. aeruginosa (25) MIC50 a 8 16 8 16 MIC90 b 16 32 32 >64 MICrange 4-16 4–32 4–32 2- > 64 MBC50 c 8 16 16 32 MBC90 d 16 32 64 >64 MBCrange 4–16 4–64 4- > 64 2- > 64 MBC/MIC 1.3 1.2 1.9e 1.5f S. maltophilia (27) MIC50 a 4 4 4 >64 MIC90 b 8 4 16 >64 MICrange 4-8 2–8 4–32 4- > 64 MBC50 c 8 4 8 >64 MBC90 d 16 8 32 >64 MBCrange 4–32 2–16 4–64 8- > 64 MBC/MIC 1.9 1.3 1.7 1.3g S. aureus (15) MIC50 a 64 8 64 >64 MIC90 b >64 32 >64 >64 MICrange 32- > 64 4–32 32- > 64 4- > 64 MBC50 c >64 8 >64 >64 MBC90 d >64 32 >64 >64 MBCrange 64- > 64 4–32 32- > 64 4- > 64 MBC/MIC 1.2h 1.2 1.2i 1.