Evaluation of Satanin 1 as a potential antifungal antimicrobial peptide to treat Malassezia infections

Abstract Malassezia is a fungal genus that is part of the skin’s normal mycobiota but can also cause various diseases. The emergence of resistance to antimicrobial agents in several microorganisms, including Malassezia yeasts, has led to the exploration of new therapeutic alternatives such as antimi...

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Main Authors: Juan Sebastián Molina Pineda, María Alejandra Gómez Rivera, Kevin Ehemann Guerrero, Maritza Torres, Julián Esteban Muñoz Henao, Adriana Marcela Celis Ramírez
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-04-01
Series:Scientific Reports
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-99464-0
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author Juan Sebastián Molina Pineda
María Alejandra Gómez Rivera
Kevin Ehemann Guerrero
Maritza Torres
Julián Esteban Muñoz Henao
Adriana Marcela Celis Ramírez
author_facet Juan Sebastián Molina Pineda
María Alejandra Gómez Rivera
Kevin Ehemann Guerrero
Maritza Torres
Julián Esteban Muñoz Henao
Adriana Marcela Celis Ramírez
author_sort Juan Sebastián Molina Pineda
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Malassezia is a fungal genus that is part of the skin’s normal mycobiota but can also cause various diseases. The emergence of resistance to antimicrobial agents in several microorganisms, including Malassezia yeasts, has led to the exploration of new therapeutic alternatives such as antimicrobial peptides. This study aimed to investigate the effect of Satanin 1, a recently identified antimicrobial peptide, against Malassezia using broth microdilution assays, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), and a Galleria mellonella infection model. Results showed that the Minimal Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) of Satanin 1 against Malassezia ranged from 50 to 12.5 µg/mL, and the peptide works by affecting the fungal cell surface. Nonetheless, Satanin 1 treatment did not improve the survival of infected G. mellonella, possibly due to an exacerbated immune response in the larvae, as shown by hemocyte population characterization and histopathological analyses. Continued investigation into alternative molecules, like antimicrobial peptides, is essential to combat the increasing threat of antifungal resistant microorganisms.
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spelling doaj-art-4f3de77aec9b4007a778e6f8219ae9b42025-08-20T02:10:50ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-04-0115111010.1038/s41598-025-99464-0Evaluation of Satanin 1 as a potential antifungal antimicrobial peptide to treat Malassezia infectionsJuan Sebastián Molina Pineda0María Alejandra Gómez Rivera1Kevin Ehemann Guerrero2Maritza Torres3Julián Esteban Muñoz Henao4Adriana Marcela Celis Ramírez5Grupo de Investigación Celular y Molecular de Microorganismos Patógenos, Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad de los AndesGrupo de Investigación Celular y Molecular de Microorganismos Patógenos, Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad de los AndesGrupo de Investigación Celular y Molecular de Microorganismos Patógenos, Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad de los AndesGrupo de Investigación Celular y Molecular de Microorganismos Patógenos, Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad de los AndesGrupo de Estudios en Microbiología Traslacional y Enfermedades Emergentes, Escuela de Medicina y Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad del RosarioGrupo de Investigación Celular y Molecular de Microorganismos Patógenos, Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad de los AndesAbstract Malassezia is a fungal genus that is part of the skin’s normal mycobiota but can also cause various diseases. The emergence of resistance to antimicrobial agents in several microorganisms, including Malassezia yeasts, has led to the exploration of new therapeutic alternatives such as antimicrobial peptides. This study aimed to investigate the effect of Satanin 1, a recently identified antimicrobial peptide, against Malassezia using broth microdilution assays, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), and a Galleria mellonella infection model. Results showed that the Minimal Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) of Satanin 1 against Malassezia ranged from 50 to 12.5 µg/mL, and the peptide works by affecting the fungal cell surface. Nonetheless, Satanin 1 treatment did not improve the survival of infected G. mellonella, possibly due to an exacerbated immune response in the larvae, as shown by hemocyte population characterization and histopathological analyses. Continued investigation into alternative molecules, like antimicrobial peptides, is essential to combat the increasing threat of antifungal resistant microorganisms.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-99464-0
spellingShingle Juan Sebastián Molina Pineda
María Alejandra Gómez Rivera
Kevin Ehemann Guerrero
Maritza Torres
Julián Esteban Muñoz Henao
Adriana Marcela Celis Ramírez
Evaluation of Satanin 1 as a potential antifungal antimicrobial peptide to treat Malassezia infections
Scientific Reports
title Evaluation of Satanin 1 as a potential antifungal antimicrobial peptide to treat Malassezia infections
title_full Evaluation of Satanin 1 as a potential antifungal antimicrobial peptide to treat Malassezia infections
title_fullStr Evaluation of Satanin 1 as a potential antifungal antimicrobial peptide to treat Malassezia infections
title_full_unstemmed Evaluation of Satanin 1 as a potential antifungal antimicrobial peptide to treat Malassezia infections
title_short Evaluation of Satanin 1 as a potential antifungal antimicrobial peptide to treat Malassezia infections
title_sort evaluation of satanin 1 as a potential antifungal antimicrobial peptide to treat malassezia infections
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-99464-0
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