Veterinary Research Forum
Vet Res Forum

In silico molecular design of narrow-spectrum antimicrobial peptide XMK-8 and analysis of factors influencing its antibacterial activity

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Hang Bolin 1
Zhu Qianlei 1
Zhou Yuqi 1
Mustalimu Mustafa 1
Wang Yuxin 1
Yan Yuting 1
Yu Man 1
Zhang Guoshuai 1
Zhang Jinrong 1
Li Jie 2
He Hongxuan 1, 3
Chen Lin 4
Xia Xiaojing 1, 3
Baoguo Liu 1

1 College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Henan Institute of Science and Technology, Xinxiang, China

2 Product Quality Inspection and Testing Center in Xinxiang, Xinxiang, China

3 Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China

4 Agricultural Comprehensive Administrative Law Enforcement Brigade of Jinpu New Area, Dalian, China

https://doi.org/10.30466/vrf.2025.2056782.4711
Abstract
This study aimed to obtain a narrow-spectrum antimicrobial peptide. A peptide XMK-8 was designed based on the amino acid sequence of goose MyHC1 protein from positions 1919 to 1936 (some parameters do not meet the requirements of antimicrobial peptides through bioinformatics analysis) using bioinformatics tools and amino acid substitution method. The minimum inhibitory concentration was determined using liquid double dilution method, the hemolysis rate was determined using dilution method, and the effects of temperature, acid-base, enzyme, and salt ions on its antimicrobial activity were evaluated using liquid double dilution method. The results showed that the designed peptide was a cationic hydrophilic peptide with high amphiphilicity and low hemolytic activity on mouse red blood cells. It had no antimicrobial activity against Escherichia coli, Salmonella, Staphylococcus aureus, and Aeromonas hydrophila. The minimum inhibitory concentration against Pasteurella multocida was 250 μg mL-1, and the minimum inhibitory concentration against Haemophilus parasuis was 1.00 mg mL-1. The antimicrobial activity of the narrow-spectrum antimicrobial peptide XMK-8 can still be detected after treatment with temperature (0.00 - 100 ˚C), salt ions (sodium ions and potassium ions; 50.00 - 200 mmol L-1), pH (4.00 - 10.00), and protease K (20.00 - 100 μg mL-1). Antimicrobial peptide XMK-8 was expected to become a new alternative to antibiotics and would have good application prospects in the prevention and treatment of P. multocida and H. parasuis infections.

Keywords

Antimicrobial activity
Antimicrobial peptide
Hemolysis
Molecular design
Narrow-spectrum antibiotics
Subjects
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Veterinary Research Forum
Volume 17, Issue 2
February 2026
Pages 81-88

  • Receive Date 28 March 2025
  • Revise Date 30 July 2025
  • Accept Date 27 August 2025

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