Fig. 8

In vivo activity of Pol-CP-NH₂ and its analogs. a Schematic of the experimental design. Briefly, the back of mice was shaved and an abrasion was generated to damage the stratum corneum and the upper layer of the epidermis. Subsequently, an aliquot of 50 μL containing 5 × 10⁷ CFU of P. aeruginosa in PBS was inoculated over each defined area. One day after the infection, peptides (4 μmol L⁻¹) were administered to the infected area. Four animals per group were euthanized and the area of scarified skin was excised two days post-infection b homogenized using a bead beater for 20 min (25 Hz), and serially diluted for CFU quantification (statistical significance was determined using two-way ANOVA followed by Dunnett’s test, ****p < 0.0001). c Mouse body weight measurements throughout the experiment normalized by the body weight of non-infected mice. The wild-type peptide and the most active analog ([Lys]⁷-Pol-CP-NH₂) were used at 64 μmol L⁻¹, where infection and CFU quantification were performed as described in b, the body weight of mice treated with peptide did not change abruptly compared to untreated mice. d Longer experiment (four days) using a higher concentration (64 μmol L⁻¹) of peptides Pol-CP-NH₂ and [Lys]⁷-Pol-CP-NH₂ (four mice per group and statistical significance was determined using two-way ANOVA followed by Dunnett’s test, ****p < 0.0001)