Anti-leishmanial activity of the antimicrobial peptide DRS 01 observed in Leishmania infantum (syn. Leishmania chagasi) cells

Leishmaniasis is a serious disease caused by parasites from the Leishmania genus. Current medication is inadequate, and the antimicrobial peptide DRS 01 has been described as an efficient leishmanicidal agent against L. infantum promastigotes, although little is known about its mechanism of action. Here we report scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy studies of the effects of DRS 01 on this species' promastigotes. The results indicate concentration dependent changes in treated cells that affect overall cell shape and membrane structure. The results suggest a membrane-and flagella-focused attack.116