Membrane interaction of a new synthetic antimicrobial lipopeptide sp-85 with broad spectrum activity

- Sp-85 is a new synthetic antibiotic lipopeptide with broad spectrum activity.
- Pressure-area curves of mixed monolayers show non-ideal mixing.
- Binding to anionic liposomes results in fusion and leakage of aqueous contents.
- TEM images of antibiotic-exposed bacteria show damaged membranes.
- A mechanism of action based on bacterial membrane destabilization is proposed.