Antibiofilm activity of a chionodracine‐derived peptide by NMR ‐based metabolomics of cell‐free supernatant of Acinetobacter baumannii clinical strains

The ability of Acinetobacter baumannii to form biofilm is correlated with its antimicrobial resistance. The identification of antimicrobial drugs acting on biofilm is crucial to develop effective therapies. Previously, we determined that a chionodracine‐derived peptide, KHS‐Cnd, was able to impair A. baumannii biofilm formation. Here, to investigate the physiological changes underlying this activity, extracellular metabolite profiles of four A. baumannii strains were analyzed by NMR during biofilm formation in the presence of KHS‐Cnd. Metabolites involved in biofilm energy metabolism were found extracellularly after KHS‐Cnd treatment. Significantly altered pathways were associated with glyoxylate/dicarboxylate and branched‐chain/aromatic amino acid metabolism. Overall, differences in extracellular metabolites reflect modifications of biofilm metabolism due to peptide treatment, thus highlighting its therapeutic potential against A. baumannii biofilm‐sustained infections.