Abstract

This study aims to investigate the antimicrobial effects of eel antimicrobial peptides against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus, as well as to assess their impact on wound healing in a rat model. The antimicrobial activity was evaluated using the agar plate method, a widely accepted technique for assessing the susceptibility of bacteria to antimicrobial agents. A rat wound model was utilized to study the potential promoting effects of eel antimicrobial peptides on the wound healing process. The findings indicated that eel antimicrobial peptides not only exhibited a remarkable antimicrobial activity against the tested bacteria but also significantly accelerated the wound healing process in the rat model. The treated wounds showed faster closure, enhanced re-epithelialization, and increased collagen synthesis compared to the control group. Moreover, the eel antimicrobial peptides seemed to modulate the local immune response, promoting an environment conducive to healing without causing significant inflammation. The study also explored the possible mechanisms underlying the wound healing effects of eel antimicrobial peptides. It was hypothesized that eel antimicrobial peptides might stimulate the migration and proliferation of fibroblasts and keratinocytes, key cell types in tissue repair. Additionally, the peptides could potentially regulate the expression of growth factors and cytokines that are critical in the wound healing cascade.