Human neutrophil α-defensin HNP1 interacts with bacterial OmpA to promote Acinetobacter baumannii biofilm formation

Chongbing Liao, Qihui Liu, Gan Luo, Yinyue Luo, Dan Yao, Qingxia Wang, Jue Zhang, Yang Wu (), Jialin Jin (), Dan Xu () and Wuyuan Lu ()
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Chongbing Liao: Fudan University
Qihui Liu: Fudan University
Gan Luo: Fudan University
Yinyue Luo: Fudan University
Dan Yao: Fudan University
Qingxia Wang: Fudan University
Jue Zhang: Fudan University
Yang Wu: Fudan University
Jialin Jin: Fudan University
Dan Xu: Xi’an Jiaotong University
Wuyuan Lu: Fudan University

Nature Communications, 2025, vol. 16, issue 1, 1-19

Abstract: Abstract Acinetobacter baumannii is the causative agent of a wide range of nosocomial and community-acquired infections that remain extremely difficult to treat due largely to its antibiotic resistance contributed, in part, by biofilm formation. We find that the prototypic human neutrophil α-defensin HNP1, present in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluids from Acinetobacter baumannii-infected patients, promotes Acinetobacter baumannii biofilm formation through interactions with the bacterial outer membrane protein OmpA. As a result of HNP1-enhanced biofilm formation, Acinetobacter baumannii becomes more tolerant to antibiotics and more readily colonizes host cells and tissues. These unexpected findings contrast the protective roles HNP1 plays in innate immunity against microbial infection, showcasing an example of the host-pathogen arms race where a host defense peptide is exploited by a microbe for pathogenicity.

Date: 2025
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-60935-7

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