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Sanches BCP, Rocha CA, Martin Bedoya JG, da Silva VL, da Silva PB, Fusco-Almeida AM, Chorilli M, Contiero J, Crusca E, Marchetto R. Rhamnolipid-Based Liposomes as Promising Nano-Carriers for Enhancing the Antibacterial Activity of Peptides Derived from Bacterial Toxin-Antitoxin Systems. Int J Nanomedicine 2021; 16:925-939. [PMID: 33603360 PMCID: PMC7882795 DOI: 10.2147/ijn.s283400] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2020] [Accepted: 12/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Antimicrobial resistance poses substantial risks to human health. Thus, there is an urgent need for novel antimicrobial agents, including alternative compounds, such as peptides derived from bacterial toxin-antitoxin (TA) systems. ParELC3 is a synthetic peptide derived from the ParE toxin reported to be a good inhibitor of bacterial topoisomerases and is therefore a potential antibacterial agent. However, ParELC3 is inactive against bacteria due to its inability to cross the bacterial membranes. To circumvent this limitation we prepared and used rhamnolipid-based liposomes to carry and facilitate the passage of ParELC3 through the bacterial membrane to reach its intracellular target - the topoisomerases. Methods and Results Small unilamellar liposome vesicles were prepared by sonication from three formulations that included 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine and cholesterol. ParELC3 was loaded with high efficiency into the liposomes. Characterization by DLS and TEM revealed the appropriate size, zeta potential, polydispersity index, and morphology. In vitro microbiological experiments showed that ParELC3 loaded-liposomes are more efficient (29 to 11 µmol·L−1) compared to the free peptide (>100 µmol·L−1) at inhibiting the growth of standard E. coli and S. aureus strains. RL liposomes showed high hemolytic activity but when prepared with POPC and Chol this activity had a significant reduction. Independently of the formulation, the vesicles had no detectable cytotoxicity to HepG2 cells, even at the highest concentrations tested (1.3 mmol·L−1 and 50 µmol·L−1 for rhamnolipid and ParELC3, respectively). Conclusion The present findings suggest the potential use of rhamnolipid-based liposomes as nanocarrier systems to enhance the bioactivity of peptides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beatriz Cristina Pecoraro Sanches
- São Paulo State University (UNESP), Institute of Chemistry, Department of Biochemistry and Organic Chemistry, Araraquara, SP, Brazil
| | - Camila Aguiar Rocha
- São Paulo State University (UNESP), Institute of Chemistry, Department of Biochemistry and Organic Chemistry, Araraquara, SP, Brazil
| | - Jose Gregorio Martin Bedoya
- São Paulo State University (UNESP), Institute of Chemistry, Department of Biochemistry and Organic Chemistry, Araraquara, SP, Brazil
| | - Vinicius Luiz da Silva
- São Paulo State University (UNESP), Institute of Biosciences, Department of General and Applied Biology, Rio Claro, SP, Brazil
| | - Patrícia Bento da Silva
- São Paulo State University (UNESP), School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Department of Drugs and Medicines, Araraquara, SP, Brazil
| | - Ana Marisa Fusco-Almeida
- São Paulo State University (UNESP), School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Department of Clinical Analysis, Araraquara, SP, Brazil
| | - Marlus Chorilli
- São Paulo State University (UNESP), School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Department of Drugs and Medicines, Araraquara, SP, Brazil
| | - Jonas Contiero
- São Paulo State University (UNESP), Institute of Biosciences, Department of General and Applied Biology, Rio Claro, SP, Brazil
| | - Edson Crusca
- São Paulo State University (UNESP), Institute of Chemistry, Department of Biochemistry and Organic Chemistry, Araraquara, SP, Brazil
| | - Reinaldo Marchetto
- São Paulo State University (UNESP), Institute of Chemistry, Department of Biochemistry and Organic Chemistry, Araraquara, SP, Brazil
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Evaluating the Potential for Cross-Interactions of Antitoxins in Type II TA Systems. Toxins (Basel) 2020; 12:toxins12060422. [PMID: 32604745 PMCID: PMC7354431 DOI: 10.3390/toxins12060422] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2020] [Revised: 06/18/2020] [Accepted: 06/19/2020] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
The diversity of Type-II toxin–antitoxin (TA) systems in bacterial genomes requires tightly controlled interaction specificity to ensure protection of the cell, and potentially to limit cross-talk between toxin–antitoxin pairs of the same family of TA systems. Further, there is a redundant use of toxin folds for different cellular targets and complexation with different classes of antitoxins, increasing the apparent requirement for the insulation of interactions. The presence of Type II TA systems has remained enigmatic with respect to potential benefits imparted to the host cells. In some cases, they play clear roles in survival associated with unfavorable growth conditions. More generally, they can also serve as a “cure” against acquisition of highly similar TA systems such as those found on plasmids or invading genetic elements that frequently carry virulence and resistance genes. The latter model is predicated on the ability of these highly specific cognate antitoxin–toxin interactions to form cross-reactions between chromosomal antitoxins and invading toxins. This review summarizes advances in the Type II TA system models with an emphasis on antitoxin cross-reactivity, including with invading genetic elements and cases where toxin proteins share a common fold yet interact with different families of antitoxins.
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