1
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Du J, Yang C, Deng Y, Guo H, Gu M, Chen D, Liu X, Huang J, Yan W, Liu J. Discovery of AMPs from random peptides via deep learning-based model and biological activity validation. Eur J Med Chem 2024; 277:116797. [PMID: 39197254 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2024.116797] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2024] [Revised: 07/31/2024] [Accepted: 08/22/2024] [Indexed: 09/01/2024]
Abstract
The ample peptide field is the best source for discovering clinically available novel antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) to address emerging drug resistance. However, discovering novel AMPs is complex and expensive, representing a major challenge. Recent advances in artificial intelligence (AI) have significantly improved the efficiency of identifying antimicrobial peptides from large libraries, whereas using random peptides as negative data increases the difficulty of discovering antimicrobial peptides from random peptides using discriminative models. In this study, we constructed three multi-discriminator models using deep learning and successfully screened twelve AMPs from a library of 30,000 random peptides. three candidate peptides (P2, P11, and P12) were screened by antimicrobial experiments, and further experiments showed that they not only possessed excellent antimicrobial activity but also had extremely low hemolytic activity. Mechanistic studies showed that these peptides exerted their bactericidal effects through membrane disruption, thus reducing the possibility of bacterial resistance. Notably, peptide 12 (P12) showed significant efficacy in a mouse model of Staphylococcus aureus wound infection with low toxicity to major organs at the highest tested dose (400 mg/kg). These results suggest deep learning-based multi-discriminator models can identify AMPs from random peptides with potential clinical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun Du
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, Donggang West Road, Lanzhou, 730000, China; Gansu Provincial Maternity and Child Care Hospital, North Road 143, Qilihe District, Lanzhou, 730000, China
| | - Changyan Yang
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, Donggang West Road, Lanzhou, 730000, China; Gansu Provincial Maternity and Child Care Hospital, North Road 143, Qilihe District, Lanzhou, 730000, China
| | - Yabo Deng
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, Donggang West Road, Lanzhou, 730000, China
| | - Hai Guo
- The Second Hospital & Clinical Medical School, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, China
| | - Mengyun Gu
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, Donggang West Road, Lanzhou, 730000, China
| | - Danna Chen
- Department of Hematology, Guangzhou First People's Hospital, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Xia Liu
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, Donggang West Road, Lanzhou, 730000, China.
| | - Jinqi Huang
- Department of Hematology, Guangzhou First People's Hospital, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.
| | - Wenjin Yan
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, Donggang West Road, Lanzhou, 730000, China.
| | - Jian Liu
- Gansu Provincial Maternity and Child Care Hospital, North Road 143, Qilihe District, Lanzhou, 730000, China.
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2
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Haddad H, Tangy F, Ouahchi I, Sahtout W, Ouni B, Zaïri A. Evaluation of the antiviral activity of new dermaseptin analogs against Zika virus. Biochem Biophys Rep 2024; 39:101747. [PMID: 38939125 PMCID: PMC11208914 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrep.2024.101747] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2024] [Revised: 05/29/2024] [Accepted: 05/30/2024] [Indexed: 06/29/2024] Open
Abstract
Zika virus represents the primary cause of infection during pregnancy and can lead to various neurological disorders such as microcephaly and Guillain-Barré syndrome affecting both children and adults. This infection is also associated with urological and nephrological problems. So far, evidence of mosquito-borne Zika virus infection has been reported in a total of 89 countries and territories. However, surveillance efforts primarily concentrate on outbreaks that this virus can cause, yet the measures implemented are typically limited. Currently, there are no specific treatments or vaccines designed for the prevention or treatment of Zika virus infection or its associated disease. The development of effective therapeutic agents presents an urgent need. Importantly, an alternative for advancing the discovery of new molecules could be dermaseptins, a family of antimicrobial peptides known for their potential antiviral properties. In this study, we carried out the synthesis of dermaseptins and their analogs and subsequently assessed the bioactivity tests against Zika virus (ZIKV PF13) of dermaseptins B2 and S4 and their derivatives. The cytotoxicity of these peptides was investigated on HMC3 cell line and HeLa cells by CellTiter-Glo® Luminescent Cell Viability Assay. Thereafter, we evaluated the antiviral activity caused by the action of our dermaseptins on the viral envelope using the Fluorescence Activated Cell Sorting (FACS). The cytotoxicity of our molecules was concentration-dependent at microgram concentrations Expect for dermaseptin B2 and its derivative which present no toxicity against HeLa and HMC3 cell lines. It was observed that all tested analogs from S4 family exhibited antiviral activity with low concentrations ranging from 3 to 12.5 μg/ml , unlike the native B2 and its derivative which increased the infectivity. Pre-incubating of dermaseptins with ZIKV PF13 before infection revealed that these derivatives inhibit the initial stages of virus infection. In summary, these results suggest that dermaseptins could serve as novel lead structures for the development of potent antiviral agents against Zika virus infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Houda Haddad
- BIOLIVAL Laboratory, LR14ES06, The Higher Institute of Biotechnology of Monastir ISBM, University of Monastir, Monastir, 5000, Tunisia
- Biochemistry Department, Faculty of Medicine, University of Sousse, Sousse, 4002, Tunisia
| | - Frédéric Tangy
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, Vaccines-innovation Laboratory, 75015, Paris, France
| | - Ines Ouahchi
- Cytogenetics and Reproductive Biology department, Farhat Hached University Teaching Hospital, University of Sousse, 4000, Sousse, Tunisia
| | - Wissal Sahtout
- Nephrology Department, Sahloul University Hospital, University of Sousse, 4054, Sousse, Tunisia
- Research Laboratory LR12SP11, Biochemistry Department, Sahloul University Hospital, University of Sousse, 4054, Sousse, Tunisia
| | - Bouraoui Ouni
- Pharmacology Department, Faculty of Medicine, University of Sousse, 4002, ousse, Tunisia
| | - Amira Zaïri
- Biochemistry Department, Faculty of Medicine, University of Sousse, Sousse, 4002, Tunisia
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3
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Tian Y, Hou Y, Tian J, Zheng J, Xiao Z, Hu J, Zhang Y. D-Peptide cell culture scaffolds with enhanced antibacterial and controllable release properties. J Mater Chem B 2024; 12:8122-8132. [PMID: 39044470 DOI: 10.1039/d4tb00969j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/25/2024]
Abstract
The development of peptide-based hydrogels characterized by both high biostability and potent antimicrobial activity, aimed at combating multidrug-resistant bacterial infections and providing scaffolds for cell cultures, continues to pose a significant challenge. The susceptibility of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) to degradation by cations, serum, and proteases restricted their applications in clinical environments. In this study, we designed a peptide sequence (termed D-IK1) entirely consisting of D-amino acids, an enantiomer of a previously reported AMP IK1. Our results demonstrated remarkably improved antibacterial and anticancer activities of D-IK1 as compared to IK1. D-IK1 self-assembled into hydrogels that effectively inhibited bacterial and cancer cell growth by the controlled and sustained release of D-IK1. Importantly, D-IK1 was extremely stable in salt solutions and resisted serum and protease degradation. In addition, the D-IK1 hydrogel fostered cell adhesion and proliferation, proving its viability as a 3D scaffold for cell culture applications. Our research presents a versatile, highly stable antibacterial hydrogel scaffold with potential widespread applications in cell culture, wound healing, and the eradication of multidrug-resistant bacterial infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Tian
- Shanghai Institute of Applied Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201800, China.
- Shanghai Advanced Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201210, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Yangqian Hou
- Shanghai Institute of Applied Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201800, China.
- Shanghai Advanced Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201210, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Jiakun Tian
- Shanghai Institute of Applied Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201800, China.
- Shanghai Advanced Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201210, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Jin Zheng
- Shanghai Institute of Applied Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201800, China.
- Shanghai Advanced Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201210, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Zeyu Xiao
- Shanghai Institute of Applied Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201800, China.
- Shanghai Advanced Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201210, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Jun Hu
- Shanghai Advanced Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201210, China
- Institute of Materiobiology, College of Sciences, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200444, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Yi Zhang
- Shanghai Institute of Applied Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201800, China.
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
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4
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Shao C, Wang Y, Li G, Guan H, Zhu Y, Zhang L, Dong N, Shan A. Novel design of simplified β-hairpin antimicrobial peptide as a potential food preservative based on Trp-pocket backbone. Food Chem 2024; 448:139128. [PMID: 38574714 DOI: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2024.139128] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2023] [Revised: 03/09/2024] [Accepted: 03/22/2024] [Indexed: 04/06/2024]
Abstract
Food contamination from microbial deterioration requires the development of potent antimicrobial peptides (AMPs). The deployment of approved AMPs as dietary preservatives is limited due to barriers such as instability, toxicity, and high synthetic costs. This exploration utilizes the primary structural elements of the Trp-pocket backbone to engineer a series of β-hairpin AMPs (XWRWRPGXKXXR-NH2, X representing I, V, F, and/or L). Peptides WpLF, with Phe as X and Leu arranged at the 11th position, demonstrated exceptional selectivity index (SI = 123.08) and sterilization effects both in vitro and in vivo. WpLF consistently exhibited stable bacteriostasis, regardless of physiological salts, serum, and extreme pH. Mechanistic analysis indicated that the peptide penetrates microbial cell membranes, inducing membrane disruption, thereby impeding drug resistance evolution. Conclusively, AMPs engineered by the Trp-pocket skeleton hold substantial potential as innovative biological preservatives in food preservation, providing valuable insights for sustainable and safe peptide-based food preservatives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Changxuan Shao
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, PR China
| | - Yuanmengxue Wang
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, PR China
| | - Guoyu Li
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, PR China
| | - Hongrui Guan
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, PR China
| | - Yongjie Zhu
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, PR China
| | - Licong Zhang
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, PR China
| | - Na Dong
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, PR China
| | - Anshan Shan
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, PR China.
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5
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Lai Z, Yuan X, Chen W, Chen H, Li B, Bi Z, Lyu Y, Shan A. Design of Proteolytic-Resistant Antifungal Peptides by Utilizing Minimum d-Amino Acid Ratios. J Med Chem 2024; 67:10891-10905. [PMID: 38934239 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.4c00394] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/28/2024]
Abstract
Antifungal peptides are an appealing alternative to standard antifungal medicines due to their unique mechanism of action and low-level resistance. However, their susceptibility to protease degradation keeps hindering their future development. Herein, a library was established to design peptides with protease resistance and high antifungal activity. The peptides were incorporated with minimal D-amino acids to further improve the protease stability. The most active peptide, IR3, demonstrated good antifungal activity and low toxicity, and its molecular integrity was maintained after protease hydrolysis for 8 h at 2 mg/mL. Furthermore, IR3 could permeate the fungal cell wall, disrupt the cell membrane, produce reactive oxygen species, and induce apoptosis in fungal cells. In vivo experiments confirmed that IR3 could effectively treat fungal keratitis. Collectively, these findings suggest that IR3 is a promising antifungal agent and may be beneficial in the design and development of protease-resistant antifungal peptides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhenheng Lai
- The College of Animal Science and Technology, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, P. R. China
| | - Xiaojie Yuan
- The College of Animal Science and Technology, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, P. R. China
| | - Wenwen Chen
- The College of Animal Science and Technology, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, P. R. China
| | - Hongyu Chen
- The College of Animal Science and Technology, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, P. R. China
| | - Bowen Li
- The College of Animal Science and Technology, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, P. R. China
| | - Zhongpeng Bi
- The College of Animal Science and Technology, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, P. R. China
| | - Yinfeng Lyu
- The College of Animal Science and Technology, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, P. R. China
| | - Anshan Shan
- The College of Animal Science and Technology, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, P. R. China
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6
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Wu X, Tian Y, Ran K, Yao J, Wang Y, Ouyang X, Mao W, Zhang J, Li B, Yang P, Ba Z, Liu H, Gou S, Zhong C, Zhang Y, Ni J. Rational design of a new short anticancer peptide with good potential for cancer treatment. Eur J Med Chem 2024; 273:116519. [PMID: 38795519 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2024.116519] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2023] [Revised: 05/19/2024] [Accepted: 05/19/2024] [Indexed: 05/28/2024]
Abstract
Anticancer peptides (ACPs) have regarded as a new generation of promising antitumor drugs due to the unique mode of action. The main challenge is to develop potential anticancer peptides with satisfied antitumor activity and low toxicity. Here, a series of new α-helical anticancer peptides were designed and synthesized based on the regular repeat motif KLLK. The optimal peptides 14E and 14Aad were successfully derived from the new short α-helical peptide KL-8. Our results demonstrated that 14E and 14Aad had good antitumor activity and low toxicity, exhibiting excellent selectivity index. This result highlighted that the desirable modification position and appropriate hydrophobic side-chain structure of acidic amino acids played critical roles in regulating the antitumor activity/toxicity of new peptides. Further studies indicated that they could induce tumor cell death via the multiple actions of efficient membrane disruption and intracellular mechanisms, displaying apparent superiority in combination with PTX. In addition, the new peptides 14E and 14Aad showed excellent antitumor efficacy in vivo and low toxicity in mice compared to KL-8 and PTX. Particularly, 14Aad with the longer side chain at the 14th site exhibited the best therapeutic performance. In conclusion, our work provided a new avenue to develop promising anticancer peptides with good selectivity for tumor therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoyan Wu
- Institute of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, PR China; Research Unit of Peptide Science, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, 2019RU066, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, PR China; Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, PR China
| | - Yali Tian
- Institute of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, PR China; Research Unit of Peptide Science, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, 2019RU066, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, PR China; Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, PR China
| | - Kaixin Ran
- Institute of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, PR China; Research Unit of Peptide Science, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, 2019RU066, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, PR China; Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, PR China
| | - Jia Yao
- The First Hospital, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, PR China
| | - Yuxia Wang
- Institute of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, PR China; Research Unit of Peptide Science, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, 2019RU066, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, PR China; Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, PR China
| | - Xu Ouyang
- Institute of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, PR China; Research Unit of Peptide Science, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, 2019RU066, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, PR China; Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, PR China
| | - Wenbo Mao
- Institute of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, PR China; Research Unit of Peptide Science, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, 2019RU066, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, PR China; Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, PR China
| | - Jingying Zhang
- Institute of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, PR China; Research Unit of Peptide Science, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, 2019RU066, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, PR China; Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, PR China
| | - Beibei Li
- Institute of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, PR China; Research Unit of Peptide Science, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, 2019RU066, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, PR China; Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, PR China
| | - Ping Yang
- Institute of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, PR China; Research Unit of Peptide Science, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, 2019RU066, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, PR China; Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, PR China
| | - Zufang Ba
- Institute of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, PR China; Research Unit of Peptide Science, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, 2019RU066, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, PR China; Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, PR China
| | - Hui Liu
- Institute of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, PR China; Research Unit of Peptide Science, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, 2019RU066, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, PR China; Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, PR China
| | - Sanhu Gou
- Institute of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, PR China; Research Unit of Peptide Science, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, 2019RU066, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, PR China; Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, PR China
| | - Chao Zhong
- Institute of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, PR China; Research Unit of Peptide Science, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, 2019RU066, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, PR China; Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, PR China
| | - Yun Zhang
- Institute of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, PR China; Research Unit of Peptide Science, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, 2019RU066, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, PR China; Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, PR China.
| | - Jingman Ni
- Institute of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, PR China; Research Unit of Peptide Science, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, 2019RU066, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, PR China; Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, PR China.
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7
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An Y, Guo X, Yan T, Jia Y, Jiao R, Cai X, Deng B, Bao G, Li Y, Yang W, Wang R, Sun W, Xie J. Enhancing the stability and therapeutic potential of the antimicrobial peptide Feleucin-K3 against Multidrug-Resistant a. Baumannii through rational utilization of a D-amino acid substitution strategy. Biochem Pharmacol 2024; 225:116269. [PMID: 38723723 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2024.116269] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2024] [Revised: 05/05/2024] [Accepted: 05/06/2024] [Indexed: 05/12/2024]
Abstract
Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), which have a low probability of developing resistance, are considered the most promising antimicrobial agents for combating antibiotic resistance. Feleucin-K3 is an amphiphilic cationic AMP that exhibits broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity. In our previous research, the first phenylalanine residue was identified as the critical position affecting its biological activity. Here, a series of Feleucin-K3 analogs containing hydrophobic D-amino acids were developed, leveraging the low sensitivity of proteases to unnatural amino acids and the regulatory effect of hydrophobicity on antimicrobial activity. Among them, K-1dF, which replaced the phenylalanine of Feleucin-K3 with its enantiomer (D-phenylalanine), exhibited potent antimicrobial activity with a therapeutic index of 46.97 and MICs between 4 to 8 μg/ml against both sensitive and multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii. The introduction of D-phenylalanine increased the salt tolerance and serum stability of Feleucin-K3. Moreover, K-1dF displayed a rapid bactericidal effect, a low propensity to develop resistance, and a synergistic effect when combined with antibiotics. More importantly, it exhibited considerable or superior efficacy to imipenem against pneumonia and skin abscess infection. In brief, the K-1dF obtained by simple and effective modification strategy has emerged as a promising candidate antimicrobial agent for tackling multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yingying An
- Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, School of Basic Medical Sciences & Research Unit of Peptide Science, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, 2019RU066, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Xiaomin Guo
- Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, School of Basic Medical Sciences & Research Unit of Peptide Science, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, 2019RU066, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Tiantian Yan
- Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, School of Basic Medical Sciences & Research Unit of Peptide Science, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, 2019RU066, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Yue Jia
- Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, School of Basic Medical Sciences & Research Unit of Peptide Science, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, 2019RU066, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Ruoyan Jiao
- Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, School of Basic Medical Sciences & Research Unit of Peptide Science, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, 2019RU066, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Xinyu Cai
- Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, School of Basic Medical Sciences & Research Unit of Peptide Science, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, 2019RU066, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Bochuan Deng
- Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, School of Basic Medical Sciences & Research Unit of Peptide Science, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, 2019RU066, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Guangjun Bao
- Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, School of Basic Medical Sciences & Research Unit of Peptide Science, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, 2019RU066, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Yiping Li
- Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, School of Basic Medical Sciences & Research Unit of Peptide Science, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, 2019RU066, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Wenle Yang
- Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, School of Basic Medical Sciences & Research Unit of Peptide Science, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, 2019RU066, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Rui Wang
- Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, School of Basic Medical Sciences & Research Unit of Peptide Science, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, 2019RU066, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China; State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substance and Function of Natural Medicines, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100050, China.
| | - Wangsheng Sun
- Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, School of Basic Medical Sciences & Research Unit of Peptide Science, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, 2019RU066, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China.
| | - Junqiu Xie
- Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, School of Basic Medical Sciences & Research Unit of Peptide Science, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, 2019RU066, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China.
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8
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Wang T, Tan P, Tang Q, Zhou C, Ding Y, Xu S, Song M, Fu H, Zhang Y, Zhang X, Bai Y, Sun Z, Ma X. Phage-displayed heptapeptide sequence conjugation significantly improves the specific targeting ability of antimicrobial peptides against Staphylococcus aureus. MLIFE 2024; 3:251-268. [PMID: 38948143 PMCID: PMC11211671 DOI: 10.1002/mlf2.12123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2023] [Revised: 03/04/2024] [Accepted: 03/05/2024] [Indexed: 07/02/2024]
Abstract
Broad-spectrum antibacterial drugs often lack specificity, leading to indiscriminate bactericidal activity, which can disrupt the normal microbial balance of the host flora and cause unnecessary cytotoxicity during systemic administration. In this study, we constructed a specifically targeted antimicrobial peptide against Staphylococcus aureus by introducing a phage-displayed peptide onto a broad-spectrum antimicrobial peptide and explored its structure-function relationship through one-factor modification. SFK2 obtained by screening based on the selectivity index and the targeting index showed specific killing ability against S. aureus. Moreover, SFK2 showed excellent biocompatibility in mice and piglet, and demonstrated significant therapeutic efficacy against S. aureus infection. In conclusion, our screening of phage-derived heptapeptides effectively enhances the specific bactericidal ability of the antimicrobial peptides against S. aureus, providing a theoretical basis for developing targeted antimicrobial peptides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tao Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition and Feeding, College of Animal Science and TechnologyChina Agricultural UniversityBeijingChina
- Luoyang Key Laboratory of Animal Genetic and Breeding, College of Animal ScienceHenan University of Science and TechnologyLuoyangChina
| | - Peng Tan
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition and Feeding, College of Animal Science and TechnologyChina Agricultural UniversityBeijingChina
| | - Qi Tang
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition and Feeding, College of Animal Science and TechnologyChina Agricultural UniversityBeijingChina
| | - Chenlong Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition and Feeding, College of Animal Science and TechnologyChina Agricultural UniversityBeijingChina
| | - Yakun Ding
- Key Laboratory of Innovative Utilization of Indigenous Cattle and Sheep Germplasm Resources (Co‐construction by Ministry and Province), Ministry of Agriculture and Rural AffairsZhengzhou UniversityZhengzhouChina
| | - Shenrui Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition and Feeding, College of Animal Science and TechnologyChina Agricultural UniversityBeijingChina
| | - Mengda Song
- Key Laboratory of Innovative Utilization of Indigenous Cattle and Sheep Germplasm Resources (Co‐construction by Ministry and Province), Ministry of Agriculture and Rural AffairsZhengzhou UniversityZhengzhouChina
| | - Huiyang Fu
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition and Feeding, College of Animal Science and TechnologyChina Agricultural UniversityBeijingChina
| | - Yucheng Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition and Feeding, College of Animal Science and TechnologyChina Agricultural UniversityBeijingChina
| | - Xiaohui Zhang
- Luoyang Key Laboratory of Animal Genetic and Breeding, College of Animal ScienceHenan University of Science and TechnologyLuoyangChina
| | - Yueyu Bai
- Key Laboratory of Innovative Utilization of Indigenous Cattle and Sheep Germplasm Resources (Co‐construction by Ministry and Province), Ministry of Agriculture and Rural AffairsZhengzhou UniversityZhengzhouChina
- Animal Health Supervision in Henan ProvinceZhengzhouChina
| | - Zhihong Sun
- Laboratory for Bio‐Feed and Molecular Nutrition, Department of Animal Science and TechnologySouthwest UniversityChongqingChina
| | - Xi Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition and Feeding, College of Animal Science and TechnologyChina Agricultural UniversityBeijingChina
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9
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Alves PM, Barrias CC, Gomes P, Martins MCL. How can biomaterial-conjugated antimicrobial peptides fight bacteria and be protected from degradation? Acta Biomater 2024; 181:98-116. [PMID: 38697382 DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2024.04.043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2024] [Revised: 03/19/2024] [Accepted: 04/25/2024] [Indexed: 05/05/2024]
Abstract
The emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria is a serious threat to public health. Antimicrobial peptides (AMP) are a powerful alternative to antibiotics due to their low propensity to induce bacterial resistance. However, cytotoxicity and short half-lives have limited their clinical translation. To overcome these problems, AMP conjugation has gained relevance in the biomaterials field. Nevertheless, few studies describe the influence of conjugation on enzymatic protection, mechanism of action and antimicrobial efficacy. This review addresses this gap by providing a detailed comparison between conjugated and soluble AMP. Additionally, commonly employed chemical reactions and factors to consider when promoting AMP conjugation are reviewed. The overall results suggested that AMP conjugated onto biomaterials are specifically protected from degradation by trypsin and/or pepsin. However, sometimes, their antimicrobial efficacy was reduced. Due to limited conformational freedom in conjugated AMP, compared to their soluble forms, they appear to act initially by creating small protuberances on bacterial membranes that may lead to the alteration of membrane potential and/or formation of holes, triggering cell death. Overall, AMP conjugation onto biomaterials is a promising strategy to fight infection, particularly associated to the use of medical devices. Nonetheless, some details need to be addressed before conjugated AMP reach clinical practice. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: Covalent conjugation of antimicrobial peptides (AMP) has been one of the most widely used strategies by bioengineers, in an attempt to not only protect AMP from proteolytic degradation, but also to prolong their residence time at the target tissue. However, an explanation for the mode of action of conjugated AMP is still lacking. This review extensively gathers works on AMP conjugation and puts forward a mechanism of action for AMP when conjugated onto biomaterials. The implications of AMP conjugation on antimicrobial activity, cytotoxicity and resistance to proteases are all discussed. A thorough review of commonly employed chemical reactions for this conjugation is also provided. Finally, details that need to be addressed for conjugated AMP to reach clinical practice are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pedro M Alves
- i3S - Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Rua Alfredo Allen, 208, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal; INEB - Instituto de Engenharia Biomédica, Universidade do Porto, Rua Alfredo Allen, 208, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal; Faculdade de Engenharia, Universidade do Porto, Rua Dr. Roberto Frias, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal; LAQV-REQUIMTE, Departamento de Química e Bioquímica, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade do Porto, Rua do Campo Alegre 687, 4169-007 Porto, Portugal
| | - Cristina C Barrias
- i3S - Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Rua Alfredo Allen, 208, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal; INEB - Instituto de Engenharia Biomédica, Universidade do Porto, Rua Alfredo Allen, 208, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
| | - Paula Gomes
- LAQV-REQUIMTE, Departamento de Química e Bioquímica, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade do Porto, Rua do Campo Alegre 687, 4169-007 Porto, Portugal
| | - M Cristina L Martins
- i3S - Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Rua Alfredo Allen, 208, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal; INEB - Instituto de Engenharia Biomédica, Universidade do Porto, Rua Alfredo Allen, 208, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal; ICBAS - Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar, Universidade do Porto, Rua de Jorge Viterbo Ferreira, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal.
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10
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Liang Q, Liu Z, Liang Z, Zhu C, Li D, Kong Q, Mou H. Development strategies and application of antimicrobial peptides as future alternatives to in-feed antibiotics. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 927:172150. [PMID: 38580107 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.172150] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2024] [Revised: 03/14/2024] [Accepted: 03/30/2024] [Indexed: 04/07/2024]
Abstract
The use of in-feed antibiotics has been widely restricted due to the significant environmental pollution and food safety concerns they have caused. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) have attracted widespread attention as potential future alternatives to in-feed antibiotics owing to their demonstrated antimicrobial activity and environment friendly characteristics. However, the challenges of weak bioactivity, immature stability, and low production yields of natural AMPs impede practical application in the feed industry. To address these problems, efforts have been made to develop strategies for approaching the AMPs with enhanced properties. Herein, we summarize approaches to improving the properties of AMPs as potential alternatives to in-feed antibiotics, mainly including optimization of structural parameters, sequence modification, selection of microbial hosts, fusion expression, and industrially fermentation control. Additionally, the potential for application of AMPs in animal husbandry is discussed. This comprehensive review lays a strong theoretical foundation for the development of in-feed AMPs to achieve the public health globally.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qingping Liang
- College of Food Science and Engineering, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266404, China
| | - Zhemin Liu
- Fundamental Science R&D Center of Vazyme Biotech Co. Ltd., Nanjing 210000, China
| | - Ziyu Liang
- Section of Neurobiology, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA
| | - Changliang Zhu
- College of Food Science and Engineering, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266404, China
| | - Dongyu Li
- College of Food Science and Engineering, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266404, China
| | - Qing Kong
- College of Food Science and Engineering, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266404, China
| | - Haijin Mou
- College of Food Science and Engineering, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266404, China.
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11
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Brango-Vanegas J, Leite ML, Macedo MLR, Cardoso MH, Franco OL. Capping motifs in antimicrobial peptides and their relevance for improved biological activities. Front Chem 2024; 12:1382954. [PMID: 38873409 PMCID: PMC11169826 DOI: 10.3389/fchem.2024.1382954] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2024] [Accepted: 05/13/2024] [Indexed: 06/15/2024] Open
Abstract
N-capping (N-cap) and C-capping (C-cap) in biologically active peptides, including specific amino acids or unconventional group motifs, have been shown to modulate activity against pharmacological targets by interfering with the peptide's secondary structure, thus generating unusual scaffolds. The insertion of capping motifs in linear peptides has been shown to prevent peptide degradation by reducing its susceptibility to proteolytic cleavage, and the replacement of some functional groups by unusual groups in N- or C-capping regions in linear peptides has led to optimized peptide variants with improved secondary structure and enhanced activity. Furthermore, some essential amino acid residues that, when placed in antimicrobial peptide (AMP) capping regions, are capable of complexing metals such as Cu2+, Ni2+, and Zn2+, give rise to the family known as metallo-AMPs, which are capable of boosting antimicrobial efficacy, as well as other activities. Therefore, this review presents and discusses the different strategies for creating N- and C-cap motifs in AMPs, aiming at fine-tuning this class of antimicrobials.
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Affiliation(s)
- José Brango-Vanegas
- Centro de Análises Proteômicas e Bioquímicas, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Genômicas e Biotecnologia, Universidade Católica de Brasília, Brasília, Brazil
- S-inova Biotech, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biotecnologia, Universidade Católica Dom Bosco, Campo Grande, Brazil
| | - Michel Lopes Leite
- Departamento de Biologia Molecular, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade de Brasília, Campus Darcy Ribeiro, Brasília, Brazil
| | - Maria L. R. Macedo
- Laboratório de Purificação de Proteínas e suas Funções Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso do Sul, Cidade Universitária, Campo Grande, Brazil
| | - Marlon H. Cardoso
- Centro de Análises Proteômicas e Bioquímicas, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Genômicas e Biotecnologia, Universidade Católica de Brasília, Brasília, Brazil
- S-inova Biotech, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biotecnologia, Universidade Católica Dom Bosco, Campo Grande, Brazil
- Laboratório de Purificação de Proteínas e suas Funções Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso do Sul, Cidade Universitária, Campo Grande, Brazil
| | - Octávio Luiz Franco
- Centro de Análises Proteômicas e Bioquímicas, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Genômicas e Biotecnologia, Universidade Católica de Brasília, Brasília, Brazil
- S-inova Biotech, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biotecnologia, Universidade Católica Dom Bosco, Campo Grande, Brazil
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12
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Sandhu ZA, Raza MA, Alqurashi A, Sajid S, Ashraf S, Imtiaz K, Aman F, Alessa AH, Shamsi MB, Latif M. Advances in the Optimization of Fe Nanoparticles: Unlocking Antifungal Properties for Biomedical Applications. Pharmaceutics 2024; 16:645. [PMID: 38794307 PMCID: PMC11124843 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics16050645] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2024] [Revised: 04/25/2024] [Accepted: 05/02/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024] Open
Abstract
In recent years, nanotechnology has achieved a remarkable status in shaping the future of biological applications, especially in combating fungal diseases. Owing to excellence in nanotechnology, iron nanoparticles (Fe NPs) have gained enormous attention in recent years. In this review, we have provided a comprehensive overview of Fe NPs covering key synthesis approaches and underlying working principles, the factors that influence their properties, essential characterization techniques, and the optimization of their antifungal potential. In addition, the diverse kinds of Fe NP delivery platforms that command highly effective release, with fewer toxic effects on patients, are of great significance in the medical field. The issues of biocompatibility, toxicity profiles, and applications of optimized Fe NPs in the field of biomedicine have also been described because these are the most significant factors determining their inclusion in clinical use. Besides this, the difficulties and regulations that exist in the transition from laboratory to experimental clinical studies (toxicity, specific standards, and safety concerns) of Fe NPs-based antifungal agents have been also summarized.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zeshan Ali Sandhu
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Hafiz Hayat Campus, University of Gujrat, Gujrat 50700, Pakistan; (Z.A.S.); (S.A.); (K.I.)
| | - Muhammad Asam Raza
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Hafiz Hayat Campus, University of Gujrat, Gujrat 50700, Pakistan; (Z.A.S.); (S.A.); (K.I.)
| | - Abdulmajeed Alqurashi
- Department of Biology, College of Science, Taibah University, Madinah 42353, Saudi Arabia;
| | - Samavia Sajid
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Engineering and Technology, Lahore 54890, Pakistan;
| | - Sufyan Ashraf
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Hafiz Hayat Campus, University of Gujrat, Gujrat 50700, Pakistan; (Z.A.S.); (S.A.); (K.I.)
| | - Kainat Imtiaz
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Hafiz Hayat Campus, University of Gujrat, Gujrat 50700, Pakistan; (Z.A.S.); (S.A.); (K.I.)
| | - Farhana Aman
- Department of Chemistry, The University of Lahore, Sargodha Campus, Sargodha 40100, Pakistan;
| | - Abdulrahman H. Alessa
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Tabuk, Tabuk 71491, Saudi Arabia;
| | - Monis Bilal Shamsi
- Centre for Genetics and Inherited Diseases (CGID), Taibah University, Madinah 42353, Saudi Arabia;
- Department Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, Taibah University, Madinah 42353, Saudi Arabia
| | - Muhammad Latif
- Centre for Genetics and Inherited Diseases (CGID), Taibah University, Madinah 42353, Saudi Arabia;
- Department Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, Taibah University, Madinah 42353, Saudi Arabia
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13
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Yang Y, Yu Z, Ba Z, Ouyang X, Li B, Yang P, Zhang J, Wang Y, Liu Y, Yang T, Zhao Y, Wu X, Zhong C, Liu H, Zhang Y, Gou S, Ni J. Arginine and tryptophan-rich dendritic antimicrobial peptides that disrupt membranes for bacterial infection in vivo. Eur J Med Chem 2024; 271:116451. [PMID: 38691892 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2024.116451] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2024] [Revised: 04/20/2024] [Accepted: 04/23/2024] [Indexed: 05/03/2024]
Abstract
The potent antibacterial activity and low resistance of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) render them potential candidates for treating multidrug-resistant bacterial infections. Herein, a minimalist design strategy was proposed employing the "golden partner" combination of arginine (R) and tryptophan (W), along with a dendritic structure to design AMPs. By extension, the α/ε-amino group and the carboxyl group of lysine (K) were utilized to link R and W, forming dendritic peptide templates αRn(εRn)KWm-NH2 and αWn(εWn)KRm-NH2, respectively. The corresponding linear peptide templates R2nKWm-NH2 and W2nKRm-NH2 were used as controls. Their physicochemical properties, activity, toxicity, and stability were compared. Among these new peptides, the dendritic peptide R2(R2)KW4 was screened as a prospective candidate owing to its preferable antibacterial properties, biocompatibility, and stability. Additionally, R2(R2)KW4 not only effectively restrained the progression of antibiotic resistance, but also demonstrated synergistic utility when combined with conventional antibiotics due to its unique membrane-disruptive mechanism. Furthermore, R2(R2)KW4 possessed low toxicity (LD50 = 109.31 mg/kg) in vivo, while efficiently clearing E. coli in pulmonary-infected mice. In conclusion, R2(R2)KW4 has the potential to become an antimicrobial regent or adjuvant, and the minimalist design strategy of dendritic peptides provides innovative and encouraging thoughts in designing AMPs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yinyin Yang
- Institute of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, School of Basic Medical Sciences, and Research Unit of Peptide Science, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, 2019RU066, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, P. R. China
| | - Zhongwei Yu
- Institute of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, School of Basic Medical Sciences, and Research Unit of Peptide Science, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, 2019RU066, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, P. R. China
| | - Zufang Ba
- Institute of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, School of Basic Medical Sciences, and Research Unit of Peptide Science, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, 2019RU066, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, P. R. China
| | - Xu Ouyang
- Institute of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, School of Basic Medical Sciences, and Research Unit of Peptide Science, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, 2019RU066, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, P. R. China
| | - Beibei Li
- Institute of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, School of Basic Medical Sciences, and Research Unit of Peptide Science, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, 2019RU066, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, P. R. China
| | - Ping Yang
- Institute of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, School of Basic Medical Sciences, and Research Unit of Peptide Science, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, 2019RU066, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, P. R. China
| | - Jingying Zhang
- Institute of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, School of Basic Medical Sciences, and Research Unit of Peptide Science, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, 2019RU066, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, P. R. China
| | - Yu Wang
- Institute of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, School of Basic Medical Sciences, and Research Unit of Peptide Science, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, 2019RU066, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, P. R. China
| | - Yao Liu
- Institute of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, School of Basic Medical Sciences, and Research Unit of Peptide Science, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, 2019RU066, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, P. R. China
| | - Tingting Yang
- Institute of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, School of Basic Medical Sciences, and Research Unit of Peptide Science, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, 2019RU066, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, P. R. China
| | - Yuhuan Zhao
- Institute of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, School of Basic Medical Sciences, and Research Unit of Peptide Science, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, 2019RU066, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, P. R. China
| | - Xiaoyan Wu
- Institute of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, School of Basic Medical Sciences, and Research Unit of Peptide Science, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, 2019RU066, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, P. R. China
| | - Chao Zhong
- Institute of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, School of Basic Medical Sciences, and Research Unit of Peptide Science, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, 2019RU066, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, P. R. China; Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Peking Union Medical College, No. 1 Xian Nong Tan Street, Beijing, 100050, P. R. China
| | - Hui Liu
- Institute of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, School of Basic Medical Sciences, and Research Unit of Peptide Science, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, 2019RU066, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, P. R. China; Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Peking Union Medical College, No. 1 Xian Nong Tan Street, Beijing, 100050, P. R. China
| | - Yun Zhang
- Institute of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, School of Basic Medical Sciences, and Research Unit of Peptide Science, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, 2019RU066, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, P. R. China; Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Peking Union Medical College, No. 1 Xian Nong Tan Street, Beijing, 100050, P. R. China
| | - Sanhu Gou
- Institute of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, School of Basic Medical Sciences, and Research Unit of Peptide Science, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, 2019RU066, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, P. R. China; Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Peking Union Medical College, No. 1 Xian Nong Tan Street, Beijing, 100050, P. R. China.
| | - Jingman Ni
- Institute of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, School of Basic Medical Sciences, and Research Unit of Peptide Science, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, 2019RU066, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, P. R. China; Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Peking Union Medical College, No. 1 Xian Nong Tan Street, Beijing, 100050, P. R. China.
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14
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Falanga A, Bellavita R, Braccia S, Galdiero S. Hydrophobicity: The door to drug delivery. J Pept Sci 2024; 30:e3558. [PMID: 38115215 DOI: 10.1002/psc.3558] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2023] [Revised: 11/10/2023] [Accepted: 11/14/2023] [Indexed: 12/21/2023]
Abstract
The engineering of intracellular delivery systems with the goal of achieving personalized medicine has been encouraged by advances in nanomaterial science as well as a greater understanding of diseases and of the biochemical pathways implicated in many disorders. The development of vectors able to transport the drug to a target location and release it only on demand is undoubtedly the primary issue. From a molecular perspective, the topography of drug carrier surfaces is directly related to the design of an effective drug carrier because it provides a physical hint to modifying its interactions with biological systems. For instance, the initial ratio of hydrophilic to hydrophobic surfaces and the changes brought about by external factors enable the release or encapsulation of a therapeutic molecule and the ability of the nanosystem to cross biological barriers and reach its target without causing systemic toxicity. The first step in creating new materials with enhanced functionality is to comprehend and characterize the interplay between hydrophilic and hydrophobic molecules at the molecular level. Therefore, the focus of this review is on the function of hydrophobicity, which is essential for matching the complexity of biological environments with the intended functionality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annarita Falanga
- Department of Agricultural Sciences, University of Naples "Federico II", Naples, Italy
- CiRPEB, Research Centre on Bioactive Peptides "Carlo Pedone", University of Naples "Federico II", Naples, Italy
| | - Rosa Bellavita
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Caserta, Italy
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples "Federico II", Naples, Italy
| | - Simone Braccia
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples "Federico II", Naples, Italy
| | - Stefania Galdiero
- CiRPEB, Research Centre on Bioactive Peptides "Carlo Pedone", University of Naples "Federico II", Naples, Italy
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples "Federico II", Naples, Italy
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15
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Paul S, Verma S, Chen YC. Peptide Dendrimer-Based Antibacterial Agents: Synthesis and Applications. ACS Infect Dis 2024; 10:1034-1055. [PMID: 38428037 PMCID: PMC11019562 DOI: 10.1021/acsinfecdis.3c00624] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2023] [Revised: 02/15/2024] [Accepted: 02/16/2024] [Indexed: 03/03/2024]
Abstract
Pathogenic bacteria cause the deaths of millions of people every year. With the development of antibiotics, hundreds and thousands of people's lives have been saved. Nevertheless, bacteria can develop resistance to antibiotics, rendering them insensitive to antibiotics over time. Peptides containing specific amino acids can be used as antibacterial agents; however, they can be easily degraded by proteases in vivo. To address these issues, branched peptide dendrimers are now being considered as good antibacterial agents due to their high efficacy, resistance to protease degradation, and low cytotoxicity. The ease with which peptide dendrimers can be synthesized and modified makes them accessible for use in various biological and nonbiological fields. That is, peptide dendrimers hold a promising future as antibacterial agents with prolonged efficacy without bacterial resistance development. Their in vivo stability and multivalence allow them to effectively target multi-drug-resistant strains and prevent biofilm formation. Thus, it is interesting to have an overview of the development and applications of peptide dendrimers in antibacterial research, including the possibility of employing machine learning approaches for the design of AMPs and dendrimers. This review summarizes the synthesis and applications of peptide dendrimers as antibacterial agents. The challenges and perspectives of using peptide dendrimers as the antibacterial agents are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suchita Paul
- Institute
of Semiconductor Technology, National Yang
Ming Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu 300, Taiwan
- Department
of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology
Kanpur, Kanpur 208016, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Sandeep Verma
- Department
of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology
Kanpur, Kanpur 208016, Uttar Pradesh, India
- Gangwal
School of Medical Sciences and Technology, Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur, Kanpur 208016, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Yu-Chie Chen
- Institute
of Semiconductor Technology, National Yang
Ming Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu 300, Taiwan
- Department
of Applied Chemistry, National Yang Ming
Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu 300, Taiwan
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16
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Yang P, Mao W, Zhang J, Yang Y, Zhang F, Ouyang X, Li B, Wu X, Ba Z, Ran K, Tian Y, Liu H, Zhang Y, Gou S, Zhong C, Ni J. A novel antimicrobial peptide with broad-spectrum and exceptional stability derived from the natural peptide Brevicidine. Eur J Med Chem 2024; 269:116337. [PMID: 38537511 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2024.116337] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2023] [Revised: 03/01/2024] [Accepted: 03/14/2024] [Indexed: 04/07/2024]
Abstract
The global issue of antibiotic resistance is increasingly severe, highlighting the urgent necessity for the development of new antibiotics. Brevicidine, a natural cyclic lipopeptide, exhibits remarkable antimicrobial activity against Gram-negative bacteria. In this study, a comprehensive structure-activity relationship of Brevicidine was investigated through 20 newly synthesized cyclic lipopeptide analogs, resulting in the identification of an optimal linear analog 22. The sequence of analog 22 consisted of five d-amino acids and four non-natural amino acid 2,5-diaminovaleric acid (Orn) and conjugated with decanoic acid at N-terminal. Compared to Brevicidine, analog 22 was easier to synthesize, and exerted broad spectrum antimicrobial activity and excellent stability (t1/2 = 40.98 h). Additionally, analog 22 demonstrated a rapid bactericidal effect by permeating non-specifically through the bacterial membranes, thereby minimizing the likelihood of inducing resistance. Moreover, it exhibited remarkable efficacy in combating bacterial biofilms and reversing bacterial resistance to conventional antibiotics. Furthermore, it effectively suppressed the growth of bacteria in vital organs of mice infected with S. aureus ATCC 25923. In conclusion, analog 22 may represent a potential antimicrobial peptide for further optimization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ping Yang
- Institute of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, School of Basic Medical Sciences, and Research Unit of Peptide Science, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, 2019RU066, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, PR China
| | - Wenbo Mao
- Institute of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, School of Basic Medical Sciences, and Research Unit of Peptide Science, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, 2019RU066, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, PR China
| | - Jingying Zhang
- Institute of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, School of Basic Medical Sciences, and Research Unit of Peptide Science, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, 2019RU066, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, PR China
| | - Yinyin Yang
- Institute of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, School of Basic Medical Sciences, and Research Unit of Peptide Science, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, 2019RU066, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, PR China
| | - Fangyan Zhang
- Institute of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, School of Basic Medical Sciences, and Research Unit of Peptide Science, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, 2019RU066, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, PR China
| | - Xu Ouyang
- Institute of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, School of Basic Medical Sciences, and Research Unit of Peptide Science, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, 2019RU066, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, PR China
| | - Beibei Li
- Institute of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, School of Basic Medical Sciences, and Research Unit of Peptide Science, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, 2019RU066, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, PR China
| | - Xiaoyan Wu
- Institute of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, School of Basic Medical Sciences, and Research Unit of Peptide Science, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, 2019RU066, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, PR China
| | - Zufang Ba
- Institute of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, School of Basic Medical Sciences, and Research Unit of Peptide Science, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, 2019RU066, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, PR China
| | - Kaixin Ran
- Institute of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, School of Basic Medical Sciences, and Research Unit of Peptide Science, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, 2019RU066, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, PR China
| | - Yali Tian
- Institute of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, School of Basic Medical Sciences, and Research Unit of Peptide Science, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, 2019RU066, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, PR China
| | - Hui Liu
- Institute of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, School of Basic Medical Sciences, and Research Unit of Peptide Science, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, 2019RU066, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, PR China; State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substance and Function of Natural Medicines, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100050, PR China
| | - Yun Zhang
- Institute of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, School of Basic Medical Sciences, and Research Unit of Peptide Science, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, 2019RU066, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, PR China; State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substance and Function of Natural Medicines, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100050, PR China
| | - Sanhu Gou
- Institute of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, School of Basic Medical Sciences, and Research Unit of Peptide Science, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, 2019RU066, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, PR China; State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substance and Function of Natural Medicines, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100050, PR China
| | - Chao Zhong
- Institute of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, School of Basic Medical Sciences, and Research Unit of Peptide Science, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, 2019RU066, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, PR China; State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substance and Function of Natural Medicines, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100050, PR China.
| | - Jingman Ni
- Institute of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, School of Basic Medical Sciences, and Research Unit of Peptide Science, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, 2019RU066, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, PR China; State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substance and Function of Natural Medicines, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100050, PR China.
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Lu H, Wang C, Lu W, Li X, Wang G, Dong W, Wang X, Chen H, Tan C. Antibacterial efficacy and mechanism of Cyprinus carpio chemokine-derived L-10 against multidrug-resistant Escherichia coli infections. Int J Antimicrob Agents 2024; 63:107104. [PMID: 38325720 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijantimicag.2024.107104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2023] [Revised: 01/02/2024] [Accepted: 01/29/2024] [Indexed: 02/09/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Antimicrobial resistance has raised concerns regarding untreatable infections and poses a growing threat to public health. Rational design of new AMPs is an ideal solution to this threat. METHODS In this study, we designed, modified, and synthesised an excellent AMP, L-10, based on the original sequence of the Cyprinus carpio chemokine. All experimental data were presented as the mean ± standard deviation (SD), and the two-tailed unpaired T-test method was used to analyze all data. RESULTS L-10 exhibited excellent antibacterial activity with negligible toxicity and improved the efficacy of a broad class of antibiotics against MDR Gram-negative pathogens, including tetracycline, meropenem, levofloxacin, and rifampin. Mechanistic studies have suggested that L-10 targets the bacterial membrane components, LPS and PG, to disrupt bacterial membrane integrity, thereby exerting antibacterial effects and enhancing the efficacy of antibiotics. Moreover, in animal infection models, L-10 significantly increased the survival rate of infected animals and effectively reduced the tissue bacterial load and inflammatory factor levels. In addition to its direct antibacterial activity, L-10 dramatically reduced pulmonary pathological alterations in a mouse model of endotoxemia and suppressed LPS-induced proinflammatory cytokines in vitro and in vivo. Lastly, L-10 was successfully expressed in Pichia pastoris and maintained antimicrobial activity against MDR Gram-negative pathogens in vivo and in vitro. CONCLUSION Collectively, these results reveal the potential of L-10 as an ideal candidate against MDR bacterial infections and provide new insights into the design, development, and clinical application of AMPs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hao Lu
- National Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, China; Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Chenchen Wang
- National Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, China; Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Wenjia Lu
- National Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, China; Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Xiaodan Li
- National Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, China; Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Gaoyan Wang
- National Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, China; Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Wenqi Dong
- National Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, China; Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Xiangru Wang
- National Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, China; Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Wuhan, Hubei, China; Frontiers Science Center for Animal Breeding and Sustainable Production, Wuhan, Hubei, China; Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine in Hubei Province, Wuhan, Hubei, China; The Cooperative Innovation Center for Sustainable Pig Production, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Huanchun Chen
- National Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, China; Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Wuhan, Hubei, China; Frontiers Science Center for Animal Breeding and Sustainable Production, Wuhan, Hubei, China; Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine in Hubei Province, Wuhan, Hubei, China; The Cooperative Innovation Center for Sustainable Pig Production, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Chen Tan
- National Key Laboratory of Agricultural Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, China; Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Wuhan, Hubei, China; Frontiers Science Center for Animal Breeding and Sustainable Production, Wuhan, Hubei, China; Key Laboratory of Preventive Veterinary Medicine in Hubei Province, Wuhan, Hubei, China; The Cooperative Innovation Center for Sustainable Pig Production, Wuhan, Hubei, China.
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18
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Xu J, Xu X, Jiang Y, Fu Y, Shen C. Waste to resource: Mining antimicrobial peptides in sludge from metagenomes using machine learning. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2024; 186:108574. [PMID: 38507933 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2024.108574] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2023] [Revised: 02/26/2024] [Accepted: 03/09/2024] [Indexed: 03/22/2024]
Abstract
The emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria poses a huge threat to the treatment of infections. Antimicrobial peptides are a class of short peptides that widely exist in organisms and are considered as potential substitutes for traditional antibiotics. Here, we use metagenomics combined with machine learning to find antimicrobial peptides from environmental metagenomes and successfully obtained 16,044,909 predicted AMPs. We compared the abundance of potential antimicrobial peptides in natural environments and engineered environments, and found that engineered environments also have great potential. Further, we chose sludge as a typical engineered environmental sample, and tried to mine antimicrobial peptides from it. Through metaproteome analysis and correlation analysis, we mined 27 candidate AMPs from sludge. We successfully synthesized 25 peptides by chemical synthesis, and experimentally verified that 21 peptides had antibacterial activity against the 4 strains tested. Our work highlights the potential for mining new antimicrobial peptides from engineered environments and demonstrates the effectiveness of mining antimicrobial peptides from sludge.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiaqi Xu
- Department of Environmental Engineering, College of Environmental and Resource Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China; Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory for Water Pollution Control and Environmental Safety, Hangzhou, China
| | - Xin Xu
- Department of Environmental Engineering, College of Environmental and Resource Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China; Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory for Water Pollution Control and Environmental Safety, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yunhan Jiang
- Department of Environmental Engineering, College of Environmental and Resource Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China; Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory for Water Pollution Control and Environmental Safety, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yulong Fu
- Department of Environmental Engineering, College of Environmental and Resource Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China; Innovation Center of Yangtze River Delta, Zhejiang University, China
| | - Chaofeng Shen
- Department of Environmental Engineering, College of Environmental and Resource Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China; Innovation Center of Yangtze River Delta, Zhejiang University, China.
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19
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Fu XY, Yin H, Chen XT, Yao JF, Ma YN, Song M, Xu H, Yu QY, Du SS, Qi YK, Wang KW. Three Rounds of Stability-Guided Optimization and Systematical Evaluation of Oncolytic Peptide LTX-315. J Med Chem 2024; 67:3885-3908. [PMID: 38278140 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.3c02232] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/28/2024]
Abstract
Oncolytic peptides represent promising novel candidates for anticancer treatments. In our efforts to develop oncolytic peptides possessing both high protease stability and durable anticancer efficiency, three rounds of optimization were conducted on the first-in-class oncolytic peptide LTX-315. The robust synthetic method, in vitro and in vivo anticancer activity, and anticancer mechanism were investigated. The D-type peptides represented by FXY-12 possessed significantly improved proteolytic stability and sustained anticancer efficiency. Strikingly, the novel hybrid peptide FXY-30, containing one FXY-12 and two camptothecin moieties, exhibited the most potent in vitro and in vivo anticancer activities. The mechanism explorations indicated that FXY-30 exhibited rapid membranolytic effects and induced severe DNA double-strand breaks to trigger cell apoptosis. Collectively, this study not only established robust strategies to improve the stability and anticancer potential of oncolytic peptides but also provided valuable references for the future development of D-type peptides-based hybrid anticancer chemotherapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xing-Yan Fu
- School of Pharmacy, Qingdao University Medical College, Qingdao University, #1 Ningde Road, Qingdao 266073, China
- Institute of Innovative Drugs, Qingdao University, #38 Dengzhou Road, Qingdao 266021, China
| | - Hao Yin
- School of Pharmacy, Qingdao University Medical College, Qingdao University, #1 Ningde Road, Qingdao 266073, China
- Institute of Innovative Drugs, Qingdao University, #38 Dengzhou Road, Qingdao 266021, China
| | - Xi-Tong Chen
- School of Pharmacy, Qingdao University Medical College, Qingdao University, #1 Ningde Road, Qingdao 266073, China
| | - Jing-Fang Yao
- School of Pharmacy, Qingdao University Medical College, Qingdao University, #1 Ningde Road, Qingdao 266073, China
| | - Yan-Nan Ma
- School of Pharmacy, Qingdao University Medical College, Qingdao University, #1 Ningde Road, Qingdao 266073, China
| | - Min Song
- College of Chemical Engineering, Qingdao University of Science and Technology, Qingdao 266042, China
| | - Huan Xu
- College of Chemical Engineering, Qingdao University of Science and Technology, Qingdao 266042, China
| | - Qian-Yao Yu
- School of Pharmacy, Qingdao University Medical College, Qingdao University, #1 Ningde Road, Qingdao 266073, China
| | - Shan-Shan Du
- School of Pharmacy, Qingdao University Medical College, Qingdao University, #1 Ningde Road, Qingdao 266073, China
- College of Chemical Engineering, Qingdao University of Science and Technology, Qingdao 266042, China
| | - Yun-Kun Qi
- School of Pharmacy, Qingdao University Medical College, Qingdao University, #1 Ningde Road, Qingdao 266073, China
- Institute of Innovative Drugs, Qingdao University, #38 Dengzhou Road, Qingdao 266021, China
| | - Ke-Wei Wang
- School of Pharmacy, Qingdao University Medical College, Qingdao University, #1 Ningde Road, Qingdao 266073, China
- Institute of Innovative Drugs, Qingdao University, #38 Dengzhou Road, Qingdao 266021, China
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20
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Pereira AJ, Xing H, de Campos LJ, Seleem MA, de Oliveira KMP, Obaro SK, Conda-Sheridan M. Structure-Activity Relationship Study to Develop Peptide Amphiphiles as Species-Specific Antimicrobials. Chemistry 2024; 30:e202303986. [PMID: 38221408 PMCID: PMC10939825 DOI: 10.1002/chem.202303986] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2023] [Revised: 01/05/2024] [Accepted: 01/09/2024] [Indexed: 01/16/2024]
Abstract
Antimicrobial peptide amphiphiles (PAs) are a promising class of molecules that can disrupt the bacterial membrane or act as drug nanocarriers. In this study, we prepared 33 PAs to establish supramolecular structure-activity relationships. We studied the morphology and activity of the nanostructures against different Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial strains (such as Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acinetobacter baumannii). Next, we used principal component analysis (PCA) to determine the key contributors to activity. We found that for S. aureus, the zeta potential was the major contributor to the activity while Gram-negative bacteria were more influenced by the partition coefficient (LogP) with the following order P. aeruginosa>E. coli>A. baumannii. We also performed a study of the mechanism of action of selected PAs on the bacterial membrane assessing the membrane permeability and depolarization, changes in zeta potential and overall integrity. We studied the toxicity of the nanostructures against mammalian cells. Finally, we performed an in vivo study using the wax moth larvae to determine the therapeutic efficacy of the active PAs. This study shows cationic PA nanostructures can be an intriguing platform for the development of nanoantibacterials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aramis J. Pereira
- A. J. Pereira, Dr. H. Xing, L. J. de Campos, Prof. Dr. M. Conda-Sheridan, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC), Omaha, NE 68198 (USA)
| | - Huihua Xing
- A. J. Pereira, Dr. H. Xing, L. J. de Campos, Prof. Dr. M. Conda-Sheridan, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC), Omaha, NE 68198 (USA)
| | - Luana J. de Campos
- A. J. Pereira, Dr. H. Xing, L. J. de Campos, Prof. Dr. M. Conda-Sheridan, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC), Omaha, NE 68198 (USA)
| | - Mohamed A. Seleem
- Dr. M.A. Seleem, Department of Pharmaceutical Organic Chemistry, Al-Azhar University, Cairo, 4434003 (Egypt)
| | - Kelly M. P. de Oliveira
- Prof. Dr. K. M. P. de Oliveira, Department of Biological and Environmental Science, Federal University of Grande Dourados (UFGD), Dourados, MS 79804-970 (Brazil)
| | - Stephen K. Obaro
- Prof. Dr. S. K. Obaro, Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB), Birmingham, AL 35233 (USA), International Foundation against Infectious Diseases in Nigeria (IFAIN), Abuja, 900108 (Nigeria)
| | - Martin Conda-Sheridan
- A. J. Pereira, Dr. H. Xing, L. J. de Campos, Prof. Dr. M. Conda-Sheridan, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC), Omaha, NE 68198 (USA)
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21
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Yang Y, Wang R, Ai X, Liu D, Niu C, Li T. Significant enhancement in antioxidant and antimicrobial activity of tragacanth gum through chemical modification using amino acids. Int J Biol Macromol 2024; 257:128343. [PMID: 38007020 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2023.128343] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2023] [Revised: 10/24/2023] [Accepted: 11/20/2023] [Indexed: 11/27/2023]
Abstract
Herein, glutamic acid, lysine, arginine and glycine grafted tragacanth gum (TG) were synthesized and designated as TG-Glu, TG-Lys, TG-Arg, and TG-Gly, respectively. The corresponding degrees of substitution (DS) were 0.212, 0.255, 0.394, and 0.169. Thermal, antioxidant, and antibacterial properties of synthesized amino acid-grafted tragacanth gum (ATG) were investigated. The results suggested that the grafting of amino acids onto TG has the potential to alter its thermal properties. When compared with TG and amino acid alone, ATG exhibited significantly enhanced antioxidant and antibacterial properties, with these properties being concentration-dependent. At a concentration of 2 mg/mL for TG-Glu and 3 mg/mL for TG-Arg, TG-Gly, and TG-Lys, the scavenging rate for 2,2'-hypoazido-3-ethylbenzothiazoline sulfonate (ABTS) radical reached 100 %. On the other hand, the scavenging rate of TG-Glu for hydroxyl radical achieved 100 % even at a concentration as low as 1 mg/mL. These properties were accompanied by an increase in reducing force and a notable improvement in the ability to scavenge superoxide anion (O2-). Moreover, the combination of amino acids and TG represents a promising approach to enhance the antimicrobial activities of TG, with the bacteriostatic rate reaching 100 %. Consequently, ATG shows promise as a novel agent for both antioxidation and antimicrobial applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuxuan Yang
- Hebei Key Laboratory of Flexible Functional Materials, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Hebei University of Science and Technology, Shijiazhuang 050000, China
| | - Ruolin Wang
- Hebei Key Laboratory of Flexible Functional Materials, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Hebei University of Science and Technology, Shijiazhuang 050000, China
| | - Xiaopei Ai
- Hebei Key Laboratory of Flexible Functional Materials, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Hebei University of Science and Technology, Shijiazhuang 050000, China
| | - Dan Liu
- Hebei Key Laboratory of Flexible Functional Materials, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Hebei University of Science and Technology, Shijiazhuang 050000, China
| | - Chunmei Niu
- Hebei Key Laboratory of Flexible Functional Materials, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Hebei University of Science and Technology, Shijiazhuang 050000, China.
| | - Tiantian Li
- Hebei Key Laboratory of Flexible Functional Materials, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Hebei University of Science and Technology, Shijiazhuang 050000, China.
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22
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Han J, Wu P, Yang J, Weng Y, Lin Y, Chen Z, Yu F, Lü X, Ni L. Development of a novel hybrid antimicrobial peptide for enhancing antimicrobial spectrum and potency against food-borne pathogens. J Appl Microbiol 2024; 135:lxae023. [PMID: 38337177 DOI: 10.1093/jambio/lxae023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2023] [Revised: 12/30/2023] [Accepted: 02/08/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024]
Abstract
AIMS To address the increasingly serious challenge of the transmission of foodbrone pathogens in the food chain. METHODS AND RESULTS In this study, we employed rational design strategies, including truncation, amino acid substitution, and heterozygosity, to generate seven engineered peptides with α-helical structure, cationic property, and amphipathic characteristics based on the original Abhisin template. Among them, as the hybird antimicrobial peptide (AMP), AM exhibits exceptional stability, minimal toxicity, as well as broad-spectrum and potent antimicrobial activity against foodborne pathogens. Besides, it was observed that the electrostatic incorporation demonstrates by AM results in its primary targeting and disruption of the cell wall and membrane of Escherichia coli O157: H7 (EHEC) and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), resulting in membrane perforation and enhanced permeability. Additionally, AM effectively counteracts the deleterious effects of lipopolysaccharide, eradicating biofilms and ultimately inducing the demise of both food spoilage and pathogenic microorganisms. CONCLUSIONS The findings highlight the significant potential of AM as a highly promising candidate for a novel food preservative and its great importance in the design and optimization of AMP-related agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinzhi Han
- Food Nutrition and Health Research Center, School of Advanced Manufacturing, Fuzhou University, Jinjiang, Fujian 362200, China
- Institute of Food Science and Technology, College of Biological Science and Engineering, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350108, China
- Fujian Research Center of Food Biotechnology and Innovation Engineering, Fuzhou, Fujian 350108, China
| | - Peifen Wu
- Institute of Food Science and Technology, College of Biological Science and Engineering, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350108, China
- Fujian Research Center of Food Biotechnology and Innovation Engineering, Fuzhou, Fujian 350108, China
| | - Jie Yang
- Institute of Food Science and Technology, College of Biological Science and Engineering, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350108, China
- Fujian Research Center of Food Biotechnology and Innovation Engineering, Fuzhou, Fujian 350108, China
| | - Yanlin Weng
- Institute of Food Science and Technology, College of Biological Science and Engineering, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350108, China
- Fujian Research Center of Food Biotechnology and Innovation Engineering, Fuzhou, Fujian 350108, China
| | - Yayi Lin
- Institute of Food Science and Technology, College of Biological Science and Engineering, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350108, China
- Fujian Research Center of Food Biotechnology and Innovation Engineering, Fuzhou, Fujian 350108, China
| | - Zhiying Chen
- Institute of Food Science and Technology, College of Biological Science and Engineering, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350108, China
- Fujian Research Center of Food Biotechnology and Innovation Engineering, Fuzhou, Fujian 350108, China
| | - Fengfan Yu
- Institute of Food Science and Technology, College of Biological Science and Engineering, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350108, China
- Fujian Research Center of Food Biotechnology and Innovation Engineering, Fuzhou, Fujian 350108, China
| | - Xucong Lü
- Food Nutrition and Health Research Center, School of Advanced Manufacturing, Fuzhou University, Jinjiang, Fujian 362200, China
- Institute of Food Science and Technology, College of Biological Science and Engineering, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350108, China
- Fujian Research Center of Food Biotechnology and Innovation Engineering, Fuzhou, Fujian 350108, China
| | - Li Ni
- Food Nutrition and Health Research Center, School of Advanced Manufacturing, Fuzhou University, Jinjiang, Fujian 362200, China
- Institute of Food Science and Technology, College of Biological Science and Engineering, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350108, China
- Fujian Research Center of Food Biotechnology and Innovation Engineering, Fuzhou, Fujian 350108, China
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23
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Haddad H, Mejri R, de Araujo AR, Zaïri A. Evaluation of the Antibacterial Activity of New Dermaseptin Derivatives against Acinetobacter baumannii. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2024; 17:171. [PMID: 38399385 PMCID: PMC10892451 DOI: 10.3390/ph17020171] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2023] [Revised: 01/06/2024] [Accepted: 01/17/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Nosocomial infections represent one of the biggest health problems nowadays. Acinetobacter baumannii is known as an opportunistic pathogen in humans, affecting people with compromised immune systems, and is becoming increasingly important as a hospital-derived infection. It is known that in recent years, more and more bacteria have become multidrug-resistant (MDR) and, for this reason, the development of new drugs is a priority. However, these products must not affect the human body, and therefore, cytotoxicity studies are mandatory. In this context, antimicrobial peptides with potential antibacterial proprieties could be an alternative. In this research, we describe the synthesis and the bioactivity of dermaseptins and their derivatives against Acinetobacter baumannii. The cytotoxicity of these compounds was investigated on the HEp-2 cell line by MTT cell viability assay. Thereafter, we studied the morphological alterations caused by the action of one of the active peptides on the bacterial membrane using atomic force microscopy (AFM). The cytotoxicity of dermaseptins was concentration-dependent at microgram concentrations. It was observed that all tested analogs exhibited antibacterial activity with Minimum Inhibitory Concentrations (MICs) ranging from 3.125 to 12.5 μg/mL and Minimum Bactericidal Concentrations (MBCs) ranging from 6.25 to 25 μg/mL. Microscopic images obtained by AFM revealed morphological changes on the surface of the treated bacteria caused by K4S4(1-16), as well as significant surface alterations. Overall, these findings demonstrate that dermaseptins might constitute new lead structures for the development of potent antibacterial agents against Acinetobacter baumannii infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Houda Haddad
- BIOLIVAL Laboratory, LR14ES06, The Higher Institute of Biotechnology of Monastir ISBM, University of Monastir, Monastir 5000, Tunisia;
- Biochemistry Department, LR18ES47, Faculty of Medicine, University of Sousse, Sousse 4002, Tunisia;
| | - Radhia Mejri
- Biochemistry Department, LR18ES47, Faculty of Medicine, University of Sousse, Sousse 4002, Tunisia;
| | - Alyne Rodrigues de Araujo
- Biodiversity and Biotechnology Research Center, BIOTEC, Federal University of Piauí, Parnaíba 64202-020, PI, Brazil;
| | - Amira Zaïri
- Biochemistry Department, LR18ES47, Faculty of Medicine, University of Sousse, Sousse 4002, Tunisia;
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van Zyl EM, Coburn JM. Functionalization of Bacterial Cellulose with the Antimicrobial Peptide KR-12 via Chimerical Cellulose-Binding Peptides. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:1462. [PMID: 38338739 PMCID: PMC10855235 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25031462] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2023] [Revised: 01/16/2024] [Accepted: 01/20/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Bacterial-derived cellulose (BC) has been studied as a promising material for biomedical applications, including wound care, due to its biocompatibility, water-holding capacity, liquid/gas permeability, and handleability properties. Although BC has been studied as a dressing material for cutaneous wounds, to date, BC inherently lacks antibacterial properties. The current research utilizes bifunctional chimeric peptides containing carbohydrate binding peptides (CBP; either a short version or a long version) and an antimicrobial peptide (AMP), KR-12. The secondary structure of the chimeric peptides was evaluated and confirmed that the α-helix structure of KR-12 was retained for both chimeric peptides evaluated (Long-CBP-KR12 and Short-CBP-KR12). Chimeric peptides and their individual components were assessed for cytotoxicity, where only higher concentrations of Short-CBP and longer timepoints of Short-CBP-KR12 exposure exhibited negative effects on metabolic activity, which was attributed to solubility issues. All KR-12-containing peptides exhibited antibacterial activity in solution against Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa). The lipopolysaccharide (LPS) binding capability of the peptides was evaluated and the Short-CBP-KR12 peptide exhibited enhanced LPS-binding capabilities compared to KR-12 alone. Both chimeric peptides were able to bind to BC and were observed to be retained on the surface over a 7-day period. All functionalized materials exhibited no adverse effects on the metabolic activity of both normal human dermal fibroblasts (NHDFs) and human epidermal keratinocyte (HaCaT) epithelial cells. Additionally, the BC tethered chimeric peptides exhibited antibacterial activity against E. coli. Overall, this research outlines the design and evaluation of chimeric CBP-KR12 peptides for developing antimicrobial BC membranes with potential applications in wound care.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jeannine M. Coburn
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Worcester, MA 01609, USA
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Matias LLR, Damasceno KSFDSC, Pereira AS, Passos TS, Morais AHDA. Innovative Biomedical and Technological Strategies for the Control of Bacterial Growth and Infections. Biomedicines 2024; 12:176. [PMID: 38255281 PMCID: PMC10813423 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines12010176] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2023] [Revised: 01/05/2024] [Accepted: 01/11/2024] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Antibiotics comprise one of the most successful groups of pharmaceutical products. Still, they have been associated with developing bacterial resistance, which has become one of the most severe problems threatening human health today. This context has prompted the development of new antibiotics or co-treatments using innovative tools to reverse the resistance context, combat infections, and offer promising antibacterial therapy. For the development of new alternatives, strategies, and/or antibiotics for controlling bacterial growth, it is necessary to know the target bacteria, their classification, morphological characteristics, the antibiotics currently used for therapies, and their respective mechanisms of action. In this regard, genomics, through the sequencing of bacterial genomes, has generated information on diverse genetic resources, aiding in the discovery of new molecules or antibiotic compounds. Nanotechnology has been applied to propose new antimicrobials, revitalize existing drug options, and use strategic encapsulating agents with their biochemical characteristics, making them more effective against various bacteria. Advanced knowledge in bacterial sequencing contributes to the construction of databases, resulting in advances in bioinformatics and the development of new antimicrobials. Moreover, it enables in silico antimicrobial susceptibility testing without the need to cultivate the pathogen, reducing costs and time. This review presents new antibiotics and biomedical and technological innovations studied in recent years to develop or improve natural or synthetic antimicrobial agents to reduce bacterial growth, promote well-being, and benefit users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lídia Leonize Rodrigues Matias
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Postgraduate Program, Biosciences Center, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal 59078-970, RN, Brazil;
| | | | - Annemberg Salvino Pereira
- Nutrition Course, Center for Health Sciences, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal 59078-970, RN, Brazil;
| | - Thaís Souza Passos
- Nutrition Postgraduate Program, Center for Health Sciences, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal 59078-970, RN, Brazil; (K.S.F.d.S.C.D.); (T.S.P.)
| | - Ana Heloneida de Araujo Morais
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Postgraduate Program, Biosciences Center, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal 59078-970, RN, Brazil;
- Nutrition Postgraduate Program, Center for Health Sciences, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal 59078-970, RN, Brazil; (K.S.F.d.S.C.D.); (T.S.P.)
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Gao N, Wang J, Fang C, Bai P, Sun Y, Wu W, Shan A. Combating bacterial infections with host defense peptides: Shifting focus from bacteria to host immunity. Drug Resist Updat 2024; 72:101030. [PMID: 38043443 DOI: 10.1016/j.drup.2023.101030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2023] [Revised: 11/12/2023] [Accepted: 11/26/2023] [Indexed: 12/05/2023]
Abstract
The increasing prevalence of multidrug-resistant bacterial infections necessitates the exploration of novel paradigms for anti-infective therapy. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), also known as host defense peptides (HDPs), have garnered extensive recognition as immunomodulatory molecules that leverage natural host mechanisms to enhance therapeutic benefits. The unique immune mechanism exhibited by certain HDPs that involves self-assembly into supramolecular nanonets capable of inducing bacterial agglutination and entrapping is significantly important. This process effectively prevents microbial invasion and subsequent dissemination and significantly mitigates selective pressure for the evolution of microbial resistance, highlighting the potential of HDP-based antimicrobial therapy. Recent advancements in this field have focused on developing bio-responsive materials in the form of supramolecular nanonets. A comprehensive overview of the immunomodulatory and bacteria-agglutinating activities of HDPs, along with a discussion on optimization strategies for synthetic derivatives, is presented in this article. These optimized derivatives exhibit improved biological properties and therapeutic potential, making them suitable for future clinical applications as effective anti-infective therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nan Gao
- Animal Science and Technology College, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, PR China
| | - Jiajun Wang
- Animal Science and Technology College, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, PR China.
| | - Chunyang Fang
- Animal Science and Technology College, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, PR China
| | - Pengfei Bai
- Animal Science and Technology College, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, PR China
| | - Yu Sun
- Animal Science and Technology College, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, PR China
| | - Wanpeng Wu
- Animal Science and Technology College, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, PR China
| | - Anshan Shan
- Animal Science and Technology College, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, PR China.
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27
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Ki MR, Kim SH, Park TI, Pack SP. Self-Entrapment of Antimicrobial Peptides in Silica Particles for Stable and Effective Antimicrobial Peptide Delivery System. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:16423. [PMID: 38003614 PMCID: PMC10671715 DOI: 10.3390/ijms242216423] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2023] [Revised: 11/07/2023] [Accepted: 11/14/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) have emerged as a promising solution to tackle bacterial infections and combat antibiotic resistance. However, their vulnerability to protease degradation and toxicity towards mammalian cells has hindered their clinical application. To overcome these challenges, our study aims to develop a method to enhance the stability and safety of AMPs applicable to effective drug-device combination products. The KR12 antimicrobial peptide was chosen, and in order to further enhance its delivery and efficacy the human immunodeficiency virus TAT protein-derived cell-penetrating peptide (CPP) was fused to form CPP-KR12. A new product, CPP-KR12@Si, was developed by forming silica particles with self-entrapped CPP-KR12 peptide using biomimetic silica precipitability because of its cationic nature. Peptide delivery from CPP-KR12@Si to bacteria and cells was observed at a slightly delivered rate, with improved stability against trypsin treatment and a reduction in cytotoxicity compared to CPP-KR12. Finally, the antimicrobial potential of the CPP-KR12@Si/bone graft substitute (BGS) combination product was demonstrated. CPP-KR12 is coated in the form of submicron-sized particles on the surface of the BGS. Self-entrapped AMP in silica nanoparticles is a safe and effective AMP delivery method that will be useful for developing a drug-device combination product for tissue regeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mi-Ran Ki
- Department of Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Korea University, Sejong-ro 2511, Sejong 30019, Republic of Korea
- Institute of Industrial Technology, Korea University, Sejong-ro 2511, Sejong 30019, Republic of Korea
| | - Sung Ho Kim
- Department of Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Korea University, Sejong-ro 2511, Sejong 30019, Republic of Korea
| | - Tae In Park
- Department of Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Korea University, Sejong-ro 2511, Sejong 30019, Republic of Korea
| | - Seung Pil Pack
- Department of Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Korea University, Sejong-ro 2511, Sejong 30019, Republic of Korea
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Lan X, Zhong J, Huang R, Liu Y, Ma X, Li X, Zhao D, Qing G, Zhang Y, Liu L, Wang J, Ma X, Luo T, Guo W, Wang Y, Li LL, Su YX, Liang XJ. Conformation Dependent Architectures of Assembled Antimicrobial Peptides with Enhanced Antimicrobial Ability. Adv Healthc Mater 2023; 12:e2301688. [PMID: 37540835 DOI: 10.1002/adhm.202301688] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2023] [Revised: 07/19/2023] [Indexed: 08/06/2023]
Abstract
Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are a developing class of natural and synthetic oligopeptides with host defense mechanisms against a broad spectrum of microorganisms. With in-depth research on the structural conformations of AMPs, synthesis or modification of peptides has shown great potential in effectively obtaining new therapeutic agents with improved physicochemical and biological properties. Notably, AMPs with self-assembled properties have gradually become a hot research topic for various biomedical applications. Compared to monomeric peptides, these peptides can exist in diverse forms (e.g., nanoparticles, nanorods, and nanofibers) and possess several advantages, such as high stability, good biocompatibility, and potent biological functions, after forming aggregates under specific conditions. In particular, the stability and antibacterial property of these AMPs can be modulated by rationally regulating the peptide sequences to promote self-assembly, leading to the reconstruction of molecular structure and spatial orientation while introducing some peptide fragments into the scaffolds. In this work, four self-assembled AMPs are developed, and the relationship between their chemical structures and antibacterial activity is explored extensively through different experiments. Importantly, the evaluation of antibacterial performance in both in vitro and in vivo studies has provided a general guide for using self-assembled AMPs in subsequent treatments for combating bacterial infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinmiao Lan
- Beijing Area Major Laboratory of Peptide and Small Molecular Drugs, Engineering Research Center of Ministry of Education of China, Beijing Laboratory of Biomedical Materials, School of Pharmaceutical Science, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100069, China
- Discipline of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Faculty of Dentistry, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, 999077, China
| | - Jie Zhong
- Discipline of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Faculty of Dentistry, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, 999077, China
- CAS Key Laboratory for Biomedical Effects of Nanomaterials and Nanosafety, CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, National Center for Nanoscience and Technology of China, Beijing, 100190, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Regina Huang
- Discipline of Periodontology, Faculty of Dentistry, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, 999077, China
| | - Yuhan Liu
- Department of Stomatology, Aviation General Hospital of China Medical University and Beijing Institute of Translational Medicine, Chinese Academy of Science, Beijing, 100012, China
| | - Xiaowei Ma
- National Center for Veterinary Drug Safety Evaluation, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Xuan Li
- Discipline of Periodontology, Faculty of Dentistry, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, 999077, China
| | - Dan Zhao
- Beijing Institute of Dental Research, Beijing Stomatological Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100069, China
| | - Guangchao Qing
- CAS Key Laboratory for Biomedical Effects of Nanomaterials and Nanosafety, CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, National Center for Nanoscience and Technology of China, Beijing, 100190, China
| | - Yuxuan Zhang
- CAS Key Laboratory for Biomedical Effects of Nanomaterials and Nanosafety, CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, National Center for Nanoscience and Technology of China, Beijing, 100190, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Lu Liu
- CAS Key Laboratory for Biomedical Effects of Nanomaterials and Nanosafety, CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, National Center for Nanoscience and Technology of China, Beijing, 100190, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Jinjin Wang
- CAS Key Laboratory for Biomedical Effects of Nanomaterials and Nanosafety, CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, National Center for Nanoscience and Technology of China, Beijing, 100190, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Xu Ma
- CAS Key Laboratory for Biomedical Effects of Nanomaterials and Nanosafety, CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, National Center for Nanoscience and Technology of China, Beijing, 100190, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Ting Luo
- CAS Key Laboratory for Biomedical Effects of Nanomaterials and Nanosafety, CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, National Center for Nanoscience and Technology of China, Beijing, 100190, China
| | - Weisheng Guo
- CAS Key Laboratory for Biomedical Effects of Nanomaterials and Nanosafety, CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, National Center for Nanoscience and Technology of China, Beijing, 100190, China
| | - Yuji Wang
- Beijing Area Major Laboratory of Peptide and Small Molecular Drugs, Engineering Research Center of Ministry of Education of China, Beijing Laboratory of Biomedical Materials, School of Pharmaceutical Science, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100069, China
| | - Li-Li Li
- CAS Key Laboratory for Biomedical Effects of Nanomaterials and Nanosafety, CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, National Center for Nanoscience and Technology of China, Beijing, 100190, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Yu-Xiong Su
- Discipline of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Faculty of Dentistry, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, 999077, China
| | - Xing-Jie Liang
- CAS Key Laboratory for Biomedical Effects of Nanomaterials and Nanosafety, CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, National Center for Nanoscience and Technology of China, Beijing, 100190, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
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Wu P, Yang J, Chen C, Li R, Chen S, Weng Y, Lin Y, Chen Z, Yu F, Lü X, Ni L, Han J. Rational design of Abhisin-like peptides enables generation of potent antimicrobial activity against pathogens. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2023; 107:6621-6640. [PMID: 37672069 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-023-12748-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2023] [Revised: 07/01/2023] [Accepted: 08/21/2023] [Indexed: 09/07/2023]
Abstract
Infections caused by pathogens can be a significant challenge in wound healing, particularly when antimicrobial resistance is a factor. This can pose a serious threat to human health and well-being. In this scenario, it is imperative to explore novel antimicrobial agents to fight against multi-drug resistant (MDR) pathogenic bacteria. This study employed rational design strategies, including truncation, amino acid replacement, and heterozygosity, to obtain seven α-helical, cationic, and engineered peptides based on the original template of Abhisin. Among the analogs of Abhisin, AB7 displayed broad-spectrum and potent antimicrobial activity, superior targeting of membranes and DNA, and the ability to disrupt biofilms and anti-endotoxins in vitro. Additionally, we evaluated the anti-infection ability of AB7 using a murine skin wound model infected with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and found that AB7 displayed negligible toxicity both in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, AB7 exhibited desirable therapeutic efficacy by reducing bacterial burden and pro-inflammatory mediators, modulating cytokines, promoting wound healing, and enhancing angiogenesis. These results highlight the potential of AB7 as a promising candidate for a new antibiotic. KEY POINTS: • A α-helical, cationic, and engineered peptide AB7 was obtained based on Abhisin. • AB7 exhibited potent antimicrobial activity and multiple bactericidal actions. • AB7 effectively treated infected skin wounds in mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peifen Wu
- Institute of Food Science and Technology, College of Biological Science and Engineering, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou, 350108, China
| | - Jie Yang
- Institute of Food Science and Technology, College of Biological Science and Engineering, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou, 350108, China
| | - Chi Chen
- College of Modern Agricultural Engineering, Fujian Vocational College of Agriculture, Fuzhou, 350303, China
| | - Ruili Li
- College of Food Science and Technology, Key Laboratory of Food Processing and Quality Control, Ministry of Agriculture of China, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, China
| | - Shunxian Chen
- Institute of Food Science and Technology, College of Biological Science and Engineering, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou, 350108, China
| | - Yanlin Weng
- Institute of Food Science and Technology, College of Biological Science and Engineering, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou, 350108, China
| | - Yayi Lin
- Institute of Food Science and Technology, College of Biological Science and Engineering, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou, 350108, China
| | - Zhiying Chen
- Institute of Food Science and Technology, College of Biological Science and Engineering, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou, 350108, China
| | - Fengfan Yu
- Institute of Food Science and Technology, College of Biological Science and Engineering, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou, 350108, China
| | - Xucong Lü
- Institute of Food Science and Technology, College of Biological Science and Engineering, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou, 350108, China
| | - Li Ni
- Institute of Food Science and Technology, College of Biological Science and Engineering, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou, 350108, China
| | - Jinzhi Han
- Institute of Food Science and Technology, College of Biological Science and Engineering, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou, 350108, China.
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30
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Tang YT, Yin SG, Peng CF, Tang JY, Jia G, Che LQ, Liu GM, Tian G, Chen XL, Cai JY, Kang B, Zhao H. Compound bioengineering protein supplementation improves intestinal health and growth performance of broilers. Poult Sci 2023; 102:103037. [PMID: 37657250 PMCID: PMC10480649 DOI: 10.1016/j.psj.2023.103037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2023] [Revised: 08/06/2023] [Accepted: 08/11/2023] [Indexed: 09/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Currently, antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are of growing interest as potential substitutes for antibiotic growth promoters in animal production. The present study was conducted to evaluate the effects of dietary supplementation of bioengineering artificial Parasin I protein (API) and artificial plectasin protein (APL) (named as compound bioengineering protein, CBP) on growth performance and intestinal health of broilers. A total of 450 one-day-old Arbor Acres male healthy broilers were randomly allotted to 5 dietary groups with 10 replicates of 9 individuals in each replicate and supplemented with 0, 250, 500, 750, and 1,000 mg/kg CBP for 6 wk. Dietary CBP supplementation increased (P < 0.01) body weight (6 wk), average daily gain (0-6 wk), and average daily feed intake (3-6 wk and 0-6 wk). CBP addition enhanced antioxidant capacity, which was accompanied by the higher (P < 0.05) activity of serum total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) (750 mg/kg), jejunal glutathione peroxidase (750 mg/kg), and T-AOC (500 and 1,000 mg/kg). Dietary CBP addition improved intestinal health, reflecting by the increased (P < 0.05) villus height to crypt depth ratio in the duodenum, the upregulated (P < 0.01) mRNA levels of claudin-1 (500 and 750 mg/kg) in the ileum, the downregulated (P < 0.01) mRNA expression of occludin (500 mg/kg) in the duodenum and claudin-1 (500 mg/kg) and occludin (500 and 750 mg/kg) in the jejunum, and the upregulated mRNA expression of (P < 0.01) mucin2 (MUC2) (1,000 mg/kg) in the duodenum. In addition, CBP upregulated (P < 0.01) IL-10 (1,000 mg/kg) in duodenum and ileum, and downregulated (P < 0.05) the mRNA expression of IL-6 (750 and 1,000 mg/kg), interferon-γ (1,000 mg/kg) in the jejunum and TNF-α (250 mg/kg) in the ileum. Furthermore, dietary CBP increased (P < 0.01) the abundance of total bacteria and Lactobacillus (500 and 750 mg/kg), and reduced (P < 0.05) the abundance of Escherichia coli (750 mg/kg) in the cecum. In conclusion, CBP supplementation enhances the antioxidant capacity, intestinal health, immune function, and ameliorates the gut microflora population, thus improving the growth performance of broilers. Dietary supplementation of 750 mg/kg CBP exhibits a better beneficial effect.
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Affiliation(s)
- Y T Tang
- Key Laboratory for Animal Disease-Resistance Nutrition of Ministry of Education of China, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of Sichuan Province, Animal Nutrition Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, Sichuan, China
| | - S G Yin
- Key Laboratory for Animal Disease-Resistance Nutrition of Ministry of Education of China, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of Sichuan Province, Animal Nutrition Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, Sichuan, China
| | - C F Peng
- Key Laboratory for Animal Disease-Resistance Nutrition of Ministry of Education of China, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of Sichuan Province, Animal Nutrition Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, Sichuan, China
| | - J Y Tang
- Key Laboratory for Animal Disease-Resistance Nutrition of Ministry of Education of China, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of Sichuan Province, Animal Nutrition Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, Sichuan, China
| | - G Jia
- Key Laboratory for Animal Disease-Resistance Nutrition of Ministry of Education of China, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of Sichuan Province, Animal Nutrition Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, Sichuan, China
| | - L Q Che
- Key Laboratory for Animal Disease-Resistance Nutrition of Ministry of Education of China, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of Sichuan Province, Animal Nutrition Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, Sichuan, China
| | - G M Liu
- Key Laboratory for Animal Disease-Resistance Nutrition of Ministry of Education of China, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of Sichuan Province, Animal Nutrition Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, Sichuan, China
| | - G Tian
- Key Laboratory for Animal Disease-Resistance Nutrition of Ministry of Education of China, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of Sichuan Province, Animal Nutrition Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, Sichuan, China
| | - X L Chen
- Key Laboratory for Animal Disease-Resistance Nutrition of Ministry of Education of China, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of Sichuan Province, Animal Nutrition Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, Sichuan, China
| | - J Y Cai
- Key Laboratory for Animal Disease-Resistance Nutrition of Ministry of Education of China, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of Sichuan Province, Animal Nutrition Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, Sichuan, China
| | - B Kang
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, Sichuan, China
| | - H Zhao
- Key Laboratory for Animal Disease-Resistance Nutrition of Ministry of Education of China, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of Sichuan Province, Animal Nutrition Institute, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, Sichuan, China.
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31
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Antropenko A, Caruso F, Fernandez-Trillo P. Stimuli-Responsive Delivery of Antimicrobial Peptides Using Polyelectrolyte Complexes. Macromol Biosci 2023; 23:e2300123. [PMID: 37449448 DOI: 10.1002/mabi.202300123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2023] [Revised: 06/27/2023] [Accepted: 07/06/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023]
Abstract
Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are antibiotics with the potential to address antimicrobial resistance. However, their translation to the clinic is hampered by issues such as off-target toxicity and low stability in biological media. Stimuli-responsive delivery from polyelectrolyte complexes offers a simple avenue to address these limitations, wherein delivery is triggered by changes occurring during microbial infection. The review first provides an overview of pH-responsive delivery, which exploits the intrinsic pH-responsive nature of polyelectrolytes as a mechanism to deliver these antimicrobials. The examples included illustrate the challenges faced when developing these systems, in particular balancing antimicrobial efficacy and stability, and the potential of this approach to prepare switchable surfaces or nanoparticles for intracellular delivery. The review subsequently highlights the use of other stimuli associated with microbial infection, such as the expression of degrading enzymes or changes in temperature. Polyelectrolyte complexes with dual stimuli-response based on pH and temperature are also discussed. Finally, the review presents a summary and an outlook of the challenges and opportunities faced by this field. This review is expected to encourage researchers to develop stimuli-responsive polyelectrolyte complexes that increase the stability of AMPs while providing targeted delivery, and thereby facilitate the translation of these antimicrobials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander Antropenko
- School of Chemistry, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK
- Institute of Microbiology and Infection, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK
- Department of Chemical Engineering, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia
| | - Frank Caruso
- Department of Chemical Engineering, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia
| | - Paco Fernandez-Trillo
- School of Chemistry, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK
- Institute of Microbiology and Infection, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK
- Departamento de Química, Facultade de Ciencias and Centro de Investigacións Cientı́ficas Avanzadas (CICA), Universidade da Coruña, A Coruña, 15071, Spain
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32
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Sharma AK, Sharma R, Das A, Chakraborty A, Rakshit S, Sarma HD, Mukherjee A, Das T, Satpati D. Synthesis and 177Lu Labeling of the First Retro Analog of the HER2-Targeting A9 Peptide: A Superior Variant. Bioconjug Chem 2023; 34:1576-1584. [PMID: 37379455 DOI: 10.1021/acs.bioconjchem.3c00265] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/30/2023]
Abstract
The retro analog of the HER2-targeting A9 peptide was synthesized by coupling amino acids in a reverse fashion and switching the N-terminal in the original sequence of the L-A9 peptide (QDVNTAVAW) to the C-terminal in rL-A9 (WAVATNVDQ). Modification in the backbone resulted in higher conformational stability of the retro peptide as evident from CD spectra. Molecular docking analysis revealed a higher HER2 binding affinity of [177Lu]Lu-DOTA-rL-A9 than the original radiopeptide [177Lu]Lu-DOTA-L-A9. Enormously enhanced metabolic stability of the retro analog led to significant elevation in tumor uptake and retention. SPECT imaging studies corroborated biodistribution results demonstrating a remarkably higher tumor signal for [177Lu]Lu-DOTA-rL-A9. The presently studied retro probe has promising efficiency for clinical screening.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amit Kumar Sharma
- Radiopharmaceuticals Division, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400085, India
- Homi Bhabha National Institute, Mumbai 400094, India
| | - Rohit Sharma
- Radiopharmaceuticals Division, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400085, India
- Homi Bhabha National Institute, Mumbai 400094, India
| | - Amit Das
- Radiation Biology and Health Sciences Division, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400085, India
- Homi Bhabha National Institute, Mumbai 400094, India
| | - Avik Chakraborty
- Radiation Medicine Centre, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400012, India
- Homi Bhabha National Institute, Mumbai 400094, India
| | - Sutapa Rakshit
- Radiation Medicine Centre, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400012, India
| | - Haladhar Dev Sarma
- Radiation Biology and Health Sciences Division, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400085, India
| | - Archana Mukherjee
- Radiopharmaceuticals Division, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400085, India
- Homi Bhabha National Institute, Mumbai 400094, India
| | - Tapas Das
- Radiopharmaceuticals Division, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400085, India
- Homi Bhabha National Institute, Mumbai 400094, India
| | - Drishty Satpati
- Radiopharmaceuticals Division, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400085, India
- Homi Bhabha National Institute, Mumbai 400094, India
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Kim EY, Kumar SD, Bang JK, Ajish C, Yang S, Ganbaatar B, Kim J, Lee CW, Cho SJ, Shin SY. Evaluation of deoxythymidine-based cationic amphiphiles as antimicrobial, antibiofilm, and anti-inflammatory agents. Int J Antimicrob Agents 2023; 62:106909. [PMID: 37419291 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijantimicag.2023.106909] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2023] [Revised: 06/14/2023] [Accepted: 06/30/2023] [Indexed: 07/09/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES We recently designed a series of cationic deoxythymidine-based amphiphiles that mimic the cationic amphipathic structure of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs). Among these amphiphiles, ADG-2e and ADL-3e displayed the highest selectivity against bacterial cells. In this study, ADG-2e and ADL-3e were evaluated for their potential as novel classes of antimicrobial, antibiofilm, and anti-inflammatory agents. METHODS Minimum inhibitory concentrations of ADG-2e and ADL-3e against bacteria were determined using the broth microdilution method. Proteolytic resistance against pepsin, trypsin, α-chymotrypsin, and proteinase K was determined by radial diffusion and HPLC analysis. Biofilm activity was investigated using the broth microdilution and confocal microscopy. The antimicrobial mechanism was investigated by membrane depolarization, cell membrane integrity analysis, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), genomic DNA influence and genomic DNA binding assay. Synergistic activity was evaluated using checkerboard method. Anti-inflammatory activity was investigated using ELISA and RT-PCR. RESULTS ADG-2e and ADL-3e showed good resistance to physiological salts and human serum, and a low incidence of drug resistance. Moreover, they exhibit proteolytic resistance against pepsin, trypsin, α-chymotrypsin, and proteinase K. ADG-2e and ADL-3e were found to kill bacteria by an intracellular target mechanism and bacterial cell membrane-disrupting mechanism, respectively. Furthermore, ADG-2e and ADL-3e showed effective synergistic effects when combined with several conventional antibiotics against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa (MDRPA). Importantly, ADG-2e and ADL-3e not only suppressed MDRPA biofilm formation but also effectively eradicated mature MDRPA biofilms. Furthermore, ADG-2e and ADL-3e drastically decreased tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) gene expression and protein secretion in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated macrophages, implying potent anti-inflammatory activity in LPS-induced inflammation. CONCLUSION Our findings suggest that ADG-2e and ADL-3e could be further developed as novel antimicrobial, antibiofilm, and anti-inflammatory agents to combat bacterial infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eun Young Kim
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, School of Medicine, Chosun University, Gwangju, Republic of Korea
| | - S Dinesh Kumar
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, School of Medicine, Chosun University, Gwangju, Republic of Korea
| | - Jeong Kyu Bang
- Division of Magnetic Resonance, Korea Basic Science Institute (KBSI), Ochang, Chung Buk, Republic of Korea
| | - Chelladurai Ajish
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, School of Medicine, Chosun University, Gwangju, Republic of Korea
| | - Sungtae Yang
- Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, Chosun University, Gwangju, Republic of Korea
| | | | - Jeongeun Kim
- Department of Chemistry, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, Republic of Korea
| | - Chul Won Lee
- Department of Chemistry, Chonnam National University, Gwangju, Republic of Korea
| | - Sung-Jin Cho
- Department of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, College of Natural Sciences, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju, Chungbuk, Republic of Korea.
| | - Song Yub Shin
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, School of Medicine, Chosun University, Gwangju, Republic of Korea.
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Suchi SA, Lee DY, Kim YK, Kang SS, Bilkis T, Yoo JC. Synergistic Effect, Improved Cell Selectivity, and Elucidating the Action Mechanism of Antimicrobial Peptide YS12. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:13522. [PMID: 37686328 PMCID: PMC10487915 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241713522] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2023] [Revised: 08/15/2023] [Accepted: 08/25/2023] [Indexed: 09/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) have attracted considerable attention as potential substitutes for traditional antibiotics. In our previous research, a novel antimicrobial peptide YS12 derived from the Bacillus velezensis strain showed broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. In this study, the fractional inhibitory concentration index (FICI) indicated that combining YS12 with commercial antibiotics produced a synergistic effect. Following these findings, the combination of YS12 with an antibiotic resulted in a faster killing effect against bacterial strains compared to the treatment with the peptide YS12 or antibiotic alone. The peptide YS12 maintained its antimicrobial activity under different physiological salts (Na+, Mg2+, and Fe3+). Most importantly, YS12 exhibited no cytotoxicity towards Raw 264.7 cells and showed low hemolytic activity, whereas positive control melittin indicated extremely high toxicity. In terms of mode of action, we found that peptide YS12 was able to bind with LPS through electrostatic interaction. The results from fluorescent measurement revealed that peptide YS12 damaged the integrity of the bacterial membrane. Confocal laser microscopy further confirmed that the localization of peptide YS12 was almost in the cytoplasm of the cells. Peptide YS12 also exhibited anti-inflammatory activity by reducing the release of LPS-induced pro-inflammatory mediators such as TNF-α, IL-1β, and NO. Collectively, these properties strongly suggest that the antimicrobial peptide YS12 may be a promising candidate for treating microbial infections and inflammation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suzia Aktar Suchi
- Department of Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Chosun University, Gwangju 61452, Republic of Korea
| | - Dae Young Lee
- Department of Herbal Crop Research, National Institute of Horticultural and Herbal Science, RDA, Eumseong 27709, Republic of Korea
| | - Young Kyun Kim
- Department of Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Chosun University, Gwangju 61452, Republic of Korea
| | - Seong Soo Kang
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and BK21 Four Program, Chonnam National University, Gwangju 61186, Republic of Korea
| | - Tahmina Bilkis
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Chosun University, Gwangju 61452, Republic of Korea
| | - Jin Cheol Yoo
- Department of Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Chosun University, Gwangju 61452, Republic of Korea
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Shao C, Jian Q, Li B, Zhu Y, Yu W, Li Z, Shan A. Ultrashort All-Hydrocarbon Stapled α-Helix Amphiphile as a Potent and Stable Antimicrobial Compound. J Med Chem 2023; 66:11414-11427. [PMID: 37531494 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.3c00856] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/04/2023]
Abstract
The ravaging effect of drug-resistant bacteria has heightened the need for the development of membrane-soluble antimicrobial peptides (AMPs). However, their potential for clinical use is hindered by issues such as poor biocompatibility, salt sensitivity, and proteolytic lability. In this study, a series of ultrashort stapled cyclization heptapeptides were obtained by inserting all-hydrocarbon staples. StRRL with the highest therapeutic index (TI = 36.3) was selected after evaluating its antibacterial and toxic activity. Furthermore, stRRL demonstrated exceptional performance in high-protease and high-salt environments, making it an effective weapon against bacteria like Escherichia coli in a mouse peritonitis-sepsis model. The membrane lytic mechanism of stRRL, which operates from outside to inside, gives it a low drug-resistant tendency. This suggests that stRRL has the potential to replace antibiotics as a powerful candidate in tackling bacterial infection. In conclusion, the ultrashort all-hydrocarbon stapled antimicrobial amphiphiles inaugurated a novel entrance to the advancements of highly stable peptide compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Changxuan Shao
- Laboratory of Molecular Nutrition and Immunity. College of Animal Science and Technology, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150030, P. R. China
| | - Qiao Jian
- Laboratory of Molecular Nutrition and Immunity. College of Animal Science and Technology, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150030, P. R. China
| | - Bowen Li
- Laboratory of Molecular Nutrition and Immunity. College of Animal Science and Technology, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150030, P. R. China
| | - Yongjie Zhu
- Laboratory of Molecular Nutrition and Immunity. College of Animal Science and Technology, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150030, P. R. China
| | - Weikang Yu
- Laboratory of Molecular Nutrition and Immunity. College of Animal Science and Technology, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150030, P. R. China
| | - Zhongyu Li
- Laboratory of Molecular Nutrition and Immunity. College of Animal Science and Technology, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150030, P. R. China
| | - Anshan Shan
- Laboratory of Molecular Nutrition and Immunity. College of Animal Science and Technology, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150030, P. R. China
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He S, Yang Z, Li X, Wu H, Zhang L, Shan A, Wang J. Boosting stability and therapeutic potential of proteolysis-resistant antimicrobial peptides by end-tagging β-naphthylalanine. Acta Biomater 2023; 164:175-194. [PMID: 37100185 DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2023.04.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2022] [Revised: 04/16/2023] [Accepted: 04/19/2023] [Indexed: 04/28/2023]
Abstract
Recently, much emphasis has been placed on solving the intrinsic defects of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), especially their susceptibility to protease digestion for the systemic application of antibacterial biomaterials. Although many strategies have increased the protease stability of AMPs, antimicrobial activity was severely compromised, thereby substantially weakening their therapeutic effect. To address this issue, we introduced hydrophobic group modifications at the N-terminus of proteolysis-resistant AMPs D1 (AArIIlrWrFR) through end-tagging with stretches of natural amino acids (W and I), unnatural amino acid (Nal) and fatty acids. Of these peptides, N1 tagged with a Nal at N-terminus showed the highest selectivity index (GMSI = 19.59), with a 6.73-fold improvement over D1. In addition to potent broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity, N1 also exhibited high antimicrobial stability toward salts, serum and proteases in vitro and ideal biocompatibility and therapeutic efficacy in vivo. Furthermore, N1 killed bacteria through multiple mechanisms, involving disruption of bacterial membranes and inhibition of bacterial energy metabolism. Indeed, appropriate terminal hydrophobicity modification opens up new avenues for developing and applying high-stability peptide-based antibacterial biomaterials. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: To improve the potency and stability of proteolysis-resistant antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) without increasing toxicity, we constructed a convenient and tunable platform based on different compositions and lengths of hydrophobic end modifications. By tagging an Nal at the N-terminal, the obtained target compound N1 exhibited strong antimicrobial activity and desirable stability under multifarious environments in vitro (protease, salts and serum), and also showed favorable biocompatibility and therapeutic efficacy in vivo. Notably, N1exerted its bactericidal effect by damaging bacterial cell membranes and inhibiting bacterial energy metabolism in a dual mode. The findings provide a potential method for designing or optimizing proteolysis-resistant AMPs thus promoting the development and application of peptide-based antibacterial biomaterial.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shiqi He
- Animal Science and Technology College, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, P. R. China
| | - Zhanyi Yang
- Animal Science and Technology College, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, P. R. China
| | - Xuefeng Li
- Animal Science and Technology College, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, P. R. China
| | - Hua Wu
- Animal Science and Technology College, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, P. R. China
| | - Licong Zhang
- Animal Science and Technology College, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, P. R. China
| | - Anshan Shan
- Animal Science and Technology College, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, P. R. China.
| | - Jiajun Wang
- Animal Science and Technology College, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, P. R. China.
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Li G, Lai Z, Shan A. Advances of Antimicrobial Peptide-Based Biomaterials for the Treatment of Bacterial Infections. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2023; 10:e2206602. [PMID: 36722732 PMCID: PMC10104676 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202206602] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 33.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2022] [Revised: 01/12/2023] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
Owing to the increase in multidrug-resistant bacterial isolates in hospitals globally and the lack of truly effective antimicrobial agents, antibiotic resistant bacterial infections have increased substantially. There is thus an urgent need to develop new antimicrobial drugs and their related formulations. In recent years, natural antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), AMP optimization, self-assembled AMPs, AMP hydrogels, and biomaterial-assisted delivery of AMPs have shown great potential in the treatment of bacterial infections. In this review, it is focused on the development prospects and shortcomings of various AMP-based biomaterials for treating animal model infections, such as abdominal, skin, and eye infections. It is hoped that this review will inspire further innovations in the design of AMP-based biomaterials for the treatment of bacterial infections and accelerate their commercialization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guoyu Li
- The Institute of Animal NutritionNortheast Agricultural UniversityHarbin150030P. R. China
| | - Zhenheng Lai
- The Institute of Animal NutritionNortheast Agricultural UniversityHarbin150030P. R. China
| | - Anshan Shan
- The Institute of Animal NutritionNortheast Agricultural UniversityHarbin150030P. R. China
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Lyu Y, Tan M, Xue M, Hou W, Yang C, Shan A, Xiang W, Cheng B. Broad-spectrum hybrid antimicrobial peptides derived from PMAP-23 with potential LPS binding ability. Biochem Pharmacol 2023; 210:115500. [PMID: 36921633 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2023.115500] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2022] [Revised: 02/21/2023] [Accepted: 03/07/2023] [Indexed: 03/16/2023]
Abstract
Antimicrobial peptides, as an integral part of the innate immune system, kill bacteria through a special mechanism of action, making them less susceptible to drug resistance. However, Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) as the permeation barrier on the bacterial membrane, inhibits the antibacterial activity of antimicrobial peptides and triggers the inflammatory response. GWKRKRFG is an LPS binding sequence with a β-boomerang motif that can be linked to antimicrobial peptides to enhance their LPS affinity and reduce the possibility of LPS-induced inflammatory responses. In this study, a series of hybrid peptides were designed by conjugating the reported LPS binding sequence to the C-/N-terminal sequences of the natural porcine antimicrobial peptide PMAP-23 to increase the LPS affinity of peptides. Among all the designed hybrid peptides, 4R-PP-G8 showed the best antibacterial activity, nonhemolytic activity, and excellent cell selectivity. The presence of LPS not only induced the secondary structure transformation of 4R-PP-G8 from a random structure to an α-helical structure but also reduced the antibacterial activity of 4R-PP-G8 in a dose-dependent manner, indicating the excellent binding ability of 4R-PP-G8 to LPS. The LPS/LTA binding assay further verified the interaction between the peptide and LPS. The membrane permeability test verified that 4R-PP-G8 possessed a strong capability to penetrate the bacterial membrane after interacting with LPS. More direct membrane disruption was observed under FE-SEM and TEM. In conclusion, we provided a simple and efficient method to improve the LPS binding ability of antimicrobial peptides and enhance their antimicrobial activity, resulting in the peptide 4R-PP-G8 with clinical application potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yinfeng Lyu
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150030, P.R. China
| | - Meishu Tan
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150030, P.R. China
| | - Meng Xue
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150030, P.R. China
| | - Wenjing Hou
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150030, P.R. China
| | - Chengyi Yang
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150030, P.R. China
| | - Anshan Shan
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150030, P.R. China.
| | - Wensheng Xiang
- School of Life Science, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150030, P.R. China
| | - Baojing Cheng
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150030, P.R. China
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Li G, Lv K, Cheng Q, Xing H, Xue W, Zhang W, Lin Q, Ma D. Enhanced Bacterial-Infected Wound Healing by Nitric Oxide-Releasing Topological Supramolecular Nanocarriers with Self-Optimized Cooperative Multi-Point Anchoring. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2023; 10:e2206959. [PMID: 36793143 PMCID: PMC10104656 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202206959] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2022] [Revised: 01/24/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Polymeric systems that provide cationic charges or biocide-release therapeutics are used to treat the bacteria-infected wound. However, most antibacterial polymers based on topologies with restricted molecular dynamics still do not satisfy the clinical requirements due to their limited antibacterial efficacy at safe concentrations in vivo. Here a NO-releasing topological supramolecular nanocarrier with rotatable and slidable molecular entities is reported to provide conformational freedom to promote the interactions between the carrier and the pathogenic microbes, hence greatly improving the antibacterial performance. With improved contacting-killing and efficient delivery of NO biocide from the molecularly dynamic cationic ligand design, the NO-loaded topological nanocarrier achieves excellent antibacterial and anti-biofilm effects via destroying the bacterial membrane and DNA. MRSA-infected rat model is also brought out to demonstrate its wound-healing effect with neglectable toxicity in vivo. Introducing flexible molecular motions into therapeutic polymeric systems is a general design to enhance the healing of a range of diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guowei Li
- Department of Nuclear Medicine and PET/CT‐MRI CenterThe First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan UniversityGuangzhou510630China
- Key Laboratory of Biomaterials of Guangdong Higher Education InstitutesDepartment of Biomedical EngineeringJinan UniversityGuangzhou510632China
| | - Kai Lv
- Key Laboratory of Biomaterials of Guangdong Higher Education InstitutesDepartment of Biomedical EngineeringJinan UniversityGuangzhou510632China
| | - Qikun Cheng
- Key Laboratory of Biomaterials of Guangdong Higher Education InstitutesDepartment of Biomedical EngineeringJinan UniversityGuangzhou510632China
| | - Hui Xing
- Key Laboratory of Biomaterials of Guangdong Higher Education InstitutesDepartment of Biomedical EngineeringJinan UniversityGuangzhou510632China
| | - Wei Xue
- Key Laboratory of Biomaterials of Guangdong Higher Education InstitutesDepartment of Biomedical EngineeringJinan UniversityGuangzhou510632China
| | - Wu Zhang
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan UniversityJinan UniversityGuangzhou510630China
- School of Stomatology of Jinan UniversityJinan UniversityGuangzhou510632China
| | - Qianming Lin
- School of Biomedical EngineeringSun Yat‐sen University, Shenzhen CampusShenzhen518107China
- School of Biomedical EngineeringSun Yat‐sen UniversityGuangzhou510006China
| | - Dong Ma
- Key Laboratory of Biomaterials of Guangdong Higher Education InstitutesDepartment of Biomedical EngineeringJinan UniversityGuangzhou510632China
- MOE Key Laboratory of Tumor Molecular BiologyJinan UniversityGuangzhou510632China
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40
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Espeche JC, Varas R, Maturana P, Cutro AC, Maffía PC, Hollmann A. Membrane permeability and antimicrobial peptides: Much more than just making a hole. Pept Sci (Hoboken) 2023. [DOI: 10.1002/pep2.24305] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/03/2023]
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Wang X, Yang X, Wang Q, Meng D. Unnatural amino acids: promising implications for the development of new antimicrobial peptides. Crit Rev Microbiol 2023; 49:231-255. [PMID: 35254957 DOI: 10.1080/1040841x.2022.2047008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
The increasing incidence and rapid spread of bacterial resistance to conventional antibiotics are a serious global threat to public health, highlighting the need to develop new antimicrobial alternatives. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) represent a class of promising natural antibiotic candidates due to their broad-spectrum activity and low tendency to induce resistance. However, the development of AMPs for medical use is hampered by several obstacles, such as moderate activity, lability to proteolytic degradation, and low bioavailability. To date, many researchers have focussed on the optimization or design of novel artificial AMPs with desired properties. Unnatural amino acids (UAAs) are valuable building blocks in the manufacture of a variety of pharmaceuticals, and have been used to develop artificial AMPs with specific structural and physicochemical properties. Rational incorporation of UAAs has become a very promising approach to endow AMPs with strong and long-lasting activity but no toxicity. This review aims to summarize key approaches that have been used to incorporate UAAs to develop novel AMPs with improved properties and better performance. It is anticipated that this review will guide future design considerations for UAA-based antimicrobial applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiuhong Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Food Nutrition and Safety, College of Food Science and Engineering, Tianjin University of Science & Technology, Tianjin, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaomin Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Food Nutrition and Safety, College of Food Science and Engineering, Tianjin University of Science & Technology, Tianjin, People's Republic of China
| | - Qiaoe Wang
- Key Laboratory of Cosmetic, China National Light Industry, Beijing Technology and Business University, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Demei Meng
- State Key Laboratory of Food Nutrition and Safety, College of Food Science and Engineering, Tianjin University of Science & Technology, Tianjin, People's Republic of China.,Tianjin Gasin-DH Preservation Technology Co., Ltd, Tianjin, People's Republic of China
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Buzoglu Kurnaz L, Luo Y, Yang X, Alabresm A, Leighton R, Kumar R, Hwang J, Decho AW, Nagarkatti P, Nagarkatti M, Tang C. Facial amphiphilicity index correlating chemical structures with antimicrobial efficacy. Bioact Mater 2023; 20:519-527. [PMID: 35846842 PMCID: PMC9253162 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioactmat.2022.06.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2022] [Revised: 06/13/2022] [Accepted: 06/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Facial amphiphilicity is an extraordinary chemical structure feature of a variety of antimicrobial peptides and polymers. Vast efforts have been dedicated to small molecular, macromolecular and dendrimer-like systems to mimic this highly preferred structure or conformation, including local facial amphiphilicity and global amphiphilicity. This work conceptualizes Facial Amphiphilicity Index (FAI) as a numerical value to quantitatively characterize the measure of chemical compositions and structural features in dictating antimicrobial efficacy. FAI is a ratio of numbers of charges to rings, representing both compositions of hydrophilicity and hydrophobicity. Cationic derivatives of multicyclic compounds were evaluated as model systems for testing antimicrobial selectivity against Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria. Both monocyclic and bicyclic compounds are non-antimicrobial regardless of FAIs. Antimicrobial efficacy was observed with systems having larger cross-sectional areas including tricyclic abietic acid and tetracyclic bile acid. While low and high FAIs respectively lead to higher and lower antimicrobial efficacy, in consideration of cytotoxicity, the sweet spot is typically suited with intermediate FAIs for each specific system. This can be well explained by the synergistic hydrophobic-hydrophobic and electrostatic interactions with bacterial cell membranes and the difference between bacterial and mammalian cell membranes. The adoption of FAI would pave a new avenue toward the design of next-generation antimicrobial macromolecules and peptides. Established a numerical index to quantify the effect of facial amphiphilicity on antimicrobial efficacy. Evaluated the facial amphiphilicity index of multicyclic compounds possessing various rings and cationic charges. Provided this index a new tool toward more quantitative designs of AMP mimics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leman Buzoglu Kurnaz
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, 29208, United States
| | - Yuanyuan Luo
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, 29208, United States
| | - Xiaoming Yang
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, University of South Carolina, School of Medicine, Columbia, SC, 29209, United States
| | - Amjed Alabresm
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, 29208, United States
| | - Ryan Leighton
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, 29208, United States
| | - Rani Kumar
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, 29208, United States
| | - JiHyeon Hwang
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, 29208, United States
| | - Alan W. Decho
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, 29208, United States
| | - Prakash Nagarkatti
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, University of South Carolina, School of Medicine, Columbia, SC, 29209, United States
| | - Mitzi Nagarkatti
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, University of South Carolina, School of Medicine, Columbia, SC, 29209, United States
| | - Chuanbing Tang
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, 29208, United States
- Corresponding author.
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Hydrophobic modification improves the delivery of cell-penetrating peptides to eliminate intracellular pathogens in animals. Acta Biomater 2023; 157:210-224. [PMID: 36503077 DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2022.11.055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2022] [Revised: 11/22/2022] [Accepted: 11/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Infections induced by intracellular pathogens are difficult to eradicate due to poor penetration of antimicrobials into cell membranes. It is of great importance to develop a new generation of antibacterial agents with dual functions of efficient cell penetration and bacterial inhibition. In this study, the association between hydrophobicity and cell-penetrating peptide delivery efficiency was investigated by fragment interception and hydrophobicity modification of natural porcine antimicrobial peptide PR-39 and the combination of cationic cell-penetrating peptide (R6) with antimicrobial peptide fragments modified with hydrophobic residues. The chimeric peptides P3I7 and P3L7, obtained through biofunctional screening, exhibited potent broad-spectrum antibacterial activity and low cytotoxicity. Moreover, P3I7 and P3L7 can effectively penetrate cells to eliminate intracellular pathogens mainly through endocytosis. The membrane destruction mechanism makes the peptides fast sterilizers and less prone to developing drug resistance. Finally, their good biocompatibility and antibacterial infection effects were verified in mice and piglets. To conclude, the chimeric peptides P3I7 and P3L7 show great potential as affordable and effective antimicrobial agents and may serve as ideal candidates for the treatment of intracellular bacterial infections. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: The low permeability of antibacterial drugs makes infections induced by intracellular bacteria extremely difficult to treat. To address this issue, we designed chimeric peptides with dual cell-penetrating and antibacterial functions. The active peptides P3I7 and P3L7, acquired through functional screening have strong broad-spectrum antibacterial activity and powerful bactericidal effects against intracellular Staphylococcus aureus. The membrane permeation mechanism of P3I7 and P3L7 against bacteria endows fast bactericidal activity with low drug resistance. The biosafety and antibacterial activity of P3I7 and P3L7 were also validated by in vivo trials. This study provides an ideal drug candidate against intracellular bacterial infections.
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Dahan S, Aibinder P, Khalfin B, Moran-Gilad J, Rapaport H. Hybrid Hydrogels of FKF-Peptide Assemblies and Gelatin for Sustained Antimicrobial Activity. ACS Biomater Sci Eng 2023; 9:352-362. [PMID: 36521024 DOI: 10.1021/acsbiomaterials.2c01331] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
The growing resistance of pathogenic bacteria to conventional antibiotics promotes the development of new antimicrobial agents, including peptides. Hydrogels composed of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) may be applied as topical treatments for skin infection and wound regeneration. The unique antimicrobial and ultrashort-peptide FKF (Phe-Lys-Phe) was recently demonstrated to form bactericidal hydrogels. Here, we sought to improve the cyto-biocompatibility of FKF by combining FKF hydrogels with gelatin. Homogeneous hybrid hydrogels of FKF:gelatin were developed based on a series of self-assembly steps that involved mixing solutions of the two components with no covalent cross-linkers. The hydrogels were characterized for their structural features, dissolution, cyto-biocompatibility, and antibacterial properties. These hybrid hydrogels first release the antibacterial FKF assemblies, leaving the gelatinous fraction of the hydrogel to serve as a scaffold for tissue regeneration. Sponges of these hybrid hydrogels, obtained by lyophilization and rehydrated prior to application, exhibited enhanced antimicrobial activity compared to the hydrogels' formulations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shahar Dahan
- Avram and Stella Goldstein-Goren Department of Biotechnology Engineering, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, P.O.B. 653, Beer-Sheva8410501, Israel
| | - Polina Aibinder
- Avram and Stella Goldstein-Goren Department of Biotechnology Engineering, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, P.O.B. 653, Beer-Sheva8410501, Israel
| | - Boris Khalfin
- Department of Health Policy and Management, School of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben Gurion University of the Negev, P.O.B. 653, Beer-Sheva8410501, Israel
| | - Jacob Moran-Gilad
- Department of Health Policy and Management, School of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben Gurion University of the Negev, P.O.B. 653, Beer-Sheva8410501, Israel
| | - Hanna Rapaport
- Avram and Stella Goldstein-Goren Department of Biotechnology Engineering, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, P.O.B. 653, Beer-Sheva8410501, Israel.,Ilse Katz Institute for Nano-Science and Technology (IKI), Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, P.O.B. 653, Beer-Sheva8410501, Israel
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Corman HN, Ross JN, Fields FR, Shoue DA, McDowell MA, Lee SW. Rationally Designed Minimal Bioactive Domains of AS-48 Bacteriocin Homologs Possess Potent Antileishmanial Properties. Microbiol Spectr 2022; 10:e0265822. [PMID: 36342284 PMCID: PMC9769502 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.02658-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2022] [Accepted: 10/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Leishmaniasis, a category I neglected tropical disease, is a group of diseases caused by the protozoan parasite Leishmania species with a wide range of clinical manifestations. Current treatment options can be highly toxic and expensive, with drug relapse and the emergence of resistance. Bacteriocins, antimicrobial peptides ribosomally produced by bacteria, are a relatively new avenue for potential antiprotozoal drugs. Particular interest has been focused on enterocin AS-48, with previously proven efficacy against protozoan species, including Leishmania spp. Sequential characterization of enterocin AS-48 has illustrated that antibacterial bioactivity is preserved in linearized, truncated forms; however, minimal domains of AS-48 bacteriocins have not yet been explored against protozoans. Using rational design techniques to improve membrane penetration activity, we designed peptide libraries using the minimal bioactive domain of AS-48 homologs. Stepwise changes to the charge (z), hydrophobicity (H), and hydrophobic dipole moment (μH) were achieved through lysine and tryptophan substitutions and the inversion of residues within the helical wheel, respectively. A total of 480 synthetic peptide variants were assessed for antileishmanial activity against Leishmania donovani. One hundred seventy-two peptide variants exhibited 50% inhibitory concentration (IC50) values below 20 μM against axenic amastigotes, with 60 peptide variants in the nanomolar range. Nine peptide variants exhibited potent activity against intracellular amastigotes with observed IC50 values of <4 μM and limited in vitro host cell toxicity, making them worthy of further drug development. Our work demonstrates that minimal bioactive domains of naturally existing bacteriocins can be synthetically engineered to increase membrane penetration against Leishmania spp. with minimal host cytotoxicity, holding the promise of novel, potent antileishmanial therapies. IMPORTANCE Leishmaniasis is a neglected tropical disease caused by protozoan parasites of the genus Leishmania. There are three primary clinical forms, cutaneous, mucocutaneous, and visceral, with visceral leishmaniasis being fatal if left untreated. Current drug treatments are less than ideal, especially in resource-limited areas, due to the difficult administration and treatment regimens as well as the high cost and the emergence of drug resistance. Identifying potent antileishmanial agents is of the utmost importance. We utilized rational design techniques to synthesize enterocin AS-48 and AS-48-like bacteriocin-based peptides and screened these peptides against L. donovani using a fluorescence-based phenotypic assay. Our results suggest that bacteriocins, specifically these rationally designed AS-48-like peptides, are promising leads for further development as antileishmanial drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannah N. Corman
- University of Notre Dame, Department of Biological Sciences, Notre Dame, Indiana, USA
- University of Notre Dame, Eck Institute for Global Health, Notre Dame, Indiana, USA
| | - Jessica N. Ross
- University of Notre Dame, Department of Biological Sciences, Notre Dame, Indiana, USA
- University of Notre Dame, Eck Institute for Global Health, Notre Dame, Indiana, USA
| | | | - Douglas A. Shoue
- University of Notre Dame, Department of Biological Sciences, Notre Dame, Indiana, USA
- University of Notre Dame, Eck Institute for Global Health, Notre Dame, Indiana, USA
| | - Mary Ann McDowell
- University of Notre Dame, Department of Biological Sciences, Notre Dame, Indiana, USA
- University of Notre Dame, Eck Institute for Global Health, Notre Dame, Indiana, USA
| | - Shaun W. Lee
- University of Notre Dame, Department of Biological Sciences, Notre Dame, Indiana, USA
- University of Notre Dame, Eck Institute for Global Health, Notre Dame, Indiana, USA
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46
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Deciphering Structure-Function Relationship Unveils Salt-Resistant Mode of Action of a Potent MRSA-Inhibiting Antimicrobial Peptide, RR14. J Bacteriol 2022; 204:e0031222. [PMID: 36377870 PMCID: PMC9765028 DOI: 10.1128/jb.00312-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria lead to considerable morbidity and mortality, threatening public health worldwide. In particular, infections of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in hospital and community settings are becoming a serious health problem. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are considered novel therapeutic targets against MDR bacteria. However, salt sensitivity reduces the bactericidal potency of AMPs, posing a major obstacle for their development as antibiotics. Thus, the design and development of salt-insensitive peptides with potent antibacterial activity is imperative. Here, we employed biochemical and biophysical examinations coupled with molecular modeling to systematically investigate the structure-function relationship of a novel salt-insensitive AMP, RR14. The secondary structure of RR14 was characterized as an apparent α-helix, a structure that confers strong membrane-permeabilizing ability targeting bacterial-mimetic membranes. Additionally, the bioactive structure of RR14 was determined in complex with dodecylphosphocholine (DPC) micelles, where it possesses a central α-helical segment comprising residues R4 to K13 (R4-K13). RR14 was observed to orient itself into the DPC micelle with its N terminus and the α-helical segment (I5-R10) buried inside the micelles, which is essential for membrane permeabilization and bactericidal activity. Moreover, the specific and featured arrangement of positively charged residues of RR14 on its amphipathic helical conformation has great potential to render its strong salt resistance ability. Our study explored the structure-function relationship of RR14, explaining its possible mode of action against MRSA and other microbes. The insights obtained are of great applicability for the development of new antibacterial agents. IMPORTANCE Many antimicrobial peptides have been observed to become inactive in the presence of high salt concentrations. To further develop new and novel AMPs with potent bactericidal activity and salt insensitivity, understanding the structural basis for salt resistance is important. Here, we employed biochemical and biophysical examinations to systematically investigate the structure-function relationship of a novel salt-insensitive AMP, RR14. RR14 was observed to orient itself into DPC micelles with the N terminus and the α-helical segment (I5-R10) buried inside the micelles, which is essential for membrane permeabilization and bactericidal activity. Moreover, the specific and featured arrangement of cationic residues of RR14 on its amphipathic helical conformation renders its strong salt resistance ability. The insights obtained are of great applicability for developing new antibacterial agents.
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Lai Z, Chen H, Yuan X, Tian J, Dong N, Feng X, Shan A. Designing double-site lipidated peptide amphiphiles as potent antimicrobial biomaterials to combat multidrug-resistant bacteria. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:1074359. [PMID: 36569056 PMCID: PMC9780499 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.1074359] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2022] [Accepted: 11/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Rapidly evolving antimicrobial resistance and extremely slow development of new antibiotics have resulted in multidrug-resistant bacterial infections that present a serious threat to human health. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) provide promising substitutes, but more research is needed to address several of their present limitations, such as insufficient antimicrobial potency, high toxicity, and low stability. Here, we designed a series of novel double-site lipidated peptide amphiphiles based on a heptad repeat parent pentadecapeptide. The double-site lipidated peptide amphiphiles showed a broad spectrum of antimicrobial activities. Especially the double-site lipidated peptide amphiphile WL-C6 exhibited high potency to inhibit multidrug-resistant bacteria without significant toxicity toward mammalian cells. Furthermore, even at physiological salt ion concentrations, WL-C6 still exhibited outstanding antibacterial properties, and a sizeable fraction of it maintained its molecular integrity after being incubated with different proteases. Additionally, we captured the entire process of WL-C6 killing bacteria and showed that the rapid bacterial membrane disruption is the reason of bacterial death. Overall, WL-C6 shows great promise as a substitute for conventional antibiotics to combat the growing threat of multidrug-resistant bacterial infections.
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Mohammed EH, Lohan S, Ghaffari T, Gupta S, Tiwari RK, Parang K. Membrane-Active Cyclic Amphiphilic Peptides: Broad-Spectrum Antibacterial Activity Alone and in Combination with Antibiotics. J Med Chem 2022; 65:15819-15839. [PMID: 36442155 PMCID: PMC9743092 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.2c01469] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
We designed a library of 24 cyclic peptides containing arginine (R) and tryptophan (W) residues in a sequential manner [RnWn] (n = 2-7) to study the impact of the hydrophilic/hydrophobic ratio, charge, and ring size on the antibacterial activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative strains. Among peptides, 5a and 6a demonstrated the highest antimicrobial activity. In combination with 11 commercially available antibiotics, 5a and 6a showed remarkable synergism against a large panel of resistant pathogens. Hemolysis (HC50 = 340 μg/mL) and cell viability against mammalian cells demonstrated the selective lethal action of 5a against bacteria over mammalian cells. Calcein dye leakage and scanning electron microscopy studies revealed the membranolytic effect of 5a. Moreover, the stability in human plasma (t1/2 = 3 h) and the negligible ability of pathogens to develop resistance further reflect the potential of 5a for further development as a peptide-based antibiotic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eman H.
M. Mohammed
- Center
for Targeted Drug Delivery, Department of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical
Sciences, Chapman University School of Pharmacy,
Harry and Diane Rinker Health Science Campus, Irvine, California92618, United States,Department
of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Menoufia
University, Shebin
El-Koam51132, Egypt,AJK
Biopharmaceutical, Irvine, California92617, United States
| | - Sandeep Lohan
- Center
for Targeted Drug Delivery, Department of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical
Sciences, Chapman University School of Pharmacy,
Harry and Diane Rinker Health Science Campus, Irvine, California92618, United States,AJK
Biopharmaceutical, Irvine, California92617, United States
| | - Tarra Ghaffari
- Center
for Targeted Drug Delivery, Department of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical
Sciences, Chapman University School of Pharmacy,
Harry and Diane Rinker Health Science Campus, Irvine, California92618, United States
| | - Shilpi Gupta
- Center
for Targeted Drug Delivery, Department of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical
Sciences, Chapman University School of Pharmacy,
Harry and Diane Rinker Health Science Campus, Irvine, California92618, United States
| | - Rakesh K. Tiwari
- Center
for Targeted Drug Delivery, Department of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical
Sciences, Chapman University School of Pharmacy,
Harry and Diane Rinker Health Science Campus, Irvine, California92618, United States,. Fax: +1-714-516-548. Phone: +1-714-516-5483
| | - Keykavous Parang
- Center
for Targeted Drug Delivery, Department of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical
Sciences, Chapman University School of Pharmacy,
Harry and Diane Rinker Health Science Campus, Irvine, California92618, United States,. Fax: +1-714-516-5481. Phone: +1-714-516-5489
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Doolan JA, Williams GT, Hilton KLF, Chaudhari R, Fossey JS, Goult BT, Hiscock JR. Advancements in antimicrobial nanoscale materials and self-assembling systems. Chem Soc Rev 2022; 51:8696-8755. [PMID: 36190355 PMCID: PMC9575517 DOI: 10.1039/d1cs00915j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Antimicrobial resistance is directly responsible for more deaths per year than either HIV/AIDS or malaria and is predicted to incur a cumulative societal financial burden of at least $100 trillion between 2014 and 2050. Already heralded as one of the greatest threats to human health, the onset of the coronavirus pandemic has accelerated the prevalence of antimicrobial resistant bacterial infections due to factors including increased global antibiotic/antimicrobial use. Thus an urgent need for novel therapeutics to combat what some have termed the 'silent pandemic' is evident. This review acts as a repository of research and an overview of the novel therapeutic strategies being developed to overcome antimicrobial resistance, with a focus on self-assembling systems and nanoscale materials. The fundamental mechanisms of action, as well as the key advantages and disadvantages of each system are discussed, and attention is drawn to key examples within each field. As a result, this review provides a guide to the further design and development of antimicrobial systems, and outlines the interdisciplinary techniques required to translate this fundamental research towards the clinic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jack A Doolan
- School of Chemistry and Forensic Science, University of Kent, Canterbury, Kent CT2 7NH, UK.
- School of Biosciences, University of Kent, Canterbury, Kent CT2 7NJ, UK.
| | - George T Williams
- School of Chemistry, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK.
| | - Kira L F Hilton
- School of Chemistry and Forensic Science, University of Kent, Canterbury, Kent CT2 7NH, UK.
| | - Rajas Chaudhari
- School of Chemistry and Forensic Science, University of Kent, Canterbury, Kent CT2 7NH, UK.
| | - John S Fossey
- School of Chemistry, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK.
| | - Benjamin T Goult
- School of Biosciences, University of Kent, Canterbury, Kent CT2 7NJ, UK.
| | - Jennifer R Hiscock
- School of Chemistry and Forensic Science, University of Kent, Canterbury, Kent CT2 7NH, UK.
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50
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The design of cell-selective tryptophan and arginine-rich antimicrobial peptides by introducing hydrophilic uncharged residues. Acta Biomater 2022; 153:557-572. [PMID: 36115654 DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2022.09.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2022] [Revised: 08/18/2022] [Accepted: 09/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are considered to be powerful weapons in the fight against traditional antibiotic resistance due to their unique membrane-disruptive mechanism. The combination of traditional and classical hydrophobic tryptophan (W) residues and hydrophilic charged arginine (R) residues is considered as the first choice for the minimalist design of AMPs due to its potent performance in antibacterial activity. However, some W- and R-rich AMPs that are not rationally designed and contain excessive repeats of W and R residues may cause severe cytotoxicity and hemolysis. To address this issue, we designed the (WRX)n (where X = hydrophilic uncharged amino residues; n = number of repeat units) series engineered peptides with high cell selectivity by introducing hydrophilic uncharged threonine (T), serine (S), glutamine (Q) or asparagine (N) residues into the minimalist design of W- and R-rich AMPs. The results showed that the introduction of these hydrophilic uncharged amino residues, especially T residues, significantly improved the cell selectivity of the W- and R-rich engineered peptides. Among (WRX)n series engineered peptides, T6 presents a mixture structure of β-turn and α-helix. It has broad spectrum and potent antibacterial activity (no activity against probiotics), good biocompatibility, high selectivity index, strong tolerance (physiological salts, serum acid, alkali, and heat conditions), rapid and efficient time-kill kinetics, and no tendency of resistance. Studies on antibacterial mechanism show that T6 exert antibacterial activity mainly by disrupting bacterial cell membrane and inducing the accumulation of reactive oxygen species in bacterial cells. Furthermore, T6 exhibited potent antibacterial and anti-inflammatory capabilities in vivo in a mouse peritonitis-sepsis model infected with Escherichia coli. In conclusion, our study confirms an effective strategy for the minimalist design of highly cell selective W- and R-rich AMPs by introducing hydrophilic uncharged T residues, which may trigger widespread attention to hydrophilic uncharged amino acid residues, including T residues, and provide new insights into the design of peptide-based antibacterial biomaterials. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: We have introduced hydrophilic uncharged T, S, Q or N residues into the minimalist design of W- and R-rich engineered peptides and found that the introduction of these hydrophilic uncharged amino residues, especially the T residues, can significantly improve the cell selectivity of W- and R-rich engineered peptides. The target compound T6 showed potent antibacterial activity, high cell selectivity, strong tolerance, good in vivo efficacy and killed bacteria through multiple mechanisms mainly membrane-disruptive. These findings may spark widespread interest in hydrophilic uncharged amino acid residues, and provide new insights into the design of peptide-based antimicrobial biomaterials.
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