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Sun CQ, Peng J, Yang LB, Jiao ZL, Zhou LX, Tao RY, Zhu LJ, Tian ZQ, Huang MJ, Guo G. A Cecropin-4 Derived Peptide C18 Inhibits Candida albicans by Disturbing Mitochondrial Function. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:872322. [PMID: 35531288 PMCID: PMC9075107 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.872322] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2022] [Accepted: 03/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Global burden of fungal infections and related health risk has accelerated at an incredible pace, and multidrug resistance emergency aggravates the need for the development of new effective strategies. Candida albicans is clinically the most ubiquitous pathogenic fungus that leads to high incidence and mortality in immunocompromised patients. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), in this context, represent promising alternatives having potential to be exploited for improving human health. In our previous studies, a Cecropin-4-derived peptide named C18 was found to possess a broader antibacterial spectrum after modification and exhibit significant antifungal activity against C. albicans. In this study, C18 shows antifungal activity against C. albicans or non-albicans Candida species with a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) at 4∼32 μg/ml, and clinical isolates of fluconazole (FLZ)-resistance C. tropicalis were highly susceptible to C18 with MIC value of 8 or 16 μg/ml. Additionally, C18 is superior to FLZ for killing planktonic C. albicans from inhibitory and killing kinetic curves. Moreover, C18 could attenuate the virulence of C. albicans, which includes damaging the cell structure, retarding hyphae transition, and inhibiting biofilm formation. Intriguingly, in the Galleria mellonella model with C. albicans infection, C18 could improve the survival rate of G. mellonella larvae to 70% and reduce C. albicans load from 5.01 × 107 to 5.62 × 104 CFU. For mechanistic action of C18, the level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and cytosolic Ca2 + increased in the presence of C18, which is closely associated with mitochondrial dysfunction. Meanwhile, mitochondrial membrane potential (△Ψm) loss and ATP depletion of C. albicans occurred with the treatment of C18. We hypothesized that C18 might inhibit C. albicans via triggering mitochondrial dysfunction driven by ROS generation and Ca2 + accumulation. Our observation provides a basis for future research to explore the antifungal strategies and presents C18 as an attractive therapeutic candidate to be developed to treat candidiasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chao-Qin Sun
- The Key and Characteristic Laboratory of Modern Pathogen Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, China
- Center of Laboratory Medicine, The Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, China
| | - Jian Peng
- The Key and Characteristic Laboratory of Modern Pathogen Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, China
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Monitoring and Disease Control, Guizhou Medical University, Ministry of Education, Guiyang, China
| | - Long-Bing Yang
- The Key and Characteristic Laboratory of Modern Pathogen Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, China
| | - Zheng-Long Jiao
- The Key and Characteristic Laboratory of Modern Pathogen Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, China
- Translational Medicine Research Center, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, China
| | - Luo-Xiong Zhou
- The Key and Characteristic Laboratory of Modern Pathogen Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, China
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Monitoring and Disease Control, Guizhou Medical University, Ministry of Education, Guiyang, China
| | - Ru-Yu Tao
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University, Kaili, China
| | - Li-Juan Zhu
- The Key and Characteristic Laboratory of Modern Pathogen Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, China
| | - Zhu-Qing Tian
- The Key and Characteristic Laboratory of Modern Pathogen Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, China
| | - Ming-Jiao Huang
- The Key and Characteristic Laboratory of Modern Pathogen Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, China
| | - Guo Guo
- The Key and Characteristic Laboratory of Modern Pathogen Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, China
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Monitoring and Disease Control, Guizhou Medical University, Ministry of Education, Guiyang, China
- Translational Medicine Research Center, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, China
- *Correspondence: Guo Guo,
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Peng J, Mishra B, Khader R, Felix L, Mylonakis E. Novel Cecropin-4 Derived Peptides against Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Antibiotics (Basel) 2021; 10:36. [PMID: 33401476 PMCID: PMC7824259 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics10010036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2020] [Revised: 12/26/2020] [Accepted: 12/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Increasing microbial resistance, coupled with a lack of new antimicrobial discovery, has led researchers to refocus on antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) as novel therapeutic candidates. Significantly, the less toxic cecropins have gained widespread attention for potential antibacterial agent development. However, the narrow activity spectrum and long sequence remain the primary limitations of this approach. In this study, we truncated and modified cecropin 4 (41 amino acids) by varying the charge and hydrophobicity balance to obtain smaller AMPs. The derivative peptide C18 (16 amino acids) demonstrated high antibacterial activity against Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria, as well as yeasts. Moreover, C18 demonstrated a minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 4 µg/mL against the methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and showed synergy with daptomycin with a fractional inhibition concentration index (FICI) value of 0.313. Similar to traditional cecropins, C18 altered the membrane potential, increased fluidity, and caused membrane breakage at 32 µg/mL. Importantly, C18 eliminated 99% persisters at 10 × MIC within 20 min and reduced the biofilm adherence by ~40% and 35% at 32 and 16 µg/mL. Besides, C18 possessed a strong binding ability with DNA at 7.8 μM and down-regulated the expression of virulence factor genes like agrA, fnb-A, and clf-1 by more than 5-fold (p < 0.05). Interestingly, in the Galleria mellonella model, C18 rescued more than 80% of larva infected with the MRSA throughout 120-h post-infection at a single dose of 8 mg/kg (p < 0.05). In conclusion, this study provides a reference for the transformation of cecropin to derive small peptides and presents C18 as an attractive therapeutic candidate to be developed to treat severe MRSA infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jian Peng
- Infectious Diseases Division, Rhode Island Hospital, Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI 02903, USA; (J.P.); (B.M.); (R.K.); (L.F.)
- Immune Cells and Antibody Engineering Research Center of Guizhou Province, Key Laboratory of Biology and Medical Engineering, School of Biology and Engineering/School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang 550025, China
| | - Biswajit Mishra
- Infectious Diseases Division, Rhode Island Hospital, Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI 02903, USA; (J.P.); (B.M.); (R.K.); (L.F.)
| | - Rajamohammed Khader
- Infectious Diseases Division, Rhode Island Hospital, Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI 02903, USA; (J.P.); (B.M.); (R.K.); (L.F.)
| | - LewisOscar Felix
- Infectious Diseases Division, Rhode Island Hospital, Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI 02903, USA; (J.P.); (B.M.); (R.K.); (L.F.)
| | - Eleftherios Mylonakis
- Infectious Diseases Division, Rhode Island Hospital, Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI 02903, USA; (J.P.); (B.M.); (R.K.); (L.F.)
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Yagi-Utsumi M. NMR Characterization of Conformational Dynamics and Molecular Assemblies of Proteins. Biol Pharm Bull 2019; 42:867-872. [PMID: 31155585 DOI: 10.1248/bpb.b19-00115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Dynamic conformational transitions and molecular assemblies are essential properties of proteins, and relevant to their biological and pathological functions. Neurodegenerative diseases are known to be caused by abnormal, toxic assemblies of related proteins, e.g., amyloid β (Aβ) in Alzheimer's disease. Growing evidence indicates that the aggregation of various amyloidogenic proteins, including Aβ, can be highly enhanced at glycolipid membranes, suggesting that dynamic glycolipid-dependent conformational changes of proteins constitute crucial steps for their subsequent pathogenic amyloid fibril formation. It has also been proposed that several proteins, including molecular chaperones, can capture amyloidogenic proteins and thereby suppress their fibrillization. NMR spectroscopy provides a powerful tool for characterizing the conformational dynamics and intermolecular interactions of proteins, as well as for exploring transiently formed weak interactions among proteins in solution with various biomolecules, such as glycolipids. Our research group therefore attempted to elucidate the structural basis of protein-glycolipid and protein-protein interactions that either promote or suppress molecular assemblies of amyloidogenic proteins, using both solution and solid-state NMR methods in conjunction with other biophysical techniques. Our findings provide structural views of molecular processes involving amyloidogenic proteins of clinical and pathological interest and offer clues for the development of drugs to prevent and treat neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maho Yagi-Utsumi
- Institute for Molecular Science, National Institutes of National Sciences.,Exploratory Research Center on Life and Living Systems (ExCELLS), National Institutes of National Sciences.,Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Nagoya City University
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Kong X, Wu X, Pei C, Zhang J, Zhao X, Li L, Nie G, Li X. H2A and Ca-L-hipposin gene: Characteristic analysis and expression responses to Aeromonas hydrophila infection in Carassius aurutus. FISH & SHELLFISH IMMUNOLOGY 2017; 63:344-352. [PMID: 28223110 DOI: 10.1016/j.fsi.2017.02.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2016] [Revised: 02/13/2017] [Accepted: 02/17/2017] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Antimicrobial peptide is an important component of the host innate immune system and thus serves a crucial function in host defense against microbial invasion. In this study, H2A and derived antimicrobial peptide Ca-L-hipposin were cloned and characterized in Carassius aurutus. The gene H2A full-length cDNA is 908 bp and includes a 5'-terminal untranslated region (UTR) of 55 bp and a 3'-terminal UTR of 466 bp with a canonical polyadenylation signal sequence AATAA, as well as an open reading frame (ORF) of 387 bp encoding a polypeptide of 128 amino acids, with a molecular weight of 13.7 kDa, an isoelectric point of 10.7, and 94% homology with Danio rerio H2A. The secondary structure of H2A includes the α-spiral with 51 amino acids with a composition ratio of 39.8%, as well as a β-corner with 15 amino acids in a composition ratio of 11.7%. The online software ExPaSy predicted that a peptide sequence with 51 amino acids from the 2nd to 52nd amino acids in histone H2A can be produced through hydrolization by protease chymotrypsin, which indicates a difference of only three amino acids, compared with the antimicrobial peptide hipposin in Hippoglossus hippoglossus with a homology of 94%. Ca-L-hipposin includes 51 amino acids with a molecular weight of 5.4 kDa and an isoelectric point of 12.0, the secondary structure of which contains an α-helix of 17 amino acids accounting for 33.3% and a β-corner of 8 amino acids accounting for 15.7%. H2A was extensively expressed in the mRNA levels of various tissues, with higher expression levels in kidney and spleen. After C. aurutus was challenged with Aeromonas hydrophila, the mRNA expression levels of H2A were upregulated in the kidney, spleen, and liver. H2A serves an important function in the defense against the invasion of A. hydrophila. In addition, sequence characteristics reveal that Ca-L-hipposin could be a potential antimicrobial peptide for use in killing pathogenic bacteria in aquaculture.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xianghui Kong
- College of Fisheries, Henan Normal University, Xinxiang 453007, China.
| | - Xiangmin Wu
- College of Fisheries, Henan Normal University, Xinxiang 453007, China
| | - Chao Pei
- College of Fisheries, Henan Normal University, Xinxiang 453007, China
| | - Jie Zhang
- College of Fisheries, Henan Normal University, Xinxiang 453007, China
| | - Xianliang Zhao
- College of Fisheries, Henan Normal University, Xinxiang 453007, China
| | - Li Li
- College of Fisheries, Henan Normal University, Xinxiang 453007, China
| | - Guoxing Nie
- College of Fisheries, Henan Normal University, Xinxiang 453007, China
| | - Xuejun Li
- College of Fisheries, Henan Normal University, Xinxiang 453007, China
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Baek MH, Kamiya M, Kushibiki T, Nakazumi T, Tomisawa S, Abe C, Kumaki Y, Kikukawa T, Demura M, Kawano K, Aizawa T. Lipopolysaccharide-bound structure of the antimicrobial peptide cecropin P1 determined by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. J Pept Sci 2016; 22:214-21. [PMID: 26939541 DOI: 10.1002/psc.2865] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2015] [Revised: 01/03/2016] [Accepted: 01/28/2016] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are components of the innate immune system and may be potential alternatives to conventional antibiotics because they exhibit broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity. The AMP cecropin P1 (CP1), isolated from nematodes found in the stomachs of pigs, is known to exhibit antimicrobial activity against Gram-negative bacteria. In this study, we investigated the interaction between CP1 and lipopolysaccharide (LPS), which is the main component of the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria, using circular dichroism (CD) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). CD results showed that CP1 formed an α-helical structure in a solution containing LPS. For NMR experiments, we expressed (15) N-labeled and (13) C-labeled CP1 in bacterial cells and successfully assigned almost all backbone and side-chain proton resonance peaks of CP1 in water for transferred nuclear Overhauser effect (Tr-NOE) experiments in LPS. We performed (15) N-edited and (13) C-edited Tr-NOE spectroscopy for CP1 bound to LPS. Tr-NOE peaks were observed at the only C-terminal region of CP1 in LPS. The results of structure calculation indicated that the C-terminal region (Lys15-Gly29) formed the well-defined α-helical structure in LPS. Finally, the docking study revealed that Lys15/Lys16 interacted with phosphate at glucosamine I via an electrostatic interaction and that Ile22/Ile26 was in close proximity with the acyl chain of lipid A.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mi-Hwa Baek
- Graduate School of Life Science, Hokkaido University, Kita 10, Nishi 8, Kita-ku, Sapporo, 060-0810, Japan
| | - Masakatsu Kamiya
- Graduate School of Life Science, Hokkaido University, Kita 10, Nishi 8, Kita-ku, Sapporo, 060-0810, Japan.,Faculty of Advanced Life Science, Hokkaido University, Kita 10, Nishi 8, Kita-ku, Sapporo, 060-0810, Japan
| | - Takahiro Kushibiki
- Graduate School of Life Science, Hokkaido University, Kita 10, Nishi 8, Kita-ku, Sapporo, 060-0810, Japan
| | - Taichi Nakazumi
- Graduate School of Life Science, Hokkaido University, Kita 10, Nishi 8, Kita-ku, Sapporo, 060-0810, Japan
| | - Satoshi Tomisawa
- Graduate School of Life Science, Hokkaido University, Kita 10, Nishi 8, Kita-ku, Sapporo, 060-0810, Japan
| | - Chiharu Abe
- Graduate School of Life Science, Hokkaido University, Kita 10, Nishi 8, Kita-ku, Sapporo, 060-0810, Japan
| | - Yasuhiro Kumaki
- Graduate School of Science, Hokkaido University, Kita 10, Nishi 8, Kita-ku, Sapporo, 060-0810, Japan
| | - Takashi Kikukawa
- Graduate School of Life Science, Hokkaido University, Kita 10, Nishi 8, Kita-ku, Sapporo, 060-0810, Japan.,Faculty of Advanced Life Science, Hokkaido University, Kita 10, Nishi 8, Kita-ku, Sapporo, 060-0810, Japan
| | - Makoto Demura
- Graduate School of Life Science, Hokkaido University, Kita 10, Nishi 8, Kita-ku, Sapporo, 060-0810, Japan.,Faculty of Advanced Life Science, Hokkaido University, Kita 10, Nishi 8, Kita-ku, Sapporo, 060-0810, Japan
| | - Keiichi Kawano
- Graduate School of Life Science, Hokkaido University, Kita 10, Nishi 8, Kita-ku, Sapporo, 060-0810, Japan.,Faculty of Advanced Life Science, Hokkaido University, Kita 10, Nishi 8, Kita-ku, Sapporo, 060-0810, Japan.,Chitose Institute of Science and Technology, 758-65 Bibi, Chitose, Hokkaido, 066-8655, Japan
| | - Tomoyasu Aizawa
- Graduate School of Life Science, Hokkaido University, Kita 10, Nishi 8, Kita-ku, Sapporo, 060-0810, Japan.,Faculty of Advanced Life Science, Hokkaido University, Kita 10, Nishi 8, Kita-ku, Sapporo, 060-0810, Japan
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Tassanakajon A, Somboonwiwat K, Amparyup P. Sequence diversity and evolution of antimicrobial peptides in invertebrates. DEVELOPMENTAL AND COMPARATIVE IMMUNOLOGY 2015; 48:324-341. [PMID: 24950415 DOI: 10.1016/j.dci.2014.05.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 110] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2014] [Revised: 05/29/2014] [Accepted: 05/31/2014] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are evolutionarily ancient molecules that act as the key components in the invertebrate innate immunity against invading pathogens. Several AMPs have been identified and characterized in invertebrates, and found to display considerable diversity in their amino acid sequence, structure and biological activity. AMP genes appear to have rapidly evolved, which might have arisen from the co-evolutionary arms race between host and pathogens, and enabled organisms to survive in different microbial environments. Here, the sequence diversity of invertebrate AMPs (defensins, cecropins, crustins and anti-lipopolysaccharide factors) are presented to provide a better understanding of the evolution pattern of these peptides that play a major role in host defense mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anchalee Tassanakajon
- Center of Excellence for Molecular Biology and Genomics of Shrimp, Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand.
| | - Kunlaya Somboonwiwat
- Center of Excellence for Molecular Biology and Genomics of Shrimp, Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
| | - Piti Amparyup
- Center of Excellence for Molecular Biology and Genomics of Shrimp, Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand; National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (BIOTEC), National Science and Technology Development Agency (NSTDA), 113 Paholyothin Road, Klong 1, Klong Luang, Pathumthani 12120, Thailand
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Yi HY, Chowdhury M, Huang YD, Yu XQ. Insect antimicrobial peptides and their applications. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2014; 98:5807-22. [PMID: 24811407 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-014-5792-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 363] [Impact Index Per Article: 36.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2014] [Revised: 04/21/2014] [Accepted: 04/23/2014] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
Insects are one of the major sources of antimicrobial peptides/proteins (AMPs). Since observation of antimicrobial activity in the hemolymph of pupae from the giant silk moths Samia Cynthia and Hyalophora cecropia in 1974 and purification of first insect AMP (cecropin) from H. cecropia pupae in 1980, over 150 insect AMPs have been purified or identified. Most insect AMPs are small and cationic, and they show activities against bacteria and/or fungi, as well as some parasites and viruses. Insect AMPs can be classified into four families based on their structures or unique sequences: the α-helical peptides (cecropin and moricin), cysteine-rich peptides (insect defensin and drosomycin), proline-rich peptides (apidaecin, drosocin, and lebocin), and glycine-rich peptides/proteins (attacin and gloverin). Among insect AMPs, defensins, cecropins, proline-rich peptides, and attacins are common, while gloverins and moricins have been identified only in Lepidoptera. Most active AMPs are small peptides of 20-50 residues, which are generated from larger inactive precursor proteins or pro-proteins, but gloverins (~14 kDa) and attacins (~20 kDa) are large antimicrobial proteins. In this mini-review, we will discuss current knowledge and recent progress in several classes of insect AMPs, including insect defensins, cecropins, attacins, lebocins and other proline-rich peptides, gloverins, and moricins, with a focus on structural-functional relationships and their potential applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui-Yu Yi
- College of Life Science and Technology, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China
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