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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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Sani MA, Rajput S, Keizer DW, Separovic F. NMR techniques for investigating antimicrobial peptides in model membranes and bacterial cells. Methods 2024; 224:10-20. [PMID: 38295893 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymeth.2024.01.012] [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: 10/31/2023] [Revised: 01/07/2024] [Accepted: 01/08/2024] [Indexed: 02/05/2024] Open
Abstract
AMPs are short, mainly cationic membrane-active peptides found in all living organism. They perform diverse roles including signaling and acting as a line of defense against bacterial infections. AMPs have been extensively investigated as templates to facilitate the development of novel antimicrobial therapeutics. Understanding the interplay between these membrane-active peptides and the lipid membranes is considered to be a significant step in elucidating the specific mechanism of action of AMPs against prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells to aid the development of new therapeutics. In this review, we have provided a brief overview of various NMR techniques commonly used for studying AMP structure and AMP-membrane interactions in model membranes and whole cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marc-Antoine Sani
- Bio21 Institute, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC 3010, Australia.
| | - Sunnia Rajput
- Bio21 Institute, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC 3010, Australia
| | - David W Keizer
- Bio21 Institute, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC 3010, Australia
| | - Frances Separovic
- Bio21 Institute, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC 3010, Australia; School of Chemistry, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC 3010, Australia
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3
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Brakel A, Grochow T, Fritsche S, Knappe D, Krizsan A, Fietz SA, Alber G, Hoffmann R, Müller U. Evaluation of proline-rich antimicrobial peptides as potential lead structures for novel antimycotics against Cryptococcus neoformans. Front Microbiol 2024; 14:1328890. [PMID: 38260890 PMCID: PMC10800876 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1328890] [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: 10/27/2023] [Accepted: 12/18/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Cryptococcosis and cryptococcal meningitis, caused by Cryptococcus neoformans infections, lead to approximately 180,000 deaths per year, primarily in developing countries. Individuals with compromised immune systems, e.g., due to HIV infection (AIDS) or chemotherapy, are particularly vulnerable. Conventional treatment options are often limited and can cause severe side effects. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the antifungal effect of insect-derived proline-rich antimicrobial peptides (PrAMPs) against C. neoformans. These peptides are known for their low toxicity and their high efficacy in murine infection models, making them a promising alternative for treatment. Results A preliminary screening of the minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of 20 AMPs, including the well-known PrAMPs Onc112, Api137, and Chex1Arg20 as well as the cathelicidin CRAMP against the C. neoformans strains 1841, H99, and KN99α revealed promising results, with MICs as low as 1.6 μmol/L. Subsequent investigations of selected peptides, determining their influence on fungal colony-forming units, confirmed their strong activity. The antifungal activity was affected by factors such as peptide net charge and sequence, with stronger effects at higher net charges probably due to better intracellular uptake confirmed by confocal laser scanning microscopy. Inactive scrambled peptides suggest a specific intracellular target, although scanning electron microscopy showed that PrAMPs also damaged the cell exterior for a low proportion of the cells. Possible pore formation could facilitate entry into the cytosol.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra Brakel
- Institute of Bioanalytical Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry and Mineralogy, Bioanalytical Chemistry, Leipzig University, Leipzig, Germany
- Center for Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Leipzig University, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Thomas Grochow
- Institute of Veterinary Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Leipzig University, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Stefanie Fritsche
- Center for Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Leipzig University, Leipzig, Germany
- Institute of Immunology/Molecular Pathogenesis, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Leipzig University, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Daniel Knappe
- Institute of Bioanalytical Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry and Mineralogy, Bioanalytical Chemistry, Leipzig University, Leipzig, Germany
- Center for Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Leipzig University, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Andor Krizsan
- Institute of Bioanalytical Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry and Mineralogy, Bioanalytical Chemistry, Leipzig University, Leipzig, Germany
- Center for Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Leipzig University, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Simone A. Fietz
- Institute of Veterinary Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Leipzig University, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Gottfried Alber
- Center for Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Leipzig University, Leipzig, Germany
- Institute of Immunology/Molecular Pathogenesis, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Leipzig University, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Ralf Hoffmann
- Institute of Bioanalytical Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry and Mineralogy, Bioanalytical Chemistry, Leipzig University, Leipzig, Germany
- Center for Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Leipzig University, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Uwe Müller
- Center for Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Leipzig University, Leipzig, Germany
- Institute of Immunology/Molecular Pathogenesis, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Leipzig University, Leipzig, Germany
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4
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Singh A, Singh SK. Direct antimicrobial effects of chemokines on Cryptococcus spp, with special emphasis on a 'CXC' chemokine. J Mycol Med 2023; 33:101415. [PMID: 37549615 DOI: 10.1016/j.mycmed.2023.101415] [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: 12/22/2022] [Revised: 05/16/2023] [Accepted: 07/19/2023] [Indexed: 08/09/2023]
Abstract
Cryptococcus species are ingenious human pathogens that are widespread globally. They continue to cause over 200,000 deaths per year. Presently due to the rise in resistance and therapy failure, it is necessary to shift the focus to an alternate therapeutic strategy against this pathogen. One promising approach is to emphasize the host defense system in order to develop more precise and customized treatment strategies. In this regard, research has revealed that interferon-γ-inducible CXCL10 chemokine, amongst other chemokines spanning both CXC and CC categories, has a direct killing effect in vitro against Cryptococcus neoformans and Cryptococcus gattii, with a significantly greater microbicidal effect against the former. Moreover, when CXCL10 is used in combination with CCL5, there is a significant reduction in the survival of C. gattii at normal-serum level concentration, indicating a previously unreported synergistic effect of these two chemokines. Confocal and STED microscopic studies have demonstrated that CXCL10 has both cell wall/membrane and intracellular targets against this fungus. These findings present new possibilities for developing chemokine-derived small molecule antifungals and may represent a step forward in creating precision medicine tailored to each patient.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arpita Singh
- Molecular Biology Unit, Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh 221005, India.
| | - Sunit K Singh
- Molecular Biology Unit, Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh 221005, India
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Won T, Mohid SA, Choi J, Kim M, Krishnamoorthy J, Biswas I, Bhunia A, Lee D. The role of hydrophobic patches of de novo designed MSI-78 and VG16KRKP antimicrobial peptides on fragmenting model bilayer membranes. Biophys Chem 2023; 296:106981. [PMID: 36871366 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpc.2023.106981] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2022] [Revised: 02/06/2023] [Accepted: 02/21/2023] [Indexed: 02/26/2023]
Abstract
Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) with cell membrane lysing capability are considered potential candidates for the development of the next generation of antibiotics. Designing novel AMPs requires an in-depth understanding of the mechanism of action of the peptides. In this work, we used various biophysical techniques including 31P solid-state NMR to examine the interaction of model membranes with amphipathic de novo-designed peptides. Two such peptides, MSI-78 and VG16KRKP, were designed with different hydrophobicity and positive charges. The model lipid membranes were constituted by mixing lipids of varying degrees of 'area per lipid' (APL), which directly affected the packing properties of the membrane. The observed emergence of the isotropic peak in 31P NMR spectra as a function of time is a consequence of the fragmentation of the membrane mediated by the peptide interaction. The factors such as the charges, overall hydrophilicity of the AMPs, as well as lipid membrane packing, contributed to the kinetics of membrane fragmentation. Furthermore, we anticipate the designed AMPs follow the carpet and toroidal pore mechanisms when lysing the cell membrane. This study highlights the significance of the effect of the overall charges and the hydrophobicity of the novel AMPs designed for antimicrobial activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- TaeJun Won
- Department of Fine Chemistry, Seoul National University of Science and Technology, Seoul 01811, Republic of Korea
| | - Sk Abdul Mohid
- Department of Biophysics, Bose Institute, Unified Academic Campus, Bidhan Nagar EN 80, Kolkata 700 091, India
| | - JiHye Choi
- Department of Fine Chemistry, Seoul National University of Science and Technology, Seoul 01811, Republic of Korea
| | - MinSoo Kim
- Department of Fine Chemistry, Seoul National University of Science and Technology, Seoul 01811, Republic of Korea
| | | | - Indranil Biswas
- Department of Microbiology, Molecular Genetics, and Immunology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS 66160, USA
| | - Anirban Bhunia
- Department of Biophysics, Bose Institute, Unified Academic Campus, Bidhan Nagar EN 80, Kolkata 700 091, India.
| | - DongKuk Lee
- Department of Fine Chemistry, Seoul National University of Science and Technology, Seoul 01811, Republic of Korea.
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6
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Sharma L, Bisht GS. Short Antimicrobial Peptides: Therapeutic Potential and Recent Advancements. Curr Pharm Des 2023; 29:3005-3017. [PMID: 38018196 DOI: 10.2174/0113816128248959231102114334] [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: 03/01/2023] [Revised: 09/28/2023] [Accepted: 10/11/2023] [Indexed: 11/30/2023]
Abstract
There has been a lot of interest in antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) as potential next-generation antibiotics. They are components of the innate immune system. AMPs have broad-spectrum action and are less prone to resistance development. They show potential applications in various fields, including medicine, agriculture, and the food industry. However, despite the good activity and safety profiles, AMPs have had difficulty finding success in the clinic due to their various limitations, such as production cost, proteolytic susceptibility, and oral bioavailability. To overcome these flaws, a number of solutions have been devised, one of which is developing short antimicrobial peptides. Short antimicrobial peptides do have an advantage over longer peptides as they are more stable and do not collapse during absorption. They have generated a lot of interest because of their evolutionary success and advantageous properties, such as low molecular weight, selective targets, cell or organelles with minimal toxicity, and enormous therapeutic potential. This article provides an overview of the development of short antimicrobial peptides with an emphasis on those with ≤ 30 amino acid residues as a potential therapeutic agent to fight drug-resistant microorganisms. It also emphasizes their applications in many fields and discusses their current state in clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lalita Sharma
- Department of Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Jaypee University of Information Technology, Waknaghat, Himachal Pradesh, India
| | - Gopal Singh Bisht
- Department of Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Jaypee University of Information Technology, Waknaghat, Himachal Pradesh, India
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7
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Ruan Y, Sohail M, Zhao J, Hu F, Li Y, Wang P, Zhang L. Applications of Material-Binding Peptides: A Review. ACS Biomater Sci Eng 2022; 8:4738-4750. [PMID: 36229413 DOI: 10.1021/acsbiomaterials.2c00651] [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: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Material-binding peptides (MBPs) are functionalized adhesive materials consisting of a few to several dozen amino acids. This affinity between MBPs and materials is regulated by multiple interactions, including hydrogen bonding, electrostatic, hydrophobic interactions, and π-π stacking. They show selective binding and high affinity to a diverse range of inorganic and organic materials, such as silicon-based materials, metals, metal compounds, carbon materials, and polymers. They are used to improve the biocompatibility of materials, increase the efficiency of material synthesis, and guide the controlled synthesis of nanomaterials. In addition, these can be used for precise targeting of proteins by conjugating to target biomolecules. In this review, we summarize the main designs and applications of MBPs in recent years. The discussions focus on more efficient and functional peptides, including evolution and overall design of MBPs. We have also highlighted the recent applications of MBPs, such as functionalization of material surfaces, synthesis of nanomaterials, drug delivery, cancer therapy, and plastic degradation. Besides, we also discussed the development trend of MBPs. This interpretation will accelerate future investigations to bottleneck the drawbacks of available MBPs, promoting their commercial applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yongqiang Ruan
- School of Food Science and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210023, China
| | - Muhammad Sohail
- School of Food Science and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210023, China
| | - Jindi Zhao
- School of Food Science and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210023, China
| | - Fanghui Hu
- School of Food Science and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210023, China
| | - Yunhan Li
- School of Food Science and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210023, China
| | - Panlin Wang
- School of Food Science and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210023, China
| | - Lihui Zhang
- School of Food Science and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210023, China
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8
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Doderlin: Isolation and Characterization of a Broad-Spectrum Antimicrobial Peptide from Lactobacillus acidophilus. Res Microbiol 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.resmic.2022.103995] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
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9
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Mohid SA, Biswas K, Won T, Mallela LS, Gucchait A, Butzke L, Sarkar R, Barkham T, Reif B, Leipold E, Roy S, Misra AK, Lakshminarayanan R, Lee D, Bhunia A. Structural insights into the interaction of antifungal peptides and ergosterol containing fungal membrane. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA. BIOMEMBRANES 2022; 1864:183996. [PMID: 35753394 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbamem.2022.183996] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2022] [Revised: 06/09/2022] [Accepted: 06/13/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The treatment of invasive drug-resistant and potentially life-threatening fungal infections is limited to few therapeutic options that are usually associated with severe side effects. The development of new effective antimycotics with a more tolerable side effect profile is therefore of utmost clinical importance. Here, we used a combination of complementary in vitro assays and structural analytical methods to analyze the interaction of the de novo antimicrobial peptide VG16KRKP with the sterol moieties of biological cell membranes. We demonstrate that VG16KRKP disturbs the structural integrity of fungal membranes both invitro and in model membrane system containing ergosterol along with phosphatidylethanolamine lipid and exhibits broad-spectrum antifungal activity. As revealed by systematic structure-function analysis of mutated VG16KRKP analogs, a specific pattern of basic and hydrophobic amino acid side chains in the primary peptide sequence determines the selectivity of VG16KRKP for fungal specific membranes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sk Abdul Mohid
- Department of Biophysics, Bose Institute, Unified Academic Campus, Salt Lake, EN 80, Sector V, Kolkata 700091, India
| | - Karishma Biswas
- Department of Biophysics, Bose Institute, Unified Academic Campus, Salt Lake, EN 80, Sector V, Kolkata 700091, India
| | - TaeJun Won
- Department of Fine Chemistry, Seoul National University of Science and Technology, Seoul 01811, Republic of Korea
| | - Lakshmi S Mallela
- Prof. Brien Holden Eye Research Centre, LV Prasad Eye Institute, Hyderabad 500034, India
| | - Arin Gucchait
- Division of Molecular Medicine, Bose Institute, Unified Academic Campus, Salt Lake, EN 80, Sector V, Kolkata 700091, India
| | - Lena Butzke
- Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care & Center of Brain, Behavior and Metabolism, University of Lübeck, Ratzeburger Allee 160, 23562 Lübeck, Germany
| | | | - Timothy Barkham
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Tan Tock Seng Hospital, 11 Jalan Tan Tock Seng, Singapore
| | - Bernd Reif
- Technical University of Munich, 85748 Garching, Germany
| | - Enrico Leipold
- Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care & Center of Brain, Behavior and Metabolism, University of Lübeck, Ratzeburger Allee 160, 23562 Lübeck, Germany
| | - Sanhita Roy
- Prof. Brien Holden Eye Research Centre, LV Prasad Eye Institute, Hyderabad 500034, India
| | - Anup K Misra
- Division of Molecular Medicine, Bose Institute, Unified Academic Campus, Salt Lake, EN 80, Sector V, Kolkata 700091, India
| | | | - DongKuk Lee
- Department of Fine Chemistry, Seoul National University of Science and Technology, Seoul 01811, Republic of Korea.
| | - Anirban Bhunia
- Department of Biophysics, Bose Institute, Unified Academic Campus, Salt Lake, EN 80, Sector V, Kolkata 700091, India.
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Atomic-Resolution Structures and Mode of Action of Clinically Relevant Antimicrobial Peptides. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23094558. [PMID: 35562950 PMCID: PMC9100274 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23094558] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2022] [Revised: 04/18/2022] [Accepted: 04/18/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Global rise of infections and deaths caused by drug-resistant bacterial pathogens are among the unmet medical needs. In an age of drying pipeline of novel antibiotics to treat bacterial infections, antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are proven to be valid therapeutics modalities. Direct in vivo applications of many AMPs could be challenging; however, works are demonstrating encouraging results for some of them. In this review article, we discussed 3-D structures of potent AMPs e.g., polymyxin, thanatin, MSI, protegrin, OMPTA in complex with bacterial targets and their mode of actions. Studies on human peptide LL37 and de novo-designed peptides are also discussed. We have focused on AMPs which are effective against drug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria. Since treatment options for the infections caused by super bugs of Gram-negative bacteria are now extremely limited. We also summarize some of the pertinent challenges in the field of clinical trials of AMPs.
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11
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In silico and in vitro studies on the inhibition of laccase activity by Ellagic acid: Implications in drug designing for the treatment of Cryptococcal infections. Int J Biol Macromol 2022; 209:642-654. [PMID: 35421416 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2022.04.060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2022] [Revised: 03/30/2022] [Accepted: 04/08/2022] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
In recent years, the increased frequency of drug-resistant strains of Cryptococcus neoformans has depleted our antifungal armory. In the present study, we investigated the inhibitory potential of ellagic acid (EA) against C. neoformans laccase through in silico and in vitro studies. For the first time, a homology modelling was established to model laccase and modelled protein served as a receptor for docking EA. Thermodynamic stability of the docked complex was ascertained by molecular dynamics simulation (MD). The analysis of root mean square deviation and fluctuation of alpha carbons of protein justifies the stability of the bound EA in the binding pocket of laccase. Frontier molecular orbitals of the EA was studied by density functional theory-based optimization by using the Lee-Yang-Parr correlation functional (B3LYP) approach. Negative values of the highest occupied/unoccupied molecular orbitals (HOMO/LUMO) indicated that laccase with EA forms a stable complex. Interestingly, EA inhibited laccase activity both in vitro and in yeast cells of C. neoformans. Moreover, EA treatment remarkably inhibited the proliferation of C. neoformans inside macrophages. The findings of the present study unveil the molecular basis of the interactions of laccase with EA, which may prove to be beneficial for designing laccase inhibitors as potential anti-cryptococcal agents.
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Booth V. Deuterium Solid State NMR Studies of Intact Bacteria Treated With Antimicrobial Peptides. FRONTIERS IN MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY 2022; 2:621572. [PMID: 35047897 PMCID: PMC8757836 DOI: 10.3389/fmedt.2020.621572] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2020] [Accepted: 12/10/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Solid state NMR has been tremendously useful in characterizing the structure and dynamics of model membranes composed of simple lipid mixtures. Model lipid studies employing solid state NMR have included important work revealing how membrane bilayer structure and dynamics are affected by molecules such as antimicrobial peptides (AMPs). However, solid state NMR need not be applied only to model membranes, but can also be used with living, intact cells. NMR of whole cells holds promise for helping resolve some unsolved mysteries about how bacteria interact with AMPs. This mini-review will focus on recent studies using 2H NMR to study how treatment with AMPs affect membranes in intact bacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valerie Booth
- Department of Biochemistry and Department of Physics and Physical Oceanograpy, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, NL, Canada
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A Peptide from Budding Yeast GAPDH Serves as a Promising Antifungal against Cryptococcus neoformans. Microbiol Spectr 2022; 10:e0082621. [PMID: 35019693 PMCID: PMC8754130 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.00826-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Infection of Cryptococcus neoformans is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality, particularly among immunocompromised patients. However, currently available drugs for the treatment of C. neoformans infection are minimal. Here, we report SP1, a peptide derived from glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, efficiently kills C. neoformans and Cryptococcus gattii. SP1 causes damages to the capsule. Unlike many antimicrobial peptides, SP1 does not form pores on the cell membrane of C. neoformans. It interacts with membrane ergosterol and enters vacuole possibly through membrane trafficking. C. neoformans treated with SP1 show the apoptotic phenotypes such as imbalance of calcium ion homeostasis, reactive oxygen increment, phosphatidylserine exposure, and nuclear fragmentation. Our data imply that SP1 has the potential to be developed into a treatment option for cryptococcosis. IMPORTANCE Cryptococcus neoformans and Cryptococcus gattii can cause cryptococcosis, which has a high mortality rate. To treat the disease, amphotericin B and fluconazole are often used in clinic. However, amphotericin B has rather high renal toxicity, and tolerance to these drugs are quicky developed. The peptide SP1 derived from baker's yeast GAPDH shows antifungal function to kill Cryptococcus neoformans and Cryptococcus gattii efficiently with a high specificity, even for the drug-resistant strains. Our data demonstrate that SP1 induces the apoptosis-like death of Cryptococcus neoformans at low concentrations. The finding of this peptide may shed light on a new direction to treat cryptococcosis.
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Chakraborty AK, Saha S, Poria K, Samanta T, Gautam S, Mukhopadhyay J. A saponin-polybromophenol antibiotic (CU1) from Cassia fistula Bark Against Multi-Drug Resistant Bacteria Targeting RNA polymerase. CURRENT RESEARCH IN PHARMACOLOGY AND DRUG DISCOVERY 2022; 3:100090. [PMID: 35198968 PMCID: PMC8844791 DOI: 10.1016/j.crphar.2022.100090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2021] [Revised: 01/09/2022] [Accepted: 01/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Gradual increase of multidrug resistant infections is a threat to the human race as MDR plasmids have acquired.>10 mdr and drug efflux genes to inactivate antibiotics. Plants secret anti-metabolites to retard growth of soil and water bacteria and are ideal source of antibiotics. Purpose Purpose of the study is to discover an alternate phyto-drug from medicinal plants of India that selectively kills MDR bacteria. Methods MDR bacteria isolated from Ganga river water, milk, chicken meat and human hair for testing phyto-extracts. Eighty medicinal plants were searched and six phyto-extracts were selected having good antibacterial activities as demonstrated by agar-hole assays giving 15 mm or greater lysis zone. Phyto-extracts were made in ethanol or methanol (1:5 w/v) for overnight and were concentrated. Preparative TLC and HPLC were performed to purify phytochemical. MASS, NMR, FTIR methods were used for chemical analysis of CU1. In vitro RNA polymerase and DNA polymerase assays were performed for target identification. Results CU1 belongs to a saponin bromo-polyphenol compound with a large structure that purified on HPLC C18 column at 3min. CU1 is bacteriocidal but three times less active than rifampicin in Agar-hole assay. While in LB medium it shows greater than fifteen times poor inhibitor due to solubility problem. CU1 inhibited transcription from Escherichia coli as well as Mycobacterium tuberculosis RNA Polymerases. Gel shift assays demonstrated that CU1 interferes at the open promoter complex formation step. On the other hand CU1 did not inhibit DNA polymerase. Conclusion Phyto-chemicals from Cassia fistula bark are abundant, less toxic, target specific and may be a safer low cost drug against MDR bacterial diseases. A new saponin-polybromophenol antibiotic (CU1) was isolated from Cassia fistula bark ethanol extract and purified by TLC and HPLC. The CU1 inhibits MDR bacteria isolated from human, animal, milk and water resources using agar-hole assay but highly refractile to in vitro assays using LB media due to poor solubility of CU1 in water. The chemical structure was partially elucidated by Mass, NMR, FT-IR and UV–Vis spectroscopy. It was suggested that triterpine moiety was linked to two polyphenol derivatives with six bromine atoms. The CU1 drug inhibits RNA polymerase of E. coli and M. tuberculosis as compare to conventional drug rifampicin. The CU1 phyto-chemical is less water soluble and less toxic in rat and fish models and will be a low cost drug which is resistant to most mdr bacteria.
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Yang L, Tian Z, Zhou L, Zhu L, Sun C, Huang M, Peng J, Guo G. In vitro Antifungal Activity of a Novel Antimicrobial Peptide AMP-17 Against Planktonic Cells and Biofilms of Cryptococcus neoformans. Infect Drug Resist 2022; 15:233-248. [PMID: 35115792 PMCID: PMC8800587 DOI: 10.2147/idr.s344246] [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: 10/13/2021] [Accepted: 01/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Cryptococcus neoformans is a common human fungal pathogen in immunocompromised people, as well as a prevalent cause of meningitis in HIV-infected individuals. With the emergence of clinical fungal resistance and the shortage of antifungal drugs, it is urgent to discover novel antifungal agents. AMP-17, a novel antimicrobial peptide from Musca domestica, has antifungal activity against C. neoformans. However, its antifungal and anti-biofilm activities remain unclear. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the antifungal activity of AMP-17 against planktonic cells and biofilms of C. neoformans. Methods The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), the biofilm inhibitory and eradicating concentration (BIC and BEC) were determined by the broth microdilution assay or the 2, 3-bis-(2-methoxy-4-nitro-5-sulfophenyl)-2H-tetrazolium-5-carboxanilide (XTT) reduction assay, respectively. The inhibitory and killing activities of AMP-17 against C. neoformans were investigated through the time-inhibition/killing kinetic curves. The potential antifungal mechanism of AMP-17 was detected by flow cytometry, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM). The efficiency of AMP-17 against biofilm formation or preformed biofilm was evaluated by crystal violet staining and XTT reduction assays. The morphology of pre-biofilms was tested by optical microscopy (OM) and CLSM. Results AMP-17 exhibited in vitro antifungal activity against C. neoformans planktonic cells and biofilms, with MICs of 4~16 μg/ml, BIC80 and BEC80 of 16~32 μg/ml, 64~128 μg/ml, respectively. In addition, the 2× and 4× MIC of AMP-17 exhibited similar inhibition levels compared to the 2× and 4× MIC of the clinical drugs FLC and AMB in C. neoformans growth. Moreover, the time-kill results showed that AMP-17 (8× MIC) did not significantly eliminate colony forming units (CFU) after 6 h of treatment; however, there was 2.9-log reduction in CFU of C. neoformans. Furthermore, increasing of the permeability of the fungal cell membrane was observed with the treatment of AMP-17, since the vast change as fungal leakage and cell membrane disruption. However, the DNA binding assay of AMP-17 indicated that the peptide did not target DNA. Besides, AMP-17 was superior in inhibiting and eradicating biofilms of C. neoformans compared with FLC. Conclusion AMP-17 exhibited potential in vitro antifungal activity against the planktonic cells and biofilms of C. neoformans, and it may disrupt fungal cell membranes through multi-target interactions, which provides a promising therapeutic strategy and experimental basis for Cryptococcus-associated infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Longbing Yang
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, The Key and Characteristic Laboratory of Modern Pathogen Biology, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, 550025, People’s Republic of China
| | - Zhuqing Tian
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, The Key and Characteristic Laboratory of Modern Pathogen Biology, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, 550025, People’s Republic of China
| | - Luoxiong Zhou
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, The Key and Characteristic Laboratory of Modern Pathogen Biology, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, 550025, People’s Republic of China
- School of Public Health, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, 550025, People’s Republic of China
| | - Lijuan Zhu
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, The Key and Characteristic Laboratory of Modern Pathogen Biology, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, 550025, People’s Republic of China
| | - Chaoqin Sun
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, The Key and Characteristic Laboratory of Modern Pathogen Biology, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, 550025, People’s Republic of China
| | - Mingjiao Huang
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, The Key and Characteristic Laboratory of Modern Pathogen Biology, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, 550025, People’s Republic of China
| | - Jian Peng
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, The Key and Characteristic Laboratory of Modern Pathogen Biology, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, 550025, People’s Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Monitoring and Disease Control, Ministry of Education, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, 550025, People’s Republic of China
| | - Guo Guo
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, The Key and Characteristic Laboratory of Modern Pathogen Biology, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, 550025, People’s Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Monitoring and Disease Control, Ministry of Education, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, 550025, People’s Republic of China
- Translational Medicine Research Center, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, 550025, People’s Republic of China
- Correspondence: Guo Guo, Building Wuben, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guizhou Medical University, College Town, Gui’an New District, Guiyang, 550025, People’s Republic of China, Tel/fax +86 851 882 59268, Email
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Fungicidal Activity of Recombinant Javanicin against Cryptococcus neoformans Is Associated with Intracellular Target(s) Involved in Carbohydrate and Energy Metabolic Processes. Molecules 2021; 26:molecules26227011. [PMID: 34834105 PMCID: PMC8618071 DOI: 10.3390/molecules26227011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2021] [Revised: 11/12/2021] [Accepted: 11/18/2021] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The occurrence of Cryptococcus neoformans, the human fungal pathogen that primarily infects immunocompromised individuals, has been progressing at an alarming rate. The increased incidence of infection of C. neoformans with antifungal drugs resistance has become a global concern. Potential antifungal agents with extremely low toxicity are urgently needed. Herein, the biological activities of recombinant javanicin (r-javanicin) against C. neoformans were evaluated. A time-killing assay was performed and both concentration- and time-dependent antifungal activity of r-javanicin were indicated. The inhibitory effect of the peptide was initially observed at 4 h post-treatment and ultimately eradicated within 36 to 48 h. Fungal outer surface alteration was characterized by the scanning electron microscope (SEM) whereas a negligible change with slight shrinkage of external morphology was observed in r-javanicin treated cells. Confocal laser scanning microscopic analysis implied that the target(s) of r-javanicin is conceivably resided in the cell thereby allowing the peptide to penetrate across the membrane and accumulate throughout the fungal body. Finally, cryptococcal cells coped with r-javanicin were preliminarily investigated using label-free mass spectrometry-based proteomics. Combined with microscopic and proteomics analysis, it was clearly elucidated the peptide localized in the intracellular compartment where carbohydrate metabolism and energy production associated with glycolysis pathway and mitochondrial respiration, respectively, were principally interfered. Overall, r-javanicin would be an alternative candidate for further development of antifungal agents.
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Chen YC, Yang Y, Zhang C, Chen HY, Chen F, Wang KJ. A Novel Antimicrobial Peptide Sparamosin 26-54 From the Mud Crab Scylla paramamosain Showing Potent Antifungal Activity Against Cryptococcus neoformans. Front Microbiol 2021; 12:746006. [PMID: 34690992 PMCID: PMC8531530 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.746006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2021] [Accepted: 09/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Due to the increasing prevalence of drug-resistant fungi and the limitations of current treatment strategies to fungal infections, exploration and development of new antifungal drugs or substituents are necessary. In the study, a novel antimicrobial peptide, named Sparamosin, was identified in the mud crab Scylla paramamosain, which contains a signal peptide of 22 amino acids and a mature peptide of 54 amino acids. The antimicrobial activity of its synthetic mature peptide and two truncated peptides (Sparamosin1–25 and Sparamosin26–54) were determined. The results showed that Sparamosin26–54 had the strongest activity against a variety of Gram-negative bacteria, Gram-positive bacteria and fungi, in particular had rapid fungicidal kinetics (killed 99% Cryptococcus neoformans within 10 min) and had potent anti-biofilm activity against C. neoformans, but had no cytotoxic effect on mammalian cells. The RNA-seq results showed that after Sparamosin26–54 treatment, the expression of genes involved in cell wall component biosynthesis, cell wall integrity signaling pathway, anti-oxidative stress, apoptosis and DNA repair were significantly up-regulated, indicating that Sparamosin26–54 might disrupt the cell wall of C. neoformans, causing oxidative stress, DNA damage and cell apoptosis. The underlying mechanism was further confirmed. Sparamosin26–54 could bind to several phospholipids in the cell membrane and effectively killed C. neoformans through disrupting the integrity of the cell wall and cell membrane observed by electron microscope and staining assay. In addition, it was found that the accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) increased, the mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) was disrupted, and DNA fragmentation was induced after Sparamosin26–54 treatment, which are all hallmarks of apoptosis. Taken together, Sparamosin26–54 has a good application prospect as an effective antimicrobial agent, especially for C. neoformans infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan-Chao Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Ying Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Chang Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Hui-Yun Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China.,State-Province Joint Engineering Laboratory of Marine Bioproducts and Technology, College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China.,Fujian Innovation Research Institute for Marine Biological Antimicrobial Peptide Industrial Technology, College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Fangyi Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China.,State-Province Joint Engineering Laboratory of Marine Bioproducts and Technology, College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China.,Fujian Innovation Research Institute for Marine Biological Antimicrobial Peptide Industrial Technology, College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Ke-Jian Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China.,State-Province Joint Engineering Laboratory of Marine Bioproducts and Technology, College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China.,Fujian Innovation Research Institute for Marine Biological Antimicrobial Peptide Industrial Technology, College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
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18
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Teymuri M, Shams-Ghahfarokhi M, Razzaghi-Abyaneh M. Inhibitory effects and mechanism of antifungal action of the natural cyclic depsipeptide, aureobasidin A against Cryptococcus neoformans. Bioorg Med Chem Lett 2021; 41:128013. [PMID: 33811994 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmcl.2021.128013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2021] [Revised: 03/22/2021] [Accepted: 03/28/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Cryptococcosis is an opportunistic fungal infection caused mainly by Cryptococcus neoformans. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the inhibitory effect of aureobasidin A on C. neoformans with special focus on its mode of action. The effect of aureobasidin A on cell membrane ergosterol content, cell wall permeability, membrane pumps activities, the total oxidant status (TOS) and melanin production was evaluated. Cytotoxicity and cell hemolysis, and laccase (LacI) and β1,2-xylosyltransferase (Cxt1p) gene expression were also evaluated. Aureobasidin A reduced melanin production and increased extracellular potassium leakage at 0.5 × MIC concentration. This peptide has no effect on fungal cell wall integrity. Cell membrane ergosterol content was decreased by 29.1% and 41.8% at 0.5 × MIC and 1 × MIC concentrations (2 and 4 µL/mL) in aureobasidin A treated samples, respectively. TOS level was significantly increased without activation of antioxidant enzymes. Lac1 gene was over-expressed (11.7-fold), while Cxt1p gene was down regulated (0.2-fold) following treatment with aureobasidin A. Overall, our results indicated that aureobasidin A inhibits C. neoformans growth by targeting different sites in fungal cells and it may be considered as a promising compound to use as an antifungal in treatment of clinical cryptococcosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mostafa Teymuri
- Department of Mycology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran 14115-331, Iran
| | - Masoomeh Shams-Ghahfarokhi
- Department of Mycology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran 14115-331, Iran.
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19
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Mohid SA, Bhunia A. Combining Antimicrobial Peptides with Nanotechnology: An Emerging Field in Theranostics. Curr Protein Pept Sci 2021; 21:413-428. [PMID: 31889488 DOI: 10.2174/1389203721666191231111634] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2019] [Revised: 09/11/2019] [Accepted: 10/18/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The emergence of multidrug-resistant pathogens and their rapid adaptation against new antibiotics is a major challenge for scientists and medical professionals. Different approaches have been taken to combat this problem, which includes rationally designed potent antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) and several nanoparticles and quantum dots. AMPs are considered as a new generation of super antibiotics that hold enormous potential to fight against bacterial resistance by the rapidly killing planktonic as well as their biofilm form while keeping low toxicity profile against eukaryotic cells. Various nanoparticles and quantum dots have proved their effectiveness against a vast array of infections and diseases. Conjugation and functionalization of nanoparticles with potentially active antimicrobial peptides have added advantages that widen their applications in the field of drug discovery as well as delivery system including imaging and diagnostics. This article reviews the current progress and implementation of different nanoparticles and quantum dots conjugated antimicrobial peptides in terms of bio-stability, drug delivery, and therapeutic applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sk Abdul Mohid
- Department of Biophysics, Bose Institute, P-1/12 CIT Scheme VII (M), Kolkata 700054, India
| | - Anirban Bhunia
- Department of Biophysics, Bose Institute, P-1/12 CIT Scheme VII (M), Kolkata 700054, India
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20
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Sharma D, Bisht GS. Recent Updates on Antifungal Peptides. Mini Rev Med Chem 2020; 20:260-268. [PMID: 31556857 DOI: 10.2174/1389557519666190926112423] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2018] [Revised: 07/17/2018] [Accepted: 09/06/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
The current trend of increment in the frequency of antifungal resistance has brought research into an era where new antifungal compounds with novel mechanisms of action are required. Natural antimicrobial peptides, which are ubiquitous components of innate immunity, represent their candidature for novel antifungal peptides. Various antifungal peptides have been isolated from different species ranging from small marine organisms to insects and from various other living species. Based on these peptides, various mimetics of antifungal peptides have also been synthesized using non-natural amino acids. Utilization of these antifungal peptides is somehow limited due to their toxic and unstable nature. This review discusses recent updates and future directions of antifungal peptides, for taking them to the shelf from the bench.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deepika Sharma
- Department of Pharmacy, Jaypee University of Information Technology, Waknaghat, Solan, Himachal Pradesh, 173234, India
| | - Gopal Singh Bisht
- Department of Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Jaypee University of Information Technology, Waknaghat, Solan, Himachal Pradesh, 173234, India
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21
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Ma L, Wei S, Ye X, Xu P, Chen H, Liu Z, Zhou C. Antifungal activity of peptide MSI-1 against Cryptococcus neoformans infection in vitro and in murine cryptococcal meningoencephalitis. Peptides 2020; 130:170334. [PMID: 32504765 DOI: 10.1016/j.peptides.2020.170334] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2020] [Revised: 05/31/2020] [Accepted: 06/01/2020] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
The development of novel antifungal agents with high efficacy, low drug tolerance and few side effects is urgent. MSI-1 (GIWKFLKKAKKFWK-NH2), a cationic antimicrobial peptide, may be an attractive antifungal agent because of its structural characteristics, perfect stability against pH and high-temperature/salt, low toxicity towards mammalian cells and low potential for emergence of drug tolerance. In this study, the antifungal activity of MSI-1 in vitro and in a murine model of cryptococcal meningoencephalitis was evaluated. Zeta potential assay, flow cytometry, fluorescence microscope, transmission electron microscopy and microscale thermophoresis were performed to clarify the mechanisms underlying MSI-1 against C. neoformans. The results showed that MSI-1 exerted effective anti-cryptococcal activity in vitro, with MICs of 8-16 μg/mL and MFCs of 8-32 μg/mL, and in a C neoformans-infected mouse model, with significantly improved animal survival, decreased production of pro-inflammatory cytokines and alleviated lung injury, because the potent and rapid fungicidal activity of MSI-1 could effectively eliminate fungal counts in mouse organs. We confirmed that the positively charged peptide bound to C. neoformans by electrostatic attraction after interacting with glucuronoxylomannan (the primary component of C. neoformans capsule). Subsequently, MSI-1 increased the membrane fluidity of fungal cells and the cell membrane permeability, causing destabilized membrane integrity and leading to the final death of fungi. Collectively, MSI-1 possessed potent anti-cryptococcal activity via its notable membrane disruption effect and may be a potential candidate for use in antifungal infection induced by C. neoformans, especially azole-resistant cryptococcus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lingman Ma
- School of Life Science and Technology, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 211198, PR China
| | - Shanshan Wei
- School of Life Science and Technology, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 211198, PR China
| | - Xinyue Ye
- School of Life Science and Technology, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 211198, PR China
| | - Pengfei Xu
- School of Life Science and Technology, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 211198, PR China
| | - Hailong Chen
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Chiral Pharmaceuticals Biosynthesis, College of Pharmacy and Chemistry & Chemical Engineering, Taizhou University 93 Ji Chuan Road, Taizhou 225300, PR China
| | - Zixiang Liu
- School of Life Science and Technology, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 211198, PR China
| | - Changlin Zhou
- School of Life Science and Technology, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 211198, PR China.
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22
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Bera S, Gayen N, Mohid SA, Bhattacharyya D, Krishnamoorthy J, Sarkar D, Choi J, Sahoo N, Mandal AK, Lee D, Bhunia A. Comparison of Synthetic Neuronal Model Membrane Mimics in Amyloid Aggregation at Atomic Resolution. ACS Chem Neurosci 2020; 11:1965-1977. [PMID: 32492332 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.0c00166] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a severe neurodegenerative disorder caused by abnormal accumulation of toxic amyloid plaques of the amyloid-beta (Aβ) or the tau proteins in the brain. The plaque deposition leading to the collapse of the cellular integrity is responsible for a myriad of surface phenomena acting at the neuronal lipid interface. Recent years have witnessed dysfunction of the blood-brain barriers (BBB) associated with AD. Several studies support the idea that BBB acts as a platform for the formation of misfolded Aβ peptide, promoting oligomerization and fibrillation, compromising the overall integrity of the central nervous system. While the amyloid plaque deposition has been known to be responsible for the collapse of the BBB membrane integrity, the causal effect relationship between BBB and Aβ amyloidogenesis remains unclear. In this study, we have used physiologically relevant synthetic model membrane systems to gain atomic insight into the functional aspects of the lipid interface. Here, we have used a minimalist BBB mimic, POPC/POPG/cholesterol/GM1, to compare with the native BBB (total lipid brain extract (TLBE)), to understand the molecular events occurring in the membrane-induced Aβ40 amyloid aggregation. Our study showed that the two membrane models accelerated the Aβ40 aggregation kinetics with differential secondary structural transitions of the peptide. The observed structural transitions are defined by the lipid compositions, which in turn undermines the differences in lipid surface phenomena, leading to peptide induced cellular toxicity in the neuronal membrane.
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Affiliation(s)
- Swapna Bera
- Department of Biophysics, Bose Institute, Kolkata 700054, India
| | - Nilanjan Gayen
- Division of Molecular Medicine, Bose Institute, Kolkata 700054, India
| | - Sk. Abdul Mohid
- Department of Biophysics, Bose Institute, Kolkata 700054, India
| | | | | | - Dibakar Sarkar
- Department of Biophysics, Bose Institute, Kolkata 700054, India
| | - Jihye Choi
- Department of Fine Chemistry & Convergence Institute of Biomedical and Biomaterials, Seoul National University of Science and Technology, Seoul 139-743, Korea
| | - Nirakar Sahoo
- Department of Biology, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, Edinburg, Texas 78539, United States
| | - Atin K. Mandal
- Division of Molecular Medicine, Bose Institute, Kolkata 700054, India
| | - DongKuk Lee
- Department of Fine Chemistry & Convergence Institute of Biomedical and Biomaterials, Seoul National University of Science and Technology, Seoul 139-743, Korea
| | - Anirban Bhunia
- Department of Biophysics, Bose Institute, Kolkata 700054, India
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23
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Searching for mechanisms of action of antimicrobials. Arch Microbiol 2020; 202:2347-2354. [DOI: 10.1007/s00203-020-01959-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2020] [Revised: 06/05/2020] [Accepted: 06/15/2020] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
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Biswas K, Ilyas H, Datta A, Bhunia A. NMR Assisted Antimicrobial Peptide Designing: Structure Based Modifications and Functional Correlation of a Designed Peptide VG16KRKP. Curr Med Chem 2020; 27:1387-1404. [PMID: 31232231 DOI: 10.2174/0929867326666190624090817] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2018] [Revised: 05/16/2019] [Accepted: 05/29/2019] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Antimicrobial Peptides (AMPs), within their realm incorporate a diverse group of structurally and functionally varied peptides, playing crucial roles in innate immunity. Over the last few decades, the field of AMP has seen a huge upsurge, mainly owing to the generation of the so-called drug resistant 'superbugs' as well as limitations associated with the existing antimicrobial agents. Due to their resilient biological properties, AMPs can very well form the sustainable alternative for nextgeneration therapeutic agents. Certain drawbacks associated with existing AMPs are, however, issues of major concern, circumventing which are imperative. These limitations mainly include proteolytic cleavage and hence poor stability inside the biological systems, reduced activity due to inadequate interaction with the microbial membrane, and ineffectiveness because of inappropriate delivery among others. In this context, the application of naturally occurring AMPs as an efficient prototype for generating various synthetic and designed counterparts has evolved as a new avenue in peptide-based therapy. Such designing approaches help to overcome the drawbacks of the parent AMPs while retaining the inherent activity. In this review, we summarize some of the basic NMR structure based approaches and techniques which aid in improving the activity of AMPs, using the example of a 16-residue dengue virus fusion protein derived peptide, VG16KRKP. Using first principle based designing technique and high resolution NMR-based structure characterization we validate different types of modifications of VG16KRKP, highlighting key motifs, which optimize its activity. The approaches and designing techniques presented can support our peers in their drug development work.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karishma Biswas
- Department of Biophysics, Bose Institute, P-1/12 CIT Scheme VII(M), Kolkata 700054, India
| | - Humaira Ilyas
- Department of Biophysics, Bose Institute, P-1/12 CIT Scheme VII(M), Kolkata 700054, India
| | - Aritreyee Datta
- Department of Biophysics, Bose Institute, P-1/12 CIT Scheme VII(M), Kolkata 700054, India
| | - Anirban Bhunia
- Department of Biophysics, Bose Institute, P-1/12 CIT Scheme VII(M), Kolkata 700054, India
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Grimsey E, Collis DWP, Mikut R, Hilpert K. The effect of lipidation and glycosylation on short cationic antimicrobial peptides. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-BIOMEMBRANES 2020; 1862:183195. [PMID: 32130974 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbamem.2020.183195] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2019] [Revised: 01/08/2020] [Accepted: 01/10/2020] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
The global health threat surrounding bacterial resistance has resulted in antibiotic researchers shifting their focus away from 'traditional' antibiotics and concentrating on other antimicrobial agents, including antimicrobial peptides. These low molecular weight "mini-proteins" exhibit broad-spectrum activity against bacteria, including multi-drug resistant strains, viruses, fungi and protozoa and constitute a major element of the innate-immune system of many multicellular organisms. Some naturally occurring antimicrobial peptides are lipidated and/or glycosylated and almost all antimicrobial peptides in clinical use are either lipopeptides (Daptomycin and Polymyxin E and B) or glycopeptides (Vancomycin). Lipidation, glycosylation and PEGylation are an option for improving stability and activity in serum and for reducing the rapid clearing via the kidneys and liver. Two broad-spectrum antimicrobial peptides NH2-RIRIRWIIR-CONH2 (A1) and NH2-KRRVRWIIW-CONH2 (B1) were conjugated via a linker, producing A2 and B2, to individual fatty acids of C8, C10, C12 and C14 and in addition, A2 was conjugated to either glucose, N-acetyl glucosamine, galactose, mannose, lactose or polyethylene glycol (PEG). Antimicrobial activity against two Gram-positive strains (methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and vancomycin resistant Enterococcus faecalis (VRE)) and three Gram-negative strains (Salmonella typhimurium, E. coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa) were determined. Activity patterns for the lipidated versions are very complex, dependent on sequence, bacteria and fatty acid. Two reciprocal effects were measured; compared to the parental peptides, some combinations led to a 16-fold improvement whereas other combinations let to a 32-fold reduction in antimicrobial activity. Glycosylation decreased antimicrobial activity by 2 to 16-fold in comparison to A1, respectively on the sugar-peptide combination. PEGylation rendered the peptide inactive. Antimicrobial activity in the presence of 25% human serum of A1 and B1 was reduced 32-fold and 8-fold, respectively. The longer chain fatty acids almost completely restored this activity; however, these fatty acids increased hemolytic activity. B1 modified with C8 increased the therapeutic index by 2-fold for four bacterial strains. Our results suggest that finding the right lipid-peptide combination can lead to improved activity in the presence of serum and potentially more effective drug candidates for animal studies. Glycosylation with the optimal sugar and numbers of sugars at the right peptide position could be an alternative route or could be used in addition to lipidation to counteract solubility and toxicity issues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth Grimsey
- Institute for Infection and Immunity, St. George's University of London, London, UK
| | | | - Ralf Mikut
- Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Institute for Automation and Applied Informatics (IAI), Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany
| | - Kai Hilpert
- Institute for Infection and Immunity, St. George's University of London, London, UK.
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Pandit G, Biswas K, Ghosh S, Debnath S, Bidkar AP, Satpati P, Bhunia A, Chatterjee S. Rationally designed antimicrobial peptides: Insight into the mechanism of eleven residue peptides against microbial infections. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-BIOMEMBRANES 2020; 1862:183177. [PMID: 31954105 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbamem.2020.183177] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2019] [Revised: 12/23/2019] [Accepted: 01/07/2020] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
The widespread abuse of antibiotics has led to the use of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) as a replacement for the existing conventional therapeutic agents for combating microbial infections. The broad-spectrum activity and the resilient nature of AMPs has mainly aggrandized their utilization. Here, we report the design of non-toxic, non-hemolytic and salt tolerant undecapeptides (AMP21-24), derived by modification of a peptide P5 (NH2-LRWLRRLCONH2) reported earlier by our group. Our results depict that the designed peptides show potency against several bacterial as well as fungal strains. Circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy in combination with molecular dynamic (MD) simulations confirm that the peptides are unstructured. Intrinsic tryptophan fluorescence quenching as well as interaction studies using isothermal calorimetry (ITC) of these peptides in the presence of biological microbial membrane mimics establish the strong microbial membrane affinity of these AMPs. Membrane permeabilization assay and cytoplasmic membrane depolarization studies of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Candida albicans in the presence of AMPs also hint towards the AMP-membrane interactions. Leakage of calcein dye from membrane mimic liposomes, live cell NMR and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) studies suggest that the AMPs may be primarily involved in membrane perturbation leading to release of intracellular substances resulting in subsequent microbial cell death. Confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) shows localization of the peptides throughout the cell, indicating the possibility of secondary mode of actions. Electrostatic interactions seem to govern the preferential binding of the AMPs to the microbial membranes in comparison to the mammalian membranes as seen from the MD simulations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gopal Pandit
- Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology, Guwahati, Guwahati, India
| | - Karishma Biswas
- Department of Biophysics, Bose Institute, P-1/12 CIT scheme, VII (M), Kolkata, India
| | - Suvankar Ghosh
- Department of Biosciences and bioengineering, IIT Guwahati, Guwahati, India
| | - Swapna Debnath
- Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology, Guwahati, Guwahati, India
| | - Anil P Bidkar
- Department of Biosciences and bioengineering, IIT Guwahati, Guwahati, India
| | - Priyadarshi Satpati
- Department of Biosciences and bioengineering, IIT Guwahati, Guwahati, India.
| | - Anirban Bhunia
- Department of Biophysics, Bose Institute, P-1/12 CIT scheme, VII (M), Kolkata, India.
| | - Sunanda Chatterjee
- Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology, Guwahati, Guwahati, India.
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27
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Ilyas H, Kim J, Lee D, Malmsten M, Bhunia A. Structural insights into the combinatorial effects of antimicrobial peptides reveal a role of aromatic-aromatic interactions in antibacterial synergism. J Biol Chem 2019; 294:14615-14633. [PMID: 31383740 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.ra119.009955] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2019] [Revised: 08/02/2019] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
The recent development of plants that overexpress antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) provides opportunities for controlling plant diseases. Because plants employ a broad-spectrum antimicrobial defense, including those based on AMPs, transgenic modification for AMP overexpression represents a potential way to utilize a defense system already present in plants. Herein, using an array of techniques and approaches, we report on VG16KRKP and KYE28, two antimicrobial peptides, which in combination exhibit synergistic antimicrobial effects against plant pathogens and are resistant against plant proteases. Investigating the structural origin of these synergistic antimicrobial effects with NMR spectroscopy of the complex formed between these two peptides and their mutated analogs, we demonstrate the formation of an unusual peptide complex, characterized by the formation of a bulky hydrophobic hub, stabilized by aromatic zippers. Using three-dimensional structure analyses of the complex in bacterial outer and inner membrane components and when bound to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or bacterial membrane mimics, we found that this structure is key for elevating antimicrobial potency of the peptide combination. We conclude that the synergistic antimicrobial effects of VG16KRKP and KYE28 arise from the formation of a well-defined amphiphilic dimer in the presence of LPS and also in the cytoplasmic bacterial membrane environment. Together, these findings highlight a new application of solution NMR spectroscopy to solve complex structures to study peptide-peptide interactions, and they underscore the importance of structural insights for elucidating the antimicrobial effects of AMP mixtures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Humaira Ilyas
- Department of Biophysics, Bose Institute, P-1/12 CIT Scheme VII (M), Kolkata 700054, India
| | - JaeWoong Kim
- Department of Fine Chemistry, Seoul National University of Science and Technology, Seoul 139743, Korea
| | - DongKuk Lee
- Department of Fine Chemistry, Seoul National University of Science and Technology, Seoul 139743, Korea
| | - Martin Malmsten
- Department of Pharmacy, Uppsala University, SE-75123 Uppsala, Sweden .,Department of Pharmacy, University of Copenhagen, DK 2100, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Anirban Bhunia
- Department of Biophysics, Bose Institute, P-1/12 CIT Scheme VII (M), Kolkata 700054, India
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28
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Varnava KG, Mohid SA, Calligari P, Stella L, Reynison J, Bhunia A, Sarojini V. Design, Synthesis, Antibacterial Potential, and Structural Characterization of N-Acylated Derivatives of the Human Autophagy 16 Polypeptide. Bioconjug Chem 2019; 30:1998-2010. [PMID: 31145591 DOI: 10.1021/acs.bioconjchem.9b00290] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
A synthetic antimicrobial peptide library based on the human autophagy 16 polypeptide has been developed. Designed acetylated peptides bearing lipids of different chain lengths resulted in peptides with enhanced potency compared to the parent Atg16. A 21-residue fragment of Atg16 conjugated to 4-methylhexanoic acid (K30) emerged as the most potent antibacterial, with negligible hemolysis. Several studies, including microscopy, dye leakage, and ITC, were conducted to gain insight into the antibacterial mechanism of action of the peptide. Visual inspection using both SEM and TEM revealed the membranolytic effect of the peptide on bacterial cells. The selectivity of the peptide against bacterial cell membranes was also proven using dye leakage assays. ITC analysis revealed the exothermic nature of the binding interaction of the peptide to D8PG micelles. The three-dimensional solution NMR structure of K30 in complex with dioctanoylphosphatidylglycerol (D8PG) micelles revealed that the peptide adopts a helix-loop-helix structure in the presence of anionic membrane lipids mimicking bacterial membranes. Intermolecular NOEs between the peptide and lipid deciphered the location of the peptide in the bound state, which was subsequently supported by the paramagnetic relaxation enhancement (PRE) NMR experiment. Collectively, these results describe the structure-function relationship of the peptide in the bacterial membrane.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyriakos Gabriel Varnava
- School of Chemical Sciences , The University of Auckland , Private Bag 92019 , Auckland , New Zealand
| | - Sk Abdul Mohid
- Department of Biophysics , Bose Institute , P-1/12 CIT Scheme VII (M) , Kolkata 700054 , India
| | - Paolo Calligari
- Department of Chemical Science and Technologies , University of Rome Tor Vergata , 00133 Rome , Italy
| | - Lorenzo Stella
- Department of Chemical Science and Technologies , University of Rome Tor Vergata , 00133 Rome , Italy
| | - Jóhannes Reynison
- School of Chemical Sciences , The University of Auckland , Private Bag 92019 , Auckland , New Zealand.,School of Pharmacy, Hornbeam Building , Keele University , Staffordshire ST5 5BG , United Kingdom
| | - Anirban Bhunia
- Department of Biophysics , Bose Institute , P-1/12 CIT Scheme VII (M) , Kolkata 700054 , India
| | - Vijayalekshmi Sarojini
- School of Chemical Sciences , The University of Auckland , Private Bag 92019 , Auckland , New Zealand.,The MacDiarmid Institute for Advanced Materials and Nanotechnology , Wellington 6140 , New Zealand
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29
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Bhattacharyya D, Kim M, Mroue KH, Park M, Tiwari A, Saleem M, Lee D, Bhunia A. Role of non-electrostatic forces in antimicrobial potency of a dengue-virus derived fusion peptide VG16KRKP: Mechanistic insight into the interfacial peptide-lipid interactions. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-BIOMEMBRANES 2019; 1861:798-809. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbamem.2019.01.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2018] [Revised: 12/28/2018] [Accepted: 01/22/2019] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
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30
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Ciumac D, Gong H, Hu X, Lu JR. Membrane targeting cationic antimicrobial peptides. J Colloid Interface Sci 2019; 537:163-185. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jcis.2018.10.103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 123] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2018] [Revised: 10/29/2018] [Accepted: 10/30/2018] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
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31
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Nicola AM, Albuquerque P, Paes HC, Fernandes L, Costa FF, Kioshima ES, Abadio AKR, Bocca AL, Felipe MS. Antifungal drugs: New insights in research & development. Pharmacol Ther 2018; 195:21-38. [PMID: 30347212 DOI: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2018.10.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 79] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
The need for better antifungal therapy is commonly accepted in view of the high mortality rates associated with systemic infections, the low number of available antifungal classes, their associated toxicity and the increasing number of infections caused by strains with natural or acquired resistance. The urgency to expand the range of therapeutic options for the treatment of fungal infections has led researchers in recent decades to seek alternative antifungal targets when compared to the conventional ones currently used. Although new potential targets are reported, translating the discoveries from bench to bedside is a long process and most of these drugs fail to reach the patients. In this review, we discuss the development of antifungal drugs focusing on the approach of drug repurposing and the search for novel drugs for classical targets, the most recently described gene targets for drug development, the possibilities of immunotherapy using antibodies, cytokines, therapeutic vaccines and antimicrobial peptides.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Patrícia Albuquerque
- Faculty of Ceilândia, University of Brasília, Brazil; Graduate Programme in Microbial Biology, University of Brasília, Brazil
| | - Hugo Costa Paes
- Division of Clinical Medicine, University of Brasília Medical School, Brazil
| | - Larissa Fernandes
- Faculty of Ceilândia, University of Brasília, Brazil; Graduate Programme in Microbial Biology, University of Brasília, Brazil
| | - Fabricio F Costa
- Graduate Programme in Genomic Science and Biotechnology, Catholic University of Brasília, Brazil; MATTER, Chicago, IL, USA; Cancer Biology and Epigenomics Program, Ann & Robert Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago Research Center, Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Erika Seki Kioshima
- Department of Clinical Analysis and Biomedicine, State University of Maringá, Paraná, Brazil
| | - Ana Karina Rodrigues Abadio
- School for Applied Social and Agricultural Sciences, State University of Mato Grosso, Nova Mutum Campus, Mato Grosso, Brazil
| | | | - Maria Sueli Felipe
- Graduate Programme in Genomic Science and Biotechnology, Catholic University of Brasília, Brazil; Department of Cell Biology, Institute of Biological Sciences, University of Brasília, Brazil.
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32
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Insulin–eukaryotic model membrane interaction: Mechanistic insight of insulin fibrillation and membrane disruption. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-BIOMEMBRANES 2018; 1860:1917-1926. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbamem.2018.02.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2017] [Revised: 02/05/2018] [Accepted: 02/05/2018] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
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33
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Wang J, Chou S, Yang Z, Yang Y, Wang Z, Song J, Dou X, Shan A. Combating Drug-Resistant Fungi with Novel Imperfectly Amphipathic Palindromic Peptides. J Med Chem 2018; 61:3889-3907. [PMID: 29648811 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.7b01729] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Antimicrobial peptides are an important weapon against invading pathogens and are potential candidates as novel antibacterial agents, but their antifungal activities are not fully developed. In this study, a set of imperfectly amphipathic peptides was developed based on the imperfectly amphipathic palindromic structure R n(XRXXXRX)R n ( n = 1, 2; X represents L, I, F, or W), and the engineered peptides exhibited high antimicrobial activities against all fungi and bacteria tested (including fluconazole-resistant Candida albicans), with geometric mean (GM) MICs ranging from 2.2 to 6.62 μM. Of such peptides, 13 (I6) (RRIRIIIRIRR-NH2) that was Ile rich in its hydrophobic face had the highest antifungal activity (GMfungi = 1.64 μM) while showing low toxicity and high salt and serum tolerance. It also had dramatic LPS-neutralizing propensity and a potent membrane-disruptive mechanism against microbial cells. In summary, these findings were useful for short AMPs design to combat the growing threat of drug-resistant fungal and bacterial infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiajun Wang
- Institute of Animal Nutrition , Northeast Agricultural University , Harbin 150030 , P. R. China
| | - Shuli Chou
- Institute of Animal Nutrition , Northeast Agricultural University , Harbin 150030 , P. R. China
| | - Zhanyi Yang
- Institute of Animal Nutrition , Northeast Agricultural University , Harbin 150030 , P. R. China
| | - Yang Yang
- Institute of Animal Nutrition , Northeast Agricultural University , Harbin 150030 , P. R. China
| | - Zhihua Wang
- Institute of Animal Nutrition , Northeast Agricultural University , Harbin 150030 , P. R. China
| | - Jing Song
- Institute of Animal Nutrition , Northeast Agricultural University , Harbin 150030 , P. R. China
| | - Xiujing Dou
- Institute of Animal Nutrition , Northeast Agricultural University , Harbin 150030 , P. R. China
| | - Anshan Shan
- Institute of Animal Nutrition , Northeast Agricultural University , Harbin 150030 , P. R. China
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34
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Agrawal P, Bhalla S, Chaudhary K, Kumar R, Sharma M, Raghava GPS. In Silico Approach for Prediction of Antifungal Peptides. Front Microbiol 2018. [PMID: 29535692 PMCID: PMC5834480 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2018.00323] [Citation(s) in RCA: 80] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
This paper describes in silico models developed using a wide range of peptide features for predicting antifungal peptides (AFPs). Our analyses indicate that certain types of residue (e.g., C, G, H, K, R, Y) are more abundant in AFPs. The positional residue preference analysis reveals the prominence of the particular type of residues (e.g., R, V, K) at N-terminus and a certain type of residues (e.g., C, H) at C-terminus. In this study, models have been developed for predicting AFPs using a wide range of peptide features (like residue composition, binary profile, terminal residues). The support vector machine based model developed using compositional features of peptides achieved maximum accuracy of 88.78% on the training dataset and 83.33% on independent or validation dataset. Our model developed using binary patterns of terminal residues of peptides achieved maximum accuracy of 84.88% on training and 84.64% on validation dataset. We benchmark models developed in this study and existing methods on a dataset containing compositionally similar antifungal and non-AFPs. It was observed that binary based model developed in this study preforms better than any model/method. In order to facilitate scientific community, we developed a mobile app, standalone and a user-friendly web server ‘Antifp’ (http://webs.iiitd.edu.in/raghava/antifp).
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Affiliation(s)
- Piyush Agrawal
- Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, Institute of Microbial Technology, Chandigarh, India
| | - Sherry Bhalla
- Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, Institute of Microbial Technology, Chandigarh, India
| | - Kumardeep Chaudhary
- Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, Institute of Microbial Technology, Chandigarh, India
| | - Rajesh Kumar
- Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, Institute of Microbial Technology, Chandigarh, India
| | - Meenu Sharma
- Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, Institute of Microbial Technology, Chandigarh, India
| | - Gajendra P S Raghava
- Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, Institute of Microbial Technology, Chandigarh, India.,Center for Computational Biology, Indraprastha Institute of Information Technology, New Delhi, India
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