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Weaver DF. Endogenous Antimicrobial-Immunomodulatory Molecules: Networking Biomolecules of Innate Immunity. Chembiochem 2024; 25:e202400089. [PMID: 38658319 DOI: 10.1002/cbic.202400089] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2024] [Revised: 04/21/2024] [Accepted: 04/24/2024] [Indexed: 04/26/2024]
Abstract
Endogenous antimicrobial-immunomodulatory molecules (EAIMs) are essential to immune-mediated human health and evolution. Conventionally, antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) have been regarded as the dominant endogenous antimicrobial molecule; however, AMPs are not sufficient to account for the full spectrum of antimicrobial-immunomodulatory duality occurring within the human body. The threat posed by pathogenic microbes is pervasive with the capacity for widespread impact across many organ systems and multiple biochemical pathways; accordingly, the host needs the capacity to react with an equally diverse response. This can be attained by having EAIMs that traverse the full range of molecular size (small to large molecules) and structural diversity (including molecules other than peptides). This review identifies multiple molecules (peptide/protein, lipid, carbohydrate, nucleic acid, small organic molecule, and metallic cation) as EAIMs and discusses the possibility of cooperative, additive effects amongst the various EAIM classes during the host response to a microbial assault. This comprehensive consideration of the full molecular diversity of EAIMs enables the conclusion that EAIMs constitute a previously uncatalogued structurally diverse and collectively underappreciated immuno-active group of integrated molecular responders within the innate immune system's first line of defence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Donald F Weaver
- Departments of Chemistry and Medicine, University of Toronto, Krembil Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, M5Y 0S8, Canada
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2
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Bai Y, Zhang W, Zheng W, Meng XZ, Duan Y, Zhang C, Chen F, Wang KJ. A 14-amino acid cationic peptide Bolespleenin 334-347 from the marine fish mudskipper Boleophthalmus pectinirostris exhibiting potent antimicrobial activity and therapeutic potential. Biochem Pharmacol 2024:116344. [PMID: 38852647 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2024.116344] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2024] [Revised: 06/04/2024] [Accepted: 06/06/2024] [Indexed: 06/11/2024]
Abstract
Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are an important component of innate immunity in both vertebrates and invertebrates, and some of the unique characteristics of AMPs are usually associated with their living environment. The marine fish, mudskipper Boleophthalmus pectinirostris, usually live amphibiously in intertidal environments that are quite different from other fish species, which would be an exceptional source of new AMPs. In the study, an AMP named Bolespleenin334-347 was identified, which was a truncated peptide derived from a new functional gene found in B. pectinirostris, that was up-regulated in response to bacterial challenge. Bolespleenin334-347 had only 14 amino acid residues, including five consecutive arginine residues. It was found that the peptide had broad-spectrum antibacterial activity, good thermal stability and sodium ion tolerance. Bolespleenin334-347 killed Acinetobacter baumannii and Staphylococcus aureus by disrupting the structural integrity of the bacterial membrane, leading to leakage of the cellular contents, and inducing accumulation of bacterial endogenous reactive oxygen species (ROS). In addition, Bolespleenin334-347 effectively inhibited biofilm formation of A. baumannii and S. aureus and long-term treatment did not lead to the development of resistance. Importantly, Bolespleenin334-347 maintained stable activity against clinically multi-drug resistant bacterial strains. In addition, it was noteworthy that Bolespleenin334-347 showed superior efficacy to LL-37 and vancomycin in a constructed mouse model of MRSA-induced superficial skin infections, as evidenced by a significant reduction in bacterial load and more favorable wound healing. This study provides an effective antimicrobial agent for topical skin infections with potential therapeutic efficacy for infections with drug-resistant bacteria, including MRSA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuqi Bai
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, College of Ocean & Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, China
| | - Weibin Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, College of Ocean & Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, China
| | - Wenbin Zheng
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, College of Ocean & Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, China
| | - Xin-Zhan Meng
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, College of Ocean & Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, China
| | - Yingyi Duan
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, College of Ocean & Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, China
| | - Chang Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, College of Ocean & Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, China
| | - Fangyi Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, College of Ocean & Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, China; State-Province Joint Engineering Laboratory of Marine Bioproducts and Technology, College of Ocean & Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, China; Fujian Innovation Research Institute for Marine Biological Antimicrobial Peptide Industrial Technology, College of Ocean & Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China.
| | - Ke-Jian Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, College of Ocean & Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, China; State-Province Joint Engineering Laboratory of Marine Bioproducts and Technology, College of Ocean & Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, China; Fujian Innovation Research Institute for Marine Biological Antimicrobial Peptide Industrial Technology, College of Ocean & Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China.
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Enninful GN, Kuppusamy R, Tiburu EK, Kumar N, Willcox MDP. Non-canonical amino acid bioincorporation into antimicrobial peptides and its challenges. J Pept Sci 2024; 30:e3560. [PMID: 38262069 DOI: 10.1002/psc.3560] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2023] [Revised: 10/01/2023] [Accepted: 11/14/2023] [Indexed: 01/25/2024]
Abstract
The rise of antimicrobial resistance and multi-drug resistant pathogens has necessitated explorations for novel antibiotic agents as the discovery of conventional antibiotics is becoming economically less viable and technically more challenging for biopharma. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) have emerged as a promising alternative because of their particular mode of action, broad spectrum and difficulty that microbes have in becoming resistant to them. The AMPs bacitracin, gramicidin, polymyxins and daptomycin are currently used clinically. However, their susceptibility to proteolytic degradation, toxicity profile, and complexities in large-scale manufacture have hindered their development. To improve their proteolytic stability, methods such as integrating non-canonical amino acids (ncAAs) into their peptide sequence have been adopted, which also improves their potency and spectrum of action. The benefits of ncAA incorporation have been made possible by solid-phase peptide synthesis. However, this method is not always suitable for commercial production of AMPs because of poor yield, scale-up difficulties, and its non-'green' nature. Bioincorporation of ncAA as a method of integration is an emerging field geared towards tackling the challenges of solid-phase synthesis as a green, cheaper, and scalable alternative for commercialisation of AMPs. This review focusses on the bioincorporation of ncAAs; some challenges associated with the methods are outlined, and notes are given on how to overcome these challenges. The review focusses particularly on addressing two key challenges: AMP cytotoxicity towards microbial cell factories and the uptake of ncAAs that are unfavourable to them. Overcoming these challenges will draw us closer to a greater yield and an environmentally friendly and sustainable approach to make AMPs more druggable.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Rajesh Kuppusamy
- University of New South Wales, Kensington, New South Wales, Australia
| | | | - Naresh Kumar
- University of New South Wales, Kensington, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Mark D P Willcox
- University of New South Wales, Kensington, New South Wales, Australia
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Campanile M, Kurtul ED, Dec R, Möbitz S, Del Vecchio P, Petraccone L, Tatzelt J, Oliva R, Winter R. Morphological Transformations of SARS-CoV-2 Nucleocapsid Protein Biocondensates Mediated by Antimicrobial Peptides. Chemistry 2024; 30:e202400048. [PMID: 38483823 DOI: 10.1002/chem.202400048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2024] [Indexed: 04/12/2024]
Abstract
Recently, the discovery of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) as excellent candidates for overcoming antibiotic resistance has attracted significant attention. AMPs are short peptides active against bacteria, cancer cells, and viruses. It has been shown that the SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid protein (N-P) undergoes liquid-liquid phase separation in the presence of RNA, resulting in biocondensate formation. These biocondensates are crucial for viral replication as they concentrate the viral RNA with the host cell's protein machinery required for viral protein expression. Thus, N-P biocondensates are promising targets to block or slow down viral RNA transcription and consequently virion assembly. We investigated the ability of three AMPs to interfere with N-P/RNA condensates. Using microscopy techniques, supported by biophysical characterization, we found that the AMP LL-III partitions into the condensate, leading to clustering. Instead, the AMP CrACP1 partitions into the droplets without affecting their morphology but reducing their dynamics. Conversely, GKY20 leads to the formation of fibrillar structures after partitioning. It can be expected that such morphological transformation severely impairs the normal functionality of the N-P droplets and thus virion assembly. These results could pave the way for the development of a new class of AMP-based antiviral agents targeting biocondensates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Campanile
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, Via Cintia, 26, 80126, Naples, Italy
| | - Emine Dila Kurtul
- Department Biochemistry of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Institute of Biochemistry and Pathobiochemistry, Ruhr University Bochum, 44801, Bochum, Germany
| | - Robert Dec
- Physical Chemistry I - Biophysical Chemistry, Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, TU Dortmund University, Otto-Hahn-Strasse 4a, 44227, Dortmund, Germany
| | - Simone Möbitz
- Physical Chemistry I - Biophysical Chemistry, Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, TU Dortmund University, Otto-Hahn-Strasse 4a, 44227, Dortmund, Germany
| | - Pompea Del Vecchio
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, Via Cintia, 26, 80126, Naples, Italy
| | - Luigi Petraccone
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, Via Cintia, 26, 80126, Naples, Italy
| | - Jörg Tatzelt
- Department Biochemistry of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Institute of Biochemistry and Pathobiochemistry, Ruhr University Bochum, 44801, Bochum, Germany
| | - Rosario Oliva
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, Via Cintia, 26, 80126, Naples, Italy
| | - Roland Winter
- Physical Chemistry I - Biophysical Chemistry, Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, TU Dortmund University, Otto-Hahn-Strasse 4a, 44227, Dortmund, Germany
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Takeuchi K, Ueda T, Imai M, Fujisaki M, Shimura M, Tokunaga Y, Kofuku Y, Shimada I. Affinity-directed substrate/H +-antiport by a MATE transporter. Structure 2024:S0969-2126(24)00181-3. [PMID: 38815577 DOI: 10.1016/j.str.2024.05.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2023] [Revised: 03/16/2024] [Accepted: 05/03/2024] [Indexed: 06/01/2024]
Abstract
Multidrug and toxin extrusion (MATE) family transporters excrete toxic compounds coupled to Na+/H+ influx. Although structures of MATE transporters are available, the mechanism by which substrate export is coupled to ion influx remains unknown. To address this issue, we conducted a structural analysis of Pyrococcus furiosus MATE (PfMATE) using solution nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). The NMR analysis, along with thorough substitutions of all non-exposed acidic residues, confirmed that PfMATE is under an equilibrium between inward-facing (IF) and outward-facing (OF) conformations, dictated by the Glu163 protonation. Importantly, we found that only the IF conformation exhibits a mid-μM affinity for substrate recognition. In contrast, the OF conformation exhibited only weak mM substrate affinity, suitable for releasing substrate to the extracellular side. These results indicate that PfMATE is an affinity-directed H+ antiporter where substrates selectively bind to the protonated IF conformation in the equilibrium, and subsequent proton release mechanistically ensures H+-coupled substrate excretion by the transporter.
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Affiliation(s)
- Koh Takeuchi
- Graduate School of Pharmacological Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Hongo, Bunkyo, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan; Molecular Profiling Research Center for Drug Discovery and Cellular Molecular Biotechnology Research Institute, National Institute of Advanced Science and Technology, Aomi, Koto, Tokyo 135-0063, Japan.
| | - Takumi Ueda
- Graduate School of Pharmacological Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Hongo, Bunkyo, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan
| | - Misaki Imai
- Graduate School of Pharmacological Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Hongo, Bunkyo, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan; Research and Development Department, Japan Biological Informatics Consortium, Aomi 2-3-26, Koto-ku, Tokyo 135-0064, Japan
| | - Miwa Fujisaki
- Graduate School of Pharmacological Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Hongo, Bunkyo, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan; Research and Development Department, Japan Biological Informatics Consortium, Aomi 2-3-26, Koto-ku, Tokyo 135-0064, Japan
| | - Mie Shimura
- Graduate School of Pharmacological Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Hongo, Bunkyo, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan
| | - Yuji Tokunaga
- Graduate School of Pharmacological Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Hongo, Bunkyo, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan; Molecular Profiling Research Center for Drug Discovery and Cellular Molecular Biotechnology Research Institute, National Institute of Advanced Science and Technology, Aomi, Koto, Tokyo 135-0063, Japan
| | - Yutaka Kofuku
- Graduate School of Pharmacological Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Hongo, Bunkyo, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan
| | - Ichio Shimada
- Graduate School of Pharmacological Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Hongo, Bunkyo, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan; Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research, RIKEN, Kanagawa 230-0045, Japan; Graduate School of Integrated Sciences for Life, Hiroshima University, 1-4-4 Kagamiyama, Higashi-Hiroshima City, Hiroshima 739-8528, Japan.
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Shaban S, Patel M, Ahmad A. Antifungal activity of human antimicrobial peptides targeting apoptosis in Candida auris. J Med Microbiol 2024; 73. [PMID: 38743468 DOI: 10.1099/jmm.0.001835] [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] [Indexed: 05/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction. Innovative antifungal therapies are of crucial importance to combat the potentially life-threatening infections linked to the multidrug-resistant fungal pathogen Candida auris. Induction of regulated cell death, apoptosis, could provide an outline for future therapeutics. Human antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), well-known antifungal compounds, have shown the ability to induce apoptosis in pathogenic fungi.Hypothesis/Gap Statement . Although it is known that AMPs possess antifungal activity against C. auris, their ability to induce apoptosis requires further investigations.Aim. This study evaluated the effects of AMPs on the induction of apoptosis in C. auris.Methods. Human neutrophil peptide-1 (HNP-1), human β-Defensins-3 (hBD-3) and human salivary histatin 5 (His 5) were assessed against two clinical C. auris isolates. Apoptosis hallmarks were examined using FITC-Annexin V/PI double labelling assay and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase deoxynucleotidyl transferase nick-end labelling (TUNEL) to detect phosphatidylserine externalization and DNA fragmentation, respectively. Then, several intracellular triggers were studied using JC-10 staining, spectrophotometric assay and 2',7'-dichlorofluorescin diacetate staining to measure the mitochondrial membrane potential, cytochrome-c release and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, respectively.Results and conclusion. FITC-Annexin V/PI staining and TUNEL analysis revealed that exposure of C. auris cells to HNP-1 and hBD-3 triggered both early and late apoptosis, while His 5 caused significant necrosis. Furthermore, HNP-1 and hBD-3 induced significant mitochondrial membrane depolarization, which resulted in substantial cytochrome c release. In contrast to His 5, which showed minimal mitochondrial depolarization and no cytochrome c release. At last, all peptides significantly increased ROS production, which is related to both types of cell death. Therefore, these peptides represent promising and effective antifungal agents for treating invasive infections caused by multidrug-resistant C. auris.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siham Shaban
- Department of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2193, South Africa
| | - Mrudula Patel
- Department of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2193, South Africa
- Division of Infection Control, Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital, National Health Laboratory Service, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Aijaz Ahmad
- Department of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, 2193, South Africa
- Division of Pulmonary, Allergy, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
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Wang Y, Shi D, Zou W, Jiang Y, Wang T, Chen X, Ma C, Li W, Chen T, Burrows JF, Wang L, Zhou M. An Effective Modification Strategy to Build Multifunctional Peptides Based on a Trypsin Inhibitory Peptide of the Kunitz Family. Pharmaceutics 2024; 16:597. [PMID: 38794259 PMCID: PMC11125039 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics16050597] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2024] [Revised: 04/18/2024] [Accepted: 04/25/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Peptides with antimicrobial activity or protease inhibitory activity are potential candidates to supplement traditional antibiotics or cancer chemotherapies. However, the potential of many peptides are limited by drawbacks such as cytotoxicity or susceptibility to hydrolysis. Therefore, strategies to modify the structure of promising peptides may represent an effective approach for developing more promising clinical candidates. In this study, the mature peptide OSTI-1949, a Kunitz-type inhibitor from Odorrana schmackeri, and four designed analogues were successfully synthesised. In contrast to the parent peptide, the analogues showed impressive multi-functionality including antimicrobial, anticancer, and trypsin inhibitory activities. In terms of safety, there were no obvious changes observed in the haemolytic activity at the highest tested concentration, and the analogue OSTI-2461 showed an increase in activity against cancer cell lines without cytotoxicity to normal cells (HaCaT). In summary, through structural modification of a natural Kunitz-type peptide, the biological activity of analogues was improved whilst retaining low cytotoxicity. The strategy of helicity enhancement by forming an artificial α-helix and ß-sheet structure provides a promising way to develop original bioactive peptides for clinical therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Wang
- Natural Drug Discovery Group, School of Pharmacy, Queen’s University Belfast, Belfast BT9 7BL, Northern Ireland, UK; (Y.W.); (W.Z.); (Y.J.); (T.W.); (C.M.); (T.C.); (J.F.B.); (L.W.); (M.Z.)
| | - Daning Shi
- Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, No.12 Zhongguancun South Street, Haidian District, Beijing 100081, China;
| | - Wanchen Zou
- Natural Drug Discovery Group, School of Pharmacy, Queen’s University Belfast, Belfast BT9 7BL, Northern Ireland, UK; (Y.W.); (W.Z.); (Y.J.); (T.W.); (C.M.); (T.C.); (J.F.B.); (L.W.); (M.Z.)
- College of Chinese Medicinal Materials, Jilin Provincial International Joint Research Center for the Development and Utilization of Authentic Medicinal Materials, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun 130118, China
| | - Yangyang Jiang
- Natural Drug Discovery Group, School of Pharmacy, Queen’s University Belfast, Belfast BT9 7BL, Northern Ireland, UK; (Y.W.); (W.Z.); (Y.J.); (T.W.); (C.M.); (T.C.); (J.F.B.); (L.W.); (M.Z.)
| | - Tao Wang
- Natural Drug Discovery Group, School of Pharmacy, Queen’s University Belfast, Belfast BT9 7BL, Northern Ireland, UK; (Y.W.); (W.Z.); (Y.J.); (T.W.); (C.M.); (T.C.); (J.F.B.); (L.W.); (M.Z.)
| | - Xiaoling Chen
- Natural Drug Discovery Group, School of Pharmacy, Queen’s University Belfast, Belfast BT9 7BL, Northern Ireland, UK; (Y.W.); (W.Z.); (Y.J.); (T.W.); (C.M.); (T.C.); (J.F.B.); (L.W.); (M.Z.)
| | - Chengbang Ma
- Natural Drug Discovery Group, School of Pharmacy, Queen’s University Belfast, Belfast BT9 7BL, Northern Ireland, UK; (Y.W.); (W.Z.); (Y.J.); (T.W.); (C.M.); (T.C.); (J.F.B.); (L.W.); (M.Z.)
| | - Wei Li
- College of Chinese Medicinal Materials, Jilin Provincial International Joint Research Center for the Development and Utilization of Authentic Medicinal Materials, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun 130118, China
| | - Tianbao Chen
- Natural Drug Discovery Group, School of Pharmacy, Queen’s University Belfast, Belfast BT9 7BL, Northern Ireland, UK; (Y.W.); (W.Z.); (Y.J.); (T.W.); (C.M.); (T.C.); (J.F.B.); (L.W.); (M.Z.)
| | - James F. Burrows
- Natural Drug Discovery Group, School of Pharmacy, Queen’s University Belfast, Belfast BT9 7BL, Northern Ireland, UK; (Y.W.); (W.Z.); (Y.J.); (T.W.); (C.M.); (T.C.); (J.F.B.); (L.W.); (M.Z.)
| | - Lei Wang
- Natural Drug Discovery Group, School of Pharmacy, Queen’s University Belfast, Belfast BT9 7BL, Northern Ireland, UK; (Y.W.); (W.Z.); (Y.J.); (T.W.); (C.M.); (T.C.); (J.F.B.); (L.W.); (M.Z.)
| | - Mei Zhou
- Natural Drug Discovery Group, School of Pharmacy, Queen’s University Belfast, Belfast BT9 7BL, Northern Ireland, UK; (Y.W.); (W.Z.); (Y.J.); (T.W.); (C.M.); (T.C.); (J.F.B.); (L.W.); (M.Z.)
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Chen J, Wang W, Hu X, Yue Y, Lu X, Wang C, Wei B, Zhang H, Wang H. Medium-sized peptides from microbial sources with potential for antibacterial drug development. Nat Prod Rep 2024. [PMID: 38651516 DOI: 10.1039/d4np00002a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/25/2024]
Abstract
Covering: 1993 to the end of 2022As the rapid development of antibiotic resistance shrinks the number of clinically available antibiotics, there is an urgent need for novel options to fill the existing antibiotic pipeline. In recent years, antimicrobial peptides have attracted increased interest due to their impressive broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity and low probability of antibiotic resistance. However, macromolecular antimicrobial peptides of plant and animal origin face obstacles in antibiotic development because of their extremely short elimination half-life and poor chemical stability. Herein, we focus on medium-sized antibacterial peptides (MAPs) of microbial origin with molecular weights below 2000 Da. The low molecular weight is not sufficient to form complex protein conformations and is also associated to a better chemical stability and easier modifications. Microbially-produced peptides are often composed of a variety of non-protein amino acids and terminal modifications, which contribute to improving the elimination half-life of compounds. Therefore, MAPs have great potential for drug discovery and are likely to become key players in the development of next-generation antibiotics. In this review, we provide a detailed exploration of the modes of action demonstrated by 45 MAPs and offer a concise summary of the structure-activity relationships observed in these MAPs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianwei Chen
- College of Pharmaceutical Science & Collaborative Innovation Center of Yangtze River Delta Region Green Pharmaceuticals, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou 310014, China
| | - Wei Wang
- College of Pharmaceutical Science & Collaborative Innovation Center of Yangtze River Delta Region Green Pharmaceuticals, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou 310014, China
| | - Xubin Hu
- College of Pharmaceutical Science & Collaborative Innovation Center of Yangtze River Delta Region Green Pharmaceuticals, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou 310014, China
| | - Yujie Yue
- College of Pharmaceutical Science & Collaborative Innovation Center of Yangtze River Delta Region Green Pharmaceuticals, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou 310014, China
| | - Xingyue Lu
- College of Pharmaceutical Science & Collaborative Innovation Center of Yangtze River Delta Region Green Pharmaceuticals, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou 310014, China
| | - Chenjie Wang
- College of Pharmaceutical Science & Collaborative Innovation Center of Yangtze River Delta Region Green Pharmaceuticals, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou 310014, China
| | - Bin Wei
- College of Pharmaceutical Science & Collaborative Innovation Center of Yangtze River Delta Region Green Pharmaceuticals, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou 310014, China
| | - Huawei Zhang
- College of Pharmaceutical Science & Collaborative Innovation Center of Yangtze River Delta Region Green Pharmaceuticals, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou 310014, China
| | - Hong Wang
- College of Pharmaceutical Science & Collaborative Innovation Center of Yangtze River Delta Region Green Pharmaceuticals, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou 310014, China
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Mehraj I, Hamid A, Gani U, Iralu N, Manzoor T, Saleem Bhat S. Combating Antimicrobial Resistance by Employing Antimicrobial Peptides: Immunomodulators and Therapeutic Agents against Infectious Diseases. ACS APPLIED BIO MATERIALS 2024; 7:2023-2035. [PMID: 38533844 DOI: 10.1021/acsabm.3c01104] [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] [Indexed: 03/28/2024]
Abstract
The rising prevalence of multiple-drug-resistant pathogens poses a formidable challenge to conventional antimicrobial treatments. The inability of potent antibiotics to combat these "superbugs" underscores the pressing need for alternative therapeutic agents. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) represent an alternative class of antibiotics. AMPs are essential immunomodulatory molecules that are found in various organisms. They play a pivotal role in managing microbial ecosystems and bolstering innate immunity by targeting and eliminating invading microorganisms. AMPs also have applications in the agriculture sector by combating animal as well as plant pathogens. AMPs can be exploited for the targeted therapy of various diseases and can also be used in drug-delivery systems. They can be used in synergy with current treatments like antibiotics and can potentially lead to a lower required dosage. AMPs also have huge potential in wound healing and regenerative medicine. Developing AMP-based strategies with improved safety, specificity, and efficacy is crucial in the battle against alarming global microbial resistance. This review will explore AMPs' increasing applicability, their mode of antimicrobial activity, and various delivery systems enhancing their stability and efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Insha Mehraj
- Division of Animal Biotechnology, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences and Animal Husbandry, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir, Shalimar, Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir 05466, India
| | - Aflaq Hamid
- Department of Plant Pathology, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir, Shalimar, Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir 05466, India
| | - Ubaid Gani
- Division of Animal Biotechnology, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences and Animal Husbandry, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir, Shalimar, Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir 05466, India
| | - Nulevino Iralu
- Department of Plant Pathology, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir, Shalimar, Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir 05466, India
| | - Tasaduq Manzoor
- Division of Animal Biotechnology, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences and Animal Husbandry, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir, Shalimar, Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir 05466, India
| | - Sahar Saleem Bhat
- Division of Animal Biotechnology, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences and Animal Husbandry, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir, Shalimar, Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir 05466, India
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Lyra KM, Tournis I, Subrati M, Spyrou K, Papavasiliou A, Athanasekou C, Papageorgiou S, Sakellis E, Karakassides MA, Sideratou Z. Carbon Nanodisks Decorated with Guanidinylated Hyperbranched Polyethyleneimine Derivatives as Efficient Antibacterial Agents. NANOMATERIALS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2024; 14:677. [PMID: 38668171 PMCID: PMC11054016 DOI: 10.3390/nano14080677] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2024] [Revised: 04/08/2024] [Accepted: 04/09/2024] [Indexed: 04/29/2024]
Abstract
Non-toxic carbon-based hybrid nanomaterials based on carbon nanodisks were synthesized and assessed as novel antibacterial agents. Specifically, acid-treated carbon nanodisks (oxCNDs), as a safe alternative material to graphene oxide, interacted through covalent and non-covalent bonding with guanidinylated hyperbranched polyethyleneimine derivatives (GPEI5K and GPEI25K), affording the oxCNDs@GPEI5K and oxCNDs@GPEI25K hybrids. Their physico-chemical characterization confirmed the successful and homogenous attachment of GPEIs on the surface of oxCNDs, which, due to the presence of guanidinium groups, offered them improved aqueous stability. Moreover, the antibacterial activity of oxCNDs@GPEIs was evaluated against Gram-negative E. coli and Gram-positive S. aureus bacteria. It was found that both hybrids exhibited enhanced antibacterial activity, with oxCNDs@GPEI5K being more active than oxCNDs@GPEI25K. Their MIC and MBC values were found to be much lower than those of oxCNDs, revealing that the GPEI attachment endowed the hybrids with enhanced antibacterial properties. These improved properties were attributed to the polycationic character of the oxCNDs@GPEIs, which enables effective interaction with the bacterial cytoplasmic membrane and cell walls, leading to cell envelope damage, and eventually cell lysis. Finally, oxCNDs@GPEIs showed minimal cytotoxicity on mammalian cells, indicating that these hybrid nanomaterials have great potential to be used as safe and efficient antibacterial agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyriaki-Marina Lyra
- Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, National Center for Scientific Reasearch “Demokritos”, Aghia Paraskevi, 15310 Athens, Greece; (K.-M.L.); (I.T.); (M.S.); (A.P.); (C.A.); (S.P.); or (E.S.)
| | - Ioannis Tournis
- Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, National Center for Scientific Reasearch “Demokritos”, Aghia Paraskevi, 15310 Athens, Greece; (K.-M.L.); (I.T.); (M.S.); (A.P.); (C.A.); (S.P.); or (E.S.)
| | - Mohammed Subrati
- Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, National Center for Scientific Reasearch “Demokritos”, Aghia Paraskevi, 15310 Athens, Greece; (K.-M.L.); (I.T.); (M.S.); (A.P.); (C.A.); (S.P.); or (E.S.)
| | - Konstantinos Spyrou
- Department of Material Science & Engineering, University of Ioannina, 45110 Ioannina, Greece; (K.S.); (M.A.K.)
| | - Aggeliki Papavasiliou
- Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, National Center for Scientific Reasearch “Demokritos”, Aghia Paraskevi, 15310 Athens, Greece; (K.-M.L.); (I.T.); (M.S.); (A.P.); (C.A.); (S.P.); or (E.S.)
| | - Chrysoula Athanasekou
- Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, National Center for Scientific Reasearch “Demokritos”, Aghia Paraskevi, 15310 Athens, Greece; (K.-M.L.); (I.T.); (M.S.); (A.P.); (C.A.); (S.P.); or (E.S.)
| | - Sergios Papageorgiou
- Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, National Center for Scientific Reasearch “Demokritos”, Aghia Paraskevi, 15310 Athens, Greece; (K.-M.L.); (I.T.); (M.S.); (A.P.); (C.A.); (S.P.); or (E.S.)
| | - Elias Sakellis
- Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, National Center for Scientific Reasearch “Demokritos”, Aghia Paraskevi, 15310 Athens, Greece; (K.-M.L.); (I.T.); (M.S.); (A.P.); (C.A.); (S.P.); or (E.S.)
- Physics Department, Condensed Matter Physics Section, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis, Zografos, 15784 Athens, Greece
| | - Michael A. Karakassides
- Department of Material Science & Engineering, University of Ioannina, 45110 Ioannina, Greece; (K.S.); (M.A.K.)
| | - Zili Sideratou
- Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, National Center for Scientific Reasearch “Demokritos”, Aghia Paraskevi, 15310 Athens, Greece; (K.-M.L.); (I.T.); (M.S.); (A.P.); (C.A.); (S.P.); or (E.S.)
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11
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Mulukutla A, Shreshtha R, Kumar Deb V, Chatterjee P, Jain U, Chauhan N. Recent advances in antimicrobial peptide-based therapy. Bioorg Chem 2024; 145:107151. [PMID: 38359706 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioorg.2024.107151] [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: 10/13/2023] [Revised: 01/05/2024] [Accepted: 01/22/2024] [Indexed: 02/17/2024]
Abstract
Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are a group of polypeptide chains that have the property to target and kill a myriad of microbial organisms including viruses, bacteria, protists, etc. The first discovered AMP was named gramicidin, an extract of aerobic soil bacteria. Further studies discovered that these peptides are present not only in prokaryotes but in eukaryotes as well. They play a vital role in human innate immunity and wound repair. Consequently, they have maintained a high level of intrigue among scientists in the field of immunology, especially so with the rise of antibiotic-resistant pathogens decreasing the reliability of antibiotics in healthcare. While AMPs have promising potential to substitute for common antibiotics, their use as effective replacements is barred by certain limitations. First, they have the potential to be cytotoxic to human cells. Second, they are unstable in the blood due to action by various proteolytic agents and ions that cause their degradation. This review provides an overview of the mechanism of AMPs, their limitations, and developments in recent years that provide techniques to overcome those limitations. We also discuss the advantages and drawbacks of AMPs as a replacement for antibiotics as compared to other alternatives such as synthetically modified bacteriophages, traditional medicine, and probiotics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aditya Mulukutla
- School of Health Sciences and Technology, UPES, Dehradun 248007, Uttarakhand, India
| | - Romi Shreshtha
- School of Health Sciences and Technology, UPES, Dehradun 248007, Uttarakhand, India
| | - Vishal Kumar Deb
- School of Health Sciences and Technology, UPES, Dehradun 248007, Uttarakhand, India
| | - Pallabi Chatterjee
- School of Health Sciences and Technology, UPES, Dehradun 248007, Uttarakhand, India
| | - Utkarsh Jain
- School of Health Sciences and Technology, UPES, Dehradun 248007, Uttarakhand, India
| | - Nidhi Chauhan
- School of Health Sciences and Technology, UPES, Dehradun 248007, Uttarakhand, India.
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12
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Fandiño-Devia E, Santa-González GA, Klaiss-Luna MC, Manrique-Moreno M. Study of the Membrane Activity of the Synthetic Peptide ∆M3 Against Extended-Spectrum β-lactamase Escherichia coli Isolates. J Membr Biol 2024; 257:51-61. [PMID: 38315239 PMCID: PMC11006780 DOI: 10.1007/s00232-024-00306-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2023] [Accepted: 01/03/2024] [Indexed: 02/07/2024]
Abstract
Escherichia coli is the most common microorganism causing nosocomial or community-acquired bacteremia, and extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing Escherichia coli isolates are identified worldwide with increasing frequency. For this reason, it is necessary to evaluate potential new molecules like antimicrobial peptides. They are recognized for their biological potential which makes them promising candidates in the fight against infections. The goal of this research was to evaluate the potential of the synthetic peptide ΔM3 on several extended-spectrum β-lactamase producing E. coli isolates. The antimicrobial and cytotoxic activity of the peptide was spectrophotometrically determined. Additionally, the capacity of the peptide to interact with the bacterial membrane was monitored by fluorescence microscopy and infrared spectroscopy. The results demonstrated that the synthetic peptide is active against Escherichia coli isolates at concentrations similar to Meropenem. On the other hand, no cytotoxic effect was observed in HaCaT keratinocyte cells even at 10 times the minimal inhibitory concentration. Microscopy results showed a permeabilizing effect of the peptide on the bacteria. The infrared results showed that ΔM3 showed affinity for the lipids of the microorganism's membrane. The results suggest that the ∆M3 interacts with the negatively charged lipids from the E. coli by a disturbing effect on membrane. Finally, the secondary structure experiments of the peptide showed a random structure in solution that did not change during the interaction with the membranes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Estefanía Fandiño-Devia
- Chemistry Institute, Faculty of Exact and Natural Sciences, University of Antioquia, A.A. 1226, Medellin, 050010, Colombia
| | - Gloria A Santa-González
- Grupo de Investigación e Innovación Biomédica, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Aplicadas, Instituto Tecnológico Metropolitano, A.A. 54959, Medellín, 050010, Colombia
| | - Maria C Klaiss-Luna
- Chemistry Institute, Faculty of Exact and Natural Sciences, University of Antioquia, A.A. 1226, Medellin, 050010, Colombia
| | - Marcela Manrique-Moreno
- Chemistry Institute, Faculty of Exact and Natural Sciences, University of Antioquia, A.A. 1226, Medellin, 050010, Colombia.
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13
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Vélez N, Argel A, Kissmann AK, Alpízar-Pedraza D, Escandón P, Rosenau F, Ständker L, Firacative C. Pore-forming peptide C14R exhibits potent antifungal activity against clinical isolates of Candida albicans and Candida auris. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2024; 14:1389020. [PMID: 38601736 PMCID: PMC11004338 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2024.1389020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2024] [Accepted: 03/18/2024] [Indexed: 04/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Invasive candidiasis is a global public health problem as it poses a significant threat in hospital-settings. The aim of this study was to evaluate C14R, an analog derived from peptide BP100, as a potential antimicrobial peptide against the prevalent opportunistic yeast Candida albicans and the emergent multidrug-resistant yeast Candida auris. Methods Antifungal susceptibility testing of C14R against 99 C. albicans and 105 C. auris clinical isolates from Colombia, was determined by broth microdilution. Fluconazole was used as a control antifungal. The synergy between C14R and fluconazole was assessed in resistant isolates. Assays against fungal biofilm and growth curves were also carried out. Morphological alterations of yeast cell surface were evaluated by scanning electron microscopy. A permeability assay verified the pore-forming ability of C14R. Results C. albicans and C. auris isolates had a geometric mean MIC against C14R of 4.42 µg/ml and 5.34 µg/ml, respectively. Notably, none of the isolates of any species exhibited growth at the highest evaluated peptide concentration (200 µg/ml). Synergistic effects were observed when combining the peptide and fluconazole. C14R affects biofilm and growth of C. albicans and C. auris. Cell membrane disruptions were observed in both species after treatment with the peptide. It was confirmed that C14R form pores in C. albicans' membrane. Discussion C14R has a potent antifungal activity against a large set of clinical isolates of both C. albicans and C. auris, showing its capacity to disrupt Candida membranes. This antifungal activity remains consistent across isolates regardless of their clinical source. Furthermore, the absence of correlation between MICs to C14R and resistance to fluconazole indicates the peptide's potential effectiveness against fluconazole-resistant strains. Our results suggest the potential of C14R, a pore-forming peptide, as a treatment option for fungal infections, such as invasive candidiasis, including fluconazole and amphotericin B -resistant strains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Norida Vélez
- Studies in Translational Microbiology and Emerging Diseases (MICROS) Research Group, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universidad del Rosario, Bogota, Colombia
| | - Andreys Argel
- Studies in Translational Microbiology and Emerging Diseases (MICROS) Research Group, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universidad del Rosario, Bogota, Colombia
| | | | - Daniel Alpízar-Pedraza
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Department, Center for Pharmaceutical Research and Development, Ciudad de La Habana, Cuba
| | | | - Frank Rosenau
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
| | - Ludger Ständker
- Core Facility for Functional Peptidomics, Faculty of Medicine, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
| | - Carolina Firacative
- Studies in Translational Microbiology and Emerging Diseases (MICROS) Research Group, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universidad del Rosario, Bogota, Colombia
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14
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Tsai CT, Lin CW, Ye GL, Wu SC, Yao P, Lin CT, Wan L, Tsai HHG. Accelerating Antimicrobial Peptide Discovery for WHO Priority Pathogens through Predictive and Interpretable Machine Learning Models. ACS OMEGA 2024; 9:9357-9374. [PMID: 38434814 PMCID: PMC10905719 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.3c08676] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2023] [Revised: 12/19/2023] [Accepted: 01/19/2024] [Indexed: 03/05/2024]
Abstract
The escalating menace of multidrug-resistant (MDR) pathogens necessitates a paradigm shift from conventional antibiotics to innovative alternatives. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) emerge as a compelling contender in this arena. Employing in silico methodologies, we can usher in a new era of AMP discovery, streamlining the identification process from vast candidate sequences, thereby optimizing laboratory screening expenditures. Here, we unveil cutting-edge machine learning (ML) models that are both predictive and interpretable, tailored for the identification of potent AMPs targeting World Health Organization's (WHO) high-priority pathogens. Furthermore, we have developed ML models that consider the hemolysis of human erythrocytes, emphasizing their therapeutic potential. Anchored in the nuanced physical-chemical attributes gleaned from the three-dimensional (3D) helical conformations of AMPs, our optimized models have demonstrated commendable performance-boasting an accuracy exceeding 75% when evaluated against both low-sequence-identified peptides and recently unveiled AMPs. As a testament to their efficacy, we deployed these models to prioritize peptide sequences stemming from PEM-2 and subsequently probed the bioactivity of our algorithm-predicted peptides vis-à-vis WHO's priority pathogens. Intriguingly, several of these new AMPs outperformed the native PEM-2 in their antimicrobial prowess, thereby underscoring the robustness of our modeling approach. To elucidate ML model outcomes, we probe via Shapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) values, uncovering intricate mechanisms guiding diverse actions against bacteria. Our state-of-the-art predictive models expedite the design of new AMPs, offering a robust countermeasure to antibiotic resistance. Our prediction tool is available to the public at https://ai-meta.chem.ncu.edu.tw/amp-meta.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cheng-Ting Tsai
- Department
of Chemistry, National Central University, No. 300, Zhongda Road, Zhongli District, Taoyuan 32001, Taiwan
| | - Chia-Wei Lin
- Department
of Chemistry, National Central University, No. 300, Zhongda Road, Zhongli District, Taoyuan 32001, Taiwan
| | - Gen-Lin Ye
- Department
of Chemistry, National Central University, No. 300, Zhongda Road, Zhongli District, Taoyuan 32001, Taiwan
| | - Shao-Chi Wu
- Department
of Chemistry, National Central University, No. 300, Zhongda Road, Zhongli District, Taoyuan 32001, Taiwan
| | - Philip Yao
- Aurora
High School, 109 W Pioneer Trail, Aurora, Ohio 44202, United States
| | - Ching-Ting Lin
- School
of Chinese Medicine, China Medical University, No. 91 Hsueh-Shih Road, Taichung 40402, Taiwan
| | - Lei Wan
- School
of Chinese Medicine, China Medical University, No. 91 Hsueh-Shih Road, Taichung 40402, Taiwan
| | - Hui-Hsu Gavin Tsai
- Department
of Chemistry, National Central University, No. 300, Zhongda Road, Zhongli District, Taoyuan 32001, Taiwan
- Research
Center of New Generation Light Driven Photovoltaic Modules, National Central University, Taoyuan 32001, Taiwan
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15
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Wang L, Li H, Chen J, Wang Y, Gu Y, Jiu M. Antibacterial Mechanisms and Antivirulence Activities of Oridonin against Pathogenic Aeromonas hydrophila AS 1.1801. Microorganisms 2024; 12:415. [PMID: 38399819 PMCID: PMC10891661 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms12020415] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2024] [Revised: 02/08/2024] [Accepted: 02/15/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Aeromonas hydrophila, a Gram-negative bacterium widely found in freshwater environments, acts as a common conditional pathogen affecting humans, livestock, and aquatic animals. In this study, the impact of oridonin, an ent-kaurane diterpenoid compound derived from Rabdosia rubescens, on the virulence factors of A. hydrophila AS 1.1801 and its antibacterial mechanism was elucidated. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of oridonin against A. hydrophila AS 1.1801 was 100 μg/mL. Oridonin at inhibitory concentrations could significantly increase the electrical conductivity in the supernatant and escalate nucleic acid leakage (p < 0.01). This effect was concomitant with observed distortions in bacterial cells, the formation of cytoplasmic cavities, cellular damage, and pronounced inhibition of protein and nucleic acid synthesis. Additionally, oridonin at inhibitory levels exhibited a noteworthy suppressive impact on A. hydrophila AS 1.1801 across biofilm formation, motility, hemolytic activity, lipase activity, and protease activity (p < 0.05), demonstrating a dose-dependent enhancement. qRT-PCR analysis showed that the gene expression of luxR, qseB and omp were significantly downregulated after oridonin treatment in A. hydrophila AS 1.1801 (p < 0.05). Our results indicated that oridonin possessed significant antibacterial and anti-virulence effects on A. hydrophila AS 1.1801.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lunji Wang
- Key Laboratory of Microbial Resources Development and Utilization, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang 471023, China; (L.W.); (J.C.)
- College of Food and Bioengineering, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang 471023, China; (H.L.); (Y.W.); (Y.G.)
| | - Huijuan Li
- College of Food and Bioengineering, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang 471023, China; (H.L.); (Y.W.); (Y.G.)
| | - Jinhao Chen
- Key Laboratory of Microbial Resources Development and Utilization, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang 471023, China; (L.W.); (J.C.)
| | - Yi Wang
- College of Food and Bioengineering, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang 471023, China; (H.L.); (Y.W.); (Y.G.)
| | - Yuqing Gu
- College of Food and Bioengineering, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang 471023, China; (H.L.); (Y.W.); (Y.G.)
| | - Min Jiu
- Key Laboratory of Microbial Resources Development and Utilization, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang 471023, China; (L.W.); (J.C.)
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16
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Li J, Monje-Galvan V. Effect of Glycone Diversity on the Interaction of Triterpenoid Saponins and Lipid Bilayers. ACS APPLIED BIO MATERIALS 2024; 7:553-563. [PMID: 36854194 DOI: 10.1021/acsabm.2c00928] [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] [Indexed: 03/02/2023]
Abstract
Triterpenoid saponins are organic compounds widely available in the plant kingdom. These molecules have received extensive attention due to their antibacterial activity against both Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria. Recent studies identified the antibacterial activity of saponins closely relates to their interaction with bacterial membrane lipids; however, molecular details of this interaction remain unclear. Increased understanding of the mechanisms to disrupt bacterial lipid bilayers can help to mitigate development of antibiotic resistance. Here, we examined the effect of chemical structure and deprotonation states of saponin on its interaction with a bacterial membrane model using molecular dynamics simulations. We run multiple simulations with a ternary lipid mixture of POPE/POPG/DPPG (80/15/5 mol %) and different saponin molecules. While all saponin structures can permanently bind the membrane, their location and orientation inside the bilayer depend on the sugar chains attached to their backbone. Similarly, cluster formation and stability also depend on the chemical structure of the saponin molecule. Deprotonation site affects interactions with the bilayer by modulating hydrophilicity of the molecules. At the low concentrations simulated in this work, there is no statistically significant change in the membrane properties upon saponin(s) binding, but the molecules do preferentially partition to POPE lipid environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinhui Li
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, State University of New York (SUNY) at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York 14260, United States
| | - Viviana Monje-Galvan
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, State University of New York (SUNY) at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York 14260, United States
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17
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Gasanov V, Vorotelyak E, Vasiliev A. Expression of the Antimicrobial Peptide SE-33-A2P, a Modified Analog of Cathelicidin, and an Analysis of Its Properties. Antibiotics (Basel) 2024; 13:190. [PMID: 38391576 PMCID: PMC10886013 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics13020190] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2023] [Revised: 02/03/2024] [Accepted: 02/06/2024] [Indexed: 02/24/2024] Open
Abstract
In this study, we developed a method for the expression of the antimicrobial peptide SE-33-A2P in E. coli bacterial cells. The SE-33-A2P peptide consists of A2P and SE-33 peptides and is a retro analog of cathelicidin possessing antimicrobial activity against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. Furthermore, the A2P peptide is a self-cleaving peptide. For an efficient expression of the SE-33-A2P peptide, a gene encoding several repetitive sequences of the SE-33 peptide separated by A2P sequences was created. The gene was cloned into a plasmid, with which E. coli cells were transformed. An induction of the product expression was carried out by IPTG after the cell culture gained high density. The inducible expression product, due to the properties of the A2P peptide, was cleaved in the cell into SE-33-A2P peptides. As the next step, the SE-33-A2P peptide was purified using filtration and chromatography. Its activity against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, including antibiotic-resistant bacteria, was proved. The developed approach for obtaining a prokaryotic system for the expression of a highly active antimicrobial peptide expands the opportunities for producing antimicrobial peptides via industrial methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vagif Gasanov
- Laboratory of Cell Biology, N.K. Koltzov Institute of Developmental Biology of Russian Academy of Sciences, Vavilov Str. 26, 119334 Moscow, Russia
| | - Ekaterina Vorotelyak
- Laboratory of Cell Biology, N.K. Koltzov Institute of Developmental Biology of Russian Academy of Sciences, Vavilov Str. 26, 119334 Moscow, Russia
| | - Andrey Vasiliev
- Laboratory of Cell Biology, N.K. Koltzov Institute of Developmental Biology of Russian Academy of Sciences, Vavilov Str. 26, 119334 Moscow, Russia
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18
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Alpízar-Pedraza D, Roque-Diaz Y, Garay-Pérez H, Rosenau F, Ständker L, Montero-Alejo V. Insights into the Adsorption Mechanisms of the Antimicrobial Peptide CIDEM-501 on Membrane Models. Antibiotics (Basel) 2024; 13:167. [PMID: 38391553 PMCID: PMC10886324 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics13020167] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2023] [Revised: 02/02/2024] [Accepted: 02/05/2024] [Indexed: 02/24/2024] Open
Abstract
CIDEM-501 is a hybrid antimicrobial peptide rationally designed based on the structure of panusin and panulirin template peptides. The new peptide exhibits significant antibacterial activity against multidrug-resistant pathogens (MIC = 2-4 μM) while conserving no toxicity in human cell lines. We conducted molecular dynamics (MD) simulations using the CHARMM-36 force field to explore the CIDEM-501 adsorption mechanism with different membrane compositions. Several parameters that characterize these interactions were analyzed to elucidate individual residues' structural and thermodynamic contributions. The membrane models were constructed using CHARMM-GUI, mimicking the bacterial and eukaryotic phospholipid compositions. Molecular dynamics simulations were conducted over 500 ns, showing rapid and highly stable peptide adsorption to bacterial lipids components rather than the zwitterionic eucaryotic model membrane. A predominant peptide orientation was observed in all models dominated by an electric dipole. The peptide remained parallel to the membrane surface with the center loop oriented to the lipids. Our findings shed light on the antibacterial activity of CIDEM-501 on bacterial membranes and yield insights valuable for designing potent antimicrobial peptides targeting multi- and extreme drug-resistant bacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Alpízar-Pedraza
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Department, Center for Pharmaceutical Research and Development, Ave. 26 # 1605, Nuevo Vedado, Ciudad de La Habana 10400, Cuba
| | - Yessica Roque-Diaz
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Department, Center for Pharmaceutical Research and Development, Ave. 26 # 1605, Nuevo Vedado, Ciudad de La Habana 10400, Cuba
- Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, Polytechnic University of Marche, Via Brecce Bianche, 12, 60131 Ancona, Italy
| | - Hilda Garay-Pérez
- Peptide Synthesis Group, Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Ave. 31 e/158 y 190, Playa, Habana 11600, Cuba
| | - Frank Rosenau
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Ulm University, Albert-Einstein-Allee 11, 89081 Ulm, Germany
| | - Ludger Ständker
- Core Facility for Functional Peptidomics, Ulm Peptide Pharmaceuticals (U-PEP), Faculty of Medicine, Ulm University, 89081 Ulm, Germany
| | - Vivian Montero-Alejo
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Department, Center for Pharmaceutical Research and Development, Ave. 26 # 1605, Nuevo Vedado, Ciudad de La Habana 10400, Cuba
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19
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Mildenberger V, Alpízar-Pedraza D, Martell-Huguet EM, Krämer M, Bolotnikov G, Otero-Gonzalez AJ, Weil T, Rodriguez-Alfonso A, Preising N, Ständker L, Vogel V, Spellerberg B, Kissmann AK, Rosenau F. The Designed Pore-Forming Antimicrobial Peptide C14R Combines Excellent Activity against the Major Opportunistic Human Pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa with Low Cytotoxicity. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2024; 17:83. [PMID: 38256916 PMCID: PMC10820675 DOI: 10.3390/ph17010083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2023] [Revised: 12/21/2023] [Accepted: 01/05/2024] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
The diminishing portfolio of mankind's available antibiotics urges science to develop novel potent drugs. Here, we present a peptide fitting the typical blueprint of amphipathic and membrane-active antimicrobial peptides, denominated C14R. This 2 kDa peptide consists of 16 amino acid residues, with seven being either hydrophobic, aromatic, or non-polar, and nine being polar or positively charged, strictly separated on opposite sides of the predicted α-helix. The affinity of the peptide C14R to P. aeruginosa membranes and its intrinsic tendency to productively insert into membranes of such composition were analyzed by dynamic simulations. Its biological impact on the viability of two different P. aeruginosa reference strains was demonstrated by determining the minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs), which were found to be in the range of 10-15 µg/mL. C14R's pore-forming capability was verified in a permeabilization assay based on the peptide-triggered uptake of fluorescent dyes into the bacterial cells. Finally, the peptide was used in radial diffusion assays, which are commonly used for susceptibility testing of antimicrobial peptides in clinical microbiology. In comparison to reference strains, six clinical P. aeruginosa isolates were clearly affected, thereby paving the way for further in-depth analyses of C14R as a promising new AMP drug in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vanessa Mildenberger
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Ulm University, Albert-Einstein-Allee 11, 89081 Ulm, Germany; (V.M.); (M.K.); (G.B.)
| | - Daniel Alpízar-Pedraza
- Center for Pharmaceutical Research and Development (CIDEM), 26th Avenue, No. 1605, Nuevo Vedado, La Habana 10400, Cuba;
| | - Ernesto M. Martell-Huguet
- Center for Protein Studies, Faculty of Biology, University of Havana, 25 and I, La Habana 10400, Cuba; (E.M.M.-H.); (A.J.O.-G.)
| | - Markus Krämer
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Ulm University, Albert-Einstein-Allee 11, 89081 Ulm, Germany; (V.M.); (M.K.); (G.B.)
| | - Grigory Bolotnikov
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Ulm University, Albert-Einstein-Allee 11, 89081 Ulm, Germany; (V.M.); (M.K.); (G.B.)
| | - Anselmo J. Otero-Gonzalez
- Center for Protein Studies, Faculty of Biology, University of Havana, 25 and I, La Habana 10400, Cuba; (E.M.M.-H.); (A.J.O.-G.)
| | - Tanja Weil
- Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research Mainz, Ackermannweg 10, 55128 Mainz, Germany;
| | - Armando Rodriguez-Alfonso
- Core Facility for Functional Peptidomics (CFP), Faculty of Medicine, Ulm University, 89081 Ulm, Germany; (A.R.-A.); (N.P.); (L.S.)
- Core Unit of Mass Spectrometry and Proteomics, Faculty of Medicine, Ulm University, 89081 Ulm, Germany
| | - Nico Preising
- Core Facility for Functional Peptidomics (CFP), Faculty of Medicine, Ulm University, 89081 Ulm, Germany; (A.R.-A.); (N.P.); (L.S.)
| | - Ludger Ständker
- Core Facility for Functional Peptidomics (CFP), Faculty of Medicine, Ulm University, 89081 Ulm, Germany; (A.R.-A.); (N.P.); (L.S.)
| | - Verena Vogel
- Institute of Medical Microbiology and Hygiene, University Clinic of Ulm, TBC1 Forschung, Albert-Einstein-Allee 11, 89081 Ulm, Germany (B.S.)
| | - Barbara Spellerberg
- Institute of Medical Microbiology and Hygiene, University Clinic of Ulm, TBC1 Forschung, Albert-Einstein-Allee 11, 89081 Ulm, Germany (B.S.)
| | - Ann-Kathrin Kissmann
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Ulm University, Albert-Einstein-Allee 11, 89081 Ulm, Germany; (V.M.); (M.K.); (G.B.)
- Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research Mainz, Ackermannweg 10, 55128 Mainz, Germany;
| | - Frank Rosenau
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Ulm University, Albert-Einstein-Allee 11, 89081 Ulm, Germany; (V.M.); (M.K.); (G.B.)
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20
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Liu H, Shen W, Liu W, Yang Z, Yin D, Xiao C. From oncolytic peptides to oncolytic polymers: A new paradigm for oncotherapy. Bioact Mater 2024; 31:206-230. [PMID: 37637082 PMCID: PMC10450358 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioactmat.2023.08.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2023] [Revised: 07/18/2023] [Accepted: 08/08/2023] [Indexed: 08/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Traditional cancer therapy methods, especially those directed against specific intracellular targets or signaling pathways, are not powerful enough to overcome tumor heterogeneity and therapeutic resistance. Oncolytic peptides that can induce membrane lysis-mediated cancer cell death and subsequent anticancer immune responses, has provided a new paradigm for cancer therapy. However, the clinical application of oncolytic peptides is always limited by some factors such as unsatisfactory bio-distribution, poor stability, and off-target toxicity. To overcome these limitations, oncolytic polymers stand out as prospective therapeutic materials owing to their high stability, chemical versatility, and scalable production capacity, which has the potential to drive a revolution in cancer treatment. This review provides an overview of the mechanism and structure-activity relationship of oncolytic peptides. Then the oncolytic peptides-mediated combination therapy and the nano-delivery strategies for oncolytic peptides are summarized. Emphatically, the current research progress of oncolytic polymers has been highlighted. Lastly, the challenges and prospects in the development of oncolytic polymers are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanmeng Liu
- School of Pharmacy, Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei, 230012, China
| | - Wei Shen
- School of Pharmacy, Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei, 230012, China
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Preparation Technology and Application, Hefei, Anhui, 230012, China
- Engineering Technology Research Center of Modernized Pharmaceutics, Anhui Education Department (AUCM), Hefei, Anhui, 230012, China
| | - Wanguo Liu
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, China-Japan Union Hospital, Jilin University, Changchun, 130033, China
| | - Zexin Yang
- School of Pharmacy, Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei, 230012, China
| | - Dengke Yin
- School of Pharmacy, Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei, 230012, China
- Engineering Technology Research Center of Modernized Pharmaceutics, Anhui Education Department (AUCM), Hefei, Anhui, 230012, China
| | - Chunsheng Xiao
- Key Laboratory of Polymer Ecomaterials, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun, 130022, China
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21
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Liao G, Wang S, Wang Z, Zhang C, Li Z, Yang H, Zhou A, Xie S, Fan L, Wang M, Zou J, Zeng F. Characterization, Expression, and Functional Analysis of the Northern Snakehead (Channa argus) Hepcidin. Probiotics Antimicrob Proteins 2023:10.1007/s12602-023-10195-y. [PMID: 38048025 DOI: 10.1007/s12602-023-10195-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/27/2023] [Indexed: 12/05/2023]
Abstract
Hepcidin, an antimicrobial peptide (AMP), is a well-conserved molecule present in various species such as fish, amphibians, birds, reptiles, and mammals. It exhibits broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity and holds a significant role in the innate immune system of host organisms. The northern snakehead (Channa argus) has become a valuable freshwater fish in China and Asia. In this investigation, the cDNA encoding the hepcidin gene of northern snakehead was cloned and named caHep. The amino acid sequences and protein structure of caHep are similar to those of hepcidins from other fish. The eukaryotic expression product of the caHep gene showed broad-spectrum antibacterial activity. Scanning electron microscope analysis indicated that the caHep peptide inhibited bacterial growth by damaging their cell membranes. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) injection induced significant expression of caHep, implying the involvement of caHep in the innate immune response of northern snakeheads. This investigation showed that the caHep peptide is potentially a robust antibacterial drug against bacterial diseases in aquaculture animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guowei Liao
- University Joint Laboratory of Guangdong Province, Hong Kong and Macao Region on Marine Bioresource Conservation and Exploitation, College of Marine Sciences, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China
| | - Shulan Wang
- University Joint Laboratory of Guangdong Province, Hong Kong and Macao Region on Marine Bioresource Conservation and Exploitation, College of Marine Sciences, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China
| | - Zimo Wang
- University Joint Laboratory of Guangdong Province, Hong Kong and Macao Region on Marine Bioresource Conservation and Exploitation, College of Marine Sciences, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China
| | - Chaonan Zhang
- University Joint Laboratory of Guangdong Province, Hong Kong and Macao Region on Marine Bioresource Conservation and Exploitation, College of Marine Sciences, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China
| | - Zicong Li
- Department of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China
| | - Huirong Yang
- University Joint Laboratory of Guangdong Province, Hong Kong and Macao Region on Marine Bioresource Conservation and Exploitation, College of Marine Sciences, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China
- Zhongshan Innovation Center of South China Agricultural University, Zhongshan, 528400, China
| | - Aiguo Zhou
- University Joint Laboratory of Guangdong Province, Hong Kong and Macao Region on Marine Bioresource Conservation and Exploitation, College of Marine Sciences, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China
| | - Shaolin Xie
- University Joint Laboratory of Guangdong Province, Hong Kong and Macao Region on Marine Bioresource Conservation and Exploitation, College of Marine Sciences, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China
| | - Lanfen Fan
- University Joint Laboratory of Guangdong Province, Hong Kong and Macao Region on Marine Bioresource Conservation and Exploitation, College of Marine Sciences, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China
| | - Meifang Wang
- University Joint Laboratory of Guangdong Province, Hong Kong and Macao Region on Marine Bioresource Conservation and Exploitation, College of Marine Sciences, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China
| | - Jixing Zou
- University Joint Laboratory of Guangdong Province, Hong Kong and Macao Region on Marine Bioresource Conservation and Exploitation, College of Marine Sciences, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China.
| | - Fang Zeng
- University Joint Laboratory of Guangdong Province, Hong Kong and Macao Region on Marine Bioresource Conservation and Exploitation, College of Marine Sciences, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China.
- Zhongshan Innovation Center of South China Agricultural University, Zhongshan, 528400, China.
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22
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Freitas CG, Felipe MS. Candida albicans and Antifungal Peptides. Infect Dis Ther 2023; 12:2631-2648. [PMID: 37940816 PMCID: PMC10746669 DOI: 10.1007/s40121-023-00889-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2023] [Accepted: 10/23/2023] [Indexed: 11/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Candida albicans, a ubiquitous opportunistic fungal pathogen, plays a pivotal role in human health and disease. As a commensal organism, it normally resides harmlessly within the human microbiota. However, under certain conditions, C. albicans can transition into a pathogenic state, leading to various infections collectively known as candidiasis. With the increasing prevalence of immunocompromised individuals and the widespread use of invasive medical procedures, candidiasis has become a significant public health concern. The emergence of drug-resistant strains further complicates treatment options, highlighting the urgent need for alternative therapeutic strategies. Antifungal peptides (AFPs) have gained considerable attention as potential candidates for combating Candida spp. infections. These naturally occurring peptides possess broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity, including specific efficacy against C. albicans. AFPs exhibit several advantageous properties, such as rapid killing kinetics, low propensity for resistance development, and diverse mechanisms of action, making them promising alternatives to conventional antifungal agents. In recent years, extensive research has focused on discovering and developing novel AFPs with improved efficacy and selectivity against Candida species. Advances in biotechnology and synthetic peptide design have enabled the modification and optimization of natural peptides, enhancing their stability, bioavailability, and therapeutic potential. Nevertheless, several challenges must be addressed before AFPs can be widely implemented in clinical practice. These include optimizing peptide stability, enhancing delivery methods, overcoming potential toxicity concerns, and conducting comprehensive preclinical and clinical studies. This commentary presents a short overview of candidemia and AFP; articles and reviews published in the last 10 years were searched on The National Library of Medicine (National Center for Biotechnology Information-NIH-PubMed). The terms used were C. albicans infections, antimicrobial peptides, antifungal peptides, antifungal peptides mechanisms of action, candidemia treatments and guidelines, synthetic peptides and their challenges, and antimicrobial peptides in clinical trials as the main ones. Older publications were cited if they brought some relevant concept or helped to bring a perspective into our narrative. Articles older than 20 years and those that appeared in PubMed but did not match our goal to bring updated information about using antifungal peptides as an alternative to C. albicans infections were not considered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camila G Freitas
- Higher Education Course in Food Technology, Instituto Federal de Brasília (IFB), Brasília, DF, Brazil
- Genomic Sciences and Biotechnology Graduate Program, Universidade Católica de Brasília (UCB), Brasília, DF, Brazil
| | - Maria Sueli Felipe
- Genomic Sciences and Biotechnology Graduate Program, Universidade Católica de Brasília (UCB), Brasília, DF, Brazil.
- Universidade de Brasília (UNB), Brasília, DF, Brazil.
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23
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Frigini EN, Porasso RD, Beke-Somfai T, López Cascales JJ, Enriz RD, Pantano S. The Mechanism of Antimicrobial Small-Cationic Peptides from Coarse-Grained Simulations. J Chem Inf Model 2023; 63:6877-6889. [PMID: 37905818 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jcim.3c01348] [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: 11/02/2023]
Abstract
Antimicrobial cationic peptides (AMPs) are excellent candidates for use as therapeutic antimicrobial agents. Among them, short peptides possessing sequences of 9-11 amino acids have some advantages over long-sequence peptides. However, one of the main limitations of short peptides is that their mechanism of action at the molecular level is not well-known. In this article, we report a model based on multiscale molecular dynamics simulations of short peptides interacting with vesicles containing palmitoyl-oleoyl-phosphatidylglycerol (POPG)/palmitoyl-oleoyl-phosphatidylethanolamine (POPE). Simulations using this approach have allowed us to understand the different behaviors of peptides with antimicrobial activity with respect to those that do not produce this effect. We found remarkable agreement with a series of experimental results directly supporting our model. Moreover, these results allow us to understand the mechanism of action at the molecular level of these short peptides. Our simulations suggest that mechanical inhomogeneities appear in the membrane, promoting membrane rupture when a threshold concentration of peptides adsorbed on the membrane is achieved. These results explain the high structural demand for these peptides to maintain a delicate balance between the affinity for the bilayer surface, a low peptide-peptide repulsion (in order to reach the threshold concentration), and an acceptable tendency to penetrate into the bilayer. This mechanism is different from those proposed for peptides with long amino acid sequences. Such information is very useful from the medicinal chemistry point of view for the design of new small antimicrobial peptides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ezequiel N Frigini
- Facultad de Química, Bioquímica y Farmacia, Instituto Multidisciplinario de Investigaciones Biológicas (IMIBIO-SL), Universidad Nacional de San Luis, Ejército de los Andes 950, San Luis 5700, Argentina
- Biomolecular Simulations Group, Institut Pasteur de Montevideo, Mataojo 2020, Montevideo 11400, Uruguay
| | - Rodolfo D Porasso
- Instituto de Matemáticas Aplicada San Luis (IMASL), CONICET, Facultad de Ciencias Físico Matemáticas y Naturales, Universidad Nacional de San Luis, Av. Ejército de los Andes 950, San Luis 5700, Argentina
| | - Tamás Beke-Somfai
- Research Centre for Natural Sciences, Institute of Materials and Environmental Chemistry, H-1117 Budapest, Hungary
| | - José Javier López Cascales
- Universidad Politécnica de Cartagena, Grupo de Bioinformática y Macromoleculas (BioMac), Area de Química Física, Aulario II, Campus de Alfonso XIII, 30203 Cartagena, Murcia, Spain
| | - Ricardo D Enriz
- Facultad de Química, Bioquímica y Farmacia, Instituto Multidisciplinario de Investigaciones Biológicas (IMIBIO-SL), Universidad Nacional de San Luis, Ejército de los Andes 950, San Luis 5700, Argentina
| | - Sergio Pantano
- Biomolecular Simulations Group, Institut Pasteur de Montevideo, Mataojo 2020, Montevideo 11400, Uruguay
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24
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Jha B, Singh S. Investigating antimicrobial peptide RI12 (K3W) as an effective bio-preservative against Listeria monocytogenes: a major foodborne pathogen. Arch Microbiol 2023; 205:367. [PMID: 37917273 DOI: 10.1007/s00203-023-03707-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2023] [Revised: 10/01/2023] [Accepted: 10/12/2023] [Indexed: 11/04/2023]
Abstract
Due to public apprehension regarding the use of chemical preservatives to prevent food spoilage and food-borne diseases, it is imperative to identify natural alternatives such as antimicrobial peptides as a potential solution. The study aimed at evaluating the effectiveness of the antimicrobial peptide RI12 (K3W) against Listeria monocytogenes. RI12 (K3W) exhibited potent antimicrobial properties, with a minimum inhibitory concentration and minimum bactericidal concentration of 16 µM and 32 µM, respectively. The time-kill assay revealed a consistent reduction in bacterial viability at 8, 16, and 24 h of study. Cytotoxicity testing on mammalian cells demonstrated no apparent change in morphology or cell count. Investigating how well it worked in a food matrix to replicate real-world conditions showed a significant decrease in the bacterial count. The study underscores the potential of RI12 (K3W) as a safe and effective antimicrobial against L. monocytogenes that might also serve as an alternative to chemical preservatives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bhavna Jha
- College of Animal Biotechnology, Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Ludhiana, India
| | - Satparkash Singh
- College of Animal Biotechnology, Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Ludhiana, India.
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25
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Dennison SR, Morton LH, Badiani K, Harris F, Phoenix DA. Bacterial susceptibility and resistance to modelin-5. SOFT MATTER 2023; 19:8247-8263. [PMID: 37869970 DOI: 10.1039/d3sm01007d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2023]
Abstract
Modelin-5 (M5-NH2) killed Pseudomonas aeruginosa with a minimum lethal concentration (MLC) of 5.86 μM and strongly bound its cytoplasmic membrane (CM) with a Kd of 23.5 μM. The peptide adopted high levels of amphiphilic α-helical structure (75.0%) and penetrated the CM hydrophobic core (8.0 mN m-1). This insertion destabilised CM structure via increased lipid packing and decreased fluidity (ΔGmix < 0), which promoted high levels of lysis (84.1%) and P. aeruginosa cell death. M5-NH2 showed a very strong affinity (Kd = 3.5 μM) and very high levels of amphiphilic α-helical structure with cardiolipin membranes (96.0%,) which primarily drove the peptide's membranolytic action against P. aeruginosa. In contrast, M5-NH2 killed Staphylococcus aureus with an MLC of 147.6 μM and weakly bound its CM with a Kd of 117.6 μM, The peptide adopted low levels of amphiphilic α-helical structure (35.0%) and only penetrated the upper regions of the CM (3.3 mN m-1). This insertion stabilised CM structure via decreased lipid packing and increased fluidity (ΔGmix > 0) and promoted only low levels of lysis (24.3%). The insertion and lysis of the S. aureus CM by M5-NH2 showed a strong negative correlation with its lysyl phosphatidylglycerol (Lys-PG) content (R2 > 0.98). In combination, these data suggested that Lys-PG mediated mechanisms inhibited the membranolytic action of M5-NH2 against S. aureus, thereby rendering the organism resistant to the peptide. These results are discussed in relation to structure/function relationships of M5-NH2 and CM lipids that underpin bacterial susceptibility and resistance to the peptide.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah R Dennison
- School of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, University of Central Lancashire, Preston PR1 2HE, UK.
| | - Leslie Hg Morton
- School of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, University of Central Lancashire, Preston PR1 2HE, UK.
| | - Kamal Badiani
- Pepceuticals Limited, 4 Feldspar Close, Warrens Park, Enderby, Leicestershire, LE19 4JS, UK
| | - Frederick Harris
- School of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, University of Central Lancashire, Preston PR1 2HE, UK.
| | - David A Phoenix
- Office of the Vice Chancellor, London South Bank University, 103 Borough Road, London SE1 0AA, UK
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26
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Li R, Hao P, Yin K, Xu Q, Ren S, Zhao Y, Zhang L, Zhang B. Activities of a broad-spectrum antimicrobial peptide analogue SAMP-A4-C8 and its combat against pneumonia in Staphylococcus aureus-infected mice. J Pept Sci 2023; 29:e3497. [PMID: 37088557 DOI: 10.1002/psc.3497] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2023] [Revised: 03/25/2023] [Accepted: 04/19/2023] [Indexed: 04/25/2023]
Abstract
Antimicrobial peptides and their analogues have become substitutes for antibiotics in recent years. The antimicrobial peptide analogue SAMP-A4-C8 (n-octanoic-VRLLRRRI) with high antimicrobial activity was found in our lab. We speculate that it may kill pathogens by some lethal mechanism of action. In the present investigation, the microbicidal activities of SAMP-A4-C8 and its mechanism of action were investigated. The results demonstrated that SAMP-A4-C8 had lethal activities against Staphylococcus aureus and Candida albicans by cell disruption. Based on its microbicidal activities, we believe that it is worth further research for its potential as drug candidate. The results showed that SAMP-A4-C8, with low propensity to induce the resistance of S. aureus and C. albicans, could kill the persister cells of S. aureus and C. albicans, exhibited biofilm forming inhibition activity and preformed biofilm eradication ability against S. aureus and C. albicans, and displayed therapeutic potential on pneumonia in S. aureus-infected mice by reducing lung inflammation. The present study provided a promising drug candidate in the war against multidrug resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruifang Li
- College of Biological Engineering, Henan University of Technology, Zhengzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Functional Molecules for Biomedical Research, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Pu Hao
- College of Biological Engineering, Henan University of Technology, Zhengzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Functional Molecules for Biomedical Research, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Kedong Yin
- College of Information Science and Engineering, Henan University of Technology, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Qingpeng Xu
- College of Information Science and Engineering, Henan University of Technology, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Shiming Ren
- College of Biological Engineering, Henan University of Technology, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Yingyuan Zhao
- College of Biological Engineering, Henan University of Technology, Zhengzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Functional Molecules for Biomedical Research, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Lan Zhang
- College of Biological Engineering, Henan University of Technology, Zhengzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Functional Molecules for Biomedical Research, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Beibei Zhang
- College of Biological Engineering, Henan University of Technology, Zhengzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Functional Molecules for Biomedical Research, Zhengzhou, China
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27
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Li H, Niu J, Wang X, Niu M, Liao C. The Contribution of Antimicrobial Peptides to Immune Cell Function: A Review of Recent Advances. Pharmaceutics 2023; 15:2278. [PMID: 37765247 PMCID: PMC10535326 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics15092278] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2023] [Revised: 08/27/2023] [Accepted: 09/02/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The development of novel antimicrobial agents to replace antibiotics has become urgent due to the emergence of multidrug-resistant microorganisms. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), widely distributed in all kingdoms of life, present strong antimicrobial activity against a variety of bacteria, fungi, parasites, and viruses. The potential of AMPs as new alternatives to antibiotics has gradually attracted considerable interest. In addition, AMPs exhibit strong anticancer potential as well as anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory activity. Many studies have provided evidence that AMPs can recruit and activate immune cells, controlling inflammation. This review highlights the scientific literature focusing on evidence for the anti-inflammatory mechanisms of different AMPs in immune cells, including macrophages, monocytes, lymphocytes, mast cells, dendritic cells, neutrophils, and eosinophils. A variety of immunomodulatory characteristics, including the abilities to activate and differentiate immune cells, change the content and expression of inflammatory mediators, and regulate specific cellular functions and inflammation-related signaling pathways, are summarized and discussed in detail. This comprehensive review contributes to a better understanding of the role of AMPs in the regulation of the immune system and provides a reference for the use of AMPs as novel anti-inflammatory drugs for the treatment of various inflammatory diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanxiao Li
- Luoyang Key Laboratory of Live Carrier Biomaterial and Anmal Disease Prevention and Control, College of Animal Science and Technology, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang 471023, China; (H.L.); (J.N.)
| | - Junhui Niu
- Luoyang Key Laboratory of Live Carrier Biomaterial and Anmal Disease Prevention and Control, College of Animal Science and Technology, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang 471023, China; (H.L.); (J.N.)
| | - Xiaoli Wang
- College of Basic Medicine and Forensic Medicine, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang 471023, China;
| | - Mingfu Niu
- College of Food and Bioengineering, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang 471023, China;
| | - Chengshui Liao
- Luoyang Key Laboratory of Live Carrier Biomaterial and Anmal Disease Prevention and Control, College of Animal Science and Technology, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang 471023, China; (H.L.); (J.N.)
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28
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Shao H, Zhou J, Lin X, Zhou Y, Xue Y, Hong W, Lin X, Jia X, Fan Y. Bio-inspired peptide-conjugated liposomes for enhanced planktonic bacteria killing and biofilm eradication. Biomaterials 2023; 300:122183. [PMID: 37302278 DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2023.122183] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2023] [Revised: 05/15/2023] [Accepted: 05/29/2023] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Developing new antimicrobial agents has become an urgent task to address the increasing prevalence of multidrug-resistant pathogens and the emergence of biofilms. Cationic antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) have been regarded as promising candidates due to their unique non-specific membrane rupture mechanism. However, a series of problems with the peptides hindered their practical application due to their high toxicity and low bioactivity and stability. Here, inspired by broadening the application of cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs), we selected five different sequences of cationic peptides which are considered as both CPPs and AMPs, and developed a biomimetic strategy to construct cationic peptide-conjugated liposomes with the virus-like structure for both enhancements of antibacterial efficacy and biosafety. The correlation between available peptide density/peptide variety and antimicrobial capabilities was evaluated from quantitative perspectives. Computational simulation and experimental investigations assisted to identify the optimal peptide-conjugated liposomes and revealed that the designed system provides high charge density for enhanced anionic bacterial membrane binding capability without compromised cytotoxicity, being capable of enhanced antibacterial efficacy of bacteria/biofilm of clinically important pathogens. The bio-inspired design has shown enhanced therapeutic efficiency of peptides and may promote the development of next-generation antimicrobials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Shao
- Key Laboratory for Biomechanics and Mechanobiology of Ministry of Education, Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Biomedical Engineering, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, And with the School of Engineering Medicine, Beihang University, Beijing, 100083, China
| | - Jin Zhou
- Key Laboratory for Biomechanics and Mechanobiology of Ministry of Education, Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Biomedical Engineering, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, And with the School of Engineering Medicine, Beihang University, Beijing, 100083, China.
| | - Xiaoqian Lin
- Key Laboratory for Biomechanics and Mechanobiology of Ministry of Education, Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Biomedical Engineering, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, And with the School of Engineering Medicine, Beihang University, Beijing, 100083, China
| | - Yue Zhou
- Key Laboratory for Biomechanics and Mechanobiology of Ministry of Education, Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Biomedical Engineering, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, And with the School of Engineering Medicine, Beihang University, Beijing, 100083, China
| | - Yumeng Xue
- Key Laboratory for Biomechanics and Mechanobiology of Ministry of Education, Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Biomedical Engineering, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, And with the School of Engineering Medicine, Beihang University, Beijing, 100083, China
| | - Weili Hong
- Key Laboratory for Biomechanics and Mechanobiology of Ministry of Education, Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Biomedical Engineering, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, And with the School of Engineering Medicine, Beihang University, Beijing, 100083, China
| | - Xubo Lin
- Key Laboratory for Biomechanics and Mechanobiology of Ministry of Education, Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Biomedical Engineering, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, And with the School of Engineering Medicine, Beihang University, Beijing, 100083, China
| | - Xiaoling Jia
- Key Laboratory for Biomechanics and Mechanobiology of Ministry of Education, Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Biomedical Engineering, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, And with the School of Engineering Medicine, Beihang University, Beijing, 100083, China.
| | - Yubo Fan
- Key Laboratory for Biomechanics and Mechanobiology of Ministry of Education, Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Biomedical Engineering, School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, And with the School of Engineering Medicine, Beihang University, Beijing, 100083, China.
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29
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Mhlongo JT, Waddad AY, Albericio F, de la Torre BG. Antimicrobial Peptide Synergies for Fighting Infectious Diseases. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2023; 10:e2300472. [PMID: 37407512 PMCID: PMC10502873 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202300472] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2023] [Revised: 05/28/2023] [Indexed: 07/07/2023]
Abstract
Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are essential elements of thehost defense system. Characterized by heterogenous structures and broad-spectrumaction, they are promising candidates for combating multidrug resistance. Thecombined use of AMPs with other antimicrobial agents provides a new arsenal ofdrugs with synergistic action, thereby overcoming the drawback of monotherapiesduring infections. AMPs kill microbes via pore formation, thus inhibitingintracellular functions. This mechanism of action by AMPs is an advantage overantibiotics as it hinders the development of drug resistance. The synergisticeffect of AMPs will allow the repurposing of conventional antimicrobials andenhance their clinical outcomes, reduce toxicity, and, most significantly,prevent the development of resistance. In this review, various synergies ofAMPs with antimicrobials and miscellaneous agents are discussed. The effect ofstructural diversity and chemical modification on AMP properties is firstaddressed and then different combinations that can lead to synergistic action,whether this combination is between AMPs and antimicrobials, or AMPs andmiscellaneous compounds, are attended. This review can serve as guidance whenredesigning and repurposing the use of AMPs in combination with other antimicrobialagents for enhanced clinical outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica T. Mhlongo
- KwaZulu‐Natal Research Innovation and Sequencing Platform (KRISP)School of Laboratory Medicine and Medical SciencesCollege of Health SciencesUniversity of KwaZulu‐NatalDurban4041South Africa
- Peptide Science LaboratorySchool of Chemistry and PhysicsUniversity of KwaZulu‐NatalWestvilleDurban4000South Africa
| | - Ayman Y. Waddad
- Peptide Science LaboratorySchool of Chemistry and PhysicsUniversity of KwaZulu‐NatalWestvilleDurban4000South Africa
| | - Fernando Albericio
- Peptide Science LaboratorySchool of Chemistry and PhysicsUniversity of KwaZulu‐NatalWestvilleDurban4000South Africa
- CIBER‐BBNNetworking Centre on BioengineeringBiomaterials and Nanomedicineand Department of Organic ChemistryUniversity of BarcelonaBarcelona08028Spain
| | - Beatriz G. de la Torre
- KwaZulu‐Natal Research Innovation and Sequencing Platform (KRISP)School of Laboratory Medicine and Medical SciencesCollege of Health SciencesUniversity of KwaZulu‐NatalDurban4041South Africa
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30
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Kozon-Markiewicz D, Kopiasz RJ, Głusiec M, Łukasiak A, Bednarczyk P, Jańczewski D. Membrane lytic activity of antibacterial ionenes, critical role of phosphatidylcholine (PC) and cardiolipin (CL). Colloids Surf B Biointerfaces 2023; 229:113480. [PMID: 37536168 DOI: 10.1016/j.colsurfb.2023.113480] [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: 05/25/2023] [Revised: 07/16/2023] [Accepted: 07/26/2023] [Indexed: 08/05/2023]
Abstract
Understanding the mechanism by which an antibacterial agent interacts with a model membrane provides vital information for better design of future antibiotics. In this study, we investigated two antibacterial polymers, hydrophilic C0-T-p and hydrophobic C8-T-p ionenes, known for their potent antimicrobial activity and ability to disrupt the integrity of lipid bilayers. Our hypothesize is that the composition of a lipid bilayer alters the mechanism of ionenes action, potentially providing an explanation for the observed differences in their bioactivity and selectivity. Calcein release experiments utilizing a range of liposomes to examine the impact of (i) cardiolipin (CL) to phosphatidylglycerol (PG) ratio, (ii) overall vesicle charge, and (iii) phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) to phosphatidylcholine (PC) ratio on the activity of ionenes were performed. Additionally, polymer-bilayer interactions were also investigated through vesicle fusion assay and the black lipid membrane (BLM) technique The activity of C0-T-p is strongly influenced by the amount of cardiolipin, while the activity of C8-T-p primarily depends on the overall vesicle charge. Consequently, C0-T-p acts through interactions with CL, whereas C8-T-p modifies the bulk properties of the membrane in a less-specific manner. Moreover, the presence of a small amount of PC in the membrane makes the vesicle resistant to permeabilization by tested molecules. Intriguingly, more hydrophilic C0-T-p retains higher membrane activity compared to the hydrophobic C8-T-p. However, both ionenes induce vesicle fusion and increase lipid bilayer ion permeability.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Rafał J Kopiasz
- Faculty of Chemistry, Warsaw University of Technology, Noakowskiego 3, 00-664 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Martyna Głusiec
- Faculty of Chemistry, Warsaw University of Technology, Noakowskiego 3, 00-664 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Agnieszka Łukasiak
- Department of Physics and Biophysics, Institute of Biology, Warsaw University of Life Sciences - SGGW, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Piotr Bednarczyk
- Department of Physics and Biophysics, Institute of Biology, Warsaw University of Life Sciences - SGGW, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Dominik Jańczewski
- Faculty of Chemistry, Warsaw University of Technology, Noakowskiego 3, 00-664 Warsaw, Poland.
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31
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Tate P, Mastrodomenico V, Cunha C, McClure J, Barron AE, Diamond G, Mounce BC, Kirshenbaum K. Peptidomimetic Oligomers Targeting Membrane Phosphatidylserine Exhibit Broad Antiviral Activity. ACS Infect Dis 2023; 9:1508-1522. [PMID: 37530426 PMCID: PMC10425984 DOI: 10.1021/acsinfecdis.3c00063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2023] [Indexed: 08/03/2023]
Abstract
The development of durable new antiviral therapies is challenging, as viruses can evolve rapidly to establish resistance and attenuate therapeutic efficacy. New compounds that selectively target conserved viral features are attractive therapeutic candidates, particularly for combating newly emergent viral threats. The innate immune system features a sustained capability to combat pathogens through production of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs); however, these AMPs have shortcomings that can preclude clinical use. The essential functional features of AMPs have been recapitulated by peptidomimetic oligomers, yielding effective antibacterial and antifungal agents. Here, we show that a family of AMP mimetics, called peptoids, exhibit direct antiviral activity against an array of enveloped viruses, including the key human pathogens Zika, Rift Valley fever, and chikungunya viruses. These data suggest that the activities of peptoids include engagement and disruption of viral membrane constituents. To investigate how these peptoids target lipid membranes, we used liposome leakage assays to measure membrane disruption. We found that liposomes containing phosphatidylserine (PS) were markedly sensitive to peptoid treatment; in contrast, liposomes formed exclusively with phosphatidylcholine (PC) showed no sensitivity. In addition, chikungunya virus containing elevated envelope PS was more susceptible to peptoid-mediated inactivation. These results indicate that peptoids mimicking the physicochemical characteristics of AMPs act through a membrane-specific mechanism, most likely through preferential interactions with PS. We provide the first evidence for the engagement of distinct viral envelope lipid constituents, establishing an avenue for specificity that may enable the development of a new family of therapeutics capable of averting the rapid development of resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick
M. Tate
- Department
of Chemistry, New York University, New York, New York 10003, United States
| | - Vincent Mastrodomenico
- Department
of Microbiology and Immunology, Loyola University
Chicago Medical Center, Maywood, Illinois 60130, United States
| | - Christina Cunha
- Department
of Microbiology and Immunology, Loyola University
Chicago Medical Center, Maywood, Illinois 60130, United States
| | | | - Annelise E. Barron
- Maxwell
Biosciences, Austin, Texas 78738, United States
- Department
of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, United States
| | - Gill Diamond
- Department
of Oral Immunology and Infectious Diseases, University of Louisville School of Dentistry, Louisville, Kentucky 40292, United States
| | - Bryan C. Mounce
- Department
of Microbiology and Immunology, Loyola University
Chicago Medical Center, Maywood, Illinois 60130, United States
| | - Kent Kirshenbaum
- Department
of Chemistry, New York University, New York, New York 10003, United States
- Maxwell
Biosciences, Austin, Texas 78738, United States
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32
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Breine A, Van Holsbeeck K, Martin C, Gonzalez S, Mannes M, Pardon E, Steyaert J, Remaut H, Ballet S, Van der Henst C. Bypassing the Need for Cell Permeabilization: Nanobody CDR3 Peptide Improves Binding on Living Bacteria. Bioconjug Chem 2023. [PMID: 37418494 PMCID: PMC10360062 DOI: 10.1021/acs.bioconjchem.3c00116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/09/2023]
Abstract
Membrane interaction constitutes to be an essential parameter in the mode of action of entities such as proteins, as well as cell-penetrating and antimicrobial peptides, resulting in noninvasive or lytic activities depending on the membrane compositions and interactions. Recently, a nanobody able to interact with the top priority, multidrug-resistant bacterial pathogen Acinetobacter baumannii was discovered, although binding took place with fixed cells only. To potentially overcome this limitation, linear peptides corresponding to the complementarity-determining regions (CDR) were synthesized and fluorescently labeled. Microscopy data indicated clear membrane interactions of the CDR3 sequence with living A. baumannii cells, indicating both the importance of the CDR3 as part of the parent nanobody paratope and the improved binding ability and thus avoiding the need for permeabilization of the cells. In addition, cyclization of the peptide with an additionally introduced rigidifying 1,2,3-triazole bridge retains its binding ability while proteolytically protecting the peptide. Overall, this study resulted in the discovery of novel peptides binding a multidrug-resistant pathogen.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Breine
- Microbial Resistance and Drug Discovery, VIB-VUB Center for Structural Biology, VIB, Flanders Institute for Biotechnology, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
- Structural Biology Brussels, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
| | - K Van Holsbeeck
- Research Group of Organic Chemistry, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
| | - C Martin
- Research Group of Organic Chemistry, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
| | - S Gonzalez
- CNRS, BioCIS, CY Cergy-Paris Université, 95000 Neuville sur Oise, France
| | - M Mannes
- Research Group of Organic Chemistry, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
| | - E Pardon
- Microbial Resistance and Drug Discovery, VIB-VUB Center for Structural Biology, VIB, Flanders Institute for Biotechnology, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
- Structural Biology Brussels, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
| | - J Steyaert
- Microbial Resistance and Drug Discovery, VIB-VUB Center for Structural Biology, VIB, Flanders Institute for Biotechnology, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
- Structural Biology Brussels, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
| | - H Remaut
- Structural Biology Brussels, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
- Structural and Molecular Microbiology, Structural Biology Research Center, VIB, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
| | - S Ballet
- Research Group of Organic Chemistry, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
| | - C Van der Henst
- Microbial Resistance and Drug Discovery, VIB-VUB Center for Structural Biology, VIB, Flanders Institute for Biotechnology, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
- Structural Biology Brussels, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
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33
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Scieuzo C, Giglio F, Rinaldi R, Lekka ME, Cozzolino F, Monaco V, Monti M, Salvia R, Falabella P. In Vitro Evaluation of the Antibacterial Activity of the Peptide Fractions Extracted from the Hemolymph of Hermetia illucens (Diptera: Stratiomyidae). INSECTS 2023; 14:insects14050464. [PMID: 37233092 DOI: 10.3390/insects14050464] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2023] [Revised: 05/09/2023] [Accepted: 05/10/2023] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are a chemically and structurally heterogeneous family of molecules produced by a large variety of living organisms, whose expression is predominant in the sites most exposed to microbial invasion. One of the richest natural sources of AMPs is insects which, over the course of their very long evolutionary history, have adapted to numerous and different habitats by developing a powerful innate immune system that has allowed them to survive but also to assert themselves in the new environment. Recently, due to the increase in antibiotic-resistant bacterial strains, interest in AMPs has risen. In this work, we detected AMPs in the hemolymph of Hermetia illucens (Diptera, Stratiomyidae) larvae, following infection with Escherichia coli (Gram negative) or Micrococcus flavus (Gram positive) and from uninfected larvae. Peptide component, isolated via organic solvent precipitation, was analyzed by microbiological techniques. Subsequent mass spectrometry analysis allowed us to specifically identify peptides expressed in basal condition and peptides differentially expressed after bacterial challenge. We identified 33 AMPs in all the analyzed samples, of which 13 are specifically stimulated by Gram negative and/or Gram positive bacterial challenge. AMPs mostly expressed after bacterial challenge could be responsible for a more specific activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carmen Scieuzo
- Department of Sciences, University of Basilicata, Via dell'Ateneo Lucano 10, 85100 Potenza, Italy
- Spinoff XFlies s.r.l., University of Basilicata, Via dell'Ateneo Lucano 10, 85100 Potenza, Italy
| | - Fabiana Giglio
- Department of Sciences, University of Basilicata, Via dell'Ateneo Lucano 10, 85100 Potenza, Italy
| | - Roberta Rinaldi
- Department of Sciences, University of Basilicata, Via dell'Ateneo Lucano 10, 85100 Potenza, Italy
| | - Marilena E Lekka
- Laboratory of Biochemistry, Department of Chemistry, University of Ioannina, 45110 Ioannina, Greece
| | - Flora Cozzolino
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, 80126 Naples, Italy
- CEINGE Advanced Biotechnologies, University of Naples Federico II, 80145 Naples, Italy
| | - Vittoria Monaco
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, 80126 Naples, Italy
- CEINGE Advanced Biotechnologies, University of Naples Federico II, 80145 Naples, Italy
| | - Maria Monti
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, 80126 Naples, Italy
- CEINGE Advanced Biotechnologies, University of Naples Federico II, 80145 Naples, Italy
| | - Rosanna Salvia
- Department of Sciences, University of Basilicata, Via dell'Ateneo Lucano 10, 85100 Potenza, Italy
- Spinoff XFlies s.r.l., University of Basilicata, Via dell'Ateneo Lucano 10, 85100 Potenza, Italy
| | - Patrizia Falabella
- Department of Sciences, University of Basilicata, Via dell'Ateneo Lucano 10, 85100 Potenza, Italy
- Spinoff XFlies s.r.l., University of Basilicata, Via dell'Ateneo Lucano 10, 85100 Potenza, Italy
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34
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Soliman AM, Barreda DR. The acute inflammatory response of teleost fish. DEVELOPMENTAL AND COMPARATIVE IMMUNOLOGY 2023; 146:104731. [PMID: 37196851 DOI: 10.1016/j.dci.2023.104731] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2023] [Revised: 05/05/2023] [Accepted: 05/09/2023] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
Acute inflammation is crucial to the immune responses of fish. The process protects the host from infection and is central to induction of subsequent tissue repair programs. Activation of proinflammatory signals reshapes the microenvironment within an injury/infection site, initiates leukocyte recruitment, promotes antimicrobial mechanisms and contributes to the resolution of inflammation. Inflammatory cytokines and lipid mediators are primary contributors to these processes. Uncontrolled or persistent induction results in delayed tissue healing. The kinetics by which inducers and regulators of acute inflammation exert their actions is essential for understanding the pathogenesis of fish diseases and identifying potential treatments. Although, a number of these are well-conserved across, others are not, reflecting the unique physiologies and life histories of members of this unique animal group.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amro M Soliman
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Canada
| | - Daniel R Barreda
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Canada; Department of Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Science, University of Alberta, Canada.
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35
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Oehler MA, Hayes DG, D’Souza DH, Senanayake M, Gurumoorthy V, Pingali SV, O’Neill HM, Bras W, Urban VS. Assessment of antimicrobial activity of melittin encapsulated in bicontinuous microemulsions prepared using renewable oils. J SURFACTANTS DETERG 2023; 26:387-399. [PMID: 37470058 PMCID: PMC10353728 DOI: 10.1002/jsde.12654] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2022] [Accepted: 12/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
The objective of this study is to demonstrate that melittin, a well-studied antimicrobial peptide (AMP), can be solubilized in an active form in bicontinuous microemulsions (BMEs) that employ biocompatible oils. The systems investigated consisted of Winsor-III and -IV BME phases composed of Water/Aerosol-OT (AOT)/Polysorbate 85/isopropyl myristate and a Winsor-IV BME employing Polysorbate 80 and limonene. We found that melittin resided in an α-helix-rich configuration and was in an apolar environment for the AOT/Polysorbate 85 Winsor-III system, suggesting that melittin interacted with the surfactant monolayer and was in an active conformation. An apolar environment was also detected for melittin in the two Winsor-IV systems, but to a lesser extent than the Winsor-III system. Small-angle X-ray scattering analysis indicated that melittin at a concentration of 1.0 g/Laq in the aqueous subphase of the Winsor-IV systems led to the greatest impact on the BME structure (e.g., decrease of quasi-periodic repeat distance and correlation length and induction of interfacial fluidity). The antimicrobial activity of the Polysorbate 80 Winsor-IV system was evaluated against several bacteria prominent in chronic wounds and surgical site infections (SSIs). Melittin-free BMEs inhibited the growth of all tested bacteria due to its oil, limonene, while the inclusion of 1.0 g/Laq of melittin in the BMEs enhanced the activity against several bacteria. A further increase of melittin concentration in the BMEs had no further enhancement. These results demonstrate the potential utility of BMEs as a delivery platform for AMPs and other hydrophilic and lipophilic drugs to inhibit antibiotic-resistant microorganisms in chronic wounds and SSIs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Madison A. Oehler
- Department of Biosystems Engineering and Soil Science, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee, USA
| | - Douglas G. Hayes
- Department of Biosystems Engineering and Soil Science, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee, USA
| | - Doris H. D’Souza
- Department of Food Science, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee, USA
| | - Manjula Senanayake
- Neutron Scattering Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee, USA
| | | | - Sai Venkatesh Pingali
- Neutron Scattering Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee, USA
| | - Hugh M. O’Neill
- Neutron Scattering Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee, USA
| | - Wim Bras
- Neutron Scattering Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee, USA
| | - Volker S. Urban
- Neutron Scattering Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee, USA
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36
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Campanile M, Oliva R, Del Vecchio P, Winter R, Petraccone L. The anticancer peptide LL-III binds with nanomolar affinity to human telomeric and cMyc G-quadruplexes. Chem Commun (Camb) 2023; 59:6179-6182. [PMID: 37114333 DOI: 10.1039/d3cc00737e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/29/2023]
Abstract
LL-III is a natural anticancer peptide able to cross the membrane of cancer cells and to localize in the nucleolus, but its intracellular target is unknown. Here, we show that LL-III is able to bind with nM affinity to specific G-quadruplex structures known to be relevant anticancer targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Campanile
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, Via Cintia 4, 80126, Naples, Italy.
| | - Rosario Oliva
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, Via Cintia 4, 80126, Naples, Italy.
| | - Pompea Del Vecchio
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, Via Cintia 4, 80126, Naples, Italy.
| | - Roland Winter
- Physical Chemistry I - Biophysical Chemistry, Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, TU Dortmund University, Otto-Hahn Street 4a, Dortmund 44227, Germany
| | - Luigi Petraccone
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, Via Cintia 4, 80126, Naples, Italy.
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37
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Tyler TJ, Durek T, Craik DJ. Native and Engineered Cyclic Disulfide-Rich Peptides as Drug Leads. Molecules 2023; 28:molecules28073189. [PMID: 37049950 PMCID: PMC10096437 DOI: 10.3390/molecules28073189] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2023] [Revised: 03/27/2023] [Accepted: 03/29/2023] [Indexed: 04/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Bioactive peptides are a highly abundant and diverse group of molecules that exhibit a wide range of structural and functional variation. Despite their immense therapeutic potential, bioactive peptides have been traditionally perceived as poor drug candidates, largely due to intrinsic shortcomings that reflect their endogenous heritage, i.e., short biological half-lives and poor cell permeability. In this review, we examine the utility of molecular engineering to insert bioactive sequences into constrained scaffolds with desired pharmaceutical properties. Applying lessons learnt from nature, we focus on molecular grafting of cyclic disulfide-rich scaffolds (naturally derived or engineered), shown to be intrinsically stable and amenable to sequence modifications, and their utility as privileged frameworks in drug design.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tristan J. Tyler
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Peptide and Protein Science, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Thomas Durek
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Peptide and Protein Science, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - David J. Craik
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Peptide and Protein Science, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
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38
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Espeche JC, Varas R, Maturana P, Cutro AC, Maffía PC, Hollmann A. Membrane permeability and antimicrobial peptides: Much more than just making a hole. Pept Sci (Hoboken) 2023. [DOI: 10.1002/pep2.24305] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/03/2023]
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39
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Teimouri H, Medvedeva A, Kolomeisky AB. Bacteria-Specific Feature Selection for Enhanced Antimicrobial Peptide Activity Predictions Using Machine-Learning Methods. J Chem Inf Model 2023; 63:1723-1733. [PMID: 36912047 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jcim.2c01551] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/14/2023]
Abstract
There are several classes of short peptide molecules, known as antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), which are produced during the immune responses of living organisms against various infections. In recent years, substantial progress has been achieved in applying machine-learning methods to predict the activities of AMPs against bacteria. In most investigated cases, however, the outcome is not bacterium-specific since the specific features of bacteria, such as chemical composition and structure of membranes, are not considered. To overcome this problem, we developed a new computational approach that allowed us to train several supervised machine-learning models using a specific set of data associated with peptides targeting E. coli bacteria. LASSO regression and Support Vector Machine techniques have been utilized to select, among more than 1500 physicochemical descriptors, the most important features that can be used to classify a peptide as antimicrobial or ineffective against E. coli. We then performed the classification of active versus inactive AMPs using the Support Vector classifiers, Logistic Regression, and Random Forest methods. This computational study allows us to make recommendations of how to design more efficient antibacterial drug therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hamid Teimouri
- Department of Chemistry, Rice University, Houston, Texas 77005, United States.,Center for Theoretical Biological Physics, Rice University, Houston, Texas 77005, United States
| | - Angela Medvedeva
- Department of Chemistry, Rice University, Houston, Texas 77005, United States.,Center for Theoretical Biological Physics, Rice University, Houston, Texas 77005, United States
| | - Anatoly B Kolomeisky
- Department of Chemistry, Rice University, Houston, Texas 77005, United States.,Center for Theoretical Biological Physics, Rice University, Houston, Texas 77005, United States.,Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Rice University, Houston, Texas 77005, United States.,Department of Physics and Astronomy, Rice University, Houston, Texas 77005, United States
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40
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The impact of N-glycosylation on the properties of the antimicrobial peptide LL-III. Sci Rep 2023; 13:3733. [PMID: 36878924 PMCID: PMC9988962 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-29984-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2022] [Accepted: 02/14/2023] [Indexed: 03/08/2023] Open
Abstract
The misuse of antibiotics has led to the emergence of drug-resistant pathogens. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) may represent valuable alternative to antibiotics; nevertheless, the easy degradation due to environmental stress and proteolytic enzyme action, limits their use. So far, different strategies have been developed to overcome this drawback. Among them, glycosylation of AMPs represents a promising approach. In this work, we synthesized and characterized the N-glycosilated form of the antimicrobial peptide LL-III (g-LL-III). The N-acetylglucosamine (NAG) was covalently linked to the Asn residue and the interaction of g-LL-III with bacterial model membranes, together with its resistance to proteases, were investigated. Glycosylation did not affect the peptide mechanism of action and its biological activity against both bacteria and eukaryotic cells. Interestingly, a higher resistance to the activity of proteolytic enzymes was achieved. The reported results pave the way for the successful application of AMPs in medicine and biotechnological fields.
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41
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Duque HM, Rodrigues G, Santos LS, Franco OL. The biological role of charge distribution in linear antimicrobial peptides. Expert Opin Drug Discov 2023; 18:287-302. [PMID: 36720196 DOI: 10.1080/17460441.2023.2173736] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Antimicrobial peptides (AMP) have received particular attention due to their capacity to kill bacteria. Although much is known about them, peptides are currently being further researched. A large number of AMPs have been discovered, but only a few have been approved for topical use, due to their promiscuity and other challenges, which need to be overcome. AREAS COVERED AMPs are diverse in structure. Consequently, they have varied action mechanisms when targeting microorganisms or eukaryotic cells. Herein, the authors focus on linear peptides, particularly those that are alpha-helical structured, and examine how their charge distribution and hydrophobic amino acids could modulate their biological activity. EXPERT OPINION The world currently needs urgent solutions to the infective problems caused by resistant pathogens. In order to start the race for antimicrobial development from the charge distribution viewpoint, bioinformatic tools will be necessary. Currently, there is no software available that allows to discriminate charge distribution in AMPs and predicts the biological effects of this event. Furthermore, there is no software available that predicts the side-chain length of residues and its role in biological functions. More specialized software is necessary.
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Affiliation(s)
- Harry Morales Duque
- Centro de Análises Proteômicas e Bioquímicas, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Genômicas e Biotecnologia, Universidade Católica de Brasília, PC: (CEP) 70.790-160, Brasília-DF, Brazil
| | - Gisele Rodrigues
- Centro de Análises Proteômicas e Bioquímicas, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Genômicas e Biotecnologia, Universidade Católica de Brasília, PC: (CEP) 70.790-160, Brasília-DF, Brazil
| | - Lucas Souza Santos
- Centro de Análises Proteômicas e Bioquímicas, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Genômicas e Biotecnologia, Universidade Católica de Brasília, PC: (CEP) 70.790-160, Brasília-DF, Brazil
| | - Octávio Luiz Franco
- Centro de Análises Proteômicas e Bioquímicas, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Genômicas e Biotecnologia, Universidade Católica de Brasília, PC: (CEP) 70.790-160, Brasília-DF, Brazil.,S-inova Biotech, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biotecnologia, Universidade Católica Dom Bosco, PC: (CEP) 79117-010, Campo Grande-MS, Brazil
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42
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Ma L, Li X, Petersen RB, Peng A, Huang K. Probing the interactions between amyloidogenic proteins and bio-membranes. Biophys Chem 2023; 296:106984. [PMID: 36889133 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpc.2023.106984] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2022] [Revised: 02/11/2023] [Accepted: 02/22/2023] [Indexed: 03/01/2023]
Abstract
Protein misfolding diseases (PMDs) in humans are characterized by the deposition of protein aggregates in tissues, including Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, type 2 diabetes, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Misfolding and aggregation of amyloidogenic proteins play a central role in the onset and progression of PMDs, and these processes are regulated by multiple factors, especially the interaction between proteins and bio-membranes. Bio-membranes induce conformational changes in amyloidogenic proteins and affect their aggregation; on the other hand, the aggregates of amyloidogenic proteins may cause membrane damage or dysfunction leading to cytotoxicity. In this review, we summarize the factors that affect the binding of amyloidogenic proteins and membranes, the effects of bio-membranes on the aggregation of amyloidogenic proteins, mechanisms of membrane disruption by amyloidogenic aggregates, technical approaches for detecting these interactions, and finally therapeutic strategies targeting membrane damage caused by amyloidogenic proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liang Ma
- Department of Pharmacy, Wuhan Mental Health Center, Wuhan, China; Department of Pharmacy, Wuhan Hospital for Psychotherapy, Wuhan, China
| | - Xi Li
- Tongji School of Pharmacy, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Robert B Petersen
- Foundational Sciences, Central Michigan University College of Medicine, Mount Pleasant, MI, USA
| | - Anlin Peng
- Department of Pharmacy, The Third Hospital of Wuhan, Tongren Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China.
| | - Kun Huang
- Tongji School of Pharmacy, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.
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Escobar V, Scaramozzino N, Vidic J, Buhot A, Mathey R, Chaix C, Hou Y. Recent Advances on Peptide-Based Biosensors and Electronic Noses for Foodborne Pathogen Detection. BIOSENSORS 2023; 13:bios13020258. [PMID: 36832024 PMCID: PMC9954637 DOI: 10.3390/bios13020258] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2023] [Revised: 01/31/2023] [Accepted: 02/07/2023] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
Foodborne pathogens present a serious issue around the world due to the remarkably high number of illnesses they cause every year. In an effort to narrow the gap between monitoring needs and currently implemented classical detection methodologies, the last decades have seen an increased development of highly accurate and reliable biosensors. Peptides as recognition biomolecules have been explored to develop biosensors that combine simple sample preparation and enhanced detection of bacterial pathogens in food. This review first focuses on the selection strategies for the design and screening of sensitive peptide bioreceptors, such as the isolation of natural antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) from living organisms, the screening of peptides by phage display and the use of in silico tools. Subsequently, an overview on the state-of-the-art techniques in the development of peptide-based biosensors for foodborne pathogen detection based on various transduction systems was given. Additionally, limitations in classical detection strategies have led to the development of innovative approaches for food monitoring, such as electronic noses, as promising alternatives. The use of peptide receptors in electronic noses is a growing field and the recent advances of such systems for foodborne pathogen detection are presented. All these biosensors and electronic noses are promising alternatives for the pathogen detection with high sensitivity, low cost and rapid response, and some of them are potential portable devices for on-site analyses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vanessa Escobar
- Grenoble Alpes University, CEA, CNRS, IRIG-SyMMES, 17 Rue des Martyrs, 38000 Grenoble, France
- Grenoble Alpes University, CNRS, LIPhy, 38000 Grenoble, France
| | | | - Jasmina Vidic
- INRAE, AgroParisTech, Micalis Institute, Université Paris-Saclay, 78350 Jouy-en-Josas, France
| | - Arnaud Buhot
- Grenoble Alpes University, CEA, CNRS, IRIG-SyMMES, 17 Rue des Martyrs, 38000 Grenoble, France
| | - Raphaël Mathey
- Grenoble Alpes University, CEA, CNRS, IRIG-SyMMES, 17 Rue des Martyrs, 38000 Grenoble, France
| | - Carole Chaix
- Institute of Analytical Sciences, University of Lyon, CNRS, Claude Bernard Lyon 1 University, UMR 5280, 69100 Villeurbanne, France
| | - Yanxia Hou
- Grenoble Alpes University, CEA, CNRS, IRIG-SyMMES, 17 Rue des Martyrs, 38000 Grenoble, France
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44
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Zhang K, Teng D, Mao R, Yang N, Hao Y, Wang J. Thinking on the Construction of Antimicrobial Peptide Databases: Powerful Tools for the Molecular Design and Screening. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24043134. [PMID: 36834553 PMCID: PMC9960615 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24043134] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2022] [Revised: 01/29/2023] [Accepted: 02/02/2023] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
With the accelerating growth of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), there is an urgent need for new antimicrobial agents with low or no AMR. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) have been extensively studied as alternatives to antibiotics (ATAs). Coupled with the new generation of high-throughput technology for AMP mining, the number of derivatives has increased dramatically, but manual running is time-consuming and laborious. Therefore, it is necessary to establish databases that combine computer algorithms to summarize, analyze, and design new AMPs. A number of AMP databases have already been established, such as the Antimicrobial Peptides Database (APD), the Collection of Antimicrobial Peptides (CAMP), the Database of Antimicrobial Activity and Structure of Peptides (DBAASP), and the Database of Antimicrobial Peptides (dbAMPs). These four AMP databases are comprehensive and are widely used. This review aims to cover the construction, evolution, characteristic function, prediction, and design of these four AMP databases. It also offers ideas for the improvement and application of these databases based on merging the various advantages of these four peptide libraries. This review promotes research and development into new AMPs and lays their foundation in the fields of druggability and clinical precision treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kun Zhang
- Gene Engineering Laboratory, Feed Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China
- Innovative Team of Antimicrobial Peptides and Alternatives to Antibiotics, Feed Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China
- Key Laboratory of Feed Biotechnology, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Da Teng
- Gene Engineering Laboratory, Feed Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China
- Innovative Team of Antimicrobial Peptides and Alternatives to Antibiotics, Feed Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China
- Key Laboratory of Feed Biotechnology, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Ruoyu Mao
- Gene Engineering Laboratory, Feed Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China
- Innovative Team of Antimicrobial Peptides and Alternatives to Antibiotics, Feed Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China
- Key Laboratory of Feed Biotechnology, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Na Yang
- Gene Engineering Laboratory, Feed Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China
- Innovative Team of Antimicrobial Peptides and Alternatives to Antibiotics, Feed Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China
- Key Laboratory of Feed Biotechnology, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Ya Hao
- Gene Engineering Laboratory, Feed Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China
- Innovative Team of Antimicrobial Peptides and Alternatives to Antibiotics, Feed Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China
- Key Laboratory of Feed Biotechnology, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Jianhua Wang
- Gene Engineering Laboratory, Feed Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China
- Innovative Team of Antimicrobial Peptides and Alternatives to Antibiotics, Feed Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China
- Key Laboratory of Feed Biotechnology, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Beijing 100081, China
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +86-10-82106081 or +86-10-82106079; Fax: +86-10-82106079
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45
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Jangpromma N, Konkchaiyaphum M, Punpad A, Sosiangdi S, Daduang S, Klaynongsruang S, Tankrathok A. Rational Design of RN15m4 Cathelin Domain-Based Peptides from Siamese Crocodile Cathelicidin Improves Antimicrobial Activity. Appl Biochem Biotechnol 2023; 195:1096-1108. [PMID: 36327032 DOI: 10.1007/s12010-022-04210-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Antimicrobial peptides are becoming a new generation of antibiotics due to their therapeutic potential and ability to decrease drug-resistant bacteria development. Cathelicidins are known as effective peptides of vertebrate immunity that play crucial roles in the defensive strategy against pathogens. To improve its potency, the RN15 antibacterial peptide derived from the cathelin domain of Crocodylus siamensis cathelicidin has been modified and its antimicrobial properties investigated. Peptides were derived by template-based and physicochemical designation. The RN15 derivative peptides were predicted through their structure modeling, antimicrobial potency, and peptide-membrane calculation. The antimicrobial and cytotoxic activities of candidate peptides were investigated. Simultaneous consideration of physicochemical characteristics, secondary structure modeling, and the result of antimicrobial peptide tools prediction indicated that RN15m4 peptide was a candidate derivative antimicrobial peptide. The RN15m4 peptide expresses antimicrobial activity against most Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria and fungi with a lower minimum inhibition concentration (MIC) than the parent peptide. Besides, the time-killing assay shows that the designed peptide performed its ability to quickly kill bacteria better than the original peptide. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) displayed the destruction of the bacterial cell membrane caused by the RN15m4 peptide. In addition, the RN15m4 peptide exhibits low hemolytic activity and low cytotoxic activity as good as the template peptide. The RN15m4 peptide performs a range of antimicrobial activities with low cell toxicity. Our study has illustrated the combination approach to peptide design for potent antibiotic peptide discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nisachon Jangpromma
- Faculty of Science, Protein and Proteomics Research Center for Commercial and Industrial Purposes (ProCCI), Khon Kaen University, 40000, Khon Kaen, Thailand.,Faculty of Science, Department of Integrated Science, Khon Kaen University, 40000, Khon Kaen, Thailand
| | - Monruedee Konkchaiyaphum
- Faculty of Science, Department of Biochemistry, Khon Kaen University, 40000, Khon Kaen, Thailand
| | - Arpaporn Punpad
- Faculty of Agricultural Technology, Department of Biotechnology, Kalasin University, 46000, Kalasin, Thailand
| | - Sirinthip Sosiangdi
- Faculty of Science, Department of Biochemistry, Khon Kaen University, 40000, Khon Kaen, Thailand
| | - Sakda Daduang
- Faculty of Science, Protein and Proteomics Research Center for Commercial and Industrial Purposes (ProCCI), Khon Kaen University, 40000, Khon Kaen, Thailand.,Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Division of Pharmacognosy and Toxicology, Khon Kaen University, 40000, Khon Kaen, Thailand
| | - Sompong Klaynongsruang
- Faculty of Science, Protein and Proteomics Research Center for Commercial and Industrial Purposes (ProCCI), Khon Kaen University, 40000, Khon Kaen, Thailand.,Faculty of Science, Department of Biochemistry, Khon Kaen University, 40000, Khon Kaen, Thailand
| | - Anupong Tankrathok
- Faculty of Science, Protein and Proteomics Research Center for Commercial and Industrial Purposes (ProCCI), Khon Kaen University, 40000, Khon Kaen, Thailand. .,Faculty of Agricultural Technology, Department of Biotechnology, Kalasin University, 46000, Kalasin, Thailand.
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46
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Campanile M, Oliva R, D'Errico G, Del Vecchio P, Petraccone L. The anticancer peptide LL-III alters the physico-chemical properties of a model tumor membrane promoting lipid bilayer permeabilization. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2023; 25:3639-3650. [PMID: 36541682 DOI: 10.1039/d2cp03528f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
LL-III is an anticancer peptide and has the ability to translocate across tumor cell membranes, which indicates that its action mechanism could be non-membranolytic. However, the exact mechanism through which the peptide gains access into the cell cytoplasm is still unknown. Here, we use a plethora of physico-chemical techniques to characterize the interaction of LL-III with liposomes mimicking the lipid matrix of the tumor cell membrane and its effect on the microstructure and thermotropic properties of the membrane. Furthermore, the effect of the presence of Ca2+ cations at physiological concentration was also investigated. For comparison, the interaction of LL-III with liposomes mimicking the normal cell membrane was also studied. Our results show that the peptide selectively interacts with the model tumor cell membrane. This interaction does not disrupt the lipid bilayer but deeply alters its properties by promoting lipid lateral reorganization and increasing membrane permeability. Overall, our data provide a molecular level description of the interaction of the peptide with the model tumor membrane and are fully consistent with the non-membranolytic action mechanism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Campanile
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, Via Cintia 4, 80126 Naples, Italy.
| | - Rosario Oliva
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, Via Cintia 4, 80126 Naples, Italy.
| | - Gerardino D'Errico
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, Via Cintia 4, 80126 Naples, Italy.
| | - Pompea Del Vecchio
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, Via Cintia 4, 80126 Naples, Italy.
| | - Luigi Petraccone
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, Via Cintia 4, 80126 Naples, Italy.
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47
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Antimicrobial Resistance and Recent Alternatives to Antibiotics for the Control of Bacterial Pathogens with an Emphasis on Foodborne Pathogens. Antibiotics (Basel) 2023; 12:antibiotics12020274. [PMID: 36830185 PMCID: PMC9952301 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics12020274] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2023] [Revised: 01/21/2023] [Accepted: 01/27/2023] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is one of the most important global public health problems. The imprudent use of antibiotics in humans and animals has resulted in the emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. The dissemination of these strains and their resistant determinants could endanger antibiotic efficacy. Therefore, there is an urgent need to identify and develop novel strategies to combat antibiotic resistance. This review provides insights into the evolution and the mechanisms of AMR. Additionally, it discusses alternative approaches that might be used to control AMR, including probiotics, prebiotics, antimicrobial peptides, small molecules, organic acids, essential oils, bacteriophage, fecal transplants, and nanoparticles.
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48
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Ghaly G, Tallima H, Dabbish E, Badr ElDin N, Abd El-Rahman MK, Ibrahim MAA, Shoeib T. Anti-Cancer Peptides: Status and Future Prospects. Molecules 2023; 28:molecules28031148. [PMID: 36770815 PMCID: PMC9920184 DOI: 10.3390/molecules28031148] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2022] [Revised: 12/26/2022] [Accepted: 01/19/2023] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
The dramatic rise in cancer incidence, alongside treatment deficiencies, has elevated cancer to the second-leading cause of death globally. The increasing morbidity and mortality of this disease can be traced back to a number of causes, including treatment-related side effects, drug resistance, inadequate curative treatment and tumor relapse. Recently, anti-cancer bioactive peptides (ACPs) have emerged as a potential therapeutic choice within the pharmaceutical arsenal due to their high penetration, specificity and fewer side effects. In this contribution, we present a general overview of the literature concerning the conformational structures, modes of action and membrane interaction mechanisms of ACPs, as well as provide recent examples of their successful employment as targeting ligands in cancer treatment. The use of ACPs as a diagnostic tool is summarized, and their advantages in these applications are highlighted. This review expounds on the main approaches for peptide synthesis along with their reconstruction and modification needed to enhance their therapeutic effect. Computational approaches that could predict therapeutic efficacy and suggest ACP candidates for experimental studies are discussed. Future research prospects in this rapidly expanding area are also offered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gehane Ghaly
- Department of Chemistry, The American University in Cairo, New Cairo 11835, Egypt
| | - Hatem Tallima
- Department of Chemistry, The American University in Cairo, New Cairo 11835, Egypt
| | - Eslam Dabbish
- Department of Chemistry, The American University in Cairo, New Cairo 11835, Egypt
| | - Norhan Badr ElDin
- Analytical Chemistry Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Cairo University, Kasr-El Aini Street, Cairo 11562, Egypt
| | - Mohamed K. Abd El-Rahman
- Analytical Chemistry Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Cairo University, Kasr-El Aini Street, Cairo 11562, Egypt
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, 12 Oxford Street, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | - Mahmoud A. A. Ibrahim
- Computational Chemistry Laboratory, Chemistry Department, Faculty of Science, Minia University, Minia 61519, Egypt
- School of Health Sciences, University of Kwa-Zulu-Natal, Westville, Durban 4000, South Africa
| | - Tamer Shoeib
- Department of Chemistry, The American University in Cairo, New Cairo 11835, Egypt
- Correspondence:
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49
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Ferreira AR, Ferreira M, Nunes C, Reis S, Teixeira C, Gomes P, Gameiro P. The Unusual Aggregation and Fusion Activity of the Antimicrobial Peptide W-BP100 in Anionic Vesicles. MEMBRANES 2023; 13:138. [PMID: 36837642 PMCID: PMC9966869 DOI: 10.3390/membranes13020138] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2022] [Revised: 01/16/2023] [Accepted: 01/19/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Cationic antimicrobial peptides (CAMPs) offer a promising strategy to counteract bacterial resistance, mostly due to their membrane-targeting activity. W-BP100 is a potent broad-spectrum cecropin-melittin CAMP bearing a single N-terminal Trp, which was previously found to improve its antibacterial activity. W-BP100 has high affinity toward anionic membranes, inducing membrane saturation at low peptide-to-lipid (P/L) ratios and membrane permeabilization, with the unique property of promoting the aggregation of anionic vesicles only at specific P/L ratios. Herein, we aimed to investigate this unusual behavior of W-BP100 by studying its aggregation and fusion properties with negatively-charged large (LUVs) or giant (GUVs) unilamellar vesicles using biophysical tools. Circular dichroism (CD) showed that W-BP100 adopted an α-helical conformation in anionic LUVs, neutralizing its surface charge at the aggregation P/L ratio. Its fusion activity, assessed by Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) using steady-state fluorescence spectroscopy, occurred mainly at the membrane saturation/aggregation P/L ratio. Confocal microscopy studies confirmed that W-BP100 displays aggregation and detergent-like effects at a critical P/L ratio, above which it induces the formation of new lipid aggregates. Our data suggest that W-BP100 promotes the aggregation and fusion of anionic vesicles at specific P/L ratios, being able to reshape the morphology of GUVs into new lipid structures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Rita Ferreira
- LAQV/REQUIMTE (Laboratório Associado para a Química Verde—Rede de Química e Tecnologia), Departamento de Química e Bioquímica, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade do Porto, Rua do Campo Alegre, s/n, 4169-007 Porto, Portugal
| | - Mariana Ferreira
- LAQV/REQUIMTE (Laboratório Associado para a Química Verde—Rede de Química e Tecnologia), Departamento de Química e Bioquímica, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade do Porto, Rua do Campo Alegre, s/n, 4169-007 Porto, Portugal
| | - Cláudia Nunes
- LAQV/REQUIMTE, Laboratório de Química Aplicada, Faculdade de Farmácia da Universidade do Porto, Portugal, Rua de Jorge Viterbo Ferreira, 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal
| | - Salette Reis
- LAQV/REQUIMTE, Laboratório de Química Aplicada, Faculdade de Farmácia da Universidade do Porto, Portugal, Rua de Jorge Viterbo Ferreira, 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal
| | - Cátia Teixeira
- LAQV/REQUIMTE (Laboratório Associado para a Química Verde—Rede de Química e Tecnologia), Departamento de Química e Bioquímica, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade do Porto, Rua do Campo Alegre, s/n, 4169-007 Porto, Portugal
| | - Paula Gomes
- LAQV/REQUIMTE (Laboratório Associado para a Química Verde—Rede de Química e Tecnologia), Departamento de Química e Bioquímica, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade do Porto, Rua do Campo Alegre, s/n, 4169-007 Porto, Portugal
| | - Paula Gameiro
- LAQV/REQUIMTE (Laboratório Associado para a Química Verde—Rede de Química e Tecnologia), Departamento de Química e Bioquímica, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade do Porto, Rua do Campo Alegre, s/n, 4169-007 Porto, Portugal
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50
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Selvarathinam K, Subramani P, Thekkumalai M, Vilwanathan R, Selvarajan R, Abia ALK. Wnt Signaling Pathway Collapse upon β-Catenin Destruction by a Novel Antimicrobial Peptide SKACP003: Unveiling the Molecular Mechanism and Genetic Activities Using Breast Cancer Cell Lines. Molecules 2023; 28:molecules28030930. [PMID: 36770598 PMCID: PMC9920962 DOI: 10.3390/molecules28030930] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2022] [Revised: 01/12/2023] [Accepted: 01/13/2023] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Despite progress in breast cancer treatment, the survival rate for patients with metastatic breast cancer remains low due to chemotherapeutic agent resistance and the lack of specificity of the current generation of cancer drugs. Our previous findings indicated that the antimicrobial peptide SKACP003 exhibited anticancer properties, particularly against the MCF-7, MDA-MB-231, and MDA-MB-453 breast cancer cell lines. However, the mechanism of SKACP003-induced cancer cell death is unknown. Here, we investigated the molecular mechanism by which SKACP003 inhibits the cell cycle, cell proliferation, and angiogenesis in breast cancer cell lines. The results revealed that all the breast cancer cell lines treated at their IC50 values significantly inhibited the replicative phase of the cell cycle. The SKACP003-induced growth inhibition induced apoptosis, as evidenced by a decrease in BCL-2 and an increase in BAX and caspase gene (Cas-3, Cas-8, and Cas-9) expression. Reduced expression of the β-Catenin signaling pathway was associated with the SKACP003-induced apoptosis. SKACP003-treated breast cancer cells showed decreased expression of Wnt/β-Catenin targeting genes such as C-Myc, P68, and COX-2 and significant downregulation of CDK-4 and CDK-6 genes. Furthermore, cytoplasmic β-catenin protein levels in SKACP003-treated cell lines were significantly lower than in control cell lines. The results of the current study suggest that the newly identified antimicrobial peptide SKACP003 has great potential as a candidate for specifically targeting the β-catenin and thus significantly reducing the progression and prognosis of breast cancer cell lines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kanitha Selvarathinam
- Department of Biochemistry, J.J. College of Arts and Science (Autonomous), Pudukkottai 622422, Tamilnadu, India
- Correspondence: (K.S.); (A.L.K.A.)
| | - Prabhu Subramani
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Life Science, Bharathidasan University, Tiruchirappalli 622422, Tamilnadu, India
| | | | - Ravikumar Vilwanathan
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Life Science, Bharathidasan University, Tiruchirappalli 622422, Tamilnadu, India
| | - Ramganesh Selvarajan
- Department of Environmental Sciences, College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CAES), University of South Africa (UNISA), Florida—Campus, Florida Park, Roodepoort 1709, South Africa
- Laboratory of Extraterrestrial Ocean Systems (LEOS), Institute of Deep-Sea Science and Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Sanya 572000, China
| | - Akebe Luther King Abia
- Department of Environmental Sciences, College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CAES), University of South Africa (UNISA), Florida—Campus, Florida Park, Roodepoort 1709, South Africa
- Environmental Research Foundation, Westville 3630, South Africa
- Correspondence: (K.S.); (A.L.K.A.)
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