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Bello-Madruga R, Torrent Burgas M. The limits of prediction: Why intrinsically disordered regions challenge our understanding of antimicrobial peptides. Comput Struct Biotechnol J 2024; 23:972-981. [PMID: 38404711 PMCID: PMC10884422 DOI: 10.1016/j.csbj.2024.02.008] [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: 11/28/2023] [Revised: 02/10/2024] [Accepted: 02/10/2024] [Indexed: 02/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are molecules found in most organisms, playing a vital role in innate immune defense against pathogens. Their mechanism of action involves the disruption of bacterial cell membranes, causing leakage of cellular contents and ultimately leading to cell death. While AMPs typically lack a defined structure in solution, they often assume a defined conformation when interacting with bacterial membranes. Given this structural flexibility, we investigated whether intrinsically disordered regions (IDRs) with AMP-like properties could exhibit antimicrobial activity. We tested 14 peptides from different IDRs predicted to have antimicrobial activity and found that nearly all of them did not display the anticipated effects. These peptides failed to adopt a defined secondary structure and had compromised membrane interactions, resulting in a lack of antimicrobial activity. We hypothesize that evolutionary constraints may prevent IDRs from folding, even in membrane-like environments, limiting their antimicrobial potential. Moreover, our research reveals that current antimicrobial predictors fail to accurately capture the structural features of peptides when dealing with intrinsically unstructured sequences. Hence, the results presented here may have far-reaching implications for designing and improving antimicrobial strategies and therapies against infectious diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberto Bello-Madruga
- The Systems Biology of Infection Lab, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Biosciences Faculty, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Cerdanyola del Vallès, Spain
| | - Marc Torrent Burgas
- The Systems Biology of Infection Lab, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Biosciences Faculty, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Cerdanyola del Vallès, Spain
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Marissen J, Reichert L, Härtel C, Fortmann MI, Faust K, Msanga D, Harder J, Zemlin M, Gomez de Agüero M, Masjosthusmann K, Humberg A. Antimicrobial Peptides (AMPs) and the Microbiome in Preterm Infants: Consequences and Opportunities for Future Therapeutics. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:6684. [PMID: 38928389 PMCID: PMC11203687 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25126684] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2024] [Revised: 06/07/2024] [Accepted: 06/14/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are crucial components of the innate immune system in various organisms, including humans. Beyond their direct antimicrobial effects, AMPs play essential roles in various physiological processes. They induce angiogenesis, promote wound healing, modulate immune responses, and serve as chemoattractants for immune cells. AMPs regulate the microbiome and combat microbial infections on the skin, lungs, and gastrointestinal tract. Produced in response to microbial signals, AMPs help maintain a balanced microbial community and provide a first line of defense against infection. In preterm infants, alterations in microbiome composition have been linked to various health outcomes, including sepsis, necrotizing enterocolitis, atopic dermatitis, and respiratory infections. Dysbiosis, or an imbalance in the microbiome, can alter AMP profiles and potentially lead to inflammation-mediated diseases such as chronic lung disease and obesity. In the following review, we summarize what is known about the vital role of AMPs as multifunctional peptides in protecting newborn infants against infections and modulating the microbiome and immune response. Understanding their roles in preterm infants and high-risk populations offers the potential for innovative approaches to disease prevention and treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janina Marissen
- Department of Pediatrics, University Hospital Würzburg, 97080 Würzburg, Germany; (J.M.); (L.R.)
- Würzburg Institute of Systems Immunology, Max-Planck Research Group, University of Würzburg, 97078 Würzburg, Germany;
| | - Lilith Reichert
- Department of Pediatrics, University Hospital Würzburg, 97080 Würzburg, Germany; (J.M.); (L.R.)
| | - Christoph Härtel
- Department of Pediatrics, University Hospital Würzburg, 97080 Würzburg, Germany; (J.M.); (L.R.)
- German Center for Infection Research, Site Hamburg-Lübeck-Borstel-Riems, 23538 Lübeck, Germany
| | - Mats Ingmar Fortmann
- Department of Pediatrics, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein, 23538 Lübeck, Germany; (M.I.F.); (K.F.)
| | - Kirstin Faust
- Department of Pediatrics, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein, 23538 Lübeck, Germany; (M.I.F.); (K.F.)
| | - Delfina Msanga
- Department of Pediatrics, Bugando Hospital, Catholic University of Health and Allied Sciences, Mwanza 33109, Tanzania;
| | - Jürgen Harder
- Department of Dermatology, Venerology and Allergology, Quincke Research Center, Kiel University, 24105 Kiel, Germany;
| | - Michael Zemlin
- Department of General Pediatrics and Neonatology, Saarland University Medical Center, 66421 Homburg, Germany;
| | - Mercedes Gomez de Agüero
- Würzburg Institute of Systems Immunology, Max-Planck Research Group, University of Würzburg, 97078 Würzburg, Germany;
| | - Katja Masjosthusmann
- Department of General Pediatrics, University Children’s Hospital Münster, 48149 Münster, Germany; (K.M.); (A.H.)
| | - Alexander Humberg
- Department of General Pediatrics, University Children’s Hospital Münster, 48149 Münster, Germany; (K.M.); (A.H.)
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Recombinant Expression and Antibacterial Properties of BmTXKS2 Venom Peptide in Fusion with GST. Int J Pept Res Ther 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s10989-022-10374-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
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