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Olesk J, Donahue D, Ross J, Sheehan C, Bennett Z, Armknecht K, Kudary C, Hopf J, Ploplis VA, Castellino FJ, Lee SW, Nallathamby PD. Antimicrobial peptide-conjugated phage-mimicking nanoparticles exhibit potent bactericidal action against Streptococcus pyogenes in murine wound infection models. NANOSCALE ADVANCES 2024; 6:1145-1162. [PMID: 38356633 PMCID: PMC10863710 DOI: 10.1039/d3na00620d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2023] [Accepted: 01/08/2024] [Indexed: 02/16/2024]
Abstract
Streptococcus pyogenes is a causative agent for strep throat, impetigo, and more invasive diseases. The main reason for the treatment failure of streptococcal infections is increased antibiotic resistance. In recent years, infectious diseases caused by pyogenic streptococci resistant to multiple antibiotics have been rising with a significant impact on public health and the veterinary industry. The development of antibiotic resistance and the resulting emergence of multidrug-resistant bacteria have become primary threats to the public health system, commonly leading to nosocomial infections. Many researchers have turned their focus to developing alternative classes of antibacterial agent based on various nanomaterials. We have developed an antibiotic-free nanoparticle system inspired by naturally occurring bacteriophages to fight antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Our phage-mimicking nanoparticles (PhaNPs) display structural mimicry of protein-turret distribution on the head structure of bacteriophages. By mimicking phages, we can take advantage of their evolutionary constant shape and high antibacterial activity while avoiding the immune reactions of the human body experienced by biologically derived phages. We describe the synthesis of hierarchically arranged core-shell nanoparticles, with a silica core conjugated with silver-coated gold nanospheres to which we have chemisorbed the synthetic antimicrobial peptide Syn-71 on the PhaNPs surface, and increased the rapidity of the antibacterial activity of the nanoparticles (PhaNP@Syn71). The antibacterial effect of the PhaNP@Syn71 was tested in vitro and in vivo in mouse wound infection models. In vitro, results showed a dose-dependent complete inhibition of bacterial growth (>99.99%). Cytocompatibility testing on HaCaT human skin keratinocytes showed minimal cytotoxicity of PhaNP@Syn71, being comparable to the vehicle cytotoxicity levels even at higher concentrations, thus proving that our design is biocompatible with human cells. There was a minimum cutoff dosage above which there was no evolution of resistance after prolonged exposure to sub-MIC dosages of PhaNP@Syn71. Application of PhaNP@Syn71 to a mouse wound infection model exhibited high biocompatibility in vivo while showing immediate stabilization of the wound size, and infection free wound healing. Our results suggest the robust utility of antimicrobial peptide-conjugated phage-mimicking nanoparticles as a highly effective antibacterial system that can combat bacterial infections consistently while avoiding the emergence of resistant bacterial strains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johanna Olesk
- Department of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering, University of Notre Dame Notre Dame Indiana USA +1 574 631 7868
| | - Deborah Donahue
- W. M. Keck Center for Transgene Research, University of Notre Dame Notre Dame Indiana USA
| | - Jessica Ross
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Notre Dame Notre Dame Indiana USA
| | - Conor Sheehan
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Notre Dame Notre Dame Indiana USA
| | - Zach Bennett
- Department of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering, University of Notre Dame Notre Dame Indiana USA +1 574 631 7868
| | - Kevin Armknecht
- Department of Pre-Professional Studies, University of Notre Dame Notre Dame Indiana USA
| | - Carlie Kudary
- Berthiaume Institute for Precision Health, University of Notre Dame Notre Dame Indiana USA
| | - Juliane Hopf
- Berthiaume Institute for Precision Health, University of Notre Dame Notre Dame Indiana USA
| | - Victoria A Ploplis
- W. M. Keck Center for Transgene Research, University of Notre Dame Notre Dame Indiana USA
| | - Francis J Castellino
- W. M. Keck Center for Transgene Research, University of Notre Dame Notre Dame Indiana USA
| | - Shaun W Lee
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Notre Dame Notre Dame Indiana USA
| | - Prakash D Nallathamby
- Department of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering, University of Notre Dame Notre Dame Indiana USA +1 574 631 7868
- Berthiaume Institute for Precision Health, University of Notre Dame Notre Dame Indiana USA
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Repurposing a peptide toxin from wasp venom into antiinfectives with dual antimicrobial and immunomodulatory properties. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2020; 117:26936-26945. [PMID: 33046640 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2012379117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Novel antibiotics are urgently needed to combat multidrug-resistant pathogens. Venoms represent previously untapped sources of novel drugs. Here we repurposed mastoparan-L, the toxic active principle derived from the venom of the wasp Vespula lewisii, into synthetic antimicrobials. We engineered within its N terminus a motif conserved among natural peptides with potent immunomodulatory and antimicrobial activities. The resulting peptide, mast-MO, adopted an α-helical structure as determined by NMR, exhibited increased antibacterial properties comparable to standard-of-care antibiotics both in vitro and in vivo, and potentiated the activity of different classes of antibiotics. Mechanism-of-action studies revealed that mast-MO targets bacteria by rapidly permeabilizing their outer membrane. In animal models, the peptide displayed direct antimicrobial activity, led to enhanced ability to attract leukocytes to the infection site, and was able to control inflammation. Permutation studies depleted the remaining toxicity of mast-MO toward human cells, yielding derivatives with antiinfective activity in animals. We demonstrate a rational design strategy for repurposing venoms into promising antimicrobials.
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Varga JFA, Bui-Marinos MP, Katzenback BA. Frog Skin Innate Immune Defences: Sensing and Surviving Pathogens. Front Immunol 2019; 9:3128. [PMID: 30692997 PMCID: PMC6339944 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2018.03128] [Citation(s) in RCA: 94] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2018] [Accepted: 12/18/2018] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Amphibian skin is a mucosal surface in direct and continuous contact with a microbially diverse and laden aquatic and/or terrestrial environment. As such, frog skin is an important innate immune organ and first line of defence against pathogens in the environment. Critical to the innate immune functions of frog skin are the maintenance of physical, chemical, cellular, and microbiological barriers and the complex network of interactions that occur across all the barriers. Despite the global decline in amphibian populations, largely as a result of emerging infectious diseases, we understand little regarding the cellular and molecular mechanisms that underlie the innate immune function of amphibian skin and defence against pathogens. In this review, we discuss the structure, cell composition and cellular junctions that contribute to the skin physical barrier, the antimicrobial peptide arsenal that, in part, comprises the chemical barrier, the pattern recognition receptors involved in recognizing pathogens and initiating innate immune responses in the skin, and the contribution of commensal microbes on the skin to pathogen defence. We briefly discuss the influence of environmental abiotic factors (natural and anthropogenic) and pathogens on the immunocompetency of frog skin defences. Although some aspects of frog innate immunity, such as antimicrobial peptides are well-studied; other components and how they contribute to the skin innate immune barrier, are lacking. Elucidating the complex network of interactions occurring at the interface of the frog's external and internal environments will yield insight into the crucial role amphibian skin plays in host defence and the environmental factors leading to compromised barrier integrity, disease, and host mortality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph F A Varga
- Department of Biology, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON, Canada
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Zohrab F, Askarian S, Jalili A, Kazemi Oskuee R. Biological Properties, Current Applications and Potential Therapeautic Applications of Brevinin Peptide Superfamily. Int J Pept Res Ther 2018; 25:39-48. [PMID: 32214928 PMCID: PMC7087712 DOI: 10.1007/s10989-018-9723-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/25/2018] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
The Brevinin peptides are antimicrobial agents obtained from frog skin secretions. Brevinin-2R has attracted many attentions due to its very low hemolytic activity, cationic property, and high affinity to cancer cells. Moreover, it has shown little toxicity against normal mammalian cells, while having killed several tumor cell lines by activation of lysosome-mitochondrial death pathway. In this review, we introduced the Brevinin superfamily with a focus on its therapeutic applications. Next, some unique properties of Brevinins were briefly discussed, including their ability to stimulate insulin secretion, dendritic cell maturation, and wound healing. In this context, we also provide information about the decoration of nanoparticles, such as cerium nano-oxide, by Brevinins. Finally, we addressed their potential for anti-tumor and drug design applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fatemeh Zohrab
- 1Department of Medical Biotechnology, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Saeedeh Askarian
- Torbat Heydariyeh University of Medical Sciences, Torbat Heydariyeh, Iran
| | - Amin Jalili
- 1Department of Medical Biotechnology, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Reza Kazemi Oskuee
- 3Neurogenic Inflammation Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
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Anti-Candida albicans natural products, sources of new antifungal drugs: A review. J Mycol Med 2016; 27:1-19. [PMID: 27842800 DOI: 10.1016/j.mycmed.2016.10.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 97] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2016] [Revised: 10/09/2016] [Accepted: 10/11/2016] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Candida albicans is the most prevalent fungal pathogen in humans. Due to the development of drug resistance, there is today a need for new antifungal agents for the efficient management of C. albicans infections. Therefore, we reviewed antifungal activity, mechanisms of action, possible synergism with antifungal drugs of all natural substances experimented to be efficient against C. albicans for future. METHODS An extensive and systematic review of the literature was undertaken and all relevant abstracts and full-text articles analyzed and included in the review. REVIEW A total of 111 documents were published and highlighted 142 anti-C. albicans natural products. These products are mostly are reported in Asia (44.37%) and America (28.17%). According to in vitro model criteria, from the 142 natural substances, antifungal activity can be considered as important for 40 (28.20%) and moderate for 24 (16.90%). Sixteen products have their antifungal activity confirmed by in vivo gold standard experimentation. Microbial natural products, source of antifungals, have their antifungal mechanism well described in the literature: interaction with ergosterol (polyenes), inhibition 1,3-β-d-glucan synthase (Echinocandins), inhibition of the synthesis of cell wall components (chitin and mannoproteins), inhibition of sphingolipid synthesis (serine palmitoyltransferase, ceramide synthase, inositol phosphoceramide synthase) and inhibition of protein synthesis (sordarins). Natural products from plants mostly exert their antifungal effects by membrane-active mechanism. Some substances from arthropods are also explored to act on the fungal membrane. Interestingly, synergistic effects were found between different classes of natural products as well as between natural products and azoles. CONCLUSION Search for anti-C. albicans new drugs is promising since the list of natural substances, which disclose activity against this yeast is today long. Investigations must be pursued not only to found more new anti-Candida compounds from plants and organisms but also to carried out details on molecules from already known anti-Candida compounds and to more elucidate mechanisms of action.
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Gabernet G, Müller AT, Hiss JA, Schneider G. Membranolytic anticancer peptides. MEDCHEMCOMM 2016. [DOI: 10.1039/c6md00376a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Understanding the structure–activity relationships and mechanisms of action of membranolytic anticancer peptides could help them advance to therapeutic success.
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Affiliation(s)
- G. Gabernet
- Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences
- Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH)
- CH-8093 Zurich
- Switzerland
| | - A. T. Müller
- Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences
- Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH)
- CH-8093 Zurich
- Switzerland
| | - J. A. Hiss
- Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences
- Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH)
- CH-8093 Zurich
- Switzerland
| | - G. Schneider
- Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences
- Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH)
- CH-8093 Zurich
- Switzerland
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Kozić M, Vukičević D, Simunić J, Rončević T, Antcheva N, Tossi A, Juretić D. Predicting the Minimal Inhibitory Concentration for Antimicrobial Peptides with Rana-Box Domain. J Chem Inf Model 2015; 55:2275-87. [PMID: 26332863 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jcim.5b00161] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
The global spreading of multidrug resistance has motivated the search for new antibiotic classes including different types of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs). Computational methods for predicting activity in terms of the minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) of AMPs can facilitate "in silico" design and reduce the cost of synthesis and testing. We have used an original method for separating training and test data sets, both of which contain the sequences and measured MIC values of non-homologous anuran peptides having the Rana-box disulfide motif at their C-terminus. Using a more flexible profiling methodology (sideways asymmetry moment, SAM) than the standard hydrophobic moment, we have developed a two-descriptor model to predict the bacteriostatic activity of Rana-box peptides against Gram-negative bacteria--the first multilinear quantitative structure-activity relationship model capable of predicting MIC values for AMPs of widely different lengths and low identity using such a small number of descriptors. Maximal values for SAMs, as defined and calculated in our method, furthermore offer new structural insight into how different segments of a peptide contribute to its bacteriostatic activity, and this work lays the foundations for the design of active artificial AMPs with this type of disulfide bridge.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mara Kozić
- Institute of Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool , Liverpool L69 7ZB, U.K
| | - Damir Vukičević
- Faculty of Science, University of Split , 21000 Split, Croatia
| | - Juraj Simunić
- Mediterranean Institute for Life Sciences , 21000 Split, Croatia
| | | | - Nikolinka Antcheva
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste , 34127 Trieste, Italy
| | - Alessandro Tossi
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste , 34127 Trieste, Italy
| | - Davor Juretić
- Faculty of Science, University of Split , 21000 Split, Croatia
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Xu X, Lai R. The chemistry and biological activities of peptides from amphibian skin secretions. Chem Rev 2015; 115:1760-846. [PMID: 25594509 DOI: 10.1021/cr4006704] [Citation(s) in RCA: 220] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Xueqing Xu
- Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms of Chinese Academy of Sciences & Yunnan Province, Kunming Institute of Zoology , Kunming 650223, Yunnan, China
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Wang H, Ran R, Yu H, Yu Z, Hu Y, Zheng H, Wang D, Yang F, Liu R, Liu J. Identification and characterization of antimicrobial peptides from skin of Amolops ricketti (Anura: Ranidae). Peptides 2012; 33:27-34. [PMID: 22100518 DOI: 10.1016/j.peptides.2011.10.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2011] [Revised: 10/28/2011] [Accepted: 10/28/2011] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
As one of large amphibian group, there are a total of 45 species of Amolops in the world. However, the antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) existing in this genus has not been extensively studied. In this study, cDNAs encoding five novel AMP precursors were cloned by screening the skin-derived cDNA library of Amolops ricketti, a frog species that exists in southern and western parts of China. Protein sequence analysis led to the identification of five deduced peptides, three belonging to the brevinin-1 family and two belonging to the brevinin-2 family of amphibian AMPs. Thus, they were named as brevinin-1RTa (FLPLLAGVVANFLPQIICKIARKC), brevinin-1RTb (FLGSLLGLVGKVVPTLFCKISKKC), brevinin-1RTc (FLGSLLGLVGKIVPTLICKISKKC), brevinin-2RTa (GLMSTLKDFGKTAAKEIAQSLLSTASCKLAKTC), and brevinin-2RTb (GILDTLKEFGKTAAKGIAQSLLSTASCKLAKTC), respectively. The purification of brevinin-1RTa, brevinin-1RTb, and brevinin-2RTb was carried out by RP-HPLC, and confirmed by the LC-MS/MS-based proteomics approach. All of the peptides displayed different antimicrobial potency against a variety of microorganisms. In addition, brevinin-2RTa and brevinin-2RTb were found to have relatively low hemolytic activity (>400μg/ml) against mammalian red blood cells in vitro, which could potentially be as candidates for developing novel anti-infection agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Wang
- Key Laboratory of Animal Physiology, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology of Hebei Province, College of Life Sciences, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang, Hebei 050016, China
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Samgina TY, Gorshkov VA, Vorontsov YA, Demkina EV, Ogourtsov SV, Shakhparonov VV, El-Registan GI, Lebedev AT. HPLC and MALDI investigation of the stress influence on the composition of skin secretion of the Common frog Rana temporaria. JOURNAL OF ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY 2011. [DOI: 10.1134/s1061934811140164] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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Conlon JM, Mechkarska M, Coquet L, Jouenne T, Leprince J, Vaudry H, Kolodziejek J, Nowotny N, King JD. Characterization of antimicrobial peptides in skin secretions from discrete populations of Lithobates chiricahuensis (Ranidae) from central and southern Arizona. Peptides 2011; 32:664-9. [PMID: 21262304 DOI: 10.1016/j.peptides.2011.01.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2010] [Revised: 01/05/2011] [Accepted: 01/05/2011] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Populations of the Chiricahua leopard frog Lithobates chiricahuensis (Ranidae) occupying regions in southern Arizona (southern range) are morphologically distinct from those from the Mogollon Rim of central Arizona (northern range) and a comparison of DNA sequences of mitochondrial genes has suggested that they may represent separate species. Peptidomic analysis of norepinephrine-stimulated skin secretions has led to the identification of six peptides with antimicrobial activity in samples from specimens from both groups. The primary structure of the peptides (esculentin-2 CHa, ranatuerin-2 CHa, -CHb, and -CHc, and brevinin-1 CHa and -CHb) isolated from both southern and northern range frogs are identical consistent with the proposal that the two populations are conspecific. However, palustrin-2CHa and the atypical brevinin-1 CHc (FFPTIAG*****LTKLFCA ITKKC), containing a five amino acid residue deletion, were identified only in secretions from southern range specimens. Consequently, there is some support for the proposal that the two populations are closely related but separate species but this support is relatively weak. Esculentin-2 CHa (GFSSIFRGVAKFASKGLG KDLAKLGVDLVACKISKQC) displayed the highest antimicrobial potency (MIC ≤ 10μM) against a variety of microorganisms and was only moderately hemolytic (LC(50) = 150 μM). Cladistic analysis based upon the primary structures of brevinin-1 peptides indicates a close phylogenetic relationship between L. chiricahuensis, L. onca, and L. yavapaiensis.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Michael Conlon
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, 17666 Al-Ain, United Arab Emirates.
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Conlon JM, Coquet L, Leprince J, Jouenne T, Vaudry H, King JD. Primary structures of skin antimicrobial peptides indicate a close, but not conspecific, phylogenetic relationship between the leopard frogs Lithobates onca and Lithobates yavapaiensis (Ranidae). Comp Biochem Physiol C Toxicol Pharmacol 2010; 151:313-7. [PMID: 20044030 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpc.2009.12.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2009] [Revised: 12/17/2009] [Accepted: 12/20/2009] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
The phylogenetic relationship between the relict leopard frog Lithobates (Rana) onca (Cope, 1875) and the lowland leopard frog Lithobates (Rana) yavapaiensis (Platz and Frost, 1984) is unclear. Chromatographic analysis of norepinephrine-stimulated skin secretions from L. onca led to the identification of six peptides with antimicrobial activity. Determination of their primary structures indicated that four of the peptides were identical to brevinin-1Ya, brevinin-1Yb, brevinin-1Yc and ranatuerin-2Ya previously isolated from skin secretions of L. yavapaiensis. However, a peptide belonging to the temporin family (temporin-ONa: FLPTFGKILSGLF.NH(2)) and an atypical member of the ranatuerin-2 family containing a C-terminal cyclic heptapeptide domain (ranatuerin-2ONa: GLMDTVKNAAKNLAGQMLDKLKCKITGSC) were isolated from the L. onca secretions but were not present in the L. yavapaiensis secretions. Ranatuerin-2ONa inhibited the growth of Escherichia coli (MIC=50muM) and Candida albicans (MIC=100muM ) and showed hemolytic activity (LC(50)=90muM) but was inactive against Staphylococcus aureus. The data indicate a close phylogenetic relationship between L. onca and L. yavapaiensis but suggest that they are not conspecific species.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Michael Conlon
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, 17666 Al-Ain, United Arab Emirates
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Tennessen JA, Blouin MS. A revised leopard frog phylogeny allows a more detailed examination of adaptive evolution at ranatuerin-2 antimicrobial peptide loci. Immunogenetics 2010; 62:333-43. [PMID: 20179920 DOI: 10.1007/s00251-010-0430-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2009] [Accepted: 02/03/2010] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
Ranatuerins are antimicrobial peptides of the innate immune system found in ranid frogs. We previously presented evidence that a positive selective sweep had fixed a single allele at the Ranatuerin2 locus in the northern leopard frog (Rana pipiens). In this paper, we further investigate the evolutionary history of ranatuerins as follows. First, we sequenced Ranatuerin2 in additional individuals of R. pipiens and related frog species and compared diversity and divergence at these sequences with that at four putatively neutrally evolving loci. Second, we asked whether the evolutionary patterns observed at Ranatuerin2 were typical for ranatuerin loci by sequencing our samples at a paralogous locus, Ranatuerin2b, and performing the same neutrality tests. Ranatuerin2b also showed strong and significant evidence of at least one selective sweep. Third, we used the neutral loci to independently resolve conflicting hypotheses about phylogenetic relationships among our study species. Both the neutral loci and the ranatuerin loci supported an older phylogeny inferred from allozyme data and strongly rejected a more recent phylogeny inferred from mitochondrial DNA. Finally, in order to test whether the sweep was driven by the evolution of substantially new peptide function, we used the phylogeny to reconstruct the hypothetical Ranatuerin2 peptide that existed before the sweep. We synthesized this peptide and tested its activity and that of the extant peptide against six bacterial pathogens of frogs. We observed antibacterial activity but found no significant functional differences between the two peptides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacob A Tennessen
- Department of Zoology, Oregon State University, 3029 Cordley Hall, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA.
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Laughlin TF, Ahmad Z. Inhibition of Escherichia coli ATP synthase by amphibian antimicrobial peptides. Int J Biol Macromol 2010; 46:367-74. [PMID: 20100509 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2010.01.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2009] [Revised: 01/18/2010] [Accepted: 01/18/2010] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Previously melittin, the alpha-helical basic honey bee venom peptide, was shown to inhibit F(1)-ATPase by binding at the beta-subunit DELSEED motif of F(1)F(o)-ATP synthase. Herein, we present the inhibitory effects of the basic alpha-helical amphibian antimicrobial peptides, ascaphin-8, aurein 2.2, aurein 2.3, carein 1.8, carein 1.9, citropin 1.1, dermaseptin, maculatin 1.1, maganin II, MRP, or XT-7, on purified F(1) and membrane bound F(1)F(0)Escherichia coli ATP synthase. We found that the extent of inhibition by amphibian peptides is variable. Whereas MRP-amide inhibited ATPase essentially completely (approximately 96% inhibition), carein 1.8 did not inhibit at all (0% inhibition). Inhibition by other peptides was partial with a range of approximately 13-70%. MRP-amide was also the most potent inhibitor on molar scale (IC(50) approximately 3.25 microM). Presence of an amide group at the c-terminal of peptides was found to be critical in exerting potent inhibition of ATP synthase ( approximately 20-40% additional inhibition). Inhibition was fully reversible and found to be identical in both F(1)F(0) membrane preparations as well as in isolated purified F(1). Interestingly, growth of E. coli was abrogated in the presence of ascaphin-8, aurein 2.2, aurein 2.3, citropin 1.1, dermaseptin, magainin II-amide, MRP, MRP-amide, melittin, or melittin-amide but was unaffected in the presence of carein 1.8, carein 1.9, maculatin 1.1, magainin II, or XT-7. Hence inhibition of F(1)-ATPase and E. coli cell growth by amphibian antimicrobial peptides suggests that their antimicrobial/anticancer properties are in part linked to their actions on ATP synthase.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas F Laughlin
- Department of Biological Sciences, Box 70703, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN 37614, USA
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Ohnuma A, Conlon JM, Iwamuro S. Differential expression of genes encoding preprobrevinin-2, prepropalustrin-2, and preproranatuerin-2 in developing larvae and adult tissues of the mountain brown frog Rana ornativentris. Comp Biochem Physiol C Toxicol Pharmacol 2010; 151:122-30. [PMID: 19755171 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpc.2009.09.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2009] [Revised: 09/03/2009] [Accepted: 09/08/2009] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Previous studies led to the isolation of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) of the brevinin-2, palustrin-2, and ranatuerin-2 families from skin extracts and/or skin secretions of the Japanese mountain brown frog, Rana ornativentris. In the present study, we cloned cDNAs encoding the precursors of brevinin-2Oc, palustrin-2Oa, and ranatuerin-2Ob and -2Oe from skin total RNA preparations from adult R. ornativentris and established a semi-quantitative RT-PCR system to measure the concentrations of these mRNAs. The levels of preprobrevinin-2 and preproranatuerin-2 mRNAs in the skin specimens of developing R. ornativentris larva were detectable only at stages later than the onset of metamorphosis and reached peaks at the stage of metamorphic climax. In contrast, prepropalustrin-2 mRNA was detected prior to the onset of metamorphosis and levels peaked at stages earlier than those of the other two mRNAs. In adult animals, preprobrevinin-2 and preproranatuerin-2 gene transcripts were detected at low levels in the small intestine and skeletal muscle but not in the stomach, liver, or kidney, whereas prepropalustrin-2 gene transcripts were detected at relatively high concentrations in all tissues examined. These results indicate that the expression of amphibian AMP genes is correlated with metamorphosis but is subjected to differential regulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aya Ohnuma
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Toho University, 2-2-1 Miyama, Funabashi, Chiba, Japan
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