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Chen Y, Jiang H, Sun Z, Liu F, Su M. Hydantoin derivative dimers as broad-spectrum antimicrobial agents against ESKAPE pathogens with enhanced killing rate and stability. RSC Med Chem 2024; 15:2340-2350. [PMID: 39026634 PMCID: PMC11253853 DOI: 10.1039/d4md00374h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2024] [Accepted: 05/29/2024] [Indexed: 07/20/2024] Open
Abstract
A new series of hydantoin derivative dimers as potential broad-spectrum antibiotic agents is designed and synthesized to combat ESKAPE pathogens. As membrane-active antimicrobial agents, in addition to cationic charged and hydrophobic groups that mimic AMPs (antimicrobial peptides), hydantoin backbones and aromatic linkers increased the rigidity and lipophilicity of the designed compounds, thus improving the stability and bactericidal killing rate. After whole cell phenotypic screening against eight bacterial strains, including MRSA (methicillin-resistant S. aureus), compound 18 was chosen as the lead compound with overall excellent broad-spectrum antibacterial activity (GM = 7.32 μg mL-1) and good selectivity. Kill-kinetic studies of compound 18 showed that the bacterial growth of both Gram-positive and Gram-negative was completely inhibited within one hour, which demonstrated excellent sterilization efficiency of 18. Furthermore, drug resistance and mechanism studies showed that compound 18 exhibited a steady antibacterial performance during 25 passages and could disrupt bacterial cell membrane integrity and cause cell death. Along with the facile synthesis procedures in solution, this series of hydantoin derivative dimer compounds could be an appealing next generation of antibiotic agents to combat emergent drug resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yating Chen
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Neuropsychiatric Diseases and Department of Medicinal Chemistry, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Soochow University 199 Ren-Ai Road Suzhou Jiangsu 215123 China
- Jiangsu Province Engineering Research Center of Precision Diagnostics and Therapeutics Development, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Soochow University 199 Ren-Ai Road Suzhou Jiangsu 215123 People's Republic of China
| | - Huiqin Jiang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Neuropsychiatric Diseases and Department of Medicinal Chemistry, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Soochow University 199 Ren-Ai Road Suzhou Jiangsu 215123 China
- Jiangsu Province Engineering Research Center of Precision Diagnostics and Therapeutics Development, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Soochow University 199 Ren-Ai Road Suzhou Jiangsu 215123 People's Republic of China
| | - Zibin Sun
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Neuropsychiatric Diseases and Department of Medicinal Chemistry, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Soochow University 199 Ren-Ai Road Suzhou Jiangsu 215123 China
- Jiangsu Province Engineering Research Center of Precision Diagnostics and Therapeutics Development, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Soochow University 199 Ren-Ai Road Suzhou Jiangsu 215123 People's Republic of China
| | - Feng Liu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Neuropsychiatric Diseases and Department of Medicinal Chemistry, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Soochow University 199 Ren-Ai Road Suzhou Jiangsu 215123 China
- Jiangsu Province Engineering Research Center of Precision Diagnostics and Therapeutics Development, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Soochow University 199 Ren-Ai Road Suzhou Jiangsu 215123 People's Republic of China
| | - Ma Su
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Neuropsychiatric Diseases and Department of Medicinal Chemistry, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Soochow University 199 Ren-Ai Road Suzhou Jiangsu 215123 China
- Jiangsu Province Engineering Research Center of Precision Diagnostics and Therapeutics Development, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Soochow University 199 Ren-Ai Road Suzhou Jiangsu 215123 People's Republic of China
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Lai Z, Yuan X, Chen W, Chen H, Li B, Bi Z, Lyu Y, Shan A. Design of Proteolytic-Resistant Antifungal Peptides by Utilizing Minimum d-Amino Acid Ratios. J Med Chem 2024; 67:10891-10905. [PMID: 38934239 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.4c00394] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/28/2024]
Abstract
Antifungal peptides are an appealing alternative to standard antifungal medicines due to their unique mechanism of action and low-level resistance. However, their susceptibility to protease degradation keeps hindering their future development. Herein, a library was established to design peptides with protease resistance and high antifungal activity. The peptides were incorporated with minimal D-amino acids to further improve the protease stability. The most active peptide, IR3, demonstrated good antifungal activity and low toxicity, and its molecular integrity was maintained after protease hydrolysis for 8 h at 2 mg/mL. Furthermore, IR3 could permeate the fungal cell wall, disrupt the cell membrane, produce reactive oxygen species, and induce apoptosis in fungal cells. In vivo experiments confirmed that IR3 could effectively treat fungal keratitis. Collectively, these findings suggest that IR3 is a promising antifungal agent and may be beneficial in the design and development of protease-resistant antifungal peptides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhenheng Lai
- The College of Animal Science and Technology, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, P. R. China
| | - Xiaojie Yuan
- The College of Animal Science and Technology, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, P. R. China
| | - Wenwen Chen
- The College of Animal Science and Technology, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, P. R. China
| | - Hongyu Chen
- The College of Animal Science and Technology, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, P. R. China
| | - Bowen Li
- The College of Animal Science and Technology, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, P. R. China
| | - Zhongpeng Bi
- The College of Animal Science and Technology, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, P. R. China
| | - Yinfeng Lyu
- The College of Animal Science and Technology, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, P. R. China
| | - Anshan Shan
- The College of Animal Science and Technology, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, P. R. China
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3
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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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Liang Q, Liu Z, Liang Z, Zhu C, Li D, Kong Q, Mou H. Development strategies and application of antimicrobial peptides as future alternatives to in-feed antibiotics. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 927:172150. [PMID: 38580107 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.172150] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2024] [Revised: 03/14/2024] [Accepted: 03/30/2024] [Indexed: 04/07/2024]
Abstract
The use of in-feed antibiotics has been widely restricted due to the significant environmental pollution and food safety concerns they have caused. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) have attracted widespread attention as potential future alternatives to in-feed antibiotics owing to their demonstrated antimicrobial activity and environment friendly characteristics. However, the challenges of weak bioactivity, immature stability, and low production yields of natural AMPs impede practical application in the feed industry. To address these problems, efforts have been made to develop strategies for approaching the AMPs with enhanced properties. Herein, we summarize approaches to improving the properties of AMPs as potential alternatives to in-feed antibiotics, mainly including optimization of structural parameters, sequence modification, selection of microbial hosts, fusion expression, and industrially fermentation control. Additionally, the potential for application of AMPs in animal husbandry is discussed. This comprehensive review lays a strong theoretical foundation for the development of in-feed AMPs to achieve the public health globally.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qingping Liang
- College of Food Science and Engineering, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266404, China
| | - Zhemin Liu
- Fundamental Science R&D Center of Vazyme Biotech Co. Ltd., Nanjing 210000, China
| | - Ziyu Liang
- Section of Neurobiology, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA
| | - Changliang Zhu
- College of Food Science and Engineering, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266404, China
| | - Dongyu Li
- College of Food Science and Engineering, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266404, China
| | - Qing Kong
- College of Food Science and Engineering, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266404, China
| | - Haijin Mou
- College of Food Science and Engineering, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266404, China.
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5
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Yang Z, He S, Wei Y, Li X, Shan A, Wang J. Antimicrobial peptides in combination with citronellal efficiently kills multidrug resistance bacteria. PHYTOMEDICINE : INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHYTOTHERAPY AND PHYTOPHARMACOLOGY 2023; 120:155070. [PMID: 37729771 DOI: 10.1016/j.phymed.2023.155070] [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: 03/19/2023] [Revised: 09/01/2023] [Accepted: 09/04/2023] [Indexed: 09/22/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are considered as the most potential alternatives to antibiotics, but they have several drawbacks, including high cost, medium antimicrobial efficacy, poor cell selectivity, which limit clinical application. To overcome the above problems, combination therapy of AMPs with adjuvants might maximize the effectiveness of AMPs. We found that citronellal can substantially potentiate the ZY4R peptide efficacy against Escherichia coli ATCC25922. However, it is unclear whether ZY4R/citronellal combination poses synergistic antimicrobial effects against most bacteria, and their synergy mechanism has not been elucidated. PURPOSE To investigate synergistic antimicrobial efficacies, biosafety, and synergy mechanism of ZY4R/citronellal combination. METHOD Checkerboard, time-kill curves, cytotoxicity assays, and in vivo animal models were conducted to assess synergistic antimicrobial effects and biosafety of the ZY4R/citronellal combination. To evaluate their synergy mechanism, a series of cell-based assays and transcriptome analysis were performed. RESULTS ZY4R/citronellal combination exhibited synergistic antimicrobial effects against 20 clinically significant pathogens, with the fractional inhibitory concentration index (FICI) ranging from 0.313 to 0.047. Meanwhile, ZY4R/citronellal combination enhanced antimicrobial efficacies without compromising cell selectivity, contributing to decreasing drug dosage and improving biosafety. Compared with ZY4R (4 mg/kg) and citronellal (25 mg/kg) alone, ZY4R (4 mg/kg)/citronellal (25 mg/kg) combination significantly decreased the bacterial load in peritoneal fluid, liver, and kidney (P < 0.05) and alleviated pathological damage of the organs of mice. Mechanistic studies showed that ZY4R allowed citronellal to pass through the outer membrane rapidly and acted on the inner membrane together with citronellal, causing more potent membrane damage. The membrane damage prompted the continuous accumulation of citronellal in cells, and citronellal further induced energy breakdown and inhibited exopolysaccharide (EPS) production, which aggravated ZY4R-induced outer membrane damage, thereby resulting in bacterial death. CONCLUSIONS ZY4R/citronellal combination exhibited broad-spectrum synergy with a low resistance development and high biosafety. Their synergy mechanism acted on two important cellular targets (energy metabolism and membrane integrity). Combination therapy of ZY4R with citronellal may be a promising mixture to combat bacterial infections facing an antibiotic-resistance crisis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhanyi Yang
- College of animal science and technology, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, P. R. China
| | - Shiqi He
- College of animal science and technology, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, P. R. China
| | - Yingxin Wei
- College of animal science and technology, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, P. R. China
| | - Xuefeng Li
- College of animal science and technology, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, P. R. China
| | - Anshan Shan
- College of animal science and technology, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, P. R. China.
| | - Jiajun Wang
- College of animal science and technology, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, P. R. China.
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Chen Y, Ye Z, Zhen W, Zhang L, Min X, Wang Y, Liu F, Su M. Design and synthesis of broad-spectrum antimicrobial amphiphilic peptidomimetics to combat drug-resistance. Bioorg Chem 2023; 140:106766. [PMID: 37572534 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioorg.2023.106766] [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: 06/08/2023] [Revised: 07/25/2023] [Accepted: 08/02/2023] [Indexed: 08/14/2023]
Abstract
The gradual depletion of antibiotic discovery pipeline makes the antibiotic resistance a difficult clinical problem and a global health emergency. The membrane-active antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) attracted much attention due to a lower tendency to bacterial resistance than traditional antibiotics. However, some immanent drawbacks of AMPs may hamper their application in combating antibiotic resistance in the long run, such as susceptible to enzymatic degradation and low cell permeability. Herein, we report the design and synthesis of a novel series of amphiphilic peptidomimetics, from which we identified compounds that exhibited potent antimicrobial activity against a panel of clinically relevant Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria strains. The most potent compound 20 (SD-110-12) is able to kill intracellular bacterial pathogens and prevent the development of bacterial resistance under the tested conditions by targeting cell membranes. Additionally, compound 20 (SD-110-12) obtains good in vivo efficacy that is comparative to vancomycin by eradicating MRSA and suppressing inflammation in a mice infected skin wound model, demonstrating its promising therapeutic potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yating Chen
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Neuropsychiatric Diseases and Department of Medicinal Chemistry, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Soochow University, 199 Ren-Ai Road, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215123, China
| | - Zifan Ye
- Department of Biopharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215123, China
| | - Wenteng Zhen
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Neuropsychiatric Diseases and Department of Medicinal Chemistry, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Soochow University, 199 Ren-Ai Road, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215123, China
| | - Lu Zhang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Neuropsychiatric Diseases and Department of Medicinal Chemistry, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Soochow University, 199 Ren-Ai Road, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215123, China
| | - Xiangyang Min
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Medicine, Yangpu Hospital of Tongji University, Shanghai 200000, China
| | - Yipeng Wang
- Department of Biopharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215123, China.
| | - Feng Liu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Neuropsychiatric Diseases and Department of Medicinal Chemistry, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Soochow University, 199 Ren-Ai Road, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215123, China; Jiangsu Province Engineering Research Center of Precision Diagnostics and Therapeutics Development, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Soochow University, 199 Ren-Ai Road, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215123, China.
| | - Ma Su
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Neuropsychiatric Diseases and Department of Medicinal Chemistry, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Soochow University, 199 Ren-Ai Road, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215123, China; Jiangsu Province Engineering Research Center of Precision Diagnostics and Therapeutics Development, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Soochow University, 199 Ren-Ai Road, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215123, China.
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Zhang J, Ouyang X, Zhang F, Li B, Chang L, Yang P, Mao W, Gou S, Zhang Y, Liu H, Yao J, Ni J. Structure-Activity Relationship Study of Antimicrobial Peptide PE2 Delivered Novel Linear Derivatives with Potential of Eradicating Biofilms and Low Incidence of Drug Resistance. J Med Chem 2023. [PMID: 37368962 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.3c00181] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/29/2023]
Abstract
The ongoing emergence of antibiotic-resistant pathogens had been dramatically stimulating and accelerating the need for new drugs. PE2 is a kind of cyclic lipopeptide with broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity. Herein, its structure-activity relationship was systematically investigated by employing 4 cyclic analogues and 23 linear analogues for the first time. The screened linear analogues 26 and 27 bearing different fatty acyls at N-termini and a Tyr residue at the 9th position had superior potency compared to the cyclic analogues and showed equivalent antimicrobial activity compared with PE2. Notably, 26 and 27 exhibited significant ability against multidrug-resistant bacteria, favorable resistance to protease, excellent performance against biofilm, low drug resistance, and high effectiveness against the mice pneumonia model. The antibacterial mechanisms of PE2 and linear derivatives 26 and 27 were also preliminarily explored in this study. As described above, 26 and 27 are promising antimicrobial candidates for the treatment of infections associated with drug-resistant bacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingying Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Institute of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, and Research Unit of Peptide Science, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, 2019RU066, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, P. R. China
| | - Xu Ouyang
- Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Institute of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, and Research Unit of Peptide Science, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, 2019RU066, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, P. R. China
| | - Fangyan Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Institute of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, and Research Unit of Peptide Science, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, 2019RU066, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, P. R. China
| | - Beibei Li
- Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Institute of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, and Research Unit of Peptide Science, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, 2019RU066, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, P. R. China
| | - Linlin Chang
- Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Institute of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, and Research Unit of Peptide Science, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, 2019RU066, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, P. R. China
| | - Ping Yang
- Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Institute of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, and Research Unit of Peptide Science, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, 2019RU066, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, P. R. China
| | - Wenbo Mao
- Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Institute of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, and Research Unit of Peptide Science, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, 2019RU066, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, P. R. China
| | - Sanhu Gou
- Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Institute of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, and Research Unit of Peptide Science, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, 2019RU066, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, P. R. China
| | - Yun Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Institute of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, and Research Unit of Peptide Science, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, 2019RU066, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, P. R. China
| | - Hui Liu
- Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Institute of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, and Research Unit of Peptide Science, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, 2019RU066, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, P. R. China
| | - Jia Yao
- The First Hospital of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, P. R. China
| | - Jingman Ni
- Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Institute of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, and Research Unit of Peptide Science, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, 2019RU066, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, P. R. China
- Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Peking Union Medical College, Institute of Materia Medica, No. 1 Xian Nong Tan Street, Beijing 100050, P. R. China
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8
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He S, Yang Z, Li X, Wu H, Zhang L, Shan A, Wang J. Boosting stability and therapeutic potential of proteolysis-resistant antimicrobial peptides by end-tagging β-naphthylalanine. Acta Biomater 2023; 164:175-194. [PMID: 37100185 DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2023.04.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2022] [Revised: 04/16/2023] [Accepted: 04/19/2023] [Indexed: 04/28/2023]
Abstract
Recently, much emphasis has been placed on solving the intrinsic defects of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), especially their susceptibility to protease digestion for the systemic application of antibacterial biomaterials. Although many strategies have increased the protease stability of AMPs, antimicrobial activity was severely compromised, thereby substantially weakening their therapeutic effect. To address this issue, we introduced hydrophobic group modifications at the N-terminus of proteolysis-resistant AMPs D1 (AArIIlrWrFR) through end-tagging with stretches of natural amino acids (W and I), unnatural amino acid (Nal) and fatty acids. Of these peptides, N1 tagged with a Nal at N-terminus showed the highest selectivity index (GMSI = 19.59), with a 6.73-fold improvement over D1. In addition to potent broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity, N1 also exhibited high antimicrobial stability toward salts, serum and proteases in vitro and ideal biocompatibility and therapeutic efficacy in vivo. Furthermore, N1 killed bacteria through multiple mechanisms, involving disruption of bacterial membranes and inhibition of bacterial energy metabolism. Indeed, appropriate terminal hydrophobicity modification opens up new avenues for developing and applying high-stability peptide-based antibacterial biomaterials. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: To improve the potency and stability of proteolysis-resistant antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) without increasing toxicity, we constructed a convenient and tunable platform based on different compositions and lengths of hydrophobic end modifications. By tagging an Nal at the N-terminal, the obtained target compound N1 exhibited strong antimicrobial activity and desirable stability under multifarious environments in vitro (protease, salts and serum), and also showed favorable biocompatibility and therapeutic efficacy in vivo. Notably, N1exerted its bactericidal effect by damaging bacterial cell membranes and inhibiting bacterial energy metabolism in a dual mode. The findings provide a potential method for designing or optimizing proteolysis-resistant AMPs thus promoting the development and application of peptide-based antibacterial biomaterial.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shiqi He
- Animal Science and Technology College, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, P. R. China
| | - Zhanyi Yang
- Animal Science and Technology College, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, P. R. China
| | - Xuefeng Li
- Animal Science and Technology College, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, P. R. China
| | - Hua Wu
- Animal Science and Technology College, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, P. R. China
| | - Licong Zhang
- Animal Science and Technology College, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, P. R. China
| | - Anshan Shan
- Animal Science and Technology College, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, P. R. China.
| | - Jiajun Wang
- Animal Science and Technology College, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, P. R. China.
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9
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Niu M, Gu X, Yang J, Cui H, Hou X, Ma Y, Wang C, Wei G. Dual-Mechanism Glycolipidpeptide with High Antimicrobial Activity, Immunomodulatory Activity, and Potential Application for Combined Antibacterial Therapy. ACS NANO 2023; 17:6292-6316. [PMID: 36951612 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.2c10249] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Bacterial drug resistance is becoming increasingly serious, and it is urgent to develop effective antibacterial drugs. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), as potential candidates against bacteria, have a broad prospect for development. Herein, a series of AMPs with biological characteristics (net positive charge, amphiphilicity, and α-helix), an AXA motif recognized by membrane bound serine protease type I signal peptidases (SPase I), an FLPII motif to reduce hemolysis, and a monosaccharide motif to improve the stability and activity were designed and synthesized, and among which, the glycolipidpeptide GLP6 (glycosylated LP6 lipopeptide) had excellent antibacterial and immunomodulatory activity, good stability and biocompatibility, and excellent biofilm eradication and membrane penetrating activity. The positively charged spherical aggregates formed by self-assembly of GLP6 could encapsulate tetracycline (TC) to form GLP6@TC with a sustained-release effect, which could enhance the sensitivity of bacteria to the antibiotic and realize combined sterilization. The results of acute peritonitis and bacterial keratitis showed that GLP6@TC had a good combined antibacterial effect and the ability to inhibit interleukin-2 (IL-2), which could significantly reduce the inflammatory response while treating bacterial infection, and it had great potential for application. The results of computer molecular docking showed the AXA motif could effectively bind to SPase I, which was consistent with the results of biological experiments. In general, the study could provide a perspective for the design of AMPs and combined antibacterial therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mingcong Niu
- Department of Pharmacy Science, Binzhou Medical University, Yantai 264003, China
| | - Xiulian Gu
- Department of Pharmacy Science, Binzhou Medical University, Yantai 264003, China
| | - Jingyi Yang
- Department of Pharmacy Science, Binzhou Medical University, Yantai 264003, China
| | - Haoyu Cui
- Department of Pharmacy Science, Binzhou Medical University, Yantai 264003, China
| | - Xinyi Hou
- Department of Pharmacy Science, Binzhou Medical University, Yantai 264003, China
| | - Yue Ma
- Department of Pharmacy Science, Binzhou Medical University, Yantai 264003, China
| | - Chunhua Wang
- Department of Pharmacy Science, Binzhou Medical University, Yantai 264003, China
| | - Guangcheng Wei
- Department of Pharmacy Science, Binzhou Medical University, Yantai 264003, China
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10
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Li G, Lai Z, Shan A. Advances of Antimicrobial Peptide-Based Biomaterials for the Treatment of Bacterial Infections. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2023; 10:e2206602. [PMID: 36722732 PMCID: PMC10104676 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202206602] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 33.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2022] [Revised: 01/12/2023] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
Owing to the increase in multidrug-resistant bacterial isolates in hospitals globally and the lack of truly effective antimicrobial agents, antibiotic resistant bacterial infections have increased substantially. There is thus an urgent need to develop new antimicrobial drugs and their related formulations. In recent years, natural antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), AMP optimization, self-assembled AMPs, AMP hydrogels, and biomaterial-assisted delivery of AMPs have shown great potential in the treatment of bacterial infections. In this review, it is focused on the development prospects and shortcomings of various AMP-based biomaterials for treating animal model infections, such as abdominal, skin, and eye infections. It is hoped that this review will inspire further innovations in the design of AMP-based biomaterials for the treatment of bacterial infections and accelerate their commercialization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guoyu Li
- The Institute of Animal NutritionNortheast Agricultural UniversityHarbin150030P. R. China
| | - Zhenheng Lai
- The Institute of Animal NutritionNortheast Agricultural UniversityHarbin150030P. R. China
| | - Anshan Shan
- The Institute of Animal NutritionNortheast Agricultural UniversityHarbin150030P. R. China
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11
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Lyu Y, Tan M, Xue M, Hou W, Yang C, Shan A, Xiang W, Cheng B. Broad-spectrum hybrid antimicrobial peptides derived from PMAP-23 with potential LPS binding ability. Biochem Pharmacol 2023; 210:115500. [PMID: 36921633 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2023.115500] [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] [Received: 12/20/2022] [Revised: 02/21/2023] [Accepted: 03/07/2023] [Indexed: 03/16/2023]
Abstract
Antimicrobial peptides, as an integral part of the innate immune system, kill bacteria through a special mechanism of action, making them less susceptible to drug resistance. However, Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) as the permeation barrier on the bacterial membrane, inhibits the antibacterial activity of antimicrobial peptides and triggers the inflammatory response. GWKRKRFG is an LPS binding sequence with a β-boomerang motif that can be linked to antimicrobial peptides to enhance their LPS affinity and reduce the possibility of LPS-induced inflammatory responses. In this study, a series of hybrid peptides were designed by conjugating the reported LPS binding sequence to the C-/N-terminal sequences of the natural porcine antimicrobial peptide PMAP-23 to increase the LPS affinity of peptides. Among all the designed hybrid peptides, 4R-PP-G8 showed the best antibacterial activity, nonhemolytic activity, and excellent cell selectivity. The presence of LPS not only induced the secondary structure transformation of 4R-PP-G8 from a random structure to an α-helical structure but also reduced the antibacterial activity of 4R-PP-G8 in a dose-dependent manner, indicating the excellent binding ability of 4R-PP-G8 to LPS. The LPS/LTA binding assay further verified the interaction between the peptide and LPS. The membrane permeability test verified that 4R-PP-G8 possessed a strong capability to penetrate the bacterial membrane after interacting with LPS. More direct membrane disruption was observed under FE-SEM and TEM. In conclusion, we provided a simple and efficient method to improve the LPS binding ability of antimicrobial peptides and enhance their antimicrobial activity, resulting in the peptide 4R-PP-G8 with clinical application potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yinfeng Lyu
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150030, P.R. China
| | - Meishu Tan
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150030, P.R. China
| | - Meng Xue
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150030, P.R. China
| | - Wenjing Hou
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150030, P.R. China
| | - Chengyi Yang
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150030, P.R. China
| | - Anshan Shan
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150030, P.R. China.
| | - Wensheng Xiang
- School of Life Science, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150030, P.R. China
| | - Baojing Cheng
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150030, P.R. China
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12
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Wang Y, Xue M, Gao R, Chakraborty S, Wang S, Zhao X, Gu M, Cao C, Sun X, Cai J. Short, Lipidated Dendrimeric γ-AApeptides as New Antimicrobial Peptidomimetics. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:6407. [PMID: 37047380 PMCID: PMC10094648 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24076407] [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: 02/10/2023] [Revised: 03/20/2023] [Accepted: 03/23/2023] [Indexed: 03/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Antibiotic resistance is one of the most significant issues encountered in global health. There is an urgent demand for the development of a new generation of antibiotic agents combating the emergence of drug resistance. In this article, we reported the design of lipidated dendrimeric γ-AApeptides as a new class of antimicrobial agents. These AApeptides showed excellent potency and broad-spectrum activity against both Gram-positive bacteria and Gram-negative bacteria, including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). The mechanistic studies revealed that the dendrimeric AApeptides could kill bacteria rapidly through the permeabilization of bacterial membranes, analogous to host-defense peptides (HDPs). These dendrimers also did not induce antibiotic resistance readily. The easy access to the synthesis, together with their potent and broad-spectrum activity, make these lipidated dendrimeric γ-AApeptides a new generation of antibacterial agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yafeng Wang
- Department of Chemistry, University of South Florida, 4202 E. Fowler Ave., Tampa, FL 33620, USA
| | - Menglin Xue
- Department of Chemistry, University of South Florida, 4202 E. Fowler Ave., Tampa, FL 33620, USA
| | - Ruixuan Gao
- Department of Chemistry, University of South Florida, 4202 E. Fowler Ave., Tampa, FL 33620, USA
| | - Soumyadeep Chakraborty
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, 12901 Bruce B Downs Blvd., Tampa, FL 33612, USA
| | - Shaohui Wang
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, 12901 Bruce B Downs Blvd., Tampa, FL 33612, USA
| | - Xue Zhao
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, 12901 Bruce B Downs Blvd., Tampa, FL 33612, USA
| | - Meng Gu
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, 12901 Bruce B Downs Blvd., Tampa, FL 33612, USA
| | - Chuanhai Cao
- College of Pharmacy, University of South Florida, 12901 Bruce B Downs Blvd., Tampa, FL 33612, USA
| | - Xingmin Sun
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, 12901 Bruce B Downs Blvd., Tampa, FL 33612, USA
| | - Jianfeng Cai
- Department of Chemistry, University of South Florida, 4202 E. Fowler Ave., Tampa, FL 33620, USA
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13
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Yang Z, Wei Y, Wu W, Zhang L, Wang J, Shan A. Characterization of simplified nonapeptides with broad-spectrum antimicrobial activities as potential food preservatives, and their antibacterial mechanism. Food Funct 2023; 14:3139-3154. [PMID: 36892465 DOI: 10.1039/d2fo03861g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/10/2023]
Abstract
Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) have attracted attention in the field of food preservatives due to their favorable biosafety and potential antimicrobial activity. However, high synthetic cost, systemic toxicity, a narrow antimicrobial spectrum, and poor antimicrobial activity become the main bottlenecks for their practical applications. To address these questions, a set of derived nonapeptides were designed based on a previously discovered ultra-short peptide sequence template (RXRXRXRXL-NH2) and screened to identify an optimal peptide-based food preservative with excellent antimicrobial properties. Among these nonapeptides, the designed peptides 3IW (RIRIRIRWL-NH2) and W2IW (RWRIRIRWL-NH2) presented a membrane-disruptive and reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation mechanism to execute potent and rapid broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity without observed cytotoxicity. Moreover, they exhibited favorable antimicrobial stability regardless of high ionic strength, heat, and excessive acid-base conditions, retaining potent antimicrobial effects for chicken meat preservation. Collectively, their ultra-short sequence length and potent broad-spectrum antimicrobial capacity may be beneficial for the further development of green and safe peptide-based food preservatives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhanyi Yang
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, 150030, China.
| | - Yingxin Wei
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, 150030, China.
| | - Wanpeng Wu
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, 150030, China.
| | - Licong Zhang
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, 150030, China.
| | - Jiajun Wang
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, 150030, China.
| | - Anshan Shan
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, 150030, China.
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14
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Li S, Wang M, Chen S, Ampomah-Wireko M, Gao C, Xia Z, Nininahazwe L, Qin S, Zhang E. Development of biaromatic core-linked antimicrobial peptide mimics: Substituent position significantly affects antibacterial activity and hemolytic toxicity. Eur J Med Chem 2023; 247:115029. [PMID: 36549113 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2022.115029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2022] [Revised: 12/04/2022] [Accepted: 12/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
The development of bacterial resistance to the majority of clinically significant antimicrobials has made it more difficult to treat bacterial infections with conventional antibiotics. As part of ongoing research on antimicrobial peptide mimetics, a series of quaternary ammonium cationic compounds with various linkers were designed and synthesized, with some demonstrating high antibacterial activity against Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria. The structure-activity relationship study revealed that the spatial position of substituents had a significant impact on antibacterial activity and hemolytic toxicity. The best compound, 3e, has good antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus [minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC = 1 μg/mL)] and the least hemolytic toxicity [hemolytic concentration (HC50 = 905 μg/mL)], is stable in mammalian body fluids, and rarely induces bacterial resistance. The mechanism study revealed that the membrane action mode may be its potential bactericidal mechanism, and it can effectively cause the accumulation of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) for killing bacteria. Importantly, 3e can effectively reduce the load of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in mouse skin and has a higher in vivo bactericidal efficiency than vancomycin. These findings highlight the significance of divergent linkers in quaternary ammonium cations as antimicrobial peptide mimics and the potential of these cations to treat bacterial infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sen Li
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Institute of Drug Discovery and Development, Key Laboratory of Advanced Pharmaceutical Technology, Ministry of Education of China, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001, PR China
| | - Meng Wang
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Institute of Drug Discovery and Development, Key Laboratory of Advanced Pharmaceutical Technology, Ministry of Education of China, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001, PR China
| | - Shengcong Chen
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Institute of Drug Discovery and Development, Key Laboratory of Advanced Pharmaceutical Technology, Ministry of Education of China, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001, PR China
| | - Maxwell Ampomah-Wireko
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Institute of Drug Discovery and Development, Key Laboratory of Advanced Pharmaceutical Technology, Ministry of Education of China, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001, PR China
| | - Chen Gao
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Institute of Drug Discovery and Development, Key Laboratory of Advanced Pharmaceutical Technology, Ministry of Education of China, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001, PR China
| | - Ziwei Xia
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Institute of Drug Discovery and Development, Key Laboratory of Advanced Pharmaceutical Technology, Ministry of Education of China, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001, PR China
| | - Lauraine Nininahazwe
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Institute of Drug Discovery and Development, Key Laboratory of Advanced Pharmaceutical Technology, Ministry of Education of China, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001, PR China
| | - Shangshang Qin
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Institute of Drug Discovery and Development, Key Laboratory of Advanced Pharmaceutical Technology, Ministry of Education of China, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001, PR China; Collaborative Innovation Center of New Drug Research and Safety Evaluation, Henan Province, Zhengzhou, 450001, PR China.
| | - En Zhang
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Institute of Drug Discovery and Development, Key Laboratory of Advanced Pharmaceutical Technology, Ministry of Education of China, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001, PR China; Collaborative Innovation Center of New Drug Research and Safety Evaluation, Henan Province, Zhengzhou, 450001, PR China.
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15
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Hydrophobic modification improves the delivery of cell-penetrating peptides to eliminate intracellular pathogens in animals. Acta Biomater 2023; 157:210-224. [PMID: 36503077 DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2022.11.055] [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] [Received: 07/26/2022] [Revised: 11/22/2022] [Accepted: 11/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Infections induced by intracellular pathogens are difficult to eradicate due to poor penetration of antimicrobials into cell membranes. It is of great importance to develop a new generation of antibacterial agents with dual functions of efficient cell penetration and bacterial inhibition. In this study, the association between hydrophobicity and cell-penetrating peptide delivery efficiency was investigated by fragment interception and hydrophobicity modification of natural porcine antimicrobial peptide PR-39 and the combination of cationic cell-penetrating peptide (R6) with antimicrobial peptide fragments modified with hydrophobic residues. The chimeric peptides P3I7 and P3L7, obtained through biofunctional screening, exhibited potent broad-spectrum antibacterial activity and low cytotoxicity. Moreover, P3I7 and P3L7 can effectively penetrate cells to eliminate intracellular pathogens mainly through endocytosis. The membrane destruction mechanism makes the peptides fast sterilizers and less prone to developing drug resistance. Finally, their good biocompatibility and antibacterial infection effects were verified in mice and piglets. To conclude, the chimeric peptides P3I7 and P3L7 show great potential as affordable and effective antimicrobial agents and may serve as ideal candidates for the treatment of intracellular bacterial infections. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: The low permeability of antibacterial drugs makes infections induced by intracellular bacteria extremely difficult to treat. To address this issue, we designed chimeric peptides with dual cell-penetrating and antibacterial functions. The active peptides P3I7 and P3L7, acquired through functional screening have strong broad-spectrum antibacterial activity and powerful bactericidal effects against intracellular Staphylococcus aureus. The membrane permeation mechanism of P3I7 and P3L7 against bacteria endows fast bactericidal activity with low drug resistance. The biosafety and antibacterial activity of P3I7 and P3L7 were also validated by in vivo trials. This study provides an ideal drug candidate against intracellular bacterial infections.
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16
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Yu W, Sun Y, Li W, Guo X, Liu X, Wu W, Yu W, Wang J, Shan A. Self-Assembly of Antimicrobial Peptide-Based Micelles Breaks the Limitation of Trypsin. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2023; 15:494-510. [PMID: 36577517 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.2c17941] [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] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Targeting the limitation of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) application in vivo, self-assembled AMPs library with specific nanostructures is expected to gradually overtake monomer AMPs libraries in the future. Peptide polymers are fascinating self-assembling nanoscale structures that have great advantage in biomedical applications because of their satisfactory biocompatibility and versatile properties. Herein, we describe a strategy for inducing the self-assembly of T9W into nanostructured antimicrobial micelles with evidently improved pharmacological properties, that is, PEGylation at the C-terminal of T9W (CT9W1000), an antibacterial biomaterial that self-assembles in aqueous media without exogenous excipients, has been developed. Compared with parental molecular, the CT9W1000 is more effective against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and its antibacterial spectrum had also been broadened. Additionally, CT9W1000 micelles had higher stability under salt ion, serum, and acid-base environments. Importantly, the self-assembled structure is highly resistant to trypsin degradation, probably allowing T9W to be applied in clinical settings in the future. Mechanistically, by acting on membranes and through supplementary bactericidal mechanisms, CT9W1000 micelles contribute to the antibacterial process. Collectively, CT9W1000 micelles exhibited good biocompatibility in vitro and in vivo, resulting in highly effective treatment in a mouse acute lung injury model induced by P. aeruginosa PAO1 without drug resistance. These advances may profoundly accelerate the clinical transformation of T9W and promote the development of a combination of peptide-based antibiotics and PEGylated nanotechnology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weikang Yu
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, P. R. China
| | - Yu Sun
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, P. R. China
| | - Wenyu Li
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, P. R. China
| | - Xu Guo
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, P. R. China
| | - Xuesheng Liu
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, P. R. China
| | - Wanpeng Wu
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, P. R. China
| | - Wanqi Yu
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, P. R. China
| | - Jiajun Wang
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, P. R. China
| | - Anshan Shan
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, P. R. China
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17
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Sharma L, Bisht GS. Short Antimicrobial Peptides: Therapeutic Potential and Recent Advancements. Curr Pharm Des 2023; 29:3005-3017. [PMID: 38018196 DOI: 10.2174/0113816128248959231102114334] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2023] [Revised: 09/28/2023] [Accepted: 10/11/2023] [Indexed: 11/30/2023]
Abstract
There has been a lot of interest in antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) as potential next-generation antibiotics. They are components of the innate immune system. AMPs have broad-spectrum action and are less prone to resistance development. They show potential applications in various fields, including medicine, agriculture, and the food industry. However, despite the good activity and safety profiles, AMPs have had difficulty finding success in the clinic due to their various limitations, such as production cost, proteolytic susceptibility, and oral bioavailability. To overcome these flaws, a number of solutions have been devised, one of which is developing short antimicrobial peptides. Short antimicrobial peptides do have an advantage over longer peptides as they are more stable and do not collapse during absorption. They have generated a lot of interest because of their evolutionary success and advantageous properties, such as low molecular weight, selective targets, cell or organelles with minimal toxicity, and enormous therapeutic potential. This article provides an overview of the development of short antimicrobial peptides with an emphasis on those with ≤ 30 amino acid residues as a potential therapeutic agent to fight drug-resistant microorganisms. It also emphasizes their applications in many fields and discusses their current state in clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lalita Sharma
- Department of Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Jaypee University of Information Technology, Waknaghat, Himachal Pradesh, India
| | - Gopal Singh Bisht
- Department of Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Jaypee University of Information Technology, Waknaghat, Himachal Pradesh, India
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18
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Shen BY, Wang MM, Xu SM, Gao C, Wang M, Li S, Ampomah-Wireko M, Chen SC, Yan DC, Qin S, Zhang E. Antibacterial efficacy evaluation and mechanism probe of small lysine chalcone peptide mimics. Eur J Med Chem 2022; 244:114885. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2022.114885] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2022] [Revised: 10/15/2022] [Accepted: 10/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
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19
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Luo X, Song Y, Cao Z, Qin Z, Dessie W, He N, Wang Z, Tan Y. Evaluation of the antimicrobial activities and mechanisms of synthetic antimicrobial peptide against food-borne pathogens. FOOD BIOSCI 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.fbio.2022.101903] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
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20
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He S, Yang Z, Li X, Wu H, Zhang L, Wang J, Shan A. Optimized proteolytic resistance motif (DabW)-based U1-2WD: A membrane-induced self-aggregating peptide to trigger bacterial agglutination and death. Acta Biomater 2022; 153:540-556. [PMID: 36162762 DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2022.09.038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2022] [Revised: 09/09/2022] [Accepted: 09/15/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The biggest application bottleneck of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) is the low oral bioavailability caused by the poor stability of digestive enzymes in the gastrointestinal tract. However, the research methods and evaluation criteria of available studies about anti-proteolytic strategies are not uniform and far from the actual environment in vivo. Here, we developed a research system and evaluation criteria for proteolytic resistance and systematically evaluated the effectiveness of different strategies for improving the protease stability of AMPs on the same platform for the first time. After a comprehensive analysis, Dab modification is identified as the most effective strategy to improve the trypsin stability of AMPs. By further modulating the proteolytic resistance optimization motif (DabW)n, U1-2WD is obtained with ideal stability and antimicrobial properties in vivo and in vitro. Notably, U1-2WD has a unique antibacterial mechanism, which forms amorphous aggregates in the bacteria environment to trigger the agglutination of bacterial cells to prevent bacterial escape. It then kills bacteria by disrupting bacterial membranes and inhibiting bacterial energy metabolism. Overall, our work has led to a new understanding of the effectiveness of proteolytic resistance strategies and accelerated the development of anti-proteolytic AMPs to combat multidrug-resistant bacterial infections. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: We developed research system and evaluation criteria for proteolytic resistance and systematically evaluated the effectiveness of different strategies for improving protease stability of AMPs on the same platform for the first time. we found effective strategies to resist trypsin hydrolysis: modification with backbone (β-Arg), D-enantiomer (D-Arg) and L-2,4-diaminobutanoic acid (Dab). Further, the proteolytic resistance optimization motif (DabW)n was designed. When n=3, derivative U1-2WD was obtained with desirable stability and antimicrobial properties in vivo and in vitro. Notably, U1-2WD has a unique antibacterial mechanism, which can self-aggregate into amorphous aggregates in the bacteria environment to mediate the agglutination and sedimentation of bacterial cells to prevent bacterial escape, and then kill bacteria by destroying bacterial membranes and inhibiting bacterial energy metabolism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shiqi He
- Institute of Animal Nutrition, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, P. R. China
| | - Zhanyi Yang
- Institute of Animal Nutrition, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, P. R. China
| | - Xuefeng Li
- Institute of Animal Nutrition, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, P. R. China
| | - Hua Wu
- Institute of Animal Nutrition, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, P. R. China
| | - Licong Zhang
- Institute of Animal Nutrition, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, P. R. China
| | - Jiajun Wang
- Institute of Animal Nutrition, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, P. R. China.
| | - Anshan Shan
- Institute of Animal Nutrition, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, P. R. China.
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21
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Shi J, Chen C, Wang D, Wang Z, Liu Y. The antimicrobial peptide LI14 combats multidrug-resistant bacterial infections. Commun Biol 2022; 5:926. [PMID: 36071151 PMCID: PMC9452538 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-022-03899-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2022] [Accepted: 08/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The prevalence of multidrug-resistant (MDR) pathogens raises public fears of untreatable infections and represents a huge health risk. There is an urgent need to exploit novel antimicrobial agents. Due to the unique mechanisms, antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) with a low probability to achieve resistance are regarded as potential antibiotic alternatives to address this issue. Herein, we develop a panel of synthetic peptide compounds with novel structures based on the database filters technology (DFT), and the lead peptide LI14 shows potent antibacterial activity against all tested drug-resistant bacteria. LI14 exhibits rapid bactericidal activity and excellent anti-biofilm and -persisters activity, simultaneously showing a low propensity to induce resistance. Moreover, LI14 shows tolerance against pH, temperatures, and pepsin treatment, and no detectable toxicity both in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistic studies revealed that LI14 induces membrane damage by targeting bacterial-specific membrane components and dissipates the proton motive force (PMF), thereby resulting in metabolic perturbations and the accumulation of toxic metabolic products. Furthermore, LI14 sensitizes clinically relevant antibiotics against MDR bacteria. In animal models of infection, LI14 or combined with antibiotics are effective against drug-resistant pathogens. These findings suggest that LI14 is a promising antibiotic candidate to tackle MDR bacterial infections. A synthetic peptide LI14 demonstrates potent antibacterial activity against drug-resistant bacteria in vitro and in vivo by inducing membrane damage and disrupting membrane potential leading to metabolic perturbation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingru Shi
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225009, China
| | - Chen Chen
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225009, China
| | - Dejuan Wang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225009, China
| | - Zhiqiang Wang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225009, China. .,Jiangsu Co-innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225009, China. .,Joint International Research Laboratory of Agriculture and Agri-Product Safety, the Ministry of Education of China, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225009, China.
| | - Yuan Liu
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225009, China. .,Jiangsu Co-innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225009, China. .,Joint International Research Laboratory of Agriculture and Agri-Product Safety, the Ministry of Education of China, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225009, China. .,Institute of Comparative Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225009, China.
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22
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Yoon KA, Kim WJ, Cho H, Yoon H, Ahn NH, Lee BH, Lee SH. Characterization of anti-microbial peptides and proteins from maggots of Calliphoridae and Sarcophagidae fly species (Diptera). Comp Biochem Physiol C Toxicol Pharmacol 2022; 259:109390. [PMID: 35661821 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpc.2022.109390] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2022] [Revised: 05/25/2022] [Accepted: 05/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Removal of infected wounds using maggots has been known for centuries. Early research has shown that the maggot exosecretion, whole body, and fecal waste products of Calliphoridae and Sarcophagidae species contain a variety of alkaline peptides capable of inhibiting bacterial growth. Since the wide application of antibiotics such as penicillin, a number of bacterial infections have become insensitive to antibiotic treatment. In many of these instances, maggot therapy has been successfully applied for the treatment of chronic wounds. To identify and compare the expression patterns of anti-microbial peptides (AMPs) from some dipteran species, transcriptome analyses were conducted for the maggots of 11 Calliphoridae and Sarcophagidae species. Species of the subfamily Calliphorinae showed relatively higher expression levels of AMPs and anti-microbial proteins compared with those of Luciliinae and Sarcophagidae species. Furthermore, among all of the dipteran species examined, Lucilia illustris exhibited the highest transcription levels of AMPs. Cecropin A2 and defensin, whose expression levels were the highest among the anti-microbial peptides, were synthesized to test their biological activity. The synthesized peptides showed anti-microbial activities without hemolytic activities. In particular, cecropin A2 of L. illustris exhibited the highest anti-microbial activity against all of the bacteria and fungi examined, thereby possessing the potential to be developed as a new alternative to antibiotics. This comparative transcriptomic study may provide new insights into anti-microbial compositions of some dipteran species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyungjae Andrew Yoon
- Research Institute of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea.
| | - Woo-Jin Kim
- EntoCode Co., Seoul 06028, Republic of Korea
| | - Hanna Cho
- Biological and Genetic Resources Assessment Division, National Institute of Biological Resources, Incheon 22689, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyeokjun Yoon
- Biological and Genetic Resources Assessment Division, National Institute of Biological Resources, Incheon 22689, Republic of Korea
| | - Neung-Ho Ahn
- Biological and Genetic Resources Assessment Division, National Institute of Biological Resources, Incheon 22689, Republic of Korea
| | - Byoung-Hee Lee
- Biological and Genetic Resources Assessment Division, National Institute of Biological Resources, Incheon 22689, Republic of Korea
| | - Si Hyeock Lee
- Research Institute of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea; Department of Agricultural Biology, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea.
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23
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Jiang SJ, Xiao X, Zheng J, Lai S, Yang L, Li J, Liu C, Yang Y, Mu Y. Antibacterial and antibiofilm activities of novel antimicrobial peptide DP7 against the periodontal pathogen Porphyromonas gingivalis. J Appl Microbiol 2022; 133:1052-1062. [PMID: 35567537 DOI: 10.1111/jam.15614] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2021] [Revised: 04/01/2022] [Accepted: 04/27/2022] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
AIMS Accumulating evidence suggests that Porphyromonas gingivalis is closely associated with the development of various chronic inflammatory diseases, particularly periodontitis. This study investigated the antibacterial activity and action mechanism of a novel antimicrobial peptide (AMP), DP7, against P. gingivalis. METHODS AND RESULTS The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) for DP7 were determined via a broth microdilution method, revealing an MIC of 8 μg ml-1 and MBC of 32 μg ml-1 . Growth inhibition and killing assays confirmed the bactericidal effect of DP7, and treatment with DP7 at MBC eliminated P. gingivalis within 8 h. DP7 had a low cytotoxic effect against human cells. Transmission electron microscopy revealed that DP7 destroyed the bacterial membrane, and confocal laser scanning microscopy revealed its inhibitory effect on P. gingivalis biofilms. Quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction revealed DP7-mediated inhibition of several virulence factor genes, partially explaining its antibacterial mechanism. CONCLUSIONS DP7, a novel AMP with low mammalian cytotoxicity, inhibits both planktonic and biofilm forms of P. gingivalis by destroying the bacterial membrane and reducing virulence factor gene expression. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY DP7 has potential clinical application in the prevention and treatment of P. gingivalis-associated diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Si-Jing Jiang
- Stomatology Department, Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
| | - Xun Xiao
- Stomatology Department, Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
| | - Jiajun Zheng
- Stomatology Department, Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
| | - Shuang Lai
- Stomatology Department, Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
| | - Li Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy/Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy, Chengdu, China
| | - Jing Li
- Stomatology Department, Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
| | - Chang Liu
- Stomatology Department, Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
| | - Yiling Yang
- Stomatology Department, Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
| | - Yangdong Mu
- Stomatology Department, Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
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24
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Tan P, Tang Q, Xu S, Zhang Y, Fu H, Ma X. Designing Self-Assembling Chimeric Peptide Nanoparticles with High Stability for Combating Piglet Bacterial Infections. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2022; 9:e2105955. [PMID: 35285170 PMCID: PMC9109057 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202105955] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2021] [Revised: 02/22/2022] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
As a novel type of antibiotic alternative, peptide-based antibacterial drug shows potential application prospects attributable to their unique mechanism for lysing the membrane of pathogenic bacteria. However, peptide-based antibacterial drugs suffer from a series of problems, most notably their immature stability, which seriously hinders their application. In this study, self-assembling chimeric peptide nanoparticles (which offer excellent stability in the presence of proteases and salts) are constructed and applied to the treatment of bacterial infections. In vitro studies are used to demonstrate that peptide nanoparticles NPs1 and NPs2 offer broad-spectrum antibacterial activity and desirable biocompatibility, and they retain their antibacterial ability in physiological salt environments. Peptide nanoparticles NPs1 and NPs2 can resist degradation under high concentrations of proteases. In vivo studies illustrate that the toxicity caused by peptide nanoparticles NPs1 and NPs2 is negligible, and these nanoparticles can alleviate systemic bacterial infections in mice and piglets. The membrane permeation mechanism and interference with the cell cycle differ from that of antibiotics and mean that the nanoparticles are at a lower risk of inducing drug resistance. Collectively, these advances may accelerate the development of peptide-based antibacterial nanomaterials and can be applied to the construction of supramolecular nanomaterials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peng Tan
- State Key Laboratory of Animal NutritionCollege of Animal Science and TechnologyChina Agricultural UniversityBeijing100193China
| | - Qi Tang
- State Key Laboratory of Animal NutritionCollege of Animal Science and TechnologyChina Agricultural UniversityBeijing100193China
| | - Shenrui Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Animal NutritionCollege of Animal Science and TechnologyChina Agricultural UniversityBeijing100193China
| | - Yucheng Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Animal NutritionCollege of Animal Science and TechnologyChina Agricultural UniversityBeijing100193China
| | - Huiyang Fu
- State Key Laboratory of Animal NutritionCollege of Animal Science and TechnologyChina Agricultural UniversityBeijing100193China
| | - Xi Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Animal NutritionCollege of Animal Science and TechnologyChina Agricultural UniversityBeijing100193China
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25
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Liu X, Zhang F, Lou H, Luo H, Peng C, Zhu S, Zhou B. Guanidinium‐Based Ionic Covalent Organic Porous Polymer as Natamycin Delivery Agents for
Anti‐Candida albicans. ChemistrySelect 2021. [DOI: 10.1002/slct.202102517] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Xia Liu
- Department of Ophthalmology Affiliated Hospital of Weifang Medical College Weifang 261053 Shandong P. R. China
- School of Pharmacy Weifang Medical University Weifang 261053 Shandong P. R. China
| | - Fang Zhang
- School of Pharmacy Weifang Medical University Weifang 261053 Shandong P. R. China
| | - Han Lou
- School of Clinical Medicine Weifang Medical University Weifang 261053 Shandong P. R. China
| | - Haotian Luo
- School of Pharmacy Weifang Medical University Weifang 261053 Shandong P. R. China
| | - Cheng Peng
- Department of Ophthalmology Affiliated Hospital of Weifang Medical College Weifang 261053 Shandong P. R. China
| | - Shourong Zhu
- Department of Ophthalmology Affiliated Hospital of Weifang Medical College Weifang 261053 Shandong P. R. China
| | - Baolong Zhou
- School of Pharmacy Weifang Medical University Weifang 261053 Shandong P. R. China
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26
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Lai Z, Jian Q, Li G, Shao C, Zhu Y, Yuan X, Chen H, Shan A. Self-Assembling Peptide Dendron Nanoparticles with High Stability and a Multimodal Antimicrobial Mechanism of Action. ACS NANO 2021; 15:15824-15840. [PMID: 34549935 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.1c03301] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Self-assembling nanometer-scale structured peptide polymers and peptide dendrimers have shown promise in biomedical applications due to their versatile properties and easy availability. Herein, self-assembling peptide dendron nanoparticles (SPDNs) with potent antimicrobial activity against a range of bacteria were developed based on the nanoscale self-assembly of an arginine-proline repeat branched peptide dendron bearing a hexadecanoic acid chain. The SPDNs are biocompatible, and our most active peptide dendron nanoparticle, C16-3RP, was found to have negligible toxicity after both in vitro and in vivo studies. Furthermore, the C16-3RP nanoparticles showed excellent stability under physiological concentrations of salt ions and against serum and protease degradation, resulting in highly effective treatment in a mouse acute peritonitis model. Comprehensive analyses using a series of biofluorescence, microscopy, and transcriptome sequencing techniques revealed that C16-3RP nanoparticles kill Gram-negative bacteria by increasing bacterial membrane permeability, inducing cytoplasmic membrane depolarization and drastic membrane disruption, inhibiting ribosome biogenesis, and influencing energy generation and other processes. Collectively, C16-3RP nanoparticles show promising biocompatibility and in vivo therapeutic efficacy without apparent resistance development. These advancements may facilitate the development of peptide-based antibiotics in clinical settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhenheng Lai
- Institute of Animal Nutrition, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, People's Republic of China
| | - Qiao Jian
- Institute of Animal Nutrition, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, People's Republic of China
| | - Guoyu Li
- Institute of Animal Nutrition, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, People's Republic of China
| | - Changxuan Shao
- Institute of Animal Nutrition, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, People's Republic of China
| | - Yongjie Zhu
- Institute of Animal Nutrition, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaojie Yuan
- Institute of Animal Nutrition, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, People's Republic of China
| | - Hongyu Chen
- Institute of Animal Nutrition, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, People's Republic of China
| | - Anshan Shan
- Institute of Animal Nutrition, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, People's Republic of China
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27
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Yang Z, He S, Wu H, Yin T, Wang L, Shan A. Nanostructured Antimicrobial Peptides: Crucial Steps of Overcoming the Bottleneck for Clinics. Front Microbiol 2021; 12:710199. [PMID: 34475862 PMCID: PMC8406695 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.710199] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2021] [Accepted: 07/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The security issue of human health is faced with dispiriting threats from multidrug-resistant bacteria infections induced by the abuse and misuse of antibiotics. Over decades, the antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) hold great promise as a viable alternative to treatment with antibiotics due to their peculiar antimicrobial mechanisms of action, broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity, lower drug residue, and ease of synthesis and modification. However, they universally express a series of disadvantages that hinder their potential application in the biomedical field (e.g., low bioavailability, poor protease resistance, and high cytotoxicity) and extremely waste the abundant resources of AMP database discovered over the decades. For all these reasons, the nanostructured antimicrobial peptides (Ns-AMPs), based on a variety of nanosystem modification, have made up for the deficiencies and pushed the development of novel AMP-based antimicrobial therapies. In this review, we provide an overview of the advantages of Ns-AMPs in improving therapeutic efficacy and biological stability, reducing side effects, and gaining the effect of organic targeting and drug controlled release. Then the different material categories of Ns-AMPs are described, including inorganic material nanosystems containing AMPs, organic material nanosystems containing AMPs, and self-assembled AMPs. Additionally, this review focuses on the Ns-AMPs for the effect of biological activities, with emphasis on antimicrobial activity, biosecurity, and biological stability. The "state-of-the-art" antimicrobial modes of Ns-AMPs, including controlled release of AMPs under a specific environment or intrinsic antimicrobial properties of Ns-AMPs, are also explicated. Finally, the perspectives and conclusions of the current research in this field are also summarized.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Anshan Shan
- Institute of Animal Nutrition, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, China
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28
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You DG, Lee HR, Kim HK, Lee GY, Yoo YD. A Novel Peptide Derived from the Transmembrane Domain of Romo1 Is a Promising Candidate for Sepsis Treatment and Multidrug-Resistant Bacteria. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22158243. [PMID: 34361008 PMCID: PMC8348110 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22158243] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2021] [Revised: 07/26/2021] [Accepted: 07/28/2021] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
The emergence of multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria through the abuse and long-term use of antibiotics is a serious health problem worldwide. Therefore, novel antimicrobial agents that can cure an infection from MDR bacteria, especially gram-negative bacteria, are urgently needed. Antimicrobial peptides, part of the innate immunity system, have been studied to find bactericidal agents potent against MDR bacteria. However, they have many problems, such as restrained systemic activity and cytotoxicity. In a previous study, we suggested that the K58–R78 domain of Romo1, a mitochondrial protein encoded by the nucleus, was a promising treatment candidate for sepsis caused by MDR bacteria. Here, we performed sequence optimization to enhance the antimicrobial activity of this peptide and named it as AMPR-22 (antimicrobial peptide derived from Romo1). It showed broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity against 17 sepsis-causing bacteria, including MDR strains, by inducing membrane permeabilization. Moreover, treatment with AMPR-22 enabled a remarkable survival rate in mice injected with MDR bacteria in a murine model of sepsis. Based on these results, we suggest that AMPR-22 could be prescribed as a first-line therapy (prior to bacterial identification) for patients diagnosed with sepsis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deok-Gyun You
- Laboratory of Molecular Cell Biology, Graduate School of Medicines, Korea University College of Medicine, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Korea; (D.-G.Y.); (H.-R.L.); (G.-Y.L.)
| | - Hye-Ra Lee
- Laboratory of Molecular Cell Biology, Graduate School of Medicines, Korea University College of Medicine, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Korea; (D.-G.Y.); (H.-R.L.); (G.-Y.L.)
| | - Hong-Kyu Kim
- Department of Surgery, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul 03080, Korea;
| | - Gi-Young Lee
- Laboratory of Molecular Cell Biology, Graduate School of Medicines, Korea University College of Medicine, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Korea; (D.-G.Y.); (H.-R.L.); (G.-Y.L.)
| | - Young-Do Yoo
- Laboratory of Molecular Cell Biology, Graduate School of Medicines, Korea University College of Medicine, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Korea; (D.-G.Y.); (H.-R.L.); (G.-Y.L.)
- Correspondence:
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29
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Luo X, Ye X, Ding L, Zhu W, Yi P, Zhao Z, Gao H, Shu Z, Li S, Sang M, Wang J, Zhong W, Chen Z. Fine-Tuning of Alkaline Residues on the Hydrophilic Face Provides a Non-toxic Cationic α-Helical Antimicrobial Peptide Against Antibiotic-Resistant ESKAPE Pathogens. Front Microbiol 2021; 12:684591. [PMID: 34335511 PMCID: PMC8319832 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.684591] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2021] [Accepted: 06/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Antibiotic-resistant ESKAPE pathogens (Enterococcus faecium, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Enterobacter species) has become a serious threat to public health worldwide. Cationic α-helical antimicrobial peptides (CαAMPs) have attracted much attention as promising solutions in post-antibiotic era. However, strong hemolytic activity and in vivo inefficacy have hindered their pharmaceutical development. Here, we attempt to address these obstacles by investigating BmKn2 and BmKn2-7, two scorpion-derived CαAMPs with the same hydrophobic face and a distinct hydrophilic face. Through structural comparison, mutant design and functional analyses, we found that while keeping the hydrophobic face unchanged, increasing the number of alkaline residues (i.e., Lys + Arg residues) on the hydrophilic face of BmKn2 reduces the hemolytic activity and broadens the antimicrobial spectrum. Strikingly, when keeping the total number of alkaline residues constant, increasing the number of Lys residues on the hydrophilic face of BmKn2-7 significantly reduces the hemolytic activity but does not influence the antimicrobial activity. BmKn2-7K, a mutant of BmKn2-7 in which all of the Arg residues on the hydrophilic face were replaced with Lys, showed the lowest hemolytic activity and potent antimicrobial activity against antibiotic-resistant ESKAPE pathogens. Moreover, in vivo experiments indicate that BmKn2-7K displays potent antimicrobial efficacy against both the penicillin-resistant S. aureus and the carbapenem- and multidrug-resistant A. baumannii, and is non-toxic at the antimicrobial dosages. Taken together, our work highlights the significant functional disparity of Lys vs Arg in the scorpion-derived antimicrobial peptide BmKn2-7, and provides a promising lead molecule for drug development against ESKAPE pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xudong Luo
- Institute of Biomedicine and Hubei Key Laboratory of Embryonic Stem Cell Research, College of Basic Medicine, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan, China.,Hubei Key Laboratory of Wudang Local Chinese Medicine Research, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan, China
| | - Xiangdong Ye
- Institute of Biomedicine and Hubei Key Laboratory of Embryonic Stem Cell Research, College of Basic Medicine, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan, China.,Hubei Key Laboratory of Wudang Local Chinese Medicine Research, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan, China
| | - Li Ding
- Institute of Biomedicine and Hubei Key Laboratory of Embryonic Stem Cell Research, College of Basic Medicine, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan, China.,Department of Clinical Laboratory, Dongfeng Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan, China
| | - Wen Zhu
- Institute of Biomedicine and Hubei Key Laboratory of Embryonic Stem Cell Research, College of Basic Medicine, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan, China
| | - Pengcheng Yi
- Institute of Biomedicine and Hubei Key Laboratory of Embryonic Stem Cell Research, College of Basic Medicine, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan, China
| | - Zhiwen Zhao
- Institute of Biomedicine and Hubei Key Laboratory of Embryonic Stem Cell Research, College of Basic Medicine, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan, China
| | - Huanhuan Gao
- Institute of Biomedicine and Hubei Key Laboratory of Embryonic Stem Cell Research, College of Basic Medicine, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan, China
| | - Zhan Shu
- Institute of Biomedicine and Hubei Key Laboratory of Embryonic Stem Cell Research, College of Basic Medicine, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan, China
| | - Shan Li
- Institute of Biomedicine and Hubei Key Laboratory of Embryonic Stem Cell Research, College of Basic Medicine, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan, China
| | - Ming Sang
- Central Laboratory of Xiangyang No. 1 People's Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan, China
| | - Jue Wang
- Institute of Biomedicine and Hubei Key Laboratory of Embryonic Stem Cell Research, College of Basic Medicine, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan, China
| | - Weihua Zhong
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Taihe Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan, China
| | - Zongyun Chen
- Institute of Biomedicine and Hubei Key Laboratory of Embryonic Stem Cell Research, College of Basic Medicine, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan, China.,Hubei Key Laboratory of Wudang Local Chinese Medicine Research, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan, China
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30
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Gou S, Li B, Ouyang X, Ba Z, Zhong C, Zhang T, Chang L, Zhu Y, Zhang J, Zhu N, Zhang Y, Liu H, Ni J. Novel Broad-Spectrum Antimicrobial Peptide Derived from Anoplin and Its Activity on Bacterial Pneumonia in Mice. J Med Chem 2021; 64:11247-11266. [PMID: 34180670 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.1c00614] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
The emergence of multidrug-resistant bacteria has major issues for treating bacterial pneumonia. Currently, anoplin (GLLKRIKTLL-NH2) is a natural antimicrobial candidate derived from wasp venom. In this study, a series of new antimicrobial peptide (AMP) anoplin analogues were designed and synthesized. The relationship between their biological activities and their positive charge, hydrophobicity, amphipathicity, and secondary structure are described. The characteristic shared by these peptides is that positively charged amino acids and hydrophobic amino acids are severally arranged on the hydrophilic and hydrophobic surface of the α-helix to form a completely amphiphilic structure. To achieve ideal AMPs, below the range of the threshold of the cytotoxicity and hemolytic activity, their charges and hydrophobicity were increased as much. Among the new analogues, A-21 (KWWKKWKKWW-NH2) exhibited the greatest antimicrobial activity (geometric mean of minimum inhibitory concentrations = 4.76 μM) against all the tested bacterial strains, high bacterial cell selectivity in vitro, high effectiveness against bacterial pneumonia in mice infected with Klebsiella pneumoniae, and low toxicity in mice (LD50 = 82.01 mg/kg). A-21 exhibited a potent bacterial membrane-damaging mechanism and lipopolysaccharide-binding ability. These data provide evidence that A-21 is a promising antimicrobial candidate for the treatment of bacterial pneumonia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sanhu Gou
- Institute of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China.,Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Beibei Li
- Institute of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Xu Ouyang
- Institute of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Zufang Ba
- Institute of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Chao Zhong
- Institute of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China.,Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Tianyue Zhang
- Institute of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - LinLin Chang
- Institute of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China.,Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Yuewen Zhu
- Institute of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Jingying Zhang
- Institute of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China.,Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Ningyi Zhu
- Institute of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Yun Zhang
- Institute of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Hui Liu
- Institute of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Jingman Ni
- Institute of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China.,Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
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31
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Wani NA, Ben Hur D, Kapach G, Stolovicki E, Rotem E, Shai Y. Switching Bond: Generation of New Antimicrobial Peptides via the Incorporation of an Intramolecular Isopeptide Bond. ACS Infect Dis 2021; 7:1702-1712. [PMID: 34043312 PMCID: PMC8634383 DOI: 10.1021/acsinfecdis.1c00037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
![]()
Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), which
can be modified to kill a
broad spectrum of microoganisms or a specific microorganism, are considered
as promising alternatives to combat the rapidly widespread, resistant
bacterial infections. However, there are still several obstacles to
overcome. These include toxicity, stability, and the ability to interfere
with the immune response and bacterial resistance. To overcome these
challenges, we herein replaced the regular peptide bonds with isopeptide
bonds to produce new AMPs based on the well-known synthetic peptides
Amp1L and MSI-78 (pexiganan). Two new peptides Amp1EP and MSIEP were
generated while retaining properties such as size, sequence, charge,
and molecular weight. These new peptides have reduced toxicity toward
murine macrophage (RAW 264.7) cells, human monocytic (THP-1) cells,
and human red blood cells (hRBCs) and enhanced the stability toward
proteolytic degradation. Importantly, the new peptides do not repress
the pro-inflammatory cytokine and hence should not modulate the immune
response. Structurally, the new peptides, Amp1EP and MSIEP, have a
structure of random coils in contrast to the helical structures of
the parental peptides as revealed by circular dichroism (CD) analysis.
Their mode of action, assessed by flow cytometry, includes permeabilization
of the bacterial membrane. Overall, we present here a new approach
to modulate AMPs to develop antimicrobial peptides for future therapeutic
purposes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naiem Ahmad Wani
- Department of Biomolecular Sciences, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 76100, Israel
| | - Daniel Ben Hur
- Department of Biomolecular Sciences, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 76100, Israel
| | - Gal Kapach
- Department of Biomolecular Sciences, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 76100, Israel
| | - Elad Stolovicki
- Department of Biomolecular Sciences, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 76100, Israel
| | - Etai Rotem
- Department of Biomolecular Sciences, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 76100, Israel
| | - Yechiel Shai
- Department of Biomolecular Sciences, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 76100, Israel
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32
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Luo X, Ding L, Ye X, Zhu W, Zhang K, Li F, Jiang H, Zhao Z, Chen Z. An Smp43-Derived Short-Chain α-Helical Peptide Displays a Unique Sequence and Possesses Antimicrobial Activity against Both Gram-Positive and Gram-Negative Bacteria. Toxins (Basel) 2021; 13:toxins13050343. [PMID: 34064808 PMCID: PMC8150835 DOI: 10.3390/toxins13050343] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2021] [Revised: 04/29/2021] [Accepted: 05/04/2021] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Scorpion venoms are rich resources of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs). While the short-chain noncysteine-containing AMPs have attracted much attention as templates for drug development, the antimicrobial potential of long-chain noncysteine-containing AMPs has been largely overlooked. Here, by using the online HeliQuest server, we designed and analyzed a series of 14-residue fragments of Smp43, a 43-residue long-chain noncysteine-containing AMP identified from the venom of Scorpio maurus palmatus. We found that Smp43(1-14) shows high antimicrobial activity against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria and is nontoxic to mammalian cells at the antimicrobial dosage. Sequence alignments showed that the designed Smp43(1-14) displays a unique primary structure that is different from other natural short-chain noncysteine-containing AMPs from scorpions, such as Uy17, Uy192 and IsCT. Moreover, the peptide Smp43(1-14) caused concentration-dependent fluorescence increases in the bacteria for all of the tested dyes, propidium iodide, SYTOXTM Green and DiSC3-5, suggesting that the peptide may kill the bacteria through the formation of pore structures in the plasma membrane. Taken together, our work sheds light on a new avenue for the design of novel short-chain noncysteine-containing AMPs and provides a good peptide template with a unique sequence for the development of novel drugs for use against bacterial infectious diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xudong Luo
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Basic Medicine, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan 442000, China; (X.L.); (L.D.); (X.Y.); (W.Z.); (K.Z.); (F.L.); (H.J.); (Z.Z.)
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Wudang Local Chinese Medicine Research, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan 442000, China
| | - Li Ding
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Basic Medicine, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan 442000, China; (X.L.); (L.D.); (X.Y.); (W.Z.); (K.Z.); (F.L.); (H.J.); (Z.Z.)
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Dongfeng Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan 442000, China
| | - Xiangdong Ye
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Basic Medicine, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan 442000, China; (X.L.); (L.D.); (X.Y.); (W.Z.); (K.Z.); (F.L.); (H.J.); (Z.Z.)
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Wudang Local Chinese Medicine Research, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan 442000, China
| | - Wen Zhu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Basic Medicine, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan 442000, China; (X.L.); (L.D.); (X.Y.); (W.Z.); (K.Z.); (F.L.); (H.J.); (Z.Z.)
| | - Kaiyue Zhang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Basic Medicine, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan 442000, China; (X.L.); (L.D.); (X.Y.); (W.Z.); (K.Z.); (F.L.); (H.J.); (Z.Z.)
| | - Fangyan Li
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Basic Medicine, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan 442000, China; (X.L.); (L.D.); (X.Y.); (W.Z.); (K.Z.); (F.L.); (H.J.); (Z.Z.)
| | - Huiwen Jiang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Basic Medicine, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan 442000, China; (X.L.); (L.D.); (X.Y.); (W.Z.); (K.Z.); (F.L.); (H.J.); (Z.Z.)
| | - Zhiwen Zhao
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Basic Medicine, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan 442000, China; (X.L.); (L.D.); (X.Y.); (W.Z.); (K.Z.); (F.L.); (H.J.); (Z.Z.)
| | - Zongyun Chen
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Basic Medicine, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan 442000, China; (X.L.); (L.D.); (X.Y.); (W.Z.); (K.Z.); (F.L.); (H.J.); (Z.Z.)
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Wudang Local Chinese Medicine Research, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan 442000, China
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +86-(0)-719-8469073
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Wei L, Gao R, Wang M, Wang Y, Shi Y, Gu M, Cai J. Dimeric lipo-α/sulfono-γ-AA hybrid peptides as broad-spectrum antibiotic agents. Biomater Sci 2021; 9:3410-3424. [PMID: 33949388 PMCID: PMC8903075 DOI: 10.1039/d0bm01955k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/14/2023]
Abstract
There is an urgent need to develop novel antibiotic agents that can combat emerging drug resistance. Herein, we report the design and investigation of a class of short dimeric antimicrobial lipo-α/sulfono-γ-AA hybrid peptides. Some of these peptides exhibit potent and broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity toward both clinically related Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. The TEM study suggests that these hybrid peptides can compromise bacterial membranes and lead to bacterial death. Membrane depolarization and fluorescence microscopy studies also indicate that the mechanism of action is analogous to host-defense peptides (HDPs). Furthermore, the lead compound shows the ability to effectively inhibit biofilms formed from MRSA and E. coli. Further development of the short dimeric lipo-α/sulfono-γ-AA hybrid peptides may lead to a new generation of antimicrobial biomaterials to combat drug resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lulu Wei
- Department of Chemistry, University of South Florida, 4202 E. Fowler Ave, Tampa, FL 33620, USA.
| | - Ruixuan Gao
- Department of Chemistry, University of South Florida, 4202 E. Fowler Ave, Tampa, FL 33620, USA.
| | - Minghui Wang
- Department of Chemistry, University of South Florida, 4202 E. Fowler Ave, Tampa, FL 33620, USA.
| | - Yafeng Wang
- Department of Chemistry, University of South Florida, 4202 E. Fowler Ave, Tampa, FL 33620, USA.
| | - Yan Shi
- Department of Chemistry, University of South Florida, 4202 E. Fowler Ave, Tampa, FL 33620, USA.
| | - Meng Gu
- Department of Chemistry, University of South Florida, 4202 E. Fowler Ave, Tampa, FL 33620, USA.
| | - Jianfeng Cai
- Department of Chemistry, University of South Florida, 4202 E. Fowler Ave, Tampa, FL 33620, USA.
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Antimicrobial nanomedicine for ocular bacterial and fungal infection. Drug Deliv Transl Res 2021; 11:1352-1375. [PMID: 33840082 DOI: 10.1007/s13346-021-00966-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Ocular infection induced by bacteria and fungi is a major cause of visual impairment and blindness. Topical administration of antibiotics remains the first-line treatment, as effective eradication of pathogens is the core of the anti-infection strategy. Whereas, eye drops lack efficiency and have relatively low bioavailability. Intraocular injection may cause concurrent ocular damage and secondary infection. In addition, antibiotic-based management can be limited by the low sensitivity to multidrug-resistant bacteria. Nanomedicine is proposed as a prospective, effective, and noninvasive platform to mediate ocular delivery and combat pathogen or even resistant strains. Nanomedicine can not only carry antimicrobial agents to fight against pathogens but also directly active microbicidal capability, killing pathogens. More importantly, by modification, nanomedicine can achieve enhanced residence time and release time on the cornea, and easy penetration through corneal tissues into anterior and posterior segments of the eye, thus improving the therapeutic effect for ocular infection. In this review, several categories of antimicrobial nanomedicine are systematically discussed, where the efficiency and possibility of further embellishment and improvement to adapt to clinical use are also investigated. All in all, novel antimicrobial nanomedicine provides potent and prospective ways to manage severe and refractory ocular infections.
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Zhao Z, Zhang K, Zhu W, Ye X, Ding L, Jiang H, Li F, Chen Z, Luo X. Two new cationic α-helical peptides identified from the venom gland of Liocheles australasiae possess antimicrobial activity against methicillin-resistant staphylococci. Toxicon 2021; 196:63-73. [PMID: 33836178 DOI: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2021.04.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2021] [Revised: 03/29/2021] [Accepted: 04/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Methicillin-resistant staphylococci have become growing threats to human health, and novel antimicrobials are urgently needed. Natural antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are promising alternatives to traditional antibiotics. Here, two novel cationic α-helical antimicrobial peptides, Lausporin-1 and Lausporin-2, were identified from the venom gland of the scorpion L. australasiae through a cDNA library screening strategy. Biochemical analyses demonstrated that Lausporin-1 and Lausporin-2 are cationic α-helical amphipathic molecules. Antimicrobial assays demonstrated that the two peptides possess antibacterial activities against several species of antibiotic-resistant staphylococci. Importantly, they are active against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis and Staphylococcus capitis, with the minimum inhibitory concentrations ranging from 2.5 to 10 μg/ml. Moreover, both peptides can induce dose-dependent plasma membrane disruptions of the bacteria. In short, our work expands the knowledge of the scorpion L. australasiae venom-derived AMPs and sheds light on the potential of Lausporin-1 and Lausporin-2 in the development of novel drugs against methicillin-resistant staphylococci.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhiwen Zhao
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Basic Medicine, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan, 442000, China
| | - Kaiyue Zhang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Basic Medicine, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan, 442000, China
| | - Wen Zhu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Basic Medicine, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan, 442000, China
| | - Xiangdong Ye
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Basic Medicine, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan, 442000, China; Hubei Key Laboratory of Wudang Local Chinese Medicine Research, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan, 442000, China
| | - Li Ding
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Basic Medicine, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan, 442000, China; Department of Clinical Laboratory, Dongfeng Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan, 442000, China
| | - Huiwen Jiang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Basic Medicine, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan, 442000, China
| | - Fangyan Li
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Basic Medicine, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan, 442000, China
| | - Zongyun Chen
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Basic Medicine, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan, 442000, China; Hubei Key Laboratory of Wudang Local Chinese Medicine Research, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan, 442000, China
| | - Xudong Luo
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Basic Medicine, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan, 442000, China; Hubei Key Laboratory of Wudang Local Chinese Medicine Research, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan, 442000, China.
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Wang C, Shao C, Fang Y, Wang J, Dong N, Shan A. Binding loop of sunflower trypsin inhibitor 1 serves as a design motif for proteolysis-resistant antimicrobial peptides. Acta Biomater 2021; 124:254-269. [PMID: 33508505 DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2021.01.036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2020] [Revised: 01/20/2021] [Accepted: 01/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Although antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) have become powerful drug candidates in the post-antibiotic era, but their low protease stability hinders their clinical application. In the present study, the natural sunflower trypsin inhibitor 1 (SFTI-1) binding loop (CTKSIPPIC) was used to design and synthesize a specific anti-proteolytic sequence template ((RX)n W (RX)n CTKSIPPIC (n = 2, 3; X represents A, I, L, V, F, and W)). After several antibacterial, bactericidal, and toxicity tests, RV3 stood out from the variants and had the highest average selectivity index (SI all = 156.03). It is highly stable in serum, varying pH, temperature, and salt ions as well as under high trypsin, pepsin, or papain concentrations. In a mouse skin inflammation model, established by Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection, RV3 could effectively kill the pathogen, promote wound healing, inhibit inflammatory cell infiltration, and inhibit mRNA and protein expression of TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β inflammatory factors. The antibacterial mechanisms of RV3 include combining with lipopolysaccharides and increasing cell membrane permeability, leading to cell membrane rupture and death. These findings indicate that RV3 has great potential for the treatment of bacterial infections.
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Wang M, Feng X, Gao R, Sang P, Pan X, Wei L, Lu C, Wu C, Cai J. Modular Design of Membrane-Active Antibiotics: From Macromolecular Antimicrobials to Small Scorpionlike Peptidomimetics. J Med Chem 2021; 64:9894-9905. [PMID: 33789422 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.1c00312] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Infections caused by multidrug-resistant bacteria have emerged in recent decades, leading to escalating interest in host defense peptides (HDPs) to reverse this dangerous trend. Inspired by the modular design in bioengineering, herein we report a new class of small amphiphilic scorpionlike peptidomimetics based on this strategy. These HDP mimics show potent antimicrobial activity against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria without drug resistance but with a high therapeutic index. The membrane-compromising action mode was suggested to be their potential bactericidal mechanism. Pharmacodynamic experiments were conducted using a murine abscess model of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections. The lead compound 12 showed impressive in vivo therapeutic efficacy with ∼99.998% (4.7log) reduction in skin MRSA burden, a significantly higher bactericidal efficiency than ciprofloxacin, and good biocompatibility. These results highlight the potential of these HDP mimics as novel antibiotic therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Minghui Wang
- Department of Chemistry, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida 33620, United States
| | - Xiaoqian Feng
- College of Pharmacy, Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 511443, China.,Department of Pharmaceutics, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510006, China
| | - Ruixuan Gao
- Department of Chemistry, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida 33620, United States
| | - Peng Sang
- Department of Chemistry, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida 33620, United States
| | - Xin Pan
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510006, China
| | - Lulu Wei
- Department of Chemistry, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida 33620, United States
| | - Chao Lu
- College of Pharmacy, Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 511443, China
| | - Chuanbin Wu
- College of Pharmacy, Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 511443, China
| | - Jianfeng Cai
- Department of Chemistry, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida 33620, United States
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Tummanapalli SS, Willcox MD. Antimicrobial resistance of ocular microbes and the role of antimicrobial peptides. Clin Exp Optom 2021; 104:295-307. [PMID: 32924208 DOI: 10.1111/cxo.13125] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Isolation of antimicrobial-resistant microbes from ocular infections may be becoming more frequent. Infections caused by these microbes can be difficult to treat and lead to poor outcomes. However, new therapies are being developed which may help improve clinical outcomes. This review examines recent reports on the isolation of antibiotic-resistant microbes from ocular infections. In addition, an overview of the development of some new antibiotic therapies is given. The recent literature regarding antibiotic use and resistance, isolation of antibiotic-resistant microbes from ocular infections and the development of potential new antibiotics that can be used to treat these infections was reviewed. Ocular microbial infections are a global public health issue as they can result in vision loss which compromises quality of life. Approximately 70 per cent of ocular infections are caused by bacteria including Chlamydia trachomatis, Staphylococcus aureus, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa and fungi such as Candida albicans, Aspergillus spp. and Fusarium spp. Resistance to first-line antibiotics such as fluoroquinolones and azoles has increased, with resistance of S. aureus isolates from the USA to fluoroquinolones reaching 32 per cent of isolates and 35 per cent being methicillin-resistant (MRSA). Lower levels of MRSA (seven per cent) were isolated by an Australian study. Antimicrobial peptides, which are broad-spectrum alternatives to antibiotics, have been tested as possible new drugs. Several have shown promise in animal models of keratitis, especially treating P. aeruginosa, S. aureus or C. albicans infections. Reports of increasing resistance of ocular isolates to mainstay antibiotics are a concern, and there is evidence that for ocular surface disease this resistance translates into worse clinical outcomes. New antibiotics are being developed, but not by large pharmaceutical companies and mostly in university research laboratories and smaller biotech companies. Antimicrobial peptides show promise in treating keratitis.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Mark Dp Willcox
- School of Optometry and Vision Science, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
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Shi J, Chen C, Wang D, Tong Z, Wang Z, Liu Y. Amphipathic Peptide Antibiotics with Potent Activity against Multidrug-Resistant Pathogens. Pharmaceutics 2021; 13:438. [PMID: 33804947 PMCID: PMC8063935 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics13040438] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2021] [Revised: 03/15/2021] [Accepted: 03/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The emergence and prevalence of multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria have posed a serious threat to public health. Of particular concern are methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and blaNDM, mcr-1 and tet(X)-positive Gram-negative pathogens. The fact that few new antibiotics have been approved in recent years exacerbates this global crisis, thus, new alternatives are urgently needed. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) originated from host defense peptides with a wide range of sources and multiple functions, are less prone to achieve resistance. All these characteristics laid the foundation for AMPs to become potential antibiotic candidates. In this study, we revealed that peptide WW307 displayed potent antibacterial and bactericidal activity against MDR bacteria, including MRSA and Gram-negative bacteria carrying blaNDM-5, mcr-1 or tet(X4). In addition, WW307 exhibited great biofilm inhibition and eradication activity. Safety and stability experiments showed that WW307 had a strong resistance against various physiological conditions and displayed relatively low toxicity. Mechanistic experiments showed that WW307 resulted in membrane damage by selectively targeting bacterial membrane-specific components, including lipopolysaccharide (LPS), phosphatidylglycerol (PG), and cardiolipin (CL). Moreover, WW307 dissipated membrane potential and triggered the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Collectively, these results demonstrated that WW307 represents a promising candidate for combating MDR pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingru Shi
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China; (J.S.); (C.C.); (D.W.); (Z.T.)
| | - Chen Chen
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China; (J.S.); (C.C.); (D.W.); (Z.T.)
| | - Dejuan Wang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China; (J.S.); (C.C.); (D.W.); (Z.T.)
| | - Ziwen Tong
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China; (J.S.); (C.C.); (D.W.); (Z.T.)
| | - Zhiqiang Wang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China; (J.S.); (C.C.); (D.W.); (Z.T.)
- Jiangsu Co-innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Agriculture and Agri-Product Safety, The Ministry of Education of China, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China
| | - Yuan Liu
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China; (J.S.); (C.C.); (D.W.); (Z.T.)
- Jiangsu Co-innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Agriculture and Agri-Product Safety, The Ministry of Education of China, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China
- Institute of Comparative Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China
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Improved Stability and Activity of a Marine Peptide-N6NH2 against Edwardsiella tarda and Its Preliminary Application in Fish. Mar Drugs 2020; 18:md18120650. [PMID: 33348729 PMCID: PMC7766155 DOI: 10.3390/md18120650] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2020] [Revised: 11/28/2020] [Accepted: 12/14/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Edwardsiella tarda can cause fatal gastro-/extraintestinal diseases in fish and humans. Overuse of antibiotics has led to antibiotic resistance and contamination in the environment, which highlights the need to find new antimicrobial agents. In this study, the marine peptide-N6 was amidated at its C-terminus to generate N6NH2. The antibacterial activity of N6 and N6NH2 against E. tarda was evaluated in vitro and in vivo; their stability, toxicity and mode of action were also determined. Minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of N6 and N6NH2 against E. tarda were 1.29–3.2 μM. Both N6 and N6NH2 killed bacteria by destroying the cell membrane of E. tarda and binding to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and genomic DNA. In contrast with N6, N6NH2 improved the stability toward trypsin, reduced hemolysis (by 0.19% at a concentration of 256 μg/mL) and enhanced the ability to penetrate the bacterial outer and inner membrane. In the model of fish peritonitis caused by E. tarda, superior to norfloxacin, N6NH2 improved the survival rate of fish, reduced the bacterial load on the organs, alleviated the organ injury and regulated the immunity of the liver and kidney. These data suggest that the marine peptide N6NH2 may be a candidate for novel antimicrobial agents against E. tarda infections.
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41
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He S, Yang Z, Yu W, Li J, Li Z, Wang J, Shan A. Systematically Studying the Optimal Amino Acid Distribution Patterns of the Amphiphilic Structure by Using the Ultrashort Amphiphiles. Front Microbiol 2020; 11:569118. [PMID: 33324358 PMCID: PMC7725003 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2020.569118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2020] [Accepted: 10/19/2020] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Amphipathicity has traditionally been considered to be essential for the de novo design or systematic optimization of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs). However, the current research methods to study the relationship between amphiphilicity and antimicrobial activity are inappropriate, because the key parameters (hydrophobicity, positive charge, etc.) and secondary structure of AMPs are changed. To systematically and accurately study the effects of amphiphilicity on antimicrobial properties of AMPs, we designed parallel series of AMPs with a different order of amino acids in a sequence composed only of Arg and either Trp (WR series) or Leu (LR series), under conditions in which other vital parameters were fixed. Furthermore, based on the WR and LR peptides that can form stable amphiphilic β-sheet structures in the anionic membrane-mimetic environment, we found that high β-sheet amphipathic was accompanied by strong antimicrobial activity. Of such peptides, W5 ([RW]4W) and L5 ([RL]4L) with a nicely amphipathic β-sheet structure possessed the optimal therapeutic index. W5 and L5 also exhibited high stability in vitro and a potent membrane-disruptive mechanism. These results suggest that the alternate arrangement of hydrophobic and hydrophilic residues to form a stable amphipathic β-sheet structure is an essential factor that significantly affects the antimicrobial properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shiqi He
- Institute of Animal Nutrition, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, China
| | - Zhanyi Yang
- Institute of Animal Nutrition, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, China
| | - Weikang Yu
- Institute of Animal Nutrition, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, China
| | - Jiawei Li
- Institute of Animal Nutrition, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, China
| | - Zhongyu Li
- Institute of Animal Nutrition, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, China
| | - Jiajun Wang
- Institute of Animal Nutrition, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, China
| | - Anshan Shan
- Institute of Animal Nutrition, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, China
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42
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Cao W, Liu Q, Wang T, Zhang Q, Cheng F, Tang Y, Mei C, Wen F, Wang W. Recombinant expression of the precursor of rat lung surfactant protein B in Escherichia coli and its antibacterial mechanism. Protein Expr Purif 2020; 179:105801. [PMID: 33248225 DOI: 10.1016/j.pep.2020.105801] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2020] [Revised: 11/14/2020] [Accepted: 11/20/2020] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
While the discovery of antibiotics has made a huge contribution to medicine, bacteria that are resistant to many antibiotics pose new challenges to medicine. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), a new kind of antibiotics, have attracted people's attention because they are not prone to drug resistance. In this study, glutathione transferase (GST) was used as a fusion partner to recombinantly expressed rat lung surfactant protein B precursor (proSP-B) in E. coli pLySs. Cck-8 evaluated the cytotoxicity of the fusion protein and calculated its 50% inhibitory concentration (IC50). The purified peptides showed broad-spectrum antibacterial activity using filter paper method and MIC, and propidium iodide (PI) was used to explore the antibacterial mechanism against Staphylococcus aureus. In addition, the pEGFP-N2-proSP-B vector was constructed to explore the localization of proSP-B in CCL-149 cells. We found that proSP-B has obvious antibacterial activity against Gram-positive bacteria, Gram-negative bacteria and fungi, and has broad-spectrum antibacterial activity. Besides, proSP-B fusion protein has low toxicity and can change the permeability of Staphylococcus aureus cell membrane to realize its antibacterial. For these reasons, proSP-B can be used as a potential natural antibacterial drug.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wulong Cao
- School of Pharmacy and Bioengineering, Chongqing University of Technology, Chongqing, 400054, PR China.
| | - Qin Liu
- School of Pharmacy and Bioengineering, Chongqing University of Technology, Chongqing, 400054, PR China.
| | - Ting Wang
- School of Pharmacy and Bioengineering, Chongqing University of Technology, Chongqing, 400054, PR China.
| | - Qiuhan Zhang
- School of Pharmacy and Bioengineering, Chongqing University of Technology, Chongqing, 400054, PR China.
| | - Fu Cheng
- School of Pharmacy and Bioengineering, Chongqing University of Technology, Chongqing, 400054, PR China.
| | - Yishan Tang
- School of Pharmacy and Bioengineering, Chongqing University of Technology, Chongqing, 400054, PR China.
| | - Chenchen Mei
- School of Pharmacy and Bioengineering, Chongqing University of Technology, Chongqing, 400054, PR China.
| | - Fang Wen
- School of Pharmacy and Bioengineering, Chongqing University of Technology, Chongqing, 400054, PR China.
| | - Wanneng Wang
- School of Pharmacy and Bioengineering, Chongqing University of Technology, Chongqing, 400054, PR China.
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43
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Shang L, Li J, Song C, Nina Z, Li Q, Chou S, Wang Z, Shan A. Hybrid Antimicrobial Peptide Targeting Staphylococcus aureus and Displaying Anti-infective Activity in a Murine Model. Front Microbiol 2020; 11:1767. [PMID: 33042031 PMCID: PMC7516806 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2020.01767] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2020] [Accepted: 07/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Broad-spectrum antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) kill bacteria indiscriminately, increasing the possibility of an ecological imbalance in the microbiota. To solve this problem, new types of AMPs, which kill pathogenic bacteria without breaking the micro-ecological balance of the body, were proposed. Here, we successfully designed a targeting AMP, S2, which is a fusion peptide composed of a species-specific targeting domain and broad-spectrum AMP domain. In the current study, S2 showed specific killing activity against Staphylococcus aureus, and almost no resistance induced compared to penicillin. Mechanism studies indicated that S2 killed S. aureus by destroying the bacterial membrane. Meanwhile, S2 possessed excellent salt-tolerance properties and biocompatibility. Importantly, S2 exhibited perfect treatment efficacy against an S. aureus subcutaneous infection model and remained nontoxic. In conclusion, this study provides a promising strategy for designing specific AMPs against growing bacterial infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lu Shang
- Institute of Animal Nutrition, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, China
| | - Jiawei Li
- Institute of Animal Nutrition, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, China
| | - Chunsheng Song
- Institute of Animal Nutrition, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, China
| | - Zaytseva Nina
- Institute of Animal Nutrition, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, China
| | - Qiuke Li
- Institute of Animal Nutrition, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, China
| | - Shuli Chou
- Institute of Animal Nutrition, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, China
| | - Zhihua Wang
- Institute of Animal Nutrition, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, China
| | - Anshan Shan
- Institute of Animal Nutrition, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, China
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Chen J, Hu G, Li T, Chen Y, Gao M, Li Q, Hao L, Jia Y, Wang L, Wang Y. Fusion peptide engineered "statically-versatile" titanium implant simultaneously enhancing anti-infection, vascularization and osseointegration. Biomaterials 2020; 264:120446. [PMID: 33069134 DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2020.120446] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2019] [Revised: 10/07/2020] [Accepted: 10/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Although antimicrobial titanium implants can prevent biomaterial-associated infection (BAI) in orthopedics, they display cytotoxicity and delayed osseointegration. Therefore, versatile implants are desirable for simultaneously inhibiting BAI and promoting osseointegration, especially "statically-versatile" ones with nonessential external stimulations for facilitating applications. Herein, we develop a "statically-versatile" titanium implant by immobilizing an innovative fusion peptide (FP) containing HHC36 antimicrobial sequence and QK angiogenic sequence via sodium borohydride reduction promoted Cu(I)-catalyzed azide-alkyne cycloaddition (CuAAC-SB), which shows higher immobilization efficiency than traditional CuAAC with sodium ascorbate reduction (CuAAC-SA). The FP-engineered implant exhibits over 96.8% antimicrobial activity against four types of clinical bacteria (S. aureus, E. coli, P. aeruginosa and methicillin-resistant S. aureus), being stronger than that modified with mixed peptides. This can be mechanistically attributed to the larger bacterial accessible surface area of HHC36 sequence. Notably, the implant can simultaneously enhance cellular proliferation, up-regulate expressions of angiogenesis-related genes/proteins (VEGF and VEGFR-2) of HUVECs and osteogenesis-related genes/proteins (ALP, COL-1, RUNX-2, OPN and OCN) of hBMSCs. In vivo assay with infection and non-infection bone-defect model reveals that the FP-engineered implant can kill 99.63% of S. aureus, and simultaneously promote vascularization and osseointegration. It is believed that this study presents an excellent strategy for developing "statically-versatile" orthopedic implants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junjian Chen
- Key Laboratory of Biomedical Engineering of Guangdong Province, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510006, China; Guangzhou Regenerative Medicine and Health Guangdong Laboratory, Guangzhou, 510006, China
| | - Guansong Hu
- National Engineering Research Center for Tissue Restoration and Reconstruction, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510006, China; School of Biomedical Science and Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510006, China
| | - Tianjie Li
- Key Laboratory of Biomedical Engineering of Guangdong Province, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510006, China
| | - Yunhua Chen
- National Engineering Research Center for Tissue Restoration and Reconstruction, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510006, China
| | - Meng Gao
- National Engineering Research Center for Tissue Restoration and Reconstruction, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510006, China; School of Biomedical Science and Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510006, China
| | - Qingtao Li
- Key Laboratory of Biomedical Engineering of Guangdong Province, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510006, China; Guangzhou Regenerative Medicine and Health Guangdong Laboratory, Guangzhou, 510006, China
| | - Lijing Hao
- School of Biomedical Science and Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510006, China; Key Laboratory of Biomedical Engineering of Guangdong Province, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510006, China
| | - Yongguang Jia
- National Engineering Research Center for Tissue Restoration and Reconstruction, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510006, China
| | - Lin Wang
- Key Laboratory of Biomedical Engineering of Guangdong Province, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510006, China; Guangzhou Regenerative Medicine and Health Guangdong Laboratory, Guangzhou, 510006, China.
| | - Yingjun Wang
- National Engineering Research Center for Tissue Restoration and Reconstruction, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510006, China; School of Biomedical Science and Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510006, China.
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Li J, Shang L, Lan J, Chou S, Feng X, Shi B, Wang J, Lyu Y, Shan A. Targeted and Intracellular Antibacterial Activity against S. agalactiae of the Chimeric Peptides Based on Pheromone and Cell-Penetrating Peptides. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2020; 12:44459-44474. [PMID: 32924418 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.0c12226] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
The significance of the complex bacterial ecosystem in the human body and the impediment of the mammalian membrane against many antibiotics together emphasize the necessity to develop antimicrobial agents with precise antimicrobial and cell-penetrating activities. A simple and feasible method for generating dual-function antimicrobial peptides inspired by highly hydrophobic peptide pheromone and cationic cell-penetrating peptides is presented. Furthermore, the extension of the peptide candidate library is achieved by modifying the charged domain. The bacteria-selective peptides L1, L2, L10, and L11 kill Streptococcus agalactiae by disrupting the membrane structure, and the targeted mechanism is suggested where the peptides offset the entrapment of S. agalactiae rather than of other bacteria. Moreover, L2 and L10 possess intracellular antibacterial activity and carrier property, which is mainly dependent on endocytosis. Given their suitable biocompatibility, high tolerance, no drug resistance, and effective antimicrobial capacity in a mouse mastitis model, L2 and L10 can be powerful weapons against S. agalactiae pathogen infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiawei Li
- Institute of Animal Nutrition, Northeast Agricultural University, No. 600 Changjiang Road, Xiangfang District, Harbin 150030, P. R. China
| | - Lu Shang
- Institute of Animal Nutrition, Northeast Agricultural University, No. 600 Changjiang Road, Xiangfang District, Harbin 150030, P. R. China
| | - Jing Lan
- Institute of Animal Nutrition, Northeast Agricultural University, No. 600 Changjiang Road, Xiangfang District, Harbin 150030, P. R. China
| | - Shuli Chou
- Institute of Animal Nutrition, Northeast Agricultural University, No. 600 Changjiang Road, Xiangfang District, Harbin 150030, P. R. China
| | - Xingjun Feng
- Institute of Animal Nutrition, Northeast Agricultural University, No. 600 Changjiang Road, Xiangfang District, Harbin 150030, P. R. China
| | - Baoming Shi
- Institute of Animal Nutrition, Northeast Agricultural University, No. 600 Changjiang Road, Xiangfang District, Harbin 150030, P. R. China
| | - Jiajun Wang
- Institute of Animal Nutrition, Northeast Agricultural University, No. 600 Changjiang Road, Xiangfang District, Harbin 150030, P. R. China
| | - Yinfeng Lyu
- Institute of Animal Nutrition, Northeast Agricultural University, No. 600 Changjiang Road, Xiangfang District, Harbin 150030, P. R. China
| | - Anshan Shan
- Institute of Animal Nutrition, Northeast Agricultural University, No. 600 Changjiang Road, Xiangfang District, Harbin 150030, P. R. China
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Yang Y, Wang C, Gao N, Lyu Y, Zhang L, Zhang S, Wang J, Shan A. A Novel Dual-Targeted α-Helical Peptide With Potent Antifungal Activity Against Fluconazole-Resistant Candida albicans Clinical Isolates. Front Microbiol 2020; 11:548620. [PMID: 33101226 PMCID: PMC7554340 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2020.548620] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2020] [Accepted: 09/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Due to compromised immune system, fungal infection incidences have markedly increased in the last few decades. Pathogenic fungi have developed resistance to the clinically available antifungal agents. Antifungal resistance poses a great challenge to clinical treatment and has stimulated the demand for novel antifungal agents. A promising alternative to the treatment of fungal diseases is the use of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs). However, the antifungal activities of AMPs have not been fully determined. Therefore, this study aimed at designing and screening α-helical peptides with potential antifungal activities. The effects of key physicochemical parameters on antifungal activities were also investigated. A series of lengthened and residue-substituted derivatives of the template peptide KV, a hexapeptide truncated from the α-helical region of porcine myeloid antimicrobial peptide-36, were designed and synthesized. Enhancement of hydrophobicity by introducing aromatic hydrophobic amino acids (tryptophan and phenylalanine) significantly increased the efficacies of the peptides against Candida albicans strains, including fluconazole-resistant isolates. Increased hydrophobicity also elevated the toxic properties of these peptides. RF3 with moderate hydrophobicity exhibited potent anticandidal activities (GM = 6.96 μM) and modest hemolytic activities (HC10 > 64 μM). Additionally, repeated exposure to a subinhibitory concentration of RF3 did not induce resistance development. The antifungal mechanisms of RF3 were due to membrane disruptions and induction of reactive oxygen species production. Such a dual-targeted mechanism was active against drug-resistant fungi. These results show the important role of hydrophobicity and provide new insights into designing and developing antifungal peptides. Meanwhile, the successful design of RF3 highlights the potential utility of AMPs in preventing the spread of drug-resistant fungal infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Yang
- Laboratory of Molecular Nutrition and Immunity, Institute of Animal Nutrition, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, China
| | - Chenxi Wang
- Laboratory of Molecular Nutrition and Immunity, Institute of Animal Nutrition, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, China
| | - Nan Gao
- Laboratory of Molecular Nutrition and Immunity, Institute of Animal Nutrition, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, China
| | - Yinfeng Lyu
- Laboratory of Molecular Nutrition and Immunity, Institute of Animal Nutrition, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, China
| | - Licong Zhang
- Laboratory of Molecular Nutrition and Immunity, Institute of Animal Nutrition, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, China
| | - Sujiang Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Tarim Animal Husbandry Science and Technology, College of Animal Science, Tarim University, Alar, China
| | - Jiajun Wang
- Laboratory of Molecular Nutrition and Immunity, Institute of Animal Nutrition, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, China
| | - Anshan Shan
- Laboratory of Molecular Nutrition and Immunity, Institute of Animal Nutrition, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin, China
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47
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Muthunayake NS, Islam R, Inutan ED, Colangelo W, Trimpin S, Cunningham PR, Chow CS. Expression and In Vivo Characterization of the Antimicrobial Peptide Oncocin and Variants Binding to Ribosomes. Biochemistry 2020; 59:3380-3391. [PMID: 32840100 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biochem.0c00600] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Peptides have important biomedical applications, but poor correlation between in vitro and in vivo activities can limit their development for clinical use. The ability to generate peptides and monitor their expression with new mass spectrometric methods and biological activities in vivo would be an advantage for the discovery and improvement of peptide-based drugs. In this study, a plasmid-based system was used to express the ribosome-targeting peptide oncocin (19 amino acids, VDKPPYLPRPRPPRRIYNR) and to determine its direct antibacterial effects on Escherichia coli. Previous biochemical and structure studies showed that oncocin targets the bacterial ribosome. The oncocin peptide generated in vivo strongly inhibits bacterial growth. In vivo dimethyl sulfate footprinting of oncocin on the rRNA gives results that are consistent with those of in vitro studies but reveals additional binding interactions with E. coli ribosomes. Furthermore, expression of truncated or mutated peptides reveals which amino acids are important for antimicrobial activity. Overall, the in vivo peptide expression system can be used to investigate biological activities and interactions of peptides with their targets within the cellular environment and to separate contributions of the sequence to cellular transport. This strategy has future applications for improving the effectiveness of existing peptides and developing new peptide-based drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nisansala S Muthunayake
- Department of Chemistry, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan 48202, United States.,Department of Biological Sciences, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan 48202, United States
| | - Rabiul Islam
- Department of Chemistry, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan 48202, United States
| | - Ellen D Inutan
- Department of Chemistry, Mindanao State University-Iligan Institute of Technology, Iligan 9200, Philippines
| | - Wesley Colangelo
- Department of Biological Sciences, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan 48202, United States
| | - Sarah Trimpin
- Department of Chemistry, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan 48202, United States
| | - Philip R Cunningham
- Department of Biological Sciences, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan 48202, United States
| | - Christine S Chow
- Department of Chemistry, Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan 48202, United States
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48
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Zhu Y, Shao C, Li G, Lai Z, Tan P, Jian Q, Cheng B, Shan A. Rational Avoidance of Protease Cleavage Sites and Symmetrical End-Tagging Significantly Enhances the Stability and Therapeutic Potential of Antimicrobial Peptides. J Med Chem 2020; 63:9421-9435. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.0c00583] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Yongjie Zhu
- Laboratory of Molecular Nutrition and Immunity. The Institute of Animal Nutrition, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, P. R. China
| | - Changxuan Shao
- Laboratory of Molecular Nutrition and Immunity. The Institute of Animal Nutrition, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, P. R. China
| | - Guoyu Li
- Laboratory of Molecular Nutrition and Immunity. The Institute of Animal Nutrition, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, P. R. China
| | - Zhenheng Lai
- Laboratory of Molecular Nutrition and Immunity. The Institute of Animal Nutrition, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, P. R. China
| | - Peng Tan
- Laboratory of Molecular Nutrition and Immunity. The Institute of Animal Nutrition, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, P. R. China
| | - Qiao Jian
- Laboratory of Molecular Nutrition and Immunity. The Institute of Animal Nutrition, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, P. R. China
| | - Baojing Cheng
- Laboratory of Molecular Nutrition and Immunity. The Institute of Animal Nutrition, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, P. R. China
| | - Anshan Shan
- Laboratory of Molecular Nutrition and Immunity. The Institute of Animal Nutrition, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, P. R. China
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Synthesis and anti-pseudomonal activity of new ß-Ala modified analogues of the antimicrobial peptide anoplin. Int J Med Microbiol 2020; 310:151433. [PMID: 32654770 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijmm.2020.151433] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2019] [Revised: 05/06/2020] [Accepted: 05/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Due to the rise of antibiotic-resistant bacteria around the world, AMPs (antimicrobial peptides), depending on non-specific membrane mechanism and low tendency to develop bacterial resistance, attract widespread attentions as novel antimicrobial alternatives for treating bacterial infections. In this study, a series of new β-Ala modified-antimicrobial peptide analogues of anoplin were designed and synthesized, and their biological activities were described. Most of the new peptides showed perfect antimicrobial activities against two antibiotic-sensitive Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains and three clinical isolates of multidrug-resistant P. aeruginosa strains without significant hemolysis or cytotoxicity. More significantly, Ano-1β and Ano-8β (substituting positions 1 and 8 of anoplin with β-Ala, respectively) exhibited the best antimicrobial potency. Additionally, the two new peptides were stable under physiological conditions and displayed preferable in vivo antimicrobial activity with less acute toxicity. Notably, Ano-1β and Ano-8β hardly generated resistance in contrast to conventional antibiotics rifampicin and gentamicin, and they exhibited better anti-biofilm activity and synergistic or additive effects in combination with conventional antibiotics. What's more, Ano-1β and Ano-8β had strong membrane disruption as evidenced by outer membrane permeabilization and cytoplasmic membrane depolarization assays. Confocal laser scanning microscopy and scanning electron microscopy further demonstrated that the two new peptides could destroy the bacterial membrane integrity. Collectively, the incorporation of β-Ala was a reasonable approach for new antimicrobial peptides design, and the new peptides Ano-1β and Ano-8β might be promising antimicrobial candidates in combating the increasing antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
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50
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Zeng P, Xu C, Liu C, Liu J, Cheng Q, Gao W, Yang X, Chen S, Chan KF, Wong KY. De Novo Designed Hexadecapeptides Synergize Glycopeptide Antibiotics Vancomycin and Teicoplanin against Pathogenic Klebsiella pneumoniae via Disruption of Cell Permeability and Potential. ACS APPLIED BIO MATERIALS 2020; 3:1738-1752. [DOI: 10.1021/acsabm.0c00044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Ping Zeng
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery and Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon 852, Hong Kong
| | - Chen Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery and Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon 852, Hong Kong
| | - Chenyu Liu
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Public Health, Jockey Club College of Veterinary Medicine and Life Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon +852, Hong Kong
| | - Jun Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery and Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon 852, Hong Kong
| | - Qipeng Cheng
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery and Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon 852, Hong Kong
| | - Wei Gao
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery and Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon 852, Hong Kong
| | - Xuemei Yang
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Public Health, Jockey Club College of Veterinary Medicine and Life Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon +852, Hong Kong
| | - Sheng Chen
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Public Health, Jockey Club College of Veterinary Medicine and Life Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon +852, Hong Kong
| | - Kin-Fai Chan
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery and Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon 852, Hong Kong
| | - Kwok-Yin Wong
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery and Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon 852, Hong Kong
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