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Liao M, Gong H, Shen K, Wang Z, Li R, Campana M, Hu X, Lu JR. Unlocking roles of cationic and aromatic residues in peptide amphiphiles in treating drug-resistant gram-positive pathogens. J Colloid Interface Sci 2024; 672:209-223. [PMID: 38838629 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcis.2024.05.188] [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: 02/03/2024] [Revised: 05/16/2024] [Accepted: 05/24/2024] [Indexed: 06/07/2024]
Abstract
Multidrug resistance (MDR) is a rising threat to global health because the number of essential antibiotics used for treating MDR infections is increasingly compromised. In this work we report a group of new amphiphilic peptides (AMPs) derived from the well-studied G3 (G(IIKK)3I-NH2) to fight infections from Gram-positive bacteria including susceptible Staphylococcus aureus and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), focusing on membrane interactions. Time-dependent killing experiments revealed that substitutions of II by WW (GWK), II by FF (GFK) and KK by RR (GIR) resulted in improved bactericidal efficiencies compared to G3 (GIK) on both S. aureus and MRSA, with the order of GWK > GIR > GFK > GIK. Electronic microscopy imaging revealed structural disruptions of AMP binding to bacterial cell walls. Fluorescence assays including AMP binding to anionic lipoteichoic acids (LTA) in cell-free and cell systems indicated concentration and time-dependent membrane destabilization associated with bacterial killing. Furthermore, AMP's binding to anionic plasma membrane via similar fluorescence assays revealed a different extent of membrane depolarization and leakage. These observations were supported by the penetration of AMPs into the LTA barrier and the subsequent structural compromise to the cytoplasmic membrane as revealed from SANS (small angle neutron scattering). Both experiments and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations revealed that GWK and GIR could make the membrane more rigid but less effective in diffusive efficiency than GIK and GFK through forming intramembrane peptide nanoaggregates associated with hydrophobic mismatch and formation of fluidic and rigid patches. The reported peptide-aggregate-induced phase-separation emerged as a crucial factor in accelerated membrane disintegration and fast bacterial killing. This work has demonstrated the importance of membrane interactions to the development of more effective AMPs and the relevance of the approaches as reported in assisting this area of research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mingrui Liao
- Biological Physics Laboratory, Department of Physics and Astronomy, School of Natural Science, The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PL, UK
| | - Haoning Gong
- Biological Physics Laboratory, Department of Physics and Astronomy, School of Natural Science, The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PL, UK
| | - Kangcheng Shen
- Biological Physics Laboratory, Department of Physics and Astronomy, School of Natural Science, The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PL, UK
| | - Ziwei Wang
- National Graphene Institute, The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PL, UK
| | - Renzhi Li
- Department of Materials, The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PL, UK
| | - Mario Campana
- ISIS Pulsed Neutron & Muon Source, STFC Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Didcot OX11 0QX, UK
| | - Xuzhi Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Solid Lubrication, Lanzhou Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, PR China.
| | - Jian R Lu
- Biological Physics Laboratory, Department of Physics and Astronomy, School of Natural Science, The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PL, UK.
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2
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Billah MM, Ahmed M, Islam MZ, Yamazaki M. Processes and mechanisms underlying burst of giant unilamellar vesicles induced by antimicrobial peptides and compounds. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA. BIOMEMBRANES 2024; 1866:184330. [PMID: 38679311 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbamem.2024.184330] [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: 07/10/2023] [Revised: 04/05/2024] [Accepted: 04/23/2024] [Indexed: 05/01/2024]
Abstract
To clarify the damage of lipid bilayer region in bacterial cell membrane caused by antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) and antimicrobial compounds (AMCs), their interactions with giant unilamellar vesicles (GUVs) of various lipid compositions have been examined. The findings revealed two main causes for the leakage: nanopore formation in the membrane and burst of GUVs. Although GUV burst has been explained previously based on the carpet model, the supporting evidence is limited. In this review, to better clarify the mechanism of GUV burst by AMPs, AMCs, and other membrane-active peptides, we described current knowledge of the conditions, characteristics, and detailed processes of GUV burst and the changes in the shape of the GUVs during burst. We identified several physical factors that affect GUV burst, such as membrane tension, electrostatic interaction, structural changes of GUV membrane such as membrane folding, and oil in the membrane. We also clarified one of the physical mechanisms underlying the instability of lipid bilayers that are associated with leakage in the carpet model. Based on these results, we propose a mechanism underlying some types of GUV burst induced by these substances: the growth of a nanopore to a micropore, resulting in GUV burst.
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Affiliation(s)
- Md Masum Billah
- Integrated Bioscience Section, Graduate School of Science and Technology, Shizuoka University, Shizuoka 422-8529, Japan; Department of Physics, Jashore University and Science and Technology, Jashore 7408, Bangladesh
| | - Marzuk Ahmed
- Integrated Bioscience Section, Graduate School of Science and Technology, Shizuoka University, Shizuoka 422-8529, Japan
| | - Md Zahidul Islam
- Nanomaterials Research Division, Research Institute of Electronics, Shizuoka University, Shizuoka 422-8529, Japan
| | - Masahito Yamazaki
- Integrated Bioscience Section, Graduate School of Science and Technology, Shizuoka University, Shizuoka 422-8529, Japan; Nanomaterials Research Division, Research Institute of Electronics, Shizuoka University, Shizuoka 422-8529, Japan; Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, Shizuoka University, Shizuoka 422-8529, Japan.
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3
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Bevivino G, Maurizi L, Ammendolia MG, Longhi C, Arcà B, Lombardo F. Peptides with Antimicrobial Activity in the Saliva of the Malaria Vector Anopheles coluzzii. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:5529. [PMID: 38791567 PMCID: PMC11121840 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25105529] [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: 04/27/2024] [Revised: 05/13/2024] [Accepted: 05/15/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Mosquito saliva plays a crucial physiological role in both sugar and blood feeding by helping sugar digestion and exerting antihemostatic functions. During meal acquisition, mosquitoes are exposed to the internalization of external microbes. Since mosquitoes reingest significant amounts of saliva during feeding, we hypothesized that salivary antimicrobial components may participate in the protection of mouthparts, the crop, and the gut by inhibiting bacterial growth. To identify novel potential antimicrobials from mosquito saliva, we selected 11 candidates from Anopheles coluzzii salivary transcriptomic datasets and obtained them either using a cell-free transcription/translation expression system or, when feasible, via chemical synthesis. Hyp6.2 and hyp13, which were predicted to be produced as propeptides and cleaved in shorter mature forms, showed the most interesting results in bacterial growth inhibition assays. Hyp6.2 (putative mature form, 35 amino acid residues) significantly inhibited the growth of Gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus) and Gram-negative (Escherichia coli and Serratia marcescens) bacteria. Hyp13 (short form, 19 amino acid residues) dose-dependently inhibited E. coli and S. marcescens growth, inducing membrane disruption in both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria as indicated with scanning electron microscopy. In conclusion, we identified two A. coluzzii salivary peptides inhibiting Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria growth and possibly contributing to the protection of mosquito mouthparts and digestive tracts from microbial infection during and/or after feeding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giulia Bevivino
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University of Rome, P.le Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy; (G.B.); (L.M.); (C.L.); (B.A.)
| | - Linda Maurizi
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University of Rome, P.le Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy; (G.B.); (L.M.); (C.L.); (B.A.)
| | - Maria Grazia Ammendolia
- National Center for Innovative Technologies in Public Health, Italian National Institute of Health, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161 Rome, Italy;
| | - Catia Longhi
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University of Rome, P.le Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy; (G.B.); (L.M.); (C.L.); (B.A.)
| | - Bruno Arcà
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University of Rome, P.le Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy; (G.B.); (L.M.); (C.L.); (B.A.)
| | - Fabrizio Lombardo
- Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University of Rome, P.le Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy; (G.B.); (L.M.); (C.L.); (B.A.)
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4
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Velayatipour F, Tarrahimofrad H, Zamani J, Fotouhi F, Aminzadeh S. In-vitro antimicrobial activity of AF-DP protein and in-silico approach of cell membrane disruption. J Biomol Struct Dyn 2024:1-18. [PMID: 38319027 DOI: 10.1080/07391102.2024.2308763] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2023] [Accepted: 01/14/2024] [Indexed: 02/07/2024]
Abstract
Microbial resistance against common antibiotics has become one of the most serious threats to human health. The increasing statistics on this problem show the necessity of finding a way to deal with it. In recent years, antimicrobial peptides with unique properties and the capability of targeting a wide range of pathogens, have been considered as a potential for replacing common antibiotics. A small chitin-binding protein with anticandidal activity was isolated from Moringa oleifera seeds by Neto and colleagues in 2017, which very much resembled antimicrobial peptides. In this study, the antimicrobial protein 'AF-DP' was identified and characterized. AF-DP was heterologously expressed, purified, and characterized, and its 3D structure was predicted. Six molecular dynamic simulations were performed to investigate how the protein interacts with Gram-negative inner and outer, Gram-positive, fungal, cancerous, and normal mammalian membranes. Also, its antimicrobial and anticancer activity was assessed in vitro via minimum inhibition concentration (MIC) and MTT assays, respectively. This protein with 111 amino acids and a total net charge (of 10.5) has been predicted to be mainly composed of alpha helix and random coils. Its MIC affecting the growth of Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Candida albicans was 30 µg/ml, 100 µg/ml, and 100 µg/ml, respectively; AF-DP showed anticancer activity against MCF-7 breast cancer cell line. Scanning electron microscopic analysis confirmed the creation of pores and scratches on the surface of the bacterial membrane. The results of this research show that AF-DP can be a candidate for the production of new drugs as an AMP with antimicrobial activity.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fatemeh Velayatipour
- Bioprocess Engineering Group, Institute of Industrial and Environmental Biotechnology, National Institute of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (NIGEB), Tehran, Iran
| | - Hossein Tarrahimofrad
- Bioprocess Engineering Group, Institute of Industrial and Environmental Biotechnology, National Institute of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (NIGEB), Tehran, Iran
| | - Javad Zamani
- Bioprocess Engineering Group, Institute of Industrial and Environmental Biotechnology, National Institute of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (NIGEB), Tehran, Iran
| | - Fatemeh Fotouhi
- Faculty of Biological Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Saeed Aminzadeh
- Bioprocess Engineering Group, Institute of Industrial and Environmental Biotechnology, National Institute of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (NIGEB), Tehran, Iran
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5
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Lacombe C, Aleman-Navaro E, Drujon T, Martinez-Osorio V, Sachon E, Melchy-Pérez E, Carlier L, Fajardo Brigido LE, Fleury Y, Piesse C, Gutiérrez-Escobedo G, De Las Peñas A, Castaño I, Desriac F, Beristain-Hernandez JL, Combadiere C, Rosenstein Y, Auvynet C. Characterization of a New Immunosuppressive and Antimicrobial Peptide, DRS-DA2, Isolated from the Mexican Frog, Pachymedusa dacnicolor. Int J Inflam 2024; 2024:2205864. [PMID: 38250663 PMCID: PMC10799709 DOI: 10.1155/2024/2205864] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2023] [Revised: 10/21/2023] [Accepted: 11/17/2023] [Indexed: 01/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Inflammatory and antimicrobial diseases constitute a major burden for society, and fighting them is a WHO strategic priority. Most of the treatments available to fight inflammatory diseases are anti-inflammatory drugs, such as corticosteroids or immunomodulators that lack cellular specificity and lead to numerous side effects. In addition to suppressing undesired inflammation and reducing disease progression, these drugs lessen the immune system protective functions. Furthermore, treating infectious diseases is more and more challenging due to the rise of microbial resistance to antimicrobial drugs. Thus, controlling the inflammatory process locally without compromising the ability to combat infections is an essential feature in the treatment of inflammatory diseases. We isolated three forms (DRS-DA2N, DRS-DA2NE, and DRS-DA2NEQ) of the same peptide, DRS-DA2, which belongs to the dermaseptin family, from the Mexican tree frog Pachymedusa dacnicolor. Interestingly, DRS-DA2N and DRS-DA2NEQ exhibit a dual activity by inducing the death of leukocytes as well as that of Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria, including multiresistant strains, without affecting other cells such as epithelial cells or erythrocytes. We showed that the death of both immune cells and bacteria is induced rapidly by DRS-DA2 and that the membrane is permeabilized, leading to the loss of membrane integrity. We also validated the capacity of DRS-DA2 to regulate the pool of inflammatory cells in vivo in a mouse model of noninfectious peritonitis. After the induction of peritonitis, a local injection of DRS-DA2N could decrease the number of inflammatory cells locally in the peritoneal cavity without inducing a systemic effect, as no changes in the number of inflammatory cells could be detected in blood or in the bone marrow. Collectively, these data suggest that this peptide could be a promising tool in the treatment of inflammatory diseases, such as inflammatory skin diseases, as it could reduce the number of inflammatory cells locally without suppressing the ability to combat infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claire Lacombe
- Laboratoire des Biomolécules, LBM, Sorbonne Université, École Normale Supérieure, PSL University, CNRS, Paris, France
- Faculté des Sciences, Université Paris Est-Créteil Val de Marne, Créteil, France
| | - Estefania Aleman-Navaro
- Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico
- Posgrado de Ciencias Bioquímicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Thierry Drujon
- Laboratoire des Biomolécules, LBM, Sorbonne Université, École Normale Supérieure, PSL University, CNRS, Paris, France
| | - Veronica Martinez-Osorio
- Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico
- Posgrado de Ciencias Bioquímicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Emmanuelle Sachon
- Laboratoire des Biomolécules, LBM, Sorbonne Université, École Normale Supérieure, PSL University, CNRS, Paris, France
- Plateforme MS3U Mass Spectrometry Sciences Sorbonne University, Fédération de Chimie Moléculaire de Paris Centre, FR2769, Sorbonne Université, Paris, France
| | - Erika Melchy-Pérez
- Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico
| | - Ludovic Carlier
- Laboratoire des Biomolécules, LBM, Sorbonne Université, École Normale Supérieure, PSL University, CNRS, Paris, France
| | - Lorena Elizabeth Fajardo Brigido
- Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico
- Posgrado de Ciencias Bioquímicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Yannick Fleury
- LUBEM EA 3882, IUT Quimper, Université de Bretagne Occidentale, Quimper, France
| | - Christophe Piesse
- Plateforme de Synthèse Peptidique, Institut de Biologie Paris-Seine (ISBS), Sorbonne Université, CNRS, Paris, France
| | - Guadalupe Gutiérrez-Escobedo
- IPICYT, División de Biología Molecular, Instituto Potosino de Investigación Científica y Tecnológica, San Luis Potosí, Mexico
| | - Alejandro De Las Peñas
- IPICYT, División de Biología Molecular, Instituto Potosino de Investigación Científica y Tecnológica, San Luis Potosí, Mexico
| | - Irene Castaño
- IPICYT, División de Biología Molecular, Instituto Potosino de Investigación Científica y Tecnológica, San Luis Potosí, Mexico
| | - Florie Desriac
- LUBEM EA 3882, IUT Quimper, Université de Bretagne Occidentale, Quimper, France
| | - Jose Luis Beristain-Hernandez
- Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery Clinic, General Surgery Department La Raza National Medical Center, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Ciudad de México, Mexico
| | - Christophe Combadiere
- Sorbonne Université, Institut National de Santé et de Recherche Medicale (Inserm), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Centre d'Immunologie et des Maladies Infectieuses, Cimi-Paris, Paris, France
| | - Yvonne Rosenstein
- Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico
| | - Constance Auvynet
- Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico
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6
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Nguyen TN, Teimouri H, Kolomeisky AB. Increasing Heterogeneity in Antimicrobial Peptide Combinations Enhances Their Synergistic Activities. J Phys Chem Lett 2023; 14:8405-8411. [PMID: 37708492 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpclett.3c02216] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/16/2023]
Abstract
Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are short biopolymers produced by living organisms as an immune system defense against infections. They have been considered as potential alternatives to conventional antibiotics. Experiments suggest that combining several types of different AMPs might enhance their antimicrobial activity more effectively than using single-component AMPs. However, a clear understanding of the underlying microscopic mechanisms is still lacking. We present a theoretical investigation of antibacterial cooperativity mechanisms involving several types of AMPs. It is argued that synergy results from intermolecular interactions when the presence of one type of AMP stimulates the association of another type of AMP to bacteria. It is found that increasing the number of different AMPs in the mixtures increases the number of such interactions, making them more efficient in eliminating infections. Our theoretical framework provides valuable insights into the mechanisms of antimicrobial action.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thao N Nguyen
- Department of Chemistry, Rice University, Houston, Texas 77005, United States
- Center for Theoretical Biological Physics, Rice University, Houston, Texas 77005, United States
- Applied Physics Graduate Program, Smalley-Curl Institute, Rice University, Houston, Texas 77005, United States
| | - Hamid Teimouri
- Department of Chemistry, Rice University, Houston, Texas 77005, United States
- Center for Theoretical Biological Physics, Rice University, Houston, Texas 77005, United States
| | - Anatoly B Kolomeisky
- Department of Chemistry, Rice University, Houston, Texas 77005, United States
- Center for Theoretical Biological Physics, Rice University, Houston, Texas 77005, United States
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Rice University, Houston, Texas 77005, United States
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Rice University, Houston, Texas 77005, United States
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7
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Rangel K, Lechuga GC, Provance DW, Morel CM, De Simone SG. An Update on the Therapeutic Potential of Antimicrobial Peptides against Acinetobacter baumannii Infections. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2023; 16:1281. [PMID: 37765087 PMCID: PMC10537560 DOI: 10.3390/ph16091281] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2023] [Revised: 08/09/2023] [Accepted: 09/06/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The rise in antibiotic-resistant strains of clinically important pathogens is a major threat to global health. The World Health Organization (WHO) has recognized the urgent need to develop alternative treatments to address the growing list of priority pathogens. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) rank among the suggested options with proven activity and high potential to be developed into effective drugs. Many AMPs are naturally produced by living organisms protecting the host against pathogens as a part of their innate immunity. Mechanisms associated with AMP actions include cell membrane disruption, cell wall weakening, protein synthesis inhibition, and interference in nucleic acid dynamics, inducing apoptosis and necrosis. Acinetobacter baumannii is a critical pathogen, as severe clinical implications have developed from isolates resistant to current antibiotic treatments and conventional control procedures, such as UV light, disinfectants, and drying. Here, we review the natural AMPs representing primary candidates for new anti-A. baumannii drugs in post-antibiotic-era and present computational tools to develop the next generation of AMPs with greater microbicidal activity and reduced toxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karyne Rangel
- Center for Technological Development in Health (CDTS), National Institute of Science and Technology for Innovation in Neglected Population Diseases (INCT-IDPN), Oswaldo Cruz Institut, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro 21040-900, RJ, Brazil; (K.R.); (G.C.L.); (D.W.P.J.); (C.M.M.)
- Epidemiology and Molecular Systematics Laboratory (LEMS), Oswaldo Cruz Institut, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro 21040-900, RJ, Brazil
| | - Guilherme Curty Lechuga
- Center for Technological Development in Health (CDTS), National Institute of Science and Technology for Innovation in Neglected Population Diseases (INCT-IDPN), Oswaldo Cruz Institut, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro 21040-900, RJ, Brazil; (K.R.); (G.C.L.); (D.W.P.J.); (C.M.M.)
- Epidemiology and Molecular Systematics Laboratory (LEMS), Oswaldo Cruz Institut, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro 21040-900, RJ, Brazil
| | - David W. Provance
- Center for Technological Development in Health (CDTS), National Institute of Science and Technology for Innovation in Neglected Population Diseases (INCT-IDPN), Oswaldo Cruz Institut, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro 21040-900, RJ, Brazil; (K.R.); (G.C.L.); (D.W.P.J.); (C.M.M.)
- Epidemiology and Molecular Systematics Laboratory (LEMS), Oswaldo Cruz Institut, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro 21040-900, RJ, Brazil
| | - Carlos M. Morel
- Center for Technological Development in Health (CDTS), National Institute of Science and Technology for Innovation in Neglected Population Diseases (INCT-IDPN), Oswaldo Cruz Institut, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro 21040-900, RJ, Brazil; (K.R.); (G.C.L.); (D.W.P.J.); (C.M.M.)
| | - Salvatore G. De Simone
- Center for Technological Development in Health (CDTS), National Institute of Science and Technology for Innovation in Neglected Population Diseases (INCT-IDPN), Oswaldo Cruz Institut, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro 21040-900, RJ, Brazil; (K.R.); (G.C.L.); (D.W.P.J.); (C.M.M.)
- Epidemiology and Molecular Systematics Laboratory (LEMS), Oswaldo Cruz Institut, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro 21040-900, RJ, Brazil
- Program of Post-Graduation on Science and Biotechnology, Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Biology Institute, Federal Fluminense University, Niterói 22040-036, RJ, Brazil
- Program of Post-Graduation on Parasitic Biology, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro 21040-900, RJ, Brazil
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8
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Roversi D, Troiano C, Salnikov E, Giordano L, Riccitelli F, De Zotti M, Casciaro B, Loffredo MR, Park Y, Formaggio F, Mangoni ML, Bechinger B, Stella L. Effects of antimicrobial peptides on membrane dynamics: A comparison of fluorescence and NMR experiments. Biophys Chem 2023; 300:107060. [PMID: 37336097 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpc.2023.107060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2023] [Revised: 05/25/2023] [Accepted: 06/02/2023] [Indexed: 06/21/2023]
Abstract
Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) represent a promising class of compounds to fight resistant infections. They are commonly thought to kill bacteria by perturbing the permeability of their cell membranes. However, bacterial killing requires a high coverage of the cell surface by bound peptides, at least in the case of cationic and amphipathic AMPs. Therefore, it is conceivable that peptide accumulation on the bacterial membranes might interfere with vital cellular functions also by perturbing bilayer dynamics, a hypothesis that has been termed "sand in the gearbox". Here we performed a systematic study of such possible effects, for two representative peptides (the cationic cathelicidin PMAP-23 and the peptaibol alamethicin), employing fluorescence and NMR spectroscopies. These approaches are commonly applied to characterize lipid order and dynamics, but sample different time-scales and could thus report on different membrane properties. In our case, fluorescence anisotropy measurements on liposomes labelled with probes localized at different depths in the bilayer showed that both peptides perturb membrane fluidity and order. Pyrene excimer-formation experiments showed a peptide-induced reduction in lipid lateral mobility. Finally, laurdan fluorescence indicated that peptide binding reduces water penetration below the headgroups region. Comparable effects were observed also in fluorescence experiments performed directly on live bacterial cells. By contrast, the fatty acyl chain order parameters detected by deuterium NMR spectroscopy remained virtually unaffected by addition of the peptides. The apparent discrepancy between the two techniques confirms previous sporadic observations and is discussed in terms of the different characteristic times of the two approaches. The perturbation of membrane dynamics in the ns timescale, indicated by the multiple fluorescence approaches reported here, could contribute to the antimicrobial activity of AMPs, by affecting the function of membrane proteins, which is strongly dependent on the physicochemical properties of the bilayer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniela Roversi
- Department of Chemical Science and Technology, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome 00133, Italy
| | - Cassandra Troiano
- Department of Chemical Science and Technology, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome 00133, Italy
| | - Evgeniy Salnikov
- RMN et Biophysique des membranes, Institut de Chimie de Strasbourg, CNRS/UMR 7177, Université de Strasbourg, 4, rue Blaise Pascal, Strasbourg 67000, France
| | - Lorenzo Giordano
- Department of Chemical Science and Technology, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome 00133, Italy
| | - Francesco Riccitelli
- Department of Chemical Science and Technology, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome 00133, Italy
| | - Marta De Zotti
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Padova, Padova 35131, Italy
| | - Bruno Casciaro
- Department of Biochemical Sciences, Laboratory affiliated to Istituto Pasteur Italia-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome 00185, Italy
| | - Maria Rosa Loffredo
- Department of Biochemical Sciences, Laboratory affiliated to Istituto Pasteur Italia-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome 00185, Italy
| | - Yoonkyung Park
- Department of Biomedical Science and Research Center for Proteinaceous Materials (RCPM), Chosun University, Gwangju, Republic of Korea
| | - Fernando Formaggio
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Padova, Padova 35131, Italy
| | - Maria Luisa Mangoni
- Department of Biochemical Sciences, Laboratory affiliated to Istituto Pasteur Italia-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome 00185, Italy
| | - Burkhard Bechinger
- RMN et Biophysique des membranes, Institut de Chimie de Strasbourg, CNRS/UMR 7177, Université de Strasbourg, 4, rue Blaise Pascal, Strasbourg 67000, France; Institut Universitaire de France, Paris 75005, France
| | - Lorenzo Stella
- Department of Chemical Science and Technology, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome 00133, Italy.
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9
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Johnson K, Delaney JC, Guillard T, Reffuveille F, Varin-Simon J, Li K, Wollacott A, Frapy E, Mong S, Tissire H, Viswanathan K, Touti F, Babcock GJ, Shriver Z, Pentelute BL, Plante O, Skurnik D. Development of an antibody fused with an antimicrobial peptide targeting Pseudomonas aeruginosa: A new approach to prevent and treat bacterial infections. PLoS Pathog 2023; 19:e1011612. [PMID: 37676873 PMCID: PMC10508631 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1011612] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2023] [Revised: 09/19/2023] [Accepted: 08/12/2023] [Indexed: 09/09/2023] Open
Abstract
The increase in emerging drug resistant Gram-negative bacterial infections is a global concern. In addition, there is growing recognition that compromising the microbiota through the use of broad-spectrum antibiotics can impact long term patient outcomes. Therefore, there is the need to develop new bactericidal strategies to combat Gram-negative infections that would address these specific issues. In this study, we report and characterize one such approach, an antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) that combines (i) targeting the surface of a specific pathogenic organism through a monoclonal antibody with (ii) the high killing activity of an antimicrobial peptide. We focused on a major pathogenic Gram-negative bacterium associated with antibacterial resistance: Pseudomonas aeruginosa. To target this organism, we designed an ADC by fusing an antimicrobial peptide to the C-terminal end of the VH and/or VL-chain of a monoclonal antibody, VSX, that targets the core of P. aeruginosa lipopolysaccharide. This ADC demonstrates appropriately minimal levels of toxicity against mammalian cells, rapidly kills P. aeruginosa strains, and protects mice from P. aeruginosa lung infection when administered therapeutically. Furthermore, we found that the ADC was synergistic with several classes of antibiotics. This approach described in this study might result in a broadly useful strategy for targeting specific pathogenic microorganisms without further augmenting antibiotic resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kenneth Johnson
- Visterra, Inc., Waltham, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - James C. Delaney
- Visterra, Inc., Waltham, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Thomas Guillard
- Inserm UMR-S 1250 P3 Cell, Université de Reims-Champagne-Ardenne, Reims, France
| | - Fany Reffuveille
- Inserm UMR-S 1250 P3 Cell, Université de Reims-Champagne-Ardenne, Reims, France
| | | | - Kai Li
- Visterra, Inc., Waltham, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Andrew Wollacott
- Visterra, Inc., Waltham, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Eric Frapy
- CNRS, INSERM, Institut Necker Enfants Malades-INEM, F-75015 Paris, France; Faculté de Médecine, University of Paris City, Paris, France
| | - Surin Mong
- Department of Chemistry, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Hamid Tissire
- Visterra, Inc., Waltham, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | | | - Faycal Touti
- Department of Chemistry, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | | | - Zachary Shriver
- Visterra, Inc., Waltham, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Bradley L. Pentelute
- Department of Chemistry, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Obadiah Plante
- Visterra, Inc., Waltham, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - David Skurnik
- CNRS, INSERM, Institut Necker Enfants Malades-INEM, F-75015 Paris, France; Faculté de Médecine, University of Paris City, Paris, France
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Fédération Hospitalo-Universitaire Prématurité (FHU PREMA), Necker-Enfants Malades University Hospital, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, University of Paris City, Paris, France
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
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10
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Tang R, Tan H, Dai Y, Li L, Huang Y, Yao H, Cai Y, Yu G. Application of antimicrobial peptides in plant protection: making use of the overlooked merits. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2023; 14:1139539. [PMID: 37538059 PMCID: PMC10394246 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2023.1139539] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2023] [Accepted: 04/07/2023] [Indexed: 08/05/2023]
Abstract
Pathogen infection is one of the major causes of yield loss in the crop field. The rapid increase of antimicrobial resistance in plant pathogens has urged researchers to develop both new pesticides and management strategies for plant protection. The antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) showed potential on eliminating plant pathogenic fungi and bacteria. Here, we first summarize several overlooked advantages and merits of AMPs, which includes the steep dose-response relations, fast killing ability, broad synergism, slow resistance selection. We then discuss the possible application of AMPs for plant protection with above merits, and highlight how AMPs can be incorporated into a more efficient integrated management system that both increases the crop yield and reduce resistance evolution of pathogens.
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11
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Troiano C, De Ninno A, Casciaro B, Riccitelli F, Park Y, Businaro L, Massoud R, Mangoni ML, Bisegna P, Stella L, Caselli F. Rapid Assessment of Susceptibility of Bacteria and Erythrocytes to Antimicrobial Peptides by Single-Cell Impedance Cytometry. ACS Sens 2023. [PMID: 37421371 PMCID: PMC10391704 DOI: 10.1021/acssensors.3c00256] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/10/2023]
Abstract
Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) represent a promising class of compounds to fight antibiotic-resistant infections. In most cases, they kill bacteria by making their membrane permeable and therefore exhibit low propensity to induce bacterial resistance. In addition, they are often selective, killing bacteria at concentrations lower than those at which they are toxic to the host. However, clinical applications of AMPs are hindered by a limited understanding of their interactions with bacteria and human cells. Standard susceptibility testing methods are based on the analysis of the growth of a bacterial population and therefore require several hours. Moreover, different assays are required to assess the toxicity to host cells. In this work, we propose the use of microfluidic impedance cytometry to explore the action of AMPs on both bacteria and host cells in a rapid manner and with single-cell resolution. Impedance measurements are particularly well-suited to detect the effects of AMPs on bacteria, due to the fact that the mechanism of action involves perturbation of the permeability of cell membranes. We show that the electrical signatures of Bacillus megaterium cells and human red blood cells (RBCs) reflect the action of a representative antimicrobial peptide, DNS-PMAP23. In particular, the impedance phase at high frequency (e.g., 11 or 20 MHz) is a reliable label-free metric for monitoring DNS-PMAP23 bactericidal activity and toxicity to RBCs. The impedance-based characterization is validated by comparison with standard antibacterial activity assays and absorbance-based hemolytic activity assays. Furthermore, we demonstrate the applicability of the technique to a mixed sample of B. megaterium cells and RBCs, which paves the way to study AMP selectivity for bacterial versus eukaryotic cells in the presence of both cell types.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cassandra Troiano
- Department of Chemical Science and Technologies, University of Rome Tor Vergata, 00133 Rome, Italy
| | - Adele De Ninno
- Institute for Photonics and Nanotechnologies, Italian National Research Council, 00133 Rome, Italy
| | - Bruno Casciaro
- Laboratory affiliated to Pasteur Italia-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Department of Biochemical Sciences "A. Rossi Fanelli", Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Francesco Riccitelli
- Department of Chemical Science and Technologies, University of Rome Tor Vergata, 00133 Rome, Italy
| | - Yoonkyung Park
- Department of Biomedical Science, College of Natural science, Chosun University, Gwangju 61452, Republic of Korea
| | - Luca Businaro
- Institute for Photonics and Nanotechnologies, Italian National Research Council, 00133 Rome, Italy
| | - Renato Massoud
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, 00133 Rome, Italy
| | - Maria Luisa Mangoni
- Laboratory affiliated to Pasteur Italia-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Department of Biochemical Sciences "A. Rossi Fanelli", Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Paolo Bisegna
- Department of Civil Engineering and Computer Science, University of Rome Tor Vergata, 00133 Rome, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Stella
- Department of Chemical Science and Technologies, University of Rome Tor Vergata, 00133 Rome, Italy
| | - Federica Caselli
- Department of Civil Engineering and Computer Science, University of Rome Tor Vergata, 00133 Rome, Italy
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12
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Witzany C, Rolff J, Regoes RR, Igler C. The pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic modelling framework as a tool to predict drug resistance evolution. MICROBIOLOGY (READING, ENGLAND) 2023; 169:001368. [PMID: 37522891 PMCID: PMC10433423 DOI: 10.1099/mic.0.001368] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2023] [Accepted: 07/12/2023] [Indexed: 08/01/2023]
Abstract
Pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic (PKPD) models, which describe how drug concentrations change over time and how that affects pathogen growth, have proven highly valuable in designing optimal drug treatments aimed at bacterial eradication. However, the fast rise of antimicrobial resistance calls for increased focus on an additional treatment optimization criterion: avoidance of resistance evolution. We demonstrate here how coupling PKPD and population genetics models can be used to determine treatment regimens that minimize the potential for antimicrobial resistance evolution. Importantly, the resulting modelling framework enables the assessment of resistance evolution in response to dynamic selection pressures, including changes in antimicrobial concentration and the emergence of adaptive phenotypes. Using antibiotics and antimicrobial peptides as an example, we discuss the empirical evidence and intuition behind individual model parameters. We further suggest several extensions of this framework that allow a more comprehensive and realistic prediction of bacterial escape from antimicrobials through various phenotypic and genetic mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jens Rolff
- Evolutionary Biology, Institute for Biology, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Roland R. Regoes
- Institute of Integrative Biology, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Claudia Igler
- Institute of Integrative Biology, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
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13
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Bortolotti A, Troiano C, Bobone S, Konai MM, Ghosh C, Bocchinfuso G, Acharya Y, Santucci V, Bonacorsi S, Di Stefano C, Haldar J, Stella L. Mechanism of lipid bilayer perturbation by bactericidal membrane-active small molecules. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA. BIOMEMBRANES 2023; 1865:184079. [PMID: 36374761 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbamem.2022.184079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2021] [Revised: 10/21/2022] [Accepted: 10/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Membrane-active small molecules (MASMs) are small organic molecules designed to reproduce the fundamental physicochemical properties of natural antimicrobial peptides: their cationic charge and amphiphilic character. This class of compounds has a promising broad range of antimicrobial activity and, at the same time, solves some major limitations of the peptides, such as their high production costs and low in vivo stability. Most cationic antimicrobial peptides act by accumulating on the surface of bacterial membranes and causing the formation of defects when a threshold is reached. Due to the drastically different structures of the two classes of molecules, it is not obvious that small-molecule antimicrobials act in the same way as natural peptides, and very few data are available on this aspect. Here we combined spectroscopic studies and molecular dynamics simulations to characterize the mechanism of action of two different MASMs. Our results show that, notwithstanding their simple structure, these molecules act just like antimicrobial peptides. They bind to the membrane surface, below the head-groups, and insert their apolar moieties in the core of the bilayer. Like many natural peptides, they cause the formation of defects when they reach a high coverage of the membrane surface. In addition, they cause membrane aggregation, and this property could contribute to their antimicrobial activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Bortolotti
- Department of Chemical Science and Technologies, University of Rome Tor Vergata, 00133 Rome, Italy
| | - C Troiano
- Department of Chemical Science and Technologies, University of Rome Tor Vergata, 00133 Rome, Italy
| | - S Bobone
- Department of Chemical Science and Technologies, University of Rome Tor Vergata, 00133 Rome, Italy
| | - M M Konai
- Antimicrobial Research Laboratory, New Chemistry Unit, Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research, Jakkur, Bengaluru 560064, Karnataka, India
| | - C Ghosh
- Antimicrobial Research Laboratory, New Chemistry Unit, Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research, Jakkur, Bengaluru 560064, Karnataka, India
| | - G Bocchinfuso
- Department of Chemical Science and Technologies, University of Rome Tor Vergata, 00133 Rome, Italy
| | - Y Acharya
- Antimicrobial Research Laboratory, New Chemistry Unit, Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research, Jakkur, Bengaluru 560064, Karnataka, India
| | - V Santucci
- Department of Chemical Science and Technologies, University of Rome Tor Vergata, 00133 Rome, Italy
| | - S Bonacorsi
- Department of Chemical Science and Technologies, University of Rome Tor Vergata, 00133 Rome, Italy
| | - C Di Stefano
- Department of Chemical Science and Technologies, University of Rome Tor Vergata, 00133 Rome, Italy
| | - J Haldar
- Antimicrobial Research Laboratory, New Chemistry Unit, Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research, Jakkur, Bengaluru 560064, Karnataka, India; School of Advanced Materials, Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research, Jakkur, Bengaluru 560064, Karnataka, India.
| | - L Stella
- Department of Chemical Science and Technologies, University of Rome Tor Vergata, 00133 Rome, Italy.
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14
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Shi S, Fan H, Hoernke M. Leaky membrane fusion: an ambivalent effect induced by antimicrobial polycations. NANOSCALE ADVANCES 2022; 4:5109-5122. [PMID: 36504745 PMCID: PMC9680940 DOI: 10.1039/d2na00464j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2022] [Accepted: 10/24/2022] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
Both antimicrobial peptides and their synthetic mimics are potential alternatives to classical antibiotics. They can induce several membrane perturbations including permeabilization. Especially in model studies, aggregation of vesicles by such polycations is often reported. Here, we show that unintended vesicle aggregation or indeed fusion can cause apparent leakage in model studies that is not possible in most microbes, thus potentially leading to misinterpretations. The interactions of a highly charged and highly selective membrane-active polycation with negatively charged phosphatidylethanolamine/phosphatidylglycerol (PE/PG) vesicles are studied by a combination of biophysical methods. At low polycation concentrations, apparent vesicle aggregation was found to involve exchange of lipids. Upon neutralization of the negatively charged vesicles by the polycation, full fusion and leakage occurred and leaky fusion is suspected. To elucidate the interplay of leakage and fusion, we prevented membrane contacts by decorating the vesicles with PEG-chains. This inhibited fusion and also leakage activity. Leaky fusion is further corroborated by increased leakage with increasing likeliness of vesicle-vesicle contacts. Because of its similar appearance to other leakage mechanisms, leaky fusion is difficult to identify and might be overlooked and more common amongst polycationic membrane-active compounds. Regarding biological activity, leaky fusion needs to be carefully distinguished from other membrane permeabilization mechanisms, as it may be less relevant to bacteria, but potentially relevant for fungi. Furthermore, leaky fusion is an interesting effect that could help in endosomal escape for drug delivery. A comprehensive step-by-step protocol for membrane permeabilization/vesicle leakage using calcein fluorescence lifetime is provided in the ESI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuai Shi
- Chemistry and Pharmacy, Albert-Ludwigs-Universität 79104 Freiburg i.Br. Germany
| | - Helen Fan
- Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Toronto Toronto Canada
| | - Maria Hoernke
- Chemistry and Pharmacy, Albert-Ludwigs-Universität 79104 Freiburg i.Br. Germany
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15
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Vejzovic D, Iftic A, Ön A, Semeraro EF, Malanovic N. Octenidine's Efficacy: A Matter of Interpretation or the Influence of Experimental Setups? Antibiotics (Basel) 2022; 11:1665. [PMID: 36421309 PMCID: PMC9686575 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics11111665] [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: 10/17/2022] [Revised: 11/14/2022] [Accepted: 11/15/2022] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
With its broad antimicrobial spectrum and non-specific mode of action via membrane disruption, any resistance to octenidine (OCT) seems unlikely and has not been observed in clinical settings so far. In this study, we aimed to investigate the efficacy of OCT against Escherichia coli and mutants lacking specific lipid head groups which, due to altered membrane properties, might be the root cause for resistance development of membrane-active compounds. Furthermore, we aimed to test its efficacy under different experimental conditions including different solvents for OCT, bacterial concentration and methods for analysis. Our primary goal was to estimate how many OCT molecules are needed to kill one bacterium. We performed susceptibility assays by observing bacterial growth behavior, using a Bioscreen in an analogous manner for every condition. The growth curves were recorded for 20 h at 420-580 nm in presence of different OCT concentrations and were used to assess the inhibitory concentrations (IC100%) for OCT. Bacterial concentrations given in cell numbers were determined, followed by Bioscreen measurement by manual colony counting on agar plates and QUANTOMTM cell staining. This indicated a significant variance between both methods, which influenced IC100% of OCT, especially when used at low doses. The binding capacity of OCT to E. coli was investigated by measuring UV-absorbance of OCT exposed to bacteria and a common thermodynamic framework based on Bioscreen measurements. Results showed that OCT's antimicrobial activity in E. coli is not affected by changes at the membrane level but strongly dependent on experimental settings in respect to solvents and applied bacterial counts. More OCT was required when the active was dissolved in phosphate or Hepes buffers instead of water and when higher bacterial concentration was used. Furthermore, binding studies revealed that 107-108 OCT molecules bind to bacteria, which is necessary for the saturation of the bacterial surface to initiate the killing cascade. Our results clearly demonstrate that in vitro data, depending on the applied materials and the methods for determination of IC100%, can easily be misinterpreted as reduced bacterial susceptibility towards OCT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Djenana Vejzovic
- Institute of Molecular Biosciences, University of Graz, 8010 Graz, Austria
| | - Azra Iftic
- Institute of Molecular Biosciences, University of Graz, 8010 Graz, Austria
| | - Ayse Ön
- Institute of Molecular Biosciences, University of Graz, 8010 Graz, Austria
| | - Enrico F. Semeraro
- Institute of Molecular Biosciences, University of Graz, 8010 Graz, Austria
- Field of Excellence BioHealth, University of Graz, 8010 Graz, Austria
- Bio TechMed Graz, 8010 Graz, Austria
| | - Nermina Malanovic
- Institute of Molecular Biosciences, University of Graz, 8010 Graz, Austria
- Field of Excellence BioHealth, University of Graz, 8010 Graz, Austria
- Bio TechMed Graz, 8010 Graz, Austria
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16
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Nguyen TN, Teimouri H, Medvedeva A, Kolomeisky AB. Cooperativity in Bacterial Membrane Association Controls the Synergistic Activities of Antimicrobial Peptides. J Phys Chem B 2022; 126:7365-7372. [PMID: 36108158 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.2c05345] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), or defence peptides, are compounds naturally produced during immune responses of living organisms against bacterial infections that are currently actively considered as promising alternatives to antibiotics. Recent experimental studies uncovered that in many situations, combinations of different AMPs are much more successful in eliminating the bacterial pathogens than single peptide species. However, the microscopic origin of such synergistic activities remains not fully understood. We present and investigate a possible mechanism of synergy between AMPs. It is based on the idea that due to inter-molecular interactions, the presence of an AMP of one type stimulates the association of an AMP of another type, and this accelerates the overall association to the membrane, eventually killing the bacteria. This approach allows us to fully quantify the synergistic activities of AMPs, and it is successfully applied for several experimental systems. It is found that strong cooperativity can be achieved for relatively weak inter-molecular interactions, suggesting that the application of combinations of AMPs can be further rationally optimized to make it a powerful antibacterial treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thao N Nguyen
- Department of Chemistry, Rice University, Houston, Texas 77005, United States.,Center for Theoretical Biological Physics, Rice University, Houston, Texas 77005, United States.,Applied Physics Program, Rice University, Houston, Texas 77005, United States
| | - Hamid Teimouri
- Department of Chemistry, Rice University, Houston, Texas 77005, United States.,Center for Theoretical Biological Physics, Rice University, Houston, Texas 77005, United States
| | - Angela Medvedeva
- Department of Chemistry, Rice University, Houston, Texas 77005, United States.,Center for Theoretical Biological Physics, Rice University, Houston, Texas 77005, United States
| | - Anatoly B Kolomeisky
- Department of Chemistry, Rice University, Houston, Texas 77005, United States.,Center for Theoretical Biological Physics, Rice University, Houston, Texas 77005, United States.,Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Rice University, Houston, Texas 77005, United States.,Department of Physics and Astronomy, Rice University, Houston, Texas 77005, United States
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17
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Kumari S, Morrow MR, Booth V. Role of lipopolysaccharide in antimicrobial and cell penetrating peptide membrane interactions probed by deuterium NMR of whole cells. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA. BIOMEMBRANES 2022:184053. [PMID: 36155053 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbamem.2022.184053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2022] [Revised: 08/24/2022] [Accepted: 09/16/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Understanding how non-lipid components of bacteria affect antimicrobial peptide (AMP)-induced membrane disruption is important for a comprehensive understanding of AMP mechanisms and informing AMP-based drug development. This study investigates how lipopolysaccharide (LPS) affects membrane disruption by the AMP MSI-78 and compares the results to the effect of TP2, a cell-penetrating peptide that crosses membrane bilayers without permeabilizing them. We destabilize the LPS layer of Escherichia coli (E. coli) cells via chelation of the stabilizing divalent cations. 2H NMR spectra of E. coli demonstrate that EDTA concentrations of 2.5 mM and 9.0 mM alone have very minor effects on lipid acyl chain order. Interestingly, we find that E. coli pre-treated with 9.0 mM EDTA before treatment with MSI-78 are more sensitive to AMP-induced acyl chain disruption, indicating that intact LPS reduces MSI-78-induced membrane disruption in E. coli. Surprisingly, we also found that at the level of 2H NMR, the peptide-induced acyl chain disruption is similar for MSI-78 and TP2, although MSI-78 permeabilizes the bilayer and TP2 does not. Furthermore, LPS disruption appears to protect the bacteria from TP2, although it sensitizes them to MSI-78.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarika Kumari
- Department of Biochemistry, Memorial University of Newfoundland and Labrador, St. John's, NL A1B 3X9, Canada
| | - Michael R Morrow
- Department of Physics and Physical Oceanography, Memorial University of Newfoundland and Labrador, St. John's, NL A1B 3X7, Canada
| | - Valerie Booth
- Department of Biochemistry, Memorial University of Newfoundland and Labrador, St. John's, NL A1B 3X9, Canada; Department of Physics and Physical Oceanography, Memorial University of Newfoundland and Labrador, St. John's, NL A1B 3X7, Canada.
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18
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Kumari S, Morrow MR, Booth V. Role of lipopolysaccharide in antimicrobial and cell penetrating peptide membrane interactions probed by deuterium NMR of whole cells. BBA ADVANCES 2022; 2:100057. [PMID: 37082590 PMCID: PMC10074874 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbadva.2022.100057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Understanding how non-lipid components of bacteria affect antimicrobial peptide (AMP)-induced membrane disruption is important for a comprehensive understanding of AMP mechanisms and informing AMP-based drug development. This study investigates how lipopolysaccharide (LPS) affects membrane disruption by the AMP MSI-78 and compares the results to the effect of TP2, a cell-penetrating peptide that crosses membrane bilayers without permeabilizing them. We destabilize the LPS layer of Escherichia coli (E. coli) cells via chelation of the stabilizing divalent cations. 2H NMR spectra of E. coli demonstrate that EDTA concentrations of 2.5 mM and 9.0 mM alone have very minor effects on lipid acyl chain order. Interestingly, we find that E. coli pre-treated with 9.0 mM EDTA before treatment with MSI-78 are more sensitive to AMP-induced acyl chain disruption, indicating that intact LPS reduces MSI-78-induced membrane disruption in E. coli. Surprisingly, we also found that at the level of 2H_NMR, the peptide-induced acyl chain disruption is similar for MSI-78 and TP2, although MSI-78 permeabilizes the bilayer and TP2 does not. Furthermore, LPS disruption appears to protect the bacteria from TP2, although it sensitizes them to MSI-78.
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19
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Semeraro EF, Marx L, Mandl J, Letofsky-Papst I, Mayrhofer C, Frewein MPK, Scott HL, Prévost S, Bergler H, Lohner K, Pabst G. Lactoferricins impair the cytosolic membrane of Escherichia coli within a few seconds and accumulate inside the cell. eLife 2022; 11:e72850. [PMID: 35670565 PMCID: PMC9352351 DOI: 10.7554/elife.72850] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2021] [Accepted: 06/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
We report the real-time response of Escherichia coli to lactoferricin-derived antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) on length scales bridging microscopic cell sizes to nanoscopic lipid packing using millisecond time-resolved synchrotron small-angle X-ray scattering. Coupling a multiscale scattering data analysis to biophysical assays for peptide partitioning revealed that the AMPs rapidly permeabilize the cytosolic membrane within less than 3 s-much faster than previously considered. Final intracellular AMP concentrations of ∼80-100 mM suggest an efficient obstruction of physiologically important processes as the primary cause of bacterial killing. On the other hand, damage of the cell envelope and leakage occurred also at sublethal peptide concentrations, thus emerging as a collateral effect of AMP activity that does not kill the bacteria. This implies that the impairment of the membrane barrier is a necessary but not sufficient condition for microbial killing by lactoferricins. The most efficient AMP studied exceeds others in both speed of permeabilizing membranes and lowest intracellular peptide concentration needed to inhibit bacterial growth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Enrico F Semeraro
- University of Graz, Institute of Molecular Biosciences, NAWI GrazGrazAustria
- BioTechMed GrazGrazAustria
- Field of Excellence BioHealth – University of GrazGrazAustria
| | - Lisa Marx
- University of Graz, Institute of Molecular Biosciences, NAWI GrazGrazAustria
- BioTechMed GrazGrazAustria
- Field of Excellence BioHealth – University of GrazGrazAustria
| | - Johannes Mandl
- University of Graz, Institute of Molecular Biosciences, NAWI GrazGrazAustria
- BioTechMed GrazGrazAustria
- Field of Excellence BioHealth – University of GrazGrazAustria
| | - Ilse Letofsky-Papst
- Institute of Electron Microscopy and Nanoanalysis and Center for Electron Microscopy, Graz University of Technology, NAWI GrazGrazAustria
| | | | - Moritz PK Frewein
- University of Graz, Institute of Molecular Biosciences, NAWI GrazGrazAustria
- BioTechMed GrazGrazAustria
- Field of Excellence BioHealth – University of GrazGrazAustria
- Institut Laue-LangevinGrenobleFrance
| | - Haden L Scott
- Center for Environmental Biotechnology, University of TennesseeKnoxvilleUnited States
- Shull Wollan Center, Oak Ridge National LaboratoryOak RidgeUnited States
| | | | - Helmut Bergler
- University of Graz, Institute of Molecular Biosciences, NAWI GrazGrazAustria
- BioTechMed GrazGrazAustria
- Field of Excellence BioHealth – University of GrazGrazAustria
| | - Karl Lohner
- University of Graz, Institute of Molecular Biosciences, NAWI GrazGrazAustria
- BioTechMed GrazGrazAustria
- Field of Excellence BioHealth – University of GrazGrazAustria
| | - Georg Pabst
- University of Graz, Institute of Molecular Biosciences, NAWI GrazGrazAustria
- BioTechMed GrazGrazAustria
- Field of Excellence BioHealth – University of GrazGrazAustria
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20
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Kumari S, Booth V. Antimicrobial Peptide Mechanisms Studied by Whole-Cell Deuterium NMR. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23052740. [PMID: 35269882 PMCID: PMC8910884 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23052740] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2022] [Revised: 02/24/2022] [Accepted: 02/26/2022] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Much of the work probing antimicrobial peptide (AMP) mechanisms has focussed on how these molecules permeabilize lipid bilayers. However, AMPs must also traverse a variety of non-lipid cell envelope components before they reach the lipid bilayer. Additionally, there is a growing list of AMPs with non-lipid targets inside the cell. It is thus useful to extend the biophysical methods that have been traditionally applied to study AMP mechanisms in liposomes to the full bacteria, where the lipids are present along with the full complexity of the rest of the bacterium. This review focusses on what can be learned about AMP mechanisms from solid-state NMR of AMP-treated intact bacteria. It also touches on flow cytometry as a complementary method for measuring permeabilization of bacterial lipid membranes in whole bacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarika Kumari
- Department of Biochemistry, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John’s, NL A1C 5S7, Canada;
| | - Valerie Booth
- Department of Biochemistry, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John’s, NL A1C 5S7, Canada;
- Department of Physics and Physical Oceanography, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John’s, NL A1C 5S7, Canada
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-709-864-4523
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21
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Booth V. Deuterium Solid State NMR Studies of Intact Bacteria Treated With Antimicrobial Peptides. FRONTIERS IN MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY 2022; 2:621572. [PMID: 35047897 PMCID: PMC8757836 DOI: 10.3389/fmedt.2020.621572] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2020] [Accepted: 12/10/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Solid state NMR has been tremendously useful in characterizing the structure and dynamics of model membranes composed of simple lipid mixtures. Model lipid studies employing solid state NMR have included important work revealing how membrane bilayer structure and dynamics are affected by molecules such as antimicrobial peptides (AMPs). However, solid state NMR need not be applied only to model membranes, but can also be used with living, intact cells. NMR of whole cells holds promise for helping resolve some unsolved mysteries about how bacteria interact with AMPs. This mini-review will focus on recent studies using 2H NMR to study how treatment with AMPs affect membranes in intact bacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valerie Booth
- Department of Biochemistry and Department of Physics and Physical Oceanograpy, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, NL, Canada
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22
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Kratochvil HT, Newberry RW, Mensa B, Mravic M, DeGrado WF. Spiers Memorial Lecture: Analysis and de novo design of membrane-interactive peptides. Faraday Discuss 2021; 232:9-48. [PMID: 34693965 PMCID: PMC8979563 DOI: 10.1039/d1fd00061f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Membrane-peptide interactions play critical roles in many cellular and organismic functions, including protection from infection, remodeling of membranes, signaling, and ion transport. Peptides interact with membranes in a variety of ways: some associate with membrane surfaces in either intrinsically disordered conformations or well-defined secondary structures. Peptides with sufficient hydrophobicity can also insert vertically as transmembrane monomers, and many associate further into membrane-spanning helical bundles. Indeed, some peptides progress through each of these stages in the process of forming oligomeric bundles. In each case, the structure of the peptide and the membrane represent a delicate balance between peptide-membrane and peptide-peptide interactions. We will review this literature from the perspective of several biologically important systems, including antimicrobial peptides and their mimics, α-synuclein, receptor tyrosine kinases, and ion channels. We also discuss the use of de novo design to construct models to test our understanding of the underlying principles and to provide useful leads for pharmaceutical intervention of diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huong T Kratochvil
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California - San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA.
| | - Robert W Newberry
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California - San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA.
| | - Bruk Mensa
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California - San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA.
| | - Marco Mravic
- Department of Integrative Structural and Computational Biology, Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - William F DeGrado
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California - San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA.
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23
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Juhl DW, Glattard E, Aisenbrey C, Bechinger B. Antimicrobial peptides: mechanism of action and lipid-mediated synergistic interactions within membranes. Faraday Discuss 2021; 232:419-434. [PMID: 34533138 DOI: 10.1039/d0fd00041h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
Biophysical and structural studies of peptide-lipid interactions, peptide topology and dynamics have changed our view of how antimicrobial peptides insert and interact with membranes. Clearly, both peptides and lipids are highly dynamic, and change and mutually adapt their conformation, membrane penetration and detailed morphology on a local and a global level. As a consequence, peptides and lipids can form a wide variety of supramolecular assemblies in which the more hydrophobic sequences preferentially, but not exclusively, adopt transmembrane alignments and have the potential to form oligomeric structures similar to those suggested by the transmembrane helical bundle model. In contrast, charged amphipathic sequences tend to stay intercalated at the membrane interface. Although the membranes are soft and can adapt, at increasing peptide density they cause pronounced disruptions of the phospholipid fatty acyl packing. At even higher local or global concentrations the peptides cause transient membrane openings, rupture and ultimately lysis. Interestingly, mixtures of peptides such as magainin 2 and PGLa, which are stored and secreted naturally as a cocktail, exhibit considerably enhanced antimicrobial activities when investigated together in antimicrobial assays and also in pore forming experiments applied to biophysical model systems. Our most recent investigations reveal that these peptides do not form stable complexes but act by specific lipid-mediated interactions and the nanoscale properties of phospholipid bilayers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dennis W Juhl
- Université de Strasbourg/CNRS, UMR7177, Institut de Chimie, 4, rue Blaise Pascal, 67070 Strasbourg, France.
| | - Elise Glattard
- Université de Strasbourg/CNRS, UMR7177, Institut de Chimie, 4, rue Blaise Pascal, 67070 Strasbourg, France.
| | - Christopher Aisenbrey
- Université de Strasbourg/CNRS, UMR7177, Institut de Chimie, 4, rue Blaise Pascal, 67070 Strasbourg, France.
| | - Burkhard Bechinger
- Université de Strasbourg/CNRS, UMR7177, Institut de Chimie, 4, rue Blaise Pascal, 67070 Strasbourg, France. .,Institut Universitaire de France, France
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24
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Zhu Y, Liu L, Mustafi M, Rank LA, Gellman SH, Weisshaar JC. Local rigidification and possible coacervation of the Escherichia coli DNA by cationic nylon-3 polymers. Biophys J 2021; 120:5243-5254. [PMID: 34757079 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2021.10.037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2021] [Revised: 10/06/2021] [Accepted: 10/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Synthetic, cationic random nylon-3 polymers (β-peptides) show promise as inexpensive antimicrobial agents less susceptible to proteolysis than normal peptides. We have used superresolution, single-cell, time-lapse fluorescence microscopy to compare the effects on live Escherichia coli cells of four such polymers and the natural antimicrobial peptides LL-37 and cecropin A. The longer, densely charged monomethyl-cyclohexyl (MM-CH) copolymer and MM homopolymer rapidly traverse the outer membrane and the cytoplasmic membrane. Over the next ∼5 min, they locally rigidify the chromosomal DNA and slow the diffusive motion of ribosomal species to a degree comparable to LL-37. The shorter dimethyl-dimethylcyclopentyl (DM-DMCP) and dimethyl-dimethylcyclohexyl (DM-DMCH) copolymers, and cecropin A are significantly less effective at rigidifying DNA. Diffusion of the DNA-binding protein HU and of ribosomal species is hindered as well. The results suggest that charge density and contour length are important parameters governing these antimicrobial effects. The data corroborate a model in which agents having sufficient cationic charge distributed across molecular contour lengths comparable to local DNA-DNA interstrand spacings (∼6 nm) form a dense network of multivalent, electrostatic "pseudo-cross-links" that cause the local rigidification. In addition, at times longer than ∼30 min, we observe that the MM-CH copolymer and the MM homopolymer (but not the other four agents) cause gradual coalescence of the two nucleoid lobes into a single dense lobe localized at one end of the cell. We speculate that this process involves coacervation of the DNA by the cationic polymer, and may be related to the liquid droplet coacervates observed in eukaryotic cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanyu Zhu
- Department of Chemistry, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin
| | - Lei Liu
- Department of Chemistry, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin
| | - Mainak Mustafi
- Department of Chemistry, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin
| | - Leslie A Rank
- Department of Chemistry, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin
| | - Samuel H Gellman
- Department of Chemistry, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin
| | - James C Weisshaar
- Department of Chemistry, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin.
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25
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Fadaka AO, Sibuyi NRS, Madiehe AM, Meyer M. Nanotechnology-Based Delivery Systems for Antimicrobial Peptides. Pharmaceutics 2021; 13:pharmaceutics13111795. [PMID: 34834210 PMCID: PMC8620809 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics13111795] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2021] [Revised: 10/21/2021] [Accepted: 10/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a significant threat to global health. The conventional antibiotic pool has been depleted, forcing the investigation of novel and alternative antimicrobial strategies. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) have shown potential as alternative diagnostic and therapeutic agents in biomedical applications. To date, over 3000 AMPs have been identified, but only a fraction of these have been approved for clinical trials. Their clinical applications are limited to topical application due to their systemic toxicity, susceptibility to protease degradation, short half-life, and rapid renal clearance. To circumvent these challenges and improve AMP’s efficacy, different approaches such as peptide chemical modifications and the development of AMP delivery systems have been employed. Nanomaterials have been shown to improve the activity of antimicrobial drugs by providing support and synergistic effect against pathogenic microbes. This paper describes the role of nanotechnology in the targeted delivery of AMPs, and some of the nano-based delivery strategies for AMPs are discussed with a clear focus on metallic nanoparticle (MNP) formulations.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Mervin Meyer
- Correspondence: (A.O.F.); (N.R.S.S.); (A.M.M.); (M.M.)
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26
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Kaji T, Yano Y, Matsuzaki K. In-Cell FRET Indicates Magainin Peptide Induced Permeabilization of Bacterial Cell Membranes at Lower Peptide-to-Lipid Ratios Relevant to Liposomal Studies. ACS Infect Dis 2021; 7:2941-2945. [PMID: 34514779 DOI: 10.1021/acsinfecdis.1c00423] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are promising candidates for anti-infective drugs. The majority of AMPs are considered to disrupt the lipid matrix of bacterial membranes, exerting bactericidal activity. A number of biophysical studies have been carried out to elucidate the underlying molecular mechanisms. However, the fact that the number of peptide molecules bound to a bacterial cell under bactericidal conditions is much larger than that expected from liposomal studies raises the question of whether membrane permeabilization mechanisms proposed by liposomal studies are relevant to bacteria. In this study, the peptide-to-lipid molar ratio needed for an antimicrobial magainin peptide to permeabilize the cell membrane of the Gram-positive bacterium Bacillus megaterium was estimated by random fluorescence resonance energy transfer from a BODIPY FL-labeled lipid to a Texas Red-labeled peptide. The comparison of the observed energy transfer efficiency with the two-dimensional energy transfer theory estimated that the leakage of the calcein dye from bacterial cells occurred at a peptide-to-lipid molar ratio of 0.025. At this ratio, the peptide induced dye leakage from liposomes mimicking the bacterial membrane, indicating that the lipid matrix is a target of membrane-acting AMPs and that liposomes are a useful model system to investigate their mechanisms of action. Furthermore, a binding assay suggested that most peptide molecules were bound to cellular components other than cell membranes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takumi Kaji
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan
| | - Yoshiaki Yano
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan
| | - Katsumi Matsuzaki
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan
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27
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Teimouri H, Nguyen TN, Kolomeisky AB. Single-cell stochastic modelling of the action of antimicrobial peptides on bacteria. J R Soc Interface 2021; 18:20210392. [PMID: 34520689 PMCID: PMC8440028 DOI: 10.1098/rsif.2021.0392] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2021] [Accepted: 08/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) produced by multi-cellular organisms as their immune system's defence against microbes are actively considered as natural alternatives to conventional antibiotics. Although substantial progress has been achieved in studying the AMPs, the microscopic mechanisms of their functioning remain not well understood. Here, we develop a new theoretical framework to investigate how the AMPs are able to efficiently neutralize bacteria. In our minimal theoretical model, the most relevant processes, AMPs entering into and the following inhibition of the single bacterial cell, are described stochastically. Using complementary master equations approaches, all relevant features of bacteria clearance dynamics by AMPs, such as the probability of inhibition and the mean times before the clearance, are explicitly evaluated. It is found that both processes, entering and inhibition, are equally important for the efficient functioning of AMPs. Our theoretical method naturally explains a wide spectrum of efficiencies of existing AMPs and their heterogeneity at the single-cell level. Theoretical calculations are also consistent with existing single-cell measurements. Thus, the presented theoretical approach clarifies some microscopic aspects of the action of AMPs on bacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hamid Teimouri
- Department of Chemistry, Rice University, Houston, TX 77005, USA
- Center for Theoretical Biological Physics, Rice University, Houston, TX 77005, USA
| | - Thao N. Nguyen
- Department of Chemistry, Rice University, Houston, TX 77005, USA
- Center for Theoretical Biological Physics, Rice University, Houston, TX 77005, USA
| | - Anatoly B. Kolomeisky
- Department of Chemistry, Rice University, Houston, TX 77005, USA
- Center for Theoretical Biological Physics, Rice University, Houston, TX 77005, USA
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Rice University, Houston, TX 77005, USA
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Rice University, Houston, TX 77005, USA
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28
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Gan BH, Gaynord J, Rowe SM, Deingruber T, Spring DR. The multifaceted nature of antimicrobial peptides: current synthetic chemistry approaches and future directions. Chem Soc Rev 2021; 50:7820-7880. [PMID: 34042120 PMCID: PMC8689412 DOI: 10.1039/d0cs00729c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 165] [Impact Index Per Article: 55.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Bacterial infections caused by 'superbugs' are increasing globally, and conventional antibiotics are becoming less effective against these bacteria, such that we risk entering a post-antibiotic era. In recent years, antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) have gained significant attention for their clinical potential as a new class of antibiotics to combat antimicrobial resistance. In this review, we discuss several facets of AMPs including their diversity, physicochemical properties, mechanisms of action, and effects of environmental factors on these features. This review outlines various chemical synthetic strategies that have been applied to develop novel AMPs, including chemical modifications of existing peptides, semi-synthesis, and computer-aided design. We will also highlight novel AMP structures, including hybrids, antimicrobial dendrimers and polypeptides, peptidomimetics, and AMP-drug conjugates and consider recent developments in their chemical synthesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bee Ha Gan
- Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, Cambridge CB2 1EW, UK.
| | - Josephine Gaynord
- Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, Cambridge CB2 1EW, UK.
| | - Sam M Rowe
- Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, Cambridge CB2 1EW, UK.
| | - Tomas Deingruber
- Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, Cambridge CB2 1EW, UK.
| | - David R Spring
- Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, Cambridge CB2 1EW, UK.
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29
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Al Nahas K, Keyser UF. Standardizing characterization of membrane active peptides with microfluidics. BIOMICROFLUIDICS 2021; 15:041301. [PMID: 34257793 PMCID: PMC8266397 DOI: 10.1063/5.0048906] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2021] [Accepted: 06/22/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are emerging as important players in the fight against antibiotic resistance. In parallel, the field of microfluidics has matured and its benefits are being exploited in applications of biomimetics and standardized testing. Membrane models are essential tools extensively utilized in studying the activity and modes of action of AMPs. Here, we describe how the utilization of microfluidic platforms in characterizing membrane active peptides can develop a reliable colorful image that classical techniques have rendered black and white.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kareem Al Nahas
- Cavendish Laboratory, University of Cambridge, J.J. Thomson Avenue, Cambridge CB30HE, United Kingdom
| | - Ulrich F. Keyser
- Cavendish Laboratory, University of Cambridge, J.J. Thomson Avenue, Cambridge CB30HE, United Kingdom
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30
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Liu Y, Shen T, Chen L, Zhou J, Wang C. Analogs of the Cathelicidin-Derived Antimicrobial Peptide PMAP-23 Exhibit Improved Stability and Antibacterial Activity. Probiotics Antimicrob Proteins 2021; 13:273-286. [PMID: 32666297 DOI: 10.1007/s12602-020-09686-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) have gained interesting as a new type of antimicrobial agent. The cathelicidin-derived antimicrobial peptide PMAP-23 has broad-spectrum antibacterial activity, and to improve its antimicrobial activity, we used amino acid substitution at position 5 or 19 of PMAP-23 to design three analogs, named PMAP-23R (Leu5--Arg), PMAP-23I (Thr19--Ile), and PMAP-23RI (Leu5--Arg and Thr19--Ile). We found that the analog peptides exhibited higher stability and improved antibacterial activity compared with PMAP-23. Additionally, the analog peptides PMAP-23I and PMAP-23RI inhibited the growth of Shigella flexneri CICC 21534, whereas PMAP-23 and PMAP-23R exhibited no antibacterial activity against S. flexneri CICC 21534. Moreover, the peptide analogs showed negligible hemolysis and cytotoxicity. We also found that PMAP-23RI exerted impressive therapeutic effects on mice infected with Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923 and Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium SL1344. PMAP-23RI induced a greater reduction in pathological damage and a higher decrease in the bacterial gene copies in the lung and liver tissues and greatly reduced mouse mortality. In conclusion, the peptide analogs PMAP-23R, PMAP-23I, and PMAP-23RI enhanced the stability and antimicrobial activity of PMAP-23, but PMAP-23RI exhibits more promise as a new antimicrobial agent candidate for the treatment of bacterial infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yongqing Liu
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Henan University of Science and Technology, 263 Kaiyuan Road, Luoyang, 471023, People's Republic of China
| | - Tengfei Shen
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Henan University of Science and Technology, 263 Kaiyuan Road, Luoyang, 471023, People's Republic of China
| | - Liangliang Chen
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Henan University of Science and Technology, 263 Kaiyuan Road, Luoyang, 471023, People's Republic of China
| | - Jiangfei Zhou
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Henan University of Science and Technology, 263 Kaiyuan Road, Luoyang, 471023, People's Republic of China
| | - Chen Wang
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Henan University of Science and Technology, 263 Kaiyuan Road, Luoyang, 471023, People's Republic of China.
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31
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Loffredo MR, Savini F, Bobone S, Casciaro B, Franzyk H, Mangoni ML, Stella L. Inoculum effect of antimicrobial peptides. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2021; 118:e2014364118. [PMID: 34021080 PMCID: PMC8166072 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2014364118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The activity of many antibiotics depends on the initial density of cells used in bacterial growth inhibition assays. This phenomenon, termed the inoculum effect, can have important consequences for the therapeutic efficacy of the drugs, because bacterial loads vary by several orders of magnitude in clinically relevant infections. Antimicrobial peptides are a promising class of molecules in the fight against drug-resistant bacteria because they act mainly by perturbing the cell membranes rather than by inhibiting intracellular targets. Here, we report a systematic characterization of the inoculum effect for this class of antibacterial compounds. Minimum inhibitory concentration values were measured for 13 peptides (including all-D enantiomers) and peptidomimetics, covering more than seven orders of magnitude in inoculated cell density. In most cases, the inoculum effect was significant for cell densities above the standard inoculum of 5 × 105 cells/mL, while for lower densities the active concentrations remained essentially constant, with values in the micromolar range. In the case of membrane-active peptides, these data can be rationalized by considering a simple model, taking into account peptide-cell association, and hypothesizing that a threshold number of cell-bound peptide molecules is required in order to cause bacterial killing. The observed effect questions the clinical utility of activity and selectivity determinations performed at a fixed, standardized cell density. A routine evaluation of the dependence of the activity of antimicrobial peptides and peptidomimetics on the inoculum should be considered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Rosa Loffredo
- Laboratory affiliated to Pasteur Italia-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Department of Biochemical Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Filippo Savini
- Department of Chemical Science and Technologies, University of Rome Tor Vergata, 00133 Rome, Italy
| | - Sara Bobone
- Department of Chemical Science and Technologies, University of Rome Tor Vergata, 00133 Rome, Italy
| | - Bruno Casciaro
- Center for Life Nano- & Neuro-Science, Fondazione Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT), 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Henrik Franzyk
- Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, University of Copenhagen, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Maria Luisa Mangoni
- Laboratory affiliated to Pasteur Italia-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Department of Biochemical Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy;
| | - Lorenzo Stella
- Department of Chemical Science and Technologies, University of Rome Tor Vergata, 00133 Rome, Italy;
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32
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Gaglione R, Pizzo E, Notomista E, de la Fuente-Nunez C, Arciello A. Host Defence Cryptides from Human Apolipoproteins: Applications in Medicinal Chemistry. Curr Top Med Chem 2021; 20:1324-1337. [PMID: 32338222 DOI: 10.2174/1568026620666200427091454] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2020] [Revised: 03/27/2020] [Accepted: 03/31/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Several eukaryotic proteins with defined physiological roles may act as precursors of cryptic bioactive peptides released upon protein cleavage by the host and/or bacterial proteases. Based on this, the term "cryptome" has been used to define the unique portion of the proteome encompassing proteins with the ability to generate bioactive peptides (cryptides) and proteins (crypteins) upon proteolytic cleavage. Hence, the cryptome represents a source of peptides with potential pharmacological interest. Among eukaryotic precursor proteins, human apolipoproteins play an important role, since promising bioactive peptides have been identified and characterized from apolipoproteins E, B, and A-I sequences. Human apolipoproteins derived peptides have been shown to exhibit antibacterial, anti-biofilm, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, anti-atherogenic, antioxidant, or anticancer activities in in vitro assays and, in some cases, also in in vivo experiments on animal models. The most interesting Host Defence Peptides (HDPs) identified thus far in human apolipoproteins are described here with a focus on their biological activities applicable to biomedicine. Altogether, reported evidence clearly indicates that cryptic peptides represent promising templates for the generation of new drugs and therapeutics against infectious diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosa Gaglione
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, 80126 Naples, Italy
| | - Elio Pizzo
- Department of Biology, University of Naples Federico II, 80126 Naples, Italy
| | - Eugenio Notomista
- Department of Biology, University of Naples Federico II, 80126 Naples, Italy
| | - Cesar de la Fuente-Nunez
- Machine Biology Group, Departments of Psychiatry and Microbiology, Institute for Biomedical Informatics, Institute for Translational Medicine and Therapeutics, Perelman School of Medicine, and Department of Bioengineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
| | - Angela Arciello
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, 80126 Naples, Italy.,Istituto Nazionale di Biostrutture e Biosistemi (INBB), 00136 Rome, Italy
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33
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Nielsen JE, Bjørnestad VA, Pipich V, Jenssen H, Lund R. Beyond structural models for the mode of action: How natural antimicrobial peptides affect lipid transport. J Colloid Interface Sci 2021; 582:793-802. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jcis.2020.08.094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2020] [Revised: 08/21/2020] [Accepted: 08/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
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34
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Abstract
Most phages of Gram-negative hosts encode spanins for disruption of the outer membrane, the last step in host lysis. However, bioinformatic analysis indicates that ∼15% of these phages lack a spanin gene, suggesting they have an alternate way of disrupting the OM. Here, we show that the T7-like coliphage phiKT causes the explosive cell lysis associated with spanin activity despite not encoding spanins. A putative lysis cassette cloned from the phiKT late gene region includes the hypothetical novel gene 28 located between the holin and endolysin genes and supports inducible lysis in E. coli K-12. Moreover, induction of an isogenic construct lacking gene 28 resulted in divalent cation-stabilized spherical cells rather than lysis, implicating gp28 in OM disruption. Additionally, gp28 was shown to complement the lysis defect of a spanin-null λ lysogen. Gene 28 encodes a 56-amino acid cationic protein with predicted amphipathic helical structure and is membrane-associated after lysis. Urea and KCl washes did not release gp28 from the particulate, suggesting a strong hydrophobic membrane interaction. Fluorescence microscopy supports membrane localization of the gp28 protein prior to lysis. Gp28 is similar in size, charge, predicted fold, and membrane association to the human cathelicidin antimicrobial peptide LL-37. Synthesized gp28 behaved similar to LL-37 in standard assays mixing peptide and cells to measure bactericidal and inhibitory effects. Taken together, these results indicate that phiKT gp28 is a phage-encoded cationic antimicrobial peptide that disrupts bacterial outer membranes during host lysis and thus establishes a new class of phage lysis proteins, the disruptins. Significance We provide evidence that phiKT produces an antimicrobial peptide for outer membrane disruption during lysis. This protein, designated as a disruptin, is a new paradigm for phage lysis and has no similarities to other known lysis genes. Although many mechanisms have been proposed for the function of antimicrobial peptides, there is no consensus on the molecular basis of membrane disruption. Additionally, there is no established genetic system to support such studies. Therefore, the phiKT disruptin may represent the first genetically tractable antimicrobial peptide, facilitating mechanistic analyses.
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Nielsen JE, Prévost SF, Jenssen H, Lund R. Impact of antimicrobial peptides on E. coli-mimicking lipid model membranes: correlating structural and dynamic effects using scattering methods. Faraday Discuss 2021; 232:203-217. [DOI: 10.1039/d0fd00046a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Using X-rays and neutrons we address the effect of AMPs on structure and dynamics of lipids in bacterial model membranes.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Håvard Jenssen
- Department of Science and Environment, Roskilde University, 4000 Roskilde, Denmark
| | - Reidar Lund
- Department of Chemistry, University of Oslo, 0315 Oslo, Norway
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Gelmi ML, D'Andrea LD, Romanelli A. Application of Biophysical Techniques to Investigate the Interaction of Antimicrobial Peptides With Bacterial Cells. FRONTIERS IN MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY 2020; 2:606079. [PMID: 35047889 PMCID: PMC8757709 DOI: 10.3389/fmedt.2020.606079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2020] [Accepted: 11/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Gaining new understanding on the mechanism of action of antimicrobial peptides is the basis for the design of new and more efficient antibiotics. To this aim, it is important to detect modifications occurring to both the peptide and the bacterial cell upon interaction; this will help to understand the peptide structural requirement, if any, at the base of the interaction as well as the pathways triggered by peptides ending in cell death. A limited number of papers have described the interaction of peptides with bacterial cells, although most of the studies published so far have been focused on model membrane-peptides interactions. Investigations carried out with bacterial cells highlighted the limitations connected to the use of oversimplified model membranes and, more importantly, helped to identify molecular targets of antimicrobial peptides and changes occurring to the bacterial membrane. In this review, details on the mechanism of action of antimicrobial peptides, as determined by the application of spectroscopic techniques, as well as scattering, microscopy, and calorimetry techniques, to complex systems such as peptide/bacteria mixtures are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Luisa Gelmi
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
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Nelson N, Opene B, Ernst RK, Schwartz DK. Antimicrobial peptide activity is anticorrelated with lipid a leaflet affinity. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0242907. [PMID: 33253275 PMCID: PMC7703904 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0242907] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2020] [Accepted: 11/12/2020] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The activity of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) has significant bacterial species bias, the mechanisms of which are not fully understood. We employed single-molecule tracking to measure the affinity of three different AMPs to hybrid supported bilayers composed of lipid A extracted from four different Gram negative bacteria and observed a strong empirical anticorrelation between the affinity of a particular AMP to a given lipid A layer and the activity of that AMP towards the bacterium from which that lipid A was extracted. This suggested that the species bias of AMP activity is directly related to AMP interactions with bacterial outer membranes, despite the fact that the mechanism of antimicrobial activity occurs at the inner membrane. The trend also suggested that the interactions between AMPs and the outer membrane lipid A (even in the absence of other components, such as lipopolysaccharides) capture effects that are relevant to the minimum inhibitory concentration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathaniel Nelson
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, Colorado, United States of America
| | - Belita Opene
- Department of Microbial Pathogenesis, School of Dentistry, University of Maryland Baltimore, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Robert K. Ernst
- Department of Microbial Pathogenesis, School of Dentistry, University of Maryland Baltimore, Baltimore, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Daniel K. Schwartz
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, Colorado, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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Juhl DW, Glattard E, Lointier M, Bampilis P, Bechinger B. The Reversible Non-covalent Aggregation Into Fibers of PGLa and Magainin 2 Preserves Their Antimicrobial Activity and Synergism. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2020; 10:526459. [PMID: 33102247 PMCID: PMC7554302 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2020.526459] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2020] [Accepted: 08/18/2020] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Magainin 2 and PGLa are antimicrobial peptides found together in frog skin secretions. When added as a mixture they show an order of magnitude increase in antibacterial activity and in model membrane permeation assays. Here we demonstrate that both peptides can form fibers with beta-sheet/turn signature in ATR-FTIR- and CD-spectroscopic analyses, but with different morphologies in EM images. Whereas, fiber formation results in acute reduction of the antimicrobial activity of the individual peptides, the synergistic enhancement of activity remains for the equimolar mixture of PGLa and magainin 2 also after fibril formation. The biological significance and potential applications of such supramolecular aggregates are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dennis Wilkens Juhl
- University of Strasbourg/CNRS, UMR7177, Institut de Chimie de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
| | - Elise Glattard
- University of Strasbourg/CNRS, UMR7177, Institut de Chimie de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
| | - Morane Lointier
- University of Strasbourg/CNRS, UMR7177, Institut de Chimie de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
| | - Panos Bampilis
- University of Strasbourg/CNRS, UMR7177, Institut de Chimie de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
| | - Burkhard Bechinger
- University of Strasbourg/CNRS, UMR7177, Institut de Chimie de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
- Institut Universitaire de France (IUF), Paris, France
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Savini F, Loffredo M, Troiano C, Bobone S, Malanovic N, Eichmann T, Caprio L, Canale V, Park Y, Mangoni M, Stella L. Binding of an antimicrobial peptide to bacterial cells: Interaction with different species, strains and cellular components. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-BIOMEMBRANES 2020; 1862:183291. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbamem.2020.183291] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2019] [Revised: 02/18/2020] [Accepted: 03/23/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
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Baró A, Badosa E, Montesinos L, Feliu L, Planas M, Montesinos E, Bonaterra A. Screening and identification of BP100 peptide conjugates active against Xylella fastidiosa using a viability-qPCR method. BMC Microbiol 2020; 20:229. [PMID: 32727358 PMCID: PMC7392676 DOI: 10.1186/s12866-020-01915-3] [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: 04/22/2020] [Accepted: 07/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Xylella fastidiosa is one of the most harmful bacterial plant pathogens worldwide, causing a variety of diseases, with huge economic impact to agriculture and environment. Although it has been extensively studied, there are no therapeutic solutions to suppress disease development in infected plants. In this context, antimicrobial peptides represent promising alternatives to traditional compounds due to their activity against a wide range of plant pathogens, their low cytotoxicity, their mode of action that make resistance more difficult and their availability for being expressed in plants. Results Peptide conjugates derived from the lead peptide BP100 and fragments of cecropin, magainin or melittin were selected and tested against the plant pathogenic bacteria X. fastidiosa. In order to screen the activity of these antimicrobials, and due to the fastidious nature of the pathogen, a methodology consisting of a contact test coupled with the viability-quantitative PCR (v-qPCR) method was developed. The nucleic acid-binding dye PEMAX was used to selectively quantify viable cells by v-qPCR. In addition, the primer set XF16S-3 amplifying a 279 bp fragment was selected as the most suitable for v-qPCR. The performance of the method was assessed by comparing v-qPCR viable cells estimation with conventional qPCR and plate counting. When cells were treated with peptide conjugates derived from BP100, the observed differences between methods suggested that, in addition to cell death due to the lytic effect of the peptides, there was an induction of the viable but non-culturable state in cells. Notably, a contact test coupled to v-qPCR allowed fast and accurate screening of antimicrobial peptides, and led to the identification of new peptide conjugates active against X. fastidiosa. Conclusions Antimicrobial peptides active against X. fastidiosa have been identified using an optimized methodology that quantifies viable cells without a cultivation stage, avoiding underestimation or false negative detection of the pathogen due to the viable but non-culturable state, and overestimation of the viable population observed using qPCR. These findings provide new alternative compounds for being tested in planta for the control of X. fastidiosa, and a methodology that enables the fast screening of a large amount of antimicrobials against this plant pathogenic bacterium.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aina Baró
- Laboratory of Plant Pathology, Institute of Food and Agricultural Technology-CIDSAV-XaRTA, University of Girona, Girona, Spain
| | - Esther Badosa
- Laboratory of Plant Pathology, Institute of Food and Agricultural Technology-CIDSAV-XaRTA, University of Girona, Girona, Spain
| | - Laura Montesinos
- Laboratory of Plant Pathology, Institute of Food and Agricultural Technology-CIDSAV-XaRTA, University of Girona, Girona, Spain
| | - Lidia Feliu
- LIPPSO, Department of Chemistry, University of Girona, Girona, Spain
| | - Marta Planas
- LIPPSO, Department of Chemistry, University of Girona, Girona, Spain
| | - Emilio Montesinos
- Laboratory of Plant Pathology, Institute of Food and Agricultural Technology-CIDSAV-XaRTA, University of Girona, Girona, Spain
| | - Anna Bonaterra
- Laboratory of Plant Pathology, Institute of Food and Agricultural Technology-CIDSAV-XaRTA, University of Girona, Girona, Spain.
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Highly synergistic antimicrobial activity of magainin 2 and PGLa peptides is rooted in the formation of supramolecular complexes with lipids. Sci Rep 2020; 10:11652. [PMID: 32669585 PMCID: PMC7363891 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-68416-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2020] [Accepted: 06/22/2020] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Magainin 2 and PGLa are cationic, amphipathic antimicrobial peptides which when added as equimolar mixture exhibit a pronounced synergism in both their antibacterial and pore-forming activities. Here we show for the first time that the peptides assemble into defined supramolecular structures along the membrane interface. The resulting mesophases are quantitatively described by state-of-the art fluorescence self-quenching and correlation spectroscopies. Notably, the synergistic behavior of magainin 2 and PGLa correlates with the formation of hetero-domains and an order-of-magnitude increased membrane affinity of both peptides. Enhanced membrane association of the peptide mixture is only observed in the presence of phophatidylethanolamines but not of phosphatidylcholines, lipids that dominate bacterial and eukaryotic membranes, respectively. Thereby the increased membrane-affinity of the peptide mixtures not only explains their synergistic antimicrobial activity, but at the same time provides a new concept to increase the therapeutic window of combinatorial drugs.
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Mercer DK, Torres MDT, Duay SS, Lovie E, Simpson L, von Köckritz-Blickwede M, de la Fuente-Nunez C, O'Neil DA, Angeles-Boza AM. Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing of Antimicrobial Peptides to Better Predict Efficacy. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2020; 10:326. [PMID: 32733816 PMCID: PMC7358464 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2020.00326] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2020] [Accepted: 05/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
During the development of antimicrobial peptides (AMP) as potential therapeutics, antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) stands as an essential part of the process in identification and optimisation of candidate AMP. Standard methods for AST, developed almost 60 years ago for testing conventional antibiotics, are not necessarily fit for purpose when it comes to determining the susceptibility of microorganisms to AMP. Without careful consideration of the parameters comprising AST there is a risk of failing to identify novel antimicrobials at a time when antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is leading the planet toward a post-antibiotic era. More physiologically/clinically relevant AST will allow better determination of the preclinical activity of drug candidates and allow the identification of lead compounds. An important consideration is the efficacy of AMP in biological matrices replicating sites of infection, e.g., blood/plasma/serum, lung bronchiolar lavage fluid/sputum, urine, biofilms, etc., as this will likely be more predictive of clinical efficacy. Additionally, specific AST for different target microorganisms may help to better predict efficacy of AMP in specific infections. In this manuscript, we describe what we believe are the key considerations for AST of AMP and hope that this information can better guide the preclinical development of AMP toward becoming a new generation of urgently needed antimicrobials.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Marcelo D. T. Torres
- Machine Biology Group, Departments of Psychiatry and Microbiology, Institute for Biomedical Informatics, Institute for Translational Medicine and Therapeutics, Perelman School of Medicine, Penn Institute for Computational Science, and Department of Bioengineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Searle S. Duay
- Department of Chemistry, Institute of Materials Science, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, United States
| | - Emma Lovie
- NovaBiotics Ltd, Aberdeen, United Kingdom
| | | | | | - Cesar de la Fuente-Nunez
- Machine Biology Group, Departments of Psychiatry and Microbiology, Institute for Biomedical Informatics, Institute for Translational Medicine and Therapeutics, Perelman School of Medicine, Penn Institute for Computational Science, and Department of Bioengineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | | | - Alfredo M. Angeles-Boza
- Department of Chemistry, Institute of Materials Science, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, United States
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Paredes SD, Kim S, Rooney MT, Greenwood AI, Hristova K, Cotten ML. Enhancing the membrane activity of Piscidin 1 through peptide metallation and the presence of oxidized lipid species: Implications for the unification of host defense mechanisms at lipid membranes. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-BIOMEMBRANES 2020; 1862:183236. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbamem.2020.183236] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2019] [Revised: 02/14/2020] [Accepted: 02/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
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Li J, Fernández-Millán P, Boix E. Synergism between Host Defence Peptides and Antibiotics Against Bacterial Infections. Curr Top Med Chem 2020; 20:1238-1263. [DOI: 10.2174/1568026620666200303122626] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2019] [Revised: 01/22/2020] [Accepted: 02/07/2020] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Background:Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) to conventional antibiotics is becoming one of the main global health threats and novel alternative strategies are urging. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), once forgotten, are coming back into the scene as promising tools to overcome bacterial resistance. Recent findings have attracted attention to the potentiality of AMPs to work as antibiotic adjuvants.Methods:In this review, we have tried to collect the currently available information on the mechanism of action of AMPs in synergy with other antimicrobial agents. In particular, we have focused on the mechanisms of action that mediate the inhibition of the emergence of bacterial resistance by AMPs.Results and Conclusion:We find in the literature many examples where AMPs can significantly reduce the antibiotic effective concentration. Mainly, the peptides work at the bacterial cell wall and thereby facilitate the drug access to its intracellular target. Complementarily, AMPs can also contribute to permeate the exopolysaccharide layer of biofilm communities, or even prevent bacterial adhesion and biofilm growth. Secondly, we find other peptides that can directly block the emergence of bacterial resistance mechanisms or interfere with the community quorum-sensing systems. Interestingly, the effective peptide concentrations for adjuvant activity and inhibition of bacterial resistance are much lower than the required for direct antimicrobial action. Finally, many AMPs expressed by innate immune cells are endowed with immunomodulatory properties and can participate in the host response against infection. Recent studies in animal models confirm that AMPs work as adjuvants at non-toxic concentrations and can be safely administrated for novel combined chemotherapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiarui Li
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Biosciences, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Valles, Spain
| | - Pablo Fernández-Millán
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Biosciences, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Valles, Spain
| | - Ester Boix
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Biosciences, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona, Cerdanyola del Valles, Spain
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Divyashree M, Mani MK, Reddy D, Kumavath R, Ghosh P, Azevedo V, Barh D. Clinical Applications of Antimicrobial Peptides (AMPs): Where do we Stand Now? Protein Pept Lett 2020; 27:120-134. [PMID: 31553285 DOI: 10.2174/0929866526666190925152957] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2018] [Revised: 04/24/2019] [Accepted: 08/04/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
In this era of multi-drug resistance (MDR), antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are one of the most promising classes of potential drug candidates to combat communicable as well as noncommunicable diseases such as cancers and diabetes. AMPs show a wide spectrum of biological activities which include antiviral, antifungal, anti-mitogenic, anticancer, and anti-inflammatory properties. Apart from these prospective therapeutic potentials, the AMPs can act as food preservatives and immune modulators. Therefore, AMPs have the potential to replace conventional drugs and may gain a significant global drug market share. Although several AMPs have shown therapeutic potential in vitro or in vivo, in most cases they have failed the clinical trial owing to various issues. In this review, we discuss in brief (i) molecular mechanisms of AMPs in various diseases, (ii) importance of AMPs in pharmaceutical industries, (iii) the challenges in using AMPs as therapeutics and how to overcome, (iv) available AMP therapeutics in market, and (v) AMPs under clinical trials. Here, we specifically focus on the therapeutic AMPs in the areas of dermatology, surgery, oncology and metabolic diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mithoor Divyashree
- Nitte University Centre for Science Education & Research (NUCSER), NITTE (Deemed to be University), Paneer campus, Deralakatte, Mangalore - 575018, Karnataka,India
| | - Madhu K Mani
- Nitte University Centre for Science Education & Research (NUCSER), NITTE (Deemed to be University), Paneer campus, Deralakatte, Mangalore - 575018, Karnataka,India
| | - Dhanasekhar Reddy
- Department of Genomic Science, School of Biological Sciences, Central University of Kerala, Tejaswini Hills, Periya (P.O) Kasaragod, Kerala-671316,India
| | - Ranjith Kumavath
- Department of Genomic Science, School of Biological Sciences, Central University of Kerala, Tejaswini Hills, Periya (P.O) Kasaragod, Kerala-671316,India
| | - Preetam Ghosh
- Department of Computer Science, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23284,United States
| | - Vasco Azevedo
- Laboratório de GenéticaCelular e Molecular, Programa de Pós-graduaçãoemBioinformática, Instituto de CiênciasBiológicas (ICB), Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Av. Antonio Carlos 6627, Pampulha, Belo Horizonte, CEP 31270-901,Brazil
| | - Debmalya Barh
- Nitte University Centre for Science Education & Research (NUCSER), NITTE (Deemed to be University), Paneer campus, Deralakatte, Mangalore - 575018, Karnataka,India.,Centre for Genomics and Applied Gene Technology, Institute of Integrative Omics and Applied Biotechnology (IIOAB), Nonakuri, PurbaMedinipur, West Bengal, India
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Malanovic N, Marx L, Blondelle SE, Pabst G, Semeraro EF. Experimental concepts for linking the biological activities of antimicrobial peptides to their molecular modes of action. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-BIOMEMBRANES 2020; 1862:183275. [PMID: 32173291 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbamem.2020.183275] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2019] [Revised: 03/09/2020] [Accepted: 03/10/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The search for novel compounds to combat multi-resistant bacterial infections includes exploring the potency of antimicrobial peptides and derivatives thereof. Complementary to high-throughput screening techniques, biophysical and biochemical studies of the biological activity of these compounds enable deep insight, which can be exploited in designing antimicrobial peptides with improved efficacy. This approach requires the combination of several techniques to study the effect of such peptides on both bacterial cells and simple mimics of their cell envelope, such as lipid-only vesicles. These efforts carry the challenge of bridging results across techniques and sample systems, including the proper choice of membrane mimics. This review describes some important concepts toward the development of potent antimicrobial peptides and how they translate to frequently applied experimental techniques, along with an outline of the biophysics pertaining to the killing mechanism of antimicrobial peptides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nermina Malanovic
- University of Graz, Institute of Molecular Biosciences, Biophysics Division, Graz, Austria.
| | - Lisa Marx
- University of Graz, Institute of Molecular Biosciences, Biophysics Division, Graz, Austria
| | | | - Georg Pabst
- University of Graz, Institute of Molecular Biosciences, Biophysics Division, Graz, Austria
| | - Enrico F Semeraro
- University of Graz, Institute of Molecular Biosciences, Biophysics Division, Graz, Austria
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Wu F, Tan C. Dead bacterial absorption of antimicrobial peptides underlies collective tolerance. J R Soc Interface 2020; 16:20180701. [PMID: 30958185 DOI: 10.1098/rsif.2018.0701] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
The collective tolerance towards antimicrobial peptides (APs) is thought to occur primarily through mechanisms associated with live bacterial cells. In contrast to the focus on live cells, we discover that the LL37 antimicrobial peptide kills a subpopulation of Escherichia coli, forming dead cells that absorb the remaining LL37 from the environment. Combining mathematical modelling with population and single-cell experiments, we show that bacteria absorb LL37 at a timing that coincides with the permeabilization of their cytoplasmic membranes. Furthermore, we show that one bacterial strain can absorb LL37 and protect another strain from killing by LL37. Finally, we demonstrate that the absorption of LL37 by dead bacteria can be reduced using a peptide adjuvant. In contrast to the known collective tolerance mechanisms, we show that the absorption of APs by dead bacteria is a dynamic process that leads to emergent population behaviour.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fan Wu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of California Davis , Davis, CA 95616 , USA
| | - Cheemeng Tan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of California Davis , Davis, CA 95616 , USA
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Gan BH, Siriwardena TN, Javor S, Darbre T, Reymond JL. Fluorescence Imaging of Bacterial Killing by Antimicrobial Peptide Dendrimer G3KL. ACS Infect Dis 2019; 5:2164-2173. [PMID: 31618574 DOI: 10.1021/acsinfecdis.9b00299] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
We recently discovered that peptide dendrimers such as G3KL ((KL)8(KKL)4(KKL)2KKL, K = branching l-lysine) exert strong activity against Gram-negative bacteria including Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Acinetobacter baumannii, and Escherichia coli. Herein, we report a detailed mechanistic study using fluorescence labeled analogs bearing fluorescein (G3KL-Fluo) or dansyl (G3KL-Dansyl), which show a similar bioactivity profile as G3KL. Imaging bacterial killing by super-resolution stimulated emission depletion (STED) microscopy, time-lapse imaging, and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) reveals that the dendrimer localizes at the bacterial membrane, induces membrane depolarization and permeabilization, and destroys the outer leaflet and the inner membrane. G3KL accumulates in bacteria against which it is active; however, it only weakly penetrates into eukaryotic cells without inducing significant toxicity. G3KL furthermore binds to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and inhibits the LPS induced release of TNF-α by macrophages, similarly to polymyxin B. Taken together, these experiments show that G3KL behaves as a potent membrane disruptive antimicrobial peptide.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bee-Ha Gan
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Bern, Freiestrasse 3, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Thissa N. Siriwardena
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Bern, Freiestrasse 3, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Sacha Javor
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Bern, Freiestrasse 3, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Tamis Darbre
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Bern, Freiestrasse 3, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Jean-Louis Reymond
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Bern, Freiestrasse 3, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
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49
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Stulz A, Vogt A, Saar JS, Akil L, Lienkamp K, Hoernke M. Quantified Membrane Permeabilization Indicates the Lipid Selectivity of Membrane-Active Antimicrobials. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2019; 35:16366-16376. [PMID: 31710807 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.9b01849] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
Most antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) and their synthetic mimics (SMAMPs) are thought to act by permeabilizing cell membranes. For antimicrobial therapy, selectivity for pathogens over mammalian cells is a key requirement. Understanding membrane selectivity is thus essential for designing AMPs and SMAMPs to complement classical antibiotics in the future. This study focuses on membrane permeabilization induced by SMAMPs and their selectivity for membranes with different lipid compositions. We measure release and fluorescence lifetime of a self-quenching dye in lipid vesicles. Apart from the dose-response, we quantify the strength of individual leakage events, and, employing cumulative kinetics, categorize permeabilization behavior. We propose that differing selectivities in a series of SMAMPs arise from a combination of the effect of the antimicrobial agent and the susceptibility of the membrane (with a given lipid composition) for certain types of leakage behavior. The unselective and hemolytic SMAMP is found to act mainly by the asymmetry stress mechanism, mediated by hydrophobic insertion of SMAMPs into lipid layers. The more selective SMAMPs induced leakage events occurring stochastically over several hours. Lipid intrinsic properties might additionally amplify the efficiency of leakage events. Leakage behavior changes with both the design of the SMAMP and the lipid composition of the membrane. Understanding how leakage behavior contributes to the selectivity and activity of antimicrobial agents will aid the design and screening of antimicrobials. An understanding of the underlying processes facilitates the comparison of membrane permeabilization across in vitro and in vivo assays.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anja Stulz
- Pharmaceutical Technology and Biopharmacy , Albert-Ludwigs-Universität , Freiburg i.Br ., Germany
| | - Annika Vogt
- Pharmaceutical Technology and Biopharmacy , Albert-Ludwigs-Universität , Freiburg i.Br ., Germany
- Faculty of Applied Chemistry , Reutlingen University , Reutlingen , Germany
| | - Julia Selina Saar
- Department of Microsystems Engineering (IMTEK) and Freiburg Center for Interactive Materials and Bioinspired Technologies (FIT) , Albert-Ludwigs-Universität , Freiburg i.Br ., Germany
| | - Larissa Akil
- Pharmaceutical Technology and Biopharmacy , Albert-Ludwigs-Universität , Freiburg i.Br ., Germany
| | - Karen Lienkamp
- Department of Microsystems Engineering (IMTEK) and Freiburg Center for Interactive Materials and Bioinspired Technologies (FIT) , Albert-Ludwigs-Universität , Freiburg i.Br ., Germany
| | - Maria Hoernke
- Pharmaceutical Technology and Biopharmacy , Albert-Ludwigs-Universität , Freiburg i.Br ., Germany
- BIOSS Centre for Biological Signalling Studies , Albert-Ludwigs-Universität , Freiburg i.Br ., Germany
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Acevedo ICC, Silva Jr PI, Silva FD, Araújo I, Alves FL, Oliveira CS, Oliveira Jr VX. IsCT‐based analogs intending better biological activity. J Pept Sci 2019; 25:e3219. [DOI: 10.1002/psc.3219] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2019] [Revised: 08/20/2019] [Accepted: 09/03/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Fernanda Dias Silva
- Centro de Ciências Naturais e HumanasUniversidade Federal do ABC Santo André SP Brazil
| | - Iris Araújo
- Centro de Ciências Naturais e HumanasUniversidade Federal do ABC Santo André SP Brazil
| | - Flávio Lopes Alves
- Centro de Ciências Naturais e HumanasUniversidade Federal do ABC Santo André SP Brazil
- Departamento de BiofísicaUniversidade Federal de São Paulo São Paulo SP Brazil
| | | | - Vani Xavier Oliveira Jr
- Centro de Ciências Naturais e HumanasUniversidade Federal do ABC Santo André SP Brazil
- Departamento de BiofísicaUniversidade Federal de São Paulo São Paulo SP Brazil
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