1
|
Sikora K, Jędrzejczak J, Bauer M, Neubauer D, Jaśkiewicz M, Szaryńska M. Quaternary Ammonium Salts of Cationic Lipopeptides with Lysine Residues - Synthesis, Antimicrobial, Hemolytic and Cytotoxic Activities. Probiotics Antimicrob Proteins 2023; 15:1465-1483. [PMID: 37770629 PMCID: PMC10687119 DOI: 10.1007/s12602-023-10161-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/13/2023] [Indexed: 09/30/2023]
Abstract
Ultrashort cationic lipopeptides (USCLs) and quaternary ammonium salts constitute two groups of cationic surfactants with high antimicrobial activity. This study aimed to investigate the influence of quaternization of the amino group of the lysine side chain in USCLs on their antimicrobial, hemolytic and cytotoxic activities. To do this, two series of lipopeptides were synthesized, USLCs and their quaternized analogues containing trimethylated lysine residues - qUSCLs (quaternized ultrashort cationic lipopeptides). Quaternization was performed on a resin during a standard solid-phase peptide synthesis with CH3I as the methylating agent. According to our knowledge, this is the first study presenting on-resin peptide quaternization. The lipopeptides were tested for their antibacterial and antifungal activities against the ESKAPE group (Enterococcus faecium, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Klebsiella aerogenes) bacteria and Candida glabrata yeast-like fungus. Most of the compounds proved to be active antimicrobial agents with enhanced activity against Gram-positive strains and fungi and a lower against Gram-negative species. In addition, the antimicrobial activity of lipopeptides was increasing with an increase in hydrophobicity but qUSCLs exhibited usually a poorer antimicrobial activity than their parent molecules. Furthermore, the toxicity against red blood cells and human keratinocytes was assessed. It's worth emphasizing that qUSCLs were less toxic than the parent molecules of comparative hydrophobicity. The results of the study proved that qUSCLs can offer a higher selectivity to pathogens over human cells than that of USCLs. Last but not least, quaternization of the peptides could increase their solubility and therefore their bioavailability and utility.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Karol Sikora
- Department of Inorganic Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Medical University of Gdańsk, Al. Gen. J. Hallera 107, 80-416, Gdańsk, Poland.
| | - Jakub Jędrzejczak
- Department of Inorganic Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Medical University of Gdańsk, Al. Gen. J. Hallera 107, 80-416, Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Marta Bauer
- Department of Inorganic Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Medical University of Gdańsk, Al. Gen. J. Hallera 107, 80-416, Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Damian Neubauer
- Department of Inorganic Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Medical University of Gdańsk, Al. Gen. J. Hallera 107, 80-416, Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Maciej Jaśkiewicz
- International Research Agenda 3P- Medicine Laboratory, Medical University of Gdańsk, Dębinki 7, Building no. 5, 80-211, Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Magdalena Szaryńska
- Department of Histology, Faculty of Medicine, Medical University of Gdańsk, Dębinki 1, 80-211, Gdańsk, Poland
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Robledo SM, Pérez-Silanes S, Fernández-Rubio C, Poveda A, Monzote L, González VM, Alonso-Collado P, Carrión J. Neglected Zoonotic Diseases: Advances in the Development of Cell-Penetrating and Antimicrobial Peptides against Leishmaniosis and Chagas Disease. Pathogens 2023; 12:939. [PMID: 37513786 PMCID: PMC10383258 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens12070939] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2023] [Revised: 07/12/2023] [Accepted: 07/12/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
In 2020, the WHO established the road map for neglected tropical diseases 2021-2030, which aims to control and eradicate 20 diseases, including leishmaniosis and Chagas disease. In addition, since 2015, the WHO has been developing a Global Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance. In this context, the achievement of innovative strategies as an alternative to replace conventional therapies is a first-order socio-sanitary priority, especially regarding endemic zoonoses in poor regions, such as those caused by Trypanosoma cruzi and Leishmania spp. infections. In this scenario, it is worth highlighting a group of natural peptide molecules (AMPs and CPPs) that are promising strategies for improving therapeutic efficacy against these neglected zoonoses, as they avoid the development of toxicity and resistance of conventional treatments. This review presents the novelties of these peptide molecules and their ability to cross a whole system of cell membranes as well as stimulate host immune defenses or even serve as vectors of molecules. The efforts of the biotechnological sector will make it possible to overcome the limitations of antimicrobial peptides through encapsulation and functionalization methods to obtain approval for these treatments to be used in clinical programs for the eradication of leishmaniosis and Chagas disease.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sara M Robledo
- Programa de Estudio y Control de Enfermedades Tropicales PECET, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín 050010, Colombia
| | - Silvia Pérez-Silanes
- Department of Pharmaceutical Technology and Chemistry, ISTUN Instituto de Salud Tropical, IdiSNA, Universidad de Navarra, 31008 Pamplona, Spain
| | - Celia Fernández-Rubio
- Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, ISTUN Instituto de Salud Tropical, IdiSNA, Universidad de Navarra, 31008 Pamplona, Spain
| | - Ana Poveda
- DNA Replication and Genome Instability Unit, Grupo de Investigación en Biodiversidad, Zoonosis y Salud Pública (GIBCIZ), Instituto de Investigación en Zoonosis-CIZ, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Central del Ecuador, Quito 170521, Ecuador
| | - Lianet Monzote
- Department of Parasitology, Institute of Tropical Medicine "Pedro Kourí", Apartado Postal No. 601, Marianao 13, La Habana 10400, Cuba
| | - Víctor M González
- Grupo de Aptámeros, Departamento de Bioquímica-Investigación, IRYCIS-Hospital Universitario Ramón y Cajal, Carretera de Colmenar Viejo Km. 9.100, 28034 Madrid, Spain
| | - Paloma Alonso-Collado
- Department of Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Javier Carrión
- Department of Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Wesseling CJ, Martin NI. Synergy by Perturbing the Gram-Negative Outer Membrane: Opening the Door for Gram-Positive Specific Antibiotics. ACS Infect Dis 2022; 8:1731-1757. [PMID: 35946799 PMCID: PMC9469101 DOI: 10.1021/acsinfecdis.2c00193] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
New approaches to target antibacterial agents toward Gram-negative bacteria are key, given the rise of antibiotic resistance. Since the discovery of polymyxin B nonapeptide as a potent Gram-negative outer membrane (OM)-permeabilizing synergist in the early 1980s, a vast amount of literature on such synergists has been published. This Review addresses a range of peptide-based and small organic compounds that disrupt the OM to elicit a synergistic effect with antibiotics that are otherwise inactive toward Gram-negative bacteria, with synergy defined as a fractional inhibitory concentration index (FICI) of <0.5. Another requirement for the inclusion of the synergists here covered is their potentiation of a specific set of clinically used antibiotics: erythromycin, rifampicin, novobiocin, or vancomycin. In addition, we have focused on those synergists with reported activity against Gram-negative members of the ESKAPE family of pathogens namely, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and/or Acinetobacter baumannii. In cases where the FICI values were not directly reported in the primary literature but could be calculated from the published data, we have done so, allowing for more direct comparison of potency with other synergists. We also address the hemolytic activity of the various OM-disrupting synergists reported in the literature, an effect that is often downplayed but is of key importance in assessing the selectivity of such compounds for Gram-negative bacteria.
Collapse
|
4
|
Santos FA, Cruz GS, Vieira FA, Queiroz BR, Freitas CD, Mesquita FP, Souza PF. Systematic Review of Antiprotozoal Potential of Antimicrobial Peptides. Acta Trop 2022; 236:106675. [DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2022.106675] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2022] [Revised: 08/29/2022] [Accepted: 08/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/01/2022]
|
5
|
Schweizer L, Ramirez D, Schweizer F. Effects of Lysine N-ζ-Methylation in Ultrashort Tetrabasic Lipopeptides (UTBLPs) on the Potentiation of Rifampicin, Novobiocin, and Niclosamide in Gram-Negative Bacteria. Antibiotics (Basel) 2022; 11:antibiotics11030335. [PMID: 35326798 PMCID: PMC8963254 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics11030335] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2022] [Revised: 02/27/2022] [Accepted: 03/02/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Outer membrane (OM) drug impermeability typically associated with a molecular weight above 600 Da and high hydrophobicity prevents accumulation of many antibiotics in Gram-negative bacteria (GNB). Previous studies have shown that ultrashort tetrabasic lipopeptides (UTBLPs) containing multiple lysine residues potentiate Gram-positive bacteria (GPB)-selective antibiotics in GNB by enhancing OM permeability. However, there is no available information on how N-substitution at the ζ-position of lysine in UTBLPs affects antibiotic potentiation in GNB. To study these effects, we prepared a series of branched and linear UTBLPs that differ in the degree of N-ζ-methylation and studied their potentiating effects with GPB-selective antibiotics including rifampicin, novobiocin, niclosamide, and chloramphenicol against wild-type and multidrug-resistant GNB isolates. Our results show that increasing N-ζ-methylation reduces or abolishes the potentiating effects of UTBLPs with rifampicin, novobiocin, and niclosamide against GNB. No trend was observed with chloramphenicol that is largely affected by efflux. We were unable to observe a correlation between the strength of the antibiotic potentiating effect to the increase in fluorescence in the 1-N-phenylnaphthylamine (NPN) OM permeability assay suggesting that other factors besides OM permeability of NPN play a role in antibiotic potentiation. In conclusion, our study has elucidated crucial structure–activity relationships for the optimization of polybasic antibiotic potentiators in GNB.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Linus Schweizer
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada;
| | - Danyel Ramirez
- Department of Chemistry, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N2, Canada;
| | - Frank Schweizer
- Department of Chemistry, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N2, Canada;
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB R3E 0J9, Canada
- Correspondence:
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Sarkar T, Chetia M, Chatterjee S. Antimicrobial Peptides and Proteins: From Nature's Reservoir to the Laboratory and Beyond. Front Chem 2021; 9:691532. [PMID: 34222199 PMCID: PMC8249576 DOI: 10.3389/fchem.2021.691532] [Citation(s) in RCA: 82] [Impact Index Per Article: 27.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2021] [Accepted: 05/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Rapid rise of antimicrobial resistance against conventional antimicrobials, resurgence of multidrug resistant microbes and the slowdown in the development of new classes of antimicrobials, necessitates the urgent development of alternate classes of therapeutic molecules. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are small proteins present in different lifeforms in nature that provide defense against microbial infections. They have been effective components of the host defense system for a very long time. The fact that the development of resistance by the microbes against the AMPs is relatively slower or delayed compared to that against the conventional antibiotics, makes them prospective alternative therapeutics of the future. Several thousands of AMPs have been isolated from various natural sources like microorganisms, plants, insects, crustaceans, animals, humans, etc. to date. However, only a few of them have been translated commercially to the market so far. This is because of some inherent drawbacks of the naturally obtained AMPs like 1) short half-life owing to the susceptibility to protease degradation, 2) inactivity at physiological salt concentrations, 3) cytotoxicity to host cells, 4) lack of appropriate strategies for sustained and targeted delivery of the AMPs. This has led to a surge of interest in the development of synthetic AMPs which would retain or improve the antimicrobial potency along with circumventing the disadvantages of the natural analogs. The development of synthetic AMPs is inspired by natural designs and sequences and strengthened by the fusion with various synthetic elements. Generation of the synthetic designs are based on various strategies like sequence truncation, mutation, cyclization and introduction of unnatural amino acids and synthons. In this review, we have described some of the AMPs isolated from the vast repertoire of natural sources, and subsequently described the various synthetic designs that have been developed based on the templates of natural AMPs or from de novo design to make commercially viable therapeutics of the future. This review entails the journey of the AMPs from their natural sources to the laboratory.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Sunanda Chatterjee
- Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology, Guwahati, India
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Oliva R, Del Vecchio P, Grimaldi A, Notomista E, Cafaro V, Pane K, Schuabb V, Winter R, Petraccone L. Membrane disintegration by the antimicrobial peptide (P)GKY20: lipid segregation and domain formation. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2019; 21:3989-3998. [PMID: 30706924 DOI: 10.1039/c8cp06280c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are membrane-active peptides with a broad spectrum of activity against different pathogenic organisms and they represent promising new drugs to overcome the emergence of resistance to antibiotics in bacteria. (P)GKY20 is an antimicrobial peptide with a low hemolytic effect on eukaryotic cells and a strong antimicrobial activity especially against Gram-negative bacteria. However, its mechanism of action is still unknown. Here, we use fluorescence spectroscopy and differential scanning calorimetry combined with atomic force microscopy to characterise the binding of (P)GKY20 with model biomembranes and its effect on the membrane's microstructure and thermotropic properties. We found that (P)GKY20 selectively perturbs the bacterial-like membrane via a carpet-like mechanism employing peptide conformational changes, lipid segregation and domain formation as key steps in promoting membrane disruption. These results shed a first light on the action mechanism of (P)GKY20 and could represent an important contribution to the development of new peptides serving as antimicrobial agents.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rosario Oliva
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Naples "Federico II", Via Cintia 4, 80126 Napoli, Italy.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
8
|
Rivas L, Rojas V. Cyanobacterial peptides as a tour de force in the chemical space of antiparasitic agents. Arch Biochem Biophys 2019; 664:24-39. [PMID: 30707942 DOI: 10.1016/j.abb.2019.01.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2018] [Revised: 01/22/2019] [Accepted: 01/27/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Parasites are scarcely addressed target for antimicrobial peptides despite their big impact in health and global economy. The notion of antimicrobial peptides is frequently associated to the innate immune defense of vertebrates and invertebrate vectors, as the ultimate recipients of the parasite infection. These antiparasite peptides are produced by ribosomal synthesis, with few post-translational modifications, and their diversity come mostly from their amino acid sequence. For many of them permeabilization of the cell membrane of the targeted pathogen is crucial for their microbicidal mechanism. In contrast, cyanobacterial peptides are produced either by ribosomal or non-ribosomal biosynthesis. Quite often, they undergo heavy modifications, such as the inclusion of non-proteinogenic amino acids, lipid acylation, cyclation, Nα-methylation, or heterocyclic rings. Furthermore, the few targets identified for cyanobacterial peptides in parasites are intracellular. Some cyanobacterial antiparasite peptides are active at picomolar concentrations, whereas those from higher eukaryotes usually work in the micromolar range. In all, cyanobacterial peptides are an appealing target to develop new antiparasite therapies and a challenge in the invention of new synthetic methods for peptides. This review aims to provide an updated appraisal of antiparasite cyanobacterial peptides and to establish a side-by -side comparison with those antiparasite peptides from higher eukaryotes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Luis Rivas
- Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas (C.S.I.C), c/ Ramiro de Maeztu 9, 28040, Madrid, Spain.
| | - Verónica Rojas
- Instituto de Biología, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso, Avenida Universidad 330, Campus Curauma, Curauma, Valparaíso, Chile.
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Oliva R, Chino M, Pane K, Pistorio V, De Santis A, Pizzo E, D'Errico G, Pavone V, Lombardi A, Del Vecchio P, Notomista E, Nastri F, Petraccone L. Exploring the role of unnatural amino acids in antimicrobial peptides. Sci Rep 2018; 8:8888. [PMID: 29892005 PMCID: PMC5995839 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-27231-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2018] [Accepted: 05/23/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Cationic antimicrobial peptides (CAMPs) are a promising alternative to treat multidrug-resistant bacteria, which have developed resistance to all the commonly used antimicrobial, and therefore represent a serious threat to human health. One of the major drawbacks of CAMPs is their sensitivity to proteases, which drastically limits their half-life. Here we describe the design and synthesis of three nine-residue CAMPs, which showed high stability in serum and broad spectrum antimicrobial activity. As for all peptides a very low selectivity between bacterial and eukaryotic cells was observed, we performed a detailed biophysical characterization of the interaction of one of these peptides with liposomes mimicking bacterial and eukaryotic membranes. Our results show a surface binding on the DPPC/DPPG vesicles, coupled with lipid domain formation, and, above a threshold concentration, a deep insertion into the bilayer hydrophobic core. On the contrary, mainly surface binding of the peptide on the DPPC bilayer was observed. These observed differences in the peptide interaction with the two model membranes suggest a divergence in the mechanisms responsible for the antimicrobial activity and for the observed high toxicity toward mammalian cell lines. These results could represent an important contribution to unravel some open and unresolved issues in the development of synthetic CAMPs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rosario Oliva
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Naples "Federico II", via Cintia, I-80126, Naples, Italy
| | - Marco Chino
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Naples "Federico II", via Cintia, I-80126, Naples, Italy
| | - Katia Pane
- Department of Biology, University of Naples "Federico II", Via Cintia, I-80126, Naples, Italy
| | - Valeria Pistorio
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnologies, University of Naples "Federico II", Via Pansini, 5, I-80131, Naples, Italy
| | - Augusta De Santis
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Naples "Federico II", via Cintia, I-80126, Naples, Italy
| | - Elio Pizzo
- Department of Biology, University of Naples "Federico II", Via Cintia, I-80126, Naples, Italy
| | - Gerardino D'Errico
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Naples "Federico II", via Cintia, I-80126, Naples, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Pavone
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Naples "Federico II", via Cintia, I-80126, Naples, Italy
| | - Angela Lombardi
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Naples "Federico II", via Cintia, I-80126, Naples, Italy
| | - Pompea Del Vecchio
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Naples "Federico II", via Cintia, I-80126, Naples, Italy
| | - Eugenio Notomista
- Department of Biology, University of Naples "Federico II", Via Cintia, I-80126, Naples, Italy
| | - Flavia Nastri
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Naples "Federico II", via Cintia, I-80126, Naples, Italy
| | - Luigi Petraccone
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Naples "Federico II", via Cintia, I-80126, Naples, Italy.
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Khattab SN, Khalil HH, Bekhit AA, Abd El-Rahman MM, de la Torre BG, El-Faham A, Albericio F. 1,3,5-Triazino Peptide Derivatives: Synthesis, Characterization, and Preliminary Antileishmanial Activity. ChemMedChem 2018; 13:725-735. [PMID: 29388337 DOI: 10.1002/cmdc.201700770] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2017] [Revised: 01/31/2018] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
A library of short di-, tri-, and tetra-peptides with an s-triazine moiety at the N terminus and either an amide or ethyl ester C terminus was prepared in solution and on the solid phase. The two remaining positions of the s-triazine moiety were substituted with methoxy, morpholino, or piperidino groups. All the synthesized peptide derivatives were analyzed by HPLC and fully characterized by IR spectroscopy, 1 H and 13 C NMR spectroscopy, elemental analysis, and mass spectrometry (MALDI TOF/TOF). A preliminary study of the antileishmanial activity of the 1,3,5-triazinyl peptide derivatives revealed that four dipeptide amide derivatives showed higher antipromastigote or antiamastigote activity than the reference standard drug miltefosine with no significance acute toxicity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sherine N Khattab
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Alexandria University, P.O. Box 426, Ibrahimia, Alexandria, 21321, Egypt.,Cancer Nanotechnology Research Laboratory(CNRL), Faculty of Pharmacy, Alexandria University, Alexandria, 21521, Egypt
| | - Hosam H Khalil
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Alexandria University, P.O. Box 426, Ibrahimia, Alexandria, 21321, Egypt
| | - Adnan A Bekhit
- Cancer Nanotechnology Research Laboratory(CNRL), Faculty of Pharmacy, Alexandria University, Alexandria, 21521, Egypt.,Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Alexandria University, Alexandria, 21521, Egypt
| | - Mohamed M Abd El-Rahman
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Alexandria University, P.O. Box 426, Ibrahimia, Alexandria, 21321, Egypt
| | - Beatriz G de la Torre
- KRISP, School of Health Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 4001, South Africa
| | - Ayman El-Faham
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Alexandria University, P.O. Box 426, Ibrahimia, Alexandria, 21321, Egypt.,Department of Chemistry, College of Science, King Saud University, P.O. Box 2455, Riyadh, 11451, Saudi Arabia
| | - Fernando Albericio
- Department of Chemistry, College of Science, King Saud University, P.O. Box 2455, Riyadh, 11451, Saudi Arabia.,School of Chemistry and Physics, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 4001, South Africa.,CIBER-BBN, Networking Centre on Bioengineering Biomaterials and Nanomedicine, Barcelona Science Park, Barcelona, 08028, Spain.,Department of Organic Chemistry, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, 08028, Spain
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Silva T, Claro B, Silva BFB, Vale N, Gomes P, Gomes MS, Funari SS, Teixeira J, Uhríková D, Bastos M. Unravelling a Mechanism of Action for a Cecropin A-Melittin Hybrid Antimicrobial Peptide: The Induced Formation of Multilamellar Lipid Stacks. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2018; 34:2158-2170. [PMID: 29304549 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.7b03639] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
An understanding of the mechanism of action of antimicrobial peptides is fundamental to the development of new and more active antibiotics. In the present work, we use a wide range of techniques (SANS, SAXD, DSC, ITC, CD, and confocal and electron microscopy) in order to fully characterize the interaction of a cecropin A-melittin hybrid antimicrobial peptide, CA(1-7)M(2-9), of known antimicrobial activity, with a bacterial model membrane of POPE/POPG in an effort to unravel its mechanism of action. We found that CA(1-7)M(2-9) disrupts the vesicles, inducing membrane condensation and forming an onionlike structure of multilamellar stacks, held together by the intercalated peptides. SANS and SAXD revealed changes induced by the peptide in the lipid bilayer thickness and the bilayer stiffening in a tightly packed liquid-crystalline lamellar phase. The analysis of the observed abrupt changes in the repeat distance upon the phase transition to the gel state suggests the formation of an Lγ phase. To the extent of our knowledge, this is the first time that the Lγ phase is identified as part of the mechanism of action of antimicrobial peptides. The energetics of interaction depends on temperature, and ITC results indicate that CA(1-7)M(2-9) interacts with the outer leaflet. This further supports the idea of a surface interaction that leads to membrane condensation and not to pore formation. As a result, we propose that this peptide exerts its antimicrobial action against bacteria through extensive membrane disruption that leads to cell death.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tânia Silva
- CIQ-UP - Centro de Investigação em Química, Departamento de Química e Bioquímica, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade do Porto , 4169-007 Porto, Portugal
- i3S - Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto , 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
- IBMC - Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Universidade do Porto , 4150-171 Porto, Portugal
- ICBAS - Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar, Universidade do Porto , 4050-313 Porto, Portugal
| | - Bárbara Claro
- CIQ-UP - Centro de Investigação em Química, Departamento de Química e Bioquímica, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade do Porto , 4169-007 Porto, Portugal
| | - Bruno F B Silva
- INL - International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory , 4715-330 Braga, Portugal
| | - Nuno Vale
- UCIBIO/REQUIMTE, Laboratório de Farmacologia, Departamento de Ciências do Medicamento, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade do Porto , 4050-313 Porto, Portugal
| | - Paula Gomes
- LAQV/REQUIMTE, Departamento de Química e Bioquímica, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade do Porto , 4169-007 Porto, Portugal
| | - Maria Salomé Gomes
- i3S - Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto , 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
- IBMC - Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Universidade do Porto , 4150-171 Porto, Portugal
- ICBAS - Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar, Universidade do Porto , 4050-313 Porto, Portugal
| | | | - José Teixeira
- Laboratoire Léon Brillouin (CEA-CNRS) , CEA Saclay, 91191 Gif sur Yvette Cedex, France
| | - Daniela Uhríková
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Comenius University in Bratislava , 832 32 Bratislava, Slovak Republic
| | - Margarida Bastos
- CIQ-UP - Centro de Investigação em Química, Departamento de Química e Bioquímica, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade do Porto , 4169-007 Porto, Portugal
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Facchini FA, Coelho H, Sestito SE, Delgado S, Minotti A, Andreu D, Jiménez-Barbero J, Peri F. Co-administration of Antimicrobial Peptides Enhances Toll-like Receptor 4 Antagonist Activity of a Synthetic Glycolipid. ChemMedChem 2018; 13:280-287. [PMID: 29265636 PMCID: PMC5900894 DOI: 10.1002/cmdc.201700694] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2017] [Revised: 12/02/2017] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
This study examines the effect of co‐administration of antimicrobial peptides and the synthetic glycolipid FP7, which is active in inhibiting inflammatory cytokine production caused by TLR4 activation and signaling. The co‐administration of two lipopolysaccharide (LPS)‐neutralizing peptides (a cecropin A–melittin hybrid peptide and a human cathelicidin) enhances by an order of magnitude the potency of FP7 in blocking the TLR4 signal. Interestingly, this is not an additional effect of LPS neutralization by peptides, because it also occurs if cells are stimulated by the plant lectin phytohemagglutinin, a non‐LPS TLR4 agonist. Our data suggest a dual mechanism of action for the peptides, not exclusively based on LPS binding and neutralization, but also on a direct effect on the LPS‐binding proteins of the TLR4 receptor complex. NMR experiments in solution show that peptide addition changes the aggregation state of FP7, promoting the formation of larger micelles. These results suggest a relationship between the aggregation state of lipid A‐like ligands and the type and intensity of the TLR4 response.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Fabio A Facchini
- Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, Piazza della Scienza, 2, 20126, Milano, Italy
| | - Helena Coelho
- Molecular Recognition & Host-Pathogen Interactions Programme, CIC bioGUNE, Bizkaia Technology Park, Building 801A, 48170, Derio, Spain.,Department of Organic Chemistry II, Faculty of Science & Technology, University of the Basque Country, 48940, Leioa, Bizkaia, Spain.,UCIBIO, REQUIMTE, Departamento de Química, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, 2829-516, Caparica, Portugal
| | - Stefania E Sestito
- Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, Piazza della Scienza, 2, 20126, Milano, Italy
| | - Sandra Delgado
- Molecular Recognition & Host-Pathogen Interactions Programme, CIC bioGUNE, Bizkaia Technology Park, Building 801A, 48170, Derio, Spain
| | - Alberto Minotti
- Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, Piazza della Scienza, 2, 20126, Milano, Italy
| | - David Andreu
- Department of Experimental and Health Sciences, Pompeu Fabra University, Barcelona Biomedical Research Park, Dr. Aiguader 88, 08003, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Jesús Jiménez-Barbero
- Molecular Recognition & Host-Pathogen Interactions Programme, CIC bioGUNE, Bizkaia Technology Park, Building 801A, 48170, Derio, Spain.,Department of Organic Chemistry II, Faculty of Science & Technology, University of the Basque Country, 48940, Leioa, Bizkaia, Spain.,Ikerbasque, Basque Foundation for Science, Maria Diaz de Haro 13, 48009, Bilbao, Spain
| | - Francesco Peri
- Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, Piazza della Scienza, 2, 20126, Milano, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Oñate-Garzón J, Manrique-Moreno M, Trier S, Leidy C, Torres R, Patiño E. Antimicrobial activity and interactions of cationic peptides derived from Galleria mellonella cecropin D-like peptide with model membranes. J Antibiot (Tokyo) 2016; 70:238-245. [DOI: 10.1038/ja.2016.134] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2016] [Revised: 09/07/2016] [Accepted: 10/12/2016] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
|
14
|
Pretzel J, Mohring F, Rahlfs S, Becker K. Antiparasitic peptides. ADVANCES IN BIOCHEMICAL ENGINEERING/BIOTECHNOLOGY 2016; 135:157-92. [PMID: 23615879 DOI: 10.1007/10_2013_191] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/20/2023]
Abstract
: The most important parasitic diseases, malaria, leishmaniasis, trypanosomiasis, and schistosomiasis, are a great burden to mankind, threatening the life of millions of people worldwide and mostly affecting the poorest. Because drug resistance is increasing and vaccines are rarely available, novel chemotherapeutic compounds are necessary in order to treat these devastating diseases. Insects serve as vectors of many human parasitic diseases and have been shown to express a huge variety of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs). Therefore, research activity on insect-derived AMPs has been increasing in the last 40 years. This chapter summarizes the current state of research on the possible role of AMPs as potential chemotherapeutic compounds against human parasitic diseases. As a representative antimicrobial peptide with antiparasitic activity, the structure of insect defensin A is shown [PDB accession code: 1ICA]. The molecule is surrounded by schematic representations of the human pathogenic parasites Plasmodium, Leishmania and Trypanosoma.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jette Pretzel
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Interdisciplinary Research Center, Heinrich-Buff-Ring 26-32, 35392, Giessen, Germany
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
15
|
Leussa ANN, Rautenbach M. Detailed SAR and PCA of the Tyrocidines and Analogues Towards Leucocin A-Sensitive and Leucocin A-ResistantListeria monocytogenes. Chem Biol Drug Des 2014; 84:543-57. [DOI: 10.1111/cbdd.12344] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2014] [Revised: 03/22/2014] [Accepted: 04/15/2014] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Adrienne Nyango-Nkeh Leussa
- BIOPEP Peptide Group; Department of Biochemistry; University of Stellenbosch; Private Bag X1 Matieland, 7602 Stellenbosch South Africa
| | - Marina Rautenbach
- BIOPEP Peptide Group; Department of Biochemistry; University of Stellenbosch; Private Bag X1 Matieland, 7602 Stellenbosch South Africa
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Wang F, Qin L, Wong P, Gao J. Effects of lysine methylation on gramicidin A channel folding in lipid membranes. Biopolymers 2013; 100:656-61. [DOI: 10.1002/bip.22268] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2013] [Accepted: 04/08/2013] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Fang Wang
- Department of Chemistry, Merkert Chemistry Center; Boston College; 2609 Beacon Street Chestnut Hill MA 02467
| | - Luoheng Qin
- Department of Chemistry, Merkert Chemistry Center; Boston College; 2609 Beacon Street Chestnut Hill MA 02467
| | - Patrick Wong
- Department of Chemistry, Merkert Chemistry Center; Boston College; 2609 Beacon Street Chestnut Hill MA 02467
| | - Jianmin Gao
- Department of Chemistry, Merkert Chemistry Center; Boston College; 2609 Beacon Street Chestnut Hill MA 02467
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Mäler L. Solution NMR studies of cell-penetrating peptides in model membrane systems. Adv Drug Deliv Rev 2013; 65:1002-11. [PMID: 23137785 DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2012.10.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2012] [Revised: 10/17/2012] [Accepted: 10/22/2012] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs) are a class of short, often cationic peptides that have the capability to translocate across cellular membranes, and although the translocation most likely involves several pathways, they interact directly with membranes, as well as with model bilayers. Most CPPs attain a three-dimensional structure when interacting with bilayers, while they are more or less unstructured in aqueous solution. To understand the relationship between structure and the effect that CPPs have on membranes it is of great importance to investigate CPPs at atomic resolution in a suitable membrane model. Moreover, the location in bilayers is likely to be correlated with the translocation mechanism. Solution-state NMR offers a unique possibility to investigate structure, dynamics and location of proteins and peptides in bilayers. This review focuses on solution NMR as a tool for investigating CPP-lipid interactions. Structural propensities and cell-penetrating capabilities can be derived from a combination of CPP solution structures and studies of the effect that the peptides have on bilayers and the localization in a bilayer.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lena Mäler
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, The Arrhenius Laboratory, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden.
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Alba A, López-Abarrategui C, Otero-González AJ. Host defense peptides: an alternative as antiinfective and immunomodulatory therapeutics. Biopolymers 2013. [PMID: 23193590 DOI: 10.1002/bip.22076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Host defense peptides are conserved components of innate immune response present among all classes of life. These peptides are potent, broad spectrum antimicrobial agents with potential as novel therapeutic compounds. Also, the ability of host defense peptides to modulate immunity is an emerging therapeutic concept since its selective modulation is a novel antiinfective strategy. Their mechanisms of action and the fundamental differences between pathogens and host cells surfaces mostly lead to a not widely extended microbial resistance and to a lower toxicity toward host cells. Biological libraries and rational design are novel tools for developing such molecules with promising applications as therapeutic drugs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Annia Alba
- Departamento de Parasitología, Instituto de Medicina Tropical "Pedro Kourí," La Habana, Cuba
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
19
|
Silva T, Abengózar MÁ, Fernández-Reyes M, Andreu D, Nazmi K, Bolscher JGM, Bastos M, Rivas L. Enhanced leishmanicidal activity of cryptopeptide chimeras from the active N1 domain of bovine lactoferrin. Amino Acids 2012; 43:2265-77. [PMID: 22543751 DOI: 10.1007/s00726-012-1304-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2012] [Accepted: 04/17/2012] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Two antimicrobial cryptopeptides from the N1 domain of bovine lactoferrin, lactoferricin (LFcin17-30) and lactoferrampin (LFampin265-284), together with a hybrid version (LFchimera), were tested against the protozoan parasite Leishmania. All peptides were leishmanicidal against Leishmania donovani promastigotes, and LFchimera showed a significantly higher activity over its two composing moieties. Besides, it was the only peptide active on Leishmania pifanoi axenic amastigotes, already showing activity below 10 μM. To investigate their leishmanicidal mechanism, promastigote membrane permeabilization was assessed by decrease of free ATP levels in living parasites, entrance of the vital dye SYTOX Green (MW = 600 Da) and confocal and transmission electron microscopy. The peptides induced plasma membrane permeabilization and bioenergetic collapse of the parasites. To further clarify the structural traits underlying the increased leishmanicidal activity of LFchimera, the activity of several analogues was assessed. Results revealed that the high activity of these hybrid peptides seems to be related to the order and sequence orientation of the two cryptopeptide moieties, rather than to their particular linkage through an additional lysine, as in the initial LFchimera. The incorporation of both antimicrobial cryptopeptide motifs into a single linear sequence facilitates chemical synthesis and should help in the potential clinical application of these optimized analogues.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tânia Silva
- Departamento de Química e Bioquímica, Faculdade de Ciências, Centro Investigação em Química CIQ(UP), Universidade do Porto, Rua do Campo Alegre, 4169-007, Porto, Portugal
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
20
|
Roca I, Espinal P, Vila-Farrés X, Vila J. The Acinetobacter baumannii Oxymoron: Commensal Hospital Dweller Turned Pan-Drug-Resistant Menace. Front Microbiol 2012; 3:148. [PMID: 22536199 PMCID: PMC3333477 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2012.00148] [Citation(s) in RCA: 246] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2011] [Accepted: 03/28/2012] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
During the past few decades Acinetobacter baumannii has evolved from being a commensal dweller of health-care facilities to constitute one of the most annoying pathogens responsible for hospitalary outbreaks and it is currently considered one of the most important nosocomial pathogens. In a prevalence study of infections in intensive care units conducted among 75 countries of the five continents, this microorganism was found to be the fifth most common pathogen. Two main features contribute to the success of A. baumannii: (i) A. baumannii exhibits an outstanding ability to accumulate a great variety of resistance mechanisms acquired by different mechanisms, either mutations or acquisition of genetic elements such as plasmids, integrons, transposons, or resistant islands, making this microorganism multi- or pan-drug-resistant and (ii) The ability to survive in the environment during prolonged periods of time which, combined with its innate resistance to desiccation and disinfectants, makes A. baumannii almost impossible to eradicate from the clinical setting. In addition, its ability to produce biofilm greatly contributes to both persistence and resistance. In this review, the pathogenesis of the infections caused by this microorganism as well as the molecular bases of antibacterial resistance and clinical aspects such as treatment and potential future therapeutic strategies are discussed in depth.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ignasi Roca
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, School of Medicine, IDIBAPS and Barcelona Centre for International Health Research, Hospital Clínic-Universitat de Barcelona Barcelona, Spain
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
21
|
Teixeira V, Feio MJ, Bastos M. Role of lipids in the interaction of antimicrobial peptides with membranes. Prog Lipid Res 2012; 51:149-77. [DOI: 10.1016/j.plipres.2011.12.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 461] [Impact Index Per Article: 38.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
|
22
|
Use of unnatural amino acids to probe structure-activity relationships and mode-of-action of antimicrobial peptides. Methods Mol Biol 2012; 794:169-83. [PMID: 21956562 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-61779-331-8_10] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
Endogenous antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) can have multimodal mechanisms of bacterial inactivation, such as membrane lysis, interference with cell wall biosynthesis or membrane-based protein machineries, or translocation through the membrane to intracellular targets. The controlled variation of side-chain characteristics in their amino acid residues can provide much useful information on structure-activity relationships and mode-of-action, and also lead to improved activities. The small size and relatively low complexity of AMPs make them amenable to solid-phase peptide synthesis, facilitating the use of nonproteinogenic amino acids and vastly increasing the accessible molecular diversity of side chains. Here, we describe how such residues can be used to modulate such key parameters as cationicity, hydrophobicity, steric factors conformational stability, and H-bonding.
Collapse
|
23
|
Díaz MD, de la Torre BG, Fernández-Reyes M, Rivas L, Andreu D, Jiménez-Barbero J. Structural framework for the modulation of the activity of the hybrid antibiotic peptide cecropin A-melittin [CA(1-7)M(2-9)] by Nε-lysine trimethylation. Chembiochem 2011; 12:2177-83. [PMID: 21805551 DOI: 10.1002/cbic.201100269] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2011] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
The 3D structures of six linear pentadecapeptides derived from the cecropin A-melittin antimicrobial peptide CA(1-7)M(2-9) [KWKLFKKIGAVLKVL-NH(2)] have been studied. These analogues are modified by ε-NH(2) trimethylation of one or more lysine residues and showed variation in both antimicrobial and cytotoxic activities, depending on the number and position of modified lysines. Since it is expected that these peptides will display a strong conformational ordering when in contact with membranes, we have investigated their structure on the basis of the data extracted from NMR experiments performed in membrane-mimetic environments. We show that inclusion of N(ε)-trimethylated lysine residues induces a certain degree of structural flexibility, while preserving to a variable extent a largely α-helical structure. In addition, peptide orientation with respect to SDS micelles has been explored by detection of the intensity changes of peptide NMR signals upon addition of a paramagnetic probe (Mn(2+) ions).
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- M Dolores Díaz
- Departamento de Biología Físico-Química, Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas, CSIC, Ramiro de Maeztu 9, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
24
|
Pérez-Cordero JJ, Lozano JM, Cortés J, Delgado G. Leishmanicidal activity of synthetic antimicrobial peptides in an infection model with human dendritic cells. Peptides 2011; 32:683-90. [PMID: 21262294 DOI: 10.1016/j.peptides.2011.01.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2010] [Revised: 01/07/2011] [Accepted: 01/07/2011] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Different species of Leishmania are responsible for cutaneous, mucocutaneous or visceral leishmaniasis infections in millions of people around the world [14]. The adverse reactions caused by antileishmanial drugs, emergence of resistance and lack of a vaccine have motivated the search for new therapeutic options to control this disease. Different sources of antimicrobial molecules are under study as antileishmanial agents, including peptides with antimicrobial and/or immunomodulatory activity, which have been considered to be potentially active against diverse species of Leishmania[7,39]. This study evaluated the cytotoxicity on dendritic cells, hemolytic activity, leishmanicidal properties on Leishmania panamensis and Leishmania major promastigotes and effectiveness on parasite intracellular forms (dendritic cells infected with L. panamensis and L. major promastigotes), when each parasite in culture was exposed to different concentrations of a group of synthetic peptides with previously reported antimicrobial properties, which were synthesized based on their naturally occurring reported sequences. Dermaseptin, Pr-2 and Pr-3 showed inhibitory activity on the growth of L. panamensis promastigotes, while Andropin and Cecropin A (with a selectivity index of 4 and 40, respectively) showed specific activity against intracellular forms of this species. The activities of Andropin and Cecropin A were exclusively against the intracellular forms of the parasite, therefore indicating the relevance of these two peptides as potential antileishmanial agents. In the case of L. major promastigotes, Melittin and Dermaseptin showed inhibitory activity, the latter also showed a selectivity index of 8 against intracellular forms. These findings suggest Andropin, Cecropin A and Dermaseptin as potential therapeutic tools to treat New and Old World cutaneous leishmaniasis.
Collapse
|