1
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Kim M, Bezprozvanny I. Biological function of Aβ peptides revealed by analysis of membrane-association properties: Implications for Azheimer's disease pathogenesis. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2024; 734:150611. [PMID: 39222574 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2024.150611] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2024] [Accepted: 08/27/2024] [Indexed: 09/04/2024]
Abstract
Proteolytic processing of amyloid precursor protein (APP) plays a critical role in the pathogenesis of Azheimer's disease (AD). Sequential cleavage of APP by β and γ secretases leads to generation of Aβ40 (non-amyloidogenic) and Aβ42 (amyloidogenic) peptides. Despite intense studies, the biological function of these peptides and the mechanism of Aβ42 toxicity is poorly understood. In the previous publications we proposed that association of Aβ peptides with the endosomal membranes may have important implications for pathogenesis of AD (Kim and Bezprozvanny, IJMS, 2021, vol 22, 13600; Kim and Bezprozvanny, IJMS, 2023, vol 24, 2092). To understand potential biological importance of such interaction, we focused on the region of Aβ peptides involved in peri-membrane association (E682 to N698). We discovered that association of this region with the membranes is reminiscent of several known anti-microbial peptides (AMP) such as PA13, Aurein1.2 and BP100. Our analysis further revealed that energy of peri-membrane association of Aβ40 is significantly weaker than for Aβ42 or AMP peptides, but it can be increased in the presence of non-amyloidogenic FAD mutations or in the presence of cholesterol in the membrane. Based on similarity with established mechanism of action of AMP peptides, we propose that Aβ peptides affect the curvature of endosomal membranes and shift the balance between endosomal recycling to plasma membrane and late endosomal/lysosomal pathway. We further propose that these effects are enhanced as a result of non-amyloidogenic FAD mutations in the sequence of Aβ peptides or in the presence of cholesterol in the membrane. The proposed model provides potential mechanistic explanation to synaptic defects induced by increased levels of Aβ42, by non-amyloidogenic FAD mutations in APP and by age-related increase in the levels of cholesterol in the brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meewhi Kim
- Dept of Physiology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, 75390, USA.
| | - Ilya Bezprozvanny
- Dept of Physiology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, 75390, USA; Laboratory of Molecular Neurodegeneration, St Petersburg State Polytechnical Universty, St Petersburg, 195251, Russian Federation.
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2
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van der Walt M, Möller DS, van Wyk RJ, Ferguson PM, Hind CK, Clifford M, Do Carmo Silva P, Sutton JM, Mason AJ, Bester MJ, Gaspar ARM. QSAR Reveals Decreased Lipophilicity of Polar Residues Determines the Selectivity of Antimicrobial Peptide Activity. ACS OMEGA 2024; 9:26030-26049. [PMID: 38911757 PMCID: PMC11191095 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.4c01277] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2024] [Revised: 05/15/2024] [Accepted: 05/20/2024] [Indexed: 06/25/2024]
Abstract
Antimicrobial resistance has increased rapidly, causing daunting morbidity and mortality rates worldwide. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) have emerged as promising alternatives to traditional antibiotics due to their broad range of targets and low tendency to elicit resistance. However, potent antimicrobial activity is often accompanied by excessive cytotoxicity toward host cells, leading to a halt in AMP therapeutic development. Here, we present multivariate analyses that correlate 28 peptide properties to the activity and toxicity of 46 diverse African-derived AMPs and identify the negative lipophilicity of polar residues as an essential physiochemical property for selective antimicrobial activity. Twenty-seven active AMPs are identified, of which the majority are of scorpion or frog origin. Of these, thirteen are novel with no previously reported activities. Principal component analysis and quantitative structure-activity relationships (QSAR) reveal that overall hydrophobicity, lipophilicity, and residue side chain surface area affect the antimicrobial and cytotoxic activity of an AMP. This has been well documented previously, but the present QSAR analysis additionally reveals that a decrease in the lipophilicity, contributed by those amino acids classified as polar, confers selectivity for a peptide to pathogen over mammalian cells. Furthermore, an increase in overall peptide charge aids selectivity toward Gram-negative bacteria and fungi, while selectivity toward Gram-positive bacteria is obtained through an increased number of small lipophilic residues. Finally, a conservative increase in peptide size in terms of sequence length and molecular weight also contributes to improved activity without affecting toxicity. Our findings suggest a novel approach for the rational design or modification of existing AMPs to increase pathogen selectivity and enhance therapeutic potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mandelie van der Walt
- Department
of Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology, Faculty of Natural and
Agricultural Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0002, South Africa
| | - Dalton S. Möller
- Department
of Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology, Faculty of Natural and
Agricultural Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0002, South Africa
| | - Rosalind J. van Wyk
- Department
of Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology, Faculty of Natural and
Agricultural Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0002, South Africa
| | - Philip M. Ferguson
- Institute
of Pharmaceutical Science, School of Cancer & Pharmaceutical Science, King’s College London, Franklin-Wilkins Building, 150 Stamford
Street, London SE1 9NH, United Kingdom
| | - Charlotte K. Hind
- Antimicrobial
Discovery Development and Diagnostics, Vaccine Evaluation and Development
Centre, UK Health Security Agency, Salisbury SP4 0JG, United Kingdom
| | - Melanie Clifford
- Antimicrobial
Discovery Development and Diagnostics, Vaccine Evaluation and Development
Centre, UK Health Security Agency, Salisbury SP4 0JG, United Kingdom
| | - Phoebe Do Carmo Silva
- Antimicrobial
Discovery Development and Diagnostics, Vaccine Evaluation and Development
Centre, UK Health Security Agency, Salisbury SP4 0JG, United Kingdom
| | - J. Mark Sutton
- Antimicrobial
Discovery Development and Diagnostics, Vaccine Evaluation and Development
Centre, UK Health Security Agency, Salisbury SP4 0JG, United Kingdom
| | - A. James Mason
- Institute
of Pharmaceutical Science, School of Cancer & Pharmaceutical Science, King’s College London, Franklin-Wilkins Building, 150 Stamford
Street, London SE1 9NH, United Kingdom
| | - Megan J. Bester
- Department
of Anatomy, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0002, South Africa
| | - Anabella R. M. Gaspar
- Department
of Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology, Faculty of Natural and
Agricultural Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0002, South Africa
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3
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Park P, Matsubara DK, Barzotto DR, Lima FS, Chaimovich H, Marrink SJ, Cuccovia IM. Vesicle protrusion induced by antimicrobial peptides suggests common carpet mechanism for short antimicrobial peptides. Sci Rep 2024; 14:9701. [PMID: 38678109 PMCID: PMC11055889 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-60601-w] [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: 09/30/2023] [Accepted: 04/25/2024] [Indexed: 04/29/2024] Open
Abstract
Short-cationic alpha-helical antimicrobial peptides (SCHAMPs) are promising candidates to combat the growing global threat of antimicrobial resistance. They are short-sequenced, selective against bacteria, and have rapid action by destroying membranes. A full understanding of their mechanism of action will provide key information to design more potent and selective SCHAMPs. Molecular Dynamics (MD) simulations are invaluable tools that provide detailed insights into the peptide-membrane interaction at the atomic- and meso-scale level. We use atomistic and coarse-grained MD to look into the exact steps that four promising SCHAMPs-BP100, Decoralin, Neurokinin-1, and Temporin L-take when they interact with membranes. Following experimental set-ups, we explored the effects of SCHAMPs on anionic membranes and vesicles at multiple peptide concentrations. Our results showed all four peptides shared similar binding steps, initially binding to the membrane through electrostatic interactions and then flipping on their axes, dehydrating, and inserting their hydrophobic moieties into the membrane core. At higher concentrations, fully alpha-helical peptides induced membrane budding and protrusions. Our results suggest the carpet mode of action is fit for the description of SCHAMPs lysis activity and discuss the importance of large hydrophobic residues in SCHAMPs design and activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter Park
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Química, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
- Groningen Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology Institute (GBB), University of Groningen, 9747 AG, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Danilo K Matsubara
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Química, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Domenico R Barzotto
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Química, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Filipe S Lima
- Departamento de Química Fundamental, Centro de Ciências Exatas e da Natureza, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife, Brazil
| | - Hernan Chaimovich
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Química, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Siewert J Marrink
- Groningen Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology Institute (GBB), University of Groningen, 9747 AG, Groningen, the Netherlands.
| | - Iolanda M Cuccovia
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Química, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
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4
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Bertelsen M, Lacey MM, Nichol T, Miller K. Mechanistic Insight into the Early Stages of Toroidal Pore Formation by the Antimicrobial Peptide Smp24. Pharmaceutics 2023; 15:2399. [PMID: 37896158 PMCID: PMC10610086 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics15102399] [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: 08/09/2023] [Revised: 09/12/2023] [Accepted: 09/15/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The antimicrobial peptide Smp24, originally derived from the venom of Scorpio maurus palmatus, is a promising candidate for further drug development. However, before doing so, greater insight into the mechanism of action is needed to construct a reliable structure-activity relationship. The aim of this study was to specifically investigate the critical early stages of peptide-induced membrane disruption. Single-channel current traces were obtained via planar patch-clamp electrophysiology, with multiple types of pore-forming events observed, unlike those expected from the traditional, more rigid mechanistic models. To better understand the molecular-level structures of the peptide-pore assemblies underlying these observed conductance events, molecular dynamics simulations were used to investigate the peptide structure and orientation both before and during pore formation. The transition of the peptides to transmembrane-like states within disordered toroidal pores occurred due to a peptide-induced bilayer-leaflet asymmetry, explaining why pore stabilization does not always follow pore nucleation in the experimental observations. To fully grasp the structure-activity relationship of antimicrobial peptides, a more nuanced view of the complex and dynamic mechanistic behaviour must be adopted.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Keith Miller
- Biomolecular Sciences Research Centre, Sheffield Hallam University, Sheffield S1 1WB, UK
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5
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Clarke M, Hind CK, Ferguson PM, Manzo G, Mistry B, Yue B, Romanopulos J, Clifford M, Bui TT, Drake AF, Lorenz CD, Sutton JM, Mason AJ. Synergy between Winter Flounder antimicrobial peptides. NPJ ANTIMICROBIALS AND RESISTANCE 2023; 1:8. [PMID: 38686212 PMCID: PMC11057203 DOI: 10.1038/s44259-023-00010-7] [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: 03/21/2023] [Accepted: 06/23/2023] [Indexed: 05/02/2024]
Abstract
Some antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) have potent bactericidal activity and are being considered as potential alternatives to classical antibiotics. In response to an infection, such AMPs are often produced in animals alongside other peptides with low or no perceivable antimicrobial activity, whose role is unclear. Here we show that six AMPs from the Winter Flounder (WF) act in synergy against a range of bacterial pathogens and provide mechanistic insights into how this increases the cooperativity of the dose-dependent bactericidal activity and potency that enable therapy. Only two WF AMPs have potent antimicrobial activity when used alone but we find a series of two-way combinations, involving peptides which otherwise have low or no activity, yield potent antimicrobial activity. Weakly active WF AMPs modulate the membrane interactions of the more potent WF AMPs and enable therapy in a model of Acinetobacter baumannii burn wound infection. The observed synergy and emergent behaviour may explain the evolutionary benefits of producing a family of related peptides and are attractive properties to consider when developing AMPs towards clinical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Clarke
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Science, School of Cancer & Pharmaceutical Science, King’s College London, Franklin-Wilkins Building, 150 Stamford Street, London, SE1 9NH UK
| | - Charlotte K. Hind
- Technology Development Group, UK Health Security Agency, Research and Evaluation, Porton Down, Salisbury, SP4 0JG UK
| | - Philip M. Ferguson
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Science, School of Cancer & Pharmaceutical Science, King’s College London, Franklin-Wilkins Building, 150 Stamford Street, London, SE1 9NH UK
| | - Giorgia Manzo
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Science, School of Cancer & Pharmaceutical Science, King’s College London, Franklin-Wilkins Building, 150 Stamford Street, London, SE1 9NH UK
| | - Bhumil Mistry
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Science, School of Cancer & Pharmaceutical Science, King’s College London, Franklin-Wilkins Building, 150 Stamford Street, London, SE1 9NH UK
| | - Bingkun Yue
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Science, School of Cancer & Pharmaceutical Science, King’s College London, Franklin-Wilkins Building, 150 Stamford Street, London, SE1 9NH UK
| | - Janis Romanopulos
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Science, School of Cancer & Pharmaceutical Science, King’s College London, Franklin-Wilkins Building, 150 Stamford Street, London, SE1 9NH UK
| | - Melanie Clifford
- Technology Development Group, UK Health Security Agency, Research and Evaluation, Porton Down, Salisbury, SP4 0JG UK
| | - Tam T. Bui
- Centre for Biomolecular Spectroscopy and Randall Division of Cell and Molecular Biophysics, King’s College London, New Hunt’s House, London, SE1 1UL UK
| | - Alex F. Drake
- Centre for Biomolecular Spectroscopy and Randall Division of Cell and Molecular Biophysics, King’s College London, New Hunt’s House, London, SE1 1UL UK
| | | | - J. Mark Sutton
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Science, School of Cancer & Pharmaceutical Science, King’s College London, Franklin-Wilkins Building, 150 Stamford Street, London, SE1 9NH UK
- Technology Development Group, UK Health Security Agency, Research and Evaluation, Porton Down, Salisbury, SP4 0JG UK
| | - A. James Mason
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Science, School of Cancer & Pharmaceutical Science, King’s College London, Franklin-Wilkins Building, 150 Stamford Street, London, SE1 9NH UK
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6
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Smola-Dmochowska A, Lewicka K, Macyk A, Rychter P, Pamuła E, Dobrzyński P. Biodegradable Polymers and Polymer Composites with Antibacterial Properties. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24087473. [PMID: 37108637 PMCID: PMC10138923 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24087473] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2023] [Revised: 04/05/2023] [Accepted: 04/07/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Antibiotic resistance is one of the greatest threats to global health and food security today. It becomes increasingly difficult to treat infectious disorders because antibiotics, even the newest ones, are becoming less and less effective. One of the ways taken in the Global Plan of Action announced at the World Health Assembly in May 2015 is to ensure the prevention and treatment of infectious diseases. In order to do so, attempts are made to develop new antimicrobial therapeutics, including biomaterials with antibacterial activity, such as polycationic polymers, polypeptides, and polymeric systems, to provide non-antibiotic therapeutic agents, such as selected biologically active nanoparticles and chemical compounds. Another key issue is preventing food from contamination by developing antibacterial packaging materials, particularly based on degradable polymers and biocomposites. This review, in a cross-sectional way, describes the most significant research activities conducted in recent years in the field of the development of polymeric materials and polymer composites with antibacterial properties. We particularly focus on natural polymers, i.e., polysaccharides and polypeptides, which present a mechanism for combating many highly pathogenic microorganisms. We also attempt to use this knowledge to obtain synthetic polymers with similar antibacterial activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Smola-Dmochowska
- Centre of Polymer and Carbon Materials, Polish Academy of Sciences, 34 Marii Curie-Skłodowskiej Str., 41-819 Zabrze, Poland
| | - Kamila Lewicka
- Faculty of Science and Technology, Jan Dlugosz University in Czestochowa, 13/15 Armii Krajowej Av., 42-200 Czestochowa, Poland
| | - Alicja Macyk
- Department of Biomaterials and Composites, Faculty of Materials Science and Ceramics, AGH University of Science and Technology, 30 Mickiewicza Av., 30-059 Kraków, Poland
| | - Piotr Rychter
- Faculty of Science and Technology, Jan Dlugosz University in Czestochowa, 13/15 Armii Krajowej Av., 42-200 Czestochowa, Poland
| | - Elżbieta Pamuła
- Department of Biomaterials and Composites, Faculty of Materials Science and Ceramics, AGH University of Science and Technology, 30 Mickiewicza Av., 30-059 Kraków, Poland
| | - Piotr Dobrzyński
- Centre of Polymer and Carbon Materials, Polish Academy of Sciences, 34 Marii Curie-Skłodowskiej Str., 41-819 Zabrze, Poland
- Faculty of Science and Technology, Jan Dlugosz University in Czestochowa, 13/15 Armii Krajowej Av., 42-200 Czestochowa, Poland
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7
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Temporins: Multifunctional Peptides from Frog Skin. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24065426. [PMID: 36982501 PMCID: PMC10049141 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24065426] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2023] [Revised: 03/03/2023] [Accepted: 03/08/2023] [Indexed: 03/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Temporins are short peptides secreted by frogs from all over the world. They exert antimicrobial activity, mainly against Gram-positive bacteria, including resistant pathogens; recent studies highlight other possible applications of these peptides as anticancer or antiviral agents. This review is meant to describe the main features of temporins produced by different ranid genera. Due to the abundance of published papers, we focus on the most widely investigated peptides. We report studies on their mechanism of action and three-dimensional structure in model systems mimicking bacterial membranes or in the presence of cells. The design and the antimicrobial activity of peptide analogues is also described, with the aim of highlighting elements that are crucial to improve the bioactivity of peptides while reducing their toxicity. Finally, a short section is dedicated to the studies aimed at applying these peptides as drugs, to produce new antimicrobial materials or in other technological uses.
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8
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Di Blasio S, Clarke M, Hind CK, Asai M, Laurence L, Benvenuti A, Hassan M, Semenya D, Man DKW, Horrocks V, Manzo G, Van Der Lith S, Lam C, Gentile E, Annette C, Bosse J, Li Y, Panaretou B, Langford PR, Robertson BD, Lam JKW, Sutton JM, McArthur M, Mason AJ. Bolaamphiphile Analogues of 12-bis-THA Cl 2 Are Potent Antimicrobial Therapeutics with Distinct Mechanisms of Action against Bacterial, Mycobacterial, and Fungal Pathogens. mSphere 2023; 8:e0050822. [PMID: 36511707 PMCID: PMC9942557 DOI: 10.1128/msphere.00508-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2022] [Accepted: 11/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
12-Bis-THA Cl2 [12,12'-(dodecane-1,12-diyl)-bis-(9-amino-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroacridinium) chloride] is a cationic bolalipid adapted from dequalinium chloride (DQC), a bactericidal anti-infective indicated for bacterial vaginosis (BV). Here, we used a structure-activity-relationship study to show that the factors that determine effective killing of bacterial, fungal, and mycobacterial pathogens differ, to generate new analogues with a broader spectrum of activity, and to identify synergistic relationships, most notably with aminoglycosides against Acinetobacter baumannii and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, where the bactericidal killing rate was substantially increased. Like DQC, 12-bis-THA Cl2 and its analogues accumulate within bacteria and fungi. More hydrophobic analogues with larger headgroups show reduced potential for DNA binding but increased and broader spectrum antibacterial activity. In contrast, analogues with less bulky headgroups and stronger DNA binding affinity were more active against Candida spp. Shortening the interconnecting chain, from the most lipophilic twelve-carbon chain to six, improved the selectivity index against Mycobacterium tuberculosis in vitro, but only the longer chain analogue was therapeutic in a Galleria mellonella infection model, with the shorter chain analogue exacerbating the infection. In vivo therapy of Escherichia coli ATCC 25922 and epidemic methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus 15 (EMRSA-15) infections in Galleria mellonella was also achieved with longer-chain analogues, as was therapy for an A. baumannii 17978 burn wound infection with a synergistic combination of bolaamphiphile and gentamicin. The present study shows how this class of bolalipids may be adapted further to enable a wider range of potential applications. IMPORTANCE While we face an acute threat from antibiotic resistant bacteria and a lack of new classes of antibiotic, there are many effective antimicrobials which have limited application due to concerns regarding their toxicity and which could be more useful if such risks are reduced or eliminated. We modified a bolalipid antiseptic used in throat lozenges to see if it could be made more effective against some of the highest-priority bacteria and less toxic. We found that structural modifications that rendered the lipid more toxic against human cells made it less toxic in infection models and we could effectively treat caterpillars infected with either Mycobacterium tuberculosis, methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus, or Acinetobacter baumannii. The study provides a rationale for further adaptation toward diversifying the range of indications in which this class of antimicrobial may be used.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simona Di Blasio
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Science, School of Cancer & Pharmaceutical Sciences, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Maria Clarke
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Science, School of Cancer & Pharmaceutical Sciences, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Charlotte K. Hind
- Technology Development Group, UK Health Security Agency, Research and Evaluation, Salisbury, United Kingdom
| | - Masanori Asai
- Section of Paediatric Infectious Disease, Department of Infectious Disease, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
- MRC Centre for Molecular Bacteriology and Infection, Department of Infectious Disease, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Louis Laurence
- Norwich Medical School, University of East Anglia, Norwich, United Kingdom
| | - Angelica Benvenuti
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Science, School of Cancer & Pharmaceutical Sciences, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Mahnoor Hassan
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Science, School of Cancer & Pharmaceutical Sciences, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Dorothy Semenya
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Science, School of Cancer & Pharmaceutical Sciences, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - DeDe Kwun-Wai Man
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Science, School of Cancer & Pharmaceutical Sciences, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
- Department of Pharmacology & Pharmacy, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong
| | - Victoria Horrocks
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Science, School of Cancer & Pharmaceutical Sciences, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Giorgia Manzo
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Science, School of Cancer & Pharmaceutical Sciences, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Sarah Van Der Lith
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Science, School of Cancer & Pharmaceutical Sciences, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Carolyn Lam
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Science, School of Cancer & Pharmaceutical Sciences, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Eugenio Gentile
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Science, School of Cancer & Pharmaceutical Sciences, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Callum Annette
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Science, School of Cancer & Pharmaceutical Sciences, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Janine Bosse
- Section of Paediatric Infectious Disease, Department of Infectious Disease, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Yanwen Li
- Section of Paediatric Infectious Disease, Department of Infectious Disease, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Barry Panaretou
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Science, School of Cancer & Pharmaceutical Sciences, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Paul R. Langford
- Section of Paediatric Infectious Disease, Department of Infectious Disease, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Brian D. Robertson
- MRC Centre for Molecular Bacteriology and Infection, Department of Infectious Disease, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Jenny K. W. Lam
- Department of Pharmacology & Pharmacy, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong
- Department of Pharmaceutics, UCL School of Pharmacy, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - J. Mark Sutton
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Science, School of Cancer & Pharmaceutical Sciences, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
- Technology Development Group, UK Health Security Agency, Research and Evaluation, Salisbury, United Kingdom
| | - Michael McArthur
- Norwich Medical School, University of East Anglia, Norwich, United Kingdom
| | - A. James Mason
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Science, School of Cancer & Pharmaceutical Sciences, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
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9
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Pipiya SO, Mirzoeva NZ, Baranova MN, Eliseev IE, Mokrushina YA, Shamova OV, Gabibov AG, Smirnov IV, Terekhov SS. Creation of Recombinant Biocontrol Agents by Genetic Programming of Yeast. Acta Naturae 2023; 15:74-80. [PMID: 37153506 PMCID: PMC10154779 DOI: 10.32607/actanaturae.11878] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2022] [Accepted: 02/21/2023] [Indexed: 05/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Bacterial infections caused by antibiotic-resistant pathogens pose an extremely serious and elusive problem in healthcare. The discovery and targeted creation of new antibiotics are today among the most important public health issues. Antibiotics based on antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are of particular interest due to their genetically encoded nature. A distinct advantage of most AMPs is their direct mechanism of action that is mediated by their membranolytic properties. The low rate of emergence of antibiotic resistance associated with the killing mechanism of action of AMPs attracts heightened attention to this field. Recombinant technologies enable the creation of genetically programmable AMP producers for large-scale generation of recombinant AMPs (rAMPs) or the creation of rAMP-producing biocontrol agents. The methylotrophic yeast Pichia pastoris was genetically modified for the secreted production of rAMP. Constitutive expression of the sequence encoding the mature AMP protegrin-1 provided the yeast strain that effectively inhibits the growth of target gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. An antimicrobial effect was also observed in the microculture when a yeast rAMP producer and a reporter bacterium were co-encapsulated in droplets of microfluidic double emulsion. The heterologous production of rAMPs opens up new avenues for creating effective biocontrol agents and screening antimicrobial activity using ultrahigh-throughput technologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- S O Pipiya
- Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, academicians M.M. Shemyakin and Yu.A. Ovchinnikov, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, 117997 Russian Federation
| | - N Z Mirzoeva
- Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, academicians M.M. Shemyakin and Yu.A. Ovchinnikov, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, 117997 Russian Federation
| | - M N Baranova
- Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, academicians M.M. Shemyakin and Yu.A. Ovchinnikov, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, 117997 Russian Federation
| | - I E Eliseev
- Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, academicians M.M. Shemyakin and Yu.A. Ovchinnikov, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, 117997 Russian Federation
| | - Yu A Mokrushina
- Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, academicians M.M. Shemyakin and Yu.A. Ovchinnikov, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, 117997 Russian Federation
- Lomonosov Moscow State University M.V. Lomonosov, Moscow, 119234 Russian Federation
| | - O V Shamova
- Institute of Experimental Medicine, St. Petersburg, 197022 Russian Federation
| | - A G Gabibov
- Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, academicians M.M. Shemyakin and Yu.A. Ovchinnikov, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, 117997 Russian Federation
- Lomonosov Moscow State University M.V. Lomonosov, Moscow, 119234 Russian Federation
| | - I V Smirnov
- Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, academicians M.M. Shemyakin and Yu.A. Ovchinnikov, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, 117997 Russian Federation
- Federal State Budgetary Institution "National Medical Research Center of Endocrinology" of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, Moscow, 115478 Russian Federation
| | - S S Terekhov
- Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, academicians M.M. Shemyakin and Yu.A. Ovchinnikov, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, 117997 Russian Federation
- Lomonosov Moscow State University M.V. Lomonosov, Moscow, 119234 Russian Federation
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10
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Baltutis V, O'Leary PD, Martin LL. Self-Assembly of Linear, Natural Antimicrobial Peptides: An Evolutionary Perspective. Chempluschem 2022; 87:e202200240. [PMID: 36198638 DOI: 10.1002/cplu.202200240] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2022] [Revised: 08/29/2022] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
Antimicrobial peptides are an ancient and innate system of host defence against a wide range of microbial assailants. Mechanistically, unstructured peptides undergo a secondary structure transition into amphipathic α-helices, upon contact with membrane surfaces. This leads to peptide binding and removal of the membrane components in a detergent-like manner or via self-organisation into trans-membrane pores (either barrel-stave or toroidal pore) thereby destroying the microbe. Self-assembly of antimicrobial peptides into oligomers and ultimately amyloid has been mostly examined in parallel, however recent findings link diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease as an aberrant activity of a protective neuropeptide with antimicrobial activity. These self-assembled oligomers can also interact with membranes. Here, we review those antimicrobial peptides reported to self-assemble into amyloid, where supported by structural evidence. We consider their membrane activities as antimicrobial peptides and present evidence of consistent self-assembly patterns across major evolutionary groups. Trends are apparent across these groups, supporting the mounting data that self-assembly of antimicrobial peptides into amyloid should be considered as synergistic to the antimicrobial peptide response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Verity Baltutis
- School of Chemistry, Monash University, 3800, Clayton, Vic, Australia
| | - Paul D O'Leary
- School of Chemistry, Monash University, 3800, Clayton, Vic, Australia
| | - Lisandra L Martin
- School of Chemistry, Monash University, 3800, Clayton, Vic, Australia
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11
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Ferguson PM, Clarke M, Manzo G, Hind CK, Clifford M, Sutton JM, Lorenz CD, Phoenix DA, Mason AJ. Temporin B Forms Hetero-Oligomers with Temporin L, Modifies Its Membrane Activity, and Increases the Cooperativity of Its Antibacterial Pharmacodynamic Profile. Biochemistry 2022; 61:1029-1040. [PMID: 35609188 PMCID: PMC9178791 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biochem.1c00762] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
![]()
The pharmacodynamic
profile of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) and
their in vivo synergy are two factors that are thought
to restrict resistance evolution and ensure their conservation. The
frog Rana temporaria secretes a family of closely
related AMPs, temporins A–L, as an effective chemical dermal
defense. The antibacterial potency of temporin L has been shown to
increase synergistically in combination with both temporins B and
A, but this is modest. Here we show that the less potent temporin
B enhances the cooperativity of the in vitro antibacterial
activity of the more potent temporin L against EMRSA-15 and that this
may be associated with an altered interaction with the bacterial plasma
membrane, a feature critical for the antibacterial activity of most
AMPs. Addition of buforin II, a histone H2A fragment, can further
increase the cooperativity. Molecular dynamics simulations indicate
temporins B and L readily form hetero-oligomers in models of Gram-positive
bacterial plasma membranes. Patch-clamp studies show transmembrane
ion conductance is triggered with lower amounts of both peptides and
more quickly when used in combination, but conductance is of a lower
amplitude and pores are smaller. Temporin B may therefore act by forming
temporin L/B hetero-oligomers that are more effective than temporin
L homo-oligomers at bacterial killing and/or by reducing the probability
of the latter forming until a threshold concentration is reached.
Exploration of the mechanism of synergy between AMPs isolated from
the same organism may therefore yield antibiotic combinations with
advantageous pharmacodynamic properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philip M Ferguson
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Science, School of Cancer & Pharmaceutical Science, King's College London, Franklin-Wilkins Building, 150 Stamford Street, London SE1 9NH, United Kingdom
| | - Maria Clarke
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Science, School of Cancer & Pharmaceutical Science, King's College London, Franklin-Wilkins Building, 150 Stamford Street, London SE1 9NH, United Kingdom
| | - Giorgia Manzo
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Science, School of Cancer & Pharmaceutical Science, King's College London, Franklin-Wilkins Building, 150 Stamford Street, London SE1 9NH, United Kingdom
| | - Charlotte K Hind
- Technology Development Group, UKHSA, Salisbury SP4 0JG, United Kingdom
| | - Melanie Clifford
- Technology Development Group, UKHSA, Salisbury SP4 0JG, United Kingdom
| | - J Mark Sutton
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Science, School of Cancer & Pharmaceutical Science, King's College London, Franklin-Wilkins Building, 150 Stamford Street, London SE1 9NH, United Kingdom.,Technology Development Group, UKHSA, Salisbury SP4 0JG, United Kingdom
| | - Christian D Lorenz
- Department of Physics, King's College London, London WC2R 2LS, United Kingdom
| | - David A Phoenix
- School of Applied Science, London South Bank University, 103 Borough Road, London SE1 0AA, United Kingdom
| | - A James Mason
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Science, School of Cancer & Pharmaceutical Science, King's College London, Franklin-Wilkins Building, 150 Stamford Street, London SE1 9NH, United Kingdom
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12
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Zhang S, Ma M, Shao Z, Zhang J, Fu L, Li X, Fang W, Gao L. Structure and Formation Mechanism of Antimicrobial Peptides Temporin B- and L-Induced Tubular Membrane Protrusion. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms222011015. [PMID: 34681675 PMCID: PMC8537239 DOI: 10.3390/ijms222011015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2021] [Revised: 10/08/2021] [Accepted: 10/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Temporins are a family of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) isolated from frog skin, which are very short, weakly charged, and highly hydrophobic. They execute bactericidal activities in different ways from many other AMPs. This work investigated morphological changes of planar bilayer membranes composed of mixed zwitterionic and anionic phospholipids induced by temporin B and L (TB and TL) using all-atom and coarse-grained molecular dynamics simulations. We found that TB and TL fold to α-helices at the membrane surface and penetrate shallowly into the bilayer. These short AMPs have low propensity to induce membrane pore formation but possess high ability to extract lipids out. At relatively high peptide concentrations, the strong hydrophobicity of TB and TL promotes them to aggregate into clusters on the membrane surface. These aggregates attract a large amount of lipids out of the membrane to release compression induced by other dispersed peptides binding to the membrane. The extruded lipids mix evenly with the peptides in the cluster and form tubule-like protrusions. Certain water molecules follow the movement of lipids, which not only fill the cavities of the protrusion but also assist in maintaining the tubular structures. In contrast, the peptide-free leaflet remains intact. The present results unravel distinctive antimicrobial mechanisms of temporins disturbing membranes.
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13
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Bellavita R, Casciaro B, Di Maro S, Brancaccio D, Carotenuto A, Falanga A, Cappiello F, Buommino E, Galdiero S, Novellino E, Grossmann TN, Mangoni ML, Merlino F, Grieco P. First-in-Class Cyclic Temporin L Analogue: Design, Synthesis, and Antimicrobial Assessment. J Med Chem 2021; 64:11675-11694. [PMID: 34296619 PMCID: PMC8389922 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.1c01033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
The pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic properties of bioactive peptides can be modulated by introducing conformational constraints such as intramolecular macrocyclizations, which can involve either the backbone and/or side chains. Herein, we aimed at increasing the α-helicity content of temporin L, an isoform of an intriguing class of linear antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), endowed with a wide antimicrobial spectrum, by the employment of diverse side-chain tethering strategies, including lactam, 1,4-substituted [1,2,3]-triazole, hydrocarbon, and disulfide linkers. Our approach resulted in a library of cyclic temporin L analogues that were biologically assessed for their antimicrobial, cytotoxic, and antibiofilm activities, leading to the development of the first-in-class cyclic peptide related to this AMP family. Our results allowed us to expand the knowledge regarding the relationship between the α-helical character of temporin derivatives and their biological activity, paving the way for the development of improved antibiotic cyclic AMP analogues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosa Bellavita
- Department
of Pharmacy, University of Naples “Federico
II”, Naples 80131, Italy
| | - Bruno Casciaro
- Center
for Life Nano- & Neuro-Science, Fondazione
Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT), Rome 00161, Italy
| | - Salvatore Di Maro
- DiSTABiF, University of Campania “Luigi
Vanvitelli”, Caserta 81100, Italy
| | - Diego Brancaccio
- Department
of Pharmacy, University of Naples “Federico
II”, Naples 80131, Italy
| | - Alfonso Carotenuto
- Department
of Pharmacy, University of Naples “Federico
II”, Naples 80131, Italy
| | - Annarita Falanga
- Department
of Agricultural Sciences, University of
Naples “Federico II”, Portici 80055, Italy
| | - Floriana Cappiello
- Department
of Biochemical Sciences, Laboratory affiliated to Istituto Pasteur
Italia-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Sapienza
University of Rome, Rome 00185, Italy
| | - Elisabetta Buommino
- Department
of Pharmacy, University of Naples “Federico
II”, Naples 80131, Italy
| | - Stefania Galdiero
- Department
of Pharmacy, University of Naples “Federico
II”, Naples 80131, Italy
| | - Ettore Novellino
- Department
of Pharmacy, University of Naples “Federico
II”, Naples 80131, Italy
| | - Tom N. Grossmann
- Department
of Chemistry & Pharmaceutical Sciences, VU University Amsterdam, Amsterdam 1081 HZ, The Netherlands
| | - Maria Luisa Mangoni
- Department
of Biochemical Sciences, Laboratory affiliated to Istituto Pasteur
Italia-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Sapienza
University of Rome, Rome 00185, Italy
| | - Francesco Merlino
- Department
of Pharmacy, University of Naples “Federico
II”, Naples 80131, Italy
| | - Paolo Grieco
- Department
of Pharmacy, University of Naples “Federico
II”, Naples 80131, Italy
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14
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Aronica PGA, Reid LM, Desai N, Li J, Fox SJ, Yadahalli S, Essex JW, Verma CS. Computational Methods and Tools in Antimicrobial Peptide Research. J Chem Inf Model 2021; 61:3172-3196. [PMID: 34165973 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jcim.1c00175] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The evolution of antibiotic-resistant bacteria is an ongoing and troubling development that has increased the number of diseases and infections that risk going untreated. There is an urgent need to develop alternative strategies and treatments to address this issue. One class of molecules that is attracting significant interest is that of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs). Their design and development has been aided considerably by the applications of molecular models, and we review these here. These methods include the use of tools to explore the relationships between their structures, dynamics, and functions and the increasing application of machine learning and molecular dynamics simulations. This review compiles resources such as AMP databases, AMP-related web servers, and commonly used techniques, together aimed at aiding researchers in the area toward complementing experimental studies with computational approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pietro G A Aronica
- Bioinformatics Institute at A*STAR (Agency for Science, Technology and Research), 30 Biopolis Street, #07-01 Matrix, Singapore 138671
| | - Lauren M Reid
- Bioinformatics Institute at A*STAR (Agency for Science, Technology and Research), 30 Biopolis Street, #07-01 Matrix, Singapore 138671.,School of Chemistry, University of Southampton, Highfield Southampton, Hampshire, U.K. SO17 1BJ.,MedChemica Ltd, Alderley Park, Macclesfield, Cheshire, U.K. SK10 4TG
| | - Nirali Desai
- Bioinformatics Institute at A*STAR (Agency for Science, Technology and Research), 30 Biopolis Street, #07-01 Matrix, Singapore 138671.,Division of Biological and Life Sciences, Ahmedabad University, Central Campus, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India 380009
| | - Jianguo Li
- Bioinformatics Institute at A*STAR (Agency for Science, Technology and Research), 30 Biopolis Street, #07-01 Matrix, Singapore 138671.,Singapore Eye Research Institute, 20 College Road Discovery Tower, Singapore 169856
| | - Stephen J Fox
- Bioinformatics Institute at A*STAR (Agency for Science, Technology and Research), 30 Biopolis Street, #07-01 Matrix, Singapore 138671
| | - Shilpa Yadahalli
- Bioinformatics Institute at A*STAR (Agency for Science, Technology and Research), 30 Biopolis Street, #07-01 Matrix, Singapore 138671
| | - Jonathan W Essex
- School of Chemistry, University of Southampton, Highfield Southampton, Hampshire, U.K. SO17 1BJ
| | - Chandra S Verma
- Bioinformatics Institute at A*STAR (Agency for Science, Technology and Research), 30 Biopolis Street, #07-01 Matrix, Singapore 138671.,Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, 14 Science Drive 4, 117543 Singapore.,School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, 50 Nanyang Drive, 637551 Singapore
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15
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Marzuoli I, Cruz CHB, Lorenz CD, Fraternali F. Nanocapsule designs for antimicrobial resistance. NANOSCALE 2021; 13:10342-10355. [PMID: 34137751 DOI: 10.1039/d0nr08146a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
The pressing need of new antimicrobial products is growing stronger, particularly because of widespread antimicrobial resistance, endangering our ability to treat common infections. The recent coronavirus pandemic has dramatically highlighted the necessity of effective antibacterial and antiviral protection. This work explores at the molecular level the mechanism of action of antibacterial nanocapsules assembled in virus-like particles, their stability and their interaction with mammal and antimicrobial model membranes. We use Molecular Dynamics with force-fields of different granularity and protein design strategies to study the stability, self-assembly and membrane poration properties of these nanocapsules.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irene Marzuoli
- Randall Centre for Cell and Molecular Biology, King's College London, London, UK.
| | - Carlos H B Cruz
- Randall Centre for Cell and Molecular Biology, King's College London, London, UK.
| | | | - Franca Fraternali
- Randall Centre for Cell and Molecular Biology, King's College London, London, UK.
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16
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Di Somma A, Canè C, Moretta A, Duilio A. Interaction of Temporin-L Analogues with the E. coli FtsZ Protein. Antibiotics (Basel) 2021; 10:antibiotics10060704. [PMID: 34208230 PMCID: PMC8230800 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics10060704] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2021] [Revised: 06/05/2021] [Accepted: 06/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The research of new therapeutic agents to fight bacterial infections has recently focused on the investigation of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), the most common weapon that all organisms produce to prevent invasion by external pathogens. Among AMPs, the amphibian Temporins constitute a well-known family with high antibacterial properties against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. In particular, Temporin-L was shown to affect bacterial cell division by inhibiting FtsZ, a tubulin-like protein involved in the crucial step of Z-ring formation at the beginning of the division process. As FtsZ represents a leading target for new antibacterial compounds, in this paper we investigated in detail the interaction of Temporin L with Escherichia coli FtsZ and designed two TL analogues in an attempt to increase peptide-protein interactions and to better understand the structural determinants leading to FtsZ inhibition. The results demonstrated that the TL analogues improved their binding to FtsZ, originating stable protein-peptide complexes. Functional studies showed that both peptides were endowed with a high capability of inhibiting both the enzymatic and polymerization activities of the protein. Moreover, the TL analogues were able to inhibit bacterial growth at low micromolar concentrations. These observations may open up the way to the development of novel peptide or peptidomimetic drugs tailored to bind FtsZ, hampering a crucial process of bacterial life that might be proposed for future pharmaceutical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angela Di Somma
- Department of Chemical Sciences, Università Federico II di Napoli, 80126 Napoli, Italy; (A.D.S.); (C.C.)
| | - Carolina Canè
- Department of Chemical Sciences, Università Federico II di Napoli, 80126 Napoli, Italy; (A.D.S.); (C.C.)
| | - Antonio Moretta
- Departiment of Science, Università degli Studi della Basilicata, 85100 Potenza, Italy;
| | - Angela Duilio
- Department of Chemical Sciences, Università Federico II di Napoli, 80126 Napoli, Italy; (A.D.S.); (C.C.)
- Correspondence:
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17
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Bellavita R, Falanga A, Buommino E, Merlino F, Casciaro B, Cappiello F, Mangoni ML, Novellino E, Catania MR, Paolillo R, Grieco P, Galdieroa S. Novel temporin L antimicrobial peptides: promoting self-assembling by lipidic tags to tackle superbugs. J Enzyme Inhib Med Chem 2021; 35:1751-1764. [PMID: 32957844 PMCID: PMC7534258 DOI: 10.1080/14756366.2020.1819258] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The rapid development of antimicrobial resistance is pushing the search in the discovering of novel antimicrobial molecules to prevent and treat bacterial infections. Self-assembling antimicrobial peptides, as the lipidated peptides, are a novel and promising class of molecules capable of meeting this need. Based on previous work on Temporin L analogs, several new molecules lipidated at the N- or and the C-terminus were synthesised. Our goal is to improve membrane interactions through finely tuning self-assembly to reduce oligomerisation in aqueous solution and enhance self-assembly in bacterial membranes while reducing toxicity against human cells. The results here reported show that the length of the aliphatic moiety is a key factor to control target cell specificity and the oligomeric state of peptides either in aqueous solution or in a membrane-mimicking environment. The results of this study pave the way for the design of novel molecules with enhanced activities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosa Bellavita
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples "Federico II", Naples, Italy
| | - Annarita Falanga
- Department of Agricultural Sciences, University of Naples "Federico II", Portici, Italy
| | | | - Francesco Merlino
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples "Federico II", Naples, Italy
| | - Bruno Casciaro
- Center for Life Nano Science@Sapienza, Italian Institute of Technology, Rome, Italy
| | - Floriana Cappiello
- Department of Biochemical Sciences, Laboratory affiliated to Pasteur Institute Italia-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Maria Luisa Mangoni
- Department of Biochemical Sciences, Laboratory affiliated to Pasteur Institute Italia-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Ettore Novellino
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples "Federico II", Naples, Italy
| | - Maria Rosaria Catania
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnologies, University of Naples "Federico II", Naples, Italy
| | - Rossella Paolillo
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnologies, University of Naples "Federico II", Naples, Italy
| | - Paolo Grieco
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples "Federico II", Naples, Italy
| | - Stefania Galdieroa
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples "Federico II", Naples, Italy
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18
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Zai Y, Xi X, Ye Z, Ma C, Zhou M, Chen X, Siu SWI, Chen T, Wang L, Kwok HF. Aggregation and Its Influence on the Bioactivities of a Novel Antimicrobial Peptide, Temporin-PF, and Its Analogues. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:4509. [PMID: 33925935 PMCID: PMC8123395 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22094509] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2021] [Revised: 04/21/2021] [Accepted: 04/23/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Temporin is an antimicrobial peptide (AMP) family discovered in the skin secretion of ranid frog that has become a promising alternative for conventional antibiotic therapy. Herein, a novel temporin peptide, Temporin-PF (TPF), was successfully identified from Pelophylax fukienensis. It exhibited potent activity against Gram-positive bacteria, but no effect on Gram-negative bacteria. Additionally, TPF exhibited aggregation effects in different solutions. Three analogs were further designed to study the relationship between the aggregation patterns and bioactivities, and the MD simulation was performed for revealing the pattern of the peptide assembly. As the results showed, all peptides were able to aggregate in the standard culture media and salt solutions, especially CaCl2 and MgCl2 buffers, where the aggregation was affected by the concentration of the salts. MD simulation reported that all peptides were able to form oligomers. The parent peptide assembly depended on the hydrophobic interaction via the residues in the middle domain of the sequence. However, the substitution of Trp/D-Trp resulted in an enhanced inter-peptide interaction in the zipper-like domain and eliminated overall biological activities. Our study suggested that introducing aromaticity at the zipper-like domain for temporin may not improve the bioactivities, which might be related to the formation of aggregates via the inter-peptide contacts at the zipper-like motif domain, and it could reduce the binding affinity to the lipid membrane of microorganisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Zai
- Institute of Translational Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Avenida da Univesidade, Taipa, Macau, China;
- School of Pharmacy, Queen’s University Belfast, 97 Lisburn Road, Belfast BT9 7BL, UK; (Z.Y.); (C.M.); (M.Z.); (X.C.); (T.C.); (L.W.)
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Biofunctional Molecule, College of Life Sciences and Chemistry, Jiangsu Second Normal University, Nanjing 210013, China
| | - Xinping Xi
- School of Pharmacy, Queen’s University Belfast, 97 Lisburn Road, Belfast BT9 7BL, UK; (Z.Y.); (C.M.); (M.Z.); (X.C.); (T.C.); (L.W.)
| | - Zhuming Ye
- School of Pharmacy, Queen’s University Belfast, 97 Lisburn Road, Belfast BT9 7BL, UK; (Z.Y.); (C.M.); (M.Z.); (X.C.); (T.C.); (L.W.)
| | - Chengbang Ma
- School of Pharmacy, Queen’s University Belfast, 97 Lisburn Road, Belfast BT9 7BL, UK; (Z.Y.); (C.M.); (M.Z.); (X.C.); (T.C.); (L.W.)
| | - Mei Zhou
- School of Pharmacy, Queen’s University Belfast, 97 Lisburn Road, Belfast BT9 7BL, UK; (Z.Y.); (C.M.); (M.Z.); (X.C.); (T.C.); (L.W.)
| | - Xiaoling Chen
- School of Pharmacy, Queen’s University Belfast, 97 Lisburn Road, Belfast BT9 7BL, UK; (Z.Y.); (C.M.); (M.Z.); (X.C.); (T.C.); (L.W.)
| | - Shirley W. I. Siu
- Department of Computer and Information Science, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Macau, Avenida da Universidade, Taipa, Macau, China;
| | - Tianbao Chen
- School of Pharmacy, Queen’s University Belfast, 97 Lisburn Road, Belfast BT9 7BL, UK; (Z.Y.); (C.M.); (M.Z.); (X.C.); (T.C.); (L.W.)
| | - Lei Wang
- School of Pharmacy, Queen’s University Belfast, 97 Lisburn Road, Belfast BT9 7BL, UK; (Z.Y.); (C.M.); (M.Z.); (X.C.); (T.C.); (L.W.)
| | - Hang Fai Kwok
- Institute of Translational Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Avenida da Univesidade, Taipa, Macau, China;
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19
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Casciaro B, Loffredo MR, Cappiello F, Fabiano G, Torrini L, Mangoni ML. The Antimicrobial Peptide Temporin G: Anti-Biofilm, Anti-Persister Activities, and Potentiator Effect of Tobramycin Efficacy Against Staphylococcus aureus. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21249410. [PMID: 33321906 PMCID: PMC7764207 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21249410] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2020] [Revised: 12/05/2020] [Accepted: 12/08/2020] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Bacterial biofilms are a serious threat for human health, and the Gram-positive bacterium Staphylococcus aureus is one of the microorganisms that can easily switch from a planktonic to a sessile lifestyle, providing protection from a large variety of adverse environmental conditions. Dormant non-dividing cells with low metabolic activity, named persisters, are tolerant to antibiotic treatment and are the principal cause of recalcitrant and resistant infections, including skin infections. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) hold promise as new anti-infective agents to treat such infections. Here for the first time, we investigated the activity of the frog-skin AMP temporin G (TG) against preformed S. aureus biofilm including persisters, as well as its efficacy in combination with tobramycin, in inhibiting S. aureus growth. TG was found to provoke ~50 to 100% reduction of biofilm viability in the concentration range from 12.5 to 100 µM vs ATCC and clinical isolates and to be active against persister cells (about 70–80% killing at 50–100 µM). Notably, sub-inhibitory concentrations of TG in combination with tobramycin were able to significantly reduce S. aureus growth, potentiating the antibiotic power. No critical cytotoxicity was detected when TG was tested in vitro up to 100 µM against human keratinocytes, confirming its safety profile for the development of a new potential anti-infective drug, especially for treatment of bacterial skin infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bruno Casciaro
- Center For Life Nano Science@Sapienza, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Viale Regina Elena 291, 00161 Rome, Italy
- Correspondence: (B.C.); (M.L.M.); Tel.: +39-0649910838 (M.L.M.)
| | - Maria Rosa Loffredo
- Laboratory Affiliated to Pasteur Italia-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Department of Biochemical Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, P.le Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy; (M.R.L.); (F.C.); (G.F.); (L.T.)
| | - Floriana Cappiello
- Laboratory Affiliated to Pasteur Italia-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Department of Biochemical Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, P.le Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy; (M.R.L.); (F.C.); (G.F.); (L.T.)
| | - Guendalina Fabiano
- Laboratory Affiliated to Pasteur Italia-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Department of Biochemical Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, P.le Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy; (M.R.L.); (F.C.); (G.F.); (L.T.)
| | - Luisa Torrini
- Laboratory Affiliated to Pasteur Italia-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Department of Biochemical Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, P.le Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy; (M.R.L.); (F.C.); (G.F.); (L.T.)
| | - Maria Luisa Mangoni
- Laboratory Affiliated to Pasteur Italia-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Department of Biochemical Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, P.le Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy; (M.R.L.); (F.C.); (G.F.); (L.T.)
- Correspondence: (B.C.); (M.L.M.); Tel.: +39-0649910838 (M.L.M.)
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20
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Manzo G, Hind CK, Ferguson PM, Amison RT, Hodgson-Casson AC, Ciazynska KA, Weller BJ, Clarke M, Lam C, Man RCH, Shaughnessy BGO, Clifford M, Bui TT, Drake AF, Atkinson RA, Lam JKW, Pitchford SC, Page CP, Phoenix DA, Lorenz CD, Sutton JM, Mason AJ. A pleurocidin analogue with greater conformational flexibility, enhanced antimicrobial potency and in vivo therapeutic efficacy. Commun Biol 2020; 3:697. [PMID: 33247193 PMCID: PMC7699649 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-020-01420-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2020] [Accepted: 10/22/2020] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are a potential alternative to classical antibiotics that are yet to achieve a therapeutic breakthrough for treatment of systemic infections. The antibacterial potency of pleurocidin, an AMP from Winter Flounder, is linked to its ability to cross bacterial plasma membranes and seek intracellular targets while also causing membrane damage. Here we describe modification strategies that generate pleurocidin analogues with substantially improved, broad spectrum, antibacterial properties, which are effective in murine models of bacterial lung infection. Increasing peptide-lipid intermolecular hydrogen bonding capabilities enhances conformational flexibility, associated with membrane translocation, but also membrane damage and potency, most notably against Gram-positive bacteria. This negates their ability to metabolically adapt to the AMP threat. An analogue comprising D-amino acids was well tolerated at an intravenous dose of 15 mg/kg and similarly effective as vancomycin in reducing EMRSA-15 lung CFU. This highlights the therapeutic potential of systemically delivered, bactericidal AMPs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giorgia Manzo
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Science, School of Cancer & Pharmaceutical Science, King's College London, Franklin-Wilkins Building, 150 Stamford Street, London, SE1 9NH, UK
| | - Charlotte K Hind
- Technology Development Group, National Infection Service, Public Health England, Salisbury, UK
| | - Philip M Ferguson
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Science, School of Cancer & Pharmaceutical Science, King's College London, Franklin-Wilkins Building, 150 Stamford Street, London, SE1 9NH, UK
| | - Richard T Amison
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Science, School of Cancer & Pharmaceutical Science, King's College London, Franklin-Wilkins Building, 150 Stamford Street, London, SE1 9NH, UK
- Sackler Institute of Pulmonary Pharmacology, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Alice C Hodgson-Casson
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Science, School of Cancer & Pharmaceutical Science, King's College London, Franklin-Wilkins Building, 150 Stamford Street, London, SE1 9NH, UK
| | - Katarzyna A Ciazynska
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Science, School of Cancer & Pharmaceutical Science, King's College London, Franklin-Wilkins Building, 150 Stamford Street, London, SE1 9NH, UK
| | - Bethany J Weller
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Science, School of Cancer & Pharmaceutical Science, King's College London, Franklin-Wilkins Building, 150 Stamford Street, London, SE1 9NH, UK
| | - Maria Clarke
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Science, School of Cancer & Pharmaceutical Science, King's College London, Franklin-Wilkins Building, 150 Stamford Street, London, SE1 9NH, UK
| | - Carolyn Lam
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Science, School of Cancer & Pharmaceutical Science, King's College London, Franklin-Wilkins Building, 150 Stamford Street, London, SE1 9NH, UK
| | - Rico C H Man
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacy, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Blaze G O' Shaughnessy
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Science, School of Cancer & Pharmaceutical Science, King's College London, Franklin-Wilkins Building, 150 Stamford Street, London, SE1 9NH, UK
- Sackler Institute of Pulmonary Pharmacology, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Melanie Clifford
- Technology Development Group, National Infection Service, Public Health England, Salisbury, UK
| | - Tam T Bui
- Centre for Biomolecular Spectroscopy and Randall Division of Cell and Molecular Biophysics, King's College London, New Hunt's House, London, SE1 1UL, UK
| | - Alex F Drake
- Centre for Biomolecular Spectroscopy and Randall Division of Cell and Molecular Biophysics, King's College London, New Hunt's House, London, SE1 1UL, UK
| | - R Andrew Atkinson
- Centre for Biomolecular Spectroscopy and Randall Division of Cell and Molecular Biophysics, King's College London, New Hunt's House, London, SE1 1UL, UK
| | - Jenny K W Lam
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmacy, LKS Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Simon C Pitchford
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Science, School of Cancer & Pharmaceutical Science, King's College London, Franklin-Wilkins Building, 150 Stamford Street, London, SE1 9NH, UK
- Sackler Institute of Pulmonary Pharmacology, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Clive P Page
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Science, School of Cancer & Pharmaceutical Science, King's College London, Franklin-Wilkins Building, 150 Stamford Street, London, SE1 9NH, UK
- Sackler Institute of Pulmonary Pharmacology, King's College London, London, UK
| | - David A Phoenix
- School of Applied Science, London South Bank University, 103 Borough Road, London, SE1 0AA, UK
| | | | - J Mark Sutton
- Technology Development Group, National Infection Service, Public Health England, Salisbury, UK.
| | - A James Mason
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Science, School of Cancer & Pharmaceutical Science, King's College London, Franklin-Wilkins Building, 150 Stamford Street, London, SE1 9NH, UK.
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21
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Gong H, Liao M, Hu X, Fa K, Phanphak S, Ciumac D, Hollowell P, Shen K, Clifton LA, Campana M, Webster JRP, Fragneto G, Waigh TA, McBain AJ, Lu JR. Aggregated Amphiphilic Antimicrobial Peptides Embedded in Bacterial Membranes. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2020; 12:44420-44432. [PMID: 32909733 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.0c09931] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, stochastic optical reconstruction microscopy (STORM), and neutron reflection (NR) were combined to explore how antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) can be designed to promote the formation of nanoaggregates in bacterial membranes and impose effective bactericidal actions. Changes in the hydrophobicity of the designed AMPs were found to have a strong influence on their bactericidal potency and cytotoxicity. G(IIKK)3I-NH2 (G3) achieved low minimum inhibition concentrations (MICs) and effective dynamic kills against both antibiotic-resistant and -susceptible bacteria. However, a G3 derivative with weaker hydrophobicity, KI(KKII)2I-NH2 (KI), exhibited considerably lower membrane-lytic activity. In contrast, the more hydrophobic G(ILKK)3L-NH2 (GL) peptide achieved MICs similar to those observed for G3 but with worsened hemolysis. Both the model membranes studied by Brewster angle microscopy, zeta potential measurements, and NR and the real bacterial membranes examined with direct STORM contained membrane-inserted peptide aggregates upon AMP exposure. These structural features were well supported by MD simulations. By revealing how AMPs self-assemble in microbial membranes, this work provides important insights into AMP mechanistic actions and allows further fine-tuning of antimicrobial potency and cytotoxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haoning Gong
- Biological Physics Laboratory, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Faculty of Science and Engineering, The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PL, U.K
- Division of Pharmacy and Optometry, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PL, U.K
| | - Mingrui Liao
- Biological Physics Laboratory, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Faculty of Science and Engineering, The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PL, U.K
- Division of Pharmacy and Optometry, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PL, U.K
| | - Xuzhi Hu
- Biological Physics Laboratory, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Faculty of Science and Engineering, The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PL, U.K
| | - Ke Fa
- Biological Physics Laboratory, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Faculty of Science and Engineering, The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PL, U.K
| | - Sorasak Phanphak
- Biological Physics Laboratory, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Faculty of Science and Engineering, The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PL, U.K
| | - Daniela Ciumac
- Biological Physics Laboratory, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Faculty of Science and Engineering, The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PL, U.K
| | - Peter Hollowell
- Biological Physics Laboratory, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Faculty of Science and Engineering, The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PL, U.K
| | - Kangcheng Shen
- Biological Physics Laboratory, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Faculty of Science and Engineering, The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PL, U.K
| | - Luke A Clifton
- STFC ISIS Facility, Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Didcot OX11 0QX, U.K
| | - Mario Campana
- STFC ISIS Facility, Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Didcot OX11 0QX, U.K
| | - John R P Webster
- STFC ISIS Facility, Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Didcot OX11 0QX, U.K
| | - Giovanna Fragneto
- Institute of Laue Langevin, 71 Avenue des Martyrs, CS-20156, Grenoble 38042, France
| | - Thomas A Waigh
- Biological Physics Laboratory, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Faculty of Science and Engineering, The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PL, U.K
| | - Andrew J McBain
- Division of Pharmacy and Optometry, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PL, U.K
| | - Jian Ren Lu
- Biological Physics Laboratory, Department of Physics and Astronomy, Faculty of Science and Engineering, The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PL, U.K
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22
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Lachowicz JI, Szczepski K, Scano A, Casu C, Fais S, Orrù G, Pisano B, Piras M, Jaremko M. The Best Peptidomimetic Strategies to Undercover Antibacterial Peptides. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:E7349. [PMID: 33027928 PMCID: PMC7583890 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21197349] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [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: 08/31/2020] [Revised: 09/23/2020] [Accepted: 09/25/2020] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Health-care systems that develop rapidly and efficiently may increase the lifespan of humans. Nevertheless, the older population is more fragile, and is at an increased risk of disease development. A concurrently growing number of surgeries and transplantations have caused antibiotics to be used much more frequently, and for much longer periods of time, which in turn increases microbial resistance. In 1945, Fleming warned against the abuse of antibiotics in his Nobel lecture: "The time may come when penicillin can be bought by anyone in the shops. Then there is the danger that the ignorant man may easily underdose himself and by exposing his microbes to non-lethal quantities of the drug make them resistant". After 70 years, we are witnessing the fulfilment of Fleming's prophecy, as more than 700,000 people die each year due to drug-resistant diseases. Naturally occurring antimicrobial peptides protect all living matter against bacteria, and now different peptidomimetic strategies to engineer innovative antibiotics are being developed to defend humans against bacterial infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joanna Izabela Lachowicz
- Department of Medical Sciences and Public Health, University of Cagliari, Cittadella Universitaria, 09042 Monserrato, Italy; (B.P.); (M.P.)
| | - Kacper Szczepski
- Division of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Engineering (BESE), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia;
| | - Alessandra Scano
- Department of Surgical Science, OBL Oral Biotechnology Laboratory, University of Cagliari, 09124 Cagliari, Italy; (A.S.); (C.C.); (S.F.); (G.O.)
| | - Cinzia Casu
- Department of Surgical Science, OBL Oral Biotechnology Laboratory, University of Cagliari, 09124 Cagliari, Italy; (A.S.); (C.C.); (S.F.); (G.O.)
| | - Sara Fais
- Department of Surgical Science, OBL Oral Biotechnology Laboratory, University of Cagliari, 09124 Cagliari, Italy; (A.S.); (C.C.); (S.F.); (G.O.)
| | - Germano Orrù
- Department of Surgical Science, OBL Oral Biotechnology Laboratory, University of Cagliari, 09124 Cagliari, Italy; (A.S.); (C.C.); (S.F.); (G.O.)
| | - Barbara Pisano
- Department of Medical Sciences and Public Health, University of Cagliari, Cittadella Universitaria, 09042 Monserrato, Italy; (B.P.); (M.P.)
| | - Monica Piras
- Department of Medical Sciences and Public Health, University of Cagliari, Cittadella Universitaria, 09042 Monserrato, Italy; (B.P.); (M.P.)
| | - Mariusz Jaremko
- Division of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Engineering (BESE), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia;
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23
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Bhattacharjya S, Straus SK. Design, Engineering and Discovery of Novel α-Helical and β-Boomerang Antimicrobial Peptides against Drug Resistant Bacteria. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21165773. [PMID: 32796755 PMCID: PMC7460851 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21165773] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2020] [Revised: 08/06/2020] [Accepted: 08/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
In an era where the pipeline of new antibiotic development is drying up, the continuous rise of multi-drug resistant (MDR) and extensively drug resistant (XDR) bacteria are genuine threats to human health. Although antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) may serve as promising leads against drug resistant bacteria, only a few AMPs are in advanced clinical trials. The limitations of AMPs, namely their low in vivo activity, toxicity, and poor bioavailability, need to be addressed. Here, we review engineering of frog derived short α-helical AMPs (aurein, temporins) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) binding designed β-boomerang AMPs for further development. The discovery of novel cell selective AMPs from the human proprotein convertase furin is also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Surajit Bhattacharjya
- School of Biological Sciences, 60 Nanyang Drive, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 637551, Singapore
- Correspondence: (S.B.); (S.K.S.)
| | - Suzana K. Straus
- Department of Chemistry, University of British Columbia, 2036 Main Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z1, Canada
- Correspondence: (S.B.); (S.K.S.)
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24
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Fields FR, Manzo G, Hind CK, Janardhanan J, Foik IP, Carmo Silva PD, Balsara RD, Clifford M, Vu HM, Ross JN, Kalwajtys VR, Gonzalez AJ, Bui TT, Ploplis VA, Castellino FJ, Siryaporn A, Chang M, Sutton JM, Mason AJ, Lee S. Synthetic Antimicrobial Peptide Tuning Permits Membrane Disruption and Interpeptide Synergy. ACS Pharmacol Transl Sci 2020; 3:418-424. [PMID: 32566907 DOI: 10.1021/acsptsci.0c00001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
The ribosomally produced antimicrobial peptides of bacteria (bacteriocins) represent an unexplored source of membrane-active antibiotics. We designed a library of linear peptides from a circular bacteriocin and show that pore-formation dynamics in bacterial membranes are tunable via selective amino acid substitution. We observed antibacterial interpeptide synergy indicating that fundamentally altering interactions with the membrane enables synergy. Our findings suggest an approach for engineering pore-formation through rational peptide design and increasing the utility of novel antimicrobial peptides by exploiting synergy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francisco R Fields
- Department of Biology, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana 46556, United States.,Eck Institute of Global Health, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana 46556, United States.,Chemistry Biology Biochemistry Interface, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana 46556, United States
| | - Giorgia Manzo
- Institue of Pharmaceutical Science, School of Cancer & Pharmaceutical Science, King's College London, Franklin-Wilkins Building, 150 Stamford Street, London SE1 9NH, United Kingdom
| | - Charlotte K Hind
- Technology Development Group, National Infection Service, Public Health England, Salisbury SP4 0JG, U.K
| | - Jeshina Janardhanan
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana 46556, United States
| | - Ilona P Foik
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of California Irvine, Irvine, California 92697, United States
| | - Phoebe Do Carmo Silva
- Technology Development Group, National Infection Service, Public Health England, Salisbury SP4 0JG, U.K
| | - Rashna D Balsara
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana 46556, United States.,W.M. Keck Center for Transgene Research, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana 46556, United States
| | - Melanie Clifford
- Technology Development Group, National Infection Service, Public Health England, Salisbury SP4 0JG, U.K
| | - Henry M Vu
- Department of Biology, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana 46556, United States.,W.M. Keck Center for Transgene Research, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana 46556, United States
| | - Jessica N Ross
- Department of Biology, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana 46556, United States.,Eck Institute of Global Health, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana 46556, United States
| | - Veronica R Kalwajtys
- Department of Biology, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana 46556, United States
| | - Alejandro J Gonzalez
- Department of Biology, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana 46556, United States
| | - Tam T Bui
- Centre for Biomolecular Spectroscopy and Randall Division of Cell and Molecular Biophysics, King's College London, New Hunt's House, London SE1 1UL, United Kingdom
| | - Victoria A Ploplis
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana 46556, United States.,W.M. Keck Center for Transgene Research, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana 46556, United States
| | - Francis J Castellino
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana 46556, United States.,W.M. Keck Center for Transgene Research, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana 46556, United States
| | - Albert Siryaporn
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of California Irvine, Irvine, California 92697, United States.,Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, University of California Irvine, Irvine, California 92697, United States
| | - Mayland Chang
- Chemistry Biology Biochemistry Interface, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana 46556, United States.,Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana 46556, United States
| | - J Mark Sutton
- Technology Development Group, National Infection Service, Public Health England, Salisbury SP4 0JG, U.K
| | - A James Mason
- Institue of Pharmaceutical Science, School of Cancer & Pharmaceutical Science, King's College London, Franklin-Wilkins Building, 150 Stamford Street, London SE1 9NH, United Kingdom
| | - Shaun Lee
- Department of Biology, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana 46556, United States.,Eck Institute of Global Health, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana 46556, United States.,Chemistry Biology Biochemistry Interface, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, Indiana 46556, United States
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