1
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Torres MDT, Brooks EF, Cesaro A, Sberro H, Gill MO, Nicolaou C, Bhatt AS, de la Fuente-Nunez C. Mining human microbiomes reveals an untapped source of peptide antibiotics. Cell 2024:S0092-8674(24)00802-X. [PMID: 39163860 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2024.07.027] [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: 08/08/2023] [Revised: 05/09/2024] [Accepted: 07/17/2024] [Indexed: 08/22/2024]
Abstract
Drug-resistant bacteria are outpacing traditional antibiotic discovery efforts. Here, we computationally screened 444,054 previously reported putative small protein families from 1,773 human metagenomes for antimicrobial properties, identifying 323 candidates encoded in small open reading frames (smORFs). To test our computational predictions, 78 peptides were synthesized and screened for antimicrobial activity in vitro, with 70.5% displaying antimicrobial activity. As these compounds were different compared with previously reported antimicrobial peptides, we termed them smORF-encoded peptides (SEPs). SEPs killed bacteria by targeting their membrane, synergizing with each other, and modulating gut commensals, indicating a potential role in reconfiguring microbiome communities in addition to counteracting pathogens. The lead candidates were anti-infective in both murine skin abscess and deep thigh infection models. Notably, prevotellin-2 from Prevotella copri presented activity comparable to the commonly used antibiotic polymyxin B. Our report supports the existence of hundreds of antimicrobials in the human microbiome amenable to clinical translation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcelo D T Torres
- Machine Biology Group, Departments of Psychiatry and Microbiology, Institute for Biomedical Informatics, Institute for Translational Medicine and Therapeutics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Departments of Bioengineering and Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, School of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Penn Institute for Computational Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Department of Chemistry, School of Arts and Sciences, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Erin F Brooks
- Department of Medicine (Hematology; Blood and Marrow Transplantation), Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Angela Cesaro
- Machine Biology Group, Departments of Psychiatry and Microbiology, Institute for Biomedical Informatics, Institute for Translational Medicine and Therapeutics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Departments of Bioengineering and Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, School of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Penn Institute for Computational Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Department of Chemistry, School of Arts and Sciences, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Hila Sberro
- Department of Medicine (Hematology; Blood and Marrow Transplantation), Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Matthew O Gill
- Department of Genetics, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Cosmos Nicolaou
- Department of Medicine (Hematology; Blood and Marrow Transplantation), Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Ami S Bhatt
- Department of Medicine (Hematology; Blood and Marrow Transplantation), Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; Department of Genetics, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA.
| | - Cesar de la Fuente-Nunez
- Machine Biology Group, Departments of Psychiatry and Microbiology, Institute for Biomedical Informatics, Institute for Translational Medicine and Therapeutics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Departments of Bioengineering and Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, School of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Penn Institute for Computational Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Department of Chemistry, School of Arts and Sciences, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
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2
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Santos-Júnior CD, Torres MDT, Duan Y, Rodríguez Del Río Á, Schmidt TSB, Chong H, Fullam A, Kuhn M, Zhu C, Houseman A, Somborski J, Vines A, Zhao XM, Bork P, Huerta-Cepas J, de la Fuente-Nunez C, Coelho LP. Discovery of antimicrobial peptides in the global microbiome with machine learning. Cell 2024; 187:3761-3778.e16. [PMID: 38843834 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2024.05.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2023] [Revised: 04/11/2024] [Accepted: 05/06/2024] [Indexed: 06/25/2024]
Abstract
Novel antibiotics are urgently needed to combat the antibiotic-resistance crisis. We present a machine-learning-based approach to predict antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) within the global microbiome and leverage a vast dataset of 63,410 metagenomes and 87,920 prokaryotic genomes from environmental and host-associated habitats to create the AMPSphere, a comprehensive catalog comprising 863,498 non-redundant peptides, few of which match existing databases. AMPSphere provides insights into the evolutionary origins of peptides, including by duplication or gene truncation of longer sequences, and we observed that AMP production varies by habitat. To validate our predictions, we synthesized and tested 100 AMPs against clinically relevant drug-resistant pathogens and human gut commensals both in vitro and in vivo. A total of 79 peptides were active, with 63 targeting pathogens. These active AMPs exhibited antibacterial activity by disrupting bacterial membranes. In conclusion, our approach identified nearly one million prokaryotic AMP sequences, an open-access resource for antibiotic discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Célio Dias Santos-Júnior
- Institute of Science and Technology for Brain-Inspired Intelligence - ISTBI, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China; Laboratory of Microbial Processes & Biodiversity - LMPB, Department of Hydrobiology, Universidade Federal de São Carlos - UFSCar, São Carlos, São Paulo 13565-905, Brazil
| | - Marcelo D T Torres
- Machine Biology Group, Departments of Psychiatry and Microbiology, Institute for Biomedical Informatics, Institute for Translational Medicine and Therapeutics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA; Departments of Bioengineering and Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, School of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA; Department of Chemistry, School of Arts and Sciences, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA; Penn Institute for Computational Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Yiqian Duan
- Institute of Science and Technology for Brain-Inspired Intelligence - ISTBI, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Álvaro Rodríguez Del Río
- Centro de Biotecnología y Genómica de Plantas, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (UPM) - Instituto Nacional de Investigación y Tecnología Agraria y Alimentaria (INIA-CSIC), Campus de Montegancedo-UPM, Pozuelo de Alarcón, 28223 Madrid, Spain
| | - Thomas S B Schmidt
- Structural and Computational Biology Unit, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Heidelberg, Germany; APC Microbiome & School of Medicine, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
| | - Hui Chong
- Institute of Science and Technology for Brain-Inspired Intelligence - ISTBI, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Anthony Fullam
- Structural and Computational Biology Unit, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Michael Kuhn
- Structural and Computational Biology Unit, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Chengkai Zhu
- Institute of Science and Technology for Brain-Inspired Intelligence - ISTBI, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Amy Houseman
- Institute of Science and Technology for Brain-Inspired Intelligence - ISTBI, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Jelena Somborski
- Institute of Science and Technology for Brain-Inspired Intelligence - ISTBI, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Anna Vines
- Institute of Science and Technology for Brain-Inspired Intelligence - ISTBI, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Xing-Ming Zhao
- Institute of Science and Technology for Brain-Inspired Intelligence - ISTBI, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China; Department of Neurology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China; State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, Institutes of Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, China; MOE Key Laboratory of Computational Neuroscience and Brain-Inspired Intelligence and MOE Frontiers Center for Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Peer Bork
- Structural and Computational Biology Unit, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Heidelberg, Germany; Max Delbrück Centre for Molecular Medicine, Berlin, Germany; Department of Bioinformatics, Biocenter, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Jaime Huerta-Cepas
- Centro de Biotecnología y Genómica de Plantas, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (UPM) - Instituto Nacional de Investigación y Tecnología Agraria y Alimentaria (INIA-CSIC), Campus de Montegancedo-UPM, Pozuelo de Alarcón, 28223 Madrid, Spain
| | - Cesar de la Fuente-Nunez
- Machine Biology Group, Departments of Psychiatry and Microbiology, Institute for Biomedical Informatics, Institute for Translational Medicine and Therapeutics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA; Departments of Bioengineering and Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, School of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA; Department of Chemistry, School of Arts and Sciences, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA; Penn Institute for Computational Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
| | - Luis Pedro Coelho
- Institute of Science and Technology for Brain-Inspired Intelligence - ISTBI, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China; Centre for Microbiome Research, School of Biomedical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, Translational Research Institute, Woolloongabba, QLD, Australia.
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Wan F, Torres MDT, Peng J, de la Fuente-Nunez C. Deep-learning-enabled antibiotic discovery through molecular de-extinction. Nat Biomed Eng 2024; 8:854-871. [PMID: 38862735 PMCID: PMC11310081 DOI: 10.1038/s41551-024-01201-x] [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: 10/04/2023] [Accepted: 03/25/2024] [Indexed: 06/13/2024]
Abstract
Molecular de-extinction aims at resurrecting molecules to solve antibiotic resistance and other present-day biological and biomedical problems. Here we show that deep learning can be used to mine the proteomes of all available extinct organisms for the discovery of antibiotic peptides. We trained ensembles of deep-learning models consisting of a peptide-sequence encoder coupled with neural networks for the prediction of antimicrobial activity and used it to mine 10,311,899 peptides. The models predicted 37,176 sequences with broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity, 11,035 of which were not found in extant organisms. We synthesized 69 peptides and experimentally confirmed their activity against bacterial pathogens. Most peptides killed bacteria by depolarizing their cytoplasmic membrane, contrary to known antimicrobial peptides, which tend to target the outer membrane. Notably, lead compounds (including mammuthusin-2 from the woolly mammoth, elephasin-2 from the straight-tusked elephant, hydrodamin-1 from the ancient sea cow, mylodonin-2 from the giant sloth and megalocerin-1 from the extinct giant elk) showed anti-infective activity in mice with skin abscess or thigh infections. Molecular de-extinction aided by deep learning may accelerate the discovery of therapeutic molecules.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fangping Wan
- Machine Biology Group, Departments of Psychiatry and Microbiology, Institute for Biomedical Informatics, Institute for Translational Medicine and Therapeutics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Departments of Bioengineering and Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, School of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Department of Chemistry, School of Arts and Sciences, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Penn Institute for Computational Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Marcelo D T Torres
- Machine Biology Group, Departments of Psychiatry and Microbiology, Institute for Biomedical Informatics, Institute for Translational Medicine and Therapeutics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Departments of Bioengineering and Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, School of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Department of Chemistry, School of Arts and Sciences, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Penn Institute for Computational Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Jacqueline Peng
- Graduate Group in Genomics and Computational Biology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Cesar de la Fuente-Nunez
- Machine Biology Group, Departments of Psychiatry and Microbiology, Institute for Biomedical Informatics, Institute for Translational Medicine and Therapeutics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
- Departments of Bioengineering and Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, School of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
- Department of Chemistry, School of Arts and Sciences, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
- Penn Institute for Computational Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
- Graduate Group in Genomics and Computational Biology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
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4
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Orozco RMQ, Oshiro KGN, Pinto IB, Buccini DF, Almeida CV, Marin VN, de Souza CM, Macedo MLR, Cardoso MH, Franco OL. Employment of mastoparan-like peptides to prevent Staphylococcus aureus associated with bovine mastitis. J Bacteriol 2024; 206:e0007124. [PMID: 38629875 PMCID: PMC11112992 DOI: 10.1128/jb.00071-24] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2024] [Accepted: 03/25/2024] [Indexed: 05/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Bovine mastitis is a frequent infection in lactating cattle, causing great economic losses. Staphylococcus aureus represents the main etiological agent, which causes recurrent and persistent intramammary infections because conventional antibiotics are ineffective against it. Mastoparan-like peptides are multifunctional molecules with broad antimicrobial potential, constituting an attractive alternative. Nevertheless, their toxicity to host cells has hindered their therapeutic application. Previously, our group engineered three mastoparan-L analogs, namely mastoparan-MO, mastoparan-R1, and [I5, R8] MP, to improve cell selectivity and potential. Here, we were interested in comparing the antibacterial efficacy of mastoparan-L and its analogs against bovine mastitis isolates of S. aureus strains, making a correlation with the physicochemical properties and structural arrangement changes promoted by the sequence modifications. As a result, the analog's hemolytic and/or antimicrobial activity was balanced. All the peptides displayed α-helical folding in hydrophobic and membrane-mimetic environments, as determined by circular dichroism. The peptide [I5, R8] MP stood out for its enhanced selectivity and antibacterial features related to mastoparan-L and the other derivatives. Biophysical approaches revealed that [I5, R8] MP rapidly depolarizes the bacterial membrane of S. aureus, causing cell death by subsequent membrane disruption. Our results demonstrated that the [I5, R8] MP peptide could be a starting point for the development of peptide-based drugs for the treatment of bovine mastitis, with the advantage of no residue in milk, which would help reduce the use of classical antibiotics.IMPORTANCEStaphylococcus aureus is a leading cause of mastitis, the world's most important dairy cattle disease. The multidrug resistance and zoonotic potential of S. aureus, besides the likelihood of antibiotic residues in milk, are of critical concern to public and animal health. Antimicrobial peptides offer a novel antimicrobial strategy. Here, we demonstrate that [I5, R8] MP is a potent and selective peptide, which acts on S. aureus by targeting the bacterial membrane. Therefore, understanding the physicochemical determinants and the modes of action of this class of antimicrobials opens novel prospects for peptide development with enhanced activities in the bovine mastitis context.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raquel M. Q. Orozco
- S-Inova Biotech, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biotecnologia, Universidade Católica Dom Bosco, Campo Grande, Brazil
| | - Karen G. N. Oshiro
- S-Inova Biotech, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biotecnologia, Universidade Católica Dom Bosco, Campo Grande, Brazil
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Patologia Molecular, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Brasília, Brasília, Brazil
| | - Ingrid B. Pinto
- Laboratório de Síntese e Transformações de Moléculas Orgânicas, Instituo de Química, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso do Sul, Campo Grande, Brazil
| | - Danieli F. Buccini
- S-Inova Biotech, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biotecnologia, Universidade Católica Dom Bosco, Campo Grande, Brazil
| | - Claudiane V. Almeida
- Laboratório de Purificação de Proteínas e suas Funções Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso do Sul, Campo Grande, Brazil
| | - Valentina Nieto Marin
- S-Inova Biotech, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biotecnologia, Universidade Católica Dom Bosco, Campo Grande, Brazil
| | - Camila Maurmann de Souza
- Centro de Análises Proteômicas e Bioquímicas, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Genômicas e Biotecnologia, Universidade Católica de Brasília, Brasília, Brasília, Brazil
| | - Maria L. R. Macedo
- Laboratório de Purificação de Proteínas e suas Funções Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso do Sul, Campo Grande, Brazil
| | - Marlon H. Cardoso
- S-Inova Biotech, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biotecnologia, Universidade Católica Dom Bosco, Campo Grande, Brazil
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Patologia Molecular, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Brasília, Brasília, Brazil
- Laboratório de Purificação de Proteínas e suas Funções Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso do Sul, Campo Grande, Brazil
- Centro de Análises Proteômicas e Bioquímicas, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Genômicas e Biotecnologia, Universidade Católica de Brasília, Brasília, Brasília, Brazil
| | - Octávio L. Franco
- S-Inova Biotech, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biotecnologia, Universidade Católica Dom Bosco, Campo Grande, Brazil
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Patologia Molecular, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Brasília, Brasília, Brazil
- Centro de Análises Proteômicas e Bioquímicas, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Genômicas e Biotecnologia, Universidade Católica de Brasília, Brasília, Brasília, Brazil
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5
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Ma X, Aminov R, Franco OL, de la Fuente-Nunez C, Wang G, Wang J. Editorial: Antimicrobial peptides and their druggability, bio-safety, stability, and resistance. Front Microbiol 2024; 15:1425952. [PMID: 38846567 PMCID: PMC11154904 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2024.1425952] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2024] [Accepted: 05/14/2024] [Indexed: 06/09/2024] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Xuanxuan Ma
- Innovative Team of Antimicrobial Peptides and Alternatives to Antibiotics, Feed Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
- Gene Engineering Laboratory, Feed Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
- Key Laboratory of Feed Biotechnology, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Beijing, China
| | - Rustam Aminov
- The School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, United Kingdom
| | - Octavio Luiz Franco
- S-Inova Biotech, Universidade Católica Dom Bosco, Campo Grande, MS, Brazil
- Centro de Análises Proteômicas e Bioquímicas Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Genômicas e Biotecnologia, Universidade Católica de Brasília, Brasília, DF, Brazil
| | - Cesar de la Fuente-Nunez
- Machine Biology Group, Departments of Psychiatry and Microbiology, Perelman School of Medicine, Institute for Biomedical Informatics, Institute for Translational Medicine and Therapeutics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
- Departments of Bioengineering and Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, School of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
- Department of Chemistry, School of Arts and Sciences, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
- Penn Institute for Computational Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Guangshun Wang
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, United States
| | - Jianhua Wang
- Innovative Team of Antimicrobial Peptides and Alternatives to Antibiotics, Feed Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
- Gene Engineering Laboratory, Feed Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
- Key Laboratory of Feed Biotechnology, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Beijing, China
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6
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MacNair CR, Rutherford ST, Tan MW. Alternative therapeutic strategies to treat antibiotic-resistant pathogens. Nat Rev Microbiol 2024; 22:262-275. [PMID: 38082064 DOI: 10.1038/s41579-023-00993-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/07/2023] [Indexed: 04/19/2024]
Abstract
Resistance threatens to render antibiotics - which are essential for modern medicine - ineffective, thus posing a threat to human health. The discovery of novel classes of antibiotics able to overcome resistance has been stalled for decades, with the developmental pipeline relying almost entirely on variations of existing chemical scaffolds. Unfortunately, this approach has been unable to keep pace with resistance evolution, necessitating new therapeutic strategies. In this Review, we highlight recent efforts to discover non-traditional antimicrobials, specifically describing the advantages and limitations of antimicrobial peptides and macrocycles, antibodies, bacteriophages and antisense oligonucleotides. These approaches have the potential to stem the tide of resistance by expanding the physicochemical property space and target spectrum occupied by currently approved antibiotics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Craig R MacNair
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Genentech Inc., South San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Steven T Rutherford
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Genentech Inc., South San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Man-Wah Tan
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Genentech Inc., South San Francisco, CA, USA.
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7
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Torres MDT, Cesaro A, de la Fuente-Nunez C. Peptides from non-immune proteins target infections through antimicrobial and immunomodulatory properties. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.03.25.586636. [PMID: 38585860 PMCID: PMC10996515 DOI: 10.1101/2024.03.25.586636] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/09/2024]
Abstract
Encrypted peptides have been recently described as a new class of antimicrobial molecules. They have been proposed to play a role in host immunity and as alternatives to conventional antibiotics. Intriguingly, many of these peptides are found embedded in proteins unrelated to the immune system, suggesting that immunological responses may extend beyond traditional host immunity proteins. To test this idea, here we synthesized and tested representative peptides derived from non-immune proteins for their ability to exert antimicrobial and immunomodulatory properties. Our experiments revealed that most of the tested peptides from non-immune proteins, derived from structural proteins as well as proteins from the nervous and visual systems, displayed potent in vitro antimicrobial activity. These molecules killed bacterial pathogens by targeting their membrane, and those originating from the same region of the body exhibited synergistic effects when combined. Beyond their antimicrobial properties, nearly 90% of the peptides tested exhibited immunomodulatory effects, modulating inflammatory mediators such as IL-6, TNF-α, and MCP-1. Moreover, eight of the peptides identified, collagenin 3 and 4, zipperin-1 and 2, and immunosin-2, 3, 12, and 13, displayed anti-infective efficacy in two different preclinical mouse models, reducing bacterial infections by up to four orders of magnitude. Altogether, our results support the hypothesis that peptides from non-immune proteins may play a role in host immunity. These results potentially expand our notion of the immune system to include previously unrecognized proteins and peptides that may be activated upon infection to confer protection to the host.
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De los Santos L, Beckman RL, DeBarro C, Keener JE, Torres MD, de la Fuente-Nunez C, Brodbelt JS, Fleeman RM. Polyproline peptide targets Klebsiella pneumoniae polysaccharides to collapse biofilms. CELL REPORTS. PHYSICAL SCIENCE 2024; 5:101869. [PMID: 38605913 PMCID: PMC11008256 DOI: 10.1016/j.xcrp.2024.101869] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/13/2024]
Abstract
Hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae is known for its increased extracellular polysaccharide production. Biofilm matrices of hypervirulent K. pneumoniae have increased polysaccharide abundance and are uniquely susceptible to disruption by peptide bactenecin 7 (bac7 (1-35)). Here, using confocal microscopy, we show that polysaccharides within the biofilm matrix collapse following bac7 (1-35) treatment. This collapse led to the release of cells from the biofilm, which were then killed by the peptide. Characterization of truncated peptide analogs revealed that their interactions with polysaccharide were responsible for the biofilm matrix changes that accompany bac7 (1-35) treatment. Ultraviolet photodissociation mass spectrometry with the parental peptide or a truncated analog bac7 (10-35) reveal the important regions for bac7 (1-35) complexing with polysaccharides. Finally, we tested bac7 (1-35) using a murine skin abscess model and observed a significant decrease in the bacterial burden. These findings unveil the potential of bac7 (1-35) polysaccharide interactions to collapse K. pneumoniae biofilms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura De los Santos
- Division of Immunity and Pathogenesis, Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL 32827, USA
| | - Robert L. Beckman
- Division of Immunity and Pathogenesis, Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL 32827, USA
| | - Christina DeBarro
- Division of Immunity and Pathogenesis, Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL 32827, USA
| | - James E. Keener
- Department of Chemistry, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, USA
| | - Marcelo D.T. Torres
- Machine Biology Group, Departments of Psychiatry and Microbiology, Institute for Biomedical Informatics, Institute for Translational Medicine and Therapeutics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
- Departments of Bioengineering and Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, School of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
- Department of Chemistry, School of Arts and Sciences, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Penn Institute for Computational Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Cesar de la Fuente-Nunez
- Machine Biology Group, Departments of Psychiatry and Microbiology, Institute for Biomedical Informatics, Institute for Translational Medicine and Therapeutics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
- Departments of Bioengineering and Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, School of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
- Department of Chemistry, School of Arts and Sciences, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Penn Institute for Computational Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Jennifer S. Brodbelt
- Department of Chemistry, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, USA
| | - Renee M. Fleeman
- Division of Immunity and Pathogenesis, Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL 32827, USA
- X (formerly Twitter): @FleemanLab
- Lead contact
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9
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Cai Y, Wang X, Zhang T, Yan A, Luo L, Li C, Tian G, Wu Z, Wang X, Shen D, Han Y, Zhang Z. Rational Design of a Potent Antimicrobial Peptide Based on the Active Region of a Gecko Cathelicidin. ACS Infect Dis 2024; 10:951-960. [PMID: 38315114 DOI: 10.1021/acsinfecdis.3c00575] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2024]
Abstract
The emergence of multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria presents a significant challenge to public health, increasing the risk of infections that are resistant to current antibiotic treatment. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) offer a promising alternative to conventional antibiotics in the prevention of MDR bacterial infections. In the present study, we identified a novel cathelicidin AMP from Gekko japonicus, which exhibited broad-spectrum antibacterial activity against both Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria, with minimal inhibitory concentrations ranging from 2.34 to 4.69 μg/mL. To improve its potential therapeutic application, a series of peptides was synthesized based on the active region of the gecko-derived cathelicidin. The lead peptide (RH-16) showed an antimicrobial activity comparable to that of the parent peptide. Structural characterization revealed that RH-16 adopted an amphipathic α-helical conformation. Furthermore, RH-16 demonstrated neither hemolytic nor cytotoxic activity but effectively killed a wide range of clinically isolated, drug-resistant bacteria. The antimicrobial activity of RH-16 was attributed to the nonspecific targeting of bacterial membranes, leading to rapid bacterial membrane permeabilization and rupture. RH-16 also retained its antibacterial activity in plasma and exhibited mild toxicity in vivo. Notably, RH-16 offered robust protection against skin infection in a murine model. Therefore, this newly identified cathelicidin AMP may be a strong candidate for future pharmacological development targeting multidrug resistance. The use of a rational design approach for isolating the minimal antimicrobial unit may accelerate the transition of natural AMPs to clinically applicable antibacterial agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Cai
- Institute of Medical Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Kunming, Yunnan 650031, China
| | - Xingyu Wang
- Institute of Medical Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Kunming, Yunnan 650031, China
| | - Tianyu Zhang
- Institute of Medical Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Kunming, Yunnan 650031, China
| | - An Yan
- Institute of Medical Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Kunming, Yunnan 650031, China
| | - Lin Luo
- Third Department of Breast Surgery, Third Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University (Yunnan Cancer Hospital), Kunming, Yunnan 650118, China
| | - Chenxi Li
- Third Department of Breast Surgery, Third Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University (Yunnan Cancer Hospital), Kunming, Yunnan 650118, China
| | - Gengzhou Tian
- Department of Breast Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, Yunnan 650223, China
| | - Zhongxiang Wu
- Institute of Medical Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Kunming, Yunnan 650031, China
| | - Xi Wang
- Institute of Medical Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Kunming, Yunnan 650031, China
| | - Dong Shen
- Institute of Medical Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Kunming, Yunnan 650031, China
| | - Yajun Han
- State Key Laboratory of Phytochemistry and Plant Resources in West China, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650201, China
| | - Zhiye Zhang
- Institute of Medical Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Kunming, Yunnan 650031, China
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10
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Nazarian-Firouzabadi F, Torres MDT, de la Fuente-Nunez C. Recombinant production of antimicrobial peptides in plants. Biotechnol Adv 2024; 71:108296. [PMID: 38042311 DOI: 10.1016/j.biotechadv.2023.108296] [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: 09/06/2023] [Revised: 11/10/2023] [Accepted: 11/26/2023] [Indexed: 12/04/2023]
Abstract
Classical plant breeding methods are limited in their ability to confer disease resistance on plants. However, in recent years, advancements in molecular breeding and biotechnological have provided new approaches to overcome these limitations and protect plants from disease. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) constitute promising agents that may be able to protect against infectious agents. Recently, peptides have been recombinantly produced in plants at scale and low cost. Because AMPs are less likely than conventional antimicrobials to elicit resistance of pathogenic bacteria, they open up exciting new avenues for agricultural applications. Here, we review recent advances in the design and production of bioactive recombinant AMPs that can effectively protect crop plants from diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Farhad Nazarian-Firouzabadi
- Production Engineering and Plant Genetics Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Lorestan University, P.O. Box, 465, Khorramabad, Iran.
| | - Marcelo Der Torossian Torres
- Machine Biology Group, Departments of Psychiatry and Microbiology, Institute for Biomedical Informatics, Institute for Translational Medicine and Therapeutics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States of America; Departments of Bioengineering and Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, School of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States of America; Penn Institute for Computational Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States of America
| | - Cesar de la Fuente-Nunez
- Machine Biology Group, Departments of Psychiatry and Microbiology, Institute for Biomedical Informatics, Institute for Translational Medicine and Therapeutics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States of America; Departments of Bioengineering and Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, School of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States of America; Penn Institute for Computational Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States of America.
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11
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Surekha S, Lamiyan AK, Gupta V. Antibiotic Resistant Biofilms and the Quest for Novel Therapeutic Strategies. Indian J Microbiol 2024; 64:20-35. [PMID: 38468748 PMCID: PMC10924852 DOI: 10.1007/s12088-023-01138-w] [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: 08/01/2023] [Accepted: 11/03/2023] [Indexed: 03/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is one of the major leading causes of death around the globe. Present treatment pipelines are insufficient to overcome the critical situation. Prominent biofilm forming human pathogens which can thrive in infection sites using adaptive features results in biofilm persistence. Considering the present scenario, prudential investigations into the mechanisms of resistance target them to improve antibiotic efficacy is required. Regarding this, developing newer and effective treatment options using edge cutting technologies in medical research is the need of time. The reasons underlying the adaptive features in biofilm persistence have been centred on different metabolic and physiological aspects. The high tolerance levels against antibiotics direct researchers to search for novel bioactive molecules that can help combat the problem. In view of this, the present review outlines the focuses on an opportunity of different strategies which are in testing pipeline can thus be developed into products ready to use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saumya Surekha
- Department of Biochemistry, Panjab University, Chandigarh, India
| | | | - Varsha Gupta
- GMCH: Government Medical College and Hospital, Chandigarh, India
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12
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Tsai CT, Lin CW, Ye GL, Wu SC, Yao P, Lin CT, Wan L, Tsai HHG. Accelerating Antimicrobial Peptide Discovery for WHO Priority Pathogens through Predictive and Interpretable Machine Learning Models. ACS OMEGA 2024; 9:9357-9374. [PMID: 38434814 PMCID: PMC10905719 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.3c08676] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2023] [Revised: 12/19/2023] [Accepted: 01/19/2024] [Indexed: 03/05/2024]
Abstract
The escalating menace of multidrug-resistant (MDR) pathogens necessitates a paradigm shift from conventional antibiotics to innovative alternatives. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) emerge as a compelling contender in this arena. Employing in silico methodologies, we can usher in a new era of AMP discovery, streamlining the identification process from vast candidate sequences, thereby optimizing laboratory screening expenditures. Here, we unveil cutting-edge machine learning (ML) models that are both predictive and interpretable, tailored for the identification of potent AMPs targeting World Health Organization's (WHO) high-priority pathogens. Furthermore, we have developed ML models that consider the hemolysis of human erythrocytes, emphasizing their therapeutic potential. Anchored in the nuanced physical-chemical attributes gleaned from the three-dimensional (3D) helical conformations of AMPs, our optimized models have demonstrated commendable performance-boasting an accuracy exceeding 75% when evaluated against both low-sequence-identified peptides and recently unveiled AMPs. As a testament to their efficacy, we deployed these models to prioritize peptide sequences stemming from PEM-2 and subsequently probed the bioactivity of our algorithm-predicted peptides vis-à-vis WHO's priority pathogens. Intriguingly, several of these new AMPs outperformed the native PEM-2 in their antimicrobial prowess, thereby underscoring the robustness of our modeling approach. To elucidate ML model outcomes, we probe via Shapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) values, uncovering intricate mechanisms guiding diverse actions against bacteria. Our state-of-the-art predictive models expedite the design of new AMPs, offering a robust countermeasure to antibiotic resistance. Our prediction tool is available to the public at https://ai-meta.chem.ncu.edu.tw/amp-meta.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cheng-Ting Tsai
- Department
of Chemistry, National Central University, No. 300, Zhongda Road, Zhongli District, Taoyuan 32001, Taiwan
| | - Chia-Wei Lin
- Department
of Chemistry, National Central University, No. 300, Zhongda Road, Zhongli District, Taoyuan 32001, Taiwan
| | - Gen-Lin Ye
- Department
of Chemistry, National Central University, No. 300, Zhongda Road, Zhongli District, Taoyuan 32001, Taiwan
| | - Shao-Chi Wu
- Department
of Chemistry, National Central University, No. 300, Zhongda Road, Zhongli District, Taoyuan 32001, Taiwan
| | - Philip Yao
- Aurora
High School, 109 W Pioneer Trail, Aurora, Ohio 44202, United States
| | - Ching-Ting Lin
- School
of Chinese Medicine, China Medical University, No. 91 Hsueh-Shih Road, Taichung 40402, Taiwan
| | - Lei Wan
- School
of Chinese Medicine, China Medical University, No. 91 Hsueh-Shih Road, Taichung 40402, Taiwan
| | - Hui-Hsu Gavin Tsai
- Department
of Chemistry, National Central University, No. 300, Zhongda Road, Zhongli District, Taoyuan 32001, Taiwan
- Research
Center of New Generation Light Driven Photovoltaic Modules, National Central University, Taoyuan 32001, Taiwan
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13
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Shang L, Chen C, Sun R, Guo J, Liu J, Wang M, Zhang L, Fei C, Xue F, Liu Y, Gu F. Engineered Peptides Harboring Cation Motifs Against Multidrug-Resistant Bacteria. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2024; 16:5522-5535. [PMID: 38266749 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.3c15913] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2024]
Abstract
Multidrug-resistant (MDR) pathogens pose a serious threat to the health and life of humans, necessitating the development of new antimicrobial agents. Herein, we develop and characterize a panel of nine amino acid peptides with a cation end motif. Bioactivity analysis revealed that the short peptide containing "RWWWR" as a central motif harboring mirror structure "KXR" unit displayed not only high activity against MDR planktonic bacteria but also a clearance rate of 92.33% ± 0.58% against mature biofilm. Mechanically, the target peptide (KLR) killed pathogens by excessively accumulating reactive oxygen species and physically disrupting membranes, thereby enhancing its robustness for controlling drug resistance. In the animal model of sepsis infection by MDR bacteria, the peptide KLR exhibited strong therapeutic effects. Collectively, this study provided the dominant structure of short antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) to replenish our arsenals for combating bacterial infections and illustrated what could be harnessed as a new agent for fighting MDR bacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lu Shang
- Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai 200241, China
- Key Laboratory of Veterinary Chemical Drugs and Pharmaceutics, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Shanghai 200241, China
| | - Chan Chen
- Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai 200241, China
- Key Laboratory of Veterinary Chemical Drugs and Pharmaceutics, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Shanghai 200241, China
| | - Rui Sun
- Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai 200241, China
- Key Laboratory of Veterinary Chemical Drugs and Pharmaceutics, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Shanghai 200241, China
| | - Juan Guo
- Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai 200241, China
- Key Laboratory of Veterinary Chemical Drugs and Pharmaceutics, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Shanghai 200241, China
| | - Jing Liu
- Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai 200241, China
- Key Laboratory of Veterinary Chemical Drugs and Pharmaceutics, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Shanghai 200241, China
| | - Mi Wang
- Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai 200241, China
- Key Laboratory of Veterinary Chemical Drugs and Pharmaceutics, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Shanghai 200241, China
| | - Lifang Zhang
- Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai 200241, China
- Key Laboratory of Veterinary Chemical Drugs and Pharmaceutics, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Shanghai 200241, China
| | - Chenzhong Fei
- Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai 200241, China
- Key Laboratory of Veterinary Chemical Drugs and Pharmaceutics, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Shanghai 200241, China
| | - Feiqun Xue
- Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai 200241, China
- Key Laboratory of Veterinary Chemical Drugs and Pharmaceutics, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Shanghai 200241, China
| | - Yingchun Liu
- Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai 200241, China
- Key Laboratory of Veterinary Chemical Drugs and Pharmaceutics, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Shanghai 200241, China
| | - Feng Gu
- Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai 200241, China
- Key Laboratory of Veterinary Chemical Drugs and Pharmaceutics, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Shanghai 200241, China
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14
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Duque HM, Dos Santos C, Brango-Vanegas J, Díaz-Martín RD, Dias SC, Franco OL. Unwrapping the structural and functional features of antimicrobial peptides from wasp venoms. Pharmacol Res 2024; 200:107069. [PMID: 38218356 DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2024.107069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2023] [Revised: 01/07/2024] [Accepted: 01/09/2024] [Indexed: 01/15/2024]
Abstract
The study of wasp venoms has captured attention due to the presence of a wide variety of active compounds, revealing a diverse array of biological effects. Among these compounds, certain antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) such as mastoparans and chemotactic peptides have emerged as significant players, characterized by their unique amphipathic short linear alpha-helical structure. These peptides exhibit not only antibiotic properties but also a range of other biological activities, which are related to their ability to interact with biological membranes to varying degrees. This review article aims to provide updated insights into the structure/function relationships of AMPs derived from wasp venoms, linking this knowledge to the potential development of innovative treatments against infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Harry Morales Duque
- Centro de Análises Proteômicas e Bioquímicas, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Genômicas e Biotecnologia, Universidade Católica de Brasília, PC: (CEP) 70.790-160 Brasília, DF, Brazil.
| | - Cristiane Dos Santos
- S-Inova Biotech, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biotecnologia, Universidade Católica Dom Bosco, PC: (CEP) 79117-010 Campo Grande, MS, Brazil
| | - José Brango-Vanegas
- Centro de Análises Proteômicas e Bioquímicas, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Genômicas e Biotecnologia, Universidade Católica de Brasília, PC: (CEP) 70.790-160 Brasília, DF, Brazil; S-Inova Biotech, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biotecnologia, Universidade Católica Dom Bosco, PC: (CEP) 79117-010 Campo Grande, MS, Brazil
| | - Ruben Dario Díaz-Martín
- Centro de Análises Proteômicas e Bioquímicas, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Genômicas e Biotecnologia, Universidade Católica de Brasília, PC: (CEP) 70.790-160 Brasília, DF, Brazil
| | - Simoni Campos Dias
- Centro de Análises Proteômicas e Bioquímicas, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Genômicas e Biotecnologia, Universidade Católica de Brasília, PC: (CEP) 70.790-160 Brasília, DF, Brazil; Program in Animal Biology, Universidade de Brasília, Brasília, DF70910-900, Brazil
| | - Octávio Luiz Franco
- Centro de Análises Proteômicas e Bioquímicas, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Genômicas e Biotecnologia, Universidade Católica de Brasília, PC: (CEP) 70.790-160 Brasília, DF, Brazil; S-Inova Biotech, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biotecnologia, Universidade Católica Dom Bosco, PC: (CEP) 79117-010 Campo Grande, MS, Brazil
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15
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van Zyl EM, Coburn JM. Functionalization of Bacterial Cellulose with the Antimicrobial Peptide KR-12 via Chimerical Cellulose-Binding Peptides. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:1462. [PMID: 38338739 PMCID: PMC10855235 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25031462] [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: 12/19/2023] [Revised: 01/16/2024] [Accepted: 01/20/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Bacterial-derived cellulose (BC) has been studied as a promising material for biomedical applications, including wound care, due to its biocompatibility, water-holding capacity, liquid/gas permeability, and handleability properties. Although BC has been studied as a dressing material for cutaneous wounds, to date, BC inherently lacks antibacterial properties. The current research utilizes bifunctional chimeric peptides containing carbohydrate binding peptides (CBP; either a short version or a long version) and an antimicrobial peptide (AMP), KR-12. The secondary structure of the chimeric peptides was evaluated and confirmed that the α-helix structure of KR-12 was retained for both chimeric peptides evaluated (Long-CBP-KR12 and Short-CBP-KR12). Chimeric peptides and their individual components were assessed for cytotoxicity, where only higher concentrations of Short-CBP and longer timepoints of Short-CBP-KR12 exposure exhibited negative effects on metabolic activity, which was attributed to solubility issues. All KR-12-containing peptides exhibited antibacterial activity in solution against Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa). The lipopolysaccharide (LPS) binding capability of the peptides was evaluated and the Short-CBP-KR12 peptide exhibited enhanced LPS-binding capabilities compared to KR-12 alone. Both chimeric peptides were able to bind to BC and were observed to be retained on the surface over a 7-day period. All functionalized materials exhibited no adverse effects on the metabolic activity of both normal human dermal fibroblasts (NHDFs) and human epidermal keratinocyte (HaCaT) epithelial cells. Additionally, the BC tethered chimeric peptides exhibited antibacterial activity against E. coli. Overall, this research outlines the design and evaluation of chimeric CBP-KR12 peptides for developing antimicrobial BC membranes with potential applications in wound care.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jeannine M. Coburn
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Worcester, MA 01609, USA
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16
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Paes LCF, Lima DB, Silva DMAD, Valentin JT, Aquino PEAD, García-Jareño AB, Orzaéz M, Fonteles MMDF, Martins AMC. Exploring the neuroprotective potential of antimicrobial peptides from Dinoponera quadriceps venom against pentylenetetrazole-induced seizures in vivo. Toxicon 2024; 237:107538. [PMID: 38030096 DOI: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2023.107538] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2023] [Revised: 11/21/2023] [Accepted: 11/22/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023]
Abstract
Epilepsy affects around 50 million people worldwide and 30% of patients have difficulty controlling the disease. The search for substances that can fill the existing gaps in the treatment of epilepsy is of great importance. Arthropod venoms are promising sources for this purpose due to the presence of small peptides that modulate the activity of ion channels and neuron receptors. The aim of this study was to investigate dinoponeratoxins from the Dinoponera quadriceps ant venom (M-PONTX-Dq3a, M-PONTX-Dq3b and M-PONTX-Dq3c) as potential anticonvulsants. We evaluated them in a seizure model induced by pentylenetetrazole (PTZ) in male swiss mice. Interestingly, intraperitoneal treatment with each peptide increased the time until the first seizure and the percentage of survival, with M-PONTX-Dq3b showing the best results. M-PONTX-Dq3a was discarded due to the appearance of some signs of toxicity with the increase in malondialdehyde (MDA) levels in the striatum. Both, M-PONTX-Dq3b and M-PONTX-Dq3c decreased iNOS and TNF-α in the hippocampus. Notably, M-PONTX-Dq3c treatment decreased the levels of MDA and nitrite in the cortex and hippocampus. Our results indicate that, M-PONTX-Dq3b and M-PONTX-Dq3c have anticonvulsant activity and exhibit anti-inflammatory effects in epilepsy, offering new perspectives for biopharmaceutical development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Livia Correia Fernandes Paes
- Department of Clinical and Toxicological Analysis, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade Federal Do Ceará, Fortaleza, 60430372, Ceará, Brazil
| | - Dânya Bandeira Lima
- Department of Clinical and Toxicological Analysis, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade Federal Do Ceará, Fortaleza, 60430372, Ceará, Brazil.
| | - Daniel Moreira Alves da Silva
- Department of Clinical and Toxicological Analysis, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade Federal Do Ceará, Fortaleza, 60430372, Ceará, Brazil
| | - José Tiago Valentin
- Department of Clinical and Toxicological Analysis, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade Federal Do Ceará, Fortaleza, 60430372, Ceará, Brazil
| | | | - Alicia Belén García-Jareño
- Targeted Therapies on Cancer and Inflammation Lab and Peptide Synthesis Platform, Centro de Investigación Príncipe Felipe, Valencia, 46012, Spain
| | - Mar Orzaéz
- Targeted Therapies on Cancer and Inflammation Lab and Peptide Synthesis Platform, Centro de Investigación Príncipe Felipe, Valencia, 46012, Spain
| | - Marta Maria de França Fonteles
- Department of Clinical and Toxicological Analysis, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade Federal Do Ceará, Fortaleza, 60430372, Ceará, Brazil; Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, 60430-275, Ceará, Brazil
| | - Alice Maria Costa Martins
- Department of Clinical and Toxicological Analysis, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universidade Federal Do Ceará, Fortaleza, 60430372, Ceará, Brazil; Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, 60430-275, Ceará, Brazil.
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17
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Yao L, Liu Q, Lei Z, Sun T. Development and challenges of antimicrobial peptide delivery strategies in bacterial therapy: A review. Int J Biol Macromol 2023; 253:126819. [PMID: 37709236 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2023.126819] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2023] [Revised: 09/06/2023] [Accepted: 09/07/2023] [Indexed: 09/16/2023]
Abstract
The escalating global prevalence of antimicrobial resistance poses a critical threat, prompting concerns about its impact on public health. This predicament is exacerbated by the acute shortage of novel antimicrobial agents, a scarcity attributed to the rapid surge in bacterial resistance. This review delves into the realm of antimicrobial peptides, a diverse class of compounds ubiquitously present in plants and animals across various natural organisms. Renowned for their intrinsic antibacterial activity, these peptides provide a promising avenue to tackle the intricate challenge of bacterial resistance. However, the clinical utility of peptide-based drugs is hindered by limited bioavailability and susceptibility to rapid degradation, constraining efforts to enhance the efficacy of bacterial infection treatments. The emergence of nanocarriers marks a transformative approach poised to revolutionize peptide delivery strategies. This review elucidates a promising framework involving nanocarriers within the realm of antimicrobial peptides. This paradigm enables meticulous and controlled peptide release at infection sites by detecting dynamic shifts in microenvironmental factors, including pH, ROS, GSH, and reactive enzymes. Furthermore, a glimpse into the future reveals the potential of targeted delivery mechanisms, harnessing inflammatory responses and intricate signaling pathways, including adenosine triphosphate, macrophage receptors, and pathogenic nucleic acid entities. This approach holds promise in fortifying immunity, thereby amplifying the potency of peptide-based treatments. In summary, this review spotlights peptide nanosystems as prospective solutions for combating bacterial infections. By bridging antimicrobial peptides with advanced nanomedicine, a new therapeutic era emerges, poised to confront the formidable challenge of antimicrobial resistance head-on.
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Affiliation(s)
- Longfukang Yao
- School of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Life Science, Wuhan University of Technology, 122 Luoshi Road, Wuhan 430070, China; Hubei Key Laboratory of Nanomedicine for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Wuhan University of Technology, 122 Luoshi Road, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Qianying Liu
- School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China
| | - Zhixin Lei
- School of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Life Science, Wuhan University of Technology, 122 Luoshi Road, Wuhan 430070, China; Hubei Key Laboratory of Nanomedicine for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Wuhan University of Technology, 122 Luoshi Road, Wuhan 430070, China.
| | - Taolei Sun
- School of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Life Science, Wuhan University of Technology, 122 Luoshi Road, Wuhan 430070, China; Hubei Key Laboratory of Nanomedicine for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Wuhan University of Technology, 122 Luoshi Road, Wuhan 430070, China.
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18
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Bermúdez-Puga S, Dias M, Freire de Oliveira T, Mendonça CMN, Yokomizo de Almeida SR, Rozas EE, do Nascimento CAO, Mendes MA, Oliveira De Souza de Azevedo P, Almeida JR, Proaño-Bolaños C, Oliveira RPDS. Dual antibacterial mechanism of [K4K15]CZS-1 against Salmonella Typhimurium: a membrane active and intracellular-targeting antimicrobial peptide. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1320154. [PMID: 38156004 PMCID: PMC10752938 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1320154] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2023] [Accepted: 11/17/2023] [Indexed: 12/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Salmonella genus is a leading cause of food-borne infections with strong public health impact and economic ramifications. The development of antimicrobial resistance added complexity to this scenario and turned the antibiotic drug discovery into a highly important challenge. The screening of peptides has served as a successful discovery platform to design new antibiotic candidates. Motivated by this, the antimicrobial and cytotoxic properties of three cruzioseptins against Salmonella Typhimurium and RAW 264.7 murine macrophage cells, respectively, were investigated. [K4K15]CZS-1 was the most potent antimicrobial peptide identified in the screening step with a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 16 μg/mL (7.26 μM) and moderate cytotoxicity. From a structural point of view, in vitro and in silico techniques evidenced that [K4K15]CZS-1 is a α-helical cationic antimicrobial peptide. In order to capture mechanistic details and fully decipher their antibacterial action, we adopted a multidimensional approach, including spectroscopy, electron microscopy and omics analysis. In general lines, [K4K15]CZS-1 caused membrane damage, intracellular alterations in Salmonella and modulated metabolic pathways, such as the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle, fatty acid biosynthesis, and lipid metabolism. Overall, these findings provide deeper insights into the antibacterial properties and multidimensional mode of action of [K4K15]CZS-1 against Salmonella Typhimurium. In summary, this study represents a first step toward the screening of membrane-acting and intracellular-targeting peptides as potential bio-preservatives to prevent foodborne outbreaks caused by Salmonella.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sebastián Bermúdez-Puga
- Microbial Biomolecules Laboratory, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Meriellen Dias
- Microbial Biomolecules Laboratory, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Taciana Freire de Oliveira
- Microbial Biomolecules Laboratory, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | | | - Enrique Eduardo Rozas
- Dempster MS Lab, Chemical Engineering Department of Polytechnic School of University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | - Maria Anita Mendes
- Dempster MS Lab, Chemical Engineering Department of Polytechnic School of University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | - José R. Almeida
- Biomolecules Discovery Group, Universidad Regional Amazónica Ikiam, Tena, Napo, Ecuador
- School of Pharmacy, University of Reading, Reading, United Kingdom
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19
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Serna N, López-Laguna H, Aceituno P, Rojas-Peña M, Parladé E, Voltà-Durán E, Martínez-Torró C, Sánchez JM, Di Somma A, Carratalá JV, Livieri AL, Ferrer-Miralles N, Vázquez E, Unzueta U, Roher N, Villaverde A. Efficient Delivery of Antimicrobial Peptides in an Innovative, Slow-Release Pharmacological Formulation. Pharmaceutics 2023; 15:2632. [PMID: 38004610 PMCID: PMC10674355 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics15112632] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2023] [Revised: 10/31/2023] [Accepted: 11/07/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Both nanostructure and multivalency enhance the biological activities of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), whose mechanism of action is cooperative. In addition, the efficacy of a particular AMP should benefit from a steady concentration at the local place of action and, therefore, from a slow release after a dynamic repository. In the context of emerging multi-resistant bacterial infections and the urgent need for novel and effective antimicrobial drugs, we tested these concepts through the engineering of four AMPs into supramolecular complexes as pharmacological entities. For that purpose, GWH1, T22, Pt5, and PaD, produced as GFP or human nidogen-based His-tagged fusion proteins, were engineered as self-assembling oligomeric nanoparticles ranging from 10 to 70 nm and further packaged into nanoparticle-leaking submicron granules. Since these materials slowly release functional nanoparticles during their time-sustained unpacking, they are suitable for use as drug depots in vivo. In this context, a particular AMP version (GWH1-NIDO-H6) was selected for in vivo validation in a zebrafish model of a complex bacterial infection. The GWH1-NIDO-H6-secreting protein granules are protective in zebrafish against infection by the multi-resistant bacterium Stenotrophomonas maltophilia, proving the potential of innovative formulations based on nanostructured and slowly released recombinant AMPs in the fight against bacterial infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naroa Serna
- Institut de Biotecnologia i de Biomedicina (IBB), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Barcelona, Spain; (N.S.); (P.A.); (M.R.-P.); (E.P.); (E.V.-D.); (C.M.-T.); (J.M.S.); (A.D.S.); (J.V.C.); (A.L.L.); (N.F.-M.); (E.V.); (N.R.)
- Departament de Genètica i de Microbiologia, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Barcelona, Spain;
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Bioingeniería, Biomateriales y Nanomedicina, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28029 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Hèctor López-Laguna
- Institut de Biotecnologia i de Biomedicina (IBB), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Barcelona, Spain; (N.S.); (P.A.); (M.R.-P.); (E.P.); (E.V.-D.); (C.M.-T.); (J.M.S.); (A.D.S.); (J.V.C.); (A.L.L.); (N.F.-M.); (E.V.); (N.R.)
- Departament de Genètica i de Microbiologia, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Barcelona, Spain;
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Bioingeniería, Biomateriales y Nanomedicina, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28029 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Patricia Aceituno
- Institut de Biotecnologia i de Biomedicina (IBB), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Barcelona, Spain; (N.S.); (P.A.); (M.R.-P.); (E.P.); (E.V.-D.); (C.M.-T.); (J.M.S.); (A.D.S.); (J.V.C.); (A.L.L.); (N.F.-M.); (E.V.); (N.R.)
- Departament de Biologia Cel·lular, Fisiologia Animal i Immunologia, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Mauricio Rojas-Peña
- Institut de Biotecnologia i de Biomedicina (IBB), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Barcelona, Spain; (N.S.); (P.A.); (M.R.-P.); (E.P.); (E.V.-D.); (C.M.-T.); (J.M.S.); (A.D.S.); (J.V.C.); (A.L.L.); (N.F.-M.); (E.V.); (N.R.)
- Departament de Biologia Cel·lular, Fisiologia Animal i Immunologia, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Eloi Parladé
- Institut de Biotecnologia i de Biomedicina (IBB), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Barcelona, Spain; (N.S.); (P.A.); (M.R.-P.); (E.P.); (E.V.-D.); (C.M.-T.); (J.M.S.); (A.D.S.); (J.V.C.); (A.L.L.); (N.F.-M.); (E.V.); (N.R.)
- Departament de Genètica i de Microbiologia, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Barcelona, Spain;
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Bioingeniería, Biomateriales y Nanomedicina, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28029 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Eric Voltà-Durán
- Institut de Biotecnologia i de Biomedicina (IBB), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Barcelona, Spain; (N.S.); (P.A.); (M.R.-P.); (E.P.); (E.V.-D.); (C.M.-T.); (J.M.S.); (A.D.S.); (J.V.C.); (A.L.L.); (N.F.-M.); (E.V.); (N.R.)
- Departament de Genètica i de Microbiologia, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Barcelona, Spain;
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Bioingeniería, Biomateriales y Nanomedicina, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28029 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Carlos Martínez-Torró
- Institut de Biotecnologia i de Biomedicina (IBB), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Barcelona, Spain; (N.S.); (P.A.); (M.R.-P.); (E.P.); (E.V.-D.); (C.M.-T.); (J.M.S.); (A.D.S.); (J.V.C.); (A.L.L.); (N.F.-M.); (E.V.); (N.R.)
- Departament de Genètica i de Microbiologia, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Barcelona, Spain;
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Bioingeniería, Biomateriales y Nanomedicina, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28029 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Julieta M. Sánchez
- Institut de Biotecnologia i de Biomedicina (IBB), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Barcelona, Spain; (N.S.); (P.A.); (M.R.-P.); (E.P.); (E.V.-D.); (C.M.-T.); (J.M.S.); (A.D.S.); (J.V.C.); (A.L.L.); (N.F.-M.); (E.V.); (N.R.)
- Departament de Genètica i de Microbiologia, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Barcelona, Spain;
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Bioingeniería, Biomateriales y Nanomedicina, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28029 Barcelona, Spain
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas y Tecnológicas (IIBYT), (CONICET-Universidad Nacional de Córdoba), ICTA, FCEFyN, UNC. Av. Velez Sarsfield 1611, Córdoba X 5016GCA, Argentina
| | - Angela Di Somma
- Institut de Biotecnologia i de Biomedicina (IBB), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Barcelona, Spain; (N.S.); (P.A.); (M.R.-P.); (E.P.); (E.V.-D.); (C.M.-T.); (J.M.S.); (A.D.S.); (J.V.C.); (A.L.L.); (N.F.-M.); (E.V.); (N.R.)
| | - Jose Vicente Carratalá
- Institut de Biotecnologia i de Biomedicina (IBB), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Barcelona, Spain; (N.S.); (P.A.); (M.R.-P.); (E.P.); (E.V.-D.); (C.M.-T.); (J.M.S.); (A.D.S.); (J.V.C.); (A.L.L.); (N.F.-M.); (E.V.); (N.R.)
- Departament de Genètica i de Microbiologia, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Barcelona, Spain;
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Bioingeniería, Biomateriales y Nanomedicina, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28029 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Andrea L. Livieri
- Institut de Biotecnologia i de Biomedicina (IBB), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Barcelona, Spain; (N.S.); (P.A.); (M.R.-P.); (E.P.); (E.V.-D.); (C.M.-T.); (J.M.S.); (A.D.S.); (J.V.C.); (A.L.L.); (N.F.-M.); (E.V.); (N.R.)
| | - Neus Ferrer-Miralles
- Institut de Biotecnologia i de Biomedicina (IBB), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Barcelona, Spain; (N.S.); (P.A.); (M.R.-P.); (E.P.); (E.V.-D.); (C.M.-T.); (J.M.S.); (A.D.S.); (J.V.C.); (A.L.L.); (N.F.-M.); (E.V.); (N.R.)
- Departament de Genètica i de Microbiologia, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Barcelona, Spain;
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Bioingeniería, Biomateriales y Nanomedicina, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28029 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Esther Vázquez
- Institut de Biotecnologia i de Biomedicina (IBB), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Barcelona, Spain; (N.S.); (P.A.); (M.R.-P.); (E.P.); (E.V.-D.); (C.M.-T.); (J.M.S.); (A.D.S.); (J.V.C.); (A.L.L.); (N.F.-M.); (E.V.); (N.R.)
- Departament de Genètica i de Microbiologia, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Barcelona, Spain;
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Bioingeniería, Biomateriales y Nanomedicina, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28029 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Ugutz Unzueta
- Departament de Genètica i de Microbiologia, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Barcelona, Spain;
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Bioingeniería, Biomateriales y Nanomedicina, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28029 Barcelona, Spain
- Biomedical Research Institute Sant Pau (IIB Sant Pau), 08041 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Nerea Roher
- Institut de Biotecnologia i de Biomedicina (IBB), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Barcelona, Spain; (N.S.); (P.A.); (M.R.-P.); (E.P.); (E.V.-D.); (C.M.-T.); (J.M.S.); (A.D.S.); (J.V.C.); (A.L.L.); (N.F.-M.); (E.V.); (N.R.)
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Bioingeniería, Biomateriales y Nanomedicina, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28029 Barcelona, Spain
- Departament de Biologia Cel·lular, Fisiologia Animal i Immunologia, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Antonio Villaverde
- Institut de Biotecnologia i de Biomedicina (IBB), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Barcelona, Spain; (N.S.); (P.A.); (M.R.-P.); (E.P.); (E.V.-D.); (C.M.-T.); (J.M.S.); (A.D.S.); (J.V.C.); (A.L.L.); (N.F.-M.); (E.V.); (N.R.)
- Departament de Genètica i de Microbiologia, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Barcelona, Spain;
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Bioingeniería, Biomateriales y Nanomedicina, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28029 Barcelona, Spain
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20
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Coxe T, Azad RK. Silicon versus Superbug: Assessing Machine Learning's Role in the Fight against Antimicrobial Resistance. Antibiotics (Basel) 2023; 12:1604. [PMID: 37998806 PMCID: PMC10669088 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics12111604] [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: 09/30/2023] [Revised: 10/30/2023] [Accepted: 11/05/2023] [Indexed: 11/25/2023] Open
Abstract
In his 1945 Nobel Prize acceptance speech, Sir Alexander Fleming warned of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) if the necessary precautions were not taken diligently. As the growing threat of AMR continues to loom over humanity, we must look forward to alternative diagnostic tools and preventive measures to thwart looming economic collapse and untold mortality worldwide. The integration of machine learning (ML) methodologies within the framework of such tools/pipelines presents a promising avenue, offering unprecedented insights into the underlying mechanisms of resistance and enabling the development of more targeted and effective treatments. This paper explores the applications of ML in predicting and understanding AMR, highlighting its potential in revolutionizing healthcare practices. From the utilization of supervised-learning approaches to analyze genetic signatures of antibiotic resistance to the development of tools and databases, such as the Comprehensive Antibiotic Resistance Database (CARD), ML is actively shaping the future of AMR research. However, the successful implementation of ML in this domain is not without challenges. The dependence on high-quality data, the risk of overfitting, model selection, and potential bias in training data are issues that must be systematically addressed. Despite these challenges, the synergy between ML and biomedical research shows great promise in combating the growing menace of antibiotic resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tallon Coxe
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of North Texas, Denton, TX 76203, USA;
- BioDiscovery Institute, University of North Texas, Denton, TX 76203, USA
| | - Rajeev K. Azad
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of North Texas, Denton, TX 76203, USA;
- BioDiscovery Institute, University of North Texas, Denton, TX 76203, USA
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21
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Pedron CN, Torres MDT, Oliveira CS, Silva AF, Andrade GP, Wang Y, Pinhal MAS, Cerchiaro G, da Silva Junior PI, da Silva FD, Radhakrishnan R, de la Fuente-Nunez C, Oliveira Junior VX. Molecular hybridization strategy for tuning bioactive peptide function. Commun Biol 2023; 6:1067. [PMID: 37857855 PMCID: PMC10587126 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-023-05254-7] [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: 05/18/2022] [Accepted: 08/17/2023] [Indexed: 10/21/2023] Open
Abstract
The physicochemical and structural properties of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) determine their mechanism of action and biological function. However, the development of AMPs as therapeutic drugs has been traditionally limited by their toxicity for human cells. Tuning the physicochemical properties of such molecules may abolish toxicity and yield synthetic molecules displaying optimal safety profiles and enhanced antimicrobial activity. Here, natural peptides were modified to improve their activity by the hybridization of sequences from two different active peptide sequences. Hybrid AMPs (hAMPs) were generated by combining the amphipathic faces of the highly toxic peptide VmCT1, derived from scorpion venom, with parts of four other naturally occurring peptides having high antimicrobial activity and low toxicity against human cells. This strategy led to the design of seven synthetic bioactive variants, all of which preserved their structure and presented increased antimicrobial activity (3.1-128 μmol L-1). Five of the peptides (three being hAMPs) presented high antiplasmodial at 0.8 μmol L-1, and virtually no undesired toxic effects against red blood cells. In sum, we demonstrate that peptide hybridization is an effective strategy for redirecting biological activity to generate novel bioactive molecules with desired properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cibele Nicolaski Pedron
- Centro de Ciências Naturais e Humanas, Universidade Federal do ABC, Santo André, SP, 09210580, Brazil
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, 04044020, Brazil
| | - Marcelo Der Torossian Torres
- Machine Biology Group, Departments of Psychiatry and Microbiology, Institute for Biomedical Informatics, Institute for Translational Medicine and Therapeutics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Departments of Bioengineering and Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, School of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Penn Institute for Computational Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Cyntia Silva Oliveira
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, 04044020, Brazil
| | - Adriana Farias Silva
- Departamento de Biofísica, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, 04044020, Brazil
| | - Gislaine Patricia Andrade
- Centro de Ciências Naturais e Humanas, Universidade Federal do ABC, Santo André, SP, 09210580, Brazil
- Departamento de Biofísica, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, 04044020, Brazil
| | - Yiming Wang
- Departments of Bioengineering and Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, School of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Penn Institute for Computational Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | | | - Giselle Cerchiaro
- Centro de Ciências Naturais e Humanas, Universidade Federal do ABC, Santo André, SP, 09210580, Brazil
| | | | - Fernanda Dias da Silva
- Centro de Ciências Naturais e Humanas, Universidade Federal do ABC, Santo André, SP, 09210580, Brazil
| | - Ravi Radhakrishnan
- Departments of Bioengineering and Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, School of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Penn Institute for Computational Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Cesar de la Fuente-Nunez
- Machine Biology Group, Departments of Psychiatry and Microbiology, Institute for Biomedical Informatics, Institute for Translational Medicine and Therapeutics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
- Departments of Bioengineering and Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, School of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
- Penn Institute for Computational Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
| | - Vani Xavier Oliveira Junior
- Centro de Ciências Naturais e Humanas, Universidade Federal do ABC, Santo André, SP, 09210580, Brazil.
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, 04044020, Brazil.
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22
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Ahmad B, Achek A, Farooq M, Choi S. Accelerated NLRP3 inflammasome-inhibitory peptide design using a recurrent neural network model and molecular dynamics simulations. Comput Struct Biotechnol J 2023; 21:4825-4835. [PMID: 37854633 PMCID: PMC10579963 DOI: 10.1016/j.csbj.2023.09.038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2023] [Revised: 09/27/2023] [Accepted: 09/27/2023] [Indexed: 10/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Anomalous NLRP3 inflammasome responses have been linked to multiple health issues, including but not limited to atherosclerosis, diabetes, metabolic syndrome, cardiovascular disease, and neurodegenerative disease. Thus, targeting NLRP3 and modulating its associated immune response might be a promising strategy for developing new anti-inflammatory drugs. Herein, we report a computational method for de novo peptide design for targeting NLRP3 inflammasomes. The described method leverages a long-short-term memory (LSTM) network based on a recurrent neural network (RNN) to model a valuable latent space of molecules. The resulting classifiers are utilized to guide the selection of molecules generated by the model based on circular dichroism spectra and physicochemical features derived from high-throughput molecular dynamics simulations. Of the experimentally tested sequences, 60% of the peptides showed NLRP3-mediated inhibition of IL-1β and IL-18. One peptide displayed high potency against NLRP3-mediated IL-1β inhibition. However, NLRC4 and AIM2 inflammasome-mediated IL-1β secretion was uninterrupted by this peptide, demonstrating its selectivity toward the NLRP3 inflammasome. Overall, these results indicate that deep learning and molecular dynamics can accelerate the discovery of NLRP3 inhibitors with potent and selective activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bilal Ahmad
- Department of Molecular Science and Technology, Ajou University, Suwon 16499, South Korea
- S&K Therapeutics, Ajou University, Campus Plaza 418, Worldcup-ro 199, Yeongtong-gu, Suwon 16502, South Korea
| | - Asma Achek
- Department of Molecular Science and Technology, Ajou University, Suwon 16499, South Korea
- Technology Development Platform, Institut Pasteur Korea, Seongnam 13488, Soouth Korea
| | - Mariya Farooq
- Department of Molecular Science and Technology, Ajou University, Suwon 16499, South Korea
- S&K Therapeutics, Ajou University, Campus Plaza 418, Worldcup-ro 199, Yeongtong-gu, Suwon 16502, South Korea
| | - Sangdun Choi
- Department of Molecular Science and Technology, Ajou University, Suwon 16499, South Korea
- S&K Therapeutics, Ajou University, Campus Plaza 418, Worldcup-ro 199, Yeongtong-gu, Suwon 16502, South Korea
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23
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da Silva JF, Tou CJ, King EM, Eller ML, Ma L, Rufino-Ramos D, Kleinstiver BP. Click editing enables programmable genome writing using DNA polymerases and HUH endonucleases. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.09.12.557440. [PMID: 37745481 PMCID: PMC10515857 DOI: 10.1101/2023.09.12.557440] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/26/2023]
Abstract
Genome editing technologies that install diverse edits can widely enable genetic studies and new therapeutics. Here we develop click editing, a genome writing platform that couples the advantageous properties of DNA-dependent DNA polymerases with RNA-programmable nickases (e.g. CRISPR-Cas) to permit the installation of a range of edits including substitutions, insertions, and deletions. Click editors (CEs) leverage the "click"-like bioconjugation ability of HUH endonucleases (HUHes) with single stranded DNA substrates to covalently tether "click DNA" (clkDNA) templates encoding user-specifiable edits at targeted genomic loci. Through iterative optimization of the modular components of CEs (DNA polymerase and HUHe orthologs, architectural modifications, etc.) and their clkDNAs (template configurations, repair evading substitutions, etc.), we demonstrate the ability to install precise genome edits with minimal indels and no unwanted byproduct insertions. Since clkDNAs can be ordered as simple DNA oligonucleotides for cents per base, it is possible to screen many different clkDNA parameters rapidly and inexpensively to maximize edit efficiency. Together, click editing is a precise and highly versatile platform for modifying genomes with a simple workflow and broad utility across diverse biological applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joana Ferreira da Silva
- Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, 02114, USA
- Department of Pathology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, 02114, USA
- Department of Pathology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Connor J. Tou
- Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, 02114, USA
- Department of Pathology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, 02114, USA
- Biological Engineering Program, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| | - Emily M. King
- Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, 02114, USA
- Department of Pathology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, 02114, USA
- Biological and Biomedical Sciences Program, Harvard University, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Madeline L. Eller
- Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, 02114, USA
- Department of Pathology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, 02114, USA
| | - Linyuan Ma
- Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, 02114, USA
- Department of Pathology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, 02114, USA
- Department of Pathology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - David Rufino-Ramos
- Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, 02114, USA
- Department of Pathology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, 02114, USA
- Department of Pathology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Benjamin P. Kleinstiver
- Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, 02114, USA
- Department of Pathology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, 02114, USA
- Department of Pathology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
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24
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Torres MDT, Brooks E, Cesaro A, Sberro H, Nicolaou C, Bhatt AS, de la Fuente-Nunez C. Human gut metagenomic mining reveals an untapped source of peptide antibiotics. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.08.31.555711. [PMID: 37693399 PMCID: PMC10491270 DOI: 10.1101/2023.08.31.555711] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/12/2023]
Abstract
Drug-resistant bacteria are outpacing traditional antibiotic discovery efforts. Here, we computationally mined 444,054 families of putative small proteins from 1,773 human gut metagenomes, identifying 323 peptide antibiotics encoded in small open reading frames (smORFs). To test our computational predictions, 78 peptides were synthesized and screened for antimicrobial activity in vitro, with 59% displaying activity against either pathogens or commensals. Since these peptides were unique compared to previously reported antimicrobial peptides, we termed them smORF-encoded peptides (SEPs). SEPs killed bacteria by targeting their membrane, synergized with each other, and modulated gut commensals, indicating that they may play a role in reconfiguring microbiome communities in addition to counteracting pathogens. The lead candidates were anti-infective in both murine skin abscess and deep thigh infection models. Notably, prevotellin-2 from Prevotella copri presented activity comparable to the commonly used antibiotic polymyxin B. We report the discovery of hundreds of peptide sequences in the human gut.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcelo D. T. Torres
- Machine Biology Group, Departments of Psychiatry and Microbiology, Institute for Biomedical Informatics, Institute for Translational Medicine and Therapeutics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States of America
- Departments of Bioengineering and Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, School of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States of America
- Penn Institute for Computational Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States of America
| | - Erin Brooks
- Department of Medicine (Hematology; Blood and Marrow Transplantation), Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States of America
| | - Angela Cesaro
- Machine Biology Group, Departments of Psychiatry and Microbiology, Institute for Biomedical Informatics, Institute for Translational Medicine and Therapeutics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States of America
- Departments of Bioengineering and Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, School of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States of America
- Penn Institute for Computational Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States of America
| | - Hila Sberro
- Department of Medicine (Hematology; Blood and Marrow Transplantation), Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States of America
| | - Cosmos Nicolaou
- Department of Medicine (Hematology; Blood and Marrow Transplantation), Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States of America
| | - Ami S. Bhatt
- Department of Medicine (Hematology; Blood and Marrow Transplantation), Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States of America
- Department of Genetics, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, United States of America
| | - Cesar de la Fuente-Nunez
- Machine Biology Group, Departments of Psychiatry and Microbiology, Institute for Biomedical Informatics, Institute for Translational Medicine and Therapeutics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States of America
- Departments of Bioengineering and Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, School of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States of America
- Penn Institute for Computational Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States of America
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25
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Sen S, Samat R, Jash M, Ghosh S, Roy R, Mukherjee N, Ghosh S, Sarkar J, Ghosh S. Potential Broad-Spectrum Antimicrobial, Wound Healing, and Disinfectant Cationic Peptide Crafted from Snake Venom. J Med Chem 2023; 66:11555-11572. [PMID: 37566805 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.3c01150] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/13/2023]
Abstract
Antimicrobial cationic peptides are intriguing and propitious antibiotics for the future, even against multidrug-resistant superbugs. Venoms serve as a source of cutting-edge therapeutics and innovative, unexplored medicines. In this study, a novel cationic peptide library consisting of seven sequences was designed and synthesized from the snake venom cathelicidin, batroxicidin (BatxC), with the inclusion of the FLPII motif at the N-terminus. SP1V3_1 demonstrated exceptional antibacterial effectiveness against Escherichia coli, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Klebsiella pneumoniae and destroyed the bacteria by depolarizing, rupturing, and permeabilizing their membranes, as evident from fluorescence assays, atomic force microscopy, and scanning electron microscopy. SP1V3_1 was observed to modulate the immune response in LPS-elicited U937 cells and exhibited good antibiofilm activity against MRSA and K. pneumoniae. The peptide promoted wound healing and disinfection in the murine model. The study demonstrated that SP1V3_1 is an exciting peptide lead and may be explored further for the development of better therapeutic peptides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samya Sen
- Department of Bioscience and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology, Jodhpur, Rajasthan 342030, India
- iHUB Drishti Foundation, Indian Institute of Technology, Jodhpur, Rajasthan 342030, India
| | - Ramkamal Samat
- Smart Healthcare Department, Interdisciplinary Research Platform, Indian Institute of Technology, Jodhpur, Rajasthan 342030, India
| | - Moumita Jash
- Department of Bioscience and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology, Jodhpur, Rajasthan 342030, India
| | - Satyajit Ghosh
- Department of Bioscience and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology, Jodhpur, Rajasthan 342030, India
| | - Rajsekhar Roy
- Department of Bioscience and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology, Jodhpur, Rajasthan 342030, India
| | - Nabanita Mukherjee
- Smart Healthcare Department, Interdisciplinary Research Platform, Indian Institute of Technology, Jodhpur, Rajasthan 342030, India
| | - Surojit Ghosh
- Smart Healthcare Department, Interdisciplinary Research Platform, Indian Institute of Technology, Jodhpur, Rajasthan 342030, India
| | - Jayita Sarkar
- Centre for Research and Development of Scientific Instruments, Indian Institute of Technology, Jodhpur, Rajasthan 342030, India
| | - Surajit Ghosh
- Department of Bioscience and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology, Jodhpur, Rajasthan 342030, India
- Smart Healthcare Department, Interdisciplinary Research Platform, Indian Institute of Technology, Jodhpur, Rajasthan 342030, India
- iHUB Drishti Foundation, Indian Institute of Technology, Jodhpur, Rajasthan 342030, India
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26
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Maasch JRMA, Torres MDT, Melo MCR, de la Fuente-Nunez C. Molecular de-extinction of ancient antimicrobial peptides enabled by machine learning. Cell Host Microbe 2023; 31:1260-1274.e6. [PMID: 37516110 DOI: 10.1016/j.chom.2023.07.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2022] [Revised: 05/12/2023] [Accepted: 07/06/2023] [Indexed: 07/31/2023]
Abstract
Molecular de-extinction could offer avenues for drug discovery by reintroducing bioactive molecules that are no longer encoded by extant organisms. To prospect for antimicrobial peptides encrypted within extinct and extant human proteins, we introduce the panCleave random forest model for proteome-wide cleavage site prediction. Our model outperformed multiple protease-specific cleavage site classifiers for three modern human caspases, despite its pan-protease design. Antimicrobial activity was observed in vitro for modern and archaic protein fragments identified with panCleave. Lead peptides showed resistance to proteolysis and exhibited variable membrane permeabilization. Additionally, representative modern and archaic protein fragments showed anti-infective efficacy against A. baumannii in both a skin abscess infection model and a preclinical murine thigh infection model. These results suggest that machine-learning-based encrypted peptide prospection can identify stable, nontoxic peptide antibiotics. Moreover, we establish molecular de-extinction through paleoproteome mining as a framework for antibacterial drug discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacqueline R M A Maasch
- Department of Computer and Information Science, School of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Machine Biology Group, Departments of Psychiatry and Microbiology, Institute for Biomedical Informatics, Institute for Translational Medicine and Therapeutics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Department of Bioengineering, Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, School of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Penn Institute for Computational Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Marcelo D T Torres
- Machine Biology Group, Departments of Psychiatry and Microbiology, Institute for Biomedical Informatics, Institute for Translational Medicine and Therapeutics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Department of Bioengineering, Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, School of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Penn Institute for Computational Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Marcelo C R Melo
- Machine Biology Group, Departments of Psychiatry and Microbiology, Institute for Biomedical Informatics, Institute for Translational Medicine and Therapeutics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Department of Bioengineering, Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, School of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Penn Institute for Computational Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Cesar de la Fuente-Nunez
- Machine Biology Group, Departments of Psychiatry and Microbiology, Institute for Biomedical Informatics, Institute for Translational Medicine and Therapeutics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Department of Bioengineering, Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, School of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Penn Institute for Computational Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
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27
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Nonato da Silva Júnior P, Serra Nunes JV, Duque BR, Batista Pereira AJ, Magalhães EP, Oliveira CS, Freire KA, Pedron CN, Oliveira VX, Sampaio TL, Costa Martins AM. Effect from dinoponeratoxin M-PONTXDq3a arginine and lysine substituted analogues against Staphylococcus aureus strains. Toxicon 2023; 231:107190. [PMID: 37301297 DOI: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2023.107190] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2023] [Revised: 05/29/2023] [Accepted: 06/07/2023] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
The growing incidence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections is associated with increased mortality rates, which has generated interest in the development of antimicrobial peptides (AMP), such as those found in the giant ant Dinoponera quadríceps. In order to improve the net positive charge and the antibacterial activity of the AMP, amino acids with positive side chain single substituted analogues have been proposed, mainly arginine or lysine. The present work aims to study the antimicrobial activity of the analogues of M-PONTX-Dq3a, a 23 amino acid AMP identified in the D. quadriceps venom. M-PONTX-Dq3a[1-15], a fragment containing the 15 central amino acids, and eight derivatives of single arginine or lysine substituted analogues were proposed. The antimicrobial activity of peptides was evaluated against Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 6538 P (MSSA) and ATCC 33591 (MRSA) strains, followed by minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), minimum lethal concentration (MLC), and minimum biofilm inhibitory concentration (MBIC) measurement. The membrane permeability was then assessed via crystal violet assay and flow cytometry analysis. The effect of exposure time on microbial viability (Time-Kill) was evaluated. Finally, ultrastructural alterations were evaluated through scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Both arginine-substituted peptides [Arg]3M-PONTX-Dq3a[1-15] and [Arg]4M-PONTX-Dq3a[1-15], showed lowest MIC and MLC values (each 0.78 μM). In the biofilm formation assays, the peptide [Arg]3M-PONTX-Dq3a [1-15] showed MBIC of 3.12 μM against the two tested strains. Both peptides were able to alter the membrane permeability approximately by 80%. The treatment with MIC was able to eliminate bacteria after 2 h of contact on the other hand, treatment with half of the MIC, the population of both bacterial strains remained constant for up to 12 h, indicating a possible bacteriostatic effect. The SEM results showed that the treatment with the lowest concentration (0.78 μM) of both peptides caused disruption of the cell membrane, destabilization of the intercellular interaction and the CLM of [Arg]4M-PONTX-Dq3a [1-15] resulted in the complete eradication of the bacteria. Thus, this study describes two AMPs active against MSSA and MRSA and also inhibits the biofilm formation of these stains. This study finds [Arg]3M-PONTX-Dq3a[1-15] and [Arg]4M-PONTX-Dq3a[1-15] as alternative substances to treat resistant and/or biofilm-forming strains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pedro Nonato da Silva Júnior
- Department of Clinical and Toxicological Analysis, School of Pharmacy, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, CE, Brazil
| | - João Victor Serra Nunes
- Department of Clinical and Toxicological Analysis, School of Pharmacy, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, CE, Brazil
| | - Bruna Ribeiro Duque
- Department of Clinical and Toxicological Analysis, School of Pharmacy, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, CE, Brazil
| | - Ana Júlia Batista Pereira
- Department of Clinical and Toxicological Analysis, School of Pharmacy, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, CE, Brazil
| | - Emanuel Paula Magalhães
- Department of Clinical and Toxicological Analysis, School of Pharmacy, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, CE, Brazil
| | - Cyntia Silva Oliveira
- Department of Molecular Biology, Federal University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | | | | | - Vani Xavier Oliveira
- Center for Natural and Human Sciences, Federal University of ABC, Santo André, SP, Brazil; Department of Biophyics, Federal University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Tiago Lima Sampaio
- Department of Clinical and Toxicological Analysis, School of Pharmacy, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, CE, Brazil
| | - Alice Maria Costa Martins
- Department of Clinical and Toxicological Analysis, School of Pharmacy, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, CE, Brazil.
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Boaro A, Ageitos L, Torres MDT, Blasco EB, Oztekin S, de la Fuente-Nunez C. Structure-function-guided design of synthetic peptides with anti-infective activity derived from wasp venom. CELL REPORTS. PHYSICAL SCIENCE 2023; 4:101459. [PMID: 38239869 PMCID: PMC10795512 DOI: 10.1016/j.xcrp.2023.101459] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2024]
Abstract
Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) derived from natural toxins and venoms offer a promising alternative source of antibiotics. Here, through structure-function-guided design, we convert two natural AMPs derived from the venom of the solitary eumenine wasp Eumenes micado into α-helical AMPs with reduced toxicity that kill Gram-negative bacteria in vitro and in a preclinical mouse model. To identify the sequence determinants conferring antimicrobial activity, an alanine scan screen and strategic single lysine substitutions are made to the amino acid sequence of these natural peptides. These efforts yield a total of 34 synthetic derivatives, including alanine substituted and lysine-substituted sequences with stabilized α-helical structures and increased net positive charge. The resulting lead synthetic peptides kill the Gram-negative pathogens Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PAO1 and PA14) by rapidly permeabilizing both their outer and cytoplasmic membranes, exhibit anti-infective efficacy in a mouse model by reducing bacterial loads by up to three orders of magnitude, and do not readily select for bacterial resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andreia Boaro
- Machine Biology Group, Departments of Psychiatry and Microbiology, Institute for Biomedical Informatics, Institute for Translational Medicine and Therapeutics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
- Departments of Bioengineering and Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, School of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
- Penn Institute for Computational Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
- Present address: Centro de Ciências Naturais e Humanas, Universidade Federal do ABC, Santo André, São Paulo 09210-580, Brazil
- These authors contributed equally
| | - Lucía Ageitos
- Machine Biology Group, Departments of Psychiatry and Microbiology, Institute for Biomedical Informatics, Institute for Translational Medicine and Therapeutics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
- Departments of Bioengineering and Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, School of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
- Penn Institute for Computational Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
- Present address: CICA - Centro Interdisciplinar de Química e Bioloxía, Departamento de Química, Facultade de Ciencias, Universidade da Coruña, 15008 A Coruña, Spain
- These authors contributed equally
| | - Marcelo Der Torossian Torres
- Machine Biology Group, Departments of Psychiatry and Microbiology, Institute for Biomedical Informatics, Institute for Translational Medicine and Therapeutics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
- Departments of Bioengineering and Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, School of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
- Penn Institute for Computational Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Esther Broset Blasco
- Machine Biology Group, Departments of Psychiatry and Microbiology, Institute for Biomedical Informatics, Institute for Translational Medicine and Therapeutics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
- Departments of Bioengineering and Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, School of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
- Penn Institute for Computational Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Sebahat Oztekin
- Machine Biology Group, Departments of Psychiatry and Microbiology, Institute for Biomedical Informatics, Institute for Translational Medicine and Therapeutics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
- Departments of Bioengineering and Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, School of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
- Penn Institute for Computational Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
- Present address: Faculty of Engineering, Department of Food Engineering, Bayburt University, Bayburt 69000, Turkey
| | - Cesar de la Fuente-Nunez
- Machine Biology Group, Departments of Psychiatry and Microbiology, Institute for Biomedical Informatics, Institute for Translational Medicine and Therapeutics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
- Departments of Bioengineering and Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, School of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
- Penn Institute for Computational Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
- Lead contact
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29
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Chen N, Jiang C. Antimicrobial peptides: Structure, mechanism, and modification. Eur J Med Chem 2023; 255:115377. [PMID: 37099837 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2023.115377] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 25.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2023] [Revised: 04/03/2023] [Accepted: 04/11/2023] [Indexed: 04/28/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Na Chen
- School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, 639 Longmian Avenue, Nanjing, 211198, China
| | - Cheng Jiang
- School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, 639 Longmian Avenue, Nanjing, 211198, China.
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30
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Cesaro A, Bagheri M, Torres MDT, Wan F, de la Fuente-Nunez C. Deep learning tools to accelerate antibiotic discovery. Expert Opin Drug Discov 2023; 18:1245-1257. [PMID: 37794737 PMCID: PMC10790350 DOI: 10.1080/17460441.2023.2250721] [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: 05/19/2023] [Accepted: 08/18/2023] [Indexed: 10/06/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION As machine learning (ML) and artificial intelligence (AI) expand to many segments of our society, they are increasingly being used for drug discovery. Recent deep learning models offer an efficient way to explore high-dimensional data and design compounds with desired properties, including those with antibacterial activity. AREAS COVERED This review covers key frameworks in antibiotic discovery, highlighting physicochemical features and addressing dataset limitations. The deep learning approaches here described include discriminative models such as convolutional neural networks, recurrent neural networks, graph neural networks, and generative models like neural language models, variational autoencoders, generative adversarial networks, normalizing flow, and diffusion models. As the integration of these approaches in drug discovery continues to evolve, this review aims to provide insights into promising prospects and challenges that lie ahead in harnessing such technologies for the development of antibiotics. EXPERT OPINION Accurate antimicrobial prediction using deep learning faces challenges such as imbalanced data, limited datasets, experimental validation, target strains, and structure. The integration of deep generative models with bioinformatics, molecular dynamics, and data augmentation holds the potential to overcome these challenges, enhance model performance, and utlimately accelerate antimicrobial discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angela Cesaro
- Machine Biology Group, Departments of Psychiatry and Microbiology, Institute for Biomedical Informatics, Institute for Translational Medicine and Therapeutics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
- Departments of Bioengineering and Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, School of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
- Penn Institute for Computational Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Mojtaba Bagheri
- Machine Biology Group, Departments of Psychiatry and Microbiology, Institute for Biomedical Informatics, Institute for Translational Medicine and Therapeutics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
- Departments of Bioengineering and Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, School of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
- Penn Institute for Computational Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Marcelo D. T. Torres
- Machine Biology Group, Departments of Psychiatry and Microbiology, Institute for Biomedical Informatics, Institute for Translational Medicine and Therapeutics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
- Departments of Bioengineering and Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, School of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
- Penn Institute for Computational Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Fangping Wan
- Machine Biology Group, Departments of Psychiatry and Microbiology, Institute for Biomedical Informatics, Institute for Translational Medicine and Therapeutics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
- Departments of Bioengineering and Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, School of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
- Penn Institute for Computational Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Cesar de la Fuente-Nunez
- Machine Biology Group, Departments of Psychiatry and Microbiology, Institute for Biomedical Informatics, Institute for Translational Medicine and Therapeutics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
- Departments of Bioengineering and Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, School of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
- Penn Institute for Computational Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
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31
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Shang L, Liu J, Wu Y, Wang M, Fei C, Liu Y, Xue F, Zhang L, Gu F. Peptide Supramolecular Hydrogels with Sustained Release Ability for Combating Multidrug-Resistant Bacteria. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2023. [PMID: 37230936 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.3c01453] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
Chronic wound infection caused by multidrug-resistant bacteria is a major threat globally, leading to high mortality rates and a considerable economic burden. To address it, an innovative supramolecular nanofiber hydrogel (Hydrogel-RL) harboring antimicrobial peptides was developed based on the novel arginine end-tagging peptide (Pep 6) from our recent study, triggering cross-linking. In vitro results demonstrated that Hydrogel-RL can sustain the release of Pep 6 up to 120 h profiles, which is biocompatible and exhibits superior activity for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) biofilm inhibition and elimination. A single treatment of supramolecular Hydrogel-RL on an MRSA skin infection model revealed formidable antimicrobial activity and therapeutic effects in vivo. In the chronic wound infection model, Hydrogel-RL promoted mouse skin cell proliferation, reduced inflammation, accelerated re-epithelialization, and regulated muscle and collagen fiber formation, rapidly healing full-thickness skin wounds. To show its vehicle property for wound infection combined therapy, etamsylate, an antihemorrhagic drug, was loaded into the porous network of Hydrogel-RL, which demonstrated improved hemostatic activity. Collectively, Hydrogel-RL is a promising clinical candidate agent for functional supramolecular biomaterials designed for combating multidrug-resistant bacteria and rescuing stalled healing in chronic wound infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lu Shang
- Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai 200241, China
- Key Laboratory of Veterinary Chemical Drugs and Pharmaceutics, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Shanghai 200241, China
| | - Jing Liu
- Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai 200241, China
- Key Laboratory of Veterinary Chemical Drugs and Pharmaceutics, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Shanghai 200241, China
| | - Yuting Wu
- Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai 200241, China
- Key Laboratory of Veterinary Chemical Drugs and Pharmaceutics, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Shanghai 200241, China
| | - Mi Wang
- Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai 200241, China
- Key Laboratory of Veterinary Chemical Drugs and Pharmaceutics, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Shanghai 200241, China
| | - Chenzhong Fei
- Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai 200241, China
- Key Laboratory of Veterinary Chemical Drugs and Pharmaceutics, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Shanghai 200241, China
| | - Yingchun Liu
- Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai 200241, China
- Key Laboratory of Veterinary Chemical Drugs and Pharmaceutics, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Shanghai 200241, China
| | - Feiqun Xue
- Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai 200241, China
- Key Laboratory of Veterinary Chemical Drugs and Pharmaceutics, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Shanghai 200241, China
| | - Lifang Zhang
- Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai 200241, China
- Key Laboratory of Veterinary Chemical Drugs and Pharmaceutics, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Shanghai 200241, China
| | - Feng Gu
- Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai 200241, China
- Key Laboratory of Veterinary Chemical Drugs and Pharmaceutics, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Shanghai 200241, China
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32
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Duque HM, Rodrigues G, Santos LS, Franco OL. The biological role of charge distribution in linear antimicrobial peptides. Expert Opin Drug Discov 2023; 18:287-302. [PMID: 36720196 DOI: 10.1080/17460441.2023.2173736] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Antimicrobial peptides (AMP) have received particular attention due to their capacity to kill bacteria. Although much is known about them, peptides are currently being further researched. A large number of AMPs have been discovered, but only a few have been approved for topical use, due to their promiscuity and other challenges, which need to be overcome. AREAS COVERED AMPs are diverse in structure. Consequently, they have varied action mechanisms when targeting microorganisms or eukaryotic cells. Herein, the authors focus on linear peptides, particularly those that are alpha-helical structured, and examine how their charge distribution and hydrophobic amino acids could modulate their biological activity. EXPERT OPINION The world currently needs urgent solutions to the infective problems caused by resistant pathogens. In order to start the race for antimicrobial development from the charge distribution viewpoint, bioinformatic tools will be necessary. Currently, there is no software available that allows to discriminate charge distribution in AMPs and predicts the biological effects of this event. Furthermore, there is no software available that predicts the side-chain length of residues and its role in biological functions. More specialized software is necessary.
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Affiliation(s)
- Harry Morales Duque
- Centro de Análises Proteômicas e Bioquímicas, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Genômicas e Biotecnologia, Universidade Católica de Brasília, PC: (CEP) 70.790-160, Brasília-DF, Brazil
| | - Gisele Rodrigues
- Centro de Análises Proteômicas e Bioquímicas, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Genômicas e Biotecnologia, Universidade Católica de Brasília, PC: (CEP) 70.790-160, Brasília-DF, Brazil
| | - Lucas Souza Santos
- Centro de Análises Proteômicas e Bioquímicas, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Genômicas e Biotecnologia, Universidade Católica de Brasília, PC: (CEP) 70.790-160, Brasília-DF, Brazil
| | - Octávio Luiz Franco
- Centro de Análises Proteômicas e Bioquímicas, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Genômicas e Biotecnologia, Universidade Católica de Brasília, PC: (CEP) 70.790-160, Brasília-DF, Brazil.,S-inova Biotech, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biotecnologia, Universidade Católica Dom Bosco, PC: (CEP) 79117-010, Campo Grande-MS, Brazil
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Li T, Wang Z, Guo J, de la Fuente-Nunez C, Wang J, Han B, Tao H, Liu J, Wang X. Bacterial resistance to antibacterial agents: Mechanisms, control strategies, and implications for global health. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 860:160461. [PMID: 36435256 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.160461] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 29.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2022] [Revised: 11/19/2022] [Accepted: 11/20/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
The spread of bacterial drug resistance has posed a severe threat to public health globally. Here, we cover bacterial resistance to current antibacterial drugs, including traditional herbal medicines, conventional antibiotics, and antimicrobial peptides. We summarize the influence of bacterial drug resistance on global health and its economic burden while highlighting the resistance mechanisms developed by bacteria. Based on the One Health concept, we propose 4A strategies to combat bacterial resistance, including prudent Application of antibacterial agents, Administration, Assays, and Alternatives to antibiotics. Finally, we identify several opportunities and unsolved questions warranting future exploration for combating bacterial resistance, such as predicting genetic bacterial resistance through the use of more effective techniques, surveying both genetic determinants of bacterial resistance and the transmission dynamics of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs).
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Affiliation(s)
- Ting Li
- Institute of Feed Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, PR China; Key Laboratory of Feed Biotechnology, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Beijing 100081, PR China; State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Biotechnology, No. 20, Dongda Street, Fengtai District, Beijing 100071, PR China
| | - Zhenlong Wang
- Institute of Feed Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, PR China; Key Laboratory of Feed Biotechnology, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Beijing 100081, PR China
| | - Jianhua Guo
- Australian Centre for Water and Environmental Biotechnology (ACWEB, formerly AWMC), The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland 4072, Australia.
| | - Cesar de la Fuente-Nunez
- Machine Biology Group, Departments of Psychiatry and Microbiology, Institute for Biomedical Informatics, Institute for Translational Medicine and Therapeutics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States of America; Departments of Bioengineering and Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, School of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States of America; Penn Institute for Computational Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States of America.
| | - Jinquan Wang
- Institute of Feed Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, PR China; Key Laboratory of Feed Biotechnology, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Beijing 100081, PR China
| | - Bing Han
- Institute of Feed Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, PR China; Key Laboratory of Feed Biotechnology, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Beijing 100081, PR China
| | - Hui Tao
- Institute of Feed Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, PR China; Key Laboratory of Feed Biotechnology, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Beijing 100081, PR China
| | - Jie Liu
- Institute of Feed Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, PR China; Key Laboratory of Feed Biotechnology, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Beijing 100081, PR China
| | - Xiumin Wang
- Institute of Feed Research, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, PR China; Key Laboratory of Feed Biotechnology, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Beijing 100081, PR China.
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Ageitos L, Torres MDT, de la Fuente-Nunez C. Biologically Active Peptides from Venoms: Applications in Antibiotic Resistance, Cancer, and Beyond. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms232315437. [PMID: 36499761 PMCID: PMC9740984 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232315437] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2022] [Revised: 10/04/2022] [Accepted: 10/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Peptides are potential therapeutic alternatives against global diseases, such as antimicrobial-resistant infections and cancer. Venoms are a rich source of bioactive peptides that have evolved over time to act on specific targets of the prey. Peptides are one of the main components responsible for the biological activity and toxicity of venoms. South American organisms such as scorpions, snakes, and spiders are important producers of a myriad of peptides with different biological activities. In this review, we report the main venom-derived peptide families produced from South American organisms and their corresponding activities and biological targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucía Ageitos
- Machine Biology Group, Departments of Psychiatry and Microbiology, Institute for Biomedical Informatics, Institute for Translational Medicine and Therapeutics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
- Departments of Bioengineering and Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, School of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
- Penn Institute for Computational Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Marcelo D. T. Torres
- Machine Biology Group, Departments of Psychiatry and Microbiology, Institute for Biomedical Informatics, Institute for Translational Medicine and Therapeutics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
- Departments of Bioengineering and Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, School of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
- Penn Institute for Computational Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Cesar de la Fuente-Nunez
- Machine Biology Group, Departments of Psychiatry and Microbiology, Institute for Biomedical Informatics, Institute for Translational Medicine and Therapeutics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
- Departments of Bioengineering and Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, School of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
- Penn Institute for Computational Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
- Correspondence:
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Cardoso PHDO, Boleti APDA, Silva PSE, Mukoyama LTH, Guindo AS, de Moraes LFRN, de Oliveira CFR, Macedo MLR, Carvalho CME, de Castro AP, Migliolo L. Evaluation of a Novel Synthetic Peptide Derived from Cytolytic Mycotoxin Candidalysin. Toxins (Basel) 2022; 14:toxins14100696. [PMID: 36287965 PMCID: PMC9610734 DOI: 10.3390/toxins14100696] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2022] [Revised: 09/03/2022] [Accepted: 09/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
The importance of neuroinflammation in neurology is becoming increasingly apparent. In addition to neuroinflammatory diseases such as multiple sclerosis, the role of neuroinflammation has been identified in many non-inflammatory neurological disorders such as stroke, epilepsy, and cancer. The immune response within the brain involves the presence of CNS resident cells; mainly glial cells, such as microglia, the CNS resident macrophages. We evaluated the peptide Ca-MAP1 bioinspired on the C. albicans immature cytolytic toxin candidalysin to develop a less hemolytic peptide with anti-neuroinflammatory, antibacterial, and cytotoxic activity against tumor cells. In silico and in vitro studies were performed at various concentrations. Ca-MAP1 exhibits low hemolytic activity at lower concentrations and was not cytotoxic to MRC-5 and BV-2 cells. Ca-MAP1 showed activity against Acinetobacter baumannii, Escherichia coli ATCC, E. coli KPC, Klebsiella pneumoniae ATCC, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Staphylococcus aureus ATCC. Furthermore, Ca-MAP1 exhibits anti-neuroinflammatory activity in the BV-2 microglia model, with 93.78% inhibition of nitrate production at 18.1 µM. Ca-MAP1 presents cytotoxic activity against tumor cell line NCI-H292 at 36.3 μM, with an IC50 of 38.4 µM. Ca-MAP1 demonstrates results that qualify it to be evaluated in the next steps to promote the control of infections and provide an alternative antitumor therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pedro Henrique de Oliveira Cardoso
- S-Inova Biotech, Programa de Pós-graduação em Biotecnologia, Universidade Católica Dom Bosco, Campo Grande 79117-900, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil
| | - Ana Paula de Araújo Boleti
- S-Inova Biotech, Programa de Pós-graduação em Biotecnologia, Universidade Católica Dom Bosco, Campo Grande 79117-900, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil
| | - Patrícia Souza e Silva
- S-Inova Biotech, Programa de Pós-graduação em Biotecnologia, Universidade Católica Dom Bosco, Campo Grande 79117-900, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil
| | - Lincoln Takashi Hota Mukoyama
- S-Inova Biotech, Programa de Pós-graduação em Biotecnologia, Universidade Católica Dom Bosco, Campo Grande 79117-900, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil
| | - Alexya Sandim Guindo
- S-Inova Biotech, Programa de Pós-graduação em Biotecnologia, Universidade Católica Dom Bosco, Campo Grande 79117-900, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil
| | - Luiz Filipe Ramalho Nunes de Moraes
- S-Inova Biotech, Programa de Pós-graduação em Biotecnologia, Universidade Católica Dom Bosco, Campo Grande 79117-900, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil
| | - Caio Fernando Ramalho de Oliveira
- Laboratório de Purificação de Proteínas e suas Funções Biológicas, Unidade de Tecnologia de Alimentos e da Saúde Pública, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso do Sul, Campo Grande 79070-900, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil
| | - Maria Ligia Rodrigues Macedo
- Laboratório de Purificação de Proteínas e suas Funções Biológicas, Unidade de Tecnologia de Alimentos e da Saúde Pública, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso do Sul, Campo Grande 79070-900, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil
| | - Cristiano Marcelo Espínola Carvalho
- S-Inova Biotech, Programa de Pós-graduação em Biotecnologia, Universidade Católica Dom Bosco, Campo Grande 79117-900, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil
| | - Alinne Pereira de Castro
- S-Inova Biotech, Programa de Pós-graduação em Biotecnologia, Universidade Católica Dom Bosco, Campo Grande 79117-900, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil
| | - Ludovico Migliolo
- S-Inova Biotech, Programa de Pós-graduação em Biotecnologia, Universidade Católica Dom Bosco, Campo Grande 79117-900, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +55-67-33123473
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Nanoparticle Emulsions Enhance the Inhibition of NLRP3. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms231710168. [PMID: 36077562 PMCID: PMC9456257 DOI: 10.3390/ijms231710168] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2022] [Revised: 08/25/2022] [Accepted: 08/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Antibacterial delivery emulsions are potential materials for treating bacterial infections. Few studies have focused on the role and mechanism of emulsions in inflammation relief. Therefore, based on our previous analysis, in which the novel and natural Pickering emulsions stabilized by antimicrobial peptide nanoparticles were prepared, the regulation effect of emulsion on inflammasome was explored in silico, in vitro and in vivo. Firstly, the interactions between inflammasome components and parasin I or Pickering emulsion were predicted by molecular docking. Then, the inflammasome stimulation by different doses of the emulsion was tested in RAW 264.7 and THP-1 cells. Finally, in Kunming mice with peritonitis, NLRP3 and IL-1β expression in the peritoneum were evaluated. The results showed that the Pickering emulsion could combine with ALK, casp-1, NEK7, or NLRP3 to affect the assembly of the NLRP3 and further relieve inflammation. LPNE showed a dose–dependent inhibition effect on the release of IL-1β and casp-1. With the concentration of parasin I increased from 1.5 mg/mL to 3 mg/mL, the LDH activity decreased in the chitosan peptide-embedded nanoparticles emulsion (CPENE) and lipid/peptide nanoparticles emulsion (LPNE) groups. However, from 1.5 to 6 mg/mL, LPNE had a dose–dependent effect on the release of casp-1. The CPENE and parasin I-conjugated chitosan nanoparticles emulsion (PCNE) may decrease the release of potassium and chloride ions. Therefore, it can be concluded that the LPNE may inhibit the activation of the inflammasome by decreasing LDH activity, potassium and chloride ions through binding with compositions of NLRP3.
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Cardoso MH, Chan LY, Cândido ES, Buccini DF, Rezende SB, Torres MDT, Oshiro KGN, Silva ÍC, Gonçalves S, Lu TK, Santos NC, de la Fuente-Nunez C, Craik DJ, Franco OL. An N-capping asparagine-lysine-proline (NKP) motif contributes to a hybrid flexible/stable multifunctional peptide scaffold. Chem Sci 2022; 13:9410-9424. [PMID: 36093022 PMCID: PMC9383710 DOI: 10.1039/d1sc06998e] [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: 12/16/2021] [Accepted: 07/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Structural diversity drives multiple biological activities and mechanisms of action in linear peptides. Here we describe an unusual N-capping asparagine-lysine-proline (NKP) motif that confers a hybrid multifunctional scaffold to a computationally designed peptide (PaDBS1R7). PaDBS1R7 has a shorter α-helix segment than other computationally designed peptides of similar sequence but with key residue substitutions. Although this motif acts as an α-helix breaker in PaDBS1R7, the Asn5 presents exclusive N-capping effects, forming a belt to establish hydrogen bonds for an amphipathic α-helix stabilization. The combination of these different structural profiles was described as a coil/N-cap/α-helix scaffold, which was also observed in diverse computational peptide mutants. Biological studies revealed that all peptides displayed antibacterial activities. However, only PaDBS1R7 displayed anticancer properties, eradicated Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilms, decreased bacterial counts by 100-1000-fold in vivo, reduced lipopolysaccharide-induced macrophages stress, and stimulated fibroblast migration for wound healing. This study extends our understanding of an N-capping NKP motif to engineering hybrid multifunctional peptide drug candidates with potent anti-infective and immunomodulatory properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marlon H Cardoso
- S-Inova Biotech, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biotecnologia, Universidade Católica Dom Bosco Avenida Tamandaré 6000 Campo Grande - MS 79117900 Brazil
- Centro de Análises Proteômicas e Bioquímicas, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Genômicas e Biotecnologia, Universidade Católica de Brasília SGAN 916 Módulo B, Asa Norte, Brasília - DF 70790160 Brazil
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Patologia Molecular, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Brasília, Campus Darcy Ribeiro Asa Norte Brasília - DF 70910900 Brazil
- Instituto de Biociências (INBIO), Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso do Sul, Cidade Universitária 79070900 Campo Grande Mato Grosso do Sul Brazil
| | - Lai Y Chan
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Peptide and Protein Science, The University of Queensland Brisbane QLD, 4072 Australia
| | - Elizabete S Cândido
- S-Inova Biotech, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biotecnologia, Universidade Católica Dom Bosco Avenida Tamandaré 6000 Campo Grande - MS 79117900 Brazil
- Centro de Análises Proteômicas e Bioquímicas, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Genômicas e Biotecnologia, Universidade Católica de Brasília SGAN 916 Módulo B, Asa Norte, Brasília - DF 70790160 Brazil
| | - Danieli F Buccini
- S-Inova Biotech, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biotecnologia, Universidade Católica Dom Bosco Avenida Tamandaré 6000 Campo Grande - MS 79117900 Brazil
| | - Samilla B Rezende
- S-Inova Biotech, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biotecnologia, Universidade Católica Dom Bosco Avenida Tamandaré 6000 Campo Grande - MS 79117900 Brazil
| | - Marcelo D T Torres
- Machine Biology Group, Departments of Psychiatry and Microbiology, Institute for Biomedical Informatics, Institute for Translational Medicine and Therapeutics, Perelman School of Medicine, Departments of Bioengineering and Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, School of Engineering and Applied Science, Penn Institute for Computational Science, University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia Pennsylvania USA
| | - Karen G N Oshiro
- S-Inova Biotech, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biotecnologia, Universidade Católica Dom Bosco Avenida Tamandaré 6000 Campo Grande - MS 79117900 Brazil
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Patologia Molecular, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Brasília, Campus Darcy Ribeiro Asa Norte Brasília - DF 70910900 Brazil
| | - Ítala C Silva
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa Lisbon Portugal
| | - Sónia Gonçalves
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa Lisbon Portugal
| | - Timothy K Lu
- Synthetic Biology Group, MIT Synthetic Biology Center, The Center for Microbiome Informatics and Therapeutics, Research Laboratory of Electronics, Department of Biological Engineering, Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology Cambridge - MA 02139 USA
| | - Nuno C Santos
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa Lisbon Portugal
| | - Cesar de la Fuente-Nunez
- Machine Biology Group, Departments of Psychiatry and Microbiology, Institute for Biomedical Informatics, Institute for Translational Medicine and Therapeutics, Perelman School of Medicine, Departments of Bioengineering and Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, School of Engineering and Applied Science, Penn Institute for Computational Science, University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia Pennsylvania USA
| | - David J Craik
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Peptide and Protein Science, The University of Queensland Brisbane QLD, 4072 Australia
| | - Octávio L Franco
- S-Inova Biotech, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biotecnologia, Universidade Católica Dom Bosco Avenida Tamandaré 6000 Campo Grande - MS 79117900 Brazil
- Centro de Análises Proteômicas e Bioquímicas, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Genômicas e Biotecnologia, Universidade Católica de Brasília SGAN 916 Módulo B, Asa Norte, Brasília - DF 70790160 Brazil
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Patologia Molecular, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Brasília, Campus Darcy Ribeiro Asa Norte Brasília - DF 70910900 Brazil
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Soybean peptide inhibits the biofilm of periodontopathic bacteria via bactericidal activity. Arch Oral Biol 2022; 142:105497. [PMID: 35849907 DOI: 10.1016/j.archoralbio.2022.105497] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2022] [Revised: 06/09/2022] [Accepted: 06/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE This study aimed to clarify the antibacterial mechanism and antibiofilm effect of soybean-derived peptide BCBS-11 against periodontopathic bacteria. DESIGN The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of BCBS-11 against Porphyromonas gingivalis (P. gingivalis), Fusobacterium nucleatum (F. nucleatum), and Streptococcus mitis (S. mitis) were determined for the antibacterial mechanism. The effect of BCBS-11 on membrane permeability and depolarization activity were investigated using propidium iodide (PI) staining and 3, 3'-dipropylthiadicarbocyanine iodide (DiSC3-(5)) analysis. Monospecies and multispecies biofilms were cultured on 96-well plates. The amount of biofilm was determined using crystal violet staining to determine the inhibition of biofilm formation and the eradication of established biofilm using BCBS-11. The cytotoxicity of BCBS-11 was evaluated using 3-(4, 5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)- 2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. RESULTS The MIC and MBC indicated the bactericidal activity of BCBS-11 against P. gingivalis and F. nucleatum. The PI staining revealed that BCBS-11 disrupted the bacterial membrane integrity. The DiSC3-(5) analysis indicated that BCBS-11 depolarized the bacterial cytoplasmic membrane. These results indicate the antimicrobial action of BCBS-11 through membrane disruption and the collapse of membrane electrochemical gradient. BCBS-11 significantly inhibited the monospecies biofilm formation of P. gingivalis and F. nucleatum and also inhibited dual-species biofilm. BCBS-11 was not cytotoxic toward human oral epithelial cells. CONCLUSIONS BCBS-11 inhibits the monospecies and multispecies biofilm formation of P. gingivalis and F. nucleatum, and their bactericidal activity results from membrane disruption.
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Ajayakumar N, Narayanan P, Anitha AK, R MK, Kumar S. Membrane disruptive action of cationic anti-bacterial peptide B1CTcu3. Chembiochem 2022; 23:e202200239. [PMID: 35713298 DOI: 10.1002/cbic.202200239] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2022] [Revised: 06/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
A twenty-two-residue peptide Brevinin1 Clinotarsus curtipus-3 (B1CTcu3), identified from the skin secretion of frog Clinotarsus curtipes of the Western Ghats, exhibited a broad range of antibacterial activity against Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria, including the methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). It showed anti-biofilm activity even at sub-Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (sub-MIC) against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus. Analysis of the scanning electron microscopic (SEM) images, confocal images, flow cytometric data and the effect of salt concentration on antibacterial potency suggests that the killing action of the peptide is through the membranolytic process. Single channel electric recording confirmed that the peptide elicited pores on the bacterial cell membrane as it induces a heterogeneous channel in the lipid bilayer. It also showed cytotoxicity against MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cell with IC50 of 25µM. B1CTcu3 peptide could serve as the template for next-generation antibacterial agents, particularly against antibiotic resistant pathogenic bacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Neethu Ajayakumar
- Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology, Chemical Biology Lab, RGCB-BIO innovation centre, Kinfra film and video park, Chandavila, kazhakoottam, 695523, trivandrum, INDIA
| | - Pratibha Narayanan
- Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology, Chemical Biology Lab, rgcb-BIC Innovation Centre, Kinfra film and video park, Chandavila, Kazhakoottam, 695523, Trivandrum, INDIA
| | - Anju Krishnan Anitha
- Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology, Chemical Biology Lab, RGCB-BIC Innovation Centre, Kinfra film and video park, Chandavila, Kazhakoottam, 695523, Trivandrum, INDIA
| | - Mahendran Kozhinjampara R
- Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology, Membrane biology lab, RGCB-BIC Innovation centre, Kinfra film and video park, chandavila, kazhakoottam, 695523, rivandrum, INDIA
| | - Santhosh Kumar
- Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology, Chemical Biology, Poojappura, 695014, Thiruvananthapuram, INDIA
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Guido-Patiño JC, Plisson F. Profiling hymenopteran venom toxins: Protein families, structural landscape, biological activities, and pharmacological benefits. Toxicon X 2022; 14:100119. [PMID: 35372826 PMCID: PMC8971319 DOI: 10.1016/j.toxcx.2022.100119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2022] [Revised: 03/14/2022] [Accepted: 03/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Hymenopterans are an untapped source of venom secretions. Their recent proteo-transcriptomic studies have revealed an extraordinary pool of toxins that participate in various biological processes, including pain, paralysis, allergic reactions, and antimicrobial activities. Comprehensive and clade-specific campaigns to collect hymenopteran venoms are therefore needed. We consider that data-driven bioprospecting may help prioritise sampling and alleviate associated costs. This work established the current protein landscape from hymenopteran venoms to evaluate possible sample bias by studying their origins, sequence diversity, known structures, and biological functions. We collected all 282 reported hymenopteran toxins (peptides and proteins) from the UniProt database that we clustered into 21 protein families from the three studied clades - wasps, bees, and ants. We identified 119 biological targets of hymenopteran toxins ranging from pathogen membranes to eukaryotic proteases, ion channels and protein receptors. Our systematic study further extended to hymenopteran toxins' therapeutic and biotechnological values, where we revealed promising applications in crop pests, human infections, autoimmune diseases, and neurodegenerative disorders. The hymenopteran toxin diversity includes 21 protein families from 81 species. Some toxins are shared across wasps, bees and ants, others are clade-specific. Their venoms contain membrane-active peptides, neurotoxins, allergens and enzymes. Hymenopteran toxins have been tested against a total of 119 biological targets. Hymenopteran toxins were predominantly evaluated as anti-infective agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan Carlos Guido-Patiño
- Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados Del IPN (CINVESTAV), Unidad de Genómica Avanzada, Laboratorio Nacional de Genómica para La Biodiversidad (Langebio), Irapuato, Guanajuato, 36824, Mexico
| | - Fabien Plisson
- CONACYT, Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados Del IPN (CINVESTAV), Unidad de Genómica Avanzada, Laboratorio Nacional de Genómica para La Biodiversidad (Langebio), Irapuato, Guanajuato, 36824, Mexico
- Corresponding author.
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41
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Arqué X, Torres MDT, Patiño T, Boaro A, Sánchez S, de la Fuente-Nunez C. Autonomous Treatment of Bacterial Infections in Vivo Using Antimicrobial Micro- and Nanomotors. ACS NANO 2022; 16:7547-7558. [PMID: 35486889 PMCID: PMC9134509 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.1c11013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Abstract
The increasing resistance of bacteria to existing antibiotics constitutes a major public health threat globally. Most current antibiotic treatments are hindered by poor delivery to the infection site, leading to undesired off-target effects and drug resistance development and spread. Here, we describe micro- and nanomotors that effectively and autonomously deliver antibiotic payloads to the target area. The active motion and antimicrobial activity of the silica-based robots are driven by catalysis of the enzyme urease and antimicrobial peptides, respectively. These antimicrobial motors show micromolar bactericidal activity in vitro against different Gram-positive and Gram-negative pathogenic bacterial strains and act by rapidly depolarizing their membrane. Finally, they demonstrated autonomous anti-infective efficacy in vivo in a clinically relevant abscess infection mouse model. In summary, our motors combine navigation, catalytic conversion, and bactericidal capacity to deliver antimicrobial payloads to specific infection sites. This technology represents a much-needed tool to direct therapeutics to their target to help combat drug-resistant infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xavier Arqué
- Institute
for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), Barcelona 08028, Spain
| | - Marcelo D. T. Torres
- Machine
Biology Group, Departments of Psychiatry and Microbiology, Institute
for Biomedical Informatics, Institute for Translational Medicine and
Therapeutics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States
- Departments
of Bioengineering and Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, School
of Engineering and Applied Science, University
of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States
- Penn
Institute for Computational Science, University
of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States
| | - Tania Patiño
- Institute
for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), Barcelona 08028, Spain
- Chemistry
Department, University of Rome, Tor Vergata, Rome 00133, Italy
| | - Andreia Boaro
- Machine
Biology Group, Departments of Psychiatry and Microbiology, Institute
for Biomedical Informatics, Institute for Translational Medicine and
Therapeutics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States
- Departments
of Bioengineering and Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, School
of Engineering and Applied Science, University
of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States
- Penn
Institute for Computational Science, University
of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States
| | - Samuel Sánchez
- Institute
for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), Barcelona 08028, Spain
- Institució
Catalana de Recerca i Estudis Avançats (ICREA), Barcelona 08010, Spain
| | - Cesar de la Fuente-Nunez
- Machine
Biology Group, Departments of Psychiatry and Microbiology, Institute
for Biomedical Informatics, Institute for Translational Medicine and
Therapeutics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States
- Departments
of Bioengineering and Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, School
of Engineering and Applied Science, University
of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States
- Penn
Institute for Computational Science, University
of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States
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42
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Ageitos L, de la Fuente-Nunez C. Antimicrobial Peptides: Potential Therapeutics Against Drug-Resistant Pulmonary Infections. Arch Bronconeumol 2022; 58:383-385. [PMID: 34642532 PMCID: PMC8496903 DOI: 10.1016/j.arbres.2021.09.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Lucía Ageitos
- Centro de Investigacións Científicas Avanzadas (CICA) e Departamento de Química, Facultade de Ciencias, Universidade da Coruña, Calle de la Maestranza, 9, A Coruña 15071, Spain; Machine Biology Group, Departments of Psychiatry and Microbiology, Institute for Biomedical Informatics, Institute for Translational Medicine and Therapeutics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States; Departments of Bioengineering and Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, School of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States; Penn Institute for Computational Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Cesar de la Fuente-Nunez
- Machine Biology Group, Departments of Psychiatry and Microbiology, Institute for Biomedical Informatics, Institute for Translational Medicine and Therapeutics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States; Departments of Bioengineering and Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, School of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States; Penn Institute for Computational Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States.
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Chen CH, Bepler T, Pepper K, Fu D, Lu TK. Synthetic molecular evolution of antimicrobial peptides. Curr Opin Biotechnol 2022; 75:102718. [PMID: 35395425 DOI: 10.1016/j.copbio.2022.102718] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2021] [Revised: 02/14/2022] [Accepted: 03/01/2022] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
As we learn more about how peptide structure and activity are related, we anticipate that antimicrobial peptides will be engineered to have strong potency and distinct functions and that synthetic peptides will have new biomedical applications, such as treatments for emerging infectious diseases. As a result of the enormous number of possible amino acid sequences and the low-throughput nature of antimicrobial peptide assays, computational tools for peptide design and optimization are needed for direct experimentation toward obtaining functional sequences. Recent developments in computational tools have improved peptide design, saving labor, reagents, costs, and time. At the same time, improvements in peptide synthesis and experimental platforms continue to reduce the cost and increase the throughput of peptide-drug screening. In this review, we discuss the current methods of peptide design and engineering, including in silico methods and peptide synthesis and screening, and highlight areas of potential improvement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charles H Chen
- Synthetic Biology Center, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, MA 02139, USA; Synthetic Biology Group, Research Laboratory of Electronics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, MA 02139, USA; Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA.
| | - Tristan Bepler
- Synthetic Biology Center, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, MA 02139, USA; Synthetic Biology Group, Research Laboratory of Electronics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, MA 02139, USA; Simons Machine Learning Center, New York Structural Biology Center, New York, NY 10027, USA
| | - Karen Pepper
- Synthetic Biology Group, Research Laboratory of Electronics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Debbie Fu
- Department of Biology, Tufts University, Medford, MA 02155, USA
| | - Timothy K Lu
- Synthetic Biology Center, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, MA 02139, USA; Synthetic Biology Group, Research Laboratory of Electronics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, MA 02139, USA; Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA; Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, MA 02142, USA; Harvard-MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA; Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cambridge, MA 02142, USA; Senti Biosciences, South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA.
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Cesaro A, Torres MDT, Gaglione R, Dell'Olmo E, Di Girolamo R, Bosso A, Pizzo E, Haagsman HP, Veldhuizen EJA, de la Fuente-Nunez C, Arciello A. Synthetic Antibiotic Derived from Sequences Encrypted in a Protein from Human Plasma. ACS NANO 2022; 16:1880-1895. [PMID: 35112568 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.1c04496] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Encrypted peptides have been recently found in the human proteome and represent a potential class of antibiotics. Here we report three peptides derived from the human apolipoprotein B (residues 887-922) that exhibited potent antimicrobial activity against drug-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumannii, and Staphylococci both in vitro and in an animal model. The peptides had excellent cytotoxicity profiles, targeted bacteria by depolarizing and permeabilizing their cytoplasmic membrane, inhibited biofilms, and displayed anti-inflammatory properties. Importantly, the peptides, when used in combination, potentiated the activity of conventional antibiotics against bacteria and did not select for bacterial resistance. To ensure translatability of these molecules, a protease resistant retro-inverso variant of the lead encrypted peptide was synthesized and demonstrated anti-infective activity in a preclinical mouse model. Our results provide a link between human plasma and innate immunity and point to the blood as a source of much-needed antimicrobials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angela Cesaro
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, Naples I-80126, Italy
- Department of Biomolecular Health Sciences, Division of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Section Molecular Host Defence, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht 3584 CL, The Netherlands
- Machine Biology Group, Departments of Psychiatry and Microbiology, Institute for Biomedical Informatics, Institute for Translational Medicine and Therapeutics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States
- Departments of Bioengineering and Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, School of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States
- Penn Institute for Computational Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States
| | - Marcelo D T Torres
- Machine Biology Group, Departments of Psychiatry and Microbiology, Institute for Biomedical Informatics, Institute for Translational Medicine and Therapeutics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States
- Departments of Bioengineering and Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, School of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States
- Penn Institute for Computational Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States
| | - Rosa Gaglione
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, Naples I-80126, Italy
- Istituto Nazionale di Biostrutture e Biosistemi (INBB), Rome 00136, Italy
| | - Eliana Dell'Olmo
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, Naples I-80126, Italy
| | - Rocco Di Girolamo
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, Naples I-80126, Italy
| | - Andrea Bosso
- Department of Biology, University of Naples Federico II, Naples I-80126, Italy
| | - Elio Pizzo
- Department of Biology, University of Naples Federico II, Naples I-80126, Italy
| | - Henk P Haagsman
- Department of Biomolecular Health Sciences, Division of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Section Molecular Host Defence, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht 3584 CL, The Netherlands
| | - Edwin J A Veldhuizen
- Department of Biomolecular Health Sciences, Division of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Section Immunology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht 3584 CL, The Netherlands
| | - Cesar de la Fuente-Nunez
- Machine Biology Group, Departments of Psychiatry and Microbiology, Institute for Biomedical Informatics, Institute for Translational Medicine and Therapeutics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States
- Departments of Bioengineering and Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, School of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States
- Penn Institute for Computational Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States
| | - Angela Arciello
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, Naples I-80126, Italy
- Istituto Nazionale di Biostrutture e Biosistemi (INBB), Rome 00136, Italy
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Lim EJ, Leng EGT, Tram NDT, Periayah MH, Ee PLR, Barkham TMS, Poh ZS, Verma NK, Lakshminarayanan R. Rationalisation of Antifungal Properties of α-Helical Pore-Forming Peptide, Mastoparan B. Molecules 2022; 27:molecules27041438. [PMID: 35209228 PMCID: PMC8879275 DOI: 10.3390/molecules27041438] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2021] [Revised: 02/03/2022] [Accepted: 02/14/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
The high mortality associated with invasive fungal infections, narrow spectrum of available antifungals, and increasing evolution of antifungal resistance necessitate the development of alternative therapies. Host defense peptides are regarded as the first line of defense against microbial invasion in both vertebrates and invertebrates. In this work, we investigated the effectiveness of four naturally occurring pore-forming antimicrobial peptides (melittin, magainin 2, cecropin A, and mastoparan B) against a panel of clinically relevant pathogens, including Candida albicans, Candida parapsilosis, Candida tropicalis, and Candida glabrata. We present data on the antifungal activities of the four pore-forming peptides, assessed with descriptive statistics, and their cytocompatibility with cultured human cells. Among the four peptides, mastoparan B (MB) displayed potent antifungal activity, whereas cecropin A was the least potent. We show that MB susceptibility of phylogenetically distant non-candida albicans can vary and be described by different intrinsic physicochemical parameters of pore-forming α-helical peptides. These findings have potential therapeutic implications for the design and development of safe antifungal peptide-based drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edward Jianyang Lim
- Ocular Infections and Anti-Microbials Research Group, Singapore Eye Research Institute, The Academia, 20 College Road, Discovery Tower, Singapore 169856, Singapore; (E.J.L.); (E.G.T.L.); (M.H.P.)
| | - Eunice Goh Tze Leng
- Ocular Infections and Anti-Microbials Research Group, Singapore Eye Research Institute, The Academia, 20 College Road, Discovery Tower, Singapore 169856, Singapore; (E.J.L.); (E.G.T.L.); (M.H.P.)
| | - Nhan Dai Thien Tram
- Department of Pharmacy, National University of Singapore, 18 Science Drive 4, Singapore 117543, Singapore; (N.D.T.T.); (P.L.R.E.)
| | - Mercy Halleluyah Periayah
- Ocular Infections and Anti-Microbials Research Group, Singapore Eye Research Institute, The Academia, 20 College Road, Discovery Tower, Singapore 169856, Singapore; (E.J.L.); (E.G.T.L.); (M.H.P.)
| | - Pui Lai Rachel Ee
- Department of Pharmacy, National University of Singapore, 18 Science Drive 4, Singapore 117543, Singapore; (N.D.T.T.); (P.L.R.E.)
| | | | - Zhi Sheng Poh
- Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University Singapore, Clinical Sciences Building, 11 Mandalay Road, Singapore 308232, Singapore;
| | - Navin Kumar Verma
- Ocular Infections and Anti-Microbials Research Group, Singapore Eye Research Institute, The Academia, 20 College Road, Discovery Tower, Singapore 169856, Singapore; (E.J.L.); (E.G.T.L.); (M.H.P.)
- Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University Singapore, Clinical Sciences Building, 11 Mandalay Road, Singapore 308232, Singapore;
- National Skin Centre, 1 Mandalay Road, Singapore 308205, Singapore
- Correspondence: (N.K.V.); (R.L.)
| | - Rajamani Lakshminarayanan
- Ocular Infections and Anti-Microbials Research Group, Singapore Eye Research Institute, The Academia, 20 College Road, Discovery Tower, Singapore 169856, Singapore; (E.J.L.); (E.G.T.L.); (M.H.P.)
- Department of Pharmacy, National University of Singapore, 18 Science Drive 4, Singapore 117543, Singapore; (N.D.T.T.); (P.L.R.E.)
- Academic Clinical Program in Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences Academic Clinical Program, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore 169857, Singapore
- Correspondence: (N.K.V.); (R.L.)
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Cesaro A, Torres MDT, de la Fuente-Nunez C. Methods for the design and characterization of peptide antibiotics. Methods Enzymol 2022; 663:303-326. [PMID: 35168794 DOI: 10.1016/bs.mie.2021.11.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
Multi-drug resistant infections cause the death of millions of people worldwide. Today, there is an urgent need to identify innovative and sustainable alternatives to conventional antibiotics and to develop outside the box strategies to counter drug resistance. Versatile molecules such as antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), which display multiple mechanisms of action, have been explored as templates constituting a new generation of antibiotics. Here, we review recent methodological advances for the design, structural and functional characterization of AMPs. The methodologies outlined here have been validated and well established and may be used as a guide for the discovery, design, development, and reprogramming of peptide antibiotics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angela Cesaro
- Machine Biology Group, Departments of Psychiatry and Microbiology, Institute for Biomedical Informatics, Institute for Translational Medicine and Therapeutics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States; Departments of Bioengineering and Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, School of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States; Penn Institute for Computational Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Marcelo Der Torossian Torres
- Machine Biology Group, Departments of Psychiatry and Microbiology, Institute for Biomedical Informatics, Institute for Translational Medicine and Therapeutics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States; Departments of Bioengineering and Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, School of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States; Penn Institute for Computational Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Cesar de la Fuente-Nunez
- Machine Biology Group, Departments of Psychiatry and Microbiology, Institute for Biomedical Informatics, Institute for Translational Medicine and Therapeutics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States; Departments of Bioengineering and Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, School of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States; Penn Institute for Computational Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States.
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Shang L, Wu Y, Wei N, Yang F, Wang M, Zhang L, Fei C, Liu Y, Xue F, Gu F. Novel Arginine End-Tagging Antimicrobial Peptides to Combat Multidrug-Resistant Bacteria. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2022; 14:245-258. [PMID: 34964342 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.1c19305] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
The emergence of multidrug-resistant microorganisms has been termed one of the most common global health threats, emphasizing the discovery of new antibacterial agents. To address this issue, we engineered peptides harboring "RWWWR" as a central motif plus arginine (R) end-tagging and then tested them in vitro and in vivo. Our results demonstrate that Pep 6, one of the engineered peptides, shows great potential in combating Escherichia coli bacteremia and the Staphylococcus aureus skin burn infection model, which induces a 62-90% reduction in bacterial burden. Remarkably, after long serial passages of S. aureus and E. coli for 30 days, Pep 6 is still highly efficient in killing pathogens, compared with 64- and 128-fold increase in minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) for vancomycin and polymyxin B, respectively. We also found that Pep 6 exhibited robust biofilm-inhibiting activity and eliminated 61.33% of the mature methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) biofilm with concentration in the MIC level. These results suggest that the RWWWR motif and binding of arginine end-tagging could be harnessed as a new agent for combating multidrug-resistant bacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lu Shang
- Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai 200241, China
- Key Laboratory of Veterinary Chemical Drugs and Pharmaceutics, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Shanghai 200241, China
| | - Yuting Wu
- Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai 200241, China
- Key Laboratory of Veterinary Chemical Drugs and Pharmaceutics, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Shanghai 200241, China
| | - Nan Wei
- Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai 200241, China
- Key Laboratory of Veterinary Chemical Drugs and Pharmaceutics, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Shanghai 200241, China
| | - Fayu Yang
- Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai 200241, China
- Key Laboratory of Veterinary Chemical Drugs and Pharmaceutics, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Shanghai 200241, China
| | - Mi Wang
- Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai 200241, China
- Key Laboratory of Veterinary Chemical Drugs and Pharmaceutics, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Shanghai 200241, China
| | - Lifang Zhang
- Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai 200241, China
- Key Laboratory of Veterinary Chemical Drugs and Pharmaceutics, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Shanghai 200241, China
| | - Chenzhong Fei
- Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai 200241, China
- Key Laboratory of Veterinary Chemical Drugs and Pharmaceutics, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Shanghai 200241, China
| | - Yingchun Liu
- Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai 200241, China
- Key Laboratory of Veterinary Chemical Drugs and Pharmaceutics, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Shanghai 200241, China
| | - Feiqun Xue
- Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai 200241, China
- Key Laboratory of Veterinary Chemical Drugs and Pharmaceutics, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Shanghai 200241, China
| | - Feng Gu
- Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai 200241, China
- Key Laboratory of Veterinary Chemical Drugs and Pharmaceutics, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Shanghai 200241, China
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Bhaumik KN, Hetényi A, Olajos G, Martins A, Spohn R, Németh L, Jojart B, Szili P, Dunai A, Jangir PK, Daruka L, Földesi I, Kata D, Pál C, Martinek TA. Rationally designed foldameric adjuvants enhance antibiotic efficacy via promoting membrane hyperpolarization. MOLECULAR SYSTEMS DESIGN & ENGINEERING 2022; 7:21-33. [PMID: 35127141 PMCID: PMC8724909 DOI: 10.1039/d1me00118c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2021] [Accepted: 10/06/2021] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
The negative membrane potential of bacterial cells influences crucial cellular processes. Inspired by the molecular scaffold of the antimicrobial peptide PGLa, we have developed antimicrobial foldamers with a computer-guided design strategy. The novel PGLa analogues induce sustained membrane hyperpolarization. When co-administered as an adjuvant, the resulting compounds - PGLb1 and PGLb2 - have substantially reduced the level of antibiotic resistance of multi-drug resistant Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Shigella flexneri clinical isolates. The observed antibiotic potentiation was mediated by hyperpolarization of the bacterial membrane caused by the alteration of cellular ion transport. Specifically, PGLb1 and PGLb2 are selective ionophores that enhance the Goldman-Hodgkin-Katz potential across the bacterial membrane. These findings indicate that manipulating bacterial membrane electrophysiology could be a valuable tool to overcome antimicrobial resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaushik Nath Bhaumik
- Department of Medical Chemistry, University of Szeged Dóm tér 8 Szeged HU-6720 Hungary
| | - Anasztázia Hetényi
- Department of Medical Chemistry, University of Szeged Dóm tér 8 Szeged HU-6720 Hungary
| | - Gábor Olajos
- Department of Medical Chemistry, University of Szeged Dóm tér 8 Szeged HU-6720 Hungary
| | - Ana Martins
- Synthetic and Systems Biology Unit, Biological Research Centre, Eötvös Loránd Research Network (ELKH) Szeged Hungary
| | - Réka Spohn
- Synthetic and Systems Biology Unit, Biological Research Centre, Eötvös Loránd Research Network (ELKH) Szeged Hungary
| | - Lukács Németh
- Institute of Food Engineering, University of Szeged Szeged Hungary
| | - Balázs Jojart
- Institute of Food Engineering, University of Szeged Szeged Hungary
| | - Petra Szili
- Synthetic and Systems Biology Unit, Biological Research Centre, Eötvös Loránd Research Network (ELKH) Szeged Hungary
- Doctoral School of Multidisciplinary Medical Sciences, University of Szeged Szeged Hungary
| | - Anett Dunai
- Synthetic and Systems Biology Unit, Biological Research Centre, Eötvös Loránd Research Network (ELKH) Szeged Hungary
| | - Pramod K Jangir
- Synthetic and Systems Biology Unit, Biological Research Centre, Eötvös Loránd Research Network (ELKH) Szeged Hungary
| | - Lejla Daruka
- Synthetic and Systems Biology Unit, Biological Research Centre, Eötvös Loránd Research Network (ELKH) Szeged Hungary
- Doctoral School of Biology, Faculty of Science and Informatics, University of Szeged Szeged Hungary
| | - Imre Földesi
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of Szeged Szeged Hungary
| | - Diána Kata
- Doctoral School of Biology, Faculty of Science and Informatics, University of Szeged Szeged Hungary
| | - Csaba Pál
- Synthetic and Systems Biology Unit, Biological Research Centre, Eötvös Loránd Research Network (ELKH) Szeged Hungary
| | - Tamás A Martinek
- Department of Medical Chemistry, University of Szeged Dóm tér 8 Szeged HU-6720 Hungary
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de Souza CM, da Silva ÁP, Júnior NGO, Martínez OF, Franco OL. Peptides as a therapeutic strategy against Klebsiella pneumoniae. Trends Pharmacol Sci 2022; 43:335-348. [DOI: 10.1016/j.tips.2021.12.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2021] [Revised: 12/20/2021] [Accepted: 12/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
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Li Y, Cai J, Du C, Lin Y, Li S, Ma A, Qin Y. Bioinformatic analysis and antiviral effect of Periplaneta americana defensins. Virus Res 2021; 308:198627. [PMID: 34785275 DOI: 10.1016/j.virusres.2021.198627] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2021] [Revised: 11/01/2021] [Accepted: 11/06/2021] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Due to the lack of an adaptive immune system, insects rely on innate immune mechanisms to fight against pathogenic infections. Two major innate immune pathways, Toll and IMD, orchestrate anti-pathogen responses by regulating the expression of antimicrobial peptide (AMP) genes. Although the antifungal or antibacterial function of AMPs has been well characterized, the antiviral role of AMPs in insects remains largely unclear. Periplaneta americana (P. americana), or the American cockroach, is used in traditional Chinese medicine as an antiviral agent; however, the underlying mechanism of action of P. americana extracts is unclear. Our previous study showed that the P. americana genome encodes multiple antimicrobial peptide genes. Based on these data, we predicted five novel P. americana defensins (PaDefensins) and analyzed their primary structure, secondary structure, and physicochemical properties. The putative antiviral, antifungal, antibacterial, and anticancer activities suggested that PaDefensin5 is a desirable therapeutic candidate against viral diseases. As the first experimental evidence of the antiviral effects of insect defensins, we also showed the antiviral effect of PaDefensin5 in Drosophila Kc cells and Drosophila embryos in vivo . In conclusion, results of both in silico predictions and subsequent antiviral experiments suggested PaDefensin5 a promising antiviral drug.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Li
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Insect Developmental Biology and Applied Technology, Institute of Insect Science and Technology & School of Life Sciences, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, China; Guangmeiyuan R&D Center, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Insect Developmental Biology and Applied Technology, South China Normal University, Meizhou, China
| | - Jie Cai
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Insect Developmental Biology and Applied Technology, Institute of Insect Science and Technology & School of Life Sciences, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, China; Guangmeiyuan R&D Center, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Insect Developmental Biology and Applied Technology, South China Normal University, Meizhou, China
| | - Chunyu Du
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Insect Developmental Biology and Applied Technology, Institute of Insect Science and Technology & School of Life Sciences, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, China; Guangmeiyuan R&D Center, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Insect Developmental Biology and Applied Technology, South China Normal University, Meizhou, China
| | - Yuhua Lin
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Insect Developmental Biology and Applied Technology, Institute of Insect Science and Technology & School of Life Sciences, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Sheng Li
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Insect Developmental Biology and Applied Technology, Institute of Insect Science and Technology & School of Life Sciences, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, China; Guangmeiyuan R&D Center, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Insect Developmental Biology and Applied Technology, South China Normal University, Meizhou, China
| | - Anping Ma
- Insititution of chemical surveillance, Guangdong Province Hospital for Occupational Disease Prevention and Treatment, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Yiru Qin
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Insect Developmental Biology and Applied Technology, Institute of Insect Science and Technology & School of Life Sciences, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, China; Insititution of chemical surveillance, Guangdong Province Hospital for Occupational Disease Prevention and Treatment, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.
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