An anti-infective synthetic peptide with dual antimicrobial and immunomodulatory activities

Decoding the Role of Antimicrobial Peptides in the Fight against Mycobacterium tuberculosis

Tuberculosis (TB), a leading infectious disease caused by the pathogen Mycobacterium tuberculosis, poses a significant treatment challenge due to its unique characteristics and resistance to existing drugs. The conventional treatment regimens, which are lengthy and involve multiple drugs, often result in poor patient adherence and subsequent drug resistance, particularly with multidrug-resistant (MDR) and extensively drug-resistant (XDR) strains. This highlights the urgent need for novel anti-TB therapies and new drug targets. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), which are natural host defense molecules present in all living organisms, offer a promising alternative to traditional small-molecule drugs. AMPs have several advantages, including their broad-spectrum activity and the potential to circumvent existing resistance mechanisms. However, their clinical application faces challenges such as stability, delivery, and potential toxicity. This review aims to provide essential information on AMPs, including their sources, classification, mode of action, induction within the host under stress, efficacy against M. tuberculosis, clinical status and hurdles to their use. It also highlights future research directions to address these challenges and advance the development of AMP-based therapies for TB.

Immunomodulatory peptides: new therapeutic horizons for emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases

The emergence and re-emergence of multi-drug-resistant (MDR) infectious diseases have once again posed a significant global health challenge, largely attributed to the development of bacterial resistance to conventional anti-microbial treatments. To mitigate the risk of drug resistance globally, both antibiotics and immunotherapy are essential. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), also referred to as host defense peptides (HDPs), present a promising therapeutic alternative for treating drug-resistant infections due to their various mechanisms of action, which encompass antimicrobial and immunomodulatory effects. Many eukaryotic organisms produce HDPs as a defense mechanism, for example Purothionin from Triticum aestivum plant, Defensins, Cathelicidins, and Histatins from humans and many such peptides are currently the focus of research because of their antibacterial, antiviral and anti-fungicidal properties. This article offers a comprehensive review of the immunomodulatory activities of HDPs derived from eukaryotic organisms including humans, plants, birds, amphibians, reptiles, and marine species along with their mechanisms of action and therapeutic benefits.

SAMP: Identifying antimicrobial peptides by an ensemble learning model based on proportionalized split amino acid composition

It is projected that 10 million deaths could be attributed to drug-resistant bacteria infections in 2050. To address this concern, identifying new-generation antibiotics is an effective way. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), a class of innate immune effectors, have received significant attention for their capacity to eliminate drug-resistant pathogens, including viruses, bacteria, and fungi. Recent years have witnessed widespread applications of computational methods especially machine learning (ML) and deep learning (DL) for discovering AMPs. However, existing methods only use features including compositional, physiochemical, and structural properties of peptides, which cannot fully capture sequence information from AMPs. Here, we present SAMP, an ensemble random projection (RP) based computational model that leverages a new type of feature called proportionalized split amino acid composition (PSAAC) in addition to conventional sequence-based features for AMP prediction. With this new feature set, SAMP captures the residue patterns like sorting signals at both the N-terminal and the C-terminal, while also retaining the sequence order information from the middle peptide fragments. Benchmarking tests on different balanced and imbalanced datasets demonstrate that SAMP consistently outperforms existing state-of-the-art methods, such as iAMPpred and AMPScanner V2, in terms of accuracy, Matthews correlation coefficient (MCC), G-measure, and F1-score. In addition, by leveraging an ensemble RP architecture, SAMP is scalable to processing large-scale AMP identification with further performance improvement, compared to those models without RP. To facilitate the use of SAMP, we have developed a Python package that is freely available at https://github.com/wan-mlab/SAMP.

A review on inflammation modulating venom proteins/peptide therapeutics and their delivery strategies: A review

Inflammation is an initial biological reaction that occurs in response to infection caused by foreign pathogens or injury. This process involves a tightly controlled series of signaling events at the molecular and cellular levels, with the ultimate goal of restoring tissue balance and protecting against invading pathogens. Malfunction in the process of inflammation can result in a diverse array of diseases, such as cardiovascular, neurological, and autoimmune disorders. Therefore, the management of inflammation is of utmost importance in modern medicine. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and corticosteroids have long been the mainstays of pharmacological treatment for inflammation, effectively alleviating symptoms in many patients. Recently, toxins and venom, formerly seen as mostly harmful to the human body, have been recognized as possible medicinal substances for treating inflammation. Organisms that are venomous, such as spiders, scorpions, snakes, and certain marine species, have developed a wide range of powerful toxins that can effectively disable or discourage predators. Remarkably, the majority of these poisons and venoms consist of proteins and peptides, which are acknowledged as significant bioactive compounds with medicinal potential. The goal of this review is to investigate the medicinal potential of peptides derived from venoms and their complex mechanism of action in suppressing inflammation. This review also discusses various challenges and future prospects for effective venom delivery.

Advancements in peptide-based antimicrobials: A possible option for emerging drug-resistant infections

In recent years, multidrug-resistant pathogenic microorganisms (MDROs) have emerged as a severe threat to human health, exhibiting robust resistance to traditional antibiotics. This has created a formidable challenge in modern medicine as we grapple with limited options to combat these resilient bacteria. Despite extensive efforts by scientists to develop new antibiotics targeting these pathogens, the quest for novel antibacterial molecules has become increasingly arduous. Fortunately, nature offers a potential solution in the form of cationic antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) and their synthetic counterparts. AMPs, naturally occurring peptides, have displayed promising efficacy in fighting bacterial infections by disrupting bacterial cell membranes, hindering their survival and reproduction. These peptides, along with their synthetic mimics, present an exciting alternative in combating antibiotic resistance. They hold the potential to emerge as a formidable tool against MDROs, offering hope for improved strategies to protect communities. Extensive research has explored the diversity, history, and structure-properties relationship of AMPs, investigating their amphiphilic nature for membrane disruption and mechanisms of action. However, despite their therapeutic promise, AMPs face several documented limitations. Among these challenges, poor pharmacokinetic properties stand out, impeding the attainment of therapeutic levels in the body. Additionally, some AMPs exhibit toxicity and susceptibility to protease cleavage, leading to a short half-life and reduced efficacy in animal models. These limitations pose obstacles in developing effective treatments based on AMPs. Furthermore, the high manufacturing costs associated with AMPs could significantly hinder their widespread use. In this review, we aim to present experimental and theoretical insights into different AMPs, focusing specifically on antibacterial peptides (ABPs). Our goal is to offer a concise overview of peptide-based drug candidates, drawing from a wide array of literature and peer-reviewed studies. We also explore recent advancements in AMP development and discuss the challenges researchers face in moving these molecules towards clinical trials. Our main objective is to offer a comprehensive overview of current AMP and ABP research to guide the development of more precise and effective therapies for bacterial infections.

Immunopeptides: immunomodulatory strategies and prospects for ocular immunity applications

Immunopeptides have low toxicity, low immunogenicity and targeting, and broad application prospects in drug delivery and assembly, which are diverse in application strategies and drug combinations. Immunopeptides are particularly important for regulating ocular immune homeostasis, as the eye is an immune-privileged organ. Immunopeptides have advantages in adaptive immunity and innate immunity, treating eye immune-related diseases by regulating T cells, B cells, immune checkpoints, and cytokines. This article summarizes the application strategies of immunopeptides in innate immunity and adaptive immunity, including autoimmunity, infection, vaccine strategies, and tumors. Furthermore, it focuses on the mechanisms of immunopeptides in mediating ocular immunity (autoimmune diseases, inflammatory storms, and tumors). Moreover, it reviews immunopeptides' application strategies and the therapeutic potential of immunopeptides in the eye. We expect the immune peptide to get attention in treating eye diseases and to provide a direction for eye disease immune peptide research.

Immunomodulatory Compounds from the Sea: From the Origins to a Modern Marine Pharmacopoeia

From sea shores to the abysses of the deep ocean, marine ecosystems have provided humanity with valuable medicinal resources. The use of marine organisms is discussed in ancient pharmacopoeias of different times and geographic regions and is still deeply rooted in traditional medicine. Thanks to present-day, large-scale bioprospecting and rigorous screening for bioactive metabolites, the ocean is coming back as an untapped resource of natural compounds with therapeutic potential. This renewed interest in marine drugs is propelled by a burgeoning research field investigating the molecular mechanisms by which newly identified compounds intervene in the pathophysiology of human diseases. Of great clinical relevance are molecules endowed with anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory properties with emerging applications in the management of chronic inflammatory disorders, autoimmune diseases, and cancer. Here, we review the historical development of marine pharmacology in the Eastern and Western worlds and describe the status of marine drug discovery. Finally, we discuss the importance of conducting sustainable exploitation of marine resources through biotechnology.

Screening of the Skin-Regenerative Potential of Antimicrobial Peptides: Clavanin A, Clavanin-MO, and Mastoparan-MO

Skin wound healing is coordinated by a delicate balance between proinflammatory and anti-inflammatory responses, which can be affected by opportunistic pathogens and metabolic or vascular diseases. Several antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) possess immunomodulatory properties, suggesting their potential to support skin wound healing. Here, we evaluated the proregenerative activity of three recently described AMPs (Clavanin A, Clavanin-MO, and Mastoparan-MO). Human primary dermal fibroblasts (hFibs) were used to determine peptide toxicity and their capacity to induce cell proliferation and migration. Furthermore, mRNA analysis was used to investigate the modulation of genes associated with skin regeneration. Subsequently, the regenerative potential of the peptides was further confirmed using an ex vivo organotypic model of human skin (hOSEC)-based lesion. Our results indicate that the three molecules evaluated in this study have regenerative potential at nontoxic doses (i.e., 200 μM for Clavanin-A and Clavanin-MO, and 6.25 μM for Mastoparan-MO). At these concentrations, all peptides promoted the proliferation and migration of hFibs during in vitro assays. Such processes were accompanied by gene expression signatures related to skin regenerative processes, including significantly higher KI67, HAS2 and CXCR4 mRNA levels induced by Clavanin A and Mastoparan-MO. Such findings translated into significantly accelerated wound healing promoted by both Clavanin A and Mastoparan-MO in hOSEC-based lesions. Overall, the data demonstrate the proregenerative properties of these peptides using human experimental skin models, with Mastoparan-MO and Clavanin A showing much greater potential for inducing wound healing compared to Clavanin-MO.

Secondary Structure Stabilization of Macrocyclic Antimicrobial Peptides via Cross-Link Swapping

Lactam cross-links have been employed to stabilize the helical secondary structure and enhance the activity and physiological stability of antimicrobial peptides; however, stabilization of β-sheets via lactamization has not been observed. In the present study, lactams between the side chains of C- and N-terminal residues have been used to stabilize the β-sheet conformation in a short ten-residue analogue of chicken angiogenin-4. Designed using a combination of molecular dynamics simulations and Markov state models, the lactam cross-linked peptides are shown to adopt stabilized β-sheet conformations consistent with simulated structures. Replacement of the peptide side-chain Cys-Cys disulfide by a lactam cross-link enhanced the broad-spectrum antibacterial activity compared to the parent peptide and exhibited greater propensity to induce proinflammatory activity in macrophages. The combination of molecular simulations and conformational and biological analyses of the synthetic peptides provides a useful paradigm for the rational design of therapeutically active peptides with constrained β-sheet structures.

SAMP: Identifying Antimicrobial Peptides by an Ensemble Learning Model Based on Proportionalized Split Amino Acid Composition

It is projected that 10 million deaths could be attributed to drug-resistant bacteria infections in 2050. To address this concern, identifying new-generation antibiotics is an effective way. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), a class of innate immune effectors, have received significant attention for their capacity to eliminate drug-resistant pathogens, including viruses, bacteria, and fungi. Recent years have witnessed widespread applications of computational methods especially machine learning (ML) and deep learning (DL) for discovering AMPs. However, existing methods only use features including compositional, physiochemical, and structural properties of peptides, which cannot fully capture sequence information from AMPs. Here, we present SAMP, an ensemble random projection (RP) based computational model that leverages a new type of features called Proportionalized Split Amino Acid Composition (PSAAC) in addition to conventional sequence-based features for AMP prediction. With this new feature set, SAMP captures the residue patterns like sorting signals at around both the N-terminus and the C-terminus, while also retaining the sequence order information from the middle peptide fragments. Benchmarking tests on different balanced and imbalanced datasets demonstrate that SAMP consistently outperforms existing state-of-the-art methods, such as iAMPpred and AMPScanner V2, in terms of accuracy, MCC, G-measure and F1-score. In addition, by leveraging an ensemble RP architecture, SAMP is scalable to processing large-scale AMP identification with further performance improvement, compared to those models without RP. To facilitate the use of SAMP, we have developed a Python package freely available at https://github.com/wan-mlab/SAMP.

Characterization of Extended-Spectrum β-Lactamase-Producing Escherichia coli in Animal Farms in Hunan Province, China

Multi-drug resistance of bacteria producing extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL) is a public health challenge. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the antimicrobial susceptibility of ESBL-producing Escherichia coli (ESBL-EC) in Hunan Province, China. A total of 1366 fecal samples were collected from pig, chicken, and cattle farms over a six-year period, which were assessed using strain isolation, 16S rRNA identification, polymerase chain reaction, drug sensitivity testing, whole-genome sequencing, and bioinformatics analysis. The results showed an overall prevalence of 6.66% for ESBL-EC strains, with ESBL positivity extents for pigs, chickens, and cattle isolates at 6.77%, 6.54%, and 12.5%, respectively. Most ESBL-EC isolates were resistant to cefotaxime, tetracycline, and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole; however, all the isolates were susceptible to meropenem, with relatively low resistance to amikacin and tigecycline. Various multi-locus sequence types with different origins and similar affinities were identified, with ST155 (n = 16) being the most common subtype. Several types of resistance genes were identified among the 91 positive strains, with beta-lactamase blaCTX-M-55 being the most common ESBL genotype. IncFIB was the predominant plasmid type. Widespread use of antibiotics in animal farming may increase antibiotic resistance, posing a serious threat to the health of farmed animals and, thus, to human food security and health.

Combating bacterial infections with host defense peptides: Shifting focus from bacteria to host immunity

The increasing prevalence of multidrug-resistant bacterial infections necessitates the exploration of novel paradigms for anti-infective therapy. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), also known as host defense peptides (HDPs), have garnered extensive recognition as immunomodulatory molecules that leverage natural host mechanisms to enhance therapeutic benefits. The unique immune mechanism exhibited by certain HDPs that involves self-assembly into supramolecular nanonets capable of inducing bacterial agglutination and entrapping is significantly important. This process effectively prevents microbial invasion and subsequent dissemination and significantly mitigates selective pressure for the evolution of microbial resistance, highlighting the potential of HDP-based antimicrobial therapy. Recent advancements in this field have focused on developing bio-responsive materials in the form of supramolecular nanonets. A comprehensive overview of the immunomodulatory and bacteria-agglutinating activities of HDPs, along with a discussion on optimization strategies for synthetic derivatives, is presented in this article. These optimized derivatives exhibit improved biological properties and therapeutic potential, making them suitable for future clinical applications as effective anti-infective therapeutics.

Plant-Derived Proteins and Peptides as Potential Immunomodulators

The immune response of humans may be modulated by certain biopeptides. The present study aimed to determine the immunomodulatory potential of plant-derived food proteins and hydrolysates obtained from these proteins via monocatalytic in silico hydrolysis (using ficin, stem bromelainm or pepsin (pH > 2)). The scope of this study included determinations of the profiles of select bioactivities of proteins before and after hydrolysis and computations of the frequency of occurrence of selected bioactive fragments in proteins (parameter A), frequency/relative frequency of the release of biopeptides (parameters AE, W) and the theoretical degree of hydrolysis (DHt), by means of the resources and programs available in the BIOPEP-UWM database. The immunomodulating (ImmD)/immunostimulating (ImmS) peptides deposited in the database were characterized as well (ProtParam tool). Among the analyzed proteins of cereals and legumes, the best precursors of ImmD immunopeptides (YG, YGG, GLF, TPRK) turned out to be rice and garden pea proteins, whereas the best precursors of ImmS peptides appeared to be buckwheat (GVM, GFL, EAE) and broad bean (LLY, EAE) proteins. The highest number of YG sequences was released by stem bromelain upon the simulated hydrolysis of rice proteins (AE = 0.0010-0.0820, W = 0.1994-1.0000, DHt = 45-82%). However, antibacterial peptides (IAK) were released by ficin only from rice, oat, and garden pea proteins (DHt = 41-46%). Biopeptides (YG, IAK) identified in protein hydrolysates are potential immunomodulators, nutraceuticals, and components of functional food that may modulate the activity of the human immune system. Stem bromelain and ficin are also active components that are primed to release peptide immunomodulators from plant-derived food proteins.

Marine Invertebrate Antimicrobial Peptides and Their Potential as Novel Peptide Antibiotics

Marine invertebrates constantly interact with a wide range of microorganisms in their aquatic environment and possess an effective defense system that has enabled their existence for millions of years. Their lack of acquired immunity sets marine invertebrates apart from other marine animals. Invertebrates could rely on their innate immunity, providing the first line of defense, survival, and thriving. The innate immune system of marine invertebrates includes various biologically active compounds, and specifically, antimicrobial peptides. Nowadays, there is a revive of interest in these peptides due to the urgent need to discover novel drugs against antibiotic-resistant bacterial strains, a pressing global concern in modern healthcare. Modern technologies offer extensive possibilities for the development of innovative drugs based on these compounds, which can act against bacteria, fungi, protozoa, and viruses. This review focuses on structural peculiarities, biological functions, gene expression, biosynthesis, mechanisms of antimicrobial action, regulatory activities, and prospects for the therapeutic use of antimicrobial peptides derived from marine invertebrates.

Geometric deep learning as a potential tool for antimicrobial peptide prediction

Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are components of natural immunity against invading pathogens. They are polymers that fold into a variety of three-dimensional structures, enabling their function, with an underlying sequence that is best represented in a non-flat space. The structural data of AMPs exhibits non-Euclidean characteristics, which means that certain properties, e.g., differential manifolds, common system of coordinates, vector space structure, or translation-equivariance, along with basic operations like convolution, in non-Euclidean space are not distinctly established. Geometric deep learning (GDL) refers to a category of machine learning methods that utilize deep neural models to process and analyze data in non-Euclidean settings, such as graphs and manifolds. This emerging field seeks to expand the use of structured models to these domains. This review provides a detailed summary of the latest developments in designing and predicting AMPs utilizing GDL techniques and also discusses both current research gaps and future directions in the field.

Biological Function of Antimicrobial Peptides on Suppressing Pathogens and Improving Host Immunity

The emergence of drug-resistant genes and concerns about food safety caused by the overuse of antibiotics are becoming increasingly prominent. There is an urgent need for effective alternatives to antibiotics in the fields of livestock production and human medicine. Antimicrobial peptides can effectively replace antibiotics to kill pathogens and enhance the immune functions of the host, and pathogens cannot easily produce genes that are resistant to them. The ability of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) to kill pathogens is associated with their structure and physicochemical properties, such as their conformation, electrical charges, hydrophilicity, and hydrophobicity. AMPs regulate the activity of immunological cells and stimulate the secretion of inflammatory cytokines via the activation of the NF-κB and MAPK signaling pathways. However, there are still some limitations to the application of AMPs in the fields of livestock production and human medicine, including a restricted source base, high costs of purification and expression, and the instability of the intestines of animals and humans. This review summarizes the information on AMPs as effective antibiotic substitutes to improve the immunological functions of the host through suppressing pathogens and regulating inflammatory responses. Potential challenges for the commercial application of AMPs in animal husbandry and human medicine are discussed.

Advances in Antimicrobial Peptide Discovery via Machine Learning and Delivery via Nanotechnology

Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) have been investigated for their potential use as an alternative to antibiotics due to the increased demand for new antimicrobial agents. AMPs, widely found in nature and obtained from microorganisms, have a broad range of antimicrobial protection, allowing them to be applied in the treatment of infections caused by various pathogenic microorganisms. Since these peptides are primarily cationic, they prefer anionic bacterial membranes due to electrostatic interactions. However, the applications of AMPs are currently limited owing to their hemolytic activity, poor bioavailability, degradation from proteolytic enzymes, and high-cost production. To overcome these limitations, nanotechnology has been used to improve AMP bioavailability, permeation across barriers, and/or protection against degradation. In addition, machine learning has been investigated due to its time-saving and cost-effective algorithms to predict AMPs. There are numerous databases available to train machine learning models. In this review, we focus on nanotechnology approaches for AMP delivery and advances in AMP design via machine learning. The AMP sources, classification, structures, antimicrobial mechanisms, their role in diseases, peptide engineering technologies, currently available databases, and machine learning techniques used to predict AMPs with minimal toxicity are discussed in detail.

Simultaneous control of infection and inflammation with keratin-derived antibacterial peptides targeting TLRs and co-receptors

Controlling infection-driven inflammation is a major clinical dilemma because of limited therapeutic options and possible adverse effects on microbial clearance. Compounding this difficulty is the continued emergence of drug-resistant bacteria, where experimental strategies aiming to augment inflammatory responses for enhanced microbial killing are not applicable treatment options for infections of vulnerable organs. As with corneal infections, severe or prolonged inflammation jeopardizes corneal transparency, leading to devastating vision loss. We hypothesized that keratin 6a-derived antimicrobial peptides (KAMPs) may be a two-pronged remedy capable of tackling bacterial infection and inflammation at once. We used murine peritoneal neutrophils and macrophages, together with an in vivo model of sterile corneal inflammation, to find that nontoxic and prohealing KAMPs with natural 10- and 18-amino acid sequences suppressed lipoteichoic acid (LTA)- and lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced NFκB and IRF3 activation, proinflammatory cytokine production, and phagocyte recruitment independently of their bactericidal function. Mechanistically, KAMPs not only competed with bacterial ligands for cell surface Toll-like receptor (TLR) and co-receptors (MD2, CD14, and TLR2) but also reduced cell surface availability of TLR2 and TLR4 through promotion of receptor endocytosis. Topical KAMP treatment effectively alleviated experimental bacterial keratitis, as evidenced by substantial reductions of corneal opacification, inflammatory cell infiltration, and bacterial burden. These findings reveal the TLR-targeting activities of KAMPs and demonstrate their therapeutic potential as a multifunctional drug for managing infectious inflammatory disease.

Deciphering Structure-Function Relationship Unveils Salt-Resistant Mode of Action of a Potent MRSA-Inhibiting Antimicrobial Peptide, RR14

Multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria lead to considerable morbidity and mortality, threatening public health worldwide. In particular, infections of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in hospital and community settings are becoming a serious health problem. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are considered novel therapeutic targets against MDR bacteria. However, salt sensitivity reduces the bactericidal potency of AMPs, posing a major obstacle for their development as antibiotics. Thus, the design and development of salt-insensitive peptides with potent antibacterial activity is imperative. Here, we employed biochemical and biophysical examinations coupled with molecular modeling to systematically investigate the structure-function relationship of a novel salt-insensitive AMP, RR14. The secondary structure of RR14 was characterized as an apparent α-helix, a structure that confers strong membrane-permeabilizing ability targeting bacterial-mimetic membranes. Additionally, the bioactive structure of RR14 was determined in complex with dodecylphosphocholine (DPC) micelles, where it possesses a central α-helical segment comprising residues R4 to K13 (R4-K13). RR14 was observed to orient itself into the DPC micelle with its N terminus and the α-helical segment (I5-R10) buried inside the micelles, which is essential for membrane permeabilization and bactericidal activity. Moreover, the specific and featured arrangement of positively charged residues of RR14 on its amphipathic helical conformation has great potential to render its strong salt resistance ability. Our study explored the structure-function relationship of RR14, explaining its possible mode of action against MRSA and other microbes. The insights obtained are of great applicability for the development of new antibacterial agents. IMPORTANCE Many antimicrobial peptides have been observed to become inactive in the presence of high salt concentrations. To further develop new and novel AMPs with potent bactericidal activity and salt insensitivity, understanding the structural basis for salt resistance is important. Here, we employed biochemical and biophysical examinations to systematically investigate the structure-function relationship of a novel salt-insensitive AMP, RR14. RR14 was observed to orient itself into DPC micelles with the N terminus and the α-helical segment (I5-R10) buried inside the micelles, which is essential for membrane permeabilization and bactericidal activity. Moreover, the specific and featured arrangement of cationic residues of RR14 on its amphipathic helical conformation renders its strong salt resistance ability. The insights obtained are of great applicability for developing new antibacterial agents.

Polypharmacological Cell-Penetrating Peptides from Venomous Marine Animals Based on Immunomodulating, Antimicrobial, and Anticancer Properties

Complex pathological diseases, such as cancer, infection, and Alzheimer's, need to be targeted by multipronged curative. Various omics technologies, with a high rate of data generation, demand artificial intelligence to translate these data into druggable targets. In this study, 82 marine venomous animal species were retrieved, and 3505 cryptic cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs) were identified in their toxins. A total of 279 safe peptides were further analyzed for antimicrobial, anticancer, and immunomodulatory characteristics. Protease-resistant CPPs with endosomal-escape ability in Hydrophis hardwickii, nuclear-localizing peptides in Scorpaena plumieri, and mitochondrial-targeting peptides from Synanceia horrida were suitable for compartmental drug delivery. A broad-spectrum S. horrida-derived antimicrobial peptide with a high binding-affinity to bacterial membranes was an antigen-presenting cell (APC) stimulator that primes cytokine release and naïve T-cell maturation simultaneously. While antibiofilm and wound-healing peptides were detected in Synanceia verrucosa, APC epitopes as universal adjuvants for antiviral vaccination were in Pterois volitans and Conus monile. Conus pennaceus-derived anticancer peptides showed antiangiogenic and IL-2-inducing properties with moderate BBB-permeation and were defined to be a tumor-homing peptide (THP) with the ability to inhibit programmed death ligand-1 (PDL-1). Isoforms of RGD-containing peptides with innate antiangiogenic characteristics were in Conus tessulatus for tumor targeting. Inhibitors of neuropilin-1 in C. pennaceus are proposed for imaging probes or therapeutic delivery. A Conus betulinus cryptic peptide, with BBB-permeation, mitochondrial-targeting, and antioxidant capacity, was a stimulator of anti-inflammatory cytokines and non-inducer of proinflammation proposed for Alzheimer's. Conclusively, we have considered the dynamic interaction of cells, their microenvironment, and proportional-orchestrating-host- immune pathways by multi-target-directed CPPs resembling single-molecule polypharmacology. This strategy might fill the therapeutic gap in complex resistant disorders and increase the candidates' clinical-translation chance.

Conditional Antimicrobial Peptide Therapeutics

Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) constitute a promising class of alternatives to antibiotics to curb antimicrobial resistance. Nonetheless, their utility as a systemic agent is hampered by short circulation time and toxicity. Infection sites, analogous to tumors, harbor an aberrant microenvironment that has the potential to be exploited to develop conditionally activated therapeutics with an improved therapeutic index. In particular, we identified strategies to prolong systemic circulation of small, cationic AMPs in a mouse model of bacterial pneumonia. Specifically, we report an albumin-binding domain (ABD)-AMP conjugate as a long-circulating conditional AMP therapeutic with a masked activity that can be liberated by proteases in the infected tissue microenvironment. Our systemically administered conjugate enhanced the pulmonary delivery of active AMP while also reducing AMP exposure to other off-target organs. Importantly, this reduction in off-target exposure improved the safety profile of the AMP. The framework we present can be generalized to quantify and optimize the performance of this emerging class of conditional therapeutics.

Could AMPs and B-cells be the missing link in understanding periodontitis?

Periodontal diseases are common inflammatory conditions characterized by bone loss in response to simultaneous bacterial aggression and host defenses. The etiology of such diseases is still not completely understood, however. It has been shown that specific pathogens involved in the build-up of dysbiotic biofilms participate actively in the establishment of periodontitis. This multifactorial pathology also depends on environmental factors and host characteristics, especially defenses. The immune response to the pathogens seems to be critical in preventing the disease from starting but also contributes to tissue damage. It is known that small molecules known as antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are key actors in the innate immune response. They not only target microbes, but also act as immuno-modulators. They can help to recruit or activate cells such as neutrophils, monocytes, dendritic cells, or lymphocytes. AMPs have already been described in the periodontium, and their expression seems to be connected to disease activity. Alpha and beta defensins and LL37 are the AMPs most frequently linked to periodontitis. Additionally, leukocyte infiltrates, especially B-cells, have also been linked to the severity of periodontitis. Indeed, the particular subpopulations of B-cells in these infiltrates have been linked to inflammation and bone resorption. A link between B-cells and AMP could be relevant to understanding B-cells' action. Some AMP receptors, such as chemokines receptors, toll-like receptors, or purinergic receptors, have been shown to be expressed by B-cells. Consequently, the action of AMPs on B-cell subpopulations could participate to B-cell recruitment, their differentiation, and their implication in both periodontal defense and destruction.

Current Advancement of Immunomodulatory Drugs as Potential Pharmacotherapies for Autoimmunity Based Neurological Diseases

Dramatic advancement has been made in recent decades to understand the basis of autoimmunity-mediated neurological diseases. These diseases create a strong influence on the central nervous system (CNS) and the peripheral nervous system (PNS), leading to various clinical manifestations and numerous symptoms. Multiple sclerosis (MS) is the most prevalent autoimmune neurological disease while NMO spectrum disorder (NMOSD) is less common. Furthermore, evidence supports the presence of autoimmune mechanisms contributing to the pathogenesis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), which is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the progressive death of motor neurons. Additionally, autoimmunity is believed to be involved in the basis of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases. In recent years, the prevalence of autoimmune-based neurological disorders has been elevated and current findings strongly suggest the role of pharmacotherapies in controlling the progression of autoimmune diseases. Therefore, this review focused on the current advancement of immunomodulatory drugs as novel approaches in the management of autoimmune neurological diseases and their future outlook.

Synthetic Antimicrobial Immunomodulatory Peptides: Ongoing Studies and Clinical Trials

The increasingly widespread antimicrobial resistance forces the search for new antimicrobial substances capable of fighting infection. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) and their synthetic analogs form an extensive group of compounds of great structural diversity and multifunctionality, different modes of antimicrobial action, and considerable market potential. Some AMPs, in addition to their proven antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral activity, also demonstrate anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory capabilities; these are called innate defense regulator (IDR) peptides. IDR peptides stimulate or inhibit the body’s immune system, e.g., by stimulating leukocyte migration to the site of infection, driving macrophage differentiation and activation, providing chemotactic action for neutrophils, degranulation and activation of mast cells, altering chemokine and cytokine production, and even induction of angiogenesis and wound healing. Such multifunctional immunomodulatory peptide molecules are currently being investigated and developed. Exploring and utilizing IDR peptides as an indirect weapon against infectious diseases could represent a completely new strategy to cope with the issue of antimicrobial resistance.

The Role of Antimicrobial Peptides as Antimicrobial and Antibiofilm Agents in Tackling the Silent Pandemic of Antimicrobial Resistance

Just over a million people died globally in 2019 due to antibiotic resistance caused by ESKAPE pathogens (Enterococcus faecium, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Enterobacter species). The World Health Organization (WHO) also lists antibiotic-resistant Campylobacter and Helicobacter as bacteria that pose the greatest threat to human health. As it is becoming increasingly difficult to discover new antibiotics, new alternatives are needed to solve the crisis of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Bacteria commonly found in complex communities enclosed within self-produced matrices called biofilms are difficult to eradicate and develop increased stress and antimicrobial tolerance. This review summarises the role of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) in combating the silent pandemic of AMR and their application in clinical medicine, focusing on both the advantages and disadvantages of AMPs as antibiofilm agents. It is known that many AMPs display broad-spectrum antimicrobial activities, but in a variety of organisms AMPs are not stable (short half-life) or have some toxic side effects. Hence, it is also important to develop new AMP analogues for their potential use as drug candidates. The use of one health approach along with developing novel therapies using phages and breakthroughs in novel antimicrobial peptide synthesis can help us in tackling the problem of AMR.

Antimicrobial and Immunomodulatory Effects of Selected Chemokine and Antimicrobial Peptide on Cytokine Profile during Salmonella Typhimurium Infection in Mouse

The antimicrobial and immunomodulatory capacities of the peptide Css54 and the chemokine MCP-1 were tested. The first, a peptide isolated from the venom of the scorpion Centruroides suffusus suffusus was synthesized chemically. In contrast, the second is a monocyte chemoattractant expressed as a recombinant protein in our lab. It was observed in vitro that Css54 inhibited the growth of Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium (6.2 µg/mL). At high concentrations, it was toxic to macrophages (25 µg/mL), activated macrophage phagocytosis (1.5 µg/mL), and bound Salmonella LPS (3 µg/mL). On the other hand, the recombinant MCP-1 neither inhibited the growth of Salmonella Typhimurium nor was it toxic to macrophages (up to 25 µg/mL), nor activated macrophage phagocytosis or bound Salmonella LPS (up to 3 µg/mL). Although it was observed in vivo in mice Balb/C that both Css54 and MCP-1 did not resolve the intraperitoneal infection by S. Typhimurium, Css54 decreased the expression of IL-6 and increased IL-10, IL-12p70, and TNF-α levels; meanwhile, MCP-1 decreased the expression of IFN-γ and increased IL-12p70 and TNF-α. It was also observed that the combination of both molecules Css54 and MCP-1 increased the expression of IL-10 and TNF-α.

Investigation of Plant Antimicrobial Peptides against Selected Pathogenic Bacterial Species Using a Peptide-Protein Docking Approach

Antimicrobial resistance is the key threat to global health due to high morbidity and mortality. The alteration of bacterial proteins, enzymatic degradation, and change of membrane permeability towards antimicrobial agents are the key mechanisms of antimicrobial resistance. Based on the current condition, there is an urgent clinical need to develop new drugs to treat these bacterial infections. In the current study, the binding patterns of selected antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) with different multidrug-resistant bacterial strains have been analyzed. Among ten selected AMPs in this study, napin and snakin-1 exhibited the best scores and binding patterns. Napin exhibited strong interactions with penicillin-binding protein 1a of Acinetobacter baumannii (with a binding score of -158.7 kcal/mol and ten hydrogen bonds), with glucose-1-phosphate thymidylyltransferase of Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv (with a binding score of -107.8 kcal/mol and twelve hydrogen bonds), and with streptomycin 3^″-adenylyltransferase protein of Salmonella enterica (with a binding score of -84.2 kcal/mol and four hydrogen bonds). Similarly, snakin-1 showed strong interactions with oxygen-insensitive NADPH nitroreductase of Helicobacter pylori (with a binding score of -105.0 kcal/mol and thirteen hydrogen bonds) and with penicillin-binding protein 2a of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (with a binding score of -103.8 kcal/mol and twenty-three hydrogen bonds). The docking results were further validated by molecular dynamics simulations. The results of this computational approach support the evidence of efficiency of these AMPs as potent inhibitors of these specific proteins of bacterial strains. However, further validations are required to fully evaluate the potential of selected AMPs as drug candidates against these resistant bacterial strains.

Immunomodulatory peptides-A promising source for novel functional food production and drug discovery

Immunomodulatory peptides are a complex class of bioactive peptides that encompasses substances with different mechanisms of action. Immunomodulatory peptides could also be used in vaccines as adjuvants which would be extremely desirable, especially in response to pandemics. Thus, immunomodulatory peptides in food of plant origin could be regarded both as valuable suplements of novel functional food preparation and/or as precursors or possible active ingredients for drugs design for treatment variety of conditions arising from impaired function of immune system. Given variety of mechanisms, different tests are required to assess effects of immunomodulatory peptides. Some of those effects show good correlation with in vivo results but others, less so. Certain plant peptides, such as defensins, show both immunomodulatory and antimicrobial effect, which makes them interesting candidates for preparation of functional food and feed, as well as templates for design of synthetic peptides.

Local immunomodulatory effects of intracanal medications in apical periodontitis

The immune system is an extremely complex biological network that plays a crucial role in the hemostasis of periapical tissue, pathogenesis of apical periodontitis (AP) as well as periapical tissue healing. The successful elimination of microbial infections remains a significant challenge, mostly due to the ever-growing development of antimicrobial-resistant pathogens. The bacterial endurance in the root canal system contributes to features ranging from altered post-treatment healing to exacerbation of chronic periradicular immune response, that compromise the outcome of endodontic treatment. A highly effective strategy for combating infectious diseases and the associated inflammation-mediated tissue damage is to modulate the host immune response in conjunction with antimicrobial therapy. There are several medications currently used in endodontic treatment, however, they suffer various levels of microbial resistance and do not deliver all the required characteristics to simultaneously address both intracanal bacteria and periapical inflammation. Interaction of antimicrobial agents with the immune system can impact its function, leading to immune-suppressive or immune-stimulatory effects. The group of non-conventional antimicrobial medications, such as antimicrobial peptides, propolis, and nanomaterials, are agents that provide strong antimicrobial effectiveness and concomitant immunomodulatory and/or reparative effect, without any host tissue damages. Herein, we provide an overview of local immune modulation in AP and a comprehensive review of the immunomodulatory effect of antimicrobials intracanal medications applied in endodontics with specific emphasis on the antimicrobial nanomaterial-based approaches that provide immunomodulatory potential for successful clinical deployment in endodontics.

Industrial application of antimicrobial peptides based on their biological activity and structure-activity relationship

Last several years, a rapid increase in drug resistance to traditional antibiotics has driven the emergence and development of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs). AMPs have also gained considerable attention from scientists due to their high potency in combatting infectious pathogens. A subset of analogues and their derivatives with specific targets have been successfully designed based on natural peptide patterns. In this review, scientific knowledge on the mechanisms of action related to biological activity and structure-activity relationship (SAR) of AMPs are summarized, and the biological applications in several important fields are critically discussed. SAR shows that the positive charge, secondary structure, special amino acid residues, hydrophobicity, and helicity of AMPs are closely related to their biological activities. The combination of nanotechnology, bioinformatics, and genetic engineering can accelerate to achieve the application of AMPs as effective, safe, economical, and nonresistant antimicrobial agents in medicine, the food and feed industries, and agriculture in coming years. Given the intense interest in AMPs, further investigations are needed in the future to evaluate the specific structure and function that make their use favorable in several industries. This review may provide a comprehensive reference for future studies on chemical modifications, mechanistic exploration, and applications of AMPs.

Functional Studies of Plant Latex as a Rich Source of Bioactive Compounds: Focus on Proteins and Alkaloids

Latex, a sticky emulsion produced by specialized cells called laticifers, is a crucial part of a plant's defense system against herbivory and pathogens. It consists of a broad spectrum of active compounds, which are beneficial not only for plants, but for human health as well, enough to mention the use of morphine or codeine from poppy latex. Here, we reviewed latex's general role in plant physiology and the significance of particular compounds (alkaloids and proteins) to its defense system with the example of Chelidonium majus L. from the poppy family. We further attempt to present latex chemicals used so far in medicine and then focus on functional studies of proteins and other compounds with potential pharmacological activities using modern techniques such as CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing. Despite the centuries-old tradition of using latex-bearing plants in therapies, there are still a lot of promising molecules waiting to be explored.

Preservatives from food-For food: Pea protein hydrolysate as a novel bio-preservative against Escherichia coli O157:H7 on a lettuce leaf

Fresh-cut fruits and vegetables are becoming particularly popular as healthy fast-food options; however, they present challenges such as accelerated rates of decay and increased risk for contamination when compared to whole produce. Given that food safety must remain paramount for producers and manufacturers, research into novel, natural food preservation solutions which can help to ensure food safety and protect against spoilage is on the rise. In this work, we investigated the potential of using a novel protein hydrolysate, produced by the enzymatic hydrolysis of Pisum sativum (PSH), as a novel bio-preservative and its abilities to reduce populations of Escherichia coli O157:H7 after inoculation on a lettuce leaf. While unhydrolyzed P. sativum proteins show no antimicrobial activity, once digested, and purified, the enzymatically released peptides induced in vitro bactericidal effects on the foodborne pathogen at 8 mg/ml. When applied on an infected lettuce leaf, the PSH significantly reduced the number of bacteria recovered after 2 hr of treatment. PSH may be preferred over other preservation strategies based on its natural, inexpensive, sustainable source, environmentally friendly process, nontoxic nature, good batch to batch consistency, and ability to significantly reduce counts of E. coli both in vitro and in a lettuce leaf.

Challenges with Wound Infection Models in Drug Development

Wound research is an evolving science trying to unfold the complex untold mechanisms behind the wound healing cascade. In particular, interest is growing regarding the role of microorganisms in both acute and chronic wound healing. Microbial burden plays an important role in the persistence of chronic wounds, ultimately resulting in delayed wound healing. It is therefore important for clinicians to understand the evolution of infection science and its various etiologies. Therefore, to understand the role of bacterial biofilm in chronic wound pathogenesis, various in vitro and in vivo models are required to investigate biofilms in wound-like settings. Infection models should be refined comprising an important signet of biofilms. These models are eminent for translational research to obtain data for designing an improved wound care formulation. However, all the existing models possess limitations and do not fit properly in the model frame for developing wound care agents. Among various impediments, one of the major drawbacks of such models is that the wound they possess does not mimic the wound a human develops. Therefore, a novel wound infection model is required which can imitate the human wounds. This review article mainly discusses various in vitro and in vivo models showing microbial colonization, their advantages and challenges. Apart from these models, there are also present ex vivo wound infection models, but this review mainly focused on various in vitro and in vivo models available for studying wound infection in controlled conditions. This information might be useful in designing an ideal wound infection model for developing an effective wound healing formulation.

Antimicrobial Peptides and Their Applications in Biomedical Sector

In a report by WHO (2014), it was stated that antimicrobial resistance is an arising challenge that needs to be resolved. This resistance is a critical issue in terms of disease or infection treatment and is usually caused due to mutation, gene transfer, long-term usage or inadequate use of antimicrobials, survival of microbes after consumption of antimicrobials, and the presence of antimicrobials in agricultural feeds. One of the solutions to this problem is antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), which are ubiquitously present in the environment. These peptides are of concern due to their special mode of action against a wide spectrum of infections and health-related problems. The biomedical field has the highest need of AMPs as it possesses prominent desirable activity against HIV-1, skin cancer, breast cancer, in Behcet's disease treatment, as well as in reducing the release of inflammatory cells such as TNFα, IL-8, and IL-1β, enhancing the production of anti-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-10 and GM-CSF, and in wound healing properties. This review has highlighted all the major functions and applications of AMPs in the biomedical field and concludes the future potential of AMPs.

Sublancin protects against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infection by the combined modulation of innate immune response and microbiota

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a major pathogen responsible for community and hospital bacterial infections. In the present study, the protective role of sublancin, an antimicrobial peptides, was explored in MRSA infection model. We report that sublancin directly induce macrophage migration through the chemotactic receptors. We further show that sublancin exhibits protection in a mouse MRSA infection model. This protection involved an immunomodulatory activity, but was blocked by depletion of monocyte/macrophages or neutrophils. Sublancin selectively up-regulates the levels of chemokines (C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 1, CXCL1 and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1, MCP-1) while reducing the production of pro-inflammatory cytokine (tumor necrosis factor-α, TNF-α). Meanwhile, sublancin regulated the microbiota composition disrupted by MRSA injection, increasing the abundance of Lactobacillus and decreasing that of Staphylococcus and Pseudomonas. Also, sublancin restored to normal levels of metabolic functional pathways, especially amino acid biosynthesis (e.g., branched amino acid, histidine and tryptophan), disrupted after injection, and this restoration was significantly correlated with neutrophils. These results demonstrates that sublancin stimulates the innate response and modulates the microbiota community to protect against MRSA infection.

The New Frontier of Host-Directed Therapies for Mycobacterium avium Complex

Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) is an increasingly important cause of morbidity and mortality, and is responsible for pulmonary infection in patients with underlying lung disease and disseminated disease in patients with AIDS. MAC has evolved various virulence strategies to subvert immune responses and persist in the infected host. Current treatment for MAC is challenging, requiring a combination of multiple antibiotics given over a long time period (for at least 12 months after negative sputum culture conversion). Moreover, even after eradication of infection, many patients are left with residual lung dysfunction. In order to address similar challenges facing the management of patients with tuberculosis, recent attention has focused on the development of novel adjunctive, host-directed therapies (HDTs), with the goal of accelerating the clearance of mycobacteria by immune defenses and reducing or reversing mycobacterial-induced lung damage. In this review, we will summarize the evidence supporting specific adjunctive, HDTs for MAC, with a focus on the repurposing of existing immune-modulatory agents targeting a variety of different cellular pathways. We also highlight areas meriting further investigation.

EcDBS1R4, an Antimicrobial Peptide Effective against Escherichia coli with In Vitro Fusogenic Ability

Discovering antibiotic molecules able to hold the growing spread of antimicrobial resistance is one of the most urgent endeavors that public health must tackle. The case of Gram-negative bacterial pathogens is of special concern, as they are intrinsically resistant to many antibiotics, due to an outer membrane that constitutes an effective permeability barrier. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) have been pointed out as potential alternatives to conventional antibiotics, as their main mechanism of action is membrane disruption, arguably less prone to elicit resistance in pathogens. Here, we investigate the in vitro activity and selectivity of EcDBS1R4, a bioinspired AMP. To this purpose, we have used bacterial cells and model membrane systems mimicking both the inner and the outer membranes of Escherichia coli, and a variety of optical spectroscopic methodologies. EcDBS1R4 is effective against the Gram-negative E. coli, ineffective against the Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus and noncytotoxic for human cells. EcDBS1R4 does not form stable pores in E. coli, as the peptide does not dissipate its membrane potential, suggesting an unusual mechanism of action. Interestingly, EcDBS1R4 promotes a hemi-fusion of vesicles mimicking the inner membrane of E. coli. This fusogenic ability of EcDBS1R4 requires the presence of phospholipids with a negative curvature and a negative charge. This finding suggests that EcDBS1R4 promotes a large lipid spatial reorganization able to reshape membrane curvature, with interesting biological implications herein discussed.

A pleurocidin analogue with greater conformational flexibility, enhanced antimicrobial potency and in vivo therapeutic efficacy

Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are a potential alternative to classical antibiotics that are yet to achieve a therapeutic breakthrough for treatment of systemic infections. The antibacterial potency of pleurocidin, an AMP from Winter Flounder, is linked to its ability to cross bacterial plasma membranes and seek intracellular targets while also causing membrane damage. Here we describe modification strategies that generate pleurocidin analogues with substantially improved, broad spectrum, antibacterial properties, which are effective in murine models of bacterial lung infection. Increasing peptide-lipid intermolecular hydrogen bonding capabilities enhances conformational flexibility, associated with membrane translocation, but also membrane damage and potency, most notably against Gram-positive bacteria. This negates their ability to metabolically adapt to the AMP threat. An analogue comprising D-amino acids was well tolerated at an intravenous dose of 15 mg/kg and similarly effective as vancomycin in reducing EMRSA-15 lung CFU. This highlights the therapeutic potential of systemically delivered, bactericidal AMPs.

Repurposing a peptide toxin from wasp venom into antiinfectives with dual antimicrobial and immunomodulatory properties

Novel antibiotics are urgently needed to combat multidrug-resistant pathogens. Venoms represent previously untapped sources of novel drugs. Here we repurposed mastoparan-L, the toxic active principle derived from the venom of the wasp Vespula lewisii, into synthetic antimicrobials. We engineered within its N terminus a motif conserved among natural peptides with potent immunomodulatory and antimicrobial activities. The resulting peptide, mast-MO, adopted an α-helical structure as determined by NMR, exhibited increased antibacterial properties comparable to standard-of-care antibiotics both in vitro and in vivo, and potentiated the activity of different classes of antibiotics. Mechanism-of-action studies revealed that mast-MO targets bacteria by rapidly permeabilizing their outer membrane. In animal models, the peptide displayed direct antimicrobial activity, led to enhanced ability to attract leukocytes to the infection site, and was able to control inflammation. Permutation studies depleted the remaining toxicity of mast-MO toward human cells, yielding derivatives with antiinfective activity in animals. We demonstrate a rational design strategy for repurposing venoms into promising antimicrobials.

Toward the Discovery of Host-Defense Peptides in Plants

Defense peptides protect multicellular eukaryotes from infections. In biomedical sciences, a dominant conceptual framework refers to defense peptides as host-defense peptides (HDPs), which are bifunctional peptides with both direct antimicrobial and immunomodulatory activities. No HDP has been reported in plants so far, and the very concept of HDP has not been captured yet by the plant science community. Plant science thus lacks the conceptual framework that would coordinate research efforts aimed at discovering plant HDPs. In this perspective article, I used bibliometric and literature survey approaches to raise awareness about the HDP concept among plant scientists, and to encourage research efforts aimed at discovering plant HDPs. Such discovery would enrich our comprehension of the function and evolution of the plant immune system, and provide us with novel molecular tools to develop innovative strategies to control crop diseases.

Cysteine-rich antimicrobial peptides from plants: The future of antimicrobial therapy

There has been a spurt in the spread of microbial resistance to antibiotics due to indiscriminate use of antimicrobial agents in human medicine, agriculture, and animal husbandry. It has been realized that conventional antibiotic therapy would be less effective in the coming decades and more emphasis should be given for the development of novel antiinfective therapies. Cysteine rich peptides (CRPs) are broad-spectrum antimicrobial agents that modulate the innate immune system of different life forms such as bacteria, protozoans, fungi, plants, insects, and animals. These are also expressed in several plant tissues in response to invasion by pathogens, and play a crucial role in the regulation of plant growth and development. The present work explores the importance of CRPs as potent antimicrobial agents, which can supplement and/or replace the conventional antibiotics. Different plant parts of diverse plant species showed the presence of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), which had significant structural and functional diversity. The plant-derived AMPs exhibited potent activity toward a range of plant and animal pathogens, protozoans, insects, and even against cancer cells. The cysteine-rich AMPs have opened new avenues for the use of plants as biofactories for the production of antimicrobials and can be considered as promising antimicrobial drugs in biotherapeutics.

The Ascidian-Derived Metabolites with Antimicrobial Properties

Among the sub-phylum of Tunicate, ascidians represent the most abundant class of marine invertebrates, with 3000 species by heterogeneous habitat, that is, from shallow water to deep sea, already reported. The chemistry of these sessile filter-feeding organisms is an attractive reservoir of varied and peculiar bioactive compounds. Most secondary metabolites isolated from ascidians stand out for their potential as putative therapeutic agents in the treatment of several illnesses like microbial infections. In this review, we present and discuss the antibacterial activity shown by the main groups of ascidian-derived products, such as sulfur-containing compounds, meroterpenes, alkaloids, peptides, furanones, and their derivatives. Moreover, the direct evidence of a symbiotic association between marine ascidians and microorganisms shed light on the real producers of many extremely potent marine natural compounds. Hence, we also report the antibacterial potential, joined to antifungal and antiviral activity, of metabolites isolated from ascidian-associate microorganisms by culture-dependent methods.

Antimicrobial peptides as therapeutic agents: opportunities and challenges

The rapid development of microbial resistance to conventional antibiotics has accelerated efforts to find anti-infectives with a novel mode-of-action, which are less prone to bacterial resistance. Intense nonclinical and clinical research is today ongoing to evaluate antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) as potential next-generation antibiotics. Currently, multiple AMPs are assessed in late-stage clinical trials, not only as novel anti-infective drugs, but also as innovative product candidates for immunomodulation, promotion of wound healing, and prevention of post-operative scars. The efforts to translate AMP-based research findings into pharmaceutical product candidates are expected to accelerate in coming years due to technological advancements in multiple areas, including an improved understanding of the mechanism-of-action of AMPs, smart formulation strategies, and advanced chemical synthesis protocols. At the same time, it is recognized that cytotoxicity, low metabolic stability due to sensitivity to proteolytic degradation, and limited oral bioavailability are some of the key weaknesses of AMPs. Furthermore, the pricing and reimbursement environment for new antimicrobial products remains as a major barrier to the commercialization of AMPs.

Incorporation of the Tat cell-penetrating peptide into nanofibers improves the respective antitumor immune response

A major challenge for the development of anticancer vaccines is the induction of a safe and effective immune response, particularly mediated by CD8+ T lymphocytes, in an adjuvant-free manner. In this respect, we present a simple strategy to improve the specific CD8+ T cell responses using KFE8 nanofibers bearing a Class I (Kb)-restricted peptide epitope (called E. nanofibers) without the use of adjuvant. We demonstrate that incorporation of Tat, a cell-penetrating peptide (CPP) of the HIV transactivator protein, into E. nanofibers remarkably enhanced tumor-specific CD8+ T cell responses. E. nanofibers containing 12.5% Tat peptide (E.Tat_12.5 nanofiber) increased antigen cross-presentation by bone marrow-derived dendritic cells as compared with E. nanofibers, or E. nanofibers containing 25 or 50% the Tat peptide. Uptake of KFE8.Tat_12.5 nanofibers by dendritic cells (DCs) was significantly increased compared with KFE8 nanofiber lacking Tat. Peritoneal and lymph node DCs of mice immunized with E.Tat_12.5 nanofibers exhibited increased presentation of the H2kb-epitope (reminiscent for cross-presentation) compared with DCs obtained from E. nanofiber vaccinated mice. Tetrameric and intracellular cytokine staining revealed that vaccination with E.Tat_12.5 triggered a robust and specific CD8+ T lymphocyte response, which was more pronounced than in mice vaccinated with E. nanofibers alone. Furthermore, E.Tat_12.5 nanofibers were more potent than E. nanofiber to induce antitumor immune response and tumor-infiltrating IFN-γ CD8 T lymphocyte. In terms of cancer vaccine development, we propose that harnessing the nanofiber-based vaccine platform with incorporated Tat peptide could present a simple and promising strategy to induce highly effective antitumor immune response.

Purification and Characterization of a New CRISP-Related Protein from Scapharca broughtonii and Its Immunomodulatory Activity

More and more attention has been paid to bioactive compounds isolated from marine organisms or microorganisms in recent years. At the present study, a new protein coded as HPCG2, was purified from Scapharca broughtonii by stepwise chromatography methods. The molecular weight of HPCG2 was determined to be 30.71 kDa by MALDI-TOF-MS. The complete amino acid sequence of HPCG2 was obtained by tandem mass spectrometry combined with transcriptome database analysis, and its secondary structure was analyzed using circular dichroism. HPCG2 comprised 251 amino acids and contained 28.4% α-helix, 26% β-sheet, 18.6% β-turn, and 29.9% random coil. HPCG2 was predicted to be a cysteine-rich secretory protein-related (CRISP-related) protein by domain prediction. Moreover, HPCG2 was proved to possess the immunomodulatory effect on the murine immune cells. MTT assay showed that HPCG2 promoted the proliferation of splenic lymphocytes and the cytotoxicity of NK cells against YAC-1 cells. Flow cytometry test revealed that HPCG2 enhanced the phagocytic function of macrophages and polarized them into M1 type in RAW264.7 cells. In particular, Western blot analysis indicated that the immunomodulatory mechanism of HPCG2 was associated with the regulation on TLR4/JNK/ERK and STAT3 signaling pathways in RAW 264.7 cells. These results suggested that HPCG2 might be developed as a potential immunomodulatory agent or new functional product from marine organisms.

Formulation of host-targeted therapeutics against bacterial infections

The global burden of bacterial infections is rising due to increasing resistance to the majority of first-line antibiotics, rendering these drugs ineffective against several clinically important pathogens. Limited transport of antibiotics into cells compounds this problem for gram-negative bacteria that exhibit prominent intracellular lifecycles. Furthermore, poor bioavailability of antibiotics in infected tissues necessitates higher doses and longer treatment regimens to treat resistant infections. Although emerging antibiotics can combat these problems, resistance still may develop over time. Expanding knowledge of host-pathogen interactions has inspired research and development of host-directed therapies (HDTs). HDTs target host-cell machinery critical for bacterial pathogenesis to treat bacterial infections alone or as adjunctive treatment with traditional antibiotics. Unlike traditional antibiotics that directly affect bacteria, a majority of HDTs function by boosting the endogenous antimicrobial activity of cells and are consequently less prone to bacterial tolerance induced by selection pressure. Therefore, HDTs can be quite effective against intracellular cytosolic or vacuolar bacteria, which a majority of traditional antibiotics are unable to eradicate. However, in vivo therapeutic efficacy of HDTs is reliant on adequate bioavailability. Particle-based formulations demonstrate the potential to enable targeted drug delivery, enhance cellular uptake, and increase drug concentration in the host cell of HDTs. This review selected HDTs for clinically important pathogens, identifies formulation strategies that can improve their therapeutic efficacy and offers insights toward further development of HDTs for bacterial infections.

Enhanced cell selectivity of hybrid peptides with potential antimicrobial activity and immunomodulatory effect

BACKGROUND

Hybridization is a useful strategy to bond the advantages of different peptides into novel constructions. We designed a series of AMPs based on the structures of a synthetic AMP KFA3 and a naturally-occurred host defense peptide substance P (SP) to obtain peptides retaining the high antibacterial activity of KFA3 and the immunomodulatory activity and low cytotoxicity of SP.

METHODS

Two repeats of KFA and different C terminal fragments of SP were hybridized, generating a series of novel AMPs (KFSP1-8). The antibacterial activities, host cell toxicity and immunomodulation were measured. The antibacterial mechanisms were investigated.

RESULTS

Hybrid peptides KFSP1-4 exerted substantial antibacterial activities against Gram-negative bacteria of standard strains and clinical drug-resistant isolates including E.coli, A.baumannii and P.aeruginosa, while showing little toxicity towards host cells. Compared with KFA3, moderate reduction in α-helix content and the interruption in α-helix continuality were indicated in CD spectra analysis and secondary-structure simulation in these peptides. Membrane permeabilization combined with time-kill studies and FITC-labeled imaging, indicated a selective membrane interaction of KFSP1 with bacteria cell membranes. By specially activating NK1 receptor, the hybrid peptides kept the ability of SP to induce intracellular calcium release and ERK1/2 phosphorylation, but unable to stimulate NF-κB phosphorylation. KFSP1 facilitated the survival of mouse macrophage RAW264.7, directly interacting with LPS and inhibiting the LPS-induced NF-κB phosphorylation and TNF-α expression.

CONCLUSION

Hybridization is a useful strategy to bond the advantages of different peptides. KFSP1 and its analogs are worth of advanced efforts to explore their potential applications as novel antimicrobial agents.

Adjunctive therapy to treat neonatal sepsis

Introduction: Neonatal sepsis (NS) is a very severe condition that causes significant morbidity and mortality.Areas covered: To overcome the limits of antibiotic therapy and improve NS outcomes, measures chosen among those theoretically able to improve host defenses or positively interfere with deleterious immune responses could be suggested. This paper discusses the mechanisms of action of these measures, whether their efficacy in prophylaxis justifies use in NS therapy and their impact.Expert opinion: NS remains a relevant problem despite the availability of antibiotics effective against the most common agents and the introduction of effective preventive measures such as group B Streptococcus prenatal screening and intrapartum antibiotic prophylaxis. This explains why attempts to introduce new prophylactic and therapeutic measures have been made. Unfortunately, none of the measures suggested and tested to date can be considered a definitive advance. It is highly likely that in the future, new measures will be proposed according to the increase in the knowledge of the characteristics of immune system function in preterm infants and the methods to modulate unproper immune responses.