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Roque-Borda CA, Primo LMDG, Franzyk H, Hansen PR, Pavan FR. Recent advances in the development of antimicrobial peptides against ESKAPE pathogens. Heliyon 2024; 10:e31958. [PMID: 38868046 PMCID: PMC11167364 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e31958] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2024] [Revised: 05/23/2024] [Accepted: 05/24/2024] [Indexed: 06/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Multi-drug resistant ESKAPE pathogens (Enterococcus faecium, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Enterobacter species) are a global health threat. The severity of the problem lies in its impact on mortality, therapeutic limitations, the threat to public health, and the costs associated with managing infections caused by these resistant strains. Effectively addressing this challenge requires innovative approaches to research, the development of new antimicrobials, and more responsible antibiotic use practices globally. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are a part of the innate immune system of all higher organisms. They are short, cationic and amphipathic molecules with broad-spectrum activity. AMPs interact with the negatively charged bacterial membrane. In recent years, AMPs have attracted considerable interest as potential antibiotics. However, AMPs have low bioavailability and short half-lives, which may be circumvented by chemical modification. This review presents recent in vitro and in silico strategies for the modification of AMPs to improve their stability and application in preclinical experiments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cesar Augusto Roque-Borda
- São Paulo State University (UNESP), Tuberculosis Research Laboratory, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Araraquara, Brazil
- Universidad Católica de Santa María, Vicerrectorado de Investigación, Arequipa, Peru
| | | | - Henrik Franzyk
- University of Copenhagen, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, Denmark
| | - Paul Robert Hansen
- University of Copenhagen, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, Denmark
| | - Fernando Rogério Pavan
- São Paulo State University (UNESP), Tuberculosis Research Laboratory, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Araraquara, Brazil
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2
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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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3
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Behera LM, Ghosh M, Gupta PK, Rana S. A rationally engineered small antimicrobial peptide with potent antibacterial activity. J Cell Biochem 2024; 125:e30503. [PMID: 37992185 DOI: 10.1002/jcb.30503] [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: 09/06/2023] [Revised: 11/01/2023] [Accepted: 11/06/2023] [Indexed: 11/24/2023]
Abstract
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a silent pandemic declared by the WHO that requires urgent attention in the post-COVID world. AMR is a critical public health concern worldwide, potentially affecting people at different stages of life, including the veterinary and agriculture industries. Notably, very few new-age antimicrobial agents are in the current developmental pipeline. Thus, the design, discovery, and development of new antimicrobial agents are required to address the menace of AMR. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are an important class of antimicrobial agents for combating AMR due to their broad-spectrum activity and ability to evade AMR through a multimodal mechanism of action. However, molecular size, aggregability, proteolytic degradation, cytotoxicity, and hemolysis activity significantly limit the clinical application of natural AMPs. The de novo design and engineering of a short synthetic amphipathic AMP (≤16 aa, Mol. Wt. ≤ 2 kDa) with an unusual architecture comprised of coded and noncoded amino acids (NCAAs) is presented here, which demonstrates potent antibacterial activity against a few selected bacterial strains mentioned in the WHO priority list. The designer AMP is conformationally ordered in solution and effectively permeabilizes the outer and inner membranes, leading to bacterial growth inhibition and death. Additionally, the peptide is resistant to proteolysis and has negligible cytotoxicity and hemolysis activity up to 150 μM toward cultured human cell lines and erythrocytes. The designer AMP is unique and appears to be a potent therapeutic candidate, which can be subsequently subjected to preclinical studies to explicitly understand and address the menace of AMR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lalita Mohan Behera
- Chemical Biology Laboratory, School of Basic Sciences, Indian Institute of Technology Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India
| | - Manaswini Ghosh
- Chemical Biology Laboratory, School of Basic Sciences, Indian Institute of Technology Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India
| | - Pulkit Kr Gupta
- Chemical Biology Laboratory, School of Basic Sciences, Indian Institute of Technology Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India
| | - Soumendra Rana
- Chemical Biology Laboratory, School of Basic Sciences, Indian Institute of Technology Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India
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4
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Fleitas O, Fontes W, De Souza CM, Da Costa MC, Cardoso MH, Castro MS, Sousa MV, Ricart CAO, Ramada MHS, Duque HM, Porto WF, Silva ON, Franco OL. A proteomic perspective on the resistance response of Klebsiella pneumoniae to antimicrobial peptide PaDBS1R1. J Antimicrob Chemother 2024; 79:112-122. [PMID: 37966053 DOI: 10.1093/jac/dkad354] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2022] [Accepted: 10/31/2023] [Indexed: 11/16/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The synthetic antimicrobial peptide, PaDBS1R1, has been reported as a powerful anti-Klebsiella pneumoniae antimicrobial. However, there is only scarce knowledge about whether K. pneumoniae could develop resistance against PaDBS1R1 and which resistance mechanisms could be involved. OBJECTIVES Identify via label-free shotgun proteomics the K. pneumoniae resistance mechanisms developed against PaDBS1R1. METHODS An adaptive laboratory evolution experiment was performed to obtain a PaDBS1R1-resistant K. pneumoniae lineage. Antimicrobial susceptibility was determined through microdilution assay. Modifications in protein abundances between the resistant and sensitive lineages were measured via label-free quantitative shotgun proteomics. Enriched Gene Ontology terms and KEGG pathways were identified through over-representation analysis. Data are available via ProteomeXchange with identifier PXD033020. RESULTS K. pneumoniae ATCC 13883 parental strain challenged with increased subinhibitory PaDBS1R1 concentrations allowed the PaDBS1R1-resistant K. pneumoniae lineage to emerge. Proteome comparisons between PaDBS1R1-resistant K. pneumoniae and PaDBS1R1-sensitive K. pneumoniae under PaDBS1R1-induced stress conditions enabled the identification and quantification of 1702 proteins, out of which 201 were differentially abundant proteins (DAPs). The profiled DAPs comprised 103 up-regulated proteins (adjusted P value < 0.05, fold change ≥ 2) and 98 down-regulated proteins (adjusted P value < 0.05, fold change ≤ 0.5). The enrichment analysis suggests that PhoPQ-guided LPS modifications and CpxRA-dependent folding machinery could be relevant resistance mechanisms against PaDBS1R1. CONCLUSIONS Based on experimental evolution and a label-free quantitative shotgun proteomic approach, we showed that K. pneumoniae developed resistance against PaDBS1R1, whereas PhoPQ-guided LPS modifications and CpxRA-dependent folding machinery appear to be relevant resistance mechanisms against PaDBS1R1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Osmel Fleitas
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Patologia Molecular, Universidade de Brasília, Brasília, Brazil
- Centro de Análises Proteômicas e Bioquímicas, Universidade Católica de Brasília, Brasília, Brazil
| | - Wagner Fontes
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Patologia Molecular, Universidade de Brasília, Brasília, Brazil
- Laboratório de Bioquímica e Química de Proteínas, Universidade de Brasília, Brasília, Brazil
| | - Camila M De Souza
- Centro de Análises Proteômicas e Bioquímicas, Universidade Católica de Brasília, Brasília, Brazil
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Genômicas e Biotecnologia, Universidade Católica de Brasília, Brasília, Brazil
| | - Mylena C Da Costa
- Centro de Análises Proteômicas e Bioquímicas, Universidade Católica de Brasília, Brasília, Brazil
| | - Marlon H Cardoso
- Centro de Análises Proteômicas e Bioquímicas, Universidade Católica de Brasília, Brasília, Brazil
- S-Inova Biotech, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biotecnologia, Universidade Católica Dom Bosco, Campo Grande, Brazil
- Instituto de Biociências (INBIO), Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso do Sul, Cidade Universitária, 79070900, Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil
| | - Mariana S Castro
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Patologia Molecular, Universidade de Brasília, Brasília, Brazil
- Laboratório de Bioquímica e Química de Proteínas, Universidade de Brasília, Brasília, Brazil
| | - Marcelo V Sousa
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Patologia Molecular, Universidade de Brasília, Brasília, Brazil
- Laboratório de Bioquímica e Química de Proteínas, Universidade de Brasília, Brasília, Brazil
| | - Carlos A O Ricart
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Patologia Molecular, Universidade de Brasília, Brasília, Brazil
- Laboratório de Bioquímica e Química de Proteínas, Universidade de Brasília, Brasília, Brazil
| | - Marcelo H S Ramada
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Genômicas e Biotecnologia, Universidade Católica de Brasília, Brasília, Brazil
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Gerontologia, Universidade Católica de Brasília, Brasília, Brazil
| | - Harry M Duque
- Centro de Análises Proteômicas e Bioquímicas, Universidade Católica de Brasília, Brasília, Brazil
| | - William F Porto
- Centro de Análises Proteômicas e Bioquímicas, Universidade Católica de Brasília, Brasília, Brazil
| | - Osmar N Silva
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade Evangélica de Anapólis, University City, 75083-515 Anápolis-GO, Brazil
| | - Octávio L Franco
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Patologia Molecular, Universidade de Brasília, Brasília, Brazil
- Centro de Análises Proteômicas e Bioquímicas, Universidade Católica de Brasília, Brasília, Brazil
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Genômicas e Biotecnologia, Universidade Católica de Brasília, Brasília, Brazil
- S-Inova Biotech, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biotecnologia, Universidade Católica Dom Bosco, Campo Grande, Brazil
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5
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Randall JR, Groover KE, O'Donnell AC, Garza JM, Cole TJ, Davies BW. Adapting antibacterial display to identify serum-active macrocyclic peptide antibiotics. PNAS NEXUS 2023; 2:pgad270. [PMID: 37637199 PMCID: PMC10449418 DOI: 10.1093/pnasnexus/pgad270] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2023] [Accepted: 08/09/2023] [Indexed: 08/29/2023]
Abstract
The lack of available treatments for many antimicrobial-resistant infections highlights the critical need for antibiotic discovery innovation. Peptides are an underappreciated antibiotic scaffold because they often suffer from proteolytic instability and toxicity toward human cells, making in vivo use challenging. To investigate sequence factors related to serum activity, we adapt an antibacterial display technology to screen a library of peptide macrocycles for antibacterial potential directly in human serum. We identify dozens of new macrocyclic peptide antibiotic sequences and find that serum activity within our library is influenced by peptide length, cationic charge, and the number of disulfide bonds present. Interestingly, an optimized version of our most active lead peptide permeates the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria without strong inner-membrane disruption and kills bacteria slowly while causing cell elongation. This contrasts with traditional cationic antimicrobial peptides, which kill rapidly via lysis of both bacterial membranes. Notably, this optimized variant is not toxic to mammalian cells and retains its function in vivo, suggesting therapeutic promise. Our results support the use of more physiologically relevant conditions when screening peptides for antimicrobial activity which retain in vivo functionality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justin R Randall
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, USA
| | - Kyra E Groover
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, USA
| | - Angela C O'Donnell
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, USA
| | - Joseph M Garza
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, USA
| | - T Jeffrey Cole
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, USA
| | - Bryan W Davies
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, USA
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6
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Randall JR, Groover KE, O’Donnell AC, Garza JM, Cole TJ, Davies BW. Adapting antibacterial display to identify serum active macrocyclic peptide antibiotics. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.07.28.550711. [PMID: 37546850 PMCID: PMC10402130 DOI: 10.1101/2023.07.28.550711] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/08/2023]
Abstract
The lack of available treatments for many antimicrobial resistant infections highlights the critical need for antibiotic discovery innovation. Peptides are an underappreciated antibiotic scaffold because they often suffer from proteolytic instability and toxicity towards human cells, making in vivo use challenging. To investigate sequence factors related to serum activity, we adapt an antibacterial display technology to screen a library of peptide macrocycles for antibacterial potential directly in human serum. We identify dozens of new macrocyclic peptide antibiotic sequences and find that serum activity within our library is influenced by peptide length, cationic charge, and the number of disulfide bonds present. Interestingly, an optimized version of our most active lead peptide permeates the outer membrane of gram-negative bacteria without strong inner membrane disruption and kills bacteria slowly while causing cell elongation. This contrasts with traditional cationic antimicrobial peptides, which kill rapidly via lysis of both bacterial membranes. Notably, this optimized variant is not toxic to mammalian cells and retains its function in vivo , suggesting therapeutic promise. Our results support the use of more physiologically relevant conditions when screening peptides for antimicrobial activity which retain in vivo functionality. Significance Traditional methods of natural antibiotic discovery are low throughput and cannot keep pace with the development of antimicrobial resistance. Synthetic peptide display technologies offer a high-throughput means of screening drug candidates, but rarely consider functionality beyond simple target binding and do not consider retention of function in vivo . Here, we adapt a function-based, antibacterial display technology to screen a large library of peptide macrocycles directly for bacterial growth inhibition in human serum. This screen identifies an optimized non-toxic macrocyclic peptide antibiotic retaining in vivo function, suggesting this advancement could increase clinical antibiotic discovery efficiency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justin R. Randall
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712
| | - Kyra E. Groover
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712
| | - Angela C. O’Donnell
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712
| | - Joseph M. Garza
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712
| | - T. Jeffrey Cole
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712
| | - Bryan W. Davies
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712
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7
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Tang J, Guo M, Chen M, Xu B, Ran T, Wang W, Ma Z, Lin H, Fan H. A link between STK signalling and capsular polysaccharide synthesis in Streptococcus suis. Nat Commun 2023; 14:2480. [PMID: 37120581 PMCID: PMC10148854 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-38210-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2022] [Accepted: 04/20/2023] [Indexed: 05/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Synthesis of capsular polysaccharide (CPS), an important virulence factor of pathogenic bacteria, is modulated by the CpsBCD phosphoregulatory system in Streptococcus. Serine/threonine kinases (STKs, e.g. Stk1) can also regulate CPS synthesis, but the underlying mechanisms are unclear. Here, we identify a protein (CcpS) that is phosphorylated by Stk1 and modulates the activity of phosphatase CpsB in Streptococcus suis, thus linking Stk1 to CPS synthesis. The crystal structure of CcpS shows an intrinsically disordered region at its N-terminus, including two threonine residues that are phosphorylated by Stk1. The activity of phosphatase CpsB is inhibited when bound to non-phosphorylated CcpS. Thus, CcpS modulates the activity of phosphatase CpsB thereby altering CpsD phosphorylation, which in turn modulates the expression of the Wzx-Wzy pathway and thus CPS production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinsheng Tang
- MOE Joint International Research Laboratory of Animal Health and Food Safety, College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, China
| | - Mengru Guo
- MOE Joint International Research Laboratory of Animal Health and Food Safety, College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, China
| | - Min Chen
- MOE Joint International Research Laboratory of Animal Health and Food Safety, College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, China
| | - Bin Xu
- National Research Center of Veterinary Biologicals Engineering and Technology, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanjing, 210000, China
| | - Tingting Ran
- Department of Microbiology, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, China
| | - Weiwu Wang
- Department of Microbiology, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, China
| | - Zhe Ma
- MOE Joint International Research Laboratory of Animal Health and Food Safety, College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, China
- Jiangsu Coinnovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou, 225009, China
| | - Huixing Lin
- MOE Joint International Research Laboratory of Animal Health and Food Safety, College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, China
- Jiangsu Coinnovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou, 225009, China
| | - Hongjie Fan
- MOE Joint International Research Laboratory of Animal Health and Food Safety, College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, China.
- Jiangsu Coinnovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou, 225009, China.
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8
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The Capsule Increases Susceptibility to Last-Resort Polymyxins, but Not to Other Antibiotics, in Klebsiella pneumoniae. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2023; 67:e0012723. [PMID: 36912665 PMCID: PMC10112221 DOI: 10.1128/aac.00127-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/14/2023] Open
Abstract
The extracellular capsule is a virulence factor present in many facultative pathogens, but its role in antimicrobial resistance remains controversial. To shed light on this debate, we tested six antibiotics on four Klebsiella pneumoniae species complex strains. Noncapsulated strains exhibited increased tolerance to polymyxins, but not to other antibiotics, as measured using the MIC. Our results urge caution on the use of therapeutic agents that target the capsule and may result in selection for its inactivation.
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9
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Morici P, Rizzato C, Ghelardi E, Rossolini GM, Lupetti A. Sensitization of KPC and NDM Klebsiella pneumoniae To Rifampicin by the Human Lactoferrin-Derived Peptide hLF1-11. Microbiol Spectr 2023; 11:e0276722. [PMID: 36537823 PMCID: PMC9927577 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.02767-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
A synergistic effect of non-bactericidal concentrations of the human lactoferrin (hLF)-derived peptide hLF1-11 and rifampicin against multidrug-resistant KPC (Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase)-producing K. pneumoniae has been previously shown. The present study focuses on the mechanism(s) underlying this synergistic effect. The contribution of hLF1-11 and rifampicin to the synergistic effect was evaluated by killing assays with KPC K. pneumoniae cells incubated with hLF1-11 and, after washing, with rifampicin, or vice versa. Cell membrane permeability and polarization upon exposure to hLF1-11 and/or rifampicin were evaluated by ethidium bromide (EtBr) and DiBAC4(3) (bis-1,3-dibutylbarbituric acid trimethine oxonol) permeability, respectively. The effect of carbonyl cyanide m-chlorophenyl hydrazone (CCCP), an uncoupler of oxidative phosphorylation, was also evaluated. KPC K. pneumoniae cells were effectively killed after prior exposure to rifampicin for 30 to 60 min followed by treatment with hLF1-11, while no antibacterial activity was observed when cells were incubated with hLF1-11 first and then with rifampicin. EtBr accumulation increased upon exposure to hLF1-11 or the combination of hLF1-11 and rifampicin, but not upon exposure to rifampicin alone. Moreover, hLF1-11 induced a dose-dependent membrane depolarization. As expected, the antibacterial activity of hLF1-11 alone or combined with rifampicin was significantly reduced in the presence of CCCP. Furthermore, hLF1-11 and rifampicin were synergistic also against a colistin-resistant NDM (New Delhi metallo-β-lactamase)-producing K. pneumoniae strain. The results suggest that rifampicin was accumulated by KPC cells during the 30-to-60-min incubation and that the addition of hLF1-11 sensitized bacterial cells to rifampicin by inducing a transient loss of membrane potential and increased cell membrane permeability, thus facilitating the entrance and retention of rifampicin into the cytoplasm. IMPORTANCE The present study describes a synergistic effect between rifampicin, an impermeable hydrophobic antibiotic with an intracellular target, and an hLF1-11, an antimicrobial peptide derived from human lactoferrin, against multidrug-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae. Carbapenem-resistant K. pneumoniae has recently caused an outbreak in Tuscany, Italy, thus pressing the need for the development of new treatment options. The mechanisms underlying such a synergistic effect have been studied. The results suggest that the synergistic effect was due to the transient loss of membrane potential induced by hLF1-11 and the subsequent increase in cell membrane permeability which allowed rifampicin to enter the bacterial cell. Therefore, it is likely that a sub-inhibitory concentration of hLF1-11 can efficiently permeabilize K. pneumoniae cells to rifampicin, allowing the antibiotic to reach its intracellular target. These results encourage further exploration of possible applications of this synergistic combination in the treatment of K. pneumoniae infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paola Morici
- Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Cosmeri Rizzato
- Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Emilia Ghelardi
- Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Gian Maria Rossolini
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
- Clinical Microbiology and Virology Unit, Florence Careggi University Hospital, Florence, Italy
| | - Antonella Lupetti
- Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
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10
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Popitool K, Wataradee S, Wichai T, Noitang S, Ajariyakhajorn K, Charoenrat T, Boonyaratanakornkit V, Sooksai S. Potential of Pm11 antimicrobial peptide against bovine mastitis pathogens. Am J Vet Res 2022; 84:ajvr.22.06.0096. [PMID: 36480332 DOI: 10.2460/ajvr.22.06.0096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To investigate an alternative treatment for bovine mastitis by using Pm11 antimicrobial peptide. SAMPLE 5 bovine mastitis pathogens that were previously isolated from cows affected by either clinical or subclinical mastitis. PROCEDURES The current study introduces Pm11 antimicrobial peptide as an alternative treatment for bovine mastitis. The antibacterial activity of Pm11 was tested against Escherichia coli strain SCM1249, Klebsiella spp strain SCM1282, Staphylococcus aureus strain CM967, Streptococcus agalactiae strain SCM1084, and Streptococcus uberis strain SCM1310 using minimum bactericidal concentrations (MBCs) and time-kill kinetics. The pathogens' morphological changes were demonstrated using a scanning electron microscope (SEM). The cytotoxicity of Pm11 was assessed using the minimum hemolytic concentration assay. RESULTS MBCs ranged from 2.5 to 10 μM and IC50 ranged from 0.32 to 2.07 μM. Time-kill kinetics at MBC demonstrated that Pm11 reduced viable cell counts of S agalactiae strain SCM1084 and S uberis strain SCM1310 from 105 to 0 CFU/mL within 1 h. E coli strain SCM1249 and S aureus strain CM967 were reduced from 105 to 0 CFU/mL within 4 h. The average Pm11-induced hemolytic activity was < 10% for all Pm11 concentrations tested except at the maximum concentration tested (160 μM: 10.19 ± 2.29%). Based on SEM, Pm11 induced morphological and cellular changes in S aureus and E coli. CLINICAL RELEVANCE Pm11 antimicrobial peptide demonstrated in vitro antibacterial activity against the common bovine mastitis pathogens E coli, S aureus, S agalactiae, and S uberis, except Klebsiella spp, and should be further investigated in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kwantida Popitool
- Program in Biotechnology, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, Pathumwan, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Sirirat Wataradee
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Thanaporn Wichai
- The Institute of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Sajee Noitang
- The Institute of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Kittisak Ajariyakhajorn
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Theppanya Charoenrat
- Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Science and Technology, Thammasat University, Rangsit, Pathum Thani, Thailand
| | - Viroj Boonyaratanakornkit
- Department of Clinical Chemistry and Graduate Program in Clinical Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Sarintip Sooksai
- The Institute of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
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11
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Branco LAC, Souza PFN, Neto NAS, Aguiar TKB, Silva AFB, Carneiro RF, Nagano CS, Mesquita FP, Lima LB, Freitas CDT. New Insights into the Mechanism of Antibacterial Action of Synthetic Peptide Mo-CBP 3-PepI against Klebsiella pneumoniae. Antibiotics (Basel) 2022; 11:antibiotics11121753. [PMID: 36551410 PMCID: PMC9774128 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics11121753] [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: 11/14/2022] [Revised: 11/29/2022] [Accepted: 12/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Klebsiella pneumoniae is a multidrug-resistant opportunistic human pathogen related to various infections. As such, synthetic peptides have emerged as potential alternative molecules. Mo-CBP3-PepI has presented great activity against K. pneumoniae by presenting an MIC50 at a very low concentration (31.25 µg mL-1). Here, fluorescence microscopy and proteomic analysis revealed the alteration in cell membrane permeability, ROS overproduction, and protein profile of K. pneumoniae cells treated with Mo-CBP3-PepI. Mo-CBP3-PepI led to ROS overaccumulation and membrane pore formation in K. pneumoniae cells. Furthermore, the proteomic analysis highlighted changes in essential metabolic pathways. For example, after treatment of K. pneumoniae cells with Mo-CBP3-PepI, a reduction in the abundance of protein related to DNA and protein metabolism, cytoskeleton and cell wall organization, redox metabolism, regulation factors, ribosomal proteins, and resistance to antibiotics was seen. The reduction in proteins involved in vital processes for cell life, such as DNA repair, cell wall turnover, and protein turnover, results in the accumulation of ROS, driving the cell to death. Our findings indicated that Mo-CBP3-PepI might have mechanisms of action against K. pneumoniae cells, mitigating the development of resistance and thus being a potent molecule to be employed in producing new drugs against K. pneumoniae infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Levi A. C. Branco
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza 60020-181, CE, Brazil
| | - Pedro F. N. Souza
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza 60020-181, CE, Brazil
- Drug Research and Development Center, Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza 60020-181, CE, Brazil
- Correspondence: or
| | - Nilton A. S. Neto
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza 60020-181, CE, Brazil
| | - Tawanny K. B. Aguiar
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza 60020-181, CE, Brazil
| | - Ayrles F. B. Silva
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza 60020-181, CE, Brazil
| | - Rômulo F. Carneiro
- Department of Fisheries Engineering, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza 60020-181, CE, Brazil
| | - Celso S. Nagano
- Department of Fisheries Engineering, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza 60020-181, CE, Brazil
| | - Felipe P. Mesquita
- Drug Research and Development Center, Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza 60020-181, CE, Brazil
| | - Luina B. Lima
- Drug Research and Development Center, Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza 60020-181, CE, Brazil
| | - Cleverson D. T. Freitas
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza 60020-181, CE, Brazil
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12
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Morales-Martínez A, Bertrand B, Hernández-Meza JM, Garduño-Juárez R, Silva-Sanchez J, Munoz-Garay C. Membrane fluidity, composition, and charge affect the activity and selectivity of the AMP ascaphin-8. Biophys J 2022; 121:3034-3048. [PMID: 35842753 PMCID: PMC9463648 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2022.07.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2022] [Revised: 06/28/2022] [Accepted: 07/12/2022] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Ascaphins are cationic antimicrobial peptides that have been shown to have potential in the treatment of infectious diseases caused by multidrug-resistant pathogens (MDR). However, to date, their principal molecular target and mechanism of action are unknown. Results from peptide prediction software and molecular dynamics simulations confirmed that ascaphin-8 is an alpha-helical peptide. For the first time, the peptide was described as membranotrophic using biophysical approaches including calcein liposome leakage, Laurdan general polarization, and dynamic light scattering. Ascaphin-8's activity and selectivity were modulated by rearranging the spatial distribution of lysine (Var-K5), aspartic acid (Var-D4) residues, or substitution of phenylalanine with tyrosine (Var-Y). The parental peptide and its variants presented high affinity toward the bacterial membrane model (≤2 μM), but lost activity in sterol-enriched membranes (mammal and fungal models, with cholesterol and ergosterol, respectively). The peptide-induced pore size was estimated to be >20 nm in the bacterial model, with no difference among peptides. The same pattern was observed in membrane fluidity (general polarization) assays, where all peptides reduced membrane fluidity of the bacterial model but not in the models containing sterols. The peptides also showed high activity toward MDR bacteria. Moreover, peptide sensitivity of the artificial membrane models compared with pathogenic bacterial isolates were in good agreement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adriana Morales-Martínez
- Instituto de Ciencias Físicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (ICF-UNAM), Cuernavaca, Morelos, México
| | - Brandt Bertrand
- Instituto de Ciencias Físicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (ICF-UNAM), Cuernavaca, Morelos, México
| | - Juan M Hernández-Meza
- Instituto de Ciencias Físicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (ICF-UNAM), Cuernavaca, Morelos, México
| | - Ramón Garduño-Juárez
- Instituto de Ciencias Físicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (ICF-UNAM), Cuernavaca, Morelos, México
| | - Jesús Silva-Sanchez
- Centro de Investigación sobre Enfermedades Infecciosas, Instituto Nacional de Salud Pública, Cuernavaca, Morelos, México
| | - Carlos Munoz-Garay
- Instituto de Ciencias Físicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (ICF-UNAM), Cuernavaca, Morelos, México.
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13
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Boff D, Russo RC, Crijns H, de Oliveira VLS, Mattos MS, Marques PE, Menezes GB, Vieira AT, Teixeira MM, Proost P, Amaral FA. The Therapeutic Treatment with the GAG-Binding Chemokine Fragment CXCL9(74-103) Attenuates Neutrophilic Inflammation and Lung Dysfunction during Klebsiella pneumoniae Infection in Mice. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23116246. [PMID: 35682923 PMCID: PMC9181286 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23116246] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2022] [Revised: 05/23/2022] [Accepted: 05/30/2022] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Klebsiella pneumoniae is an important pathogen associated with hospital-acquired pneumonia (HAP). Bacterial pneumonia is characterized by a harmful inflammatory response with a massive influx of neutrophils, production of cytokines and chemokines, and consequent tissue damage and dysfunction. Targeted therapies to block neutrophil migration to avoid tissue damage while keeping the antimicrobial properties of tissue remains a challenge in the field. Here we tested the effect of the anti-inflammatory properties of the chemokine fragment CXCL9(74–103) in pneumonia induced by Klebsiella pneumoniae in mice. Mice were infected by intratracheal injection of Klebsiella pneumoniae and 6 h after infection were treated systemically with CXCL9(74–103). The recruitment of leukocytes, levels of cytokines and chemokines, colony-forming units (CFU), and lung function were evaluated. The treatment with CXCL9(74–103) decreased neutrophil migration to the airways and the production of the cytokine interleukin-1β (IL-1β) without affecting bacterial control. In addition, the therapeutic treatment improved lung function in infected mice. Our results indicated that the treatment with CXCL9(74–103) reduced inflammation and improved lung function in Klebsiella pneumoniae-induced pneumonia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daiane Boff
- Imunofarmacologia, Department of Biochemistry and Immunology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte 31270-901, Brazil; (D.B.); (V.L.S.d.O.); (M.M.T.)
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Rega Institute, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium; (H.C.); (M.S.M.); (P.E.M.)
| | - Remo Castro Russo
- Laboratory of Pulmonary Immunology and Mechanics, Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Institute of Biological Sciences, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte 31270-901, Brazil;
| | - Helena Crijns
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Rega Institute, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium; (H.C.); (M.S.M.); (P.E.M.)
| | - Vivian Louise Soares de Oliveira
- Imunofarmacologia, Department of Biochemistry and Immunology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte 31270-901, Brazil; (D.B.); (V.L.S.d.O.); (M.M.T.)
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Rega Institute, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium; (H.C.); (M.S.M.); (P.E.M.)
| | - Matheus Silvério Mattos
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Rega Institute, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium; (H.C.); (M.S.M.); (P.E.M.)
| | - Pedro Elias Marques
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Rega Institute, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium; (H.C.); (M.S.M.); (P.E.M.)
| | - Gustavo Batista Menezes
- Center of Gastrointestinal Biology, Department of Morphology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte 31270-901, Brazil;
| | - Angélica Thomaz Vieira
- Laboratory of Microbiota and Immunomodulation, Department of Biochemistry and Immunology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte 31270-901, Brazil;
| | - Mauro Martins Teixeira
- Imunofarmacologia, Department of Biochemistry and Immunology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte 31270-901, Brazil; (D.B.); (V.L.S.d.O.); (M.M.T.)
| | - Paul Proost
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Rega Institute, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium; (H.C.); (M.S.M.); (P.E.M.)
- Correspondence: (P.P.); (F.A.A.)
| | - Flávio Almeida Amaral
- Imunofarmacologia, Department of Biochemistry and Immunology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte 31270-901, Brazil; (D.B.); (V.L.S.d.O.); (M.M.T.)
- Correspondence: (P.P.); (F.A.A.)
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14
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Lopes BS, Hanafiah A, Nachimuthu R, Muthupandian S, Md Nesran ZN, Patil S. The Role of Antimicrobial Peptides as Antimicrobial and Antibiofilm Agents in Tackling the Silent Pandemic of Antimicrobial Resistance. Molecules 2022; 27:molecules27092995. [PMID: 35566343 PMCID: PMC9105241 DOI: 10.3390/molecules27092995] [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: 02/27/2022] [Revised: 04/28/2022] [Accepted: 04/29/2022] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
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.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bruno S. Lopes
- Department of Medical Microbiology, School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen AB25 2ZD, UK
- Correspondence: (B.S.L.); (A.H.)
| | - Alfizah Hanafiah
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur 56000, Malaysia;
- Correspondence: (B.S.L.); (A.H.)
| | - Ramesh Nachimuthu
- Antibiotic Resistance and Phage Therapy Laboratory, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Vellore Institute of Technology, School of Bioscience and Technology, Vellore 632014, India;
| | - Saravanan Muthupandian
- AMR and Nanotherapeutics Laboratory, Department of Pharmacology, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences, Saveetha Dental College, Chennai 600077, India;
| | - Zarith Nameyrra Md Nesran
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur 56000, Malaysia;
| | - Sandip Patil
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, Shenzhen Children’s Hospital, Shenzhen 518038, China;
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15
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Inosine and D-Mannose Secreted by Drug-Resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae Affect Viability of Lung Epithelial Cells. Molecules 2022; 27:molecules27092994. [PMID: 35566345 PMCID: PMC9106066 DOI: 10.3390/molecules27092994] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2022] [Revised: 04/30/2022] [Accepted: 05/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The antibiotic resistance rates of Klebsiella pneumoniae have been steadily increasing in recent years. Nevertheless, the metabolic features of the drug-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae and its associated benefits for bacterial pathogenicity are far from expounded. This study aims to unravel the unique physiological and metabolic properties specific to drug-resistant K. pneumoniae. Using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), we observed a thicker extracellular mucus layer around a drug-resistant K. pneumonia strain (Kp-R) than a drug-sensitive K. pneumonia strain (Kp-S). Kp-R also produced more capsular polysaccharide (CPS) and biofilm, and appeared to have a significant competitive advantage when co-cultured with Kp-S. Moreover, Kp-R was easier to adhere to and invade A549 epithelial cells than Kp-S but caused less cell-viability damage according to cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) tests. Immunofluorescence revealed that both Kp-R and Kp-S infection destroyed the tight junctions and F-actin of epithelial cells, while the damage caused by Kp-S was more severe than Kp-R. We detected the extracellular metabolites secreted by the two strains with UHPLC-Q-TOF MS to explore the critical secretion products. We identified 16 predominant compounds that were differentially expressed. Among them, inosine increased the viability of epithelial cells in a dose-dependent manner, and an A2AR antagonist can abolish such enhancement. D-mannose, which was secreted less in Kp-R, inhibited the viability of A549 cells in the range of low doses. These findings provide potential targets and research strategies for preventing and treating drug-resistant K. pneumoniae infections.
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16
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Fleeman RM, Davies BW. Polyproline Peptide Aggregation with Klebsiella pneumoniae Extracellular Polysaccharides Exposes Biofilm Associated Bacteria. Microbiol Spectr 2022; 10:e0202721. [PMID: 35254120 PMCID: PMC9045188 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.02027-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2021] [Accepted: 02/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Klebsiella pneumoniae produces a thick capsule layer composed of extracellular polysaccharides protecting the bacterial cells from clearance by innate host immunity during infection. Here we characterize the interactions of a structurally diverse set of host defense peptides with K. pneumoniae extracellular polysaccharides. Remarkably, we found that all host defense peptides were active against a diverse set of K. pneumoniae strains, including hypermucoviscous strains with extensive capsule production, and aggregated with extracted capsule. Interestingly, the polyproline peptide bac7 (1-35), was the most potent antimicrobial and induced the most capsule aggregation. In addition to capsule aggregation, we found that bac7 (1-35) could also disrupt pre-formed hypermucoviscous K. pneumoniae biofilm. Further analysis using scanning electron microscopy revealed the biofilm matrix of a hypermucoviscous strain is removed by bac7 (1-35) exposing associated bacterial cells. This is the first description of a host defense peptide interacting with capsular and biofilm extracellular polysaccharides to expose cells from a K. pneumoniae biofilm matrix and suggests that features of polyproline peptides may be uniquely suited for extracellular polysaccharide interactions. IMPORTANCE Klebsiella pneumoniae bacterial infections are a major threat to human health as mortality rates are steadily on the rise. A defining characteristic of K. pneumoniae is the robust polysaccharide capsule that aids in resistance to the human immune system. We have previously discovered that a synthetic peptide could aggregate with capsule polysaccharides and disrupt the capsule of K. pneumoniae. Here we describe that host defense peptides also aggregate with capsule produced from hypermucoviscous K. pneumoniae, revealing this mechanism is shared by natural peptides. We found the polyproline peptide bac7 (1-35) had the greatest antimicrobial activity and caused the most capsule aggregation. Interestingly, bac7 (1-35) also removed the biofilm matrix of hypermucoviscous K. pneumoniae exposing the associated bacterial cells. This is the first description of a polyproline peptide interacting with capsular and biofilm polysaccharides to expose cells from a K. pneumoniae biofilm matrix.
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Affiliation(s)
- Renee M. Fleeman
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, USA
| | - Bryan W. Davies
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, USA
- Center for Systems and Synthetic Biology, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, USA
- John Ring LaMontagne Center for Infectious Diseases, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas, USA
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17
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Dey J, Mahapatra SR, Lata S, Patro S, Misra N, Suar M. Exploring Klebsiella pneumoniae capsule polysaccharide proteins to design multiepitope subunit vaccine to fight against pneumonia. Expert Rev Vaccines 2022; 21:569-587. [PMID: 34932430 DOI: 10.1080/14760584.2022.2021882] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 29.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Klebsiella pneumoniae is an emerging human pathogen causing neonatal lung disease, catheter-associated infections, and nosocomial outbreaks with high fatality rates. Capsular polysaccharide (CPS) protein plays a major determinant in virulence and is considered as a promising target for vaccine development. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS In this study, we used immunoinformatic approaches to design a multi-peptide vaccine against K. pneumonia. The epitopes were selected through several immune filters, such as antigenicity, conservancy, nontoxicity, non-allergenicity, binding affinity to HLA alleles, overlapping epitopes, and peptides having common epitopes. RESULTS Finally, a construct comprising 2 B-Cell, 8 CTL, 2 HTL epitopes, along with adjuvant, linkers was designed. Peptide-HLA interaction analysis showed strong binding of these epitopes with several common HLA molecules. The in silico immune simulation and population coverage analysis of the vaccine showed its potential to evoke strong immune responses.. Further, the interaction between vaccine and immune was evaluated by docking and simulation, revealing high affinity and complex stability. Codon adaptation and in silico cloning revealed higher expression of vaccine in E. coli K12 expression system. CONCLUSIONS Conclusively, the findings of the present study suggest that the designed novel multi-epitopic vaccine holds potential for further experimental validation against the pathogen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jyotirmayee Dey
- School of Biotechnology, Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT), Deemed to Be University, Bhubaneswar, India
| | - Soumya Ranjan Mahapatra
- School of Biotechnology, Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT), Deemed to Be University, Bhubaneswar, India
| | - S Lata
- Kalinga Institute of Dental Sciences, KIIT Deemed to Be University, Bhubaneswar, India
| | - Shubhransu Patro
- Kalinga Institute of Medical Sciences, KIIT Deemed to Be University, Bhubaneswar, India
| | - Namrata Misra
- School of Biotechnology, Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT), Deemed to Be University, Bhubaneswar, India.,KIIT-Technology Business Incubator (KIIT-TBI), Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT), Deemed to Be University, Bhubaneswar, India
| | - Mrutyunjay Suar
- School of Biotechnology, Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT), Deemed to Be University, Bhubaneswar, India.,KIIT-Technology Business Incubator (KIIT-TBI), Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT), Deemed to Be University, Bhubaneswar, India
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18
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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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19
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Luong HX, Ngan HD, Thi Phuong HB, Quoc TN, Tung TT. Multiple roles of ribosomal antimicrobial peptides in tackling global antimicrobial resistance. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2022; 9:211583. [PMID: 35116161 PMCID: PMC8790363 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.211583] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2021] [Accepted: 12/20/2021] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
In the last century, conventional antibiotics have played a significant role in global healthcare. Antibiotics support the body in controlling bacterial infection and simultaneously increase the tendency of drug resistance. Consequently, there is a severe concern regarding the regression of the antibiotic era. Despite the use of antibiotics, host defence systems are vital in fighting infectious diseases. In fact, the expression of ribosomal antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) has been crucial in the evolution of innate host defences and has been irreplaceable to date. Therefore, this valuable source is considered to have great potential in tackling the antimicrobial resistance (AMR) crisis. Furthermore, the possibility of bacterial resistance to AMPs has been intensively investigated. Here, we summarize all aspects related to the multiple applications of ribosomal AMPs and their derivatives in combating AMR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huy Xuan Luong
- Faculty of Pharmacy, PHENIKAA University, Hanoi 12116, Vietnam
- PHENIKAA Institute for Advanced Study (PIAS), PHENIKAA University, Hanoi 12116, Vietnam
| | | | | | - Thang Nguyen Quoc
- Nuclear Medicine Unit, Vinmec Healthcare System, Hanoi 10000, Vietnam
| | - Truong Thanh Tung
- Faculty of Pharmacy, PHENIKAA University, Hanoi 12116, Vietnam
- PHENIKAA Institute for Advanced Study (PIAS), PHENIKAA University, Hanoi 12116, Vietnam
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20
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Gomes A, Bessa LJ, Fernandes I, Ferraz R, Monteiro C, L. Martins MC, Mateus N, Gameiro P, Teixeira C, Gomes P. Disclosure of a Promising Lead to Tackle Complicated Skin and Skin Structure Infections: Antimicrobial and Antibiofilm Actions of Peptide PP4-3.1. Pharmaceutics 2021; 13:1962. [PMID: 34834377 PMCID: PMC8619843 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics13111962] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2021] [Revised: 11/04/2021] [Accepted: 11/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Efficient antibiotics are being exhausted, which compromises the treatment of infections, including complicated skin and skin structure infections (cSSTI) often associated with multidrug resistant (MDR) bacteria, methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) being the most prevalent. Antimicrobial peptides (AMP) are being increasingly regarded as the new hope for the post-antibiotic era. Thus, future management of cSSTI may include use of peptides that, on the one hand, behave as AMP and, on the other, are able to promote fast and correct skin rebuilding. As such, we combined the well-known cosmeceutical pentapeptide-4 (PP4), devoid of antimicrobial action but possessing collagenesis-boosting properties, with the AMP 3.1, to afford the chimeric peptide PP4-3.1. We further produced its N-methyl imidazole derivative, MeIm-PP4-3.1. Both peptide-based constructs were evaluated in vitro against Gram-negative bacteria, Gram-positive bacteria, and Candida spp. fungi. Additionally, the antibiofilm activity, the toxicity to human keratinocytes, and the activity against S. aureus in simulated wound fluid (SWF) were assessed. The chimeric peptide PP4-3.1 stood out for its potent activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, including against MDR clinical isolates (0.8 ≤ MIC ≤ 5.7 µM), both in planktonic form and in biofilm matrix. The peptide was also active against three clinically relevant species of Candida fungi, with an overall performance superior to that of fluconazole. Altogether, data reveal that PP4-3.1 is as a promising lead for the future development of new topical treatments for severe skin infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Gomes
- LAQV-REQUIMTE, Departamento de Química e Bioquímica, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade do Porto, P-4169-007 Porto, Portugal; (A.G.); (L.J.B.); (I.F.); (R.F.); (N.M.); (P.G.); (C.T.)
| | - Lucinda J. Bessa
- LAQV-REQUIMTE, Departamento de Química e Bioquímica, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade do Porto, P-4169-007 Porto, Portugal; (A.G.); (L.J.B.); (I.F.); (R.F.); (N.M.); (P.G.); (C.T.)
- Centro de Investigação Interdisciplinar Egas Moniz (CiiEM), Egas Moniz-Cooperativa de Ensino Superior, CRL, P-2829-511 Almada, Portugal
| | - Iva Fernandes
- LAQV-REQUIMTE, Departamento de Química e Bioquímica, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade do Porto, P-4169-007 Porto, Portugal; (A.G.); (L.J.B.); (I.F.); (R.F.); (N.M.); (P.G.); (C.T.)
| | - Ricardo Ferraz
- LAQV-REQUIMTE, Departamento de Química e Bioquímica, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade do Porto, P-4169-007 Porto, Portugal; (A.G.); (L.J.B.); (I.F.); (R.F.); (N.M.); (P.G.); (C.T.)
- Ciências Químicas e das Biomoléculas–CISA, Escola Superior de Saúde, Politécnico do Porto, P-4200-072 Porto, Portugal
| | - Cláudia Monteiro
- i3S-Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, P-4200-135 Porto, Portugal; (C.M.); (M.C.L.M.)
- INEB-Instituto de Engenharia Biomédica, P-4200-135 Porto, Portugal
| | - M. Cristina L. Martins
- i3S-Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, P-4200-135 Porto, Portugal; (C.M.); (M.C.L.M.)
- INEB-Instituto de Engenharia Biomédica, P-4200-135 Porto, Portugal
- ICBAS, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar, Universidade do Porto, P-4050-313 Porto, Portugal
| | - Nuno Mateus
- LAQV-REQUIMTE, Departamento de Química e Bioquímica, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade do Porto, P-4169-007 Porto, Portugal; (A.G.); (L.J.B.); (I.F.); (R.F.); (N.M.); (P.G.); (C.T.)
| | - Paula Gameiro
- LAQV-REQUIMTE, Departamento de Química e Bioquímica, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade do Porto, P-4169-007 Porto, Portugal; (A.G.); (L.J.B.); (I.F.); (R.F.); (N.M.); (P.G.); (C.T.)
| | - Cátia Teixeira
- LAQV-REQUIMTE, Departamento de Química e Bioquímica, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade do Porto, P-4169-007 Porto, Portugal; (A.G.); (L.J.B.); (I.F.); (R.F.); (N.M.); (P.G.); (C.T.)
| | - Paula Gomes
- LAQV-REQUIMTE, Departamento de Química e Bioquímica, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade do Porto, P-4169-007 Porto, Portugal; (A.G.); (L.J.B.); (I.F.); (R.F.); (N.M.); (P.G.); (C.T.)
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21
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Su R, Zhang Y, Zhang J, Wang H, Luo Y, Chan HF, Tao Y, Chen Z, Li M. Nanomedicine to advance the treatment of bacteria-induced acute lung injury. J Mater Chem B 2021; 9:9100-9115. [PMID: 34672317 DOI: 10.1039/d1tb01770e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Bacteria-induced acute lung injury (ALI) is associated with a high mortality rate due to the lack of an effective treatment. Patients often rely on supportive care such as low tidal volume ventilation to alleviate the symptoms. Nanomedicine has recently received much attention owing to its premium benefits of delivering drugs in a sustainable and controllable manner while minimizing the potential side effects. It can effectively improve the prognosis of bacteria-induced ALI through targeted delivery of drugs, regulation of multiple inflammatory pathways, and combating antibiotic resistance. Hence, in this review, we first discuss the pathogenesis of ALI and its potential therapeutics. In particular, the state-of-the-art nanomedicines for the treatment of bacteria-induced ALI are highlighted, including their administration routes, in vivo distribution, and clearance. Furthermore, the available bacteria-induced ALI animal models are also summarized. In the end, future perspectives of nanomedicine for ALI treatment are proposed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruonan Su
- Center for Nanomedicine, Department of Pediatrics and Department of Allergy, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510630, China. .,Laboratory of Biomaterials and Translational Medicine, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510630, China
| | - Yu Zhang
- Department of Biological and Environmental Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca 14853, USA
| | - Jiabin Zhang
- Center for Nanomedicine, Department of Pediatrics and Department of Allergy, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510630, China.
| | - Haixia Wang
- Center for Nanomedicine, Department of Pediatrics and Department of Allergy, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510630, China. .,Laboratory of Biomaterials and Translational Medicine, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510630, China
| | - Yun Luo
- Department of Urology, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou 510630, China
| | - Hon Fai Chan
- Institute for Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, School of Biomedical Science, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong 999077, China
| | - Yu Tao
- Center for Nanomedicine, Department of Pediatrics and Department of Allergy, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510630, China. .,Laboratory of Biomaterials and Translational Medicine, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510630, China
| | - Zhuanggui Chen
- Center for Nanomedicine, Department of Pediatrics and Department of Allergy, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510630, China.
| | - Mingqiang Li
- Center for Nanomedicine, Department of Pediatrics and Department of Allergy, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510630, China. .,Laboratory of Biomaterials and Translational Medicine, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510630, China.,Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Liver Disease Research, Guangzhou 510630, China
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22
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Rima M, Rima M, Fajloun Z, Sabatier JM, Bechinger B, Naas T. Antimicrobial Peptides: A Potent Alternative to Antibiotics. Antibiotics (Basel) 2021; 10:1095. [PMID: 34572678 PMCID: PMC8466391 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics10091095] [Citation(s) in RCA: 116] [Impact Index Per Article: 38.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2021] [Revised: 09/02/2021] [Accepted: 09/06/2021] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Antimicrobial peptides constitute one of the most promising alternatives to antibiotics since they could be used to treat bacterial infections, especially those caused by multidrug-resistant pathogens. Many antimicrobial peptides, with various activity spectra and mechanisms of actions, have been described. This review focuses on their use against ESKAPE bacteria, especially in biofilm treatments, their synergistic activity, and their application as prophylactic agents. Limitations and challenges restricting therapeutic applications are highlighted, and solutions for each challenge are evaluated to analyze whether antimicrobial peptides could replace antibiotics in the near future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariam Rima
- Team ReSIST, INSERM U1184, School of Medicine Université Paris-Saclay, 94270 Le Kremlin-Bicetre, France;
| | - Mohamad Rima
- Laboratory of Applied Biotechnology, Azm Center for Research in Biotechnology and Its Applications, EDST, Lebanese University, Tripoli 1300, Lebanon; (M.R.); (Z.F.)
| | - Ziad Fajloun
- Laboratory of Applied Biotechnology, Azm Center for Research in Biotechnology and Its Applications, EDST, Lebanese University, Tripoli 1300, Lebanon; (M.R.); (Z.F.)
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences III, Lebanese University, Tripoli 1300, Lebanon
| | - Jean-Marc Sabatier
- Institut de Neuro Physiopathologie, UMR7051, Aix-Marseille Université, Faculté de Pharmacie, 27 Boulevard Jean Moulin, 13005 Marseille, France
| | - Burkhard Bechinger
- Institut de Chimie de Strasbourg, CNRS, UMR7177, University of Strasbourg, 67008 Strasbourg, France;
- Institut Universitaire de France (IUF), 75005 Paris, France
| | - Thierry Naas
- Team ReSIST, INSERM U1184, School of Medicine Université Paris-Saclay, 94270 Le Kremlin-Bicetre, France;
- Bacteriology-Hygiene Unit, Assistance Publique/Hôpitaux de Paris, Bicêtre Hospital, 94270 Le Kremlin-Bicetre, France
- French National Reference Centre for Antibiotic Resistance: Carbapenemase-Producing Enterobacterales, 94270 Le Kremlin-Bicetre, France
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23
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Abstract
Otilonium bromide is a poorly absorbed oral medication used to control irritable bowel syndrome. It is thought to act as a muscle relaxant in the intestine. Here we show that otilonium bromide has broad-spectrum antibacterial and antifungal activity, including against multi-drug resistant strains. Our results suggest otilonium bromide could act on enteric pathogens and may offer a new scaffold for poorly absorbed intestinal antimicrobial therapy.
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24
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Roque-Borda CA, da Silva PB, Rodrigues MC, Azevedo RB, Di Filippo L, Duarte JL, Chorilli M, Festozo Vicente E, Pavan FR. Challenge in the Discovery of New Drugs: Antimicrobial Peptides against WHO-List of Critical and High-Priority Bacteria. Pharmaceutics 2021; 13:773. [PMID: 34064302 PMCID: PMC8224320 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics13060773] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2021] [Revised: 05/15/2021] [Accepted: 05/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Bacterial resistance has intensified in recent years due to the uncontrolled use of conventional drugs, and new bacterial strains with multiple resistance have been reported. This problem may be solved by using antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), which fulfill their bactericidal activity without developing much bacterial resistance. The rapid interaction between AMPs and the bacterial cell membrane means that the bacteria cannot easily develop resistance mechanisms. In addition, various drugs for clinical use have lost their effect as a conventional treatment; however, the synergistic effect of AMPs with these drugs would help to reactivate and enhance antimicrobial activity. Their efficiency against multi-resistant and extensively resistant bacteria has positioned them as promising molecules to replace or improve conventional drugs. In this review, we examined the importance of antimicrobial peptides and their successful activity against critical and high-priority bacteria published in the WHO list.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cesar Augusto Roque-Borda
- Tuberculosis Research Laboratory, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Araraquara 14800-903, Brazil;
| | - Patricia Bento da Silva
- Laboratory of Nanobiotechnology, Department of Genetics and Morphology, Institute of Biological Sciences, University of Brasilia, Brasilia 70910-900, Brazil; (P.B.d.S.); (M.C.R.); (R.B.A.)
| | - Mosar Corrêa Rodrigues
- Laboratory of Nanobiotechnology, Department of Genetics and Morphology, Institute of Biological Sciences, University of Brasilia, Brasilia 70910-900, Brazil; (P.B.d.S.); (M.C.R.); (R.B.A.)
| | - Ricardo Bentes Azevedo
- Laboratory of Nanobiotechnology, Department of Genetics and Morphology, Institute of Biological Sciences, University of Brasilia, Brasilia 70910-900, Brazil; (P.B.d.S.); (M.C.R.); (R.B.A.)
| | - Leonardo Di Filippo
- Department of Drugs and Medicines, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Araraquara 14800-903, Brazil; (L.D.F.); (J.L.D.); (M.C.)
| | - Jonatas L. Duarte
- Department of Drugs and Medicines, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Araraquara 14800-903, Brazil; (L.D.F.); (J.L.D.); (M.C.)
| | - Marlus Chorilli
- Department of Drugs and Medicines, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Araraquara 14800-903, Brazil; (L.D.F.); (J.L.D.); (M.C.)
| | - Eduardo Festozo Vicente
- School of Sciences and Engineering, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Tupã 17602-496, Brazil;
| | - Fernando Rogério Pavan
- Tuberculosis Research Laboratory, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Araraquara 14800-903, Brazil;
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25
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Moyer TB, Purvis AL, Wommack AJ, Hicks LM. Proteomic response of Escherichia coli to a membrane lytic and iron chelating truncated Amaranthus tricolor defensin. BMC Microbiol 2021; 21:110. [PMID: 33845758 PMCID: PMC8042948 DOI: 10.1186/s12866-021-02176-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2021] [Accepted: 03/31/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Plant defensins are a broadly distributed family of antimicrobial peptides which have been primarily studied for agriculturally relevant antifungal activity. Recent studies have probed defensins against Gram-negative bacteria revealing evidence for multiple mechanisms of action including membrane lysis and ribosomal inhibition. Herein, a truncated synthetic analog containing the γ-core motif of Amaranthus tricolor DEF2 (Atr-DEF2) reveals Gram-negative antibacterial activity and its mechanism of action is probed via proteomics, outer membrane permeability studies, and iron reduction/chelation assays. RESULTS Atr-DEF2(G39-C54) demonstrated activity against two Gram-negative human bacterial pathogens, Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae. Quantitative proteomics revealed changes in the E. coli proteome in response to treatment of sub-lethal concentrations of the truncated defensin, including bacterial outer membrane (OM) and iron acquisition/processing related proteins. Modification of OM charge is a common response of Gram-negative bacteria to membrane lytic antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) to reduce electrostatic interactions, and this mechanism of action was confirmed for Atr-DEF2(G39-C54) via an N-phenylnaphthalen-1-amine uptake assay. Additionally, in vitro assays confirmed the capacity of Atr-DEF2(G39-C54) to reduce Fe3+ and chelate Fe2+ at cell culture relevant concentrations, thus limiting the availability of essential enzymatic cofactors. CONCLUSIONS This study highlights the utility of plant defensin γ-core motif synthetic analogs for characterization of novel defensin activity. Proteomic changes in E. coli after treatment with Atr-DEF2(G39-C54) supported the hypothesis that membrane lysis is an important component of γ-core motif mediated antibacterial activity but also emphasized that other properties, such as metal sequestration, may contribute to a multifaceted mechanism of action.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tessa B Moyer
- Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 125 South Rd. CB#3290, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | | | - Andrew J Wommack
- Department of Chemistry, High Point University, High Point, NC, USA
| | - Leslie M Hicks
- Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 125 South Rd. CB#3290, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA.
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26
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Ru X, Lin Z. Genetic Algorithm Embedded with a Search Space Dimension Reduction Scheme for Efficient Peptide Structure Predictions. J Phys Chem B 2021; 125:3824-3829. [PMID: 33830761 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.1c01255] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
The computational determination of peptide conformations is a challenging task of finding minima in a high dimensional space. By combining the sampling efficiency of the genetic algorithm (GA) and the dimensionality reduction resulted from the backbone dihedral angle correlations, named as the path matrix (PM) method, a new searching algorithm, parallel microgenetic algorithm (PMGA), is proposed. Meanwhile, PMGA employs the density functional theory based energy as the fitness function and performs local geometry optimizations to enhance the reliability of its GA encoding strategy. Tests on peptides with up to eight amino-acid residues show PMGA is quite efficient for providing high-quality conformational coverages. The computational cost of the PMGA search increases slowly with the number of amino-acid residues in a peptide, with no sign of deterioration on the searching results for the increased length of the peptide. The PMGA method should therefore be useful for determining the conformations of oligopeptide, studying the protein-ligand interactions, and designing the peptide-based drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao Ru
- Hefei National Research Center for Physical Sciences at Microscales & CAS Key Laboratory of Strongly-Coupled Quantum Matter Physics, Department of Physics, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
| | - Zijing Lin
- Hefei National Research Center for Physical Sciences at Microscales & CAS Key Laboratory of Strongly-Coupled Quantum Matter Physics, Department of Physics, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
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27
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Tuning of a Membrane-Perforating Antimicrobial Peptide to Selectively Target Membranes of Different Lipid Composition. J Membr Biol 2021; 254:75-96. [PMID: 33564914 DOI: 10.1007/s00232-021-00174-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2020] [Accepted: 01/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
The use of designed antimicrobial peptides as drugs has been impeded by the absence of simple sequence-structure-function relationships and design rules. The likely cause is that many of these peptides permeabilize membranes via highly disordered, heterogeneous mechanisms, forming aggregates without well-defined tertiary or secondary structure. We suggest that the combination of high-throughput library screening with atomistic computer simulations can successfully address this challenge by tuning a previously developed general pore-forming peptide into a selective pore-former for different lipid types. A library of 2916 peptides was designed based on the LDKA template. The library peptides were synthesized and screened using a high-throughput orthogonal vesicle leakage assay. Dyes of different sizes were entrapped inside vesicles with varying lipid composition to simultaneously screen for both pore size and affinity for negatively charged and neutral lipid membranes. From this screen, nine different LDKA variants that have unique activity were selected, sequenced, synthesized, and characterized. Despite the minor sequence changes, each of these peptides has unique functional properties, forming either small or large pores and being selective for either neutral or anionic lipid bilayers. Long-scale, unbiased atomistic molecular dynamics (MD) simulations directly reveal that rather than rigid, well-defined pores, these peptides can form a large repertoire of functional dynamic and heterogeneous aggregates, strongly affected by single mutations. Predicting the propensity to aggregate and assemble in a given environment from sequence alone holds the key to functional prediction of membrane permeabilization.
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28
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Carbapenem-Resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae Clinical Isolates: In Vivo Virulence Assessment in Galleria mellonella and Potential Therapeutics by Polycationic Oligoethyleneimine. Antibiotics (Basel) 2021; 10:antibiotics10010056. [PMID: 33430101 PMCID: PMC7826767 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics10010056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2020] [Revised: 12/24/2020] [Accepted: 01/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Klebsiella pneumoniae, one of the most common pathogens found in hospital-acquired infections, is often resistant to multiple antibiotics. In fact, multidrug-resistant (MDR) K. pneumoniae producing KPC or OXA-48-like carbapenemases are recognized as a serious global health threat. In this sense, we evaluated the virulence of K. pneumoniae KPC(+) or OXA-48(+) aiming at potential antimicrobial therapeutics. K. pneumoniae carbapenemase (KPC) and the expanded-spectrum oxacillinase OXA-48 isolates were obtained from patients treated in medical care units in Lisbon, Portugal. The virulence potential of the K. pneumonia clinical isolates was tested using the Galleria mellonella model. For that, G. mellonella larvae were inoculated using patients KPC(+) and OXA-48(+) isolates. Using this in vivo model, the KPC(+) K. pneumoniae isolates showed to be, on average, more virulent than OXA-48(+). Virulence was found attenuated when a low bacterial inoculum (one magnitude lower) was tested. In addition, we also report the use of a synthetic polycationic oligomer (L-OEI-h) as a potential antimicrobial agent to fight infectious diseases caused by MDR bacteria. L-OEI-h has a broad-spectrum antibacterial activity and exerts a significantly bactericidal activity within the first 5-30 min treatment, causing lysis of the cytoplasmic membrane. Importantly, the polycationic oligomer showed low toxicity against in vitro models and no visible cytotoxicity (measured by survival and health index) was noted on the in vivo model (G. mellonella), thus L-OEI-h is foreseen as a promising polymer therapeutic for the treatment of MDR K. pneumoniae infections.
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29
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Xiong Y, Shi C, Li L, Tang Y, Zhang X, Liao S, Zhang B, Sun C, Ren C. A review on recent advances in amino acid and peptide-based fluorescence and its potential applications. NEW J CHEM 2021. [DOI: 10.1039/d1nj02230j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Fluorescence is widely used to detect functional groups and ions, and peptides are used in various fields due to their excellent biological activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yingshuo Xiong
- School of Chemistry and Materials Science, Ludong University, Yantai 264025, China
| | - Changxin Shi
- School of Chemistry and Materials Science, Ludong University, Yantai 264025, China
| | - Lingyi Li
- School of Chemistry and Materials Science, Ludong University, Yantai 264025, China
| | - Yuanhan Tang
- School of Chemistry and Materials Science, Ludong University, Yantai 264025, China
| | - Xin Zhang
- School of Chemistry and Materials Science, Ludong University, Yantai 264025, China
| | - Sisi Liao
- School of Chemistry and Materials Science, Ludong University, Yantai 264025, China
| | - Beibei Zhang
- School of Chemistry and Materials Science, Ludong University, Yantai 264025, China
| | - Changmei Sun
- School of Chemistry and Materials Science, Ludong University, Yantai 264025, China
| | - Chunguang Ren
- Yantai Institute of Materia Medica, Yantai 264000, China
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30
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Makowski M, Felício MR, Fensterseifer ICM, Franco OL, Santos NC, Gonçalves S. EcDBS1R4, an Antimicrobial Peptide Effective against Escherichia coli with In Vitro Fusogenic Ability. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21239104. [PMID: 33265989 PMCID: PMC7730630 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21239104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2020] [Revised: 11/24/2020] [Accepted: 11/26/2020] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
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.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcin Makowski
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-028 Lisbon, Portugal; (M.M.); (M.R.F.)
| | - Mário R. Felício
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-028 Lisbon, Portugal; (M.M.); (M.R.F.)
| | - Isabel C. M. Fensterseifer
- Centro de Análises Proteômicas e Bioquímicas, Pós-graduação em Ciências Genômicas e Biotecnologia, Universidade Católica de Brasília, Brasília 71966-700, Brazil; (I.C.M.F.); (O.L.F.)
- S-Inova Biotech, Pós-graduação em Biotecnologia, Universidade Católica Dom Bosco, Campo Grande 79117-010, Brazil
| | - Octávio L. Franco
- Centro de Análises Proteômicas e Bioquímicas, Pós-graduação em Ciências Genômicas e Biotecnologia, Universidade Católica de Brasília, Brasília 71966-700, Brazil; (I.C.M.F.); (O.L.F.)
- S-Inova Biotech, Pós-graduação em Biotecnologia, Universidade Católica Dom Bosco, Campo Grande 79117-010, Brazil
| | - Nuno C. Santos
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-028 Lisbon, Portugal; (M.M.); (M.R.F.)
- Correspondence: (N.C.S.); (S.G.)
| | - Sónia Gonçalves
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-028 Lisbon, Portugal; (M.M.); (M.R.F.)
- Correspondence: (N.C.S.); (S.G.)
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