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Brango-Vanegas J, Leite ML, Macedo MLR, Cardoso MH, Franco OL. Capping motifs in antimicrobial peptides and their relevance for improved biological activities. Front Chem 2024; 12:1382954. [PMID: 38873409 PMCID: PMC11169826 DOI: 10.3389/fchem.2024.1382954] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2024] [Accepted: 05/13/2024] [Indexed: 06/15/2024] Open
Abstract
N-capping (N-cap) and C-capping (C-cap) in biologically active peptides, including specific amino acids or unconventional group motifs, have been shown to modulate activity against pharmacological targets by interfering with the peptide's secondary structure, thus generating unusual scaffolds. The insertion of capping motifs in linear peptides has been shown to prevent peptide degradation by reducing its susceptibility to proteolytic cleavage, and the replacement of some functional groups by unusual groups in N- or C-capping regions in linear peptides has led to optimized peptide variants with improved secondary structure and enhanced activity. Furthermore, some essential amino acid residues that, when placed in antimicrobial peptide (AMP) capping regions, are capable of complexing metals such as Cu2+, Ni2+, and Zn2+, give rise to the family known as metallo-AMPs, which are capable of boosting antimicrobial efficacy, as well as other activities. Therefore, this review presents and discusses the different strategies for creating N- and C-cap motifs in AMPs, aiming at fine-tuning this class of antimicrobials.
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Affiliation(s)
- José Brango-Vanegas
- Centro de Análises Proteômicas e Bioquímicas, 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
| | - Michel Lopes Leite
- Departamento de Biologia Molecular, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade de Brasília, Campus Darcy Ribeiro, Brasília, Brazil
| | - Maria L. R. Macedo
- Laboratório de Purificação de Proteínas e suas Funções Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso do Sul, Cidade Universitária, Campo Grande, Brazil
| | - Marlon H. Cardoso
- Centro de Análises Proteômicas e Bioquímicas, 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
- Laboratório de Purificação de Proteínas e suas Funções Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso do Sul, Cidade Universitária, Campo Grande, Brazil
| | - Octávio Luiz Franco
- Centro de Análises Proteômicas e Bioquímicas, 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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2
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Chiramba C, Möller DS, Lorenz CD, Chirombo RR, Mason AJ, Bester MJ, Gaspar ARM. Tryptophan End-Tagging Confers Antifungal Activity on a Tick-Derived Peptide by Triggering Reactive Oxygen Species Production. ACS OMEGA 2024; 9:15556-15572. [PMID: 38585074 PMCID: PMC10993377 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.4c00478] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2024] [Revised: 02/26/2024] [Accepted: 03/07/2024] [Indexed: 04/09/2024]
Abstract
WHO has identified several Candida species including Candida albicans as critical priority fungal pathogens due to greater infection prevalence and formation of recalcitrant biofilms. Novel antifungal agents are urgently needed, and antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are being considered as potential alternatives, but inactivity in physiological salt environments, serum, and plasma often limits further therapeutic development. Tryptophan end-tagging is a strategy to overcome these limitations and is thought to selectively enhance membrane permeabilization in both fungal and bacterial plasma membranes. Here, we show that C-terminal tryptophan end-tagging of the tick-derived peptide Os-C transforms an inactive peptide into Os-C(W5), an antifungal peptide capable of preventing the formation of C. albicans biofilms. Mechanistic insight is provided by circular dichroism spectroscopy and molecular dynamics simulations, which demonstrate that tryptophan end-tagging alters the secondary structure of Os-C, while the latter reveals that end-tagging reduces interactions with, and insertion into, a model C. albicans membrane but promotes peptide aggregation on its surface. Interestingly, this leads to the induction of reactive oxygen species production rather than membrane permeabilization, and consequently, oxidative stress leads to cell wall damage. Os-C(W5) does not induce the hemolysis of human erythrocytes. Reduced cell adhesion and viability contribute to decreased biofilm extracellular matrix formation which, although reduced, is retained in the serum-containing medium. In this study, tryptophan end-tagging was identified as a promising strategy for enhancing the antifungal activity, including the biofilm inhibitory activity of Os-C against C. albicans in physiological salt environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Court
K. Chiramba
- Department
of Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology, Faculty of Natural and
Agricultural Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0002, South Africa
| | - Dalton S. Möller
- Department
of Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology, Faculty of Natural and
Agricultural Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0002, South Africa
| | | | - Rumbidzai R. Chirombo
- Department
of Anatomy, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0002, South Africa
| | - A. James Mason
- Institute
of Pharmaceutical Science, School of Cancer & Pharmaceutical Science, King’s College London, London SE1 9NH, U.K.
| | - Megan J. Bester
- Department
of Anatomy, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0002, South Africa
| | - Anabella R. M. Gaspar
- Department
of Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology, Faculty of Natural and
Agricultural Sciences, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0002, South Africa
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3
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Mulukutla A, Shreshtha R, Kumar Deb V, Chatterjee P, Jain U, Chauhan N. Recent advances in antimicrobial peptide-based therapy. Bioorg Chem 2024; 145:107151. [PMID: 38359706 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioorg.2024.107151] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2023] [Revised: 01/05/2024] [Accepted: 01/22/2024] [Indexed: 02/17/2024]
Abstract
Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are a group of polypeptide chains that have the property to target and kill a myriad of microbial organisms including viruses, bacteria, protists, etc. The first discovered AMP was named gramicidin, an extract of aerobic soil bacteria. Further studies discovered that these peptides are present not only in prokaryotes but in eukaryotes as well. They play a vital role in human innate immunity and wound repair. Consequently, they have maintained a high level of intrigue among scientists in the field of immunology, especially so with the rise of antibiotic-resistant pathogens decreasing the reliability of antibiotics in healthcare. While AMPs have promising potential to substitute for common antibiotics, their use as effective replacements is barred by certain limitations. First, they have the potential to be cytotoxic to human cells. Second, they are unstable in the blood due to action by various proteolytic agents and ions that cause their degradation. This review provides an overview of the mechanism of AMPs, their limitations, and developments in recent years that provide techniques to overcome those limitations. We also discuss the advantages and drawbacks of AMPs as a replacement for antibiotics as compared to other alternatives such as synthetically modified bacteriophages, traditional medicine, and probiotics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aditya Mulukutla
- School of Health Sciences and Technology, UPES, Dehradun 248007, Uttarakhand, India
| | - Romi Shreshtha
- School of Health Sciences and Technology, UPES, Dehradun 248007, Uttarakhand, India
| | - Vishal Kumar Deb
- School of Health Sciences and Technology, UPES, Dehradun 248007, Uttarakhand, India
| | - Pallabi Chatterjee
- School of Health Sciences and Technology, UPES, Dehradun 248007, Uttarakhand, India
| | - Utkarsh Jain
- School of Health Sciences and Technology, UPES, Dehradun 248007, Uttarakhand, India
| | - Nidhi Chauhan
- School of Health Sciences and Technology, UPES, Dehradun 248007, Uttarakhand, India.
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4
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Peng Z, Iwabuchi S, Izumi K, Takiguchi S, Yamaji M, Fujita S, Suzuki H, Kambara F, Fukasawa G, Cooney A, Di Michele L, Elani Y, Matsuura T, Kawano R. Lipid vesicle-based molecular robots. LAB ON A CHIP 2024; 24:996-1029. [PMID: 38239102 PMCID: PMC10898420 DOI: 10.1039/d3lc00860f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/28/2024]
Abstract
A molecular robot, which is a system comprised of one or more molecular machines and computers, can execute sophisticated tasks in many fields that span from nanomedicine to green nanotechnology. The core parts of molecular robots are fairly consistent from system to system and always include (i) a body to encapsulate molecular machines, (ii) sensors to capture signals, (iii) computers to make decisions, and (iv) actuators to perform tasks. This review aims to provide an overview of approaches and considerations to develop molecular robots. We first introduce the basic technologies required for constructing the core parts of molecular robots, describe the recent progress towards achieving higher functionality, and subsequently discuss the current challenges and outlook. We also highlight the applications of molecular robots in sensing biomarkers, signal communications with living cells, and conversion of energy. Although molecular robots are still in their infancy, they will unquestionably initiate massive change in biomedical and environmental technology in the not too distant future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zugui Peng
- Department of Biotechnology and Life Science, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, 2-24-16 Naka-cho, Koganei-shi, Tokyo185-8588, Japan.
| | - Shoji Iwabuchi
- Department of Biotechnology and Life Science, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, 2-24-16 Naka-cho, Koganei-shi, Tokyo185-8588, Japan.
| | - Kayano Izumi
- Department of Biotechnology and Life Science, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, 2-24-16 Naka-cho, Koganei-shi, Tokyo185-8588, Japan.
| | - Sotaro Takiguchi
- Department of Biotechnology and Life Science, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, 2-24-16 Naka-cho, Koganei-shi, Tokyo185-8588, Japan.
| | - Misa Yamaji
- Department of Biotechnology and Life Science, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, 2-24-16 Naka-cho, Koganei-shi, Tokyo185-8588, Japan.
| | - Shoko Fujita
- Department of Biotechnology and Life Science, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, 2-24-16 Naka-cho, Koganei-shi, Tokyo185-8588, Japan.
| | - Harune Suzuki
- Department of Biotechnology and Life Science, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, 2-24-16 Naka-cho, Koganei-shi, Tokyo185-8588, Japan.
| | - Fumika Kambara
- Department of Biotechnology and Life Science, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, 2-24-16 Naka-cho, Koganei-shi, Tokyo185-8588, Japan.
| | - Genki Fukasawa
- School of Life Science and Technology, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Ookayama 2-12-1, Meguro-Ku, Tokyo 152-8550, Japan
| | - Aileen Cooney
- Department of Chemistry, Molecular Sciences Research Hub, Imperial College London, London W12 0BZ, UK
| | - Lorenzo Di Michele
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB3 0AS, UK
- Department of Chemistry, Molecular Sciences Research Hub, Imperial College London, London W12 0BZ, UK
- FabriCELL, Molecular Sciences Research Hub, Imperial College London, London W12 0BZ, UK
| | - Yuval Elani
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Imperial College London, South Kensington, London SW7 2AZ, UK
- FabriCELL, Molecular Sciences Research Hub, Imperial College London, London W12 0BZ, UK
| | - Tomoaki Matsuura
- Earth-Life Science Institute, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Ookayama 2-12-1, Meguro-Ku, Tokyo 152-8550, Japan
| | - Ryuji Kawano
- Department of Biotechnology and Life Science, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, 2-24-16 Naka-cho, Koganei-shi, Tokyo185-8588, Japan.
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5
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Liang L, Zhong LL, Wang L, Zhou D, Li Y, Li J, Chen Y, Liang W, Wei W, Zhang C, Zhao H, Lyu L, Stoesser N, Doi Y, Bai F, Feng S, Tian GB. A new variant of the colistin resistance gene MCR-1 with co-resistance to β-lactam antibiotics reveals a potential novel antimicrobial peptide. PLoS Biol 2023; 21:e3002433. [PMID: 38091366 PMCID: PMC10786390 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3002433] [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: 04/03/2023] [Revised: 01/12/2024] [Accepted: 11/14/2023] [Indexed: 01/13/2024] Open
Abstract
The emerging and global spread of a novel plasmid-mediated colistin resistance gene, mcr-1, threatens human health. Expression of the MCR-1 protein affects bacterial fitness and this cost correlates with lipid A perturbation. However, the exact molecular mechanism remains unclear. Here, we identified the MCR-1 M6 variant carrying two-point mutations that conferred co-resistance to β-lactam antibiotics. Compared to wild-type (WT) MCR-1, this variant caused severe disturbance in lipid A, resulting in up-regulation of L, D-transpeptidases (LDTs) pathway, which explains co-resistance to β-lactams. Moreover, we show that a lipid A loading pocket is localized at the linker domain of MCR-1 where these 2 mutations are located. This pocket governs colistin resistance and bacterial membrane permeability, and the mutated pocket in M6 enhances the binding affinity towards lipid A. Based on this new information, we also designed synthetic peptides derived from M6 that exhibit broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity, exposing a potential vulnerability that could be exploited for future antimicrobial drug design.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lujie Liang
- Advanced Medical Technology Center, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Sun Yat-Sen University, Shenzhen, China
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Diseases Control (Sun Yat-sen University), Ministry of Education, Guangzhou, China
| | - Lan-Lan Zhong
- Advanced Medical Technology Center, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Sun Yat-Sen University, Shenzhen, China
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Diseases Control (Sun Yat-sen University), Ministry of Education, Guangzhou, China
| | - Lin Wang
- Shanghai Institute for Advanced Immunochemical Studies and School of Life Science and Technology, Shanghai Tech University, Shanghai, China
| | - Dianrong Zhou
- Advanced Medical Technology Center, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Sun Yat-Sen University, Shenzhen, China
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Diseases Control (Sun Yat-sen University), Ministry of Education, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yaxin Li
- Advanced Medical Technology Center, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Sun Yat-Sen University, Shenzhen, China
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Diseases Control (Sun Yat-sen University), Ministry of Education, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jiachen Li
- Advanced Medical Technology Center, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Sun Yat-Sen University, Shenzhen, China
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Diseases Control (Sun Yat-sen University), Ministry of Education, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yong Chen
- School of Laboratory Medicine, Chengdu Medical College, Chengdu, China
| | - Wanfei Liang
- Advanced Medical Technology Center, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Sun Yat-Sen University, Shenzhen, China
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Diseases Control (Sun Yat-sen University), Ministry of Education, Guangzhou, China
| | - Wenjing Wei
- Center for Tuberculosis Control of Guangdong Province, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Chenchen Zhang
- Center for Tuberculosis Control of Guangdong Province, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Hui Zhao
- Laboratory Medicine, Guangdong Provincial People’s Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Lingxuan Lyu
- Advanced Medical Technology Center, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Sun Yat-Sen University, Shenzhen, China
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Diseases Control (Sun Yat-sen University), Ministry of Education, Guangzhou, China
| | - Nicole Stoesser
- Modernising Medical Microbiology, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Yohei Doi
- University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States of America
- Department of Microbiology, Fujita Health University School of Medicine, Aichi, Japan
| | - Fang Bai
- Shanghai Institute for Advanced Immunochemical Studies and School of Life Science and Technology, Shanghai Tech University, Shanghai, China
| | - Siyuan Feng
- Advanced Medical Technology Center, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Sun Yat-Sen University, Shenzhen, China
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Diseases Control (Sun Yat-sen University), Ministry of Education, Guangzhou, China
| | - Guo-Bao Tian
- Advanced Medical Technology Center, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Sun Yat-Sen University, Shenzhen, China
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Diseases Control (Sun Yat-sen University), Ministry of Education, Guangzhou, China
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6
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He S, Yang Z, Li X, Wu H, Zhang L, Shan A, Wang J. Boosting stability and therapeutic potential of proteolysis-resistant antimicrobial peptides by end-tagging β-naphthylalanine. Acta Biomater 2023; 164:175-194. [PMID: 37100185 DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2023.04.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2022] [Revised: 04/16/2023] [Accepted: 04/19/2023] [Indexed: 04/28/2023]
Abstract
Recently, much emphasis has been placed on solving the intrinsic defects of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), especially their susceptibility to protease digestion for the systemic application of antibacterial biomaterials. Although many strategies have increased the protease stability of AMPs, antimicrobial activity was severely compromised, thereby substantially weakening their therapeutic effect. To address this issue, we introduced hydrophobic group modifications at the N-terminus of proteolysis-resistant AMPs D1 (AArIIlrWrFR) through end-tagging with stretches of natural amino acids (W and I), unnatural amino acid (Nal) and fatty acids. Of these peptides, N1 tagged with a Nal at N-terminus showed the highest selectivity index (GMSI = 19.59), with a 6.73-fold improvement over D1. In addition to potent broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity, N1 also exhibited high antimicrobial stability toward salts, serum and proteases in vitro and ideal biocompatibility and therapeutic efficacy in vivo. Furthermore, N1 killed bacteria through multiple mechanisms, involving disruption of bacterial membranes and inhibition of bacterial energy metabolism. Indeed, appropriate terminal hydrophobicity modification opens up new avenues for developing and applying high-stability peptide-based antibacterial biomaterials. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: To improve the potency and stability of proteolysis-resistant antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) without increasing toxicity, we constructed a convenient and tunable platform based on different compositions and lengths of hydrophobic end modifications. By tagging an Nal at the N-terminal, the obtained target compound N1 exhibited strong antimicrobial activity and desirable stability under multifarious environments in vitro (protease, salts and serum), and also showed favorable biocompatibility and therapeutic efficacy in vivo. Notably, N1exerted its bactericidal effect by damaging bacterial cell membranes and inhibiting bacterial energy metabolism in a dual mode. The findings provide a potential method for designing or optimizing proteolysis-resistant AMPs thus promoting the development and application of peptide-based antibacterial biomaterial.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shiqi He
- Animal Science and Technology College, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, P. R. China
| | - Zhanyi Yang
- Animal Science and Technology College, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, P. R. China
| | - Xuefeng Li
- Animal Science and Technology College, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, P. R. China
| | - Hua Wu
- Animal Science and Technology College, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, P. R. China
| | - Licong Zhang
- Animal Science and Technology College, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, P. R. China
| | - Anshan Shan
- Animal Science and Technology College, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, P. R. China.
| | - Jiajun Wang
- Animal Science and Technology College, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, P. R. China.
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7
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Anju MV, Archana K, Anooja VV, Athira PP, Neelima S, Singh ISB, Philip R. A novel anti-lipopolysaccharide factor from blue swimmer crab Portunus pelagicus and its cytotoxic effect on the prokaryotic expression host, E. coli on heterologous expression. J Genet Eng Biotechnol 2023; 21:22. [PMID: 36805357 PMCID: PMC9941410 DOI: 10.1186/s43141-023-00478-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2023] [Accepted: 02/04/2023] [Indexed: 02/22/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Invertebrates like crabs employ their own immune systems to fight against a number of invasive infections. Anti-lipopolysaccharide factors (ALFs) are an important class of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) exhibiting binding and neutralizing activities against lipopolysaccharides. RESULTS This study identified and characterized a novel homolog of ALF (Pp-ALF) from the blue swimmer crab Portunus pelagicus. Pp-ALF has a 369bp open-reading frame encoding a protein with 123 amino acids. The deduced protein featured an LPS-binding domain and a signal peptide. The predicted tertiary structure of Pp-ALF contains three α helices packed against four β sheets. The deduced amino acid sequence of Pp-ALF had a net positive charge of +10.75 and an isoelectric point of 9.8. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that Pp-ALF has a strong ancestral relationship with crab ALFs. CONCLUSION Antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal, anticancer, and antibiofilm activities of Pp-ALF could be revealed by in silico prediction tools. Recombinant expression of Pp-ALF was unsuccessful in the Escherichia coli Rosetta-gami expression system due to the cytotoxic effect of the peptide to the host. The toxic effect of Pp-ALF to the host was displayed by membrane permeabilization and death of the host cells by fluorescent staining with Syto9-Propidium Iodide and CTC-DAPI- FITC.
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Affiliation(s)
- M. V. Anju
- grid.411771.50000 0001 2189 9308Department of Marine Biology, Microbiology and Biochemistry, School of Marine Sciences, Cochin University of Science and Technology, Fine Arts Avenue, Kochi, Kerala 682016 India
| | - K. Archana
- grid.411771.50000 0001 2189 9308Department of Marine Biology, Microbiology and Biochemistry, School of Marine Sciences, Cochin University of Science and Technology, Fine Arts Avenue, Kochi, Kerala 682016 India
| | - V. V. Anooja
- grid.411771.50000 0001 2189 9308Department of Marine Biology, Microbiology and Biochemistry, School of Marine Sciences, Cochin University of Science and Technology, Fine Arts Avenue, Kochi, Kerala 682016 India
| | - P. P. Athira
- grid.411771.50000 0001 2189 9308Department of Marine Biology, Microbiology and Biochemistry, School of Marine Sciences, Cochin University of Science and Technology, Fine Arts Avenue, Kochi, Kerala 682016 India
| | - S. Neelima
- grid.411771.50000 0001 2189 9308Department of Marine Biology, Microbiology and Biochemistry, School of Marine Sciences, Cochin University of Science and Technology, Fine Arts Avenue, Kochi, Kerala 682016 India
| | - I. S. Bright Singh
- grid.411771.50000 0001 2189 9308National Centre for Aquatic Animal Health, Cochin University of Science and Technology, Kochi, Kerala 682016 India
| | - Rosamma Philip
- Department of Marine Biology, Microbiology and Biochemistry, School of Marine Sciences, Cochin University of Science and Technology, Fine Arts Avenue, Kochi, Kerala, 682016, India.
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8
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Bolosov IA, Panteleev PV, Balandin SV, Shamova OV, Ovchinnikova TV. Structural and Functional Characteristics of the Proline-Rich Antimicrobial Peptide Minibactenecin from Leukocytes of Domestic Goat Capra hircus. Bull Exp Biol Med 2023; 174:440-445. [PMID: 36892673 DOI: 10.1007/s10517-023-05725-1] [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: 08/15/2022] [Indexed: 03/10/2023]
Abstract
We performed structural and functional studies of minibactenecin mini-ChBac7.5Nα, a natural proline-rich cathelicidin from domestic goat Capra hircus. To identify the key residues important for the biological action of the peptide, a panel of its alanine-substituted analogues was produced. The development of E. coli resistance to the natural minibactenecin, as well as to its analogues carrying substitutions for hydrophobic amino acids in the C-terminal residues was studied. The data obtained indicate the possibility of rapid development of the resistance to this class of peptides. The main factors in the formation of the antibiotic resistance are various mutations leading to inactivation of the SbmA transporter.
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Affiliation(s)
- I A Bolosov
- M. M. Shemyakin and Yu. A. Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| | - P V Panteleev
- M. M. Shemyakin and Yu. A. Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| | - S V Balandin
- M. M. Shemyakin and Yu. A. Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| | - O V Shamova
- Institute of Experimental Medicine, St. Petersburg, Russia
| | - T V Ovchinnikova
- M. M. Shemyakin and Yu. A. Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia.
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9
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Zhang Y, Håkansson J, Fan Y, Andrén OCJ, San Jacinto García J, Qin L, Umerska A, Hutchinson DJ, Lüchow M, Mahlapuu M, Malkoch M. Dendritic Nanogels Directed Dual-Encapsulation Topical Delivery System of Antimicrobial Peptides Targeting Skin Infections. Macromol Biosci 2023; 23:e2200433. [PMID: 36639138 DOI: 10.1002/mabi.202200433] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2022] [Revised: 12/15/2022] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are promising antibacterial agents in the fight against multidrug resistant pathogens. However, their application to skin infections is limited by the absence of a realizable topical delivery strategy. Herein, a hybrid hierarchical delivery system for topical delivery of AMPs is accomplished through the incorporation of AMPs into dendritic nanogels (DNGs) and their subsequent embedding into poloxamer gel. The high level of control over the crosslink density and the number of chosen functionalities makes DNGs ideal capsules with tunable loading capacity for DPK-060, a human kininogen-derived AMP. Once embedded into the poloxamer gel, DPK-060 encapsulated in DNGs displays a slower release rate compared to those entrapped directly in the gels. In vitro EpiDerm Skin Irritation Tests show good biocompatibility, while MIC and time-kill curves reveal the potency of the peptide toward Staphylococcus aureus. Anti-infection tests on ex vivo pig skin and in vivo mouse infection models demonstrate that formulations with 0.5% and 1% AMPs significantly inhibit the growth of S. aureus. Similar outcomes are observed for an in vivo mouse surgical site infection model. Importantly, when normalizing the bacteria inhibition to released/free DPK-060 at the wound site, all formulations display superior efficacy compared to DPK-060 in solution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuning Zhang
- Department of Fibre and Polymer Technology, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, SE-100 44, Sweden.,Key Laboratory of Organ Regeneration and Transplantation of Ministry of Education, Institute of Immunology, The First Hospital, Jilin University, Changchun, 130061, P. R. China
| | - Joakim Håkansson
- Biological Function Unit, RISE Research Institutes of Sweden, Methodology, Textile and Medical Devices, Borås, SE-501 15, Sweden.,Department of Laboratory Medicine, Institute of Biomedicine, University of Gothenburg, P.O. Box 440, Gothenburg, SE-40530, Sweden
| | - Yanmiao Fan
- Department of Fibre and Polymer Technology, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, SE-100 44, Sweden
| | - Oliver C J Andrén
- Department of Fibre and Polymer Technology, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, SE-100 44, Sweden
| | - Jorge San Jacinto García
- Department of Fibre and Polymer Technology, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, SE-100 44, Sweden
| | - Liguo Qin
- Department of Fibre and Polymer Technology, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, SE-100 44, Sweden.,Institute of Design Science and Basic Components, School of Mechanical Engineering, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, 710049, P. R. China
| | - Anita Umerska
- Biological Function Unit, RISE Research Institutes of Sweden, Methodology, Textile and Medical Devices, Borås, SE-501 15, Sweden
| | - Daniel J Hutchinson
- Department of Fibre and Polymer Technology, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, SE-100 44, Sweden
| | - Mads Lüchow
- Department of Fibre and Polymer Technology, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, SE-100 44, Sweden
| | | | - Michael Malkoch
- Department of Fibre and Polymer Technology, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, SE-100 44, Sweden
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Lu S, Lin J, Jin J, Zhang L, Guan Y, Chen H, Wu Y, Zhang W, Luan X. Tachyplesin I and its derivatives: A pharmaco-chemical perspective on their antimicrobial and antitumor potential. Expert Opin Drug Discov 2022; 17:1407-1423. [PMID: 36503335 DOI: 10.1080/17460441.2023.2157402] [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: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Increasing evidence suggests that intratumor microbiota are an intrinsic component in the tumor microenvironment across multiple cancer types, and that there is a close relationship between microbiota and tumor progression. Therefore, how to address the interaction between bacteria and malignances has become a growing concern. Tachyplesin I (TPI), a peptide with dual antimicrobial and antitumor effects, holds great promise as a therapeutic alternative for the aforementioned diseases, with the advantage of broad-spectrum activities, quick killing efficacy, and a low tendency to induce resistance. AREAS COVERED This review comprehensively summarizes the pharmacological mechanisms of TPI with an emphasis on its antimicrobial and antitumor potential. Furthermore, it presents advances in TPI derivatives and gives a perspective on their future development. The article is based on literature searches using PubMed and SciFinder to retrieve the most up-to-date information of TPI. EXPERT OPINION Bacterial infections and cancer both pose a serious threat to health due to their symbiotic interactions and drug resistance. TPI is anticipated to be a novel agent to control pathogenic bacteria and various tumors through multiple mechanisms of action. Indeed, the continuous advancements in chemical modification and innovative applications of TPI give hope for future improvements in therapeutic efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shengxin Lu
- Shanghai Frontiers Science Center for Chinese Medicine Chemical Biology, Institute of Interdisciplinary Integrative Medicine Research, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Municipality, Shanghai, China
| | - Jiayi Lin
- Shanghai Frontiers Science Center for Chinese Medicine Chemical Biology, Institute of Interdisciplinary Integrative Medicine Research, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Municipality, Shanghai, China
| | - Jinmei Jin
- Shanghai Frontiers Science Center for Chinese Medicine Chemical Biology, Institute of Interdisciplinary Integrative Medicine Research, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Municipality, Shanghai, China
| | - Lijun Zhang
- Shanghai Frontiers Science Center for Chinese Medicine Chemical Biology, Institute of Interdisciplinary Integrative Medicine Research, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Municipality, Shanghai, China
| | - Yingyun Guan
- Department of Pharmacy, Ruijin Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Municipality, Shanghai, China
| | - Hongzhuan Chen
- Shanghai Frontiers Science Center for Chinese Medicine Chemical Biology, Institute of Interdisciplinary Integrative Medicine Research, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Municipality, Shanghai, China
| | - Ye Wu
- Shanghai Frontiers Science Center for Chinese Medicine Chemical Biology, Institute of Interdisciplinary Integrative Medicine Research, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Municipality, Shanghai, China
| | - Weidong Zhang
- Shanghai Frontiers Science Center for Chinese Medicine Chemical Biology, Institute of Interdisciplinary Integrative Medicine Research, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Municipality, Shanghai, China.,School of Pharmacy, Naval Medical University, Municipality, Shanghai, China
| | - Xin Luan
- Shanghai Frontiers Science Center for Chinese Medicine Chemical Biology, Institute of Interdisciplinary Integrative Medicine Research, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Municipality, Shanghai, China
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11
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García-Mouton C, Parra-Ortiz E, Malmsten M, Cruz A, Pérez-Gil J. Pulmonary surfactant and drug delivery: vehiculization of a tryptophan-tagged antimicrobial peptide over the air-liquid interfacial highway. Eur J Pharm Biopharm 2022; 180:33-47. [PMID: 36154903 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejpb.2022.09.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2022] [Revised: 08/31/2022] [Accepted: 09/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
This work evaluates interaction of pulmonary surfactant (PS) and antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) in order to investigate (i) if PS can be used to transport AMPs, and (ii) to what extent PS interferes with AMP function and vice versa. This, in turn, is motivated by a need to find new strategies to treat bacterial infections in the airways. Low respiratory tract infections (LRTIs) are a leading cause of illness and death worldwide that, together with the problem of multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria, bring to light the necessity of developing effective therapies that ensure high bioavailability of the drug at the site of infection and display a potent antimicrobial effect. Here, we propose the combination of AMPs with PS to improve their delivery, exemplified for the hydrophobically end-tagged AMP, GRR10W4 (GRRPRPRPRPWWWW-NH2), with previously demonstrated potent antimicrobial activity against a broad spectrum of bacteria under various conditions. Experiments using model systems emulating the respiratory interface and an operating alveolus, based on surface balances and bubble surfactometry, served to demonstrate that a fluorescently labelled version of GRR10W4 (GRR10W4-F), was able to interact and insert into PS membranes without affecting its biophysical function. Therefore, vehiculization of the peptide along air-liquid interfaces was enabled, even for interfaces previously occupied by surfactants layers. Furthermore, breathing-like compression-expansion dynamics promoted the interfacial release of GRR10W4-F after its delivery, which could further allow the peptide to perform its antimicrobial function. PS/GRR10W4-F formulations displayed greater antimicrobial effects and reduced toxicity on cultured airway epithelial cells compared to that of the peptide alone. Taken together, these results open the door to the development of novel delivery strategies for AMPs in order to increase the bioavailability of these molecules at the infection site via inhaled therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristina García-Mouton
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Biology, and Research Institute "Hospital 12 de Octubre (imas12)", Complutense University, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Elisa Parra-Ortiz
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Copenhagen, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Martin Malmsten
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Copenhagen, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark; Department of Physical Chemistry 1, University of Lund, SE-22100 Lund, Sweden
| | - Antonio Cruz
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Biology, and Research Institute "Hospital 12 de Octubre (imas12)", Complutense University, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Jesús Pérez-Gil
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Biology, and Research Institute "Hospital 12 de Octubre (imas12)", Complutense University, 28040 Madrid, Spain.
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12
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Holmbäck J, Rinwa V, Johansson J, Håkansson J, Rinwa P, Carlsson A, Herslöf B. Preclinical development of sodium fusidate antibiotic cutaneous spray based on water-free lipid formulation system. Eur J Pharm Sci 2022; 176:106250. [PMID: 35779822 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejps.2022.106250] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2022] [Revised: 06/23/2022] [Accepted: 06/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
Topical antibiotics are a key component in the management of mild to moderate skin and soft tissue infections. There are, however, concerns about the emerging bacterial resistance against topical antibacterial agents such as fusidic acid, due to the prolonged treatment period of its marketed dosage forms. Improving the efficacy of topical formulations could potentially shorten the treatment period and avoid the resistance growth. To provide a more effective drug delivery, a water-free lipid-based formulation system (AKVANO®) which can be applied by spraying, has been developed. In the current paper, different formulations containing sodium fusidate were evaluated for their in vitro skin permeability using artificial skin mimicking membranes and antibacterial properties using ex vivo and in vivo skin wound infection models. The novel formulations containing sodium fusidate showed a much higher skin permeation (up to 60% of nominal amount) than the commercially available Fucidin® cream (3%). These formulations also gave a significantly stronger antibacterial effect than Fucidin cream showing a clear dose-response relationship for the sodium fusidate content. A spray product based on the described formulation technology would therefore require a shorter treatment time and thereby lower the risk for the development of bacterial resistance. Spray administration of these formulations provides an even layer on the skin surface from which the solvent quickly evaporates and thereby facilitates a non-touch application where no rubbing is required.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jan Holmbäck
- Department of Materials and Environmental Chemistry, Stockholm University, Svante Arrhenius väg 16C, Stockholm SE-106 91, Sweden; Lipidor AB, Svärdvägen 13, Danderyd SE-182 33, Sweden.
| | - Vibhu Rinwa
- Department of Materials and Environmental Chemistry, Stockholm University, Svante Arrhenius väg 16C, Stockholm SE-106 91, Sweden; Lipidor AB, Svärdvägen 13, Danderyd SE-182 33, Sweden
| | - Jenny Johansson
- RISE Research Institutes of Sweden AB, Brinellgatan 4, Borås SE-504 62, Sweden
| | - Joakim Håkansson
- RISE Research Institutes of Sweden AB, Brinellgatan 4, Borås SE-504 62, Sweden; Department of Laboratory Medicine, Institute of Biomedicine, Gothenburg University, Gothenburg SE- 405 30, Sweden
| | - Puneet Rinwa
- Lipidor AB, Svärdvägen 13, Danderyd SE-182 33, Sweden
| | - Anders Carlsson
- MediGelium AB, Hornsbergs strand 49, Stockholm SE-112 16, Sweden
| | - Bengt Herslöf
- Lipidea AB, Brunbärsvägen 2, Stockholm SE-114 21, Sweden
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13
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Design and Evaluation of Short Bovine Lactoferrin-Derived Antimicrobial Peptides against Multidrug-Resistant Enterococcus faecium. Antibiotics (Basel) 2022; 11:antibiotics11081085. [PMID: 36009954 PMCID: PMC9404989 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics11081085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2022] [Revised: 08/05/2022] [Accepted: 08/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Enterococcus faecium has become an important drug-resistant nosocomial pathogen because of widespread antibiotic abuse. We developed short and chemically simple antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) with a selective amino acid composition, fixed charge, and hydrophobicity ratio based on the core antimicrobial motif of bovine lactoferrin (LfcinB6). Among these peptides, 5L and 6L (both 12 residues long) demonstrated a narrow spectrum and high antibacterial activity against drug-resistant E. faecium isolates with a minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) that ranged from 4–16 µg/mL. At 32 µg/mL, peptides 5L and 6L inhibited E. faecium strain C68 biofilm formation by 90% and disrupted established biofilms by 75%. At 40 µg/mL, 5L reduced 1 × 107E. faecium persister cells by 3 logs within 120 min of exposure, whereas 6L eliminated all persister cells within 60 min. At 0.5× MIC, 5L and 6L significantly downregulated the expression of a crucial biofilm gene ace by 8 folds (p = 0.02) and 4 folds (p = 0.01), respectively. At 32 µg/mL, peptides 5L and 6L both depolarized the E. faecium membrane, increased fluidity, and eventually ruptured the membrane. Physiologically, 5L (at 8 µg/mL) altered the tricarboxylic acid cycle, glutathione, and purine metabolism. Interestingly, in an ex vivo model of porcine skin infection, compared to no treatment, 5L (at 10× MIC) effectively eliminated all 1 × 106 exponential (p = 0.0045) and persister E. faecium cells (p = 0.0002). In conclusion, the study outlines a roadmap for developing narrow-spectrum selective AMPs and presents peptide 5L as a potential therapeutic candidate to be explored against E. faecium.
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14
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High Level Expression and Purification of Cecropin-like Antimicrobial Peptides in Escherichia coli. Biomedicines 2022; 10:biomedicines10061351. [PMID: 35740373 PMCID: PMC9220022 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines10061351] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2022] [Revised: 06/05/2022] [Accepted: 06/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Cecropins are a family of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) that are widely found in the innate immune system of Cecropia moths. Cecropins exhibit a broad spectrum of antimicrobial and anticancer activities. The structures of Cecropins are composed of 34–39 amino acids with an N-terminal amphipathic α-helix, an AGP hinge and a hydrophobic C-terminal α-helix. KR12AGPWR6 was designed based on the Cecropin-like structural feature. In addition to its antimicrobial activities, KR12AGPWR6 also possesses enhanced salt resistance, antiendotoxin and anticancer properties. Herein, we have developed a strategy to produce recombinant KR12AGPWR6 through a salt-sensitive, pH and temperature dependent intein self-cleavage system. The His6-Intein-KR12AGPWR6 was expressed by E. coli and KR12AGPWR6 was released by the self-cleavage of intein under optimized ionic strength, pH and temperature conditions. The molecular weight and structural feature of the recombinant KR12AGPWR6 was determined by MALDI-TOF mass, CD, and NMR spectroscopy. The recombinant KR12AGPWR6 exhibited similar antimicrobial activities compared to the chemically synthesized KR12AGPWR6. Our results provide a potential strategy to obtain large quantities of AMPs and this method is feasible and easy to scale up for commercial production.
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15
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Heselpoth RD, Euler CW, Fischetti VA. PaP1, a Broad-Spectrum Lysin-Derived Cationic Peptide to Treat Polymicrobial Skin Infections. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:817228. [PMID: 35369520 PMCID: PMC8965563 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.817228] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2021] [Accepted: 01/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Most skin infections, including those complicating burns, are polymicrobial involving multiple causative bacteria. Add to this the fact that many of these organisms may be antibiotic-resistant, and a simple skin lesion or burn could soon become life-threatening. Membrane-acting cationic peptides from Gram-negative bacteriophage lysins can potentially aid in addressing the urgent need for alternative therapeutics. Such peptides natively constitute an amphipathic region within the structural composition of these lysins and function to permit outer membrane permeabilization in Gram-negative bacteria when added externally. This consequently allows the lysin to access and degrade the peptidoglycan substrate, resulting in rapid hypotonic lysis and bacterial death. When separated from the lysin, some of these cationic peptides kill sensitive bacteria more effectively than the native molecule via both outer and cytoplasmic membrane disruption. In this study, we evaluated the antibacterial properties of a modified cationic peptide from the broad-acting lysin PlyPa01. The peptide, termed PaP1, exhibited potent in vitro bactericidal activity toward numerous high priority Gram-positive and Gram-negative pathogens, including all the antibiotic-resistant ESKAPE pathogens. Both planktonic and biofilm-state bacteria were sensitive to the peptide, and results from time-kill assays revealed PaP1 kills bacteria on contact. The peptide was bactericidal over a wide temperature and pH range and could withstand autoclaving without loss of activity. However, high salt concentrations and complex matrices were found to be largely inhibitory, limiting its use to topical applications. Importantly, unlike other membrane-acting antimicrobials, PaP1 lacked cytotoxicity toward human cells. Results from a murine burn wound infection model using methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus or multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa validated the in vivo antibacterial efficacy of PaP1. In these studies, the peptide enhanced the potency of topical antibiotics used clinically for treating chronic wound infections. Despite the necessity for additional preclinical drug development, the collective data from our study support PaP1 as a potential broad-spectrum monotherapy or adjunctive therapy for the topical treatment of polymicrobial infections and provide a foundation for engineering future lysin-derived peptides with improved antibacterial properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryan D. Heselpoth
- Laboratory of Bacterial Pathogenesis and Immunology, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, United States
- *Correspondence: Ryan D. Heselpoth,
| | - Chad W. Euler
- Laboratory of Bacterial Pathogenesis and Immunology, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, United States
- Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Hunter College, New York, NY, United States
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, United States
| | - Vincent A. Fischetti
- Laboratory of Bacterial Pathogenesis and Immunology, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, United States
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16
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Analysis of Antibacterial Action of Mammalian Host-Defense Cathelicidins and Induction of Resistance to Them in MβL-Producing Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Bull Exp Biol Med 2022; 172:447-452. [PMID: 35175466 DOI: 10.1007/s10517-022-05411-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2021] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
Recombinant analogs of a number of natural host-defense mammalian cathelicidins were obtained and predominant mechanism of their antibacterial action was studied. The ability of cathelicidins to suppress the growth of Pseudomonas aeruginosa producing metallo-β-lactamases (MβL) was studied, and the possibility of appearance of cathelicidin-resistant bacteria was evaluated. Among peptides with different structures and mechanisms of action, only the strains resistant to ChMAP-28 were not obtained, which indicated minimum risk of the development of natural resistance to this cathelicidin. High antibacterial activity, wide spectrum of action, and the absence of cross-resistance effects allow considering ChMAP-28 peptide as a candidate to be developed further as a therapeutic agent against MβL-producing bacteria.
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17
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Shang L, Wu Y, Wei N, Yang F, Wang M, Zhang L, Fei C, Liu Y, Xue F, Gu F. Novel Arginine End-Tagging Antimicrobial Peptides to Combat Multidrug-Resistant Bacteria. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2022; 14:245-258. [PMID: 34964342 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.1c19305] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
The emergence of multidrug-resistant microorganisms has been termed one of the most common global health threats, emphasizing the discovery of new antibacterial agents. To address this issue, we engineered peptides harboring "RWWWR" as a central motif plus arginine (R) end-tagging and then tested them in vitro and in vivo. Our results demonstrate that Pep 6, one of the engineered peptides, shows great potential in combating Escherichia coli bacteremia and the Staphylococcus aureus skin burn infection model, which induces a 62-90% reduction in bacterial burden. Remarkably, after long serial passages of S. aureus and E. coli for 30 days, Pep 6 is still highly efficient in killing pathogens, compared with 64- and 128-fold increase in minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) for vancomycin and polymyxin B, respectively. We also found that Pep 6 exhibited robust biofilm-inhibiting activity and eliminated 61.33% of the mature methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) biofilm with concentration in the MIC level. These results suggest that the RWWWR motif and binding of arginine end-tagging could be harnessed as a new agent for combating multidrug-resistant bacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lu Shang
- Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai 200241, China
- Key Laboratory of Veterinary Chemical Drugs and Pharmaceutics, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Shanghai 200241, China
| | - Yuting Wu
- Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai 200241, China
- Key Laboratory of Veterinary Chemical Drugs and Pharmaceutics, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Shanghai 200241, China
| | - Nan Wei
- Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai 200241, China
- Key Laboratory of Veterinary Chemical Drugs and Pharmaceutics, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Shanghai 200241, China
| | - Fayu Yang
- Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai 200241, China
- Key Laboratory of Veterinary Chemical Drugs and Pharmaceutics, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Shanghai 200241, China
| | - Mi Wang
- Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai 200241, China
- Key Laboratory of Veterinary Chemical Drugs and Pharmaceutics, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Shanghai 200241, China
| | - Lifang Zhang
- Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai 200241, China
- Key Laboratory of Veterinary Chemical Drugs and Pharmaceutics, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Shanghai 200241, China
| | - Chenzhong Fei
- Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai 200241, China
- Key Laboratory of Veterinary Chemical Drugs and Pharmaceutics, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Shanghai 200241, China
| | - Yingchun Liu
- Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai 200241, China
- Key Laboratory of Veterinary Chemical Drugs and Pharmaceutics, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Shanghai 200241, China
| | - Feiqun Xue
- Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai 200241, China
- Key Laboratory of Veterinary Chemical Drugs and Pharmaceutics, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Shanghai 200241, China
| | - Feng Gu
- Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai 200241, China
- Key Laboratory of Veterinary Chemical Drugs and Pharmaceutics, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Shanghai 200241, China
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18
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Silva ARP, Guimarães M, Rabelo J, Belen L, Perecin C, Farias J, Picado Madalena Santos JH, Rangel-Yagui CO. Recent advances in the design of antimicrobial peptide conjugates. J Mater Chem B 2022; 10:3587-3600. [DOI: 10.1039/d1tb02757c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are ubiquitous host defense peptides characterized by antibiotic activity and lower propensity for developing resistance compared to classic antibiotics. While several AMPs have shown activity against antibiotic-sensitive...
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19
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Han Y, Zhang M, Lai R, Zhang Z. Chemical modifications to increase the therapeutic potential of antimicrobial peptides. Peptides 2021; 146:170666. [PMID: 34600037 DOI: 10.1016/j.peptides.2021.170666] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2021] [Revised: 09/27/2021] [Accepted: 09/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The continued use of antibiotics has been accompanied by the rapid emergence and spread of antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), also known as host defense peptides, show multiple features as an ideal antimicrobial agent, including potent, rapid, and broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity, low promotion of antimicrobial resistance, potent anti-biofilm activity, and lethality against metabolically inactive microorganisms. However, several crucial drawbacks constrain the use of AMPs as clinical drugs, e.g., liability in vivo, toxicity when used systemically, and high production costs. Based on recent findings and our own experiences, here we summarize some chemical modifications and key design strategies to increase the therapeutic potential of AMPs, including 1) enhancing antimicrobial activities, 2) improving in vivo effectiveness, and 3) reduction in toxicity, which may facilitate the design and optimization of AMPs for the development of drug candidates. We also discuss the present challenges in the optimization of AMPs and future concerns about the resistance and cross-resistance to AMPs in the development of AMPs as therapeutic drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yajun Han
- Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms of Chinese Academy of Sciences/Key Laboratory of Bioactive Peptides of Yunnan Province, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Kunming, 650223 Yunnan, China
| | - Manli Zhang
- Department of Hepatology and Gastroenterology, The Second Part of First Hospital, Jilin University, Changchun, 130021 Jilin Province, China
| | - Ren Lai
- Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms of Chinese Academy of Sciences/Key Laboratory of Bioactive Peptides of Yunnan Province, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Kunming, 650223 Yunnan, China
| | - Zhiye Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms of Chinese Academy of Sciences/Key Laboratory of Bioactive Peptides of Yunnan Province, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Kunming, 650223 Yunnan, China.
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20
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Wu CL, Peng KL, Yip BS, Chih YH, Cheng JW. Boosting Synergistic Effects of Short Antimicrobial Peptides With Conventional Antibiotics Against Resistant Bacteria. Front Microbiol 2021; 12:747760. [PMID: 34733262 PMCID: PMC8558513 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.747760] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2021] [Accepted: 09/27/2021] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
The global spread of antibiotic-resistant infections has meant that there is an urgent need to develop new antimicrobial alternatives. In this study, we developed a strategy to boost and/or synergize the activity of conventional antibiotics by combination with antimicrobial peptides tagged with the bulky non-natural amino acid β-naphthylalanine (Nal) to their N- or C-terminus. A checkerboard method was used to evaluate synergistic effects of the parent peptide and the Nal-tagged peptides. Moreover, boron-dipyrro-methene labeled vancomycin was used to characterize the synergistic mechanism of action between the peptides and vancomycin on the bacterial strains. These Nal-tagged antimicrobial peptides also reduced the antibiotic-induced release of lipopolysaccharide from Gram-negative bacteria by more than 99.95%. Our results demonstrate that Nal-tagged peptides could help in developing antimicrobial peptides that not only have enhanced antibacterial activities but also increase the synergistic effects with conventional antibiotics against antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chih-Lung Wu
- Department of Medical Science, Institute of Biotechnology, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan
| | - Kuang-Li Peng
- Department of Medical Science, Institute of Biotechnology, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan
| | - Bak-Sau Yip
- Department of Medical Science, Institute of Biotechnology, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan.,Department of Neurology, National Taiwan University Hospital Hsinchu Branch, Hsinchu, Taiwan
| | - Ya-Han Chih
- Department of Medical Science, Institute of Biotechnology, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan
| | - Jya-Wei Cheng
- Department of Medical Science, Institute of Biotechnology, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan
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21
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Tram NDT, Selvarajan V, Boags A, Mukherjee D, Marzinek JK, Cheng B, Jiang ZC, Goh P, Koh JJ, Teo JWP, Bond PJ, Ee PLR. Manipulating turn residues on de novo designed β-hairpin peptides for selectivity against drug-resistant bacteria. Acta Biomater 2021; 135:214-224. [PMID: 34506975 DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2021.09.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2021] [Revised: 09/02/2021] [Accepted: 09/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Synthetic β-hairpin antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) offer a useful source for the development of novel antimicrobial agents. β-hairpin peptides generally consist of two side strands bridged by a reverse turn. In literature, most studies focused on the modifications of the side strands to manipulate the stability and activity of β-hairpin peptides, and much less is known about the impact of the turn region. By designing a series of de novo β-hairpin peptides with identical side strands but varied turns, we demonstrated that mutations of only 2 to 4 amino acids at the turn region could impart a wide range of antimicrobial profiles among synthetic β-hairpin AMPs. BTT2-4 and BTT6 displayed selective potency against Gram-negative bacteria, with minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of 4-8 µM. In contrast, BTT1 exhibited broad-spectrum activity, with MICs of 4-8 µM against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative strains. Additionally, BTT1 was potent against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and colistin-resistant Enterobacterales. The antimicrobial potency of BTT1 persisted after 14 days of serial passage. Mechanistic studies revealed that interactions between lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and the peptides were critical to their membranolytic activity against the bacterial inner membrane. Aside from folding stability, we observed that a degree of conformational flexibility was required for disruptive membrane interactions. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: By examining the significance of the turn region of β-hairpin peptides, we present valuable knowledge to the design toolkit of novel antimicrobial peptides as alternative therapeutics to overcome antibiotic resistance. Our de novo designed synthetic peptides displayed selective activity against Gram-negative bacteria and potent activity against clinically relevant antibiotic-resistant strains (e.g. colistin-resistant Enterobacterales and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus). The bactericidal activity of our peptides was shown to be robust in the presence of proteolytic trypsin and saline, conditions that could suppress peptide activity. Our peptides were also determined to be non-cytotoxic against a human cell line.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nhan D T Tram
- Department of Pharmacy, National University of Singapore, 117543, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Vanitha Selvarajan
- Department of Pharmacy, National University of Singapore, 117543, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Alister Boags
- Bioinformatics Institute, Agency of Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), 138671, Singapore, Singapore; School of Chemistry, University of Southampton, SO17 1BJ, Southampton, United Kingdom
| | - Devika Mukherjee
- Department of Pharmacy, National University of Singapore, 117543, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Jan K Marzinek
- Bioinformatics Institute, Agency of Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), 138671, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Bernadette Cheng
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Microbiology Unit, National University Hospital, 119074, Singapore , Singapore
| | - Zi-Chen Jiang
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Toronto, M5S 1A1, Ontario, Canada
| | - Pascal Goh
- Department of Pharmacy, National University of Singapore, 117543, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Jun-Jie Koh
- Department of Pharmacy, National University of Singapore, 117543, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Jeanette W P Teo
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Microbiology Unit, National University Hospital, 119074, Singapore , Singapore
| | - Peter J Bond
- Bioinformatics Institute, Agency of Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), 138671, Singapore, Singapore; National University of Singapore, Department of Biological Sciences, 117558, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Pui Lai Rachel Ee
- Department of Pharmacy, National University of Singapore, 117543, Singapore, Singapore; NUS Graduate School for Integrative Sciences and Engineering, 119077, Singapore, Singapore.
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22
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Gera S, Kankuri E, Kogermann K. Antimicrobial peptides - Unleashing their therapeutic potential using nanotechnology. Pharmacol Ther 2021; 232:107990. [PMID: 34592202 DOI: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2021.107990] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2021] [Revised: 08/30/2021] [Accepted: 09/01/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are potent, mostly cationic, and amphiphilic broad-spectrum host defense antimicrobials that are produced by all organisms ranging from prokaryotes to humans. In addition to their antimicrobial actions, they modulate inflammatory and immune responses and promote wound healing. Although they have clear benefits over traditional antibiotic drugs, their wide therapeutic utilization is compromised by concerns of toxicity, stability, and production costs. Recent advances in nanotechnology have attracted increasing interest to unleash the AMPs' immense potential as broad-spectrum antibiotics and anti-biofilm agents, against which the bacteria have less chances to develop resistance. Topical application of AMPs promotes migration of keratinocytes and fibroblasts, and contributes significantly to an accelerated wound healing process. Delivery of AMPs by employing nanotechnological approaches avoids the major disadvantages of AMPs, such as instability and toxicity, and provides a controlled delivery profile together with prolonged activity. In this review, we provide an overview of the key properties of AMPs and discuss the latest developments in topical AMP therapy using nanocarriers. We use chronic hard-to-heal wounds-complicated by infections, inflammation, and stagnated healing-as an example of an unmet medical need for which the AMPs' wide range of therapeutic actions could provide the most potential benefit. The use of innovative materials and sophisticated nanotechnological approaches offering various possibilities are discussed in more depth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sonia Gera
- Institute of Pharmacy, University of Tartu, Nooruse 1, 50411 Tartu, Estonia
| | - Esko Kankuri
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Haartmaninkatu 8, 00290 Helsinki, Finland.
| | - Karin Kogermann
- Institute of Pharmacy, University of Tartu, Nooruse 1, 50411 Tartu, Estonia.
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23
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Hango CR, Backlund CM, Davis HC, Posey ND, Minter LM, Tew GN. Non-Covalent Carrier Hydrophobicity as a Universal Predictor of Intracellular Protein Activity. Biomacromolecules 2021; 22:2850-2863. [PMID: 34156837 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biomac.1c00242] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Over the past decade, extensive optimization of polymeric cell-penetrating peptide (CPP) mimics (CPPMs) by our group has generated a substantial library of broadly effective carriers which circumvent the need for covalent conjugation often required by CPPs. In this study, design rules learned from CPPM development were applied to reverse-engineer the first library of simple amphiphilic block copolypeptides for non-covalent protein delivery, namely, poly(alanine-block-arginine), poly(phenylalanine-block-arginine), and poly(tryptophan-block-arginine). This new CPP library was screened for enhanced green fluorescent protein and Cre recombinase delivery alongside a library of CPPMs featuring equivalent side-chain configurations. Due to the added hydrophobicity imparted by the polymer backbone as compared to the polypeptide backbone, side-chain functionality was not a universal predictor of carrier performance. Rather, overall carrier hydrophobicity predicted the top performers for both internalization and activity of protein cargoes, regardless of backbone identity. Furthermore, comparison of protein uptake and function revealed carriers which facilitated high gene recombination despite remarkably low Cre internalization, leading us to formalize the concept of intracellular availability (IA) of the delivered cargo. IA, a measure of cargo activity per quantity of cargo internalized, provides valuable insight into the physical relationship between cellular internalization and bioavailability, which can be affected by bottlenecks such as endosomal escape and cargo release. Importantly, carriers with maximal IA existed within a narrow hydrophobicity window, more hydrophilic than those exhibiting maximal cargo uptake. Hydrophobicity may be used as a scaffold-independent predictor of protein uptake, function, and IA, enabling identification of new, effective carriers which would be overlooked by uptake-based screening methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher R Hango
- Department of Polymer Science & Engineering, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, Massachusetts 01003, United States
| | - Coralie M Backlund
- Department of Polymer Science & Engineering, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, Massachusetts 01003, United States
| | - Hazel C Davis
- Department of Polymer Science & Engineering, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, Massachusetts 01003, United States
| | - Nicholas D Posey
- Department of Polymer Science & Engineering, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, Massachusetts 01003, United States
| | - Lisa M Minter
- Molecular and Cellular Biology Program, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Amherst, Massachusetts 01003, United States.,Department of Veterinary & Animal Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Amherst, Massachusetts 01003, Untied States
| | - Gregory N Tew
- Department of Polymer Science & Engineering, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, Massachusetts 01003, United States.,Molecular and Cellular Biology Program, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Amherst, Massachusetts 01003, United States.,Department of Veterinary & Animal Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Amherst, Massachusetts 01003, Untied States
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24
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Development of an Experimental Ex Vivo Wound Model to Evaluate Antimicrobial Efficacy of Topical Formulations. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22095045. [PMID: 34068733 PMCID: PMC8126222 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22095045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2021] [Revised: 04/25/2021] [Accepted: 05/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Wound infections are considered a major cause for wound-associated morbidity. There is a high demand for alternative, robust, and affordable methods that can provide relatable and reproducible results when testing topical treatments, both in research and in the pharmaceutical industry. Here we present an ex vivo wound infection model using porcine skin and a burn wounding method, allowing for the efficacy evaluation of topical antimicrobial formulations. Utilizing this model, we demonstrate the potential of topical treatments after infecting the wounds with clinically significant bacteria, P. aeruginosa and S. aureus. We show that the method is compatible with several analytical tools used to analyze infection and antimicrobial effects. Both bacterial strains successfully infected the wound surface, as well as deeper regions of the tissue. Quantification of viable bacteria on the wound surface and in the tissue, longitudinal measurements of bioluminescence, fluorescence microscopy, and scanning electron microscopy were used to confirm the effects of antibacterial treatments. Furthermore, we show that biofilms are formed on the wound surface, indicating that the demonstrated method mirrors typical in vivo infections.
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25
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Luu T, Li W, O'Brien‐Simpson NM, Hong Y. Recent Applications of Aggregation Induced Emission Probes for Antimicrobial Peptide Studies. Chem Asian J 2021; 16:1027-1040. [DOI: 10.1002/asia.202100102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2021] [Revised: 03/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Tracey Luu
- Department of Chemistry and Physics La Trobe Institute for Molecular Science La Trobe University Melbourne VIC 3086 Australia
| | - Wenyi Li
- Bio21 Institute University of Melbourne Centre for Oral Health Research Melbourne Dental School Melbourne VIC 3010 Australia
| | - Neil M. O'Brien‐Simpson
- Bio21 Institute University of Melbourne Centre for Oral Health Research Melbourne Dental School Melbourne VIC 3010 Australia
| | - Yuning Hong
- Department of Chemistry and Physics La Trobe Institute for Molecular Science La Trobe University Melbourne VIC 3086 Australia
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26
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Rezaei S, Hadadian S, Khavari-Nejad RA, Norouzian D. Recombinant Tandem Repeated Expression of S3 and SΔ3 Antimicrobial Peptides. Rep Biochem Mol Biol 2021; 9:348-356. [PMID: 33649729 DOI: 10.29252/rbmb.9.3.348] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Background Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are promising candidates for new generations of antibiotics to overcome the threats of multidrug-resistant infections as well as other industrial applications. Recombinant expression of small peptides is challenging due to low expression rates and high sensitivity to proteases. However, recombinant multimeric or fusion expression of AMPs facilitates cost-effective large-scale production of AMPs. In This project, S3 and SΔ3 AMPs were expressed as fusion partners. S3 peptide is a 34 amino acid linear antimicrobial peptide derived from lipopolysaccharide (LPS) binding site of factor C of horseshoe crab hemolymph and SΔ3 is a modified variant of S3 possessing more positive charges. Methods Two copy tandem repeat of the fusion protein (named as SΔ3S3-2mer-GS using glycine- serine linker was expressed in E. coli. BL21 (DE3). After cell disruption and solubilization of inclusion bodies, the protein was purified by Ni -NTA affinity chromatography. Antimicrobial activity and cytotoxic properties of purified SΔ3S3-2mer-GS were compared with a previously produced tetramer of S3 with the same glycine- serine linker (S3-4mer-GS) and each of monomeric blocks of S3 and SΔ3. Results SΔ3S3-2mer-GS was successfully expressed with an expression rate of 26%. The geometric average of minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC GM) of SΔ3S3-2mer-GS was 28%, 34%, and 57% lower than SΔ3, S3-4mer-GS, and S3, respectively. SΔ3S3-2mer-GS had no toxic effect on eukaryotes human embryonic kidney cells at its MIC concentration. Conclusion tandem repeated fusion expression strategy could be employed as an effective technique for recombinant production of AMPs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sadegh Rezaei
- Department of Biology, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Shahin Hadadian
- Nano-Biotechnology Department, New Technologies Research Group, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
| | | | - Dariush Norouzian
- Nano-Biotechnology Department, New Technologies Research Group, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
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27
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Zhong C, Zhang F, Yao J, Zhu Y, Zhu N, Zhang Y, Liu H, Gou S, Ni J. Antimicrobial peptides with symmetric structures against multidrug-resistant bacteria while alleviating antimicrobial resistance. Biochem Pharmacol 2021; 186:114470. [PMID: 33610592 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2021.114470] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2020] [Revised: 01/26/2021] [Accepted: 02/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
In response to the dramatically increasing antimicrobial resistance, a series of new symmetric peptides were designed and synthesized in this study by a "WWW" motif as the symmetric center, arginine as the positive charge amino acid and the terminus symmetrically tagged with hydrophobic amino acids. Amongst the new symmetric peptide FRRW (FRRWWWRRF-NH2) presented the highest cell selectivity for bacteria over mammalian cell and exerted excellent antimicrobial potential against a broad of bacteria, especially difficult-to-kill multidrug-resistant strains clinical isolates. FRRW also displayed perfect stability in physiological salt ions and rapid killing speed as well as acted on multiple mechanisms including non-receptor mediated membrane and intra-molecular mechanisms. Importantly, FRRW emerged a low tendency of resistance in contrast to traditional antibiotics ciprofloxacin and gentamicin. What's more, FRRW could resist or alleviate or even reverse the ciprofloxacin- and gentamicin-resistance by changing the permeability of bacterial membrane and inhibiting the efflux pumps of bacteria. Furthermore, FRRW exhibited remarkable effectiveness and higher safety in vivo than polymyxin B. In summary, the new symmetric peptide FRRW was promised to be as a new antimicrobial candidate for overcoming the increasing bacterial resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chao Zhong
- Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China; School of Pharmacy, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Fangyan Zhang
- School of Pharmacy, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Jia Yao
- The First Hospital of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Yuewen Zhu
- School of Pharmacy, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Ningyi Zhu
- School of Pharmacy, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Yun Zhang
- School of Pharmacy, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Hui Liu
- School of Pharmacy, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Sanhu Gou
- School of Pharmacy, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Jingman Ni
- Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China; School of Pharmacy, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China; State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Macau University of Science and Technology, Avenida Wai Long, Taipa, Macao 999078, China.
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28
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Kundu R. Cationic Amphiphilic Peptides: Synthetic Antimicrobial Agents Inspired by Nature. ChemMedChem 2020; 15:1887-1896. [PMID: 32767819 DOI: 10.1002/cmdc.202000301] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2020] [Revised: 08/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Antimicrobial peptides are ubiquitous in multicellular organisms and have served as defense mechanisms for their successful evolution and throughout their life cycle. These peptides are short cationic amphiphilic polypeptides of fewer than 50 amino acids containing either a few disulfide-linked cysteine residues with a characteristic β-sheet-rich structure or linear α-helical conformations with hydrophilic side chains at one side of the helix and hydrophobic side chains on the other side. Antimicrobial peptides cause bacterial cell lysis either by direct cell-surface damage via electrostatic interactions between the cationic side chains of the peptide and the negatively charged cell surface, or by indirect modulation of the host defense systems. Electrostatic interactions lead to bacterial cell membrane disruption followed by leakage of cellular components and finally bacterial cell death. Because of their unusual mechanism of cell damage, antimicrobial peptides are effective against drug-resistant bacteria and may therefore prove more effective than classical antibiotics in certain cases. Currently, around 3000 natural antimicrobial peptides from six kingdoms (bacteria, archaea, protists, fungi, plants, and animals) have been isolated and sequenced. However, only a few of them are under clinical trials and/or in the commercial development stage for the treatment of bacterial infections caused by antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Moreover, high structural complexity, poor pharmacokinetic properties, and low antibacterial activity of natural antimicrobial peptides hinder their progress in drug development. To overcome these hurdles, researchers have become increasingly interested in modification and nature-inspired synthetic antimicrobial peptides. This review discusses some of the recent studies reported on antimicrobial peptides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rajen Kundu
- CSIR - Central Mechanical Engineering Research Institute, CoEFM, Ludhiana, 141006, India.,Academy of Scientific & Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad, 201002, India
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29
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Zhu Y, Shao C, Li G, Lai Z, Tan P, Jian Q, Cheng B, Shan A. Rational Avoidance of Protease Cleavage Sites and Symmetrical End-Tagging Significantly Enhances the Stability and Therapeutic Potential of Antimicrobial Peptides. J Med Chem 2020; 63:9421-9435. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.0c00583] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Yongjie Zhu
- Laboratory of Molecular Nutrition and Immunity. The Institute of Animal Nutrition, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, P. R. China
| | - Changxuan Shao
- Laboratory of Molecular Nutrition and Immunity. The Institute of Animal Nutrition, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, P. R. China
| | - Guoyu Li
- Laboratory of Molecular Nutrition and Immunity. The Institute of Animal Nutrition, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, P. R. China
| | - Zhenheng Lai
- Laboratory of Molecular Nutrition and Immunity. The Institute of Animal Nutrition, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, P. R. China
| | - Peng Tan
- Laboratory of Molecular Nutrition and Immunity. The Institute of Animal Nutrition, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, P. R. China
| | - Qiao Jian
- Laboratory of Molecular Nutrition and Immunity. The Institute of Animal Nutrition, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, P. R. China
| | - Baojing Cheng
- Laboratory of Molecular Nutrition and Immunity. The Institute of Animal Nutrition, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, P. R. China
| | - Anshan Shan
- Laboratory of Molecular Nutrition and Immunity. The Institute of Animal Nutrition, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, P. R. China
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30
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Abstract
: The role of Staphylococcus aureus (SA) in the pathogenesis and management in atopic dermatitis is rapidly evolving. The modern understanding of SA in atopic dermatitis now includes an expanded array of virulence factors, the interplay of clonal and temporal shifts in SA populations, and host factors such as filaggrin and natural moisturizing factor. New, emerging therapies that focus on long-term, targeted elimination of SA colonization are currently under investigation (Br J Dermatol 2017;17(1)63-71). Herein, we discuss and review the latest staphylococcal and microbiome-modifying therapies including topical antibiotics, topical natural oil fatty acids, anti-SA vaccines, microbial transplantation, vitamin D supplementation, dupilumab and proposed future investigative directions.
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31
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Frederiksen N, Hansen PR, Björkling F, Franzyk H. Peptide/Peptoid Hybrid Oligomers: The Influence of Hydrophobicity and Relative Side-Chain Length on Antibacterial Activity and Cell Selectivity. Molecules 2019; 24:E4429. [PMID: 31817108 PMCID: PMC6943742 DOI: 10.3390/molecules24244429] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2019] [Revised: 11/20/2019] [Accepted: 11/26/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Previous optimisation studies of peptide/peptoid hybrids typically comprise comparison of structurally related analogues displaying different oligomer length and diverse side chains. The present work concerns a systematically constructed series of 16 closely related 12-mer oligomers with an alternating cationic/hydrophobic design, representing a wide range of hydrophobicity and differences in relative side-chain lengths. The aim was to explore and rationalise the structure-activity relationships within a subclass of oligomers displaying variation of three structural features: (i) cationic side-chain length, (ii) hydrophobic side-chain length, and (iii) type of residue that is of a flexible peptoid nature. Increased side-chain length of cationic residues led to reduced hydrophobicity till the side chains became more extended than the aromatic/hydrophobic side chains, at which point hydrophobicity increased slightly. Evaluation of antibacterial activity revealed that analogues with lowest hydrophobicity exhibited reduced activity against E. coli, while oligomers with the shortest cationic side chains were most potent against P. aeruginosa. Thus, membrane-disruptive interaction with P. aeruginosa appears to be promoted by a hydrophobic surface of the oligomers (comprised of the aromatic groups shielding the cationic side chains). Peptidomimetics with short cationic side chains exhibit increased hemolytic properties as well as give rise to decreased HepG2 (hepatoblastoma G2 cell line) cell viability. An optimal hydrophobicity window could be defined by a threshold of minimal hydrophobicity conferring activity toward E. coli and a threshold for maximal hydrophobicity, beyond which cell selectivity was lost.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Henrik Franzyk
- Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Jagtvej 162, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark; (N.F.); (P.R.H.); (F.B.)
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32
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Song J, Wang J, Zhan N, Sun T, Yu W, Zhang L, Shan A, Zhang A. Therapeutic Potential of Trp-Rich Engineered Amphiphiles by Single Hydrophobic Amino Acid End-Tagging. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2019; 11:43820-43834. [PMID: 31687796 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.9b12706] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
End-tagging with a single hydrophobic residue contributes to improve the cell selectivity of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), but systematic studies have been lacking. Thus, this study aimed to systematically investigate how end-tagging with hydrophobic residues at the C-terminus and Gly capped at the N-terminus of W4 (RWRWWWRWR) affects the bioactivity of W4 variants. Among all the hydrophobic residues, only Ala end-tagging improved the antibacterial activity of W4. Meanwhile, Gly capped at the N-terminus could promote the helical propensity of the end-tagged peptides in dodecylphosphocholine micelles, increasing their antimicrobial activities. Of these peptides, GW4A (GRWRWWWRWRA) showed the best antibacterial activity against the 19 species of bacteria tested (GMMIC = 1.86 μM) with low toxicity, thus possessing the highest cell selectivity (TIall = 137.63). It also had rapid sterilization, good salt and serum resistance, and LPS-neutralizing activity. Antibacterial mechanism studies showed that the short peptide GW4A killed bacteria by destroying cell membrane integrity and causing cytoplasmic leakage. Overall, these findings suggested that systematic studies on terminal modifications promoted the development of peptide design theory and provided a potential method for optimization of effective AMPs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Song
- Institute of Animal Nutrition , Northeast Agricultural University , Harbin 150030 , Heilongjiang , P. R. China
| | - Jiajun Wang
- Institute of Animal Nutrition , Northeast Agricultural University , Harbin 150030 , Heilongjiang , P. R. China
| | - Na Zhan
- Institute of Animal Nutrition , Northeast Agricultural University , Harbin 150030 , Heilongjiang , P. R. China
| | - Taotao Sun
- Institute of Animal Nutrition , Northeast Agricultural University , Harbin 150030 , Heilongjiang , P. R. China
| | - Weikang Yu
- Institute of Animal Nutrition , Northeast Agricultural University , Harbin 150030 , Heilongjiang , P. R. China
| | - Licong Zhang
- Institute of Animal Nutrition , Northeast Agricultural University , Harbin 150030 , Heilongjiang , P. R. China
| | - Anshan Shan
- Institute of Animal Nutrition , Northeast Agricultural University , Harbin 150030 , Heilongjiang , P. R. China
| | - Aizhong Zhang
- College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine , Bayi Agricultural University , Daqing 163000 , Heilongjiang , P. R. China
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33
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Borro BC, Toussaint MS, Bucciarelli S, Malmsten M. Effects of charge contrast and composition on microgel formation and interactions with bacteria-mimicking liposomes. Biochim Biophys Acta Gen Subj 2019; 1865:129485. [PMID: 31734459 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbagen.2019.129485] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2019] [Revised: 11/02/2019] [Accepted: 11/08/2019] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Microgels offer opportunities for improved delivery of antimicrobial peptides (AMP). To contribute to a foundation for rational design of such systems, we here study the effects of electrostatics on the generation of peptide-carrying microgels. For this, alginate microgels loaded with polymyxin B and cross-linked by Ca2+, were formed by electrostatic complexation using a hydrodynamic focusing three-dimensional (3D)-printed micromixer, varying pH and component concentrations. The structure of the resulting composite nanoparticles was investigated by small-angle X-ray scattering, dynamic light scattering, and z-potential measurements, whereas peptide encapsulation and release was monitored spectrophotometrically. Furthermore, membrane interactions of these systems were assessed by dye leakage assays in model lipid vesicles. Our results indicate that charge contrast between polymyxin B and alginate during microgel formation affects particle size and network dimensions. In particular, while microgels prepared at maximum polymyxin B-alginate charge contrast at pH 5 and 7.4 are characterized by sharp interfaces, those formed at pH 9 are characterized by a more diffuse core, likely caused by a weaker peptide-polymer affinity, and a shell dominated by alginate that shrinks at high CaCl2 concentrations. Quantitatively, however, these effects were relatively minor, as were differences in peptide encapsulation efficiency and electrolyte-induced peptide release. This demonstrates that rather wide charge contrasts allow efficient complexation and particle formation, with polymyxin B encapsulated within the particle interior at low ionic strength, but released at high electrolyte concentration. As a consequence of this, peptide-mediated membrane destabilization were suppressed by microgel incorporation at low ionic strength, but regained after microgel disruption. After particle disruption at high ionic strength, however, some polymyxin B was found to remain bound to alginate chains from the disrupted composite microgel particles, resulting in partial loss in membrane interactions, compared to the free peptide.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bruno C Borro
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
| | - Marie S Toussaint
- Department of Biological Engineering, Polytech Clermont-Ferrand, Aubiére, France
| | - Saskia Bucciarelli
- Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Martin Malmsten
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark; Physical Chemistry 1, University of Lund, S-221 00 Lund, Sweden
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Vaezi Z, Bortolotti A, Luca V, Perilli G, Mangoni ML, Khosravi-Far R, Bobone S, Stella L. Aggregation determines the selectivity of membrane-active anticancer and antimicrobial peptides: The case of killerFLIP. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-BIOMEMBRANES 2019; 1862:183107. [PMID: 31678022 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbamem.2019.183107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2019] [Revised: 07/19/2019] [Accepted: 09/19/2019] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Host defense peptides selectively kill bacterial and cancer cells (including those that are drug-resistant) by perturbing the permeability of their membranes, without being significantly toxic to the host. Coulombic interactions between these cationic and amphipathic peptides and the negatively charged membranes of pathogenic cells contribute to the selective toxicity. However, a positive charge is not sufficient for selectivity, which can be achieved only by a finely tuned balance of electrostatic and hydrophobic driving forces. A common property of amphipathic peptides is the formation of aggregated structures in solution, but the role of this phenomenon in peptide activity and selectivity has received limited attention. Our data on the anticancer peptide killerFLIP demonstrate that aggregation strongly increases peptide selectivity, by reducing the effective peptide hydrophobicity and thus the affinity towards membranes composed of neutral lipids (like the outer layer of healthy eukaryotic cell membranes). Aggregation is therefore a useful tool to modulate the selectivity of membrane active peptides and peptidomimetics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zahra Vaezi
- Department of Chemical Science and Technologies, University of Rome Tor Vergata, 00133 Rome, Italy
| | - Annalisa Bortolotti
- Department of Chemical Science and Technologies, University of Rome Tor Vergata, 00133 Rome, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Luca
- Laboratory affiliated to Pasteur Italia-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Department of Biochemical Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, piazzale Aldo Moro, 5, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Giulia Perilli
- Department of Chemical Science and Technologies, University of Rome Tor Vergata, 00133 Rome, Italy
| | - Maria Luisa Mangoni
- Laboratory affiliated to Pasteur Italia-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Department of Biochemical Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, piazzale Aldo Moro, 5, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Roya Khosravi-Far
- BiomaRx Inc, Cambridge, MA, USA; Department of Pathology, Harvard Medical School and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Sara Bobone
- Department of Chemical Science and Technologies, University of Rome Tor Vergata, 00133 Rome, Italy.
| | - Lorenzo Stella
- Department of Chemical Science and Technologies, University of Rome Tor Vergata, 00133 Rome, Italy.
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Nordström R, Andrén OC, Singh S, Malkoch M, Davoudi M, Schmidtchen A, Malmsten M. Degradable dendritic nanogels as carriers for antimicrobial peptides. J Colloid Interface Sci 2019; 554:592-602. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jcis.2019.07.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2019] [Revised: 07/12/2019] [Accepted: 07/12/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
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Shao C, Li W, Lai Z, Akhtar MU, Dong N, Shan A, Ma D. Effect of terminal arrangement of tryptophan on biological activity of symmetric α‐helix‐forming peptides. Chem Biol Drug Des 2019; 94:2051-2063. [DOI: 10.1111/cbdd.13608] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2019] [Revised: 06/29/2019] [Accepted: 08/15/2019] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Changxuan Shao
- Institute of Animal Nutrition Northeast Agricultural University Harbin China
| | - Weizhong Li
- Institute of Animal Nutrition Northeast Agricultural University Harbin China
- College of Biological and Agricultural Engineering Weifang University Weifang China
| | - Zhenheng Lai
- Institute of Animal Nutrition Northeast Agricultural University Harbin China
| | | | - Na Dong
- Institute of Animal Nutrition Northeast Agricultural University Harbin China
| | - Anshan Shan
- Institute of Animal Nutrition Northeast Agricultural University Harbin China
| | - Deying Ma
- Institute of Animal Nutrition Northeast Agricultural University Harbin China
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Biological characterization of omw1 and omw2: antimicrobial peptides derived from omwaprin. 3 Biotech 2019; 9:295. [PMID: 31321199 DOI: 10.1007/s13205-019-1801-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2018] [Accepted: 06/07/2019] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Two cationic antimicrobial peptides (AMP) were designed based on the snake venom peptide, omwaprin, hypothesized to be shorter, cost effective and potent. Omw1 and omw2 demonstrated significant broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity against standard and clinical strains at a MIC ranging from 15.625 to 250 µg/ml for omw1 and from 31.3 to 500 µg/ml for omw2. Time-kill kinetics revealed that omw1 caused complete lysis of E. coli ATCC 25922 at 1× MIC and S. aureus ATCC 25923 at 2× MIC after 40 and 60 min of incubation, respectively. Membranolytic activity of the peptides was assessed by propidium iodide stain, where red fluorescence was observed in cells treated with the peptides compared to untreated cells. Notable morphological changes were observed in the microbes treated with peptides, as revealed by scanning electron micrographs. Omw1 and omw2 were also potent to inhibit the formation as well as dispersal of matured biofilms at 1/2× MIC against clinical strain, C. albicans. Further, minimal hemolytic activity demonstrated by both the peptides at microbicidal concentration against human erythrocytes proves that the designed peptides were less toxic and potent antimicrobial agents which could be considered for further studies with animal models to affirm its efficiency.
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Matougui N, Groo AC, Umerska A, Cassisa V, Saulnier P. A comparison of different strategies for antimicrobial peptides incorporation onto/into lipid nanocapsules. Nanomedicine (Lond) 2019; 14:1647-1662. [DOI: 10.2217/nnm-2018-0337] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Aim: Over the last decade, antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) have emerged as a promising alternative for the treatment of various infections. The aim of this work is to explore the potential of lipid nanocapsules for the delivery of AMPs. Three approaches were compared in terms of encapsulation efficiency, peptide activity and protection against proteases: peptide encapsulation, surface adsorption or covalent attachment of three selected AMPs. Results: A potentiation of the antimicrobial activity and a partial protection of the peptides after adsorption were demonstrated compared with native peptides. Conversely, encapsulation allowed better peptide stability, correlated with higher encapsulation efficiencies and a preservation of the activity. Finally, the covalent attachment strategy turned out to be less conclusive due to peptide inactivation. Conclusion: In brief, a lipid nanocapsule-based platform appears suitable to deliver AMPs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nada Matougui
- Micro & Nanomédecines Translationelles-MINT, UNIV Angers, INSERM U1066, CNRS UMR 6021, UBL Universite Bretagne Loire, Angers F-49933, France
| | - Anne-Claire Groo
- Normandie Univ, UNICAEN, CERMN – EA 4258, FR CNRS 3038 INC3M, SF 4206 ICORE, Caen, France
| | - Anita Umerska
- Micro & Nanomédecines Translationelles-MINT, UNIV Angers, INSERM U1066, CNRS UMR 6021, UBL Universite Bretagne Loire, Angers F-49933, France
- Université de Lorraine, CITHEFOR, Nancy, France
| | - Viviane Cassisa
- Equipe 7b, ATIP Avenir, ATOMyca, U892, CRCNA, CHU Angers, France
| | - Patrick Saulnier
- Micro & Nanomédecines Translationelles-MINT, UNIV Angers, INSERM U1066, CNRS UMR 6021, UBL Universite Bretagne Loire, Angers F-49933, France
- University Hospital Department of Biostatistics and Methodology, Angers University Hospital, Angers, France
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Håkansson J, Ringstad L, Umerska A, Johansson J, Andersson T, Boge L, Rozenbaum RT, Sharma PK, Tollbäck P, Björn C, Saulnier P, Mahlapuu M. Characterization of the in vitro, ex vivo, and in vivo Efficacy of the Antimicrobial Peptide DPK-060 Used for Topical Treatment. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2019; 9:174. [PMID: 31192163 PMCID: PMC6548878 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2019.00174] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2019] [Accepted: 05/08/2019] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Antimicrobial peptides, also known as host defense peptides, have recently emerged as a promising new category of therapeutic agents for the treatment of infectious diseases. This study evaluated the preclinical in vitro, ex vivo, and in vivo antimicrobial activity, as well as the potential to cause skin irritation, of human kininogen-derived antimicrobial peptide DPK-060 in different formulations designed for topical delivery. We found that DPK-060 formulated in acetate buffer or poloxamer gel caused a marked reduction of bacterial counts of Staphylococcus aureus in vitro (minimum microbicidal concentration <5 μg/ml). We also found that DPK-060 in poloxamer gel significantly suppressed microbial survival in an ex vivo wound infection model using pig skin and in an in vivo mouse model of surgical site infection (≥99 or ≥94% reduction in bacterial counts was achieved with 1% DPK-060 at 4 h post-treatment, respectively). Encapsulation of DPK-060 in different types of lipid nanocapsules or cubosomes did not improve the bactericidal potential of the peptide under the applied test conditions. No reduction in cell viability was observed in response to administration of DPK-060 in any of the formulations tested. In conclusion, the present study confirms that DPK-060 has the potential to be an effective and safe drug candidate for the topical treatment of microbial infections; however, adsorption of the peptide to nanocarriers failed to show any additional benefits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joakim Håkansson
- Division of Bioscience and Materials, RISE Research Institutes of Sweden, Borås, Sweden
| | - Lovisa Ringstad
- Division of Bioscience and Materials, RISE Research Institutes of Sweden, Borås, Sweden
| | - Anita Umerska
- Université de Lorraine, CITHEFOR, Nancy, France.,INSERM 1066, CNRS 6021, Université Bretagne Loire, MINT, UNIV Angers, Angers, France
| | - Jenny Johansson
- Division of Bioscience and Materials, RISE Research Institutes of Sweden, Borås, Sweden
| | - Therese Andersson
- Division of Bioscience and Materials, RISE Research Institutes of Sweden, Borås, Sweden
| | - Lukas Boge
- Division of Bioscience and Materials, RISE Research Institutes of Sweden, Borås, Sweden
| | - René T Rozenbaum
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands
| | - Prashant K Sharma
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands
| | - Petter Tollbäck
- Division of Bioscience and Materials, RISE Research Institutes of Sweden, Borås, Sweden
| | - Camilla Björn
- Division of Bioscience and Materials, RISE Research Institutes of Sweden, Borås, Sweden
| | - Patrick Saulnier
- INSERM 1066, CNRS 6021, Université Bretagne Loire, MINT, UNIV Angers, Angers, France
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Selectivity of Antimicrobial Peptides: A Complex Interplay of Multiple Equilibria. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2019; 1117:175-214. [DOI: 10.1007/978-981-13-3588-4_11] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
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Antibiofilm elastin-like polypeptide coatings: functionality, stability, and selectivity. Acta Biomater 2019; 83:245-256. [PMID: 30541700 DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2018.10.039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2018] [Revised: 10/22/2018] [Accepted: 10/24/2018] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are currently receiving interest as an alternative to conventional antibiotics to treat biomaterial-associated infection. However, the inherent instability of such peptides often limits their efficacy in intended clinical applications. Covalent immobilization of AMPs to surfaces is one strategy to increase the long-term stability and minimize the toxicity. In this work, an antimicrobial peptide, RRPRPRPRPWWWW-NH2 (RRP9W4N), was used to modify elastin-like polypeptide (ELP) surface coatings containing cell-adhesive peptide domains (RGD) using covalent chemistry. The AMP retained its antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus epidermidis, Staphylococcus aureus, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa when covalently bonded to ELP surfaces. Simultaneously, the AMP functionalization had insignificant effect on the viability, function, and differentiation of human osteosarcoma MG63 cells and human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs). Furthermore, stability of the immobilized AMP in human blood serum was investigated, and the results suggested that the AMP preserved its antibacterial activity up to 24 h. Combined, the results show that covalently attached AMPs onto RGD-containing ELP are an excellent candidate as an antimicrobial coating for medical devices. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: Biomaterial associated infection, caused by adherent biofilm, is usually difficult to treat. There is a high demand for new materials and treatments to decrease the infection rates, especially with increasing threats concerning resistant bacteria. Formation of biofilms on medical devices lowers the bacteria susceptibility towards traditional antibiotics and also circumvent our immune system often resulting in revisional surgery and extensive use of antibiotics. One promising strategy is to develop surfaces having low bacterial attractiveness or bacterial killing properties, but still retaining the main function of the device. In this study, we have developed an implant coating that demonstrates a high antimicrobial effect and at the same time showing no negative affect on human cells.
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42
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Xenobiotic Binding Domain of Glutathione S-Transferase Has Cryptic Antimicrobial Peptides. Int J Pept Res Ther 2018. [DOI: 10.1007/s10989-018-9793-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
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Boge L, Hallstensson K, Ringstad L, Johansson J, Andersson T, Davoudi M, Larsson PT, Mahlapuu M, Håkansson J, Andersson M. Cubosomes for topical delivery of the antimicrobial peptide LL-37. Eur J Pharm Biopharm 2018; 134:60-67. [PMID: 30445164 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejpb.2018.11.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 103] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2018] [Revised: 11/07/2018] [Accepted: 11/12/2018] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
In this study, the use of cubosomes for topical delivery of the antimicrobial peptide (AMP) LL-37 was investigated. Topical delivery of AMPs is of great interest for treatment of skin infections caused by bacteria, such as Staphylococcus aureus. AMP containing cubosomes were produced by three different preparation protocols and compared: (i) pre-loading, where LL-37 was incorporated into a liquid crystalline gel, which thereafter was dispersed into nanoparticles, (ii) post-loading, where LL-37 was let to adsorb onto pre-formed cubosomes, and (iii) hydrotrope-loading, where LL-37 was incorporated during the spontaneously formed cubosomes in an ethanol/glycerol monooleate mixture. Particle size and size distribution were analyzed using dynamic light scattering (DLS), liquid crystalline structure by small angle x-ray scattering (SAXS) and release of LL-37 by a fluorescamine assay. Proteolytic protection of LL-37 as well as bactericidal effect after enzyme exposure was investigated. The skin irritation potential of cubosomes was examined by an in vitro epidermis model. Finally, the bacterial killing property of the cubosomes was examined by an ex vivo pig skin wound infection model with Staphylococcus aureus. Data showed that a high loading of LL-37 induced formation of vesicles in case of cubosomes prepared by sonication (pre-loading). No release of LL-37 was observed from the cubosomes, indicating strong association of the peptide to the particles. Proteolysis studies showed that LL-37 was fully protected against enzymatic attacks while associated with the cubosomes, also denoting strong association of the peptide to the particles. As a consequence, bactericidal effect after enzyme exposure remained, compared to pure LL-37 which was subjected to proteolysis. No skin irritation potential of the cubosomes was found, thus enabling for topical administration. The ex vivo wound infection model showed that LL-37 in pre-loaded cubosomes killed bacteria most efficient.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lukas Boge
- RISE Research Institutes of Sweden, Box 857 SE-50115, Borås, Sweden; Department of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Applied Chemistry, Chalmers University of Technology, Göteborg, Sweden.
| | | | - Lovisa Ringstad
- RISE Research Institutes of Sweden, Box 857 SE-50115, Borås, Sweden
| | - Jenny Johansson
- RISE Research Institutes of Sweden, Box 857 SE-50115, Borås, Sweden
| | | | - Mina Davoudi
- Division of Dermatology and Venereology, Department of Clinical Sciences, Lund University, Sweden
| | | | - Margit Mahlapuu
- Promore Pharma AB, Karolinska Institutet Science Park, Solna, Sweden; The Lundberg Laboratory for Diabetes Research, Department of Molecular and Clinical Medicine, The Sahlgrenska Academy at University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Joakim Håkansson
- RISE Research Institutes of Sweden, Box 857 SE-50115, Borås, Sweden
| | - Martin Andersson
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Applied Chemistry, Chalmers University of Technology, Göteborg, Sweden
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Influence of pH on the activity of thrombin-derived antimicrobial peptides. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-BIOMEMBRANES 2018; 1860:2374-2384. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbamem.2018.06.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2018] [Revised: 06/02/2018] [Accepted: 06/04/2018] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
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45
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Nyström L, Malmsten M. Membrane interactions and cell selectivity of amphiphilic anticancer peptides. Curr Opin Colloid Interface Sci 2018. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cocis.2018.06.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
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46
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Malekkhaiat Häffner S, Malmsten M. Influence of self-assembly on the performance of antimicrobial peptides. Curr Opin Colloid Interface Sci 2018. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cocis.2018.09.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
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47
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Membrane interactions of microgels as carriers of antimicrobial peptides. J Colloid Interface Sci 2018; 513:141-150. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jcis.2017.11.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2017] [Revised: 11/01/2017] [Accepted: 11/04/2017] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
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Abstract
The name human contact system is related to its mode of action, as "contact" with artificial negatively charged surfaces triggers its activation. Today, it is generally believed that the contact system is an inflammatory response mechanism not only against artificial material but also against misfolded proteins and foreign organisms. Upon activation, the contact system is involved in at least two distinct (patho)physiologic processes:i. the trigger of the intrinsic coagulation via factor XI and ii. the cleavage of high molecular weight kininogen with release of bradykinin and antimicrobial peptides (AMPs). Bradykinin is involved in the regulation of inflammatory processes, vascular permeability, and blood pressure. Due to the release of AMPs, the contact system is regarded as a branch of the innate immune defense against microorganisms. There is an increasing list of pathogens that interact with contact factors, in addition to bacteria also fungi and viruses bind and activate the system. In spite of that, pathogens have developed their own mechanisms to activate the contact system, resulting in manipulation of this host immune response. In this up-to-date review, we summarize present research on the interaction of pathogens with the human contact system, focusing particularly on bacterial and viral mechanisms that trigger inflammation via contact system activation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sonja Oehmcke-Hecht
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, Virology and Hygiene, Rostock University Medical Center, Rostock, Germany
| | - Juliane Köhler
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, Virology and Hygiene, Rostock University Medical Center, Rostock, Germany
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Malekkhaiat Häffner S, Nyström L, Nordström R, Xu ZP, Davoudi M, Schmidtchen A, Malmsten M. Membrane interactions and antimicrobial effects of layered double hydroxide nanoparticles. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2018; 19:23832-23842. [PMID: 28682360 DOI: 10.1039/c7cp02701j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Membrane interactions are critical for the successful use of inorganic nanoparticles as antimicrobial agents and as carriers of, or co-actives with, antimicrobial peptides (AMPs). In order to contribute to an increased understanding of these, we here investigate effects of particle size (42-208 nm) on layered double hydroxide (LDH) interactions with both bacteria-mimicking and mammalian-mimicking lipid membranes. LDH binding to bacteria-mimicking membranes, extraction of anionic lipids, as well as resulting membrane destabilization, was found to increase with decreasing particle size, also translating into size-dependent synergistic effects with the antimicrobial peptide LL-37. Due to strong interactions with anionic lipopolysaccharide and peptidoglycan layers, direct membrane disruption of both Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria is suppressed. However, LDH nanoparticles cause size-dependent charge reversal and resulting flocculation of both liposomes and bacteria, which may provide a mechanism for bacterial confinement or clearance. Taken together, these findings demonstrate a set of previously unknown behaviors, including synergistic membrane destabilization and dual confinement/killing of bacteria through combined LDH/AMP exposure, of potential therapeutic interest.
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50
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AlMatar M, Makky EA, Yakıcı G, Var I, Kayar B, Köksal F. Antimicrobial peptides as an alternative to anti-tuberculosis drugs. Pharmacol Res 2017; 128:288-305. [PMID: 29079429 DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2017.10.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2017] [Revised: 10/18/2017] [Accepted: 10/20/2017] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Tuberculosis (TB) presently accounts for high global mortality and morbidity rates, despite the introduction four decades ago of the affordable and efficient four-drugs (isoniazid, rifampicin, pyrazinamide and ethambutol). Thus, a strong need exists for new drugs with special structures and uncommon modes of action to effectively overcome M. tuberculosis. Within this scope, antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), which are small, cationic and amphipathic peptides that comprise a section of the innate immune system, are currently the leading potential agents for the treatment of TB. Many studies have recently illustrated the capability of anti-mycobacterial peptides to disrupt the normal mycobacterial cell wall function through various modes, thereby interacting with the intracellular targets, as well as encompassing nucleic acids, enzymes and organelles. This review presents a wide array of antimicrobial activities, alongside the associated properties of the AMPs that could be utilized as potential agents in therapeutic tactics for TB treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manaf AlMatar
- Department of Biotechnology, Institute of Natural and Applied Sciences (Fen Bilimleri Enstitüsü) Çukurova University, Adana, Turkey.
| | - Essam A Makky
- Faculty of Industrial Sciences & Technology, Universiti Malaysia Pahang (UMP), Gambang, 26300 Kuantan, Malaysia
| | - Gülfer Yakıcı
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Çukurova University, Adana, Turkey
| | - Işıl Var
- Department of Food Engineering, Agricultural Faculty, Çukurova University, Adana, Turkey
| | - Begüm Kayar
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Çukurova University, Adana, Turkey
| | - Fatih Köksal
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Çukurova University, Adana, Turkey
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