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Bellavita R, Braccia S, Imbò LE, Grieco P, Galdiero S, D'Auria G, Falanga A, Falcigno L. Exploring Fe(III) coordination and membrane interaction of a siderophore-peptide conjugate: Enhancing synergistically the antimicrobial activity. J Inorg Biochem 2024; 259:112658. [PMID: 38964199 DOI: 10.1016/j.jinorgbio.2024.112658] [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: 04/26/2024] [Revised: 06/10/2024] [Accepted: 06/30/2024] [Indexed: 07/06/2024]
Abstract
Many microbes produce siderophores, which are extremely potent weapons capable of stealing iron ions from human tissues, fluids and cells and transferring them into bacteria through their appropriate porins. We have recently designed a multi-block molecule, each block having a dedicated role. The first component is an antimicrobial peptide, whose good effectiveness against some bacterial strains was gradually improved through interactive sequence modifications. Connected to this block is a flexible bio-band, also optimized in length, which terminates in a hydroxyamide unit, a strong metal binder. Thus, the whole molecule brings together two pieces that work synergistically to fight infection. To understand if the peptide unit, although modified with a long tail, preserves the structure and therefore the antimicrobial activity, and to characterize the mechanism of interaction with bio-membrane models mimicking Gram-negative membranes, we performed a set of fluorescence-based experiments and circular dichroism studies, which further supported our design of a combination of two different entities working synergistically. The chelating activity and iron(III) binding of the peptide was confirmed by iron(III) paramagnetic NMR analyses, and through a competitive assay with ethylenediamine-tetra acetic acid by ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy. The complexation parameters, the Michaelis constant K, and the number of sites n, evaluated with spectrophotometric techniques are confirmed by Fe(III) paramagnetic NMR analyses here reported. In conclusion, we showed that the coupling of antimicrobial capabilities with iron-trapping capabilities works well in the treatment of infectious diseases caused by Gram-negative pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosa Bellavita
- Department of Pharmacy, School of Medicine, University of Naples 'Federico II', Via Domenico Montesano 49, 80131 Naples, Italy
| | - Simone Braccia
- Department of Pharmacy, School of Medicine, University of Naples 'Federico II', Via Domenico Montesano 49, 80131 Naples, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Emiliano Imbò
- Department of Agricultural Science, University of Naples 'Federico II', Via Università 100, Portici, 80055 Portici, Italy
| | - Paolo Grieco
- Department of Pharmacy, School of Medicine, University of Naples 'Federico II', Via Domenico Montesano 49, 80131 Naples, Italy
| | - Stefania Galdiero
- Department of Pharmacy, School of Medicine, University of Naples 'Federico II', Via Domenico Montesano 49, 80131 Naples, Italy
| | - Gabriella D'Auria
- Department of Pharmacy, School of Medicine, University of Naples 'Federico II', Via Domenico Montesano 49, 80131 Naples, Italy
| | - Annarita Falanga
- Department of Agricultural Science, University of Naples 'Federico II', Via Università 100, Portici, 80055 Portici, Italy.
| | - Lucia Falcigno
- Department of Pharmacy, School of Medicine, University of Naples 'Federico II', Via Domenico Montesano 49, 80131 Naples, Italy
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2
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Di YP, Kuhn JM, Mangoni ML. Lung antimicrobial proteins and peptides: from host defense to therapeutic strategies. Physiol Rev 2024; 104:1643-1677. [PMID: 39052018 DOI: 10.1152/physrev.00039.2023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/25/2023] [Revised: 06/11/2024] [Accepted: 07/18/2024] [Indexed: 07/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Representing severe morbidity and mortality globally, respiratory infections associated with chronic respiratory diseases, including complicated pneumonia, asthma, interstitial lung disease, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, are a major public health concern. Lung health and the prevention of pulmonary disease rely on the mechanisms of airway surface fluid secretion, mucociliary clearance, and adequate immune response to eradicate inhaled pathogens and particulate matter from the environment. The antimicrobial proteins and peptides contribute to maintaining an antimicrobial milieu in human lungs to eliminate pathogens and prevent them from causing pulmonary diseases. The predominant antimicrobial molecules of the lung environment include human α- and β-defensins and cathelicidins, among numerous other host defense molecules with antimicrobial and antibiofilm activity such as PLUNC (palate, lung, and nasal epithelium clone) family proteins, elafin, collectins, lactoferrin, lysozymes, mucins, secretory leukocyte proteinase inhibitor, surfactant proteins SP-A and SP-D, and RNases. It has been demonstrated that changes in antimicrobial molecule expression levels are associated with regulating inflammation, potentiating exacerbations, pathological changes, and modifications in chronic lung disease severity. Antimicrobial molecules also display roles in both anticancer and tumorigenic effects. Lung antimicrobial proteins and peptides are promising alternative therapeutics for treating and preventing multidrug-resistant bacterial infections and anticancer therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuanpu Peter Di
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States
| | - Jenna Marie Kuhn
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States
| | - Maria Luisa Mangoni
- Department of Biochemical Sciences, Laboratory Affiliated to Istituto Pasteur Italia-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
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3
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Girdhar M, Sen A, Nigam A, Oswalia J, Kumar S, Gupta R. Antimicrobial peptide-based strategies to overcome antimicrobial resistance. Arch Microbiol 2024; 206:411. [PMID: 39311963 DOI: 10.1007/s00203-024-04133-x] [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: 07/13/2024] [Revised: 08/29/2024] [Accepted: 09/04/2024] [Indexed: 10/10/2024]
Abstract
Antibiotic resistance has emerged as a global threat, rendering the existing conventional treatment strategies ineffective. In view of this, antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) have proven to be potent alternative therapeutic interventions with a wide range of applications in clinical health. AMPs are small peptides produced naturally as a part of the innate immune responses against a broad range of bacterial, fungal and viral pathogens. AMPs present a myriad of advantages over traditional antibiotics, including their ability to target multiple sites, reduced susceptibility to resistance development, and high efficacy at low doses. These peptides have demonstrated notable potential in inhibiting microbes resistant to traditional antibiotics, including the notorious ESKAPE pathogens, recognized as the primary culprits behind nosocomial infections. AMPs, with their multifaceted benefits, emerge as promising candidates in the ongoing efforts to combat the escalating challenges posed by antibiotic resistance. This in-depth review provides a detailed discussion on AMPs, encompassing their classification, mechanism of action, and diverse clinical applications. Focus has been laid on combating newly emerging drug-resistant organisms, emphasizing the significance of AMPs in mitigating this pressing challenge. The review also illuminates potential future strategies that may be implemented to improve AMP efficacy, such as structural modifications and using AMPs in combination with antibiotics and matrix-inhibiting compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Aparajita Sen
- Department of Genetics, University of Delhi, South Campus, New Delhi, 110021, India
| | - Arti Nigam
- Department of Microbiology, Institute of Home Economics, University of Delhi, New Delhi, 110016, India
| | - Jyoti Oswalia
- School of Biotechnology, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, 110067, India
| | - Sachin Kumar
- Department of Medical Laboratory Technology, School of Allied Health Sciences, Delhi Pharmaceutical Sciences and Research University, Pushp Vihar, New Delhi, 110017, India
| | - Rashi Gupta
- Department of Medical Laboratory Technology, School of Allied Health Sciences, Delhi Pharmaceutical Sciences and Research University, Pushp Vihar, New Delhi, 110017, India.
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4
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Bellavita R, Piccolo M, Leone L, Ferraro MG, Dardano P, De Stefano L, Nastri F, Irace C, Falanga A, Galdiero S. Tuning Peptide-Based Nanofibers for Achieving Selective Doxorubicin Delivery in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer. Int J Nanomedicine 2024; 19:6057-6084. [PMID: 38911501 PMCID: PMC11193445 DOI: 10.2147/ijn.s453958] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2023] [Accepted: 04/10/2024] [Indexed: 06/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction The design of delivery tools that efficiently transport drugs into cells remains a major challenge in drug development for most pathological conditions. Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a very aggressive subtype of breast cancer with poor prognosis and limited effective therapeutic options. Purpose In TNBC treatment, chemotherapy remains the milestone, and doxorubicin (Dox) represents the first-line systemic treatment; however, its non-selective distribution causes a cascade of side effects. To address these problems, we developed a delivery platform based on the self-assembly of amphiphilic peptides carrying several moieties on their surfaces, aimed at targeting, enhancing penetration, and therapy. Methods Through a single-step self-assembly process, we used amphiphilic peptides to obtain nanofibers decorated on their surfaces with the selected moieties. The surface of the nanofiber was decorated with a cell-penetrating peptide (gH625), an EGFR-targeting peptide (P22), and Dox bound to the cleavage sequence selectively recognized and cleaved by MMP-9 to obtain on-demand drug release. Detailed physicochemical and cellular analyses were performed. Results The obtained nanofiber (NF-Dox) had a length of 250 nm and a diameter of 10 nm, and it was stable under dilution, ionic strength, and different pH environments. The biological results showed that the presence of gH625 favored the complete internalization of NF-Dox after 1h in MDA-MB 231 cells, mainly through a translocation mechanism. Interestingly, we observed the absence of toxicity of the carrier (NF) on both healthy cells such as HaCaT and TNBC cancer lines, while a similar antiproliferative effect was observed on TNBC cells after the treatment with the free-Dox at 50 µM and NF-Dox carrying 7.5 µM of Dox. Discussion We envision that this platform is extremely versatile and can be used to efficiently carry and deliver diverse moieties. The knowledge acquired from this study will provide important guidelines for applications in basic research and biomedicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosa Bellavita
- Department of Pharmacy, School of Medicine, University of Naples ‘Federico II’, Napoli, Italy
| | - Marialuisa Piccolo
- Department of Pharmacy, School of Medicine, University of Naples ‘Federico II’, Napoli, Italy
| | - Linda Leone
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Napoli “Federico II”, Naples, Italy
| | - Maria Grazia Ferraro
- Department of Pharmacy, School of Medicine, University of Naples ‘Federico II’, Napoli, Italy
- School of Infection and Immunity, College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - Principia Dardano
- Institute of Applied Sciences and Intelligent Systems, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Naples, Italy
| | - Luca De Stefano
- Institute of Applied Sciences and Intelligent Systems, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Naples, Italy
| | - Flavia Nastri
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Napoli “Federico II”, Naples, Italy
| | - Carlo Irace
- Department of Pharmacy, School of Medicine, University of Naples ‘Federico II’, Napoli, Italy
| | - Annarita Falanga
- Department of Agricultural Science, University of Naples “Federico II”, Portici, Italy
| | - Stefania Galdiero
- Department of Pharmacy, School of Medicine, University of Naples ‘Federico II’, Napoli, Italy
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Falanga A, Bellavita R, Braccia S, Galdiero S. Hydrophobicity: The door to drug delivery. J Pept Sci 2024; 30:e3558. [PMID: 38115215 DOI: 10.1002/psc.3558] [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: 10/10/2023] [Revised: 11/10/2023] [Accepted: 11/14/2023] [Indexed: 12/21/2023]
Abstract
The engineering of intracellular delivery systems with the goal of achieving personalized medicine has been encouraged by advances in nanomaterial science as well as a greater understanding of diseases and of the biochemical pathways implicated in many disorders. The development of vectors able to transport the drug to a target location and release it only on demand is undoubtedly the primary issue. From a molecular perspective, the topography of drug carrier surfaces is directly related to the design of an effective drug carrier because it provides a physical hint to modifying its interactions with biological systems. For instance, the initial ratio of hydrophilic to hydrophobic surfaces and the changes brought about by external factors enable the release or encapsulation of a therapeutic molecule and the ability of the nanosystem to cross biological barriers and reach its target without causing systemic toxicity. The first step in creating new materials with enhanced functionality is to comprehend and characterize the interplay between hydrophilic and hydrophobic molecules at the molecular level. Therefore, the focus of this review is on the function of hydrophobicity, which is essential for matching the complexity of biological environments with the intended functionality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annarita Falanga
- Department of Agricultural Sciences, University of Naples "Federico II", Naples, Italy
- CiRPEB, Research Centre on Bioactive Peptides "Carlo Pedone", University of Naples "Federico II", Naples, Italy
| | - Rosa Bellavita
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Caserta, Italy
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples "Federico II", Naples, Italy
| | - Simone Braccia
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples "Federico II", Naples, Italy
| | - Stefania Galdiero
- CiRPEB, Research Centre on Bioactive Peptides "Carlo Pedone", University of Naples "Federico II", Naples, Italy
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples "Federico II", Naples, Italy
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6
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Stewart J, Shawon J, Ali MA, Williams B, Shahinuzzaman ADA, Rupa SA, Al-Adhami T, Jia R, Bourque C, Faddis R, Stone K, Sufian MA, Islam R, McShan AC, Rahman KM, Halim MA. Antiviral peptides inhibiting the main protease of SARS-CoV-2 investigated by computational screening and in vitro protease assay. J Pept Sci 2024; 30:e3553. [PMID: 38031661 DOI: 10.1002/psc.3553] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2023] [Revised: 09/29/2023] [Accepted: 10/24/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023]
Abstract
The main protease (Mpro) of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) plays an important role in viral replication and transcription and received great attention as a vital target for drug/peptide development. Therapeutic agents such as small-molecule drugs or peptides that interact with the Cys-His present in the catalytic site of Mpro are an efficient way to inhibit the protease. Although several emergency-approved vaccines showed good efficacy and drastically dropped the infection rate, evolving variants are still infecting and killing millions of people globally. While a small-molecule drug (Paxlovid) received emergency approval, small-molecule drugs have low target specificity and higher toxicity. Besides small-molecule drugs, peptide therapeutics are thus gaining increasing popularity as they are easy to synthesize and highly selective and have limited side effects. In this study, we investigated the therapeutic value of 67 peptides targeting Mpro using molecular docking. Subsequently, molecular dynamics (MD) simulations were implemented on eight protein-peptide complexes to obtain molecular-level information on the interaction between these peptides and the Mpro active site, which revealed that temporin L, indolicidin, and lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) GP1 are the best candidates in terms of stability, interaction, and structural compactness. These peptides were synthesized using the solid-phase peptide synthesis protocol, purified by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC), and authenticated by mass spectrometry (MS). The in vitro fluorometric Mpro activity assay was used to validate the computational results, where temporin L and indolicidin were observed to be very active against SARS-CoV-2 Mpro with IC50 values of 38.80 and 87.23 μM, respectively. A liquid chromatography-MS (LC-MS) assay was developed, and the IC50 value of temporin L was measured at 23.8 μM. The solution-state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) structure of temporin L was determined in the absence of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) micelles and was compared to previous temporin structures. This combined investigation provides critical insights and assists us to further develop peptide inhibitors of SARS-CoV-2 Mpro through structural guided investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- James Stewart
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Kennesaw State University, Kennesaw, GA, USA
| | - Jakaria Shawon
- Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Division of Computer-Aided Drug Design, The Red-Green Research Centre, BICCB, Tejgaon, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Md Ackas Ali
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Kennesaw State University, Kennesaw, GA, USA
| | - Blaise Williams
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Kennesaw State University, Kennesaw, GA, USA
| | - A D A Shahinuzzaman
- Pharmaceutical Sciences Research Division, Bangladesh Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (BCSIR), Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | | | - Taha Al-Adhami
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Science, School of Cancer and Pharmaceutical Science, Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Ruoqing Jia
- School of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Cole Bourque
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Kennesaw State University, Kennesaw, GA, USA
| | - Ryan Faddis
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Kennesaw State University, Kennesaw, GA, USA
| | - Kaylee Stone
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Kennesaw State University, Kennesaw, GA, USA
| | - Md Abu Sufian
- School of Pharmacy, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Rajib Islam
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Division of Computer-Aided Drug Design, The Red-Green Research Centre, BICCB, Tejgaon, Dhaka, Bangladesh
- Department of Chemistry, Clemson University, Clemson, SC, USA
| | - Andrew C McShan
- School of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Khondaker Miraz Rahman
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Science, School of Cancer and Pharmaceutical Science, Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Mohammad A Halim
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Kennesaw State University, Kennesaw, GA, USA
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7
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Merlino F, Pecoraro A, Longobardi G, Donati G, Di Leva FS, Brignola C, Piccarducci R, Daniele S, Martini C, Marinelli L, Russo G, Quaglia F, Conte C, Russo A, La Pietra V. Development and Nanoparticle-Mediated Delivery of Novel MDM2/MDM4 Heterodimer Peptide Inhibitors to Enhance 5-Fluorouracil Nucleolar Stress in Colorectal Cancer Cells. J Med Chem 2024; 67:1812-1824. [PMID: 38285632 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.3c01312] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/31/2024]
Abstract
Colorectal cancer (CRC) often involves wild-type p53 inactivation by MDM2 and MDM4 overexpression, promoting tumor progression and resistance to 5-fluoruracil (5-FU). Disrupting the MDM2/4 heterodimer can proficiently reactivate p53, sensitizing cancer cells to 5-FU. Herein, we developed 16 peptides based on Pep3 (1), the only known peptide acting through this mechanism. The new peptides, notably 3 and 9, showed lower IC50 values than 1. When incorporated into tumor-targeted biodegradable nanoparticles, these exhibited cytotoxicity against three different CRC cell lines. Notably, NPs/9 caused a significant increase in p53 levels associated with a strong increment of its main downstream target p21 inducing apoptosis. Also, the combined treatment of 9 with 5-FU caused the activation of nucleolar stress and a synergic apoptotic effect. Hence, the co-delivery of MDM2/4 heterodimer disruptors with 5-FU through nanoparticles might be a promising strategy to overcome drug resistance in CRC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesco Merlino
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples Federico II, via D. Montesano 49, 80131 Napoli, NA, Italy
| | - Annalisa Pecoraro
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples Federico II, via D. Montesano 49, 80131 Napoli, NA, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Longobardi
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples Federico II, via D. Montesano 49, 80131 Napoli, NA, Italy
| | - Greta Donati
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples Federico II, via D. Montesano 49, 80131 Napoli, NA, Italy
| | | | - Chiara Brignola
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples Federico II, via D. Montesano 49, 80131 Napoli, NA, Italy
| | - Rebecca Piccarducci
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Pisa, via Bonanno, 6, 56126 Pisa, PI, Italy
| | - Simona Daniele
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Pisa, via Bonanno, 6, 56126 Pisa, PI, Italy
| | - Claudia Martini
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Pisa, via Bonanno, 6, 56126 Pisa, PI, Italy
| | - Luciana Marinelli
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples Federico II, via D. Montesano 49, 80131 Napoli, NA, Italy
| | - Giulia Russo
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples Federico II, via D. Montesano 49, 80131 Napoli, NA, Italy
| | - Fabiana Quaglia
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples Federico II, via D. Montesano 49, 80131 Napoli, NA, Italy
| | - Claudia Conte
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples Federico II, via D. Montesano 49, 80131 Napoli, NA, Italy
| | - Annapina Russo
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples Federico II, via D. Montesano 49, 80131 Napoli, NA, Italy
| | - Valeria La Pietra
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples Federico II, via D. Montesano 49, 80131 Napoli, NA, Italy
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8
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Bellavita R, Falanga A, Merlino F, D'Auria G, Molfetta N, Saviano A, Maione F, Galdiero U, Catania MR, Galdiero S, Grieco P, Roscetto E, Falcigno L, Buommino E. Unveiling the mechanism of action of acylated temporin L analogues against multidrug-resistant Candida albicans. J Enzyme Inhib Med Chem 2023; 38:36-50. [PMID: 36305289 PMCID: PMC9621209 DOI: 10.1080/14756366.2022.2134359] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/31/2022] Open
Abstract
The increasing resistance of fungi to conventional antifungal drugs has prompted worldwide the search for new compounds. In this work, we investigated the antifungal properties of acylated Temporin L derivatives, Pent-1B and Dec-1B, against Candida albicans, including the multidrug-resistant strains. Acylated peptides resulted to be active both on reference and clinical strains with MIC values ranging from 6.5 to 26 µM, and they did not show cytotoxicity on human keratinocytes. In addition, we also observed a synergistic or additive effect with voriconazole for peptides Dec-1B and Pent-1B through the checkerboard assay on voriconazole-resistant Candida strains. Moreover, fluorescence-based assays, NMR spectroscopy, and confocal microscopy elucidated a potential membrane-active mechanism, consisting of an initial electrostatic interaction of acylated peptides with fungal membrane, followed by aggregation and insertion into the lipid bilayer and causing membrane perturbation probably through a carpeting effect.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosa Bellavita
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples "Federico II", Naples, Italy
| | - Annarita Falanga
- Department of Agricultural Science, University of Naples "Federico II", Portici, Italy
| | - Francesco Merlino
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples "Federico II", Naples, Italy
| | - Gabriella D'Auria
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples "Federico II", Naples, Italy
| | - Nicola Molfetta
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples "Federico II", Naples, Italy
| | - Anella Saviano
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples "Federico II", Naples, Italy
| | - Francesco Maione
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples "Federico II", Naples, Italy
| | - Umberto Galdiero
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnology, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - Maria Rosaria Catania
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnology, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - Stefania Galdiero
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples "Federico II", Naples, Italy
| | - Paolo Grieco
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples "Federico II", Naples, Italy
| | - Emanuela Roscetto
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnology, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - Lucia Falcigno
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples "Federico II", Naples, Italy
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9
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Bellavita R, Braccia S, Falanga A, Galdiero S. An Overview of Supramolecular Platforms Boosting Drug Delivery. Bioinorg Chem Appl 2023; 2023:8608428. [PMID: 38028018 PMCID: PMC10661875 DOI: 10.1155/2023/8608428] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2023] [Revised: 07/03/2023] [Accepted: 10/26/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Numerous supramolecular platforms inspired by natural self-assembly are exploited as drug delivery systems. The spontaneous arrangement of single building blocks into inorganic and organic structures is determined and controlled by noncovalent forces such as electrostatic interactions, π-π interactions, hydrogen bonds, and van der Waals interactions. This review describes the main structures and characteristics of several building blocks used to obtain stable, self-assembling nanostructures tailored for numerous biological applications. Owing to their versatility, biocompatibility, and controllability, these nanostructures find application in diverse fields ranging from drug/gene delivery, theranostics, tissue engineering, and nanoelectronics. Herein, we described the different approaches used to design and functionalize these nanomaterials to obtain selective drug delivery in a specific disease. In particular, the review highlights the efficiency of these supramolecular structures in applications related to infectious diseases and cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosa Bellavita
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples ‘Federico II', Naples 80131, Italy
| | - Simone Braccia
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples ‘Federico II', Naples 80131, Italy
| | - Annarita Falanga
- Department of Agricultural Sciences, University of Naples ‘Federico II', Portici 80055, Italy
| | - Stefania Galdiero
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples ‘Federico II', Naples 80131, Italy
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10
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Glycosylation and Lipidation Strategies: Approaches for Improving Antimicrobial Peptide Efficacy. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2023; 16:ph16030439. [PMID: 36986538 PMCID: PMC10059750 DOI: 10.3390/ph16030439] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2023] [Revised: 03/07/2023] [Accepted: 03/12/2023] [Indexed: 03/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) have recently gained attention as a viable solution for combatting antibiotic resistance due to their numerous advantages, including their broad-spectrum activity, low propensity for inducing resistance, and low cytotoxicity. Unfortunately, their clinical application is limited due to their short half-life and susceptibility to proteolytic cleavage by serum proteases. Indeed, several chemical strategies, such as peptide cyclization, N-methylation, PEGylation, glycosylation, and lipidation, are widely used for overcoming these issues. This review describes how lipidation and glycosylation are commonly used to increase AMPs’ efficacy and engineer novel AMP-based delivery systems. The glycosylation of AMPs, which involves the conjugation of sugar moieties such as glucose and N-acetyl galactosamine, modulates their pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties, improves their antimicrobial activity, and reduces their interaction with mammalian cells, thereby increasing selectivity toward bacterial membranes. In the same way, lipidation of AMPs, which involves the covalent addition of fatty acids, has a significant impact on their therapeutic index by influencing their physicochemical properties and interaction with bacterial and mammalian membranes. This review highlights the possibility of using glycosylation and lipidation strategies to increase the efficacy and activity of conventional AMPs.
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11
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Bellavita R, Maione A, Braccia S, Sinoca M, Galdiero S, Galdiero E, Falanga A. Myxinidin-Derived Peptide against Biofilms Caused by Cystic Fibrosis Emerging Pathogens. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24043092. [PMID: 36834512 PMCID: PMC9964602 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24043092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2023] [Revised: 01/30/2023] [Accepted: 02/02/2023] [Indexed: 02/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Chronic lung infections in cystic fibrosis (CF) patients are triggered by multidrug-resistant bacteria such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Achromobacter xylosoxidans, and Stenotrophomonas maltophilia. The CF airways are considered ideal sites for the colonization and growth of bacteria and fungi that favor the formation of mixed biofilms that are difficult to treat. The inefficacy of traditional antibiotics reinforces the need to find novel molecules able to fight these chronic infections. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) represent a promising alternative for their antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and immunomodulatory activities. We developed a more serum-stable version of the peptide WMR (WMR-4) and investigated its ability to inhibit and eradicate C. albicans, S. maltophilia, and A. xylosoxidans biofilms in both in vitro and in vivo studies. Our results suggest that the peptide is able better to inhibit than to eradicate both mono and dual-species biofilms, which is further confirmed by the downregulation of some genes involved in biofilm formation or in quorum-sensing signaling. Biophysical data help to elucidate its mode of action, showing a strong interaction of WMR-4 with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and its insertion in liposomes mimicking Gram-negative and Candida membranes. Our results support the promising therapeutic application of AMPs in the treatment of mono- and dual-species biofilms during chronic infections in CF patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosa Bellavita
- Department of Pharmacy, School of Medicine, University of Naples ‘Federico II’, Via Domenico Montesano 49, 80131 Naples, Italy
| | - Angela Maione
- Department of Biology, University of Naples ‘Federico II’, Via Cinthia, 80126 Naples, Italy
| | - Simone Braccia
- Department of Pharmacy, School of Medicine, University of Naples ‘Federico II’, Via Domenico Montesano 49, 80131 Naples, Italy
| | - Marica Sinoca
- Department of Biology, University of Naples ‘Federico II’, Via Cinthia, 80126 Naples, Italy
| | - Stefania Galdiero
- Department of Pharmacy, School of Medicine, University of Naples ‘Federico II’, Via Domenico Montesano 49, 80131 Naples, Italy
| | - Emilia Galdiero
- Department of Biology, University of Naples ‘Federico II’, Via Cinthia, 80126 Naples, Italy
| | - Annarita Falanga
- Department of Agricultural Sciences, University of Naples ‘Federico II’, Via dell’ Università 100, 80055 Portici, Italy
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-081-253-4525
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12
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Synthetic Amphipathic β-Sheet Temporin-Derived Peptide with Dual Antibacterial and Anti-Inflammatory Activities. Antibiotics (Basel) 2022; 11:antibiotics11101285. [PMID: 36289944 PMCID: PMC9598925 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics11101285] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2022] [Revised: 09/15/2022] [Accepted: 09/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Temporin family is one of the largest among antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), which act mainly by penetrating and disrupting the bacterial membranes. To further understand the relationship between the physical-chemical properties and their antimicrobial activity and selectivity, an analogue of Temporin L, [Nle1, dLeu9, dLys10]TL (Nle-Phe-Val-Pro-Trp-Phe-Lys-Phe-dLeu-dLys-Arg-Ile-Leu-CONH2) has been developed in the present work. The design strategy consisted of the addition of a norleucine residue at the N-terminus of the lead peptide sequence, [dLeu9, dLys10]TL, previously developed by our group. This modification promoted an increase of peptide hydrophobicity and, interestingly, more efficient activity against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative strains, without affecting human keratinocytes and red blood cells survival compared to the lead peptide. Thus, this novel compound was subjected to biophysical studies, which showed that the peptide [Nle1, dLeu9, dLys10]TL is unstructured in water, while it adopts β-type conformation in liposomes mimicking bacterial membranes, in contrast to its lead peptide forming α-helical aggregates. After its aggregation in the bacterial membrane, [Nle1, dLeu9, dLys10]TL induced membrane destabilization and deformation. In addition, the increase of peptide hydrophobicity did not cause a loss of anti-inflammatory activity of the peptide [Nle1, dLeu9, dLys10]TL in comparison with its lead peptide. In this study, our results demonstrated that positive net charge, optimum hydrophobic−hydrophilic balance, and chain length remain the most important parameters to be addressed while designing small cationic AMPs.
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13
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da Costa de Souza G, Roque-Borda CA, Pavan FR. Beta-lactam resistance and the effectiveness of antimicrobial peptides against KPC-producing bacteria. Drug Dev Res 2022; 83:1534-1554. [PMID: 36042694 DOI: 10.1002/ddr.21990] [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: 05/02/2022] [Revised: 07/07/2022] [Accepted: 07/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
Bacterial resistance is a problem that is giving serious cause for concern because bacterial strains such as Acinetobacter baumannii and Pseudomonas aeruginosa are difficult to treat and highly opportunistic. These bacteria easily acquire resistance genes even from other species, which confers greater persistence and tolerance towards conventional antibiotics. These bacteria have the highest death rate in hospitalized intensive care patients, so strong measures must be taken. In this review, we focus on the use of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) as an alternative to traditional drugs, due to their rapid action and lower risk of generating resistance by microorganisms. We also present an overview of beta-lactams and explicitly explain the activity of AMPs against carbapenemase-producing bacteria as potential alternative agents for infection control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guilherme da Costa de Souza
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tuberculosis Research Laboratory, São Paulo State University, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Cesar Augusto Roque-Borda
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tuberculosis Research Laboratory, São Paulo State University, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Fernando R Pavan
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tuberculosis Research Laboratory, São Paulo State University, São Paulo, Brazil
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14
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Zhu D, Lu Y, Gui L, Wang W, Hu X, Chen S, Wang Y, Wang Y. Self-assembling, pH-responsive nanoflowers for inhibiting PAD4 and neutrophil extracellular trap formation and improving the tumor immune microenvironment. Acta Pharm Sin B 2022; 12:2592-2608. [PMID: 35646534 PMCID: PMC9136569 DOI: 10.1016/j.apsb.2021.11.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2021] [Revised: 09/13/2021] [Accepted: 10/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Self-assembling carrier-free nanodrugs are attractive agents because they accumulate at tumor by an enhanced permeability and retention (EPR) effect without introduction of inactive substances, and some nanodrugs can alter the immune environment. We synthesized a peptidyl arginine deiminase 4 (PAD4) molecular inhibitor, ZD-E-1M. It could self-assembled into nanodrug ZD-E-1. Using confocal laser scanning microscopy, we observed its cellular colocalization, PAD4 activity and neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) formation. The populations of immune cells and expression of immune-related proteins were determined by single-cell mass cytometry. ZD-E-1 formed nanoflowers in an acidic environment, whereas it formed nanospheres at pH 7.4. Accumulation of ZD-E-1 at tumor was pH-responsive because of its pH-dependent differences in the size and shape. It could enter the nucleus and bind to PAD4 to prolong the intracellular retention time. In mice, ZD-E-1 inhibited tumor growth and metastasis by inhibiting PAD4 activity and NETs formation. Besides, ZD-E-1 could regulate the ratio of immune cells in LLC tumor-bearing mice. Immunosuppressive proteins like LAG3 were suppressed, while IFN-γ and TNF-α as stimulators of tumor immune response were upregulated. Overall, ZD-E-1 is a self-assembling carrier-free nanodrug that responds to pH, inhibits PAD4 activity, blocks neutrophil extracellular traps formation, and improves the tumor immune microenvironment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Di Zhu
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Capital Medical University, Beijing 100069, China
- Beijing Area Major Laboratory of Peptide and Small Molecular Drugs, Engineering Research Center of Endogenous Prophylactic of Ministry of Education of China, Beijing Laboratory of Biomedical Materials, Beijing 100069, China
| | - Yu Lu
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Capital Medical University, Beijing 100069, China
- Beijing Area Major Laboratory of Peptide and Small Molecular Drugs, Engineering Research Center of Endogenous Prophylactic of Ministry of Education of China, Beijing Laboratory of Biomedical Materials, Beijing 100069, China
| | - Lin Gui
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Capital Medical University, Beijing 100069, China
- Beijing Area Major Laboratory of Peptide and Small Molecular Drugs, Engineering Research Center of Endogenous Prophylactic of Ministry of Education of China, Beijing Laboratory of Biomedical Materials, Beijing 100069, China
| | - Wenjing Wang
- Beijing Institute of Hepatology, Beijing Youan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100069, China
| | - Xi Hu
- Quantum Design China Ltd., Universal Business Park, Beijing 100015, China
| | - Su Chen
- Laboratory of Biomaterials and Biomechanics, Beijing Key Laboratory of Tooth Regeneration and Function Reconstruction, School of Stomatology, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100050, China
| | - Yanming Wang
- School of Life Sciences, Henan University, Kaifeng 475004, China
| | - Yuji Wang
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Capital Medical University, Beijing 100069, China
- Beijing Area Major Laboratory of Peptide and Small Molecular Drugs, Engineering Research Center of Endogenous Prophylactic of Ministry of Education of China, Beijing Laboratory of Biomedical Materials, Beijing 100069, China
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15
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Bellavita R, Maione A, Merlino F, Siciliano A, Dardano P, De Stefano L, Galdiero S, Galdiero E, Grieco P, Falanga A. Antifungal and Antibiofilm Activity of Cyclic Temporin L Peptide Analogues against Albicans and Non-Albicans Candida Species. Pharmaceutics 2022; 14:pharmaceutics14020454. [PMID: 35214187 PMCID: PMC8877061 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics14020454] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2022] [Revised: 02/04/2022] [Accepted: 02/15/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Temporins are one of the largest families of antimicrobial peptides with both anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial activity. Herein, for a panel of cyclic temporin L isoform analogues, the antifungal and antibiofilm activities were determined against representative Candida strains, including C. albicans, C. glabrata, C. auris, C. parapsilosis and C. tropicalis. The outcomes indicated a significant anti-candida activity against planktonic and biofilm growth for four peptides (3, 7, 15 and 16). The absence of toxicity up to high concentrations and survival after infection were assessed in vivo by using Galleria mellonella larvae, and the correlation between conformation and cytotoxicity was investigated by fluorescence assays and circular dichroism (CD). By combining fluorescence spectroscopy, CD, dynamic light scattering, confocal and atomic force microscopy, the mode of action of four analogues was hypothesized. The results pinpointed that peptide 3 emerged as a non-toxic compound showing a potent antibiofilm activity and represents a promising compound for biomedical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosa Bellavita
- Department of Pharmacy, School of Medicine, University of Naples ‘Federico II’, Via Domenico Montesano 49, 80131 Naples, Italy; (R.B.); (F.M.); (S.G.)
| | - Angela Maione
- Department of Biology, University of Naples ‘Federico II’, Via Cinthia, 80126 Naples, Italy; (A.M.); (A.S.)
| | - Francesco Merlino
- Department of Pharmacy, School of Medicine, University of Naples ‘Federico II’, Via Domenico Montesano 49, 80131 Naples, Italy; (R.B.); (F.M.); (S.G.)
| | - Antonietta Siciliano
- Department of Biology, University of Naples ‘Federico II’, Via Cinthia, 80126 Naples, Italy; (A.M.); (A.S.)
| | - Principia Dardano
- Institute of Applied Sciences and Intelligent Systems, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Via Pietro Castellino 111, 80131 Naples, Italy; (P.D.); (L.D.S.)
| | - Luca De Stefano
- Institute of Applied Sciences and Intelligent Systems, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Via Pietro Castellino 111, 80131 Naples, Italy; (P.D.); (L.D.S.)
| | - Stefania Galdiero
- Department of Pharmacy, School of Medicine, University of Naples ‘Federico II’, Via Domenico Montesano 49, 80131 Naples, Italy; (R.B.); (F.M.); (S.G.)
| | - Emilia Galdiero
- Department of Biology, University of Naples ‘Federico II’, Via Cinthia, 80126 Naples, Italy; (A.M.); (A.S.)
- Correspondence: (E.G.); (P.G.); (A.F.); Tel.: +39-081-679182 (E.G.); +39-081-678620 (P.G.); +39-081-2534503 (A.F.)
| | - Paolo Grieco
- Department of Pharmacy, School of Medicine, University of Naples ‘Federico II’, Via Domenico Montesano 49, 80131 Naples, Italy; (R.B.); (F.M.); (S.G.)
- Correspondence: (E.G.); (P.G.); (A.F.); Tel.: +39-081-679182 (E.G.); +39-081-678620 (P.G.); +39-081-2534503 (A.F.)
| | - Annarita Falanga
- Department of Agricultural Science, University of Naples ‘Federico II’, Via Università 100, 80055 Portici, Italy
- Correspondence: (E.G.); (P.G.); (A.F.); Tel.: +39-081-679182 (E.G.); +39-081-678620 (P.G.); +39-081-2534503 (A.F.)
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16
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Broad-Spectrum Antiviral Activity of the Amphibian Antimicrobial Peptide Temporin L and Its Analogs. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23042060. [PMID: 35216177 PMCID: PMC8878748 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23042060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2021] [Revised: 02/08/2022] [Accepted: 02/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has evidenced the urgent need for the discovery of broad-spectrum antiviral therapies that could be deployed in the case of future emergence of novel viral threats, as well as to back up current therapeutic options in the case of drug resistance development. Most current antivirals are directed to inhibit specific viruses since these therapeutic molecules are designed to act on a specific viral target with the objective of interfering with a precise step in the replication cycle. Therefore, antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) have been identified as promising antiviral agents that could help to overcome this limitation and provide compounds able to act on more than a single viral family. We evaluated the antiviral activity of an amphibian peptide known for its strong antimicrobial activity against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, namely Temporin L (TL). Previous studies have revealed that TL is endowed with widespread antimicrobial activity and possesses marked haemolytic activity. Therefore, we analyzed TL and a previously identified TL derivative (Pro3, DLeu9 TL, where glutamine at position 3 is replaced with proline, and the D-Leucine enantiomer is present at position 9) as well as its analogs, for their activity against a wide panel of viruses comprising enveloped, naked, DNA and RNA viruses. We report significant inhibition activity against herpesviruses, paramyxoviruses, influenza virus and coronaviruses, including SARS-CoV-2. Moreover, we further modified our best candidate by lipidation and demonstrated a highly reduced cytotoxicity with improved antiviral effect. Our results show a potent and selective antiviral activity of TL peptides, indicating that the novel lipidated temporin-based antiviral agents could prove to be useful additions to current drugs in combatting rising drug resistance and epidemic/pandemic emergencies.
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17
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Roscetto E, Bellavita R, Paolillo R, Merlino F, Molfetta N, Grieco P, Buommino E, Catania MR. Antimicrobial Activity of a Lipidated Temporin L Analogue against Carbapenemase-Producing Klebsiella pneumoniae Clinical Isolates. Antibiotics (Basel) 2021; 10:antibiotics10111312. [PMID: 34827250 PMCID: PMC8614721 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics10111312] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2021] [Revised: 10/25/2021] [Accepted: 10/26/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Over the years, the increasing acquisition of antibiotic resistance genes has led to the emergence of highly resistant bacterial strains and the loss of standard antibiotics' efficacy, including β-lactam/β-lactamase inhibitor combinations and the last line carbapenems. Klebsiella pneumoniae is considered one of the major exponents of a group of multidrug-resistant ESKAPE pathogens responsible for serious healthcare-associated infections. In this study, we proved the antimicrobial activity of two analogues of Temporin L against twenty carbapenemase-producing K. pneumoniae clinical isolates. According to the antibiotic susceptibility assay, all the K. pneumoniae strains were resistant to at least one other class of antibiotics, in addition to beta-lactams. Peptides 1B and C showed activity on all test strains, but the lipidated analogue C expressed the greater antimicrobial properties, with MIC values ranging from 6.25 to 25 µM. Furthermore, the peptide C showed bactericidal activity at MIC values. The results clearly highlight the great potential of antimicrobial peptides both as a new treatment option for difficult-to-treat infections and as a new strategy of drug-resistance control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emanuela Roscetto
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnology, University of Naples Federico II, Via S. Pansini 5, 80131 Naples, Italy; (E.R.); (R.P.)
| | - Rosa Bellavita
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples Federico II, Via Montesano 49, 80131 Naples, Italy; (R.B.); (F.M.); (N.M.); (P.G.); (E.B.)
| | - Rossella Paolillo
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnology, University of Naples Federico II, Via S. Pansini 5, 80131 Naples, Italy; (E.R.); (R.P.)
| | - Francesco Merlino
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples Federico II, Via Montesano 49, 80131 Naples, Italy; (R.B.); (F.M.); (N.M.); (P.G.); (E.B.)
| | - Nicola Molfetta
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples Federico II, Via Montesano 49, 80131 Naples, Italy; (R.B.); (F.M.); (N.M.); (P.G.); (E.B.)
| | - Paolo Grieco
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples Federico II, Via Montesano 49, 80131 Naples, Italy; (R.B.); (F.M.); (N.M.); (P.G.); (E.B.)
| | - Elisabetta Buommino
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples Federico II, Via Montesano 49, 80131 Naples, Italy; (R.B.); (F.M.); (N.M.); (P.G.); (E.B.)
| | - Maria Rosaria Catania
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnology, University of Naples Federico II, Via S. Pansini 5, 80131 Naples, Italy; (E.R.); (R.P.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-081-7464577
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18
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Buommino E, De Marino S, Sciarretta M, Piccolo M, Festa C, D’Auria MV. Synergism of a Novel 1,2,4-oxadiazole-containing Derivative with Oxacillin against Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Antibiotics (Basel) 2021; 10:antibiotics10101258. [PMID: 34680838 PMCID: PMC8532612 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics10101258] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2021] [Revised: 10/08/2021] [Accepted: 10/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Staphylococcusaureus is an important opportunistic pathogen that causes many infections in humans and animals. The inappropriate use of antibiotics has favored the diffusion of methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA), nullifying the efforts undertaken in the discovery of antimicrobial agents. Oxadiazole heterocycles represent privileged scaffolds for the development of new drugs because of their unique bioisosteric properties, easy synthesis, and therapeutic potential. A vast number of oxadiazole-containing derivatives have been discovered as potent antibacterial agents against multidrug-resistant MRSA strains. Here, we investigate the ability of a new library of oxadiazoles to contrast the growth of Gram-positive and Gram-negative strains. The strongest antimicrobial activity was obtained with compounds 3 (4 µM) and 12 (2 µM). Compound 12, selected for further evaluation, was found to be noncytotoxic on the HaCaT cell line up to 25 µM, bactericidal, and was able to improve the activity of oxacillin against the MRSA. The highest synergistic interaction was obtained with the combination values of 0.78 μM for compound 12, and 0.06 μg/mL for oxacillin. The FIC index value of 0.396 confirms the synergistic effect of compound 12 and oxacillin. MRSA treatment with compound 12 reduced the expression of genes included in the mec operon. In conclusion, 12 inhibited the growth of the MRSA and restored the activity of oxacillin, thus resulting in a promising compound in the treatment of MRSA infection.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Carmen Festa
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-081678987; Fax: +39-081678552
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19
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Bellavita R, Casciaro B, Di Maro S, Brancaccio D, Carotenuto A, Falanga A, Cappiello F, Buommino E, Galdiero S, Novellino E, Grossmann TN, Mangoni ML, Merlino F, Grieco P. First-in-Class Cyclic Temporin L Analogue: Design, Synthesis, and Antimicrobial Assessment. J Med Chem 2021; 64:11675-11694. [PMID: 34296619 PMCID: PMC8389922 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.1c01033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
The pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic properties of bioactive peptides can be modulated by introducing conformational constraints such as intramolecular macrocyclizations, which can involve either the backbone and/or side chains. Herein, we aimed at increasing the α-helicity content of temporin L, an isoform of an intriguing class of linear antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), endowed with a wide antimicrobial spectrum, by the employment of diverse side-chain tethering strategies, including lactam, 1,4-substituted [1,2,3]-triazole, hydrocarbon, and disulfide linkers. Our approach resulted in a library of cyclic temporin L analogues that were biologically assessed for their antimicrobial, cytotoxic, and antibiofilm activities, leading to the development of the first-in-class cyclic peptide related to this AMP family. Our results allowed us to expand the knowledge regarding the relationship between the α-helical character of temporin derivatives and their biological activity, paving the way for the development of improved antibiotic cyclic AMP analogues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosa Bellavita
- Department
of Pharmacy, University of Naples “Federico
II”, Naples 80131, Italy
| | - Bruno Casciaro
- Center
for Life Nano- & Neuro-Science, Fondazione
Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT), Rome 00161, Italy
| | - Salvatore Di Maro
- DiSTABiF, University of Campania “Luigi
Vanvitelli”, Caserta 81100, Italy
| | - Diego Brancaccio
- Department
of Pharmacy, University of Naples “Federico
II”, Naples 80131, Italy
| | - Alfonso Carotenuto
- Department
of Pharmacy, University of Naples “Federico
II”, Naples 80131, Italy
| | - Annarita Falanga
- Department
of Agricultural Sciences, University of
Naples “Federico II”, Portici 80055, Italy
| | - Floriana Cappiello
- Department
of Biochemical Sciences, Laboratory affiliated to Istituto Pasteur
Italia-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Sapienza
University of Rome, Rome 00185, Italy
| | - Elisabetta Buommino
- Department
of Pharmacy, University of Naples “Federico
II”, Naples 80131, Italy
| | - Stefania Galdiero
- Department
of Pharmacy, University of Naples “Federico
II”, Naples 80131, Italy
| | - Ettore Novellino
- Department
of Pharmacy, University of Naples “Federico
II”, Naples 80131, Italy
| | - Tom N. Grossmann
- Department
of Chemistry & Pharmaceutical Sciences, VU University Amsterdam, Amsterdam 1081 HZ, The Netherlands
| | - Maria Luisa Mangoni
- Department
of Biochemical Sciences, Laboratory affiliated to Istituto Pasteur
Italia-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Sapienza
University of Rome, Rome 00185, Italy
| | - Francesco Merlino
- Department
of Pharmacy, University of Naples “Federico
II”, Naples 80131, Italy
| | - Paolo Grieco
- Department
of Pharmacy, University of Naples “Federico
II”, Naples 80131, Italy
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20
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Di Somma A, Canè C, Moretta A, Duilio A. Interaction of Temporin-L Analogues with the E. coli FtsZ Protein. Antibiotics (Basel) 2021; 10:antibiotics10060704. [PMID: 34208230 PMCID: PMC8230800 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics10060704] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2021] [Revised: 06/05/2021] [Accepted: 06/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The research of new therapeutic agents to fight bacterial infections has recently focused on the investigation of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), the most common weapon that all organisms produce to prevent invasion by external pathogens. Among AMPs, the amphibian Temporins constitute a well-known family with high antibacterial properties against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. In particular, Temporin-L was shown to affect bacterial cell division by inhibiting FtsZ, a tubulin-like protein involved in the crucial step of Z-ring formation at the beginning of the division process. As FtsZ represents a leading target for new antibacterial compounds, in this paper we investigated in detail the interaction of Temporin L with Escherichia coli FtsZ and designed two TL analogues in an attempt to increase peptide-protein interactions and to better understand the structural determinants leading to FtsZ inhibition. The results demonstrated that the TL analogues improved their binding to FtsZ, originating stable protein-peptide complexes. Functional studies showed that both peptides were endowed with a high capability of inhibiting both the enzymatic and polymerization activities of the protein. Moreover, the TL analogues were able to inhibit bacterial growth at low micromolar concentrations. These observations may open up the way to the development of novel peptide or peptidomimetic drugs tailored to bind FtsZ, hampering a crucial process of bacterial life that might be proposed for future pharmaceutical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angela Di Somma
- Department of Chemical Sciences, Università Federico II di Napoli, 80126 Napoli, Italy; (A.D.S.); (C.C.)
| | - Carolina Canè
- Department of Chemical Sciences, Università Federico II di Napoli, 80126 Napoli, Italy; (A.D.S.); (C.C.)
| | - Antonio Moretta
- Departiment of Science, Università degli Studi della Basilicata, 85100 Potenza, Italy;
| | - Angela Duilio
- Department of Chemical Sciences, Università Federico II di Napoli, 80126 Napoli, Italy; (A.D.S.); (C.C.)
- Correspondence:
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21
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Zai Y, Xi X, Ye Z, Ma C, Zhou M, Chen X, Siu SWI, Chen T, Wang L, Kwok HF. Aggregation and Its Influence on the Bioactivities of a Novel Antimicrobial Peptide, Temporin-PF, and Its Analogues. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:4509. [PMID: 33925935 PMCID: PMC8123395 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22094509] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2021] [Revised: 04/21/2021] [Accepted: 04/23/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Temporin is an antimicrobial peptide (AMP) family discovered in the skin secretion of ranid frog that has become a promising alternative for conventional antibiotic therapy. Herein, a novel temporin peptide, Temporin-PF (TPF), was successfully identified from Pelophylax fukienensis. It exhibited potent activity against Gram-positive bacteria, but no effect on Gram-negative bacteria. Additionally, TPF exhibited aggregation effects in different solutions. Three analogs were further designed to study the relationship between the aggregation patterns and bioactivities, and the MD simulation was performed for revealing the pattern of the peptide assembly. As the results showed, all peptides were able to aggregate in the standard culture media and salt solutions, especially CaCl2 and MgCl2 buffers, where the aggregation was affected by the concentration of the salts. MD simulation reported that all peptides were able to form oligomers. The parent peptide assembly depended on the hydrophobic interaction via the residues in the middle domain of the sequence. However, the substitution of Trp/D-Trp resulted in an enhanced inter-peptide interaction in the zipper-like domain and eliminated overall biological activities. Our study suggested that introducing aromaticity at the zipper-like domain for temporin may not improve the bioactivities, which might be related to the formation of aggregates via the inter-peptide contacts at the zipper-like motif domain, and it could reduce the binding affinity to the lipid membrane of microorganisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Zai
- Institute of Translational Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Avenida da Univesidade, Taipa, Macau, China;
- School of Pharmacy, Queen’s University Belfast, 97 Lisburn Road, Belfast BT9 7BL, UK; (Z.Y.); (C.M.); (M.Z.); (X.C.); (T.C.); (L.W.)
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Biofunctional Molecule, College of Life Sciences and Chemistry, Jiangsu Second Normal University, Nanjing 210013, China
| | - Xinping Xi
- School of Pharmacy, Queen’s University Belfast, 97 Lisburn Road, Belfast BT9 7BL, UK; (Z.Y.); (C.M.); (M.Z.); (X.C.); (T.C.); (L.W.)
| | - Zhuming Ye
- School of Pharmacy, Queen’s University Belfast, 97 Lisburn Road, Belfast BT9 7BL, UK; (Z.Y.); (C.M.); (M.Z.); (X.C.); (T.C.); (L.W.)
| | - Chengbang Ma
- School of Pharmacy, Queen’s University Belfast, 97 Lisburn Road, Belfast BT9 7BL, UK; (Z.Y.); (C.M.); (M.Z.); (X.C.); (T.C.); (L.W.)
| | - Mei Zhou
- School of Pharmacy, Queen’s University Belfast, 97 Lisburn Road, Belfast BT9 7BL, UK; (Z.Y.); (C.M.); (M.Z.); (X.C.); (T.C.); (L.W.)
| | - Xiaoling Chen
- School of Pharmacy, Queen’s University Belfast, 97 Lisburn Road, Belfast BT9 7BL, UK; (Z.Y.); (C.M.); (M.Z.); (X.C.); (T.C.); (L.W.)
| | - Shirley W. I. Siu
- Department of Computer and Information Science, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Macau, Avenida da Universidade, Taipa, Macau, China;
| | - Tianbao Chen
- School of Pharmacy, Queen’s University Belfast, 97 Lisburn Road, Belfast BT9 7BL, UK; (Z.Y.); (C.M.); (M.Z.); (X.C.); (T.C.); (L.W.)
| | - Lei Wang
- School of Pharmacy, Queen’s University Belfast, 97 Lisburn Road, Belfast BT9 7BL, UK; (Z.Y.); (C.M.); (M.Z.); (X.C.); (T.C.); (L.W.)
| | - Hang Fai Kwok
- Institute of Translational Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Avenida da Univesidade, Taipa, Macau, China;
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Kurpe SR, Grishin SY, Surin AK, Panfilov AV, Slizen MV, Chowdhury SD, Galzitskaya OV. Antimicrobial and Amyloidogenic Activity of Peptides. Can Antimicrobial Peptides Be Used against SARS-CoV-2? Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:E9552. [PMID: 33333996 PMCID: PMC7765370 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21249552] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2020] [Revised: 12/07/2020] [Accepted: 12/12/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
At present, much attention is paid to the use of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) of natural and artificial origin to combat pathogens. AMPs have several points that determine their biological activity. We analyzed the structural properties of AMPs, as well as described their mechanism of action and impact on pathogenic bacteria and viruses. Recently published data on the development of new AMP drugs based on a combination of molecular design and genetic engineering approaches are presented. In this article, we have focused on information on the amyloidogenic properties of AMP. This review examines AMP development strategies from the perspective of the current high prevalence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, and the potential prospects and challenges of using AMPs against infection caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2).
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Affiliation(s)
- Stanislav R. Kurpe
- Institute of Protein Research, Russian Academy of Sciences, 142290 Pushchino, Russia; (S.R.K.); (S.Y.G.); (A.K.S.); (A.V.P.); (M.V.S.)
| | - Sergei Yu. Grishin
- Institute of Protein Research, Russian Academy of Sciences, 142290 Pushchino, Russia; (S.R.K.); (S.Y.G.); (A.K.S.); (A.V.P.); (M.V.S.)
| | - Alexey K. Surin
- Institute of Protein Research, Russian Academy of Sciences, 142290 Pushchino, Russia; (S.R.K.); (S.Y.G.); (A.K.S.); (A.V.P.); (M.V.S.)
- The Branch of the Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, 142290 Pushchino, Russia
- State Research Center for Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology, 142279 Obolensk, Russia
| | - Alexander V. Panfilov
- Institute of Protein Research, Russian Academy of Sciences, 142290 Pushchino, Russia; (S.R.K.); (S.Y.G.); (A.K.S.); (A.V.P.); (M.V.S.)
| | - Mikhail V. Slizen
- Institute of Protein Research, Russian Academy of Sciences, 142290 Pushchino, Russia; (S.R.K.); (S.Y.G.); (A.K.S.); (A.V.P.); (M.V.S.)
| | - Saikat D. Chowdhury
- Department of Biological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Kolkata, Mohanpur 741246, West Bengal, India;
| | - Oxana V. Galzitskaya
- Institute of Protein Research, Russian Academy of Sciences, 142290 Pushchino, Russia; (S.R.K.); (S.Y.G.); (A.K.S.); (A.V.P.); (M.V.S.)
- Institute of Theoretical and Experimental Biophysics, Russian Academy of Sciences, 142290 Pushchino, Russia
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