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Bras G, Satala D, Juszczak M, Kulig K, Wronowska E, Bednarek A, Zawrotniak M, Rapala-Kozik M, Karkowska-Kuleta J. Secreted Aspartic Proteinases: Key Factors in Candida Infections and Host-Pathogen Interactions. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:4775. [PMID: 38731993 PMCID: PMC11084781 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25094775] [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: 03/15/2024] [Revised: 04/19/2024] [Accepted: 04/25/2024] [Indexed: 05/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Extracellular proteases are key factors contributing to the virulence of pathogenic fungi from the genus Candida. Their proteolytic activities are crucial for extracting nutrients from the external environment, degrading host defenses, and destabilizing the internal balance of the human organism. Currently, the enzymes most frequently described in this context are secreted aspartic proteases (Saps). This review comprehensively explores the multifaceted roles of Saps, highlighting their importance in biofilm formation, tissue invasion through the degradation of extracellular matrix proteins and components of the coagulation cascade, modulation of host immune responses via impairment of neutrophil and monocyte/macrophage functions, and their contribution to antifungal resistance. Additionally, the diagnostic challenges associated with Candida infections and the potential of Saps as biomarkers were discussed. Furthermore, we examined the prospects of developing vaccines based on Saps and the use of protease inhibitors as adjunctive therapies for candidiasis. Given the complex biology of Saps and their central role in Candida pathogenicity, a multidisciplinary approach may pave the way for innovative diagnostic strategies and open new opportunities for innovative clinical interventions against candidiasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Grazyna Bras
- Department of Comparative Biochemistry and Bioanalytics, Faculty of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 7, 30-387 Kraków, Poland (M.Z.); (J.K.-K.)
| | - Dorota Satala
- Department of Comparative Biochemistry and Bioanalytics, Faculty of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 7, 30-387 Kraków, Poland (M.Z.); (J.K.-K.)
| | - Magdalena Juszczak
- Department of Comparative Biochemistry and Bioanalytics, Faculty of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 7, 30-387 Kraków, Poland (M.Z.); (J.K.-K.)
- Doctoral School of Exact and Natural Sciences, Faculty of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 7, 30-387 Kraków, Poland
| | - Kamila Kulig
- Department of Comparative Biochemistry and Bioanalytics, Faculty of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 7, 30-387 Kraków, Poland (M.Z.); (J.K.-K.)
| | - Ewelina Wronowska
- Department of Comparative Biochemistry and Bioanalytics, Faculty of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 7, 30-387 Kraków, Poland (M.Z.); (J.K.-K.)
| | - Aneta Bednarek
- Department of Comparative Biochemistry and Bioanalytics, Faculty of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 7, 30-387 Kraków, Poland (M.Z.); (J.K.-K.)
- Doctoral School of Exact and Natural Sciences, Faculty of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 7, 30-387 Kraków, Poland
| | - Marcin Zawrotniak
- Department of Comparative Biochemistry and Bioanalytics, Faculty of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 7, 30-387 Kraków, Poland (M.Z.); (J.K.-K.)
| | - Maria Rapala-Kozik
- Department of Comparative Biochemistry and Bioanalytics, Faculty of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 7, 30-387 Kraków, Poland (M.Z.); (J.K.-K.)
| | - Justyna Karkowska-Kuleta
- Department of Comparative Biochemistry and Bioanalytics, Faculty of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 7, 30-387 Kraków, Poland (M.Z.); (J.K.-K.)
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Amer L, Retout M, Jokerst JV. Activatable prodrug for controlled release of an antimicrobial peptide via the proteases overexpressed in Candida albicans and Porphyromonas gingivalis. Theranostics 2024; 14:1781-1793. [PMID: 38389835 PMCID: PMC10879876 DOI: 10.7150/thno.91165] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2023] [Accepted: 02/11/2024] [Indexed: 02/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Candida albicans and Porphyromonas gingivalis are prevalent in the subgingival area where the frequency of fungal colonization increases with periodontal disease. Candida's transition to a pathogenic state and its interaction with P. gingivalis exacerbate periodontal disease severity. However, current treatments for these infections differ, and combined therapy remains unexplored. This work is based on an antimicrobial peptide that is therapeutic and induces a color change in a nanoparticle reporter. Methods: We built and characterized two enzyme-activatable prodrugs to treat and detect C. albicans and P. gingivalis via the controlled release of the antimicrobial peptide. The zwitterionic prodrug quenches the antimicrobial peptide's activity until activation by a protease inherent to the pathogens (SAP9 for C. albicans and RgpB for P. gingivalis). The toxicity of the intact prodrugs was evaluated against fungal, bacterial, and mammalian cells. Therapeutic efficacy was assessed through microscopy, disk diffusion, and viability assays, comparing the prodrug to the antimicrobial peptide alone. Finally, we developed a colorimetric detection system based on the aggregation of plasmonic nanoparticles. Results: The intact prodrugs showed negligible toxicity to cells absent a protease trigger. The therapeutic impact of the prodrugs was comparable to that of the antimicrobial peptide alone, with a minimum inhibitory concentration of 3.1 - 16 µg/mL. The enzymatic detection system returned a detection limit of 10 nM with gold nanoparticles and 3 nM with silver nanoparticles. Conclusion: This approach offers a convenient and selective protease sensing and protease-induced treatment mechanism based on bioinspired antimicrobial peptides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lubna Amer
- Program in Materials Science and Engineering, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, United States
| | - Maurice Retout
- Department of NanoEngineering, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, United States
| | - Jesse V. Jokerst
- Program in Materials Science and Engineering, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, United States
- Department of NanoEngineering, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, United States
- Department of Radiology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, United States
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3
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Amer L, Retout M, Jokerst JV. Activatable prodrug for controlled release of an antimicrobial peptide via the proteases overexpressed in Candida albicans and Porphyromonas gingivalis. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.11.27.568833. [PMID: 38076788 PMCID: PMC10705279 DOI: 10.1101/2023.11.27.568833] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/05/2024]
Abstract
We report the controlled release of an antimicrobial peptide using enzyme-activatable prodrugs to treat and detect Candida albicans and Porphyromonas gingivalis . Our motivation lies in the prevalence of these microorganisms in the subgingival area where the frequency of fungal colonization increases with periodontal disease. This work is based on an antimicrobial peptide that is both therapeutic and induces a color change in a nanoparticle reporter. This antimicrobial peptide was then built into a zwitterionic prodrug that quenches its activity until activation by a protease inherent to these pathogens of interest: SAP9 or RgpB for C. albicans and P. gingivalis , respectively. We first confirmed that the intact zwitterionic prodrug has negligible toxicity to fungal, bacterial, and mammalian cells absent a protease trigger. Next, the therapeutic impact was assessed via disk diffusion and viability assays and showed a minimum inhibitory concentration of 3.1 - 16 µg/mL, which is comparable to the antimicrobial peptide alone (absent integration into prodrug). Finally, the zwitterionic design was exploited for colorimetric detection of C. albicans and P. gingivalis proteases. When the prodrugs were cleaved, the plasmonic nanoparticles aggregated causing a color change with a limit of detection of 10 nM with gold nanoparticles and 3 nM with silver nanoparticles. This approach has value as a convenient and selective protease sensing and protease-induced treatment mechanism based on bioinspired antimicrobial peptides. Abstract Figure
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Liu W, Li E, Liu L, Tian F, Luo X, Cai Y, Wang J, Jin X. Antifungal activity of compounds from Gordonia sp. WA8-44 isolated from the gut of Periplaneta americana and molecular docking studies. Heliyon 2023; 9:e17777. [PMID: 37539250 PMCID: PMC10395128 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e17777] [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: 04/06/2023] [Revised: 06/13/2023] [Accepted: 06/28/2023] [Indexed: 08/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Invasive fungal infections are on the rise, leading to a continuous demand for antifungal antibiotics. Rare actinomycetes have been shown to contain a variety of interesting compounds worth exploring. In this study, 15 strains of rare actinobacterium Gordonia were isolated from the gut of Periplaneta americana and screened for their anti-fungal activity against four human pathogenic fungi. Strain WA8-44 was found to exhibit significant anti-fungal activity and was selected for bioactive compound production, separation, purification, and characterization. Three anti-fungal compounds, Collismycin A, Actinomycin D, and Actinomycin X2, were isolated from the fermentation broth of Gordonia strain WA8-44. Of these, Collismycin A was isolated and purified from the secondary metabolites of Gordonia for the first time, and its anti-filamentous fungi activity was firstly identified in this study. Molecular docking was carried out to determine their hypothetical binding affinities against nine target proteins of Candida albicans. Chitin Synthase 2 was found to be the most preferred antimicrobial protein target for Collismycin A, while 1,3-Beta-Glucanase was the most preferred anti-fungal protein target for Actinomycin D and Actinomycin X2. ADMET prediction revealed that Collismycin A has favorable oral bioavailability and little toxicity, making it a potential candidate for development as an orally active medication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenbin Liu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Bioactive Substances, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou 510006, PR China
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou 510006, PR China
| | - Ertong Li
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Bioactive Substances, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou 510006, PR China
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou 510006, PR China
| | - Lingyan Liu
- School of Pharmacy, Xi'an Medical College, Xi'an 710300, PR China
| | - Fangyuan Tian
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Bioactive Substances, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou 510006, PR China
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou 510006, PR China
| | - Xiongming Luo
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Bioactive Substances, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou 510006, PR China
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou 510006, PR China
| | - Yanqu Cai
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Bioactive Substances, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou 510006, PR China
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou 510006, PR China
| | - Jie Wang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Bioactive Substances, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou 510006, PR China
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou 510006, PR China
| | - Xiaobao Jin
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Bioactive Substances, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou 510006, PR China
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou 510006, PR China
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Konakbayeva D, Karlsson AJ. Strategies and opportunities for engineering antifungal peptides for therapeutic applications. Curr Opin Biotechnol 2023; 81:102926. [PMID: 37028003 PMCID: PMC10229436 DOI: 10.1016/j.copbio.2023.102926] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2023] [Revised: 03/01/2023] [Accepted: 03/03/2023] [Indexed: 04/09/2023]
Abstract
Antifungal peptides (AFPs) are widely described as promising prospects to treat and prevent fungal infections, though they are far less studied than their antibacterial counterparts. Although promising, AFPs have practical limitations that have hindered their use as therapeutics. Rational design and combinatorial engineering are powerful protein engineering strategies with much potential to address the limitations of AFPs by designing peptides with improved physiochemical and biological characteristics. We examine how rational design and combinatorial engineering approaches have already been used to improve the properties of AFPs and propose key opportunities for applying these strategies to push the design and application of AFPs forward.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dinara Konakbayeva
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Maryland, 2113 Chemical and Nuclear Engineering Building (#090), 4418 Stadium Drive, College Park, MD 20742, USA
| | - Amy J Karlsson
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Maryland, 2113 Chemical and Nuclear Engineering Building (#090), 4418 Stadium Drive, College Park, MD 20742, USA.
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Makambi WK, Ikonomova SP, Karlsson AJ. Quantifying the Antifungal Activity of Peptides Against Candida albicans. J Vis Exp 2023:10.3791/64416. [PMID: 36715417 PMCID: PMC10115183 DOI: 10.3791/64416] [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] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Traditional methods for performing antifungal susceptibility testing for Candida albicans are time-consuming and lack quantitative results. For example, a common approach relies on plating cells treated with different concentrations of antifungal molecules on agar plates and then counting the colonies to determine the relationship between molecule concentration and growth inhibition. This method requires many plates and substantial time to count the colonies. Another common approach eliminates the plates and counting of colonies by visually inspecting cultures treated with antifungal agents to identify the minimum concentration required to inhibit growth; however, visual inspection produces only qualitative results, and information on growth at subinhibitory concentrations is lost. This protocol describes a method for measuring the susceptibility of C. albicans to antifungal peptides. By relying on optical density measurements of cultures, the method reduces the time and materials needed to obtain quantitative results on culture growth at different peptide concentrations. The incubation of the fungus with peptides is performed in a 96-well plate using an appropriate buffer, with controls representing no growth inhibition and complete growth inhibition. Following the incubation with the peptide, the resulting cell suspensions are diluted to reduce peptide activity and then grown overnight. After overnight growth, the optical density of each well is measured and compared to the positive and negative controls to calculate the resulting growth inhibition at each peptide concentration. The results using this assay are comparable to the results using the traditional method of plating the cultures on agar plates, but this protocol reduces plastic waste and the time spent on counting colonies. Although the applications of this protocol have focused on antifungal peptides, the method will also be applicable to testing other molecules with known or suspected antifungal activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wright K Makambi
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Maryland
| | | | - Amy J Karlsson
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Maryland;
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Moghaddam-Taaheri P, Leissa JA, Eppler HB, Jewell CM, Karlsson AJ. Histatin 5 variant reduces Candida albicans biofilm viability and inhibits biofilm formation. Fungal Genet Biol 2021; 149:103529. [PMID: 33596477 DOI: 10.1016/j.fgb.2021.103529] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2020] [Revised: 07/09/2020] [Accepted: 07/19/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Candida albicans is a commensal organism and opportunistic pathogen that can form biofilms that colonize surfaces of medical devices, such as implants, catheters, and dentures. Compared to planktonic C. albicans cells, cells in biofilms exhibit increased resistance to treatment. Histatin 5 (Hst-5) is an antimicrobial peptide that is natively secreted by human salivary glands and has strong antifungal activity against C. albicans. However, C. albicans produces secreted aspartic proteases (Saps) that can cleave and inactivate Hst-5, limiting its antifungal properties. We previously showed that residue substitutions K11R and K17R within Hst-5 improve its antifungal activity and prevent proteolytic degradation by Saps when treating planktonic C. albicans. Here, we investigated the use of the K11R-K17R peptide as an alternative therapeutic against C. albicans biofilms by assessing its ability to reduce viability of pre-formed biofilms and to inhibit the formation of biofilms and showed that K11R-K17R had improved activity compared to Hst-5. Based on these results, we incorporated K11R-K17R and Hst-5 into polyelectrolyte multilayer (PEM) surface coatings and demonstrated that films functionalized with K11R-K17R reduced the formation of C. albicans biofilms. Our results demonstrate the therapeutic potential of the K11R-K17R Hst-5 variant in preventing and treating biofilms.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jesse A Leissa
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA
| | - Haleigh B Eppler
- Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA; Biological Sciences Graduate Program, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA
| | - Christopher M Jewell
- Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA; Biological Sciences Graduate Program, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA; United States Department of Veterans Affairs, VA Maryland Health Care System, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Amy J Karlsson
- Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA; Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA.
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Mercer DK, O'Neil DA. Innate Inspiration: Antifungal Peptides and Other Immunotherapeutics From the Host Immune Response. Front Immunol 2020; 11:2177. [PMID: 33072081 PMCID: PMC7533533 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.02177] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2020] [Accepted: 08/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The purpose of this review is to describe antifungal therapeutic candidates in preclinical and clinical development derived from, or directly influenced by, the immune system, with a specific focus on antimicrobial peptides (AMP). Although the focus of this review is AMP with direct antimicrobial effects on fungi, we will also discuss compounds with direct antifungal activity, including monoclonal antibodies (mAb), as well as immunomodulatory molecules that can enhance the immune response to fungal infection, including immunomodulatory AMP, vaccines, checkpoint inhibitors, interferon and colony stimulating factors as well as immune cell therapies. The focus of this manuscript will be a non-exhaustive review of antifungal compounds in preclinical and clinical development that are based on the principles of immunology and the authors acknowledge the incredible amount of in vitro and in vivo work that has been conducted to develop such therapeutic candidates.
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Lu W, Tian H, Qian P, Li Y, Wang Y, Ge Y, Sai W, Gao X, Yao W. An orally available hypoglycaemic peptide taken up by caveolae transcytosis displays improved hypoglycaemic effects and body weight control in db/db mice. Br J Pharmacol 2020; 177:3473-3488. [PMID: 32293707 PMCID: PMC7348098 DOI: 10.1111/bph.15069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2019] [Revised: 03/29/2020] [Accepted: 04/05/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Type 2 diabetes is one of the most severe chronic diseases and is an increasingly important public health problem worldwide. Several agonists of the glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor have been developed to treat Type 2 diabetes but most of them are administered by injection. This mode of administration seriously reduces patient compliance and increases the risk of infection. Here, we describe the actions of a novel, orally available, GLP-1 receptor agonist - oral hypoglycaemic peptide 2 (OHP2) - derived from exendin-4 by replacing amino acids. We have also investigated its pharmacokinetic profiles, therapeutic effects and absorption mechanism. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH Healthy Wistar rats were used for pharmacokinetic analyses. In diabetic db/db mice. OHP2 was given for 8 weeks to evaluate its effects on hyperglycaemia, dyslipidaemia, basal metabolism and tissue injury. Possible endocytosis and transcytosis mechanisms of OHP2 uptake were explored in Caco-2 cell monolayers. KEY RESULTS In rats, the absolute bioavailability of orally administered OHP2 was 20-fold greater than that of orally administered exendin-4. In db/db mice, OHP2 dose-dependently exhibits good potential in glucose-lowering and weight loss after oral administration. OHP2 also alleviated hyperlipidaemia, ameliorated energy metabolism and promoted tissue repair in diabetic mice. Furthermore, uptake of OHP2 by Caco-2 cells was dependent on caveolae-mediated transcytosis rather than endocytosis mediated by GLP-1 receptors. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS OHP2 is a potential, orally bioavailable, candidate drug for the treatment of Type 2 diabetes. Its transcytosis mechanism of uptake could help in the development of absorption enhancers of OHP2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weisheng Lu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Druggability of Biopharmaceuticals, School of Life Science and TechnologyChina Pharmaceutical UniversityNanjingChina
| | - Hong Tian
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Druggability of Biopharmaceuticals, School of Life Science and TechnologyChina Pharmaceutical UniversityNanjingChina
| | - Peng Qian
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Druggability of Biopharmaceuticals, School of Life Science and TechnologyChina Pharmaceutical UniversityNanjingChina
| | - Ying Li
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Druggability of Biopharmaceuticals, School of Life Science and TechnologyChina Pharmaceutical UniversityNanjingChina
| | - Yongkang Wang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Druggability of Biopharmaceuticals, School of Life Science and TechnologyChina Pharmaceutical UniversityNanjingChina
| | - Yang Ge
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Druggability of Biopharmaceuticals, School of Life Science and TechnologyChina Pharmaceutical UniversityNanjingChina
| | - Wenbo Sai
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Druggability of Biopharmaceuticals, School of Life Science and TechnologyChina Pharmaceutical UniversityNanjingChina
| | - Xiangdong Gao
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Druggability of Biopharmaceuticals, School of Life Science and TechnologyChina Pharmaceutical UniversityNanjingChina
| | - Wenbing Yao
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Druggability of Biopharmaceuticals, School of Life Science and TechnologyChina Pharmaceutical UniversityNanjingChina
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Lamp J, Ikonomova SP, Karlsson AJ, Xia Q, Wang Y. Online capillary electrophoresis - mass spectrometry analysis of histatin-5 and its degradation products. Analyst 2020; 145:4787-4794. [PMID: 32555825 PMCID: PMC7391080 DOI: 10.1039/d0an00756k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
Histatin-5 (Hst-5) is a human salivary peptide with antibacterial and antifungal activities. Thorough characterization and reliable quantification of Hst-5 and its degradation products are essential for understanding the Hst-5 degradation pathway. Due to the highly basic and strong cationic nature of the Hst-5 peptide, the quantitative analysis of Hst-5 and its degradation forms by online mass spectrometry remains challenging. Here, we adopt a recently developed electrokinetically pumped sheath liquid capillary electrophoresis - mass spectrometry (CE-MS) coupling technology, and successfully apply it for the analysis of Hst-5 and its degradation products. Our CE-MS method is demonstrated to be robust and quantitative. This novel analytical platform is reproducible and free of sample carryover. The efficacy of this method is demonstrated with a kinetic study of Hst-5 degradation by Sap9, a secreted aspartic peptidase. Our work demonstrates the potential of online CE-MS as a powerful approach for characterizing highly basic peptides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jared Lamp
- CMP Scientific, Corp., 760 Parkside Ave, STE 211, Brooklyn, NY 11226, USA
| | - Svetlana P Ikonomova
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA
| | - Amy J Karlsson
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA
| | - Qiangwei Xia
- CMP Scientific, Corp., 760 Parkside Ave, STE 211, Brooklyn, NY 11226, USA
| | - Yan Wang
- Proteomics Core Facility, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA. and NIH/NIDCR, Bldg 30, Rm 320, 30 Convent Drive, Bethesda, MD 20892-4370, USA
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Bio- and Nanotechnology as the Key for Clinical Application of Salivary Peptide Histatin: A Necessary Advance. Microorganisms 2020; 8:microorganisms8071024. [PMID: 32664360 PMCID: PMC7409060 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms8071024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2020] [Revised: 07/07/2020] [Accepted: 07/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Candida albicans is a common microorganism of human’s microbiota and can be easily found in both respiratory and gastrointestinal tracts as well as in the genitourinary tract. Approximately 30% of people will be infected by C. albicans during their lifetime. Due to its easy adaptation, this microorganism started to present high resistance to antifungal agents which is associated with their indiscriminate use. There are several reports of adaptive mechanisms that this species can present. Some of them are intrinsic alteration in drug targets, secretion of extracellular enzymes to promote host protein degradation and efflux receptors that lead to a diminished action of common antifungal and host’s innate immune response. The current review aims to bring promising alternatives for the treatment of candidiasis caused mainly by C. albicans. One of these alternatives is the use of antifungal peptides (AFPs) from the Histatin family, like histatin-5. Besides that, our focus is to show how nanotechnology can allow the application of these peptides for treatment of this microorganism. In addition, our intention is to show the importance of nanoparticles (NPs) for this purpose, which may be essential in the near future.
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Fang K, Park OJ, Hong SH. Controlling biofilms using synthetic biology approaches. Biotechnol Adv 2020; 40:107518. [PMID: 31953206 PMCID: PMC7125041 DOI: 10.1016/j.biotechadv.2020.107518] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2019] [Revised: 01/09/2020] [Accepted: 01/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Bacterial biofilms are formed by the complex but ordered regulation of intra- or inter-cellular communication, environmentally responsive gene expression, and secretion of extracellular polymeric substances. Given the robust nature of biofilms due to the non-growing nature of biofilm bacteria and the physical barrier provided by the extracellular matrix, eradicating biofilms is a very difficult task to accomplish with conventional antibiotic or disinfectant treatments. Synthetic biology holds substantial promise for controlling biofilms by improving and expanding existing biological tools, introducing novel functions to the system, and re-conceptualizing gene regulation. This review summarizes synthetic biology approaches used to eradicate biofilms via protein engineering of biofilm-related enzymes, utilization of synthetic genetic circuits, and the development of functional living agents. Synthetic biology also enables beneficial applications of biofilms through the production of biomaterials and patterning biofilms with specific temporal and spatial structures. Advances in synthetic biology will add novel biofilm functionalities for future therapeutic, biomanufacturing, and environmental applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kuili Fang
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago, IL 60616, USA
| | - Oh-Jin Park
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago, IL 60616, USA; Department of Biological and Chemical Engineering, Yanbian University of Science and Technology, Yanji, Jilin, People's Republic of China
| | - Seok Hoon Hong
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago, IL 60616, USA.
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13
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The Interactions between the Antimicrobial Peptide P-113 and Living Candida albicans Cells Shed Light on Mechanisms of Antifungal Activity and Resistance. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21072654. [PMID: 32290246 PMCID: PMC7178208 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21072654] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2020] [Revised: 04/07/2020] [Accepted: 04/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
In the absence of proper immunity, such as in the case of acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) patients, Candida albicans, the most common human fungal pathogen, may cause mucosal and even life-threatening systemic infections. P-113 (AKRHHGYKRKFH), an antimicrobial peptide (AMP) derived from the human salivary protein histatin 5, shows good safety and efficacy profiles in gingivitis and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) patients with oral candidiasis. However, little is known about how P-113 interacts with Candida albicans or its degradation by Candida-secreted proteases that contribute to the fungi’s resistance. Here, we use solution nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) methods to elucidate the molecular mechanism of interactions between P-113 and living Candida albicans cells. Furthermore, we found that proteolytic cleavage of the C-terminus prevents the entry of P-113 into cells and that increasing the hydrophobicity of the peptide can significantly increase its antifungal activity. These results could help in the design of novel antimicrobial peptides that have enhanced stability in vivo and that can have potential therapeutic applications.
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Hosseini SS, Joshaghani H, Shokohi T, Ahmadi A, Mehrbakhsh Z. Antifungal Activity of ZnO Nanoparticles and Nystatin and Downregulation of SAP1-3 Genes Expression in Fluconazole-Resistant Candida albicans Isolates from Vulvovaginal Candidiasis. Infect Drug Resist 2020; 13:385-394. [PMID: 32104010 PMCID: PMC7025901 DOI: 10.2147/idr.s226154] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2019] [Accepted: 12/17/2019] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose Antifungal resistance and virulence properties of Candida albicans (C. albicans) are growing health problems worldwide. The present study aims to investigate the effect of Zinc Oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles and Nystatin on SAP1-3 genes expression in C. albicans isolates of females with Vulvovaginal Candidiasis (VVC) isolated from Sayad Shirazi Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital in Northeastern Iran during 2017–2018. Patients and Methods In this descriptive-analytic study, vaginal samples were collected from 280 VVC women. 196 (70%) of C. albicans isolates were identified by phenotypic and ITS genotypic methods. Susceptibility to Fluconazole C. albicans isolates was determined by the disk diffusion method. Detection of ERG11 gene was done by RT-PCR technique. Results It was revealed that PCR amplified the ERG11 gene in all of the Fluconazole-resistant isolates. Real-time PCR was used to survey the effects of 3±1.7µg/mL concentrations of ZnO nanoparticles and Nystatin on expression of SAP1-3 genes before and after treatment. 186 (95%) susceptible C. albicans and 10 (5%) Fluconazole-resistant C. albicans isolates from VVC were exposed to sub-minimum inhibitory concentrations (Sub-MIC) of ZnO-np (range=0.02–12 μg/mL). Sub-MIC concentration was used for each strain, which reduced the expression of SAP1-3 genes to 1.8 MIC in the vaginal swabs. The observed reduction in gene expression was significant for both ZnO nanoparticles and Nystatin (P=0.01 and P=0.07, respectively). Conclusion ZnO as antifungal agent can well reduce the growth and gene expression of SAP1-3 in the pathogenesis of VVC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seyededeh Sedigheh Hosseini
- Laboratory Sciences Research Center, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Iran.,Department of Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Paramedicine, Gorgan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Iran
| | - Hamidreza Joshaghani
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Iran
| | - Tahereh Shokohi
- Department of Medical Mycology and Parasitology, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
| | - Alireza Ahmadi
- Laboratory Sciences Research Center, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Iran
| | - Zahra Mehrbakhsh
- Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, School of Health, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Iran
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Hess KL, Jewell CM. Phage display as a tool for vaccine and immunotherapy development. Bioeng Transl Med 2020; 5:e10142. [PMID: 31989033 PMCID: PMC6971447 DOI: 10.1002/btm2.10142] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2019] [Revised: 07/15/2019] [Accepted: 08/22/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Bacteriophages, or phages, are viruses that specifically infect bacteria and coopt the cellular machinery to create more phage proteins, eventually resulting in the release of new phage particles. Phages are heavily utilized in bioengineering for applications ranging from tissue engineering scaffolds to immune signal delivery. Of specific interest to vaccines and immunotherapies, phages have demonstrated an ability to activate both the innate and adaptive immune systems. The genome of these viral particles can be harnessed for DNA vaccination, or the surface proteins can be exploited for antigen display. More specifically, genes that encode an antigen of interest can be spliced into the phage genome, allowing antigenic proteins or peptides to be displayed by fusion to phage capsid proteins. Phages therefore present antigens to immune cells in a highly ordered and repetitive manner. This review discusses the use of phage with adjuvanting activity as antigen delivery vehicles for vaccination against infectious disease and cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Krystina L. Hess
- U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Chemical Biological CenterAberdeen Proving GroundMaryland
| | - Christopher M. Jewell
- Fischell Department of BioengineeringUniversity of MarylandCollege ParkMaryland
- Robert E. Fischell Institute for Biomedical DevicesCollege ParkMaryland
- Department of Microbiology and ImmunologyUniversity of Maryland Medical SchoolBaltimoreMaryland
- Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Cancer CenterBaltimoreMaryland
- U.S. Department of Veterans AffairsBaltimoreMaryland
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Ikonomova SP, Moghaddam-Taaheri P, Wang Y, Doolin MT, Stroka KM, Hube B, Karlsson AJ. Effects of histatin 5 modifications on antifungal activity and kinetics of proteolysis. Protein Sci 2019; 29:480-493. [PMID: 31675138 DOI: 10.1002/pro.3767] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2019] [Revised: 10/07/2019] [Accepted: 10/28/2019] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Histatin 5 (Hst-5) is an antimicrobial peptide with strong antifungal activity against Candida albicans, an opportunistic pathogen that is a common cause of oral thrush. The peptide is natively secreted by human salivary glands and shows promise as an alternative therapeutic against infections caused by C. albicans. However, Hst-5 can be cleaved and inactivated by a family of secreted aspartic proteases (Saps) produced by C. albicans. Single-residue substitutions can significantly affect the proteolytic resistance of Hst-5 to Saps and its antifungal activity; the K17R substitution increases resistance to proteolysis, while the K11R substitution enhances antifungal activity. In this work, we showed that the positive effects of these two single-residue modifications can be combined in a single peptide, K11R-K17R, with improved proteolytic resistance and antifungal activity. We also investigated the effect of additional single-residue substitutions, with a focus on the effect of addition or removal of negatively charged residues, and found Sap-dependent effects on degradation. Both single- and double-substitutions affected the kinetics of proteolytic degradation of the intact peptide and of the fragments formed during degradation. Our results demonstrate the importance of considering proteolytic stability and not just antimicrobial activity when designing peptides for potential therapeutic applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Svetlana P Ikonomova
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland
| | | | - Yan Wang
- Proteomics Core, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland
| | - Mary T Doolin
- Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland
| | - Kimberly M Stroka
- Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland
| | - Bernhard Hube
- Department of Microbial Pathogenicity Mechanisms, Hans Knöll Institute, Jena, Germany.,Institute of Microbiology, Friedrich Schiller University, Jena, Germany
| | - Amy J Karlsson
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland.,Fischell Department of Bioengineering, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland
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Evaluation of the Antifungal and Wound-Healing Properties of a Novel Peptide-Based Bioadhesive Hydrogel Formulation. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2019; 63:AAC.00888-19. [PMID: 31332066 DOI: 10.1128/aac.00888-19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2019] [Accepted: 07/14/2019] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Oral candidiasis (OC) caused by the fungal pathogen Candida albicans is the most common opportunistic infection in immunocompromised populations. The dramatic increase in resistance to common antifungal agents has emphasized the importance of identifying alternative therapeutic options. Antimicrobial peptides have emerged as promising drug candidates due to their antimicrobial properties; specifically, histatin-5 (Hst-5), a peptide naturally produced and secreted by human salivary glands, has demonstrated potent activity against C. albicans However, as we previously demonstrated vulnerability for Hst-5 to proteolysis by C. albicans proteolytic enzymes at specific amino acid residues, a new variant (K11R-K17R) was designed with amino acid substitutions at the identified cleavage sites. The new resistant peptide demonstrated no cytotoxicity to erythrocytes or human oral keratinocytes. To evaluate the potential of the new peptide for clinical application, we utilized our FDA-approved polymer-based bioadhesive hydrogel as a delivery system and developed a therapeutic formulation specifically designed for oral topical application. The new formulation was demonstrated to be effective against C. albicans strains resistant to the traditional antifungals, and the in vitro therapeutic efficacy was found to be comparable to that of the common topical antifungal agents in clinical use. Importantly, in addition to its antifungal properties, our findings also demonstrated that the new peptide variant induces cell proliferation and rapid cell migration of human oral keratinocytes, indicative of wound healing properties. The findings from this study support the progression of the novel formulation as a therapeutic agent against oral candidiasis, as well as a therapeutic modality for promoting wound healing.
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Adhikari S, Leissa JA, Karlsson AJ. Beyond function: Engineering improved peptides for therapeutic applications. AIChE J 2019. [DOI: 10.1002/aic.16776] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Sayanee Adhikari
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering University of Maryland College Park Maryland
| | - Jesse A. Leissa
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering University of Maryland College Park Maryland
| | - Amy J. Karlsson
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering University of Maryland College Park Maryland
- Fischell Department of Bioengineering University of Maryland College Park Maryland
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Dopp JL, Rothstein SM, Mansell TJ, Reuel NF. Rapid prototyping of proteins: Mail order gene fragments to assayable proteins within 24 hours. Biotechnol Bioeng 2019; 116:667-676. [DOI: 10.1002/bit.26912] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2018] [Revised: 12/08/2018] [Accepted: 12/26/2018] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Jared Lynn Dopp
- Iowa State University Chemical and Biological EngineeringAmes Iowa
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Muthamil S, Balasubramaniam B, Balamurugan K, Pandian SK. Synergistic Effect of Quinic Acid Derived From Syzygium cumini and Undecanoic Acid Against Candida spp. Biofilm and Virulence. Front Microbiol 2018; 9:2835. [PMID: 30534118 PMCID: PMC6275436 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2018.02835] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2018] [Accepted: 11/05/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
In recent decades, fungal infections have incredibly increased with Candida genus as the major cause of morbidity and mortality in hospitalized and immunocompromised patients. Most of the Candida species are proficient in biofilm formation on implanted medical devices as well as human tissues. Biofilm related Candida infections are very difficult to treat using common antifungal agents owing to their increased drug resistance. To address these issues, the present study investigated the antibiofilm and antivirulent properties of Syzygium cumini derived quinic acid in combination with known antifungal compound undecanoic acid. Initially, antibiofilm potential of S. cumini leaf extract was assessed and the active principles were identified through gas chromatography and mass spectrometry analysis. Among the compounds identified, quinic acid was one of the major compounds. The interaction between quinic acid and undecanoic acid was found to be synergistic in the Fractional inhibitory concentration index (≤0.5). Results of in vitro assays and gene expression analysis suggested that the synergistic combinations of quinic acid and undecanoic acid significantly inhibited virulence traits of Candida spp. such as the biofilm formation, yeast-to-hyphal transition, extracellular polymeric substances production, filamentation, secreted hydrolases production and ergosterol biosynthesis. In addition, result of in vivo studies using Caenorhabditis elegans demonstrated the non-toxic nature of QA-UDA combination and antivirulence effect against Candida spp. For the first time, synergistic antivirulence ability of quinic acid and undecanoic acid was explored against Candida spp. Thus, results obtained from the present study suggest that combination of phytochemicals might be used an alternate therapeutic strategy for the prevention and treatment of biofilm associated Candida infection.
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