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Efremenko E, Aslanli A, Stepanov N, Senko O, Maslova O. Various Biomimetics, Including Peptides as Antifungals. Biomimetics (Basel) 2023; 8:513. [PMID: 37999154 PMCID: PMC10669293 DOI: 10.3390/biomimetics8070513] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2023] [Revised: 09/20/2023] [Accepted: 10/26/2023] [Indexed: 11/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Biomimetics, which are similar to natural compounds that play an important role in the metabolism, manifestation of functional activity and reproduction of various fungi, have a pronounced attraction in the current search for new effective antifungals. Actual trends in the development of this area of research indicate that unnatural amino acids can be used as such biomimetics, including those containing halogen atoms; compounds similar to nitrogenous bases embedded in the nucleic acids synthesized by fungi; peptides imitating fungal analogs; molecules similar to natural substrates of numerous fungal enzymes and quorum-sensing signaling molecules of fungi and yeast, etc. Most parts of this review are devoted to the analysis of semi-synthetic and synthetic antifungal peptides and their targets of action. This review is aimed at combining and systematizing the current scientific information accumulating in this area of research, developing various antifungals with an assessment of the effectiveness of the created biomimetics and the possibility of combining them with other antimicrobial substances to reduce cell resistance and improve antifungal effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Efremenko
- Faculty of Chemistry, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Lenin Hills 1/3, Moscow 119991, Russia
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2
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Chadha S. Combating fungal phytopathogens with human salivary antimicrobial peptide histatin 5 through a multi-target mechanism. World J Microbiol Biotechnol 2023; 39:215. [PMID: 37269390 DOI: 10.1007/s11274-023-03667-4] [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: 03/04/2023] [Accepted: 05/26/2023] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Blast disease caused by Magnaporthe oryzae is a major contributor to decreased crop yield and rice production globally. The use of chemical fungicides to combat crop pathogens is not only unsafe but also promotes the emergence of pathogenic variants, leading to recurrent host infections. To address plant diseases, antimicrobial peptides have emerged as a promising alternative as they are effective, safe, and biodegradable antifungal agents. This study examines the antifungal activity and mechanism of action of the human salivary peptide histatin 5 (Hst5) on M. oryzae. Hst5 causes morphogenetic defects in the fungus, including non-uniform chitin distribution on the fungal cell wall and septa, deformed hyphal branching, and cell lysis. Importantly, a pore-forming mechanism of Hst5 in M. oryzae was ruled out. Furthermore, the interaction of Hst5 with the M. oryzae genomic DNA suggests that the peptide may also influence gene expression in the blast fungus. In addition to its effects on morphogenetic defects and cell lysis, Hst5 also inhibits conidial germination, appressorium formation, and the appearance of blast lesions on rice leaves. The elucidated multi-target antifungal mechanism of Hst5 in M. oryzae provides an environmentally friendly alternative to combating blast infections in rice by preventing fungal pathogenicity. The promising antifungal characteristics of the AMP peptide may also be explored for other crop pathogens, making it a potential biofungicide for the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sonia Chadha
- Nuclear Agriculture and Biotechnology Division, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre, Trombay, Mumbai, 400085, India.
- Homi Bhabha National Institute, Anushaktinagar, Mumbai, 400094, India.
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3
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Copling A, Akantibila M, Kumaresan R, Fleischer G, Cortes D, Tripathi RS, Carabetta VJ, Vega SL. Recent Advances in Antimicrobial Peptide Hydrogels. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24087563. [PMID: 37108725 PMCID: PMC10139150 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24087563] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2023] [Revised: 04/17/2023] [Accepted: 04/18/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Advances in the number and type of available biomaterials have improved medical devices such as catheters, stents, pacemakers, prosthetic joints, and orthopedic devices. The introduction of a foreign material into the body comes with a risk of microbial colonization and subsequent infection. Infections of surgically implanted devices often lead to device failure, which leads to increased patient morbidity and mortality. The overuse and improper use of antimicrobials has led to an alarming rise and spread of drug-resistant infections. To overcome the problem of drug-resistant infections, novel antimicrobial biomaterials are increasingly being researched and developed. Hydrogels are a class of 3D biomaterials consisting of a hydrated polymer network with tunable functionality. As hydrogels are customizable, many different antimicrobial agents, such as inorganic molecules, metals, and antibiotics have been incorporated or tethered to them. Due to the increased prevalence of antibiotic resistance, antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are being increasingly explored as alternative agents. AMP-tethered hydrogels are being increasingly examined for antimicrobial properties and practical applications, such as wound-healing. Here, we provide a recent update, from the last 5 years of innovations and discoveries made in the development of photopolymerizable, self-assembling, and AMP-releasing hydrogels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aryanna Copling
- Department of Molecular & Cellular Biosciences, Rowan University, Glassboro, NJ 08028, USA
| | - Maxwell Akantibila
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cooper Medical School of Rowan University, Camden, NJ 08103, USA
| | - Raaha Kumaresan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Rowan University, Glassboro, NJ 08028, USA
| | - Gilbert Fleischer
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cooper Medical School of Rowan University, Camden, NJ 08103, USA
| | - Dennise Cortes
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cooper Medical School of Rowan University, Camden, NJ 08103, USA
| | - Rahul S Tripathi
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cooper Medical School of Rowan University, Camden, NJ 08103, USA
| | - Valerie J Carabetta
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cooper Medical School of Rowan University, Camden, NJ 08103, USA
| | - Sebastián L Vega
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Rowan University, Glassboro, NJ 08028, USA
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Cooper Medical School of Rowan University, Camden, NJ 08103, USA
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4
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Sharma L, Bisht GS. Short Antimicrobial Peptides: Therapeutic Potential and Recent Advancements. Curr Pharm Des 2023; 29:3005-3017. [PMID: 38018196 DOI: 10.2174/0113816128248959231102114334] [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: 03/01/2023] [Revised: 09/28/2023] [Accepted: 10/11/2023] [Indexed: 11/30/2023]
Abstract
There has been a lot of interest in antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) as potential next-generation antibiotics. They are components of the innate immune system. AMPs have broad-spectrum action and are less prone to resistance development. They show potential applications in various fields, including medicine, agriculture, and the food industry. However, despite the good activity and safety profiles, AMPs have had difficulty finding success in the clinic due to their various limitations, such as production cost, proteolytic susceptibility, and oral bioavailability. To overcome these flaws, a number of solutions have been devised, one of which is developing short antimicrobial peptides. Short antimicrobial peptides do have an advantage over longer peptides as they are more stable and do not collapse during absorption. They have generated a lot of interest because of their evolutionary success and advantageous properties, such as low molecular weight, selective targets, cell or organelles with minimal toxicity, and enormous therapeutic potential. This article provides an overview of the development of short antimicrobial peptides with an emphasis on those with ≤ 30 amino acid residues as a potential therapeutic agent to fight drug-resistant microorganisms. It also emphasizes their applications in many fields and discusses their current state in clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lalita Sharma
- Department of Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Jaypee University of Information Technology, Waknaghat, Himachal Pradesh, India
| | - Gopal Singh Bisht
- Department of Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Jaypee University of Information Technology, Waknaghat, Himachal Pradesh, India
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5
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Akbarzadeh-Khiavi M, Torabi M, Olfati AH, Rahbarnia L, Safary A. Bio-nano scale modifications of melittin for improving therapeutic efficacy. Expert Opin Biol Ther 2022; 22:895-909. [PMID: 35687355 DOI: 10.1080/14712598.2022.2088277] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Melittin (MLT), a natural membrane-active component, is the most prominent cytolytic peptide from bee venom. Remarkable biological properties of MLT, including anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, anticancer, anti-protozoan, and antiarthritic activities, make it an up-and-coming therapeutic candidate for a wide variety of human diseases. Therapeutic applications of MLT may be hindered due to low stability, high toxicity, and weak tissue penetration. Different bio-nano scale modifications hold promise for improving its functionality and therapeutic efficacy. AREAS COVERED In the current review, we aimed to provide a comprehensive insight into strategies used for MLT conjugations and modifications, cellular delivery of modified forms, and their clinical perspectives by reviewing the published literature on PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar databases. We also emphasized the MLT structure modifications, mechanism of action, and cellular toxicity. EXPERT OPINION Developing new analogs and conjugates of MLT as a natural drug with improved functions and fewer side effects is crucial for the clinical translation of this approach worldwide, especially where the chemicals and synthetic drugs are more expensive or unavailable in the healthcare system. MLT-nanoconjugation may be one of the best-optimized strategies for improving peptide delivery, increasing its therapeutic efficacy, and providing minimal nonspecific cellular lytic activity. [Figure: see text].
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Affiliation(s)
- Mostafa Akbarzadeh-Khiavi
- Liver and Gastrointestinal Diseases Research Center Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.,Research Center for Pharmaceutical Nanotechnology, Biomedicine Institute, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Mitra Torabi
- Research Center for Pharmaceutical Nanotechnology, Biomedicine Institute, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Amir-Hossein Olfati
- Student Research Committee, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Leila Rahbarnia
- Infectious and Tropical Diseases Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Azam Safary
- Connective Tissue Diseases Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
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6
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Synthetic Antimicrobial Peptides for Controlling Fungi in Foods. Curr Opin Food Sci 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cofs.2022.100819] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
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Antifungal Peptides and Proteins to Control Toxigenic Fungi and Mycotoxin Biosynthesis. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms222413261. [PMID: 34948059 PMCID: PMC8703302 DOI: 10.3390/ijms222413261] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2021] [Revised: 11/24/2021] [Accepted: 11/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The global challenge to prevent fungal spoilage and mycotoxin contamination on food and feed requires the development of new antifungal strategies. Antimicrobial peptides and proteins (AMPs) with antifungal activity are gaining much interest as natural antifungal compounds due to their properties such as structure diversity and function, antifungal spectrum, mechanism of action, high stability and the availability of biotechnological production methods. Given their multistep mode of action, the development of fungal resistance to AMPs is presumed to be slow or delayed compared to conventional fungicides. Interestingly, AMPs also accomplish important biological functions other than antifungal activity, including anti-mycotoxin biosynthesis activity, which opens novel aspects for their future use in agriculture and food industry to fight mycotoxin contamination. AMPs can reach intracellular targets and exert their activity by mechanisms other than membrane permeabilization. The mechanisms through which AMPs affect mycotoxin production are varied and complex, ranging from oxidative stress to specific inhibition of enzymatic components of mycotoxin biosynthetic pathways. This review presents natural and synthetic antifungal AMPs from different origins which are effective against mycotoxin-producing fungi, and aims at summarizing current knowledge concerning their additional effects on mycotoxin biosynthesis. Antifungal AMPs properties and mechanisms of action are also discussed.
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8
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Cao F, Ma G, Mei L, Zhu G, Song M, Qin Q, Jiao M. Development of disulfide bond crosslinked antimicrobial peptide hydrogel. Colloids Surf A Physicochem Eng Asp 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.colsurfa.2021.127026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
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9
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Guha S, Ferrie RP, Ghimire J, Ventura CR, Wu E, Sun L, Kim SY, Wiedman GR, Hristova K, Wimley WC. Applications and evolution of melittin, the quintessential membrane active peptide. Biochem Pharmacol 2021; 193:114769. [PMID: 34543656 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2021.114769] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2021] [Revised: 09/14/2021] [Accepted: 09/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Melittin, the main venom component of the European Honeybee, is a cationic linear peptide-amide of 26 amino acid residues with the sequence: GIGAVLKVLTTGLPALISWIKRKRQQ-NH2. Melittin binds to lipid bilayer membranes, folds into amphipathic α-helical secondary structure and disrupts the permeability barrier. Since melittin was first described, a remarkable array of activities and potential applications in biology and medicine have been described. Melittin is also a favorite model system for biophysicists to study the structure, folding and function of peptides and proteins in membranes. Melittin has also been used as a template for the evolution of new activities in membranes. Here we overview the rich history of scientific research into the many activities of melittin and outline exciting future applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shantanu Guha
- University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Ryan P Ferrie
- Tulane University School of Medicine, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Jenisha Ghimire
- Tulane University School of Medicine, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Cristina R Ventura
- Seton Hall University, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, South Orange, NJ, USA
| | - Eric Wu
- Tulane University School of Medicine, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Leisheng Sun
- Tulane University School of Medicine, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Sarah Y Kim
- Duke University, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Gregory R Wiedman
- Seton Hall University, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, South Orange, NJ, USA
| | - Kalina Hristova
- Johns Hopkins University, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Baltimore, MD, USA.
| | - Wimley C Wimley
- University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, Houston, TX, USA.
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10
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Wang W, Feng G, Li X, Ruan C, Ming J, Zeng K. Inhibition of Three Citrus Pathogenic Fungi by Peptide PAF56 Involves Cell Membrane Damage. Foods 2021; 10:foods10092031. [PMID: 34574141 PMCID: PMC8469410 DOI: 10.3390/foods10092031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2021] [Revised: 08/17/2021] [Accepted: 08/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The peptide PAF56 (GHRKKWFW) was reported to be an effective control for the main diseases of citrus fruit during postharvest storage. However, the mechanism of action of PAF56 is still unknown. In this paper, PAF56 might not induce defense resistance of citrus fruit. The SEM results visually indicated that the fungi mycelia became shrunken and distorted after being treated with PAF56. The destructive effects of PAF56 on the mycelial cell membrane of three kinds of pathogenic fungi (Penicillium digitatum, Penicillium italicum, and Geotrichum citri-aurantii) were verified by the K+ leakage and the release of nucleic acid. Furthermore, the interaction between peptide PAF56 and the pathogen spores was investigated, including the changes in cell membrane permeability and dynamic observation of the interaction of fluorescein labeled TMR-PAF56 and Geotrichum candidum spores. The results indicated that the antifungal activity of PAF56 on spores was time-dependent and directly related to the membrane damage. This research provided useful references for further research and practical application of peptides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenjun Wang
- College of Food Science, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China; (W.W.); (G.F.); (X.L.); (C.R.); (J.M.)
| | - Guirong Feng
- College of Food Science, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China; (W.W.); (G.F.); (X.L.); (C.R.); (J.M.)
| | - Xindan Li
- College of Food Science, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China; (W.W.); (G.F.); (X.L.); (C.R.); (J.M.)
| | - Changqing Ruan
- College of Food Science, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China; (W.W.); (G.F.); (X.L.); (C.R.); (J.M.)
- Research Center of Food Storage & Logistics, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Jian Ming
- College of Food Science, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China; (W.W.); (G.F.); (X.L.); (C.R.); (J.M.)
- Research Center of Food Storage & Logistics, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
| | - Kaifang Zeng
- College of Food Science, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China; (W.W.); (G.F.); (X.L.); (C.R.); (J.M.)
- Research Center of Food Storage & Logistics, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, China
- Key Laboratory of Plant Hormones and Development Regulation of Chongqing, Chongqing 401331, China
- Correspondence:
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11
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Lima PG, Freitas CDT, Oliveira JTA, Neto NAS, Amaral JL, Silva AFB, Sousa JS, Franco OL, Souza PFN. Synthetic antimicrobial peptides control Penicillium digitatum infection in orange fruits. Food Res Int 2021; 147:110582. [PMID: 34399551 DOI: 10.1016/j.foodres.2021.110582] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2021] [Revised: 05/07/2021] [Accepted: 06/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Fungal contamination is among the main reasons for food spoilage, affecting food safety and the economy. Among fungi, Penicillium digitatum is a major agent of this problem. Here, the in vitro activity of eight synthetic antimicrobial peptides was assessed against P. digitatum, and their action mechanisms were evaluated. All peptides were able to inhibit fungal growth. Furthermore, atomic force and fluorescence microscopies revealed that all peptides targeted the fungal membrane leading to pore formation, loss of internal content, and death. The induction of high levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) was also a mechanism employed by some peptides. Interestingly, only three peptides (PepGAT, PepKAA, and Mo-CBP3-PepI) effectively control P. digitatum colonization in orange fruits, at a concentration (50 µg mL-1) 20-fold lower than the commercial food preservative (sodium propionate). Altogether, PepGAT, PepKAA, and Mo-CBP3-PepI showed high biotechnological potential as new food preservatives to control food infection by P. digitatum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrícia G Lima
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, Ceará CEP 60.440-554, Brazil
| | - Cleverson D T Freitas
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, Ceará CEP 60.440-554, Brazil
| | - Jose T A Oliveira
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, Ceará CEP 60.440-554, Brazil
| | - Nilton A S Neto
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, Ceará CEP 60.440-554, Brazil
| | - Jackson L Amaral
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, Ceará CEP 60.440-554, Brazil; Department of Physics, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, Brazil
| | - Ayrles F B Silva
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, Ceará CEP 60.440-554, Brazil; Department of Physics, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, Brazil
| | - Jeanlex S Sousa
- Department of Physics, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, Brazil
| | - Octávio L Franco
- S-Inova Biotech, Programa de Pós Graduação em Biotecnologia, Universidade Católica Dom Bosco, Campo Grande 79117900, Brazil; Centro de Análises Proteômicas e Bioquímicas, Universidade Católica de Brasília, Brasília 70790160, Brazil
| | - Pedro F N Souza
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, Ceará CEP 60.440-554, Brazil.
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Sarkar T, Chetia M, Chatterjee S. Antimicrobial Peptides and Proteins: From Nature's Reservoir to the Laboratory and Beyond. Front Chem 2021; 9:691532. [PMID: 34222199 PMCID: PMC8249576 DOI: 10.3389/fchem.2021.691532] [Citation(s) in RCA: 79] [Impact Index Per Article: 26.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2021] [Accepted: 05/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Rapid rise of antimicrobial resistance against conventional antimicrobials, resurgence of multidrug resistant microbes and the slowdown in the development of new classes of antimicrobials, necessitates the urgent development of alternate classes of therapeutic molecules. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are small proteins present in different lifeforms in nature that provide defense against microbial infections. They have been effective components of the host defense system for a very long time. The fact that the development of resistance by the microbes against the AMPs is relatively slower or delayed compared to that against the conventional antibiotics, makes them prospective alternative therapeutics of the future. Several thousands of AMPs have been isolated from various natural sources like microorganisms, plants, insects, crustaceans, animals, humans, etc. to date. However, only a few of them have been translated commercially to the market so far. This is because of some inherent drawbacks of the naturally obtained AMPs like 1) short half-life owing to the susceptibility to protease degradation, 2) inactivity at physiological salt concentrations, 3) cytotoxicity to host cells, 4) lack of appropriate strategies for sustained and targeted delivery of the AMPs. This has led to a surge of interest in the development of synthetic AMPs which would retain or improve the antimicrobial potency along with circumventing the disadvantages of the natural analogs. The development of synthetic AMPs is inspired by natural designs and sequences and strengthened by the fusion with various synthetic elements. Generation of the synthetic designs are based on various strategies like sequence truncation, mutation, cyclization and introduction of unnatural amino acids and synthons. In this review, we have described some of the AMPs isolated from the vast repertoire of natural sources, and subsequently described the various synthetic designs that have been developed based on the templates of natural AMPs or from de novo design to make commercially viable therapeutics of the future. This review entails the journey of the AMPs from their natural sources to the laboratory.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Sunanda Chatterjee
- Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology, Guwahati, India
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13
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Manju Devi S, Raj N, Sashidhar RB. Efficacy of short-synthetic antifungal peptides on pathogenic Aspergillus flavus. PESTICIDE BIOCHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY 2021; 174:104810. [PMID: 33838711 DOI: 10.1016/j.pestbp.2021.104810] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2020] [Revised: 02/19/2021] [Accepted: 02/23/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
The efficacies of three short synthetic antifungal peptides were tested for their inhibitory action on pathogenic fungi, Aspergillus flavus. The sequences of the short synthetic peptides are PPD1- FRLHF, 66-10-FRLKFH, 77-3- FRLKFHF, respectively. These test peptides inhibited fungal growth and showed a membranolytic activity. The fungal biomass and ergosterol levels were significantly low in peptides treated samples. Further, the fungal cell wall component chitin was also found to be lower in peptides treated samples. Scanning electron microscopic images also showed highly wrinkled fungal mycelia. Significant membrane permeabilisation as well as potassium ion leakage was also observed in fungal samples treated with peptides. To assess the membrane damage, the uptake of Sytox green dye was employed. At tested concentration, peptides induced fungal membrane damage as evidenced by the green fluorescence. Further, at tested concentration, these peptides induced an oxidative stress in A.flavus as evidenced by an increase in the ROS production, malondialdehyde levels, increase in the antioxidant enzymes - superoxide dismutase, catalase with concomitant decrease in the reduced glutathione content. Additionally, a growth dependent reduction in aflatoxin levels were also observed in peptides treated samples. Docking studies on the interaction of the peptides with a trans-membrane protein calcium ATPase of A. flavus showed that all the peptides were able to bind to the protein with high z rank score. The activity of the calcium ATPase was significantly decreased in peptides treated fungal samples, thereby validating the docking results. Among all the tested peptides, 77-3 peptide exhibited the maximal membrane damage property.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Manju Devi
- Department of Biochemistry, University College of Science, Osmania University, Hyderabad 500007, Telangana State, India
| | - Navya Raj
- Department of Health Informatics, College of Health Sciences, Saudi Electronic University, Dammam, Saudi Arabia
| | - R B Sashidhar
- Department of Biochemistry, University College of Science, Osmania University, Hyderabad 500007, Telangana State, India.
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14
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Alexander AJT, Muñoz A, Marcos JF, Read ND. Calcium homeostasis plays important roles in the internalization and activities of the small synthetic antifungal peptide PAF26. Mol Microbiol 2020; 114:521-535. [PMID: 32898933 DOI: 10.1111/mmi.14532] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2020] [Revised: 05/01/2020] [Accepted: 05/17/2020] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
Fungal diseases are responsible for the deaths of over 1.5 million people worldwide annually. Antifungal peptides represent a useful source of antifungals with novel mechanisms-of-action, and potentially provide new methods of overcoming resistance. Here we investigate the mode-of-action of the small, rationally designed synthetic antifungal peptide PAF26 using the model fungus Neurospora crassa. Here we show that the cell killing activity of PAF26 is dependent on extracellular Ca2+ and the presence of fully functioning fungal Ca2+ homeostatic/signaling machinery. In a screen of mutants with deletions in Ca2+ -signaling machinery, we identified three mutants more tolerant to PAF26. The Ca2+ ATPase NCA-2 was found to be involved in the initial interaction of PAF26 with the cell envelope. The vacuolar Ca2+ channel YVC-1 was shown to be essential for its accumulation and concentration within the vacuolar system. The Ca2+ channel CCH-1 was found to be required to prevent the translocation of PAF26 across the plasma membrane. In the wild type, Ca2+ removal from the medium resulted in the peptide remaining trapped in small vesicles as in the Δyvc-1 mutant. It is, therefore, apparent that cell killing by PAF26 is complex and unusually dependent on extracellular Ca2+ and components of the Ca2+ -regulatory machinery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akira J T Alexander
- Institute of Infection, Immunity & Inflammation, The University of Glasgow, Glasgow, Scotland
| | - Alberto Muñoz
- MRC Centre for Medical Mycology, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
| | - Jose F Marcos
- Department of Food Biotechnology, Instituto de Agroquímica y Tecnología de Alimentos (IATA) , Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Valencia, Spain
| | - Nick D Read
- Manchester Fungal Infection Group, Infection, Immunity & Respiratory Medicine, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
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15
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Anti-fungal properties and mechanisms of melittin. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2020; 104:6513-6526. [PMID: 32500268 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-020-10701-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2020] [Revised: 05/15/2020] [Accepted: 05/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Many fungal diseases remain poorly addressed by public health authorities, despite posing a substantial threat to humans, animals, and plants. More worryingly, few classes of anti-fungals have been developed to combat fungal infections thus far. These medications also have certain drawbacks in terms of toxicity, spectrum of activity, and pharmacokinetic properties. Hence, there is a dire need for discovery of novel anti-fungal agents. Melittin, the main constituent in the venom of European honeybee Apis mellifera, has attracted considerable attention among researchers owing to its potential therapeutic applications. To our knowledge, there has been no review pertinent to anti-fungal properties of melittin, prompting us to synopsize the results of experimental investigations with a special emphasis upon underlying mechanisms. In this respect, melittin inhibits a broad spectrum of fungal genera including Aspergillus, Botrytis, Candida, Colletotrichum, Fusarium, Malassezia, Neurospora, Penicillium, Saccharomyces, Trichoderma, Trichophyton, and Trichosporon. Melittin hinders fungal growth by several mechanisms such as membrane permeabilization, apoptosis induction by reactive oxygen species-mediated mitochondria/caspase-dependent pathway, inhibition of (1,3)-β-D-glucan synthase, and alterations in fungal gene expression. Overall, melittin will definitely open up new avenues for various biomedical applications, from medicine to agriculture. KEYPOINTS: • Venom-derived peptides have potential for development of anti-microbial agents. • Many fungal pathogens are susceptible to melittin at micromolar concentrations. • Melittin possesses multi-target mechanism of action against fungal cells.
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16
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LFB: A Novel Antimicrobial Brevinin-Like Peptide from the Skin Secretion of the Fujian Large Headed Frog, Limnonectes fujianensi. Biomolecules 2019; 9:biom9060242. [PMID: 31234333 PMCID: PMC6627297 DOI: 10.3390/biom9060242] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2019] [Revised: 05/27/2019] [Accepted: 05/27/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Amphibians are a natural source of abundant antimicrobial peptides and thus have been widely investigated for isolation of such biomolecules. Many new antimicrobial peptide families have been discovered from amphibians. In this study, a novel antimicrobial peptide named Limnonectes fujianensis Brevinvin (LFB) has been identified in the skin secretion from the Fujian large headed frog, Limnonectes fujianensis. The cDNA sequence was cloned from a skin secretion library and the predicted mature peptide was identified through MS/MS fragmentation sequencing of reverse phase HPLC fractions on the same sample. LFB was predicted to be an amphipathic, hydrophobic, alpha helical, and beta turn peptide that inserts into a lipid bilayer in order to kill the cells. In antimicrobial assays, a synthetic replicate of this novel antimicrobial peptide demonstrated significant activity against the Gram-positive bacterium Staphylococcus aureus, the Gram-negative bacterium Escherichia coli and the yeast, Candida albicans. This novel peptide was highly potent (MIC 4.88 uM) against Gram-negative bacterium, and also has the ability to inhibit the growth of human cancer cell lines with IC50 values ranging from 18.9 μM down to 2.0 μM. These findings help to enrich our understanding of Brevinin-like peptides. Moreover, the data presented here validate frog secretion as a source of potential novel antimicrobial peptides, that also exhibit anti-tumor properties, that could be useful for the treatment of cancer.
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17
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Devi MS, Sashidhar RB. Antiaflatoxigenic effects of selected antifungal peptides. Peptides 2019; 115:15-26. [PMID: 30776385 DOI: 10.1016/j.peptides.2019.02.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2018] [Revised: 02/08/2019] [Accepted: 02/14/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Aflatoxins are potent carcinogenic mycotoxins produced as secondary metabolites mainly by the fungi Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus. Control measures to curtail the contamination of aflatoxin in food products is still a challenge. Although there are several reports on the antifungal peptides, there is no specific study on the action of antifungal peptides on aflatoxin synthesis. This work details the effect of four antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) - PPD1 (FRLHF), 66-10 (FRLKFH), 77-3 (FRLKFHF) and D4E1 (FKLRAKIKVRLRAKIKL) on the aflatoxin production by A. flavus and A. parasiticus. Results of the investigations suggests that AMPs at near minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) were effectively inhibiting aflatoxins, without hindering the growth of the fungi. These AMPs, at concentrations near MIC, induced membrane permeabilisation, without inducing cellular leakage. The involvement of oxidative stress for the aflatoxin synthesis was reversed by the antioxidant nature of the peptides as evidenced by the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2'-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid (ABTS) assay, reactive oxygen species production, malondialdehyde and antioxidant enzymes analysis. Quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) analysis of the aflatoxin gene cluster showed that 'aflR' and its downstream genes expressions were significantly down regulated. Conidiation of the fungi were negatively influenced by the peptides as evidenced by scanning electron microscopy analysis and RT-qPCR. mRNA levels of Manganese-superoxide dismutase (Mn-SOD) showed a decrease in the expression in RT-qPCR. The effect of these peptides on aflatoxin inhibition provides insight into their use as novel antiaflatoxigenic molecules.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manju S Devi
- Department of Biochemistry, University College of Science, Osmania University, Hyderabad-500 007, Telangana State, India
| | - R B Sashidhar
- Department of Biochemistry, University College of Science, Osmania University, Hyderabad-500 007, Telangana State, India.
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18
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Effect of a novel antifungal peptide P852 on cell morphology and membrane permeability of Fusarium oxysporum. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-BIOMEMBRANES 2019; 1861:532-539. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbamem.2018.10.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2018] [Revised: 10/29/2018] [Accepted: 10/29/2018] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
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19
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Kim S, Lee DG. Role of calcium in reactive oxygen species-induced apoptosis in Candida albicans: an antifungal mechanism of antimicrobial peptide, PMAP-23. Free Radic Res 2019; 53:8-17. [DOI: 10.1080/10715762.2018.1511052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Suhyun Kim
- School of Life Sciences, BK21 Plus KNU Creative BioResearch Group, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, Korea
| | - Dong Gun Lee
- School of Life Sciences, BK21 Plus KNU Creative BioResearch Group, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, Korea
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20
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Zhao C, Mendive-Tapia L, Vendrell M. Fluorescent peptides for imaging of fungal cells. Arch Biochem Biophys 2018; 661:187-195. [PMID: 30465736 DOI: 10.1016/j.abb.2018.11.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2018] [Revised: 11/06/2018] [Accepted: 11/16/2018] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Fungal infections, especially with the advent of antimicrobial resistance, represent a major burden to our society. As a result, there has been an increasing interest in the development of new probes that accelerate the study of fungi-related biological processes and facilitate novel clinical diagnostic and treatment strategies. Fluorescence-based reporters can provide dynamic information at the molecular level with high spatial resolution. However, conventional fluorescent probes for microbes often suffer from low specificity. In the last decade, numerous studies have been reported on the chemical design and application of fluorescent peptides for both in vitro and in vivo imaging of fungal cells. In this article, we review different strategies used in the preparation of fluorescent peptides for pathogenic fungi as well as some of their applications in medical imaging and in mode-of-action mechanistic studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Can Zhao
- Manchester Fungal Infection Group, Division of Infection, Immunity and Respiratory Medicine, University of Manchester, Manchester, M13 9NT, United Kingdom
| | - Lorena Mendive-Tapia
- Centre for Inflammation Research, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH16 4TJ, United Kingdom
| | - Marc Vendrell
- Centre for Inflammation Research, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH16 4TJ, United Kingdom.
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21
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Heredero M, Garrigues S, Gandía M, Marcos JF, Manzanares P. Rational Design and Biotechnological Production of Novel AfpB-PAF26 Chimeric Antifungal Proteins. Microorganisms 2018; 6:microorganisms6040106. [PMID: 30326659 PMCID: PMC6313716 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms6040106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2018] [Revised: 10/04/2018] [Accepted: 10/11/2018] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) have been proposed as candidates to develop new antimicrobial compounds for medicine, agriculture, and food preservation. PAF26 is a synthetic antifungal hexapeptide obtained from combinatorial approaches with potent fungicidal activity against filamentous fungi. Other interesting AMPs are the antifungal proteins (AFPs) of fungal origin, which are basic cysteine-rich and small proteins that can be biotechnologically produced in high amounts. A promising AFP is the AfpB identified in the phytopathogen Penicillium digitatum. In this work, we aimed to rationally design, biotechnologically produce and test AfpB::PAF26 chimeric proteins to obtain designed AFPs (dAfpBs) with improved properties. The dAfpB6 and dAfpB9 chimeras could be produced using P. digitatum as biofactory and a previously described Penicillium chrysogenum-based expression cassette, but only dAfpB9 could be purified and characterized. Protein dAfpB9 showed subtle and fungus-dependent differences of fungistatic activity against filamentous fungi compared to native AfpB. Significantly, dAfpB9 lost the fungicidal activity of PAF26 and AfpB, thus disconnecting this activity from the fungistatic activity and mapping fungicidal determinants to the exposed loop L3 of AfpB, wherein modifications are located. This study provides information on the design and development of novel chimeric AFPs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcos Heredero
- Department of Biotechnology, Instituto de Agroquímica y Tecnología de Alimentos (IATA), Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Paterna, 46980 Valencia, Spain.
| | - Sandra Garrigues
- Department of Biotechnology, Instituto de Agroquímica y Tecnología de Alimentos (IATA), Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Paterna, 46980 Valencia, Spain.
| | - Mónica Gandía
- Department of Biotechnology, Instituto de Agroquímica y Tecnología de Alimentos (IATA), Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Paterna, 46980 Valencia, Spain.
| | - Jose F Marcos
- Department of Biotechnology, Instituto de Agroquímica y Tecnología de Alimentos (IATA), Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Paterna, 46980 Valencia, Spain.
| | - Paloma Manzanares
- Department of Biotechnology, Instituto de Agroquímica y Tecnología de Alimentos (IATA), Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Paterna, 46980 Valencia, Spain.
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22
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Wang W, Liu S, Deng L, Ming J, Yao S, Zeng K. Control of Citrus Post-harvest Green Molds, Blue Molds, and Sour Rot by the Cecropin A-Melittin Hybrid Peptide BP21. Front Microbiol 2018; 9:2455. [PMID: 30364142 PMCID: PMC6191494 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2018.02455] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2018] [Accepted: 09/25/2018] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
In this study, the activity of the cecropin A-melittin hybrid peptide BP21 (Ac-FKLFKKILKVL-NH2) in controlling of citrus post-harvest green and blue molds and sour rot and its involved mechanism was studied. The minimum inhibitory concentrations of BP21 against Penicillium digitatum, Penicillium italicum, and Geotrichum candidum were 8, 8, and 4 μmol L-1, respectively. BP21 could inhibit the growth of mycelia, the scanning electron microscopy results clearly showed that the mycelia treated with BP21 shrank, formed a rough surface, became distorted and collapsed. Fluorescent staining with SYTOX Green (SG) indicated that BP21 could disintegrate membranes. Membrane permeability parameters, including extracellular conductivity, the leakage of potassium ions, and the release of cellular constituents, visibly increased as the BP21 concentration increased. Gross and irreversible damage to the cytoplasm and membranes was observed. There was a positive correlation between hemolytic activity and the concentration of BP21. These results suggest peptide BP21 could be used to control citrus post-harvest diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenjun Wang
- College of Food Science, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Sha Liu
- College of Food Science, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Lili Deng
- College of Food Science, Southwest University, Chongqing, China.,Research Center of Food Storage & Logistics, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Jian Ming
- College of Food Science, Southwest University, Chongqing, China.,Research Center of Food Storage & Logistics, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Shixiang Yao
- College of Food Science, Southwest University, Chongqing, China.,Research Center of Food Storage & Logistics, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Kaifang Zeng
- College of Food Science, Southwest University, Chongqing, China.,Research Center of Food Storage & Logistics, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
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23
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Garrigues S, Gandía M, Castillo L, Coca M, Marx F, Marcos JF, Manzanares P. Three Antifungal Proteins From Penicillium expansum: Different Patterns of Production and Antifungal Activity. Front Microbiol 2018; 9:2370. [PMID: 30344516 PMCID: PMC6182064 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2018.02370] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2018] [Accepted: 09/18/2018] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Antifungal proteins of fungal origin (AFPs) are small, secreted, cationic, and cysteine-rich proteins. Filamentous fungi encode a wide repertoire of AFPs belonging to different phylogenetic classes, which offer a great potential to develop new antifungals for the control of pathogenic fungi. The fungus Penicillium expansum is one of the few reported to encode three AFPs each belonging to a different phylogenetic class (A, B, and C). In this work, the production of the putative AFPs from P. expansum was evaluated, but only the representative of class A, PeAfpA, was identified in culture supernatants of the native fungus. The biotechnological production of PeAfpB and PeAfpC was achieved in Penicillium chrysogenum with the P. chrysogenum-based expression cassette, which had been proved to work efficiently for the production of other related AFPs in filamentous fungi. Western blot analyses confirmed that P. expansum only produces PeAfpA naturally, whereas PeAfpB and PeAfpC could not be detected. From the three AFPs from P. expansum, PeAfpA showed the highest antifungal activity against all fungi tested, including plant and human pathogens. P. expansum was also sensitive to its self-AFPs PeAfpA and PeAfpB. PeAfpB showed moderate antifungal activity against filamentous fungi, whereas no activity could be attributed to PeAfpC at the conditions tested. Importantly, none of the PeAFPs showed hemolytic activity. Finally, PeAfpA was demonstrated to efficiently protect against fungal infections caused by Botrytis cinerea in tomato leaves and Penicillium digitatum in oranges. The strong antifungal potency of PeAfpA, together with the lack of cytotoxicity, and significant in vivo protection against phytopathogenic fungi that cause postharvest decay and plant diseases, make PeAfpA a promising alternative compound for application in agriculture, but also in medicine or food preservation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandra Garrigues
- Department of Biotechnology, Instituto de Agroquímica y Tecnología de Alimentos, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Valencia, Spain
| | - Mónica Gandía
- Department of Biotechnology, Instituto de Agroquímica y Tecnología de Alimentos, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Valencia, Spain
| | - Laia Castillo
- Centre for Research in Agricultural Genomics (CRAG, CSIC-IRTA-UAB-UB), Barcelona, Spain
| | - María Coca
- Centre for Research in Agricultural Genomics (CRAG, CSIC-IRTA-UAB-UB), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Florentine Marx
- Division of Molecular Biology, Biocenter, Innsbruck Medical University, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Jose F Marcos
- Department of Biotechnology, Instituto de Agroquímica y Tecnología de Alimentos, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Valencia, Spain
| | - Paloma Manzanares
- Department of Biotechnology, Instituto de Agroquímica y Tecnología de Alimentos, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Valencia, Spain
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24
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Moore J, Rajasekaran K, Cary JW, Chlan C. Mode of Action of the Antimicrobial Peptide D4E1 on Aspergillus flavus. Int J Pept Res Ther 2018. [DOI: 10.1007/s10989-018-9762-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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25
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New Antimicrobial Potential and Structural Properties of PAFB: A Cationic, Cysteine-Rich Protein from Penicillium chrysogenum Q176. Sci Rep 2018; 8:1751. [PMID: 29379111 PMCID: PMC5788923 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-20002-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2017] [Accepted: 01/11/2018] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Small, cysteine-rich and cationic proteins with antimicrobial activity are produced by diverse organisms of all kingdoms and represent promising molecules for drug development. The ancestor of all industrial penicillin producing strains, the ascomycete Penicillium chryosgenum Q176, secretes the extensively studied antifungal protein PAF. However, the genome of this strain harbours at least two more genes that code for other small, cysteine-rich and cationic proteins with potential antifungal activity. In this study, we characterized the pafB gene product that shows high similarity to PgAFP from P. chrysogenum R42C. Although abundant and timely regulated pafB gene transcripts were detected, we could not identify PAFB in the culture broth of P. chrysogenum Q176. Therefore, we applied a P. chrysogenum-based expression system to produce sufficient amounts of recombinant PAFB to address unanswered questions concerning the structure and antimicrobial function. Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR)-based analyses revealed a compact β-folded structure, comprising five β-strands connected by four solvent exposed and flexible loops and an “abcabc” disulphide bond pattern. We identified PAFB as an inhibitor of growth of human pathogenic moulds and yeasts. Furthermore, we document for the first time an anti-viral activity for two members of the small, cysteine-rich and cationic protein group from ascomycetes.
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26
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Garrigues S, Gandía M, Popa C, Borics A, Marx F, Coca M, Marcos JF, Manzanares P. Efficient production and characterization of the novel and highly active antifungal protein AfpB from Penicillium digitatum. Sci Rep 2017; 7:14663. [PMID: 29116156 PMCID: PMC5677034 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-15277-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2017] [Accepted: 10/24/2017] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Filamentous fungi encode distinct antifungal proteins (AFPs) that offer great potential to develop new antifungals. Fungi are considered immune to their own AFPs as occurs in Penicillium chrysogenum, the producer of the well-known PAF. The Penicillium digitatum genome encodes only one afp gene (afpB), and the corresponding protein (AfpB) belongs to the class B phylogenetic cluster. Previous attempts to detect AfpB were not successful. In this work, immunodetection confirmed the absence of AfpB accumulation in wild type and previous recombinant constitutive P. digitatum strains. Biotechnological production and secretion of AfpB were achieved in P. digitatum with the use of a P. chrysogenum-based expression cassette and in the yeast Pichia pastoris with the α-factor signal peptide. Both strategies allowed proper protein folding, efficient production and single-step purification of AfpB from culture supernatants. AfpB showed antifungal activity higher than the P. chrysogenum PAF against the majority of the fungi tested, especially against Penicillium species and including P. digitatum, which was highly sensitive to the self-AfpB. Spectroscopic data suggest that native folding is not required for activity. AfpB also showed notable ability to withstand protease and thermal degradation and no haemolytic activity, making AfpB a promising candidate for the control of pathogenic fungi.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandra Garrigues
- Department of Biotechnology, Instituto de Agroquímica y Tecnología de Alimentos (IATA), Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Paterna, Valencia, Spain
| | - Mónica Gandía
- Department of Biotechnology, Instituto de Agroquímica y Tecnología de Alimentos (IATA), Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Paterna, Valencia, Spain
| | - Crina Popa
- Centre for Research in Agricultural Genomics (CRAG), CSIC-IRTA-UAB-UB. Edifici CRAG, Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Attila Borics
- Institute of Biochemistry, Biological Research Centre of Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Florentine Marx
- Biocenter, Division of Molecular Biology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - María Coca
- Centre for Research in Agricultural Genomics (CRAG), CSIC-IRTA-UAB-UB. Edifici CRAG, Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Jose F Marcos
- Department of Biotechnology, Instituto de Agroquímica y Tecnología de Alimentos (IATA), Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Paterna, Valencia, Spain
| | - Paloma Manzanares
- Department of Biotechnology, Instituto de Agroquímica y Tecnología de Alimentos (IATA), Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Paterna, Valencia, Spain.
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27
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Budagavi DP, Zarin S, Chugh A. Antifungal activity of Latarcin 1 derived cell-penetrating peptides against Fusarium solani. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-BIOMEMBRANES 2017; 1860:250-256. [PMID: 29108892 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbamem.2017.10.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2017] [Revised: 10/16/2017] [Accepted: 10/26/2017] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Cell-penetrating peptides and antimicrobial peptides share physicochemical characteristics and mechanisms of interaction with biological membranes, hence, termed as membrane active peptides. The present study aims at evaluating AMP activity of CPPs. LDP-NLS and LDP are Latarcin 1 derived cell-penetrating peptides and in the current study we have evaluated antifungal and cell-penetrating properties of these CPPs in Fusarium solani. We observed that LDP-NLS and LDP exhibited excellent antifungal activity against the fungus. Cellular uptake experiments with LDP-NLS and LDP showed that LDP-NLS acted as a CPP but LDP uptake into fungal spores and hyphae was negligible. CPP and AMP activity of mutated version of LDP-NLS was also evaluated and it was observed that both the activities of the peptide were compromised, signifying the importance of arginines and lysines present in LDP-NLS for initial interaction of membrane active peptides with biological membranes. Dextrans and Propidium Iodide uptake studies revealed that the mode of entry of LDP-NLS into fungal hyphae is through pore formation. Also, both LDP-NLS and LDP showed no cytotoxicity when infiltered into leaf tissues. Overall, our results suggest that LDP-NLS and LDP are selectively cytotoxic to F. solani and can be a potent peptide based antifungal agents.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sheeba Zarin
- Kusuma School of Biological Sciences, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, New Delhi 110016, India
| | - Archana Chugh
- Kusuma School of Biological Sciences, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, New Delhi 110016, India.
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28
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Jiang H, Ji C, Sui J, Sa R, Wang X, Liu X, Guo TL. Antibacterial and antitumor activity of Bogorol B-JX isolated from Brevibacillus laterosporus JX-5. World J Microbiol Biotechnol 2017; 33:177. [DOI: 10.1007/s11274-017-2337-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2017] [Accepted: 08/18/2017] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
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29
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Pinheiro AM, Carreira A, Prescott TAK, Ferreira RB, Monteiro SA. Bridging the Gap to Non-toxic Fungal Control: Lupinus-Derived Blad-Containing Oligomer as a Novel Candidate to Combat Human Pathogenic Fungi. Front Microbiol 2017; 8:1182. [PMID: 28702011 PMCID: PMC5487463 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2017.01182] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2017] [Accepted: 06/12/2017] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
The lack of antifungal drugs with novel modes of action reaching the clinic is a serious concern. Recently a novel antifungal protein referred to as Blad-containing oligomer (BCO) has received regulatory approval as an agricultural antifungal agent. Interestingly its spectrum of antifungal activity includes human pathogens such as Candida albicans, however, its mode of action has yet to be elucidated. Here we demonstrate that BCO exerts its antifungal activity through inhibition of metal ion homeostasis which results in apoptotic cell death in C. albicans. HIP HOP profiling in Saccharomyces cerevisiae using a panel of signature strains that are characteristic for common modes of action identified hypersensitivity in yeast lacking the iron-dependent transcription factor Aft1 suggesting restricted iron uptake as a mode of action. Furthermore, global transcriptome profiling in C. albicans also identified disruption of metal ion homeostasis as a potential mode of action. Experiments were carried out to assess the effect of divalent metal ions on the antifungal activity of BCO revealing that BCO activity is antagonized by metal ions such as Mn2+, Zn2+, and Fe2+. The transcriptome profile also implicated sterol synthesis as a possible secondary mode of action which was subsequently confirmed in sterol synthesis assays in C. albicans. Animal models for toxicity showed that BCO is generally well tolerated and presents a promising safety profile as a topical applied agent. Given its potent broad spectrum antifungal activity and novel multitarget mode of action, we propose BCO as a promising new antifungal agent for the topical treatment of fungal infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana M Pinheiro
- Linking Landscape, Environment, Agriculture and Food, Instituto Superior de Agronomia, Universidade de LisboaLisboa, Portugal
| | - Alexandra Carreira
- CEV, SA, Parque Industrial de Cantanhede/Biocant-ParkCantanhede, Portugal
| | | | - Ricardo B Ferreira
- Linking Landscape, Environment, Agriculture and Food, Instituto Superior de Agronomia, Universidade de LisboaLisboa, Portugal
| | - Sara A Monteiro
- Linking Landscape, Environment, Agriculture and Food, Instituto Superior de Agronomia, Universidade de LisboaLisboa, Portugal.,CEV, SA, Parque Industrial de Cantanhede/Biocant-ParkCantanhede, Portugal
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Olmedo GM, Cerioni L, González MM, Cabrerizo FM, Rapisarda VA, Volentini SI. Antifungal activity of β-carbolines on Penicillium digitatum and Botrytis cinerea. Food Microbiol 2017; 62:9-14. [DOI: 10.1016/j.fm.2016.09.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2015] [Revised: 08/11/2016] [Accepted: 09/15/2016] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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Olmedo GM, Cerioni L, González MM, Cabrerizo FM, Volentini SI, Rapisarda VA. UVA Photoactivation of Harmol Enhances Its Antifungal Activity against the Phytopathogens Penicillium digitatum and Botrytis cinerea. Front Microbiol 2017; 8:347. [PMID: 28326067 PMCID: PMC5339243 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2017.00347] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2016] [Accepted: 02/20/2017] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Phytopathogenic fungi responsible for post-harvest diseases on fruit and vegetables cause important economic losses. We have previously reported that harmol (1-methyl-9H-pyrido[3,4-b]indol-7-ol) is active against the causal agents of green and gray molds Penicillium digitatum and Botrytis cinerea, respectively. Here, antifungal activity of harmol was characterized in terms of pH dependency and conidial targets; also photodynamic effects of UVA irradiation on the antimicrobial action were evaluated. Harmol was able to inhibit the growth of both post-harvest fungal disease agents only in acidic conditions (pH 5), when it was found in its protonated form. Conidia treated with harmol exhibited membrane integrity loss, cell wall disruption, and cytoplasm disorganization. All these deleterious effects were more evident for B. cinerea in comparison to P. digitatum. When conidial suspensions were irradiated with UVA in the presence of harmol, antimicrobial activity against both pathogens was enhanced, compared to non-irradiated conditions. B. cinerea exhibited a high intracellular production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) when was incubated with harmol in irradiated and non-irradiated treatments. P. digitatum showed a significant increase in ROS accumulation only when treated with photoexcited harmol. The present work contributes to unravel the antifungal activity of harmol and its photoexcited counterpart against phytopathogenic conidia, focusing on ROS accumulation which could account for damage on different cellular targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriela M. Olmedo
- INSIBIO (CONICET, UNT), Instituto de Química Biológica “Dr. Bernabé Bloj”, Facultad de Bioquímica, Química y Farmacia, UNTTucumán, Argentina
| | - Luciana Cerioni
- INSIBIO (CONICET, UNT), Instituto de Química Biológica “Dr. Bernabé Bloj”, Facultad de Bioquímica, Química y Farmacia, UNTTucumán, Argentina
| | | | | | - Sabrina I. Volentini
- INSIBIO (CONICET, UNT), Instituto de Química Biológica “Dr. Bernabé Bloj”, Facultad de Bioquímica, Química y Farmacia, UNTTucumán, Argentina
| | - Viviana A. Rapisarda
- INSIBIO (CONICET, UNT), Instituto de Química Biológica “Dr. Bernabé Bloj”, Facultad de Bioquímica, Química y Farmacia, UNTTucumán, Argentina
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D19S Mutation of the Cationic, Cysteine-Rich Protein PAF: Novel Insights into Its Structural Dynamics, Thermal Unfolding and Antifungal Function. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0169920. [PMID: 28072824 PMCID: PMC5224997 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0169920] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2016] [Accepted: 12/23/2016] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The cysteine-rich, cationic, antifungal protein PAF is abundantly secreted into the culture supernatant of the filamentous Ascomycete Penicillium chrysogenum. The five β-strands of PAF form a compact β-barrel that is stabilized by three disulphide bonds. The folding of PAF allows the formation of four surface-exposed loops and distinct charged motifs on the protein surface that might regulate the interaction of PAF with the sensitive target fungus. The growth inhibitory activity of this highly stable protein against opportunistic fungal pathogens provides great potential in antifungal drug research. To understand its mode of action, we started to investigate the surface-exposed loops of PAF and replaced one aspartic acid at position 19 in loop 2 that is potentially involved in PAF active or binding site, with a serine (Asp19 to Ser19). We analysed the overall effects, such as unfolding, electrostatic changes, sporadic conformers and antifungal activity when substituting this specific amino acid to the fairly indifferent amino acid serine. Structural analyses revealed that the overall 3D solution structure is virtually identical with that of PAF. However, PAFD19S showed slightly increased dynamics and significant differences in the surface charge distribution. Thermal unfolding identified PAFD19S to be rather a two-state folder in contrast to the three-state folder PAF. Functional comparison of PAFD19S and PAF revealed that the exchange at residue 19 caused a dramatic loss of antifungal activity: the binding and internalization of PAFD19S by target cells was reduced and the protein failed to trigger an intracellular Ca2+ response, all of which are closely linked to the antifungal toxicity of PAF. We conclude that the negatively charged residue Asp19 in loop 2 is essential for full function of the cationic protein PAF.
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Puig M, Moragrega C, Ruz L, Calderón CE, Cazorla FM, Montesinos E, Llorente I. Interaction of antifungal peptide BP15 with Stemphylium vesicarium , the causal agent of brown spot of pear. Fungal Biol 2016; 120:61-71. [DOI: 10.1016/j.funbio.2015.10.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2015] [Revised: 10/13/2015] [Accepted: 10/23/2015] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
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Ghosh P, Roy A, Hess D, Ghosh A, Das S. Deciphering the mode of action of a mutant Allium sativum Leaf Agglutinin (mASAL), a potent antifungal protein on Rhizoctonia solani. BMC Microbiol 2015; 15:237. [PMID: 26502719 PMCID: PMC4623900 DOI: 10.1186/s12866-015-0549-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2015] [Accepted: 10/02/2015] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Mutant Allium sativum leaf agglutinin (mASAL) is a potent, biosafe, antifungal protein that exhibits fungicidal activity against different phytopathogenic fungi, including Rhizoctonia solani. Methods The effect of mASAL on the morphology of R.solani was monitored primarily by scanning electron and light microscopic techniques. Besides different fluorescent probes were used for monitoring various intracellular changes associated with mASAL treatment like change in mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), intracellular accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and induction of programmed cell death (PCD). In addition ligand blot followed by LC-MS/MS analyses were performed to detect the putative interactors of mASAL. Results Knowledge on the mode of function for any new protein is a prerequisite for its biotechnological application. Detailed morphological analysis of mASAL treated R. solani hyphae using different microscopic techniques revealed a detrimental effect of mASAL on both the cell wall and the plasma membrane. Moreover, exposure to mASAL caused the loss of mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) and the subsequent intracellular accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the target organism. In conjunction with this observation, evidence of the induction of programmed cell death (PCD) was also noted in the mASAL treated R. solani hyphae. Furthermore, we investigated its interacting partners from R. solani. Using ligand blots followed by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) analyses, we identified different binding partners including Actin, HSP70, ATPase and 14-3-3 protein. Conclusions Taken together, the present study provides insight into the probable mode of action of the antifungal protein, mASAL on R. solani which could be exploited in future biotechnological applications. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12866-015-0549-7) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Prithwi Ghosh
- Division of Plant Biology, Bose Institute, Centenary Campus, P1/12, CIT Scheme, VIIM, Kankurgachi, Kolkata, 700054, West Bengal, India.
| | - Amit Roy
- Division of Plant Biology, Bose Institute, Centenary Campus, P1/12, CIT Scheme, VIIM, Kankurgachi, Kolkata, 700054, West Bengal, India. .,Present address: Chemical Ecology, Department of Plant Protection Biology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Alnarp, SE-230 53, Sweden.
| | - Daniel Hess
- The Protein Analysis Facility, Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research, Basel, Switzerland.
| | - Anupama Ghosh
- Division of Plant Biology, Bose Institute, Centenary Campus, P1/12, CIT Scheme, VIIM, Kankurgachi, Kolkata, 700054, West Bengal, India.
| | - Sampa Das
- Division of Plant Biology, Bose Institute, Centenary Campus, P1/12, CIT Scheme, VIIM, Kankurgachi, Kolkata, 700054, West Bengal, India.
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Harries E, Gandía M, Carmona L, Marcos JF. The Penicillium digitatum protein O-mannosyltransferase Pmt2 is required for cell wall integrity, conidiogenesis, virulence and sensitivity to the antifungal peptide PAF26. MOLECULAR PLANT PATHOLOGY 2015; 16:748-761. [PMID: 25640475 PMCID: PMC6638402 DOI: 10.1111/mpp.12232] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
The activity of protein O-mannosyltransferases (Pmts) affects the morphogenesis and virulence of fungal pathogens. Recently, PMT genes have been shown to determine the sensitivity of Saccharomyces cerevisiae to the antifungal peptide PAF26. This study reports the identification and characterization of the three Pdpmt genes in the citrus post-harvest pathogen Penicillium digitatum. The Pdpmt genes are expressed during fungal growth and fruit infection, with the highest induction for Pdpmt2. Pdpmt2 complemented the growth defect of the S. cerevisiae Δpmt2 strain. The Pdpmt2 gene mutation in P. digitatum caused pleiotropic effects, including a reduction in fungal growth and virulence, whereas its constitutive expression had no phenotypic effect. The Pdpmt2 null mutants also showed a distinctive colourless phenotype with a strong reduction in the number of conidia, which was associated with severe alterations in the development of conidiophores. Additional effects of the Pdpmt2 mutation were hyphal morphological alterations, increased sensitivity to cell wall-interfering compounds and a blockage of invasive growth. In contrast, the Pdpmt2 mutation increased tolerance to oxidative stress and to the antifungal activity of PAF26. These data confirm the role of protein O-glycosylation in the PAF26-mediated antifungal mechanism present in distantly related fungal species. Important to future crop protection strategies, this study demonstrates that a mutation rendering fungi more resistant to an antifungal peptide results in severe deleterious effects on fungal growth and virulence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eleonora Harries
- Departamento de Ciencia de los Alimentos, Instituto de Agroquímica y Tecnología de Alimentos (IATA), CSIC, Avda, Agustín Escardino-7, Paterna, 46980, Valencia, Spain
| | - Mónica Gandía
- Departamento de Ciencia de los Alimentos, Instituto de Agroquímica y Tecnología de Alimentos (IATA), CSIC, Avda, Agustín Escardino-7, Paterna, 46980, Valencia, Spain
| | - Lourdes Carmona
- Departamento de Ciencia de los Alimentos, Instituto de Agroquímica y Tecnología de Alimentos (IATA), CSIC, Avda, Agustín Escardino-7, Paterna, 46980, Valencia, Spain
| | - Jose F Marcos
- Departamento de Ciencia de los Alimentos, Instituto de Agroquímica y Tecnología de Alimentos (IATA), CSIC, Avda, Agustín Escardino-7, Paterna, 46980, Valencia, Spain
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Jiang H, Wang X, Xiao C, Wang W, Zhao X, Sui J, Sa R, Guo TL, Liu X. Antifungal activity of Brevibacillus laterosporus JX-5 and characterization of its antifungal components. World J Microbiol Biotechnol 2015; 31:1605-18. [PMID: 26265360 DOI: 10.1007/s11274-015-1912-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2015] [Accepted: 07/20/2015] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
The establishment of safe and effective methods for controlling fungal disease is an urgent issue in agriculture and forestry. Microbiological control of plant disease is expected to achieve better results than use of chemically derived fungicides. This study aimed to establish Brevibacillus laterosporus JX-5 as a potential microbiological control agent of poplar canker. The bacterium was isolated from the poplar rhizosphere and demonstrated significant growth inhibition of several pathogenic fungi in vitro. The antifungal components of Br. laterosporus JX-5 were isolated and identified. The fermentation broth of Br. laterosporus JX-5 and its main antifungal component, designated as component B, reduced Botryosphaeria dothidea associated canker of the excised poplar branch by 70 and 90%, respectively. Component B is considerably heat-stable, adaptable to a broad pH range, and UV-resistant. It could inhibit Bo. dothidea by permeating the fungal membrane, fracturing the nuclei, damaging the cell wall, and eventually killing the pathogenic fungus. The antifungal activity exhibited by Br. laterosporus JX-5 and its bioactive metabolic products indicate its feasibility as a potential biocontrol agent for plant diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongxia Jiang
- College of Life Science, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian, 271018, China. .,School of Life Science, Taishan Medical University, Taian, 271018, China.
| | - Xiaohui Wang
- College of Life Science, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian, 271018, China
| | - Chengze Xiao
- College of Forestry, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian, 271018, China
| | - Weiyan Wang
- College of Forestry, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian, 271018, China
| | - Xu Zhao
- College of Forestry, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian, 271018, China
| | - Junkang Sui
- College of Life Science, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian, 271018, China
| | - Rongbo Sa
- College of Life Science, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian, 271018, China.,School of Life Science, Taishan Medical University, Taian, 271018, China
| | - Tai L Guo
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences and Diagnostic Imaging, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, 30602-7382, USA.
| | - Xunli Liu
- College of Forestry, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian, 271018, China.
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Concatemerization increases the inhibitory activity of short, cell-penetrating, cationic and tryptophan-rich antifungal peptides. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2015; 99:8011-21. [PMID: 25846331 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-015-6541-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2015] [Revised: 03/05/2015] [Accepted: 03/09/2015] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
There are short cationic and tryptophan-rich antifungal peptides such as the hexapeptide PAF26 (RKKWFW) that have selective toxicity and cell penetration properties against fungal cells. This study demonstrates that concatemeric peptides with tandem repeats of the heptapeptide PAF54 (which is an elongated PAF26 sequence) show increased fungistatic and bacteriostatic activities while maintaining the absence of hemolytic activity of the monomer. The increase in antimicrobial activity of the double-repeated PAF sequences (diPAFs), compared to the nonrepeated PAF, was higher (4-8-fold) than that seen for the triple-repeated sequences (triPAFs) versus the diPAFs (2-fold). However, concatemerization diminished the fungicidal activity against quiescent spores of the filamentous fungus Penicillium digitatum. Peptide solubility and sensitivity to proteolytic degradation were affected by the design of the concatemers: incorporation of the AGPA sequence hinge to separate PAF54 repeats increased solubility while the C-terminal addition of the KDEL sequence decreased in vitro stability. These results led to the design of the triPAF sequence PAF102 of 30 amino acid residues, with increased antimicrobial activity and minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) value of 1-5 μM depending on the fungus. Further characterization of the mode-of-action of PAF102 demonstrated that it colocalizes first with the fungal cell wall, it is thereafter internalized in an energy dependent manner into hyphal cells of the filamentous fungus Fusarium proliferatum, and finally kills hyphal cells intracellularly. Therefore, PAF102 showed mechanistic properties against fungi similar to the parental PAF26. These observations are of high interest in the future development of PAF-based antimicrobial molecules optimized for their production in biofactories.
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Puig M, Moragrega C, Ruz L, Montesinos E, Llorente I. Postinfection Activity of Synthetic Antimicrobial Peptides Against Stemphylium vesicarium in Pear. PHYTOPATHOLOGY 2014; 104:1192-200. [PMID: 24875384 DOI: 10.1094/phyto-02-14-0036-r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
Brown spot of pear is a fungal disease of economic importance caused by Stemphylium vesicarium that affects the pear crops in Europe. Due to the characteristics of this disease and the moderate efficacy of available fungicides, the effectiveness of control measures is very limited; however, synthetic antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) may be a complement to these fungicides. In the present study, 12 AMPs of the CECMEL11 library were screened for fungicidal activity against S. vesicarium. In vitro experiments showed that eight AMPs significantly reduced the germination of conidia. The most effective peptides, BP15, BP22, and BP25, reduced fungal growth and sporulation at concentrations below 50 μM. Leaf assays showed that preventive application of BP15 and BP22 did not reduce infection; however, when the peptides were applied curatively, infection was significantly reduced. The use of a BP15 fluorescein 5-isothiocyanate conjugate revealed that the peptide binds to hyphae and germ tubes and produces malformations that irreversibly stop their development.
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Liu P, Cheng Y, Yang M, Liu Y, Chen K, Long CA, Deng X. Mechanisms of action for 2-phenylethanol isolated from Kloeckera apiculata in control of Penicillium molds of citrus fruits. BMC Microbiol 2014; 14:242. [PMID: 25230758 PMCID: PMC4177429 DOI: 10.1186/s12866-014-0242-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2013] [Accepted: 09/08/2014] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Green and blue mold decay, caused by Penicillium digitatum and P. italicum, respectively, are important postharvest diseases of citrus. Biocontrol by microbes is an alternative to synthetic fungicide application. In this study, the antagonistic yeast strain Kloeckera apiculata 34-9 was used to investigate the action mechanisms involved in the biocontrol of postharvest diseases. RESULTS An antifungal substance, 2-phenylethanol (PEA), was isolated from K. apiculata and demonstrated to have antimicrobial activity against selected phytopathogenic fungi. Experiments on P. italicum cells identified the mitochondria and the nucleus as particularly sensitive to inhibition. Regulation of P. italicum gene expression was investigated using RNA-Seq. PEA up-regulated genes involved with the peroxisome, regulation of autophagy, phosphatidylinositol signaling system, protein processing in endoplasmic reticulum, fatty acid metabolism, and inhibited ribosome, RNA polymerase, DNA replication, amino acid biosynthesis, aminoacyl-tRNA biosynthesis and cell cycle. Inhibitory responses revealed by RNA-Seq suggest that PEA might compete for attachment on the active site of phenylalanyl-tRNA synthetase (PheRS). CONCLUSION This study provided new insight on the mode of action of biocontrol yeast agents in controlling postharvest pathogenic fungi.
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Troskie AM, de Beer A, Vosloo JA, Jacobs K, Rautenbach M. Inhibition of agronomically relevant fungal phytopathogens by tyrocidines, cyclic antimicrobial peptides isolated from Bacillus aneurinolyticus. Microbiology (Reading) 2014; 160:2089-2101. [DOI: 10.1099/mic.0.078840-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The tyrocidines, a complex of analogous cyclic decapeptides produced by Bacillus aneurinolyticus, exhibited noteworthy activity against a range of phytopathogenic fungi, including Fusarium verticillioides, Fusarium solani and Botrytis cinerea. The activity of the tyrocidine peptide complex (Trc mixture) and purified tyrocidines exhibited minimum inhibition concentrations below 13 µg ml−1 (~10 µM) and was significantly more potent than that of the commercial imidazole fungicide, bifonazole. Although the tyrocidines’ activity was negatively influenced by the presence of Ca2+, it remained unaffected by the presence of Mg2+, Na+ and K+. Microscopic analysis revealed significant impact on the morphology of F. solani and Bot. cinerea including retarded germination and hyperbranching of hyphae. Studies with membrane-impermeable dyes, SYTOX green and propidium iodide suggested that the main mode of action of tyrocidines involves the disruption of fungal membrane integrity. Because of the tyrocidines’ broad spectrum and potent antifungal activity, possible multiple targets reducing the risk of overt resistance and general salt tolerance, they are promising candidates that warrant further investigation as bio-fungicides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anscha M. Troskie
- BIOPEP Peptide Group, Department of Biochemistry, University of Stellenbosch, Private Bag X1, Matieland 7600, South Africa
| | - Abré de Beer
- BIOPEP Peptide Group, Department of Biochemistry, University of Stellenbosch, Private Bag X1, Matieland 7600, South Africa
| | - Johan A. Vosloo
- BIOPEP Peptide Group, Department of Biochemistry, University of Stellenbosch, Private Bag X1, Matieland 7600, South Africa
| | - Karin Jacobs
- Department of Microbiology, University of Stellenbosch, Private Bag X1, Matieland 7600, South Africa
| | - Marina Rautenbach
- BIOPEP Peptide Group, Department of Biochemistry, University of Stellenbosch, Private Bag X1, Matieland 7600, South Africa
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Gandía M, Harries E, Marcos JF. The myosin motor domain-containing chitin synthase PdChsVII is required for development, cell wall integrity and virulence in the citrus postharvest pathogen Penicillium digitatum. Fungal Genet Biol 2014; 67:58-70. [DOI: 10.1016/j.fgb.2014.04.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2013] [Revised: 03/21/2014] [Accepted: 04/01/2014] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
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AcT-2: a novel myotropic and antimicrobial type 2 tryptophyllin from the skin secretion of the Central American red-eyed leaf frog, Agalychnis callidryas. ScientificWorldJournal 2014; 2014:158546. [PMID: 24693226 PMCID: PMC3947715 DOI: 10.1155/2014/158546] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2013] [Accepted: 01/08/2014] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Tryptophyllins are a diverse family of amphibian peptides originally found in extracts of phyllomedusine frog skin by chemical means. Their biological activities remain obscure. Here we describe the isolation and preliminary pharmacological characterization of a novel type 2 tryptophyllin, named AcT-2, from the skin secretion of the red-eyed leaf frog, Agalychnis callidryas. The peptide was initially identified during smooth muscle pharmacological screening of skin secretion HPLC fractions and the unique primary structure—GMRPPWF-NH2—was established by both Edman degradation and electrospray MS/MS fragmentation sequencing. A. cDNA encoding the biosynthetic precursor of AcT-2 was successfully cloned from a skin secretion-derived cDNA library by means of RACE PCR and this contained an open-reading frame consisting of 62 amino acid residues with a single AcT-2 encoding sequence located towards the C-terminus. A synthetic replicate of AcT-2 was found to relax arterial smooth muscle (EC50 = 5.1 nM) and to contract rat urinary bladder smooth muscle (EC50 = 9.3 μM). The peptide could also inhibit the growth of the microorganisms, Staphylococcus aureus, (MIC = 256 mg/L) Escherichia coli (MIC = 512 mg/L), and Candida albicans (128 mg/L). AcT-2 is thus the first amphibian skin tryptophyllin found to possess both myotropic and antimicrobial activities.
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Ashraf MA, Ullah S, Ahmad I, Qureshi AK, Balkhair KS, Abdur Rehman M. Green biocides, a promising technology: current and future applications to industry and industrial processes. JOURNAL OF THE SCIENCE OF FOOD AND AGRICULTURE 2014; 94:388-403. [PMID: 23983055 DOI: 10.1002/jsfa.6371] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2013] [Revised: 07/27/2013] [Accepted: 08/23/2013] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
The study of biofilms has skyrocketed in recent years due to increased awareness of the pervasiveness and impact of biofilms. It costs the USA literally billions of dollars every year in energy losses, equipment damage, product contamination and medical infections. But biofilms also offer huge potential for cleaning up hazardous waste sites, filtering municipal and industrial water and wastewater, and forming biobarriers to protect soil and groundwater from contamination. The complexity of biofilm activity and behavior requires research contributions from many disciplines such as biochemistry, engineering, mathematics and microbiology. The aim of this review is to provide a comprehensive analysis of emerging novel antimicrobial techniques, including those using myriad organic and inorganic products as well as genetic engineering techniques, the use of coordination complex molecules, composite materials and antimicrobial peptides and the use of lasers as such or their modified use in combination treatments. This review also addresses advanced and recent modifications, including methodological changes, and biocide efficacy enhancing strategies. This review will provide future planners of biofilm control technologies with a broad understanding and perspective on the use of biocides in the field of green developments for a sustainable future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad Aqeel Ashraf
- Department of Civil Engineering, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Tokyo, 152-8550, Japan; Department of Geology, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, 50603, Malaysia; Department of Chemistry, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, 50603, Malaysia
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Harries E, Carmona L, Muñoz A, Ibeas JI, Read ND, Gandía M, Marcos JF. Genes involved in protein glycosylation determine the activity and cell internalization of the antifungal peptide PAF26 in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Fungal Genet Biol 2013; 58-59:105-15. [DOI: 10.1016/j.fgb.2013.08.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2013] [Revised: 07/29/2013] [Accepted: 08/02/2013] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
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Pushpanathan M, Gunasekaran P, Rajendhran J. Mechanisms of the antifungal action of marine metagenome-derived peptide, MMGP1, against Candida albicans. PLoS One 2013; 8:e69316. [PMID: 23844258 PMCID: PMC3699656 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0069316] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2013] [Accepted: 06/07/2013] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Development of resistant variants to existing antifungal drugs continues to be the serious problem in Candida albicans-induced fungal pathogenesis, which has a considerable impact on animal and human health. Identification and characterization of newer drugs against C. albicans is, therefore, essential. MMGP1 is a direct cell-penetrating peptide recently identified from marine metagenome, which was found to possess potent antifungal activity against C. albicans. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS In this study, we investigated the mechanism of antifungal action of MMGP1 against C. albicans. Agarose gel shift assay found the peptide to be having a remarkable DNA-binding ability. The modification of the absorption spectra and fluorescence quenching of the tryptophyl residue correspond to the stacking between indole ring and nucleotide bases. The formation of peptide-DNA complexes was confirmed by fluorescence quenching of SYTO 9 probe. The interaction of peptide with plasmid DNA afforded protection of DNA from enzymatic degradation by DNase I. In vitro transcription of mouse β-actin gene in the presence of peptide led to a decrease in the level of mRNA synthesis. The C. albicans treated with MMGP1 showed strong inhibition of biosynthetic incorporation of uridine analog 5-ethynyluridine (EU) into nascent RNA, suggesting the peptide's role in the inhibition of macromolecular synthesis. Furthermore, the peptide also induces endogenous accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in C. albicans. MMGP1 supplemented with glutathione showed an increased viability of C. albicans cells. The hyper-produced ROS by MMGP1 leads to increased levels of protein carbonyls and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances and it also causes dissipation of mitochondrial membrane potential and DNA fragmentation in C. albicans cells. CONCLUSION And Significance: Therefore, the antifungal activity of MMGP1 could be attributed to its binding with DNA, causing inhibition of transcription followed by endogenous production of ROS, which triggers cascade of events that leads to cell death.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muthuirulan Pushpanathan
- Department of Genetics, Centre for Excellence in Genomic Sciences, School of Biological Sciences, Madurai Kamaraj University, Madurai, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Paramasamy Gunasekaran
- Department of Genetics, Centre for Excellence in Genomic Sciences, School of Biological Sciences, Madurai Kamaraj University, Madurai, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Jeyaprakash Rajendhran
- Department of Genetics, Centre for Excellence in Genomic Sciences, School of Biological Sciences, Madurai Kamaraj University, Madurai, Tamil Nadu, India
- * E-mail:
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Pushpanathan M, Rajendhran J, Gunasekaran P. Proteolytic Activity of the MMGP1 Antifungal Peptide Derived from Marine Metagenome. Int J Pept Res Ther 2013. [DOI: 10.1007/s10989-013-9351-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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Zhang B, Dong C, Shang Q, Han Y, Li P. New insights into membrane-active action in plasma membrane of fungal hyphae by the lipopeptide antibiotic bacillomycin L. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-BIOMEMBRANES 2013; 1828:2230-7. [PMID: 23756779 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbamem.2013.05.033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2013] [Revised: 05/17/2013] [Accepted: 05/31/2013] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
Bacillomycin L, a natural iturinic lipopeptide produced by Bacillus amyloliquefaciens, is characterized by strong antifungal activities against a variety of agronomically important filamentous fungi including Rhizoctonia solani Kühn. Prior to this study, the role of membrane permeabilization in the antimicrobial activity of bacillomycin L against plant pathogenic fungi had not been investigated. To shed light on the mechanism of this antifungal activity, the permeabilization of R. solani hyphae by bacillomycin L was investigated and compared with that by amphotericin B, a polyene antibiotic which is thought to act primarily through membrane disruption. Our results derived from electron microscopy, various fluorescent techniques and gel retardation experiments revealed that the antifungal activity of bacillomycin L may be not solely a consequence of fungal membrane permeabilization, but related to the interaction of it with intracellular targets. Our findings provide more insights into the mode of action of bacillomycin L and other iturins, which could in turn help to develop new or improved antifungal formulations or result in novel strategies to prevent fungal spoilage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bao Zhang
- College of Food Science and Nutritional Engineering, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100083, China
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Pushpanathan M, Rajendhran J, Jayashree S, Sundarakrishnan B, Jayachandran S, Gunasekaran P. Direct cell penetration of the antifungal peptide, MMGP1, in Candida albicans. J Pept Sci 2013; 18:657-60. [PMID: 23080316 DOI: 10.1002/psc.2445] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
An antifungal peptide, MMGP1, was recently identified from marine metagenome. The mechanism of cellular internalization of this peptide in Candida albicans was studied using fluorescein 5-isothiocynate (Sigma, California, USA) labeling followed by fluorescence microscopy and flow cytometry analyses. The peptide could enter C. albicans cells even at 4 °C, where all energy-dependent transport mechanisms are blocked. In addition, the peptide internalization was not affected by the endocytic inhibitor, sodium azide. The kinetic study has shown that the peptide was initially localized on cell membrane and subsequently internalized into cytosol. The MMGP1 treatment exhibited time-dependent cytotoxicity in C. albicans as evidenced by SYTOX Green (Molecular Probes Inc., Eugene, Oreg) uptake.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muthuirulan Pushpanathan
- Department of Genetics, Centre for Excellence in Genomic Sciences, School of Biological Sciences, Madurai Kamaraj University, Madurai 625021, India
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Scarafoni A, Ronchi A, Prinsi B, Espen L, Assante G, Venturini G, Duranti M. The proteome of exudates from germinatingLupinus albusseeds is secreted through a selective dual-step process and contains proteins involved in plant defence. FEBS J 2013; 280:1443-59. [DOI: 10.1111/febs.12140] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2012] [Revised: 12/22/2012] [Accepted: 01/15/2013] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Alessio Scarafoni
- Department of Food, Environmental and Nutritional Sciences; Università degli Studi di Milano; Italy
| | - Alessandro Ronchi
- Department of Food, Environmental and Nutritional Sciences; Università degli Studi di Milano; Italy
| | - Bhakti Prinsi
- Department of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences - Production, Landscape, Agroenergy; Università degli Studi di Milano; Italy
| | - Luca Espen
- Department of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences - Production, Landscape, Agroenergy; Università degli Studi di Milano; Italy
| | - Gemma Assante
- Department of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences - Production, Landscape, Agroenergy; Università degli Studi di Milano; Italy
| | - Giovanni Venturini
- Department of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences - Production, Landscape, Agroenergy; Università degli Studi di Milano; Italy
| | - Marcello Duranti
- Department of Food, Environmental and Nutritional Sciences; Università degli Studi di Milano; Italy
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Muñoz A, Harries E, Contreras-Valenzuela A, Carmona L, Read ND, Marcos JF. Two functional motifs define the interaction, internalization and toxicity of the cell-penetrating antifungal peptide PAF26 on fungal cells. PLoS One 2013; 8:e54813. [PMID: 23349973 PMCID: PMC3549957 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0054813] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2012] [Accepted: 12/17/2012] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The synthetic, cell penetrating hexapeptide PAF26 (RKKWFW) is antifungal at low micromolar concentrations and has been proposed as a model for cationic, cell-penetrating antifungal peptides. Its short amino acid sequence facilitates the analysis of its structure-activity relationships using the fungal models Neurospora crassa and Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and human and plant pathogens Aspergillus fumigatus and Penicillium digitatum, respectively. Previously, PAF26 at low fungicidal concentrations was shown to be endocytically internalized, accumulated in vacuoles and then actively transported into the cytoplasm where it exerts its antifungal activity. In the present study, two PAF26 derivatives, PAF95 (AAAWFW) and PAF96 (RKKAAA), were designed to characterize the roles of the N-terminal cationic and the C-terminal hydrophobic motifs in PAF26's mode-of-action. PAF95 and PAF96 exhibited substantially reduced antifungal activity against all the fungi analyzed. PAF96 localized to fungal cell envelopes and was not internalized by the fungi. In contrast, PAF95 was taken up into vacuoles of N. crassa, wherein it accumulated and was trapped without toxic effects. Also, the PAF26 resistant Δarg1 strain of S. cerevisiae exhibited increased PAF26 accumulation in vacuoles. Live-cell imaging of GFP-labelled nuclei in A. fumigatus showed that transport of PAF26 from the vacuole to the cytoplasm was followed by nuclear breakdown and dissolution. This work demonstrates that the amphipathic PAF26 possesses two distinct motifs that allow three stages in its antifungal action to be defined: (i) its interaction with the cell envelope; (ii) its internalization and transport to vacuoles mediated by the aromatic hydrophobic domain; and (iii) its transport from vacuoles to the cytoplasm. Significantly, cationic residues in PAF26 are important not only for the electrostatic attraction and interaction with the fungal cell but also for transport from the vacuole to the cytoplasm, which coincides with cell death. Peptide containment within vacuoles preserves fungal cells from peptide toxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alberto Muñoz
- Fungal Cell Biology Group, Institute of Cell Biology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Eleonora Harries
- Fungal Cell Biology Group, Institute of Cell Biology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
- Department of Food Science, Instituto de Agroquímica y Tecnología de Alimentos (IATA), Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Paterna, Valencia, Spain
| | | | - Lourdes Carmona
- Department of Food Science, Instituto de Agroquímica y Tecnología de Alimentos (IATA), Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Paterna, Valencia, Spain
| | - Nick D. Read
- Fungal Cell Biology Group, Institute of Cell Biology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
- * E-mail: (JFM); (NDR)
| | - Jose F. Marcos
- Department of Food Science, Instituto de Agroquímica y Tecnología de Alimentos (IATA), Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Paterna, Valencia, Spain
- * E-mail: (JFM); (NDR)
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