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Liu Q, Wang L, He D, Wu Y, Liu X, Yang Y, Chen Z, Dong Z, Luo Y, Song Y. Application Value of Antimicrobial Peptides in Gastrointestinal Tumors. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:16718. [PMID: 38069041 PMCID: PMC10706433 DOI: 10.3390/ijms242316718] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2023] [Revised: 11/17/2023] [Accepted: 11/22/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Gastrointestinal cancer is a common clinical malignant tumor disease that seriously endangers human health and lacks effective treatment methods. As part of the innate immune defense of many organisms, antimicrobial peptides not only have broad-spectrum antibacterial activity but also can specifically kill tumor cells. The positive charge of antimicrobial peptides under neutral conditions determines their high selectivity to tumor cells. In addition, antimicrobial peptides also have unique anticancer mechanisms, such as inducing apoptosis, autophagy, cell cycle arrest, membrane destruction, and inhibition of metastasis, which highlights the low drug resistance and high specificity of antimicrobial peptides. In this review, we summarize the related studies on antimicrobial peptides in the treatment of digestive tract tumors, mainly oral cancer, esophageal cancer, gastric cancer, liver cancer, pancreatic cancer, and colorectal cancer. This paper describes the therapeutic advantages of antimicrobial peptides due to their unique anticancer mechanisms. The length, net charge, and secondary structure of antimicrobial peptides can be modified by design or modification to further enhance their anticancer effects. In summary, as an emerging cancer treatment drug, antimicrobial peptides need to be further studied to realize their application in gastrointestinal cancer diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qi Liu
- College of Life Science and Technology, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming 650500, China
| | - Lei Wang
- College of Life Science and Technology, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming 650500, China
| | - Dongxia He
- College of Life Science and Technology, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming 650500, China
| | - Yuewei Wu
- College of Life Science and Technology, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming 650500, China
| | - Xian Liu
- College of Life Science and Technology, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming 650500, China
| | - Yahan Yang
- College of Life Science and Technology, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming 650500, China
| | - Zhizhi Chen
- College of Life Science and Technology, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming 650500, China
| | - Zhan Dong
- College of Life Science and Technology, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming 650500, China
| | - Ying Luo
- College of Life Science and Technology, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming 650500, China
| | - Yuzhu Song
- College of Life Science and Technology, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming 650500, China
- Medical College, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming 650500, China
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2
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Vargas-Casanova Y, Bravo-Chaucanés CP, Martínez AXH, Costa GM, Contreras-Herrera JL, Medina RF, Rivera-Monroy ZJ, García-Castañeda JE, Parra-Giraldo CM. Combining the Peptide RWQWRWQWR and an Ethanolic Extract of Bidens pilosa Enhances the Activity against Sensitive and Resistant Candida albicans and C. auris Strains. J Fungi (Basel) 2023; 9:817. [PMID: 37623588 PMCID: PMC10455339 DOI: 10.3390/jof9080817] [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: 05/26/2023] [Revised: 07/05/2023] [Accepted: 07/07/2023] [Indexed: 08/26/2023] Open
Abstract
The antifungal activity of palindromic peptide RWQWRWQWR and its derivatives was evaluated against clinical isolates of Candida albicans and C. auris. Also, Bidens pilosa ethanolic extracts of leaves and stem were evaluated. Furthermore, combinations of peptide, extract, and/or fluconazole (FLC) were evaluated. The cytotoxicity of peptides and extracts in erythrocytes and fibroblasts was determined. The original palindromic peptide, some derivative peptides, and the ethanolic extract of leaves of B. pilosa exhibited the highest activity in some of the strains evaluated. Synergy was obtained between the peptide and the FLC against C. auris 435. The combination of the extract and the original palindromic peptide against C. albicans SC5314, C. auris 435, and C. auris 537 decreased the minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) by a factor of between 4 and 16. These mixtures induced changes in cell morphology, such as deformations on the cell surface. The results suggest that the combination of RWQWRWQWR and B. pilosa extract is an alternative for enhancing antifungal activity and decreasing cytotoxicity and costs and should be considered to be a promising strategy for treating diseases caused by Candida spp.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yerly Vargas-Casanova
- Microbiology Department, Faculty of Sciences, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá 110231, Colombia; (Y.V.-C.); (C.P.B.-C.)
| | | | | | - Geison Modesti Costa
- Chemistry Department, Faculty of Sciences, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá 110231, Colombia; (A.X.H.M.); (G.M.C.)
| | | | - Ricardo Fierro Medina
- Faculty of Sciences, Universidad Nacional of Colombia, Bogotá 111321, Colombia; (R.F.M.); (Z.J.R.-M.); (J.E.G.-C.)
| | - Zuly Jenny Rivera-Monroy
- Faculty of Sciences, Universidad Nacional of Colombia, Bogotá 111321, Colombia; (R.F.M.); (Z.J.R.-M.); (J.E.G.-C.)
| | | | - Claudia Marcela Parra-Giraldo
- Microbiology Department, Faculty of Sciences, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá 110231, Colombia; (Y.V.-C.); (C.P.B.-C.)
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3
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Akonnor A, Makise M, Kuniyasu A. CXCR4-Targeted Necrosis-Inducing Peptidomimetic for Treating Breast Cancer. ACS OMEGA 2023; 8:24467-24476. [PMID: 37457445 PMCID: PMC10339399 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.3c02415] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2023] [Accepted: 06/13/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023]
Abstract
Triple-negative breast cancer is an aggressive subtype with a high recurrence rate, potential for metastasis, and a poor prognosis. The chemokine receptor, CXCR4, is a promising molecular target in breast cancer therapy. Here, we have developed a CXCR4-targeted antitumor peptidomimetic (named CTCE-KLAK), which is a fusion of the CXCR4 receptor antagonist CTCE-9908 and the D-form of proapoptotic peptide (KLAKLAK)2, for the treatment of breast cancer. First, we investigated the in vitro antitumor activity of CTCE-KLAK against various breast cancer cells and noncancerous mammary epithelial cells. CTCE-KLAK showed cell-selective cytotoxicity and induced rapid necrotic cell death in breast cancer cells but not in normal cells. In contrast, unconjugated peptides such as the carboxylate analogues of CTCE-9908 and D(KLAKLAK)2 were not cytotoxic to these cells. The tumor selectivity of CTCE-KLAK for cytotoxic activity depends on its internalization into tumor cells. There was no cleavage of caspase-3, caspase-7, or PARP1 in CTCE-KLAK-treated cells. In addition, cell death by CTCE-KLAK was not prevented by z-VAD-fmk, a pan-caspase inhibitor that inhibits cisplatin-induced cell death. These data indicate that the CTCE-KLAK conjugate is a cell-selective inducer of necrosis. Furthermore, we evaluated the in vivo antitumor activity of CTCE-KLAK in the 4T1 mouse metastatic breast cancer model. Intravenous administration of CTCE-KLAK significantly inhibited tumor growth and lung metastasis. Together, these findings suggest that the necrosis-inducing peptidomimetic CTCE-KLAK is a promising CXCR4-targeted agent for treating triple-negative breast cancer.
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4
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Barragán-Cárdenas A, Insuasty-Cepeda DS, Vargas-Casanova Y, López-Meza JE, Parra-Giraldo CM, Fierro-Medina R, Rivera-Monroy ZJ, García-Castañeda JE. Changes in Length and Positive Charge of Palindromic Sequence RWQWRWQWR Enhance Cytotoxic Activity against Breast Cancer Cell Lines. ACS OMEGA 2023; 8:2712-2722. [PMID: 36687035 PMCID: PMC9850729 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.2c07336] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2022] [Accepted: 12/21/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Breast cancer is one of the main causes of premature death in women; current treatments have low selectivity, generating strong physical and psychological sequelae. The palindromic peptide R-1-R (RWQWRWQWR) has cytotoxic activity against different cell lines derived from cancer and selectivity against noncancerous cells. To determine if changes in the charge/length of this peptide increase its activity, six peptides were obtained by SPPS, three of them with addition of Arg at the N, C-terminal or both and three with deletion of Arg at the N, C-terminal or both. The cytotoxic and selective activities were evaluated against MCF-7, MDA-MB-231, and MCF-12 cell lines and fibroblast primary cell culture, evidencing that the RR-1-R peptide with the inclusion of Arg in the N-terminal end maintained selectivity and increased cytotoxicity against lines derived from breast cancer. The effect of this addition regarding the type of induced cell death was evaluated by flow cytometry, showing very low rates of necrosis and a significant majority of apoptotic events with activation of both Caspase 8 and Caspase 9. This work allowed us to find a modification that generates a peptide with greater cytotoxic effects and can be considered a promising molecule for other approaches to improve anticancer peptides.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Yerly Vargas-Casanova
- Microbiology
Department, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Ak. 7 #40-62, Bogotá 110231, Colombia
| | - Joel Edmundo López-Meza
- Multidisciplinary
Centre for Studies in Biotechnology, Universidad
Michoacana de San Nicolás de Hidalgo, Km 9.5 Carretera Morelia, Zinapécuaro, Morelia 58030, Mexico
| | | | - Ricardo Fierro-Medina
- Chemistry
Department, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Carrera 45 No. 26-85, Building 451, Bogota 111321, Colombia
| | - Zuly Jenny Rivera-Monroy
- Chemistry
Department, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Carrera 45 No. 26-85, Building 451, Bogota 111321, Colombia
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5
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Barragán-Cárdenas AC, Insuasty-Cepeda DS, Cárdenas-Martínez KJ, López-Meza J, Ochoa-Zarzosa A, Umaña-Pérez A, Rivera-Monroy ZJ, García-Castañeda JE. LfcinB-Derived Peptides: Specific and punctual change of an amino acid in monomeric and dimeric sequences increase selective cytotoxicity in colon cancer cell lines. ARAB J CHEM 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.arabjc.2022.103998] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/09/2022] Open
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6
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Evaluation of Anti-Candida Potential of Piper nigrum Extract in Inhibiting Growth, Yeast-Hyphal Transition, Virulent Enzymes, and Biofilm Formation. J Fungi (Basel) 2022; 8:jof8080784. [PMID: 36012773 PMCID: PMC9409899 DOI: 10.3390/jof8080784] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2022] [Revised: 07/12/2022] [Accepted: 07/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Due to the increased incidence of fungal infections and the emergence of antifungal resistance mainly by Candida species, the need for safe and effective novel therapies is imperative. Consequently, plants and herbs are a powerful source to combat infections. Here, we evaluated the anti-Candida potential of an ethanolic extract from Piper nigrum. The phytochemical analysis of P. nigrum revealed bioactive compounds such as alkaloids, terpenoids, and tannis. Our results showed that P. nigrum extract suppressed the virulence factors of C. albicans strains, including hyphae formation in both liquid and solid media, reduced secretion of phospholipases/proteinases, and affected biofilm formation. Furthermore, the P. nigrum extract showed no hemolytic effect in vitro and exhibited reduced cytotoxicity on Vero cells and G. mellonella larvae at concentrations that inhibited hyphae and biofilm in C. albicans. Moreover, the extract demonstrated antifungal activity against C. auris strains. In conclusion, the P. nigrum extract affected the growth and morphogenesis of Candida (even in resistant strains), demonstrating that this plant has an anti-candida activity and represents a promising resource for discovering novel antifungal compounds.
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7
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Effects of Substituting Arginine by Lysine in Bovine Lactoferricin Derived Peptides: Pursuing Production Lower Costs, Lower Hemolysis, and Sustained Antimicrobial Activity. Int J Pept Res Ther 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s10989-021-10207-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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8
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Rahman R, Fonseka AD, Sua S, Ahmad M, Rajendran R, Ambu S, Davamani F, Khoo AS, Chitra E. Inhibition of breast cancer xenografts in a mouse model and the induction of apoptosis in multiple breast cancer cell lines by lactoferricin B peptide. J Cell Mol Med 2021; 25:7181-7189. [PMID: 34236134 PMCID: PMC8335703 DOI: 10.1111/jcmm.16748] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2021] [Revised: 05/24/2021] [Accepted: 06/11/2021] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Breast cancer has a diverse aetiology characterized by the heterogeneous expression of hormone receptors and signalling molecules, resulting in varied sensitivity to chemotherapy. The adverse side effects of chemotherapy coupled with the development of drug resistance have prompted the exploration of natural products to combat cancer. Lactoferricin B (LfcinB) is a natural peptide derived from bovine lactoferrin that exhibits anticancer properties. LfcinB was evaluated in vitro for its inhibitory effects on cell lines representing different categories of breast cancer and in vivo for its suppressive effects on tumour xenografts in NOD-SCID mice. The different breast cancer cell lines exhibited varied levels of sensitivity to apoptosis induced by LfcinB in the order of SKBR3>MDA-MB-231>MDA-MB-468>MCF7, while the normal breast epithelial cells MCF-10A were not sensitive to LfcinB. The peptide also inhibited the invasion of the MDA-MB-231 and MDA-MB-468 cell lines. In the mouse xenograft model, intratumoural injections of LfcinB significantly reduced tumour growth rate and tumour size, as depicted by live imaging of the mice using in vivo imaging systems (IVIS). Harvested tumour volume and weight were significantly reduced by LfcinB treatment. LfcinB, therefore, is a promising and safe candidate that can be considered for the treatment of breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rizdwan Rahman
- School of Post Graduate StudiesInternational Medical UniversityKuala LumpurMalaysia
| | | | - Shiang‐Chia Sua
- School of MedicineInternational Medical UniversityKuala LumpurMalaysia
| | - Munirah Ahmad
- Molecular Pathology UnitCancer Research CentreInstitute for Medical ResearchNational Institutes of HealthMinistry of Health MalaysiaShah Alam, SelangorMalaysia
| | | | - Stephen Ambu
- School of Post Graduate StudiesInternational Medical UniversityKuala LumpurMalaysia
| | - Fabian Davamani
- School of Health SciencesInternational Medical UniversityKuala LumpurMalaysia
| | - Alan Soo‐Beng Khoo
- School of Post Graduate StudiesInternational Medical UniversityKuala LumpurMalaysia
- Molecular Pathology UnitCancer Research CentreInstitute for Medical ResearchNational Institutes of HealthMinistry of Health MalaysiaShah Alam, SelangorMalaysia
- Institute for ResearchDevelopment and InnovationInternational Medical UniversityKuala LumpurMalaysia
| | - Ebenezer Chitra
- School of Health SciencesInternational Medical UniversityKuala LumpurMalaysia
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9
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Xia Y, Wei J, Zhao S, Guo B, Meng F, Klumperman B, Zhong Z. Systemic administration of polymersomal oncolytic peptide LTX-315 combining with CpG adjuvant and anti-PD-1 antibody boosts immunotherapy of melanoma. J Control Release 2021; 336:262-273. [PMID: 34174350 DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2021.06.032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2021] [Revised: 06/02/2021] [Accepted: 06/21/2021] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
Oncolytic peptide LTX-315 while showing clinical promise in treating solid tumors is limited to intratumoral administration, which is not applicable for inaccessible or metastatic tumors. The cationic and amphipathic nature of oncolytic peptides engenders formidable challenges to developing systems for their systemic delivery. Here, we describe cRGD-functionalized chimaeric polymersomes (cRGD-CPs) as a robust systemic delivery vehicle for LTX-315, which in combination with CpG adjuvant and anti-PD-1 boost immunotherapy of malignant B16F10 melanoma in mice. cRGD-CPs containing 14.9 wt% LTX-315 (cRGD-CPs-L) exhibited a size of 53 nm, excellent serum stability, and strong and selective killing of B16F10 cells (versus L929 fibroblasts) in vitro, which provoked similar immunogenic effects to free LTX-315 as revealed by release of danger-associated molecular pattern molecules. The systemic administration of cRGD-CPs-L gave a notable tumor accumulation of 4.8% ID/g and significant retardation of tumor growth. More interestingly, the treatment of B16F10 tumor-bearing mice was further boosted by co-administration of polymersomal CpG and anti-PD-1 antibody, in which two out of seven mice were cured as a result of strong immune response and long-term immune memory protection. The immunotherapeutic effect was evidenced by secretion of IL-6, IFN-γ and TNF-α, tumor infiltration of CD8+ CTLs and Th, and induction of TEM and TCM in spleen. This study opens a new avenue to oncolytic peptides, which enables durable immunotherapy of tumors via systemic administration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yifeng Xia
- Biomedical Polymers Laboratory, College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, State Key Laboratory of Radiation Medicine and Protection, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, PR China
| | - Jingjing Wei
- Biomedical Polymers Laboratory, College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, State Key Laboratory of Radiation Medicine and Protection, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, PR China
| | - Songsong Zhao
- Biomedical Polymers Laboratory, College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, State Key Laboratory of Radiation Medicine and Protection, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, PR China
| | - Beibei Guo
- Biomedical Polymers Laboratory, College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, State Key Laboratory of Radiation Medicine and Protection, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, PR China
| | - Fenghua Meng
- Biomedical Polymers Laboratory, College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, State Key Laboratory of Radiation Medicine and Protection, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, PR China.
| | - Bert Klumperman
- Department of Chemistry and Polymer Science, Stellenbosch University, Private Bag X1, Matieland 7602, South Africa
| | - Zhiyuan Zhong
- Biomedical Polymers Laboratory, College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, State Key Laboratory of Radiation Medicine and Protection, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, PR China.
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10
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Vitale I, Yamazaki T, Wennerberg E, Sveinbjørnsson B, Rekdal Ø, Demaria S, Galluzzi L. Targeting Cancer Heterogeneity with Immune Responses Driven by Oncolytic Peptides. Trends Cancer 2021; 7:557-572. [PMID: 33446447 DOI: 10.1016/j.trecan.2020.12.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2020] [Revised: 12/09/2020] [Accepted: 12/15/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Accumulating preclinical and clinical evidence indicates that high degrees of heterogeneity among malignant cells constitute a considerable obstacle to the success of cancer therapy. This calls for the development of approaches that operate - or enable established treatments to operate - despite such intratumoral heterogeneity (ITH). In this context, oncolytic peptides stand out as promising therapeutic tools based on their ability to drive immunogenic cell death associated with robust anticancer immune responses independently of ITH. We review the main molecular and immunological pathways engaged by oncolytic peptides, and discuss potential approaches to combine these agents with modern immunotherapeutics in support of superior tumor-targeting immunity and efficacy in patients with cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ilio Vitale
- Italian Institute for Genomic Medicine (IIGM), Istituto Di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCSS) Candiolo, Torino, Italy; Candiolo Cancer Institute, Fondazione del Piemonte per l'Oncologia (FPO)-IRCCS, Candiolo, Italy
| | - Takahiro Yamazaki
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA
| | - Erik Wennerberg
- Division of Radiotherapy and Imaging, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, UK
| | - Baldur Sveinbjørnsson
- Lytix Biopharma, Oslo, Norway; Department of Medical Biology, University of Tromsø, Tromsø, Norway; Childhood Cancer Research Unit, Department of Women's and Children's Health, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Øystein Rekdal
- Lytix Biopharma, Oslo, Norway; Department of Medical Biology, University of Tromsø, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Sandra Demaria
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA; Sandra and Edward Meyer Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Lorenzo Galluzzi
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA; Sandra and Edward Meyer Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA; Caryl and Israel Englander Institute for Precision Medicine, New York, NY, USA; Department of Dermatology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA; Université de Paris, Paris, France.
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11
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Pineda-Castañeda HM, Insuasty-Cepeda DS, Niño-Ramírez VA, Curtidor H, Rivera-Monroy ZJ. Designing Short Peptides: A Sisyphean Task? CURR ORG CHEM 2020. [DOI: 10.2174/1385272824999200910094034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Over the last few years, short peptides have become a powerful tool in basic and
applied research, with different uses like diagnostic, antimicrobial peptides, human health
promoters or bioactive peptides, therapeutic treatments, templates for peptidomimetic design,
and peptide-based vaccines. In this endeavor, different approaches and technologies
have been explored, such as bioinformatics, large-scale peptide synthesis, omics sciences,
structure-activity relationship studies, and a biophysical approach, among others, seeking to
obtain the shortest sequence with the best activity. The advantage of short peptides lies in
their stability, ease of production, safety, and low cost. There are many strategies for designing
short peptides with biomedical and industrial applications (targeting the structure, length,
charge, or polarity) or as a starting point for improving their properties (sequence data base,
de novo sequences, templates, or organic scaffolds). In peptide design, it is necessary to keep in mind factors
such as the application (peptidomimetic, immunogen, antimicrobial, bioactive, or protein-protein interaction
inhibitor), the expected target (membrane cell, nucleus, receptor proteins, or immune system), and particular
characteristics (shorter, conformationally constrained, cycled, charged, flexible, polymerized, or pseudopeptides).
This review summarizes the different synthetic approaches and strategies used to design new peptide analogs,
highlighting the achievements, constraints, and advantages of each.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Víctor A. Niño-Ramírez
- Chemistry Department, Sciences Faculty, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogota, Colombia
| | | | - Zuly J. Rivera-Monroy
- Chemistry Department, Sciences Faculty, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogota, Colombia
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12
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Barragán‐Cárdenas A, Insuasty‐Cepeda DS, Niño‐Ramírez VA, Umaña‐Pérez A, Ochoa‐Zarzosa A, López‐Meza JE, Rivera‐Monroy ZJ, García‐Castañeda JE. The Nonapeptide RWQWRWQWR: A Promising Molecule for Breast Cancer Therapy. ChemistrySelect 2020. [DOI: 10.1002/slct.202002101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Adriana Umaña‐Pérez
- Chemistry DepartmentUniversidad Nacional de Colombia Carrera 45 No. 26–85, Building 451
| | - Alejandra Ochoa‐Zarzosa
- Multidisciplinary Centre for Studies in BiotechnologyUniversidad Michoacana de San Nicolás de Hidalgo Km 9.5 Carretera Morelia-Zinapécuaro
| | - Joel E. López‐Meza
- Multidisciplinary Centre for Studies in BiotechnologyUniversidad Michoacana de San Nicolás de Hidalgo Km 9.5 Carretera Morelia-Zinapécuaro
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13
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Vargas‐Casanova Y, Carlos Villamil Poveda J, Jenny Rivera‐Monroy Z, Ceballos Garzón A, Fierro‐Medina R, Le Pape P, Eduardo García‐Castañeda J, Marcela Parra Giraldo C. Palindromic Peptide LfcinB (21‐25)
Pal
Exhibited Antifungal Activity against Multidrug‐Resistant
Candida. ChemistrySelect 2020. [DOI: 10.1002/slct.202001329] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Yerly Vargas‐Casanova
- Departamento de Microbiología-Pontificia Universidad Javeriana Carrera 7 No. 40–62 Bogotá Colombia
| | | | - Zuly Jenny Rivera‐Monroy
- Facultad de Ciencias-Universidad Nacional de Colombia Carrera 45 No 26–85, Building 451, office 134 Bogotá Colombia
| | - Andrés Ceballos Garzón
- Departamento de Microbiología-Pontificia Universidad Javeriana Carrera 7 No. 40–62 Bogotá Colombia
| | - Ricardo Fierro‐Medina
- Facultad de Ciencias-Universidad Nacional de Colombia Carrera 45 No 26–85, Building 451, office 134 Bogotá Colombia
| | - Patrice Le Pape
- Department of Parasitology and Medical MycologyFaculty of Pharmacy-University of Nantes Nantes Atlantique Universities Nantes France
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14
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Insuasty-Cepeda DS, Barragán-Cárdenas AC, Ochoa-Zarzosa A, López-Meza JE, Fierro-Medina R, García-Castañeda JE, Rivera-Monroy ZJ. Peptides Derived from (RRWQWRMKKLG) 2-K- Ahx Induce Selective Cellular Death in Breast Cancer Cell Lines through Apoptotic Pathway. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:E4550. [PMID: 32604743 PMCID: PMC7352952 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21124550] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2020] [Revised: 05/23/2020] [Accepted: 05/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The effect on the cytotoxicity against breast cancer cell lines of the substitution of 26Met residue in the sequence of the Bovine Lactoferricin-derived dimeric peptide LfcinB (20-30)2: (20RRWQWRMKKLG30)2-K-Ahx with amino acids of different polarity was evaluated. The process of the synthesis of the LfcinB (20-30)2 analog peptides was similar to the original peptide. The cytotoxic assays showed that some analog peptides exhibited a significant cytotoxic effect against breast cancer cell lines HTB-132 and MCF-7, suggesting that the substitution of the Met with amino acids of a hydrophobic nature drastically enhances its cytotoxicity against HTB-132 and MCF-7 cells, reaching IC50 values up to 6 µM. In addition, these peptides have a selective effect, since they exhibit a lower cytotoxic effect on the non-tumorigenic cell line MCF-12. Interestingly, the cytotoxic effect is fast (90 min) and is maintained for up to 48 h. Additionally, through flow cytometry, it was found that the obtained dimeric peptides generate cell death through the apoptosis pathway and do not compromise the integrity of the cytoplasmic membrane, and there are intrinsic apoptotic events involved. These results show that the obtained peptides are extremely promising molecules for the future development of drugs for use against breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diego Sebastián Insuasty-Cepeda
- Departamento de Química, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá, Carrera 45 No 26-85, Building 451, office 409, Bogotá 11321, Colombia; (D.S.I.-C.); (A.C.B.-C.); (R.F.-M.)
| | - Andrea Carolina Barragán-Cárdenas
- Departamento de Química, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá, Carrera 45 No 26-85, Building 451, office 409, Bogotá 11321, Colombia; (D.S.I.-C.); (A.C.B.-C.); (R.F.-M.)
| | - Alejandra Ochoa-Zarzosa
- Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Centro Multidisciplinario de Estudios en Biotecnología, Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolás de Hidalgo, Km 9.5 Carretera Morelia-Zinapécuaro, Posta Veterinaria, P.C. 58893 Morelia, Michoacán, Mexico; (A.O.-Z.); (J.E.L.-M.)
| | - Joel E. López-Meza
- Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Centro Multidisciplinario de Estudios en Biotecnología, Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolás de Hidalgo, Km 9.5 Carretera Morelia-Zinapécuaro, Posta Veterinaria, P.C. 58893 Morelia, Michoacán, Mexico; (A.O.-Z.); (J.E.L.-M.)
| | - Ricardo Fierro-Medina
- Departamento de Química, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá, Carrera 45 No 26-85, Building 451, office 409, Bogotá 11321, Colombia; (D.S.I.-C.); (A.C.B.-C.); (R.F.-M.)
| | - Javier Eduardo García-Castañeda
- Departamento de Farmacia, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá Carrera 45 No 26-85, Building 450, Bogotá 11321, Colombia;
| | - Zuly Jenny Rivera-Monroy
- Departamento de Química, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá, Carrera 45 No 26-85, Building 451, office 409, Bogotá 11321, Colombia; (D.S.I.-C.); (A.C.B.-C.); (R.F.-M.)
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15
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Barragán-Cárdenas A, Urrea-Pelayo M, Niño-Ramírez VA, Umaña-Pérez A, Vernot JP, Parra-Giraldo CM, Fierro-Medina R, Rivera-Monroy Z, García-Castañeda J. Selective cytotoxic effect against the MDA-MB-468 breast cancer cell line of the antibacterial palindromic peptide derived from bovine lactoferricin. RSC Adv 2020; 10:17593-17601. [PMID: 35515633 PMCID: PMC9053608 DOI: 10.1039/d0ra02688c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2020] [Accepted: 04/25/2020] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
The cytotoxic effect against the breast cancer cell line MDA-MB-468 of the palindromic peptide LfcinB (21–25)Pal: 1RWQWRWQWR9 and its analogous peptides, obtained via alanine scanning, was evaluated. The results indicate that the palindromic peptide exhibited a concentration-dependent cytotoxic effect against this cell line. The cytotoxic effect of the palindromic peptide was fast and selective and was sustained for up to 48 h of treatment. MDA-MB-468 cells treated with the palindromic peptide exhibited severe cellular damage, acquiring rounded forms and shrinkage, a behavior typical of apoptotic events. The analogous peptides exhibited fewer cytotoxic effects than the original palindromic peptide, suggesting that the substitution of any amino acid with alanine diminishes the cytotoxic effect. The Arg and Trp residues proved to be the most relevant for the cytotoxic effect; the analogous peptides with substitutions of Trp with Ala did not induce a change in cellular morphology, while analogous peptides with substitutions of Arg or Gln with Ala induced cellular damage. Also, neither the palindromic peptide nor its analogues exerted a significant cytotoxic effect on normal fibroblasts, indicating that the peptides had a selective cytotoxic effect on cancerous cells. The peptide LfcinB (21–25)Pal, and its analogues exhibited antibacterial activity against E. coli and S. aureus strains and a selective cytotoxic effect against the breast cancer cell line MDA-MB-468. The cytotoxic effect against the breast cancer cell line MDA-MB-468 of the palindromic peptide LfcinB (21–25)Pal: 1RWQWRWQWR9 and its analogous peptides, obtained via alanine scanning, was evaluated.![]()
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Jean Paul Vernot
- Facultad de Medicina
- Departamento de Ciencias fisiológicas
- Universidad Nacional de Colombia
- 11321 Bogotá
- Colombia
| | | | | | - Zuly Rivera-Monroy
- Facultad de Ciencias
- Universidad Nacional de Colombia
- 11321 Bogotá
- Colombia
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16
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Guerra JR, Cárdenas AB, Ochoa-Zarzosa A, Meza JL, Umaña Pérez A, Fierro-Medina R, Rivera Monroy ZJ, García Castañeda JE. The tetrameric peptide LfcinB (20-25) 4 derived from bovine lactoferricin induces apoptosis in the MCF-7 breast cancer cell line. RSC Adv 2019; 9:20497-20504. [PMID: 35515557 PMCID: PMC9065741 DOI: 10.1039/c9ra04145a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2019] [Accepted: 06/26/2019] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The cytotoxic effect of the tetrameric peptide LfcinB (20-25)4 against breast cancer cell line ATCC® HTB-22™ (MCF-7) was evaluated. The tetrameric peptide exhibited a concentration-dependent cytotoxic effect against MCF-7 cancer cells. The peptide at 22 µM had the maximum cytotoxic effect against MCF-7 cancer cells, reducing their cell viability to ∼20%. The cytotoxic effect of the tetrameric peptide against MCF-7 cells was sustained for 24 hours. Furthermore, the tetrameric peptide did not exhibit a significant cytotoxic effect against the non-tumorogenic trophoblastic cell line, which confirms their selectivity for breast cancer cell lines. The MCF-7 cells treated at 12.2 µM for 1 h exhibited morphological changes characteristic of apoptosis, such as rounded forms and cellular shrinkage. Furthermore, this peptide induces severe cellular damage to MCF-7 cells, mitochondrial membrane depolarization, and increase of cytoplasmic calcium concentration. Our results suggest that it has a significant selective cytotoxic effect against MCF-7 cells, which may be mainly associated with the apoptotic pathway. This peptide, which contains the RRWQWR motif, could be considered to be a promising candidate for developing therapeutic agents for the treatment of breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jorge Rodríguez Guerra
- Pharmacy Department, Universidad Nacional de Colombia Carrera 45 No. 26-85, Building 450, Office 213 11321 Bogotá Colombia +57-1-316-5000 ext. 14436
| | - Andrea Barragán Cárdenas
- Chemistry Department, Universidad Nacional de Colombia Carrera 45 No. 26-85, Building 451, Office 409 11321 Bogotá Colombia
| | - Alejandra Ochoa-Zarzosa
- Multidisciplinary Center for Studies in Biotechnology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Zootechnics, Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolás de Hidalgo Km 9.5 Carretera Morelia-Zinapécuaro Mexico
| | - Joel López Meza
- Multidisciplinary Center for Studies in Biotechnology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Zootechnics, Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolás de Hidalgo Km 9.5 Carretera Morelia-Zinapécuaro Mexico
| | - Adriana Umaña Pérez
- Chemistry Department, Universidad Nacional de Colombia Carrera 45 No. 26-85, Building 451, Office 409 11321 Bogotá Colombia
| | - Ricardo Fierro-Medina
- Chemistry Department, Universidad Nacional de Colombia Carrera 45 No. 26-85, Building 451, Office 409 11321 Bogotá Colombia
| | - Zuly Jenny Rivera Monroy
- Chemistry Department, Universidad Nacional de Colombia Carrera 45 No. 26-85, Building 451, Office 409 11321 Bogotá Colombia
| | - Javier Eduardo García Castañeda
- Pharmacy Department, Universidad Nacional de Colombia Carrera 45 No. 26-85, Building 450, Office 213 11321 Bogotá Colombia +57-1-316-5000 ext. 14436
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17
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Vargas-Casanova Y, Rodríguez-Mayor AV, Cardenas KJ, Leal-Castro AL, Muñoz-Molina LC, Fierro-Medina R, Rivera-Monroy ZJ, García-Castañeda JE. Synergistic bactericide and antibiotic effects of dimeric, tetrameric, or palindromic peptides containing the RWQWR motif against Gram-positive and Gram-negative strains. RSC Adv 2019; 9:7239-7245. [PMID: 35519960 PMCID: PMC9061098 DOI: 10.1039/c9ra00708c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2019] [Accepted: 02/21/2019] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Dimeric and tetrameric peptides derived from LfcinB (20-25): RRWQWR, LfcinB (20-30): RRWQWRMKKLG, LfcinB (17-31): FKARRWQWRMKKLGA, or the palindromic sequence LfcinB (21-25)Pal: RWQWRWQWR were obtained by means of the SPPS-Fmoc/tBu methodology. The antibacterial activity of these molecules was evaluated against Escherichia coli (ATCC 25922 and ATCC 11775), Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 25923), Enterococcus faecalis (ATCC 29212), and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC 27853). The dimer LfcinB (20-25)2: (RRWQWR)2K-Ahx, the tetramer LfcinB (20-25)4: (RRWQWR)4K2-Ahx2-C2, and the palindromic sequence LfcinB (21-25)Pal exhibited the highest antibacterial activity against the tested bacterial strains. In all cases, the antibacterial activity was dependent on peptide concentration. The polyvalent molecules LfcinB (20-25)2 and LfcinB (20-25)4 exhibited bacteriostatic and bactericidal activity against E. coli, P. aeruginosa, and S. aureus strains; additionally, this dimer and this tetramer combined with ciprofloxacin exhibited a synergistic antibacterial effect against E. coli ATCC 25922 and P. aeruginosa, respectively. Furthermore, the peptides LfcinB (20-30)4, LfcinB (20-25)4, and LfcinB (21-25)Pal combined with vancomycin exhibited a synergistic antibacterial effect against S. aureus and E. faecalis, respectively. This study showed that polyvalent peptides derived from LfcinB exhibit significant antibacterial activity, suggesting that these peptides could have a therapeutic application. Furthermore, our results suggest that polyvalent peptide synthesis could be considered as an innovative and viable strategy for obtaining promising antimicrobial molecules.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yerly Vargas-Casanova
- Biotechnology Institute, Universidad Nacional de Colombia Carrera 45 No 26-85 Bogotá 11321 Colombia
| | | | - Karen Johanna Cardenas
- Pharmacy Department, Universidad Nacional de Colombia Carrera 45 No 26-85, Building 450, Office 213 Bogotá 11321 Colombia
| | - Aura Lucía Leal-Castro
- Medicine Faculty, Universidad Nacional de Colombia Carrera 45 No 26-85, Building 450, Office 213 Bogotá 11321 Colombia
| | | | - Ricardo Fierro-Medina
- Chemistry Department, Universidad Nacional de Colombia Carrera 45 No 26-85, Building 450, Office 213 Bogotá 11321 Colombia
| | - Zuly Jenny Rivera-Monroy
- Chemistry Department, Universidad Nacional de Colombia Carrera 45 No 26-85, Building 450, Office 213 Bogotá 11321 Colombia
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18
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Effect of Polyvalence on the Antibacterial Activity of a Synthetic Peptide Derived from Bovine Lactoferricin against Healthcare-Associated Infectious Pathogens. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2018; 2018:5252891. [PMID: 29984236 PMCID: PMC6015718 DOI: 10.1155/2018/5252891] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2017] [Revised: 03/07/2018] [Accepted: 04/11/2018] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are gaining interest as potential therapeutic agents. Peptides derived from bovine lactoferricin B (LfcinB) have been reported to exhibit antimicrobial activity, and the LfcinB RRWQWR sequence is the smallest known motif that exhibits antibacterial and cytotoxic activity. Our goal was to examine the effect of multicopy arrangements of the RRWQWR motif, on its antibacterial activity against healthcare-associated infections (HCAIs). Linear and branched peptides containing the RRWQWR motif were generated using solid phase peptide synthesis-Fmoc/tBu methodology, purified, and characterized using reverse phase-high performance liquid chromatography and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time of flight mass spectrometry. For each peptide, the antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 25923 and 33591 strains) and Klebsiella pneumoniae (ATCC 13883 and 700603 strains) was assessed by measuring the minimum inhibitory and the minimum bactericidal concentrations, in the exponential phase. Cells were observed by scanning electron microscopy, and the hemolytic activity of the peptides was assessed. The overall results demonstrate that, compared to linear analogues, polyvalent presentation of the RRWQWR motif enhances its antibacterial activity against both Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria even on resistant strain.
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19
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Zhang P, Liu J, Li W, Li S, Han X. Lactoferricin B reverses cisplatin resistance in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma cells through targeting PD-L1. Cancer Med 2018; 7:3178-3187. [PMID: 29761938 PMCID: PMC6051176 DOI: 10.1002/cam4.1529] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2018] [Revised: 03/06/2018] [Accepted: 04/09/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) ranks among the top most common cancers with a poor prognosis. The mechanism of chemoresistance is still not well known. This study is to investigate the programmed death‐ligand 1 (PD‐L1) expression in HNSCC, and test the effect of lactoferricin B (LfcinB) on chemoresistance and its mechanism. We analyzed 510 HNSCC patients in TCGA database and investigated how CD274 expression was related to patient prognosis. PD‐L1 was verified from HNSCC samples at local hospital with immunohistochemistry. PD‐L1 expression in the acquired cisplatin‐resistant HNSCC cells was examined by PCR and WB in order to test PD‐L1‐induced chemoresistance. LfcinB inoculation in cisplatin‐resistant HNSCC cells and in the nude mice was introduced to test the effect of LfcinB on targeting cisplatin resistance and its mechanism. High CD274 mRNA (>125 FPKM) from TCGA database had a significantly reduced 5‐year survival rate, and a lower 5‐year survival rate in the chemotherapy and radiotherapy‐treated patients (P < .05). PD‐L1 overexpression was further supported from analysis of 40 HNSCC specimens. PD‐L1 and IL‐6 in the established cisplatin‐resistant HNSCC cells were shown significantly higher (P < .05). IL‐6 and PD‐L1 expression were partially inhibited by the anti‐IL‐6/STAT3 antibody. LfcinB displayed a direct cytotoxic effect on cisplatin‐resistant HNSCC cells and HNSCC xenografts of cisplatin‐resistant cells in the nude mice displayed significant reduction in tumor volume after LfcinB injection (P < .05). Besides, the increase of IL‐6 and PD‐L1 in cisplatin‐resistant HNSCC cells was abolished in vitro by LfcinB (P < .05). PD‐L1 expression in HNSCC cells correlates with poor prognosis and chemoresistance, and LfcinB might provide therapeutic potential in HNSCC patients through modulating IL‐6 and PD‐L1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pei Zhang
- Department of Stomatology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Jinzhong Liu
- Key Laboratory of Tumor Pathology, Department of Pathology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Wenlu Li
- Department of Stomatology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Shanshan Li
- Key Laboratory of Tumor Pathology, Department of Pathology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Xinguang Han
- Department of Stomatology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
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20
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Iavarone F, Desiderio C, Vitali A, Messana I, Martelli C, Castagnola M, Cabras T. Cryptides: latent peptides everywhere. Crit Rev Biochem Mol Biol 2018; 53:246-263. [PMID: 29564928 DOI: 10.1080/10409238.2018.1447543] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
Abstract
Proteomic surveys with top-down platforms are today revealing thousands of naturally occurring fragments of bigger proteins. Some of them have not functional meaning because they derive from pathways responsible for protein degradation, but many have specific functions, often completely different from that one of the parent proteins. These peptides encrypted in the protein sequence are nowadays called cryptides. They are frequent in the animal and plant kingdoms and represent a new interesting -omic field of investigation. To point out how much widespread is their presence, we describe here the most studied cryptides from very common sources such as serum albumin, immunoglobulins, hemoglobin, and from saliva and milk proteins. Given its vastness, it is unfeasible to cover the topic exhaustively, therefore only several selected examples of cryptides from other sources are thereafter reported. Demanding is the development of new -omic platforms for the functional screening of new cryptides, which could provide suggestion for peptides and peptido-mimetics with variegate fields of application.
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Affiliation(s)
- Federica Iavarone
- a Istituto di Biochimica e Biochimica Clinica, Università Cattolica , Roma , Italy
| | - Claudia Desiderio
- b Istituto di Chimica del Riconoscimento Molecolare, CNR , Roma , Italy
| | - Alberto Vitali
- b Istituto di Chimica del Riconoscimento Molecolare, CNR , Roma , Italy
| | - Irene Messana
- b Istituto di Chimica del Riconoscimento Molecolare, CNR , Roma , Italy
| | - Claudia Martelli
- a Istituto di Biochimica e Biochimica Clinica, Università Cattolica , Roma , Italy
| | - Massimo Castagnola
- a Istituto di Biochimica e Biochimica Clinica, Università Cattolica , Roma , Italy.,b Istituto di Chimica del Riconoscimento Molecolare, CNR , Roma , Italy
| | - Tiziana Cabras
- c Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita e dell'Ambiente , Università di Cagliari , Cagliari , Italy
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21
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Vega SC, Martínez DA, Chalá MDS, Vargas HA, Rosas JE. Design, Synthesis and Evaluation of Branched RRWQWR-Based Peptides as Antibacterial Agents Against Clinically Relevant Gram-Positive and Gram-Negative Pathogens. Front Microbiol 2018; 9:329. [PMID: 29551999 PMCID: PMC5840262 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2018.00329] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2017] [Accepted: 02/12/2018] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Multidrug resistance of pathogenic bacteria has become a public health crisis that requires the urgent design of new antibacterial drugs such as antimicrobial peptides (AMPs). Seeking to obtain new, lactoferricin B (LfcinB)-based synthetic peptides as viable early-stage candidates for future development as AMPs against clinically relevant bacteria, we designed, synthesized and screened three new cationic peptides derived from bovine LfcinB. These peptides contain at least one RRWQWR motif and differ by the copy number (monomeric, dimeric or tetrameric) and structure (linear or branched) of this motif. They comprise a linear palindromic peptide (RWQWRWQWR), a dimeric peptide (RRWQWR)2KAhx and a tetrameric peptide (RRWQWR)4K2Ahx2C2. They were screened for antibacterial activity against Enterococcus faecalis (ATCC 29212 and ATCC 51575 strains), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC 10145 and ATCC 27853 strains) and clinical isolates of two Gram-positive bacteria (Enterococcus faecium and Staphylococcus aureus) and two Gram-negative bacteria (Klebsiella pneumoniae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa). All three peptides exhibited greater activity than did the reference peptide, LfcinB (17-31), which contains a single linear RRWQWR motif. Against the ATCC reference strains, the three new peptides exhibited minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC50) values of 3.1-198.0 μM and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) values of 25-200 μM, and against the clinical isolates, MIC50 values of 1.6-75.0 μM and MBC values of 12.5-100 μM. However, the tetrameric peptide was also found to be strongly hemolytic (49.1% at 100 μM). Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) demonstrated that in the dimeric and tetrameric peptides, the RRWQWR motif is exposed to the pathogen surface. Our results may inform the design of new, RRWQWR-based AMPs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandra C Vega
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Science, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Diana A Martínez
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Science, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - María Del S Chalá
- Laboratory of Public Health, Secretaria Distrital de Salud, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Hernán A Vargas
- Laboratory of Public Health, Secretaria Distrital de Salud, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Jaiver E Rosas
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Science, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá, Colombia
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22
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Hao Y, Yang N, Teng D, Wang X, Mao R, Wang J. A review of the design and modification of lactoferricins and their derivatives. Biometals 2018; 31:331-341. [PMID: 29455278 DOI: 10.1007/s10534-018-0086-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2017] [Accepted: 02/14/2018] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Lactoferricin (Lfcin), a multifunction short peptide with a length of 25 residues, is derived from the whey protein lactoferrin by acidic pepsin hydrolysis. It has potent nutritional enhancement, antimicrobial, anticancer, antiviral, antiparasitic, and anti-inflammatory activities. This review describes the research advantages of the above biological functions, with attention to the molecular design and modification of Lfcin. In this examination of design and modification studies, research on the identification of Lfcin active derivatives and crucial amino acid residues is also reviewed. Many strategies for Lfcin optimization have been studied in recent decades, but we mainly introduce chemical modification, cyclization, chimera and polymerization of this peptide. Modifications such as incorporation of D-amino acids, acetylation and/or amidation could effectively improve the activity and stability of these compounds. Due to their wide array of bio-functions and applications, Lfcins have great potential to be developed as biological agents with multiple functions involved with nutritional enhancement, as well as disease preventive and therapeutic effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ya Hao
- Key Laboratory of Feed Biotechnology, Ministry of Agriculture, Beijing, 100081, People's Republic of China.,R & D Center, Beijing Shengtai Clouds Bio-Technology, Inc., Beijing, 100081, People's Republic of China.,Gene Engineering Laboratory, Feed Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, 12 Zhongguancun Nandajie St., Haidian District, Beijing, 100081, People's Republic of China
| | - Na Yang
- Key Laboratory of Feed Biotechnology, Ministry of Agriculture, Beijing, 100081, People's Republic of China.,Gene Engineering Laboratory, Feed Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, 12 Zhongguancun Nandajie St., Haidian District, Beijing, 100081, People's Republic of China
| | - Da Teng
- Key Laboratory of Feed Biotechnology, Ministry of Agriculture, Beijing, 100081, People's Republic of China.,Gene Engineering Laboratory, Feed Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, 12 Zhongguancun Nandajie St., Haidian District, Beijing, 100081, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiumin Wang
- Key Laboratory of Feed Biotechnology, Ministry of Agriculture, Beijing, 100081, People's Republic of China.,Gene Engineering Laboratory, Feed Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, 12 Zhongguancun Nandajie St., Haidian District, Beijing, 100081, People's Republic of China
| | - Ruoyu Mao
- Key Laboratory of Feed Biotechnology, Ministry of Agriculture, Beijing, 100081, People's Republic of China.,Gene Engineering Laboratory, Feed Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, 12 Zhongguancun Nandajie St., Haidian District, Beijing, 100081, People's Republic of China
| | - Jianhua Wang
- Key Laboratory of Feed Biotechnology, Ministry of Agriculture, Beijing, 100081, People's Republic of China. .,Gene Engineering Laboratory, Feed Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, 12 Zhongguancun Nandajie St., Haidian District, Beijing, 100081, People's Republic of China.
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23
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Vargas Casanova Y, Rodríguez Guerra JA, Umaña Pérez YA, Leal Castro AL, Almanzar Reina G, García Castañeda JE, Rivera Monroy ZJ. Antibacterial Synthetic Peptides Derived from Bovine Lactoferricin Exhibit Cytotoxic Effect against MDA-MB-468 and MDA-MB-231 Breast Cancer Cell Lines. Molecules 2017; 22:E1641. [PMID: 28961215 PMCID: PMC6151437 DOI: 10.3390/molecules22101641] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2017] [Revised: 09/27/2017] [Accepted: 09/28/2017] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Linear, dimeric, tetrameric, and cyclic peptides derived from lactoferricin B, containing the RRWQWR motif, were designed, synthesized, purified, and characterized using RP-HPLC chromatography and MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry. The antibacterial activity of the designed peptides against E. coli (ATCC 11775 and 25922) and their cytotoxic effect against MDA-MB-468 and MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cell lines were evaluated. Dimeric and tetrameric peptides showed higher antibacterial activity in both bacteria strains than linear peptides. The dimeric peptide (RRWQWR)₂K-Ahx exhibited the highest antibacterial activity against the tested bacterial strains. Furthermore, the peptides with high antibacterial activity exhibited significant cytotoxic effect against the tested breast cancer cell lines. This cytotoxic effect was fast and dependent on the peptide concentration. The tetrameric molecule containing RRWQWR motif has an optimal cytotoxic effect at a concentration of 22 µM. The evaluated dimeric and tetrameric peptides could be considered as candidates for developing new therapeutic agents against breast cancer. Polyvalence of linear sequences could be considered as a novel and versatile strategy for obtaining molecules with high anticancer activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yerly Vargas Casanova
- Biotechnology Institute, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Carrera 45 No 26-85, 11321 Bogotá, Colombia.
| | - Jorge Antonio Rodríguez Guerra
- Pharmacy Department, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Carrera 45 No 26-85, Building 450, Office 213, 11321 Bogotá, Colombia.
| | - Yadi Adriana Umaña Pérez
- Chemistry Department, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Carrera 45 No 26-85, Building 450, Office 213, 11321 Bogotá, Colombia.
| | - Aura Lucía Leal Castro
- Medicine Faculty, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Carrera 45 No 26-85, Building 450, Office 213, 11321 Bogotá, Colombia.
| | | | - Javier Eduardo García Castañeda
- Pharmacy Department, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Carrera 45 No 26-85, Building 450, Office 213, 11321 Bogotá, Colombia.
| | - Zuly Jenny Rivera Monroy
- Chemistry Department, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Carrera 45 No 26-85, Building 450, Office 213, 11321 Bogotá, Colombia.
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24
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Huertas NDJ, Monroy ZJR, Medina RF, Castañeda JEG. Antimicrobial Activity of Truncated and Polyvalent Peptides Derived from the FKCRRQWQWRMKKGLA Sequence against Escherichia coli ATCC 25922 and Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923. Molecules 2017; 22:molecules22060987. [PMID: 28613262 PMCID: PMC6152618 DOI: 10.3390/molecules22060987] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2017] [Revised: 06/08/2017] [Accepted: 06/12/2017] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Peptides derived from LfcinB were designed and synthesized, and their antibacterial activity was tested against Escherichia coli ATCC 25922 and Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923. Specifically, a peptide library was constructed by systemically removing the flanking residues (N or C-terminal) of Lfcin 17–31 (17FKCRRWQWRMKKLGA31), maintaining in all peptides the 20RRWQWR25 sequence that corresponds to the minimal antimicrobial motif. For this research, also included were (i) a peptide containing an Ala instead of Cys ([Ala19]-LfcinB 17–31) and (ii) polyvalent peptides containing the RRWQWR sequence and a non-natural amino acid (aminocaproic acid). We established that the lineal peptides LfcinB 17–25 and LfcinB 17–26 exhibited the greatest activity against E. coli ATCC 25922 and S. aureus ATCC 25923, respectively. On the other hand, polyvalent peptides, a dimer and a tetramer, exhibited the greatest antibacterial activity, indicating that multiple copies of the sequence increase the activity. Our results suggest that the dimeric and tetrameric sequence forms potentiate the antibacterial activity of lineal sequences that have exhibited moderate antibacterial activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nataly de Jesús Huertas
- Chemistry Department, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá Carrera 45 No. 26-85, Building 451, Office 409, Laboratory 334, Bogotá 11321, Colombia.
| | - Zuly Jenny Rivera Monroy
- Chemistry Department, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá Carrera 45 No. 26-85, Building 451, Office 409, Laboratory 334, Bogotá 11321, Colombia.
| | - Ricardo Fierro Medina
- Chemistry Department, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá Carrera 45 No. 26-85, Building 451, Office 409, Laboratory 334, Bogotá 11321, Colombia.
| | - Javier Eduardo García Castañeda
- Pharmacy Department, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá Carrera 45 No. 26-85, Building 450, office 203, Bogotá 11321, Colombia.
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25
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A tetrameric peptide derived from bovine lactoferricin as a potential therapeutic tool for oral squamous cell carcinoma: A preclinical model. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0174707. [PMID: 28358840 PMCID: PMC5373611 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0174707] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2016] [Accepted: 03/14/2017] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Oral squamous cell carcinoma is the fifth most common epithelial cancer in the world, and its current clinical treatment has both low efficiency and poor selectivity. Cationic amphipathic peptides have been proposed as new drugs for the treatment of different types of cancer. The main goal of the present work was to determine the potential of LfcinB(20–25)4, a tetrameric peptide based on the core sequence RRWQWR of bovine lactoferricin LfcinB(20–25), for the treatment of OSCC. In brief, OSCC was induced in the buccal pouch of hamsters by applying 7,12-Dimethylbenz(a)anthracene, and tumors were treated with one of the following peptides: LfcinB(20–25)4, LfcinB(20–25), or vehicle (control). Lesions were macroscopically evaluated every two days and both histological and serum IgG assessments were conducted after 5 weeks. The size of the tumors treated with LfcinB(20–25)4 and LfcinB(20–25) was smaller than that of the control group (46.16±4.41 and 33.92±2.74 mm3 versus 88.77±10.61 mm3, respectively). Also, LfcinB(20–25)4 caused acellularity in the parenchymal tumor compared with LfcinB(20–25) and vehicle treatments. Furthermore, our results demonstrated that both LfcinB(20–25)4 and LfcinB(20–25) induced higher degree of apoptosis relative to the untreated tumors (75–86% vs 8%, respectively). Moreover, although the lowest inflammatory response was achieved when LfcinB(20–25)4 was used, this peptide appeared to induce higher levels of IgG antibodies relative to the vehicle and LfcinB(20–25). In addition the cellular damage and selectivity of the LfcinB(20–25)4 peptide was evaluated in vitro. These assays showed that LfcinB(20–25)4 triggers a selective necrotic effect in the carcinoma cell line. Cumulatively, these data indicate that LfcinB(20–25)4 could be considered as a new therapeutic agent for the treatment of OSCC.
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26
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Huertas Méndez NDJ, Vargas Casanova Y, Gómez Chimbi AK, Hernández E, Leal Castro AL, Melo Diaz JM, Rivera Monroy ZJ, García Castañeda JE. Synthetic Peptides Derived from Bovine Lactoferricin Exhibit Antimicrobial Activity against E. coli ATCC 11775, S. maltophilia ATCC 13636 and S. enteritidis ATCC 13076. Molecules 2017; 22:molecules22030452. [PMID: 28287494 PMCID: PMC6155255 DOI: 10.3390/molecules22030452] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2017] [Revised: 03/01/2017] [Accepted: 03/08/2017] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Linear, dimeric, tetrameric, and cyclic peptides derived from lactoferricin B–containing non-natural amino acids and the RWQWR motif were synthesized, purified, and characterized using RP-HPLC, MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry, and circular dichroism. The antibacterial activity of peptides against Escherichia coli ATCC 11775, Stenotrophomonas maltophilia ATCC 13636, and Salmonella enteritidis ATCC 13076 was evaluated. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) were determined. The synthetic bovine lactoferricin exhibited antibacterial activity against E. coli ATCC 11775 and S. enteritidis ATCC 13076. The dimeric peptide (RRWQWR)2K-Ahx exhibited the highest antibacterial activity against the tested bacterial strain. The monomeric, cyclic, tetrameric, and palindromic peptides containing the RWQWR motif exhibited high and specific activity against E. coli ATCC 11775. The results suggest that short peptides derived from lactoferricin B could be considered as potential candidates for the development of antibacterial agents against infections caused by E. coli.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nataly De Jesús Huertas Méndez
- Chemistry Department, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá Carrera 45 No 26-85, Building 451, office 409, Bogotá 11321, Colombia.
| | - Yerly Vargas Casanova
- Bacteriology Department, Universidad Colegio Mayor de Cundinamarca, Bogotá Calle 28 No. 5B-02, Bogotá 110311; Colombia.
| | | | - Edith Hernández
- Bacteriology Department, Universidad Colegio Mayor de Cundinamarca, Bogotá Calle 28 No. 5B-02, Bogotá 110311; Colombia.
| | - Aura Lucia Leal Castro
- Medicine Faculty, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá Carrera 45 No 26-85, Building 471, Bogotá 11321, Colombia.
| | - Javier Mauricio Melo Diaz
- Chemistry Department, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá Carrera 45 No 26-85, Building 451, office 409, Bogotá 11321, Colombia.
| | - Zuly Jenny Rivera Monroy
- Chemistry Department, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá Carrera 45 No 26-85, Building 451, office 409, Bogotá 11321, Colombia.
| | - Javier Eduardo García Castañeda
- Pharmacy Department, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá Carrera 45 No 26-85, Building 450, office 203, Bogotá 11321, Colombia.
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