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Yang Z, Wang Z, Wang R, Zhang W. A Novel Dry-Cured Ham Broth-Derived Peptide JHBp2 Effectively Inhibits Salmonella typhimurium In Vitro: Integrated Metabolomic, Proteomic, and Molecular Simulation Analyses. JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY 2024; 72:14433-14447. [PMID: 38866717 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.4c01531] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2024]
Abstract
JHBp2 is a peptide purified from Jinhua ham broth with antibacterial activity against Salmonella typhimurium. Untargeted metabolomics and label-free quantitative proteomics were used to analyze metabolic and protein expression changes in S. typhimurium after JHBp2 treatment. Cell wall and membrane damage results indicate that JHBp2 has membrane-disruptive properties, causing leakage of intracellular nucleic acids and proteins. Metabolomics revealed 516 differentially expressed metabolites, involving cofactor biosynthesis, purine metabolism, ABC transporters, glutathione metabolism, pyrimidine metabolism, etc. Proteomics detected 735 differentially expressed proteins, involving pyruvate metabolism, amino acid biosynthesis, purine metabolism, carbon metabolism, glycolysis/gluconeogenesis, etc. RT-qPCR and proteomics results showed a positive correlation, and molecular docking demonstrated stable binding of JHBp2 to some differentially expressed proteins. In summary, JHBp2 could disrupt the S. typhimurium cell wall and membrane structure, interfere with synthesis of membrane-related proteins, trigger intracellular substance leak, and reduce levels of enzymes and metabolites involved in energy metabolism, amino acid anabolism, and nucleotide anabolism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ziyi Yang
- Key Laboratory of Meat Processing and Quality Control, Ministry of Education China, Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Meat Production and Processing, Quality and Safety Control, College of Food Science and Technology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Zixu Wang
- Key Laboratory of Meat Processing and Quality Control, Ministry of Education China, Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Meat Production and Processing, Quality and Safety Control, College of Food Science and Technology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Ruoxin Wang
- Key Laboratory of Meat Processing and Quality Control, Ministry of Education China, Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Meat Production and Processing, Quality and Safety Control, College of Food Science and Technology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Wangang Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Meat Processing and Quality Control, Ministry of Education China, Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Meat Production and Processing, Quality and Safety Control, College of Food Science and Technology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
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Serna N, López-Laguna H, Aceituno P, Rojas-Peña M, Parladé E, Voltà-Durán E, Martínez-Torró C, Sánchez JM, Di Somma A, Carratalá JV, Livieri AL, Ferrer-Miralles N, Vázquez E, Unzueta U, Roher N, Villaverde A. Efficient Delivery of Antimicrobial Peptides in an Innovative, Slow-Release Pharmacological Formulation. Pharmaceutics 2023; 15:2632. [PMID: 38004610 PMCID: PMC10674355 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics15112632] [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: 10/23/2023] [Revised: 10/31/2023] [Accepted: 11/07/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Both nanostructure and multivalency enhance the biological activities of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), whose mechanism of action is cooperative. In addition, the efficacy of a particular AMP should benefit from a steady concentration at the local place of action and, therefore, from a slow release after a dynamic repository. In the context of emerging multi-resistant bacterial infections and the urgent need for novel and effective antimicrobial drugs, we tested these concepts through the engineering of four AMPs into supramolecular complexes as pharmacological entities. For that purpose, GWH1, T22, Pt5, and PaD, produced as GFP or human nidogen-based His-tagged fusion proteins, were engineered as self-assembling oligomeric nanoparticles ranging from 10 to 70 nm and further packaged into nanoparticle-leaking submicron granules. Since these materials slowly release functional nanoparticles during their time-sustained unpacking, they are suitable for use as drug depots in vivo. In this context, a particular AMP version (GWH1-NIDO-H6) was selected for in vivo validation in a zebrafish model of a complex bacterial infection. The GWH1-NIDO-H6-secreting protein granules are protective in zebrafish against infection by the multi-resistant bacterium Stenotrophomonas maltophilia, proving the potential of innovative formulations based on nanostructured and slowly released recombinant AMPs in the fight against bacterial infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naroa Serna
- Institut de Biotecnologia i de Biomedicina (IBB), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Barcelona, Spain; (N.S.); (P.A.); (M.R.-P.); (E.P.); (E.V.-D.); (C.M.-T.); (J.M.S.); (A.D.S.); (J.V.C.); (A.L.L.); (N.F.-M.); (E.V.); (N.R.)
- Departament de Genètica i de Microbiologia, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Barcelona, Spain;
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Bioingeniería, Biomateriales y Nanomedicina, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28029 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Hèctor López-Laguna
- Institut de Biotecnologia i de Biomedicina (IBB), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Barcelona, Spain; (N.S.); (P.A.); (M.R.-P.); (E.P.); (E.V.-D.); (C.M.-T.); (J.M.S.); (A.D.S.); (J.V.C.); (A.L.L.); (N.F.-M.); (E.V.); (N.R.)
- Departament de Genètica i de Microbiologia, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Barcelona, Spain;
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Bioingeniería, Biomateriales y Nanomedicina, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28029 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Patricia Aceituno
- Institut de Biotecnologia i de Biomedicina (IBB), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Barcelona, Spain; (N.S.); (P.A.); (M.R.-P.); (E.P.); (E.V.-D.); (C.M.-T.); (J.M.S.); (A.D.S.); (J.V.C.); (A.L.L.); (N.F.-M.); (E.V.); (N.R.)
- Departament de Biologia Cel·lular, Fisiologia Animal i Immunologia, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Mauricio Rojas-Peña
- Institut de Biotecnologia i de Biomedicina (IBB), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Barcelona, Spain; (N.S.); (P.A.); (M.R.-P.); (E.P.); (E.V.-D.); (C.M.-T.); (J.M.S.); (A.D.S.); (J.V.C.); (A.L.L.); (N.F.-M.); (E.V.); (N.R.)
- Departament de Biologia Cel·lular, Fisiologia Animal i Immunologia, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Eloi Parladé
- Institut de Biotecnologia i de Biomedicina (IBB), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Barcelona, Spain; (N.S.); (P.A.); (M.R.-P.); (E.P.); (E.V.-D.); (C.M.-T.); (J.M.S.); (A.D.S.); (J.V.C.); (A.L.L.); (N.F.-M.); (E.V.); (N.R.)
- Departament de Genètica i de Microbiologia, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Barcelona, Spain;
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Bioingeniería, Biomateriales y Nanomedicina, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28029 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Eric Voltà-Durán
- Institut de Biotecnologia i de Biomedicina (IBB), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Barcelona, Spain; (N.S.); (P.A.); (M.R.-P.); (E.P.); (E.V.-D.); (C.M.-T.); (J.M.S.); (A.D.S.); (J.V.C.); (A.L.L.); (N.F.-M.); (E.V.); (N.R.)
- Departament de Genètica i de Microbiologia, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Barcelona, Spain;
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Bioingeniería, Biomateriales y Nanomedicina, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28029 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Carlos Martínez-Torró
- Institut de Biotecnologia i de Biomedicina (IBB), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Barcelona, Spain; (N.S.); (P.A.); (M.R.-P.); (E.P.); (E.V.-D.); (C.M.-T.); (J.M.S.); (A.D.S.); (J.V.C.); (A.L.L.); (N.F.-M.); (E.V.); (N.R.)
- Departament de Genètica i de Microbiologia, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Barcelona, Spain;
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Bioingeniería, Biomateriales y Nanomedicina, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28029 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Julieta M. Sánchez
- Institut de Biotecnologia i de Biomedicina (IBB), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Barcelona, Spain; (N.S.); (P.A.); (M.R.-P.); (E.P.); (E.V.-D.); (C.M.-T.); (J.M.S.); (A.D.S.); (J.V.C.); (A.L.L.); (N.F.-M.); (E.V.); (N.R.)
- Departament de Genètica i de Microbiologia, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Barcelona, Spain;
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Bioingeniería, Biomateriales y Nanomedicina, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28029 Barcelona, Spain
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas y Tecnológicas (IIBYT), (CONICET-Universidad Nacional de Córdoba), ICTA, FCEFyN, UNC. Av. Velez Sarsfield 1611, Córdoba X 5016GCA, Argentina
| | - Angela Di Somma
- Institut de Biotecnologia i de Biomedicina (IBB), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Barcelona, Spain; (N.S.); (P.A.); (M.R.-P.); (E.P.); (E.V.-D.); (C.M.-T.); (J.M.S.); (A.D.S.); (J.V.C.); (A.L.L.); (N.F.-M.); (E.V.); (N.R.)
| | - Jose Vicente Carratalá
- Institut de Biotecnologia i de Biomedicina (IBB), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Barcelona, Spain; (N.S.); (P.A.); (M.R.-P.); (E.P.); (E.V.-D.); (C.M.-T.); (J.M.S.); (A.D.S.); (J.V.C.); (A.L.L.); (N.F.-M.); (E.V.); (N.R.)
- Departament de Genètica i de Microbiologia, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Barcelona, Spain;
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Bioingeniería, Biomateriales y Nanomedicina, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28029 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Andrea L. Livieri
- Institut de Biotecnologia i de Biomedicina (IBB), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Barcelona, Spain; (N.S.); (P.A.); (M.R.-P.); (E.P.); (E.V.-D.); (C.M.-T.); (J.M.S.); (A.D.S.); (J.V.C.); (A.L.L.); (N.F.-M.); (E.V.); (N.R.)
| | - Neus Ferrer-Miralles
- Institut de Biotecnologia i de Biomedicina (IBB), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Barcelona, Spain; (N.S.); (P.A.); (M.R.-P.); (E.P.); (E.V.-D.); (C.M.-T.); (J.M.S.); (A.D.S.); (J.V.C.); (A.L.L.); (N.F.-M.); (E.V.); (N.R.)
- Departament de Genètica i de Microbiologia, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Barcelona, Spain;
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Bioingeniería, Biomateriales y Nanomedicina, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28029 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Esther Vázquez
- Institut de Biotecnologia i de Biomedicina (IBB), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Barcelona, Spain; (N.S.); (P.A.); (M.R.-P.); (E.P.); (E.V.-D.); (C.M.-T.); (J.M.S.); (A.D.S.); (J.V.C.); (A.L.L.); (N.F.-M.); (E.V.); (N.R.)
- Departament de Genètica i de Microbiologia, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Barcelona, Spain;
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Bioingeniería, Biomateriales y Nanomedicina, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28029 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Ugutz Unzueta
- Departament de Genètica i de Microbiologia, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Barcelona, Spain;
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Bioingeniería, Biomateriales y Nanomedicina, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28029 Barcelona, Spain
- Biomedical Research Institute Sant Pau (IIB Sant Pau), 08041 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Nerea Roher
- Institut de Biotecnologia i de Biomedicina (IBB), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Barcelona, Spain; (N.S.); (P.A.); (M.R.-P.); (E.P.); (E.V.-D.); (C.M.-T.); (J.M.S.); (A.D.S.); (J.V.C.); (A.L.L.); (N.F.-M.); (E.V.); (N.R.)
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Bioingeniería, Biomateriales y Nanomedicina, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28029 Barcelona, Spain
- Departament de Biologia Cel·lular, Fisiologia Animal i Immunologia, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Antonio Villaverde
- Institut de Biotecnologia i de Biomedicina (IBB), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Barcelona, Spain; (N.S.); (P.A.); (M.R.-P.); (E.P.); (E.V.-D.); (C.M.-T.); (J.M.S.); (A.D.S.); (J.V.C.); (A.L.L.); (N.F.-M.); (E.V.); (N.R.)
- Departament de Genètica i de Microbiologia, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Barcelona, Spain;
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Bioingeniería, Biomateriales y Nanomedicina, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28029 Barcelona, Spain
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Marrazzo P, Pizzuti V, Zia S, Sargenti A, Gazzola D, Roda B, Bonsi L, Alviano F. Microfluidic Tools for Enhanced Characterization of Therapeutic Stem Cells and Prediction of Their Potential Antimicrobial Secretome. Antibiotics (Basel) 2021; 10:750. [PMID: 34206190 PMCID: PMC8300685 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics10070750] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2021] [Revised: 06/11/2021] [Accepted: 06/18/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Antibiotic resistance is creating enormous attention on the development of new antibiotic-free therapy strategies for bacterial diseases. Mesenchymal stromal stem cells (MSCs) are the most promising candidates in current clinical trials and included in several cell-therapy protocols. Together with the well-known immunomodulatory and regenerative potential of the MSC secretome, these cells have shown direct and indirect anti-bacterial effects. However, the low reproducibility and standardization of MSCs from different sources are the current limitations prior to the purification of cell-free secreted antimicrobial peptides and exosomes. In order to improve MSC characterization, novel label-free functional tests, evaluating the biophysical properties of the cells, will be advantageous for their cell profiling, population sorting, and quality control. We discuss the potential of emerging microfluidic technologies providing new insights into density, shape, and size of live cells, starting from heterogeneous or 3D cultured samples. The prospective application of these technologies to studying MSC populations may contribute to developing new biopharmaceutical strategies with a view to naturally overcoming bacterial defense mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pasquale Marrazzo
- Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine, University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy; (V.P.); (L.B.); (F.A.)
| | - Valeria Pizzuti
- Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine, University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy; (V.P.); (L.B.); (F.A.)
| | - Silvia Zia
- Stem Sel S.r.l., 40127 Bologna, Italy; (S.Z.); (B.R.)
| | | | - Daniele Gazzola
- Cell Dynamics i.S.r.l., 40129 Bologna, Italy; (A.S.); (D.G.)
| | - Barbara Roda
- Stem Sel S.r.l., 40127 Bologna, Italy; (S.Z.); (B.R.)
- Department of Chemistry “G. Ciamician”, University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy
| | - Laura Bonsi
- Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine, University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy; (V.P.); (L.B.); (F.A.)
| | - Francesco Alviano
- Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine, University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy; (V.P.); (L.B.); (F.A.)
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Serna N, Carratalá JV, Parladé E, Sánchez-Chardi A, Aviñó A, Unzueta U, Mangues R, Eritja R, Ferrer-Miralles N, Vazquez E, Villaverde A. Developing Protein-Antitumoral Drug Nanoconjugates as Bifunctional Antimicrobial Agents. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2020; 12:57746-57756. [PMID: 33325705 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.0c18317] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
A novel concept about bifunctional antimicrobial drugs, based on self-assembling protein nanoparticles, has been evaluated here over two biofilm-forming pathogens, namely Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus. Two structurally different antimicrobial peptides (GWH1 and PaDBS1R1) were engineered to form regular nanoparticles of around 35 nm, to which the small molecular weight drug Floxuridine was covalently conjugated. Both the assembled peptides and the chemical, a conventional cytotoxic drug used in oncotherapy, showed potent antimicrobial activities that were enhanced by the combination of both molecules in single pharmacological entities. Therefore, the resulting prototypes show promises as innovative nanomedicines, being potential alternatives to conventional antibiotics. The biological performance and easy fabrication of these materials fully support the design of protein-based hybrid constructs for combined molecular therapies, expected to have broad applicability beyond antimicrobial medicines. In addition, the approach taken here validates the functional exploration and repurposing of antitumoral drugs, which at low concentrations perform well as unexpected biofilm-inhibiting agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naroa Serna
- Institut de Biotecnologia i de Biomedicina, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, 08193 Barcelona, Spain
- Departament de Genètica i de Microbiologia, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, 08193 Barcelona, Spain
- CIBER de Bioingeniería, Biomateriales y Nanomedicina (CIBER-BBN), C/Monforte de Lemos 3-5, 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - Jose Vicente Carratalá
- Institut de Biotecnologia i de Biomedicina, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, 08193 Barcelona, Spain
- Departament de Genètica i de Microbiologia, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, 08193 Barcelona, Spain
- CIBER de Bioingeniería, Biomateriales y Nanomedicina (CIBER-BBN), C/Monforte de Lemos 3-5, 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - Eloi Parladé
- Institut de Biotecnologia i de Biomedicina, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, 08193 Barcelona, Spain
- CIBER de Bioingeniería, Biomateriales y Nanomedicina (CIBER-BBN), C/Monforte de Lemos 3-5, 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - Alejandro Sánchez-Chardi
- Servei de Microscòpia, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, 08193 Barcelona, Spain
- Departament de Biologia Evolutiva, Ecologia i Ciències Ambientals, Facultat de Biologia, Universitat de Barcelona, Av. Diagonal 643, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Anna Aviñó
- CIBER de Bioingeniería, Biomateriales y Nanomedicina (CIBER-BBN), C/Monforte de Lemos 3-5, 28029 Madrid, Spain
- Institute for Advanced Chemistry of Catalonia (IQAC), CSIC, 08034 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Ugutz Unzueta
- Departament de Genètica i de Microbiologia, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, 08193 Barcelona, Spain
- CIBER de Bioingeniería, Biomateriales y Nanomedicina (CIBER-BBN), C/Monforte de Lemos 3-5, 28029 Madrid, Spain
- Biomedical Research Institute Sant Pau (IIB Sant Pau), Sant Antoni Maria Claret 167, 08025 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Ramón Mangues
- CIBER de Bioingeniería, Biomateriales y Nanomedicina (CIBER-BBN), C/Monforte de Lemos 3-5, 28029 Madrid, Spain
- Biomedical Research Institute Sant Pau (IIB Sant Pau), Sant Antoni Maria Claret 167, 08025 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Ramón Eritja
- CIBER de Bioingeniería, Biomateriales y Nanomedicina (CIBER-BBN), C/Monforte de Lemos 3-5, 28029 Madrid, Spain
- Institute for Advanced Chemistry of Catalonia (IQAC), CSIC, 08034 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Neus Ferrer-Miralles
- Institut de Biotecnologia i de Biomedicina, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, 08193 Barcelona, Spain
- Departament de Genètica i de Microbiologia, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, 08193 Barcelona, Spain
- CIBER de Bioingeniería, Biomateriales y Nanomedicina (CIBER-BBN), C/Monforte de Lemos 3-5, 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - Esther Vazquez
- Institut de Biotecnologia i de Biomedicina, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, 08193 Barcelona, Spain
- Departament de Genètica i de Microbiologia, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, 08193 Barcelona, Spain
- CIBER de Bioingeniería, Biomateriales y Nanomedicina (CIBER-BBN), C/Monforte de Lemos 3-5, 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - Antonio Villaverde
- Institut de Biotecnologia i de Biomedicina, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, 08193 Barcelona, Spain
- Departament de Genètica i de Microbiologia, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, 08193 Barcelona, Spain
- CIBER de Bioingeniería, Biomateriales y Nanomedicina (CIBER-BBN), C/Monforte de Lemos 3-5, 28029 Madrid, Spain
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Antifungal In Vitro Activity of Pilosulin- and Ponericin-Like Peptides from the Giant Ant Dinoponera quadriceps and Synergistic Effects with Antimycotic Drugs. Antibiotics (Basel) 2020; 9:antibiotics9060354. [PMID: 32585881 PMCID: PMC7344683 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics9060354] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2020] [Revised: 06/17/2020] [Accepted: 06/20/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Venoms from ants comprise a rich source of bioactive peptides, including antimicrobial peptides. From the proteome and peptidome of the giant ant Dinoponera quadriceps venom, members of five known classes of antimicrobial peptides were disclosed (e.g., dermaseptin-, defensin-, ICK-, pilosulin- and ponericin-like types). Based on comparative analysis, these family members have structural determinants that indicate they could display antimicrobial activities. In previous works, pilosulin- and ponericin-like peptides were demonstrated to be active against bacteria, fungi, and parasites. Herein, the antifungal activity of ponericin- and pilosulin-like peptides were assessed, aiming at the expansion of the knowledge about AMPs in predatory ants and the development of new microbicide strategies to deal with difficult-to-treat fungal infections. Synthetic pilosulin- (Dq-2562, Dq-1503, and Dq-1319) and ponericin-like (Dq-3162) peptides were evaluated for their fungicide and fungistatic activities against different species of Candida, including a drug-resistant clinical strain. The MICs and MLCs were determined for all peptides individually and in combination with general antifungal drugs by the microdilution method. The time-kill kinetic curves were set up by means of a luminescent reagent, of which the light signal is proportional to the number of viable cells. The candicidal synergism observed by the combination of subinhibitory concentrations of peptides and general antimycotic drugs were quantified by the checkerboard test and fluorescent dye permeation assay. The influence of ergosterol on the antifungal activity was verified by supplementation of culture medium. The pilosulin- (Dq-2562 and Dq-1503) and ponericin-like (Dq-3162) were the most active peptides, displaying a broad spectrum of antifungal activity in vitro, with MICs in the range of 0.625 to 10 µM. The combination of peptides and conventional antimycotic drugs displayed a synergistic reduction in the MIC values of individual peptides and drugs, while soluble ergosterol in the culture medium increased the MICs. The fungicide and fungistatic activity of the individual peptides and peptides in combination with antimycotics were time-dependent with a rapid onset of action and long-lasting effect, which involved membrane disruption as an underlying mechanism of their action. Altogether, pilosulin- and ponericin-like peptides from the giant ant D. quadriceps venom display a broad-spectrum of candicidal activity, what allows their inclusion in the row of the antifungal peptides and gives support for further studies on the development of strategies to fight candidiasis.
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