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Wang J, Hu J, Pu W, Chen X, Ma C, Jiang Y, Wang T, Chen T, Shaw C, Zhou M, Wang L. Discovery, development and optimisation of a novel frog antimicrobial peptide with combined mode of action against drug-resistant bacteria. Comput Struct Biotechnol J 2024; 23:3391-3406. [PMID: 39345903 PMCID: PMC11437748 DOI: 10.1016/j.csbj.2024.09.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2024] [Revised: 09/12/2024] [Accepted: 09/12/2024] [Indexed: 10/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Antimicrobial peptides (AMP) have emerged as promising candidates for addressing the clinical challenges posed by the rapid evolution of antibiotic-resistant microorganisms. Brevinins, a representative frog-derived AMP family, exhibited broad-spectrum antimicrobial activities, attacking great attentions in previous studies. However, their strong haemolytic activity and cytotoxicity, greatly limit their further development. In this work, we identified and characterised a novel brevinin-1 peptide, brevinin-1pl, from the skin secretions of the northern leopard frog, Rana pipiens. Like many brevinins, brevinin-1pl also displayed strong haemolytic activity, resulting in a lower therapeutic index. We employed several bioinformatics tools to analyse the structure and potential membrane interactions of brevinin-1pl, leading to a series of modifications. Among these analogues, des-Ala16-[Lys4]brevinin-1pl exhibited great enhanced therapeutic efficacy in both in vitro and in vivo tests, particularly against some antibiotics-resistant Escherichia coli strains. Mechanistic studies suggest that des-Ala16-[Lys4]brevinin-1pl may exert bactericidal effects through multiple mechanisms, including membrane disruption and DNA binding. Consequently, des-Ala16-[Lys4]brevinin-1pl holds promise as a candidate for the treatment of drug-resistant Escherichia coli infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingkai Wang
- Natural Drug Discovery Group, School of Pharmacy, Queen’s University Belfast, Belfast BT9 7BL, Northern Ireland, UK
| | - Jibo Hu
- Natural Drug Discovery Group, School of Pharmacy, Queen’s University Belfast, Belfast BT9 7BL, Northern Ireland, UK
- China Medical University-The Queen's University of Belfast Joint College, No.77 Puhe Road, Shenyang North New Area, Shenyang 110122, PR China
| | - Wenyuan Pu
- College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, PR China
| | - Xiaoling Chen
- Natural Drug Discovery Group, School of Pharmacy, Queen’s University Belfast, Belfast BT9 7BL, Northern Ireland, UK
| | - Chengbang Ma
- Natural Drug Discovery Group, School of Pharmacy, Queen’s University Belfast, Belfast BT9 7BL, Northern Ireland, UK
| | - Yangyang Jiang
- Natural Drug Discovery Group, School of Pharmacy, Queen’s University Belfast, Belfast BT9 7BL, Northern Ireland, UK
| | - Tao Wang
- Natural Drug Discovery Group, School of Pharmacy, Queen’s University Belfast, Belfast BT9 7BL, Northern Ireland, UK
| | - Tianbao Chen
- Natural Drug Discovery Group, School of Pharmacy, Queen’s University Belfast, Belfast BT9 7BL, Northern Ireland, UK
- China Medical University-The Queen's University of Belfast Joint College, No.77 Puhe Road, Shenyang North New Area, Shenyang 110122, PR China
| | - Chris Shaw
- Natural Drug Discovery Group, School of Pharmacy, Queen’s University Belfast, Belfast BT9 7BL, Northern Ireland, UK
| | - Mei Zhou
- Natural Drug Discovery Group, School of Pharmacy, Queen’s University Belfast, Belfast BT9 7BL, Northern Ireland, UK
| | - Lei Wang
- Natural Drug Discovery Group, School of Pharmacy, Queen’s University Belfast, Belfast BT9 7BL, Northern Ireland, UK
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Alimbarashvili E, Samsonidze N, Grigolava M, Pirtskhalava M. Small Natural Cyclic Peptides from DBAASP Database. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2024; 17:845. [PMID: 39065696 PMCID: PMC11279581 DOI: 10.3390/ph17070845] [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: 05/21/2024] [Revised: 05/30/2024] [Accepted: 06/01/2024] [Indexed: 07/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are promising tools for combating microbial resistance. However, their therapeutic potential is hindered by two intrinsic drawbacks-low target affinity and poor in vivo stability. Macrocyclization, a process that improves the pharmacological properties and bioactivity of peptides, can address these limitations. As a result, macrocyclic peptides represent attractive drug candidates. Moreover, many drugs are macrocycles that originated from natural product scaffolds, suggesting that nature offers solutions to the challenges faced by AMPs. In this review, we explore natural cyclic peptides from the DBAASP database. DBAASP is a comprehensive repository of data on antimicrobial/cytotoxic activities and structures of peptides. We analyze the data on small (≤25 AA) ribosomal and non-ribosomal cyclic peptides from DBAASP according to their amino acid composition, bonds used for cyclization, targets they act on, and mechanisms of action. This analysis will enhance our understanding of the small cyclic peptides that nature has provided to defend living organisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evgenia Alimbarashvili
- Ivane Beritashvili Center of Experimental Biomedicine, Tbilisi 0160, Georgia; (N.S.); (M.G.)
| | | | | | - Malak Pirtskhalava
- Ivane Beritashvili Center of Experimental Biomedicine, Tbilisi 0160, Georgia; (N.S.); (M.G.)
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Liu X, Shi D, Cheng S, Chen X, Ma C, Jiang Y, Wang T, Chen T, Shaw C, Wang L, Zhou M. Modification and Synergistic Studies of a Novel Frog Antimicrobial Peptide against Pseudomonas aeruginosa Biofilms. Antibiotics (Basel) 2024; 13:574. [PMID: 39061256 PMCID: PMC11274128 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics13070574] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2024] [Revised: 06/18/2024] [Accepted: 06/19/2024] [Indexed: 07/28/2024] Open
Abstract
The overuse of traditional antibiotics has resulted in bacterial resistance and seriously compromised the therapeutic efficacy of traditional antibiotics, making the exploration of new antimicrobials particularly important. Several studies have shown that bioactive peptides have become an important source of new antimicrobial drugs due to their broad-spectrum antibacterial action and lack of susceptibility to resistance. In this study, a novel bioactive peptide Nigrosin-6VL was characterised from the skin secretion of the golden cross band frog, Odorrana andersonii, by using the 'shotgun' cloning strategy. Modifications on the Rana Box of Nigrosin-6VL revealed its critical role in antimicrobial functions. The peptide analogue, 2170-2R, designed to preserve the Rana Box structure while enhancing cationicity, exhibited improved therapeutic efficacy, particularly against Gram-negative bacteria, with a therapeutic value of 45.27. Synergistic studies demonstrated that 2170-2R inherits the synergistic antimicrobial activities of the parent peptides and effectively enhances the antimicrobial capacity of cefepime and gentamicin against both planktonic cells and biofilms. Specifically, 2170-2R can synergise effectively with cefepime and gentamicin against different strains of P. aeruginosa biofilms. Consequently, 2170-2R holds promise as a potent antimicrobial agent developed to combat infections induced by Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinze Liu
- Natural Drug Discovery Group, School of Pharmacy, Queen’s University Belfast, Belfast BT9 7BL, UK; (X.L.); (S.C.); (X.C.); (C.M.); (T.C.); (C.S.); (L.W.); (M.Z.)
| | - Daning Shi
- Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, No. 12 Zhongguancun South Street, Haidian District, Beijing 100081, China;
| | - Shiya Cheng
- Natural Drug Discovery Group, School of Pharmacy, Queen’s University Belfast, Belfast BT9 7BL, UK; (X.L.); (S.C.); (X.C.); (C.M.); (T.C.); (C.S.); (L.W.); (M.Z.)
| | - Xiaoling Chen
- Natural Drug Discovery Group, School of Pharmacy, Queen’s University Belfast, Belfast BT9 7BL, UK; (X.L.); (S.C.); (X.C.); (C.M.); (T.C.); (C.S.); (L.W.); (M.Z.)
| | - Chengbang Ma
- Natural Drug Discovery Group, School of Pharmacy, Queen’s University Belfast, Belfast BT9 7BL, UK; (X.L.); (S.C.); (X.C.); (C.M.); (T.C.); (C.S.); (L.W.); (M.Z.)
| | - Yangyang Jiang
- Natural Drug Discovery Group, School of Pharmacy, Queen’s University Belfast, Belfast BT9 7BL, UK; (X.L.); (S.C.); (X.C.); (C.M.); (T.C.); (C.S.); (L.W.); (M.Z.)
| | - Tao Wang
- Natural Drug Discovery Group, School of Pharmacy, Queen’s University Belfast, Belfast BT9 7BL, UK; (X.L.); (S.C.); (X.C.); (C.M.); (T.C.); (C.S.); (L.W.); (M.Z.)
| | - Tianbao Chen
- Natural Drug Discovery Group, School of Pharmacy, Queen’s University Belfast, Belfast BT9 7BL, UK; (X.L.); (S.C.); (X.C.); (C.M.); (T.C.); (C.S.); (L.W.); (M.Z.)
| | - Chris Shaw
- Natural Drug Discovery Group, School of Pharmacy, Queen’s University Belfast, Belfast BT9 7BL, UK; (X.L.); (S.C.); (X.C.); (C.M.); (T.C.); (C.S.); (L.W.); (M.Z.)
| | - Lei Wang
- Natural Drug Discovery Group, School of Pharmacy, Queen’s University Belfast, Belfast BT9 7BL, UK; (X.L.); (S.C.); (X.C.); (C.M.); (T.C.); (C.S.); (L.W.); (M.Z.)
| | - Mei Zhou
- Natural Drug Discovery Group, School of Pharmacy, Queen’s University Belfast, Belfast BT9 7BL, UK; (X.L.); (S.C.); (X.C.); (C.M.); (T.C.); (C.S.); (L.W.); (M.Z.)
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Yao A, Liu T, Cai Y, Zhou S, Chen X, Zhou M, Ma C, Chen T, Shaw C, Wang L. Progressive Design of a Ranatuerin-2 Peptide from Amolops wuyiensis: Enhancement of Bioactivity and In Vivo Efficacy. Antibiotics (Basel) 2023; 13:5. [PMID: 38275314 PMCID: PMC10812557 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics13010005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2023] [Revised: 12/13/2023] [Accepted: 12/15/2023] [Indexed: 01/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) that exert multiple functions are considered promising candidates to combat the bacterial drug resistance crisis. Nowadays, targeted peptide modification has been widely recognised to improve biological activity and make up for deficiencies in clinical applications such as toxicity. In this study, a helix-loop peptide was isolated and identified from the skin secretion of the Wuyi torrent frog Amolops wuyiensis, namely, ranatuerin-2-AW (R2AW) (GFMDTAKNVAKNVAATLLDKLKCKITGGC). Target modifications were made to R2AW to study the structure-activity relationships and to optimise its bioactivities. Five analogues were progressively designed via residue substitution and truncation and the antibacterial and anticancer activities were evaluated. We found that the serine-substitution and cyclic-domain-deletion products showed similar antibacterial activity to the natural peptide R2AW, implying that the disulphide bridge and Rana box were dispensable for the antibacterial activity of ranatuerin-2 peptides. Notably, the cationicity- and hydrophobicity-enhanced variant, [Lys4,19, Leu20]R2AW(1-22)-NH2, exhibited significantly optimised antibacterial and anticancer activities. Additionally, it killed bacteria by membrane disruption at a highly efficient rate. Moreover, [Lys4,19, Leu20]R2AW(1-22)-NH2 exerted potential in vivo efficacy in a methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)-infected waxworm model. Overall, this study demonstrated some rational design ideas for optimising the dual antibacterial and anticancer activities of ranatuerin-2 peptides and it proposes [Lys4,19, Leu20]R2AW(1-22)-NH2 as an appealing candidate for therapeutic development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aifang Yao
- College of Biological Science and Engineering, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou 350108, China
| | - Tianxing Liu
- School of Pharmacy, Queen’s University Belfast, 97 Lisburn Road, Belfast BT9 7BL, UK; (T.L.); (Y.C.); (S.Z.); (M.Z.); (C.M.); (T.C.); (C.S.); (L.W.)
| | - Yuhai Cai
- School of Pharmacy, Queen’s University Belfast, 97 Lisburn Road, Belfast BT9 7BL, UK; (T.L.); (Y.C.); (S.Z.); (M.Z.); (C.M.); (T.C.); (C.S.); (L.W.)
| | - Siqi Zhou
- School of Pharmacy, Queen’s University Belfast, 97 Lisburn Road, Belfast BT9 7BL, UK; (T.L.); (Y.C.); (S.Z.); (M.Z.); (C.M.); (T.C.); (C.S.); (L.W.)
| | - Xiaoling Chen
- School of Pharmacy, Queen’s University Belfast, 97 Lisburn Road, Belfast BT9 7BL, UK; (T.L.); (Y.C.); (S.Z.); (M.Z.); (C.M.); (T.C.); (C.S.); (L.W.)
| | - Mei Zhou
- School of Pharmacy, Queen’s University Belfast, 97 Lisburn Road, Belfast BT9 7BL, UK; (T.L.); (Y.C.); (S.Z.); (M.Z.); (C.M.); (T.C.); (C.S.); (L.W.)
| | - Chengbang Ma
- School of Pharmacy, Queen’s University Belfast, 97 Lisburn Road, Belfast BT9 7BL, UK; (T.L.); (Y.C.); (S.Z.); (M.Z.); (C.M.); (T.C.); (C.S.); (L.W.)
| | - Tianbao Chen
- School of Pharmacy, Queen’s University Belfast, 97 Lisburn Road, Belfast BT9 7BL, UK; (T.L.); (Y.C.); (S.Z.); (M.Z.); (C.M.); (T.C.); (C.S.); (L.W.)
| | - Chris Shaw
- School of Pharmacy, Queen’s University Belfast, 97 Lisburn Road, Belfast BT9 7BL, UK; (T.L.); (Y.C.); (S.Z.); (M.Z.); (C.M.); (T.C.); (C.S.); (L.W.)
| | - Lei Wang
- School of Pharmacy, Queen’s University Belfast, 97 Lisburn Road, Belfast BT9 7BL, UK; (T.L.); (Y.C.); (S.Z.); (M.Z.); (C.M.); (T.C.); (C.S.); (L.W.)
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Mwangi J, Kamau PM, Thuku RC, Lai R. Design methods for antimicrobial peptides with improved performance. Zool Res 2023; 44:1095-1114. [PMID: 37914524 PMCID: PMC10802102 DOI: 10.24272/j.issn.2095-8137.2023.246] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2023] [Accepted: 09/20/2023] [Indexed: 11/03/2023] Open
Abstract
The recalcitrance of pathogens to traditional antibiotics has made treating and eradicating bacterial infections more difficult. In this regard, developing new antimicrobial agents to combat antibiotic-resistant strains has become a top priority. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), a ubiquitous class of naturally occurring compounds with broad-spectrum antipathogenic activity, hold significant promise as an effective solution to the current antimicrobial resistance (AMR) crisis. Several AMPs have been identified and evaluated for their therapeutic application, with many already in the drug development pipeline. Their distinct properties, such as high target specificity, potency, and ability to bypass microbial resistance mechanisms, make AMPs a promising alternative to traditional antibiotics. Nonetheless, several challenges, such as high toxicity, lability to proteolytic degradation, low stability, poor pharmacokinetics, and high production costs, continue to hamper their clinical applicability. Therefore, recent research has focused on optimizing the properties of AMPs to improve their performance. By understanding the physicochemical properties of AMPs that correspond to their activity, such as amphipathicity, hydrophobicity, structural conformation, amino acid distribution, and composition, researchers can design AMPs with desired and improved performance. In this review, we highlight some of the key strategies used to optimize the performance of AMPs, including rational design and de novo synthesis. We also discuss the growing role of predictive computational tools, utilizing artificial intelligence and machine learning, in the design and synthesis of highly efficacious lead drug candidates.
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Affiliation(s)
- James Mwangi
- Key Laboratory of Bioactive Peptides of Yunnan Province, Engineering Laboratory of Peptides of Chinese Academy of Sciences, KIZ-CUHK Joint Laboratory of Bioresources and Molecular Research in Common Diseases, National Resource Centre for Non-Human Primates, Kunming Primate Research Centre, National Research Facility for Phenotypic & Genetic Analysis of Model Animals (Primate Facility), Sino-African Joint Research Centre, New Cornerstone Science Institute, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan 650107, China
- Kunming College of Life Science, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan 650204, China
| | - Peter Muiruri Kamau
- Key Laboratory of Bioactive Peptides of Yunnan Province, Engineering Laboratory of Peptides of Chinese Academy of Sciences, KIZ-CUHK Joint Laboratory of Bioresources and Molecular Research in Common Diseases, National Resource Centre for Non-Human Primates, Kunming Primate Research Centre, National Research Facility for Phenotypic & Genetic Analysis of Model Animals (Primate Facility), Sino-African Joint Research Centre, New Cornerstone Science Institute, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan 650107, China
- Kunming College of Life Science, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan 650204, China
| | - Rebecca Caroline Thuku
- Key Laboratory of Bioactive Peptides of Yunnan Province, Engineering Laboratory of Peptides of Chinese Academy of Sciences, KIZ-CUHK Joint Laboratory of Bioresources and Molecular Research in Common Diseases, National Resource Centre for Non-Human Primates, Kunming Primate Research Centre, National Research Facility for Phenotypic & Genetic Analysis of Model Animals (Primate Facility), Sino-African Joint Research Centre, New Cornerstone Science Institute, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan 650107, China
- Kunming College of Life Science, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan 650204, China
| | - Ren Lai
- Key Laboratory of Bioactive Peptides of Yunnan Province, Engineering Laboratory of Peptides of Chinese Academy of Sciences, KIZ-CUHK Joint Laboratory of Bioresources and Molecular Research in Common Diseases, National Resource Centre for Non-Human Primates, Kunming Primate Research Centre, National Research Facility for Phenotypic & Genetic Analysis of Model Animals (Primate Facility), Sino-African Joint Research Centre, New Cornerstone Science Institute, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan 650107, China
- Centre for Evolution and Conservation Biology, Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory, Guangzhou, Guangdong 511458, China. E-mail:
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Wang X, Yang X, Wang Q, Meng D. Unnatural amino acids: promising implications for the development of new antimicrobial peptides. Crit Rev Microbiol 2023; 49:231-255. [PMID: 35254957 DOI: 10.1080/1040841x.2022.2047008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
The increasing incidence and rapid spread of bacterial resistance to conventional antibiotics are a serious global threat to public health, highlighting the need to develop new antimicrobial alternatives. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) represent a class of promising natural antibiotic candidates due to their broad-spectrum activity and low tendency to induce resistance. However, the development of AMPs for medical use is hampered by several obstacles, such as moderate activity, lability to proteolytic degradation, and low bioavailability. To date, many researchers have focussed on the optimization or design of novel artificial AMPs with desired properties. Unnatural amino acids (UAAs) are valuable building blocks in the manufacture of a variety of pharmaceuticals, and have been used to develop artificial AMPs with specific structural and physicochemical properties. Rational incorporation of UAAs has become a very promising approach to endow AMPs with strong and long-lasting activity but no toxicity. This review aims to summarize key approaches that have been used to incorporate UAAs to develop novel AMPs with improved properties and better performance. It is anticipated that this review will guide future design considerations for UAA-based antimicrobial applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiuhong Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Food Nutrition and Safety, College of Food Science and Engineering, Tianjin University of Science & Technology, Tianjin, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaomin Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Food Nutrition and Safety, College of Food Science and Engineering, Tianjin University of Science & Technology, Tianjin, People's Republic of China
| | - Qiaoe Wang
- Key Laboratory of Cosmetic, China National Light Industry, Beijing Technology and Business University, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Demei Meng
- State Key Laboratory of Food Nutrition and Safety, College of Food Science and Engineering, Tianjin University of Science & Technology, Tianjin, People's Republic of China.,Tianjin Gasin-DH Preservation Technology Co., Ltd, Tianjin, People's Republic of China
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Expanding the Landscape of Amino Acid-Rich Antimicrobial Peptides: Definition, Deployment in Nature, Implications for Peptide Design and Therapeutic Potential. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms232112874. [PMID: 36361660 PMCID: PMC9658076 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232112874] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2022] [Revised: 10/18/2022] [Accepted: 10/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Unlike the α-helical and β-sheet antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), our knowledge on amino acid-rich AMPs is limited. This article conducts a systematic study of rich AMPs (>25%) from different life kingdoms based on the Antimicrobial Peptide Database (APD) using the program R. Of 3425 peptides, 724 rich AMPs were identified. Rich AMPs are more common in animals and bacteria than in plants. In different animal classes, a unique set of rich AMPs is deployed. While histidine, proline, and arginine-rich AMPs are abundant in mammals, alanine, glycine, and leucine-rich AMPs are common in amphibians. Ten amino acids (Ala, Cys, Gly, His, Ile, Lys, Leu, Pro, Arg, and Val) are frequently observed in rich AMPs, seven (Asp, Glu, Phe, Ser, Thr, Trp, and Tyr) are occasionally observed, and three (Met, Asn, and Gln) were not yet found. Leucine is much more frequent in forming rich AMPs than either valine or isoleucine. To date, no natural AMPs are simultaneously rich in leucine and lysine, while proline, tryptophan, and cysteine-rich peptides can simultaneously be rich in arginine. These findings can be utilized to guide peptide design. Since multiple candidates are potent against antibiotic-resistant bacteria, rich AMPs stand out as promising future antibiotics.
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Targeted Modification and Structure-Activity Study of GL-29, an Analogue of the Antimicrobial Peptide Palustrin-2ISb. Antibiotics (Basel) 2022; 11:antibiotics11081048. [PMID: 36009917 PMCID: PMC9405102 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics11081048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2022] [Revised: 07/27/2022] [Accepted: 07/30/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are considered as promising antimicrobial agents due to their potent bioactivity. Palustrin-2 peptides were previously found to exhibit broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity with low haemolytic activity. Therefore, GL-29 was used as a template for further modification and study. Firstly, the truncated analogue, GL-22, was designed to examine the function of the ‘Rana box’, which was confirmed to have no impact on antimicrobial activity. The results of antimicrobial activity assessment against seven microorganisms demonstrated GL-22 to have a broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity, but weak potency against Candida albicans (C. albicans). These data were similar to those of GL-29, but GL-22 showed much lower haemolysis and lower cytotoxicity against HaCaT cells. Moreover, GL-22 exhibited potent in vivo activity at 4 × MIC against Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus)-infected larvae. Several short analogues, from the C-terminus and N-terminus of GL-22, were modified to identify the shortest functional motif. However, the results demonstrated that the shorter peptides did not exhibit potent antimicrobial activity, and the factors that affect the bioactive potency of these short analogues need to be further studied.
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Lu C, Liu L, Ma C, Di L, Chen T. A novel antimicrobial peptide found in Pelophylax nigromaculatus. J Genet Eng Biotechnol 2022; 20:76. [PMID: 35606468 PMCID: PMC9127008 DOI: 10.1186/s43141-022-00366-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2022] [Accepted: 05/12/2022] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
Background Many active peptides have been found in frog skin secretions. In this paper, our research focused on Pelophylax nigromaculatus and found a broad-spectrum antimicrobial peptide Nigrocin-PN based on the molecular cloning technique. Thereafter, the “Rana box” function was briefly studied by two mutated peptides (Nigrocin-M1 and Nigrocin-M2). Furthermore, in vitro and in vivo assays were used to characterize the peptide’s biofunctions, and the peptide’s function in treating multidrug-resistant pathogens was also studied. Results Nigrocin-PN not only displayed potent antimicrobial abilities in vitro but also significantly ameliorated pulmonary inflammation induced by Klebsiella pneumoniae in vivo. By comparing, leucine-substituted analogue Nigrocin-M1 only displayed bactericidal abilities towards gram-positive bacteria, while the shorter analogue Nigrocin-M2 lost this function. More strikingly, Nigrocin-PN exhibited synergistic effects with commonly used antibiotics; in vitro evolution experiments revealed that coadministration between Nigrocin-PN and ampicillin could delay Staphylococcus aureus antibiotic resistance acquisition. Kinetics and morphology studies indicate that antibacterial mechanisms involved membrane destruction. Furthermore, toxicities and anticancer abilities of these peptides were also studied; compared to two analogues, Nigrocin-PN showed mild haemolytic activity and indistinctive cytotoxicity towards normal cell lines HMEC-1 and HaCaT. Conclusions A broad-spectrum antimicrobial peptide Nigrocin-PN was discovered from the skin secretion of Pelophylax nigromaculatus. Structurally, “Rana box” played a crucial role in reducing toxicities without compromising antibacterial abilities, and Nigrocin-PN could be a desired therapeutic candidate. Graphical abstract ![]()
• For AMPs, disulphide bond can affect their biofunction and cytotoxicity. • Frog skin secretion is a reservoir to delve valuable peptides. • AMPs-antibiotics coadministration could be a strategy to delay drug resistance.
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In Vitro and In Vivo Studies on the Antibacterial Activity and Safety of a New Antimicrobial Peptide Dermaseptin-AC. Microbiol Spectr 2021; 9:e0131821. [PMID: 34908502 PMCID: PMC8672897 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.01318-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Antimicrobial resistance has been an increasing public health threat in recent years. Antimicrobial peptides are considered as potential drugs against drug-resistant bacteria because they are mainly broad-spectrum and are unlikely to cause resistance. In this study, a novel peptide was obtained from the skin secretion of Agalychnis callidryas using the “shotgun” cloning method. The amino acid sequence, molecular weight, and secondary structure of Dermaseptin-AC were determined. The in vitro antimicrobial activity, hemolysis, and cytotoxicity of Dermaseptin-AC were evaluated. MICs and minimum bactericidal concentrations (MBCs) of Dermaseptin-AC against seven different bacterial strains ranged between 2 ∼ 4 μM and 2 ∼ 8 μM. The HC50 (50% maximum hemolysis concentration) of Dermaseptin-AC against horse erythrocytes was 76.55 μM. The in vivo anti-MRSA effect was tested on immune-suppressed MRSA pneumonia in mice. Dermaseptin-AC showed anti-MRSA effects similar to the same dose of vancomycin (10 mg/kg body weight). Short-term (7 days of intraperitoneal injection, 10 mg/kg body weight) in vivo safety evaluation of Dermaseptin-AC was tested on mice. The survival rate during the 7-day injection was 80%. Dermaseptin-AC showed no obvious effect on the liver, heart, spleen, kidney, and blood, but did induce slight pulmonary congestion. The skin safety of Dermaseptin-AC was evaluated on wounds on the back skin of a rat, and no irritation was observed. IMPORTANCE In this study, we discovered a new antimicrobial peptide, Dermaseptin-AC, and studied its in vitro and in vivo antimicrobial activity. These studies provide some data for finding new antimicrobial peptides for overcoming antimicrobial resistance. Dermaseptin-AC showed strong broad-spectrum antibacterial activity and relatively low hemolysis, and was more cytotoxic to cancer cells than to normal cells. Dermaseptin-AC was active in vivo, and its anti-MRSA effect was similar to that of vancomycin when administered by intraperitoneal injection. Safety studies found that continuous injection of Dermaseptin-AC may cause mild pulmonary congestion, while there was no obvious irritation when it was applied to skin wounds. Chronic wounds are often accompanied by high bacterial burdens and, at the same time, antimicrobial resistance is more likely to occur during repeated infections and treatments. Therefore, developing Dermaseptin-AC to treat chronic wound infection may be an attractive choice.
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Bobde SS, Alsaab FM, Wang G, Van Hoek ML. Ab initio Designed Antimicrobial Peptides Against Gram-Negative Bacteria. Front Microbiol 2021; 12:715246. [PMID: 34867843 PMCID: PMC8636942 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.715246] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2021] [Accepted: 10/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are ubiquitous amongst living organisms and are part of the innate immune system with the ability to kill pathogens directly or indirectly by modulating the immune system. AMPs have potential as a novel therapeutic against bacteria due to their quick-acting mechanism of action that prevents bacteria from developing resistance. Additionally, there is a dire need for therapeutics with activity specifically against Gram-negative bacterial infections that are intrinsically difficult to treat, with or without acquired drug resistance. Development of new antibiotics has slowed in recent years and novel therapeutics (like AMPs) with a focus against Gram-negative bacteria are needed. We designed eight novel AMPs, termed PHNX peptides, using ab initio computational design (database filtering technology combined with the novel positional analysis on APD3 dataset of AMPs with activity against Gram-negative bacteria) and assessed their theoretical function using published machine learning algorithms, and finally, validated their activity in our laboratory. These AMPs were tested to establish their minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and half-maximal effective concentration (EC50) under CLSI methodology against antibiotic resistant and antibiotic susceptible Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. Laboratory-based experimental results were compared to computationally predicted activities for each of the peptides to ascertain the accuracy of the computational tools used. PHNX-1 demonstrated antibacterial activity (under high and low-salt conditions) against antibiotic resistant and susceptible strains of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria and PHNX-4 to -8 demonstrated low-salt antibacterial activity only. The AMPs were then evaluated for cytotoxicity using hemolysis against human red blood cells and demonstrated some hemolysis which needs to be further evaluated. In this study, we successfully developed a design methodology to create synthetic AMPs with a narrow spectrum of activity where the PHNX AMPs demonstrated higher antibacterial activity against Gram-negative bacteria compared to Gram-positive bacteria. Thus, these peptides present novel synthetic peptides with a potential for therapeutic use. Based on our findings, we propose upfront selection of the peptide dataset for analysis, an additional step of positional analysis to add to the ab initio database filtering technology (DFT) method, and we present laboratory data on the novel, synthetically designed AMPs to validate the results of the computational approach. We aim to conduct future in vivo studies which could establish these AMPs for clinical use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shravani S. Bobde
- School of Systems Biology, George Mason University, Manassas, VA, United States
| | - Fahad M. Alsaab
- School of Systems Biology, George Mason University, Manassas, VA, United States
- College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Al Ahsa, Saudi Arabia
| | - Guangshuan Wang
- Department of Pathology and Microbiology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, United States
| | - Monique L. Van Hoek
- School of Systems Biology, George Mason University, Manassas, VA, United States
- *Correspondence: Monique L. Van Hoek,
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12
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Tang Q, Yang C, Li W, Zhang Y, Wang X, Wang W, Ma Z, Zhang D, Jin Y, Lin D. Evaluation of Short-Chain Antimicrobial Peptides With Combined Antimicrobial and Anti-inflammatory Bioactivities for the Treatment of Zoonotic Skin Pathogens From Canines. Front Microbiol 2021; 12:684650. [PMID: 34456884 PMCID: PMC8386128 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.684650] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2021] [Accepted: 07/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The incidence of zoonotic Staphylococcus pseudintermedius and Microsporum canis infections is rapidly growing worldwide in the context of an increasing frequency of close contact between animals and humans, presenting challenges in both human and veterinary medicine. Moreover, the development of microbial resistance and emergence of recalcitrant biofilms, accompanied by the insufficiency of new antimicrobial agents, have become major obstacles in treating superficial skin infections caused by various microbes including S. pseudintermedius and M. canis. Over recent years, the prospects of antimicrobial peptides as emerging antimicrobials to combat microbial infections have been demonstrated. In our study, two novel short-chain peptides, namely, allomyrinasin and andricin B, produced by Allomyrina dichotoma and Andrias davidianus, were revealed to exhibit potent antimicrobial efficacy against clinical isolates of S. pseudintermedius and M. canis with remarkable and rapid fungicidal and bactericidal effects, while allomyrinasin exhibited inhibition of biofilm formation and eradication of mature biofilm. These peptides displayed synergistic activity when combined with amoxicillin and terbinafine against S. pseudintermedius and M. canis. Cytoplasmic leakage via cytomembrane permeabilization serves as a mechanism of action. Extremely low hemolytic activity and serum stability in vitro, as well as superior anti-infective efficacy in reducing bacterial counts and relieving the inflammatory response in vivo, were detected. The potent antibacterial, antifungal, and anti-inflammatory activities of allomyrinasin and andricin B might indicate promising anti-infective alternatives for the treatment of S. pseudintermedius and M. canis infections in the context of human and veterinary medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiyu Tang
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Science, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Chunyi Yang
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Science, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Weitian Li
- Laboratory of Anatomy of Domestic Animals, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Yuhang Zhang
- Key Lab of Animal Epidemiology and Zoonosis of Ministry of Agriculture, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Xinying Wang
- Modern Animal Research Center, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Weixin Wang
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Science, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Zhiling Ma
- Research and Development Department, Artron BioResearch Inc., Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Di Zhang
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Science, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Yipeng Jin
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Science, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Degui Lin
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Science, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
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13
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Lin Y, Liu S, Xi X, Ma C, Wang L, Chen X, Shi Z, Chen T, Shaw C, Zhou M. Study on the Structure-Activity Relationship of an Antimicrobial Peptide, Brevinin-2GUb, from the Skin Secretion of Hylarana guentheri. Antibiotics (Basel) 2021; 10:antibiotics10080895. [PMID: 34438945 PMCID: PMC8388802 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics10080895] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2021] [Revised: 07/19/2021] [Accepted: 07/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are considered potential alternatives to antibiotics due to their advantages in solving antibiotic resistance. Brevinin-2GUb, which was extracted from the skin secretion of Hylarana guentheri, is a peptide with modest antimicrobial activity. Several analogues were designed to explore the structure–activity relationship and enhance its activity. In general, the Rana box is not an indispensable motif for the bioactivity of Brevinin-2GUb, and the first to the 19th amino acids at the N-terminal end are active fragments, such that shortening the peptide while maintaining its bioactivity is a promising strategy for the optimisation of peptides. Keeping a complete hydrophobic face and increasing the net charges are key factors for antimicrobial activity. With the increase of cationic charges, α-helical proportion, and amphipathicity, the activity of t-Brevinin-2GUb-6K (tB2U-6K), in combatting bacteria, drastically improved, especially against Gram-negative bacteria, and the peptide attained the capacity to kill clinical isolates and fungi as well, which made it possible to address some aspects of antibiotic resistance. Thus, peptide tB2U-6K, with potent antimicrobial activity against antibiotic-resistant bacteria, the capacity to inhibit the growth of biofilm, and low toxicity against normal cells, is of value to be further developed into an antimicrobial agent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yaxian Lin
- School of Pharmacy, Queen’s University Belfast, 97 Lisburn Road, Belfast BT9 7BL, UK; (Y.L.); (S.L.); (C.M.); (X.C.); (T.C.); (C.S.); (M.Z.)
| | - Siyan Liu
- School of Pharmacy, Queen’s University Belfast, 97 Lisburn Road, Belfast BT9 7BL, UK; (Y.L.); (S.L.); (C.M.); (X.C.); (T.C.); (C.S.); (M.Z.)
| | - Xinping Xi
- School of Pharmacy, Queen’s University Belfast, 97 Lisburn Road, Belfast BT9 7BL, UK; (Y.L.); (S.L.); (C.M.); (X.C.); (T.C.); (C.S.); (M.Z.)
- Correspondence: (X.X.); (L.W.)
| | - Chengbang Ma
- School of Pharmacy, Queen’s University Belfast, 97 Lisburn Road, Belfast BT9 7BL, UK; (Y.L.); (S.L.); (C.M.); (X.C.); (T.C.); (C.S.); (M.Z.)
| | - Lei Wang
- School of Pharmacy, Queen’s University Belfast, 97 Lisburn Road, Belfast BT9 7BL, UK; (Y.L.); (S.L.); (C.M.); (X.C.); (T.C.); (C.S.); (M.Z.)
- Correspondence: (X.X.); (L.W.)
| | - Xiaoling Chen
- School of Pharmacy, Queen’s University Belfast, 97 Lisburn Road, Belfast BT9 7BL, UK; (Y.L.); (S.L.); (C.M.); (X.C.); (T.C.); (C.S.); (M.Z.)
| | - Zhanzhong Shi
- Department of Natural Sciences, Faculty of Science and Technology, Middlesex University, London NW4 4BT, UK;
| | - Tianbao Chen
- School of Pharmacy, Queen’s University Belfast, 97 Lisburn Road, Belfast BT9 7BL, UK; (Y.L.); (S.L.); (C.M.); (X.C.); (T.C.); (C.S.); (M.Z.)
| | - Chris Shaw
- School of Pharmacy, Queen’s University Belfast, 97 Lisburn Road, Belfast BT9 7BL, UK; (Y.L.); (S.L.); (C.M.); (X.C.); (T.C.); (C.S.); (M.Z.)
| | - Mei Zhou
- School of Pharmacy, Queen’s University Belfast, 97 Lisburn Road, Belfast BT9 7BL, UK; (Y.L.); (S.L.); (C.M.); (X.C.); (T.C.); (C.S.); (M.Z.)
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14
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Synergistic Effect of Frog Skin Antimicrobial Peptides in Combination with Antibiotics Against Multi host Gram-Negative Pathogens. Int J Pept Res Ther 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s10989-021-10189-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
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15
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Zai Y, Xi X, Ye Z, Ma C, Zhou M, Chen X, Siu SWI, Chen T, Wang L, Kwok HF. Aggregation and Its Influence on the Bioactivities of a Novel Antimicrobial Peptide, Temporin-PF, and Its Analogues. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:4509. [PMID: 33925935 PMCID: PMC8123395 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22094509] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2021] [Revised: 04/21/2021] [Accepted: 04/23/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Temporin is an antimicrobial peptide (AMP) family discovered in the skin secretion of ranid frog that has become a promising alternative for conventional antibiotic therapy. Herein, a novel temporin peptide, Temporin-PF (TPF), was successfully identified from Pelophylax fukienensis. It exhibited potent activity against Gram-positive bacteria, but no effect on Gram-negative bacteria. Additionally, TPF exhibited aggregation effects in different solutions. Three analogs were further designed to study the relationship between the aggregation patterns and bioactivities, and the MD simulation was performed for revealing the pattern of the peptide assembly. As the results showed, all peptides were able to aggregate in the standard culture media and salt solutions, especially CaCl2 and MgCl2 buffers, where the aggregation was affected by the concentration of the salts. MD simulation reported that all peptides were able to form oligomers. The parent peptide assembly depended on the hydrophobic interaction via the residues in the middle domain of the sequence. However, the substitution of Trp/D-Trp resulted in an enhanced inter-peptide interaction in the zipper-like domain and eliminated overall biological activities. Our study suggested that introducing aromaticity at the zipper-like domain for temporin may not improve the bioactivities, which might be related to the formation of aggregates via the inter-peptide contacts at the zipper-like motif domain, and it could reduce the binding affinity to the lipid membrane of microorganisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Zai
- Institute of Translational Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Avenida da Univesidade, Taipa, Macau, China;
- School of Pharmacy, Queen’s University Belfast, 97 Lisburn Road, Belfast BT9 7BL, UK; (Z.Y.); (C.M.); (M.Z.); (X.C.); (T.C.); (L.W.)
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Biofunctional Molecule, College of Life Sciences and Chemistry, Jiangsu Second Normal University, Nanjing 210013, China
| | - Xinping Xi
- School of Pharmacy, Queen’s University Belfast, 97 Lisburn Road, Belfast BT9 7BL, UK; (Z.Y.); (C.M.); (M.Z.); (X.C.); (T.C.); (L.W.)
| | - Zhuming Ye
- School of Pharmacy, Queen’s University Belfast, 97 Lisburn Road, Belfast BT9 7BL, UK; (Z.Y.); (C.M.); (M.Z.); (X.C.); (T.C.); (L.W.)
| | - Chengbang Ma
- School of Pharmacy, Queen’s University Belfast, 97 Lisburn Road, Belfast BT9 7BL, UK; (Z.Y.); (C.M.); (M.Z.); (X.C.); (T.C.); (L.W.)
| | - Mei Zhou
- School of Pharmacy, Queen’s University Belfast, 97 Lisburn Road, Belfast BT9 7BL, UK; (Z.Y.); (C.M.); (M.Z.); (X.C.); (T.C.); (L.W.)
| | - Xiaoling Chen
- School of Pharmacy, Queen’s University Belfast, 97 Lisburn Road, Belfast BT9 7BL, UK; (Z.Y.); (C.M.); (M.Z.); (X.C.); (T.C.); (L.W.)
| | - Shirley W. I. Siu
- Department of Computer and Information Science, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Macau, Avenida da Universidade, Taipa, Macau, China;
| | - Tianbao Chen
- School of Pharmacy, Queen’s University Belfast, 97 Lisburn Road, Belfast BT9 7BL, UK; (Z.Y.); (C.M.); (M.Z.); (X.C.); (T.C.); (L.W.)
| | - Lei Wang
- School of Pharmacy, Queen’s University Belfast, 97 Lisburn Road, Belfast BT9 7BL, UK; (Z.Y.); (C.M.); (M.Z.); (X.C.); (T.C.); (L.W.)
| | - Hang Fai Kwok
- Institute of Translational Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Avenida da Univesidade, Taipa, Macau, China;
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16
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Brevinin-1GHd: a novel Hylarana guentheri skin secretion-derived Brevinin-1 type peptide with antimicrobial and anticancer therapeutic potential. Biosci Rep 2021; 40:222871. [PMID: 32347293 PMCID: PMC7225409 DOI: 10.1042/bsr20200019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2020] [Revised: 04/02/2020] [Accepted: 04/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Host-defense antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) from amphibians are usually considered as one of the most promising next-generation antibiotics because of their excellent antimicrobial properties and low cytotoxicity. In the present study, one novel Brevinin-1 type peptide, Brevinin-1GHd, was isolated and characterized from the skin secretion of the frog, Hylarana guentheri. Brevinin-1GHd was found to possess a wide range of antimicrobial activity through penetrating the bacterial membrane within a short time while showing low hemolysis at bactericidal concentrations, even against the resistant strains. It also inhibited and eradicated biofilms that are thought to be closely related to the rise in resistance. Meanwhile, Brevinin-1GHd exhibited wide-spectrum anti-proliferation activity toward human cancer lines. Taken together, these results indicate that Brevinin-1GHd with its excellent antimicrobial and anticancer activities is a promising candidate for a novel antibiotic agent, and study of its structure–activity relationships also provided a rational template for further research and peptide analog design.
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17
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Portelinha J, Duay SS, Yu SI, Heilemann K, Libardo MDJ, Juliano SA, Klassen JL, Angeles-Boza AM. Antimicrobial Peptides and Copper(II) Ions: Novel Therapeutic Opportunities. Chem Rev 2021; 121:2648-2712. [PMID: 33524257 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.0c00921] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
The emergence of new pathogens and multidrug resistant bacteria is an important public health issue that requires the development of novel classes of antibiotics. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are a promising platform with great potential for the identification of new lead compounds that can combat the aforementioned pathogens due to their broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity and relatively low rate of resistance emergence. AMPs of multicellular organisms made their debut four decades ago thanks to ingenious researchers who asked simple questions about the resistance to bacterial infections of insects. Questions such as "Do fruit flies ever get sick?", combined with pioneering studies, have led to an understanding of AMPs as universal weapons of the immune system. This review focuses on a subclass of AMPs that feature a metal binding motif known as the amino terminal copper and nickel (ATCUN) motif. One of the metal-based strategies of hosts facing a pathogen, it includes wielding the inherent toxicity of copper and deliberately trafficking this metal ion into sites of infection. The sudden increase in the concentration of copper ions in the presence of ATCUN-containing AMPs (ATCUN-AMPs) likely results in a synergistic interaction. Herein, we examine common structural features in ATCUN-AMPs that exist across species, and we highlight unique features that deserve additional attention. We also present the current state of knowledge about the molecular mechanisms behind their antimicrobial activity and the methods available to study this promising class of AMPs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jasmin Portelinha
- Department of Chemistry, University of Connecticut, 55 North Eagleville Road, Storrs, Connecticut 06269, United States
| | - Searle S Duay
- Department of Chemistry, University of Connecticut, 55 North Eagleville Road, Storrs, Connecticut 06269, United States.,Chemistry Department, Adamson University, 900 San Marcelino Street, Ermita, Manila 1000, Philippines
| | - Seung I Yu
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Connecticut, 91 North Eagleville Road, Storrs, Connecticut 06269, United States
| | - Kara Heilemann
- Department of Chemistry, University of Connecticut, 55 North Eagleville Road, Storrs, Connecticut 06269, United States
| | - M Daben J Libardo
- Department of Chemistry, University of Connecticut, 55 North Eagleville Road, Storrs, Connecticut 06269, United States
| | - Samuel A Juliano
- Department of Chemistry, University of Connecticut, 55 North Eagleville Road, Storrs, Connecticut 06269, United States
| | - Jonathan L Klassen
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Connecticut, 91 North Eagleville Road, Storrs, Connecticut 06269, United States
| | - Alfredo M Angeles-Boza
- Department of Chemistry, University of Connecticut, 55 North Eagleville Road, Storrs, Connecticut 06269, United States.,Institute of Material Science, University of Connecticut, 55 North Eagleville Road, Storrs, Connecticut 06269, United States
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18
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Huan Y, Kong Q, Mou H, Yi H. Antimicrobial Peptides: Classification, Design, Application and Research Progress in Multiple Fields. Front Microbiol 2020; 11:582779. [PMID: 33178164 PMCID: PMC7596191 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2020.582779] [Citation(s) in RCA: 629] [Impact Index Per Article: 157.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2020] [Accepted: 09/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are a class of small peptides that widely exist in nature and they are an important part of the innate immune system of different organisms. AMPs have a wide range of inhibitory effects against bacteria, fungi, parasites and viruses. The emergence of antibiotic-resistant microorganisms and the increasing of concerns about the use of antibiotics resulted in the development of AMPs, which have a good application prospect in medicine, food, animal husbandry, agriculture and aquaculture. This review introduces the progress of research on AMPs comprehensively and systematically, including their classification, mechanism of action, design methods, environmental factors affecting their activity, application status, prospects in various fields and problems to be solved. The research progress on antivirus peptides, especially anti-coronavirus (COVID-19) peptides, has been introduced given the COVID-19 pandemic worldwide in 2020.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Qing Kong
- College of Food Science and Engineering, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, China
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19
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Identification and Target-Modification of SL-BBI: A Novel Bowman-Birk Type Trypsin Inhibitor from Sylvirana latouchii. Biomolecules 2020; 10:biom10091254. [PMID: 32872343 PMCID: PMC7565067 DOI: 10.3390/biom10091254] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2020] [Revised: 08/24/2020] [Accepted: 08/27/2020] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
The peptides from the ranacyclin family share similar active disulphide loop with plant-derived Bowman-Birk type inhibitors, some of which have the dual activities of trypsin inhibition and antimicrobial. Herein, a novel Bowman-Birk type trypsin inhibitor of the ranacyclin family was identified from the skin secretion of broad-folded frog (Sylvirana latouchii) by molecular cloning method and named as SL-BBI. After chemical synthesis, it was proved to be a potent inhibitor of trypsin with a Ki value of 230.5 nM and showed weak antimicrobial activity against tested microorganisms. Modified analogue K-SL maintains the original inhibitory activity with a Ki value of 77.27 nM while enhancing the antimicrobial activity. After the substitution of active P1 site to phenylalanine and P2' site to isoleucine, F-SL regenerated its inhibitory activity on chymotrypsin with a Ki value of 309.3 nM and exhibited antiproliferative effects on PC-3, MCF-7 and a series of non-small cell lung cancer cell lines without cell membrane damage. The affinity of F-SL for the β subunits in the yeast 20S proteasome showed by molecular docking simulations enriched the understanding of the possible action mode of Bowman-Birk type inhibitors. Further mechanistic studies have shown that F-SL can activate caspase 3/7 in H157 cells and induce apoptosis, which means it has the potential to become an anticancer agent.
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20
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Chen G, Miao Y, Ma C, Zhou M, Shi Z, Chen X, Burrows JF, Xi X, Chen T, Wang L. Brevinin-2GHk from Sylvirana guentheri and the Design of Truncated Analogs Exhibiting the Enhancement of Antimicrobial Activity. Antibiotics (Basel) 2020; 9:antibiotics9020085. [PMID: 32075067 PMCID: PMC7168151 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics9020085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2020] [Revised: 02/11/2020] [Accepted: 02/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Brevinins are an important antimicrobial peptide (AMP) family discovered in the skin secretions of Ranidae frogs. The members demonstrate a typical C-terminal ranabox, as well as a diverse range of other structural characteristics. In this study, we identified a novel brevinin-2 peptide from the skin secretion of Sylvirana guentheri, via cloning transcripts, and identifying the expressed mature peptide, in the skin secretion. The confirmed amino acid sequence of the mature peptide was designated brevinin-2GHk (BR2GK). Moreover, as a previous study had demonstrated that the N-terminus of brevinin-2 is responsible for exerting antimicrobial activity, we also designed a series of truncated derivatives of BR2GK. The results show that the truncated derivatives exhibit significantly improved antimicrobial activity and cytotoxicity compared to the parent peptide, except a Pro14 substituted analog. The circular dichroism (CD) analysis of this analog revealed that it did not fold into a helical conformation in the presence of either lipopolysaccharides (LPS) or TFE, indicating that position 14 is involved in the formation of the α-helix. Furthermore, three more analogs with the substitutions of Ala, Lys and Arg at the position 14, respectively, revealed the influence on the membrane disruption potency on bacteria and mammalian cells by the structural changes at this position. Overall, the N-terminal 25-mer truncates demonstrated the potent antimicrobial activity with low cytotoxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guanzhu Chen
- School of Pharmacy, Queen’s University Belfast, Northern Ireland BT9 7BL, UK; (G.C.); (Y.M.); (C.M.); (M.Z.); (X.C.); (J.F.B.); (T.C.); (L.W.)
| | - Yuxi Miao
- School of Pharmacy, Queen’s University Belfast, Northern Ireland BT9 7BL, UK; (G.C.); (Y.M.); (C.M.); (M.Z.); (X.C.); (J.F.B.); (T.C.); (L.W.)
| | - Chengbang Ma
- School of Pharmacy, Queen’s University Belfast, Northern Ireland BT9 7BL, UK; (G.C.); (Y.M.); (C.M.); (M.Z.); (X.C.); (J.F.B.); (T.C.); (L.W.)
| | - Mei Zhou
- School of Pharmacy, Queen’s University Belfast, Northern Ireland BT9 7BL, UK; (G.C.); (Y.M.); (C.M.); (M.Z.); (X.C.); (J.F.B.); (T.C.); (L.W.)
| | - Zhanzhong Shi
- Department of Natural Sciences, Faculty of Science and Technology, Middlesex University, London NW4 4BT, UK;
| | - Xiaoling Chen
- School of Pharmacy, Queen’s University Belfast, Northern Ireland BT9 7BL, UK; (G.C.); (Y.M.); (C.M.); (M.Z.); (X.C.); (J.F.B.); (T.C.); (L.W.)
| | - James F. Burrows
- School of Pharmacy, Queen’s University Belfast, Northern Ireland BT9 7BL, UK; (G.C.); (Y.M.); (C.M.); (M.Z.); (X.C.); (J.F.B.); (T.C.); (L.W.)
| | - Xinping Xi
- School of Pharmacy, Queen’s University Belfast, Northern Ireland BT9 7BL, UK; (G.C.); (Y.M.); (C.M.); (M.Z.); (X.C.); (J.F.B.); (T.C.); (L.W.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +44-28-9097-1673
| | - Tianbao Chen
- School of Pharmacy, Queen’s University Belfast, Northern Ireland BT9 7BL, UK; (G.C.); (Y.M.); (C.M.); (M.Z.); (X.C.); (J.F.B.); (T.C.); (L.W.)
| | - Lei Wang
- School of Pharmacy, Queen’s University Belfast, Northern Ireland BT9 7BL, UK; (G.C.); (Y.M.); (C.M.); (M.Z.); (X.C.); (J.F.B.); (T.C.); (L.W.)
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21
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Bao K, Yuan W, Zhou Y, Chen Y, Yu X, Wang X, Jia Z, Yu X, Wang X, Yao L, Wang S, Xu Y, Zhang Y, Zheng J, Hong M. A Chinese Prescription Yu-Ping-Feng-San Administered in Remission Restores Bronchial Epithelial Barrier to Inhibit House Dust Mite-Induced Asthma Recurrence. Front Pharmacol 2020; 10:1698. [PMID: 32076408 PMCID: PMC7006455 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2019.01698] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2019] [Accepted: 12/30/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Clinically, the treatments against asthma like β2 agonist focus on controlling the symptoms rather than inhibiting recurrence radically. This study aims to evaluate the efficacy and mechanism of a potent Chinese prescription Yu-Ping-Feng-San (YPFS) against asthma recurrence. We here established an optimized house dust mite (HDM)-induced asthma recurrence mice model with typical asthmatic responses such as significantly augmented airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR), elevated serum IgE, pulmonary type 2 cytokines IL-5 and IL-13 levels, pathological changes including thickening bronchial wall, inflammatory infiltration of lung tissue, etc. Moreover, all typical asthmatic pathological features were prominently alleviated by YPFS applied during remission phase ahead of second elicitation, which was even more effective than three different types of medications dexamethasone, montelukast and salbutamol, which were commonly applied in clinical practice, administered during recurrence phase. Besides, we found that desmoglein 1 (DSG1) remained deficient when asthmatic responses regressed whereas tight junction (TJ) claudin 1 (CLDN1) or adherin junction (AJ) E-cadherin restored spontaneously. In vitro, DSG1 interference resulted in increased thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) secretion, and epithelial barrier compromise evidenced by significantly elevated transepithelial electrical resistance (TEER) and increased 4-kDa FITC-dextran influx. YPFS could downregulate TSLP production and restore HDM-induced DSG1 deficiency and barrier destruction, which was further reversed by shDSG1. Collectively, administration of YPFS in remission prominently alleviated HDM-induced asthma relapse by restoring DSG1 and decreasing TSLP overexpression, which might be the key factors contributing to chronic asthma relapse. Our data not only demonstrated the pivotal role of DSG1 in asthma pathogenesis, but also provided a novel and potent therapeutic strategy against chronic asthma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaifan Bao
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Pharmacology and Safety Evaluation of Chinese Materia Medica, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China
| | - Weiyuan Yuan
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Pharmacology and Safety Evaluation of Chinese Materia Medica, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China
| | - Yijing Zhou
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Pharmacology and Safety Evaluation of Chinese Materia Medica, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China
| | - Yanyan Chen
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Pharmacology and Safety Evaluation of Chinese Materia Medica, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China
| | - Xuerui Yu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Pharmacology and Safety Evaluation of Chinese Materia Medica, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China
| | - Xiaoyu Wang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Pharmacology and Safety Evaluation of Chinese Materia Medica, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China
| | - Zhirong Jia
- School of Basic Medicine and Clinical Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Xi Yu
- The Nanjing Han & Zaenker Cancer Institute (NHZCI), OG Pharmaceuticals, Nanjing, China
| | - Xiaotong Wang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Pharmacology and Safety Evaluation of Chinese Materia Medica, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China
| | - Lu Yao
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Pharmacology and Safety Evaluation of Chinese Materia Medica, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China
| | - Siqi Wang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Pharmacology and Safety Evaluation of Chinese Materia Medica, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China
| | - Yifan Xu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Pharmacology and Safety Evaluation of Chinese Materia Medica, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China
| | - Yuheng Zhang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Pharmacology and Safety Evaluation of Chinese Materia Medica, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China
| | - Jie Zheng
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Pharmacology and Safety Evaluation of Chinese Materia Medica, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China
| | - Min Hong
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Pharmacology and Safety Evaluation of Chinese Materia Medica, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China
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Antibiofilm activity of coenzyme Q0 against Salmonella Typhimurium and its effect on adhesion-invasion and survival-replication. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2019; 103:8545-8557. [PMID: 31468089 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-019-10095-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2019] [Revised: 07/22/2019] [Accepted: 08/08/2019] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Salmonella Typhimurium, a common Gram-negative foodborne pathogen, threatens public health and hinders the development of the food industry. In this study, we evaluated the antibiofilm activity of coenzyme Q0 (CoQ0) against S. Typhimurium. Besides, the inhibition of the S. Typhimurium's adhesion to and invasion of Caco-2 cells and its survival and replication in RAW 264.7 cells by CoQ0 were also explored. The minimum inhibitory concentrations and minimal bactericidal concentrations of CoQ0 against Salmonella were both 100-400 μg/mL. Salmonella Typhimurium biofilm formation was effectively inhibited by subinhibitory concentrations (SICs) of CoQ0. The CoQ0-affected biofilm morphology was observed with light microscopy and field-emission scanning electron microscopy. CoQ0 at SICs reduced the swimming motility and quorum sensing of S. Typhimurium and repressed the transcription of critical virulence-related genes. CoQ0 at SICs also clearly reduced the adhesion of S. Typhimurium to and its invasion of Caco-2 cells and reduced its survival and replication within RAW 264.7 macrophage cells. These findings suggest that CoQ0 has strong antibiofilm activity and can be used as an anti-infectious agent against Salmonella.
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Bioevaluation of Ranatuerin-2Pb from the Frog Skin Secretion of Rana pipiens and its Truncated Analogues. Biomolecules 2019; 9:biom9060249. [PMID: 31242693 PMCID: PMC6627226 DOI: 10.3390/biom9060249] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2019] [Revised: 06/18/2019] [Accepted: 06/25/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are considered as a promising agent to overcome the drug-resistance of bacteria. Large numbers of AMPs have been identified from the skin secretion of Rana pipiens, including brevinins, ranatuerins, temporins and esculentins. In this study, the cDNA precursor of a broad-spectrum antimicrobial peptide, ranatuerin-2Pb, was cloned and identified. Additionally, two truncated analogues, RPa and RPb, were synthesised to investigate the structure-activity relationship of ranatuerin-2Pb. RPa lost antimicrobial activity against Candida albicans, MRSA, Enterococcus faecalis and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, while RPb retained its broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity. Additionally, ranatuerin-2Pb, RPa and RPb demonstrated inhibition and eradication effects against Staphylococcus aureus biofilm. RPb showed a rapid bacterial killing manner via membrane permeabilization without damaging the cell membrane of erythrocytes. Moreover, RPb decreased the mortality of S. aureus infected Galleria mellonella larvae. Collectively, our results suggested that RPb may pave a novel way for natural antimicrobial drug design.
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