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Hancock SN, Yuntawattana N, Diep E, Maity A, Tran A, Schiffman JD, Michaudel Q. Ring-opening metathesis polymerization of N-methylpyridinium-fused norbornenes to access antibacterial main-chain cationic polymers. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2023; 120:e2311396120. [PMID: 38079554 PMCID: PMC10742381 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2311396120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2023] [Accepted: 10/31/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Cationic polymers have been identified as a promising type of antibacterial molecules, whose bioactivity can be tuned through structural modulation. Recent studies suggest that the placement of the cationic groups close to the core of the polymeric architecture rather than on appended side chains might improve both their bioactivity and selectivity for bacterial cells over mammalian cells. However, antibacterial main-chain cationic polymers are typically synthesized via polycondensations, which do not afford precise and uniform molecular design. Therefore, accessing main-chain cationic polymers with high degrees of molecular tunability hinges upon the development of controlled polymerizations tolerating cationic motifs (or cation progenitors) near the propagating species. Herein, we report the synthesis and ring-opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP) of N-methylpyridinium-fused norbornene monomers. The identification of reaction conditions leading to a well-controlled ROMP enabled structural diversification of the main-chain cationic polymers and a study of their bioactivity. This family of polyelectrolytes was found to be active against both Gram-negative (Escherichia coli) and Gram-positive (Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) bacteria with minimal inhibitory concentrations as low as 25 µg/mL. Additionally, the molar mass of the polymers was found to impact their hemolytic activity with cationic polymers of smaller degrees of polymerization showing increased selectivity for bacteria over human red blood cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah N. Hancock
- Department of Chemistry, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX77843
| | | | - Emily Diep
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA01003
| | - Arunava Maity
- Department of Chemistry, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX77843
| | - An Tran
- Department of Chemistry, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX77843
| | - Jessica D. Schiffman
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA01003
| | - Quentin Michaudel
- Department of Chemistry, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX77843
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX77843
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Guevara-Lora I, Bras G, Juszczak M, Karkowska-Kuleta J, Gorecki A, Manrique-Moreno M, Dymek J, Pyza E, Kozik A, Rapala-Kozik M. Cecropin D-derived synthetic peptides in the fight against Candida albicans cell filamentation and biofilm formation. Front Microbiol 2023; 13:1045984. [PMID: 36713201 PMCID: PMC9880178 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.1045984] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2022] [Accepted: 12/28/2022] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
The recent progressive increase in the incidence of invasive fungal infections, especially in immunocompromised patients, makes the search for new therapies crucial in the face of the growing drug resistance of prevalent nosocomial yeast strains. The latest research focuses on the active compounds of natural origin, inhibiting fungal growth, and preventing the formation of fungal biofilms. Antimicrobial peptides are currently the subject of numerous studies concerning effective antifungal therapy. In the present study, the antifungal properties of two synthetic peptides (ΔM3, ΔM4) derived from an insect antimicrobial peptide - cecropin D - were investigated. The fungicidal activity of both compounds was demonstrated against the yeast forms of Candida albicans, Candida tropicalis, and Candida parapsilosis, reaching a MFC99.9 in the micromolar range, while Candida glabrata showed greater resistance to these peptides. The scanning electron microscopy revealed a destabilization of the yeast cell walls upon treatment with both peptides; however, their effectiveness was strongly modified by the presence of salt or plasma in the yeast environment. The transition of C. albicans cells from yeast to filamentous form, as well as the formation of biofilms, was effectively reduced by ΔM4. Mature biofilm viability was inhibited by a higher concentration of this peptide and was accompanied by increased ROS production, activation of the GPX3 and SOD5 genes, and finally, increased membrane permeability. Furthermore, both peptides showed a synergistic effect with caspofungin in inhibiting the metabolic activity of C. albicans cells, and an additive effect was also observed for the mixtures of peptides with amphotericin B. The results indicate the possible potential of the tested peptides in the prevention and treatment of candidiasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ibeth Guevara-Lora
- Department of Analytical Biochemistry, Faculty of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland
| | - Grazyna Bras
- Department of Comparative Biochemistry and Bioanalytics, Faculty of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland
| | - Magdalena Juszczak
- Department of Comparative Biochemistry and Bioanalytics, Faculty of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland
| | - Justyna Karkowska-Kuleta
- Department of Comparative Biochemistry and Bioanalytics, Faculty of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland
| | - Andrzej Gorecki
- Department of Physical Biochemistry, Faculty of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland
| | - Marcela Manrique-Moreno
- Chemistry Institute, Faculty of Exact and Natural Sciences, University of Antioquia, Medellin, Colombia
| | - Jakub Dymek
- Department of Cell Biology and Imaging, Institute of Zoology and Biomedical Research, Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland
| | - Elzbieta Pyza
- Department of Cell Biology and Imaging, Institute of Zoology and Biomedical Research, Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland
| | - Andrzej Kozik
- Department of Analytical Biochemistry, Faculty of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland
| | - Maria Rapala-Kozik
- Department of Comparative Biochemistry and Bioanalytics, Faculty of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland,*Correspondence: Maria Rapala-Kozik,
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