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Syryamina VN, Aisenbrey C, Kardash M, Dzuba SA, Bechinger B. Self-assembly of spin-labeled antimicrobial peptides magainin 2 and PGLa in lipid bilayers. Biophys Chem 2024; 310:107251. [PMID: 38678820 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpc.2024.107251] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2024] [Revised: 04/15/2024] [Accepted: 04/21/2024] [Indexed: 05/01/2024]
Abstract
The cationic antimicrobial peptides PGLa and magainin 2 (Mag2) are known for their antimicrobial activity and synergistic enhancement in antimicrobial and membrane leakage assays. Further use of peptides in combinatory therapy requires knowledge of the mechanisms of action of both individual peptides and their mixtures. Here, electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR), double electron-electron resonance (DEER, also known as PELDOR) and electron spin echo envelope modulation (ESEEM) spectroscopies were applied to study self-assembly and localization of spin-labeled PGLa and Mag2 in POPE/POPG membranes with a wide range of peptide/lipid ratios (P/L) from ∼1/1500 to 1/50. EPR and DEER data showed that both peptides tend to organize in clusters, which occurs already at the lowest peptide/lipid molar ratio of 1/1500 (0.067 mol%). For individual peptides, these clusters are quite dense with intermolecular distances of the order of ∼2 nm. In the presence of a synergistic peptide partner, these homo-clusters are transformed into lipid-diluted hetero-clusters. These clusters are characterized by a local surface density that is several times higher than expected from a random distribution. ESEEM data indicate a slightly different insertion depth of peptides in hetero-clusters when compared to homo-clusters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victoria N Syryamina
- Voevodsky Institute of Chemical Kinetics and Combustion, RAS, Novosibirsk 630090, Russian Federation
| | - Christopher Aisenbrey
- University of Strasbourg/CNRS, UMR7177, Strasbourg Institute of Chemistry, Membrane Biophysics and NMR, 67000 Strasbourg, France
| | - Maria Kardash
- University of Strasbourg/CNRS, UMR7177, Strasbourg Institute of Chemistry, Membrane Biophysics and NMR, 67000 Strasbourg, France
| | - Sergei A Dzuba
- Voevodsky Institute of Chemical Kinetics and Combustion, RAS, Novosibirsk 630090, Russian Federation; Department of Physics, Novosibirsk State University, 630090 Novosibirsk, Russian Federation.
| | - Burkhard Bechinger
- University of Strasbourg/CNRS, UMR7177, Strasbourg Institute of Chemistry, Membrane Biophysics and NMR, 67000 Strasbourg, France; Institut Universitaire de France, 75231 Paris, France.
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2
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Smetanin RV, Sukhareva MS, Vladimirova EV, Zharkova MS, Mikushina AD, Komlev AS, Khaydukova MM, Filatenkova TA, Kalganova AI, Pipiya SO, Terekhov SS, Orlov DS, Shamova OV, Eliseev IE. First vertebrate BRICHOS antimicrobial peptides: β-hairpin host defense peptides in limbless amphibia lung resemble those of marine worms. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2024; 712-713:149913. [PMID: 38640738 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2024.149913] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2024] [Accepted: 04/06/2024] [Indexed: 04/21/2024]
Abstract
Innate immunity of invertebrates offers potent antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) against drug-resistant infections. To identify new worm β-hairpin AMPs, we explored the sequence diversity of proteins with a BRICHOS domain, which comprises worm AMP precursors. Strikingly, we discovered new BRICHOS AMPs not in worms, but in caecilians, the least studied clade of vertebrates. Two precursor proteins from Microcaecilia unicolor and Rhinatrema bivittatum resemble SP-C lung surfactants and bear worm AMP-like peptides at C-termini. The analysis of M. unicolor tissue transcriptomes shows that the AMP precursor is highly expressed in the lung along with regular SP-C, suggesting a different, protective function. The peptides form right-twisted β-hairpins, change conformation upon lipid binding, and rapidly disrupt bacterial membranes. Both peptides exhibit broad-spectrum activity against multidrug-resistant ESKAPE pathogens with 1-4 μM MICs and remarkably low toxicity, giving 40-70-fold selectivity towards bacteria. These BRICHOS AMPs, previously unseen in vertebrates, reveal a novel lung innate immunity mechanism and offer a promising antibiotics template.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruslan V Smetanin
- WCRC "Center for Personalized Medicine", Institute of Experimental Medicine, St. Petersburg, Russia; Alferov University, St. Petersburg, Russia; Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Moscow, Russia
| | - Maria S Sukhareva
- WCRC "Center for Personalized Medicine", Institute of Experimental Medicine, St. Petersburg, Russia
| | - Elizaveta V Vladimirova
- WCRC "Center for Personalized Medicine", Institute of Experimental Medicine, St. Petersburg, Russia
| | - Maria S Zharkova
- WCRC "Center for Personalized Medicine", Institute of Experimental Medicine, St. Petersburg, Russia
| | - Anna D Mikushina
- WCRC "Center for Personalized Medicine", Institute of Experimental Medicine, St. Petersburg, Russia; Alferov University, St. Petersburg, Russia
| | - Aleksey S Komlev
- WCRC "Center for Personalized Medicine", Institute of Experimental Medicine, St. Petersburg, Russia
| | - Maria M Khaydukova
- WCRC "Center for Personalized Medicine", Institute of Experimental Medicine, St. Petersburg, Russia
| | - Tatiana A Filatenkova
- WCRC "Center for Personalized Medicine", Institute of Experimental Medicine, St. Petersburg, Russia
| | - Anastasia I Kalganova
- Alferov University, St. Petersburg, Russia; Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Moscow, Russia
| | | | | | - Dmitriy S Orlov
- WCRC "Center for Personalized Medicine", Institute of Experimental Medicine, St. Petersburg, Russia
| | - Olga V Shamova
- WCRC "Center for Personalized Medicine", Institute of Experimental Medicine, St. Petersburg, Russia; St. Petersburg State University, St. Petersburg, Russia
| | - Igor E Eliseev
- WCRC "Center for Personalized Medicine", Institute of Experimental Medicine, St. Petersburg, Russia; Alferov University, St. Petersburg, Russia; Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Moscow, Russia.
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3
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Lohan S, Konshina AG, Tiwari RK, Efremov RG, Maslennikov I, Parang K. Broad-spectrum activity of membranolytic cationic macrocyclic peptides against multi-drug resistant bacteria and fungi. Eur J Pharm Sci 2024; 197:106776. [PMID: 38663759 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejps.2024.106776] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2024] [Revised: 03/17/2024] [Accepted: 04/18/2024] [Indexed: 05/03/2024]
Abstract
The emergence of multidrug-resistant (MDR) strains causes severe problems in the treatment of microbial infections owing to limited treatment options. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are drawing considerable attention as promising antibiotic alternative candidates to combat MDR bacterial and fungal infections. Herein, we present a series of small amphiphilic membrane-active cyclic peptides composed, in part, of various nongenetically encoded hydrophilic and hydrophobic amino acids. Notably, lead cyclic peptides 3b and 4b showed broad-spectrum activity against drug-resistant Gram-positive (MIC = 1.5-6.2 µg/mL) and Gram-negative (MIC = 12.5-25 µg/mL) bacteria, and fungi (MIC = 3.1-12.5 µg/mL). Furthermore, lead peptides displayed substantial antibiofilm action comparable to standard antibiotics. Hemolysis (HC50 = 230 µg/mL) and cytotoxicity (>70 % cell viability against four different mammalian cells at 100 µg/mL) assay results demonstrated the selective lethal action of 3b against microbes over mammalian cells. A calcein dye leakage experiment substantiated the membranolytic effect of 3b and 4b, which was further confirmed by scanning electron microscopy. The behavior of 3b and 4b in aqueous solution and interaction with phospholipid bilayers were assessed by employing nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy in conjunction with molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, providing a solid structural basis for understanding their membranolytic action. Moreover, 3b exhibited stability in human blood plasma (t1/2 = 13 h) and demonstrated no signs of resistance development against antibiotic-resistant S. aureus and E. coli. These findings underscore the potential of these newly designed amphiphilic cyclic peptides as promising anti-infective agents, especially against Gram-positive bacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandeep Lohan
- Center for Targeted Drug Delivery, Department of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chapman University School of Pharmacy, Harry and Diane Rinker Health Science Campus, 9401 Jeronimo Rd, Irvine, CA 92618, United States; AJK Biopharmaceutical, 5270 California Ave, Irvine, CA 92617, United States
| | - Anastasia G Konshina
- M.M. Shemyakin & Yu.A. Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Miklukho-Maklaya Street, 16/10, Moscow, 117997, Russia
| | - Rakesh K Tiwari
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific-Northwest, Western University of Health Sciences, Lebanon, OR 97355, United States
| | - Roman G Efremov
- M.M. Shemyakin & Yu.A. Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Miklukho-Maklaya Street, 16/10, Moscow, 117997, Russia; National Research University Higher School of Economics, Myasnitskaya ul. 20, Moscow, 101000, Russia
| | - Innokentiy Maslennikov
- Structural Biology Research Center, Department of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chapman University School of Pharmacy, Harry and Diane Rinker Health Science Campus, 9401 Jeronimo Rd., Irvine, CA 92618, United States
| | - Keykavous Parang
- Center for Targeted Drug Delivery, Department of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chapman University School of Pharmacy, Harry and Diane Rinker Health Science Campus, 9401 Jeronimo Rd, Irvine, CA 92618, United States.
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4
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Xue J, Fu Y, Li H, Zhang T, Cong W, Hu H, Lu Z, Yan F, Li Y. All-hydrocarbon stapling enables improvement of antimicrobial activity and proteolytic stability of peptide Figainin 2. J Pept Sci 2024; 30:e3566. [PMID: 38271799 DOI: 10.1002/psc.3566] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2023] [Revised: 12/21/2023] [Accepted: 12/28/2023] [Indexed: 01/27/2024]
Abstract
Figainin 2 is a cationic, hydrophobic, α-helical host-defense peptide with 28 residues, which was isolated from the skin secretions of the Chaco tree frog. It shows potent inhibitory activity against both Gram-negative and Gram-positive pathogens and has garnered considerable interest in developing novel classes of natural antibacterial agents. However, as a linear peptide, conformational flexibility and poor proteolytic stability hindered its development as antibacterial agent. To alleviate its susceptibility to proteolytic degradation and improve its antibacterial activity, a series of hydrocarbon-stable analogs of Figainin 2 were synthesized and evaluated for their secondary structure, protease stability, antimicrobial, and hemolytic activities. Among them, F2-12 showed significant improvement in protease resistance and antimicrobial activity compared to that of the template peptide. This study provides a promising strategy for the development of antimicrobial drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingwen Xue
- School of Medicine, Weifang Medical University, Weifang, Shandong, People's Republic of China
| | - Yinxue Fu
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Institute of Materia Medica, Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, Shandong, People's Republic of China
| | - Huang Li
- School of Medicine, Shanghai University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Ting Zhang
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Institute of Materia Medica, Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, Shandong, People's Republic of China
| | - Wei Cong
- School of Medicine, Shanghai University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Honggang Hu
- School of Medicine, Shanghai University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhiyuan Lu
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Institute of Materia Medica, Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, Shandong, People's Republic of China
| | - Fang Yan
- School of Medicine, Weifang Medical University, Weifang, Shandong, People's Republic of China
| | - Yulei Li
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Institute of Materia Medica, Shandong First Medical University and Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, Shandong, People's Republic of China
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5
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Mitra S, Chandersekhar B, Li Y, Coopershlyak M, Mahoney ME, Evans B, Koenig R, Hall SCL, Klösgen B, Heinrich F, Deslouches B, Tristram-Nagle S. Novel non-helical antimicrobial peptides insert into and fuse lipid model membranes. Soft Matter 2024; 20:4088-4101. [PMID: 38712559 DOI: 10.1039/d4sm00220b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/08/2024]
Abstract
This research addresses the growing menace of antibiotic resistance by exploring antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) as alternatives to conventional antibiotics. Specifically, we investigate two linear amphipathic AMPs, LE-53 (12-mer) and LE-55 (16-mer), finding that the shorter LE-53 exhibits greater bactericidal activity against both Gram-negative (G(-)) and Gram-positive (G(+)) bacteria. Remarkably, both AMPs are non-toxic to eukaryotic cells. The heightened effectiveness of LE-53 is attributed to its increased hydrophobicity (H) compared to LE-55. Circular dichroism (CD) reveals that LE-53 and LE-55 both adopt β-sheet and random coil structures in lipid model membranes (LMMs) mimicking G(-) and G(+) bacteria, so secondary structure is not the cause of the potency difference. X-ray diffuse scattering (XDS) reveals increased lipid chain order in LE-53, a potential key distinction. Additionally, XDS study uncovers a significant link between LE-53's upper hydrocarbon location in G(-) and G(+) LMMs and its efficacy. Neutron reflectometry (NR) confirms the AMP locations determined using XDS. Solution small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) demonstrates LE-53's ability to induce vesicle fusion in bacterial LMMs without affecting eukaryotic LMMs, offering a promising strategy to combat antibiotic-resistant strains while preserving human cell integrity, whereas LE-55 has a smaller ability to induce fusion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saheli Mitra
- Biological Physics Group, Physics Department, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA.
| | - Bhairavi Chandersekhar
- Biological Physics Group, Physics Department, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA.
| | - Yunshu Li
- Biological Physics Group, Physics Department, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA.
| | - Mark Coopershlyak
- Biological Physics Group, Physics Department, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA.
| | - Margot E Mahoney
- Biological Physics Group, Physics Department, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA.
| | - Brandt Evans
- Biological Physics Group, Physics Department, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA.
| | - Rachel Koenig
- Biological Physics Group, Physics Department, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA.
| | - Stephen C L Hall
- ISIS Neutron and Muon Source, Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Harwell Campus, Didcot, Oxfordshire, OX11 0QX, UK
| | - Beate Klösgen
- University of Southern Denmark, Dept. Physics, Chemistry & Pharmacy, PhyLife, Campusvej 55, Odense M5230, Denmark
| | - Frank Heinrich
- Biological Physics Group, Physics Department, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA.
- Center for Neutron Research, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD 20899, USA
| | - Berthony Deslouches
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA
| | - Stephanie Tristram-Nagle
- Biological Physics Group, Physics Department, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA.
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6
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Tran DVH, Luong HX, Kim DH, Lee BJ, Kim YW. Lysine-homologue substitution: Impact on antimicrobial activity and proteolytic stability of cationic stapled heptapeptides. Bioorg Med Chem 2024; 106:117735. [PMID: 38714021 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmc.2024.117735] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2024] [Revised: 04/19/2024] [Accepted: 04/19/2024] [Indexed: 05/09/2024]
Abstract
Numerous natural antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) exhibit a cationic amphipathic helical conformation, wherein cationic amino acids, such as lysine and arginine, play pivotal roles in antimicrobial activity by aiding initial attraction to negatively charged bacterial membranes. Expanding on our previous work, which introduced a de novo design of amphipathic helices within cationic heptapeptides using an 'all-hydrocarbon peptide stapling' approach, we investigated the impact of lysine-homologue substitution on helix formation, antimicrobial activity, hemolytic activity, and proteolytic stability of these novel AMPs. Our results demonstrate that substituting lysine with ornithine enhances both the antimicrobial activity and proteolytic stability of the stapled heptapeptide AMP series, while maintaining low hemolytic activity. This finding underscores lysine-homologue substitution as a valuable strategy for optimizing the therapeutic potential of diverse cationic AMPs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Duc V H Tran
- College of Pharmacy, Dongguk University-Seoul, Goyang 10326, Republic of Korea; Intergrated Research Institute for Drug Development, College of Pharmacy, Dongguk University-Seoul, Goyang 10326, Republic of Korea
| | - Huy X Luong
- College of Pharmacy, Dongguk University-Seoul, Goyang 10326, Republic of Korea; Intergrated Research Institute for Drug Development, College of Pharmacy, Dongguk University-Seoul, Goyang 10326, Republic of Korea
| | - Do-Hee Kim
- College of Pharmacy, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Bong-Jin Lee
- College of Pharmacy, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Young-Woo Kim
- College of Pharmacy, Dongguk University-Seoul, Goyang 10326, Republic of Korea; Intergrated Research Institute for Drug Development, College of Pharmacy, Dongguk University-Seoul, Goyang 10326, Republic of Korea.
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7
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Lim BY, Azmi F, Ng SF. LL37 Microspheres Loaded on Activated Carbon-chitosan Hydrogel: Anti-bacterial and Anti-toxin Wound Dressing for Chronic Wound Infections. AAPS PharmSciTech 2024; 25:110. [PMID: 38740721 DOI: 10.1208/s12249-024-02826-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2023] [Accepted: 04/29/2024] [Indexed: 05/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Antimicrobial peptide LL37 is a promising antibacterial candidate due to its potent antimicrobial activity with no known bacterial resistance. However, intrinsically LL37 is susceptible to degradation in wound fluids limits its effectiveness. Bacterial toxins which are released after cell lysis are found to hinder wound healing. To address these challenges, encapsulating LL37 in microspheres (MS) and loading the MS onto activated carbon (AC)-chitosan (CS) hydrogel. This advanced wound dressing not only protects LL37 from degradation but also targets bacterial toxins, aiding in the healing of chronic wound infections. First, LL37 MS and LL37-AC-CS hydrogel were prepared and characterised in terms of physicochemical properties, drug release, and peptide-polymer compatibility. Antibacterial and antibiofilm activity, bacterial toxin elimination, cell migration, and cell cytotoxicity activities were investigated. LL37-AC-CS hydrogel was effective against Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Staphylococcus aureus. LL37-AC-CS hydrogel bound more endotoxin than AC with CS hydrogel alone. The hydrogel also induced cell migration after 72 h and showed no cytotoxicity towards NHDF after 72 h of treatment. In conclusion, the LL37-AC-CS hydrogel was shown to be a stable, non-toxic advanced wound dressing method with enhanced antimicrobial and antitoxin activity, and it can potentially be applied to chronic wound infections to accelerate wound healing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bee-Yee Lim
- National Pharmaceutical Regulatory Agency, 36, Jalan Profesor Diraja Ungku Aziz, PJS 13, Petaling Jaya, Selangor, 46200, Malaysia
- Centre for Drug Delivery Technology and Vaccine, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, 50300, Malaysia
| | - Fazren Azmi
- Centre for Drug Delivery Technology and Vaccine, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, 50300, Malaysia
| | - Shiow-Fern Ng
- Centre for Drug Delivery Technology and Vaccine, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, 50300, Malaysia.
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Lauer SM, Reepmeyer M, Berendes O, Klepacki D, Gasse J, Gabrielli S, Grubmüller H, Bock LV, Krizsan A, Nikolay R, Spahn CMT, Hoffmann R. Multimodal binding and inhibition of bacterial ribosomes by the antimicrobial peptides Api137 and Api88. Nat Commun 2024; 15:3945. [PMID: 38730238 PMCID: PMC11087509 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-48027-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2023] [Accepted: 04/17/2024] [Indexed: 05/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Proline-rich antimicrobial peptides (PrAMPs) inhibit bacterial protein biosynthesis by binding to the polypeptide exit tunnel (PET) near the peptidyl transferase center. Api137, an optimized derivative of honeybee PrAMP apidaecin, inhibits protein expression by trapping release factors (RFs), which interact with stop codons on ribosomes to terminate translation. This study uses cryo-EM, functional assays and molecular dynamic (MD) simulations to show that Api137 additionally occupies a second binding site near the exit of the PET and can repress translation independently of RF-trapping. Api88, a C-terminally amidated (-CONH2) analog of Api137 (-COOH), binds to the same sites, occupies a third binding pocket and interferes with the translation process presumably without RF-trapping. In conclusion, apidaecin-derived PrAMPs inhibit bacterial ribosomes by multimodal mechanisms caused by minor structural changes and thus represent a promising pool for drug development efforts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simon M Lauer
- Institute of Medical Physics and Biophysics, Charité - Berlin University of medicine, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Institut für Biologie, 10099, Berlin, Germany
| | - Maren Reepmeyer
- Institute of Bioanalytical Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry and Mineralogy, Universität Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
- Center for Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Universität Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Ole Berendes
- Theoretical and Computational Biophysics Department, Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Dorota Klepacki
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, 60607, USA
| | - Jakob Gasse
- Institute of Bioanalytical Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry and Mineralogy, Universität Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
- Center for Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Universität Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Sara Gabrielli
- Theoretical and Computational Biophysics Department, Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Helmut Grubmüller
- Theoretical and Computational Biophysics Department, Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Lars V Bock
- Theoretical and Computational Biophysics Department, Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Andor Krizsan
- Institute of Bioanalytical Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry and Mineralogy, Universität Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
- Center for Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Universität Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Rainer Nikolay
- Institute of Medical Physics and Biophysics, Charité - Berlin University of medicine, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
- Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Department of Genome Regulation, Ihnestrasse 63-73, 14195, Berlin, Germany.
| | - Christian M T Spahn
- Institute of Medical Physics and Biophysics, Charité - Berlin University of medicine, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
| | - Ralf Hoffmann
- Institute of Bioanalytical Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry and Mineralogy, Universität Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany.
- Center for Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Universität Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany.
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Du K, Yang ZR, Qin H, Ma T, Tang J, Xia J, Zhou Z, Jiang H, Zhu J. Optimized Charge/Hydrophobicity Balance of Antimicrobial Peptides Against Polymicrobial Abdominal Infections. Macromol Biosci 2024; 24:e2300451. [PMID: 37997560 DOI: 10.1002/mabi.202300451] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2023] [Revised: 11/20/2023] [Indexed: 11/25/2023]
Abstract
Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) potentially serve as ideal antimicrobial agents for the treatment of polymicrobial abdominal infections due to their broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity and excellent biocompatibility. However, the balance of chain length, positive charges, and hydrophobicity on the antimicrobial activity of AMPs are still far from being optimal. Herein, a series of AMPs ([KX]n-NH2, X = Ile, Leu or Phe, n = 3, 4, 5, or 6) with varied charges and hydrophobicity for the treatment of polymicrobial abdominal infections are designed. Specifically, [KI]4-NH2 peptide exhibits the best in vitro antimicrobial activity against Gram-positive and -negative bacteria, as well as fungal strains. Based on the good cell biocompatibility, [KI]4-NH2 peptide is found to have negligible in vivo toxicity at the dosage of up to 28 mg kg-1. Furthermore, great in vivo therapeutic efficacy of [KI]4-NH2 peptide against S. typhimurium is demonstrated in the mice abdominal infection model. The design of short sequence of antimicrobial peptides with a charge/hydrophobicity balanced structures provides a simple and efficient strategy for potential clinical applications of antimicrobial peptide-based biomaterials in a variety of bacterial infection diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kehan Du
- Hubei Engineering Research Center for Biomaterials and Medical Protective Materials, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST), Wuhan, 430074, China
| | - Zhuo-Ran Yang
- Hubei Engineering Research Center for Biomaterials and Medical Protective Materials, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST), Wuhan, 430074, China
| | - Huimin Qin
- Hubei Engineering Research Center for Biomaterials and Medical Protective Materials, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST), Wuhan, 430074, China
| | - Teng Ma
- Hubei Engineering Research Center for Biomaterials and Medical Protective Materials, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST), Wuhan, 430074, China
| | - Jiawei Tang
- Hubei Engineering Research Center for Biomaterials and Medical Protective Materials, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST), Wuhan, 430074, China
| | - Jianxin Xia
- Win Plus Biotechnology Co., Ltd., Wuhan, 430074, China
| | - Zengtai Zhou
- Win Plus Biotechnology Co., Ltd., Wuhan, 430074, China
| | - Hao Jiang
- Hubei Engineering Research Center for Biomaterials and Medical Protective Materials, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST), Wuhan, 430074, China
| | - Jintao Zhu
- Hubei Engineering Research Center for Biomaterials and Medical Protective Materials, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST), Wuhan, 430074, China
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10
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Cresti L, Cappello G, Pini A. Antimicrobial Peptides towards Clinical Application-A Long History to Be Concluded. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:4870. [PMID: 38732089 PMCID: PMC11084544 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25094870] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2024] [Revised: 04/24/2024] [Accepted: 04/25/2024] [Indexed: 05/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are molecules with an amphipathic structure that enables them to interact with bacterial membranes. This interaction can lead to membrane crossing and disruption with pore formation, culminating in cell death. They are produced naturally in various organisms, including humans, animals, plants and microorganisms. In higher animals, they are part of the innate immune system, where they counteract infection by bacteria, fungi, viruses and parasites. AMPs can also be designed de novo by bioinformatic approaches or selected from combinatorial libraries, and then produced by chemical or recombinant procedures. Since their discovery, AMPs have aroused interest as potential antibiotics, although few have reached the market due to stability limits or toxicity. Here, we describe the development phase and a number of clinical trials of antimicrobial peptides. We also provide an update on AMPs in the pharmaceutical industry and an overall view of their therapeutic market. Modifications to peptide structures to improve stability in vivo and bioavailability are also described.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Cresti
- Medical Biotechnology Department, University of Siena, Via A Moro 2, 53100 Siena, Italy; (G.C.); (A.P.)
| | - Giovanni Cappello
- Medical Biotechnology Department, University of Siena, Via A Moro 2, 53100 Siena, Italy; (G.C.); (A.P.)
| | - Alessandro Pini
- Medical Biotechnology Department, University of Siena, Via A Moro 2, 53100 Siena, Italy; (G.C.); (A.P.)
- SetLance srl, Via Fiorentina 1, 53100 Siena, Italy
- Laboratory of Clinical Pathology, Santa Maria alle Scotte University Hospital, 53100 Siena, Italy
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11
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Park P, Matsubara DK, Barzotto DR, Lima FS, Chaimovich H, Marrink SJ, Cuccovia IM. Vesicle protrusion induced by antimicrobial peptides suggests common carpet mechanism for short antimicrobial peptides. Sci Rep 2024; 14:9701. [PMID: 38678109 PMCID: PMC11055889 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-60601-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2023] [Accepted: 04/25/2024] [Indexed: 04/29/2024] Open
Abstract
Short-cationic alpha-helical antimicrobial peptides (SCHAMPs) are promising candidates to combat the growing global threat of antimicrobial resistance. They are short-sequenced, selective against bacteria, and have rapid action by destroying membranes. A full understanding of their mechanism of action will provide key information to design more potent and selective SCHAMPs. Molecular Dynamics (MD) simulations are invaluable tools that provide detailed insights into the peptide-membrane interaction at the atomic- and meso-scale level. We use atomistic and coarse-grained MD to look into the exact steps that four promising SCHAMPs-BP100, Decoralin, Neurokinin-1, and Temporin L-take when they interact with membranes. Following experimental set-ups, we explored the effects of SCHAMPs on anionic membranes and vesicles at multiple peptide concentrations. Our results showed all four peptides shared similar binding steps, initially binding to the membrane through electrostatic interactions and then flipping on their axes, dehydrating, and inserting their hydrophobic moieties into the membrane core. At higher concentrations, fully alpha-helical peptides induced membrane budding and protrusions. Our results suggest the carpet mode of action is fit for the description of SCHAMPs lysis activity and discuss the importance of large hydrophobic residues in SCHAMPs design and activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter Park
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Química, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
- Groningen Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology Institute (GBB), University of Groningen, 9747 AG, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Danilo K Matsubara
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Química, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Domenico R Barzotto
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Química, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Filipe S Lima
- Departamento de Química Fundamental, Centro de Ciências Exatas e da Natureza, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife, Brazil
| | - Hernan Chaimovich
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Química, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Siewert J Marrink
- Groningen Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology Institute (GBB), University of Groningen, 9747 AG, Groningen, the Netherlands.
| | - Iolanda M Cuccovia
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Instituto de Química, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
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12
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Kim YM, Park SC, Yoon Y, Jang MK, Lee JR. Effect of tryptophan position and lysine/arginine substitution in antimicrobial peptides on antifungal action. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2024; 704:149700. [PMID: 38401304 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2024.149700] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2024] [Accepted: 02/15/2024] [Indexed: 02/26/2024]
Abstract
Every year, the overprescription, misuse, and improper disposal of antibiotics have led to the rampant development of drug-resistant pathogens and, in turn, a significant increase in the number of patients who die of drug-resistant fungal infections. Recently, researchers have begun investigating the use of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) as next-generation antifungal agents to inhibit the growth of drug-resistant fungi. The antifungal activity of alpha-helical peptides designed using the cationic amino acids containing lysine and arginine and the hydrophobic amino acids containing isoleucine and tryptophan were evaluated using 10 yeast and mold fungi. Among these peptides, WIK-14, which is composed of a 14-mer with tryptophan sequences at the amino terminus, showed the best antifungal activity via transient pore formation and ROS generation. In addition, the in vivo antifungal effects of WIK-14 were investigated in a mouse model infected with drug-resistant Candida albicans. The results demonstrate the potential of AMPs as antifungal agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Young-Min Kim
- Department of Chemical Engineering, College of Engineering, Sunchon National University, Suncheon, Jeonnam, 57922, Republic of Korea
| | - Seong-Cheol Park
- Department of Chemical Engineering, College of Engineering, Sunchon National University, Suncheon, Jeonnam, 57922, Republic of Korea
| | - Yongsang Yoon
- Department of Chemical Engineering, College of Engineering, Sunchon National University, Suncheon, Jeonnam, 57922, Republic of Korea
| | - Mi-Kyeong Jang
- Department of Chemical Engineering, College of Engineering, Sunchon National University, Suncheon, Jeonnam, 57922, Republic of Korea.
| | - Jung Ro Lee
- National Institute of Ecology (NIE), Seocheon, 33657, Republic of Korea.
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13
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Mangoni ML, Loffredo MR, Casciaro B, Ferrera L, Cappiello F. An Overview of Frog Skin-Derived Esc Peptides: Promising Multifunctional Weapons against Pseudomonas aeruginosa-Induced Pulmonary and Ocular Surface Infections. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:4400. [PMID: 38673985 PMCID: PMC11049899 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25084400] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2024] [Revised: 04/08/2024] [Accepted: 04/13/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Antimicrobial resistance is a silent pandemic harming human health, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa is the most common bacterium responsible for chronic pulmonary and eye infections. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) represent promising alternatives to conventional antibiotics. In this review, the in vitro/in vivo activities of the frog skin-derived AMP Esc(1-21) are shown. Esc(1-21) rapidly kills both the planktonic and sessile forms of P. aeruginosa and stimulates migration of epithelial cells, likely favoring repair of damaged tissue. However, to undertake preclinical studies, some drawbacks of AMPs (cytotoxicity, poor biostability, and limited delivery to the target site) must be overcome. For this purpose, the stereochemistry of two amino acids of Esc(1-21) was changed to obtain the diastereomer Esc(1-21)-1c, which is more stable, less cytotoxic, and more efficient in treating P. aeruginosa-induced lung and cornea infections in mouse models. Incorporation of these peptides (Esc peptides) into nanoparticles or immobilization to a medical device (contact lens) was revealed to be an effective strategy to ameliorate and/or to prolong the peptides' antimicrobial efficacy. Overall, these data make Esc peptides encouraging candidates for novel multifunctional drugs to treat lung pathology especially in patients with cystic fibrosis and eye dysfunctions, characterized by both tissue injury and bacterial infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Luisa Mangoni
- Laboratory Affiliated to Pasteur Italia-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Department of Biochemical Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Maria Rosa Loffredo
- Laboratory Affiliated to Pasteur Italia-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Department of Biochemical Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Bruno Casciaro
- Laboratory Affiliated to Pasteur Italia-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Department of Biochemical Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Loretta Ferrera
- UOC Genetica Medica, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, 16147 Genoa, Italy
| | - Floriana Cappiello
- Laboratory Affiliated to Pasteur Italia-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, Department of Biochemical Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy
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14
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Mehraj I, Hamid A, Gani U, Iralu N, Manzoor T, Saleem Bhat S. Combating Antimicrobial Resistance by Employing Antimicrobial Peptides: Immunomodulators and Therapeutic Agents against Infectious Diseases. ACS Appl Bio Mater 2024; 7:2023-2035. [PMID: 38533844 DOI: 10.1021/acsabm.3c01104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/28/2024]
Abstract
The rising prevalence of multiple-drug-resistant pathogens poses a formidable challenge to conventional antimicrobial treatments. The inability of potent antibiotics to combat these "superbugs" underscores the pressing need for alternative therapeutic agents. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) represent an alternative class of antibiotics. AMPs are essential immunomodulatory molecules that are found in various organisms. They play a pivotal role in managing microbial ecosystems and bolstering innate immunity by targeting and eliminating invading microorganisms. AMPs also have applications in the agriculture sector by combating animal as well as plant pathogens. AMPs can be exploited for the targeted therapy of various diseases and can also be used in drug-delivery systems. They can be used in synergy with current treatments like antibiotics and can potentially lead to a lower required dosage. AMPs also have huge potential in wound healing and regenerative medicine. Developing AMP-based strategies with improved safety, specificity, and efficacy is crucial in the battle against alarming global microbial resistance. This review will explore AMPs' increasing applicability, their mode of antimicrobial activity, and various delivery systems enhancing their stability and efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Insha Mehraj
- Division of Animal Biotechnology, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences and Animal Husbandry, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir, Shalimar, Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir 05466, India
| | - Aflaq Hamid
- Department of Plant Pathology, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir, Shalimar, Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir 05466, India
| | - Ubaid Gani
- Division of Animal Biotechnology, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences and Animal Husbandry, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir, Shalimar, Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir 05466, India
| | - Nulevino Iralu
- Department of Plant Pathology, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir, Shalimar, Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir 05466, India
| | - Tasaduq Manzoor
- Division of Animal Biotechnology, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences and Animal Husbandry, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir, Shalimar, Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir 05466, India
| | - Sahar Saleem Bhat
- Division of Animal Biotechnology, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences and Animal Husbandry, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir, Shalimar, Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir 05466, India
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15
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Blomstrand E, Posch E, Stepulane A, Rajasekharan AK, Andersson M. Antibacterial and Hemolytic Activity of Antimicrobial Hydrogels Utilizing Immobilized Antimicrobial Peptides. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:4200. [PMID: 38673786 PMCID: PMC11050424 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25084200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2024] [Revised: 04/02/2024] [Accepted: 04/09/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are viewed as potential compounds for the treatment of bacterial infections. Nevertheless, the successful translation of AMPs into clinical applications has been impeded primarily due to their low stability in biological environments and potential toxicological concerns at higher concentrations. The covalent attachment of AMPs to a material's surface has been sought to improve their stability. However, it is still an open question what is required to best perform such an attachment and the role of the support. In this work, six different AMPs were covalently attached to a long-ranged ordered amphiphilic hydrogel, with their antibacterial efficacy evaluated and compared to their performance when free in solution. Among the tested AMPs were four different versions of synthetic end-tagged AMPs where the sequence was altered to change the cationic residue as well as to vary the degree of hydrophobicity. Two previously well-studied AMPs, Piscidin 1 and Omiganan, were also included as comparisons. The antibacterial efficacy against Staphylococcus aureus remained largely consistent between free AMPs and those attached to surfaces. However, the activity pattern against Pseudomonas aeruginosa on hydrogel surfaces displayed a marked contrast to that observed in the solution. Additionally, all the AMPs showed varying degrees of hemolytic activity when in solution. This activity was entirely diminished, and all the AMPs were non-hemolytic when attached to the hydrogels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edvin Blomstrand
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Chalmers University of Technology, Kemigården 4, SE-412 96 Göteborg, Sweden; (E.B.); (E.P.); (A.S.)
- Amferia AB, Astra Zeneca BioVentureHub c/o Astra Zeneca, Pepparedsleden 1, SE-431 83 Mölndal, Sweden;
| | - Elin Posch
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Chalmers University of Technology, Kemigården 4, SE-412 96 Göteborg, Sweden; (E.B.); (E.P.); (A.S.)
- Amferia AB, Astra Zeneca BioVentureHub c/o Astra Zeneca, Pepparedsleden 1, SE-431 83 Mölndal, Sweden;
| | - Annija Stepulane
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Chalmers University of Technology, Kemigården 4, SE-412 96 Göteborg, Sweden; (E.B.); (E.P.); (A.S.)
- Centre for Antibiotic Resistance Research in Gothenburg (CARe), SE-405 30 Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Anand K. Rajasekharan
- Amferia AB, Astra Zeneca BioVentureHub c/o Astra Zeneca, Pepparedsleden 1, SE-431 83 Mölndal, Sweden;
| | - Martin Andersson
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Chalmers University of Technology, Kemigården 4, SE-412 96 Göteborg, Sweden; (E.B.); (E.P.); (A.S.)
- Centre for Antibiotic Resistance Research in Gothenburg (CARe), SE-405 30 Gothenburg, Sweden
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16
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Bhat RAH, Khangembam VC, Pant V, Tandel RS, Pandey PK, Thakuria D. Antibacterial activity of a short de novo designed peptide against fish bacterial pathogens. Amino Acids 2024; 56:28. [PMID: 38578302 PMCID: PMC10997546 DOI: 10.1007/s00726-024-03388-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2023] [Accepted: 03/06/2024] [Indexed: 04/06/2024]
Abstract
In the face of increasing antimicrobial resistance in aquaculture, researchers are exploring novel substitutes to customary antibiotics. One potential solution is the use of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs). We aimed to design and evaluate a novel, short, and compositionally simple AMP with potent activity against various bacterial pathogens in aquaculture. The resulting peptide, KK12YW, has an amphipathic nature and net charge of + 7. Molecular docking experiments disclosed that KK12YW has a strong affinity for aerolysin, a virulence protein produced by the bacterial pathogen Aeromonas sobria. KK12YW was synthesized using Fmoc chemistry and tested against a range of bacterial pathogens, including A. sobria, A. salmonicida, A. hydrophila, Edwardsiella tarda, Vibrio parahaemolyticus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus epidermidis, and methicillin-resistant S. aureus. The AMP showed promising antibacterial activity, with MIC and MBC values ranging from 0.89 to 917.1 µgmL-1 and 3.67 to 1100.52 µgmL-1, respectively. In addition, KK12YW exhibited resistance to high temperatures and remained effective even in the presence of serum and salt, indicating its stability. The peptide also demonstrated minimal hemolysis toward fish RBCs, even at higher concentrations. Taken together, these findings indicate that KK12YW could be a highly promising and viable substitute for conventional antibiotics to combat microbial infections in aquaculture.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Victoria C Khangembam
- ICAR-Directorate of Coldwater Fisheries Research, Bhimtal, 263136, Uttarakhand, India
| | - Vinita Pant
- ICAR-Directorate of Coldwater Fisheries Research, Bhimtal, 263136, Uttarakhand, India
| | - Ritesh Shantilal Tandel
- ICAR-Directorate of Coldwater Fisheries Research, Bhimtal, 263136, Uttarakhand, India
- Navsari Gujarat Research Centre, ICAR-Central Institute of Brackishwater Aquaculture, Navsari, 396 450, Gujarat, India
| | - Pramod Kumar Pandey
- ICAR-Directorate of Coldwater Fisheries Research, Bhimtal, 263136, Uttarakhand, India
| | - Dimpal Thakuria
- ICAR-Directorate of Coldwater Fisheries Research, Bhimtal, 263136, Uttarakhand, India.
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17
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Bui Thi Phuong H, Doan Ngan H, Le Huy B, Vu Dinh H, Luong Xuan H. The amphipathic design in helical antimicrobial peptides. ChemMedChem 2024; 19:e202300480. [PMID: 38408263 DOI: 10.1002/cmdc.202300480] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2023] [Revised: 12/18/2023] [Indexed: 02/28/2024]
Abstract
Amphipathicity is a critical characteristic of helical antimicrobial peptides (AMPs). The hydrophilic region, primarily composed of cationic residues, plays a pivotal role in the initial binding to negatively charged components on bacterial membranes through electrostatic interactions. Subsequently, the hydrophobic region interacts with hydrophobic components, inducing membrane perturbation, ultimately leading to cell death, or inhibiting intracellular function. Due to the extensive diversity of natural and synthetic AMPs with regard to the design of amphipathicity, it is complicated to study the structure-activity relationships. Therefore, this work aims to categorize the common amphipathic design and investigate their impact on the biological properties of AMPs. Besides, the connection between current structural modification approaches and amphipathic styles was also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Hoa Doan Ngan
- Faculty of Medical Technology, PHENIKAA University, Hanoi, 12116, Vietnam
| | - Binh Le Huy
- Center for High Technology Development, Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology (VAST), 18 Hoang Quoc Viet, Hanoi, 11307, Vietnam
- School of Chemical Engineering -, Hanọi University of Science and Technology, 1 Dai Co Viet, Hai Ba Trung, Hanoi, 11615, Vietnam
| | - Hoang Vu Dinh
- School of Chemical Engineering -, Hanọi University of Science and Technology, 1 Dai Co Viet, Hai Ba Trung, Hanoi, 11615, Vietnam
| | - Huy Luong Xuan
- Faculty of Pharmacy, PHENIKAA University, Hanoi, 12116, Vietnam
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18
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Liao M, Gong H, Liu H, Shen K, Ge T, King S, Schweins R, McBain AJ, Hu X, Lu JR. Combination of a pH-responsive peptide amphiphile and a conventional antibiotic in treating Gram-negative bacteria. J Colloid Interface Sci 2024; 659:397-412. [PMID: 38183806 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcis.2023.12.146] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2023] [Revised: 12/16/2023] [Accepted: 12/24/2023] [Indexed: 01/08/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Clinical treatments ofgastric infections using antibiotics suffer from the undesired killing of commensal bacteria and emergence of antibiotic resistance. It is desirable to develop pH-responsive antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) that kill pathogenic bacteria such as H. pyloriand resistant E. coli under acidic environment with minimal impact to commensal bacteria whilst not causing antibiotic resistance. EXPERIMENTS Using a combined approach of cell assays, molecular dynamics (MD) simulations and membrane models facilitating biophysical and biochemical measurements including small angle neutron scattering (SANS), we have characterized the pH-responsive physiochemical properties and antimicrobial performance of two amphiphilic AMPs, GIIKDIIKDIIKDI-NH2 and GIIKKIIDDIIKKI-NH2 (denoted as 3D and 2D, respectively), that were designed by selective substitutions of cationic residues of Lys (K) in the extensively studied AMP G(IIKK)3I-NH2 with anionic residue Asp (D). FINDINGS Whilst 2D kept non-ordered coils across the entire pH range studied, 3D displayed a range of secondary structures when pH was shifted from basic to acidic, with distinct self-assembly into nanofibers in aqueous environment. Further experimental and modeling studies revealed that the AMPs interacted differently with the inner and outer membranes of Gram-negative bacteria in a pH-responsive manner and that the structural features characterized by membrane leakage and intramembrane nanoaggregates revealed from fluorescence spectroscopy and SANS were well linked to antimicrobial actions. Different antimicrobial efficacies of 2D and 3D were underlined by the interplay between their ability to bind to the outer membrane lipid LPS (lipopolysaccharide), outer membrane permeability change and inner membrane depolarization and leakage. Furthermore, AMP's binding with the inner membrane under acidic condition caused both the dissipation of membrane potential (Δψ) and the continuous dissipation of transmembrane ΔpH, with Δψ and ΔpH being the key components of the proton motive force. Combinations of antibiotic (Minocycline) with the pH-responsive AMP generated the synergistic effects against Gram-negative bacteria only under acidic condition. These features are crucial to target applications to gastric infections, anti-acne and wound healing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mingrui Liao
- Biological Physics Laboratory, Department of Physics and Astronomy, School of Natural Science, The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PL, UK
| | - Haoning Gong
- Biological Physics Laboratory, Department of Physics and Astronomy, School of Natural Science, The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PL, UK
| | - Huayang Liu
- Biological Physics Laboratory, Department of Physics and Astronomy, School of Natural Science, The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PL, UK
| | - Kangcheng Shen
- Biological Physics Laboratory, Department of Physics and Astronomy, School of Natural Science, The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PL, UK
| | - Tianhao Ge
- Biological Physics Laboratory, Department of Physics and Astronomy, School of Natural Science, The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PL, UK
| | - Stephen King
- ISIS Pulsed Neutron & Muon Source, STFC Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Didcot OX11 0QX, UK
| | | | - Andrew J McBain
- Division of Pharmacy and Optometry, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PL, UK
| | - Xuzhi Hu
- Biological Physics Laboratory, Department of Physics and Astronomy, School of Natural Science, The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PL, UK.
| | - Jian R Lu
- Biological Physics Laboratory, Department of Physics and Astronomy, School of Natural Science, The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PL, UK.
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19
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Mulukutla A, Shreshtha R, Kumar Deb V, Chatterjee P, Jain U, Chauhan N. Recent advances in antimicrobial peptide-based therapy. Bioorg Chem 2024; 145:107151. [PMID: 38359706 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioorg.2024.107151] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2023] [Revised: 01/05/2024] [Accepted: 01/22/2024] [Indexed: 02/17/2024]
Abstract
Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are a group of polypeptide chains that have the property to target and kill a myriad of microbial organisms including viruses, bacteria, protists, etc. The first discovered AMP was named gramicidin, an extract of aerobic soil bacteria. Further studies discovered that these peptides are present not only in prokaryotes but in eukaryotes as well. They play a vital role in human innate immunity and wound repair. Consequently, they have maintained a high level of intrigue among scientists in the field of immunology, especially so with the rise of antibiotic-resistant pathogens decreasing the reliability of antibiotics in healthcare. While AMPs have promising potential to substitute for common antibiotics, their use as effective replacements is barred by certain limitations. First, they have the potential to be cytotoxic to human cells. Second, they are unstable in the blood due to action by various proteolytic agents and ions that cause their degradation. This review provides an overview of the mechanism of AMPs, their limitations, and developments in recent years that provide techniques to overcome those limitations. We also discuss the advantages and drawbacks of AMPs as a replacement for antibiotics as compared to other alternatives such as synthetically modified bacteriophages, traditional medicine, and probiotics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aditya Mulukutla
- School of Health Sciences and Technology, UPES, Dehradun 248007, Uttarakhand, India
| | - Romi Shreshtha
- School of Health Sciences and Technology, UPES, Dehradun 248007, Uttarakhand, India
| | - Vishal Kumar Deb
- School of Health Sciences and Technology, UPES, Dehradun 248007, Uttarakhand, India
| | - Pallabi Chatterjee
- School of Health Sciences and Technology, UPES, Dehradun 248007, Uttarakhand, India
| | - Utkarsh Jain
- School of Health Sciences and Technology, UPES, Dehradun 248007, Uttarakhand, India
| | - Nidhi Chauhan
- School of Health Sciences and Technology, UPES, Dehradun 248007, Uttarakhand, India.
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20
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Yuan L, Wang K, Fang Y, Xu X, Chen Y, Zhao D, Lu K. Interaction of Cecropin A (1-7) Analogs with DNA Analyzed by Multi-spectroscopic Methods. Protein J 2024; 43:274-282. [PMID: 38265732 DOI: 10.1007/s10930-023-10177-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/12/2023] [Indexed: 01/25/2024]
Abstract
Cecropin A (1-7) is a cationic antimicrobial peptide which contain lots of basic amino acids. To understand the effect of basic amino acids on cecropin A (1-7), analogues CA2, CA3 and CA4 which have more arginine or lysine at the N-terminal or C-terminal were designed and synthesized. The interaction of cecropin A (1-7) and its analogs with DNA was studied using ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy, fluorescence spectroscopy and circular dichroism spectroscopy. Multispectral analysis showed that basic amino acids improved the interaction between the analogues and DNA. The interaction between CA4 and DNA is most pronounced. Fluorescence spectrum indicated that Ksv value of CA4 is 1.19 × 105 L mol-1 compared to original peptide cecropin A (1-7) of 3.73 × 104 L mol-1. The results of antimicrobial experiments with cecropin A (1-7) and its analogues showed that basic amino acids enhanced the antimicrobial effect of the analogues. The antimicrobial activity of CA4 against E. coli was eightfold higher than that of cecropin A (1-7). The importance of basic amino acid in peptides is revealed and provides useful information for subsequent studies of antimicrobial peptides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Libo Yuan
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Henan University of Technology, Zhengzhou, 450001, People's Republic of China.
| | - Ke Wang
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Henan University of Technology, Zhengzhou, 450001, People's Republic of China
| | - Yuan Fang
- Pharmacy Department, Zhengzhou People's Hospital, Zhengzhou, 450003, People's Republic of China.
| | - Xiujuan Xu
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Henan University of Technology, Zhengzhou, 450001, People's Republic of China
| | - Yingcun Chen
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Henan University of Technology, Zhengzhou, 450001, People's Republic of China
| | - Dongxin Zhao
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Henan University of Technology, Zhengzhou, 450001, People's Republic of China
| | - Kui Lu
- College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Henan University of Technology, Zhengzhou, 450001, People's Republic of China.
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21
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Mahto AK, Kanupriya, Kumari S, Yar MS, Dewangan RP. Hydrocarbon stapled temporin-L analogue as potential antibacterial and antiendotoxin agents with enhanced protease stability. Bioorg Chem 2024; 145:107239. [PMID: 38428282 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioorg.2024.107239] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2023] [Revised: 02/06/2024] [Accepted: 02/22/2024] [Indexed: 03/03/2024]
Abstract
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a serious global concern and a huge burden on the healthcare system. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are considered as a solution of AMR due to their membrane-lytic and intracellular mode of action and therefore resistance development against AMPs is less frequent. One such AMPs, temporin-L (TL) is a 13-mer peptide reported as a potent and broad-spectrum antibacterial agent with significant immunomodulatory activity. However, TL is toxic to human erythrocytes at their antibacterial concentrations and therefore various analogues were synthesized with potent antimicrobial activity and lower hemolytic activity. In this work, we have selected a non-toxic engineered analogue of TL (eTL) and performed hydrocarbon stapling of amino acid residues at i to i + 4 positions at different part of sequence. The synthesized peptides were investigated against both the gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria as well as methicillin resistant S. aureus, its MIC was measured in the concentrations range of 0.9-15.2 µM. All analogues were found equal or better antibacterial as compared to parent peptide. Interestingly one analogue eTL [5-9] was found to be non-cytotoxic and stable in presence of the human serum. Mode of action studies revealed membrane depolarizing and disruptive mode of action with live MRSA. Further in vivo studies of antimicrobial against MRSA infection and anti-endotoxin activities in mice model revealed potential activity of the stapled peptide analogue. Overall, this reports on stapled analogue of the AMPs highlights an important strategy for the development of new antibacterial therapeutics against AMR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aman Kumar Mahto
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, School of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (SPER), Jamia Hamdard (Deemed to be University), New Delhi 110062, India
| | - Kanupriya
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, School of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (SPER), Jamia Hamdard (Deemed to be University), New Delhi 110062, India
| | - Shalini Kumari
- CSIR-Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology (IGIB), Sukhdev Vihar, Mathura Road, New Delhi 110025, India
| | - Mohammad Shahar Yar
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, School of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (SPER), Jamia Hamdard (Deemed to be University), New Delhi 110062, India
| | - Rikeshwer Prasad Dewangan
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, School of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (SPER), Jamia Hamdard (Deemed to be University), New Delhi 110062, India.
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22
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Sani MA, Rajput S, Keizer DW, Separovic F. NMR techniques for investigating antimicrobial peptides in model membranes and bacterial cells. Methods 2024; 224:10-20. [PMID: 38295893 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymeth.2024.01.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2023] [Revised: 01/07/2024] [Accepted: 01/08/2024] [Indexed: 02/05/2024] Open
Abstract
AMPs are short, mainly cationic membrane-active peptides found in all living organism. They perform diverse roles including signaling and acting as a line of defense against bacterial infections. AMPs have been extensively investigated as templates to facilitate the development of novel antimicrobial therapeutics. Understanding the interplay between these membrane-active peptides and the lipid membranes is considered to be a significant step in elucidating the specific mechanism of action of AMPs against prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells to aid the development of new therapeutics. In this review, we have provided a brief overview of various NMR techniques commonly used for studying AMP structure and AMP-membrane interactions in model membranes and whole cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marc-Antoine Sani
- Bio21 Institute, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC 3010, Australia.
| | - Sunnia Rajput
- Bio21 Institute, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC 3010, Australia
| | - David W Keizer
- Bio21 Institute, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC 3010, Australia
| | - Frances Separovic
- Bio21 Institute, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC 3010, Australia; School of Chemistry, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC 3010, Australia
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23
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García FA, Fuentes TF, Alonso IP, Bosch RA, Brunetti AE, Lopes NP. A Comprehensive Review of Patented Antimicrobial Peptides from Amphibian Anurans. J Nat Prod 2024; 87:600-616. [PMID: 38412091 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jnatprod.3c01040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/29/2024]
Abstract
Since the 1980s, studies of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) derived from anuran skin secretions have unveiled remarkable structural diversity and a wide range of activities. This study explores the potential of these peptides for drug development by examining granted patents, amino acid modifications related to patented peptides, and recent amphibians' taxonomic updates influencing AMP names. A total of 188 granted patents related to different anuran peptides were found, with Asia and North America being the predominant regions, contributing 65.4% and 15.4%, respectively. Conversely, although the Neotropical region is the world's most diversified region for amphibians, it holds only 3.7% of the identified patents. The antimicrobial activities of the peptides are claimed in 118 of these 188 patents. Additionally, for 160 of these peptides, 66 patents were registered for the natural sequence, 69 for both natural and derivative sequences, and 20 exclusively for sequence derivatives. Notably, common modifications include alterations in the side chains of amino acids and modifications to the peptides' N- and C-termini. This review underscores the biomedical potential of anuran-derived AMPs, emphasizing the need to bridge the gap between AMP description and practical drug development while highlighting the urgency of biodiversity conservation to facilitate biomedical discoveries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabiola Almeida García
- NPPNS, Department of Biomolecular Sciences, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Ribeirão Preto, Department of Physics and Chemistry, University of São Paulo, Avenida do Café, s/no, 14040-903 Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
| | - Talia Frómeta Fuentes
- Center for Protein Studies, Faculty of Biology, University of Havana, 25 Street No. 455, Vedado 10400, Cuba
| | - Isel Pascual Alonso
- Center for Protein Studies, Faculty of Biology, University of Havana, 25 Street No. 455, Vedado 10400, Cuba
| | - Roberto Alonso Bosch
- Natural History Museum Felipe Poey, Faculty of Biology, University of Havana, Vedado 10400, Cuba
| | - Andrés E Brunetti
- Institute of Subtropical Biology (CONICET-UNAM), National University of Misiones, Posadas N3300LQH, Argentina
- Department of Insect Symbiosis, Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology, Jena, 07745, Germany
| | - Norberto Peporine Lopes
- NPPNS, Department of Biomolecular Sciences, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Ribeirão Preto, Department of Physics and Chemistry, University of São Paulo, Avenida do Café, s/no, 14040-903 Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
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24
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Abstract
Covering: 2018 to Jun of 2023The efficiency of traditional antibiotics has been undermined by the proliferation of antibiotic-resistant pathogenic microorganisms, necessitating the pursuit of innovative therapeutic agents. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), which are part of host defence peptides found ubiquitously in nature, exhibiting a wide range of activity towards bacteria, fungi, and viruses, offer a highly promising candidate solution. The efficacy of AMPs can frequently be augmented via alterations to their amino acid sequences or structural adjustments. Given the vast reservoir of marine life forms and their distinctive ecosystems, marine AMPs stand as a burgeoning focal point in the quest for alternative peptide templates extracted from natural sources. Advances in identification and characterization techniques have accelerated the discoveries of marine AMPs, thereby stimulating AMP customization, optimization, and synthesis research endeavours. This review presents an overview of recent discoveries related to the intriguing qualities of marine AMPs. Emphasis will be placed upon post-translational modifications (PTMs) of marine AMPs and how they may impact functionality and potency. Additionally, this review considers ways in which marine PTM might support larger-scale, heterologous AMP manufacturing initiatives, providing insights into translational applications of these important biomolecules.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pengyu Chen
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Marine Bioresource and Eco-Environmental Science, College of Life Sciences and Oceanography, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China.
- College of Physics and Optoelectronic Engineering, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China
| | - Ting Ye
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Marine Bioresource and Eco-Environmental Science, College of Life Sciences and Oceanography, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China.
| | - Chunyuan Li
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Marine Bioresource and Eco-Environmental Science, College of Life Sciences and Oceanography, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China.
| | - Praveen Praveen
- Department of Biochemistry and Chemistry, La Trobe Institute for Molecular Science La Trobe University, Victoria, 3086, Australia.
| | - Zhangli Hu
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Marine Bioresource and Eco-Environmental Science, College of Life Sciences and Oceanography, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China.
| | - Wenyi Li
- Department of Biochemistry and Chemistry, La Trobe Institute for Molecular Science La Trobe University, Victoria, 3086, Australia.
| | - Chenjing Shang
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Marine Bioresource and Eco-Environmental Science, College of Life Sciences and Oceanography, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China.
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25
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Eloïse L, Petit L, Nominé Y, Heurtault B, Ben Hadj Kaddour I, Senger B, Rodon Fores J, Vrana NE, Barbault F, Lavalle P. The antibacterial properties of branched peptides based on poly(l-arginine): In vitro antibacterial evaluation and molecular dynamic simulations. Eur J Med Chem 2024; 268:116224. [PMID: 38387338 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2024.116224] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2023] [Revised: 01/27/2024] [Accepted: 02/07/2024] [Indexed: 02/24/2024]
Abstract
The emergence of bacterial strains resistant to antibiotics is a major issue in the medical field. Antimicrobial peptides are widely studied as they do not generate as much resistant bacterial strains as conventional antibiotics and present a broad range of activity. Among them, the homopolypeptide poly(l-arginine) presents promising antibacterial properties, especially in the perspective of its use in biomaterials. Linear poly(l-arginine) has been extensively studied but the impact of its 3D structure remains unknown. In this study, the antibacterial properties of newly synthesized branched poly(l-arginine) peptides, belonging to the family of multiple antigenic peptides, are evaluated. First, in vitro activities of the peptides shows that branched poly(l-arginine) is more efficient than linear poly(l-arginine) containing the same number of arginine residues. Surprisingly, peptides with more arms and more residues are not the most effective. To better understand these unexpected results, interactions between these peptides and the membranes of Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria are simulated thanks to molecular dynamic. It is observed that the bacterial membrane is more distorted by the branched structure than by the linear one and by peptides containing smaller arms. This mechanism of action is in full agreement with in vitro results and suggest that our simulations form a robust model to evaluate peptide efficiency towards pathogenic bacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lebaudy Eloïse
- Inserm UMR_S 1121, EMR 7003 CNRS, Biomaterials and Bioengineering, Centre de Recherche en Biomédecine de Strasbourg, F67000, Strasbourg, France; Université de Strasbourg, Faculté de Chirurgie Dentaire, Strasbourg, France
| | - Lauriane Petit
- Inserm UMR_S 1121, EMR 7003 CNRS, Biomaterials and Bioengineering, Centre de Recherche en Biomédecine de Strasbourg, F67000, Strasbourg, France; Université de Strasbourg, Faculté de Chirurgie Dentaire, Strasbourg, France; SPARTHA Medical, Centre de Recherche en Biomédecine de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
| | - Yves Nominé
- Institut de génétique et de biologie moléculaire et cellulaire, IGBMC, Illkirch, France
| | - Béatrice Heurtault
- Université de Strasbourg, Centre national de la recherche scientifique (CNRS), Laboratoire de Conception et Application de Molécules Bioactives UMR 7199, Faculté de Pharmacie, Illkirch, France
| | - Inès Ben Hadj Kaddour
- Inserm UMR_S 1121, EMR 7003 CNRS, Biomaterials and Bioengineering, Centre de Recherche en Biomédecine de Strasbourg, F67000, Strasbourg, France; Université de Strasbourg, Faculté de Chirurgie Dentaire, Strasbourg, France; SPARTHA Medical, Centre de Recherche en Biomédecine de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
| | - Bernard Senger
- Inserm UMR_S 1121, EMR 7003 CNRS, Biomaterials and Bioengineering, Centre de Recherche en Biomédecine de Strasbourg, F67000, Strasbourg, France; Université de Strasbourg, Faculté de Chirurgie Dentaire, Strasbourg, France
| | - Jennifer Rodon Fores
- Inserm UMR_S 1121, EMR 7003 CNRS, Biomaterials and Bioengineering, Centre de Recherche en Biomédecine de Strasbourg, F67000, Strasbourg, France; Université de Strasbourg, Faculté de Chirurgie Dentaire, Strasbourg, France
| | - Nihal Engin Vrana
- Université de Strasbourg, Faculté de Chirurgie Dentaire, Strasbourg, France; SPARTHA Medical, Centre de Recherche en Biomédecine de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
| | | | - Philippe Lavalle
- Inserm UMR_S 1121, EMR 7003 CNRS, Biomaterials and Bioengineering, Centre de Recherche en Biomédecine de Strasbourg, F67000, Strasbourg, France; Université de Strasbourg, Faculté de Chirurgie Dentaire, Strasbourg, France; SPARTHA Medical, Centre de Recherche en Biomédecine de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France.
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26
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Monsalve D, Mesa A, Mira LM, Mera C, Orduz S, Branch-Bedoya JW. Antimicrobial peptides designed by computational analysis of proteomes. Antonie Van Leeuwenhoek 2024; 117:55. [PMID: 38488950 DOI: 10.1007/s10482-024-01946-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2023] [Accepted: 02/06/2024] [Indexed: 03/17/2024]
Abstract
Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are promising cationic and amphipathic molecules to fight antibiotic resistance. To search for novel AMPs, we applied a computational strategy to identify peptide sequences within the organisms' proteome, including in-house developed software and artificial intelligence tools. After analyzing 150.450 proteins from eight proteomes of bacteria, plants, a protist, and a nematode, nine peptides were selected and modified to increase their antimicrobial potential. The 18 resulting peptides were validated by bioassays with four pathogenic bacterial species, one yeast species, and two cancer cell-lines. Fourteen of the 18 tested peptides were antimicrobial, with minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) values under 10 µM against at least three bacterial species; seven were active against Candida albicans with MICs values under 10 µM; six had a therapeutic index above 20; two peptides were active against A549 cells, and eight were active against MCF-7 cells under 30 µM. This study's most active antimicrobial peptides damage the bacterial cell membrane, including grooves, dents, membrane wrinkling, cell destruction, and leakage of cytoplasmic material. The results confirm that the proposed approach, which uses bioinformatic tools and rational modifications, is highly efficient and allows the discovery, with high accuracy, of potent AMPs encrypted in proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dahiana Monsalve
- Escuela de Biociencias, Departamento de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, sede Medellín, Carrera 65 # 59A-110, 050034, Medellín, Antioquia, Colombia
| | - Andrea Mesa
- Escuela de Biociencias, Departamento de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, sede Medellín, Carrera 65 # 59A-110, 050034, Medellín, Antioquia, Colombia
| | - Laura M Mira
- Escuela de Biociencias, Departamento de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, sede Medellín, Carrera 65 # 59A-110, 050034, Medellín, Antioquia, Colombia
| | - Carlos Mera
- Departamento de Sistemas de Información, Instituto Tecnológico Metropolitano, Calle 54A # 30-01, 050013, Medellín, Antioquia, Colombia.
- Departamento de Ingeniería de Sistemas, Facultad de Ingenierías, Universidad de Antioquia, Calle 70 # 52-21, 050010, Medellín, Antioquia, Colombia.
| | - Sergio Orduz
- Escuela de Biociencias, Departamento de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, sede Medellín, Carrera 65 # 59A-110, 050034, Medellín, Antioquia, Colombia
| | - John W Branch-Bedoya
- Departamento de Ciencias de la Computación y de la Decisión, Facultad de Minas, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, sede Medellín, Av. 80 # 65-223, 050041, Medellín, Antioquia, Colombia
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27
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Zhong C, Zou J, Mao W, Yang P, Zhang J, Gou S, Zhang Y, Liu H, Ni J. Structure modification of anoplin for fighting resistant bacteria. Eur J Med Chem 2024; 268:116276. [PMID: 38452726 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2024.116276] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2024] [Revised: 02/21/2024] [Accepted: 02/21/2024] [Indexed: 03/09/2024]
Abstract
The emergence of bacterial resistance has posed a significant challenge to clinical antimicrobial treatment, rendering commonly used antibiotics ineffective. The development of novel antimicrobial agents and strategies is imperative for the treatment of resistant bacterial infections. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are considered a promising class of antimicrobial agents due to their low propensity for resistance and broad-spectrum activity. Anoplin is a small linear α-helical natural antimicrobial peptide that was isolated from the venom of the solitary wasp Anplius samariensis. It exhibits rich biological activity, particularly broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity and low hemolytic activity. Over the past three decades, more than 40 research publications on anoplin have been made available online. This review focuses on the advancements of anoplin in antimicrobial research, encompassing its sources, characterization, antimicrobial activity, influencing factors and structural modifications. The aim is to provide assistances for the development of new antimicrobial agents that can combat bacterial resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chao Zhong
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substance and Function of Natural Medicines, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100050, PR China; Institute of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, School of Basic Medical Sciences, and Research Unit of Peptide Science, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, 2019RU066, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, PR China.
| | - Jing Zou
- Institute of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, School of Basic Medical Sciences, and Research Unit of Peptide Science, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, 2019RU066, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, PR China
| | - Wenbo Mao
- Institute of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, School of Basic Medical Sciences, and Research Unit of Peptide Science, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, 2019RU066, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, PR China
| | - Ping Yang
- Institute of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, School of Basic Medical Sciences, and Research Unit of Peptide Science, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, 2019RU066, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, PR China
| | - Jingying Zhang
- Institute of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, School of Basic Medical Sciences, and Research Unit of Peptide Science, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, 2019RU066, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, PR China
| | - Sanhu Gou
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substance and Function of Natural Medicines, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100050, PR China; Institute of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, School of Basic Medical Sciences, and Research Unit of Peptide Science, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, 2019RU066, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, PR China
| | - Yun Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substance and Function of Natural Medicines, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100050, PR China; Institute of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, School of Basic Medical Sciences, and Research Unit of Peptide Science, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, 2019RU066, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, PR China
| | - Hui Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substance and Function of Natural Medicines, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100050, PR China; Institute of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, School of Basic Medical Sciences, and Research Unit of Peptide Science, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, 2019RU066, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, PR China
| | - Jingman Ni
- State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substance and Function of Natural Medicines, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100050, PR China; Institute of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, Key Laboratory of Preclinical Study for New Drugs of Gansu Province, School of Basic Medical Sciences, and Research Unit of Peptide Science, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, 2019RU066, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, PR China.
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28
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Wu W, Song J, Li T, Li W, Wang J, Wang S, Dong N, Shan A. Unlocking Antibacterial Potential: Key-Site-Based Regulation of Antibacterial Spectrum of Peptides. J Med Chem 2024; 67:4131-4149. [PMID: 38420875 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.3c02404] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/02/2024]
Abstract
In the pursuit of combating multidrug-resistant bacteria, antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) have emerged as promising agents; however, their application in clinical settings still presents challenges. Specifically, the exploration of crucial structural parameters that influence the antibacterial spectrum of AMPs and the subsequent development of tailored variants with either broad- or narrow-spectrum characteristics to address diverse clinical therapeutic needs has been overlooked. This study focused on investigating the effects of amino acid sites and hydrophobicity on the peptide's antibacterial spectrum through Ala scanning and fixed-point hydrophobic amino acid substitution techniques. The findings revealed that specific amino acid sites played a pivotal role in determining the antibacterial spectrum of AMPs and confirmed that broadening the spectrum could be achieved only by increasing hydrophobicity at certain positions. In conclusion, this research provided a theoretical basis for future precise regulation of an antimicrobial peptide's spectrum by emphasizing the intricate balance between amino acid sites and hydrophobicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wanpeng Wu
- Animal Science and Technology College, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, P. R. China
| | - Jing Song
- Animal Science and Technology College, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, P. R. China
| | - Tong Li
- Animal Science and Technology College, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, P. R. China
| | - Wenyu Li
- Animal Science and Technology College, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, P. R. China
| | - Jiajun Wang
- Animal Science and Technology College, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, P. R. China
| | - Shuo Wang
- Animal Science and Technology College, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, P. R. China
| | - Na Dong
- Animal Science and Technology College, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, P. R. China
| | - Anshan Shan
- Animal Science and Technology College, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, P. R. China
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29
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Cai Y, Wang X, Zhang T, Yan A, Luo L, Li C, Tian G, Wu Z, Wang X, Shen D, Han Y, Zhang Z. Rational Design of a Potent Antimicrobial Peptide Based on the Active Region of a Gecko Cathelicidin. ACS Infect Dis 2024; 10:951-960. [PMID: 38315114 DOI: 10.1021/acsinfecdis.3c00575] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2024]
Abstract
The emergence of multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria presents a significant challenge to public health, increasing the risk of infections that are resistant to current antibiotic treatment. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) offer a promising alternative to conventional antibiotics in the prevention of MDR bacterial infections. In the present study, we identified a novel cathelicidin AMP from Gekko japonicus, which exhibited broad-spectrum antibacterial activity against both Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria, with minimal inhibitory concentrations ranging from 2.34 to 4.69 μg/mL. To improve its potential therapeutic application, a series of peptides was synthesized based on the active region of the gecko-derived cathelicidin. The lead peptide (RH-16) showed an antimicrobial activity comparable to that of the parent peptide. Structural characterization revealed that RH-16 adopted an amphipathic α-helical conformation. Furthermore, RH-16 demonstrated neither hemolytic nor cytotoxic activity but effectively killed a wide range of clinically isolated, drug-resistant bacteria. The antimicrobial activity of RH-16 was attributed to the nonspecific targeting of bacterial membranes, leading to rapid bacterial membrane permeabilization and rupture. RH-16 also retained its antibacterial activity in plasma and exhibited mild toxicity in vivo. Notably, RH-16 offered robust protection against skin infection in a murine model. Therefore, this newly identified cathelicidin AMP may be a strong candidate for future pharmacological development targeting multidrug resistance. The use of a rational design approach for isolating the minimal antimicrobial unit may accelerate the transition of natural AMPs to clinically applicable antibacterial agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Cai
- Institute of Medical Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Kunming, Yunnan 650031, China
| | - Xingyu Wang
- Institute of Medical Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Kunming, Yunnan 650031, China
| | - Tianyu Zhang
- Institute of Medical Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Kunming, Yunnan 650031, China
| | - An Yan
- Institute of Medical Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Kunming, Yunnan 650031, China
| | - Lin Luo
- Third Department of Breast Surgery, Third Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University (Yunnan Cancer Hospital), Kunming, Yunnan 650118, China
| | - Chenxi Li
- Third Department of Breast Surgery, Third Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University (Yunnan Cancer Hospital), Kunming, Yunnan 650118, China
| | - Gengzhou Tian
- Department of Breast Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, Yunnan 650223, China
| | - Zhongxiang Wu
- Institute of Medical Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Kunming, Yunnan 650031, China
| | - Xi Wang
- Institute of Medical Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Kunming, Yunnan 650031, China
| | - Dong Shen
- Institute of Medical Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Kunming, Yunnan 650031, China
| | - Yajun Han
- State Key Laboratory of Phytochemistry and Plant Resources in West China, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650201, China
| | - Zhiye Zhang
- Institute of Medical Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Kunming, Yunnan 650031, China
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Nazarian-Firouzabadi F, Torres MDT, de la Fuente-Nunez C. Recombinant production of antimicrobial peptides in plants. Biotechnol Adv 2024; 71:108296. [PMID: 38042311 DOI: 10.1016/j.biotechadv.2023.108296] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2023] [Revised: 11/10/2023] [Accepted: 11/26/2023] [Indexed: 12/04/2023]
Abstract
Classical plant breeding methods are limited in their ability to confer disease resistance on plants. However, in recent years, advancements in molecular breeding and biotechnological have provided new approaches to overcome these limitations and protect plants from disease. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) constitute promising agents that may be able to protect against infectious agents. Recently, peptides have been recombinantly produced in plants at scale and low cost. Because AMPs are less likely than conventional antimicrobials to elicit resistance of pathogenic bacteria, they open up exciting new avenues for agricultural applications. Here, we review recent advances in the design and production of bioactive recombinant AMPs that can effectively protect crop plants from diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Farhad Nazarian-Firouzabadi
- Production Engineering and Plant Genetics Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Lorestan University, P.O. Box, 465, Khorramabad, Iran.
| | - Marcelo Der Torossian Torres
- Machine Biology Group, Departments of Psychiatry and Microbiology, Institute for Biomedical Informatics, Institute for Translational Medicine and Therapeutics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States of America; Departments of Bioengineering and Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, School of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States of America; Penn Institute for Computational Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States of America
| | - Cesar de la Fuente-Nunez
- Machine Biology Group, Departments of Psychiatry and Microbiology, Institute for Biomedical Informatics, Institute for Translational Medicine and Therapeutics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States of America; Departments of Bioengineering and Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, School of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States of America; Penn Institute for Computational Science, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States of America.
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31
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Yu S, Jia B, Zhang Y, Yu Y, Pei Z, Ma H. Design, biological characteristics, and antibacterial mechanism of high therapeutic index antimicrobial peptides with PRRP as central axis. J Antibiot (Tokyo) 2024; 77:170-181. [PMID: 38233466 DOI: 10.1038/s41429-023-00697-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2021] [Revised: 02/28/2022] [Accepted: 03/08/2022] [Indexed: 01/19/2024]
Abstract
As the important components of biological innate immunity, antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) were found in a variety of organisms including insects, plants, animals, bacteria, fungi, etc. However, high hemolytic activity, high toxicity, and poor stability of natural AMPs hinder serious their application as therapeutic agents. To overcome these problems, in this study we use PRRP as a central axis, and peptides were designed based on the sequence template XRRXXRXPRRPXRXXRRX-NH2, where X represents a hydrophobic amino acid like Phe (F), Ile (I), Val (V), and Leu (L). The designed peptides LR18, FR18, and IR18 showed effective antimicrobial activity against some Gram-positive bacteria and Gram-negative bacteria, low cytotoxicity to mammalian cells, and had a tendency to form α-helical structures in membrane-mimetic environments. Among them, peptide LR18 (X: L) showed the highest geometric mean average treatment index (GMTI = 42.7) against Gram-negative bacteria, and FR18 (X: L) showed the highest GMTI (22.86) against Gram-positive bacteria. LR18 and FR18 also showed better salt, temperature, pH, and trypsin stability. LR18 and FR18 exert their antimicrobial effects mainly through destroying bacteria cell membrane. Briefly, peptide LR18 and FR18 have the potential to serve as a therapeutic agent to reduce antibiotic resistance owing to its high therapeutic index and great stability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuang Yu
- College of Animal Medicine, Jilin Agricultural University, Xincheng Street No. 2888, Changchun, 130118, PR China
| | - Boyan Jia
- College of Animal Medicine, Jilin Agricultural University, Xincheng Street No. 2888, Changchun, 130118, PR China
| | - Ying Zhang
- College of Animal Medicine, Jilin Agricultural University, Xincheng Street No. 2888, Changchun, 130118, PR China
| | - Yue Yu
- College of Animal Medicine, Jilin Agricultural University, Xincheng Street No. 2888, Changchun, 130118, PR China
| | - Zhihua Pei
- College of Animal Medicine, Jilin Agricultural University, Xincheng Street No. 2888, Changchun, 130118, PR China.
| | - Hongxia Ma
- College of Animal Medicine, Jilin Agricultural University, Xincheng Street No. 2888, Changchun, 130118, PR China.
- College of Life Sciences, Jilin Agricultural University, Xincheng Street No. 2888, Changchun, 130118, PR China.
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Rengifo-Lema MJ, Proaño-Bolaños C, Cuesta S, Meneses L. Computational modelling of the antimicrobial peptides Cruzioseptin-4 extracted from the frog Cruziohyla calcarifer and Pictuseptin-1 extracted from the frog Boana picturata. Sci Rep 2024; 14:4805. [PMID: 38413681 PMCID: PMC10899591 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-55171-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2023] [Accepted: 02/21/2024] [Indexed: 02/29/2024] Open
Abstract
A computational study of the peptides Cruzioseptin-4 and Pictuseptin-1, identified in Cruziohyla calcarifer and Boana picturata respectively, has been carried out. The studies on Cruzioseptin-4 show that it is a cationic peptide with a chain of 23 amino acids that possess 52.17% of hydrophobic amino acids and a charge of + 1.2 at pH 7. Similarly, Pictuseptin-1 is a 22 amino acids peptide with a charge of + 3 at pH 7 and 45.45% of hydrophobic amino acids. Furthermore, the predominant secondary structure for both peptides is alpha-helical. The physicochemical properties were predicted using PepCalc and Bio-Synthesis; secondary structures using Jpred4 and PredictProtein; while molecular docking was performed using Autodock Vina. Geometry optimization of the peptides was done using the ONIOM hybrid method with the HF/6-31G basis set implemented in the Gaussian 09 program. Finally, the molecular docking study indicates that the viable mechanism of action for both peptides is through a targeted attack on the cell membrane of pathogens via electrostatic interactions with different membrane components, leading to cell lysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- María José Rengifo-Lema
- Escuela de Ciencias Químicas, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador, Av. 12 de Octubre 1076 y Roca, Quito, Ecuador
| | | | - Sebastián Cuesta
- Escuela de Ciencias Químicas, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador, Av. 12 de Octubre 1076 y Roca, Quito, Ecuador
| | - Lorena Meneses
- Escuela de Ciencias Químicas, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador, Av. 12 de Octubre 1076 y Roca, Quito, Ecuador.
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Medvedeva A, Domakhina S, Vasnetsov C, Vasnetsov V, Kolomeisky A. Physical-Chemical Approach to Designing Drugs with Multiple Targets. J Phys Chem Lett 2024; 15:1828-1835. [PMID: 38330920 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpclett.3c03624] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/10/2024]
Abstract
Many people simultaneously exhibit multiple diseases, which complicates efficient medical treatments. For example, patients with cancer are frequently susceptible to infections. However, developing drugs that could simultaneously target several diseases is challenging. We present a novel theoretical method to assist in selecting compounds with multiple therapeutic targets. The idea is to find correlations between the physical and chemical properties of drug molecules and their abilities to work against multiple targets. As a first step, we investigated potential drugs against cancer and viral infections. Specifically, we investigated antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), which are short positively charged biomolecules produced by living systems as a part of their immune defense. AMPs show anticancer and antiviral activity. We use chemoinformatics and correlation analysis as a part of the machine-learning method to identify the specific properties that distinguish AMPs with dual anticancer and antiviral activities. Physical-chemical arguments to explain these observations are presented.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angela Medvedeva
- Department of Chemistry, Rice University, Houston, Texas 77005, United States
- Center for Theoretical Biological Physics, Rice University, Houston, Texas 77005, United States
| | - Sofya Domakhina
- Department of Chemistry, Rice University, Houston, Texas 77005, United States
| | - Catherine Vasnetsov
- Department of Chemistry, Rice University, Houston, Texas 77005, United States
| | - Victor Vasnetsov
- Department of Chemistry, Rice University, Houston, Texas 77005, United States
| | - Anatoly Kolomeisky
- Department of Chemistry, Rice University, Houston, Texas 77005, United States
- Center for Theoretical Biological Physics, Rice University, Houston, Texas 77005, United States
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Rice University, Houston, Texas 77005, United States
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Rice University, Houston, Texas 77005, United States
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Medvedeva A, Teimouri H, Kolomeisky AB. Differences in Relevant Physicochemical Properties Correlate with Synergistic Activity of Antimicrobial Peptides. J Phys Chem B 2024; 128:1407-1417. [PMID: 38306612 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.3c07663] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2024]
Abstract
With the urgent need for new medical approaches due to increased bacterial resistance to antibiotics, antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) have been considered as potential treatments for infections. Experiments indicate that combinations of several types of AMPs might be even more effective at inhibiting bacterial growth with reduced toxicity and a lower likelihood of inducing bacterial resistance. The molecular mechanisms of AMP-AMP synergistic antimicrobial activity, however, remain not well understood. Here, we present a theoretical approach that allows us to relate the physicochemical properties of AMPs and their antimicrobial cooperativity. It utilizes correlation and bioinformatics analysis. A concept of physicochemical similarity is introduced, and it is found that less similar AMPs with respect to certain physicochemical properties lead to greater synergy because of their complementary antibacterial actions. The analysis of correlations between the similarity and the antimicrobial properties allows us to effectively separate synergistic from nonsynergistic AMP pairs. Our theoretical approach can be used for the rational design of more effective AMP combinations for specific bacterial targets, for clarifying the mechanisms of bacterial elimination, and for a better understanding of cooperativity phenomena in biological systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angela Medvedeva
- Department of Chemistry, Rice University, Houston, Texas 77005, United States
- Center for Theoretical Biological Physics, Rice University, Houston, Texas 77005, United States
| | - Hamid Teimouri
- Department of Chemistry, Rice University, Houston, Texas 77005, United States
- Center for Theoretical Biological Physics, Rice University, Houston, Texas 77005, United States
| | - Anatoly B Kolomeisky
- Department of Chemistry, Rice University, Houston, Texas 77005, United States
- Center for Theoretical Biological Physics, Rice University, Houston, Texas 77005, United States
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Rice University, Houston, Texas 77005, United States
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, Rice University, Houston, Texas 77005, United States
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Abdullah SJ, Yan BTS, Palanivelu N, Dhanabal VB, Bifani JP, Bhattacharjya S. Outer-Membrane Permeabilization, LPS Transport Inhibition: Activity, Interactions, and Structures of Thanatin Derived Antimicrobial Peptides. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:2122. [PMID: 38396798 PMCID: PMC10888688 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25042122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2024] [Revised: 01/30/2024] [Accepted: 02/08/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Currently, viable antibiotics available to mitigate infections caused by drug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria are highly limited. Thanatin, a 21-residue-long insect-derived antimicrobial peptide (AMP), is a promising lead molecule for the potential development of novel antibiotics. Thanatin is extremely potent, particularly against the Enterobacter group of Gram-negative pathogens, e.g., E. coli and K. pneumoniae. As a mode of action, cationic thanatin efficiently permeabilizes the LPS-outer membrane and binds to the periplasmic protein LptAm to inhibit outer membrane biogenesis. Here, we have utilized N-terminal truncated 16- and 14-residue peptide fragments of thanatin and investigated structure, activity, and selectivity with correlating modes of action. A designed 16-residue peptide containing D-Lys (dk) named VF16 (V1PIIYCNRRT-dk-KCQRF16) demonstrated killing activity in Gram-negative bacteria. The VF16 peptide did not show any detectable toxicity to the HEK 293T cell line and kidney cell line Hep G2. As a mode of action, VF16 interacted with LPS, permeabilizing the outer membrane and binding to LptAm with high affinity. Atomic-resolution structures of VF16 in complex with LPS revealed cationic and aromatic surfaces involved in outer membrane interactions and permeabilization. Further, analyses of an inactive 14-residue native thanatin peptide (IM14: IIYCNRRTGKCQRM) delineated the requirement of the β-sheet structure in activity and target interactions. Taken together, this work would pave the way for the designing of short analogs of thanatin-based antimicrobials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Swaleeha Jaan Abdullah
- School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 637551, Singapore; (S.J.A.); (N.P.)
| | - Bernice Tan Siu Yan
- A*Star Infectious Diseases Labs, 8A Biomedical Grove, Immunos, Singapore 138648, Singapore
| | - Nithya Palanivelu
- School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 637551, Singapore; (S.J.A.); (N.P.)
| | - Vidhya Bharathi Dhanabal
- School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 637551, Singapore; (S.J.A.); (N.P.)
| | - Juan Pablo Bifani
- A*Star Infectious Diseases Labs, 8A Biomedical Grove, Immunos, Singapore 138648, Singapore
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117545, Singapore
| | - Surajit Bhattacharjya
- School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 637551, Singapore; (S.J.A.); (N.P.)
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36
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Sarkar T, Ghosh S, Sundaravadivelu PK, Pandit G, Debnath S, Thummer RP, Satpati P, Chatterjee S. Mechanism of Protease Resistance of D-Amino Acid Residue Containing Cationic Antimicrobial Heptapeptides. ACS Infect Dis 2024; 10:562-581. [PMID: 38294842 DOI: 10.1021/acsinfecdis.3c00491] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2024]
Abstract
Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) have been an alternate promising class of therapeutics in combating global antibiotic resistance threat. However, the short half-life of AMPs, owing to protease degradability, is one of the major bottlenecks in its commercial success. In this study, we have developed all-D-amino acid containing small cationic peptides P4C and P5C, which are completely protease-resistant, noncytotoxic, nonhemolytic, and potent against the ESKAPE pathogens in comparison to their L analogues. MD simulations suggested marginal improvement in the peptide-binding affinity to the membrane-mimetic SDS micelle (∼ 1 kcal/mol) in response to L → D conversion, corroborating the marginal improvement in the antimicrobial activity. However, L → D chirality conversion severely compromised the peptide:protease (trypsin) binding affinity (≥10 kcal/mol). The relative distance between the scissile peptide carbonyl and the catalytic triad of the protease (H57, D102, and S195) was found to be significantly altered in the D-peptide:protease complex (inactive conformation) relative to the active L-peptide:protease complex. Thus, the poor binding affinity between D-peptides and the protease, resulting in the inactive complex formation, explained their experimentally observed proteolytic stability. This mechanistic insight might be extended to the proteolytic stability of the D-peptides in general and stimulate the rational design of protease-resistant AMPs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tanumoy Sarkar
- Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology, Guwahati, Guwahati, Assam 781039, India
| | - Suvankar Ghosh
- Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology, Guwahati, Guwahati, Assam 781039, India
| | | | - Gopal Pandit
- Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology, Guwahati, Guwahati, Assam 781039, India
| | - Swapna Debnath
- Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology, Guwahati, Guwahati, Assam 781039, India
| | - Rajkumar P Thummer
- Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology, Guwahati, Guwahati, Assam 781039, India
| | - Priyadarshi Satpati
- Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology, Guwahati, Guwahati, Assam 781039, India
| | - Sunanda Chatterjee
- Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology, Guwahati, Guwahati, Assam 781039, India
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37
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Shang L, Chen C, Sun R, Guo J, Liu J, Wang M, Zhang L, Fei C, Xue F, Liu Y, Gu F. Engineered Peptides Harboring Cation Motifs Against Multidrug-Resistant Bacteria. ACS Appl Mater Interfaces 2024; 16:5522-5535. [PMID: 38266749 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.3c15913] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2024]
Abstract
Multidrug-resistant (MDR) pathogens pose a serious threat to the health and life of humans, necessitating the development of new antimicrobial agents. Herein, we develop and characterize a panel of nine amino acid peptides with a cation end motif. Bioactivity analysis revealed that the short peptide containing "RWWWR" as a central motif harboring mirror structure "KXR" unit displayed not only high activity against MDR planktonic bacteria but also a clearance rate of 92.33% ± 0.58% against mature biofilm. Mechanically, the target peptide (KLR) killed pathogens by excessively accumulating reactive oxygen species and physically disrupting membranes, thereby enhancing its robustness for controlling drug resistance. In the animal model of sepsis infection by MDR bacteria, the peptide KLR exhibited strong therapeutic effects. Collectively, this study provided the dominant structure of short antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) to replenish our arsenals for combating bacterial infections and illustrated what could be harnessed as a new agent for fighting MDR bacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lu Shang
- Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai 200241, China
- Key Laboratory of Veterinary Chemical Drugs and Pharmaceutics, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Shanghai 200241, China
| | - Chan Chen
- Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai 200241, China
- Key Laboratory of Veterinary Chemical Drugs and Pharmaceutics, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Shanghai 200241, China
| | - Rui Sun
- Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai 200241, China
- Key Laboratory of Veterinary Chemical Drugs and Pharmaceutics, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Shanghai 200241, China
| | - Juan Guo
- Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai 200241, China
- Key Laboratory of Veterinary Chemical Drugs and Pharmaceutics, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Shanghai 200241, China
| | - Jing Liu
- Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai 200241, China
- Key Laboratory of Veterinary Chemical Drugs and Pharmaceutics, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Shanghai 200241, China
| | - Mi Wang
- Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai 200241, China
- Key Laboratory of Veterinary Chemical Drugs and Pharmaceutics, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Shanghai 200241, China
| | - Lifang Zhang
- Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai 200241, China
- Key Laboratory of Veterinary Chemical Drugs and Pharmaceutics, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Shanghai 200241, China
| | - Chenzhong Fei
- Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai 200241, China
- Key Laboratory of Veterinary Chemical Drugs and Pharmaceutics, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Shanghai 200241, China
| | - Feiqun Xue
- Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai 200241, China
- Key Laboratory of Veterinary Chemical Drugs and Pharmaceutics, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Shanghai 200241, China
| | - Yingchun Liu
- Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai 200241, China
- Key Laboratory of Veterinary Chemical Drugs and Pharmaceutics, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Shanghai 200241, China
| | - Feng Gu
- Shanghai Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai 200241, China
- Key Laboratory of Veterinary Chemical Drugs and Pharmaceutics, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Shanghai 200241, China
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Ji S, An F, Zhang T, Lou M, Guo J, Liu K, Zhu Y, Wu J, Wu R. Antimicrobial peptides: An alternative to traditional antibiotics. Eur J Med Chem 2024; 265:116072. [PMID: 38147812 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2023.116072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2023] [Revised: 12/04/2023] [Accepted: 12/17/2023] [Indexed: 12/28/2023]
Abstract
As antibiotic-resistant bacteria and genes continue to emerge, the identification of effective alternatives to traditional antibiotics has become a pressing issue. Antimicrobial peptides are favored for their safety, low residue, and low resistance properties, and their unique antimicrobial mechanisms show significant potential in combating antibiotic resistance. However, the high production cost and weak activity of antimicrobial peptides limit their application. Moreover, traditional laboratory methods for identifying and designing new antimicrobial peptides are time-consuming and labor-intensive, hindering their development. Currently, novel technologies, such as artificial intelligence (AI) are being employed to develop and design new antimicrobial peptide resources, offering new opportunities for the advancement of antimicrobial peptides. This article summarizes the basic characteristics and antimicrobial mechanisms of antimicrobial peptides, as well as their advantages and limitations, and explores the application of AI in antimicrobial peptides prediction amd design. This highlights the crucial role of AI in enhancing the efficiency of antimicrobial peptide research and provides a reference for antimicrobial drug development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuaiqi Ji
- College of Food Science, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang, 110866, PR China; Shenyang Key Laboratory of Microbial Fermentation Technology Innovation, Shenyang, 110866, PR China
| | - Feiyu An
- College of Food Science, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang, 110866, PR China; Liaoning Engineering Research Center of Food Fermentation Technology, Shenyang, 110866, PR China
| | - Taowei Zhang
- College of Food Science, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang, 110866, PR China; Shenyang Key Laboratory of Microbial Fermentation Technology Innovation, Shenyang, 110866, PR China
| | - Mengxue Lou
- College of Food Science, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang, 110866, PR China; Liaoning Engineering Research Center of Food Fermentation Technology, Shenyang, 110866, PR China
| | - Jiawei Guo
- College of Food Science, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang, 110866, PR China; Shenyang Key Laboratory of Microbial Fermentation Technology Innovation, Shenyang, 110866, PR China
| | - Kexin Liu
- College of Food Science, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang, 110866, PR China; Shenyang Key Laboratory of Microbial Fermentation Technology Innovation, Shenyang, 110866, PR China
| | - Yi Zhu
- College of Food Science, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang, 110866, PR China; Liaoning Engineering Research Center of Food Fermentation Technology, Shenyang, 110866, PR China
| | - Junrui Wu
- College of Food Science, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang, 110866, PR China; Liaoning Engineering Research Center of Food Fermentation Technology, Shenyang, 110866, PR China; Shenyang Key Laboratory of Microbial Fermentation Technology Innovation, Shenyang, 110866, PR China.
| | - Rina Wu
- College of Food Science, Shenyang Agricultural University, Shenyang, 110866, PR China; Liaoning Engineering Research Center of Food Fermentation Technology, Shenyang, 110866, PR China; Shenyang Key Laboratory of Microbial Fermentation Technology Innovation, Shenyang, 110866, PR China.
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39
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Hsu PH, Hazam PK, Huang YP, Yeh JC, Chen YR, Li CC, Chang CF, Liou JW, Chen JY. Optimization of sequence and chiral content enhances therapeutic potential of tilapia piscidin peptides. Eur J Med Chem 2024; 265:116083. [PMID: 38150960 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2023.116083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2023] [Revised: 12/12/2023] [Accepted: 12/19/2023] [Indexed: 12/29/2023]
Abstract
Because antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) often exhibit broad-spectrum bactericidal potency, we sought to develop peptide-based antimicrobials for potential clinical use against drug-resistant pathogens. To accomplish this goal, we first optimized the amino acid sequence of a broad-spectrum AMP known as Tilapia Piscidin 4 (TP4). Then, we used the optimized sequence to create a pair of heterochiral variants (TP4-α and TP4-β) with different percentages of D-enantiomers, as poly-L peptides often exhibit poor pharmacokinetic profiles. The conformations of the peptide pair exhibited inverted chirality according to CD and NMR spectroscopic analyses. Both heterochiral peptides displayed enhanced stability and low hemolysis activities. Irrespective of their different d-enantiomer contents, both heterochiral peptides exhibited bactericidal activities in the presence of human serum or physiological enzymes. However, the peptide with higher d-amino acid content (TP4-β) caused better bacterial clearance when tested in mice infected with NDM-1 K. pneumoniae. In addition, we observed a relatively higher hydrogen bonding affinity in a simulation of the interaction between TP4-β and a model bacterial membrane. In sum, our results demonstrate that the current design strategy may be applicable for development of new molecules with enhanced stability and in vivo antimicrobial activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Po-Hsien Hsu
- Institute of Fisheries Science, National Taiwan University, 1 Roosevelt Road, Sec. 4, Taipei, 106, Taiwan
| | - Prakash Kishore Hazam
- Marine Research Station, Institute of Cellular and Organismic Biology, Academia Sinica, 23-10 Dahuen Rd., Jiaushi, Ilan, 262, Taiwan
| | - Yi-Ping Huang
- Genomics Research Center, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Jih-Chao Yeh
- Marine Research Station, Institute of Cellular and Organismic Biology, Academia Sinica, 23-10 Dahuen Rd., Jiaushi, Ilan, 262, Taiwan
| | - Yun-Ru Chen
- Academia Sinica Protein Clinic, Institute of Biological Chemistry, Academia Sinica, 128, Academia Road, Section 2, Nankang District, Taipei, 115, Taiwan
| | - Chao-Chin Li
- Institute of Cellular and Organismic Biology, Academia Sinica, Nankang, Taipei, 115, Taiwan
| | - Chi-Fon Chang
- Genomics Research Center, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan.
| | - Je-Wen Liou
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Tzu Chi University, 701, Sec.3, Chung-Yang Rd, Hualien, 970, Taiwan.
| | - Jyh-Yih Chen
- Marine Research Station, Institute of Cellular and Organismic Biology, Academia Sinica, 23-10 Dahuen Rd., Jiaushi, Ilan, 262, Taiwan; The IEGG and Animal Biotechnology Center and the Rong Hsing Research Center for Translational Medicine, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung, 402, Taiwan.
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40
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Behera LM, Ghosh M, Gupta PK, Rana S. A rationally engineered small antimicrobial peptide with potent antibacterial activity. J Cell Biochem 2024; 125:e30503. [PMID: 37992185 DOI: 10.1002/jcb.30503] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2023] [Revised: 11/01/2023] [Accepted: 11/06/2023] [Indexed: 11/24/2023]
Abstract
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a silent pandemic declared by the WHO that requires urgent attention in the post-COVID world. AMR is a critical public health concern worldwide, potentially affecting people at different stages of life, including the veterinary and agriculture industries. Notably, very few new-age antimicrobial agents are in the current developmental pipeline. Thus, the design, discovery, and development of new antimicrobial agents are required to address the menace of AMR. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are an important class of antimicrobial agents for combating AMR due to their broad-spectrum activity and ability to evade AMR through a multimodal mechanism of action. However, molecular size, aggregability, proteolytic degradation, cytotoxicity, and hemolysis activity significantly limit the clinical application of natural AMPs. The de novo design and engineering of a short synthetic amphipathic AMP (≤16 aa, Mol. Wt. ≤ 2 kDa) with an unusual architecture comprised of coded and noncoded amino acids (NCAAs) is presented here, which demonstrates potent antibacterial activity against a few selected bacterial strains mentioned in the WHO priority list. The designer AMP is conformationally ordered in solution and effectively permeabilizes the outer and inner membranes, leading to bacterial growth inhibition and death. Additionally, the peptide is resistant to proteolysis and has negligible cytotoxicity and hemolysis activity up to 150 μM toward cultured human cell lines and erythrocytes. The designer AMP is unique and appears to be a potent therapeutic candidate, which can be subsequently subjected to preclinical studies to explicitly understand and address the menace of AMR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lalita Mohan Behera
- Chemical Biology Laboratory, School of Basic Sciences, Indian Institute of Technology Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India
| | - Manaswini Ghosh
- Chemical Biology Laboratory, School of Basic Sciences, Indian Institute of Technology Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India
| | - Pulkit Kr Gupta
- Chemical Biology Laboratory, School of Basic Sciences, Indian Institute of Technology Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India
| | - Soumendra Rana
- Chemical Biology Laboratory, School of Basic Sciences, Indian Institute of Technology Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India
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de Almeida Gomes I, da Lima AB, da Silva Brito DM, Almeida Lima A, de Oliveira FL, Espino Zelaya EA, Magalhães Rebello Alencar L, Castelo Branco de Souza Collares Maia D, Amaral de Moraes ME, Pantoja Mesquita F, Noronha Souza PF, Montenegro RC. Recalculating the Route: Repositioning Antimicrobial Peptides for Cancer Treatment. Chem Biodivers 2024; 21:e202301840. [PMID: 38088493 DOI: 10.1002/cbdv.202301840] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2023] [Accepted: 12/03/2023] [Indexed: 02/22/2024]
Abstract
Resistance to antimicrobial drugs has been considered a public health problem. Likewise, the increasing resistance of cancer cells to drugs currently used in therapy has also become a problem. Therefore, the research and development of synthetic peptides bring a new perspective on the emergence of new drugs for treating this resistance since bioinformatics provides a means to optimize these molecules and save time and costs in research. Peptides have several mechanisms of action, such as forming pores on the cell membrane and inhibiting protein synthesis. Some studies report the use of antimicrobial peptides with the potential for action against cancer cells, suggesting a repositioning of antimicrobial peptides to fight back cancer resistance. There is an alteration in the microenvironment, making its net charge negative for the survival and growth of cancer cells. The changes in glycoproteins favor the membrane to have a more negative charge, favoring the interaction between the cells and the peptide, thus making possible the repositioning of these antimicrobial peptides against cancer. Here, we will discuss the mechanism of action, targets and effects of peptides, comparison between microbial and cancer cells, and proteomic changes caused by the interaction of peptides and cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isadora de Almeida Gomes
- Pharmacogenetics Laboratory, Drug Research and Development Center (NPDM), Federal University of Ceará, Rua Coronel Nunes de Melo 1000, Fortaleza, CE, 60430-275, Brazil
| | - Ana Beatriz da Lima
- Pharmacogenetics Laboratory, Drug Research and Development Center (NPDM), Federal University of Ceará, Rua Coronel Nunes de Melo 1000, Fortaleza, CE, 60430-275, Brazil
| | - Daiane Maria da Silva Brito
- Pharmacogenetics Laboratory, Drug Research and Development Center (NPDM), Federal University of Ceará, Rua Coronel Nunes de Melo 1000, Fortaleza, CE, 60430-275, Brazil
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, 60020-181, CE, Brazil
| | - Arlene Almeida Lima
- Pharmacogenetics Laboratory, Drug Research and Development Center (NPDM), Federal University of Ceará, Rua Coronel Nunes de Melo 1000, Fortaleza, CE, 60430-275, Brazil
| | - Francisco Laio de Oliveira
- Pharmacogenetics Laboratory, Drug Research and Development Center (NPDM), Federal University of Ceará, Rua Coronel Nunes de Melo 1000, Fortaleza, CE, 60430-275, Brazil
| | - Elmer Adilson Espino Zelaya
- Pharmacogenetics Laboratory, Drug Research and Development Center (NPDM), Federal University of Ceará, Rua Coronel Nunes de Melo 1000, Fortaleza, CE, 60430-275, Brazil
| | | | | | - Maria Elisabete Amaral de Moraes
- Pharmacogenetics Laboratory, Drug Research and Development Center (NPDM), Federal University of Ceará, Rua Coronel Nunes de Melo 1000, Fortaleza, CE, 60430-275, Brazil
| | - Felipe Pantoja Mesquita
- Pharmacogenetics Laboratory, Drug Research and Development Center (NPDM), Federal University of Ceará, Rua Coronel Nunes de Melo 1000, Fortaleza, CE, 60430-275, Brazil
| | - Pedro Filho Noronha Souza
- Pharmacogenetics Laboratory, Drug Research and Development Center (NPDM), Federal University of Ceará, Rua Coronel Nunes de Melo 1000, Fortaleza, CE, 60430-275, Brazil
| | - Raquel C Montenegro
- Pharmacogenetics Laboratory, Drug Research and Development Center (NPDM), Federal University of Ceará, Rua Coronel Nunes de Melo 1000, Fortaleza, CE, 60430-275, Brazil
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Han J, Wu P, Yang J, Weng Y, Lin Y, Chen Z, Yu F, Lü X, Ni L. Development of a novel hybrid antimicrobial peptide for enhancing antimicrobial spectrum and potency against food-borne pathogens. J Appl Microbiol 2024; 135:lxae023. [PMID: 38337177 DOI: 10.1093/jambio/lxae023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2023] [Revised: 12/30/2023] [Accepted: 02/08/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024]
Abstract
AIMS To address the increasingly serious challenge of the transmission of foodbrone pathogens in the food chain. METHODS AND RESULTS In this study, we employed rational design strategies, including truncation, amino acid substitution, and heterozygosity, to generate seven engineered peptides with α-helical structure, cationic property, and amphipathic characteristics based on the original Abhisin template. Among them, as the hybird antimicrobial peptide (AMP), AM exhibits exceptional stability, minimal toxicity, as well as broad-spectrum and potent antimicrobial activity against foodborne pathogens. Besides, it was observed that the electrostatic incorporation demonstrates by AM results in its primary targeting and disruption of the cell wall and membrane of Escherichia coli O157: H7 (EHEC) and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), resulting in membrane perforation and enhanced permeability. Additionally, AM effectively counteracts the deleterious effects of lipopolysaccharide, eradicating biofilms and ultimately inducing the demise of both food spoilage and pathogenic microorganisms. CONCLUSIONS The findings highlight the significant potential of AM as a highly promising candidate for a novel food preservative and its great importance in the design and optimization of AMP-related agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinzhi Han
- Food Nutrition and Health Research Center, School of Advanced Manufacturing, Fuzhou University, Jinjiang, Fujian 362200, China
- Institute of Food Science and Technology, College of Biological Science and Engineering, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350108, China
- Fujian Research Center of Food Biotechnology and Innovation Engineering, Fuzhou, Fujian 350108, China
| | - Peifen Wu
- Institute of Food Science and Technology, College of Biological Science and Engineering, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350108, China
- Fujian Research Center of Food Biotechnology and Innovation Engineering, Fuzhou, Fujian 350108, China
| | - Jie Yang
- Institute of Food Science and Technology, College of Biological Science and Engineering, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350108, China
- Fujian Research Center of Food Biotechnology and Innovation Engineering, Fuzhou, Fujian 350108, China
| | - Yanlin Weng
- Institute of Food Science and Technology, College of Biological Science and Engineering, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350108, China
- Fujian Research Center of Food Biotechnology and Innovation Engineering, Fuzhou, Fujian 350108, China
| | - Yayi Lin
- Institute of Food Science and Technology, College of Biological Science and Engineering, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350108, China
- Fujian Research Center of Food Biotechnology and Innovation Engineering, Fuzhou, Fujian 350108, China
| | - Zhiying Chen
- Institute of Food Science and Technology, College of Biological Science and Engineering, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350108, China
- Fujian Research Center of Food Biotechnology and Innovation Engineering, Fuzhou, Fujian 350108, China
| | - Fengfan Yu
- Institute of Food Science and Technology, College of Biological Science and Engineering, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350108, China
- Fujian Research Center of Food Biotechnology and Innovation Engineering, Fuzhou, Fujian 350108, China
| | - Xucong Lü
- Food Nutrition and Health Research Center, School of Advanced Manufacturing, Fuzhou University, Jinjiang, Fujian 362200, China
- Institute of Food Science and Technology, College of Biological Science and Engineering, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350108, China
- Fujian Research Center of Food Biotechnology and Innovation Engineering, Fuzhou, Fujian 350108, China
| | - Li Ni
- Food Nutrition and Health Research Center, School of Advanced Manufacturing, Fuzhou University, Jinjiang, Fujian 362200, China
- Institute of Food Science and Technology, College of Biological Science and Engineering, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350108, China
- Fujian Research Center of Food Biotechnology and Innovation Engineering, Fuzhou, Fujian 350108, China
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Jeyarajan S, Peter AS, Sathyan A, Ranjith S, Kandasamy I, Duraisamy S, Chidambaram P, Kumarasamy A. Expression and purification of epinecidin-1 variant (Ac-Var-1) by acid cleavage. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2024; 108:176. [PMID: 38277014 PMCID: PMC10817847 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-024-13017-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2023] [Revised: 12/19/2023] [Accepted: 01/11/2024] [Indexed: 01/27/2024]
Abstract
The demand for massive quantities of therapeutic active antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) is high due to their potential as alternatives to antibiotics. However, each antimicrobial peptide has unique properties, necessitating distinct synthesis and purification strategies for their large-scale production. In this study, we bio-synthesized and purified a functional enhanced variant of the AMP epinecidin-1, known as Ac-Var-1 (acid-cleavable variant-1). To generate the active peptide, we cloned the gene for Ac-Var-1 with acid-cleavable site (aspartic acid-proline) into the pET-32a expression vector, purified the fusion protein by His tag enrichment chromatography, and performed acid cleavage to release the active Ac-Var-1 peptide. After acid cleavage, the active Ac-Var-1 was purified and characterized by SDS-PAGE and mass spectrometry. The results from both techniques provided confirmation of the intactness of the purified Ac-Var-1. The Ac-Var-1 inhibited the growth of pathogenic Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. KEY POINTS : • Epinecidin-1 is a well-known antimicrobial peptide having multipotential bioactivities. • Epinecidin-1 variant is developed via the site-directed mutagenesis method to improve its structural stability and bioactivity. • AC-Var-1 development is an economical and easy method to remove peptide from tag protein.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sivakumar Jeyarajan
- Microbial Biotechnology Laboratory, Department of Marine Biotechnology, Bharathidasan University, Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu, India
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Ansu Susan Peter
- Microbial Biotechnology Laboratory, Department of Marine Biotechnology, Bharathidasan University, Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Aswathy Sathyan
- Microbial Biotechnology Laboratory, Department of Marine Biotechnology, Bharathidasan University, Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Sukumar Ranjith
- Microbial Biotechnology Laboratory, Department of Marine Biotechnology, Bharathidasan University, Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Indira Kandasamy
- Microbial Biotechnology Laboratory, Department of Marine Biotechnology, Bharathidasan University, Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Senbagam Duraisamy
- Microbial Biotechnology Laboratory, Department of Marine Biotechnology, Bharathidasan University, Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu, India
- Department of Biotechnology, SRM University, Chennai, India
| | | | - Anbarasu Kumarasamy
- Microbial Biotechnology Laboratory, Department of Marine Biotechnology, Bharathidasan University, Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu, India.
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Zhang Y, Zheng M, Wang Z, Liu Z, Chen S, Li X, Shi Y, Hu H. Discovery of novel antibacterial agent for the infected wound treatment: all-hydrocarbon stapling optimization of LL-37. Theranostics 2024; 14:1181-1194. [PMID: 38323312 PMCID: PMC10845205 DOI: 10.7150/thno.87916] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2023] [Accepted: 12/28/2023] [Indexed: 02/08/2024] Open
Abstract
Rationale: Antimicrobial peptide LL-37 has been recognized as a favorable alternative to antibiotics due to its broad antibacterial spectrum, low resistance development and diverse biological activities. However, its high manufactory cost, poor proteolytic stability, and unpredictable cytotoxicity seriously hindered its medical translation. Methods: To push the frontiers of its clinical application, all-hydrocarbon stapling strategy was exploited here for the structural modification of KR-12, the core and minimal fragment of LL-37. Results: Based on a library of KR-12 derivatives that designed and synthesized to be stapled at positions of either i, i+4 or i, i+7, structure to activity relationship was investigated. Among them, KR-12(Q5, D9) with the glutamine and aspartic acid residues stapled displayed increased helical content and positive charge. The reinforced α-helical conformation not only protected it from proteolytic hydrolysis but also improved its antibacterial efficacy via effective membrane perturbation and anti-inflammatory efficacy via compact LPS binding. Besides, the increased positive charge endowed it with an enhanced therapeutic index. On infected wound mouse model, it was demonstrated to eliminate bacteria and promote wound closure and regeneration effectively. Conclusion: Overall, the all-hydrocarbon stapling was proven to lay the foundation for the future development of antibacterial agents. KR-12(Q5, D9) could serve as a lead compound for the clinical treatment of bacterial infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanan Zhang
- Institute of Translational Medicine, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200444, China
- School of Medicine, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200444, China
| | - Mengjun Zheng
- School of Pharmacy, Naval Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Zhe Wang
- Institute of Bioengineering, College of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310027, China
| | - Zhinan Liu
- Institute of Translational Medicine, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200444, China
- School of Medicine, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200444, China
| | - Sumeng Chen
- Institute of Translational Medicine, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200444, China
- School of Medicine, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200444, China
| | - Xiang Li
- School of Pharmacy, Naval Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Yejiao Shi
- Institute of Translational Medicine, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200444, China
| | - Honggang Hu
- School of Medicine, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200444, China
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Alfred R, Bryant G, Mata JP, Bhave M, Shah RM. Unraveling the Effects of Cationic Peptides on Vesicle Structures: Insights into Peptide-Membrane Interactions. ACS Appl Bio Mater 2024; 7:220-229. [PMID: 38116591 DOI: 10.1021/acsabm.3c00824] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2023]
Abstract
Antimicrobial resistance is a pressing global health issue, with millions of lives at risk by 2050, necessitating the development of alternatives with broad-spectrum activity against pathogenic microbes. Antimicrobial peptides provide a promising solution by combating microbes, modulating immunity, and reducing resistance development through membrane and intracellular targeting. PuroA, a synthetic peptide derived from the tryptophan-rich domain of puroindoline A, exhibits potent antimicrobial activity against various pathogens, while the rationally designed P1 peptide demonstrates enhanced antimicrobial activity with its specific composition. This paper investigates the concentration-dependent effects of these cationic peptides on distinct types of vesicles representing strong-negative bacterial cell membranes (S-vesicles), weak-negative bacterial cell membranes (W-vesicles), and mammalian cell membranes (M-vesicles). To investigate the interactions between the peptides and vesicles, small-angle neutron scattering experiments were conducted. The cationic peptides, PuroA and P1, interact with S-vesicles through electrostatic interactions, leading to distinct effects. PuroA accumulates on the vesicle surface, increasing Rcore and Rtotal, aligning with the carpet model. P1 disrupts the vesicle structure at higher concentrations, consistent with the detergent model. Neither peptide significantly affects W-vesicles, emphasizing the role of charge. In uncharged M-vesicles, both peptides decrease Rcore and Rtotal and increase tshell, indicating peptide insertion and altered bilayer properties. These findings provide valuable insights into peptide-membrane interactions and their impact on vesicle structures. Furthermore, the implications of these findings extend to the potential development of innovative antimicrobial agents and drug delivery systems that specifically target bacterial and mammalian membranes. This research contributes to the advancement of understanding peptide-membrane interactions and lays the foundation for the design of approaches for targeting membranes in various biomedical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca Alfred
- Department of Chemistry and Biotechnology, School of Science, Computing and Engineering Technologies, Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne, VIC 3122, Australia
| | - Gary Bryant
- Physics, School of Science, RMIT University, Melbourne, VIC 3001, Australia
| | - Jitendra P Mata
- Australian Centre for Neutron Scattering, Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO), Sydney, NSW 2234, Australia
- School of Chemistry, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
| | - Mrinal Bhave
- Department of Chemistry and Biotechnology, School of Science, Computing and Engineering Technologies, Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne, VIC 3122, Australia
| | - Rohan M Shah
- Department of Chemistry and Biotechnology, School of Science, Computing and Engineering Technologies, Swinburne University of Technology, Melbourne, VIC 3122, Australia
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Wang Z, Xu J, Zeng X, Du Q, Lan H, Zhang J, Pan D, Tu M. Recent Advances on Antimicrobial Peptides from Milk: Molecular Properties, Mechanisms, and Applications. J Agric Food Chem 2024; 72:80-93. [PMID: 38152984 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.3c07217] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2023]
Abstract
Traditional antibiotics are facing a tremendous challenge due to increased antimicrobial resistance; hence, there is an urgent need to find novel antibiotic alternatives. Milk protein-derived antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are currently attracting substantial attention considering that they showcase an extensive spectrum of antimicrobial activities, with slower development of antimicrobial resistance and safety of raw materials. This review summarizes the molecular properties, and activity mechanisms and highlights the applications and limitations of AMPs derived from milk proteins comprehensively. Also the analytical technologies, especially bioinformatics methodologies, applied in the process of screening, identification, and mechanism illustration of AMPs were underlined. This review will give some ideas for further research and broadening of the applications of milk protein-derived AMPs in the food field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhicheng Wang
- State Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Threats to the Quality and Safety of Agro-products, Ningbo University, Ningbo, Zhejiang 315211, China
- Key Laboratory of Animal Protein Food Deep Processing Technology of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang-Malaysia Joint Research Laboratory for Agricultural Product Processing and Nutrition, College of Food and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315800, China
| | - Jue Xu
- State Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Threats to the Quality and Safety of Agro-products, Ningbo University, Ningbo, Zhejiang 315211, China
- Key Laboratory of Animal Protein Food Deep Processing Technology of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang-Malaysia Joint Research Laboratory for Agricultural Product Processing and Nutrition, College of Food and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315800, China
| | - Xiaoqun Zeng
- State Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Threats to the Quality and Safety of Agro-products, Ningbo University, Ningbo, Zhejiang 315211, China
- Key Laboratory of Animal Protein Food Deep Processing Technology of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang-Malaysia Joint Research Laboratory for Agricultural Product Processing and Nutrition, College of Food and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315800, China
| | - Qiwei Du
- State Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Threats to the Quality and Safety of Agro-products, Ningbo University, Ningbo, Zhejiang 315211, China
- Key Laboratory of Animal Protein Food Deep Processing Technology of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang-Malaysia Joint Research Laboratory for Agricultural Product Processing and Nutrition, College of Food and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315800, China
| | - Hangzhen Lan
- State Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Threats to the Quality and Safety of Agro-products, Ningbo University, Ningbo, Zhejiang 315211, China
- Key Laboratory of Animal Protein Food Deep Processing Technology of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang-Malaysia Joint Research Laboratory for Agricultural Product Processing and Nutrition, College of Food and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315800, China
| | - Jianming Zhang
- Institute of Food Science, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310016, China
| | - Daodong Pan
- State Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Threats to the Quality and Safety of Agro-products, Ningbo University, Ningbo, Zhejiang 315211, China
- Key Laboratory of Animal Protein Food Deep Processing Technology of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang-Malaysia Joint Research Laboratory for Agricultural Product Processing and Nutrition, College of Food and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315800, China
| | - Maolin Tu
- State Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Threats to the Quality and Safety of Agro-products, Ningbo University, Ningbo, Zhejiang 315211, China
- Key Laboratory of Animal Protein Food Deep Processing Technology of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang-Malaysia Joint Research Laboratory for Agricultural Product Processing and Nutrition, College of Food and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315800, China
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Zhang G, Wang Y, Qiu H, Lu L. Facile one-pot synthesis of flower-like ellagic acid microparticles incorporating anti-microbial peptides for enhanced wound healing. J Mater Chem B 2024; 12:500-507. [PMID: 38099474 DOI: 10.1039/d3tb02016a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2024]
Abstract
Anti-microbial peptides (AMPs) have gained significant attention as potential antimicrobial agents due to their cytocompatibility and reduced drug resistance. However, AMPs often suffer from low stability due to their vulnerable molecular structure. This study presents a one-pot synthesis method for ellagic acid (EA)-based, flower-like AMPs@EAMP particles, combining the antibacterial properties of EA with AMPs. The resulting particles exhibit an enlarged surface area for the adsorption or embedding of AMPs, enhancing their antibacterial efficacy. Furthermore, in vitro evaluations demonstrate excellent biocompatibility and broad-spectrum activity against bacterial strains including both Gram-positive S. epidermidis and Gram-negative E. coli. In vivo studies indicate AMPs@EAMPs' potential to reconstruct the immune barrier, inhibit pathogens, and reduce inflammation, promoting orderly tissue repair. This innovative synthesis strategy provides a straightforward and effective approach for large-scale production of flower-like AMPs@EAMP particles with remarkable antibacterial properties, addressing the challenges associated with MDR infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guo Zhang
- School & Hospital of Stomatology, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325035, China.
- Key Lab. of Advanced Technology for Materials of Education Ministry, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu, 610031, China
| | - Yu Wang
- Sichuan Engineering Research Center for Biomimetic Synthesis of Natural Drugs, School of Life Science and Engineering, Southwest Jiaotong University, Chengdu 610031, China
| | - Hua Qiu
- Stomatologic Hospital and College, Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases Research of Anhui Province, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui 230032, China.
| | - Lei Lu
- School & Hospital of Stomatology, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, 325035, China.
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Lei R, Yang C, Sun Y, Li D, Hao L, Li Y, Wu S, Li H, Lan C, Fang X. Turning cationic antimicrobial peptide KR-12 into self-assembled nanobiotics with potent bacterial killing and LPS neutralizing activities. Nanoscale 2024; 16:887-902. [PMID: 38105768 DOI: 10.1039/d3nr05174a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2023]
Abstract
Gram-negative sepsis has become a substantial and escalating global healthcare challenge due to the growing antibiotic resistance crisis and the sluggish development of new antibiotics. LL-37, a unique Cathelicidin species found in humans, exhibits a wide range of bioactive properties, including direct bactericidal effects, inflammation regulation, and LPS neutralization. KR-12, the smallest yet potent peptide fragment of LL-37, has been modified to create more effective antimicrobials. In this study, we designed two myristoylated derivatives of KR-12, referred to as Myr-KR-12N and Myr-KR-12C. These derivatives displayed remarkable ability to spontaneously assemble into nanoparticles when mixed with deionized water. Myristoylated KR-12 derivatives exhibited broad-spectrum and intensified bactericidal activity by disrupting bacterial cell membranes. In particular, Myr-KR-12N showed superior capability to rescue mice from lethal E. coli-induced sepsis in comparison with the conventional antibiotic meropenem. We also confirmed that the myristoylated KR-12 nanobiotic possesses significant LPS binding capacity and effectively reduces inflammation in vitro. In an in vivo context, Myr-KR-12N outperformed polymyxin B in rescuing mice from LPS-induced sepsis. Crucially, toxicological assessments revealed that neither Myr-KR-12N nor Myr-KR-12C nanobiotics induced meaningful hemolysis or caused damage to the liver and kidneys. Collectively, our study has yielded an innovative nanobiotic with dual capabilities of bactericidal action and LPS-neutralization, offering substantial promise for advancing the clinical translation of antimicrobial peptides and the development of novel antibiotics. This addresses the critical need for effective solutions to combat Gram-negative sepsis, a pressing global medical challenge.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruyi Lei
- Department of Emergency Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450052, China.
| | - Chujun Yang
- Department of Emergency Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450052, China.
- Academy of Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450052, China
| | - Yaqi Sun
- China National Clinical Research Center for Child Health, Children's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310052, China
| | - Dejian Li
- Department of Emergency Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450052, China.
| | - Liman Hao
- Department of Anesthesiology, The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310003, China.
| | - Yang Li
- Department of Anesthesiology, The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310003, China.
| | - Shuijing Wu
- Department of Anesthesiology, The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310003, China.
| | - Hui Li
- Department of Anesthesiology, The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310003, China.
| | - Chao Lan
- Department of Emergency Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450052, China.
| | - Xiangming Fang
- Department of Anesthesiology, The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310003, China.
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Hsu PH, Hazam PK, Huang YP, Yeh JC, Chen YR, Li CC, Chang CF, Liou JW, Chen JY. Sequential rearrangement and stereochemical reorganization to design an antimicrobial peptide with enhanced stability. Biomed Pharmacother 2024; 170:116088. [PMID: 38159380 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2023.116088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2023] [Revised: 12/20/2023] [Accepted: 12/26/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are natural molecules that function within the innate immune system to counteract pathogenic invasion and minimize the detrimental consequences of infection. However, utilizing these molecules for medical applications has been challenging. In this study, we selected a model AMP with poor stability, Tilapia Piscidin 4 (TP4), and modified its sequence and chirality (TP4-γ) to improve its potential for clinical application. The strategy of chirality inversion was inspired by the cereulide peptide, which has a DDLL enantiomer pattern and exhibits exceptional stability. Sequential substitution of key residues and selective chirality inversion yielded a less toxic peptide with enhanced stability and notable antimicrobial activity. In addition to its superior stability profile and antimicrobial activity, TP4-γ treatment reduced the level of LPS-induced nitric oxide (NO) release in a macrophage cell line. This reduction in NO release may reflect anti-inflammatory properties, as NO is widely known to promote inflammatory processes. Hence, our heterochiral peptide construct shows a more suitable pharmacokinetic profile than its parental compound, and further studies are warranted to develop the molecule for potential clinical application.
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Affiliation(s)
- Po-Hsien Hsu
- Institute of Fisheries Science, National Taiwan University, 1 Roosevelt Road, Section 4, Taipei 106, Taiwan
| | - Prakash Kishore Hazam
- Marine Research Station, Institute of Cellular and Organismic Biology, Academia Sinica, 23-10 Dahuen Rd., Jiaushi, Ilan 262, Taiwan
| | - Yi-Ping Huang
- Genomics Research Center, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Jih-Chao Yeh
- Marine Research Station, Institute of Cellular and Organismic Biology, Academia Sinica, 23-10 Dahuen Rd., Jiaushi, Ilan 262, Taiwan
| | - Yun-Ru Chen
- Academia Sinica Protein Clinic, Institute of Biological Chemistry, Academia Sinica, 128, Academia Road, Section 2, Nankang District, Taipei 115, Taiwan
| | - Chao-Chin Li
- Institute of Cellular and Organismic Biology, Academia Sinica, Nankang, Taipei 115, Taiwan
| | - Chi-Fon Chang
- Genomics Research Center, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan.
| | - Je-Wen Liou
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Tzu Chi University, 701, Section 3, Chung-Yang Rd, Hualien 970, Taiwan.
| | - Jyh-Yih Chen
- Marine Research Station, Institute of Cellular and Organismic Biology, Academia Sinica, 23-10 Dahuen Rd., Jiaushi, Ilan 262, Taiwan; The iEGG and Animal Biotechnology Center and the Rong Hsing Research Center for Translational Medicine, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung 402, Taiwan.
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50
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Zhang Z, Chen Y, Gao J, Yang M, Zhang D, Wang L, Zhang T, Cao Q, Mwangi J, He C, Li Y, Liu X, Jiang X, Kamau PM, Lai R. Orientational Nanoconjugation with Gold Endows Marked Antimicrobial Potential and Drugability of Ultrashort Dipeptides. Nano Lett 2023; 23:11874-11883. [PMID: 38097378 PMCID: PMC10755742 DOI: 10.1021/acs.nanolett.3c03909] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2023] [Revised: 12/07/2023] [Accepted: 12/07/2023] [Indexed: 12/28/2023]
Abstract
Antibiotic resistance is a global threat. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are highly desirable to treat multidrug-resistant pathogen infection. However, few AMPs are clinically available, due to high cost, instability, and poor selectivity. Here, ultrashort AMPs (2-3 residues with an N-terminal cysteine) are designed and assembled as gold nanoparticles. Au-S conjugation and ultrashort size restrict nonspecific reactions and peptide orientation, thus concentrating positively charged residues on the surface. The nanostructured assemblies enormously enhance antimicrobial abilities by 1000-6000-fold and stability. One representative (Au-Cys-Arg-NH2, Au_CR) shows selective antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus with 10 nM minimal inhibitory concentration. Au_CR has comparable or better in vivo antimicrobial potency than vancomycin and methicillin, with low propensity to induce resistance, little side effects, and high stability (17.5 h plasma half-life). Au_CR acts by inducing collapse of membrane potential and rupture of the bacterial membrane. The report provides insights for developing AMP-metal nanohybrids, particularly tethering nonspecific reactions and AMP orientation on the metal surface.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhiye Zhang
- Engineering
Laboratory of Peptides of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Key Laboratory
of Bioactive Peptides of Yunnan Province, KIZ-CUHK Joint Laboratory
of Bioresources and Molecular Research in Common Diseases, National
Resource Center for Non-Human Primates, National Research Facility
for Phenotypic & Genetic Analysis of Model Animals (Primate Facility),
and Sino-African Joint Research Center, New Cornerstone Science Institute, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan 650223, China
| | - Yaoyao Chen
- Department
of Zoology, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing
Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, Jiangsu, China
| | - Jinai Gao
- Engineering
Laboratory of Peptides of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Key Laboratory
of Bioactive Peptides of Yunnan Province, KIZ-CUHK Joint Laboratory
of Bioresources and Molecular Research in Common Diseases, National
Resource Center for Non-Human Primates, National Research Facility
for Phenotypic & Genetic Analysis of Model Animals (Primate Facility),
and Sino-African Joint Research Center, New Cornerstone Science Institute, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan 650223, China
- School
of Molecular Medicine, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou 310024, Zhejiang, China
| | - Min Yang
- Engineering
Laboratory of Peptides of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Key Laboratory
of Bioactive Peptides of Yunnan Province, KIZ-CUHK Joint Laboratory
of Bioresources and Molecular Research in Common Diseases, National
Resource Center for Non-Human Primates, National Research Facility
for Phenotypic & Genetic Analysis of Model Animals (Primate Facility),
and Sino-African Joint Research Center, New Cornerstone Science Institute, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan 650223, China
- Kunming
College of Life Science, University of Chinese
Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650204, Yunnan, China
| | - Dengdeng Zhang
- Engineering
Laboratory of Peptides of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Key Laboratory
of Bioactive Peptides of Yunnan Province, KIZ-CUHK Joint Laboratory
of Bioresources and Molecular Research in Common Diseases, National
Resource Center for Non-Human Primates, National Research Facility
for Phenotypic & Genetic Analysis of Model Animals (Primate Facility),
and Sino-African Joint Research Center, New Cornerstone Science Institute, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan 650223, China
- Department
of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, Jiangsu, China
| | - Le Wang
- Department
of Biomedical Engineering, Southern University
of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, Guangdong, China
| | - Tianyu Zhang
- Zhejiang
Cancer Hospital, Hangzhou Institute of Medicine
(HIM), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou 310022, Zhejiang, China
| | - Qiqi Cao
- Department
of Zoology, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing
Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, Jiangsu, China
| | - James Mwangi
- Engineering
Laboratory of Peptides of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Key Laboratory
of Bioactive Peptides of Yunnan Province, KIZ-CUHK Joint Laboratory
of Bioresources and Molecular Research in Common Diseases, National
Resource Center for Non-Human Primates, National Research Facility
for Phenotypic & Genetic Analysis of Model Animals (Primate Facility),
and Sino-African Joint Research Center, New Cornerstone Science Institute, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan 650223, China
- Kunming
College of Life Science, University of Chinese
Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650204, Yunnan, China
| | - Chenglu He
- Department
of Clinical Laboratory, First Affiliated
Hospital of Kunming Medical College, Kunming 650032, Yunnan, China
| | - Ya Li
- Department
of Clinical Laboratory, First Affiliated
Hospital of Kunming Medical College, Kunming 650032, Yunnan, China
| | - Xiangsheng Liu
- Zhejiang
Cancer Hospital, Hangzhou Institute of Medicine
(HIM), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou 310022, Zhejiang, China
| | - Xingyu Jiang
- Department
of Biomedical Engineering, Southern University
of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, Guangdong, China
| | - Peter Muiruri Kamau
- Engineering
Laboratory of Peptides of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Key Laboratory
of Bioactive Peptides of Yunnan Province, KIZ-CUHK Joint Laboratory
of Bioresources and Molecular Research in Common Diseases, National
Resource Center for Non-Human Primates, National Research Facility
for Phenotypic & Genetic Analysis of Model Animals (Primate Facility),
and Sino-African Joint Research Center, New Cornerstone Science Institute, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan 650223, China
- Kunming
College of Life Science, University of Chinese
Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650204, Yunnan, China
| | - Ren Lai
- Engineering
Laboratory of Peptides of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Key Laboratory
of Bioactive Peptides of Yunnan Province, KIZ-CUHK Joint Laboratory
of Bioresources and Molecular Research in Common Diseases, National
Resource Center for Non-Human Primates, National Research Facility
for Phenotypic & Genetic Analysis of Model Animals (Primate Facility),
and Sino-African Joint Research Center, New Cornerstone Science Institute, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, Yunnan 650223, China
- School
of Molecular Medicine, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou 310024, Zhejiang, China
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