Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Yong Liu, Xiuping Zhang, Chunyan Meng, Shengyue Ji, Kangkang Guo
Summary: In this study, a fusion peptide MT-W was designed and produced, showing increased antibacterial activity, stability, lower cytotoxicity, and broader antimicrobial effect compared to MT. It has the potential to become a promising alternative to conventional antibiotics.
PREPARATIVE BIOCHEMISTRY & BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Xiaojuan Wang, Xiaoling Xu, Shaojun Zhang, Na Chen, Yunfeng Sun, Kuifen Ma, Dongsheng Hong, Lu Li, Yongzhong Du, Xiaoyang Lu, Saiping Jiang
Summary: The article describes the design of a nanorod drug delivery system that overcomes Klebsiella pneumonia resistance to tigecycline by increasing drug accumulation, inhibiting efflux pumps, and targeting bacteria, thus enhancing the drug's antibacterial activity.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Biophysics
Bency Thankappan, Anto Thomas, Aishwarya Sakthivadivel, Nivetha Shanmuganathan, Jayaraman Angayarkanni
Summary: The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of self-assembled melittin nanoparticles (MelNP) with native melittin peptide (Mel). MelNP showed a lower minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) against E. coli, S. aureus, and P. aeruginosa compared to Mel peptide. MelNP also exhibited lower hemolytic activity and higher lytic activity against trypsin/serum. In toxicity analysis, MelNP was non-toxic to zebrafish embryos while Mel caused mortality. Furthermore, MelNP and Mel reduced bacterial load and improved survivability in infected embryos. Overall, MelNP could be a more effective and safer therapeutic molecule than Mel.
COLLOIDS AND SURFACES B-BIOINTERFACES
(2023)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Nanakow Baiden, Chiara Gandini, Paul Goddard, Olga Sayanova
Summary: The increase in antibiotic resistance of bacterial strains is a major concern. Recent research has shown that the lysate of marine diatom Phaeodactylum tricornutum can significantly reduce the growth rate of Gram-negative bacteria. By engineering P. tricornutum, it was possible to enhance its antimicrobial activity against these bacteria. These results demonstrate that microalgae can be engineered to produce natural antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory compounds, providing an alternative to production-purpose antibiotics for treating serious bacterial infections.
ALGAL RESEARCH-BIOMASS BIOFUELS AND BIOPRODUCTS
(2023)
Article
Food Science & Technology
Hongyan Zhang, Sha Liu, Xindan Li, Wenjun Wang, Lili Deng, Kaifang Zeng
Summary: Research has shown that thanatin, P W1, and M-S can disrupt the hyphae of Geotrichum citri-aurantii, as well as inhibit its growth and synthesis by interacting with its DNA.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Fatima Diya, Laurence Jouvensal, Isabelle Rahioui, Karine Loth, Catherine Sivignon, Lamis Karaki, Linda Kfoury, Francine Rizk, Pedro Da Silva
Summary: Currently, crop protection heavily relies on chemical treatments, causing environmental contamination and pest resistance. To address this issue, biopesticides are considered as effective alternatives to chemical insecticides in controlling insect pests. Legumes possess insecticidal proteins to protect their nitrogen content from animal/insect predation. A unique diversity of albumin 1 family in barrel medic genome was discovered, some of which exhibit high insecticidal activity. The AG41 peptide from alfalfa roots demonstrates outstanding insecticidal activity against pests such as aphids and weevils. Investigation into the 3D structure and activity of AG41 peptide provided valuable insights and paved the way for the development of bio-insecticides.
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Rasoul Mirzaei, Mohammad Yousef Alikhani, Carla Renata Arciola, Iraj Sedighi, Rasoul Yousefimashouf, Kamran Pooshang Bagheri
Summary: This study investigated the antibiofilm activity of melittin against biofilm-producing MRSE strains, either alone or in combination with vancomycin and rifampin. The results showed that the combination of melittin with conventional antibiotics improved its preventive and therapeutic indexes, offering a new approach for treating or preventing biofilm-associated MRSE infections.
BIOMEDICINE & PHARMACOTHERAPY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Miray Tonk, James J. Valdes, Alejandro Cabezas-Cruz, Andreas Vilcinskas
Summary: Arthropod antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) provide a potential source for new antibiotics with potent activity against multidrug-resistant bacterial pathogens. Synergistic effects can be achieved by combining AMPs from different sources. Hybrid peptides linked by glycine spacers show enhanced antibacterial activity, but can also exhibit increased cytotoxic activity.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Shixian Lv, Meilyn Sylvestre, Kefan Song, Suzie H. Pun
Summary: Melittin, the primary peptide component in bee venom, has anti-tumor activity but its practical application is hindered by hemolytic activity and instability. Use of D-amino acids in place of L-amino acids reduces immunogenicity of melittin, allowing for safer delivery and maintaining cytolytic potential. D-melittin micelles show cytotoxicity in a pH-dependent manner, inducing immunogenic cell death and demonstrating potential for cancer immunotherapy. The study presents a new strategy for systemic delivery of cytotoxic peptides in cancer treatment.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Ali Javadmanesh, Elyas Mohammadi, Zahra Mousavi, Marjan Azghandi, Abass Tanhaiean
Summary: This study investigated the antimicrobial properties and thermal stability of recombinant Thanatin peptide, as well as its interaction with Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The results indicated potential for Thanatin as a natural alternative to common antibiotics in veterinary medicine, with differences in activity potentially due to the quality of LptA/LptD-Thanatin interaction.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Biology
Safar Farajnia, Leila Rahbarnia, Nazli Khajehnasiri, Habib Zarredar
Summary: The aim of this study was to design a novel antimicrobial peptide with high stability and low toxicity. Through fusion between mutant analogs of melittin and CXCL14-C17, and a series of experiments and simulation analysis, the TM1C2 peptide was designed, which showed higher antimicrobial and stability, and more potential for penetration into the lipid membrane.
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
David J. Peeler, Albert Yen, Nicholas Luera, Patrick S. Stayton, Suzie H. Pun
Summary: The study shows that VIPER as a vaccine delivery platform has the potential to enhance vaccine efficacy by disrupting endosomes, but further research is needed to understand how endosomal disruption by VIPER affects vaccination outcomes.
ADVANCED THERAPEUTICS
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
C. Blake Wilson, Robert Tycko
Summary: Elucidating the detailed mechanisms of structural conversions in biological macromolecules is crucial for biophysical chemistry, and new experimental methods are needed for further understanding. The article presents a simple technique called rapid inverse temperature jump, which enables the initiation of a structural conversion process in solutions by rapidly decreasing the temperature. The technique is demonstrated using a 26-residue peptide called melittin, where the conversion from a disordered state to a helical state was studied. Time-resolved solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (ssNMR) was used to analyze the kinetics and mechanism of the conversion.
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Cristina R. Ventura, Gregory R. Wiedman
Summary: Photomelittin, a newly synthesized membrane active peptide, demonstrates light-dependent activity by substituting a specific amino acid derivative, showing promising applications in medicine, drug delivery, and biotechnological fields.
BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-BIOMEMBRANES
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Raleigh M. Linville, Alexander Komin, Xiaoyan Lan, Jackson G. DeStefano, Chengyan Chu, Guanshu Liu, Piotr Walczak, Kalina Hristova, Peter C. Searson
Summary: Melittin, a membrane active peptide found in bee venom, enables transient blood-brain barrier opening for delivery of therapeutics into the brain. Studies on endothelial and neuronal viability identified the effective concentration range for BBB opening, and a tissue-engineered model was used to optimize dosing and understand the mechanism. Melittin and other membrane active variants increase paracellular permeability temporarily by disrupting cell-cell junctions.
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Kun Qian, Xiaofeng Jiang, Laiyu Sun, Guoqing Zhou, Haixia Ge, Yue Meng, Jingfen Li
NANOSCIENCE AND NANOTECHNOLOGY LETTERS
(2017)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Xiao-feng Jiang, Zhi-fei Liu, Ai-fu Lin, Li-xin Xiang, Jian-zhong Shao
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2017)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Kun Qian, Xiaofeng Jiang, Laiyu Sun, Guoqing Zhou, Haixia Ge, Xinqiang Fang, Li Xiao, Qiong Wu
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH
(2018)
Article
Fisheries
Xiaofeng Jiang, Guangping Liu, Zhiyi Hu, Guiqian Chen, Jianqing Chen, Zhengbing Lv
FISH & SHELLFISH IMMUNOLOGY
(2019)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Zhi-fei Liu, Jian-fei Ji, Xiao-feng Jiang, Tong Shao, Dong-dong Fan, Xin-hang Jiang, Ai-fu Lin, Li-xin Xiang, Jian-zhong Shao
Article
Fisheries
Wenjie Zhang, Lanyi Qin, Xinyi Cai, Salma Nassor Juma, Rong Xu, Ling Wei, Yixin Wu, Xuan Cui, Guiqian Chen, Lili Liu, Zhengbing Lv, Xiaofeng Jiang
FISH & SHELLFISH IMMUNOLOGY
(2020)
Article
Pediatrics
Yinjie Ling, Yun Wang, Xiaofeng Jiang, Chen Yuan
Summary: This study aims to explore the role of regulatory mechanism of immune factor expression in the pathogenesis of GEFS+ and clarify the relationship between various cytokines and GEFS+ outbreak. Inhibiting the expression of pro-inflammatory factors can further prevent GEFS+ attack, which supports that IL-6 is one of the important factors that aggravate the clinical symptoms of GEFS+.
TRANSLATIONAL PEDIATRICS
(2022)
Article
Fisheries
Lei Jia, Yu Wang, Yajun Shen, Bo Zhong, Zhan Luo, Junjie Yang, Guodong Chen, Xiaofeng Jiang, Jianqing Chen, Zhengbing Lyu
Summary: Single domain antibodies (sdAb) with unique structure characters show great potential in cancer and anti-virus biotherapies. IgNAR has been found in whitespotted bamboo shark, but its characterization and obtaining methods remain unclear. Our research identified four IgNAR coding gene loci in whitespotted bamboo shark chromosome 44 and designed primers for IgNAR (VNAR) libraries preparation. Sequencing results confirmed the specificity of our primers and revealed that IgNAR1 is the most active transcription locus in whitespotted bamboo shark. These findings provide new insights for IgNAR studies and biotherapies applications.
FISH & SHELLFISH IMMUNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Lanyi Qin, Qingyu Ren, Chaoling Lu, Tianci Zhu, Yijun Lu, Shuangxing Chen, Shuna Tong, Xiaofeng Jiang, Zhengbing Lyu
Summary: Glioblastoma is a common and fatal malignant tumour of the central nervous system, with high invasiveness. Conventional treatments for this disease are ineffective, and targeted therapy using IL-13Ra2 shows promise. Single-domain antibodies (sdAbs) may provide a novel potential treatment approach for brain tumours.
Review
Chemistry, Medicinal
Xiaofeng Jiang, Ling Sun, Chengwu Hu, Feijian Zheng, Zhengbing Lyu, Jianzhong Shao
Summary: Antibodies play an important role in the clinical diagnosis and treatment of cancer, with monoclonal antibodies currently dominating the field. However, due to the limitations of mAbs, the emergence and development of small-molecule monodomain antibodies are inevitable. IgNAR, as an alternative therapeutic strategy, offers advantages such as small size, high stability, and high affinity.
