Article
Infectious Diseases
Young-Min Kim, Hyosuk Son, Seong-Cheol Park, Jong-Kook Lee, Mi-Kyeong Jang, Jung Ro Lee
Summary: Biofilms are resistant to antibiotics and are a major source of persistent and recurring infections by clinically important pathogens. Researchers are developing new and effective antibiofilm agents, among which antimicrobial peptides have attracted interest. This study evaluated the effects of 10 synthetic peptides on growth inhibition, inhibition of biofilm formation, and biofilm elimination in drug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The results showed that WIK-14 and WIKE-14 peptides could provide novel therapeutic drugs to overcome multidrug resistance in biofilm-associated infections.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Sk Abdul Mohid, Prerana Sharma, Amani Alghalayini, Tripti Saini, Debarun Datta, Mark D. P. Willcox, Haydar Ali, Sreyan Raha, Achintya Singha, DongKuk Lee, Nirakar Sahoo, Charles G. Cranfield, Sanhita Roy, Anirban Bhunia
Summary: This paper presents the mode of action and efficacy of the VR18 peptide against Pseudomonas, providing a new therapeutic approach for the prevention and treatment of Pseudomonas-associated microbial keratitis.
BIOPHYSICAL CHEMISTRY
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Ziv Azoulay, Polina Aibinder, Ayala Gancz, Jacob Moran-Gilad, Shiri Navon-Venezia, Hanna Rapaport
Summary: FKF, a tripeptide with potential antimicrobial activity, forms a pure peptide hydrogel phase made of natural amino acids. The hydrogel exhibits bactericidal activity against E. coli and P. aeruginosa, and reduces P. aeruginosa contamination in a rat skin lesion model.
ACTA BIOMATERIALIA
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Yun-Qi Song, Su Min Kyung, Suji Kim, Gun Kim, So Yeong Lee, Han Sang Yoo
Summary: Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a major pathogen in nosocomial infections, which are difficult to handle due to its biofilm-forming ability and carbapenem resistance. Antimicrobial peptides, such as RP557, have shown effectiveness in inhibiting biofilms. Our study assessed the effectiveness of RP557 on carbapenem-resistant P. aeruginosa planktonic cells and biofilms, providing a potential treatment option for carbapenem-resistant P. aeruginosa infection. This treatment could be helpful in managing severe nosocomial infections caused by carbapenem-resistant bacteria and improving patients' survival rates.
MICROBIOLOGY SPECTRUM
(2023)
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Yeon-Ju Jeong, Pil-Won Seo, Min-Ju Seo, Su-Bin Ju, Jeong-Sun Kim, Soo-Jin Yeom
Summary: Methanol-derived formaldehyde can be used as a versatile building block for the production of 2-keto-4-hydroxyacid derivatives. Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1 aldolase (PaADL) and methanol dehydrogenase (MDH) were used to enzymatically produce 2-keto-4-hydroxybutyrate from pyruvate and methanol. This simple process provides a green method for the production of 2-keto-4-hydroxyacid derivatives.
JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Danial Asgari, Christopher A. Saski, Richard P. Meisel, Dana Nayduch
Summary: "Insects have both infection-induced and constitutively expressed innate immune defenses. This study identified two expression repertoires for antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) in house flies: constitutively expressed genes possibly regulated by Myc, and induced AMPs likely regulated by Relish."
INSECT MOLECULAR BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Hyun Kim, Ju Hye Jang, In Young Jung, Ha Rang Kim, Ju Hyun Cho
Summary: The study focuses on the development of genetically engineered probiotics capable of detecting and eliminating Pseudomonas aeruginosa in the intestines. The engineered probiotics successfully expressed and secreted a selective antimicrobial peptide in response to a specific quorum-sensing molecule of P. aeruginosa. In vitro and in vivo experiments demonstrated the ability of the engineered probiotics to inhibit P. aeruginosa growth and reduce colonization levels in mice.
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Weibin Zhang, Zhe An, Yuqi Bai, Ying Zhou, Fangyi Chen, Ke-Jian Wang
Summary: Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a significant global threat to human health. In this study, a novel cationic antimicrobial peptide (AMP) named Scyreptin1-30 was identified, which showed broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity against bacteria and fungi, including the clinically isolated multidrug-resistant bacteria Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Scyreptin1-30 exhibited rapid bactericidal kinetics and destroyed bacterial membranes. It also demonstrated no discernible cytotoxicity and promoted wound healing in vivo. The findings suggest that Scyreptin1-30 holds promise as an effective antibacterial agent against multidrug-resistant bacterial infections.
BIOCHEMICAL PHARMACOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Haoqian Xin, Junjian Chen, Tianjie Li, Guansong Hu, Zhou Fang, Haiyan Zhou, Kunzhong Guo, Lin Wang, Yingjun Wang
Summary: This study successfully improves the biocompatibility and osteogenic activity of titanium implants by designing and immobilizing a series of novel fusion peptides on the implants. The antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory activities of the implants depend on the length of the PEG spacers, with shorter spacers showing strong antimicrobial activity and macrophage polarization. Optimized FP-engineered implants exhibit significant inhibition of S. aureus while promoting osseointegration in vivo.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL
(2021)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Margherita Degasperi, Riccardo Sgarra, Mario Mardirossian, Sabrina Pacor, Massimo Maschio, Marco Scocchi
Summary: This study developed a prodrug to extend the peptide chain of an antimicrobial peptide and added a sequence that can activate the peptide at the site of infection/inflammation, enabling a slow and targeted release. The prodrug showed good antimicrobial activity and lower cytotoxicity in the presence of elastase.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Yan-Chao Chen, Wanlei Qiu, Weibin Zhang, Jingrong Zhang, Roushi Chen, Fangyi Chen, Ke-Jian Wang
Summary: A chemically synthesized truncated peptide, Sp-LECin, derived from a C-type lectin homolog of Scylla paramamosain, exhibits broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity by disrupting microbial membrane integrity and inducing reactive oxygen species production. It also shows potent anti-biofilm activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and improves the survival of infected zebrafish. Sp-LECin has the potential to be a promising antibacterial agent against devastating global pathogen infections.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Carolina Cane, Bruno Casciaro, Angela Di Somma, Maria Rosa Loffredo, Elena Puglisi, Gennaro Battaglia, Marta Mellini, Floriana Cappiello, Giordano Rampioni, Livia Leoni, Angela Amoresano, Angela Duilio, Maria Luisa Mangoni
Summary: The study found that Esc(1-21)-1c can synergistically inhibit the growth of P. aeruginosa cells with three different antibiotics, including tetracycline. The peptide works by reducing the production of three proteins in the MexAB-OprM efflux pump. These findings suggest that combination treatment with Esc(1-21)-1c and antibiotics can increase intracellular drug content in bacteria, making them more susceptible to antibiotics.
FRONTIERS IN CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Maria Laina Silva, Maria Nagila Carneiro, Rafaela Mesquita Bastos Cavalcante, Jesus Alberto Perez Guerrero, Raquel Oliveira Santos Fontenelle, Esteban Nicolas Lorenzon, Eduardo Maffud Cilli, Victor Alves Carneiro
Summary: This study evaluated the anti-C. albicans potential of K-au against virulence factors, planktonic growth, and biofilm formation of clinical isolates. The outcomes showed fungicidal action of K-au at 62.50μg mL(-1) for all isolates, with a time of action around 150-180 min. Additionally, K-au inhibited the biofilm formation by more than 90%.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Soo Khim Chan, Zhongchao Zhao, Samuel Penziner, Ethan Khong, David Pride, Robert T. Schooley, Nicole F. Steinmetz
Summary: Antimicrobial resistance is a global health threat exacerbated by the misuse of antibiotics in medicine and agriculture. Phage therapy, as an alternative antimicrobial treatment, involves using bacteriophages to destroy bacterial pathogens. This study aimed to develop versatile tools for tracking and imaging phages by screening and isolating peptides that bind to specific phages.
Article
Infectious Diseases
Munjeong Choi, Hye-Sun Cho, Byeongyong Ahn, Somasundaram Prathap, Soundrarajan Nagasundarapandian, Chankyu Park
Summary: This study analyzed the genetic variations and biological characteristics of bat cathelicidins and identified 19 cathelicidin-like sequences in seven bat species. The number of functional cathelicidin genes differed among bat species. Three cathelicidins with clear antimicrobial signatures were chemically synthesized and evaluated for their antimicrobial activity. ML-CATH and PD-CATH showed potent antibacterial and antifungal activities with minimal cytotoxicity to mammalian cells. ML-CATH and PD-CATH can be potential candidates for the development of antimicrobial therapeutics.