Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Hyeju Lee, Byeongkwon Kim, Minju Kim, Seoyeong Yoo, Jinkyeong Lee, Eunha Hwang, Yangmee Kim
Summary: The antimicrobial peptide T. ni cecropin demonstrated significant antibacterial and antibiofilm activities against colistin-resistant Escherichia coli. It targeted the outer membrane of E. coli and interacted strongly with lipopolysaccharide. Additionally, T. ni cecropin showed anti-inflammatory and anti-septic effects, suggesting its potential as a therapeutic agent.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Rima Erviana, Yutthakan Saengkun, Prapenpuksiri Rungsa, Nisachon Jangpromma, Patcharaporn Tippayawat, Sompong Klaynongsruang, Jureerut Daduang, Sakda Daduang
Summary: The rising prevalence of antimicrobial resistance is a severe health issue. The invention of new antimicrobial agents, such as antimicrobial peptides like Heteroscorpine-1, shows promise in combating bacterial strains. Mutants of CeHS-1 have potential to be developed as novel antimicrobial peptides with increased efficacy and reduced toxicity.
Article
Entomology
Lizhen Guo, Min Tang, Shiqi Luo, Xin Zhou
Summary: In this study, a class of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) called Cecropin was identified from insect transcriptomes using bioinformatics. The identified Cecropin genes were found in several insects and their antimicrobial activity against bacteria was validated. This study provides a reliable analytical method for the discovery of AMPs, which have promising applications in diverse fields.
Article
Entomology
Kangkang Chen, Shiqi Lu, Jiahui Song, Xiaoyi Dou, Xiangyi Wei, Xinyan Wang, Xu Liu, Congjing Feng
Summary: This study investigates the role of MMP14 in immune responses and antimicrobial activity in Ostrinia furnacalis larvae. The knockdown of MMP14 in the larvae reduces phenoloxidase (PO) activity and Cecropin expression, while enhancing the expressions of Lysozyme, Attacin, Gloverin, and Moricin. The knockdown of MMP14 also decreases larvae survival to bacterial infections.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Chih-Lung Wu, Ya-Han Chih, Hsin-Ying Hsieh, Kuang-Li Peng, Yi-Zong Lee, Bak-Sau Yip, Shih-Che Sue, Jya-Wei Cheng
Summary: Cecropins, a type of antimicrobial peptides found in the innate immune system of Cecropia moths, exhibit broad-spectrum antimicrobial and anticancer activities. This study developed a strategy to produce recombinant KR12AGPWR6 with enhanced antimicrobial properties through a self-cleavage system. The results showed that the recombinant KR12AGPWR6 exhibited similar antimicrobial activities compared to the chemically synthesized peptide. This method provides a potential strategy for large-scale production of AMPs.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
George Necula, Mihaela Bacalum, Mihai Radu
Summary: Using molecular dynamics simulations, the interaction between a short antimicrobial peptide (AMP) and lipopolysaccharides (LPS) from two models of E. coli outer membrane (OM) was investigated. The results showed that AMP insertion in the LPS layer was facilitated by the gap created by OmpF, forming hydrogen bonds with the inner core oligosaccharides. OM proteins, such as OmpF, may play a crucial role in the permeation of short AMPs across the OM by exposing the LPS binding site or facilitating direct translocation.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Francisco Ramos-Martin, Claudia Herrera-Leon, Nicola D'Amelio
Summary: Cecropin A and Cecropin XJ are antimicrobial peptides with activity against esophageal cancer cells. They exhibit different structural adaptations when interacting with DPC micelles, with CecA forming a three-helix bundle for enhanced adaptability. Specific interactions with different lipid bilayers may account for their selective targeting of cancer, bacterial, and mitochondrial membranes.
ARCHIVES OF BIOCHEMISTRY AND BIOPHYSICS
(2022)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
A. Rom Park, Seon Woong Kim, Soon Young Kim, Kwang-Chul Kwon
Summary: The study demonstrates that expressing Cecropin B in fusion with tags can improve its expression level and solubility, enhancing its bacteriolytic activity against bacteria. The most effective fusion protein is the 6xHisSUMO3xGly-cecropin B construct, which shows the highest activity against Bacillus subtilis at a certain concentration of the enzyme.
PROBIOTICS AND ANTIMICROBIAL PROTEINS
(2021)
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
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Pawel Serafin, Pawel Kowalczyk, Adriano Mollica, Azzurra Stefanucci, Anna K. Laskowska, Magdalena Zawadzka, Karol Kramkowski, Patrycja Kleczkowska
Summary: Finding the ideal antimicrobial drug remains challenging, but amphibian-derived peptides have shown potential as broad-spectrum antibacterial agents. In this study, dermorphin and ranatensin peptides were combined to create a hybrid compound called LENART01. It exhibited superior antimicrobial activity against certain E. coli strains compared to clinically available antibiotics, but showed dose-dependent hemolytic effects in hemolytic assays.
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Linglong Fu, Mengning Sun, Weizhang Wen, Na Dong, Defa Li
Summary: This study describes an efficient and simple method for extracellular production of Ulp1 tool enzyme using a leaky E. coli strain. It was found that the addition of glycine increased the extracellular production of Ulp1 approximately four fold. The extracellular Ulp1 had high activities for cleaving SUMO fusion proteins and the cleaved peptide pBD2 exhibited antimicrobial activity. This method of extracellular production of tool enzymes is cost-effective and has potential applications in pharmaceutical, industrial, and biotechnological fields.
APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY AND BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Andrew A. Walker, Samuel D. Robinson, Jean-Paul Paluzzi, David J. Merritt, Samantha A. Nixon, Christina Schroeder, Jiayi Jin, Mohaddeseh Hedayati Goudarzi, Andrew C. Kotze, Zoltan Dekan, Andy Sombke, Paul F. Alewood, Bryan G. Fry, Marc E. Epstein, Irina Vetter, Glenn F. King
Summary: The study reveals that the limacodid caterpillar, Doratifera vulnerans, produces a complex venom containing 151 proteinaceous toxins, most of which are peptides <10 kDa. Three families of venom peptides seem to be responsible for inducing pain in mammals. The findings suggest that lepidopteran venoms are a potential source of novel bioactive peptides.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Fengyi Cao, Gangqing Ma, Lin Mei, Genxing Zhu, Meng Song, Qi Qin, Mingli Jiao
Summary: In this study, a cysteine-containing PAF26 peptide derivative was designed to develop a covalently crosslinked antimicrobial hydrogel, which showed strong crosslinked networks and excellent antimicrobial abilities against Candida albicans, Staphylococcus aureus, and Escherichia coli.
COLLOIDS AND SURFACES A-PHYSICOCHEMICAL AND ENGINEERING ASPECTS
(2021)
Review
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Bruna Costa, Guillermo Martinez-de-Tejada, Paula A. C. Gomes, M. Cristina L. Martins, Fabiola Costa
Summary: The prevention of orthopedic implant-related infections is a major medical challenge, and antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are considered promising alternatives to conventional antibiotics due to their broad-spectrum activity and low propensity for resistance. Research strategies involving AMP-releasing and immobilization onto surfaces show potential for preventing infections, with a focus needed on clinical validation and translation efforts.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Manigandan Krishnan, Joonhyeok Choi, Ahjin Jang, Sungjae Choi, Jiwon Yeon, Mihee Jang, Yeongjoon Lee, Kkabi Son, Soon Young Shin, Myeong Seon Jeong, Yangmee Kim
Summary: This article investigates the molecular mechanism underlying the TLR4-signaling and antibacterial activities of papiliocin and finds that it can inhibit LPS-induced TLR4 signaling by binding to TLR4/MD-2 and causing dissociation of LPS from the complex, thus combating gram-negative bacteria infection.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Martin P. de Beer, Harry L. van der Laan, Megan A. Cole, Riley J. Whelan, Mark A. Burns, Timothy F. Scott
Article
Polymer Science
Harry L. van der Laan, Mark A. Burns, Timothy F. Scott
Article
Polymer Science
Joseph C. Furgal, Julius M. van Dijck, Samuel C. Leguizamon, Timothy F. Scott
EUROPEAN POLYMER JOURNAL
(2019)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Zachary D. Pritchard, Martin P. de Beer, Riley J. Whelan, Timothy F. Scott, Mark A. Burns
ADVANCED MATERIALS TECHNOLOGIES
(2019)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Samuel C. Leguizamon, Timothy F. Scott
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2020)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Samuel C. Leguizamon, Abdulla F. Alqubati, Timothy F. Scott
JOVE-JOURNAL OF VISUALIZED EXPERIMENTS
(2020)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Diana Alves, Rodrigo Curvello, Edward Henderson, Vidhishri Kesarwani, Julia A. Walker, Samuel C. Leguizamon, Heather McLiesh, Vikram Singh Raghuwanshi, Hajar Samadian, Erica M. Wood, Zoe K. McQuilten, Maryza Graham, Megan Wieringa, Tony M. Korman, Timothy F. Scott, Mark M. Banaszak Holl, Gil Garnier, Simon R. Corrie
Review
Polymer Science
Samuel C. Leguizamon, Timothy F. Scott
Summary: Advances in synthetic chemistry have enabled abiotic, sequence-defined polymers to mimic the structures and functions of DNA, with a vast library of functionalities for tailored applications. Novel sequencing and conjugation methodologies have enhanced the versatility of discrete macromolecules.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Izabela Milogrodzka, Duy Tue Nguyen Pham, Gopal R. Sama, Hajar Samadian, Jiali Zhai, Liliana de Campo, Nigel M. Kirby, Timothy F. Scott, Mark M. Banaszak Holl, Leonie van't Hag
Summary: Biomimetic cubic phases have various applications including protein encapsulation for biosensors and drug delivery. In this study, we obtained cubic phases with high concentrations of cholesterol and phospholipids. The results show that the cubic phase structure can be maintained with higher concentrations of biomimetic membrane additives than previously reported.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Alex J. Commisso, Gopal R. Sama, Timothy F. Scott
Summary: Conventional approaches to SLA use liquid resin formulations that can cross-link upon polymerization. However, using resins that yield semicrystalline thermoplastics allows for the attainment of high toughness and resistance to solvent swelling. In this study, semicrystalline thermoplastics were 3D printed using radical-mediated ring-opening photopolymerization. The printed copolymers showed strong interlayer adhesion and the potential for improved sustainability through recycling.
CHEMISTRY OF MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Davood Khoeini, Vincent He, Ben J. Boyd, Adrian Neild, Timothy F. Scott
Summary: The increased complexity in molecular self-assembly requires advanced molecular design and microenvironmental control. This study presents a microfluidic platform that combines step emulsification and hydrodynamic microtraps to facilitate molecular self-assembly. The system allows real-time reaction monitoring and enables extended duration reactions.
Review
Biochemical Research Methods
Davood Khoeini, Timothy F. Scott, Adrian Neild
Summary: Research shows that environmental control offered by microfluidic systems can achieve non-equilibrium reaction conditions, leading to complex self-assembled structures. The study demonstrates that kinetically-controlled self-assembly can be achieved through alterations to the immediate microenvironment.
Article
Polymer Science
Samuel C. Leguizamon, Abdulla F. Alqubati, Timothy F. Scott
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
S. C. Leguizamon, M. F. Dunn, T. F. Scott
CHEMICAL COMMUNICATIONS
(2020)
Article
Polymer Science
Megan F. Dunn, Tao Wei, Ronald N. Zuckermann, Timothy F. Scott