Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Hongyan Yang, Lan Wang, Libo Yuan, Heng Du, Boyuan Pan, Kui Lu
Summary: In this study, a series of hybrid peptides were designed by connecting an antimicrobial peptide Ce(1-8) with a lipopolysaccharide-targeting peptide Lf(28-34) via different linkers. The results showed that the linkers played a crucial role in the antimicrobial activity of the hybrid peptides against Gram-negative bacteria. Among these hybrid peptides, peptide CL5 with a dipeptide rigid linker exhibited excellent activity and selectivity against Gram-negative bacteria. It was found that the interaction of the peptides with LPS was crucial for their antimicrobial activity. Mechanistic studies revealed that peptide CL5 disrupted the integrity of bacterial membranes, leading to the death of Gram-negative bacterial cells. This study highlights the importance of linker selection in the design of hybrid peptides and provides a foundation for the development of antimicrobial peptides.
JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY
(2022)
Article
Biology
Fang He, Yuan Liu, Pan Li, Xiaoyan Wu, Yaoyao Xia, Dong Zhang, Nengzhang Li, Yuanyi Peng, Guoqiang Zhu, Rudiger Hardeland, Russel J. Reiter, Wenkai Ren
Summary: Bacterial infections caused by Gram-negative pathogens are increasingly burdensome for public health on a global scale. However, there are very few new antibiotics under development or approved for clinical use to effectively combat pathogenic bacteria. Repurposing existing compounds offers a productive strategy for the development of new antibiotics. In this study, it was found that the multifaceted hormone melatonin significantly improves the survival rates of mice and reduces bacterial loads in the lungs during infection. Mechanistically, melatonin specifically inhibits the activity of citrate synthase in Gram-negative pathogens by directly binding to specific sites, particularly for Pasteurella multocida. These findings highlight the potential use of melatonin as a feasible and alternative therapy to address the increasing threat of Gram-negative pathogen infections by disrupting bacterial metabolic flux.
SCIENCE CHINA-LIFE SCIENCES
(2022)
Review
Infectious Diseases
Dayse Pereira Dias Silva, Macley Silva Cardoso, Alexandre Jose Macedo
Summary: Bacterial resistance is a major driving force in the worldwide search for new antibacterial agents. Endophytic microorganisms are a promising alternative for drug discovery, as they produce a vast number of metabolites with unique characteristics and bioactive potential. This review highlights the importance of endophytic microorganisms as a source of secondary metabolites against medically important bacteria, particularly gram-negative species. The findings presented in this review provide 166 molecules with characterized chemical structures and antibacterial activities. Additionally, the low cost, ease of maintenance, and optimization-controlled fermentation conditions support reproducibility at a commercial scale.
Review
Engineering, Environmental
Meera Varghese, Manoj Balachandran
Summary: CDs, known for their nontoxic characteristics and inherent antibacterial potency, have gained significant attention as potential alternative antibiotics due to the increasing antibiotic resistance of bacterial strains. The light-driven antibacterial action of CDs is safe and effective with minimal side effects, and their direct interaction with bacterial cells contributes to their overall antibacterial activity. The unique and complex mechanisms of antibacterial activity of CDs involve ROS generation, degeneration of cell structure, and cytoplasm leakage, among other factors, providing insights for significant future research in this area.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL CHEMICAL ENGINEERING
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Boris Veltman, Dorin Harpaz, Yael Cohen, Elena Poverenov, Evgeni Eltzov
Summary: Chitosan nanoparticles modified with N-alkylamines exhibit selective binding properties to Gram-negative bacteria, leading to bacterial aggregation. Shorter chain length substituents on the modified CNPs result in higher aggregation effects, particularly towards Escherichia coli and Salmonella. Additionally, CNPs with lower degree of substitution show greater inhibitory effects on the growth of Gram-negative strains.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL MACROMOLECULES
(2022)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Ze-Hua Cui, Hui-Ling He, Zi-Jian Zheng, Zhao-Qi Yuan, Ying Chen, Xin-Yi Huang, Hao Ren, Yu-Feng Zhou, Dong-Hao Zhao, Liang-Xing Fang, Yang Yu, Ya-Hong Liu, Xiao-Ping Liao, Jian Sun
Summary: Phentolamine enhances the antibacterial activity of macrolide antibiotics against Gram-negative bacteria by reducing efflux pump activity and causing direct damage to the outer membrane leaflet.
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Megan A. Laune, Syed Ahad Zahidi, Jared T. Wiemann, Yan Yu
Summary: Nanosized liposomes can enhance the potency of antibiotics by fusing with bacterial membranes, but the interaction mechanisms are poorly understood. The fusion interactions between cationic liposomes and Escherichia coli were found to be heterogeneous, resulting in different antibacterial outcomes.
ACS APPLIED NANO MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Materials Science, Biomaterials
Li Su, Sainan Qin, Xinai Yu, Yifei Chen, Liang Wang, Wenpei Dong, Zhongjian Xie, Han Zhang
Summary: Bacterial infections, especially Gram-negative ones, have become a growing problem due to antibiotic resistance. Nanozymes offer a promising solution by using reactive oxygen species (ROS) to kill bacteria. In this study, NiCo layered double hydroxide (LDH) nanozymes were synthesized and shown to selectively kill Gram-negative bacteria through their peroxide-like (POD-like) activity. Ni4Co6 LDHs exhibited the highest POD and antibacterial activity, and were able to selectively sterilize Gram-negative bacteria through electrostatic adsorption and hydrophilic interactions with the bacterial cell wall. Animal experiments demonstrated effective healing of G(-) bacteria-infected wounds without harming normal tissues. This research provides a new direction for the application of nanozymes.
JOURNAL OF MATERIALS CHEMISTRY B
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Junke Zhang, Peidong Su, Huihuang Chen, Meng Qiao, Bo Yang, Xu Zhao
Summary: The hydroxyl radical-dominated electrochemical process is a highly efficient, environmentally friendly, and byproduct-free disinfection technology. Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria show different responses in the OH-dominated disinfection system, including variations in disinfection efficiency, sublethal injury, and subcellular damage. The coexistence of E. coli and S. aureus inhibits their disinfection efficiencies. The cell wall and cell outer membrane play a crucial role in the resistance to OH-dominated disinfection, with S. aureus exhibiting higher resistance due to its thick and stable structure of peptidoglycan.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Kefurong Deng, Yachao Li, Xiaoyu Liang, Cheng Shen, Zenan Zeng, Xianghui Xu
Summary: This study developed virus-inspired nanodrugs for high-efficiency antibiotic delivery and enhanced antibacterial effects, demonstrating their potential application in antibacterial treatment.
CHINESE CHEMICAL LETTERS
(2022)
Review
Infectious Diseases
Claire Overly Cottom, Robert Stephenson, Lindsey Wilson, Nicholas Noinaj
Summary: The emergence of multidrug resistance in bacterial pathogens poses a global threat to human health, but the discovery of new antibiotics has not kept pace with this alarming trend. Recent approaches to antibiotic discovery have expanded to target essential surface receptors and protein complexes, including the beta-barrel assembly machinery (BAM) responsible for the biogenesis of outer membrane proteins in Gram-negative bacteria. In this review, we highlight the importance of BAM as a promising therapeutic target and discuss recent studies on compounds and vaccines targeting BAM across various bacteria, sparking ongoing research and interest in BAM for combating multidrug resistance.
Article
Biology
Akshay Sabnis, Katheryn L. H. Hagart, Anna Klockner, Michele Becce, Lindsay E. Evans, R. Christopher D. Furniss, Despoina A. Mavridou, Ronan Murphy, Molly M. Stevens, Jane C. Davies, Gerald J. Larrouy-Maumus, Thomas B. Clarke, Andrew M. Edwards
Summary: Colistin is a last-resort antibiotic with poor efficacy due to growing resistance. Recent research has shown that colistin exerts bactericidal activity by targeting lipopolysaccharide in the cytoplasmic membrane of bacteria. These findings offer insight into novel approaches for enhancing therapeutic outcomes.
Article
Infectious Diseases
Martina Traykovska, Robert Penchovsky
Summary: We described the design and application of a chimeric antisense oligonucleotide (ASO) called pVEC-ASO-1 as a novel antibacterial agent. By specifically degrading mRNA via RNase H, the pVEC-ASO-1 targets the S-adenosyl methionine (SAM)-I riboswitch found in Gram-positive bacteria, inhibiting bacterial growth.
Article
Biology
Xiang Liu, Wenxi Wang, Junyue Li, Yue Li, Jihui Zhang, Huarong Tan
Summary: The study demonstrates that gamma-butyrolactone (GBL) molecules from Streptomyces species can influence violacein production in Chromobacterium violaceum by binding directly to its acyl-homoserine lactone (AHL) receptor, revealing widespread responses of Gram-negative bacterial AHL receptors to Streptomyces signaling molecules. Through cross-talk between GBL and AHL signaling systems, combinatorial regulatory circuits have been designed and proven to be functional in Escherichia coli (E. coli), bridging the quorum sensing systems of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria via native Streptomyces signaling molecules.
SCIENCE CHINA-LIFE SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Biophysics
Jidong Liu, Jia Lu, Zhuang Li, Yongqiang Fan, Siyu Liu
Summary: WHO has published a list of the most dangerous antibiotic-resistant bacteria, including Gram-positive bacteria related to serious infections. Nanomaterial-based approaches, such as ultra-small zero-valent iron nanoclusters (usZVIN), show promise in combating antimicrobial resistance. This study synthesized usZVIN, which selectively targets Gram-positive bacteria and triggers the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), providing a potential medical material candidate for fighting against Gram-positive bacterial infections.
COLLOIDS AND SURFACES B-BIOINTERFACES
(2023)
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Uwe Schlattner, Malgorzata Tokarska-Schlattner, Richard M. Epand, Mathieu Boissan, Marie-Lise Lacombe, Valerian E. Kagan
LABORATORY INVESTIGATION
(2018)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Tomohiro Kimura, Atsuko K. Kimura, Mindong Ren, Bob Berno, Yang Xu, Michael Schlame, Richard M. Epand
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Jose Carlos Bozelli, William Jennings, Stephanie Black, Yu Heng Hou, Darius Lameire, Preet Chatha, Tomohiro Kimura, Bob Berno, Adree Khondker, Maikel C. Rheinstadter, Richard M. Epand
JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL CHEMISTRY
(2018)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Jose Carlos Bozelli, Richard M. Epand
CHEMISTRY AND PHYSICS OF LIPIDS
(2019)
Review
Biochemical Research Methods
Jose Carlos Bozelli, Richard M. Epand
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Jose Carlos Bozelli, Yu H. Hou, Shirley Schreier, Richard M. Epand
BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-BIOMEMBRANES
(2020)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Jose Carlos Bozelli, Daniel Lu, G. Ekin Atilla-Gokcumen, Richard M. Epand
BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-MOLECULAR AND CELL BIOLOGY OF LIPIDS
(2020)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
William Jennings, Richard M. Epand
CHEMISTRY AND PHYSICS OF LIPIDS
(2020)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Jose Carlos Bozelli, Richard M. Epand
BIOPHYSICAL CHEMISTRY
(2020)
Review
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Jose Carlos Bozelli, Richard M. Epand
Summary: Barth syndrome is a rare inherited metabolic disease caused by mutations in the gene of the enzyme tafazzin, leading to abnormalities in mitochondrial-specific lipid cardiolipin (CL) and plasmalogens. The molecular mechanism linking CL and plasmalogens is not fully understood, but there is evidence of interplay between the two lipid species in BTHS. Therapeutic approaches targeting the regulation of plasmalogens are being discussed as potential new treatments for BTHS.
JOURNAL OF INHERITED METABOLIC DISEASE
(2022)
Article
Polymer Science
Derrick E. Hastings, Jose C. Bozelli, Richard M. Epand, Harald D. H. Stover
Summary: The transition from self-coacervation to complex coacervation of a series of charge-balanced polyampholyte (PA) and polyelectrolyte (PE) pairs based on copolymers of methacrylic acid and N-(3-aminopropyl) methacrylamide hydrochloride was described, focusing on the effects of charge distribution on coacervate properties. The study found that higher molecular weight complex coacervates exhibited increased resistance to stimuli such as ionic strength and pH, compared to liquid self-coacervates and less hydrated coacervates formed from two PE homopolymers with complementary nonstoichiometric PAs.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Jose Carlos Bozelli, Richard M. Epand
Summary: Plasmalogens, a subclass of glycerophospholipids, have been found to play a crucial role in various pathological conditions. Plasmalogen replacement therapy (PRT) has shown promising results in restoring plasmalogen levels and ameliorating disease phenotype. The focus on lipids as therapeutic targets presents a modern and innovative approach in molecular medicine for improving health outcomes in clinically unmet needs.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Sukhvershjit S. Aulakh, Jose Carlos Bozelli Jr, Richard M. Epand
Summary: In this study, the properties of all 10 human DGK paralogs were comprehensively investigated using the protein structural prediction technology Alphafold 2.0. The predictions revealed conserved structural features and provided insights into the functional properties of DGK. The existence of a conserved ATP-binding site and energetically favorable interaction with curved membranes were also discovered.
JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY B
(2022)
Article
Biology
Tomohiro Kimura, Atsuko K. Kimura, Mindong Ren, Vernon Monteiro, Yang Xu, Bob Berno, Michael Schlame, Richard M. Epand
LIFE SCIENCE ALLIANCE
(2019)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Rashik Ahmed, Michael Akcan, Adree Khondker, Maikel C. Rheinstadter, Jose C. Bozelli, Richard M. Epand, Vincent Huynh, Ryan G. Wylie, Stephen Boulton, Jinfeng Huang, Chris P. Verschoor, Giuseppe Melacini