Article
Immunology
Xu-Jie Zhang, Ya-Qin Zhong, Zi-You Ma, Ya-Zhen Hu, Jian-Guo Su, Yong-An Zhang
Summary: Complement peptides C3a, C4a, and C5a have evolved divergently in vertebrates, leading to different antibacterial properties. The net charge of these peptides plays a crucial role in determining their antibacterial activities. Furthermore, many derived peptides from C3a, C4a, and C5a in vertebrates exhibit high antibacterial activities without hemolytic activities, demonstrating the potential application in anti-infective therapy.
JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Marta Budkowska, Ewa Ostrycharz, Natalia Maria Serwin, Lukasz Nazarewski, Elzbieta Cecerska-Heryc, Marta Porecka, Pawel Rykowski, Radoslaw Pietrzak, Krzysztof Zieniewicz, Aldona Siennicka, Beata Hukowska-Szematowicz, Barbara Dolegowska
Summary: The aim of this study was to evaluate the concentration of selected biomarkers of complement system activation in the serum of liver transplant patients before and after transplantation. The study showed that the concentrations of complement system components changed before and after liver transplantation, with a direct increase in components 24 hours after transplantation likely affecting liver damage and an increase two weeks after transplantation potentially contributing to transplant tolerance.
Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Sandeep Lohan, Anastasia G. Konshina, Roman G. Efremov, Innokentiy Maslennikov, Keykavous Parang
Summary: A series of short helical cationic peptides were designed and synthesized to have broad-range bactericidal activity and selectivity toward bacterial cells. The lead peptide 8b showed broad-spectrum activity against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, as well as selectivity towards prokaryotic cells. The peptide's rapid membranolytic action was confirmed through assays and microscopy.
JOURNAL OF MEDICINAL CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Oncology
Franck Ah-Pine, Axelle Malaterre-Septembre, Yosra Bedoui, Mohamed Khettab, James W. Neal, Sebastien Freppel, Philippe Gasque
Summary: Recent studies have found that complement activation plays a role in promoting cancer within the tumor microenvironment. The aim of this study was to assess the expression of C3a and its receptor C3aR in primary and metastatic brain tumors. The researchers observed high expression of C3aR in Grade 4 diffuse gliomas, particularly in glioblastoma multiforme and astrocytoma. C3aR was found in tumor-associated macrophages, suggesting pro-angiogenic and tumor growth-supporting activities.
Article
Immunology
Qing Yang, Amanda C. Burkardt, Lakshimi T. Sunkara, Kan Xiao, Guolong Zhang
Summary: The study found that certain natural cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitors can enhance the expression of host defense peptides (HDP) genes in chickens. These inhibitors demonstrated a strong synergistic effect with butyrate in increasing the expressions of multiple HDP genes. Additionally, they promoted the expressions of barrier function-related genes and suppressed inflammatory responses.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Aetas Amponnawarat, Chalatip Chompunud Na Ayudhya, Hydar Ali
Summary: Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections are difficult to treat due to biofilm formation and antibiotic resistance, but a lipidated HDP mimetic called murepavadin has shown antibacterial activity against multi-drug-resistant strains. Murepavadin activates human MCs via MRGPRX2 and murine MCs via MrgprB2, potentially contributing to bacterial clearance and wound healing.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2021)
Review
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Ramon Roca-Pinilla, Leszek Lisowski, Anna Aris, Elena Garcia-Fruitos
Summary: Host defense peptides (HDPs) are small proteins with potent antibacterial and immunomodulatory activities, suitable for clinical applications. Traditional methods of producing antimicrobial peptides are expensive and toxic, making recombinant production of HDPs an alternative. This review explores different strategies for optimizing HDPs, including fine-tuning their activities, bioengineering, and recombinant production in various cell factories.
MICROBIAL CELL FACTORIES
(2022)
Review
Agronomy
Fernando Lobo, Alicia Boto
Summary: Host-defense peptides (HDP) are emerging as promising phytosanitaries due to their potency, low toxicity, and low induction of antimicrobial resistance. They are natural compounds that have been used by animals and plants for millions of years to defend against pathogens. HDPs are being discovered through genome mining and produced using biofactories. Truncated or modified peptides have been developed to improve their bioactivities and reduce production costs. The combination of HDP and other antimicrobials, as well as the development of hybrid molecules, has shown promising results. However, cautionary measures need to be taken for the sustainable use of HDPs.
Article
Nutrition & Dietetics
Kelsy Robinson, Qing Yang, Hong Li, Long Zhang, Bridget Aylward, Ryan J. Arsenault, Guolong Zhang
Summary: The combination of butyrate and forskolin shows a strong synergy in inducing the expressions of several chicken HDP genes and genes involved in barrier function, leading to significant alleviation of intestinal lesions and C. perfringens colonization in a chicken model of necrotic enteritis. RNA sequencing results demonstrate a preferential increase in HDP and barrier function genes with no induction of proinflammatory cytokines in response to butyrate and forskolin. The antiinflammatory and barrier protective properties of butyrate and forskolin were further confirmed by the kinome peptide array, suggesting their potential as novel antibiotic alternatives for enhancing intestinal health and disease resistance in poultry and other animals.
FRONTIERS IN NUTRITION
(2021)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Matthew Drayton, Julia P. Deisinger, Kevin C. Ludwig, Nigare Raheem, Anna Mueller, Tanja Schneider, Suzana K. Straus
Summary: The rapid rise of multidrug-resistant bacteria has raised concerns about the effectiveness of traditional antibiotics. Antimicrobial peptides, with their diverse mechanisms of actions, offer a promising solution to combat these pathogens. This review discusses the mechanisms of antibiotic resistance and the potential of antimicrobial peptides in providing a more robust treatment of bacterial infections.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Ernest Y. Lee, Liana C. Chan, Huiyuan Wang, Juelline Lieng, Mandy Hung, Yashes Srinivasan, Jennifer Wang, James A. Waschek, Andrew L. Ferguson, Kuo-Fen Lee, Nannette Y. Yount, Michael R. Yeaman, Gerard C. L. Wong
Summary: This study confirms the antimicrobial role of PACAP and reveals its selective induction in the brain during infection. Through various mechanisms, including disruption of pathogen membrane integrity and activation of cell death pathways, PACAP exhibits antimicrobial activity.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2021)
Review
Infectious Diseases
Isabel Tobin, Guolong Zhang
Summary: The rise of antimicrobial resistance has led to an urgent need for antibiotic alternatives in disease control and prevention. Host defense peptides (HDPs), with their antimicrobial and immunomodulatory properties, offer a promising solution to treating infections without the risk of developing resistance. Polyphenols, natural compounds found in plants, have been found to stimulate HDP synthesis and show potential as antibiotic alternatives.
Review
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Hashem Etayash, Robert E. W. Hancock
Summary: Amphiphilic antimicrobial polymers and surface engineered polymeric-brush-tethered HDP are promising strategies that aim to overcome limitations of HDPs, enhance physicochemical properties and therapeutic performance, and address unmet therapeutic needs.
Article
Microbiology
Qing Yang, Li-An Fong, Wentao Lyu, Lakshmi T. Sunkara, Kan Xiao, Guolong Zhang
Summary: It was found that different sugars had differential regulatory effects on HDP gene expression in chicken HD11 macrophage cells, with galactose, trehalose, and lactose significantly upregulating certain gene expressions, and all sugars exhibiting a strong synergy with butyrate in enhancing AvBD9 expression.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Hatsuo Yamamura, Tatsuya Hagiwara, Yuma Hayashi, Kayo Osawa, Hisato Kato, Takashi Katsu, Kazufumi Masuda, Ayumi Sumino, Hayato Yamashita, Ryo Jinno, Masayuki Abe, Atsushi Miyagawa
Summary: The study found that a peptide mimic made of a cyclic oligosaccharide cyclodextrin scaffold has antibacterial activity against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, including drug-resistant pathogens like carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae. These agents disrupt bacterial membranes, leading to rapid bacterial cell death, and also facilitate the entry of traditional antibiotics into Gram-negative bacteria.
