Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Hawk Leong Yuen, Szn Yi Chan, Yi En Ding, Suxing Lim, Gim Cheong Tan, Chiew Ling Kho
Summary: This study aimed to develop a potent antibacterial peptide (ABP) with minimal toxicity through phage display selection and computer-assisted modification. A peptide called PAM-5 with enhanced antibacterial features was obtained by modifying the peptide selected for its high affinity to Pseudomonas aeruginosa cell surface using an online peptide database. PAM-5 showed activity against various Gram-negative and selected Gram-positive bacteria, and was stable in human plasma without toxic effects on human cells and erythrocytes.
Article
Infectious Diseases
Lorenz Leitner, Aleksandre Ujmajuridze, Nina Chanishvili, Marina Goderdzishvili, Irina Chkonia, Sophia Rigvava, Archil Chkhotua, Giorgi Changashvili, Shawna McCallin, Marc P. Schneider, Martina D. Liechti, Ulrich Mehnert, Lucas M. Bachmann, Wilbert Sybesma, Thomas M. Kessler
Summary: This study aimed to determine the effectiveness of intravesical bacteriophage therapy in treating UTIs. Findings showed that bacteriophage therapy was non-inferior to standard antibiotic treatment, but not superior to placebo bladder irrigation in terms of efficacy or safety. The safety profile of bacteriophages appears to be favorable, suggesting potential for further large-scale clinical studies on their role in UTI treatment.
LANCET INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Huan Peng, Daniele Rossetto, Sheref S. Mansy, Maria C. Jordan, Kenneth P. Roos, Irene A. Chen
Summary: Infections caused by drug-resistant bacteria are difficult to treat, but a study found that engineered phage-nanomaterial conjugates can effectively treat infected wounds caused by Gram-negative pathogens in mice. The treatment rapidly reduced bacterial load and promoted wound healing, outperforming standard-of-care antibiotics. The phage-nanomaterial treatment also worked against a strain resistant to last-line antibiotics, with no detectable toxicity or systemic effects.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Megha Shah, Veronique L. Taylor, Diane Bona, Yvonne Tsao, Sabrina Y. Stanley, Sheila M. Pimentel-Elardo, Matthew McCallum, Joseph Bondy-Denomy, P. Lynne Howell, Justin R. Nodwell, Alan R. Davidson, Trevor F. Moraes, Karen L. Maxwell
Summary: The study identified a new phage anti-activator protein, Aqs1, which inhibits phage infection by suppressing the quorum-sensing master regulator LasR. Aqs1 also inhibits the bacterial type IV pilus assembly ATPase protein PilB, preventing phages from superinfecting host cells. This research highlights the potential of small phage proteins to disrupt key biological pathways and offers insights into the evolutionary dynamics between phages and their hosts.
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Xiaoxu Li, Ximing Pu, Xingming Wang, Juan Wang, Xiaoming Liao, Zhongbin Huang, Guangfu Yin
Summary: The blockage of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and the lack of specific targeting remain major obstacles and challenges in targeted nano-pharmaceutical therapy for glioblastoma (GBM). In this study, a dual-targeting ligand for GBM was screened using a combination of phage display peptide library biopanning and affinity-adaptability analysis. The optimized WTW peptide showed high affinity to U251-MG cells and moderate affinity to bEnd.3 cells, allowing for receptor-mediated internalization, transport, and specific binding to GBM cells. In vitro and in vivo experiments demonstrated that WTW peptide had improved BBB penetration efficiency and GBM accumulation compared to other peptides tested. The screened WTW peptide has the potential to advance GBM targeted therapy.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICS
(2023)
Article
Immunology
In-Young Chung, Bi-O Kim, Ju-Hyun Han, Jonggwan Park, Hee Kyoung Kang, Yoonkyung Park, You-Hee Cho
Summary: The study reveals a new method inspired by phages for antibacterial discovery. Critical residues in the bioactivity of the Tip protein were identified, and a synthetic 15-aa peptide P1 showed potential in inhibiting Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections.
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, Analytical
Sandra Oloketuyi, Robert Bernedo, Andreas Christmann, Justyna Borkowska, Giulia Cazzaniga, Horst Wilhelm Schuchmann, Joanna Niedziolka-Joensson, Katarzyna Szot-Karpinska, Harald Kolmar, Ario de Marco
Summary: C-reactive protein (CRP) is an inflammation biomarker that should be accurately quantified during infections and healing processes. Nanobodies show promise as alternatives to conventional antibodies in immunodiagnostics, with the ability to achieve higher binder density on capture surfaces. By comparing two different selection strategies, researchers were able to isolate anti-CRP nanobodies with low nanomolar affinity, suitable for use in ELISA and immunoprecipitation assays. One of the nanobodies was fused to SpyTag and used in an electrochemical biosensor to detect CRP with high sensitivity.
Review
Biochemical Research Methods
Diana Gutierrez, Yves Briers
Summary: Phage lysins are advanced antibacterials that degrade peptidoglycan, now being developed as effective treatment against Gram-negative pathogens. Three research approaches have been explored: lysins with a positively charged C-terminus for disrupting outer membranes, physical/chemical methods for membrane integrity, and protein engineering for membrane permeability.
CURRENT OPINION IN BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Tianmin Wang, Ping Shen, Yihui He, Yuzhen Zhang, Jintao Liu
Summary: This study used RAINBOW-seq to profile the transcriptome of Escherichia coli biofilm communities and discovered three modes of community-level coordination. It also revealed that the nutrient-limited region of the community maintained a high level of metabolism and expressed various signaling genes and functionally unknown genes with potential sociality functions.
NATURE CHEMICAL BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Karl W. Barber, Ellen Shrock, Stephen J. Elledge
Summary: CRISPR-inspired systems have been developed for genome editing and nucleic acid detection. The CRISPR-based peptide display technology introduced in this study allows for customized, high-throughput in vitro protein interaction studies by self-assembling bespoke peptide libraries on a DNA microarray surface for rapid, multiplexed binding assays. This platform shows promise for viral epitope mapping and multiplexed diagnostics.
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Emily J. Geddes, Zhong Li, Paul J. Hergenrother
Summary: Discovering novel broad-spectrum antibiotics has been challenging due to the impermeability of Gram-negative membranes. However, the development of new methodologies and rules has enabled the prediction of compound accumulation in E. coli, offering a new approach for antibiotic discovery.
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Yue Cao, Dipesh Khanal, Jinhee Kim, Rachel Yoon Kyung Chang, Alex Seungyeon Byun, Sandra Morales, Mark M. Banaszak Holl, Hak-Kim Chan
Summary: This study investigates the effect of common organic solvents on the stability of bacteriophages. The results show that the bacteriophages are more stable in alcohols and DMSO, and myoviruses tend to be more stable than podoviruses. The choice of solvents for phage formulation depends on the specific phage and solvent types.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICS
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Camilla D. de Mattos, Dominick R. Faith, Artem A. Nemudryi, Amelia K. Schmidt, DeAnna C. Bublitz, Lauren Hammond, Margie A. Kinnersley, Caleb M. Schwartzkopf, Autumn J. Robinson, Alex Joyce, Lia A. Michaels, Robert S. Brzozowski, Alison Coluccio, Denghui David Xing, Jumpei Uchiyama, Laura K. Jennings, Prahathees Eswara, Blake Wiedenheft, Patrick R. Secor
Summary: This study reveals how Pseudomonas aeruginosa assesses threats of cellular injury by using polyamines released by dying cells and linear DNA.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2023)
Review
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Pranav P. Kalelkar, Milan Riddick, Andres J. Garcia
Summary: This review discusses the use of antibacterial biomaterials and non-antibiotic therapies to improve the ability to combat antibiotic resistance and recurring infections. Utilizing biomaterials allows for targeted delivery of multiple agents while reducing systemic adverse effects, showing great potential for future development.
NATURE REVIEWS MATERIALS
(2022)