Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Gubran Khalil Mohammed, Roland Bottger, Andor Krizsan, Daniela Volke, Marina Moetzing, Shyh-Dar Li, Daniel Knappe, Ralf Hoffmann
Summary: The prodrug strategy of linking polyethylene glycol (PEGs) with proline-rich AMP Onc72 is tested for the first time in vivo. The PEGylation protects Onc72 from degradation and provides a prolonged release, leading to stable Onc72 concentrations and high antibacterial activities. The prodrugs show promising safety margins and extended elimination half-life in mice.
ADVANCED HEALTHCARE MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Fei Wu, Yi Gong, Lili Song, Haoyi Li, Xiangmin Zhang, Hongyan Li, Shicui Zhang
Summary: This study demonstrates that Pt5-1c promotes wound closure in vitro and accelerates healing and re-epithelialization in vivo. It activates migration and proliferation of fibroblasts and promotes collagen contraction. Pt5-1c shows potential as a therapeutic candidate for promoting wound healing.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Xuewu Zhu, Fangyi Chen, Shuang Li, Hui Peng, Ke-Jian Wang
Summary: The abuse of antibiotics in aquaculture and livestock has contributed to the rise of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Research on identifying substitutes for antibiotics from marine animals, specifically antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), shows promise. The discovery of the novel AMP gene Sparanegtin in mud crabs highlights its potential as an alternative to antibiotics. Sparanegtin exhibits antibacterial activity against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, and also damages the cell walls and surfaces of P. aeruginosa. Furthermore, Sparanegtin plays an immunoprotective role in preventing Vibrio alginolyticus infection in mud crabs.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Jian Peng, Yue Wang, Zhaoyin Wu, Chengju Mao, Lu Li, Huijun Cao, Zhilang Qiu, Guo Guo, Guiyou Liang, Feng Shen
Summary: The antimicrobial peptide Cec4 effectively clears multidrug-resistant A. baumannii by altering bacterial cell membrane permeability, polarity, and increasing intracellular reactive oxygen species. Cec4 affects the expression of important genes related to the secretion system, outer membrane, and efflux pump in A. baumannii. It does not easily induce stable drug resistance in bacteria. In vivo experiments show that Cec4 has good therapeutic potential with low toxicity against cells and tissues, effectively improving survival rates and reducing bacterial load in infected mice.
DRUG DESIGN DEVELOPMENT AND THERAPY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Bing Wang, Yang Yao, PengWei Wei, ChaoRong Song, Shan Wan, SuWen Yang, Gui Ming Zhu, Hong Mei Liu
Summary: Housefly-derived Phormicin peptides showed antimicrobial effects against MRSA infections, disrupting biofilm formation and regulating gene networks related to biofilm formation. These findings suggest that Phormicin has potential as a candidate agent for clinical MRSA chemotherapy.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL MACROMOLECULES
(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
Microbiology
Anna Dahlman, Manoj Puthia, Jitka Petrlova, Artur Schmidtchen, Ganna Petruk
Summary: TCP-25, an antimicrobial peptide with antibacterial and immunomodulatory effects, demonstrates the ability to inhibit Candida growth and reduce associated inflammation. Both in vitro and in vivo experiments validate the therapeutic potential of TCP-25 against Candida infections.
ANTIMICROBIAL AGENTS AND CHEMOTHERAPY
(2021)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Erik Melander, Camilla Eriksson, Sara Wellens, Kimia Hosseini, Robert Fredriksson, Fabien Gosselet, Maxime Culot, Ulf Goransson, Margareta Hammarlund-Udenaes, Irena Loryan
Summary: The blood-brain barrier poses challenges to drug delivery to the CNS. CD4, γδT cells, mononuclear phagocytes, mononuclear phagocytes-like antigen-presenting cells, NK cells, NKT cells, resident macrophage-like cells, and neutrophils in the CNS are mainly involved in the innate immune response, while B cells, macrophage-like cells, and T cells play a key role in the acquired immune response.The above findings suggest that cCPPs can serve as potential CNS drug delivery scaffolds, and the differences in their transport across the BBB and cellular uptake abilities are important factors to consider in the development of peptide-based drug delivery systems.
Article
Microbiology
Zhongjie Li, Xiaoyuan Jing, Yaping Yuan, Yingbin Shui, Shasha Li, Zhuoran Zhao, Bo Deng, Wenlu Zhang
Summary: Phibilin, a new antimicrobial peptide obtained from Philomycus bilineatus, effectively inhibits the growth and activities of antifungal-resistant Candida albicans. It acts as a fungicidal peptide by disrupting the membrane and interacting with the DNA of the fungi. Moreover, Phibilin induces necrosis in C. albicans via the ROS-related pathway and inhibits biofilm formation. In addition, it displays a synergistic effect with clotrimazole and shows promising results in a mouse cutaneous infection model.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Synnove Brandt Raeder, Erik Thorvaldsen Sandbakken, Anala Nepal, Kirsti Loseth, Kare Bergh, Eivind Witso, Marit Otterlei
Summary: The study investigates the antibacterial effects of APIM-peptides on Staphylococcus epidermidis and their potential use in preventing prosthetic joint infections. Results show rapid bactericidal effect and increased efficacy of gentamicin when used together. In vivo bone graft model in rats demonstrates that the combination of APIM-peptides and gentamicin is more effective than gentamicin alone. These findings suggest that APIM-peptides could be a promising new drug candidate for combating resistant bacteria and chronic PJI.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biology
Fabrice Jean-Pierre, Thomas H. Hampton, Daniel Schultz, Deborah A. Hogan, Marie-Christine Groleau, Eric Deziel, George A. O'Toole
Summary: Interspecies interactions can lead to unexpected microbial phenotypes not observed in monocultures. The lack of in vitro models integrating microbial diversity in the CF airway hinders understanding of why polymicrobial communities are resistant to therapy. We built a mixed community model biofilm, incorporating clinical data, to study the effects of tobramycin treatment on the microorganisms.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Marco Artini, Esther Imperlini, Francesco Buonocore, Michela Relucenti, Fernando Porcelli, Orlando Donfrancesco, Vanessa Tuccio Guarna Assanti, Ersilia Vita Fiscarelli, Rosanna Papa, Laura Selan
Summary: This study demonstrates the anti-biofilm and anti-virulence activity of KHS-Cnd against clinical strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. It impairs biofilm development and causes biofilm disaggregation, while also reducing adhesion to host cells and inhibiting invasion. The potential of KHS-Cnd as a therapeutic agent against P. aeruginosa is highlighted.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Aaron P. Decker, Yajuan Su, Biswajit Mishra, Atul Verma, Tamara Lushnikova, Jingwei Xie, Guangshun Wang
Summary: This study investigates the effects of peptide stability on antimicrobial and antibiofilm activity and finds that peptide antimicrobial activity is critical for in vivo efficacy. Using a nanofiber/microneedle delivery device can protect peptides from degradation and provide a new approach for direct use of natural peptides or their cocktails for antimicrobial treatment.
MOLECULAR PHARMACEUTICS
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Maolin Tian, Kai Wang, Yan Liang, Jinwei Chai, Jiena Wu, Haiyun Zhang, Xiaowen Huang, Xin Chen, Xueqing Xu
Summary: In this study, a Brevinin-1 peptide named Brevinin-1GHd was identified from Hoplobatrachus rugulosus, which has potent antimicrobial activity and immune regulation. It can inhibit inflammation and significantly suppress acute edema development in mice, making it a promising novel therapeutic drug for infectious inflammation.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
He Liu, Na Yang, Da Teng, Ruoyu Mao, Ya Hao, Xuanxuan Ma, Jianhua Wang
Summary: This study successfully obtained the peptide NZL with enhanced antimicrobial activity through designing derivatives based on the NZ2114 template. NZL showed potent activity against S. hyicus in vitro and in a mouse peritonitis model, suggesting its potential as a novel candidate for combating S. hyicus infections.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Pediatrics
Stefanie Theuring, Mascha Kern, Franziska Hommes, Marcus A. A. Mall, Joachim Seybold, Frank P. P. Mockenhaupt, Toivo Glatz, Tobias Kurth
Summary: During the COVID-19 pandemic, children and adolescents worldwide have been disproportionately affected in their psychological health and wellbeing. A cohort study in Germany found that anxiety symptoms among school children decreased from June to August 2021, but increased again in September 2021. Factors such as gender, school type, household education and income level, and COVID-19 vaccination were significantly associated with reporting anxiety symptoms.
CHILD AND ADOLESCENT PSYCHIATRY AND MENTAL HEALTH
(2023)
Article
Pediatrics
Oliver Weinheimer, Philip Konietzke, Willi L. Wagner, Dorothea Weber, Beverly Newman, Craig J. Galban, Hans-Ulrich Kauczor, Marcus A. Mall, Terry E. Robinson, Mark O. Wielpuetz
Summary: This study aimed to quantify airway dimensions and air trapping on chest CT scans of school-age children with mild CF-lung disease over two years, and found that there were regional interdependencies between wall thickening and air trapping, as well as short-term regional interdependencies between air trapping and an increase in bronchiectasis.
FRONTIERS IN PEDIATRICS
(2023)
Article
Cell Biology
Marija Gredic, Vinita Sharma, Stefan Hadzic, Cheng-Yu Wu, Oleg Pak, Baktybek Kojonazarov, Julia Duerr, Marcus A. A. Mall, Andreas Guenther, Ralph T. T. Schermuly, Friedrich Grimminger, Werner Seeger, Simone Kraut, Natascha Sommer, Norbert Weissmann
Summary: This study aimed to investigate the effect of iNOS gene deletion on elastase-induced emphysema in mice. The results showed that iNOS gene deletion did not produce significant therapeutic effects on elastase-induced lung emphysema and pulmonary hypertension. Therefore, this study suggests that iNOS expression in pulmonary vascular or stromal cells might play a critical role in lung regeneration in emphysema.
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Eva Steinke, Olaf Sommerburg, Simon Y. Graeber, Cornelia Joachim, Christiane Labitzke, Gyde Nissen, Isabell Ricklefs, Isa Rudolf, Matthias V. Kopp, Anna-Maria Dittrich, Marcus A. Mall, Mirjam Stahl
Summary: This study is a prospective, longitudinal cohort study aimed at determining influencing factors of early cystic fibrosis (CF) lung disease through the combined analysis of clinical information and biomaterials. The primary endpoints are the lung clearance index and magnetic resonance imaging scores, while secondary endpoints include pulmonary exacerbations, infection with pro-inflammatory pathogens, and anthropometric data.
FRONTIERS IN MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Respiratory System
Patricia Leutz-Schmidt, Daiva-Elzbieta Optazaite, Olaf Sommerburg, Monika Eichinger, Sabine Wege, Eva Steinke, Simon Y. Graeber, Michael U. Puderbach, Jens-Peter Schenk, Abdulsattar Alrajab, Simon M. F. Triphan, Hans-Ulrich Kauczor, Mirjam Stahl, Marcus A. Mall, Mark O. Wielputz
Summary: This study evaluated the occurrence of bronchial artery dilatation (BAD) in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) and its association with disease severity using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The results showed that the onset of BAD was associated with disease severity, lung function, and chronic Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection. This finding is important for assessing the severity of CF.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Stephen G. J. Smith, Catherine M. Greene
Summary: This study investigates the expression of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in alpha-1 antitrypsin (AAT) deficiency and explores the effect of AAT augmentation therapy on the lncRNA expression profile in ZZ monocytes. Results show that AAT augmentation therapy alters the expression of numerous lncRNAs in ZZ monocytes, and many of these changes are consistent with the effects observed in ZZ monocytes treated ex vivo with AAT. These findings provide insights into the potential mechanisms underlying the diverse effects of AAT augmentation therapy.
Article
Critical Care Medicine
Jennifer L. Goralski, Jordana E. Hoppe, Marcus A. Mall, Susanna A. McColley, Edward McKone, Bonnie Ramsey, Jonathan H. Rayment, Phil Robinson, Florian Stehling, Jennifer L. Taylor-Cousar, Elizabeth Tullis, Neil Ahluwalia, Anna Chin, Chenghao Chu, Mengdi Lu, Tao Niu, Tanya Weinstock, Felix Ratjen, Margaret Rosenfeld
Summary: This study evaluated the safety, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and efficacy of Elexacaftor/tezacaftor/ivacaftor in children aged 2-5 years. The results showed that the treatment was generally safe and well-tolerated in this age group and led to reductions in sweat chloride concentration and lung clearance index.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF RESPIRATORY AND CRITICAL CARE MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Respiratory System
Annalisa Addante, Wilfred Raymond, Irina Gitlin, Annabelle Charbit, Xavier Orain, Aaron Wolfe Scheffler, Aditi Kuppe, Julia Duerr, Maria Daniltchenko, Marika Drescher, Simon Y. Graeber, Anne -Marie Healy, Stefan Oscarson, John V. Fahy, Marcus A. Mall
Summary: A novel carbohydrate compound, MUC-031, has been found to effectively cleave disulfide bonds in mucus, reducing mucus formation in patients with cystic fibrosis and muco-obstructive lung diseases. It has shown promising results in mice, improving airway mucus plugging, inflammation, and survival.
EUROPEAN RESPIRATORY JOURNAL
(2023)
Review
Chemistry, Medicinal
Nour Mammari, Quentin Albert, Marc Devocelle, Masa Kenda, Nina Kocevar Glavac, Marija Sollner Dolenc, Laura Mercolini, Jaroslav Toth, Nagy Milan, Szilvia Czigle, Mihayl Varbanov
Summary: The common cold is a usually harmless infectious disease of the upper respiratory pathway, with mostly mild symptoms. However, it can lead to serious complications and even death in vulnerable patients. Treatment for the common cold is symptomatic, with the use of analgesics, antihistamines, decongestants, and local treatments. Medicinal plant specialties have shown efficacy in treating the common cold, as discussed in this review.
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Mihayl Varbanov, Daniele Bensoussan, Marc Devocelle
Summary: Internationalisation and the need for interaction with international partners are vital for a pharmacist's career. This study aims to provide a preliminary investigation into the current status of pre-professional mobility of pharmacy students. It is the first case study of international pre-professional mobility of pharmacy students in France, with a focus on the north-eastern region. The study is based on a recent survey conducted in 2020 at the University of Lorraine's Faculty of Pharmacy, highlighting the impact of international mobility programs, such as the Erasmus+ program, on the pharmacy curriculum. The results suggest that, despite barriers, international pre-professional mobility has generally positive outcomes.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Vladimir G. Magalhaes, Soeren Lukassen, Maike Drechsler, Jennifer Loske, Sandy S. Burkart, Sandra Wuest, Eva-Maria Jacobsen, Jobst Roehmel, Marcus A. Mall, Klaus-Michael Debatin, Roland Eils, Stella Autenrieth, Ales Janda, Irina Lehmann, Marco Binder
Summary: Children have a stronger innate immune response and enhanced cytokine-mediated interactions with epithelial cells, which may explain their remarkable resistance to COVID-19.
Editorial Material
Genetics & Heredity
Catherine M. Greene
Article
Cell Biology
Sanja Blaskovic, Pinelopi Anagnostopoulou, Elena Borisova, Dominik Schittny, Yves Donati, David Haberthur, Zhe Zhou-Suckow, Marcus A. Mall, Christian M. Schleputz, Marco Stampanoni, Constance Barazzone-Argiroffo, Johannes C. Schittny
Summary: This study developed a new pipeline for analyzing all airspaces of the entire lung. The results demonstrated irregular widening of parenchymal airspaces in mice with cystic fibrosis-like lung disease and elastase-induced emphysema. The pipeline showed applicability to different imaging modalities and is suitable for studying structural alterations in chronic obstructive lung diseases.
Article
Respiratory System
Cori L. Daines, Elizabeth Tullis, Stefano Costa, Rachel W. Linnemann, Marcus A. Mall, Edward F. McKone, Deepika Polineni, Bradley S. Quon, Felix C. Ringshausen, Steven M. Rowe, Hiran Selvadurai, Jennifer L. Taylor-Cousar, Nicholas J. Withers, Neil Ahluwalia, Samuel M. Moskowitz, Valentin Prieto-Centurion, Yaoyuan Vincent Tan, Simon Tian, Tanya Weinstock, Fengjuan Xuan, Yaohua Zhang, Bonnie Ramsey, Matthias Griese
Summary: This study assessed the long-term safety and efficacy of ELX/TEZ/IVA in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) who have at least one F508del allele. The results showed that ELX/TEZ/IVA treatment was generally safe and well tolerated, with sustained improvements in lung function, respiratory symptoms, CF transmembrane conductance regulator function, pulmonary exacerbation rates, and nutritional status. These findings support the favorable safety profile and durable clinical benefits of ELX/TEZ/IVA.
EUROPEAN RESPIRATORY JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Respiratory System
Lena Wucherpfennig, Simon M. F. Triphan, Sabine Wege, Hans-Ulrich Kauczor, Claus P. Heussel, Olaf Sommerburg, Mirjam Stahl, Marcus A. Mall, Monika Eichinger, Mark O. Wielpuetz
Summary: This study found that bronchial artery dilatation (BAD) may be partially reversible under elexacaftor/tezacaftor/ivacaftor therapy in adult patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) who have established disease.
ANNALS OF THE AMERICAN THORACIC SOCIETY
(2023)