Review
Infectious Diseases
Patrick R. Lennard, Pieter S. Hiemstra, Peter H. Nibbering
Summary: The combination of host defence peptides (HDPs) and antibiotics shows promise in the treatment of antimicrobial resistant (AMR) bacterial infections. Despite biases in the current literature, studies suggest that effective combinations of HDPs and antibiotics hold potential for future treatment of AMR infections.
Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Jenisha Ghimire, Robert J. Hart, Anabel Soldano, Charles H. Chen, Shantanu Guha, Joseph P. Hoffmann, Kalen M. Hall, Leisheng Sun, Benjamin J. Nelson, Timothy K. Lu, Jay K. Kolls, Mario Rivera, Lisa A. Morici, William C. Wimley
Summary: In this study, we investigated the antimicrobial activity of a lineage of synthetic peptides called D-CONGA against drug-resistant, biofilm-forming bacteria in wounds. Most peptide variants showed lower antibacterial activity against certain pathogens with altered properties, but a variant called D-CONGA-Q7 had higher activity against both planktonic and biofilm-forming bacteria with lower toxicity to human cells. We also found that clinical isolates of Klebsiella pneumoniae were resistant to D-CONGA but susceptible to D-CONGA-Q7. Overall, D-CONGA-Q7 demonstrated improved activity and resistance against Gram-negative bacteria compared to its predecessor.
ACS INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Jenisha Ghimire, Robert J. Hart, Anabel Soldano, Charles H. Chen, Shantanu Guha, Joseph P. Hoffmann, Kalen M. Hall, Leisheng Sun, Benjamin J. Nelson, Timothy K. Lu, Jay K. Kolls, Mario Rivera, Lisa A. Morici, William C. Wimley
Summary: In this study, we continued the synthetic molecular evolution of a lineage of host-compatible antimicrobial peptides (AMP) for the treatment of drug-resistant, biofilm-forming bacterial infections. We tested variants of an evolved AMP called D-CONGA, and identified a variant called D-CONGA-Q7 with higher activity against bacteria and lower cytotoxicity against human fibroblasts. We also found that while some clinical isolates of Klebsiella pneumoniae had innate resistance to D-CONGA, they were susceptible to D-CONGA-Q7. D-CONGA-Q7 showed less vulnerability to antimicrobial peptide resistance in Gram-negative bacteria and has a significantly better activity profile.
ACS INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2023)
Article
Biology
M. A. Hanson, S. Kondo, B. Lemaitre
Summary: Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) play a crucial role in defending against infection in plants and animals. A study on Drosophila has revealed that the Drosocin gene encodes two prominent host defense peptides with different specificities against distinct pathogens.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY B-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Fisheries
Jianhong Ouyang, Yiyun Zhu, Weijing Hao, Xia Wang, Huaixin Yang, Xinyi Deng, Tingting Feng, Yong Huang, Haining Yu, Yipeng Wang
Summary: In this study, three host defense peptides (HDPs) exhibited potent and broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity against aquatic pathogenic bacteria and effectively modulated anti-infective immune responses in largemouth bass. They also showed potential in combating biofilm-related infections and significantly enhancing the survival rate of bacteria-challenged largemouth bass while decreasing bacterial resistance compared to conventional antibiotics. These results suggest the promising use of these HDPs as novel anti-infective agents in largemouth bass culture.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Aaron P. Decker, Abraham F. Mechesso, Guangshun Wang
Summary: Unlike the alpha-helical and beta-sheet antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), amino acid-rich AMPs have limited knowledge. This article conducted a systematic study on rich AMPs (>25%) from different life kingdoms using the Antimicrobial Peptide Database (APD) and program R. Of the 3425 peptides analyzed, 724 rich AMPs were identified. The distribution of rich AMPs differs among animals, bacteria, and plants. Certain amino acids are frequently observed in rich AMPs, while others are occasionally observed or not yet found. These findings can guide peptide design and rich AMPs show promise as future antibiotics.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Jian Lu, Yuxuan Zhang, Jun Wu, Jianhua Wang
Summary: This study investigated the impact of antimicrobial peptide intervention on antimicrobial resistance in aquaculture by analyzing the abundance of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in various samples. The results showed that cecropin treatment significantly reduced the absolute abundance of ARGs, while antibiotic treatment had the opposite effect. Network analysis revealed that cecropin treatment could decrease the occurrence of multi-drug resistant bacteria and the correlation between genera and ARGs.
JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Weipan Xu, Zheng Ma, Geetika Dhanda, Jayanta Haldar, Hexin Xie
Summary: The expression of B-lactamase in bacteria has led to significant resistance to clinically important B-lactam antibiotics. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) have emerged as potential therapeutic agents to combat antibiotic resistance, but their cytotoxicity has been a major concern. This study reports a novel cephalosporin-caged AMP that shows reduced cytotoxicity and hemolytic activity, but becomes highly active against bacteria upon specific hydrolysis by antimicrobial resistance-causing B-lactamase. Further investigations demonstrate that this B-lactamase-activatable AMP selectively inactivates resistant bacterial pathogens. This strategy could be applicable to other AMPs for the treatment of infectious diseases caused by B-lactamase-expressing pathogenic bacteria.
CHINESE CHEMICAL LETTERS
(2023)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Nico van Os, Ali Javed, Femke Broere, Albert van Dijk, Melanie D. Balhuizen, Martin van Eijk, Suzan H. M. Rooijakkers, Bart W. Bardoel, Dani A. C. Heesterbeek, Henk P. Haagsman, Edwin Veldhuizen
Summary: CR-163 and CR-172 exhibit broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity by disrupting bacterial membranes. Additionally, PepBiotics can bind to LPS and LTA, replacing the role of polymyxin B. The study also demonstrates that bacteria killed by PepBiotics are less likely to stimulate immune cells compared to gentamicin and heat-killed bacteria, which still elicit a strong immune response.
JOURNAL OF GLOBAL ANTIMICROBIAL RESISTANCE
(2022)
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.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Judeng Zeng, Chuan Xie, Lin Zhang, Xiaodong Liu, Matthew Tak Vai Chan, William Ka Kei Wu, Huarong Chen
Summary: This article focuses on the virulence factors necessary for the colonization and survival of H. pylori in the host gastric mucosa, as well as the host's antimicrobial responses to H. pylori infection. Additionally, the current treatments for H. pylori eradication are described, along with insights into new therapeutic strategies.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Review
Infectious Diseases
Waqas Ali, Ahmad Elsahn, Darren S. J. Ting, Harminder S. Dua, Imran Mohammed
Summary: One of the major challenges in the medical community today is the increasing antimicrobial resistance (AMR) coupled with the reduction in available antimicrobial treatments. The overuse of antibiotics has led to a significant rise in AMR, with estimates suggesting over 10 million lives could be lost by 2050. Host Defence Peptides (HDPs) have shown promise as an alternative to traditional antibiotics, demonstrating efficacy against currently resistant microbial variants. In light of the global COVID-19 pandemic, the potential use of HDPs as a therapeutic option and preventive measure against the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 variant has been examined.
Article
Veterinary Sciences
Jie Chen, Chi-Ying Zhang, Jing-Yi Chen, Rachel Wan Xin Seah, Le Zhang, Li Ma, Guo-Hua Ding
Summary: This study is the first to report the antibacterial activity and mechanism of amphibian LEAP2. The chemically synthesized Ll-LEAP2 mature peptide displayed selective antimicrobial activity against several bacteria by disrupting bacterial membrane and hydrolyzing bacterial gDNA. Further research is needed to explore the immunomodulatory functions and wound-healing activities of Ll-LEAP2.
BMC VETERINARY RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Benjamin J. Evert, Valentin A. Slesarenko, Jilsy M. J. Punnasseril, Taha, Jian Zhan, Yaoqi Zhou, Evgeny A. Semchenko, Kate L. Seib
Summary: Neisseria gonorrhoeae is a growing public health threat due to its increasing incidence and antibiotic resistance. Researchers have designed peptides to target and disrupt the activity of the MtrCDE efflux pump, which is responsible for antibiotic resistance in many strains of N. gonorrhoeae. The peptides were able to increase the susceptibility of N. gonorrhoeae strains to antibiotics in a dose-dependent manner without toxicity to human cells. These peptides may be developed as a dual treatment with existing antibiotics for multidrug-resistant gonococcal infections.
ANTIMICROBIAL AGENTS AND CHEMOTHERAPY
(2022)
Review
Chemistry, Medicinal
Andrea Bosso, Antimo Di Maro, Valeria Cafaro, Alberto Di Donato, Eugenio Notomista, Elio Pizzo
CURRENT TOPICS IN MEDICINAL CHEMISTRY
(2020)
Review
Chemistry, Medicinal
Rosa Gaglione, Elio Pizzo, Eugenio Notomista, Cesar de la Fuente-Nunez, Angela Arciello
CURRENT TOPICS IN MEDICINAL CHEMISTRY
(2020)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Fabiano Cimmino, Angela Catapano, Giovanna Trinchese, Gina Cavaliere, Rosanna Culurciello, Chiara Fogliano, Eduardo Penna, Valeria Lucci, Marianna Crispino, Bice Avallone, Elio Pizzo, Maria Pina Mollica
Summary: Obesity and metabolic disturbances are increasing globally due to unhealthy diets and lack of physical activity, leading to non-communicable diseases. Nutritional components can modulate metabolic homeostasis, with DMG-gold showing promise in preventing or delaying NCD onset.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Erosantonio Lampitella, Nicola Landi, Rosario Oliva, Rosa Gaglione, Andrea Bosso, Federica De Lise, Sara Ragucci, Angela Arciello, Luigi Petraccone, Elio Pizzo, Pompea Del Vecchio, Antimo Di Maro
Summary: Ageritin is a prototype of a new ribotoxin-like protein family that has selective toxicity towards cancer cells, possibly due to its interaction with anionic lipids.
JOURNAL OF BIOCHEMISTRY
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Filomena Sica, Irene Russo Krauss, Romualdo Troisi, Andrea Bosso, Rosanna Culurciello, Carla Carluccio, Mariateresa Trapani, Antonello Merlino, Lelio Mazzarella, Elio Pizzo
Summary: The crystal structure of SS-RNase-2 from Salmo salar has revealed a novel auto-inhibition mechanism by obstructing the active site with an extra pentapeptide, altering the organization of the catalytic triad. Possible mechanisms to remove the active site obstruction have been studied and useful information has been provided through the production of two mutants.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL MACROMOLECULES
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Angela Cesaro, Marcelo D. T. Torres, Rosa Gaglione, Eliana Dell'Olmo, Rocco Di Girolamo, Andrea Bosso, Elio Pizzo, Henk P. Haagsman, Edwin J. A. Veldhuizen, Cesar de la Fuente-Nunez, Angela Arciello
Summary: Encrypted peptides in the human proteome have been found to have potent antimicrobial activity against drug-resistant bacteria, without causing bacterial resistance. Blood may serve as an important source of antimicrobials.
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Nicola Landi, Sara Ragucci, Rosanna Culurciello, Rosita Russo, Mariangela Valletta, Paolo Pedone, Elio Pizzo, Antimo Di Maro
Summary: Porcini mushrooms are widely used in cooking for their excellent taste, but cases of food poisoning have been reported recently. Two novel ribotoxin-like proteins have been isolated from Boletus edulis mushrooms, showing different toxic activities on normal and tumoral human cells. Proper cooking of porcini mushrooms is crucial to prevent poisoning due to the presence of these toxins.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Marialuisa Siepi, Rosario Oliva, Antonio Masino, Rosa Gaglione, Angela Arciello, Rosita Russo, Antimo Di Maro, Anna Zanfardino, Mario Varcamonti, Luigi Petraccone, Pompea Del Vecchio, Marcello Merola, Elio Pizzo, Eugenio Notomista, Valeria Cafaro
Summary: Environment-sensitive fluorophores are valuable tools for studying molecular and cellular processes, allowing for monitoring of local microenvironment changes. Luciferin and aminoluciferin are fluorophores with unique properties, showing solvatochromism and sensitivity to pH and water abundance. They have potential applications in studying proteins and peptides, as demonstrated by their use in bioactive peptide derivatives.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Food Science & Technology
Rosanna Culurciello, Andrea Bosso, Giovanni Di Fabio, Armando Zarrelli, Angela Arciello, Francesca Carella, Leonardo Leonardi, Laura Pazzaglia, Gionata De Vico, Elio Pizzo
Summary: Extracts from Artemisia annua have long been used in traditional medicine to treat various diseases due to their anti-malarial, anti-cancer, and other therapeutic effects. Different extraction methods could result in varying toxicity and apoptosis induction effects on cancer cells.
Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Andrea Bosso, Rosa Gaglione, Rocco Di Girolamo, Edwin J. A. Veldhuizen, Pilar Garcia-Vello, Salvatore Fusco, Valeria Cafaro, Maria Monticelli, Rosanna Culurciello, Eugenio Notomista, Angela Arciello, Elio Pizzo
Summary: In this study, the promising anti-biofilm and immunomodulatory activities of human HDP GVF27 against Burkholderia multivorans and Burkholderia cenocepacia were discovered. GVF27 exhibited inhibitory effects on the biofilms of both bacterial strains, and showed synergistic effects with ciprofloxacin. Furthermore, GVF27 demonstrated interaction with the lipopolysaccharides isolated from B. cenocepacia, and had the ability to mitigate the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines in human cells stimulated by the same endotoxin.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Sara Ragucci, Hafiza Zumra Fatima Hussain, Andrea Bosso, Nicola Landi, Angela Clemente, Paolo Vincenzo Pedone, Elio Pizzo, Antimo Di Maro
Summary: White button mushroom is a widely consumed edible mushroom with rich nutrients and bioactive molecules. A novel ribotoxin-like protein (RL-P) with specific ribonucleolytic activity has been purified and characterized from this mushroom, showing lower thermal stability compared to RL-Ps from other mushrooms.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Rosanna Culurciello, Andrea Bosso, Romualdo Troisi, Valentina Barrella, Ilaria Di Nardo, Margherita Borriello, Rosa Gaglione, Valeria Pistorio, Serena Aceto, Valeria Cafaro, Eugenio Notomista, Filomena Sica, Angela Arciello, Elio Pizzo
Summary: The study found that human angiogenin (ANG) can change its subcellular localization under different cellular stresses and regulate cellular homeostasis in HaCaT cells. This research provides new insights into the potential functions of ANG in the stress response of human skin.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Rosario Oliva, Marco Campanile, Pompea Del Vecchio, Elio Pizzo, Andrea Bosso, Roland Winter, Luigi Petraccone
Summary: In this study, we found that GKY10, a shorter version of the antimicrobial peptide GKY20, retains similar antimicrobial activity and membrane perturbing capability as the parent peptide. Despite being only half the length of GKY20, GKY10 exhibits the ability to adopt a helical structure and induce lipid segregation upon membrane binding. These findings suggest that the amino acid sequence of GKY10 is responsible for most of the observed behaviors of GKY20, providing useful information for the design and development of new antimicrobial peptides.
PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY CHEMICAL PHYSICS
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Cristina Di Carluccio, Rosa Ester Forgione, Andrea Bosso, Shinji Yokoyama, Yoshiyuki Manabe, Elio Pizzo, Antonio Molinaro, Koichi Fukase, Marco Fragai, Barbara A. Bensing, Roberta Marchetti, Alba Silipo
Summary: This study explores the mechanism of interaction between streptococcal Siglec-like adhesins and sialoglycans, revealing differences in binding modes compared to mammalian Siglecs. The findings pave the way for the development of tailored synthetic inhibitors and therapeutics specific for Streptococcal adhesins to combat infective endocarditis without disrupting the interaction between Siglecs and glycans.
RSC CHEMICAL BIOLOGY
(2021)
Meeting Abstract
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
R. Culurciello, A. Bosso, A. Arciello, E. Pizzo