Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Morgan A. Hitchner, Matthew R. Necelis, Devanie Shirley, Gregory A. Caputo
Summary: Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) have high selectivity and are widely studied for their activity against bacterial targets. This study explored the impact of amino acid substitutions on peptide activity, finding that non-natural amino acid substitutions can enhance antimicrobial activity. Additionally, peptides exhibited deeper binding to anionic lipids and stronger bacterial membrane disruption, with a promising peptide showing high activity and low hemolysis levels.
PROBIOTICS AND ANTIMICROBIAL PROTEINS
(2021)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Samuel Cashman-Kadri, Patrick Lague, Ismail Fliss, Lucie Beaulieu
Summary: This study investigated the structure-activity relationships and mode of action of synthesized GAPDH-related antimicrobial peptides. It was found that increasing the net positive charge and hydrophobicity improved the antimicrobial and antifungal activities of the peptides. The peptides were shown to cause membrane permeabilization and target intracellular components, indicating a mixed mode of action.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Maochao Zheng, Xiaolei Wu, Chao Lu, Wancong Zhang, Shijie Tang, Ying Luo, Daojun Liu
Summary: The development of alternative antimicrobial therapeutics is needed due to the emergence of antibiotic resistance in bacterial pathogens. Polypept(o)ide-based bactericides, which mimic antimicrobial host defense peptides, have shown promise in the treatment of antibiotic-resistant and recurring infections. This review summarizes recent advances in membrane-active polypept(o)ide-based bactericides, focusing on their ability to disrupt bacterial cell walls/membranes and combat acquired antibiotic resistance and biofilm formation.
MATERIALS TODAY CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Review
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Dongru Chen, Xiangqi Liu, Yucong Chen, Huancai Lin
Summary: This review summarizes the roles and mechanisms of amyloid peptides in antimicrobial activity and microbe agglutination activity, as well as discusses the antimicrobial spectrum, peptide states, and cytotoxicity of amyloid peptides. Amyloid peptides show potential for the development of novel antimicrobial drugs.
APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY AND BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Daniela Ciumac, Haoning Gong, Richard A. Campbell, Mario Campana, Hai Xu, Jian R. Lu
Summary: Surface pressure-area isotherm analysis showed non-ideal mixing in all binary lipid systems, but it was thermodynamically favored. An increase in surface pressure leads to demixing, resulting in phase separation and cluster formation. Neutron reflectivity measurements indicated stronger binding and penetration of G4 to the DPPG/TMCL monolayer, suggesting greater affinity due to electrostatic interaction.
JOURNAL OF COLLOID AND INTERFACE SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Shiqi He, Zhanyi Yang, Xuefeng Li, Licong Zhang, Jiajun Wang, Anshan Shan
Summary: We developed a research system and evaluation criteria for proteolytic resistance of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs). We identified Dab modification as the most effective strategy to improve trypsin stability of AMPs. By optimizing the proteolytic resistance motif (DabW)n, we obtained U1-2WD with ideal stability and antimicrobial properties in vivo and in vitro. Notably, U1-2WD has a unique antibacterial mechanism, which forms amorphous aggregates in the bacteria environment to prevent bacterial escape and kills bacteria by disrupting bacterial membranes and inhibiting bacterial energy metabolism.
ACTA BIOMATERIALIA
(2022)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Asma Hussain Alkatheri, Polly Soo-Xi Yap, Aisha Abushelaibi, Kok-Song Lai, Wan-Hee Cheng, Swee-Hua Erin Lim
Summary: The bacterial membrane is crucial for protein secretion, quorum sensing, and host-bacterial interactions, and has important implications for the treatment of multidrug-resistant bacterial infections.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Anju Tyagi, Abhijit Mishra
Summary: The synthesized amphiphilic water-soluble cationic copolymers showed significant antibacterial activity against S. aureus and E. coli, with AB-10 and AB-19 demonstrating the highest efficacy without inducing hemolysis. Observations suggest that these polymers primarily kill bacterial cells by disrupting the cytoplasmic membrane, and no resistant mutants of E. coli and S. aureus were obtained with AB-19 in a 30 day serial passage study.
Article
Microbiology
Reyhane Nikookar Golestani, Elahe Ghods, Mosayeb Rostamian, Hamid Madanchi, Ahmad Farhad Talebi
Summary: This study synthesized acylated and amidated derivatives of AurH1 antifungal peptide and investigated their antifungal activity and cytotoxicity. The results showed that amidation at the C-terminal of AurH1 can improve its antifungal properties and cytotoxicity compared to acylation at the N-terminal. Moreover, amidation of the C-terminal does not affect the mechanism of action and time of killing of AurH1.
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Humaira Ilyas, Mariena J. A. van der Plas, Monica Agnoletti, Sourav Kumar, Atin Kumar Mandal, Hanudatta S. Atreya, Anirban Bhunia, Martin Malmsten
Summary: The study investigated how PEGylation affects the interaction of host defense peptides with bacterial lipopolysaccharide and the suppression of LPS-induced cell activation. The results showed that PEGylation did not compromise the anti-inflammatory effects of the peptides and even improved the suppression of LPS-induced cell activation.
BIOCONJUGATE CHEMISTRY
(2021)
Review
Chemistry, Medicinal
Vladimir Vimberg, Karolina Buriankova, Aninda Mazumdar, Pavel Branny, Gabriela B. Novotna
Summary: It is critical to gain a deeper understanding of resistance mechanisms to minimize the risks of long-term antibiotic use, particularly with the increased clinical use of antibiotics and development of bacterial resistance.
MEDICINAL RESEARCH REVIEWS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Liang Ma, Yongsheng Luo, Yong-Hao Ma, Xiaolin Lu
Summary: Antimicrobial peptides, such as CM15, interacted with a negatively charged phospholipid bilayer, DPPG, exhibiting rapid adsorption and efficient disruption due to increased positive charge from C-terminal amidation. Elevated temperatures promoted peptide penetration and eventual disruption of the entire bilayer due to enhanced fluidity. This study provides practical cues for designing high-efficiency antimicrobial peptides.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Xiaoqi Wang, Roy A. M. van Beekveld, Yang Xu, Anish Parmar, Sanjit Das, Ishwar Singh, Eefjan Breukink
Summary: This research investigated the membrane effects and antibacterial activity of three antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), including nisin, epilancin 15x, and [R4L10]-teixobactin, against three bacterial strains. Fluorescence and luminescence-based assays were used to measure the effects on membrane potential, intracellular pH, membrane permeabilization, and intracellular ATP levels. The results demonstrated that the mode of action of epilancin 15x and [R4L10]-teixobactin depended strongly on the specific bacterium tested, emphasizing the importance of using multiple assays and bacterial strains for studying the mode of action of AMPs.
BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-BIOMEMBRANES
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Areetha R. D'Souza, Matthew R. Necelis, Alona Kulesha, Gregory A. Caputo, Olga V. Makhlynets
Summary: This study examines the effect of replacing tryptophan with the non-natural amino acid Azulenyl-Alanine (AzAla) in antimicrobial peptides. The results show that this substitution preserves antimicrobial activity, improves cytocompatibility with human cells, and enhances proteolytic stability. AzAla is envisioned as a tool for studying AMP mechanisms and could enhance the application properties of AMP sequences.
Review
Infectious Diseases
Xucheng Huang, Guoli Li
Summary: The prevalence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has been increasing rapidly, posing a significant obstacle to infectious disease treatment. Finding new medicines to combat the global rise of AMR is crucial. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) and cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs), which target membranes, show promise as antibiotic substitutes. In this review, we provide a comprehensive introduction to the advancement of research on AMPs and CPPs, including their classification, mechanism of action, current application status, limitations, and optimization.
INFECTION AND DRUG RESISTANCE
(2023)