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Benedetti F, Mongodin EF, Badger JH, Munawwar A, Cellini A, Yuan W, Silvestri G, Kraus CN, Marini S, Rathinam CV, Salemi M, Tettelin H, Gallo RC, Zella D. Bacterial DnaK reduces the activity of anti-cancer drugs cisplatin and 5FU. J Transl Med 2024; 22:269. [PMID: 38475767 DOI: 10.1186/s12967-024-05078-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2024] [Accepted: 03/07/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Chemotherapy is a primary treatment for cancer, but its efficacy is often limited by cancer-associated bacteria (CAB) that impair tumor suppressor functions. Our previous research found that Mycoplasma fermentans DnaK, a chaperone protein, impairs p53 activities, which are essential for most anti-cancer chemotherapeutic responses. METHODS To investigate the role of DnaK in chemotherapy, we treated cancer cell lines with M. fermentans DnaK and then with commonly used p53-dependent anti-cancer drugs (cisplatin and 5FU). We evaluated the cells' survival in the presence or absence of a DnaK-binding peptide (ARV-1502). We also validated our findings using primary tumor cells from a novel DnaK knock-in mouse model. To provide a broader context for the clinical significance of these findings, we investigated human primary cancer sequencing datasets from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). We identified F. nucleatum as a CAB carrying DnaK with an amino acid composition highly similar to M. fermentans DnaK. Therefore, we investigated the effect of F. nucleatum DnaK on the anti-cancer activity of cisplatin and 5FU. RESULTS Our results show that both M. fermentans and F. nucleatum DnaKs reduce the effectiveness of cisplatin and 5FU. However, the use of ARV-1502 effectively restored the drugs' anti-cancer efficacy. CONCLUSIONS Our findings offer a practical framework for designing and implementing novel personalized anti-cancer strategies by targeting specific bacterial DnaKs in patients with poor response to chemotherapy, underscoring the potential for microbiome-based personalized cancer therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Benedetti
- Institute of Human Virology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Emmanuel F Mongodin
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Institute for Genome Sciences, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA
| | - Jonathan H Badger
- Laboratory of Integrative Cancer Immunology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, DHHS, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Arshi Munawwar
- Institute of Human Virology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Ashley Cellini
- Pathology Biorepository Shared Service, University of Maryland Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA
| | - Weirong Yuan
- Institute of Human Virology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Giovannino Silvestri
- Institute of Human Virology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Department of Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | | | - Simone Marini
- Emerging Pathogens Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
- Department of Epidemiology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Chozha V Rathinam
- Institute of Human Virology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Department of Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Marco Salemi
- Emerging Pathogens Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
- Department of Pathology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Hervé Tettelin
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Institute for Genome Sciences, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA
| | - Robert C Gallo
- Institute of Human Virology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
- Department of Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
| | - Davide Zella
- Institute of Human Virology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
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Gan BH, Gaynord J, Rowe SM, Deingruber T, Spring DR. The multifaceted nature of antimicrobial peptides: current synthetic chemistry approaches and future directions. Chem Soc Rev 2021; 50:7820-7880. [PMID: 34042120 PMCID: PMC8689412 DOI: 10.1039/d0cs00729c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 140] [Impact Index Per Article: 46.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Bacterial infections caused by 'superbugs' are increasing globally, and conventional antibiotics are becoming less effective against these bacteria, such that we risk entering a post-antibiotic era. In recent years, antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) have gained significant attention for their clinical potential as a new class of antibiotics to combat antimicrobial resistance. In this review, we discuss several facets of AMPs including their diversity, physicochemical properties, mechanisms of action, and effects of environmental factors on these features. This review outlines various chemical synthetic strategies that have been applied to develop novel AMPs, including chemical modifications of existing peptides, semi-synthesis, and computer-aided design. We will also highlight novel AMP structures, including hybrids, antimicrobial dendrimers and polypeptides, peptidomimetics, and AMP-drug conjugates and consider recent developments in their chemical synthesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bee Ha Gan
- Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, Cambridge CB2 1EW, UK.
| | - Josephine Gaynord
- Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, Cambridge CB2 1EW, UK.
| | - Sam M Rowe
- Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, Cambridge CB2 1EW, UK.
| | - Tomas Deingruber
- Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, Cambridge CB2 1EW, UK.
| | - David R Spring
- Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, Cambridge CB2 1EW, UK.
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Wu F, Tan C. Dead bacterial absorption of antimicrobial peptides underlies collective tolerance. J R Soc Interface 2020; 16:20180701. [PMID: 30958185 DOI: 10.1098/rsif.2018.0701] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
The collective tolerance towards antimicrobial peptides (APs) is thought to occur primarily through mechanisms associated with live bacterial cells. In contrast to the focus on live cells, we discover that the LL37 antimicrobial peptide kills a subpopulation of Escherichia coli, forming dead cells that absorb the remaining LL37 from the environment. Combining mathematical modelling with population and single-cell experiments, we show that bacteria absorb LL37 at a timing that coincides with the permeabilization of their cytoplasmic membranes. Furthermore, we show that one bacterial strain can absorb LL37 and protect another strain from killing by LL37. Finally, we demonstrate that the absorption of LL37 by dead bacteria can be reduced using a peptide adjuvant. In contrast to the known collective tolerance mechanisms, we show that the absorption of APs by dead bacteria is a dynamic process that leads to emergent population behaviour.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fan Wu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of California Davis , Davis, CA 95616 , USA
| | - Cheemeng Tan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of California Davis , Davis, CA 95616 , USA
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Efficacy of ARV-1502, a Proline-Rich Antimicrobial Peptide, in a Murine Model of Bacteremia Caused by Multi-Drug Resistant (MDR) Acinetobacter baumannii. Molecules 2019; 24:molecules24152820. [PMID: 31382389 PMCID: PMC6696424 DOI: 10.3390/molecules24152820] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2019] [Revised: 07/19/2019] [Accepted: 07/30/2019] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Acinetobacter baumannii bacteremia represents a serious and increasing clinical problem due to the high mortality and treatment failures because of high rates of antibiotic resistance. Any additional new therapies for A. baumannii bacteremia would address a growing unmet medical need. ARV-1502 (designated as Chex1-Arg20 or A3-APO monomer in prior publications) is a designer proline-rich antimicrobial peptide chaperone protein inhibitor derived from insects and has demonstrated potent activity against multi-drug resistant (MDR) Gram-negative bacteria. In the current studies, we investigated the therapeutic efficacy of ARV-1502 administered intravenously (iv) alone and in combination with imipenem/cilastatin (IPM/CIL) in a mouse bacteremia model due to a MDR clinical A. baumannii strain, HUMC1. All ARV-1502 regimens (1.25, 2.5 and 5.0 mg/kg) significantly reduced bacterial density in the target tissues in a dose-dependent manner, as compared to the untreated control and IPM/CIL monotherapy (40 mg/kg) groups in the model. In addition, ARV-1502 treatment, even at the lowest dose, significantly improved survival vs. the control and IPM alone groups. As expected, IMP/CIL monotherapy had no therapeutic efficacy in the model, since the HUMC1 strain was resistant to IMP in vitro. However, the combination of ARV-1502 and IPM/CIL significantly enhanced the efficacy of ARV-1502, except the lowest dose of ARV-1502. The superior efficacy of ARV-1502 in the bacteremia model caused by MDR A. baumannii provides further support for studying this compound in severe infections caused by other MDR Gram-positive and -negative pathogens.
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The Mechanism of Killing by the Proline-Rich Peptide Bac7(1-35) against Clinical Strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa Differs from That against Other Gram-Negative Bacteria. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2017; 61:AAC.01660-16. [PMID: 28137800 DOI: 10.1128/aac.01660-16] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2016] [Accepted: 01/15/2017] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections represent a serious threat to worldwide health. Proline-rich antimicrobial peptides (PR-AMPs), a particular group of peptide antibiotics, have demonstrated in vitro activity against P. aeruginosa strains. Here we show that the mammalian PR-AMP Bac7(1-35) is active against some multidrug-resistant cystic fibrosis isolates of P. aeruginosa By confocal microscopy and cytometric analyses, we investigated the mechanism of killing against P. aeruginosa strain PAO1 and three selected isolates, and we observed that the peptide inactivated the target cells by disrupting their cellular membranes. This effect is deeply different from that previously described for PR-AMPs in Escherichia coli and Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium, where these peptides act intracellularly after having been internalized by means of the transporter SbmA without membranolytic effects. The heterologous expression of SbmA in PAO1 cells enhanced the internalization of Bac7(1-35) into the cytoplasm, making the bacteria more susceptible to the peptide but at the same time more resistant to the membrane lysis, similarly to what occurs in E. coli The results evidenced a new mechanism of action for PR-AMPs and indicate that Bac7 has multiple and variable modes of action that depend on the characteristics of the different target species and the possibility to be internalized by bacterial transporters. This feature broadens the spectrum of activity of the peptide and makes the development of peptide-resistant bacteria a more difficult process.
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Antibacterial Peptides: Opportunities for the Prevention and Treatment of Dental Caries. Probiotics Antimicrob Proteins 2016; 3:68. [PMID: 26781572 DOI: 10.1007/s12602-011-9076-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Dental caries is a multifactorial disease that is a growing and costly global health concern. The onset of disease is a consequence of an ecological imbalance within the dental plaque biofilm that favors specific acidogenic and aciduric caries pathogens, namely Streptococcus mutans and Streptococcus sobrinus. It is now recognized by the scientific and medical community that it is neither possible nor desirable to totally eliminate dental plaque. Conversely, the chemical biocides most commonly used for caries prevention and treatment indiscriminately attack all plaque microorganisms. These treatments also suffer from other drawbacks such as bad taste, irritability, and staining. Furthermore, the public demand for safe and natural personal hygiene products continues to rise. Therefore, there are opportunities that exist to develop new strategies for the treatment of this disease. As an alternative to conventional antibiotics, antibacterial peptides have been explored greatly over the last three decades for many different therapeutic uses. There are currently tens of hundreds of antibacterial peptides characterized across the evolutionary spectrum, and among these, many demonstrate physical and/or biological properties that may be suitable for a more targeted approach to the selective control or elimination of putative caries pathogens. Additionally, many peptides, such as nisin, are odorless, colorless, and tasteless and do not cause irritation or staining. This review focuses on antibacterial peptides for their potential role in the treatment and prevention of dental caries and suggests candidates that need to be explored further. Practical considerations for the development of antibacterial peptides as oral treatments are also discussed.
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Peptides and Peptidomimetics for Antimicrobial Drug Design. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2015; 8:366-415. [PMID: 26184232 PMCID: PMC4588174 DOI: 10.3390/ph8030366] [Citation(s) in RCA: 145] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2015] [Revised: 05/27/2015] [Accepted: 06/17/2015] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The purpose of this paper is to introduce and highlight a few classes of traditional antimicrobial peptides with a focus on structure-activity relationship studies. After first dissecting the important physiochemical properties that influence the antimicrobial and toxic properties of antimicrobial peptides, the contributions of individual amino acids with respect to the peptides antibacterial properties are presented. A brief discussion of the mechanisms of action of different antimicrobials as well as the development of bacterial resistance towards antimicrobial peptides follows. Finally, current efforts on novel design strategies and peptidomimetics are introduced to illustrate the importance of antimicrobial peptide research in the development of future antibiotics.
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The development of antimicrobial peptides as an approach to prevention of antibiotic resistance. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2015. [DOI: 10.1097/mrm.0000000000000032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
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9
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Dimeric unnatural polyproline-rich peptides with enhanced antibacterial activity. Bioorg Med Chem Lett 2013; 24:556-9. [PMID: 24365160 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmcl.2013.12.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2013] [Revised: 12/04/2013] [Accepted: 12/04/2013] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
We report a dimerization strategy to enhance the antibacterial potency of an otherwise weak cationic amphiphilic polyproline helical (CAPH) peptide. Overall, the dimeric CAPHs were more active against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus than the monomeric counterpart, reaching up to a 60-fold increase in potency. At their minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), the dimeric peptides demonstrated no hemolytic activity or bacterial membrane disruption as monitored by β-galactosidase release in E. coli. At higher concentrations the dimeric agents were found to induce β-galactosidase release, but maintained negligible hemolytic activity, pointing to a potential shift in the mechanism of action at higher concentrations. Thus, discontinuous dimerization of an unnatural proline-rich peptide was a successful strategy to create potent de novo antibacterial peptides without membrane lysis.
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10
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Research Advances in Modified Antimicrobial Peptides*. PROG BIOCHEM BIOPHYS 2012. [DOI: 10.3724/sp.j.1206.2011.00544] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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11
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The potential of antimicrobial peptides as biocides. Int J Mol Sci 2011; 12:6566-96. [PMID: 22072905 PMCID: PMC3210996 DOI: 10.3390/ijms12106566] [Citation(s) in RCA: 110] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2011] [Revised: 09/22/2011] [Accepted: 09/26/2011] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Antimicrobial peptides constitute a diverse class of naturally occurring antimicrobial molecules which have activity against a wide range of pathogenic microorganisms. Antimicrobial peptides are exciting leads in the development of novel biocidal agents at a time when classical antibiotics are under intense pressure from emerging resistance, and the global industry in antibiotic research and development stagnates. This review will examine the potential of antimicrobial peptides, both natural and synthetic, as novel biocidal agents in the battle against multi-drug resistant pathogen infections.
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12
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Brogden NK, Brogden KA. Will new generations of modified antimicrobial peptides improve their potential as pharmaceuticals? Int J Antimicrob Agents 2011; 38:217-25. [PMID: 21733662 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijantimicag.2011.05.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 109] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2011] [Accepted: 05/09/2011] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
The concept of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) as potent pharmaceuticals is firmly established in the literature, and most research articles on this topic conclude by stating that AMPs represent promising therapeutic agents against bacterial and fungal pathogens. Indeed, early research in this field showed that AMPs were diverse in nature, had high activities with low minimal inhibitory concentrations, had broad spectrums of activity against bacterial, fungal and viral pathogens, and could easily be manipulated to alter their specificities, reduce their cytotoxicities and increase their antimicrobial activities. Unfortunately, commercial development of these peptides, for even the simplest of applications, has been very limited. With some peptides there are obstacles with their manufacture, in vivo efficacy and in vivo retention. More recently, the focus has shifted. Contemporary research now uses a more sophisticated approach to develop AMPs that surmount many of these prior obstacles. AMP mimetics, hybrid AMPs, AMP congeners, cyclotides and stabilised AMPs, AMP conjugates and immobilised AMPs have all emerged with selective or 'targeted' antimicrobial activities, improved retention, or unique abilities that allow them to bind to medical or industrial surfaces. These groups of new peptides have creative medical and industrial application potentials to treat antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections and septic shock, to preserve food or to sanitise surfaces both in vitro and in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole K Brogden
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40536, USA
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13
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Siano A, Húmpola MV, Rey MC, Simonetta A, Tonarelli GG. Interaction of acylated and substituted antimicrobial peptide analogs with phospholipid-polydiacetylene vesicles. Correlation with their biological properties. Chem Biol Drug Des 2011; 78:85-93. [PMID: 21496212 DOI: 10.1111/j.1747-0285.2011.01099.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
A series of peptide analogs based on region 6-22 of Plantaricin 149 sequence were synthesized. The interaction between these analogs and phospholipid-polydiacetylene vesicles was investigated to evaluate the ability of the bioassay to detect differences in the interaction of the peptides with dipalmitoylphosphatidylglycerol and dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine vesicles, associated with amino acid substitution and N-terminal conjugation of the sequences with short fatty acids (8 and 12 carbon atoms). Fatty acid conjugation of peptides with low antimicrobial activity resulted in lipopeptides with improved activity against strains of Staphylococcus aureus and Listeria monocytogenes. The length of the fatty acid determined the bacterial specificity, and the conjugation with n-octanoic acid yielded the most active analog (C8-CT) against Staphylococcus aureus strain (MIC: 1.0 μm) while the conjugation with n-dodecanoic acid (C12-CT) was optimal for Listeria monocytogenes strain (MIC: 2.0 μm). In contrast, the substitution of Phe by Trp had an unfavorable effect on the antimicrobial activity. Hemolysis tests and membrane interaction studies with dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine-polydiacetylene vesicles showed that lipopeptides interact to a greater extent with both biological and biomimetic membranes. Also, a good correlation was found between antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus strain and % colorimetric response values with dipalmitoylphosphatidylglycerol-polydiacetylene vesicles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alvaro Siano
- Departamento de Química Orgánica, Facultad de Bioquímica y Cs. Biológicas, Universidad Nacional del Litoral (U.N.L). Ciudad Universitaria, Santa Fe, Argentina
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Liebscher M, Haupt K, Yu C, Jahreis G, Lücke C, Schiene-Fischer C. Rational Design of Novel Peptidic DnaK Ligands. Chembiochem 2010; 11:1727-37. [DOI: 10.1002/cbic.201000166] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
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15
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Szabo D, Ostorhazi E, Binas A, Rozgonyi F, Kocsis B, Cassone M, Wade JD, Nolte O, Otvos L. The designer proline-rich antibacterial peptide A3-APO is effective against systemic Escherichia coli infections in different mouse models. Int J Antimicrob Agents 2010; 35:357-61. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ijantimicag.2009.10.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2009] [Revised: 09/24/2009] [Accepted: 10/19/2009] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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Abstract
There is widespread acceptance that cationic antimicrobial peptides, apart from their membrane-permeabilizing/disrupting properties, also operate through interactions with intracellular targets, or disruption of key cellular processes. Examples of intracellular activity include inhibition of DNA and protein synthesis, inhibition of chaperone-assisted protein folding and enzymatic activity, and inhibition of cytoplasmic membrane septum formation and cell wall synthesis. The purpose of this minireview is to question some widely held views about intracellular-targeting antimicrobial peptides. In particular, I focus on the relative contributions of intracellular targeting and membrane disruption to the overall killing strategy of antimicrobial peptides, as well as on mechanisms whereby some peptides are able to translocate spontaneously across the plasma membrane. Currently, there are no more than three peptides that have been convincingly demonstrated to enter microbial cells without the involvement of stereospecific interactions with a receptor/docking molecule and, once in the cell, to interfere with cellular functions. From the limited data currently available, it seems unlikely that this property, which is isolated in particular peptide families, is also shared by the hundreds of naturally occurring antimicrobial peptides that differ in length, amino acid composition, sequence, hydrophobicity, amphipathicity, and membrane-bound conformation. Microbial cell entry and/or membrane damage associated with membrane phase/transient pore or long-lived transitions could be a feature common to intracellular-targeting antimicrobial peptides and mammalian cell-penetrating peptides that have an overrepresentation of one or two amino acids, i.e. Trp and Pro, His, or Arg. Differences in membrane lipid composition, as well as differential lipid recruitment by peptides, may provide a basis for microbial cell killing on one hand, and mammalian cell passage on the other.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pierre Nicolas
- Biogenèse des Signaux Peptidiques, ER3-UPMC, Université Pierre et Marie Curie, Paris, France.
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Plunkett RM, Murray SI, Lowenberger CA. Generation and characterization of the antibacterial activity of a novel hybrid antimicrobial peptide comprising functional domains from different insect cecropins. Can J Microbiol 2009; 55:520-8. [PMID: 19483780 DOI: 10.1139/w09-001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
The search for new antimicrobial compounds involves finding novel sources of chemotherapeutic compounds or manipulating and combining structures from existing molecules. Small antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are components of innate immune defenses characterized in greatest detail in insect-derived AMPs. We have generated hybrid AMPs (hAMPs) by combining functional motifs from different insect AMPs as a proof of principle that we can generate molecules with lower minimum inhibitory concentrations, and with different activity and target specificity than either parent molecule. A two-helix, cecropin-like hAMP was created by linking the N-terminal alpha helix of cecropin A from Aedes aegypti to the C-terminal alpha helix of cecropin A1 from Drosophila melanogaster. This molecule exhibits antibacterial activity at sub-micromolar concentrations with a target specificity that differs from either parent molecule. Antibacterial activity of the hybrid molecule was found to be greater against Gram-negative than Gram-positive bacteria. No hemolysis was observed in sheep red blood cells exposed to concentrations up to 50 micromol/L, suggesting the peptide is not detrimental to eukaryotic cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard M Plunkett
- Department of Biological Sciences, Simon Fraser University, 8888 University Drive, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada.
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Induced Resistance to the Designer Proline-rich Antimicrobial Peptide A3-APO does not Involve Changes in the Intracellular Target DnaK. Int J Pept Res Ther 2009. [DOI: 10.1007/s10989-009-9176-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
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Otvos LJ, Cassone M, Inacio VDO, Noto P, Rux JJ, Wade JD, Cudic P. Synergy Between a Lead Proline-rich Antibacterial Peptide Derivative and Small Molecule Antibiotics. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2009; 611:375-8. [DOI: 10.1007/978-0-387-73657-0_165] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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Cassone M, Vogiatzi P, La Montagna R, De Olivier Inacio V, Cudic P, Wade JD, Otvos L. Scope and limitations of the designer proline-rich antibacterial peptide dimer, A3-APO, alone or in synergy with conventional antibiotics. Peptides 2008; 29:1878-86. [PMID: 18721837 DOI: 10.1016/j.peptides.2008.07.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2008] [Revised: 07/22/2008] [Accepted: 07/22/2008] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
The proline-rich antimicrobial peptide dimer, A3-APO, was designed based on a statistical analysis of native antibacterial peptide and protein sequences. Analysis of a series of structural analogs failed to identify any single or multiple amino acid modification or architectural changes that would significantly improve its potential as a clinical therapeutic. However, a single chain Chex1-Arg20 version, a natural in vivo metabolite, showed a 2 to 8-fold increase in activity against test Enterobacteriaceae strains. In addition to bacterial species close to Escherichia coli in phylogeny, A3-APO analogs were able to effectively kill Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus saprophyticus. Antibacterial efficacy analysis together with biochemical experiments provided further evidence for a multiple mode of action of A3-APO that includes binding and inhibition of the bacterial heat shock protein DnaK. Through inactivating of resistance enzymes, A3-APO was able to recover the lost activity of conventional antibiotics including chloramphenicol, beta-lactams, sulfonamides or trimethoprim against multidrug resistant strains with partial or full synergy. However, the synergy appeared to be individual strain and small molecule drug combination-dependent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Cassone
- Sbarro Institute for Cancer Research and Molecular Medicine, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA 19122, United States
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Abstract
Native peptides exhibit various biological activities from which the antimicrobial property is one of the most frequently studied. A convenient way of telling whether peptides influence the life cycle of bacteria is the broth microdilution assay. In this measure, growing bacteria are incubated with peptides and growth inhibition is detected with colorimetric methods. Highly charged and protease-sensitive peptides need special considerations in assay design and readout interpretation to reveal the true antimicrobial efficacy and potential utility as human or veterinary therapeutics. The broth microdilution assay is suitable for first assessment of antimicrobial resistance induction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laszlo Otvos
- Sbarro Institute, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
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Abstract
Hospitals worldwide have lately reported a worrying increase in the number of isolated drug-resistant pathogenic microbes. This has to some extent fueled at least academic interest in design and development of new lead components for novel drug design. Much of this interest has been focused on antimicrobial peptides and peptides in general, primarily due to their natural occurrence and low toxicity. However, issues have been raised regarding the stability of peptide therapeutics for systemic use. The focus of this chapter is assays for measuring peptide stability in the presence of serum, both in vitro and in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Håvard Jenssen
- Centre for Microbial Diseases and Immunity Research, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
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24
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Abstract
AbstractAntibiotic resistance is increasing at a rate that far exceeds the pace of new development of drugs. Antimicrobial peptides, both synthetic and from natural sources, have raised interest as pathogens become resistant against conventional antibiotics. Indeed, one of the major strengths of this class of molecules is their ability to kill multidrug-resistant bacteria. Antimicrobial peptides are relatively small (6 to 100 aminoacids), amphipathic molecules of variable length, sequence and structure with activity against a wide range of microorganisms including bacteria, protozoa, yeast, fungi, viruses and even tumor cells. They usually act through relatively non-specific mechanisms resulting in membranolytic activity but they can also stimulate the innate immune response. Several peptides have already entered pre-clinical and clinical trials for the treatment of catheter site infections, cystic fibrosis, acne, wound healing and patients undergoing stem cell transplantation. We review the advantages of these molecules in clinical applications, their disadvantages including their low in vivo stability, high costs of production and the strategies for their discovery and optimization.
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Müller DM, Carrasco MS, Simonetta AC, Beltramini LM, Tonarelli GG. A synthetic analog of plantaricin 149 inhibiting food-borne pathogenic bacteria:evidence for α-helical conformation involved in bacteria–membrane interaction. J Pept Sci 2007; 13:171-8. [PMID: 17266050 DOI: 10.1002/psc.828] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
Plantaricin-149 is a bacteriocin produced by Lactobacillus plantarum NRIC 149 (a LAB isolated from pineapple), which consists of a peptidic chain made up of 22 amino acid residues [Kato et al. J. Ferment. Bioeng. 1994; 77: 277-282]. In this work, a synthetic C-terminal amidated peptide analog denoted Pln149a was prepared by SPPS-Fmoc chemistry and the antagonistic activity against gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria was tested. The secondary structure was studied by circular dichroism (CD) and the vicinity of the tyrosine residue by fluorescence spectroscopy under different conditions. We report the results of the interaction of Pln149a with reverse micelles prepared from the amphiphilic AOT in cyclohexane. Synthetic plantaricin was active against one strain of Staphylococcus aureus and four strains of Listeria genus at pH 5.5 and 7.4 and, like its natural variant, inhibited L. plantarum ATCC 8014. The data derived from spectroscopic measurements in presence of AOT reverse micelles suggest that the secondary structure of the peptide upon interaction is an alpha-helix. In this membrane model, the hydrophobic side of the alpha-helix is inserted into the micelles, leaving the lysines exposed to the solvent and interacting with the polar moieties of AOT. The fluorescence data point out that the N-terminal tyrosine residue is close to the micellar interface.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diana M Müller
- Departamento de Química Orgánica, Facultad de Bioquímica y Cs. Biológicas, Universidad Nacional del Litoral, Ciudad Universitaria, Santa Fe, Argentina
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Otvos L, de Olivier Inacio V, Wade JD, Cudic P. Prior antibacterial peptide-mediated inhibition of protein folding in bacteria mutes resistance enzymes. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2006; 50:3146-9. [PMID: 16940114 PMCID: PMC1563543 DOI: 10.1128/aac.00205-06] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2006] [Revised: 04/12/2006] [Accepted: 06/09/2006] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The antimicrobial activity of amoxicillin against TEM-1-expressing strains could be fully recovered when bacteria were preincubated with sublethal doses of an antibacterial peptide derivative. Assays with the simultaneous administration of antibiotics or synergy assays with kanamycin or ciprofloxacin, where resistance development does not involve properly folded proteins, failed to yield similar results.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laszlo Otvos
- Sbarro Institute for Cancer Research and Molecular Medicine, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA 19122, USA.
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Abstract
Native antimicrobial peptides and proteins represent bridges between innate and adaptive immunity in mammals. On the one hand they possess direct bacterial killing properties, partly by disintegrating bacterial membranes, and some also by inhibiting functions of intracellular biopolymers. On the other, native antimicrobial peptides and proteins upregulate the host defense as chemoattractants or by various additional immunostimulatory effects. Structure-activity relationship studies indicate that residues responsible for the activities on bacterial membranes or for the secondary functions do not perfectly overlap. In reality, in spite of the relatively short size (18-20 amino acid residues) of some of these molecules, the functional domains can frequently be separated, with the cell-penetrating fragments located at the C-termini and the protein binding domains found upstream. As a cumulative effect, multifunctional and target-specific (agonist or antagonist) antimicrobial peptides and proteins interfere with more than one bacterial function at low concentrations, eliminating toxicity concerns of the earlier generations of antibacterial peptides observed in the clinical setting.
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Otvos L, Wade JD, Lin F, Condie BA, Hanrieder J, Hoffmann R. Designer antibacterial peptides kill fluoroquinolone-resistant clinical isolates. J Med Chem 2005; 48:5349-59. [PMID: 16078852 DOI: 10.1021/jm050347i] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
A significant number of Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae bacterial strains in urinary tract infections are resistant to fluoroquinolones. Peptide antibiotics are viable alternatives although these are usually either toxic or insufficiently active. By applying multiple alignment and sequence optimization steps, we designed multifunctional proline-rich antibacterial peptides that maintained their DnaK-binding ability in bacteria and low toxicity in eukaryotes, but entered bacterial cells much more avidly than earlier peptide derivatives. The resulting chimeric and statistical analogues exhibited 8-32 microg/mL minimal inhibitory concentration efficacies in Muller-Hinton broth against a series of clinical pathogens. Significantly, the best peptide, compound 5, A3-APO, retained full antibacterial activity in the presence of mouse serum. Across a set of eight fluoroquinolone-resistant clinical isolates, peptide 5 was 4 times more potent than ciprofloxacin. On the basis of the in vitro efficacy, toxicity, and pharmacokinetics data, we estimate that peptide 5 will be suitable for treating infections in the 3-5 mg/kg dose range.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laszlo Otvos
- OLPE, LLC, 801 Mockingbird Lane, Audubon, Pennsylvania 19403, USA.
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