Ultrashort Antimicrobial Peptides with Antiendotoxin Properties

Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 2015 Aug;59(8):5052-6. doi: 10.1128/AAC.00519-15. Epub 2015 Jun 1.

Abstract

Release of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) (endotoxin) from bacteria into the bloodstream may cause serious unwanted stimulation of the host immune system. Some but not all antimicrobial peptides can neutralize LPS-stimulated proinflammatory responses. Salt resistance and serum stability of short antimicrobial peptides can be boosted by adding β-naphthylalanine to their termini. Herein, significant antiendotoxin effects were observed in vitro and in vivo with the β-naphthylalanine end-tagged variants of the short antimicrobial peptides S1 and KWWK.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / pharmacology*
  • Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides / chemistry
  • Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides / pharmacology*
  • Gram-Negative Bacteria / drug effects*
  • Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions
  • Lipopolysaccharides / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Microbial Sensitivity Tests
  • beta-Alanine / analogs & derivatives
  • beta-Alanine / chemistry

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides
  • Lipopolysaccharides
  • beta-Alanine
  • beta-naphthylalanine