• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제19권8호
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• pp.792-802
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• 2009

Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are considered to be a promising alternative to conventional antibiotics for future generations. We identified four novel hexapeptides with antimicrobial activity: KCM11 (TWWRWW-$NH_2$), KCM12 (KWRWlW-$NH_2$), KCM21 (KWWWRW-$NH_2$), and KRS22 (WRWFIH-$NH_2$), through positional scanning of a synthetic peptide combinatorial library (PS-SCL). The ability of these peptides to inhibit the growth of a variety of bacteria and unicellular fungi was evaluated. KCM11 and KRS22 preferentially inhibited the normal growth of fungal strains, whereas KCM12 and KCM21 were more active against bacterial strains. Bactericidal activity was addressed in a clear zone assay against phytopathogenic bacteria, including Pectobacterium spp., Xanthomonas spp., Pseudomonas spp., etc. KCM21 showed the highest activity and was effective against a wide range of target organisms. Application of KCM21 with inoculation of Pectobacterium carotovorum subsp. carotovorum on detached cabbage leaves resulted in an immune phenotype or a significant reduction in symptom development, depending on the peptide concentration. Cytotoxicity of the four hexapeptides was evaluated in mouse and human epithelial cell lines using an MTT test. The results revealed a lack of cytotoxic effects.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제26권11호
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• pp.1863-1870
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• 2016

Antimicrobial peptides/proteins (AMPs) are present in all types of organisms, from microbes and plants to vertebrates and invertebrates such as insects. The grasshopper Oxya chinensis sinuosa is an insect species that is widely consumed around the world for its broad medicinal value. However, the lack of available genetic information for this species is an obstacle to understanding the full potential of its AMPs. Analysis of the O. chinensis sinuosa transcriptome and expression profile is essential for extending the available genetic information resources. In this study, we determined the whole-body transcriptome of O. chinensis sinuosa and analyzed the potential AMPs induced by bacterial immunization. A high-throughput RNA-Seq approach generated 94,348 contigs and 66,555 unigenes. Of these unigenes, 36,032 (54.14%) matched known proteins in the NCBI database in a BLAST search. Functional analysis demonstrated that 38,219 unigenes were clustered into 5,499 gene ontology terms. In addition, 26 cDNAs encoding novel AMPs were identified by an in silico approach using public databases. Our transcriptome dataset and AMP profile greatly improve our understanding of O. chinensis sinuosa genetics and provide a huge number of gene sequences for further study, including genes of known importance and genes of unknown function.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• 제31권2호
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• pp.85-89
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• 2015

This peptide has antibacterial activity against several Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. Bombyx mori cecropinB1(BmCecB1) is antimicrobial peptides from Bombyx mori and belongs to cecropin family. Antimicrobial peptides are important components of the innate immune systems in all living organism. To produce the BmCecB1 antimicrobial peptide, we constructed transgenic silkworm that expressed BmCecB1 gene under the control BmA3 promoter using piggyBac vector. The use of the 3xP3-driven EGFP cDNA as a marker allowed us to rapidly distinguish transgenic silkworm. Mixtures of the donor vector and helper vector were micro-injected into 600 eggs of bivoltin silkworms, Baegokjam. In total, 49 larvae (G0) were hatched and allowed to develop into moths. The resulting G1 generation consisted of 22 broods, and we selected 2 broods containing at least 1 EGFP-positive embryo. The rate of successful transgenesis for the G1 broods was 9%. We identified 9 EGFP-positive G1 moths and these were backcrossed with wild-type moths. With the aim of identifying a BmCecB1 as antimicrobial peptide, we investigated the Radical diffusion Assay (RDA) and then demonstrated that BmCecB1 possesses high antibacterial activities against Gram-negative bacteria.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제31권1호
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• pp.25-32
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• 2021

Inflammatory reactions activated by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) of gram-negative bacteria can lead to severe septic shock. With the recent emergence of multidrug-resistant gram-negative bacteria and a lack of efficient ways to treat resulting infections, there is a need to develop novel anti-endotoxin agents. Antimicrobial peptides have been noticed as potential therapeutic molecules for bacterial infection and as candidates for new antibiotic drugs. We previously designed the 9-meric antimicrobial peptide Pro9-3 and it showed high antimicrobial activity against gram-negative bacteria. Here, to further examine its potency as an anti-endotoxin agent, we examined the anti-endotoxin activities of Pro9-3 and elucidated its mechanism of action. We performed a dye-leakage experiment and BODIPY-TR cadaverine and limulus amebocyte lysate assays for Pro9-3 as well as its lysine-substituted analogue and their enantiomers. The results confirmed that Pro9-3 targets the bacterial membrane and the arginine residues play key roles in its antimicrobial activity. Pro9-3 showed excellent LPS-neutralizing activity and LPS-binding properties, which were superior to those of other peptides. Saturation transfer difference-nuclear magnetic resonance experiments to explore the interaction between LPS and Pro9-3 revealed that Trp3 and Tlr7 in Pro9-3 are critical for attracting Pro9-3 to the LPS in the gram-negative bacterial membrane. Moreover, the anti-septic effect of Pro9-3 in vivo was investigated using an LPS-induced endotoxemia mouse model, demonstrating its dual activities: antibacterial activity against gram-negative bacteria and immunosuppressive effect preventing LPS-induced endotoxemia. Collectively, these results confirmed the therapeutic potential of Pro9-3 against infection of gram-negative bacteria.

• 한국생물물리학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국생물물리학회 2001년도 학술 발표회 진행표 및 논문초록
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• pp.29-29
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• 2001

Leukocytes are important elements in the host defense against microbial infections. A variety of antimicrobial peptides named as the cathelicidin family have been identified from leukocytes. PMAP-23 derived from porcine myeloid cells is an antimicrobial peptide belong to the cathelicidin family. PMAP-23 was reported to have potent growth inhibition activity against bacterial and tumor cells with no hemolytic activity.(omitted)

• 통합자연과학논문집
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• 제10권3호
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• pp.154-161
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• 2017

An antimicrobial peptides-producing Bacillus strain CBS73 was isolated from fermented food (kimchi) that produces low-molecular-weight proteins with broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity. Our goal was to explore the therapeutic potential of antimicrobial substances produced by Bacillus species. Peptide CBS73 was purified from Bacillus subtilis subsp. subtilis with identity of 99.79%. It was found to be stable at pH 4.0-10.0 and temp $20-60^{\circ}C$. A protein band around 5.2 kDa was detected in tricine-SDS-PAGE and band was confirmed by MALDI-TOF test. Peptide CBS73 showed antimicrobial activity against MDR bacteria. The minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) of peptide CBS73 for vancomycin-resistant S. aureus (VRSA), vancomycin resistant Enterococci (VRE) and Salmonella typhimurium ranged from $10-40{\mu}g/mL$. The antioxidant activity of peptide CBS73 was measured by DPPH scavenging, reducing power activity and total phenolic content. Cell viability and NO production result showed less cytotoxic effect upto $12{\mu}g/mL$. Peptide CBS73 could be a promising antimicrobial agent for clinical application.

• 한국축산식품학회지
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• 제36권4호
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• pp.487-493
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• 2016

The antimicrobial activity of bovine lactoferrin hydrolysates (bLFH) was measured against Pseudomonas strains (P. syringae and P. fluorescens) in vitro. To compare susceptibility to bLFH, minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) values were determined using chemiluminescence assays and paper disc plate assays. Antimicrobial effect against P. fluorescens was not observed by either assay, suggesting that bLFH did not exhibit antimicrobial activity against P. fluorescens. However, a significant inhibition of P. syringae growth was observed in the presence of bLFH. The addition of bLFH in liquid or solid medium inhibited growth of P. syringae in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, a bLFH peptide with antimicrobial activity toward P. syringae was isolated and identified. The N-terminal amino acid sequences of thus obtained antimicrobial bLFH peptides were analyzed by a protein sequencer and were found to be Leu-Arg-Ile-Pro-Ser-Lys-Val-Asp-Ser-Ala and Phe-Lys-Cys-Arg-Arg-Trp-Gln-Trp-Arg-Met. The latter peptide sequence is known to be characteristic of lactoferricin. Therefore, in the present study, we identified a new antimicrobial peptide against P. syringae, present within the N-terminus and possessing the amino acid sequence of Leu-Arg-Ile-Pro-Ser-Lys-Val-Asp-Ser-Ala.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• 제35권9호
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• pp.2818-2824
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• 2014

Trp residue is considered as one of the important constituents in antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) as it presence secured good activities in many cases. However, it is preferable to be changed because of their sensitivity towards light. We have synthesized the short Trp-rich AMP Pac-525 and its analogues to investigate the possibility of His(chx) as possible replacement analogue for Trp in AMPs. Based on the assay result of the antibacterial activity including anti-MRSA activity, His(chx) is considered as good candidate for the Trp replacement. Through these study, we found that His(chx) had several merits to design therapeutic antimicrobial agents compare to Trp in terms of i) increasing antibacterial activity without hemolytic activity, ii) successful in designing the short peptide (only four residues), iii) having anti-MRSA activity, iv) overcoming the light sensitivity. Furthermore, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and dye leakage experiments suggested that P11 and P16 containing His(chx) kill bacteria via forming pore/ion channels on bacterial cell membranes.

• 한국자기공명학회논문지
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• 제13권1호
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• pp.27-34
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• 2009

HP (2-20), a 19-residue peptide derived from the N-terminus of Helicobacter pylori Ribosomal Protein L1, has antimicrobial activity but is not cytotoxic to human erythrocytes. Previously, we have synthesized several analogue peptides to investigate the effects of substitutions on the structure and antimicrobial activity. Substitution of $Gln^{16}$ and $Asp^{18}$ with Trp (Anal 3) caused a dramatic increase in bacterial and fungal lytic activities. In this study, analogue peptides were synthesized to investigate the effects of substitution of Gin and Asp with Phe (Anal 6) or Tyr (Anal 7) in HP (2-20) on its structure and antimicrobial activity. Substitution of Gin and Asp with hydrophobic aromatic residues at position 16 and 18 of HP (2-20) caused increase in antibiotic activity without hemolytic effect. Substitution of Gin and Asp with Trp and Try increased antibiotic activity of HP (220) twice more compared to substitution with Phe. The tertiary structures of Anal 6 and Anal 7 in SDS micelles has been investigated using NMR spectroscopy. The structures revealed that substitutions of the aromatic residues at C-terminus resulted in longer and well defined alpha-helix and improved their antibacterial activities

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제22권11호
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• pp.1457-1466
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• 2012

Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) exert antimicrobial activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, fungi, and viruses by various mechanisms. AMPs commonly possess particular characteristics by harboring cationic and amphipathic structures and binding to cell membranes, resulting in the leakage of essential cell contents by forming pores or disturbing lipid organization. These membrane disruptive mechanisms of AMPs are possible to explain according to the various structure forming pores in the membrane. Some AMPs inhibit DNA and/or RNA synthesis as well as apoptosis induction by reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation and mitochondrial dysfunction. Specifically, mitochondria play a major role in the apoptotic pathway. During apoptosis induced by AMPs, cells undergo cytochrome c release, caspase activation, phosphatidylserine externalization, plasma or mitochondrial membrane depolarization, DNA and nuclei damage, cell shrinkage, apoptotic body formation, and membrane blebbing. Even AMPs, which have been reported to exert membrane-active mechanisms, induce apoptosis in yeast. These phenomena were also discovered in tumor cells treated with AMPs. The apoptosis mechanism of AMPs is available for various therapeutics such as antibiotics for antibiotic-resistant pathogens that resist to the membrane active mechanism, and antitumor agents with selectivity to tumor cells.