• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• 제23권2호
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• pp.231-238
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• 2011

Attacin is an insect antibacterial protein that plays an important role in immune response to injury and infection. In this report, we have isolated and characterized of cDNA encoding for the attacin from the immunized larvae of swallowtail butterfly, $Papilio$ $xuthus$. A full length cDNA of $P.$ $xuthus$ attacin was obtained by employing annealing control primer (ACP)-based differential display PCR and 5' RACE. The complete $P.$ $xuthus$ attacin cDNA was comprised of 949 bp encoding a 250 amino acid precursor. It contains a putative 18 amino acid signal peptide sequence, a 42 amino acid propeptide sequence, and a 190 amino acid mature protein with a theoretical molecular mass of 19904.01 and a pI of 9.13. The putative mature protein of $P.$ $xuthus$ attacin showed 48-52% and 24-30% identity in amino acid sequences with that of lepidopteran and dipteran insects, respectively. Semiquantitive RT-PCR results revealed that the transcript of $P.$ $xuthus$ attacin gene was up-regulated at significant levels after injection with bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS). We sub-cloned cDNA fragment encoding mature $P.$ $xuthus$ attacin into the expression vector, highly expressed in $E.$ $coli$ BL21 cells, and its antibacterial activity was analyzed. Recombinant $P.$ $xuthus$ attacin evidenced considerably antibacterial activity against Gram-negative bacteria, $E.$ $coli$ ML 35 and $Klebsiella$ $pneumonia$.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• 제31권1호
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• pp.14-19
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• 2015

In a previous report, we identified several candidate antimicrobial peptides through de novo RNA sequencing of the centipede Scolopendra subspinipes mutilans. Here, we identify and characterize one of these peptides, Scolopendrasin I. We identified the centipede antimicrobial peptide Cecropin from the centipede transcriptome using an SVM algorithm, and subsequently analyzed the amino acid sequence for predicted secondary structure using a GOR algorithm. We identified an alpha helical region of Cecropin and named it Scolopendrasin I. We then assessed antimicrobial and hemolytic activity of Scolopendrasin I. Scolopendrasin I showed antimicrobial activity against various microbes, including antibiotic-resistant Gram-negative bacteria, in a radial diffusion assay. Scolopendrasin I had potent antibacterial activity against acne-associated microbes in a colony count assay and showed no hemolytic activity in a hemolysis assay. In addition, we confirmed that Scolopendrasin I bound to the surface of bacteria via a specific interaction with lipoteichoic acid and lipopolysaccharide, two components of bacterial cell membranes. In conclusion, the results presented here provide evidence that this is an efficient strategy for antimicrobial peptide candidate identification and that Scolopendrasin I has potential for successful antibiotic development.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제28권5호
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• pp.671-678
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• 2018

Papiliocin, isolated from the swallowtail butterfly (Papilio xuthus), is an antimicrobial peptide with high selectivity against gram-negative bacteria. We previously showed that the N-terminal helix of papiliocin (PapN) plays a key role in the antibacterial and anti-inflammatory activity of papiliocin. In this study, we measured the selectivity of PapN against multidrug-resistant gram-negative bacteria, as well as its anti-inflammatory activity. Interactions between Trp2 of PapN and lipopolysaccharide (LPS), which is a major component of the outer membrane of gram-negative bacteria, were studied using the Trp fluorescence blue shift and quenching in LPS micelles. Furthermore, using circular dichroism, we investigated the interactions between PapN and LPS, showing that LPS plays critical roles in peptide folding. Our results demonstrated that Trp2 in PapN was buried deep in the negatively charged LPS, and Trp2 induced the ${\alpha}$-helical structure of PapN. Importantly, docking studies determined that predominant electrostatic interactions of positively charged arginine residues in PapN with phosphate head groups of LPS were key factors for binding. Similarly, hydrophobic interactions by aromatic residues of PapN with fatty acid chains in LPS were also significant for binding. These results may facilitate the development of peptide antibiotics with anti-inflammatory activity.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제23권10호
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• pp.1381-1385
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• 2013

The centipede Scolopendra subpinipes mutilans is a medicinally important arthropod species. However, its transcriptome is not currently available and transcriptome analysis would be useful in providing insight into a molecular level approach. Hence, we performed de novo RNA sequencing of S. subpinipes mutilans using next-generation sequencing. We generated a novel peptide (scolopendrasin II) based on a SVM algorithm, and biochemically evaluated the in vitro antimicrobial activity of scolopendrasin II against various microbes. Scolopendrasin II showed antibacterial activities against gram-positive and -negative bacterial strains, including the yeast Candida albicans and antibiotic-resistant gram-negative bacteria, as determined by a radial diffusion assay and colony count assay without hemolytic activity. In addition, we confirmed that scolopendrasin II bound to the surface of bacteria through a specific interaction with lipoteichoic acid and a lipopolysaccharide, which was one of the bacterial cell-wall components. In conclusion, our results suggest that scolopendrasin II may be useful for developing peptide antibiotics.

• 한국자기공명학회논문지
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• 제19권2호
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• pp.54-60
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• 2015

Papiliocin, from the swallowtail butterfly, Papilio xuthus, shows high bacterial cell selectivity against Gram-negative bacteria. Recently, we designed a 22mer analog with N-terminal helix from $Lys^3$ to $Ala^{22}$, PapN. It shows outstanding antimicrobial activity against Gram-negative bacteria with low toxicity against mammalian cells. In this study, we determined the 3-D structure of PapN in 300 mM DPC micelle using NMR spectroscopy and investigated the interactions between PapN and DPC micelles. The results showed that PapN has an amphipathic ${\alpha}$-helical structure from $Lys^3$ to $Lys^{21}$. STD-NMR and DOSY experiment showed that this helix is important in binding to the bacterial cell membrane. Furthermore, we tested antibacterial activities of PapN in the presence of salt for therapeutic application. PapN was calcium- and magnesium-resistant in a physiological condition, especially against Gram-negative bacteria, implying that it can be a potent candidate as peptide antibiotics.

• 한국수산과학회지
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• 제49권2호
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• pp.137-145
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• 2016

This study screened the biological activity of an acidified gill extract of the Manila clam Ruditapes philippinarum including antimicrobial, hemolytic, membrane permeabilization, and DNA-binding activity, and purified the antimicrobial material. The acidified gill extract showed potent antimicrobial activity against Bacillus subtilis and Escherichia coli without significant hemolytic activity, but showed no membrane permeabilization or DNA-binding ability. An antimicrobial material was purified from the acidified gill extract using C₁₈ reversed-phase and cation-exchange high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Treatment of the purified material with trypsin completely abolished all of the antibacterial activity against Bacillus subtilis, suggesting that the purified material is a proteinaceous antibiotic. The molecular weight of the purified material was 2571.9 Da, but no primary structural information was obtained due to N-terminal blocking. A future study should confirm the primary structure. Our results suggest that the Manila clam gill contains proteinaceous antibiotics that have a role in first-line defense. This information could be used to better understand the Manila clam innate immune system.

• 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.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• 제20권3호
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• pp.25.1-25.13
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• 2020

Acinetobacter baumannii is known for its multidrug antibiotic resistance. New approaches to treating drug-resistant bacterial infections are urgently required. Cathelicidin-related antimicrobial peptide (CRAMP) is a murine antimicrobial peptide that exerts diverse immune functions, including both direct bacterial cell killing and immunomodulatory effects. In this study, we sought to identify the role of CRAMP in the host immune response to multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii. Wild-type (WT) and CRAMP knockout mice were infected intranasally with the bacteria. CRAMP^-/- mice exhibited increased bacterial colony-forming units (CFUs) in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid after A. baumannii infection compared to WT mice. The loss of CRAMP expression resulted in a significant decrease in the recruitment of immune cells, primarily neutrophils. The levels of IL-6 and CXCL1 were lower, whereas the levels of IL-10 were significantly higher in the BAL fluid of CRAMP^-/- mice compared to WT mice 1 day after infection. In an in vitro assay using thioglycollate-induced peritoneal neutrophils, the ability of bacterial phagocytosis and killing was impaired in CRAMP^-/- neutrophils compared to the WT cells. CRAMP was also essential for the production of cytokines and chemokines in response to A. baumannii in neutrophils. In addition, the A. baumannii-induced inhibitor of κB-α degradation and phosphorylation of p38 MAPK were impaired in CRAMP^-/- neutrophils, whereas ERK and JNK phosphorylation was upregulated. Our results indicate that CRAMP plays an important role in the host defense against pulmonary infection with A. baumannii by promoting the antibacterial activity of neutrophils and regulating the innate immune responses.

• 한국식품영양과학회지
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• 제40권6호
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• pp.903-911
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• 2011

B. polyfermenticus CJ6가 생산하는 항세균 활성 물질의 특성을 규명하고 정제하였다. 생육에 따른 항세균 활성은 배양 4시간부터 나타내어 정지기인 배양 8시간에 최대 활성(102,400 AU/mL)을 나타내고 이후 급격히 활성이 감소되었다. B. polyfermenticus CJ6의 항세균 활성 물질은 $37^{\circ}C$에서 24시간 처리 시 활성의 50% 저하되고 $70^{\circ}C$에서 24시간 처리시 활성이 완전히 소실되어 열에 불안정하였으며, pH 3.0~9.0 구간에서 안정한 활성을 나타내었다. B. polyfermenticus CJ6의 항세균 활성 물질은 protease, ${\alpha}$-chymotrypsin을 처리 시 역가가 크게 감소하였으며 proteinase K의 단백분해 효소에 역가를 완전히 상실하여 단백질성 물질임을 추정하였다. B. polyfermenticus CJ6는 E. coli O157:H7, S. aureus, S. Typhi, L. monocytogenes의 식중독 세균과의 각각 공동 배양에서 배양 3~6시간 이내에 식중독 세균의 생육을 완전히 저해하는 것으로 나타났다. B. polyfermenticus CJ6가 생산하는 항세균 활성 물질은 SPE, recycling preparative HPLC, analytical HPLC을 이용한 4단계의 정제과정을 통하여 최종 항세균 활성을 나타내는 3개의 분획을 분리하였다. 정제된 물질의 분자량을 결정하기 위하여 UPLC를 이용한 ESI-MS/MS를 시행한 결과 3개의 분획에서 분자량이 다른 5개의 peptide(757.4153 Da, 750.3444 Da, 1024.5282 Da, 1123.6083 Da, 1617.8170 Da)를 확인하였으며 이는 기존에 보고된 bacteriocin 분자와는 다른 분자량을 지니는 것으로 나타났다. B. polyfermenticus CJ6와 식중독 세균과의 공동 배양 실험에서 B. polyfermenticus CJ6는 식중독 세균에 대하여 매우 강력한 항세균 활성을 나타내며 그 원인물질이 되는 새로운 항 미생물 peptides 물질은 천연식품 보존제 및 사료 보존제뿐만 아니라 정장용 제재, 식중독 예방 및 치료용 생균제재 등으로도 활용이 기대되며, 이를 위하여 분리된 5개의 peptide의 정확한 구조 및 특성 규명 등의 연구가 앞으로 필요할 것이다.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• 제20권1호
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• pp.19-26
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• 2012

There are many cyclic peptides with diverse biological activities, such as antibacterial activity, immunosuppressive activity, and anti-tumor activity, and so on. Encouraged by natural cyclic peptides with biological activity, efforts have been made to develop cyclic peptides with both genetic and synthetic methods. The genetic methods include phage display, intein-based cyclic peptides, and mRNA display. The synthetic methods involve individual synthesis, parallel synthesis, as well as split-and-pool synthesis. Recent development of cyclic peptide library based on split-and-pool synthesis allows on-bead screening, in-solution screening, and microarray screening of cyclic peptides for biological activity. Cyclic peptides will be useful as receptor agonist/antagonist, RNA binding molecule, enzyme inhibitor and so on, and more cyclic peptides will emerge as therapeutic agents and biochemical tools.