Thrombin-Derived Peptides Potentiate the Activity of Gram-Positive-Specific Antibiotics against Gram-Negative Bacteria. 2021

Charlotte M J Wesseling, and Thomas M Wood, and Kristine Bertheussen, and Samantha Lok, and Nathaniel I Martin
Biological Chemistry Group, Institute of Biology Leiden, Leiden University, 2333 Leiden, The Netherlands.

The continued rise of antibiotic resistance threatens to undermine the utility of the world's current antibiotic arsenal. This problem is particularly troubling when it comes to Gram-negative pathogens for which there are inherently fewer antibiotics available. To address this challenge, recent attention has been focused on finding compounds capable of disrupting the Gram-negative outer membrane as a means of potentiating otherwise Gram-positive-specific antibiotics. In this regard, agents capable of binding to the lipopolysaccharide (LPS) present in the Gram-negative outer membrane are of particular interest as synergists. Recently, thrombin-derived C-terminal peptides (TCPs) were reported to exhibit unique LPS-binding properties. We here describe investigations establishing the capacity of TCPs to act as synergists with the antibiotics erythromycin, rifampicin, novobiocin, and vancomycin against multiple Gram-negative strains including polymyxin-resistant clinical isolates. We further assessed the structural features most important for the observed synergy and characterized the outer membrane permeabilizing activity of the most potent synergists. Our investigations highlight the potential for such peptides in expanding the therapeutic range of antibiotics typically only used to treat Gram-positive infections.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D004357 Drug Synergism The action of a drug in promoting or enhancing the effectiveness of another drug. Drug Potentiation,Drug Augmentation,Augmentation, Drug,Augmentations, Drug,Drug Augmentations,Drug Potentiations,Drug Synergisms,Potentiation, Drug,Potentiations, Drug,Synergism, Drug,Synergisms, Drug
D006090 Gram-Negative Bacteria Bacteria which lose crystal violet stain but are stained pink when treated by Gram's method. Gram Negative Bacteria
D000890 Anti-Infective Agents Substances that prevent infectious agents or organisms from spreading or kill infectious agents in order to prevent the spread of infection. Anti-Infective Agent,Anti-Microbial Agent,Antimicrobial Agent,Microbicide,Microbicides,Anti-Microbial Agents,Antiinfective Agents,Antimicrobial Agents,Agent, Anti-Infective,Agent, Anti-Microbial,Agent, Antimicrobial,Agents, Anti-Infective,Agents, Anti-Microbial,Agents, Antiinfective,Agents, Antimicrobial,Anti Infective Agent,Anti Infective Agents,Anti Microbial Agent,Anti Microbial Agents
D013917 Thrombin An enzyme formed from PROTHROMBIN that converts FIBRINOGEN to FIBRIN. Thrombase,Thrombin JMI,Thrombin-JMI,Thrombinar,Thrombostat,alpha-Thrombin,beta,gamma-Thrombin,beta-Thrombin,gamma-Thrombin,JMI, Thrombin
D023181 Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides Small cationic peptides that are an important component, in most species, of early innate and induced defenses against invading microbes. In animals they are found on mucosal surfaces, within phagocytic granules, and on the surface of the body. They are also found in insects and plants. Among others, this group includes the DEFENSINS, protegrins, tachyplesins, and thionins. They displace DIVALENT CATIONS from phosphate groups of MEMBRANE LIPIDS leading to disruption of the membrane. Cationic Antimicrobial Peptide,Cationic Antimicrobial Peptides,Cationic Host Defense Peptides,Host Defense Peptide,Microbicidal Cationic Proteins,Amphipathic Cationic Antimicrobial Peptides,Host Defense Peptides,Antimicrobial Peptide, Cationic,Antimicrobial Peptides, Cationic,Cationic Peptides, Antimicrobial,Cationic Proteins, Microbicidal,Defense Peptide, Host,Defense Peptides, Host,Peptide, Cationic Antimicrobial,Peptide, Host Defense,Peptides, Antimicrobial Cationic,Peptides, Cationic Antimicrobial,Peptides, Host Defense,Proteins, Microbicidal Cationic
D024881 Drug Resistance, Bacterial The ability of bacteria to resist or to become tolerant to chemotherapeutic agents, antimicrobial agents, or antibiotics. This resistance may be acquired through gene mutation or foreign DNA in transmissible plasmids (R FACTORS). Antibiotic Resistance, Bacterial,Antibacterial Drug Resistance

Related Publications

Charlotte M J Wesseling, and Thomas M Wood, and Kristine Bertheussen, and Samantha Lok, and Nathaniel I Martin
December 2021, ACS infectious diseases,
Charlotte M J Wesseling, and Thomas M Wood, and Kristine Bertheussen, and Samantha Lok, and Nathaniel I Martin
October 2022, ACS infectious diseases,
Charlotte M J Wesseling, and Thomas M Wood, and Kristine Bertheussen, and Samantha Lok, and Nathaniel I Martin
February 2016, Biochimica et biophysica acta,
Charlotte M J Wesseling, and Thomas M Wood, and Kristine Bertheussen, and Samantha Lok, and Nathaniel I Martin
June 2018, BMC microbiology,
Charlotte M J Wesseling, and Thomas M Wood, and Kristine Bertheussen, and Samantha Lok, and Nathaniel I Martin
July 2014, The Journal of antimicrobial chemotherapy,
Charlotte M J Wesseling, and Thomas M Wood, and Kristine Bertheussen, and Samantha Lok, and Nathaniel I Martin
August 2000, Peptides,
Charlotte M J Wesseling, and Thomas M Wood, and Kristine Bertheussen, and Samantha Lok, and Nathaniel I Martin
January 1994, Progress in clinical and biological research,
Charlotte M J Wesseling, and Thomas M Wood, and Kristine Bertheussen, and Samantha Lok, and Nathaniel I Martin
July 1998, Zhonghua yi xue za zhi = Chinese medical journal; Free China ed,
Charlotte M J Wesseling, and Thomas M Wood, and Kristine Bertheussen, and Samantha Lok, and Nathaniel I Martin
June 2020, Antibiotics (Basel, Switzerland),
Charlotte M J Wesseling, and Thomas M Wood, and Kristine Bertheussen, and Samantha Lok, and Nathaniel I Martin
October 1987, Chemioterapia : international journal of the Mediterranean Society of Chemotherapy,
Copied contents to your clipboard!