TY - JOUR
T1 - Protease-Resistant, Broad-Spectrum Antimicrobial Peptides with High Antibacterial and Antifungal Activity
AU - Kocagoz, Tanil
AU - Temur, Betul Zehra
AU - Unubol, Nihan
AU - Acikel Elmas, Merve
AU - Kanlidere, Zeynep
AU - Cilingir, Sumeyye
AU - Acar, Dilan
AU - Boskan, Gizem
AU - Akcelik Deveci, Sumeyye
AU - Aybakan, Esma
AU - Ozcan Yoner, Aslihan
AU - Yurttutan Uyar, Neval
AU - Serteser, Mustafa
AU - Sahsuvar, Seray
AU - Erdemgil, Yigit
AU - Yildirim Keles, Zeynep Zulfiye
AU - Demirhan, Deniz
AU - Sakalauskaite, Sandra
AU - Daugelavicius, Rimantas
AU - Ozal Ildeniz, Tugba Arzu
AU - Atik, Ahmet Emin
AU - Mozioglu, Erkan
AU - Eren, Tarik
AU - Arbak, Serap
AU - Suyen, Guldal
AU - Can, Ozge
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2025 by the authors.
PY - 2025/2
Y1 - 2025/2
N2 - Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are a diverse group of small, naturally occurring molecules that orchestrate the innate immune response of various organisms, from microorganisms to humans. Characterized by their broad-spectrum activity against bacteria, fungi and viruses, AMPs are increasingly recognized for their potential as novel therapeutic agents in the face of rising antibiotic resistance. Here, we present several newly designed AMPs, one of which, DTN6, exerts significant activity against several organisms with MIC values as low as 0.5 µg/mL. The D-TN6 peptide influences both bacteria and yeasts. Scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy results showed that the bacterial membrane is affected by D-TN6, which is resistant to proteases and is effective against antibiotic-resistant pathogens with hemolytic activity and low toxicity. The D-TN6 peptide is effective in vivo against standard S. aureus strains in wounds. Thus, D-TN6 is a potent antibiotic candidate with a broad spectrum of activity. Overall, AMPs are a promising tool for the development of next-generation antimicrobial agents that could mitigate global health threats posed by multidrug-resistant pathogens.
AB - Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are a diverse group of small, naturally occurring molecules that orchestrate the innate immune response of various organisms, from microorganisms to humans. Characterized by their broad-spectrum activity against bacteria, fungi and viruses, AMPs are increasingly recognized for their potential as novel therapeutic agents in the face of rising antibiotic resistance. Here, we present several newly designed AMPs, one of which, DTN6, exerts significant activity against several organisms with MIC values as low as 0.5 µg/mL. The D-TN6 peptide influences both bacteria and yeasts. Scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy results showed that the bacterial membrane is affected by D-TN6, which is resistant to proteases and is effective against antibiotic-resistant pathogens with hemolytic activity and low toxicity. The D-TN6 peptide is effective in vivo against standard S. aureus strains in wounds. Thus, D-TN6 is a potent antibiotic candidate with a broad spectrum of activity. Overall, AMPs are a promising tool for the development of next-generation antimicrobial agents that could mitigate global health threats posed by multidrug-resistant pathogens.
KW - antimicrobial peptides
KW - multidrug resistance
KW - peptide antibiotics
KW - peptide synthesis
KW - protease resistance
KW - protein-mimicking peptides
UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/85219041979
U2 - 10.3390/life15020242
DO - 10.3390/life15020242
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85219041979
SN - 2075-1729
VL - 15
JO - Life
JF - Life
IS - 2
M1 - 242
ER -