Cell Penetrating Synthetic Antimicrobial Peptides (SAMPs) Exhibiting Potent and Selective Killing of Mycobacterium by Targeting Its DNA |
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Authors: | Aashish Sharma Amol Arunrao Pohane Dr Sandhya Bansal Dr Avinash Bajaj Dr Vikas Jain Dr Aasheesh Srivastava |
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Institution: | 1. Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Bhopal, Indore Bypass Road, Bhauri, Bhopal, 462066 (India);2. Microbiology and Molecular Biology Laboratory, Department of Biological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Bhopal, Indore Bypass Road, Bhauri, Bhopal 462066 (India);3. Regional Center for Biotechnology, Gurgaon 122 016 (India) |
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Abstract: | Naturally occurring antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are powerful defence tools to tackle pathogenic microbes. However, limited natural production and high synthetic costs in addition to poor selectivity limit large‐scale use of AMPs in clinical settings. Here, we present a series of synthetic AMPs (SAMPs) that exhibit highly selective and potent killing of Mycobacterium (minimum inhibitory concentration <20 μg mL?1) over E. coli or mammalian cells. These SAMPs are active against rapidly multiplying as well as growth saturated Mycobacterium cultures. These SAMPs are not membrane‐lytic in nature, and are readily internalized by Mycobacterium and mammalian cells; whereas in E. coli, the lipopolysaccharide layer inhibits their cellular uptake, and hence, their antibacterial action. Upon internalization, these SAMPs interact with the unprotected genomic DNA of mycobacteria, and impede DNA‐dependent processes, leading to bacterial cell death. |
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Keywords: | antimicrobials DNA peptides polyamides selectivity |
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