Studying lipopeptide C12LF11 by means of CD and NMR we determined conformation of the peptide bound to micelles of DPC and SDS as a model for eukaryotic and bacterial membranes. The acylated peptide stabilized the secondary structure and increased antimicrobial activity for ~ 4× compared to the non-acylated one. The acyl chain of C12FL11 forms together with the hydrophobic amino acids a lipophilic cluster that anchors into the bacterial membrane and causes changes in the order of the surrounding phospholipids and the curvature of the membrane, leading to the increased membrane permeability.
COBISS.SI-ID: 3635994
The review and expert opinion first describes natural antimicrobial lipopeptides and their mechanism of action, later it gives a review of synthetic lipopeptides and describes their advantages. In addition to antimicrobial activity some lipopeptides inhibit inflammations, act synergistically with conventional antibiotics and have improved proteolytic stability. At the end an expert opinion is given about the possibility that in future synthetic lipopeptides will prevail over the natural ones as drugs against infections.
COBISS.SI-ID: 3760666
Chemical synthesis of antimicrobial peptides is up to 20 x more expensive than that of common antibiotics, therefore pharmaceutical industry is not keen for their development. We developed a system for production of a recombinant antimicrobial peptide. Due to toxicity of such peptides for bacteria we used a fusion protein. In acidic environment, the bond between the antimicrobial peptide and the fusion protein is splitting up and releasing the active peptide, which due to its biophysical features interacts with mimetics of bacterial membranes, but not with the mimetics of mammalian membranes.
COBISS.SI-ID: 4071962
In the European project ANEPID we developed several generations of peptides with substantially improved antimicrobial activity. Results were protected in a patent in which our researchers are among the inventors. The patented compounds are important as potential drugs against bacterial infections as a new type of antibiotics and neutralizers of inflammatory activators. Results led to the setting up of a company pba3 in Austria (Science Park Graz), where the initial capital was provided. Our members participate in further development of the project and have part in the intellectual property.
COBISS.SI-ID: 3857946