MSGID: 1:317/3 64a7953b   
   PID: hpt/lnx 1.9.0-cur 2019-01-08   
   TID: hpt/lnx 1.9.0-cur 2019-01-08   
    Breakthrough peptide research to combat bacterial biofilms    
    An anti-biofilm cyclic peptide targets a secreted aminopeptidase from P.   
   aeruginosa    
      
     Date:   
         July 6, 2023   
     Source:   
         University of St. Andrews   
     Summary:   
         Researchers have developed peptides that can help combat   
         bacteria growing in biofilms, which occur in up to 80% of human   
         infections. The team of researchers have developed antimicrobial   
         peptides that can target the harmful bacteria growing in biofilms.   
      
      
         Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIN Email   
      
   ==========================================================================   
   FULL STORY   
   ==========================================================================   
   Researchers from the University of St Andrews have developed peptides   
   that can help combat bacteria growing in biofilms, which occur in up to   
   80% of human infections.   
      
   Treating infections becomes significantly more challenging when biofilms   
   are present, as they not only reduce the effectiveness of antibiotics   
   but also give rise to several medical complications. These complications   
   include infections following joint replacements, prosthetic devices, as   
   well as contamination in catheters and other medical equipment. The lack   
   of specific treatments makes the management and treatment of biofilms   
   exceptionally difficult.   
      
   Published in Nature Chemical Biology (Thursday 29th June), the team   
   of researchers, led by Dr Clarissa Melo Czekster and Dr Christopher   
   Harding from the School of Biology at St Andrews, in collaboration with   
   researchers at University of Dundee, developed antimicrobial peptides   
   that can target the harmful bacteria growing in biofilms.   
      
   The team determined how a key enzyme (PaAP) in biofilms work and developed   
   a revolutionary new strategy to inhibit the protein. Their inhibitor is   
   potent and targets cells from the human pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa   
   in biofilms.   
      
   Pseudomonas aeruginosa is one of the top pathogens of concern by the   
   World Health Organisation, causing chronic infections in patients with   
   cystic fibrosis and other conditions, which means a biofilm inhibitor   
   is urgently needed.   
      
   Dr Czekster and the team are currently working in collaboration with   
   the University of St Andrews Technology Transfer Centre and industry   
   partner Locate Bio, a biomedicine spinout of the University of Nottingham,   
   to commercialise the technology. The Locate Bio team are trialling the   
   peptides to see how they work with the company's Programmed Drug Release   
   technology to develop new orthobiologic solutions and products. The   
   Technology Transfer Centre has filed a UK priority patent application.   
      
   Dr Czekster said: "Our research reveals how designed inhibitors can   
   target a key enzyme in bacterial virulence, offering molecular insights   
   applicable to aminopeptidases in diverse organisms.   
      
   "This remarkable new research presents an innovative strategy to target   
   bacterial biofilms and pave the way for better treatment of bacterial   
   infection."   
       * RELATED_TOPICS   
             o Health_&_Medicine   
                   # Cystic_Fibrosis # Infectious_Diseases # Pharmacology   
                   # Medical_Topics   
             o Plants_&_Animals   
                   # Bacteria # Biology # Microbes_and_More # Microbiology   
       * RELATED_TERMS   
             o Body_odor o Hydroponics o Bacteria o Stem_cell_treatments   
             o Algal_bloom o Streptococcus o Sports_medicine o   
             Purple_loosestrife   
      
   ==========================================================================   
      
    Print   
      
    Email   
      
    Share   
   ==========================================================================   
   ****** 1 ****** ***** 2 ***** **** 3 ****   
   *** 4 *** ** 5 ** Breaking this hour   
   ==========================================================================   
       * First_Snapshots_of_Fermion_Pairs *   
       Why_No_Kangaroos_in_Bali;_No_Tigers_in_Australia   
       * New_Route_for_Treating_Cancer:_Chromosomes *   
       Giant_Stone_Artefacts_Found:_Prehistoric_Tools   
       * Astonishing_Secrets_of_Tunicate_Origins *   
       Most_Distant_Active_Supermassive_Black_Hole *   
       Creative_People_Enjoy_Idle_Time_More_Than_Others   
       * Restoring_Fragile_X_Protein_Production *   
       Earth's_Solid_Metal_Sphere_Is_'Textured' *   
       Elephants_Vary_Their_Dinner_Menu_Day-To-Day   
      
   Trending Topics this week   
   ==========================================================================   
   PLANTS_&_ANIMALS Biochemistry_Research Insects_(including_Butterflies)   
   Wild_Animals EARTH_&_CLIMATE Air_Pollution Ice_Ages Pollution   
   FOSSILS_&_RUINS Ancient_Civilizations Cultures Early_Climate   
      
      
   ==========================================================================   
      
   Strange & Offbeat   
   ==========================================================================   
   PLANTS_&_ANIMALS   
   Why_There_Are_No_Kangaroos_in_Bali_(and_No_Tigers_in_Australia)   
   Number_Cruncher_Calculates_Whether_Whales_Are_Acting_Weirdly   
   Fossils_Reveal_How_Ancient_Birds_Molted_Their_Feathers_--_Which_Could_Help   
   Explain_Why_Ancestors_of_Modern_Birds_Survived_When_All_the_Other_Dinosaurs   
   Died EARTH_&_CLIMATE   
   Why_There_Are_No_Kangaroos_in_Bali_(and_No_Tigers_in_Australia)   
   Turning_Old_Maps_Into_3D_Digital_Models_of_Lost_Neighborhoods   
   Squash_Bugs_Are_Attracted_to_and_Eat_Each_Other's_Poop_to_Stock_Their   
   Microbiome FOSSILS_&_RUINS   
   Giant_Stone_Artefacts_Found_on_Rare_Ice_Age_Site_in_Kent,_UK   
   How_Urea_May_Have_Been_the_Gateway_to_Life   
   Newly_Discovered_Jurassic_Fossils_in_Texas Story Source: Materials   
   provided by University_of_St._Andrews. Note: Content may be edited for   
   style and length.   
      
      
   ==========================================================================   
   Journal Reference:   
      1. Christopher John Harding, Marcus Bischoff, Megan Bergkessel,   
      Clarissa   
         Melo Czekster. An anti-biofilm cyclic peptide targets a secreted   
         aminopeptidase from P. aeruginosa. Nature Chemical Biology, 2023;   
         DOI: 10.1038/s41589-023-01373-8   
   ==========================================================================   
      
   Link to news story:   
   https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2023/07/230706124601.htm   
      
   --- up 1 year, 18 weeks, 3 days, 10 hours, 50 minutes   
    * Origin: -=> Castle Rock BBS <=- Now Husky HPT Powered! (1:317/3)   
   SEEN-BY: 15/0 106/201 114/705 123/120 153/7715 218/700 226/30 227/114   
   SEEN-BY: 229/110 112 113 307 317 400 426 428 470 664 700 291/111 292/854   
   SEEN-BY: 298/25 305/3 317/3 320/219 396/45 5075/35   
   PATH: 317/3 229/426