8 documents found, page 1 of 1
Antimicrobial properties of membrane-active dodecapeptides derived from MSI-78
Claudia Monteiro; Mariana Fernandes; Marina Pinheiro; Silvia Maia; Catarina L Seabra; Frederico Ferreira da Silva; Fabiola Costa; Salette ReisAntimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are a class of broad-spectrum antibiotics known by their ability to disrupt bacterial membranes and their low tendency to induce bacterial resistance, arising as excellent candidates to fight bacterial infections. In this study we aimed at designing short 12-mer AMPs, derived from a highly effective and broad spectrum synthetic AMP, MSI-78 (22 residues), by truncating this peptide ...
A 17-mer Membrane-Active MSI-78 Derivative with Improved Selectivity toward Bac...
Claudia Monteiro; Marina Pinheiro; Mariana Fernandes; Silvia Maia; Catarina L Seabra; Frederico Ferreira da Silva; Salette Reis; Paula GomesAntimicrobial peptides are widely recognized as an excellent alternative to conventional antibiotics. MSI-78, a highly effective and broad spectrum AMP, is one of the most promising AMPs for clinical application. In this study, we have designed shorter derivatives of MSI-78 with the aim of improving selectivity while maintaining antimicrobial activity. Shorter 17-mer derivatives were created by truncating MSI-7...
Selective albumin-binding surfaces modified with a thrombin-inhibiting peptide
Sidonio C Freitas; Silvia Maia; Ana C Figueiredo; Paula Gomes; Pedro J B Pereira; Mario A Barbosa; Cristina C L MartinsBlood-contacting medical devices have been associated with severe clinical complications, such as thrombus formation, triggered by the activation of the coagulation cascade due to the adsorption of certain plasma proteins on the surface of biomaterials. Hence, the coating of such surfaces with antithrombotic agents has been used to increase biomaterial haemocompatibility. Biomaterial-induced clotting may also b...
Killing of Mycobacterium avium by Lactoferricin Peptides: Improved Activity of ...
Tania Silva; Barbara Magalhaes; Silvia Maia; Paula Gomes; Kamran Nazmi; Jan G M Bolscher; Pedro N Rodrigues; Margarida Bastos; Maria Salome GomesMycobacterium avium causes respiratory disease in susceptible individuals, as well as disseminated infections in immunocompromised hosts, being an important cause of morbidity and mortality among these populations. Current therapies consist of a combination of antibiotics taken for at least 6 months, with no more than 60% overall clinical success. Furthermore, mycobacterial antibiotic resistance is increasing w...
Characterization of hLF1-11 immobilization onto chitosan ultrathin films, and i...
Fabiola Costa; Silvia Maia; Joana Gomes; Paula Gomes; Cristina C L MartinshLF1-11 (GRRRRSVQWCA) is an antimicrobial peptide (AMP) with high activity against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), the most prevalent species in implant-associated infection. In this work, the effect of the surface immobilization on hLF1-11 antimicrobial activity was studied. Immobilization was performed onto chitosan thin films as a model for an implant coating due to its reported osteogeni...
Hydration water and peptide dynamics - two sides of a coin. A neutron scatterin...
Margarida Bastos; Nuno Alves; Silvia Maia; Paula Gomes; Akira Inaba; Yuji Miyazaki; Jean Marc ZanottiIn the present work we bridge neutron scattering and calorimetry in the study of a low-hydration sample of a 15-residue hybrid peptide from cecropin and mellitin CA(1-7)M(2-9) of proven antimicrobial activity. Quasielastic and low-frequency inelastic neutron spectra were measured at defined hydration levels a nominally 'dry' sample (specific residual hydration h = 0.060 g/g), a H2O-hydrated (h = 0.49) and a D2O...
Comparison of the Efficiency of Complexes Based on S4(13)-PV Cell-Penetrating P...
Ana M Cardoso; Sara Trabulo; Ana L Cardoso; Silvia Maia; Paula Gomes; Amalia S Jurado; Maria C P Pedroso de LimaThe successful application of gene therapy approaches is highly dependent on the efficient delivery of nucleic acids into target cells. In the present study, new peptide-based nonviral systems were developed to enhance plasmid DNA and siRNA delivery, aiming at generating appropriate gene delivery and gene silencing tools for preclinical and clinical application. For this purpose, 0 cell-penetrating peptide deri...
Effect of surface coating on the biodistribution profile of gold nanoparticles ...
Tiago Morais; Maria Elisa Soares; Jose Alberto Duarte; Leonor Soares; Silvia Maia; Paula Gomes; Eulalia Pereira; Sonia Fraga; Helena CarmoSuccessful application of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) in biomedicine requires extensive safety assessment for which biokinetic studies are crucial. We evaluated the biodistribution of AuNPs (similar to 20 nm) with different surface coatings: citrate, 11-MUA and 3 pentapeptides, CALNN, CALND and CALNS, after i.v. administration to rats (0.6-1 mg Au/kg). Biodistribution was evaluated based on Au tissue content mea...