title: New generation of peptide antibiotics.
abstract: The increasing antibiotic resistance of pathogenic bacteria calls for the development of alternative antimicrobial strategies. Possible approaches include the development of novel, broad-spectrum antibiotics as well as specific targeting of individual bacterial virulence factors. It is impossible to decide currently which strategy will prove more successful in the future since they both promise different advantages, but also introduce diverse problems. Considering both approaches, our laboratory's research focuses on the evaluation of hemocidins, broad-spectrum antibacterial peptides derived from hemoglobin and myoglobin, and staphostatins, specific inhibitors of staphopains -- Staphylococcus aureus secreted proteases that are virulence factors regarded as possible targets for therapy. The article summarizes recent advances in both fields of study and presents perspectives for further development and possible applications.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, Kraków, Poland. dubin@mol.uj.edu.pl
authors.forename: Adam
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dubin
authors.forename: Paweł
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mak
authors.forename: Grzegorz
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Dubin
authors.forename: Małgorzata
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rzychon
authors.forename: Justyna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Stec-Niemczyk
authors.forename: Benedykt
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Wladyka
authors.forename: Katarzyna
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Maziarka
authors.forename: Dorota
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Chmiel
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001419:Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000737:chemistry; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000737:chemistry; D018390:Gene Targeting; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000737:chemistry; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D009211:Myoglobin / Q000737:chemistry; D010455:Peptides / Q000138:chemical synthesis* / Q000494:pharmacology; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D006454:Hemoglobins; D009211:Myoglobin; D010455:Peptides