title: Systematic approach to optimizing specifically targeted antimicrobial peptides against Streptococcus mutans.
abstract: Previously we reported a novel strategy of "targeted killing" through the design of narrow-spectrum molecules known as specifically targeted antimicrobial peptides (STAMPs) (R. Eckert et al., Antimicrob. Agents Chemother. 50:3651-3657, 2006; R. Eckert et al., Antimicrob. Agents Chemother. 50:1480-1488, 2006). Construction of these molecules requires the identification and the subsequent utilization of two conjoined yet functionally independent peptide components: the targeting and killing regions. In this study, we sought to design and synthesize a large number of STAMPs targeting Streptococcus mutans, the primary etiologic agent of human dental caries, in order to identify candidate peptides with increased killing speed and selectivity compared with their unmodified precursor antimicrobial peptides (AMPs). We hypothesized that a combinatorial approach, utilizing a set number of AMP, targeting, and linker regions, would be an effective method for the identification of STAMPs with the desired level of activity. STAMPs composed of the Sm6 S. mutans binding peptide and the PL-135 AMP displayed selectivity at MICs after incubation for 18 to 24 h. A STAMP where PL-135 was replaced by the B-33 killing domain exhibited both selectivity and rapid killing within 1 min of exposure and displayed activity against multispecies biofilms grown in the presence of saliva. These results suggest that potent and selective STAMP molecules can be designed and improved via a tunable "building-block" approach.
authors.affiliation: School of Dentistry, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90095, USA.
authors.forename: Jian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: He
authors.forename: Daniel K
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Yarbrough
authors.forename: Jens
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kreth
authors.forename: Maxwell H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Anderson
authors.forename: Wenyuan
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.forename: Randal
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Eckert
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000494:pharmacology*; D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018441:Biofilms / Q000187:drug effects; D003731:Dental Caries / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology*; D015195:Drug Design; D006801:Humans; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D008828:Microbiological Techniques; D019151:Peptide Library; D012463:Saliva / Q000382:microbiology; D013295:Streptococcus mutans / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides; D019151:Peptide Library