Who says you can’t improve on nature? New research finds that an algorithm that systematically improves on the design of plant peptides could be a powerful tool for inspiring new antibiotics.
Starting with a peptide from the tropical guava plant, researchers used the technique to design a synthetic peptide with a stronger antimicrobial action than the original. The peptide, dubbed Guavanin 2, is toxic to many Gram-negative bacteria, including the gastrointestinal scourge E. coli and a frequent cause of hospital infections, A. baumannii.
“One of the motivations behind this is the global health problem of antibiotic resistance,” says César de la Fuente, a biological engineer at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). A 2014 review commissioned by the United Kingdom estimated that antibiotic-resistant infections will kill 10 million people per year by 2050 unless advances are made.
Antimicrobial peptides are one of those potential advances. Produced by all living organisms, these amino acid chains are typically positively charged, allowing them to interact with negatively charged bacterial membranes, says de la Fuente. They also carry...
Would you like to access the complete CEP News Update?
No problem. You just have to complete the following steps.
You have completed 0 of 2 steps.
-
Log in
You must be logged in to view this content. Log in now.
-
AIChE Membership
You must be an AIChE member to view this article. Join now.
Copyright Permissions
Would you like to reuse content from CEP Magazine? It’s easy to request permission to reuse content. Simply click here to connect instantly to licensing services, where you can choose from a list of options regarding how you would like to reuse the desired content and complete the transaction.
