Browsing by Author "Chmielewski, Jean"

Now showing 1 - 4 of 4
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    Antibacterial activity and therapeutic efficacy of Fl-PRPRPL-5, a cationic amphiphilic polyproline helix, in a mouse model of staphylococcal skin infection
    Thangamani, Shankar; Nepal, Manish; Chmielewski, Jean; Seleem, Mohamed N. (Dove Medical Press, 2015-01-01)
    The antibacterial activities and therapeutic efficacy of the cationic, unnatural proline-rich peptide Fl-PRPRPL-5 were evaluated against multidrug-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in a mouse model of skin infection. Fl-PRPRPL-5 showed potent activity against all clinical isolates of S. aureus tested, including methicillin- and vancomycin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA and VRSA, respectively). Fl-PRPRPL-5 was also superior in clearing established in vitro biofilms of S. aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis, compared with the established antimicrobials mupirocin and vancomycin. Additionally, topical treatment of an MRSA-infected wound with Fl-PRPRPL-5 enhanced wound closure and significantly reduced bacterial load. Finally, 0.5% Fl-PRPRPL-5 significantly reduced the levels of the inflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β) in wounds induced by MRSA skin infection. In conclusion, the results of this study suggest the potential application of Fl-PRPRPL-5 in the treatment of staphylococcal skin infections.
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    Antibacterial cell-penetrating peptides
    Chmielewski, Jean; Seleem, Mohamed N. (US Patent, 2020-12-29)
    The present disclosure relates to novel antibacterial cell penetrating peptides and derivatives, and methods to make and use the novel antibacterial cell-penetrating peptides and derivatives. The novel antibacterial cell-penetrating peptides of the present invention with shorter linker between a pyrrolidine ring and a guanidine group provide unexpectedly higher potency against a broader scope of bacterial.
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    Cleavable conjugates of antibiotics and an antibacterial cell-penetrating peptide
    Chmielewski, Jean; Seleem, Mohamed N. (US Patent, 2020-06-23)
    The present disclosure relates to novel cleavable conjugates of antibiotics and an antibacterial cell-penetrating peptide, and methods to make and use the novel cleavable conjugates of antibiotics and an antibacterial cell-penetrating peptide.
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    A short D-enantiomeric antimicrobial peptide with potent immunomodulatory and antibiofilm activity against multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acinetobacter baumannii
    Mohamed, Mohamed F.; Brezden, Anna; Mohammad, Haroon; Chmielewski, Jean; Seleem, Mohamed N. (Nature Publishing Group, 2017-07-31)
    Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) represent a promising therapeutic alternative for the treatment of antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections. The present study investigates the antimicrobial activity of new, rationally-designed derivatives of a short α-helical peptide, RR. From the peptides designed, RR4 and its D-enantiomer, D-RR4, emerged as the most potent analogues with a more than 32-fold improvement in antimicrobial activity observed against multidrug-resistant strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acinetobacter baumannii. Remarkably, D-RR4 demonstrated potent activity against colistin-resistant strains of P. aeruginosa (isolated from cystic fibrosis patients) indicating a potential therapeutic advantage of this peptide over several AMPs. In contrast to many natural AMPs, D-RR4 retained its activity under challenging physiological conditions (high salts, serum, and acidic pH). Furthermore, D-RR4 was more capable of disrupting P. aeruginosa and A. baumannii biofilms when compared to conventional antibiotics. Of note, D-RR4 was able to bind to lipopolysaccharide to reduce the endotoxin-induced proinflammatory cytokine response in macrophages. Finally, D-RR4 protected Caenorhabditis elegans from lethal infections of P. aeruginosa and A. baumannii and enhanced the activity of colistin in vivo against colistin-resistant P. aeruginosa.