Synthesis and studies of bioencapsulation systems associated with antimicrobial peptides based on natural toxin CcdB

• Grant number: 12/20342-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• Start date: January 01, 2013
• End date: December 31, 2014
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Chemistry
• Principal Investigator: Saulo Santesso Garrido
• Grantee: Isabelle Cavalini de Oliveira
• Host Institution: Instituto de Química (IQ). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Araraquara. Araraquara , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The use of new technologies for the development of more effective drugs to combat bacterial infections shows up as a promising strategy in the health field. In this whay peptides with antibiotic effect produced by plants, animals and microorganisms are used as models for developing new drugs with applications in human and animal health. The intracellular toxins produced by post-segregational cell killing system (PSK) in bacteria such as CcdB are recent examples of this strategy. Important results have been obtained for the inhibition of bacterial topoisomerase activity by peptide derivatives of these toxins. In vitro MIC values have been below 5 mM but showed no reproducibility on in vivo assays basicaly due to the low permeability of those peptide derivatives on bacterial cells. Many studies have been developed by our research group to develop methods, systems or efficient mechanisms to promote access of synthetic peptide molecules derived from CcdB toxin to the intracellular environment. Bioencapsulation systems or drug delivery systems such as liposomes have been shown to be effective for this purpose. However more detailed studies should be conducted to better understand this property. This research project has the prerogative of investigate the ability of liposome's of different chemical compositions to promote permeation in bacterial cells of different species, thus permitting to introduce peptides molecules in the intracellular environment, which will have a cytotoxic effect.

Academic Publications

(References retrieved automatically from State of São Paulo Research Institutions)

OLIVEIRA, Isabelle Cavalini de. Síntese e estudos de sistemas de bioencapsulação associados a peptídeos antimicrobianos miméticos da toxina natural CcdB. 2014. Master's Dissertation - Universidade Estadual Paulista (Unesp). Instituto de Química. Araraquara Araraquara.