Development of Antimicrobial Peptides from Amphibian, 2nd Edition

A special issue of Antibiotics (ISSN 2079-6382). This special issue belongs to the section "Antimicrobial Peptides".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 June 2025 | Viewed by 4962

Special Issue Editors


E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Biochemical Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
Interests: antimicrobial peptides; peptide-membrane interaction; cystic fibrosis; infectious diseases; pneumonia; keratitis; drug development; wound healing; Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Biochemical Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
Interests: bioactive peptides; biological/biochemical characterization of small bioactive molecules; natural products; structure-activity relationship of natural/synthetic bioactive molecules
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Biochemical Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
Interests: bioactive peptides; biological/biochemical characterization of small bioactive molecules; natural products; structure-activity relationship of natural/synthetic bioactive molecules

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) represent an interesting class of molecules for the development of new antimicrobial therapeutics to fight multidrug resistant infections, with their unique modes of action, which are generally based on the perturbation of the target microbial membrane.

Although many AMPs have reached clinical trials, not many have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) due to concerns associated with toxicity, proteases cleavage, and short half-life. Nowadays, thanks to the progress in computational, biochemical, and nanotechnologies studies, different approaches have been developed to ameliorate the biological properties of AMPs.

Since 1987, when Michael Zasloff isolated magainins from the skin secretions of the African toad Xenopus laevis, an increasing number of AMPs has been identified in different anuran species and studied in detail. As a result, frog skin is one of the richest sources of natural AMPs from different families.

The first edition of the Special Issue “Development of Antimicrobial Peptides from Amphibian” was published in 2020. It is a successful collection with 10 excellent papers and has encouraged us to open a second edition with the same topic.

As a continuation of the first Special Issue, this second edition aims to present the most recent advances in the development of natural and synthesized frog skin-derived AMPs and their synergistic combination among different classes of natural antibiotics to counteract drug-resistant pathogens.

Recent advances and developments in antimicrobial research that could increase knowledge on the structure, function, and especially mechanism of action of frog skin-derived AMPs when used alone or in combination with other antimicrobial molecules for the development of new anti-infective drugs are welcome.

Topics may include, but are not limited to, the following:

  •     Frog skin-derived antimicrobial peptides;
  •     Natural and synthetic AMPs;
  •     The synergy of AMPs;
  •     Insights into the mechanism(s) of action of AMPs;
  •     Drug delivery system.

Prof. Dr. Maria Luisa Mangoni
Dr. Bruno Casciaro
Dr. Maria Rosa Loffredo
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Antibiotics is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2900 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • frog skin-derived antimicrobial peptides
  • natural and synthetic AMPs
  • the synergy of AMPs
  • insights into the mechanism(s) of action of AMPs
  • drug delivery system

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

  • Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • e-Book format: Special Issues with more than 10 articles can be published as dedicated e-books, ensuring wide and rapid dissemination.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Related Special Issue

Published Papers (3 papers)

Order results
Result details
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

Jump to: Review

18 pages, 4256 KiB  
Article
Cloning and Functional Analysis of Skin Host Defense Peptides from Yakushima Tago’s Brown Frog (Rana tagoi yakushimensis) and Development of Serum Endotoxin Detection System
by Taichi Aono, Saki Tamura, Yua Suzuki, Taichi Imanara, Ryosei Niwa, Yoshie Yamane, Tetsuya Kobayashi, Sakae Kikuyama, Itaru Hasunuma and Shawichi Iwamuro
Antibiotics 2024, 13(12), 1127; https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics13121127 - 24 Nov 2024
Viewed by 1417
Abstract
Background/Objective: Amphibian skin is a valuable source of host defense peptides (HDPs). This study aimed to identify HDPs with novel amino acid sequences from the skin of Rana tagoi yakushimensis and analyze their functions. Methods: cDNAs encoding HDP precursors were cloned and sequenced [...] Read more.
Background/Objective: Amphibian skin is a valuable source of host defense peptides (HDPs). This study aimed to identify HDPs with novel amino acid sequences from the skin of Rana tagoi yakushimensis and analyze their functions. Methods: cDNAs encoding HDP precursors were cloned and sequenced using RT-PCR and 3′-RACE. The novel HDPs were synthesized to evaluate their antimicrobial activity, antioxidant activity, and cytotoxicity. Antimicrobial activity was evaluated by way of broth microdilution and endotoxin- and β-glucan-binding capacity using an enzyme-linked endotoxin binding assay (ELEBA) and a modified ELEBA, respectively. Results: Nine cDNAs encoding precursors for various HDP families, including temporin, ranatuerin-2, brevinin-1, amurin-9, and a novel yakushimin peptide, were identified. Brevinin-1TYa exhibited antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, and brevinin-1TYa and amurin-9TYa induced morphological changes in Escherichia coli and S. aureus. Yakushimin-TYa, amurin-9TYa, and brevinin-1TYa showed concentration-dependent antibacterial effects against the plant pathogens Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae and Clavibacter michiganensis subsp. michiganensis. Amurin-9TYa demonstrated strong binding affinity to lipopolysaccharide, lipoteichoic acid, and β-glucan, exhibited antioxidant activity, and lacked cytotoxicity, making it a promising therapeutic candidate. Moreover, brevinin-1TYa showed strong cytotoxicity, whereas yakushimin-TYa exhibited weak cytotoxicity. Conclusions: These findings highlight the potential of these peptides, particularly amurin-9TYa, for future applications as antimicrobial and therapeutic agents. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Development of Antimicrobial Peptides from Amphibian, 2nd Edition)
Show Figures

Graphical abstract

Review

Jump to: Research

40 pages, 924 KiB  
Review
The Role of Amphibian AMPs Against Oxidative Stress and Related Diseases
by Yudy Lorena Silva Ortíz, Thaís Campos de Sousa, Natália Elisabeth Kruklis, Paula Galeano García, José Brango-Vanegas, Marcelo Henrique Soller Ramada and Octávio Luiz Franco
Antibiotics 2025, 14(2), 126; https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics14020126 - 25 Jan 2025
Viewed by 1396
Abstract
Amphibians use their skin as an effective defense mechanism against predators and microorganisms. Specialized glands produce antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) that possess antioxidant properties, effectively reducing reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels. These peptides are promising candidates for treating diseases associated with oxidative stress (OS) [...] Read more.
Amphibians use their skin as an effective defense mechanism against predators and microorganisms. Specialized glands produce antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) that possess antioxidant properties, effectively reducing reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels. These peptides are promising candidates for treating diseases associated with oxidative stress (OS) and redox imbalance, including neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease (AD), Parkinson’s disease (PD), Huntington’s disease (HD), and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), as well as age-related conditions, like cardiovascular diseases and cancer. This review highlights the multifaceted roles of AMPs and antioxidant peptides (AOPs) in amphibians, emphasizing their protective capabilities against oxidative damage. They scavenge ROS, activate antioxidant enzyme systems, and inhibit cellular damage. AOPs often share structural characteristics with AMPs, suggesting a potential evolutionary connection and similar biosynthetic pathways. Peptides such as brevinin-1FL and Cath-KP demonstrate neuroprotective effects, indicating their therapeutic potential in managing oxidative stress-related diseases. The antioxidant properties of amphibian-derived peptides pave the way for novel therapeutic developments. However, a deeper understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying these peptides and their interactions with oxidative stress is essential to addressing ROS-related diseases and advancing therapeutic strategies in clinical practice. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Development of Antimicrobial Peptides from Amphibian, 2nd Edition)
Show Figures

Figure 1

17 pages, 3279 KiB  
Review
Investigation of the Mechanism of Action of AMPs from Amphibians to Identify Bacterial Protein Targets for Therapeutic Applications
by Carolina Canè, Lidia Tammaro, Angela Duilio and Angela Di Somma
Antibiotics 2024, 13(11), 1076; https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics13111076 - 12 Nov 2024
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1591
Abstract
Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) from amphibians represent a promising source of novel antibacterial agents due to their potent and broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity, which positions them as valid alternatives to conventional antibiotics. This review provides a comprehensive analysis of the mechanisms through which amphibian-derived AMPs [...] Read more.
Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) from amphibians represent a promising source of novel antibacterial agents due to their potent and broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity, which positions them as valid alternatives to conventional antibiotics. This review provides a comprehensive analysis of the mechanisms through which amphibian-derived AMPs exert their effects against bacterial pathogens. We focus on the identification of bacterial protein targets implicated in the action of these peptides and on biological processes altered by the effect of AMPs. By examining recent advances in countering multidrug-resistant bacteria through multi-omics approaches, we elucidate how AMPs interact with bacterial membranes, enter bacterial cells, and target a specific protein. We discuss the implications of these interactions in developing targeted therapies and overcoming antibiotic resistance (ABR). This review aims to integrate the current knowledge on AMPs’ mechanisms, identify gaps in our understanding, and propose future directions for research to harness amphibian AMPs in clinical applications. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Development of Antimicrobial Peptides from Amphibian, 2nd Edition)
Show Figures

Graphical abstract

Back to TopTop