Beta-sheet antibiotic peptides as potential dental therapeutics.

Abstract

Small, cysteine-rich, beta-sheet peptide antibiotics are found throughout the Animalia. Though broad spectrum in potential, they may exert selective antimicrobial effects under certain conditions. We have explored the antimicrobial properties of two families of beta-sheet peptide antibiotics, defensins and protegrins, against periodontopathic bacteria. The rabbit defensin NP-1 was active against facultative Gram-negative bacteria associated with early onset periodontitis, including Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans and the Capnocytophaga spp. Porcine protegrins showed even greater activity against those organisms, as well as against anaerobic bacteria associated with adult periodontitis, including Porphyromonas gingivalis Prevotella intermedia and Fusobacterium nucleatum. Based on these observations, we believe that protegrin-like beta-sheet peptide antibiotics may be useful dental therapeutics.

• Authors: K T Miyasaki, R I Lehrer
• Journal: International journal of antimicrobial agents (Int J Antimicrob Agents) Vol. 9 Issue 4 Pg. 269-80 (Feb 1998) ISSN: 0924-8579 [Print] Netherlands
• PMID: 9573496 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S., Review)

Chemical References

• Anti-Bacterial Agents
• Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides
• Blood Proteins
• DNA-Binding Proteins
• Defensins
• Peptides, Cyclic
• Proteins
• tachyplesin peptide, Tachypleus tridentatus

Topics

• Adult
• Amino Acid Sequence
• Animals
• Anti-Bacterial Agents (chemistry, therapeutic use)
• Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides
• Blood Proteins (chemistry)
• DNA-Binding Proteins (chemistry, pharmacology)
• Defensins
• Dental Health Services
• Humans
• Insecta
• Molecular Sequence Data
• Peptides, Cyclic (chemistry, pharmacology)
• Periodontal Diseases (drug therapy)
• Proteins (chemistry, pharmacology)
• Rabbits