FFC#14/2014

Development of BMAP18 as a peptide drug in the lung bacterial infections: a study to improve its effectiveness in the CF pulmonary environment

FFC#14/2014

Development of BMAP18 as a peptide drug in the lung bacterial infections: a study to improve its effectiveness in the CF pulmonary environment

PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Marco Scocchi (Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita, Università di Trieste)

RESEARCHERS

12

CATEGORY

AREA 3 Bronchopulmonary infection

DURATION

1 year

GOAL

€ 26.000

RESULTS

A reduced activity of BMAP18 and tobramycin due to DNA and mucin was detected. In addition, the peptide was observed to be degraded in the lung bronchoalveolar lavage in mice, explaining the scarce antimicrobial effect previously observed in vivo. For this reason a stereoisomeric form of the peptide, D-BMAP18, resistant to proteolytic degradation was prepared and tested. D-BMAP18 maintained its in vitro activity, and when used on a pulmonary acute infection healthy mice or with acute pulmonary infection by a P. aeruginosa strain the peptide showed to be almost active as tobramycin. The effectiveness of D-BMAP18 could be increased further whether the components of bronchoalveolar lavage that inhibit the activity of the peptide without degrading it will be identified. These results not only bring clinical applications of D-BMAP18 closer, but also draw a method of study which could be also applied to other AMPs.

OTHER RESULTS

FFC #3/2024

Two molecules are effective in activating Heat Shock Proteins and enhancing the action of CFTR correctors with the F508del mutation in vitro.

FFC#5/2024

Some peptide nucleic acids (PNAs) re-sensitise Pseudomonas aeruginosa to the antibiotic meropenem in vitro and reduce its virulence.

FFC#1/2023

Tezacaftor, one of the components of Kaftrio, induces an accumulation of dihydroceramides both in vitro and in vivo in animal models