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Updated: May 7, 2026

Development of a Backbone Cyclic Peptide Library as Potential Antiparasitic Therapeutics Using Microwave Irradiation
Published on: January 26, 2016
Antimycobacterial activity of cyclic dipeptides isolated from Bacillus sp. N strain associated with entomopathogenic
1Division of Crop Protection/Division of Crop Utilization, Central Tuber Crops Research Institute , Sreekariyam, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala , India.
Context:
Tuberculosis (TB) is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality with a global mortality rate of two million deaths per year; one-third of the world's population is infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
Objective:
The aim of this study was to determine the antimycobacterial activity of six diketopiperazines (DKPs) purified from a Bacillus sp. N strain associated with entomopathogenic nematode Rhabditis (Oscheius) sp.
Materials And Methods:
The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration of DKPs were determined using the broth dilution method on Middlebrook 7H11 against M. tuberculosis H₃₇Rv. Time-kill assay was used to determine the rate of killing of M. tuberculosis H₃₇Rv by DKPs. The cytotoxicity of the DKPs was determined by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide assay against the VERO cell line.
Results:
Out of six DKP-tested cyclo-(D-Pro-L-Leu), cyclo-(L-Pro-L-Met) and cyclo-(D-Pro-L-Phe) recorded antimycobacterial activity, the cyclo-(L-Pro-L-Met) showed the highest activity and MIC values of 4 μg/ml for M. tuberculosis H₃₇Rv. The MIC value for rifampicin was 0.06 μg/ml. Growth curve study by the MIC concentration of cyclic dipeptides recorded significant inhibition when compared with control. Time-kill curve showed maximum reduction of colony count was between 3 and 5 weeks. The DKPs are nontoxic to the VERO cell line up to 200 µg/ml. The antimycobacterial activity of cyclo-(D-Pro-L-Leu), cyclo-(L-Pro-L-Met) and cyclo-(D-Pro-L-Phe) is reported in this study for the first time.
Discussion And Conclusion:
In conclusion, the potency, low cytotoxicity and selectivity of these compounds make them valid lead compounds for treatment against TB.
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