Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 28, 2025
Antimicrobial Peptides Produced by Selective Pressure Incorporation of Non-canonical Amino Acids
Published on: May 4, 2018
Antimicrobial activity of the Flo peptide produced in Scenedesmus acutus and Nannochloropsis oculata
Saraí Damaris Dávalos-Guzmán1, Fidel Martinez-Gutierrez1,2, Luzmila Martínez-González1
1Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí, Av. Dr. Manuel Nava No.6, Zona Universitaria, San Luis Potosí, C.P. 78210, México.
Abstract:
The continuous increase of bacterial pathogen resistance to conventional antibiotics has challenged the research community to develop new antimicrobial strategies. Antimicrobial peptides (AMP) are a promising alternative to combat multidrug-resistant strains compared to conventional antibiotics because of their biocompatibility. In the present study, the Flo peptide, an AMP from the Moringa oleifera tree, was expressed in the chloroplast of the microalgae Nannochloropsis oculata and Scenedesmus acutus. The transgene insertion was verified by PCR amplification, and the homoplasmy was corroborated in spectinomycin-resistant lines. The identification and quantification of the peptide were performed using ELISA. The antimicrobial activity was studied against the Gram-negative Escherichia coli (ATCC 25,922) and Klebsiella pneumoniae (ATCC 700,603). The inflammatory response of the total soluble proteins of transplastomic N. oculata was assessed by measuring secretion of the cytokines IL-6, IL-10, and alpha-tumor necrosis (TNF-α), and cytotoxicity was assessed. These results provide a potential strategy to produce the Flo peptide in microalgae with antibacterial activities.
Insights
Researchers engineered microalgae to produce the Flo peptide, a promising antimicrobial peptide from Moringa oleifera. This offers a novel strategy against antibiotic-resistant bacteria, leveraging biocompatible antimicrobial peptides.
Area of Science:
- Biotechnology
- Microbiology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Rising antibiotic resistance necessitates novel antimicrobial strategies.
- Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) offer a biocompatible alternative to conventional antibiotics.
- Moringa oleifera contains AMPs with potential therapeutic applications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To express the Flo peptide, an AMP from Moringa oleifera, in microalgae.
- To evaluate the antimicrobial activity of the microalgae-expressed Flo peptide.
- To assess the safety profile of the transplastomic microalgae.
Main Methods:
- Flo peptide gene expression in Nannochloropsis oculata and Scenedesmus acutus chloroplasts.
- Verification of transgene insertion via PCR and homoplasmy confirmation.
- Quantification of Flo peptide using ELISA and antimicrobial activity assays against E. coli and K. pneumoniae.
- Assessment of inflammatory cytokine secretion (IL-6, IL-10, TNF-α) and cytotoxicity.
Main Results:
- Successful expression and verification of the Flo peptide in transplastomic microalgae.
- Demonstrated antimicrobial activity of the Flo peptide against Gram-negative bacteria.
- Initial assessment of inflammatory response and cytotoxicity of the engineered microalgae.
Conclusions:
- Microalgae can be engineered as a sustainable platform for producing antimicrobial peptides.
- The Flo peptide expressed in microalgae shows potential for combating antibiotic-resistant pathogens.
- Further research is warranted to optimize production and assess in vivo efficacy.
More Related Videos
10:13Production and Visualization of Bacterial Spheroplasts and Protoplasts to Characterize Antimicrobial Peptide Localization
Published on: August 11, 2018
05:13LED-Based In Vitro Screening for Assessing Photoactivable Molecules in Bacterial Photodynamic Inactivation
Published on: January 24, 2025
