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Updated: Jun 9, 2025

Antimicrobial Peptides Produced by Selective Pressure Incorporation of Non-canonical Amino Acids
Published on: May 4, 2018
Human microbiome derived synthetic antimicrobial peptides with activity against Gram-negative, Gram-positive, and
Walaa K Mousa1,2,3, Ashif Y Shaikh4, Rose Ghemrawi1,2
1College of Pharmacy, Al Ain University PO BOX 64141 Abu Dhabi United Arab Emirates walaa.mousa@aau.ac.ae.
Abstract:
The prevalence of antibacterial resistance has become one of the major health threats of modern times, requiring the development of novel antibacterials. Antimicrobial peptides are a promising source of antibiotic candidates, mostly requiring further optimization to enhance druggability. In this study, a series of new antimicrobial peptides derived from lactomodulin, a human microbiome natural peptide, was designed, synthesized, and biologically evaluated. Within the most active region of the parent peptide, linear peptide LM6 with the sequence LSKISGGIGPLVIPV-NH2 and its cyclic derivatives LM13a and LM13b showed strong antibacterial activity against Gram-positive bacteria, including resistant strains, and Gram-negative bacteria. The peptides were found to have a rapid onset of bactericidal activity and transmission electron microscopy clearly shows the disintegration of the cell membrane, suggesting a membrane-targeting mode of action.
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