Context

In recent years, some of the research designed to combat multidrug-resistant bacteria has focused on developing synthetic antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) with lower toxicity and higher activity relative to endogenous natural peptides. AMPs are a promising therapeutic option due to the broad spectrum of antimicrobial activity, low rate of resistance development, and immunomodulatory properties. Most AMPs exhibit rapid broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity. Moreover, they may present anti-fungal, anti-viral, and anti-parasitic activities.

Benefits

The team developed technology to develop synthetic mimes of broad-spectrum AMPs based on a self-structured chemical platform called foldamer. These molecules imitate the amphipathic properties of AMPs and have been shown to be effective against different bacterial strains, including WHO priority bacteria that are weakly hemolytic and stable to proteolysis.

Applications

Antibiotic-resistant Gram-negative bacteria - Other bacteria