IPAS Photoswitchable Tetrapeptides featured in ChemMedChem

Staphylococcus aureus is a common bacterium that spreads in healthcare facilities & communities. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) has become resistant to many first-line antibiotics. The Abell research group at IPAS developed three photoswitchable tetrapeptides, based on a known synthetic antibacterial, to determine activity against Staphylococcus aureus. A net positive charge, hydrophobicity, position of the azobenzene, secondary structure, and amphiphilicity were all found to be crucial in promoting antibacterial activity, with each of these factors likely facilitating the peptide to disrupt the negatively charged bacterial lipid membrane. This research provides insights for the future design and synthesis of antibiotics targeting these infections. Congratulations to Yuan Qi and team.

Short photoswitchable antibacterial peptides
Yuan Qi Yeoh, John R. Horsley, Jingxian Yu, Steven W. Polyak, Blagojce Jovcevski and Andrew D. Abell
ChemMedChem, 2020
DOI: 10.1002/cmdc.202000280