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Bioengineering Speaker Series with Dr. Myriam Cotten
Join us on April 12th at 4:00 in ISC 2280 to hear Dr. Cotten talk about her bioengineering research! Read the abstract below:
Biological and Biophysical Investigations of Host Defense Metallopeptides for Promising Biomedical Applications
Host-produced antimicrobial peptides are multifunctional molecules that perform vital roles to prevent and fight infections. Not only can they directly eradicate bacteria by disrupting their membranes or targeting intracellular processes but they can also display immunomodulatory effects. The multiple functions of peptides in the piscidin family, the first antimicrobial peptides to be discovered in mast cells, encompass antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, and anesthetic properties. In our research, we perform biochemical and biophysical experiments to investigate piscidin’s molecular targets and mechanisms of action in bacterial and cancer cells, and their respective mimics. Using an array of tools that include high-resolution solid-state NMR, neutron diffraction, oriented circular dichroism, permeabilization assays, biological-activity testing, and confocal microscopy, we contribute to the efforts of mapping at the molecular and atomic levels the landscape of intrinsic structural features and environmental conditions that allow a single peptide family to unleash a multiplicity of functions in support of host defense. These principles could be useful to design novel therapeutics that treat immune-related diseases and eradicate drug resistant bacteria.
Biological and Biophysical Investigations of Host Defense Metallopeptides for Promising Biomedical Applications
Host-produced antimicrobial peptides are multifunctional molecules that perform vital roles to prevent and fight infections. Not only can they directly eradicate bacteria by disrupting their membranes or targeting intracellular processes but they can also display immunomodulatory effects. The multiple functions of peptides in the piscidin family, the first antimicrobial peptides to be discovered in mast cells, encompass antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, and anesthetic properties. In our research, we perform biochemical and biophysical experiments to investigate piscidin’s molecular targets and mechanisms of action in bacterial and cancer cells, and their respective mimics. Using an array of tools that include high-resolution solid-state NMR, neutron diffraction, oriented circular dichroism, permeabilization assays, biological-activity testing, and confocal microscopy, we contribute to the efforts of mapping at the molecular and atomic levels the landscape of intrinsic structural features and environmental conditions that allow a single peptide family to unleash a multiplicity of functions in support of host defense. These principles could be useful to design novel therapeutics that treat immune-related diseases and eradicate drug resistant bacteria.