Assessing the anticancer potential of spider venom peptide Latarcin Ltc2a against triple negative breast cancer.

Cancer remains one of the most formidable challenges to human health, necessitating constant exploration of innovative therapeutic strategies. Among the myriad potential candidates, peptides from venom have emerged as potent sources of bioactive molecules possessing diverse pharmacological properties. In this study, we repurposed a spider venom-derived antimicrobial peptide, Ltc2a, into a selective anticancer agent, bridging microbial defense with cancer therapeutics.

Targeting fungal keratitis: In vivo efficacy of corneal-targeting and non-targeting peptides againstFusarium dimerum.

Fungal keratitis is a major contributor to monocular blindness, globally. This is because, application of conventional topical therapy yields poor outcomes owing to the poor penetration and fungistatic nature of these antifungal agents. Cell penetrating peptides (CPPs) with potent antifungal effect may provide a solution to address these challenges.

RiTe conjugate mediated corneal collagen crosslinking, a novel therapeutic intervention for keratoconus - in vitro and in vivo study.

Corneal collagen crosslinking (CXL) is an effective method to halt the disease progression of keratoconus, a progressive corneal dystrophy leading to cone shaped cornea. Despite the efficacy of standard protocol, the concerning step of this procedure is epithelial debridement performed to facilitate the entry of riboflavin drug. Riboflavin, a key molecule in CXL protocol, is a sparsely permeable hydrophilic drug in corneal tissues.

Engraulisin: A novel marine derived cell penetrating peptide with activity against drug resistant bacteria.

Cell penetrating peptides (CPP) with their intrinsic ability to penetrate plasma membranes facilitate intracellular uptake of various macromolecules. Although a substantial number of CPPs have been reported over the last three decades, the number is still inadequate when compared to the theoretically feasible peptides with similar physicochemical composition. Marine organisms, due to their hostile environment, are an immense source of several high-valued therapeutically relevant peptides.

Tachyplesin and CyLoP-1 as efficient anti-mycobacterial peptides: A novel finding.

Mycobacterium tuberculosis is an etiological agent of tuberculosis (TB) known to be a highly contagious disease and is the major cause of mortality from a single infectious agent worldwide. Emergence of multi-drug resistant and extremely drug resistant strains of M. tuberculosis has made TB management extremely challenging eliciting the urgent need for alternative therapeutics.

Novel corneal targeting cell penetrating peptide as an efficient nanocarrier with an effective antimicrobial activity.

Delivery of therapeutics to the ocular tissues is challenging due to various anatomical and physiological barriers imposed. Cell penetrating peptides (CPPs) have emerged as potent drug nanocarriers that have been shown to overcome these barriers and enhance bioavailability of therapeutic macromolecules in deep ocular tissues. In the present study, an ocular targeting CPP has been designed by exploring potential targets of anterior ocular tissues in particular receptors, transporters and glycosaminoglycans (GAGs).

Peptide-mediated leishmaniasis management strategy: Tachyplesin emerges as an effective anti-leishmanial peptide against Leishmania donovani.

Visceral leishmaniasis is one of the neglected tropical diseases caused by an intracellular parasite, Leishmania donovani. Drug resistance, adverse side effects and long treatment regimes are important limitations in achieving the effective elimination of visceral leishmaniasis. In the absence of any vaccine, chemotherapy remains a viable treatment for leishmaniasis.

Enhanced in vivo antifungal activity of novel cell penetrating peptide natamycin conjugate for efficient fungal keratitis management.

Natamycin is the only FDA approved drug that is used as a first line of treatment for fungal keratitis caused by filamentous fungi, however natamycin is known for poor corneal penetration. Cell penetrating peptides (CPPs) are emerging nanocarriers for the enhanced delivery of various macromolecules owing to their distinct cellular translocation ability. In the present study, tissue penetration ability and antifungal efficacy of CPP (Tat) conjugated natamycin has been investigated and compared with natamycin alone in vivo.

Efficient delivery of anti-miR-210 using Tachyplesin, a cell penetrating peptide, for glioblastoma treatment.

The levels of microRNAs (miRNAs) are altered in various diseases including glioblastoma (GBM) and this alteration may have widespread effects on various hallmarks of cancer cells. MiR210 is overexpressed in GBM and functions as an oncogenic miRNA. Anti-miR210 therapy holds great promise but its efficient delivery remains a major challenge.

Antibacterial properties of Latarcin 1 derived cell-penetrating peptides.

Cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs) and antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) share certain physicochemical parameters such as amphipathicity, hydrophobicity, cationicity and pI, due to which these two groups of peptides also exhibit overlapping functional characteristics. In our current work, we have evaluated antimicrobial properties of cell-penetrating peptides derived from Latarcin1. Latarcin derived peptide (LDP) exhibited antimicrobial activity against representative microorganisms tested and bactericidal effect against methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), which was used as model organism of study in the present work.

Antifungal activity of Latarcin 1 derived cell-penetrating peptides against Fusarium solani.

Cell-penetrating peptides and antimicrobial peptides share physicochemical characteristics and mechanisms of interaction with biological membranes, hence, termed as membrane active peptides. The present study aims at evaluating AMP activity of CPPs. LDP-NLS and LDP are Latarcin 1 derived cell-penetrating peptides and in the current study we have evaluated antifungal and cell-penetrating properties of these CPPs in Fusarium solani.

Cell-penetrating and cargo-delivery ability of a spider toxin-derived peptide in mammalian cells.

Cell-penetrating peptides are short cationic peptides with inherent ability to cross the plasma membrane barrier as well as intracellularly deliver cargo molecules conjugated to them. Venoms from snakes, scorpions and spiders are rich in membrane-active peptides. Crotamine from snake venom as well as maurocalcine and imperatoxin isolated from scorpion venoms have been reported to possess cell-penetrating property in mammalian cells.

CyLoP-1: Membrane-active peptide with cell-penetrating and antimicrobial properties.

CyLoP-1 is a cysteine-rich cell-penetrating peptide derived from nuclear localization sequence of snake toxin, crotamine. The peptide has shown cytoplasmic uptake in mammalian cells at lower concentrations. In the present study, the cell-penetrating and antimicrobial activity of the peptide has been studied by employing mammalian cells, plant cells as well as bacterial and fungal pathogens.