Main description:

This volume provides basic and advanced laboratory protocols for the non-specialist and the experienced researcher. Chapters are divided into three parts covering synthesis and characterization of AMPs, studying the interaction of AMPs with model systems or bacteria, and assaying selected biological activities of AMPs. Written in the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology series format, chapters include introductions to their respective topics, lists of the necessary materials and reagents, step-by-step, readily reproducible laboratory protocols, and tips on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls.

Authoritative and cutting-edge, Antimicrobial Peptides: Methods and Protocols aims to ensure successful results in the further study of this vital field.

Contents:

Part I: Properties, Design, Synthesis and Characterization of AMPs

1. Antimicrobial Peptides: An Introduction

Evan F. Haney, Sarah C. Mansour, and Robert E.W. Hancock

2. Tools for Designing Amphipathic Helical Antimicrobial Peptides

Davor Juretic, Damir Vukicevic, and Alessandro Tossi

3. Chemical Synthesis of Antimicrobial Peptides

Lena Munzker, Alberto Oddo and Paul R. Hansen

4. Microwave-Assisted Synthesis of Antimicrobial Peptides

Suhas Ramesh, Beatriz G. de la Torre, Fernando Albericio, Hendrik G. Kruger, and Thavendran Govender

5. High Performance Liquid Chromatography and Mass Spectrometry-Based Design of Protolytically Stable Antimicrobial Peptides

Mojtaba Bagheri and Robert E. W. Hancock

6. Determination of Structure and Micellar Interactions of Small Antimicrobial Peptides by Solution-State NMR

Reinhard Wimmer and Lars Erik Uggerhoj

7. Mass Spectrometry Approaches for Determining the Structure of Antimicrobial Peptides

Jiongyu Liu and Jianping Jiang

Part II: Studying Interactions of AMPs with Model Membranes and Bacteria

8. Molecular Dynamics Simulation and Analysis of the Antimicrobial Peptides-Lipid Bilayers Interactions

Shima Arasteh and Mojtaba Bagheri

9. Calorimetry Methods to Study Membrane Interactions and Perturbations Induced by Antimicrobial Host Defense Peptides

Mauricio Arias, Elmar J. Prenner and Hans J. Vogel

10. Fluorescence and Absorbance Spectroscopy Methods to Study Membrane Perturbations by Antimicrobial Host Defense Peptides

Mauricio Arias and Hans J. Vogel

11. Applying Fluorescence Correlation Spectroscopy to Investigate Peptide-Induced Membrane Disruption Kasper Kristensen, Jonas R. Henriksen, and Thomas L. Andresen

12. Macromolecule Biosynthesis Assay and Fluorescence Spectroscopy Methods to Explore Antimicrobial Peptide Mode(s) of Action

Bimal Jana, Kristin Renee Baker, and Luca Guardabassi

13. Using Confocal Microscopy and Computational Modeling to Investigate the Cell Penetrating Properties of Antimicrobial Peptides

Gabriel Del Rio, Edda Klipp, and Andreas Herrmann

14. Atomic Force Microscopy Study of the Interactions of Indolicidin with Model Membranes and DNA

Peter Fojan and Leonid Gurevich

15. Protocols for studying the interaction of MSI-78 with the Membranes of Whole Gram-positive and Gram-negative Bacteria by NMR

Nury P. Santisteban , M. R. Morrow, and V. Booth

16. Preparation of membrane models of Gram-negative bacteria and their interaction with Antimicrobial Peptides studied by CD and NMR

Rickey P. Hicks

17. Studying the Interaction of Magainin 2 and Cecropin A with E. coli Bacterial Cells using Circular Dichroism

Concetta Avitabile, Luca Domenico D'Andrea and Alessandra Romanelli

18. Studying the Mechanism of Membrane Permeabilization induced by Antimicrobial Peptides using Patch-clamp Techniques

Giorgio Rispoli

19. Assays for Identifying Inducers of the Antimicrobial Peptide LL-37

Frank Nylen, Peter Bergman, Gudmundur H. Gudmundsson, and Birgitta Agerberth

20. Methods for Elucidating the Mechanism of Action of Proline-rich and other Non-lytic Antimicrobial Peptides

Monica Benincasa, Giulia Runti, Mario Mardirossian, Renato Gennaro,and Marco Scocchi

21. The Interaction of Antimicrobial Peptides with the Membrane and Intracellular Targets of Staphylococcus Aureus Investigated by ATP-leakage, DNA-binding Analysis and the Expression of a LexA Controlled Gene, recA

Sanne Gottschalk and Line Elnif Thomsen

Part III: Assaying Selected Biological Activities of AMPs

22. Methods for Investigating Biofilm Inhibition and Degradation by Antimicrobial Peptides

Li-av Segev-Zarko and Yechiel Shai

23. Protocols for Studying Inhibition and Eradication of Bacterial Biofilms by Antimicrobial Peptides

Vijayalekshmi Sarojini<

24. Protocols for Studying Antimicrobial Peptides (AMPs) as Anti-cancer Agents

Laurence Madera and David W. Hoskin

25. Using Oral and Colon Cancer Cells for studying the Anti-cancer properties of Antimicrobial peptides

Teerakul Arpornsuwan, Wimolpak Sriwai, Hathaitip Sritanaudomchai, and Sittiruk Roytrakul

26. Using Disease-Associated Enzymes to Activate Antimicrobial Peptide Prodrugs

27. Anti-inflammatory Properties of Antimicrobial Peptides and Peptidomimetics: LPS and LTA Neutralization

Sarah Line Skovbakke and Henrik Franzyk

28. Protocols for Screening Antimicrobial Peptides That Influence Virulence Gene Expression in Staphylococcus aureus

Martin Saxtorph Bojer, Mara Baldry, and Hanne Ingmer

29. Methods for in vitro Analysis of Antimicrobial Activity and Toxicity of Anti-keratitis Peptides: Bacterial Viability in tears, MTT and TNF-a release assays

Floriana Cappiello, Bruno Casciaro, Satya Sree Kolar, Hasna Baidouri, Alison McDermott, and Maria Luisa Mangoni

30. Methods for In Vivo/ex-vivo Analysis of Antimicrobial Peptides in Bacterial Keratitis: siRNA Knockdown, Colony Counts, Myeloperoxidase, Immunostaining, and RT-PCR Assays

Satya Sree Kolar, Hasna Baidouri, Maria Lusia Mangoni, and Alison M. McDermott

31. Haemolytic Activity of Antimicrobial Peptides

Alberto Oddo and Paul R. Hansen