Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are effective in treating the infections caused by antibiotic-resistant bacteria, and thus, are potential drug against antibiotic-resistant bacteria. This is a practical course which will provide educational environment for design, synthesis and evaluation the therapeutic activity of antimicrobial peptides against infections and inflammations.
Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are an essential part of innate immunity that evolved in most living organisms to combat microbial challenge. These small cationic peptides are multifunctional as effectors of innate immunity on skin and mucosal surfaces and have demonstrated direct antimicrobial activity against various bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites.
Recently antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) have been found to be effective in treating the infections caused by antibiotic-resistant bacteria, and thus, are potential lead compounds against antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
In this practical course AMPs will be designed and synthesized by cloning in appropriate vectors then their activity against selected Gram-negative and Gram-positive pathogens will be evaluated. This course will also provide knowledge and skills about the therapeutic application of antimicrobial peptides for infections.
Furthermore, there are some evidence that antimicrobial peptides could be useful in treatment of inflammation such as inflammatory bowel syndromes. This course also provides knowledge, attitude and skills about developing inflammation in a laboratory animal and monitoring it.