Blad Polypeptide Extraction for Antimicrobial Efficacy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current antimicrobial agents face challenges due to the emergence of resistant bacterial and fungal pathogens, leading to ineffective treatment of infections and high mortality rates, particularly in immunocompromised individuals, with limited new antibiotics and antifungals available, and existing treatments often having toxicity issues or resistance development.
Innovation Solution
The use of the Blad polypeptide from Lupinus, which exhibits potent antimicrobial activity against diverse bacterial and fungal pathogens while being non-toxic, is proposed as a composition for therapeutic and prophylactic use, potentially combined with chelating agents to enhance efficacy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional antimicrobial agents are used, then antimicrobial activity is achieved, but resistance development occurs and toxicity issues arise
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and utilizes a specific peptide sequence (Blad polypeptide) from the β-conglutin protein of Lupinus albus that possesses antimicrobial activity. By isolating this specific active fragment (amino acids 107-279) from the parent protein, the invention achieves potent antimicrobial effects while removing the toxic properties associated with the complete parent protein, thus resolving the contradiction between effectiveness and safety
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the molecular parameters by using a truncated version of the parent protein. The Blad polypeptide comprises only amino acids 107-279 of the β-conglutin precursor, representing a significant reduction in molecular size and complexity compared to the full-length protein. This parameter change maintains antimicrobial activity while eliminating toxicity and resistance development
2Reliability
If existing antibiotics and antifungals are used, then treatment effectiveness is achieved, but the availability of new agents is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The invention creates a novel antimicrobial agent by copying and utilizing a naturally occurring peptide sequence from plant protein. The Blad polypeptide sequence is derived from nature (Lupinus albus β-conglutin) but has not been previously utilized as an antimicrobial agent. This natural copying approach provides a new class of antimicrobial that is distinct from conventional synthetic antibiotics and antifungals, expanding the available treatment options
Solution Approach 2:
The invention employs a peptide-based composite approach, where the Blad polypeptide can be combined with chelating agents (such as EDTA) to enhance antimicrobial activity. This composite strategy creates synergistic effects that improve treatment effectiveness while maintaining the novel status of the therapeutic agent
Data Source
AI summary
The inventors provide a composition comprising an antimicrobial polypeptide comprising Blad or an active variant thereof for use in a method of treatment of the human or animal body by therapy or prophylaxis, such as for use in a method of treating or preventing an infection in or on a subject by a microorganism. Also provided is the use of a composition comprising an antimicrobial polypeptide comprising Blad or an active variant thereof to kill, or inhibit the growth of, a microorganism that is pathogenic to a human or an animal at a site that is not on or in the human or animal body.