CAP37 Peptide Compounds for Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Current treatments for Gram-negative bacterial infections lack effective novel antibiotics, with limited options available due to antibiotic resistance, and existing peptides like CAP37(20-44) face challenges in scalability, purity, and maintaining antibacterial activity.

Innovation Solution

Development of novel peptide compounds derived from CAP37, such as BCC02-5RMP, BCC03-5RMP, and BCC04-5RMP, which incorporate additional arginine residues and solubilizing moieties like AEEA, enhancing solubility, purity, and antibacterial efficacy against Gram-negative bacteria like Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Escherichia coli.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the native CAP37(20-44) peptide sequence is used, then antibacterial activity is achieved, but scalability and purity for commercialization cannot be met

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveantibacterial activityVSAvoidscalability and purity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent modifies the native CAP37(20-44) peptide sequence by substituting specific amino acid residues (e.g., replacing hydrophobic residues with polar or charged residues, or vice versa) to alter the peptide's physicochemical properties. These parameter changes improve solubility and manufacturability while preserving or enhancing antibacterial activity against Gram-negative bacteria.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates hybrid peptide structures by combining the active antibacterial domain of CAP37 with additional functional domains or modifications (such as N-terminal or C-terminal extensions, or fusion with solubility-enhancing sequences). This composite approach maintains the core antibacterial function while adding properties that facilitate规模化 production and purification.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Reliability

If peptide concentration is increased to enhance antibacterial efficacy, then bactericidal activity improves, but solubility limitations are reached

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebactericidal activityVSAvoidsolubility
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent systematically modifies amino acid residues to change the peptide's solubility parameters. This includes introducing charged residues (lysine, arginine, glutamate, aspartate) to enhance water solubility, or modifying hydrophobic interactions to prevent aggregation at higher concentrations. These changes enable the peptide to achieve therapeutic concentrations in solution without precipitation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent may employ solubility-enhancing moieties or fusion partners (such as polyethylene glycol sequences, albumin-binding domains, or other solubility tags) that act as intermediaries to improve the peptide's interaction with water molecules and prevent aggregation, thereby enabling higher soluble concentrations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Ease of manufacture

If peptide modifications are made to improve solubility, then manufacturability increases, but antibacterial activity may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovesolubilityVSAvoidantibacterial activity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies modifications selectively at specific locations within the peptide sequence (such as N-terminal or C-terminal regions, or surface-exposed residues) rather than throughout the entire structure. This localized approach allows solubility improvements without disrupting the critical antibacterial domain's three-dimensional structure and function.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The patent divides the peptide into functional domains: a core antibacterial domain that maintains bactericidal activity and peripheral or surface residues that are modified to improve solubility. This segmentation allows independent optimization of each function - the core domain preserves antibacterial activity while the modified regions enhance manufacturability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

These peptides demonstrate significant bactericidal activity, achieving a 5-log reduction in bacterial load with improved solubility and purity, effectively killing resistant strains and neutralizing lipopolysaccharide toxicity, while minimizing cytotoxicity to mammalian cells.

Implementation Method 1

bind and neutralize the toxic effects of endotoxin (a.k.a., lipopolysaccharide, or LPS)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectBinding: Absorption (physical)

Implementation Method 2

demonstrated to have strong bactericidal activity against Gram negative bacteria including Salmonella typhimurium, Escherichia coli, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectBactericidal activity:

Data Source

PatentEP2925341B1Peptide compounds and methods of production and use thereof
Publication Date: 2018.01.31 THE BOARD OF RGT UNIV OF OKLAHOMA
  • EP2925341B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2925341B1 patent drawingFigure 3~5
  • EP2925341B1 patent drawingFigure 4A~4D

AI summary

Peptide compounds based on the CAP37 protein are disclosed, along with methods for treating various infections, wounds, and conditions, and methods of promoting healing and acceptance of grafts, using compositions containing these peptides. Effective treatment of Gram negative bacterial infections has suffered due to a dearth of new antibiotics in the pharmaceutical pipeline.