Nisin Derivatives Hinge Region Mutations Antimicrobial Activity

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current nisin derivatives exhibit limited activity against gram-positive pathogens and resistance issues, necessitating the development of antimicrobial agents with enhanced bioactivity against specific bacterial strains, including those resistant to existing nisin forms.

Innovation Solution

Generation of nisin derivatives with specific amino acid substitutions in the hinge region, such as N20P, M21V, K22T, and other mutations, which enhance antimicrobial activity against gram-positive bacteria like Staphylococcus aureus, Clostridium sporogenes, and Listeria monocytogenes, while maintaining or improving activity against other pathogens.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If nisin derivatives with amino acid substitutions in the hinge region are generated, then antimicrobial activity against gram-positive bacteria is enhanced, but protein structure stability may be affected

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveantimicrobial activityVSAvoidprotein structure stability
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies parameter changes by systematically substituting amino acids at specific positions (20, 21, 22) in the hinge region of nisin. This modifies the local chemical parameters (side chain properties, charge, hydrophobicity) to enhance antimicrobial activity while the overall protein structure remains intact due to the targeted nature of substitutions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The invention applies local quality by making specific amino acid substitutions only in the hinge region (positions 20-22) while leaving the rest of the protein structure unchanged. This localized modification approach enhances antimicrobial activity in the critical hinge region without compromising the stability of the overall protein structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Reliability

If nisin derivatives are developed to overcome bacterial resistance, then effectiveness against resistant strains is improved, but complexity of derivative development increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveeffectiveness against resistant strainsVSAvoidderivative development complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies segmentation by dividing the nisin protein into functional regions and focusing modifications specifically on the hinge region (positions 20-22). This segmented approach allows systematic development of derivatives to overcome resistance without requiring complex modifications throughout the entire protein structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The invention uses parameter changes by substituting amino acids with different properties at specific hinge region positions to create derivatives with enhanced activity against resistant strains. This systematic parameter modification provides a manageable approach to developing multiple derivative variants.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If amino acid substitutions are made in the hinge region, then bioactivity against specific bacterial strains is enhanced, but manufacturing precision requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovebioactivityVSAvoidamino acid substitution precision
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by concentrating amino acid substitutions in the specific hinge region (positions 20-22), which creates a localized modification zone. This approach enhances bioactivity while limiting the scope of precision requirements to a small, defined region of the protein rather than the entire structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP2280990B1Nisin derivatives and the use thereof
Publication Date: 2020.04.08 UNIV COLLEGE CORK NAT UNIV OF IRELAND CORK
  • EP2280990B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2280990B1 patent drawingFigure 2A~3
  • EP2280990B1 patent drawingFigure 4A~4B

AI summary

The present invention relates to a nisin derivative comprising amino acid substitutions in the peptide sequence encoding the hinge region of the protein, wherein the derivative exhibits an increased anti-microbial activity.