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Activity Determinants in Linear Spider Venom Peptide Fragments Against MRSA

  Activity Determinants in Linear Spider Venom Peptide Fragments Against MRSA Abstract Objective: Using neural networks, we previously identified linear fragments of spider venom peptides active against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Among them, peptide IX (IWLSLMKFAGKHL-NH 2 ) with a C -terminal amide displayed high antibacterial potency, whereas its non-amidated analogue, peptide X, was inactive. Peptide IX incorporates into zwitterionic multilamellar liposomes of dioleoylphosphatidylcholine (DOPC) without disrupting them, and also into anionic liposomes of dioleoylphosphatidylglycerol (DOPG) mimicking the MRSA cell membrane, leading to bilayer disruption. This study aims to elucidate the reasons for peptide X inactivation.  Methods: According to ¹H NMR spectroscopy, peptide X in water is governed by the ionization of the His12 residue. ³¹P NMR data show that peptide X interacts with DOPC and DOPG membranes. Monte Carlo simulations revealed conformati...

The Role of the Southeastern European Mountains as Cradles and Corridors of European Biodiversity: Insights From Agelenid Spiders

Coming Soon to a Cellar Near You: Novel Range Expansion of a Short-Bodied Cellar Spider, Physocyclus enaulus (Araneae: Pholcidae), in a Building in Central Illinois, USA

Unveiling Neotropical Hadrotarsinae (Araneae: Theridiidae): new species and new records of Dipoena from South America

First records and DNA barcoding of Argiope trifasciata (Forsskål, 1775) (Araneae, Araneidae) in Greece

In vitro evaluation of venom extracts of Sphecid wasps against phytopathogens of horticultural crops and mass spectrometric profiling of venom peptide components

Mind the gap! First records of the harvestman Leiobunum religiosum Simon, 1879 from Belgium (Opiliones: Sclerosomatidae)

Current range of the marbled cellar spider Holocnemus pluchei (Scopoli, 1763) (Araneae: Pholcidae) in south-western Ukraine

The impact of climate and habitat on body shape and size evolution in charontid whip spiders

Forty New Faunistic Records of Spiders (Araneae: Araneomorphae) for the Republic of Kosovo