- Antimicrobial Peptides and Activities
- Biochemical and Structural Characterization
- Microbial Natural Products and Biosynthesis
- Vibrio bacteria research studies
- Glycosylation and Glycoproteins Research
- Bacterial biofilms and quorum sensing
- Toxin Mechanisms and Immunotoxins
- Probiotics and Fermented Foods
- Chemical Synthesis and Analysis
- Amino Acid Enzymes and Metabolism
- Genomics and Phylogenetic Studies
- Liver physiology and pathology
- Spaceflight effects on biology
- Circadian rhythm and melatonin
- Plant Molecular Biology Research
- Ion Channels and Receptors
- Lipid Membrane Structure and Behavior
- Phytoplasmas and Hemiptera pathogens
- Light effects on plants
- Bacterial Identification and Susceptibility Testing
- Protein Hydrolysis and Bioactive Peptides
- Identification and Quantification in Food
- Legionella and Acanthamoeba research
- Mechanisms of cancer metastasis
- Signaling Pathways in Disease
Vestaron (United States)
2025
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
2017-2022
Communities In Schools of Orange County
2020
University of North Carolina Health Care
2017-2018
University of California, Santa Cruz
2015-2017
Biofilm formation is critical for the infection cycle of Vibrio cholerae. exopolysaccharides (VPS) and matrix proteins RbmA, Bap1 RbmC are required development biofilm architecture. We demonstrate that RbmA binds VPS directly uses a binary structural switch within its first fibronectin type III (FnIII-1) domain to control dynamics VPS-dependent higher-order structures. The in FnIII-1 regulates interactions trans with FnIII-2 domain, leading open (monomeric) or closed (dimeric) interfaces....
Traditional medicinal plants are a rich source of antimicrobials; however, the bioactive peptide constituents most ethnobotanical species remain largely unexplored. Herein, PepSAVI-MS, mass spectrometry-based peptidomics pipeline, was implemented for antimicrobial (AMP) discovery in plant Amaranthus tricolor. This investigation revealed novel 1.7 kDa AMP with strong activity against Escherichia coli ATCC 25922, deemed Atr-AMP1. Initial efforts to determine sequence Atr-AMP1 utilized chemical...
The emergence of rapidly evolving multidrug-resistant pathogens and a deficit new compounds entering the clinical pipeline necessitate exploration alternative sources antimicrobial therapeutics. Cyclotides revealed in Viola spp. are class highly stable, cyclic, disulfide-bound peptides with diverse intrinsic bioactivities. Herein we have identified novel complement 42 putative cyclotide masses plant species inconspicua. Cyclotide-containing fractions V. inconspicua peptide library potent...
Despite the continuous emergence of multi-drug resistant pathogens, number new antimicrobials reaching market is critically low. Natural product peptides are a rich source bioactive compounds, and advances in mass spectrometry have achieved unprecedented capabilities for discovery characterization novel molecular species. However, traditional bioactivity assay formats hinder biochemical natural antimicrobial (AMPs), necessitating large sample quantities significant optimization experimental...
Fungal secondary metabolites represent a rich and largely untapped source for bioactive molecules, including peptides with substantial structural diversity pharmacological potential. As methods proceed to take deep dive into fungal genomes, complimentary identify components are required keep pace the expanding repertoire. We developed PepSAVI-MS expedite search natural product herein demonstrate proof-of-principle applicability of pipeline discovery from secretomes via identification...
As current methods for antibiotic drug discovery are being outpaced by the rise of antimicrobial resistance, new and innovative technologies necessary to replenish our dwindling arsenal agents. To this end, we developed PepSAVI-MS pipeline expedite search natural product bioactive peptides. Herein demonstrate expansion bacterial-sourced peptides through identification bacteriocin Bac-21 from Enterococcus faecalis pPD1. Minor modifications including implementation bacteria-infused agar...
The gas-phase linearization of cyclotides via site-selective ring opening at dehydroalanine residues and its application to cyclotide sequencing is presented. This strategy relies on the ability incorporate into macrocyclic peptide ions, which easily accomplished through an ion/ion reaction. Triply protonated cations are transformed radical reaction with sulfate anion. Subsequent activation cation generates a single cysteine residue, identified by odd-electron loss ·SCH2CONH2. presence in...
Natural product extracts present inherently complex matrices in which the identification of novel bioactive peptide species is challenged by low-abundance masses and significant structural sequence diversity. Additionally, discovery efforts often result re-identification known compounds, where modifications derived vivo or during sample handling may obscure true identity. Herein, we identify mass spectral (MS2) "fingerprint" ions characteristic cyclotides, a diverse biologically active...
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is present in every country worldwide and has a direct impact on global health, agriculture economy. Treatment of common bacterial, viral fungal infections becoming increasingly challenging as new mechanisms for AMR develop, accelerated by the misuse overuse antimicrobial drugs. Botanically‐derived bioactive peptides are an attractive solution to ongoing deficit compounds, with ability be highly selective, potent, inexpensive produce large scale. Our lab...
The recent increase in multidrug‐resistant pathogens and associated morbidity/mortality demonstrate the immediate need for new antibiotic backbones with novel mechanisms of action. While natural products are a well‐studied source biologically active small molecules, peptidyl factors contributing to their medicinal properties remain largely unexplored. To this end, we have developed PepSAVI‐MS ( S tatistically‐guided bio ac tive peptides prioritized via ma ss sp ectrometry) pipeline identify...