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Antonella Accardo,1 Mariateresa Vitiello,2,3 Diego Tesauro,1 Marilena Galdiero,2 Emiliana Finamore,2 Francesca Martora,2 Rosalba Mansi,1 Paola Ringhieri,1 Giancarlo Morelli11Department of Pharmacy, Interuniversitary Centre for Research on Bioactive peptides, CIRPeB, University of Naples "Federico II", Institute of Biostructures and Bioimaging IBB-CNR, Naples, Italy; 2Department of Experimental Medicine, Section of Microbiology and Clinical Microbiology, Second University of Naples, Naples, Italy; 3Department of Clinical Pathology and Transfusion Medicine, University Hospital “Ruggi d'Aragona”, Salerno, ItalyAbstract: The use of micelle aggregates formed from peptide amphiphiles (PAs) as potential synthetic self-adjuvant vaccines to treat Herpes simplex virus (HSV) infection are reported here. The PAs were based on epitopes gB409-505 and gD301-309, selected from HSV envelope glycoprotein B (gB) and glycoprotein D (gD), that had their N-terminus modified with hydrophobic moieties containing two C18 hydrocarbon chains. Pure and mixed micelles of gB and/or gD peptide epitopes were easily prepared after starting with the synthesis of corresponding PAs by solid phase methods. Structural characterization of the aggregates confirmed that they were sufficiently stable and compatible with in vivo use: critical micelle concentration values around 4.0 · 10-7 mol · Kg-1; hydrodynamic radii (RH) between 50–80 nm, and a zeta potential (ζ) around – 40 mV were found for all aggregates. The in vitro results indicate that both peptide epitopes and micelles, at 10 µM, triggered U937 and RAW 264.7 cells to release appreciable levels of cytokines. In particular, interleukin (IL)-23-, IL-6-, IL-8- or macrophage inflammatory protein (MIP)-2-, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α-release increased considerably when cells were treated with the gB-micelles or gD-micelles compared

Antonella Accardo,1 Mariateresa Vitiello,2,3 Diego Tesauro,1 Marilena Galdiero,2 Emiliana Finamore,2 Francesca Martora,2 Rosalba Mansi,1 Paola Ringhieri,1 Giancarlo Morelli11Department of Pharmacy, Interuniversitary Centre for Research on Bioactive peptides, CIRPeB, University of Naples "Federico II", Institute of Biostructures and Bioimaging IBB-CNR, Naples, Italy; 2Department of Experimental Medicine, Section of Microbiology and Clinical Microbiology, Second University of Naples, Naples, Italy; 3Department of Clinical Pathology and Transfusion Medicine, University Hospital “Ruggi d'Aragona”, Salerno, ItalyAbstract: The use of micelle aggregates formed from peptide amphiphiles (PAs) as potential synthetic self-adjuvant vaccines to treat Herpes simplex virus (HSV) infection are reported here. The PAs were based on epitopes gB409-505 and gD301-309, selected from HSV envelope glycoprotein B (gB) and glycoprotein D (gD), that had their N-terminus modified with hydrophobic moieties containing two C18 hydrocarbon chains. Pure and mixed micelles of gB and/or gD peptide epitopes were easily prepared after starting with the synthesis of corresponding PAs by solid phase methods. Structural characterization of the aggregates confirmed that they were sufficiently stable and compatible with in vivo use: critical micelle concentration values around 4.0 · 10-7 mol · Kg-1; hydrodynamic radii (RH) between 50–80 nm, and a zeta potential (ζ) around – 40 mV were found for all aggregates. The in vitro results indicate that both peptide epitopes and micelles, at 10 µM, triggered U937 and RAW 264.7 cells to release appreciable levels of cytokines. In particular, interleukin (IL)-23-, IL-6-, IL-8- or macrophage inflammatory protein (MIP)-2-, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α-release increased considerably when cells were treated with the gB-micelles or gD-micelles compared

Marco Cantisani,1 Mariateresa Vitiello,2 Annarita Falanga,1 Emiliana Finamore,2 Marilena Galdiero,2 Stefania Galdiero11Department of Biological Sciences, CIRPeB and IBB CNR, University of Naples "Federico II," Napoli, Italy; 2Department of Experimental Medicine, II University of Naples, Napoli, ItalyAbstract: Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) is one of the leading causes of invasive bacterial infection in young children. It is characterized by inflammation that is mainly mediated by cytokines and chemokines. One of the most abundant components of the Hib outer membrane is the P2 porin, which has been shown to induce the release of several inflammatory cytokines. A synthetic peptide corresponding to loop L7 of the porin activates JNK and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathways. We report a novel use of the complementary peptide approach to design a peptide that is able to bind selectively to the protein P2, thereby reducing its activity. This work provides insights into essential molecular details of P2 that may affect the pathogenesis of Hib infections where interruption of the signaling cascade could represent an attractive therapeutic strategy.Keywords: complementary-peptide, rational design, porin

Marco Cantisani,1 Mariateresa Vitiello,2 Annarita Falanga,1 Emiliana Finamore,2 Marilena Galdiero,2 Stefania Galdiero11Department of Biological Sciences, CIRPeB and IBB CNR, University of Naples "Federico II," Napoli, Italy; 2Department of Experimental Medicine, II University of Naples, Napoli, ItalyAbstract: Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) is one of the leading causes of invasive bacterial infection in young children. It is characterized by inflammation that is mainly mediated by cytokines and chemokines. One of the most abundant components of the Hib outer membrane is the P2 porin, which has been shown to induce the release of several inflammatory cytokines. A synthetic peptide corresponding to loop L7 of the porin activates JNK and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathways. We report a novel use of the complementary peptide approach to design a peptide that is able to bind selectively to the protein P2, thereby reducing its activity. This work provides insights into essential molecular details of P2 that may affect the pathogenesis of Hib infections where interruption of the signaling cascade could represent an attractive therapeutic strategy.Keywords: complementary-peptide, rational design, porin