Designed α-sheet peptides suppress amyloid formation in Staphylococcus aureus biofilms

Abstract

Amyloid proteins: Peptides prevent folding Small protein fragments called peptides can be designed to interfere with the folding of proteins in biofilms and disrupt biofilm formation. Valerie Daggett and colleagues at the University of Washington in Seattle, USA, focused their attention on a type of folded proteins called amyloids. Some amyloid proteins are well known for their role in neurodegenerative diseases, but others can protect biofilms from degradation, making them resistant to treatment or to removal from medical devices. The researchers made peptide molecules, composed of linked amino acids, that were designed to physically interfere with the folding processes that create amyloids in biofilms. These peptides were shown to inhibit amyloid formation in biofilms produced by Staphylococcus aureus bacteria, which cause many clinically significant infections. The results may offer a novel approach to combat biofilm formation.