# Design and evaluation of dual-function antimicrobial peptides FPON for gram-negative bacteria with membrane disruption and translation inhibition abilities

## TL;DR

Scientists designed a new antimicrobial peptide called FPON that can attack gram-negative bacteria by damaging their membranes and stopping protein production, with low toxicity and effectiveness against drug-resistant strains.

## Contribution

The first dual-target antimicrobial peptide, FPON, was designed and shown to disrupt membranes and inhibit translation in gram-negative bacteria.

## Key findings

- FPON disrupts bacterial membrane integrity and inhibits protein translation in gram-negative bacteria.
- FPON shows low toxicity and significant activity against drug-resistant bacteria in vitro and in vivo.
- Dual-target peptides like FPON offer a promising strategy for treating drug-resistant infections.

## Abstract

The situation regarding drug resistance among gram-negative bacteria is becoming increasingly severe. While antimicrobial peptides are an ideal alternative to traditional antibiotics, single-target natural antimicrobial peptides exhibit limitations, including high toxicity and poor permeability. Given the numerous advantages of dual-target peptides for disease treatment, we designed and synthesized the first membrane/ribosome dual-target antimicrobial peptide, FPON, through a functional peptide splicing strategy utilizing FP-CATH and Oncocin as templates. FPON specifically targets gram-negative bacteria and possesses dual functionalities: the ability to disrupt bacterial membrane integrity and the ability to inhibit protein translation. Additionally, FPON exhibited low toxicity and demonstrated significant activity against drug-resistant bacteria in vitro and in vivo. In conclusion, the results presented in this study provide further evidence that dual-targeted antimicrobial peptides constitute an effective treatment strategy against gram-negative drug-resistant bacteria.

The issue of antibiotic drug resistance in gram-negative bacteria is one of grave urgency. While single-target antimicrobial peptides offer a potential solution to antibiotic resistance, therapeutic applications are constrained by their high toxicity and poor penetration. In this study, FP-CATH and Oncocin were used as templates for functional peptide splicing to develop FPON, a novel antimicrobial peptide. FPON was shown to disrupt bacterial membranes and inhibit protein synthesis, effectively eliminating gram-negative bacteria. Moreover, FPON exhibits low toxicity and has a significant effect against drug-resistant bacteria. Our research demonstrates that a dual-target design offers a promising avenue for addressing drug-resistant infections.