Graduation Year

2019

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree

Ph.D.

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)

Degree Granting Department

Chemistry

Major Professor

Jianfeng Cai, Ph.D.

Committee Member

Julie Harmon, Ph.D.

Committee Member

James Leahy, Ph.D.

Committee Member

Xingmin Sun, Ph.D.

Keywords

Bacterial Resistance, Broad Spectrum Therapeutics, Host Defense Peptides, Peptidomimetics

Abstract

For decades it has been convention to use antibiotics for the treatment of bacterial infections. Due to the overuse and misuse of these drugs, bacteria are becoming resistant to these treatments. This phenomenon has led to the search for alternative antibiotics, and in the study of Host Defense Peptides (HDPs). HDPs are the body’s innate immune response to infection. They are known to modulate immune system response and kills bacterial using various methods causing them to be less susceptible to bacterial resistance. The method by which we can mimic these biological peptides is called peptidomimetics. Various research shows the use of peptidomimetics that are active against bacteria by way of β-peptides, peptoids, and AA-peptides. For the following chapters focus will be on the α-AApeptides which were designed and developed within our lab. The stability and flexibility provided by this class of peptides has led to the study of, lipidated α/α-AA heterogeneous peptides as antimicrobial agent, lipidated α/sulfono-α-AA heterogeneous peptides as antimicrobial agents for Gram-positive bacteria, lipidated hydantoin α/α-AA heterogeneous peptides as antimicrobial agents, and the self-assembly of Lipidated α-AA peptides into nanostructures.

Included in

Chemistry Commons

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