Author Description

Harnessing Microbial Peptides for Drug Discovery offers a concise introduction for researchers new to antimicrobial peptides. This primer provides essential information to navigate the current scientific literature on bacterial peptide discovery. Chapter 1 surveys foundational background information on microbes’ biosynthetic potentials and two major superfamilies of bioactive peptides: ribosomally synthesized and post-translationally modified peptides (RiPPs) and non-ribosomal peptides (NRPs). Chapter 2 gives a brief history of traditional methods of discovery of bioactive peptides, followed by an in-depth explanation of several current and emerging methods. These current and emerging methods are bioinformatic tools applied to genome-transcriptome sequences, molecular cloning of gene constructs into plasmids for expression in heterologous hosts, and isolation and characterization of peptides via HPLC, MS, and NMR. The final chapter, Chapter 3, uses several examples of bioactive peptides to explore the diverse chemistry and biosynthesis microbes employed to produce these versatile biomolecules. In addition, this primer contains useful pedagogical features to enhance the reading experience: a pop-up glossary for seamless learning, "Insider Q&A" video interviews with expert insights, "That's a Wrap" summaries at the end of each chapter, and "Read These Next" references to aid in transitioning into the literature. Readers will gain valuable insight into peptide therapeutic discovery and avoid the major headaches that usually occur when starting a new field.