In this photo, Myriam Cotten, OSU associate professor of biochemistry and biophysics, has pioneered a novel study. This research brings to light exciting new findings into how antimicrobial peptides work. Cotten and her coworkers from William & Mary and the National Institutes of Health focused their investigations on a particular class of membrane disruptive cell toxins – peptides. This critical research leads to the treatment of infectious diseases and the development of targeted cancer therapies. The findings, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, underscore the potential of these peptides in addressing two of the most pressing health challenges today: antibiotic resistance and cancer.
We know how urgent this research is by some truly horrifying statistics. In 2021, almost five million of those deaths were attributable directly to antimicrobial resistance—a major and escalating global threat. Furthermore, projections indicate that the United States will witness over two million new cancer diagnoses and more than 500,000 cancer-related deaths by 2025. Myriam Cotten, an immuno-oncology scientist, underscored the critical need for novel cancer therapies. She noted that 40 million people will die from cancer between 2025 and 2050.
Mechanisms of Membrane Disruption
Cotten’s research focuses on how antimicrobial peptides work on a cellular basis. These peptides act as the host’s first line of defense against bacterial infections through their ability to permeabilize bacterial membranes. The study showed that when these peptides cover the outside of a cell, they start flipping themselves across the membrane. This flipping action equalizes the lipid distribution across the membrane to yield an even distribution on both sides of the membrane. Consequently, it causes the development of holes.
In this process, the generation of these pores is a key step. This collapse leads to a spilling of the contents of the bacterial cells and dramatically disrupts their cellular function. This membrane disruption enhances the potency of antimicrobial peptides towards bacteria. This explosive advancement lays the foundation for utilizing these peptides in cancer therapeutics. The research indicates that immune-system peptides can be sequestered and repurposed to systematically find and kill cancer cells.
Implications for Future Therapies
Cotton’s research isn’t just concerned with how we treat infectious disease. These insights may help leverage mechanisms of membrane disruption to develop innovative therapeutic interventions for cancer. As Cotten explained, current cancer treatments are only needed as soon as they stop working, as they are never effective enough. Researchers are turning to the unique structure and function of antimicrobial peptides. Their goal is to create new kinds of therapies that directly attack cancer cells while sparing the surrounding healthy tissue.
The possible applications of this research are broad. Scientists now have a new tool to better understand how these peptides act to disturb cell membranes. Harnessing this knowledge could produce such precision medicines and disease treatments—from pathogen infections to cancers and beyond. This versatility emphasizes the need for further research into the biochemical attributes of these peptides.
Addressing Global Health Challenges
As antibiotic resistance remains a pressing global health crisis, the sort of research that Cotten is doing becomes even more important. The World Health Organization has already let out a loud alarm bell. Without strong action, antimicrobial resistance can lead us into a post-antibiotic world, where common infections become untreatable. The development of new therapies based on antimicrobial peptides could serve as a crucial tool in combating this pressing issue.
Additionally, as cancer rates continue to increase, the necessity for innovative treatments grows in order to provide patients with better outcomes and more options. Over the past three years, scientists have been investigating promising new directions for therapy inspired by Cotten’s research. Together, this work has the potential to change the trajectory of cancer care and increase survival rates.