Summary

High potency, specificity and a good safety profile are the main strengths of bioactive peptides as new and promising therapies that may fill the gap between small molecules and protein drugs. These positive attributes of peptides, along with advances in drug delivery technologies, have contributed to a renewed interest in the discovery, optimization and development of peptides as pharmacological therapy. The entry collection aims to cover all aspects of peptide research in relation to health promotion.

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Entries
Topic Review
Allergen Immunotherapy
Allergen immunotherapy (AIT) is the sole disease-modifying treatment for allergic rhinitis; it prevents rhinitis from progressing to asthma and lowers medication use. AIT against mites, insect venom, and certain kinds of pollen is effective. The mechanism of action of AIT is based on inducing immunological tolerance characterized by increased IL-10, TGF-β, and IgG4 levels and Treg cell counts. However, AIT requires prolonged schemes of administration and is sometimes associated with adverse reactions. Over the last decade, novel forms of AIT have been developed, focused on better allergen identification, structural modifications to preserve epitopes for B or T cells, post-traductional alteration through chemical processes, and the addition of adjuvants. These modified allergens induce clinical-immunological effects similar to those mentioned above, increasing the tolerance to other related allergens but with fewer side effects. Clinical studies have shown that molecular AIT is efficient in treating grass and birch allergies. 
  • 651
  • 17 Jan 2022
Topic Review
Radiolabeled Gold Nanoseeds and Glioblastoma Multiforme
Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), classified as a grade IV brain tumor, represents the most frequent brain tumor, accounting for approximately 12–15% of all intracranial neoplasms. Current therapeutic strategies for GBM rely on open surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Despite some progress in the past 30 years, the overall survival of patients with glioblastoma remains extremely poor. The average lifespan is approximately 15 months after diagnosis, with most patients experiencing tumor relapse and outgrowth within 7–10 months of initial radiation therapy.
  • 587
  • 14 Jan 2022
Topic Review
Cholecystokinin-2 Receptor
The cholecystokinin-2 receptor (CCK2R) is a promising target for theranostic use in nuclear medicine, and has been in the focus of the radiopharmaceutical development over the last twenty years. The expression of this receptor at high incidence and density has been proven mainly for medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) and small cell lung cancer (SCLC). Furthermore, CCK2R expression has been confirmed for gastrointestinal stromal tumors, astrocytomas and stromal ovarian cancers. In addition, CCK2R targeting might be of additive value for gastroenteropancreatic and bronchopulmonary neuroendocrine tumors, especially insulinomas, vipomas, as well as bronchial and ileal carcinoids. Most of the clinical experience with CCK2R targeting radiopharmaceuticals has been gained for patients with advanced MTC. Therefore, the diagnostic and therapeutic potential of CCK2R targeting is documented mainly for this patient group.
  • 403
  • 30 Jan 2022
Topic Review
Cystine and Theanine
Glutathione (GSH) is a tripeptide composed of glutamic acid, cysteine, and glycine. It is one of the strongest antioxidants in the body and important for adjusting immune function. Cystine and theanine (γ-glutamylethylamide) provide substrates of GSH, cysteine and glutamic acid, promoting the synthesis of GSH.
  • 660
  • 11 Jan 2022
Topic Review
Bacteriocins and Bacteriophages
Bacteriocins are bactericidal peptides, ribosomally synthesized, with an inhibitory activity against diverse groups of undesirable microorganisms. Bacteriophages are viruses that are able to infect bacterial cells and force them to produce viral components, using a lytic or lysogenic cycle. They constitute a large community in the human gut called the phageome, the most abundant part of the gut virome. 
  • 467
  • 10 Jan 2022
Topic Review
CREB Protein Family Members in Radioresistance Mechanisms
In the framework of space flight, the risk of radiation carcinogenesis is considered a “red” risk due to the high likelihood of occurrence as well as the high potential impact on the quality of life in terms of disease-free survival after space missions. The cyclic AMP response element-binding protein (CREB) is overexpressed both in haematological malignancies and solid tumours and its expression and function are modulated following irradiation. The CREB protein is a transcription factor and member of the CREB/activating transcription factor (ATF) family. As such, it has an essential role in a wide range of cell processes, including cell survival, proliferation, and differentiation. Among the CREB-related nuclear transcription factors, NF-κB and p53 have a relevant role in cell response to ionising radiation. Their expression and function can decide the fate of the cell by choosing between death or survival. 
  • 508
  • 09 Jan 2022
Topic Review
The Engineered Antibiotic Peptide PLG0206
PLG0206, an engineered cationic antibiotic peptide that is 24 residues long, has been designed to address some limitations of other natural antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), such as toxicity, pharmacokinetics, and limited activity due to pH and ion concentrations.
  • 484
  • 07 Jan 2022
Topic Review
Application of Plasma Proteome Signature in Breast Cancer
The prognostic impact of plasma protein biomarkers in breast cancer patients treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NCT) was evaluated using a proteomics approach. Three biomarkers were identified among differentially expressed proteins. The plasma concentration of APOC3 was higher in the pathological complete response (pCR) group, whereas MBL2, ENG, and P4HB were upregulated in the non-pCR group.
  • 544
  • 28 Dec 2021
Topic Review
Bioactive Antimicrobial Peptides for Infected Diabetic Foot Ulcers
Diabetic foot ulcer (DFU) is a devastating complication, affecting 15% of diabetic patients and representing the leading cause of non-traumatic amputations. Notably, the risk of mixed bacterial–fungal infection is elevated and highly associated with wound necrosis and poor clinical outcomes. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are endogenous peptides that are naturally abundant in several organisms, such as bacteria, amphibians and mammals. These molecules have shown broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity and some of them even have wound-healing activity, establishing themselves as ideal candidates for treating multi-kingdom infected wounds.
  • 604
  • 24 Dec 2021
Topic Review
YB1 in Triple Negative Breast Cancer
The Y Box binding protein 1 (YB1) is a multifunctional protein, found both in the cytoplasm and inside the nucleus, that belongs to the highly conserved Cold Shock Domain protein family. YB1 is highly expressed in TNBC tumors of AA origin when compared to CAs. Increased expression levels and activity of YB1 correlates with poor disease outcomes, resistance to chemotherapy, and the activation of the cancer stem cell (CSC) phenotype, with higher levels in AA than in CA TNBC tumors.
  • 759
  • 23 Dec 2021
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