QUB-2592, a novel peptide discovered in Rana pipiens with potent antimicrobial and anticancer activities

In this study, a novel antimicrobial peptide, QUB-2592, was identified in the skin secretion of Rana pipiens using a ‘Shotgun’ cloning strategy. QUB-2592 showed potent antimicrobial activity and could kill S. aureus at 4 µM, E. coli at 8 µM and C. albicans at 16 µM. At bactericidal concentrations, QUB-2592 showed low haemolysis activity on horse red blood cells with a HC_50 value of 60.76 µM, which indicated the safety of the peptide.

Meanwhile, QUB-2592 exhibited obvious anticancer activity on human non-small lung cancer cell line, H838, with a IC_50 value of 11.29 µM. The identification and functional study of QUB-2592 provided useful experience for later research on brevinin-1 type peptides. Also, QUB-2592 might be used as a promising agent to treat diseases induced by drug resistant pathogen infection and cancer.<br><br><i>Thesis is embargoed until 31 December 2027</i>.