biostudies-literatureUnknown11(8)Du RLHong Kong Polytechnic UniversityInnovation and Technology CommissionThe rapid increase in bacterial resistance to conventional antibiotics has led to a great demand for novel antibacterial agents. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are emerging as next-generation antimicrobial alternative drugs to conventional antibiotics because of their broad-spectrum antimicrobial activities and minimal potential for drug resistance induction. This work describes novel antimicrobial peptides (FtsZpcpp) synthesized through the conjugation of a cell penetration peptide ((RXR)₄XB) to nonantimicrobial peptides (FtsZp). The FtsZp peptides were previously identified to bind FtsZ (flaming-temperature-sensitive protein Z), a crucial protein in regulating bacterial cell divisions. Newly designed FtsZpcpp peptides have broad antimicrobial activities against both Gram-positiACS infectious diseases2190-2204https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC12340945biostudies-literatureDevelopment of Broad-Spectrum Antimicrobial Peptides through the Conjugation of FtsZ-Binding and Cell-Penetrating Peptides.PMC12340945Chan PHKong WPWong KYDu RLHung CHLiang ZGWang YDing KLeung ASfalseDevelopment of Broad-Spectrum Antimicrobial Peptides through the Conjugation of FtsZ-Binding and Cell-Penetrating Peptides.The rapid increase in bacterial resistance to conventional antibiotics has led to a great demand for novel antibacterial agents. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are emerging as next-generation antimicrobial alternative drugs to conventional antibiotics because of their broad-spectrum antimicrobial activities and minimal potential for drug resistance induction. This work describes novel antimicrobial peptides (FtsZpcpp) synthesized through the conjugation of a cell penetration peptide ((RXR)₄XB) to nonantimicrobial peptides (FtsZp). The FtsZp peptides were previously identified to bind FtsZ (flaming-temperature-sensitive protein Z), a crucial protein in regulating bacterial cell divisions. Newly designed FtsZpcpp peptides have broad antimicrobial activities against both Gram-positi2025-01-01T00:00:00Z2025 Aug2026-05-01T03:33:19.835Z2026-04-07T16:35:46.946ZS-EPMC123409454070700710.1021/acsinfecdis.5c00220