Design of highly potent anti-biofilm, antimicrobial peptides using explainable artificial intelligence
Pikalyova, K., T. Akhmetshin, A. Orlov, E.F. Haney, N. Akhoundsadegh, J. You, R.E.W. Hancock, D. Horvath, G. Marcou, A. Cherkasov, and A. Varnek. 2026. J Chem. Info. Modeling, 66(1):744–755.

DJK-5, an anti-biofilm peptide, sensitizes Staphylococcus aureus to colistin in co-biofilms with Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
Wardell S.J.T., D.B.Y. Yung, A. Gupta, M. Bostina, J. Overhage, R.E.W Hancock and D. Pletzer. 2025. NPJ Biofilms Microbes 11:8.

Synthetic host defense peptide inhibits SARS-CoV-2 replication in vitro.
Harfoot, R., B. Lawley, L.H. de Quiñones, J. Kuang, F. Hills, S. Sinha, M. Allais, T. Bird, C. Hird, J. Taylor, M. Bostina, D. Comoletti, E.F. Haney, R.E.W. Hancock, D. Pletzer, and M. Quiñones-Mateu. 2025. Antimicrob. Agents Chemother. 69:e01700-24.

A scalable reinforcement learning approach for screening large peptide libraries for bioactive peptide discovery.
Pandey, M., J. Foo, S. Massah, M.A. Alford, H. Mslati, G. Subbaraj, M. Saba, F. Gentile, N. Lallous, E.F. Haney, R.E.W. Hancock, M. Ester and A. Cherkasov. 2025. Nature Communications 16:11685.

DeepQSAR models for discovering peptides with enhanced antimicrobial and antibiofilm potential.
You, J., E. Haney, N. Akhoundsadegh, R.E.W. Hancock, and A. Cherkasov. 2025. J Clin. Invest. Med. 65:12608-12618. Resubmitted.

Antibiofilm peptides enhance the corrosion resistance of titanium in the presence of Streptococcus mutans.
Wang D., Y. Yue, H. Liu, T. Zhang, E.F. Haney, R.E.W. Hancock, J. Yu and Y. Shen. 2024. Front. Bioeng. Biotechnol. 11:1339912.

Biodistribution of native and nano- formulated Innate Defense Regulator (IDR) peptide 1002.
Esposito, T.V.F., C. Blackadar, L. Wu, C. Rodríguez-Rodríguez, E.F. Haney, D. Pletzer, K. Saatchi, R.E.W. Hancock, and U.O. Hafeli. 2024. Molecular Pharmaceutics 21:2751–2766.

D-enantiomeric antibiofilm peptides effective against anaerobic Cutibacterium acnes biofilm.
Varin-Simon J., E.F. Haney, M. Colin, F. Velard, S.C. Gangloff, R.E.W. Hancock, F.O. Reffuveille. 2024. Microbiol Spectr 13(5):e02523-24. https://doi.org/10.1128/spectrum.02523-24

Efficient in planta production of amidated antimicrobial peptides that are active against drug-resistant ESKAPE pathogens
Chaudhary, S., Z. Ali, M. Tehseen, E.H. Haney, A. Pantoja-Angles, S. Alshehri, T. Wang, G.J. Clancy, M. Ayach, C. Hauser, P.-Y. Hong, S.M. Hamdan, R.E.W. Hancock, and M. Mahfouz. 2023. . Nature Comm. 14:1464.

Dynamic killing effectiveness of mouthrinses and a D-enantiomeric peptide on oral multispecies biofilms grown on dental restorative material surfaces.
Hu, J., J. Yu, H. Liu, Z. Wang, M. Haapasalo, E.F. Haney, R.E.W. Hancock, S. Deng, and Y. Shen. 2023. J. Dentistry. 134:104552.

Antibiotic failure: Beyond antimicrobial resistance.
de la Fuente-Nunez C., A. Cesaro, R.E.W. Hancock. 2023. Drug Resistance Updates 71:101012.

Influence of a D-enantiomeric peptide on the anticorrosion ability of titanium with different surface roughness against Streptococcus mutans biofilms.
Wang D, J. Yu; H. Liu, T. Zhang, E.F. Haney, R.E.W. Hancock, L. Peng and Y. Shen. 2023. J. Dentistry 139:104777.

Host response of human epidermis to methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus biofilm infection and synthetic antibiofilm peptide treatment.
Wu, B.C., T.M. Blimkie, E.F. Haney, R. Falsafi, N. Akhoundsadegh and R.E.W. Hancock. 2022. Cells 11:3459.

Biodistribution and toxicity of innate defense regulator 1018 (IDR-1018).
Esposito, T.V.F., C. Rodríguez-Rodríguez, C. Blackadar, E.F. Haney, D. Pletzer, R.E.W. Hancock, K. Saatchi, and U.O. Häfeli. 2022. Europ. J. Pharmaceut. Biopharmaceut. 179:11-25.

Addressing antibiotic failure – beyond genetically encoded antimicrobial resistance.
Haney, E.H., and R.E.W. Hancock. 2022. Frontiers Drug Discov. 2:892975.

Anti-biofilm and immunomodulatory resorbable nanofibrous filing for dental pulp regenerative procedures.
de Costa Sousa, M.G., G.C. de Almeida, D.C.M. Mota, R.A. da Costa, S.C. Dias, M.O. Rodrigues, S.N. Limberger, F. Ko, L.T. Lin, E.F. Haney, H. Etayash, B. Baquir, M.J. Trimble, Y. Shen, Z. Su, M. Hapassalo, D. Pletzer, L.C. de Souza, G.S. Teixeira, R.M. Silva, R.E.W. Hancock, O.L. Franco, and T.M.B. Rezende. 2022. Bioactive Materials 16:173-186.

Assessing the in vivo effectiveness of cationic lipid nanoparticles with a triple adjuvant for intranasal vaccination against the respiratory pathogen Bordetella pertussis.
Aibani, N., P. Patel, R. Buchanan, S. Strom, V. Gerdts, K.M. Wasan, R.E.W. Hancock, E.K. Wasan. 2022. Molec. Pharmaceut. 19:1814–1824.

Murine Model of Sinusitis Infection for Screening Antimicrobial and Immunomodulatory Therapies
Alford MA, KYG Choi, MJ Trimble, H Masoudi, P Kalsi, D Pletzer, REW Hancock, (2021) Front Cell Infect Microbiol. 11:621081

Human organoid biofilm model for assessing antibiofilm activity of novel agents
Wu BC, EF Haney, N Akhoundsadegh, D Pletzer, MJ Trimble, AE Adriaans, PH Nibbering, REW Hancock, (2021) NPJ Biofilms Microbiomes 7(1):8

Recovery of Oral In Vitro Biofilms after Exposure to Peptides and Chlorhexidine
Zhang T, L Xia, Z Wang, REW Hancock, M Haapasalo, (2021) Journal of Endodontics 47(3):466-471

Antibiofilm activity of host defence peptides: Complexity provides opportunities.
Hancock, R.E.W., M. Alford, and E.F. Haney. 2021. Nature Microbiol. Rev. 19:786-797.

The use of host defense peptides in root canal therapy in rats.
Lima, S.M.F., M.S. Freire, A.P.C. Cantuária, D.C.M. Martins, I.A. Amorim, E.M.G.L. Dantas, J.O. Farias, M.B. Castro, J.S. Silva, FA. Barriviera, M. Barriviera, JA. Almeida, IA. Uehara, MJ.B. Silva, A.P.L. Oliveira, O.N. Silva, R.E.W. Hancock, OL. Franco, TM.B. Rezende. 2020. Clin. Oral Invest. 25:3623-3632.

The value of antimicrobial peptides in the age of resistance.
Magana M, M Pushpanathan, AL Santos, L Leanse, M Fernandez, A Ioannidis, MA Giulianotti, Y Apidianakis, S Bradfute, AL Ferguson, A Cherkasov, MN Seleem, C Pinilla, C Fuente-Nunez, T Lazaridis, T Dai, RA Houghten, REW Hancock, GP Tegos (2020) Lancet Infect Dis. 20(9):e216-e230

Cathelicidin Host Defense Peptides and Inflammatory Signaling: Striking a Balance
Alford MA, B Baquir, FL Santana, EF Haney, REW Hancock (2020) Front Microbiol. 11:1902

Hyaluronic acid-based nanogels improve in vivo compatibility of the anti-biofilm peptide DJK-5.
Kłodzińska SN, D Pletzer, N Rahanjam, T Rades, REW Hancoc, HM Nielsen (2019) Nanomedicine 20:102022

Reassessing the Host Defense Peptide Landscape.
Haney EF, SK Straus, REW Hancock (2019) Front Chem. 7:43

A lipidic delivery system of a triple vaccine adjuvant enhances mucosal immunity following nasal administration in mice.
Wasan EK, J Syeda, S Strom, J Cawthray, REW Hancock, KM Wasan, V Gerdts (2019) Vaccine 37(11):1503-1515

Influence of Non-natural Cationic Amino Acids on the Biological Activity Profile of Innate Defense Regulator Peptides.
Haney EF, SC Barbosa, B Baquir, REW Hancock (2019) J Med Chem. 62(22):10294-10304

Antimicrobial Effect of Peptide DJK-5 Used Alone or Mixed with EDTA on Mono- and Multispecies Biofilms in Dentin Canals.
Wang D, Y Shen, REW Hancock, J Ma, M Haapasalo (2018) Journal of Endodontics 44(11):1709-1713

Synergy between conventional antibiotics and anti-biofilm peptides in a murine, sub-cutaneous abscess model caused by recalcitrant ESKAPE pathogens
Pletzer D, SC Mansour, REW Hancock (2018) PLoS Pathog 14(6):e1007084

Computer-aided Discovery of Peptides that Specifically Attack Bacterial Biofilms
Haney EF, Y Brito-Sanchez, MJ Trimble, SC Mansour, A Cherkasov, REW Hancock (2018) Sci Rep. 8(1):1871

Identification of an IDR peptide formulation candidate that prevents peptide aggregation and retains immunomodulatory activity.
Haney EF, KC Wuerth, NRahanjam, NS Nikouei, A Ghassemi, MA Noghani, A Boey, REW Hancock (2018) Peptide Science 111:1.e24077

Characterization of Host Responses during Pseudomonas aeruginosa Acute Infection in the Lungs and Blood and after Treatment with the Synthetic Immunomodulatory Peptide IDR-1002.
Wuerth K, AHY Lee, R Falsafi, EE Gill, REW Hancock (2018) Infect Immun. 87(1):e00661-18

Induction by innate defence regulator peptide 1018 of pro-angiogenic molecules and endothelial cell migration in a high glucose environment.
Marin-Luevano P, V Trujillo, A Rodriguez-Carlos, I Gonzalez-Curiel, JA Enciso-Moreno, REW Hancock, B Rivas-Santiago (2018) Peptides 101:135-144

Synthetic host defense peptide IDR-1002 reduces inflammation in Pseudomonas aeruginosa lung infection.
Wuerth KC, R Falsafi, REW Hancock (2017) PLoS One 12(11):e0187565

Mechanisms of the Innate Defense Regulator Peptide-1002 Anti-Inflammatory Activity in a Sterile Inflammation Mouse Model.
Wu CB, AHY Lee, REW Hancock, (2017) J Immunol. 199(10):3592-3603

Aggregation and Its Influence on the Immunomodulatory Activity of Synthetic Innate Defense Regulator Peptides.
Haney EF, CB Wu, K Lee, AL Hilchie, REW Hancock (2017) Cell Chem Biol. 24(8):969-980.e4

An Immunomodulatory Peptide Confers Protection in an Experimental Candidemia Murine Model.
Freitas CG, SMF Lima, MS Freire, APC Cantuária, NGO Júnior, TS Santos, JS Folha, SM Ribeiro, SC Dias, TMB Rezende, P Albuquerque, AM Nicola, C de la Fuente-Núñez, REW Hancock, OL Franco, MSS Felipe. (2017) Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 61(8):e02518-16.

Treatment of Oral Biofilms by a D-Enantiomeric Peptide.
Zhang T, Z Wang, REW Hancock, C Fuente-Nunez, M Haapasalo (2016) PLoS One 11(11):e0166997

Bacterial Abscess Formation Is Controlled by the Stringent Stress Response and Can Be Targeted Therapeutically.
Mansour SC, D Pletzer, C Fuente-Nunez, P Kim, GYC Cheung, HS Joo, M Otto, REW Hancock (2016) EBioMedicine 12:219-226

The immunology of host defence peptides: beyond antimicrobial activity.
Hancock REW, EF Haney, EE Gill (2016) Nat Rev Immunol 16(5):321-34

Peptide IDR-1002 Inhibits NF-κB Nuclear Translocation by Inhibition of IκBα Degradation and Activates p38/ERK1/2-MSK1-Dependent CREB Phosphorylation in Macrophages Stimulated with Lipopolysaccharide.
Huante-Mendoza A, O Silva-García, J Oviedo-Boyso, REW Hancock, VM Baizabal-Aguirre, (2016) Front Immunol. 7:533

Treatment of Oral Multispecies Biofilms by an Anti-Biofilm Peptide.
Wang Z, C Fuente-Nunez, Y Shen, M Haapasalo, REW Hancock (2015) PLoS One 10(7):e0132512

D-enantiomeric peptides that eradicate wild-type and multidrug-resistant biofilms and protect against lethal Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections.
Fuente-Nunez C, F Reffuveille, SC Mansour, SL Reckseidler-Zenteno, D Hernandez, G Brackman, T Coenye, REW Hancock (2015) Chem Biol. 22(2):196-205

Anti-infective peptide IDR-1002 augments monocyte chemotaxis towards CCR5 chemokines.
Madera L, REW Hancock (2015) Biochem Biophys Res Commun 464(3):800-6

A broad-spectrum antibiofilm peptide enhances antibiotic action against bacterial biofilms.
Reffuveille F, C Fuente-Nunez, S Mansour, REW Hancock, (2014) Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 58(9):5363-71

Anti-Biofilm and Immunomodulatory Activities of Peptides That Inhibit Biofilms Formed by Pathogens Isolated from Cystic Fibrosis Patients.
Fuente-Nunez C, S Mansour, Z Wang, L Jiang, EBM Breidenstein, M Elliott, F Reffuveille, DP Speert, SL Reckseidler-Zenteno, Y Shen, M Haapasalo, REW Hancock, (2014) Antibiotics (Basel) 3(4):509-26

Novel vaccine formulations against pertussis offer earlier onset of immunity and provide protection in the presence of maternal antibodies.
Polewicz M, A Gracia, S Garlapati, J van Kessel, S Strom, SA Halperin, REW Hancock, AA Potter, LA Babiuk, V Gerdts (2013) Vaccine 31(31):3148-55

The innate defense regulator peptides IDR-HH2, IDR-1002, and IDR-1018 modulate human neutrophil functions.
Niyonsaba F, LMadera, NAfacan, K Okumura, HOgawa, REW Hancock (2013) J Leukoc Biol. 94(1):159-70

Immune modulation by multifaceted cationic host defense (antimicrobial) peptides.
Hilchie AL, K Weurth, REW Hancock (2013) Nat Chem Biol. 9(12):761-8

Ability of innate defence regulator peptides IDR-1002, IDR-HH2 and IDR-1018 to protect against Mycobacterium tuberculosis infections in animal models.
Rivas-Santiago B, JE Castañeda-Delgado, CE Rivas Santiago, M Waldbrook, I González-Curiel, JC León-Contreras, JA Enciso-Moreno, Vdel Villar, J Mendez-Ramos, REW Hancock, R Hernandez-Pando (2013) PLoS One 8(3):e59119

Synthetic cationic peptide IDR-1018 modulates human macrophage differentiation.
Pena OM, N Afacan, J Pistolic, C Chen, L Madera, R Falsafi, CD Fjell, REW Hancock (2013) PLoS One 8(1):e52449

Enhanced immune responses and protection by vaccination with respiratory syncytial virus fusion protein formulated with CpG oligodeoxynucleotide and innate defense regulator peptide in polyphosphazene microparticles.
Garlapati S, R Garg, R Brownlie, L Latimer, E Simko, REW Hancock, LA Babiuk, V Gerdts, A Potter, S van Drunen Littel-van den Hurk (2012) Vaccine 30(35):5206-14

Comparison of immune responses and protective efficacy of intranasal prime-boost immunization regimens using adenovirus-based and CpG/HH2 adjuvanted-subunit vaccines against genital Chlamydia muridarum infection.
Brown THT, J David, E Acosta-Ramirez, JM Moore, S Lee, G Zhong, REW Hancock, Z Xing, SA Halperin, J Wang (2012) Vaccine 30(2):350-60

Innate defense regulator peptide 1018 in wound healing and wound infection.
Steinstraesser L, T Hirsch, M Schulte, M Kueckelhaus, F Jacobsen, EA Mersch, I Stricker, N Afacan, H Jenssen, REW Hancock, J Kindrachuk (2012) PLoS One 7(8):e39373

Modulation of interleukin-1β-induced inflammatory responses by a synthetic cationic innate defence regulator peptide, IDR-1002, in synovial fibroblasts.
Turner-Brannen E, KY Choi, DND Lippert, JP Cortens, REW Hancock, H El-Gabalawy, N Mookherjee, (2011) Arthritis Res Ther. 13(4):R129