Snake venoms: attractive antimicrobial proteinaceous compounds for therapeutic purposes

Venom: A Promising Avenue for Antimicrobial Therapeutics

Venom in medicine is well documented in the chronicles of ancient Greece and the Roman Empire and persisted into the Renaissance and even into the modern era. Venoms were not always associated with detrimental consequences. Since ancient times, the curative capacity of venom has been recognized, portraying venom as a metaphor for pharmacy and medicine. Venom proteins and peptides' antimicrobial potential has not undergone systematic exploration despite the huge literature on natural antimicrobials. In light of the escalating challenge of antimicrobial resistance and the diminishing effectiveness of antibiotics, there is a pressing need for innovative antimicrobials capable of effectively addressing illnesses caused by multidrug-resistant microorganisms. This review adds to our understanding of the effectiveness of different venom components against a host of pathogenic microorganisms. The aim is to illuminate the various antimicrobials present in venom and venom peptides, thereby emphasizing the unexplored medicinal potential for antimicrobial properties. We have presented a concise summary of the molecular examination of the venom peptides' functioning processes, as well as the current clinical and preclinical progress of venom antimicrobial peptides.

Unraveling snake venom phospholipase A2: an overview of its structure, pharmacology, and inhibitors

Snake bite is a neglected disease that affects millions of people worldwide. WHO reported approximately 5 million people are bitten by various species of snakes each year, resulting in nearly 1 million deaths and an additional three times cases of permanent disability. Snakes utilize the venom mainly for immobilization and digestion of their prey. Snake venom is a composition of proteins and enzymes which is responsible for its diverse pharmacological action. Snake venom phospholipase A2 (SvPLA2) is an enzyme that is present in every snake species in different quantities and is known to produce remarkable functional diversity and pharmacological action like inflammation, necrosis, myonecrosis, hemorrhage, etc. Arachidonic acid, a precursor to eicosanoids, such as prostaglandins and leukotrienes, is released when SvPLA2 catalyzes the hydrolysis of the sn-2 positions of membrane glycerophospholipids, which is responsible for its actions. Polyvalent antivenom produced from horses or lambs is the standard treatment for snake envenomation, although it has many drawbacks. Traditional medical practitioners treat snake bites using plants and other remedies as a sustainable alternative. More than 500 plant species from more than 100 families reported having venom-neutralizing abilities. Plant-derived secondary metabolites have the ability to reduce the venom's adverse consequences. Numerous studies have documented the ability of plant chemicals to inhibit the enzymes found in snake venom. Research in recent years has shown that various small molecules, such as varespladib and methyl varespladib, effectively inhibit the PLA2 toxin. In the present article, we have overviewed the knowledge of snake venom phospholipase A2, its classification, and the mechanism involved in the pathophysiology of cytotoxicity, myonecrosis, anticoagulation, and inflammation clinical application and inhibitors of SvPLA2, along with the list of studies carried out to evaluate the potency of small molecules like varespladib and secondary metabolites from the traditional medicine for their anti-PLA2 effect.

Conotoxin Prediction: New Features to Increase Prediction Accuracy

Conotoxins are toxic, disulfide-bond-rich peptides from cone snail venom that target a wide range of receptors and ion channels with multiple pathophysiological effects. Conotoxins have extraordinary potential for medical therapeutics that include cancer, microbial infections, epilepsy, autoimmune diseases, neurological conditions, and cardiovascular disorders. Despite the potential for these compounds in novel therapeutic treatment development, the process of identifying and characterizing the toxicities of conotoxins is difficult, costly, and time-consuming. This challenge requires a series of diverse, complex, and labor-intensive biological, toxicological, and analytical techniques for effective characterization. While recent attempts, using machine learning based solely on primary amino acid sequences to predict biological toxins (e.g., conotoxins and animal venoms), have improved toxin identification, these methods are limited due to peptide conformational flexibility and the high frequency of cysteines present in toxin sequences. This results in an enumerable set of disulfide-bridged foldamers with different conformations of the same primary amino acid sequence that affect function and toxicity levels. Consequently, a given peptide may be toxic when its cysteine residues form a particular disulfide-bond pattern, while alternative bonding patterns (isoforms) or its reduced form (free cysteines with no disulfide bridges) may have little or no toxicological effects. Similarly, the same disulfide-bond pattern may be possible for other peptide sequences and result in different conformations that all exhibit varying toxicities to the same receptor or to different receptors. We present here new features, when combined with primary sequence features to train machine learning algorithms to predict conotoxins, that significantly increase prediction accuracy.

Type-I like metalloproteinase in the venom of the West African saw-scaled carpet viper (Echis ocellatus) has anti-trypanosomal activity against African trypanosomes

African trypanosomiasis is an infectious disease caused by hemoparasites of the genus Trypanosoma and remains a major health problem in Africa - killing around 4000 people and animals worth an estimated $5 billion, annually. The absence of a vaccine and satisfactory drug against African trypanosomiasis (AT) necessitates the continued search for new chemotherapy options. Owing to the rich biochemical diversity in snake venom, it has recently become a source of therapeutic peptides that are being explored for the development of novel drug candidates for diverse ailments such as cancers and infectious diseases. To explore this, Echis ocellatus venom (EOV) was investigated for the presence of an anti-Trypanosoma factor, with the subsequent aim to isolate and identify it. Crude EOV was collected and tested in vitro on the bloodstream form (BSF) i.e. long and slender morphological form of Trypanosoma brucei and T. congolense. This initial testing was followed by a sequential anti-trypanosomal assay guided purification of EOV using ethanol precipitation, distillation, and ion exchange (IEX) chromatography to obtain the active trypanocidal component. The purified anti-Trypanosoma factor, estimated to be a 52-kDa protein on SDS-PAGE, was subjected to in-gel trypsin digestion and 2D RP HPLC-MS/MS to identify the protein. The anti-Trypanosoma factor was revealed to be a zinc-dependent metalloproteinase that contains the HEXXHXXGXXH adamalysin motif. This protein may provide a conceptual framework for the possible design of a safe and effective anti-trypanosomal peptide for the treatment of AT.

Montivipera bornmuelleri Venom: Inhibitory Effect on Staphylococcus epidermidis and Escherichia coli F1F0-ATPases and Cytotoxicity on HCT116 Cancer Cell Lines

In this work, we pursued the biological characterization of the venom of Montivipera bornmuelleri, a viper from the Lebanese mountains. In relation to its antibacterial potential, the inhibitory effect of this venom on the F1F0-ATPase enzymes of Gram-positive Staphylocoocus epidermidis and Gram-negative Escherichia coli bacteria was examined. In order to determine the degree of cytotoxicity of the venom on the HCT116 human colon cancer cell lines, the biological MTT proliferation and cell viability test were implemented. After validation of the enzymatic F1F0-ATPase model by the spectrophotometric method, using quercetin as the reference ligand, results revealed that M. bornmuelleri venom is able to inhibit the activity of the enzyme of these two bacteria with a concentration of the order of 100–150 µg/mL. In addition, a venom concentration of 10 µg/mL was sufficient to kill the totality of HCT116 cell lines cultivated in vitro. These data show that M. bornmuelleri venom is a mixture of diverse molecules presenting activities of interest, and is a potential source to explore in order to discover new drug candidates.

Two new cationic α-helical peptides identified from the venom gland of Liocheles australasiae possess antimicrobial activity against methicillin-resistant staphylococci

Methicillin-resistant staphylococci have become growing threats to human health, and novel antimicrobials are urgently needed. Natural antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are promising alternatives to traditional antibiotics. Here, two novel cationic α-helical antimicrobial peptides, Lausporin-1 and Lausporin-2, were identified from the venom gland of the scorpion L. australasiae through a cDNA library screening strategy. Biochemical analyses demonstrated that Lausporin-1 and Lausporin-2 are cationic α-helical amphipathic molecules. Antimicrobial assays demonstrated that the two peptides possess antibacterial activities against several species of antibiotic-resistant staphylococci. Importantly, they are active against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis and Staphylococcus capitis, with the minimum inhibitory concentrations ranging from 2.5 to 10 μg/ml. Moreover, both peptides can induce dose-dependent plasma membrane disruptions of the bacteria. In short, our work expands the knowledge of the scorpion L. australasiae venom-derived AMPs and sheds light on the potential of Lausporin-1 and Lausporin-2 in the development of novel drugs against methicillin-resistant staphylococci.

A New Group II Phospholipase A2 from Walterinnesia aegyptia Venom with Antimicrobial, Antifungal, and Cytotoxic Potential

Many venomous species, especially snakes, contain a variety of secreted phospholipases A2 that contribute to venom toxicity and prey digestion. We characterized a novel highly toxic phospholipase A2 of group II, WaPLA2-II, from the snake venom of Saudi Walterinnesia aegyptia (W. aegyptia). The enzyme was purified using a reverse phase C18 column. It is a monomeric protein with a molecular weight of approximately 14 kDa and an NH2-terminal amino acid sequence exhibiting similarity to the PLA2 group II enzymes. WaPLA2-II, which contains 2.5% (w/w) glycosylation, reached a maximal specific activity of 1250 U/mg at pH 9.5 and 55 °C in the presence of Ca2+ and bile salts. WaPLA2-II was also highly stable over a large pH and temperature range. A strong correlation between antimicrobial and indirect hemolytic activities of WaPLA2 was observed. Additionally, WaPLA2-II was found to be significantly cytotoxic only on cancerous cells. However, chemical modification with para-Bromophenacyl bromide (p-BPB) inhibited WaPLA2-II enzymatic activity without affecting its antitumor effect, suggesting the presence of a separate ‘pharmacological site’ in snake venom phospholipase A2 via its receptor binding affinity. This enzyme is a candidate for applications including the treatment of phospholipid-rich industrial effluents and for the food production industry. Furthermore, it may represent a new therapeutic lead molecule for treating cancer and microbial infections.

Proof of concept: could snake venoms be a potential source of bioactive compounds for control of mould growth and mycotoxin production

The objective was to screen 10 snake venoms for their efficacy to control growth and mycotoxin production by important mycotoxigenic fungi including Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus westerdijkiae, Penicillium verrucosum, Fusarium graminearum and F. langsethiae. The Bioscreen C rapid assay system was used. The venoms from the Viperidae snake family delayed growth of some of the test fungi, especially F. graminearum and F. langsethiae and sometimes A. flavus. Some were also able to reduce mycotoxin production. The two most potent crude snake venoms (Naja nigricollis and N. siamensis; 41 and 43 fractions, respectively) were further fractionated and 83/84 of these fractions were able to reduce mycotoxin production by >90% in two of the mycotoxigenic fungi examined. This study suggests that there may be significant potential for the identification of novel fungistatic/fungicidal bioactive compounds as preservatives of raw and processed food commodities post-harvest from such snake venoms.

Hitchhiking with Nature: Snake Venom Peptides to Fight Cancer and Superbugs

Abstract

For decades, natural products in general and snake venoms (SV) in particular have been a rich source of bioactive compounds for drug discovery, and they remain a promising substrate for therapeutic development. Currently, a handful of SV-based drugs for diagnosis and treatment of various cardiovascular disorders and blood abnormalities are on the market. Likewise, far more SV compounds and their mimetics are under investigation today for diverse therapeutic applications, including antibiotic-resistant bacteria and cancer. In this review, we analyze the state of the art regarding SV-derived compounds with therapeutic potential, focusing on the development of antimicrobial and anticancer drugs. Specifically, information about SV peptides experimentally validated or predicted to act as antimicrobial and anticancer peptides (AMPs and ACPs, respectively) has been collected and analyzed. Their principal activities both in vitro and in vivo, structures, mechanisms of action, and attempts at sequence optimization are discussed in order to highlight their potential as drug leads.

Key Contribution

This review describes the state of the art in snake venom-derived peptides and their therapeutic applications. This work reinforces the potential of snake venom components as therapeutic agents, particularly in the quest for new antimicrobial and anticancer drugs.

TFPR1 acts as an immune regulator and an efficient adjuvant for proteins and peptides by activating immune cells, primarily through TLR2

Triflin, a non-toxic protein found in the venom of the Habu snake, belongs to the CRISP (cysteine-rich secretory protein) family, which comprises two domains: a C-terminal cysteine-rich domain (CRD) and an N-terminal pathogenesis-related-1 (PR-1) domain. The function of the highly structurally conserved PR-1 domain is unknown. Here, we successfully expressed the PR-1 domain of triflin (hereafter called TFPR1) in E. coli. Animal experiments showed that TFPR1 augmented Th1-biased antibody- and cell-mediated immune responses in mice immunized with two protein antigens (OVA and HBsAg) or a peptide antigen (HIV-1 pep). A flow cytometry-based binding assay and in vitro stimulation with TFPR1 showed that it triggered Th1-biased proinflammatory and immunoregulatory cytokine secretion primarily by binding to B cells and macrophages within the mouse splenocyte population. Quantitative RT-PCR, antibody blocking assays using a specific anti-mTLR2 antibody, and stimulatory experiments in vitro using splenocytes from TLR2-KO mice demonstrated that TFPR1 activated murine immune cells, primarily by stimulating toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2). These results suggest that TFPR1 acts as a novel immune modulator and potent adjuvant primarily by activating TLR2. Thus, the PR-1-based core domain might play a role in immune regulation.

Non-antibiotic antimicrobial interventions and antimicrobial stewardship in wound care

Control of wound infection today relies largely on antibiotics, but the continual emergence of antibiotic-resistant microorganisms threatens a return to the pre-antibiotic era when physicians used antiseptics to prevent and manage infection. Some of those antiseptics are still used today, and others have become available. A diverse variety of non-antibiotic antimicrobial interventions are found on modern formularies. Unlike the mode of action of antibiotics, which affect specific cellular target sites of pathogens, many non-antibiotic antimicrobials affect multiple cellular target sites in a non-specific way. Although this reduces the likelihood of selecting for resistant strains of microorganisms, some have emerged and cross-resistance between antibiotics and antiseptics has been detected. With the prospect of a post-antibiotic era looming, ways to maintain and extend our antimicrobial armamentarium must be found. In this narrative review, current and emerging non-antibiotic antimicrobial strategies will be considered and the need for antimicrobial stewardship in wound care will be explained.

Snake Venoms in Drug Discovery: Valuable Therapeutic Tools for Life Saving

Animal venoms are used as defense mechanisms or to immobilize and digest prey. In fact, venoms are complex mixtures of enzymatic and non-enzymatic components with specific pathophysiological functions. Peptide toxins isolated from animal venoms target mainly ion channels, membrane receptors and components of the hemostatic system with high selectivity and affinity. The present review shows an up-to-date survey on the pharmacology of snake-venom bioactive components and evaluates their therapeutic perspectives against a wide range of pathophysiological conditions. Snake venoms have also been used as medical tools for thousands of years especially in tradition Chinese medicine. Consequently, snake venoms can be considered as mini-drug libraries in which each drug is pharmacologically active. However, less than 0.01% of these toxins have been identified and characterized. For instance, Captopril^® (Enalapril), Integrilin^® (Eptifibatide) and Aggrastat^® (Tirofiban) are drugs based on snake venoms, which have been approved by the FDA. In addition to these approved drugs, many other snake venom components are now involved in preclinical or clinical trials for a variety of therapeutic applications. These examples show that snake venoms can be a valuable source of new principle components in drug discovery.

Antibacterial properties of snake venom components

An increasing problem in the field of health protection is the emergence of drug-resistant and multi-drug-resistant bacterial strains. They cause a number of infections, including hospital infections, which currently available antibiotics are unable to fight. Therefore, many studies are devoted to the search for new therapeutic agents with bactericidal and bacteriostatic properties. One of the latest concepts is to search for this type of substances among toxins produced by venomous animals. In this approach, however, special attention is paid to snake venom because it contains molecules with antibacterial properties. Thorough investigations have shown that the phospholipases A2 (PLA2) and l-amino acids oxidases (LAAO), as well as fragments of these enzymes, are mainly responsible for the bactericidal properties of snake venoms. Some preliminary research studies also suggest that fragments of three-finger toxins (3FTx) are bactericidal. It has also been proven that some snakes produce antibacterial peptides (AMP) homologous to human defensins and cathelicidins. The presence of these proteins and peptides means that snake venoms continue to be an interesting material for researchers and can be perceived as a promising source of antibacterial agents.

Antibacterial activity of selected snake venoms on pathogenic bacterial strains

Snake venoms are aqueous solutions containing peptides and proteins with various biochemical, physiological, and pathophysiological effects. Several snake venom components are used as lead molecules in the development of new active substances for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases, clotting disorders, cancer or pain.

Antibacterial activity has also been attributed to snake venoms and proteins isolated from snake venoms. This study provides information regarding the antibacterial activity of venoms obtained from various snake species from the Elapidae and Viperidae families. Minimum inhibitory and bactericidal concentrations of snake venoms were determined for three Gram-positive (Enterococcus faecalis ATCC 29212, Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 29213, and Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 43300) and three Gram-negative (Escherichia coli ATCC 25922, Klebsiella pneumoniae ATCC 13883, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 27853) pathogenic bacteria. The observed effects were correlated with the protein content of each venom, determined using SDS-PAGE analysis and comparison with data available in the literature. Our findings represent a starting point for the selection of snake venoms containing components with potential use as lead molecules in the development of new antibacterial agents, targeting multidrug resistant bacterial strains.

The Harderian gland transcriptomes of Caraiba andreae, Cubophis cantherigerus and Tretanorhinus variabilis, three colubroid snakes from Cuba

The Harderian gland is a cephalic structure, widely distributed among vertebrates. In snakes, the Harderian gland is anatomically connected to the vomeronasal organ via the nasolacrimal duct, and in some species can be larger than the eyes. The function of the Harderian gland remains elusive, but it has been proposed to play a role in the production of saliva, pheromones, thermoregulatory lipids and growth factors, among others. Here, we have profiled the transcriptomes of the Harderian glands of three non-front-fanged colubroid snakes from Cuba: Caraiba andreae (Cuban Lesser Racer); Cubophis cantherigerus (Cuban Racer); and Tretanorhinus variabilis (Caribbean Water Snake), using Illumina HiSeq2000 100 bp paired-end. In addition to ribosomal and non-characterized proteins, the most abundant transcripts encode putative transport/binding, lipocalin/lipocalin-like, and bactericidal/permeability-increasing-like proteins. Transcripts coding for putative canonical toxins described in venomous snakes were also identified. This transcriptional profile suggests a more complex function than previously recognized for this enigmatic organ.

EVALUATION OF THE ANTIBACTERIAL ACTIVITY OF Crotalus durissus terrificus CRUDE VENOM

Abstract Snake venoms are recognized as a promising source of pharmacologically active substances and are potentially useful for the development of new antimicrobial drugs. This study aimed to investigate the antimicrobial activity of the venom from the rattlesnake Crotalus durissus terrificus against several bacteria. Antibacterial activity was determined by using the plate microdilution method and the activity on the bacterial envelope structure was screened by using the crystal violet assay. The proteins in crude venom were separated by electrophoresis and characterized regarding their proteolytic activity. C. d. terrificus venom exhibited antimicrobial action against gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. MIC values were defined for Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 27853 (62.5 µg/mL), Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923 (125 µg/mL), and Micrococcus luteus ATCC 9341 (≤500 µg/mL). For Salmonella enterica serovar typhimurium ATCC 14028 and Corynebacterium glutamicum ATCC 13032, the decrease in bacterial growth was not detected visually, but was statistically significant. The crystal violet assay demonstrated that the crude venom increased bacterial cell permeability and the secreted protein profile agreed with previous reports. The results suggest that the proteins with lytic activity against bacteria in C. d. terrificus venom deserve further characterization as they may offer reinforcements to the weak therapeutic arsenal used to fight microbial multidrug resistance.

In-Depth Venome of the Brazilian Rattlesnake Crotalus durissus terrificus: An Integrative Approach Combining Its Venom Gland Transcriptome and Venom Proteome

Snake venoms are complex mixtures mainly composed of proteins and small peptides. Crotoxin is one of the most studied components from Crotalus venoms, but many other components are less known due to their low abundance. The venome of Crotalus durissus terrificus, the most lethal Brazilian snake, was investigated by combining its venom gland transcriptome and proteome to create a holistic database of venom compounds unraveling novel toxins. We constructed a cDNA library from C. d. terrificus venom gland using the Illumina platform and investigated its venom proteome through high resolution liquid chromotography-tandem mass spectrometry. After integrating data from both data sets, more than 30 venom components classes were identified by the transcriptomic analysis and 15 of them were detected in the venom proteome. However, few of them (PLA₂, SVMP, SVSP, and VEGF) were relatively abundant. Furthermore, only seven expressed transcripts contributed to ∼82% and ∼73% of the abundance in the transcriptome and proteome, respectively. Additionally, novel venom proteins are reported, and we highlight the importance of using different databases to perform the data integration and discuss the structure of the venom components-related transcripts identified. Concluding, this research paves the way for novel investigations and discovery of future pharmacological agents or targets in the antivenom therapy.

Harnessing snake venom phospholipases A2 to novel approaches for overcoming antibiotic resistance

The emergence of antibiotic resistance drives an essential race against time to reveal new molecular structures capable of addressing this alarming global health problem. Snake venoms are natural catalogs of multifunctional toxins and privileged frameworks, which serve as potential templates for the inspiration of novel treatment strategies for combating antibiotic resistant bacteria. Phospholipases A₂ (PLA₂ s) are one of the main classes of antibacterial biomolecules, with recognized therapeutic value, found in these valuable secretions. Recently, a number of biomimetic oligopeptides based on small fragments of primary structure from PLA₂ toxins has emerged as a meaningful opportunity to overcome multidrug-resistant clinical isolates. Thus, this review will highlight the biochemical and structural properties of antibacterial PLA₂ s and peptides thereof, as well as their possible molecular mechanisms of action and key roles in development of effective therapeutic strategies. Chemical strategies possibly useful to convert antibacterial peptides from PLA₂ s to efficient drugs will be equally addressed.

A novel bactericidal homodimeric PLA2 group-I from Walterinnesia aegyptia venom

A novel non-toxic phospholipase A₂ was purified to homogeneity in a single chromatography step from the venom of Walterinnesia aegyptia, a monotypic elapid snake caught in Saudi Arabia, and its antimicrobial and hemolytic properties were evaluated as well. This enzyme, namely WaPLA₂, is a homodimer with an estimated molecular mass of 30 kDa, and its NH₂-terminal sequence exhibits a significant degree of similarity with PLA₂ group-I. At optimal pH (8.5) and temperature (45 °C), the purified PLA₂ exhibited a specific activity of 2100 U/mg, and it requires bile salts and Ca²⁺ for its activity. However, other cations such as Cd²⁺ and Hg²⁺ diminished the enzyme activity remarkably, thereby suggesting that the catalytic site arrangement has an exclusive structure for Ca²⁺ binding. Furthermore, WaPLA₂ maintained almost 100% and 60% of its full activity in a pH range of 6.0-10 after 24 h incubation or after 60 min treatment at 70 °C, respectively. In the biological activity assays, WaPLA₂ displayed potent indirectly hemolytic and antimicrobial activities that were strongly correlated. These promising findings encourage further in-depth research to understand the molecular mechanism of WaPLA₂'s antimicrobial properties for its possible use as a potential therapeutic lead molecule for treating infections.

King cobra peptide OH-CATH30 as a potential candidate drug through clinic drug-resistant isolates

Cationic antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are considered as important candidate therapeutic agents, which exert potent microbicidal properties against bacteria, fungi and some viruses. Based on our previous findings king cobra cathelicidin (OH-CATH) is a 34-amino acid peptide that exerts strong antibacterial and weak hemolytic activity. The aim of this research is to evaluate the efficacy of both OH-CATH30 and its analog D-OH-CATH30 against clinical isolates comparing with routinely utilized antibiotics in vitro. In this study, 584 clinical isolates were tested (spanning 2013–2016) and the efficacy of the candidate peptides and antibiotics were determined by a broth microdilution method according to the CLSI guidelines. Among the 584 clinical isolates, 85% were susceptible to OH-CATH30 and its analogs. Both L- and D-OH-CATH30 showed higher efficacy against (toward) Gram-positive bacteria and stronger antibacterial activity against nearly all Gram-negative bacteria tested compare with antibiotics. The highest bactericidal activity was detected against Acinetobacter spp., including multi-drug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (MRAB) and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). The overall efficacy of OH-CATH30 and its analogs was higher than that of the 9 routinely used antibiotics. OH-CATH30 is a promising candidate drug for the treatment of a wide variety of bacterial infections which are resistant to many routinely used antimicrobial agents.

A novel synthetic peptide inspired on Lys49 phospholipase A2 from Crotalus oreganus abyssus snake venom active against multidrug-resistant clinical isolates

Currently, the evolving and complex mechanisms of bacterial resistance to conventional antibiotics are increasing, while alternative medicines are drying up, which urges the need to discover novel agents able to kill antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Lys49 phospholipase A₂s (PLA₂s) from snake venoms are multifunctional toxins able to induce a huge variety of therapeutic effects and consequently serve as templates for new drug leads. Hence, the present study was aimed at the synthesis of oligopeptides mimicking regions of the antibacterial Lys49 PLA₂ toxin (CoaTx-II), recently isolated from Crotalus oreganus abyssus snake venom, to identify small peptides able to reproduce the therapeutic action of the toxin. Five peptides, representing major regions of interest within CoaTx-II, were synthesized and screened for their antibacterial properties. The 13-mer peptide pC-CoaTxII, corresponding to residues 115-129 of CoaTx-II, was able to reproduce the promising bactericidal effect of the toxin against multi-resistant clinical isolates. Peptide pC-CoaTxII is mainly composed by positively charged and hydrophobic amino acids, a typical trait in most antimicrobial peptides, and presented no defined secondary structure in aqueous environment. The physicochemical properties of pC-CoaTxII are favorable towards a strong interaction with anionic lipid membranes as those in bacteria. Additional in silico studies suggest formation of a water channel across the membrane upon peptide insertion, eventually leading to bacterial cell disruption and death. Overall, our findings confirm the valuable potential of snake venom toxins towards design and synthesis of novel antimicrobials, thus representing key insights towards development of alternative efficient antimicrobials to fight bacterial resistance to current antibiotics.

Computational Studies of Snake Venom Toxins

Most snake venom toxins are proteins, and participate to envenomation through a diverse array of bioactivities, such as bleeding, inflammation, and pain, cytotoxic, cardiotoxic or neurotoxic effects. The venom of a single snake species contains hundreds of toxins, and the venoms of the 725 species of venomous snakes represent a large pool of potentially bioactive proteins. Despite considerable discovery efforts, most of the snake venom toxins are still uncharacterized. Modern bioinformatics tools have been recently developed to mine snake venoms, helping focus experimental research on the most potentially interesting toxins. Some computational techniques predict toxin molecular targets, and the binding mode to these targets. This review gives an overview of current knowledge on the ~2200 sequences, and more than 400 three-dimensional structures of snake toxins deposited in public repositories, as well as of molecular modeling studies of the interaction between these toxins and their molecular targets. We also describe how modern bioinformatics have been used to study the snake venom protein phospholipase A2, the small basic myotoxin Crotamine, and the three-finger peptide Mambalgin.

Intravascular hemolysis induced by phospholipases A2 from the venom of the Eastern coral snake, Micrurus fulvius: Functional profiles of hemolytic and non-hemolytic isoforms

A unique feature of the venom of Micrurus fulvius (Eastern coral snake) is its ability to induce severe intravascular hemolysis in particular species, such as dogs or mice. This effect was previously shown to be induced by distinct phospholipase A₂ (PLA₂) isoforms which cause direct hemolysis in vitro, an uncommon finding for such enzymes. The functional profiles of PLA₂-17, a direct hemolytic enzyme, and PLA₂-12, a co-existing venom isoform lacking such effect, were compared. The enzymes differed not only in their ability to cause intravascular hemolysis: PLA₂-17 additionally displayed lethal, myotoxic, and anticoagulant actions, whereas PLA₂-12 lacked these effects. PLA₂-12 was much more active in hydrolyzing a monodisperse synthetic substrate than PLA₂-17, but the catalytic activity of latter was notably higher on a micellar substrate, or towards pure phospholipid artificial monolayers under controlled lateral pressures. Interestingly, PLA₂-17 could hydrolyze substrate at a pressure of 20 mN m^-1, in contrast to PLA₂-12 or the non-toxic pancreatic PLA₂. This suggests important differences in the monolayer penetrating power, which could be related to differences in toxicity. Comparative examination of primary structures and predicted three-dimensional folding of PLA₂-12 and PLA₂-17, revealed that differences concentrate in their N-terminal and central regions, leading to variations of the surface properties at the membrane interacting interface. PLA₂-17 presents a less basic interfacial surface than PLA₂-12, but more bulky aromatic residues, which could be associated to its higher membrane-penetrating strength. Altogether, these structural and functional comparative observations suggest that the ability of PLA₂s to penetrate substrate interfaces could be a major determinant of toxicity, perhaps more important than protein surface charge.

Comparative NanoUPLC-MSE analysis between magainin I-susceptible and -resistant Escherichia coli strains

In recent years the antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) have been prospected and designed as new alternatives to conventional antibiotics. Indeed, AMPs have presented great potential toward pathogenic bacterial strains by means of complex mechanisms of action. However, reports have increasingly emerged regarding the mechanisms by which bacteria resist AMP administration. In this context, we performed a comparative proteomic study by using the total bacterial lysate of magainin I-susceptible and –resistant E. coli strains. After nanoUPLC-MS^E analyses we identified 742 proteins distributed among the experimental groups, and 25 proteins were differentially expressed in the resistant strains. Among them 10 proteins involved in bacterial resistance, homeostasis, nutrition and protein transport were upregulated, while 15 proteins related to bacterial surface modifications, genetic information and β-lactams binding-protein were downregulated. Moreover, 60 exclusive proteins were identified in the resistant strains, among which biofilm and cell wall formation and multidrug efflux pump proteins could be observed. Thus, differentially from previous studies that could only associate single proteins to AMP bacterial resistance, data here reported show that several metabolic pathways may be related to E. coli resistance to AMPs, revealing the crucial role of multiple “omics” studies in order to elucidate the global molecular mechanisms involved in this resistance.

Wasp venomic: Unravelling the toxins arsenal of Polybia paulista venom and its potential pharmaceutical applications

Polybia paulista (Hymenoptera: Vespidae) is a neotropical social wasp from southeast Brazil. As most social Hymenoptera, venom from P. paulista comprises a complex mixture of bioactive toxins ranging from low molecular weight compounds to peptides and proteins. Several efforts have been made to elucidate the molecular composition of the P. paulista venom. Data derived from proteomic, peptidomic and allergomic analyses has enhanced our understanding of the whole envenoming process caused by the insect sting. The combined use of bioinformatics, -omics- and molecular biology tools have allowed the identification, characterization, in vitro synthesis and recombinant expression of several wasp venom toxins. Some of these P. paulista - derived bioactive compounds have been evaluated for the rational design of antivenoms and the improvement of allergy specific diagnosis and immunotherapy. Molecular characterization of crude venom extract has enabled the description and isolation of novel toxins with potential biotechnological applications. Here, we review the different approaches that have been used to unravel the venom composition of P. paulista. We also describe the main groups of P. paulista - venom toxins currently identified and analyze their potential in the development of component-resolved diagnosis of allergy, and in the rational design of antivenoms and novel bioactive drugs.

Proteomic Analyses of Agkistrodon contortrix contortrix Venom Using 2D Electrophoresis and MS Techniques

Snake venom is a complex mixture of proteins and peptides which in the Viperidae is mainly hemotoxic. The diversity of these components causes the venom to be an extremely interesting object of study. Discovered components can be used in search for new pharmaceuticals used primarily in the treatment of diseases of the cardiovascular system. In order to determine the protein composition of the southern copperhead venom, we have used high resolution two dimensional electrophoresis and MALDI ToF/ToF MS-based identification. We have identified 10 groups of proteins present in the venom, of which phospholipase A₂ and metalloprotease and serine proteases constitute the largest groups. For the first time presence of 5′-nucleotidase in venom was found in this group of snakes. Three peptides present in the venom were also identified. Two of them as bradykinin-potentiating agents and one as an inhibitor.

A 2S Albumin from the Seed Cake of Ricinus communis Inhibits Trypsin and Has Strong Antibacterial Activity against Human Pathogenic Bacteria

Hospital-acquired infections caused by antibiotic-resistant bacteria threaten the lives of many citizens all over the world. Discovery of new agents to hinder bacterial development would have a significant impact on the treatment of infections. Here, the purification and characterization of Rc-2S-Alb, a protein that belongs to the 2S albumin family, from Ricinus communis seed cake, are reported. Rc-2S-Alb was purified after protein extraction with Tris-HCl buffer, pH 7.5, fractionation by ammonium sulfate (50-75%), and chromatography on Phenyl-Sepharose and DEAE-Sepharose. Rc-2S-Alb, a 75 kDa peptide, displays trypsin inhibitory activity and has high in vitro antibacterial activity against Bacillus subtilis, Klebsiella pneumonia, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, which are important human pathogenic bacteria. Atomic force microscopy studies indicated that Rc-2S-Alb disrupts the bacterial membrane with loss of the cytoplasm content and ultimately bacterial death. Therefore, Rc-2S-Alb is a powerful candidate for the development of an alternative drug that may help reduce hospital-acquired infections.

Snake venom toxins: toxicity and medicinal applications

Snake venoms are complex mixtures of small molecules and peptides/proteins, and most of them display certain kinds of bioactivities. They include neurotoxic, cytotoxic, cardiotoxic, myotoxic, and many different enzymatic activities. Snake envenomation is a significant health issue as millions of snakebites are reported annually. A large number of people are injured and die due to snake venom poisoning. However, several fatal snake venom toxins have found potential uses as diagnostic tools, therapeutic agent, or drug leads. In this review, different non-enzymatically active snake venom toxins which have potential therapeutic properties such as antitumor, antimicrobial, anticoagulating, and analgesic activities will be discussed.

A polyalanine peptide derived from polar fish with anti-infectious activities

Due to the growing concern about antibiotic-resistant microbial infections, increasing support has been given to new drug discovery programs. A promising alternative to counter bacterial infections includes the antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), which have emerged as model molecules for rational design strategies. Here we focused on the study of Pa-MAP 1.9, a rationally designed AMP derived from the polar fish Pleuronectes americanus. Pa-MAP 1.9 was active against Gram-negative planktonic bacteria and biofilms, without being cytotoxic to mammalian cells. By using AFM, leakage assays, CD spectroscopy and in silico tools, we found that Pa-MAP 1.9 may be acting both on intracellular targets and on the bacterial surface, also being more efficient at interacting with anionic LUVs mimicking Gram-negative bacterial surface, where this peptide adopts α-helical conformations, than cholesterol-enriched LUVs mimicking mammalian cells. Thus, as bacteria present varied physiological features that favor antibiotic-resistance, Pa-MAP 1.9 could be a promising candidate in the development of tools against infections caused by pathogenic bacteria.

Antibacterial activity of an acidic phospholipase A2 (NN-XIb-PLA2) from the venom of Naja naja (Indian cobra)

The resistance of bacteria against the use of conventional antibiotics has become a serious threat to public health and considering the associated side effect with antibiotics; new strategies to find and develop new molecules with novel modes of action has received grate attention in recent years. In this study, when the antibacterial potential of an acidic protein—NN-XIb-PLA₂ (Naja naja venom phospholipase A₂ fraction—XIb) of Naja naja venom was evaluated, it showed significant bactericidal action against the human pathogenic strains tested. It inhibited more effectively the gram positive bacteria like Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus subtilis, when compared to gram negative bacteria like Escherichia coli, Vibrio cholerae, Klebsiell pneumoniae and Salmonella paratyphi. It inhibited the bacterial growth, with a MIC values ranging from 17 to 20 µg/ml. It was interesting to observe that NN-XIb-PLA₂ showed comparable antibacterial activity to the used standards antibiotics. It was found that their was a strong correlation between PLA₂ activities, hemolytic and antibacterial activity. Furthermore, it is found that in the presence of p-bromophenacyl bromide (p-BPB), there is a significant decrease in enzymatic activity and associated antibacterial activities, suggesting that a strong association exists between catalytic activity and antimicrobial effects, which thereby destabilize the membrane bilayer. These studies encourage further in dept study on molecular mechanisms of bactericidal properties of NN-XIb-PLA₂ and thereby help in development of this protein into a possible therapeutic lead molecule for treating bacterial infections.

Screening of cytotoxic, anti-angiogenic, anti-tumorogenic and antimicrobial activities of Anatolian Vipera ammodytes (Nose-horned viper) venom

Objective:

In the present study, we aimed to screen the cytotoxic, antimicrobial, anti-angiogenic and anti-tumorogenic activities of Anatolian

Material and methods:

The cytotoxicity was screened against PC3, HeLa, CaCo-2, U-87MG, MCF-7 and Vero cells by using MTT assay. The antimicrobial activity on

Results:

The IC

Conclusion:

The results of the present study contributed to the knowledge of the biological activities of Anatolian

In vitro and in vivo genotoxic evaluation of Bothrops moojeni snake venom

CONTEXT

Bothrops moojeni Hoge (Viperidae) venom is a complex mixture of compounds with therapeutic potential that has been included in the research and development of new drugs. Along with the biological activity, the pharmaceutical applicability of this venom depends on its toxicological profile.

OBJECTIVE

This study evaluates the cytotoxicity and genotoxicity of the Bothrops moojeni venom (BMV).

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The in vitro cytotoxicity and genotoxicity of a pooled sample of BMV was assessed by the MTT and Comet assay, respectively. Genotoxicity was also evaluated in vivo through the micronucleus assay.

RESULTS

BMV displayed a 50% cytotoxic concentration (CC50) on Vero cells of 4.09 µg/mL. Vero cells treated with 4 µg/mL for 90 min and 6 h presented significant (p < 0.05, ANOVA/Newman-Keuls test) higher DNA damage than the negative control in the Comet assay. The lower DNA damage found after 6 h compared with the 90 min treatment suggests a DNA repair effect. Mice intraperitoneally treated with BMV at 10, 30, or 80 µg/animal presented significant genotoxicity (p < 0.05, ANOVA/Newman-Keuls test) in relation to the negative control after 24 h of treatment. Contrary to the in vitro results, no DNA repair seemed to occur in vivo up to 96 h post-venom inoculation at a dose of 30 µg/animal.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION

The results show that BMV presents cyto- and genotoxicity depending on the concentration/dose used. These findings emphasize the importance of toxicological studies, including assessment of genotoxicity, in the biological activity research of BMV and/or in the development of BMV-derived products.

Antibacterial potential of a basic phospholipase A2 (VRV-PL-VIIIa) from Daboia russelii pulchella (Russell's viper) venom

Background

Microbial/bacterial resistance against antibiotics poses a serious threat to public health. Furthermore, the side effects of these antibiotics have stimulated tremendous interest in developing new molecules from diverse organisms as therapeutic agents. This study evaluates the antibacterial potential of a basic protein, Vipera russellii venom phospholipase A₂ fraction VIIIa (VRV-PL-VIIIa), from Daboia russelii pulchella venom against gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria.

Methods

The antibacterial potential of VRV-PL-VIIIa in the presence and absence of an inhibitor (p-bromophenacyl bromide) was tested against gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria and the minimum inhibitory concentration was determined by microdilution tests.

Results

VRV-PL-VIIIa demonstrated potent antibacterial activities against all the human pathogenic strains tested. It more effectively inhibited such gram-positive bacteria as Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus subtilis, when compared to the gram-negative bacteria Escherichia coli, Vibrio cholerae, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Salmonella paratyphi. It inhibited bacterial growth at minimum inhibitory concentration values ranging from 11.1 to 19.2 μg/mL. The anti-bacterial potential of VRV-PL-VIIIa was comparable to the standards gentamycin, chlorophenicol and streptomycin. The PLA₂’s hemolytic and antibacterial activities were strongly correlated. Furthermore, even in the presence of p-bromophenacyl bromide, intense antibacterial activity was observed, suggesting a dissociation or partial overlapping of the bactericidal/antimicrobial domains.

Conclusion

VRV-PL-VIIIa demonstrated potent antibacterial activities against all the human pathogenic strains tested. The study shows that despite a strong correlation between enzymatic and antimicrobial activities of VRV-PL-VIIIa, it may possess additional properties that mimic the bactericidal/membrane permeability-increasing protein. This study encourages further in-depth studies on the molecular mechanisms of antibacterial properties of VRV-PL-VIIIa, which would thereby facilitate development of this protein into a possible therapeutic lead molecule for treating bacterial infections.

Structural insights into Cn-AMP1, a short disulfide-free multifunctional peptide from green coconut water

Multifunctional and promiscuous antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) can be used as an efficient strategy to control pathogens. However, little is known about the structural properties of plant promiscuous AMPs without disulfide bonds. CD and NMR were used to elucidate the structure of the promiscuous peptide Cn-AMP1, a disulfide-free peptide isolated from green coconut water. Data here reported shows that peptide structure is transitory and could be different according to the micro-environment. In this regard, Cn-AMP1 showed a random coil in a water environment and an α-helical structure in the presence of SDS-d25 micelles. Moreover, deuterium exchange experiments showed that Gly4, Arg5 and Met9 residues are less accessible to solvent, suggesting that flexibility and cationic charges seem to be essential for Cn-AMP1 multiple activities.

Novel phospholipase A2 inhibitors from python serum are potent peptide antibiotics

Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) play a vital role in defense against resistant bacteria. In this study, eight different AMPs synthesized from Python reticulatus serum protein were tested for bactericidal activity against various Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus, Burkholderia pseudomallei (KHW and TES strains), and Proteus vulgaris) using a disc-diffusion method (20 μg/disc). Among the tested peptides, phospholipase A2 inhibitory peptide (PIP)-18[59-76], β-Asp65-PIP[59-67], D-Ala66-PNT.II, and D60,65E-PIP[59-67] displayed the most potent bactericidal activity against all tested pathogens in a dose-dependent manner (100-6.8 μg/ml), with a remarkable activity noted against S. aureus at 6.8 μg/ml dose within 6 h of incubation. Determination of minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) by a micro-broth dilution method at 100-3.125 μg/ml revealed that PIP-18[59-76], β-Asp65-PIP[59-67] and D-Ala66-PNT.II peptides exerted a potent inhibitory effect against S. aureus and B. pseudomallei (KHW) (MICs 3.125 μg/ml), while a much less inhibitory potency (MICs 12.5 μg/ml) was noted for β-Asp65-PIP[59-67] and D-Ala66-PNT.II peptides against B. pseudomallei (TES). Higher doses of peptides had no effect on the other two strains (i.e., Klebsiella pneumoniae and Streptococcus pneumoniae). Overall, PIP-18[59-76] possessed higher antimicrobial activity than that of chloramphenicol (CHL), ceftazidime (CF) and streptomycin (ST) (30 μg/disc). When the two most active peptides, PIP-18[59-76] and β-Asp65-PIP[59-67], were applied topically at a 150 mg/kg dose for testing wound healing activity in a mouse model of S. aureus infection, the former accelerates faster wound healing than the latter peptide at 14 days post-treatment. The western blot data suggest that the topical application of peptides (PIP-18[59-67] and β-Asp65-PIP[59-67]) modulates NF-kB mediated wound repair in mice with relatively little haemolytic (100-1.56 μg/ml) and cytotoxic (1000-3.125 μg/ml) effects evident on human cells in vitro.

Antibacterial potential of a basic phospholipase A2 (VRV-PL-V) of Daboia russellii pulchella (Russell's Viper) venom

Microbial/bacterial resistance against antibiotics is considered as a potentially serious threat to public health. Further, as these antibiotics elicit side effects, there is interest in developing new molecules with novel modes of action from diverse organisms. Along these lines, in this study the antibacterial potential of the basic protein VRV-PL-V (Vipera russellii venom phospholipase A2 fraction V) of Daboia russellii pulchella venom was evaluated. VRV-PL-V demonstrated a potent antibacterial activity against all the human pathogenic strains tested. It inhibited more effectively Gram-positive bacteria like Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus subtilis when compared to Gram-negative bacteria like Escherichia coli, Vibrio cholerae, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Salmonella paratyphi. It inhibited bacterial growth with MIC values ranging from 13 to 24 µg/ml. The antibacterial potential of VRV-PL-V was comparable to the standards used like gentamycin, chloramphenicol, and streptomycin. There was a strong correlation between PLA2 activities and hemolytic and antibacterial activity. It was found that even in the presence of p-bromophenacyl bromide (an inhibitor of PLA2 enzymatic activity), there was marked antibacterial activity, suggesting dissociation or partial overlapping of the bactericidal/antimicrobial domains. Therefore, this study shows that although there is a strong correlation between enzymatic and antimicrobial activities of VRV-PL-V, it may also possess other properties that mimic bactericidal/membrane permeability-increasing protein.

Lipopolysaccharide induces amyloid formation of antimicrobial peptide HAL-2

Lipopolysaccharide (LPS), the important component of the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria, contributes to the integrity of the outer membrane and protects the cell against bactericidal agents, including antimicrobial peptides. However, the mechanisms of interaction between antimicrobial peptides and LPS are not clearly understood. Halictines-2 (HAL-2), one of the novel antimicrobial peptides, was isolated from the venom of the eusocial bee Halictus sexcinctus. HAL-2 has exhibited potent antimicrobial activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria and even against cancer cells. Here, we studied the interactions between HAL-2 and LPS to elucidate the antibacterial mechanism of HAL-2 in vitro. Our results show that HAL-2 adopts a significant degree of β-strand structure in the presence of LPS. LPS is capable of inducing HAL-2 amyloid formation, which may play a vital role in its antimicrobial activity.

Black cobra (Naja naja karachiensis) lysates exhibit broad-spectrum antimicrobial activities

It is hypothesized that animals living in polluted environments possess antimicrobials to counter pathogenic microbes. The fact that snakes feed on germ-infested rodents suggests that they encounter pathogenic microbes and likely possess antimicrobials. The venom is used only to paralyze the rodent, but the ability of snakes to counter potential infections in the gut due to disease-ridden rodents requires robust action of the immune system against a broad range of pathogens. To test this hypothesis, crude lysates of different organs of Naja naja karachiensis (black cobra) were tested for antimicrobial properties. The antimicrobial activities of extracts were tested against selected bacterial pathogens (neuropathogenic Escherichia coli K1, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Streptococcus pneumonia), protist (Acanthamoeba castellanii), and filamentous fungus (Fusarium solani). The findings revealed that plasma and various organ extracts of N. n. karachiensis exhibited antimicrobial activity against E. coli K1, MRSA, P. aeruginosa, S. pneumoniae, A. castellanii, and F. solani in a concentration-dependent manner. The results of this study are promising for the development of new antimicrobials.