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Registre C, Silva LM, Registre F, Soares RDDOA, Rubio KTS, Carneiro SP, Dos Santos ODH. Targeting Leishmania Promastigotes and Amastigotes Forms through Amino Acids and Peptides: A Promising Therapeutic Strategy. ACS Infect Dis 2024. [PMID: 38950147 DOI: 10.1021/acsinfecdis.4c00089] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/03/2024]
Abstract
Millions of people worldwide are affected by leishmaniasis, caused by the Leishmania parasite. Effective treatment is challenging due to the biological complexity of the parasite, drug toxicity, and increasing resistance to conventional drugs. To combat this disease, the development of specific strategies to target and selectively eliminate the parasite is crucial. This Review highlights the importance of amino acids in the developmental stages of Leishmania as a factor determining whether the infection progresses or is suppressed. It also explores the use of peptides as alternatives in parasite control and the development of novel targeted treatments. While these strategies show promise for more effective and targeted treatment, further studies to address the remaining challenges are imperative.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charmante Registre
- Phytotechnology Laboratory, School of Pharmacy, Federal University of Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais 35400000, Brazil
| | - Luciana Miranda Silva
- Phytotechnology Laboratory, School of Pharmacy, Federal University of Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais 35400000, Brazil
| | - Farah Registre
- School of Medicine, Goiás Federal University, Goiânia, Goiás 74605-050, Brazil
| | - Rodrigo Dian de Oliveira Aguiar Soares
- Immunopathology Laboratory, Center for Research in Biological Sciences/NUPEB, Federal University of Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais 35400000, Brazil
| | - Karina Taciana Santos Rubio
- Toxicology Laboratory, School of Pharmacy, Federal University of Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto, Minas Gerais 35400000, Brazil
| | - Simone Pinto Carneiro
- Department of Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Technology and Biopharmaceutics, Ludwig-Maximilians-University of Munich, 81377 Munich, Germany
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González-Matos M, Aguado ME, Izquierdo M, Monzote L, González-Bacerio J. Compounds with potentialities as novel chemotherapeutic agents in leishmaniasis at preclinical level. Exp Parasitol 2024; 260:108747. [PMID: 38518969 DOI: 10.1016/j.exppara.2024.108747] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2023] [Revised: 02/27/2024] [Accepted: 03/19/2024] [Indexed: 03/24/2024]
Abstract
Leishmaniasis are neglected infectious diseases caused by kinetoplastid protozoan parasites from the genus Leishmania. These sicknesses are present mainly in tropical regions and almost 1 million new cases are reported each year. The absence of vaccines, as well as the high cost, toxicity or resistance to the current drugs determines the necessity of new treatments against these pathologies. In this review, several compounds with potentialities as new antileishmanial drugs are presented. The discussion is restricted to the preclinical level and molecules are organized according to their chemical nature, source and molecular targets. In this manner, we present antimicrobial peptides, flavonoids, withanolides, 8-aminoquinolines, compounds from Leish-Box, pyrazolopyrimidines, and inhibitors of tubulin polymerization/depolymerization, topoisomerase IB, proteases, pteridine reductase, N-myristoyltransferase, as well as enzymes involved in polyamine metabolism, response against oxidative stress, signaling pathways, and sterol biosynthesis. This work is a contribution to the general knowledge of these compounds as antileishmanial agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maikel González-Matos
- Center for Protein Studies, Faculty of Biology, University of Havana, Calle 25 #455 Entre I y J, Vedado, La Habana, Cuba
| | - Mirtha Elisa Aguado
- Center for Protein Studies, Faculty of Biology, University of Havana, Calle 25 #455 Entre I y J, Vedado, La Habana, Cuba
| | - Maikel Izquierdo
- Center for Protein Studies, Faculty of Biology, University of Havana, Calle 25 #455 Entre I y J, Vedado, La Habana, Cuba
| | - Lianet Monzote
- Department of Parasitology, Center for Research, Diagnosis and Reference, Tropical Medicine Institute "Pedro Kourí", Autopista Novia Del Mediodía Km 6½, La Lisa, La Habana, Cuba.
| | - Jorge González-Bacerio
- Center for Protein Studies, Faculty of Biology, University of Havana, Calle 25 #455 Entre I y J, Vedado, La Habana, Cuba; Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biology, University of Havana, Calle 25 #455 Entre I y J, Vedado, La Habana, Cuba.
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3
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Berhe H, Kumar Cinthakunta Sridhar M, Zerihun M, Qvit N. The Potential Use of Peptides in the Fight against Chagas Disease and Leishmaniasis. Pharmaceutics 2024; 16:227. [PMID: 38399281 PMCID: PMC10892537 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics16020227] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2023] [Revised: 12/28/2023] [Accepted: 01/30/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Chagas disease and leishmaniasis are both neglected tropical diseases that affect millions of people around the world. Leishmaniasis is currently the second most widespread vector-borne parasitic disease after malaria. The World Health Organization records approximately 0.7-1 million newly diagnosed leishmaniasis cases each year, resulting in approximately 20,000-30,000 deaths. Also, 25 million people worldwide are at risk of Chagas disease and an estimated 6 million people are infected with Trypanosoma cruzi. Pentavalent antimonials, amphotericin B, miltefosine, paromomycin, and pentamidine are currently used to treat leishmaniasis. Also, nifurtimox and benznidazole are two drugs currently used to treat Chagas disease. These drugs are associated with toxicity problems such as nephrotoxicity and cardiotoxicity, in addition to resistance problems. As a result, the discovery of novel therapeutic agents has emerged as a top priority and a promising alternative. Overall, there is a need for new and effective treatments for Chagas disease and leishmaniasis, as the current drugs have significant limitations. Peptide-based drugs are attractive due to their high selectiveness, effectiveness, low toxicity, and ease of production. This paper reviews the potential use of peptides in the treatment of Chagas disease and leishmaniasis. Several studies have demonstrated that peptides are effective against Chagas disease and leishmaniasis, suggesting their use in drug therapy for these diseases. Overall, peptides have the potential to be effective therapeutic agents against Chagas disease and leishmaniasis, but more research is needed to fully investigate their potential.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Nir Qvit
- The Azrieli Faculty of Medicine in the Galilee, Bar-Ilan University, Safed 1311502, Israel; (H.B.); (M.K.C.S.); (M.Z.)
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Robledo SM, Pérez-Silanes S, Fernández-Rubio C, Poveda A, Monzote L, González VM, Alonso-Collado P, Carrión J. Neglected Zoonotic Diseases: Advances in the Development of Cell-Penetrating and Antimicrobial Peptides against Leishmaniosis and Chagas Disease. Pathogens 2023; 12:939. [PMID: 37513786 PMCID: PMC10383258 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens12070939] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2023] [Revised: 07/12/2023] [Accepted: 07/12/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
In 2020, the WHO established the road map for neglected tropical diseases 2021-2030, which aims to control and eradicate 20 diseases, including leishmaniosis and Chagas disease. In addition, since 2015, the WHO has been developing a Global Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance. In this context, the achievement of innovative strategies as an alternative to replace conventional therapies is a first-order socio-sanitary priority, especially regarding endemic zoonoses in poor regions, such as those caused by Trypanosoma cruzi and Leishmania spp. infections. In this scenario, it is worth highlighting a group of natural peptide molecules (AMPs and CPPs) that are promising strategies for improving therapeutic efficacy against these neglected zoonoses, as they avoid the development of toxicity and resistance of conventional treatments. This review presents the novelties of these peptide molecules and their ability to cross a whole system of cell membranes as well as stimulate host immune defenses or even serve as vectors of molecules. The efforts of the biotechnological sector will make it possible to overcome the limitations of antimicrobial peptides through encapsulation and functionalization methods to obtain approval for these treatments to be used in clinical programs for the eradication of leishmaniosis and Chagas disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara M Robledo
- Programa de Estudio y Control de Enfermedades Tropicales PECET, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín 050010, Colombia
| | - Silvia Pérez-Silanes
- Department of Pharmaceutical Technology and Chemistry, ISTUN Instituto de Salud Tropical, IdiSNA, Universidad de Navarra, 31008 Pamplona, Spain
| | - Celia Fernández-Rubio
- Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, ISTUN Instituto de Salud Tropical, IdiSNA, Universidad de Navarra, 31008 Pamplona, Spain
| | - Ana Poveda
- DNA Replication and Genome Instability Unit, Grupo de Investigación en Biodiversidad, Zoonosis y Salud Pública (GIBCIZ), Instituto de Investigación en Zoonosis-CIZ, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Central del Ecuador, Quito 170521, Ecuador
| | - Lianet Monzote
- Department of Parasitology, Institute of Tropical Medicine "Pedro Kourí", Apartado Postal No. 601, Marianao 13, La Habana 10400, Cuba
| | - Víctor M González
- Grupo de Aptámeros, Departamento de Bioquímica-Investigación, IRYCIS-Hospital Universitario Ramón y Cajal, Carretera de Colmenar Viejo Km. 9.100, 28034 Madrid, Spain
| | - Paloma Alonso-Collado
- Department of Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Javier Carrión
- Department of Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain
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Santos FA, Cruz GS, Vieira FA, Queiroz BR, Freitas CD, Mesquita FP, Souza PF. Systematic Review of Antiprotozoal Potential of Antimicrobial Peptides. Acta Trop 2022; 236:106675. [DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2022.106675] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2022] [Revised: 08/29/2022] [Accepted: 08/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/01/2022]
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Barbosa EA, Alves GSC, Coura MDMA, Silva HDLE, Rocha FSD, Nunes JB, Watanabe MDS, Andrade AC, Brand GD. A first look at the N- and O-glycosylation landscape in anuran skin secretions. Biochimie 2022; 197:19-37. [DOI: 10.1016/j.biochi.2022.01.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2021] [Revised: 01/08/2022] [Accepted: 01/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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Pires DAT, Tacca LMRA, Aslan JE, Murad AM, Nascimento CJ, Barbosa EA, Bloch C. Novel disintegrin-like peptides derived from an amphibian skin cDNA sequence of Hypsiboas punctatus. J Pept Sci 2021; 28:e3382. [PMID: 34859535 DOI: 10.1002/psc.3382] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2021] [Revised: 10/25/2021] [Accepted: 11/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Disintegrins comprise a family of small proteins that bind to and alter the physiological function of integrins, especially integrins that mediate platelet aggregation in blood. Here, we report a lysine-glycine-aspartic acid (KGD) disintegrin-like motif present in a 15-amino acid residue peptide identified in a cDNA library of the amphibian Hypsiboas punctatus skin. The original peptide sequence was used as a template from which five new analogs were designed, chemically synthesized by solid phase, and tested for disintegrin activity and tridimensional structural studies using NMR spectroscopy. The original amphibian peptide had no effect on integrin-mediated responses. Nevertheless, derived peptide analogs inhibited integrin-mediated platelet function, including platelet spreading on fibrinogen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diego A T Pires
- Instituto Federal de Educação, Ciência e Tecnologia de Goiás (IFG), Luziânia, Brazil
| | - Luisa M R A Tacca
- Laboratório de Espectrometria de Massa, Embrapa Recursos Genéticos e Biotecnologia, Brasília, Brazil
| | - Joseph E Aslan
- Knight Cardiovascular Institute, Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon, USA
| | - André M Murad
- Laboratório de Espectrometria de Massa, Embrapa Recursos Genéticos e Biotecnologia, Brasília, Brazil
| | - Claudia J Nascimento
- Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Federal do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (UNIRIO), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Eder A Barbosa
- Laboratório de Espectrometria de Massa, Embrapa Recursos Genéticos e Biotecnologia, Brasília, Brazil
| | - Carlos Bloch
- Laboratório de Espectrometria de Massa, Embrapa Recursos Genéticos e Biotecnologia, Brasília, Brazil
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Almeida CV, de Oliveira CFR, Dos Santos EL, Dos Santos HF, Júnior EC, Marchetto R, da Cruz LA, Ferreira AMT, Gomes VM, Taveira GB, Costa BO, Franco OL, Cardoso MH, Macedo MLR. Differential interactions of the antimicrobial peptide, RQ18, with phospholipids and cholesterol modulate its selectivity for microorganism membranes. Biochim Biophys Acta Gen Subj 2021; 1865:129937. [PMID: 34052310 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbagen.2021.129937] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2020] [Revised: 05/15/2021] [Accepted: 05/24/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are molecules with potential application for the treatment of microorganism infections. We, herein, describe the structure, activity, and mechanism of action of RQ18, an α-helical AMP that displays antimicrobial activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, and yeasts from the Candida genus. METHODS A physicochemical-guided design assisted by computer tools was used to obtain our lead peptide candidate, named RQ18. This peptide was assayed against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, yeasts, and mammalian cells to determine its selectivity index. The secondary structure and the mechanism of action of RQ18 were investigated using circular dichroism, large unilamellar vesicles, and molecular dynamic simulations. RESULTS RQ18 was not cytotoxic to human lung fibroblasts, peripheral blood mononuclear cells, red blood cells, or Vero cells at MIC values, exhibiting a high selectivity index. Circular dichroism analysis and molecular dynamic simulations revealed that RQ18 presents varying structural profiles in aqueous solution, TFE/water mixtures, SDS micelles, and lipid bilayers. The peptide was virtually unable to release carboxyfluorescein from large unilamellar vesicles composed of POPC/cholesterol, model that mimics the eukaryotic membrane, indicating that vesicles' net charges and the presence of cholesterol may be related with RQ18 selectivity for bacterial and fungal cell surfaces. CONCLUSIONS RQ18 was characterized as a membrane-active peptide with dual antibacterial and antifungal activities, without compromising mammalian cells viability, thus reinforcing its therapeutic application. GENERAL SIGNIFICANCE These results provide further insight into the complex process of AMPs interaction with biological membranes, in special with systems that mimic prokaryotic and eukaryotic cell surfaces.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudiane V Almeida
- Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso do Sul, Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil
| | - Caio F R de Oliveira
- Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso do Sul, Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil; Universidade Federal da Grande Dourados, Dourados, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil; Oncolytic Anticancer Drugs, Dourados, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil
| | - Edson L Dos Santos
- Universidade Federal da Grande Dourados, Dourados, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil
| | - Helder F Dos Santos
- Universidade Federal da Grande Dourados, Dourados, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil
| | - Edson C Júnior
- Instituto de Química, Departamento de Bioquímica e Química Tecnológica, Universidade Estadual Paulista Júlio de Mesquita Filho, Araraquara, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Reinaldo Marchetto
- Instituto de Química, Departamento de Bioquímica e Química Tecnológica, Universidade Estadual Paulista Júlio de Mesquita Filho, Araraquara, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Leticia A da Cruz
- Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso do Sul, Campo Grande, MS, Brazil
| | - Alda Maria T Ferreira
- Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso do Sul, Campo Grande, MS, Brazil
| | - Valdirene M Gomes
- Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense, Campos dos Goytacazes, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Gabriel B Taveira
- Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense, Campos dos Goytacazes, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Bruna O Costa
- S-inova Biotech, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biotecnologia, Universidade Católica Dom Bosco, Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil
| | - Octávio L Franco
- Centro de Análises Proteômicas e Bioquímicas, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Genômicas e Biotecnologia, Universidade Católica de Brasília, Brasília, DF, Brazil; S-inova Biotech, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biotecnologia, Universidade Católica Dom Bosco, Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil
| | - Marlon H Cardoso
- Centro de Análises Proteômicas e Bioquímicas, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Genômicas e Biotecnologia, Universidade Católica de Brasília, Brasília, DF, Brazil; S-inova Biotech, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biotecnologia, Universidade Católica Dom Bosco, Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil
| | - Maria Lígia R Macedo
- Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso do Sul, Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil.
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Phylloseptin-1 is Leishmanicidal for Amastigotes of Leishmania amazonensis Inside Infected Macrophages. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2020; 17:ijerph17134856. [PMID: 32640562 PMCID: PMC7370015 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17134856] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2020] [Revised: 06/25/2020] [Accepted: 07/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Leishmania protozoans are the causal agents of neglected diseases that represent an important public health issue worldwide. The growing occurrence of drug-resistant strains of Leishmania and severe side effects of available treatments represent an important challenge for the leishmaniases treatment. We have previously reported the leishmanicidal activity of phylloseptin-1 (PSN-1), a peptide found in the skin secretion of Phyllomedusa azurea (=Pithecopus azureus), against Leishmania amazonensis promastigotes. However, its impact on the amastigote form of L. amazonensis and its impact on infected macrophages are unknown. In this work, we evaluated the effects of PSN-1 on amastigotes of L. amazonensis inside macrophages infected in vitro. We assessed the production of hydrogen peroxide and nitric oxide, as well as the levels of inflammatory and immunomodulatory markers (TGF-β, TNF-α and IL-12), in infected and non-infected macrophages treated with PSN-1. Treatment with PSN-1 decreased the number of infected cells and the number of ingested amastigotes per cell when compared with the untreated cells. At 32 µM (64 µg/mL), PSN-1 reduced hydrogen peroxide levels in both infected and uninfected macrophages, whereas it had little effect on NO production or TGF-β release. The effect of PSN-1 on IL-12 and TNF-α secretion depended on its concentration, but, in general, their levels tended to increase as PSN-1 concentration increased. Further in vitro and in vivo studies are needed to clarify the mechanisms of action of PSN-1 and its interaction with the immune system aiming to develop pharmacological applications.
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A Novel Antimicrobial Peptide (Kassinatuerin-3) Isolated from the Skin Secretion of the African Frog, Kassina senegalensis. BIOLOGY 2020; 9:biology9070148. [PMID: 32630734 PMCID: PMC7408539 DOI: 10.3390/biology9070148] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2020] [Revised: 06/21/2020] [Accepted: 06/24/2020] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Amphibian skin secretions are remarkable sources of novel bioactive peptides. Among these, antimicrobial peptides have demonstrated an outstanding efficacy in killing microorganisms via a general membranolytic mechanism, which may offer the prospect of solving specific target-driven antibiotic resistance. Here, the discovery of a novel defensive peptide is described from the skin secretion of the African frog, Kassina senegalensis. Named kassinatuerin-3, it was identified through a combination of “shot-gun” cloning and MS/MS fragmentation sequencing. Subsequently, a synthetic replicate was subjected to biofunctional evaluation. The results indicated that kassinatuerin-3 possessed antimicrobial activity against Gram-positive bacteria but no effect against Gram-negative bacteria. Additionally, it was active in biofilm eradication on S. aureus and MRSA and in the antiproliferation of selected cancer cell lines. Moreover, it had a very mild hemolytic effect, which demonstrated a high therapeutic index for kassinatuerin-3. Collectively, although kassinatuerin-3 did not demonstrate remarkable bioactivities compared with other natural or synthetic antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), it offered a new insight into the design of antimicrobial derivatives.
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Bartels EJH, Dekker D, Amiche M. Dermaseptins, Multifunctional Antimicrobial Peptides: A Review of Their Pharmacology, Effectivity, Mechanism of Action, and Possible Future Directions. Front Pharmacol 2019; 10:1421. [PMID: 31849670 PMCID: PMC6901996 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2019.01421] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2019] [Accepted: 11/07/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Dermaseptins are a group of α-helical shaped polycationic peptides isolated from the Hylid frogs, with antimicrobial effects against bacteria, parasites, protozoa, viruses in vitro. Besides, anti-tumor effects have been demonstrated. However, few animal experiments and no clinical trials have been conducted thus far. This review summarizes the current knowledge on the pharmacology, ethno pharmacology, effectivity against infectious pathogens and tumors cells and the mechanism of action of the Dermaseptins. Future research should focus on further clarification of the mechanisms of action, the effectivity of Dermaseptins against several cancer cell lines and their applicability in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Douwe Dekker
- Dutch Poisons Information Center, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Mohamed Amiche
- Mondor Institute of Biomedical Research, INSERM U955 Team 7, School of Medicine, University Paris Est Créteil, Créteil, France
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Mechkarska M, Coquet L, Leprince J, Auguste RJ, Jouenne T, Mangoni ML, Conlon JM. Peptidomic analysis of the host-defense peptides in skin secretions of the Trinidadian leaf frog Phyllomedusa trinitatis (Phyllomedusidae). COMPARATIVE BIOCHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY D-GENOMICS & PROTEOMICS 2018; 28:72-79. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cbd.2018.06.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2018] [Revised: 06/21/2018] [Accepted: 06/28/2018] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
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Araújo-Vilges KMD, Oliveira SVD, Couto SCP, Fokoue HH, Romero GAS, Kato MJ, Romeiro LAS, Leite JRSA, Kuckelhaus SAS. Effect of piplartine and cinnamides on Leishmania amazonensis, Plasmodium falciparum and on peritoneal cells of Swiss mice. PHARMACEUTICAL BIOLOGY 2017; 55:1601-1607. [PMID: 28415906 PMCID: PMC6130495 DOI: 10.1080/13880209.2017.1313870] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2016] [Revised: 03/14/2017] [Accepted: 03/23/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
CONTEXT Plants of the Piperaceae family produce piplartine that was used to synthesize the cinnamides. OBJECTIVE To assess the effects of piplartine (1) and cinnamides (2-5) against the protozoa responsible for malaria and leishmaniasis, and peritoneal cells of Swiss mice. MATERIALS AND METHODS Cultures of Leishmania amazonensis, Plasmodium falciparum-infected erythrocytes, and peritoneal cells were incubated, in triplicate, with different concentrations of the compounds (0 to 256 μg/mL). The inhibitory concentration (IC50) in L. amazonensis and cytotoxic concentration (CC50) in peritoneal cell were assessed by the MTT method after 6 h of incubation, while the IC50 for P. falciparum-infected erythrocytes was determined by optical microscopy after 48 or 72 h of incubation; the Selectivity Index (SI) was calculated by CC50/IC50. RESULTS All compounds inhibited the growth of microorganisms, being more effective against P. falciparum after 72 h of incubation, especially for the compounds 1 (IC50 = 3.2 μg/mL) and 5 (IC50 = 6.6 μg/mL), than to L. amazonensis (compound 1 = 179.0 μg/mL; compound 5 = 106.0 μg/mL). Despite all compounds reducing the viability of peritoneal cells, the SI were <10 to L. amazonensis, whereas in the cultures of P. falciparum the SI >10 for the piplartine (>37.4) and cinnamides 4 (>10.7) and 5 (= 38.4). DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION The potential of piplartine and cinnamides 4 and 5 in the treatment of malaria suggest further pre-clinical studies to evaluate their effects in murine malaria and to determine their mechanisms in cells of the immune system.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Stefan Vilges de Oliveira
- b Laboratory of Medical Parasitology and Vector Biology, Faculty of Medicine , University of Brasilia , Brasilia - DF , Brazil
| | - Shirley Claudino Pereira Couto
- a Laboratory of Cell Immunology, Faculty of Medicine , University of Brasilia Campus Darcy Ribeiro , Brasilia - DF , Brazil
| | | | - Gustavo Adolfo Sierra Romero
- c Laboratory of Leishmaniasis, Nucleo of Tropical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine , University of Brasilia, Campus Darcy Ribeiro , Brasilia - DF , Brazil
| | - Massuo Jorge Kato
- d Institute of Chemistry , University of São Paulo , São Paulo , SP , Brazil
| | - Luiz Antonio Soares Romeiro
- e Laboratory of Development and Therapeutic Innovation, Nucleo of Tropical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine , University of Brasilia, Campus Darcy Ribeiro , Brasilia - DF , Brazil
| | | | - Selma Aparecida Souza Kuckelhaus
- a Laboratory of Cell Immunology, Faculty of Medicine , University of Brasilia Campus Darcy Ribeiro , Brasilia - DF , Brazil
- f Laboratory of Morphology Faculty of Medicine , University of Brasilia Campus Darcy Ribeiro , Brasilia - DF , Brazil
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Rehman A, Ullah R, Jaiswal N, Khan MAH, Rehman L, Beg MA, Malhotra SK, Abidi SMA. Low virulence potential and in vivo transformation ability in the honey bee venom treated Clinostomum complanatum. Exp Parasitol 2017; 183:33-40. [PMID: 29069571 DOI: 10.1016/j.exppara.2017.10.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2017] [Revised: 09/25/2017] [Accepted: 10/20/2017] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
The helminth parasites possess great capabilities to adapt themselves within their hosts and also develop strategies to render the commonly used anthelmintics ineffective leading to the development of resistance against these drugs. Besides using anthelmintics the natural products have also been tested for their anti-parasitic effects. Therapeutic efficacy of honey bee venom (HBV) has been tested in various ailments including some protozoal infections but very little is known about its anthelmintic properties. To investigate the anthelmintic effect of HBV the excysted progenetic metacercariae of Clinostomum complanatum, a heamophagic, digenetic trematode with zoonotic potential, infecting a wide variety of hosts, were obtained from Trichogaster fasciatus, a forage fish, which serves as the intermediate host. The metacercarial worms were in vitro incubated in RPMI-1640 medium containing HBV along with the controls which were devoid of HBV for the analysis of worm motility, enzyme activity, polypeptide profile and surface topographical changes. The motility of the worms was significantly reduced in a time dependent manner with an increase in the concentration of HBV. Following incubation of worms the release of cysteine proteases was inhibited in the presence of HBV as revealed by gelatine substrate gel zymography. As well as the polypeptide profile was also significantly influenced, particularly intensity/expression of Mr 19.4 kDa, 24 kDa and 34 kDa was significantly reduced upon HBV treatment. The HBV treatment also inhibited antioxidant enzyme, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and Glutathione-S-transferase (GST) significantly (p < 0.05) in the worms. The scanning electron microscopy of the HBV treated worms revealed tegumental disruptions and erosion of papillae as well as spines showing vacuolation in the tegument. The HBV treated worms also showed a marked decline in the transformation rate when introduced into an experimental host which further reflect the anthelmintic potential of HBV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abdur Rehman
- Molecular and Immunoparasitology Research Laboratory, Section of Parasitology, Department of Zoology, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh 202 002, India.
| | - Rizwan Ullah
- Molecular and Immunoparasitology Research Laboratory, Section of Parasitology, Department of Zoology, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh 202 002, India
| | - Neeshma Jaiswal
- Parasitology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, University of Allahabad, Allahabad 211 202, India
| | - M A Hannan Khan
- Molecular and Immunoparasitology Research Laboratory, Section of Parasitology, Department of Zoology, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh 202 002, India
| | - Lubna Rehman
- Molecular and Immunoparasitology Research Laboratory, Section of Parasitology, Department of Zoology, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh 202 002, India
| | - Mirza Ahmar Beg
- Molecular and Immunoparasitology Research Laboratory, Section of Parasitology, Department of Zoology, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh 202 002, India
| | - Sandeep K Malhotra
- Parasitology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, University of Allahabad, Allahabad 211 202, India
| | - S M A Abidi
- Molecular and Immunoparasitology Research Laboratory, Section of Parasitology, Department of Zoology, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh 202 002, India
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Dermaseptin-PH: A Novel Peptide with Antimicrobial and Anticancer Activities from the Skin Secretion of the South American Orange-Legged Leaf Frog, Pithecopus (Phyllomedusa) hypochondrialis. Molecules 2017; 22:molecules22101805. [PMID: 29064402 PMCID: PMC6151546 DOI: 10.3390/molecules22101805] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2017] [Revised: 10/17/2017] [Accepted: 10/22/2017] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The dermaseptin peptides, mainly derived from the skin secretions of Hylidae frogs, belong to a superfamily of antimicrobial peptides and exhibit diverse antimicrobial and anticancer activities with low cytotoxicity. Here, we reported a novel dermaseptin peptide, from the South American orange-legged leaf frogs, Pithecopus (Phyllomedusa) hypochondrialis, processing the shortest peptide length, namely Dermaseptin-PH. The complementary DNA (cDNA) encoding biosynthetic precursor of Dermaseptin-PH was initially identified by the rapid amplification of cDNA ends PCR (RACE-PCR) technique from the skin secretion. The predicted primary structure was confirmed by a combination of reverse-phase high performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) and MS/MS fragmentation from the skin secretion. Chemically-synthetic Dermaseptin-PH was investigated using a range of bioactivity assessment assays to evaluate the biological activities and cytotoxicity of Dermaseptin-PH. Dermaseptin-PH inhibited the growth of Gram-negative bacteria, Gram-positive bacteria, and pathogenic yeast Candida albicans. In addition, Dermaseptin-PH showed a broad-spectrum of anticancer activities against several cancer cell lines including MCF-7, H157, U251MG, MDA-MB-435S, and PC-3. The potent antimicrobial and anticancer activities of Dermaseptin-PH make it a promising candidate in the discovery of new drugs for clinical applications, and the relatively short sequence of Dermaseptin-PH can provide new insight for the research and structural modification of new peptide drugs.
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Marani MM, Perez LO, de Araujo AR, Plácido A, Sousa CF, Quelemes PV, Oliveira M, Gomes-Alves AG, Pueta M, Gameiro P, Tomás AM, Delerue-Matos C, Eaton P, Camperi SA, Basso NG, de Souza de Almeida Leite JR. Thaulin-1: The first antimicrobial peptide isolated from the skin of a Patagonian frog Pleurodema thaul (Anura: Leptodactylidae: Leiuperinae) with activity against Escherichia coli. Gene 2017; 605:70-80. [DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2016.12.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2016] [Revised: 11/19/2016] [Accepted: 12/20/2016] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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Two Novel Dermaseptin-Like Antimicrobial Peptides with Anticancer Activities from the Skin Secretion of Pachymedusa dacnicolor. Toxins (Basel) 2016; 8:toxins8050144. [PMID: 27187467 PMCID: PMC4885059 DOI: 10.3390/toxins8050144] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2016] [Revised: 04/26/2016] [Accepted: 05/03/2016] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The dermaseptin antimicrobial peptide family contains members of 27-34 amino acids in length that have been predominantly isolated from the skins/skin secretions of phyllomedusine leaf frogs. By use of a degenerate primer in Rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE) PCR designed to a common conserved domain within the 5'-untranslated regions of previously-characterized dermaseptin encoding cDNAs, two novel members of this peptide family, named dermaseptin-PD-1 and dermaseptin-PD-2, were identified in the skin secretion of the phyllomedusine frog, Pachymedusa dacnicolor. The primary structures of both peptides were predicted from cloned cDNAs, as well as being confirmed by mass spectral analysis of crude skin secretion fractions resulted from reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography. Chemically-synthesized replicates of dermaseptin-PD-1 and dermaseptin-PD-2 were investigated for antimicrobial activity using standard model microorganisms (Gram-positive bacteria, Gram-negative bacteria and a yeast) and for cytotoxicity using mammalian red blood cells. The possibility of synergistic effects between the two peptides and their anti-cancer cell proliferation activities were assessed. The peptides exhibited moderate to high inhibition against the growth of the tested microorganisms and cancer cell lines with low haemolytic activity. Synergistic interaction between the two peptides in inhibiting the proliferation of Escherichia coli and human neuronal glioblastoma cell line, U251MG was also manifested.
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Bittencourt CR, de Oliveira Farias EA, Bezerra KC, Véras LMC, Silva VC, Costa CHN, Bemquerer MP, Silva LP, Souza de Almeida Leite JRD, Eiras C. Immobilization of cationic antimicrobial peptides and natural cashew gum in nanosheet systems for the investigation of anti-leishmanial activity. MATERIALS SCIENCE & ENGINEERING. C, MATERIALS FOR BIOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS 2016; 59:549-555. [DOI: 10.1016/j.msec.2015.10.059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2015] [Revised: 09/21/2015] [Accepted: 10/20/2015] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
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Barbosa EA, Iembo T, Martins GR, Silva LP, Prates MV, Andrade AC, Bloch C. Skin secretion peptides: the molecular facet of the deimatic behavior of the four-eyed frog, Physalaemus nattereri (Anura, Leptodactylidae). RAPID COMMUNICATIONS IN MASS SPECTROMETRY : RCM 2015; 29:2061-2068. [PMID: 26443407 DOI: 10.1002/rcm.7313] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2015] [Revised: 08/12/2015] [Accepted: 08/12/2015] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
RATIONALE Amphibians can produce a large amount of bioactive peptides over the skin. In order to map the precise tissue localization of these compounds and evaluate their functions, mass spectrometry imaging (MSI) and gene expression studies were used to investigate a possible correlation between molecules involved in the antimicrobial defense mechanisms and anti-predatory behavior by Physalaemus nattereri. METHODS Total skin secretion of P. nattereri was analyzed by classical Protein Chemistry and proteomic techniques. Intact inguinal macroglands were dissected from the rest of the skin and both tissues were analyzed by MSI and real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) experiments. Peptides were primarily identified by de novo sequencing, automatic Edman degradation and cDNA data. RESULTS Fifteen bradykinin (BK)-related peptides and two antimicrobial peptides were sequenced and mapped by MSI on the inguinal macrogland and the rest of P. nattereri skin. RT-PCR results revealed that BK-related peptide levels of expression were about 30,000 times higher on the inguinal macroglands than on the any other region of the skin, whilst antimicrobial peptide ions appear to be evenly distributed in both investigated regions. CONCLUSIONS The presence of antimicrobial peptides in all investigated tissue regions is in accordance with the defensive role against microorganisms thoroughly demonstrated in the literature, whereas BK-related molecules are largely found on the inguinal macroglands suggesting an intriguing link between their noxious activities against potential predators of P. nattereri and the frog's deimatic behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eder Alves Barbosa
- Embrapa Recursos Genéticos e Biotecnologia, Brasília-DF, Brazil
- Departamento de Biologia Celular, Universidade de Brasília, Brasília-DF, Brazil
| | - Tatiane Iembo
- Embrapa Recursos Genéticos e Biotecnologia, Brasília-DF, Brazil
- Faculdade Faceres, São José do Rio Preto-SP, Brazil
| | | | | | | | | | - Carlos Bloch
- Embrapa Recursos Genéticos e Biotecnologia, Brasília-DF, Brazil
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The Potential Use of Natural and Structural Analogues of Antimicrobial Peptides in the Fight against Neglected Tropical Diseases. Molecules 2015; 20:15392-433. [PMID: 26305243 PMCID: PMC6332049 DOI: 10.3390/molecules200815392] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2015] [Revised: 08/02/2015] [Accepted: 08/10/2015] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Recently, research into the development of new antimicrobial agents has been driven by the increase in resistance to traditional antibiotics and Emerging Infectious Diseases. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are promising candidates as alternatives to current antibiotics in the treatment and prevention of microbial infections. AMPs are produced by all known living species, displaying direct antimicrobial killing activity and playing an important role in innate immunity. To date, more than 2000 AMPs have been discovered and many of these exhibit broad-spectrum antibacterial, antiviral and anti-parasitic activity. Neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) are caused by a variety of pathogens and are particularly wide-spread in low-income and developing regions of the world. Alternative, cost effective treatments are desperately needed to effectively battle these medically diverse diseases. AMPs have been shown to be effective against a variety of NTDs, including African trypanosomes, leishmaniosis and Chagas disease, trachoma and leprosy. In this review, the potential of selected AMPs to successfully treat a variety of NTD infections will be critically evaluated.
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Marani MM, Dourado FS, Quelemes PV, de Araujo AR, Perfeito MLG, Barbosa EA, Véras LMC, Coelho ALR, Andrade EB, Eaton P, Longo JPF, Azevedo RB, Delerue-Matos C, Leite JRSA. Characterization and Biological Activities of Ocellatin Peptides from the Skin Secretion of the Frog Leptodactylus pustulatus. JOURNAL OF NATURAL PRODUCTS 2015; 78:1495-1504. [PMID: 26107622 DOI: 10.1021/np500907t] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Eight new peptides were isolated from the skin secretion of the frog Leptodactylus pustulatus and their amino acid sequences determined by de novo sequencing and by cDNA cloning. Structural similarities between them and other antimicrobial peptides from the skin secretion of Leptodactylus genus frogs were found. Ocellatins-PT1 to -PT5 (25 amino acid residues) are amidated at the C-terminus, while ocellatins-PT6 to -PT8 (32 amino acid residues) have free carboxylates. Antimicrobial activity, hemolytic tests, and cytotoxicity against a murine fibroblast cell line were investigated. All peptides, except for ocellatin-PT2, have antimicrobial activity against at least one Gram-negative strain. Ocellatin-PT8 inhibited the growth of Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Salmonella choleraesuis strains with MICs in the 60-240 μM range. No significant effect was observed in human erythrocytes and in a murine fibroblast cell line after exposure to the peptides at MICs. A comparison between sequences obtained by both direct HPLC-MS de novo sequencing and cDNA cloning demonstrates the secretion of mature peptides derived from a pre-pro-peptide structure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariela Mirta Marani
- †CENPAT-CONICET, Centro Nacional Patagónico, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Puerto Madryn, Chubut, Argentina
| | - Flávio Santos Dourado
- ‡Secretaria de Vigilância em Saúde, Ministério da Saúde, SVS/MS, Brasília, DF, Brazil
| | - Patrick Veras Quelemes
- §Núcleo de Pesquisa em Biodiversidade e Biotecnologia, Biotec, Campus Ministro Reis Velloso, Universidade Federal do Piauí, UFPI, Parnaiba, PI, Brazil
| | - Alyne Rodrigues de Araujo
- §Núcleo de Pesquisa em Biodiversidade e Biotecnologia, Biotec, Campus Ministro Reis Velloso, Universidade Federal do Piauí, UFPI, Parnaiba, PI, Brazil
| | - Márcia Luana Gomes Perfeito
- §Núcleo de Pesquisa em Biodiversidade e Biotecnologia, Biotec, Campus Ministro Reis Velloso, Universidade Federal do Piauí, UFPI, Parnaiba, PI, Brazil
| | - Eder Alves Barbosa
- ⊥Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia Molecular, Departamento de Biologia Molecular, Universidade de Brasília, Brasília, DF, Brazil
| | - Leiz Maria Costa Véras
- §Núcleo de Pesquisa em Biodiversidade e Biotecnologia, Biotec, Campus Ministro Reis Velloso, Universidade Federal do Piauí, UFPI, Parnaiba, PI, Brazil
| | - Andreia Luísa Rodrigues Coelho
- §Núcleo de Pesquisa em Biodiversidade e Biotecnologia, Biotec, Campus Ministro Reis Velloso, Universidade Federal do Piauí, UFPI, Parnaiba, PI, Brazil
- ∥REQUIMTE/LAQV, Instituto Superior de Engenharia do Instituto Politécnico do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Etielle Barroso Andrade
- §Núcleo de Pesquisa em Biodiversidade e Biotecnologia, Biotec, Campus Ministro Reis Velloso, Universidade Federal do Piauí, UFPI, Parnaiba, PI, Brazil
- ∇Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biodiversidade e Biotecnologia, BIONORTE, Universidade Federal do Maranhão, UFMA, São Luís, MA, Brazil
| | - Peter Eaton
- ○UCIBIO, REQUIMTE, Departamento de Química e Bioquímica, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - João Paulo Figueiró Longo
- #Department of Genetics and Morphology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Universidade de Brasília, Brasilia, Brazil
| | - Ricardo Bentes Azevedo
- #Department of Genetics and Morphology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Universidade de Brasília, Brasilia, Brazil
| | - Cristina Delerue-Matos
- ∥REQUIMTE/LAQV, Instituto Superior de Engenharia do Instituto Politécnico do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - José Roberto S A Leite
- §Núcleo de Pesquisa em Biodiversidade e Biotecnologia, Biotec, Campus Ministro Reis Velloso, Universidade Federal do Piauí, UFPI, Parnaiba, PI, Brazil
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Membrane interactions of phylloseptin-1, -2, and -3 peptides by oriented solid-state NMR spectroscopy. Biophys J 2015; 107:901-11. [PMID: 25140425 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2014.07.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2014] [Revised: 06/30/2014] [Accepted: 07/07/2014] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Phylloseptin-1, -2, and -3 are three members of the family of linear cationic antimicrobial peptides found in tree frogs. The highly homologous peptides encompass 19 amino acids, and only differ in the amino acid composition and charge at the six most carboxy-terminal residues. Here, we investigated how such subtle changes are reflected in their membrane interactions and how these can be correlated to their biological activities. To this end, the three peptides were labeled with stable isotopes, reconstituted into oriented phospholipid bilayers, and their detailed topology determined by a combined approach using (2)H and (15)N solid-state NMR spectroscopy. Although phylloseptin-2 and -3 adopt perfect in-plane alignments, the tilt angle of phylloseptin-1 deviates by 8° probably to assure a more water exposed localization of the lysine-17 side chain. Furthermore, different azimuthal angles are observed, positioning the amphipathic helices of all three peptides with the charged residues well exposed to the water phase. Interestingly, our studies also reveal that two orientation-dependent (2)H quadrupolar splittings from methyl-deuterated alanines and one (15)N amide chemical shift are sufficient to unambiguously determine the topology of phylloseptin-1, where quadrupolar splittings close to the maximum impose the most stringent angular restraints. As a result of these studies, a strategy is proposed where the topology of a peptide structure can be determined accurately from the labeling with (15)N and (2)H isotopes of only a few amino acid residues.
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Xu X, Lai R. The chemistry and biological activities of peptides from amphibian skin secretions. Chem Rev 2015; 115:1760-846. [PMID: 25594509 DOI: 10.1021/cr4006704] [Citation(s) in RCA: 220] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Xueqing Xu
- Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms of Chinese Academy of Sciences & Yunnan Province, Kunming Institute of Zoology , Kunming 650223, Yunnan, China
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Pinto EG, Antoniazzi MM, Jared C, Tempone AG. Antileishmanial and antitrypanosomal activity of the cutaneous secretion of Siphonops annulatus. J Venom Anim Toxins Incl Trop Dis 2014; 20:50. [PMID: 25873939 PMCID: PMC4396788 DOI: 10.1186/1678-9199-20-50] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2014] [Accepted: 10/07/2014] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Among the tropical parasitic diseases, those caused by protozoans are considered a challenge to public health, being represented by leishmaniasis and Chagas disease. In view of the low effectiveness and toxicity of the current therapy, animal venoms such as amphibian secretions have been used as a promising source of new drug prototypes. The present work aimed to achieve bioguided fractionation of metabolites present in a cutaneous secretion of the caecilian Siphonops annulatus (Amphibia: Gymnophiona: Siphonopidae) with antileishmanial and antitrypanosomal activity. Methods Through liquid-liquid partition and chromatographic techniques, the secretion was fractionated using bioguided assays. The 50% inhibitory concentration (IC50) of the main fraction (SaFr1) was studied against Leishmania (L.) infantum promastigotes and intracellular amastigotes, trypomastigotes of Trypanosoma cruzi and mammalian cells; viability was detected by the colorimetric MTT assay. By using a spectrofluorimetric assay with the probe SYTOX® Green and transmission electron microscopy (TEM), we also investigated the potential damage caused by SaFr1 in the plasma membrane and mitochondria of Leishmania. Results The bioguided assay enabled isolation of a highly purified fraction (SaFr1) with an IC50 of 0.065 μg/mL against promastigotes and 2.75 μg/mL against trypomastigotes. Due to its high toxicity to peritoneal macrophages, SaFr1 showed no selectivity towards the intracellular forms of Leishmania. Ultrastructural studies with Leishmania demonstrated severe mitochondrial damage and the formation of large cytoplasmic vacuoles, leading to the parasite’s death within a few hours. Nevertheless, it caused no alteration in the plasma membrane permeability as detected by the fluorescent probe and TEM. Conclusions The present study demonstrated for the first time the antiparasitic activity of the skin secretion of the caecilian S. annulatus against Leishmania and T. cruzi, confirming that skin secretions of these amphibians, similarly to those of anurans and salamanders, are also potential tools for the development of new drug candidates against neglected diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erika Gracielle Pinto
- Departamento de Parasitologia e Micologia, Instituto Adolfo Lutz, Av. Dr. Arnaldo, 351, 8° andar, CEP 01246-000 São Paulo, SP Brasil ; São Paulo Institute of Tropical Medicine, University of São Paulo (USP), São Paulo, São Paulo State Brazil
| | | | - Carlos Jared
- Laboratory of Cell Biology, Butantan Institute, São Paulo, São Paulo State Brazil
| | - Andre Gustavo Tempone
- Departamento de Parasitologia e Micologia, Instituto Adolfo Lutz, Av. Dr. Arnaldo, 351, 8° andar, CEP 01246-000 São Paulo, SP Brasil
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Crovirin, a snake venom cysteine-rich secretory protein (CRISP) with promising activity against Trypanosomes and Leishmania. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2014; 8:e3252. [PMID: 25330220 PMCID: PMC4199522 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0003252] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2014] [Accepted: 09/08/2014] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The neglected human diseases caused by trypanosomatids are currently treated with toxic therapy with limited efficacy. In search for novel anti-trypanosomatid agents, we showed previously that the Crotalus viridis viridis (Cvv) snake venom was active against infective forms of Trypanosoma cruzi. Here, we describe the purification of crovirin, a cysteine-rich secretory protein (CRISP) from Cvv venom with promising activity against trypanosomes and Leishmania. Methodology/Principal Findings Crude venom extract was loaded onto a reverse phase analytical (C8) column using a high performance liquid chromatographer. A linear gradient of water/acetonitrile with 0.1% trifluoroacetic acid was used. The peak containing the isolated protein (confirmed by SDS-PAGE and mass spectrometry) was collected and its protein content was measured. T. cruzi trypomastigotes and amastigotes, L. amazonensis promastigotes and amastigotes and T. brucei rhodesiense procyclic and bloodstream trypomastigotes were challenged with crovirin, whose toxicity was tested against LLC-MK2 cells, peritoneal macrophages and isolated murine extensor digitorum longus muscle. We purified a single protein from Cvv venom corresponding, according to Nano-LC MS/MS sequencing, to a CRISP of 24,893.64 Da, henceforth referred to as crovirin. Human infective trypanosomatid forms, including intracellular amastigotes, were sensitive to crovirin, with low IC50 or LD50 values (1.10–2.38 µg/ml). A considerably higher concentration (20 µg/ml) of crovirin was required to elicit only limited toxicity on mammalian cells. Conclusions This is the first report of CRISP anti-protozoal activity, and suggests that other members of this family might have potential as drugs or drug leads for the development of novel agents against trypanosomatid-borne neglected diseases. The pathogenic trypanosomatid parasites of the genera Leishmania and Trypanosoma infect over 20 million people worldwide, with an annual incidence of ∼3 million new infections. An additional 400 million people are at risk of infection by exposure to parasite-infected insects which act as disease vectors. Trypanosomatid-borne diseases predominant in poorer nation and are considered neglected, having failed to attract the attention of the pharmaceutical industry. However, novel therapy is sorely needed for Trypanosoma and Leishmania infections, currently treated with ‘dated’ drugs that are often difficult to administer in resource-limiting conditions, have high toxicity and are by no means always successful, partly due to the emergence of drug resistance. The last few decades have witnessed a growing interest in examining the potential of bioactive toxins and poisons as drugs or drug leads, as well as for diagnostic applications. In this context, we isolated and purified crovirin, a protein from the Crotalus viridis viridis (Cvv) snake venom capable to inhibiting and/or lysing infective forms of trypanosomatid parasites, at concentrations that are not toxic to host cells. This feature makes crovirin a promising candidate protein for the development of novel therapy against neglected diseases caused by trypanosomatid pathogens.
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Anti-leishmanial activity of the antimicrobial peptide DRS 01 observed in Leishmania infantum (syn. Leishmania chagasi) cells. NANOMEDICINE-NANOTECHNOLOGY BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE 2014; 10:483-90. [DOI: 10.1016/j.nano.2013.09.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2013] [Revised: 07/08/2013] [Accepted: 09/16/2013] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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Sardar AH, Das S, Agnihorti S, Kumar M, Ghosh AK, Abhishek K, Kumar A, Purkait B, Ansari MY, Das P. Spinigerin induces apoptotic like cell death in a caspase independent manner in Leishmania donovani. Exp Parasitol 2013; 135:715-25. [PMID: 24184774 DOI: 10.1016/j.exppara.2013.10.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2013] [Revised: 09/02/2013] [Accepted: 10/23/2013] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are multifunctional components of the innate immune system. Chemotherapeutic agents used for treatment of visceral leishmaniasis (VL) are now threatened due to the emergence of acquired drug resistance and toxicity. AMPs are attractive alternative to conventional pharmaceuticals. In this study, first time we explored the antileishmanial activity of spinigerin originally derived from Pseudacanthotermes spiniger. Leishmania donovani promastigotes present apoptosis-like cell death upon exposure to spinigerin (IC50, 150 μM). The infection rate was reduced by 20% upon exposure to 150 μM spinigerin but no cytotoxicity on host macrophages was observed. Elevation of intracellular ROS level and down-regulation of two ROS detoxifying enzymes, ascorbate peroxidase (APx) and trypanothione reductase (TR) suggested essential role of ROS machinery during spinigerin mediated cell death. About 97% cell population was found to be Annexin-V positive; 44% cells being highly Annexin-V positive. Moreover, we observed morphological changes like cell rounding, nuclear condensation, oligonucleosomal DNA degradation and TUNEL positive cells without loss of membrane integrity upon spinigerin exposure, suggests apoptosis-like death. Interestingly, collapse in mitochondrial membrane potential and increased level of intracellular ROS and calcium were not associated with caspase like activity. Computational analysis suggests spiningerin interacts with trypanothione reductase and thus probably interferes its function to detoxify the toxic ROS level. Therefore, spinigerin induces apoptosis-like cell death in L. donovani in a caspase-independent manner. The study elucidates the antileishmanial property of spinigerin that may be considered for future chemotherapeutic option alone or adjunct with other drug regimens for improved treatment of visceral leishmaniasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- A H Sardar
- Division of Molecular Biology, Rajendra Memorial Research Institute of Medical Sciences (ICMR), Agamkuan, Patna 800007, India
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Pinto EG, Pimenta DC, Antoniazzi MM, Jared C, Tempone AG. Antimicrobial peptides isolated from Phyllomedusa nordestina (Amphibia) alter the permeability of plasma membrane of Leishmania and Trypanosoma cruzi. Exp Parasitol 2013; 135:655-60. [PMID: 24113627 DOI: 10.1016/j.exppara.2013.09.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2013] [Revised: 09/13/2013] [Accepted: 09/22/2013] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Nature has provided inspiration for Drug Discovery studies and amphibian secretions have been used as a promising source of effective peptides which could be explored as novel drug prototypes for neglected parasitic diseases as Leishmaniasis and Chagas disease. In this study, we isolated four antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) from Phyllomedusa nordestina secretion, and studied their effectiveness against Leishmania (L.) infantum and Trypanosoma cruzi. The antiparasitic fractions were characterized by mass spectrometry and Edman degradation, leading to the identification of dermaseptins 1 and 4 and phylloseptins 7 and 8. T. cruzi trypomastigotes were susceptible to peptides, showing IC50 values in the range concentration of 0.25-0.68 μM. Leishmania (L.) infantum showed susceptibility to phylloseptin 7, presenting an IC50 value of 10 μM. Except for phylloseptin 7 which moderate showed cytotoxicity (IC50=34 μM), the peptides induced no cellular damage to mammalian cells. The lack of mitochondrial oxidative activity of parasites detected by the MTT assay, suggested that peptides were leishmanicidal and trypanocidal. By using the fluorescent probe SYTOX(®) Green, dermaseptins 1 and 4 and phylloseptins 7 and 8 showed time-dependent plasma membrane permeabilization of T. cruzi; phylloseptin 7 also showed a similar effect in Leishmania parasites. The present study demonstrates for the first time that AMPs target the plasma membrane of Leishmania and T. cruzi, leading to cellular death. Considering the potential of amphibian peptides against protozoan parasites and the reduced mammalian toxicity, they may contribute as scaffolds for drug design studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erika Gracielle Pinto
- Departament of Parasitology, Instituto Adolfo Lutz, Av. Dr. Arnaldo 351, 8(o) Andar, 01246-000 São Paulo, SP, Brazil; Instituto de Medicina Tropical de São Paulo, Universidade de São Paulo, Av. Dr. Enéas de Carvalho Aguiar, 470, 05403-000 São Paulo, SP, Brazil
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The skin secretion of the amphibian Phyllomedusa nordestina: a source of antimicrobial and antiprotozoal peptides. Molecules 2013; 18:7058-70. [PMID: 23774944 PMCID: PMC6270157 DOI: 10.3390/molecules18067058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2013] [Revised: 06/06/2013] [Accepted: 06/07/2013] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) from the dermaseptin and phylloseptin families were isolated from the skin secretion of Phyllomedusa nordestina, a recently described amphibian species from Northeastern Brazil. One dermaseptin and three phylloseptins were chosen for solid phase peptide synthesis. The antiprotozoal and antimicrobial activities of the synthetic peptides were determined, as well as their cytotoxicity in mouse peritoneal cells. AMPs are being considered as frameworks for the development of novel drugs inspired by their mechanism of action.
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Adade CM, Oliveira IRS, Pais JAR, Souto-Padrón T. Melittin peptide kills Trypanosoma cruzi parasites by inducing different cell death pathways. Toxicon 2013; 69:227-39. [PMID: 23562368 DOI: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2013.03.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2012] [Revised: 02/05/2013] [Accepted: 03/11/2013] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are components of the innate immune response that represent desirable alternatives to conventional pharmaceuticals, as they have a fast mode of action, a low likelihood of resistance development and can act in conjunction with existing drug regimens. AMPs exhibit strong inhibitory activity against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, fungi, viruses, metazoans and other parasites, such as the protozoan Leishmania. Melittin is a naturally occurring AMP, which comprises 40-50% of the dry weight of Apis mellifera venom. Our group has recently shown that crude A. mellifera venom is lethal to Trypanosoma cruzi, the Chagas disease etiologic agent, and generates a variety of cell death phenotypes among treated parasites. Here, we demonstrate that the melittin affected all of T. cruzi developmental forms, including the intracellular amastigotes. The ultrastructural changes induced by melittin suggested the occurrence of different programmed cell death pathways, as was observed in A. mellifera-treated parasites. Autophagic cell death appeared to be the main death mechanism in epimastigotes. In contrast, melittin-treated trypomastigotes appeared to be dying via an apoptotic mechanism. Our findings confirm the great potential of AMPs, including melittin, as a potential source of new drugs for the treatment of neglected diseases, such as Chagas disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camila M Adade
- Laboratório de Biologia Celular e Ultraestrutura, Departamento de Microbiologia Geral, Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes, Centro de Ciências da Saúde, bloco I, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Ilha do Fundão, Rio de Janeiro, RJ 21941-590, Brazil
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de Magalhães MTQ, Barbosa EA, Prates MV, Verly RM, Munhoz VHO, de Araújo IE, Bloch C. Conformational and functional effects induced by D- and L-amino acid epimerization on a single gene encoded peptide from the skin secretion of Hypsiboas punctatus. PLoS One 2013; 8:e59255. [PMID: 23565145 PMCID: PMC3614549 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0059255] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2012] [Accepted: 02/12/2013] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Skin secretion of Hypsiboas punctatus is the source of a complex mixture of bioactive compounds where peptides and small proteins prevail, similarly to many other amphibians. Among dozens of molecules isolated from H. punctatus in a proteomic based approach, we report here the structural and functional studies of a novel peptide named Phenylseptin (FFFDTLKNLAGKVIGALT-NH2) that was purified as two naturally occurring D- and L-Phes configurations. The amino acid epimerization and C-terminal amidation for both molecules were confirmed by a combination of techniques including reverse-phase UFLC, ion mobility mass spectrometry, high resolution MS/MS experiments, Edman degradation, cDNA sequencing and solid-phase peptide synthesis. RMSD analysis of the twenty lowest-energy (1)H NMR structures of each peptide revealed a major 90° difference between the two backbones at the first four N-terminal residues and substantial orientation changes of their respective side chains. These structural divergences were considered to be the primary cause of the in vitro quantitative differences in antimicrobial activities between the two molecules. Finally, both molecules elicited equally aversive reactions in mice when delivered orally, an effect that depended entirely on peripheral gustatory pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariana T. Q. de Magalhães
- Laboratório de Espectrometria de Massa, Embrapa Recursos Genéticos e Biotecnologia, Brasília-Distrito Federal, Brasil
- Departamento de Biologia Celular, Pós-Graduação em Biologia Molecular, Universidade de Brasília, Brasília, Distrito Federal, Brasil
- The John B. Pierce Laboratory, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America
| | - Eder A. Barbosa
- Laboratório de Espectrometria de Massa, Embrapa Recursos Genéticos e Biotecnologia, Brasília-Distrito Federal, Brasil
- Departamento de Biologia Celular, Pós-Graduação em Biologia Molecular, Universidade de Brasília, Brasília, Distrito Federal, Brasil
| | - Maura V. Prates
- Laboratório de Espectrometria de Massa, Embrapa Recursos Genéticos e Biotecnologia, Brasília-Distrito Federal, Brasil
| | - Rodrigo M. Verly
- Instituto de Química, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brasil
- Departamento de Química Universidade Federal dos Vales do Jequitinhonha e Mucuri, Diamantina, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Victor Hugo O. Munhoz
- Instituto de Química, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brasil
| | - Ivan E. de Araújo
- The John B. Pierce Laboratory, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America
| | - Carlos Bloch
- Laboratório de Espectrometria de Massa, Embrapa Recursos Genéticos e Biotecnologia, Brasília-Distrito Federal, Brasil
- * E-mail: ,
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Abstract
Chagas disease chemotherapy is based on drugs that exhibit toxic effects and have limited efficacy, such as Benznidazole. Therefore, research into new chemotherapeutic agents from natural sources needs to be exploited. Apis mellifera venom consists of many biologically active molecules and has been reported to exhibit remarkable anti-cancer effects, often promoting an apoptosis-like death phenotype. This study demonstrates that A. mellifera venom can affect the growth, viability and ultrastructure of all Trypanosoma cruzi developmental forms, including intracellular amastigotes, at concentrations 15- to 100-fold lower than those required to cause toxic effects in mammalian cells. The ultrastructural changes induced by the venom in the different developmental forms led us to hypothesize the occurrence of different programmed cell death pathways. Autophagic cell death, characterized by the presence of autophagosomes-like organelles and a strong monodansyl cadaverine labelling, appears to be the main death mechanism in epimastigotes. In contrast, increased TUNEL staining, abnormal nuclear chromatin condensation and kDNA disorganization was observed in venom-treated trypomastigotes, suggesting cell death by an apoptotic mechanism. On the other hand, intracellular amastigotes presented a heterogeneous cell death phenotype profile, where apoptosis-like death seemed to be predominant. Our findings confirm the great potential of A. mellifera venom as a source for the development of new drugs for the treatment of neglected diseases such as Chagas disease.
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Sciani JM, de-Sá-Júnior PL, Ferreira AK, Pereira A, Antoniazzi MM, Jared C, Pimenta DC. Cytotoxic and antiproliferative effects of crude amphibian skin secretions on breast tumor cells. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2013. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bionut.2012.11.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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König E, Clark VC, Shaw C, Bininda-Emonds ORP. Molecular cloning of skin peptide precursor-encoding cDNAs from tibial gland secretion of the Giant Monkey Frog, Phyllomedusa bicolor (Hylidae, Anura). Peptides 2012; 38:371-6. [PMID: 23000306 DOI: 10.1016/j.peptides.2012.09.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2012] [Revised: 09/10/2012] [Accepted: 09/10/2012] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
The skins of phyllomedusine frogs have long been considered as being tremendously rich sources of bioactive peptides. Previous studies of both peptides and cloning of their precursor encoding cDNAs have relied upon methanolic skin extracts or the dissected skins of recently deceased specimens and have not considered the different glands in isolation. We therefore focused our attention on the tibial gland of the Giant Monkey Frog, Phyllomedusa bicolor and constructed a cDNA library from the skin secretion that was obtained via mechanical stimulation of this macrogland. Using shotgun cloning, four precursors encoding host-defense peptides were identified: two archetypal dermaseptins, a phyllokinin and a phylloseptin that is new for this species but has been recently described from the Waxy Monkey Leaf Frog, Phyllomedusa sauvagii. Our study is the first to report defensive peptides specifically isolated from anuran tibial glands, confirming the hypothesis that these glands also contribute to chemical defense. Moreover, the discovery of novel compounds for this otherwise very well characterized species suggests that this largely neglected gland might possess a different cocktail of secretions from glands elsewhere in the same animal. We will also discuss some evolutionary implications of our findings with respect to the adaptive plasticity of secretory glands.
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Affiliation(s)
- Enrico König
- AG Systematik und Evolutionsbiologie, IBU - Fakultät V, Carl von Ossietzky Universität Oldenburg, Carl von Ossietzky Strasse 9-11, 26129 Oldenburg, Germany.
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Gene expression analysis by ESTs sequencing of the Brazilian frog Phyllomedusa nordestina skin glands. Toxicon 2012; 61:139-50. [PMID: 23159791 DOI: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2012.10.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2012] [Revised: 10/21/2012] [Accepted: 10/30/2012] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
The subfamily Phyllomedusinae has attracted a great interest of many researchers mainly due to the high diversity of these frog species and plethora of pharmacological activities frequently observed for their skin secretions. Despite of this fact, mainly for new species, limited information is available regarding the molecular composition of these skin secretions and the cellular components involved in their production. Phyllomedusa nordestina is a recently described Brazilian frog species also popularly known as 'tree-frogs'. Aiming at contributing to the biological knowledge of this species, we show here the gene expression profile of this frog skin secretion using a global ESTs analysis of a cDNA library. The marked aspect of this analysis revealed a significant higher transcriptional level of the opioid peptide dermorphins in P. nordestina skin secretion than in Phyllomedusa hypochondrialis, which is its closest related species, belonging both to the same phylogenetic group. Precursors of bioactive peptides as dermaseptins, phylloseptins, tryptophyllins, and bradykinin-like peptideswere also found in this library. Transcripts encoding proteins related to ordinary cellular functions and pathways were also described. Some of them are chiefly involved in the production of the skin secretion. Taken together, the data reported here constitute a contribution to the characterization of the molecular diversity of gene-encoded polypeptides with potential possibility of pharmacological exploitation. The transcriptional composition of the skin secretion may also help to give the necessary support for the definition of P. nordestina as a new species, which actually relies basically on frog morphological characteristics and geographical distribution.
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Bechinger B, Salnikov ES. The membrane interactions of antimicrobial peptides revealed by solid-state NMR spectroscopy. Chem Phys Lipids 2012; 165:282-301. [DOI: 10.1016/j.chemphyslip.2012.01.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 98] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2011] [Revised: 01/25/2012] [Accepted: 01/27/2012] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
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de Moraes J, Nascimento C, Miura LMCV, Leite JRSA, Nakano E, Kawano T. Evaluation of the in vitro activity of dermaseptin 01, a cationic antimicrobial peptide, against Schistosoma mansoni. Chem Biodivers 2012; 8:548-58. [PMID: 21404438 DOI: 10.1002/cbdv.201000163] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Schistosomiasis is a neglected tropical disease that remains a considerable public health problem worldwide. Since the mainstay of schistosomiasis control is chemotherapy with a single drug, praziquantel, drug resistance is a concern. Here, we examined the in vitro effects of dermaseptin 01 (DS 01), an antimicrobial peptide found in the skin secretion of frogs of the genus Phyllomedusa, on Schistosoma mansoni adult worms. DS 01 at a concentration of 100 μg/ml reduced the worm motor activity and caused the death of all worms within 48 h in RPMI 1640 medium. At the highest sublethal concentration of antimicrobial peptide (75 μg/ml), a 100% reduction in egg output of paired female worms was observed. Additionally, DS 01 induced morphological alterations on the tegument of S. mansoni, and a quantitative analysis carried out by confocal microscopy revealed extensive destruction of the tubercles in a dose-dependent manner over the concentration range of 50-200 μg/ml. It was the first time that an anthelmintic activity towards schistosomes has been reported for a dermaseptin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Josué de Moraes
- Laboratório de Parasitologia, Instituto Butantan, Avenida Vital Brasil 1500, 05503-900, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
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Development of a novel biosensor using cationic antimicrobial Peptide and nickel phthalocyanine ultrathin films for electrochemical detection of dopamine. Int J Anal Chem 2012; 2012:850969. [PMID: 22287966 PMCID: PMC3263607 DOI: 10.1155/2012/850969] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2011] [Accepted: 10/03/2011] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The antimicrobial peptide dermaseptin 01 (DS 01), from the skin secretion of Phyllomedusa hypochondrialis frogs, was immobilized in nanostructured layered films in conjunction with nickel tetrasulfonated phthalocyanines (NiTsPc), widely used in electronic devices, using layer-by-layer technique. The films were used as a biosensor to detect the presence of dopamine (DA), a neurotransmitter associated with diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's, with detection limits in the order of 10−6 mol L−1. The use of DS 01 in LbL film generated selectivity in the detection of DA despite the presence of ascorbic acid found in biological fluids. This work is the first to report that the antimicrobial peptide and NiTsPc LbL film exhibits electroanalytical activity to DA oxidation. The selectivity in the detection of DA is a fundamental aspect for the development of electrochemical sensors with potential applications in the biomedical and pharmaceutical industries.
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Salay LC, Nobre TM, Colhone MC, Zaniquelli MED, Ciancaglini P, Stabeli RG, Leite JRSA, Zucolotto V. Dermaseptin 01 as antimicrobial peptide with rich biotechnological potential: study of peptide interaction with membranes containing Leishmania amazonensis lipid-rich extract and membrane models. J Pept Sci 2011; 17:700-7. [PMID: 21805539 DOI: 10.1002/psc.1392] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2011] [Revised: 05/27/2011] [Accepted: 06/10/2011] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
This article addresses the interactions of the synthetic antimicrobial peptide dermaseptin 01 (GLWSTIKQKGKEAAIAAA- KAAGQAALGAL-NH(2) , DS 01) with phospholipid (PL) monolayers comprising (i) a lipid-rich extract of Leishmania amazonensis (LRE-La), (ii) zwitterionic PL (dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine, DPPC), and (iii) negatively charged PL (dipalmitoylphosphatidylglycerol, DPPG). The degree of interaction of DS 01 with the different biomembrane models was quantified from equilibrium and dynamic liquid-air interface parameters. At low peptide concentrations, interactions between DS 01 and zwitterionic PL, as well as with the LRE-La monolayers were very weak, whereas with negatively charged PLs the interactions were stronger. For peptide concentrations above 1 µg/ml, a considerable expansion of negatively charged monolayers occurred. In the case of DPPC, it was possible to return to the original lipid area in the condensed phase, suggesting that the peptide was expelled from the monolayer. However, in the case of DPPG, the average area per lipid molecule in the presence of DS 01 was higher than pure PLs even at high surface pressures, suggesting that at least part of DS 01 remained incorporated in the monolayer. For the LRE-La monolayers, DS 01 also remained in the monolayer. This is the first report on the antiparasitic activity of AMPs using Langmuir monolayers of a natural lipid extract from L. amazonensis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luiz C Salay
- Instituto de Física de São Carlos, IFSC, Universidade de São Paulo, USP, 13560-970 São Carlos, São Paulo, Brazil.
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Rates B, Silva LP, Ireno IC, Leite FSF, Borges MH, Bloch C, De Lima ME, Pimenta AMC. Peptidomic dissection of the skin secretion of Phasmahyla jandaia (Bokermann and Sazima, 1978) (Anura, Hylidae, Phyllomedusinae). Toxicon 2010; 57:35-52. [PMID: 20932854 DOI: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2010.09.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2010] [Revised: 09/22/2010] [Accepted: 09/24/2010] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
The systematic investigation of the peptidic composition of the skin secretion of Phasmahyla jandaia, a phyllomedusine anuran endemic to the southern region of the Espinhaço range in Brazil, is herein reported. By means of de novo interpretation of tandem mass spectrometric data, Edman N-terminal sequencing and similarity searches, 57 peptides - including phylloseptins, dermaseptins stricto sensu, dermatoxins, hyposins, tryptophyllins, caerulein-related, bradykinin-related, bradykinin potentiating, tyrosine-rich, and opioid peptides - were sequenced. Moreover, five peptide families without significant similarity to other known molecules were verified. Differently from most Phyllomedusinae genera, the molecular diversity in the skin of representatives of Phasmahyla remained unprospected until now. Therefore, besides disclosing novel natural variants of number of bioactive peptides, the present study contributes to the understanding of the evolution of biochemical characters of the phyllomedusines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Breno Rates
- Laboratório de Venenos e Toxinas Animais, Departamento de Bioquímica e Imunologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brasil
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Azevedo Calderon LD, Silva ADAE, Ciancaglini P, Stábeli RG. Antimicrobial peptides from Phyllomedusa frogs: from biomolecular diversity to potential nanotechnologic medical applications. Amino Acids 2010; 40:29-49. [PMID: 20526637 DOI: 10.1007/s00726-010-0622-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2010] [Accepted: 05/05/2010] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
Screening for new bioactive peptides in South American anurans has been pioneered in frogs of the genus Phyllomedusa. All frogs of this genus have venomous skin secretions, i.e., a complex mixture of bioactive peptides against potential predators and pathogens that presumably evolved in a scenario of predator-prey interaction and defense against microbial invasion. For every new anuran species studied new peptides are found, with homologies to hormones, neurotransmitters, antimicrobials, and several other peptides with unknown biological activity. From Vittorio Erspamer findings, this genus has been reported as a "treasure store" of bioactive peptides, and several groups focus their research on these species. From 1966 to 2009, more than 200 peptide sequences from different Phyllomedusa species were deposited in UniProt and other databases. During the last decade, the emergence of high-throughput molecular technologies involving de novo peptide sequencing via tandem mass spectrometry, cDNA cloning, pharmacological screening, and surface plasmon resonance applied to peptide discovery, led to fast structural data acquisition and the generation of peptide molecular libraries. Research groups on bioactive peptides in Brazil using these new technologies, accounted for the exponential increase of new molecules described in the last decade, much higher than in any previous decades. Recently, these secretions were also reported as a rich source of multiple antimicrobial peptides effective against multidrug resistant strains of bacteria, fungi, protozoa, and virus, providing instructive lessons for the development of new and more efficient nanotechnological-based therapies for infectious diseases treatment. Therefore, novel drugs arising from the identification and analysis of bioactive peptides from South American anuran biodiversity have a promising future role on nanobiotechnology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leonardo de Azevedo Calderon
- Centro de Estudos de Biomoléculas Aplicadas a Medicina "Professor Dr. José Roberto Giglio" (CEBio), Núcleo de Saúde (NUSAU), Universidade Federal de Rondônia (UNIR), Porto Velho, RO, 76800-000, Brazil
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Leite JMA, Silva LP, Silva-Leite RR, Ferrari AS, Noronha SE, Silva HR, Bloch C, Leite JRDSDA. Leptodactylus ocellatus (Amphibia): mechanism of defense in the skin and molecular phylogenetic relationships. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2010; 313:1-8. [PMID: 19739090 DOI: 10.1002/jez.551] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
Amphibian antimicrobial peptides have been known for many decades and several of them have already been isolated. However, the number of species investigated is still small. Herein, we report on the skin secretions of Leptodactylus ocellatus, which were extracted by mild electrical stimulation and its semi-preparative reverse-phase chromatography was resolved in more than 30 fractions. Among these fractions, two novel antimicrobial peptides were isolated and their amino acid sequences determined by de novo sequencing. The ocellatins-5 and -6 (21 and 22 amino acid residues, respectively) are amidated at the C-terminus. Ocellatins inhibited the growth of reference strains of both Gram-negative bacteria (Escherichia coli) and Gram-positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus) with minimal inhibition concentration values in the range of 32-128 microg/mL. The amino acid sequence of the peptides shows structural similarity with members of the antimicrobial peptides found in the skin secretion of other leptodactylid frogs. This observation is consistent with the hypothesis that many frog skin antimicrobial peptides are related evolutionarily, having arisen from multiple duplications of an ancestral gene that existed before the radiation of the different species.
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Affiliation(s)
- João Manoel Almeida Leite
- Núcleo de Pesquisa em Biodiversidade e Biotecnologia, Campus Ministro Reis Velloso (CMRV), Universidade Federal do Piauí-UFPI, Parnaíba, Piauí, PI, Brazil.
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McGwire BS, Kulkarni MM. Interactions of antimicrobial peptides with Leishmania and trypanosomes and their functional role in host parasitism. Exp Parasitol 2010; 126:397-405. [PMID: 20159013 DOI: 10.1016/j.exppara.2010.02.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2009] [Revised: 02/03/2010] [Accepted: 02/06/2010] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are multifunctional components of the innate systems of both insect and mammalian hosts of the pathogenic trypanosomatids Leishmania and Trypanosoma species. Structurally diverse AMPs from a wide range of organisms have in vitro activity against these parasites acting mainly to disrupt surface-membranes. In some cases AMPs also localize intracellularly to affect calcium levels, mitochondrial function and induce autophagy, necrosis and apoptosis. In this review we discuss the work done in the area of AMP interactions with trypanosomatid protozoa, propose potential targets of AMP activity at the cellular level and discuss how AMPs might influence parasite growth and differentiation in their hosts to determine the outcome of natural infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bradford S McGwire
- Center for Microbial Interface Biology, Department of Internal Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA.
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Abstract
Whereas significant knowledge is accumulating on the antibacterial and antifungal properties of host defense peptides (HDPs) and their synthetic mimics, much less is known of their activities against parasites. A variety of in vitro and in vivo antiparasitic assays suggest that these notorious antimicrobial compounds could represent a powerful tool for the development of novel drugs to fight parasites in the vertebrate host or to complement current therapeutic strategies, albeit the fact that HDPs essentially act by nonspecific mechanisms casts serious doubt on their ability to exert sufficient selectivity to be considered ideal candidates for drug development. This minireview summarizes recent efforts to assess the antiparasitic properties of HDPs and their synthetic derivatives, focusing on two of the most used models - Plasmodium and Leishmania species - for antiparasitic assays against the different development stages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amram Mor
- Department of Biotechnology & Food Engineering, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel.
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Kückelhaus SA, Leite JRS, Muniz-Junqueira MI, Sampaio RN, Bloch C, Tosta CE. Antiplasmodial and antileishmanial activities of phylloseptin-1, an antimicrobial peptide from the skin secretion of Phyllomedusa azurea (Amphibia). Exp Parasitol 2009; 123:11-6. [DOI: 10.1016/j.exppara.2009.05.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2009] [Revised: 05/05/2009] [Accepted: 05/06/2009] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
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Nicolas P, El Amri C. The dermaseptin superfamily: A gene-based combinatorial library of antimicrobial peptides. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-BIOMEMBRANES 2009; 1788:1537-50. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbamem.2008.09.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 78] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2008] [Revised: 09/14/2008] [Accepted: 09/18/2008] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
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Rivas L, Luque-Ortega JR, Andreu D. Amphibian antimicrobial peptides and Protozoa: Lessons from parasites. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-BIOMEMBRANES 2009; 1788:1570-81. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbamem.2008.11.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2008] [Revised: 10/29/2008] [Accepted: 11/03/2008] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
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48
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Verly RM, de Moraes CM, Resende JM, Aisenbrey C, Bemquerer MP, Piló-Veloso D, Valente AP, Almeida FCL, Bechinger B. Structure and membrane interactions of the antibiotic peptide dermadistinctin K by multidimensional solution and oriented 15N and 31P solid-state NMR spectroscopy. Biophys J 2009; 96:2194-203. [PMID: 19289046 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2008.11.063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2008] [Revised: 10/18/2008] [Accepted: 11/06/2008] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
DD K, a peptide first isolated from the skin secretion of the Phyllomedusa distincta frog, has been prepared by solid-phase chemical peptide synthesis and its conformation was studied in trifluoroethanol/water as well as in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate and dodecylphosphocholine micelles or small unilamellar vesicles. Multidimensional solution NMR spectroscopy indicates an alpha-helical conformation in membrane environments starting at residue 7 and extending to the C-terminal carboxyamide. Furthermore, DD K has been labeled with (15)N at a single alanine position that is located within the helical core region of the sequence. When reconstituted into oriented phosphatidylcholine membranes the resulting (15)N solid-state NMR spectrum shows a well-defined helix alignment parallel to the membrane surface in excellent agreement with the amphipathic character of DD K. Proton-decoupled (31)P solid-state NMR spectroscopy indicates that the peptide creates a high level of disorder at the level of the phospholipid headgroup suggesting that DD K partitions into the bilayer where it severely disrupts membrane packing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rodrigo M Verly
- Departamento de Química Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
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Zampa MF, Araújo IMS, Costa V, Nery Costa CH, Santos JR, Zucolotto V, Eiras C, Leite JRSA. Leishmanicidal activity and immobilization of dermaseptin 01 antimicrobial peptides in ultrathin films for nanomedicine applications. NANOMEDICINE-NANOTECHNOLOGY BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE 2009; 5:352-8. [PMID: 19215729 DOI: 10.1016/j.nano.2008.11.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2008] [Revised: 10/24/2008] [Accepted: 11/03/2008] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
UNLABELLED Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are essential for the innate immune system of eukaryotes, imparting protection against pathogens and their proliferation in host organisms. The recent interest in AMPs as active materials in bionanostructures is due to the properties shown by these biological molecules, such as the presence of an alpha-helix structure and distribution of positive charges along the chain. In this study the antimicrobial peptide dermaseptin 01 (DS 01), from the skin secretion of Phyllomedusa hypochondrialis frogs was immobilized in nanostructured layered films in conjunction with nickel tetrasulfonated phthalocyanines. The leishmanicidal activity of DS 01 was confirmed using kinetic essays, in which DS 01 promoted death of all metacyclic promastigote cells in 45 minutes. Surprisingly, the immobilized DS 01 molecules displayed electroactivity, as revealed by electrochemical experiments, in which an oxidation peak at about 0.61 V was observed for a DS 01 monolayer deposited on top of a conductive electrode. Such electroactivity was used to investigate the sensing abilities of the nanostructured films toward Leishmania. We observed an increase in the oxidation current as a function of number of Leishmania cells in the electrolytic solution at concentrations down to 10(3) cells/mL. The latter is indicative that the use of AMPs immobilized in electroactive nanostructured films may be of interest for applications in the pharmaceutical industry and diagnosis. FROM THE CLINICAL EDITOR The recent interest in Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) as active materials in bionanostructures is due to the properties shown by these biological molecules. Leishmanicidal activity of a particular AMP is demonstrated in this paper.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maysa F Zampa
- LAPETRO, Universidade Federal do Piauí, UFPI, Teresina, Brazil
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Castro MS, Ferreira TCG, Cilli EM, Crusca E, Mendes-Giannini MJS, Sebben A, Ricart CAO, Sousa MV, Fontes W. Hylin a1, the first cytolytic peptide isolated from the arboreal South American frog Hypsiboas albopunctatus ("spotted treefrog"). Peptides 2009; 30:291-6. [PMID: 19056441 DOI: 10.1016/j.peptides.2008.11.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2008] [Revised: 10/29/2008] [Accepted: 11/03/2008] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
RP-HPLC fractionation of the electrically stimulated skin secretion of the arboreal South American frog Hypsiboas albopunctatus ("spotted treefrog") led to the isolation of a cytolytic C-terminally amidated peptide. This novel peptide, named hylin a1 (Hy-a1), consists of 18 amino acid residues (IFGAILPLALGALKNLIK-NH(2)). The alpha-helical structure of the synthetic hylin a1 peptide was confirmed by CD spectroscopy in the presence of 60% (v/v) TFE. The synthetic peptide displayed broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity against Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria including Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus faecalis, Bacillus subtilis and Pseudomonas aeruginosa and also against fungi (Candida albicans, C. krusei, C. parapsilosis and Cryptococcus neoformans). Hylin a1 was also able to disrupt human erytrocytes (HC(50)=18 microM). Similarity analysis using PSI-BLAST revealed 50-44% of identity to maximins Hv, H16, H15 and H10 from Bombina maxima and also to hylins b1 and b2 (Hy-b1 and Hy-b2) from Hypsiboas lundii (synonym: Hyla biobeba).
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariana S Castro
- Brazilian Center for Protein Research, Department of Cell Biology, University of Brasilia, CEP 70.910-900, Brasilia/DF, Brazil.
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