1
|
Past, Present, and Future of Naturally Occurring Antimicrobials Related to Snake Venoms. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:ani13040744. [PMID: 36830531 PMCID: PMC9952678 DOI: 10.3390/ani13040744] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2022] [Revised: 02/10/2023] [Accepted: 02/11/2023] [Indexed: 02/22/2023] Open
Abstract
This review focuses on proteins and peptides with antimicrobial activity because these biopolymers can be useful in the fight against infectious diseases and to overcome the critical problem of microbial resistance to antibiotics. In fact, snakes show the highest diversification among reptiles, surviving in various environments; their innate immunity is similar to mammals and the response of their plasma to bacteria and fungi has been explored mainly in ecological studies. Snake venoms are a rich source of components that have a variety of biological functions. Among them are proteins like lectins, metalloproteinases, serine proteinases, L-amino acid oxidases, phospholipases type A2, cysteine-rich secretory proteins, as well as many oligopeptides, such as waprins, cardiotoxins, cathelicidins, and β-defensins. In vitro, these biomolecules were shown to be active against bacteria, fungi, parasites, and viruses that are pathogenic to humans. Not only cathelicidins, but all other proteins and oligopeptides from snake venom have been proteolyzed to provide short antimicrobial peptides, or for use as templates for developing a variety of short unnatural sequences based on their structures. In addition to organizing and discussing an expressive amount of information, this review also describes new β-defensin sequences of Sistrurus miliarius that can lead to novel peptide-based antimicrobial agents, using a multidisciplinary approach that includes sequence phylogeny.
Collapse
|
2
|
Fonseca VJA, Braga AL, Filho JR, Teixeira CS, da Hora GCA, Morais-Braga MFB. A review on the antimicrobial properties of lectins. Int J Biol Macromol 2022; 195:163-178. [PMID: 34896466 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2021.11.209] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2021] [Revised: 11/26/2021] [Accepted: 11/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Lectins are biologically versatile biomolecules with remarkable antimicrobial effects, notably against bacteria, fungi and protozoa, in addition to modulating host immunity. For this, the lectins bind to carbohydrates on the surface of the pathogen, which can cause damage to the cell wall and prevent the attachment of microorganisms to host cells. Thus, this study intends to review the biological activities of lectins, with an emphasis on antimicrobial activity. Lectins of plant stood out for its antimicrobial effects, demonstrating that they act against a variety of strains, where in vitro were able to inhibit their development and affect their morphology. In vivo, they modulated host immunity, signaling and activating defense cells. Some of these lectins were capable to modulate the action of antibiotics, indicating their potential to minimize the antibiotic resistance. The results suggest that lectins have antimicrobial activity with potential to be used in drug development.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Victor Juno Alencar Fonseca
- Laboratório de Micologia Aplicada do Cariri - LMAC, Universidade Regional do Cariri - URCA, Crato, CE, Brazil
| | - Ana Lays Braga
- Laboratório de Micologia Aplicada do Cariri - LMAC, Universidade Regional do Cariri - URCA, Crato, CE, Brazil
| | - Jaime Ribeiro Filho
- Laboratório de Investigação em Genética e Hematologia Translacional, Instituto Gonçalo Moniz (IGM), Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz), Salvador, Brazil
| | - Claudener Souza Teixeira
- Centro de Ciências Agrárias e da Biodiversidade, Universidade Federal do Cariri, Crato, CE, Brazil
| | - Gabriel C A da Hora
- Department of Chemistry, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112-0850, USA
| | | |
Collapse
|
3
|
Hitchhiking with Nature: Snake Venom Peptides to Fight Cancer and Superbugs. Toxins (Basel) 2020; 12:toxins12040255. [PMID: 32326531 PMCID: PMC7232197 DOI: 10.3390/toxins12040255] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2020] [Revised: 03/25/2020] [Accepted: 04/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract For decades, natural products in general and snake venoms (SV) in particular have been a rich source of bioactive compounds for drug discovery, and they remain a promising substrate for therapeutic development. Currently, a handful of SV-based drugs for diagnosis and treatment of various cardiovascular disorders and blood abnormalities are on the market. Likewise, far more SV compounds and their mimetics are under investigation today for diverse therapeutic applications, including antibiotic-resistant bacteria and cancer. In this review, we analyze the state of the art regarding SV-derived compounds with therapeutic potential, focusing on the development of antimicrobial and anticancer drugs. Specifically, information about SV peptides experimentally validated or predicted to act as antimicrobial and anticancer peptides (AMPs and ACPs, respectively) has been collected and analyzed. Their principal activities both in vitro and in vivo, structures, mechanisms of action, and attempts at sequence optimization are discussed in order to highlight their potential as drug leads. Key Contribution This review describes the state of the art in snake venom-derived peptides and their therapeutic applications. This work reinforces the potential of snake venom components as therapeutic agents, particularly in the quest for new antimicrobial and anticancer drugs.
Collapse
|
4
|
Sun W, Li Q, Ning X, Yang Y, Guo J, Zhu Q, Guo Y, Li H, Wang Y, Zhou Y, Kou Z. TFPR1 acts as an immune regulator and an efficient adjuvant for proteins and peptides by activating immune cells, primarily through TLR2. Vaccine 2019; 38:288-297. [PMID: 31629567 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2019.10.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2018] [Revised: 09/03/2019] [Accepted: 10/05/2019] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Triflin, a non-toxic protein found in the venom of the Habu snake, belongs to the CRISP (cysteine-rich secretory protein) family, which comprises two domains: a C-terminal cysteine-rich domain (CRD) and an N-terminal pathogenesis-related-1 (PR-1) domain. The function of the highly structurally conserved PR-1 domain is unknown. Here, we successfully expressed the PR-1 domain of triflin (hereafter called TFPR1) in E. coli. Animal experiments showed that TFPR1 augmented Th1-biased antibody- and cell-mediated immune responses in mice immunized with two protein antigens (OVA and HBsAg) or a peptide antigen (HIV-1 pep). A flow cytometry-based binding assay and in vitro stimulation with TFPR1 showed that it triggered Th1-biased proinflammatory and immunoregulatory cytokine secretion primarily by binding to B cells and macrophages within the mouse splenocyte population. Quantitative RT-PCR, antibody blocking assays using a specific anti-mTLR2 antibody, and stimulatory experiments in vitro using splenocytes from TLR2-KO mice demonstrated that TFPR1 activated murine immune cells, primarily by stimulating toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2). These results suggest that TFPR1 acts as a novel immune modulator and potent adjuvant primarily by activating TLR2. Thus, the PR-1-based core domain might play a role in immune regulation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Weilai Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing 100071, China
| | - Qiao Li
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing 100071, China; Graduate School, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, China
| | - Xiuzhe Ning
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing 100071, China
| | - Yi Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing 100071, China
| | - Jingjing Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing 100071, China
| | - Qing Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing 100071, China
| | - Yan Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing 100071, China
| | - Hao Li
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing 100071, China
| | - Yuepeng Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing 100071, China; Graduate School, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, China
| | - Yusen Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing 100071, China; Graduate School, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, China
| | - Zhihua Kou
- State Key Laboratory of Pathogen and Biosecurity, Beijing Institute of Microbiology and Epidemiology, Beijing 100071, China; Graduate School, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230032, China.
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Kowalski K, Marciniak P, Rosiński G, Rychlik L. Toxic activity and protein identification from the parotoid gland secretion of the common toad Bufo bufo. Comp Biochem Physiol C Toxicol Pharmacol 2018; 205:43-52. [PMID: 29382576 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpc.2018.01.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2017] [Revised: 01/24/2018] [Accepted: 01/25/2018] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Anuran toxins released from the skin glands are involved in defence against predators and microorganisms. Secretion from parotoid macroglands of bufonid toads is a rich source of bioactive compounds with the cytotoxic, cardiotoxic and hemolytic activity. Bufadienolides are considered the most toxic components of the toad poison, whereas the protein properties are largely unknown. In the present work, we analysed the cardio-, myo-, and neurotropic activity of extract and the selected proteins from Bufo bufo parotoids in in vitro physiological bioassays carried out on two standard model organisms: beetles and frogs. Our results demonstrate a strong cardioactivity of B. bufo gland extract. The toad poison stimulates (by 16%) the contractility of the insect heart and displays the cardioinhibitory effect on the frog heartbeat frequency (a 27% decrease), coupled with an irreversible cardiac arrest. The gland extract also exhibits significant myotropic properties (a 10% decrease in the muscle contraction force), whereas its neuroactivity remains low (a 4% decrease in the nerve conduction velocity). Among identified peptides present in the B. bufo parotoid extract are serine proteases, muscle creatine kinase, phospholipid hydroperoxide glutathione peroxidase, cytotoxic T-lymphocyte protein, etc. Some proteins contribute to the cardioinhibitory effect. Certain compounds display the paralytic (myo- and neurotropic) properties. As the toad gland extract exhibits a strong cardiotoxic activity, we conclude that the poison is a potent agent capable of slaying a predator. Our results also provide the guides for the use of toad poison-peptides in therapeutics and new drug development.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Krzysztof Kowalski
- Department of Systematic Zoology, Institute of Environmental Biology, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University, Umultowska 89, Poznań 61-614, Poland.
| | - Paweł Marciniak
- Department of Animal Physiology and Development, Institute of Experimental Biology, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University, Umultowska 89, Poznań 61-614, Poland.
| | - Grzegorz Rosiński
- Department of Animal Physiology and Development, Institute of Experimental Biology, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University, Umultowska 89, Poznań 61-614, Poland.
| | - Leszek Rychlik
- Department of Systematic Zoology, Institute of Environmental Biology, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz University, Umultowska 89, Poznań 61-614, Poland.
| |
Collapse
|