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Alvarez C, Félix C, Lemos MFL. The Antiviral Potential of Algal Lectins. Mar Drugs 2023; 21:515. [PMID: 37888450 PMCID: PMC10608189 DOI: 10.3390/md21100515] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2023] [Revised: 09/22/2023] [Accepted: 09/26/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Algae have emerged as fascinating subjects of study due to their vast potential as sources of valuable metabolites with diverse biotechnological applications, including their use as fertilizers, feed, food, and even pharmaceutical precursors. Among the numerous compounds found in algae, lectins have garnered special attention for their unique structures and carbohydrate specificities, distinguishing them from lectins derived from other sources. Here, a comprehensive overview of the latest scientific and technological advancements in the realm of algal lectins with a particular focus on their antiviral properties is provided. These lectins have displayed remarkable effectiveness against a wide range of viruses, thereby holding great promise for various antiviral applications. It is worth noting that several alga species have already been successfully commercialized for their antiviral potential. However, the discovery of a diverse array of lectins with potent antiviral capabilities suggests that the field holds immense untapped potential for further expansion. In conclusion, algae stand as a valuable and versatile resource, and their lectins offer an exciting avenue for developing novel antiviral agents, which may lead to the development of cutting-edge antiviral therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Marco F. L. Lemos
- MARE-Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre & ARNET—Aquatic Research Infrastructure Network Associated Laboratory, ESTM, Polytechnic of Leiria, 2520-641 Peniche, Portugal; (C.A.); (C.F.)
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Silva RRS, Malveira EA, Aguiar TKB, Neto NAS, Roma RR, Santos MHC, Santos ALE, Silva AFB, Freitas CDT, Rocha BAM, Souza PFN, Teixeira CS. DVL, lectin from Dioclea violacea seeds, has multiples mechanisms of action against Candida spp via carbohydrate recognition domain. Chem Biol Interact 2023; 382:110639. [PMID: 37468117 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbi.2023.110639] [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: 05/29/2023] [Revised: 07/09/2023] [Accepted: 07/17/2023] [Indexed: 07/21/2023]
Abstract
Lectins are proteins of non-immunological origin with the ability to bind to carbohydrates reversibly. They emerge as an alternative to conventional antifungals, given the ability to interact with carbohydrates in the fungal cell wall inhibiting fungal growth. The lectin from D. violacea (DVL) already has its activity described as anti-candida in some species. Here, we observed the anti-candida effect of DVL on C. albicans, C. krusei and C. parapsilosis and its multiple mechanisms of action toward the yeasts. Additionally, it was observed that DVL induces membrane and cell wall damage and ROS overproduction. DVL was also able to cause an imbalance in the redox system of the cells, interact with ergosterol, inhibit ergosterol biosynthesis, and induce cytochrome c release from the mitochondrial membrane. These results endorse the potential application of DVL in developing a new antifungal drug to fight back against fungal resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Romério R S Silva
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, 60451-970, CE, Brazil
| | - Ellen A Malveira
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, 60451-970, CE, Brazil
| | - Tawanny K B Aguiar
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, 60451-970, CE, Brazil
| | - Nilton A S Neto
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, 60451-970, CE, Brazil
| | - Renato R Roma
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, 60451-970, CE, Brazil
| | - Maria H C Santos
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, 60451-970, CE, Brazil
| | - Ana L E Santos
- Medical School, Federal University of Cariri, Barbalha, Ceará, Brazil
| | - Ayrles F B Silva
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, 60451-970, CE, Brazil
| | - Cleverson D T Freitas
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, 60451-970, CE, Brazil
| | - Bruno A M Rocha
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, 60451-970, CE, Brazil
| | - Pedro F N Souza
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, 60451-970, CE, Brazil; Drug Research and Development Center, Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, 60430-275, CE, Brazil.
| | - Claudener S Teixeira
- Center for Agricultural Sciences and Biodiversity, Federal University of Cariri, Crato, 63130-025, Brazil.
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Al-Khayri JM, Asghar W, Khan S, Akhtar A, Ayub H, Khalid N, Alessa FM, Al-Mssallem MQ, Rezk AAS, Shehata WF. Therapeutic Potential of Marine Bioactive Peptides against Human Immunodeficiency Virus: Recent Evidence, Challenges, and Future Trends. Mar Drugs 2022; 20:md20080477. [PMID: 35892945 PMCID: PMC9394390 DOI: 10.3390/md20080477] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2022] [Revised: 07/21/2022] [Accepted: 07/23/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) is a chronic and potentially fatal ailment caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and remains a major health problem worldwide. In recent years, the research focus has shifted to a greater emphasis on complementing treatment regimens involving conventional antiretroviral (ARV) drug therapies with novel lead structures isolated from various marine organisms that have the potential to be utilized as therapeutics for the management of HIV-AIDS. The present review summarizes the recent developments regarding bioactive peptides sourced from various marine organisms. This includes a discussion encompassing the potential of these novel marine bioactive peptides with regard to antiretroviral activities against HIV, preparation, purification, and processing techniques, in addition to insight into the future trends with an emphasis on the potential of exploration and evaluation of novel peptides to be developed into effective antiretroviral drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jameel Mohammed Al-Khayri
- Department of Plant Biotechnology, College of Agriculture and Food Sciences, King Faisal University, Al-Ahsa 31982, Saudi Arabia; (A.A.-S.R.); (W.F.S.)
- Correspondence: (J.M.A.-K.); (N.K.)
| | - Waqas Asghar
- School of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Management and Technology, Lahore 54770, Pakistan; (W.A.); (S.K.); (A.A.); (H.A.)
| | - Sipper Khan
- School of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Management and Technology, Lahore 54770, Pakistan; (W.A.); (S.K.); (A.A.); (H.A.)
| | - Aqsa Akhtar
- School of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Management and Technology, Lahore 54770, Pakistan; (W.A.); (S.K.); (A.A.); (H.A.)
| | - Haris Ayub
- School of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Management and Technology, Lahore 54770, Pakistan; (W.A.); (S.K.); (A.A.); (H.A.)
| | - Nauman Khalid
- School of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Management and Technology, Lahore 54770, Pakistan; (W.A.); (S.K.); (A.A.); (H.A.)
- Correspondence: (J.M.A.-K.); (N.K.)
| | - Fatima Mohammed Alessa
- Department of Food Science and Nutrition, College of Agriculture and Food Sciences, King Faisal University, Al-Ahsa 31982, Saudi Arabia; (F.M.A.); (M.Q.A.-M.)
| | - Muneera Qassim Al-Mssallem
- Department of Food Science and Nutrition, College of Agriculture and Food Sciences, King Faisal University, Al-Ahsa 31982, Saudi Arabia; (F.M.A.); (M.Q.A.-M.)
| | - Adel Abdel-Sabour Rezk
- Department of Plant Biotechnology, College of Agriculture and Food Sciences, King Faisal University, Al-Ahsa 31982, Saudi Arabia; (A.A.-S.R.); (W.F.S.)
| | - Wael Fathi Shehata
- Department of Plant Biotechnology, College of Agriculture and Food Sciences, King Faisal University, Al-Ahsa 31982, Saudi Arabia; (A.A.-S.R.); (W.F.S.)
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Chettri D, Boro M, Sarkar L, Verma AK. Lectins: Biological significance to biotechnological application. Carbohydr Res 2021; 506:108367. [PMID: 34130214 DOI: 10.1016/j.carres.2021.108367] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2021] [Accepted: 05/31/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Lectins are a set of non-enzymatic carbohydrate binding proteins appearing in all domains of life. They function to recognize, interact and bring about reversible binding of a specific sugar moiety present in a molecule. Since glycans are ubiquitous in nature and are an essential part of various biological process, the lectins are been investigated to understand the profile of these versatile but complex glycan molecule. The knowledge gained can be used to explore and streamline the various mechanisms involving glycans and their conjugates. Thus, lectins have gained importance in carbohydrate-protein interactions contributing to the development in the field of glycobiology. This has led to a deeper understanding of the importance of saccharide recognition in life. Since their discovery, the lectins have become a great choice of research in the field of glycobiology and their biological significances have recently received considerable attention in the biocontrol field as well as medical sectors.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Manswama Boro
- Department of Microbiology, Sikkim University, India.
| | - Lija Sarkar
- Department of Microbiology, Sikkim University, India.
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Roth C, Murray D, Scott A, Fu C, Averette AF, Sun S, Heitman J, Magwene PM. Pleiotropy and epistasis within and between signaling pathways defines the genetic architecture of fungal virulence. PLoS Genet 2021; 17:e1009313. [PMID: 33493169 PMCID: PMC7861560 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1009313] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2020] [Revised: 02/04/2021] [Accepted: 12/17/2020] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Cryptococcal disease is estimated to affect nearly a quarter of a million people annually. Environmental isolates of Cryptococcus deneoformans, which make up 15 to 30% of clinical infections in temperate climates such as Europe, vary in their pathogenicity, ranging from benign to hyper-virulent. Key traits that contribute to virulence, such as the production of the pigment melanin, an extracellular polysaccharide capsule, and the ability to grow at human body temperature have been identified, yet little is known about the genetic basis of variation in such traits. Here we investigate the genetic basis of melanization, capsule size, thermal tolerance, oxidative stress resistance, and antifungal drug sensitivity using quantitative trait locus (QTL) mapping in progeny derived from a cross between two divergent C. deneoformans strains. Using a "function-valued" QTL analysis framework that exploits both time-series information and growth differences across multiple environments, we identified QTL for each of these virulence traits and drug susceptibility. For three QTL we identified the underlying genes and nucleotide differences that govern variation in virulence traits. One of these genes, RIC8, which encodes a regulator of cAMP-PKA signaling, contributes to variation in four virulence traits: melanization, capsule size, thermal tolerance, and resistance to oxidative stress. Two major effect QTL for amphotericin B resistance map to the genes SSK1 and SSK2, which encode key components of the HOG pathway, a fungal-specific signal transduction network that orchestrates cellular responses to osmotic and other stresses. We also discovered complex epistatic interactions within and between genes in the HOG and cAMP-PKA pathways that regulate antifungal drug resistance and resistance to oxidative stress. Our findings advance the understanding of virulence traits among diverse lineages of Cryptococcus, and highlight the role of genetic variation in key stress-responsive signaling pathways as a major contributor to phenotypic variation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cullen Roth
- Department of Biology, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, United States of America
- University Program in Genetics and Genomics, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - Debra Murray
- Department of Biology, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - Alexandria Scott
- Department of Biology, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - Ci Fu
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - Anna F. Averette
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - Sheng Sun
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - Joseph Heitman
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - Paul M. Magwene
- Department of Biology, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, United States of America
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Serial Passage of Cryptococcus neoformans in Galleria mellonella Results in Increased Capsule and Intracellular Replication in Hemocytes, but Not Increased Resistance to Hydrogen Peroxide. Pathogens 2020; 9:pathogens9090732. [PMID: 32899539 PMCID: PMC7559301 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens9090732] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2020] [Revised: 09/04/2020] [Accepted: 09/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
To gain insight into how pathogens adapt to new hosts, Cryptococcus neoformans (H99W) was serially passaged in Galleria mellonella. The phenotypic characteristics of the passaged strain (P15) and H99W were evaluated. P15 grew faster in hemolymph than H99W, in vitro and in vivo, suggesting that adaptation had occurred. However, P15 was more susceptible to hydrogen peroxide in vitro, killed fewer mouse macrophages, and had less fungal burden in human ex vivo macrophages than H99W. Analysis of gene expression changes during Galleria infection showed only a few different genes involved in the reactive oxygen species response. As P15 sheds more GXM than H99W, P15 may have adapted by downregulating hemocyte hydrogen peroxide production, possibly through increased capsular glucuronoxylomannan (GXM) shedding. Hemocytes infected with P15 produced less hydrogen peroxide, and hydrogen peroxide production in response to GXM-shedding mutants was correlated with shed GXM. Histopathological examination of infected larvae showed increased numbers and sizes of immune nodules for P15 compared to H99W, suggesting an enhanced, but functionally defective, response to P15. These results could explain why this infection model does not always correlate with murine models. Overall, C. neoformans’ serial passage in G. mellonella resulted in a better understanding of how this yeast evolves under selection.
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Freitas e Silva KS, C. Silva L, Gonçales RA, Neves BJ, Soares CM, Pereira M. Setting New Routes for Antifungal Drug Discovery Against Pathogenic Fungi. Curr Pharm Des 2020; 26:1509-1520. [DOI: 10.2174/1381612826666200317125956] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2019] [Accepted: 02/11/2020] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
:Fungal diseases are life-threatening to human health and responsible for millions of deaths around the world. Fungal pathogens lead to a high number of morbidity and mortality. Current antifungal treatment comprises drugs, such as azoles, echinocandins, and polyenes and the cure is not guaranteed. In addition, such drugs are related to severe side effects and the treatment lasts for an extended period. Thus, setting new routes for the discovery of effective and safe antifungal drugs should be a priority within the health care system. The discovery of alternative and efficient antifungal drugs showing fewer side effects is time-consuming and remains a challenge. Natural products can be a source of antifungals and used in combinatorial therapy. The most important natural products are antifungal peptides, antifungal lectins, antifungal plants, and fungi secondary metabolites. Several proteins, enzymes, and metabolic pathways could be targets for the discovery of efficient inhibitor compounds and recently, heat shock proteins, calcineurin, salinomycin, the trehalose biosynthetic pathway, and the glyoxylate cycle have been investigated in several fungal species. HSP protein inhibitors and echinocandins have been shown to have a fungicidal effect against azole-resistant fungi strains. Transcriptomic and proteomic approaches have advanced antifungal drug discovery and pointed to new important specific-pathogen targets. Certain enzymes, such as those from the glyoxylate cycle, have been a target of antifungal compounds in several fungi species. Natural and synthetic compounds inhibited the activity of such enzymes and reduced the ability of fungal cells to transit from mycelium to yeast, proving to be promisor antifungal agents. Finally, computational biology has developed effective approaches, setting new routes for early antifungal drug discovery since normal approaches take several years from discovery to clinical use. Thus, the development of new antifungal strategies might reduce the therapeutic time and increase the quality of life of patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kleber S. Freitas e Silva
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiânia, Brazil
| | - Lívia C. Silva
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiânia, Brazil
| | - Relber A. Gonçales
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiânia, Brazil
| | - Bruno J. Neves
- LabMol - Laboratory for Molecular Modeling and Drug Design, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiânia, GO, 74605-510, Brazil
| | - Célia M.A. Soares
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiânia, Brazil
| | - Maristela Pereira
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiânia, Brazil
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Siqueira AS, Lima ARJ, Aguiar DCF, Santos AS, Vianez Júnior JLDSG, Gonçalves EC. Genomic screening of new putative antiviral lectins from Amazonian cyanobacteria based on a bioinformatics approach. Proteins 2018; 86:1047-1054. [PMID: 30035823 PMCID: PMC7167734 DOI: 10.1002/prot.25577] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2018] [Revised: 05/21/2018] [Accepted: 06/22/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Lectins are proteins of nonimmune origin, which are capable of recognizing and binding to glycoconjugate moieties. Some of them can block the interaction of viral glycoproteins to the host cell receptors acting as antiviral agents. Although cyanobacterial lectins have presented broad biotechnological potential, little research has been directed to Amazonian Cyanobacterial diversity. In order to identify new antiviral lectins, we performed genomic analysis in seven cyanobacterial strains from Coleção Amazônica de Cianobactérias e Microalgas (CACIAM). We found 75 unique CDS presenting one or more lectin domains. Since almost all were annotated as hypothetical proteins, we used homology modeling and molecular dynamics simulations to evaluate the structural and functional properties of three CDS that were more similar to known antiviral lectins. Nostoc sp. CACIAM 19 as well as Tolypothrix sp. CACIAM 22 strains presented cyanovirin‐N homologues whose function was confirmed by binding free energy calculations. Asn, Glu, Thr, Lys, Leu, and Gly, which were described as binding residues for cyanovirin, were also observed on those structures. As for other known cyanovirins, those residues in both our models also made favorable interactions with dimannose. Finally, Alkalinema sp. CACIAM 70d presented one CDS, which was identified as a seven‐bladed beta‐propeller structure with binding sites predicted for sialic acid and N‐acetylglucosamine. Despite its singular structure, our analysis suggested this molecule as a new putative antiviral lectin. Overall, the identification and the characterization of new lectins and their homologues are a promising area in antiviral research, and Amazonian cyanobacteria present biotechnological potential to be explored in this regard.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrei Santos Siqueira
- Laboratório de Tecnologia Biomolecular – Instituto de Ciências BiológicasUniversidade Federal do ParáBelém‐PennsylvaniaBrazil
| | - Alex Ranieri Jerônimo Lima
- Laboratório de Tecnologia Biomolecular – Instituto de Ciências BiológicasUniversidade Federal do ParáBelém‐PennsylvaniaBrazil
| | - Delia Cristina Figueira Aguiar
- Laboratório de Tecnologia Biomolecular – Instituto de Ciências BiológicasUniversidade Federal do ParáBelém‐PennsylvaniaBrazil
| | - Alberdan Silva Santos
- Laboratórios de Investigação Sistemática em Biotecnologia e Biodiversidade Molecular – Instituto de Ciências Naturais – Universidade Federal do ParáBelém‐PennsylvaniaBrazil
| | | | - Evonnildo Costa Gonçalves
- Laboratório de Tecnologia Biomolecular – Instituto de Ciências BiológicasUniversidade Federal do ParáBelém‐PennsylvaniaBrazil
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Breitenbach Barroso Coelho LC, Marcelino Dos Santos Silva P, Felix de Oliveira W, de Moura MC, Viana Pontual E, Soares Gomes F, Guedes Paiva PM, Napoleão TH, Dos Santos Correia MT. Lectins as antimicrobial agents. J Appl Microbiol 2018; 125:1238-1252. [PMID: 30053345 DOI: 10.1111/jam.14055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2017] [Revised: 06/23/2018] [Accepted: 07/15/2018] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
The resistance of micro-organisms to antimicrobial agents has been a challenge to treat animal and human infections, and for environmental control. Lectins are natural proteins and some are potent antimicrobials through binding to carbohydrates on microbial surfaces. Oligomerization state of lectins can influence their biological activity and maximum binding capacity; the association among lectin polypeptide chains can alter the carbohydrate-lectin binding dissociation rate constants. Antimicrobial mechanisms of lectins include the pore formation ability, followed by changes in the cell permeability and latter, indicates interactions with the bacterial cell wall components. In addition, the antifungal activity of lectins is associated with the chitin-binding property, resulting in the disintegration of the cell wall or the arrest of de novo synthesis from the cell wall during fungal development or division. Quorum sensing is a cell-to-cell communication process that allows interspecies and interkingdom signalling which coordinate virulence genes; antiquorum-sensing therapies are described for animal and plant lectins. This review article, among other approaches, evaluates lectins as antimicrobials.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - W Felix de Oliveira
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Centro de Biociências, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife, Brazil
| | - M C de Moura
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Centro de Biociências, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife, Brazil
| | - E Viana Pontual
- Departamento de Morfologia e Fisiologia Animal, Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco, Recife, Brazil
| | - F Soares Gomes
- Instituto de Química e Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal de Alagoas, Maceió, Brazil
| | - P M Guedes Paiva
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Centro de Biociências, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife, Brazil
| | - T H Napoleão
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Centro de Biociências, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife, Brazil
| | - M T Dos Santos Correia
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Centro de Biociências, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife, Brazil
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