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Hilpert K, Rumancev C, Gani J, Collis DWP, Lopez-Perez PM, Garamus VM, Mikut R, Rosenhahn A. Can BioSAXS detect ultrastructural changes of antifungal compounds in Candida albicans?-an exploratory study. Front Pharmacol 2023; 14:1141785. [PMID: 37533629 PMCID: PMC10393279 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2023.1141785] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2023] [Accepted: 07/06/2023] [Indexed: 08/04/2023] Open
Abstract
The opportunistic yeast Candida albicans is the most common cause of candidiasis. With only four classes of antifungal drugs on the market, resistance is becoming a problem in the treatment of fungal infections, especially in immunocompromised patients. The development of novel antifungal drugs with different modes of action is urgent. In 2016, we developed a groundbreaking new medium-throughput method to distinguish the effects of antibacterial agents. Using small-angle X-ray scattering for biological samples (BioSAXS), it is now possible to screen hundreds of new antibacterial compounds and select those with the highest probability for a novel mode of action. However, yeast (eukaryotic) cells are highly structured compared to bacteria. The fundamental question to answer was if the ultrastructural changes induced by the action of an antifungal drug can be detected even when most structures in the cell stay unchanged. In this exploratory work, BioSAXS was used to measure the ultrastructural changes of C. albicans that were directly or indirectly induced by antifungal compounds. For this, the well-characterized antifungal drug Flucytosine was used. BioSAXS measurements were performed on the synchrotron P12 BioSAXS beamline, EMBL (DESY, Hamburg) on treated and untreated yeast C. albicans. BioSAXS curves were analysed using principal component analysis (PCA). The PCA showed that Flucytosine-treated and untreated yeast were separated. Based on that success further measurements were performed on five antifungal peptides {1. Cecropin A-melittin hybrid [CA (1-7) M (2-9)], KWKLFKKIGAVLKVL; 2. Lasioglossin LL-III, VNWKKILGKIIKVVK; 3. Mastoparan M, INLKAIAALAKKLL; 4. Bmkn2, FIGAIARLLSKIFGKR; and 5. optP7, KRRVRWIIW}. The ultrastructural changes of C. albicans indicate that the peptides may have different modes of action compared to Flucytosine as well as to each other, except for the Cecropin A-melittin hybrid [CA (1-7) M (2-9)] and optP7, showing very similar effects on C. albicans. This very first study demonstrates that BioSAXS shows promise to be used for antifungal drug development. However, this first study has limitations and further experiments are necessary to establish this application.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kai Hilpert
- Institute of Infection and Immunology, St. George’s, University of London (SGUL), London, United Kingdom
| | - Christoph Rumancev
- Laboratory Analytical Chemistry—Biointerfaces, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Jurnorain Gani
- Institute of Infection and Immunology, St. George’s, University of London (SGUL), London, United Kingdom
| | | | | | | | - Ralf Mikut
- Institute for Automation and Applied Informatics (IAI), Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Karlsruhe, Germany
| | - Axel Rosenhahn
- Laboratory Analytical Chemistry—Biointerfaces, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
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2
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de Santana CJC, Pires Júnior OR, Fontes W, Palma MS, Castro MS. Mastoparans: A Group of Multifunctional α-Helical Peptides With Promising Therapeutic Properties. Front Mol Biosci 2022; 9:824989. [PMID: 35813822 PMCID: PMC9263278 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2022.824989] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2021] [Accepted: 03/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Biologically active peptides have been attracting increasing attention, whether to improve the understanding of their mechanisms of action or in the search for new therapeutic drugs. Wasp venoms have been explored as a remarkable source for these molecules. In this review, the main findings on the group of wasp linear cationic α-helical peptides called mastoparans were discussed. These compounds have a wide variety of biological effects, including mast cell degranulation, activation of protein G, phospholipase A2, C, and D activation, serotonin and insulin release, and antimicrobial, hemolytic, and anticancer activities, which could lead to the development of new therapeutic agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlos José Correia de Santana
- Laboratory of Toxinology, Department of Physiological Sciences, Institute of Biological Sciences, University of Brasília, Brasília, Brazil
- Laboratory of Protein Chemistry and Biochemistry, Department of Cell Biology, Institute of Biological Sciences, University of Brasília, Brasília, Brazil
| | - Osmindo Rodrigues Pires Júnior
- Laboratory of Toxinology, Department of Physiological Sciences, Institute of Biological Sciences, University of Brasília, Brasília, Brazil
| | - Wagner Fontes
- Laboratory of Protein Chemistry and Biochemistry, Department of Cell Biology, Institute of Biological Sciences, University of Brasília, Brasília, Brazil
| | - Mário Sérgio Palma
- Department of Basic and Applied Biology, Institute of Biosciences of Rio Claro, São Paulo State University, UNESP, Rio Claro, Brazil
| | - Mariana S. Castro
- Laboratory of Toxinology, Department of Physiological Sciences, Institute of Biological Sciences, University of Brasília, Brasília, Brazil
- Laboratory of Protein Chemistry and Biochemistry, Department of Cell Biology, Institute of Biological Sciences, University of Brasília, Brasília, Brazil
- *Correspondence: Mariana S. Castro,
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3
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Mastoparan, a Peptide Toxin from Wasp Venom Conjugated Fluvastatin Nanocomplex for Suppression of Lung Cancer Cell Growth. Polymers (Basel) 2021; 13:polym13234225. [PMID: 34883728 PMCID: PMC8659920 DOI: 10.3390/polym13234225] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2021] [Revised: 11/23/2021] [Accepted: 11/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Lung cancer has a very low survival rate, and non-small cell lung cancer comprises around 85% of all types of lung cancers. Fluvastatin (FLV) has demonstrated the apoptosis and suppression of tumor-cell proliferation against lung cancer cells in vitro. Drug–peptide nanoconjugates were found to enhance the cytotoxicity of anti-cancer drugs. Thus, the present study aimed to develop a nanocomplex of FLV with mastoparan (MAS), which is a peptide that has membranolytic anti-tumor activity. The nanocomplex of FLV and MAS (MAS-FLV-NC) was prepared and optimized for particle size using Box–Behnken design. The amount of FLV had the highest influence on particle size. While higher levels of FLV and incubation time favored higher particle size, a higher level of sonication time reduced the particle size of MAS-FLV-NC. The optimum formula of MAS-FLV-NC used 1.00 mg of FLV and was prepared with an incubation time of 12.1339 min and a sonication time of 6 min. The resultant particle size was 77.648 nm. The in vitro cell line studies of MAS-FLV-NC, FLV, and MAS were carried out in A549 cells. The IC50 values of MAS-FLV-NC, FLV, and MAS were 18.6 ± 0.9, 58.4 ± 2.8, and 34.3 ± 1.6 µg/mL respectively, showing the enhanced cytotoxicity of MAS-FLV-NC. The apoptotic activity showed that MAS-FLV-NC produced a higher percentage of cells in the late phase, showing a higher apoptotic activity than FLV and MAS. Furthermore, cell cycle arrest in S and Pre G1 phases by MAS-FLV-NC was observed in the cell cycle analysis by flow cytometry. The loss of mitochondrial membrane potential after MAS-FLV-NC treatment was significantly higher than those observed for FLV and MAS. The IL-1β, IL-6, and NF-kB expressions were inhibited, whereas TNF-α, caspase-3, and ROS expressions were enhanced by MAS-FLV-NC treatment. Furthermore, the expression levels of Bax, Bcl-2, and p53 strongly established the enhanced cytotoxic effect of MAS-FLV-NC. The results indicated that MAS-FLV-NC has better cytotoxicity than individual effects of MAS and FLV in A549 cells. Further pre-clinical and clinical studies are needed for developing MAS-FLV-NC to a clinically successful therapeutic approach against lung cancer.
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Biological and Inflammatory Effects of Antigen 5 from Polybia paulista (Hymenoptera, Vespidae) Venom in Mouse Intraperitoneal Macrophages. Toxins (Basel) 2021; 13:toxins13120850. [PMID: 34941688 PMCID: PMC8703750 DOI: 10.3390/toxins13120850] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2021] [Revised: 10/17/2021] [Accepted: 10/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The social wasp Polybia paulista (Hymenoptera, Vespidae) is highly aggressive, being responsible for many medical occurrences. One of the most allergenic components of this venom is Antigen 5 (Poly p 5). The possible modulation of the in vitro immune response induced by antigen 5 from P. paulista venom, expressed recombinantly (rPoly p 5), on BALB/c mice peritoneal macrophages, activated or not with LPS, was assessed. Here, we analyzed cell viability changes, expression of the phosphorylated form of p65 NF-κB subunit, nitric oxide (NO), proinflammatory cytokines production, and co-stimulatory molecules (CD80, CD86). The results suggest that rPoly p 5 does not affect NO production nor the expression of co-stimulatory molecules in mouse peritoneal macrophages. On the other hand, rPoly p 5 induced an increase in IL-1β production in non-activated macrophages and a reduction in the production of TNF-α and MCP-1 cytokines in activated macrophages. rPoly p 5 decreased the in vitro production of the phosphorylated p65 NF-κB subunit in non-activated macrophages. These findings suggest an essential role of this allergen in the polarization of functional M2 macrophage phenotypes, when analyzed in previously activated macrophages. Further investigations, mainly in in vivo studies, should be conducted to elucidate Polybia paulista Ag5 biological role in the macrophage functional profile modulation.
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5
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El-Benna J, Hurtado-Nedelec M, Gougerot-Pocidalo MA, Dang PMC. Effects of venoms on neutrophil respiratory burst: a major inflammatory function. J Venom Anim Toxins Incl Trop Dis 2021; 27:e20200179. [PMID: 34249119 PMCID: PMC8237995 DOI: 10.1590/1678-9199-jvatitd-2020-0179] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2020] [Accepted: 03/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Neutrophils play a pivotal role in innate immunity and in the inflammatory
response. Neutrophils are very motile cells that are rapidly recruited to the
inflammatory site as the body first line of defense. Their bactericidal activity
is due to the release into the phagocytic vacuole, called phagosome, of several
toxic molecules directed against microbes. Neutrophil stimulation induces
release of this arsenal into the phagosome and induces the assembly at the
membrane of subunits of the NAPDH oxidase, the enzyme responsible for the
production of superoxide anion that gives rise to other reactive oxygen species
(ROS), a process called respiratory burst. Altogether, they are responsible for
the bactericidal activity of the neutrophils. Excessive activation of
neutrophils can lead to extensive release of these toxic agents, inducing tissue
injury and the inflammatory reaction. Envenomation, caused by different animal
species (bees, wasps, scorpions, snakes etc.), is well known to induce a local
and acute inflammatory reaction, characterized by recruitment and activation of
leukocytes and the release of several inflammatory mediators, including
prostaglandins and cytokines. Venoms contain several molecules such as enzymes
(phospholipase A2, L-amino acid oxidase and proteases, among others) and
peptides (disintegrins, mastoporan, parabutoporin etc.). These molecules are
able to stimulate or inhibit ROS production by neutrophils. The present review
article gives a general overview of the main neutrophil functions focusing on
ROS production and summarizes how venoms and venom molecules can affect this
function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jamel El-Benna
- Université de Paris, INSERM-U1149, CNRS-ERL8252, Centre de Recherche sur l'Inflammation (CRI), Laboratoire d'Excellence Inflamex, Faculté de Médecine Xavier Bichat, Paris, France
| | - Margarita Hurtado-Nedelec
- Université de Paris, INSERM-U1149, CNRS-ERL8252, Centre de Recherche sur l'Inflammation (CRI), Laboratoire d'Excellence Inflamex, Faculté de Médecine Xavier Bichat, Paris, France.,AP-HP, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Xavier Bichat, UF Dysfonctionnements Immunitaires, Paris, France
| | - Marie-Anne Gougerot-Pocidalo
- Université de Paris, INSERM-U1149, CNRS-ERL8252, Centre de Recherche sur l'Inflammation (CRI), Laboratoire d'Excellence Inflamex, Faculté de Médecine Xavier Bichat, Paris, France.,AP-HP, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Xavier Bichat, UF Dysfonctionnements Immunitaires, Paris, France
| | - Pham My-Chan Dang
- Université de Paris, INSERM-U1149, CNRS-ERL8252, Centre de Recherche sur l'Inflammation (CRI), Laboratoire d'Excellence Inflamex, Faculté de Médecine Xavier Bichat, Paris, France
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6
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Wasp Venom Biochemical Components and Their Potential in Biological Applications and Nanotechnological Interventions. Toxins (Basel) 2021; 13:toxins13030206. [PMID: 33809401 PMCID: PMC8000949 DOI: 10.3390/toxins13030206] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2021] [Revised: 02/26/2021] [Accepted: 03/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Wasps, members of the order Hymenoptera, are distributed in different parts of the world, including Brazil, Thailand, Japan, Korea, and Argentina. The lifestyles of the wasps are solitary and social. Social wasps use venom as a defensive measure to protect their colonies, whereas solitary wasps use their venom to capture prey. Chemically, wasp venom possesses a wide variety of enzymes, proteins, peptides, volatile compounds, and bioactive constituents, which include phospholipase A2, antigen 5, mastoparan, and decoralin. The bioactive constituents have anticancer, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory effects. However, the limited quantities of wasp venom and the scarcity of advanced strategies for the synthesis of wasp venom’s bioactive compounds remain a challenge facing the effective usage of wasp venom. Solid-phase peptide synthesis is currently used to prepare wasp venom peptides and their analogs such as mastoparan, anoplin, decoralin, polybia-CP, and polydim-I. The goal of the current review is to highlight the medicinal value of the wasp venom compounds, as well as limitations and possibilities. Wasp venom could be a potential and novel natural source to develop innovative pharmaceuticals and new agents for drug discovery.
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7
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Dantas EMGL, Lima SMF, Cantuária APC, Amorim IA, Almeida JA, Cunha TF, Franco OL, Rezende TMB. Synergistic activity of chlorhexidine and synoeca-MP peptide against Pseudomonas aeruginosa. J Cell Physiol 2019; 234:16068-16079. [PMID: 30740688 DOI: 10.1002/jcp.28265] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2017] [Revised: 01/16/2019] [Accepted: 01/22/2019] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
This study aims to evaluate the in vitro antimicrobial and immunomodulatory activities and cytotoxicity of chlorhexidine (CHX) and synoeca-MP peptide alone or in combination against Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The antimicrobial property was evaluated by the determination of minimal inhibitory concentration, minimum bactericidal concentration, and planktonic bacteria and biofilm inhibition. Immunomodulatory activity was determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and nitric oxide production by the Griess reaction method. According to the results, synoeca-MP combined with CHX demonstrated antimicrobial effectiveness compared with its isolated use, in addition to immunomodulatory activity (upregulating MPC-1 and tumor necrosis factor-α and downregulating nitric oxide and interleukin-10). In this context, it is expected that the substances, together, could be capable of controlling bacterial infection and dissemination, besides potentiating macrophages' immune response against the studied microorganism. Moreover, reducing the CHX concentration by the addition of synoeca-MP peptide may, in a beneficial way, minimize the undesirable effects of both, CHX and synoeca-MP in a clinical setting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elaine M G L Dantas
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências da Saúde, Faculdade de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade de Brasília, Brasília, Federal District, Brazil.,Curso de Odontologia, Escola de Saúde, Universidade Católica de Brasília, Campus 1, Brasília, Federal District, Brazil.,Centro de Análises Proteômicas e Bioquímicas, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Genômicas e Biotecnologia, Escola de Saúde, Universidade Católica de Brasília, Campus Avançado Asa Norte, Brasília, Federal District, Brazil
| | - Stella M F Lima
- Curso de Odontologia, Escola de Saúde, Universidade Católica de Brasília, Campus 1, Brasília, Federal District, Brazil.,Centro de Análises Proteômicas e Bioquímicas, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Genômicas e Biotecnologia, Escola de Saúde, Universidade Católica de Brasília, Campus Avançado Asa Norte, Brasília, Federal District, Brazil
| | - Ana Paula C Cantuária
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências da Saúde, Faculdade de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade de Brasília, Brasília, Federal District, Brazil
| | - Ingrid A Amorim
- Centro de Análises Proteômicas e Bioquímicas, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Genômicas e Biotecnologia, Escola de Saúde, Universidade Católica de Brasília, Campus Avançado Asa Norte, Brasília, Federal District, Brazil
| | - Jeeser A Almeida
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Saúde e Desenvolvimento na Região Centro-Oeste, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso do Sul, Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil
| | - Tássio F Cunha
- Curso de Odontologia, Escola de Saúde, Universidade Católica de Brasília, Campus 1, Brasília, Federal District, Brazil
| | - Octávio L Franco
- Centro de Análises Proteômicas e Bioquímicas, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Genômicas e Biotecnologia, Escola de Saúde, Universidade Católica de Brasília, Campus Avançado Asa Norte, Brasília, Federal District, Brazil.,Programa de Doutorado da Rede Centro-Oeste, Universidade de Brasília, Campus Universitário Darcy Ribeiro, Brasília, Federal District, Brazil.,S-Inova Biotech, Pós-Graduação em Biotecnologia, Universidade Católica Dom Bosco, Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil
| | - Taia M B Rezende
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências da Saúde, Faculdade de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade de Brasília, Brasília, Federal District, Brazil.,Curso de Odontologia, Escola de Saúde, Universidade Católica de Brasília, Campus 1, Brasília, Federal District, Brazil.,Centro de Análises Proteômicas e Bioquímicas, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Genômicas e Biotecnologia, Escola de Saúde, Universidade Católica de Brasília, Campus Avançado Asa Norte, Brasília, Federal District, Brazil
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8
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Pucca MB, Cerni FA, Pinheiro-Junior EL, Zoccal KF, Bordon KDCF, Amorim FG, Peigneur S, Vriens K, Thevissen K, Cammue BPA, Júnior RBM, Arruda E, Faccioli LH, Tytgat J, Arantes EC. Non-disulfide-bridged peptides from Tityus serrulatus venom: Evidence for proline-free ACE-inhibitors. Peptides 2016; 82:44-51. [PMID: 27221550 DOI: 10.1016/j.peptides.2016.05.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2016] [Revised: 05/15/2016] [Accepted: 05/19/2016] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
The present study purifies two T. serrulatus non-disulfide-bridged peptides (NDBPs), named venom peptides 7.2 (RLRSKG) and 8 (KIWRS) and details their synthesis and biological activity, comparing to the synthetic venom peptide 7.1 (RLRSKGKK), previously identified. The synthetic replicate peptides were subjected to a range of biological assays: hemolytic, antifungal, antiviral, electrophysiological, immunological and angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibition activities. All venom peptides neither showed to be cytolytic nor demonstrated significant antifungal or antiviral activities. Interestingly, peptides were able to modulate macrophages' responses, increasing IL-6 production. The three venom peptides also demonstrated potential to inhibit ACE in the following order: 7.2>7.1>8. The ACE inhibition activity was unexpected, since peptides that display this function are usually proline-rich peptides. In attempt to understand the origin of such small peptides, we discovered that the isolated peptides 7.2 and 8 are fragments of the same molecule, named Pape peptide precursor. Furthermore, the study discusses that Pape fragments could be originated from a post-splitting mechanism resulting from metalloserrulases and other proteinases cleavage, which can be seen as a clever mechanism used by the scorpion to enlarge its repertoire of venom components. Scorpion venom remains as an interesting source of bioactive proteins and this study advances our knowledge about three NDBPs and their biological activities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manuela Berto Pucca
- Department of Physics and Chemistry, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil
| | - Felipe Augusto Cerni
- Department of Physics and Chemistry, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil
| | - Ernesto Lopes Pinheiro-Junior
- Department of Physics and Chemistry, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil
| | - Karina Furlani Zoccal
- Department of Clinical Analysis, Toxicology and Food Science, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil
| | - Karla de Castro Figueiredo Bordon
- Department of Physics and Chemistry, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil
| | - Fernanda Gobbi Amorim
- Department of Physics and Chemistry, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil
| | - Steve Peigneur
- Toxicology and Pharmacology, University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Kim Vriens
- Centre of Microbial and Plant Genetics, University of Leuven, Heverlee, Belgium
| | - Karin Thevissen
- Centre of Microbial and Plant Genetics, University of Leuven, Heverlee, Belgium
| | - Bruno Philippe Angelo Cammue
- Centre of Microbial and Plant Genetics, University of Leuven, Heverlee, Belgium; Department of Plant Systems Biology, VIB, Technologiepark 927, 9052 Gent, Belgium
| | | | - Eurico Arruda
- Department of Cell Biology, School of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil
| | - Lúcia Helena Faccioli
- Department of Clinical Analysis, Toxicology and Food Science, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil
| | - Jan Tytgat
- Toxicology and Pharmacology, University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Eliane Candiani Arantes
- Department of Physics and Chemistry, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil.
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9
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Sousa PL, Quinet YP, Cavalcante Brizeno LA, Sampaio TL, Torres AFC, Martins AMC, Assreuy AMS. The acute inflammatory response induced in mice by the venom of the giant ant Dinoponera quadriceps involves macrophage and interleukin-1β. Toxicon 2016; 117:22-9. [DOI: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2016.03.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2015] [Revised: 03/11/2016] [Accepted: 03/15/2016] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
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10
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Zare-Zardini H, Taheri-Kafrani A, Ordooei M, Ebrahimi L, Tolueinia B, Soleimanizadeh M. Identification and biochemical characterization of a new antibacterial and antifungal peptide derived from the insect Sphodromantis viridis. BIOCHEMISTRY (MOSCOW) 2016; 80:433-40. [PMID: 25869360 DOI: 10.1134/s0006297915040069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Antimicrobial peptides are members of the immune system that protect the host from infection. In this study, a potent and structurally novel antimicrobial peptide was isolated and characterized from praying mantis Sphodromantis viridis. This 14-amino acid peptide was purified by RP-HPLC. Tandem mass spectrometry was used for sequencing this peptide, and the results showed that the peptide belongs to the Mastoparan family. The peptide was named Mastoparan-S. Mastoparan-S demonstrated that it has antimicrobial activities against a broad spectrum of microorganisms (Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria and fungi), and it was found to be more potent than common antibiotics such as kanamycin. Mastoparan-S showed higher antimicrobial activity against Gram-negative bacteria compared to Gram-positive ones and fungi. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values of Mastoparan-S are 15.1-28.3 µg/ml for bacterial and 19.3-24.6 µg/ml for fungal pathogens. In addition, this newly described peptide showed low hemolytic activity against human red blood cells. The in vitro cytotoxicity of Mastoparan-S was also evaluated on monolayer of normal human cells (HeLa) by MTT assay, and the results illustrated that Mastoparan-S had significant cytotoxicity at concentrations higher than 40 µg/ml and had no any cytotoxicity at the MIC (≤30 µg/ml). The findings of the present study reveal that this newly described peptide can be introduced as an appropriate candidate for treatment of topical infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hadi Zare-Zardini
- Young Researchers and Elite Club, Yazd Branch, Islamic Azad University, Yazd, Iran
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11
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Biological activity of a small molecule indole analog, 1-[(1H-indol-3-yl)methylene]-2-phenylhydrazine (HMPH), in chronic inflammation. Chem Biol Interact 2016; 244:71-83. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cbi.2015.10.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2015] [Revised: 10/15/2015] [Accepted: 10/31/2015] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
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12
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Liu S, Wang F, Tang L, Gui W, Cao P, Liu X, Poon AWS, Shaw PC, Jiang T. Crystal structure of mastoparan from Polistes jadwagae at 1.2Å resolution. J Struct Biol 2007; 160:28-34. [PMID: 17656112 DOI: 10.1016/j.jsb.2007.06.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2007] [Revised: 05/28/2007] [Accepted: 06/15/2007] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Mastoparans, a group of amphiphilic tetradecapeptides, are the major peptides in social wasp venoms and possess a variety of biological activities. Here we report the first crystal structure of mastoparan from Polistes jadwagae (MP-PJ) at 1.2 A resolution. The crystals belong to the space group P2(1) with eight molecules in an asymmetric unit. In contrast to the previous observations that the alpha-helical conformation only exists in the membrane-bound state of mastoparans, all of the MP-PJ molecules are in possession of the alpha-helical conformation even in the absence of trifluorethanol or detergents in the crystallization system. The high-resolution structure enables us to compare the conformation differences of MP-PJ with NMR results of other mastoparans. Together with biochemical results, we propose that the interactions between mastoparan molecules play an important role in forming the alpha-helical conformation, which is highly related to their biological activities.
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Affiliation(s)
- ShengQuan Liu
- National Laboratory of Biomacromolecules, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 15 Datun Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100101, China
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