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Senra MVX. In silico characterization of cysteine-stabilized αβ defensins from neglected unicellular microeukaryotes. BMC Microbiol 2023; 23:82. [PMID: 36966312 PMCID: PMC10040121 DOI: 10.1186/s12866-023-02817-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2022] [Accepted: 03/09/2023] [Indexed: 03/27/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The emergence of multi-resistant pathogens have increased dramatically in recent years, becoming a major public-health concern. Among other promising antimicrobial molecules with potential to assist in this worldwide struggle, cysteine-stabilized αβ (CS-αβ) defensins are attracting attention due their efficacy, stability, and broad spectrum against viruses, bacteria, fungi, and protists, including many known human pathogens. RESULTS Here, 23 genomes of ciliated protists were screened and two CS-αβ defensins with a likely antifungal activity were identified and characterized, using bioinformatics, from a culturable freshwater species, Laurentiella sp. (LsAMP-1 and LsAMP-2). Although any potential cellular ligand could be predicted for LsAMP-2; evidences from structural, molecular dynamics, and docking analyses suggest that LsAMP-1 may form stably associations with phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphates (PIP2), a phospholipid found on many eukaryotic cells, which could, in turn, represent an anchorage mechanism within plasma membrane of targeted cells. CONCLUSION These data stress that more biotechnology-oriented studies should be conducted on neglected protists, such ciliates, which could become valuable sources of novel bioactive molecules for therapeutic uses.
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Rahimi S, Rafinejad J, Akhavan AA, Ahmadkhaniha R, Bakhtiyari M, Khamesipour A, Akbarzadeh K. The therapeutic effect of larval saliva and hemolymph of Lucilia sericata on the treatment of Leishmania major lesion in BALB/c mice946. Parasit Vectors 2023; 16:72. [PMID: 36797798 PMCID: PMC9936726 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-023-05660-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/01/2023] [Accepted: 01/10/2023] [Indexed: 02/18/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) remains a major challenge for the public health and medical community. It has been claimed that natural compounds derived from fly larvae have anti-leishmania properties against some species of Leishmania. The present study aimed at assessing the in vitro effects of larval products of Lucilia sericata against the promastigote and intracellular amastigote forms of Leishmania major. Also, the therapeutic effect of larval products on lesions induced by L. major infection was evaluated in BALB/c mice models. METHODS Parasite specimens and macrophage cells were exposed to varying concentrations of larval products for 24-120 h. Lesion progression and parasite load were investigated in the models to assess the therapeutic effects of the products. RESULTS The larval products displayed more potent cytotoxicity against L. major promastigotes. The IC50 values for larval saliva and hemolymph were 100.6 and 37.96 ug/ml, respectively. The IC50 of glucantime was 9.480 ug/ml. Also, the saliva and hemolymph of L. sericata exhibited higher cytotoxicity against the promastigotes of L. major but were less toxic to the macrophage cells. Treatment with leishmanicidal agents derived from larvae of L. sericata decreased the infection rate and the number of amastigotes per infected host cell at all concentrations. Lesion size was significantly (F (7, 38) = 8.54, P < 0.0001) smaller in the treated mice compared with the untreated control group. The average parasite burden in the treated mice groups (1.81 ± 0.74, 1.03 ± 0.45 and 3.37 ± 0.41) was similar to the group treated with a daily injection of glucantime (1.77 ± 0.99) and significantly lower (F (7, 16) = 66.39, P < 0.0001) than in the untreated control group (6.72 ± 2.37). CONCLUSIONS The results suggest that the larval products of L. sericata were effective against L. major parasites both in vivo and in vitro. However, more clinical trial studies are recommended to evaluate the effects of these larval products on human subjects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Rahimi
- grid.449862.50000 0004 0518 4224Medicinal Plants Research Center, Maragheh University of Medical Sciences, Maragheh, Iran
| | - Javad Rafinejad
- grid.411705.60000 0001 0166 0922Department of Medical Entomology and Vector Control, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Amir Ahmad Akhavan
- grid.411705.60000 0001 0166 0922Department of Medical Entomology and Vector Control, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Reza Ahmadkhaniha
- grid.411705.60000 0001 0166 0922Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Department of Human Ecology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mahmood Bakhtiyari
- grid.411705.60000 0001 0166 0922Department of Community Medicine and Epidemiology, School of Medicine Non-Communicable Diseases Research Center Alborz University of Medical Sciences, Karaj, Iran
| | - Ali Khamesipour
- Center for Research and Training in Skin Diseases and Leprosy, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Kamran Akbarzadeh
- Department of Medical Entomology and Vector Control, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
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Rahimi S, Khamesipour A, Akhavan AA, Rafinejad J, Ahmadkhaniha R, Bakhtiyari M, Veysi A, Akbarzadeh K. The leishmanicidal effect of Lucilia sericata larval saliva and hemolymph on in vitro Leishmania tropica. Parasit Vectors 2021; 14:40. [PMID: 33430900 PMCID: PMC7798311 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-020-04543-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2020] [Accepted: 12/11/2020] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Leishmaniasis is a major parasitic disease worldwide, except in Australia and Antarctica, and it poses a significant public health problem. Due to the absence of safe and effective vaccines and drugs, researchers have begun an extensive search for new drugs. The aim of the current study was to investigate the in vitro leishmanicidal activity of larval saliva and hemolymph of Lucilia sericata on Leishmania tropica. Methods The effects of different concentrations of larval products on promastigotes and intracellular amastigotes of L. tropica were investigated using the mouse cell line J774A.1 and peritoneal macrophages as host cells. The 3-(4.5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay and direct observation and counting method were used to assess the inhibitory effects and cell cytotoxicity of the larval products. The effects of larval products on the amastigote form of L. tropica were quantitatively estimated by calculating the rate of macrophage infection, number of amastigotes per infected macrophage cell, parasite load and survival index. Results The 50% cytotoxicity concentration (CC50) value of both larval saliva and hemolymph was 750 µg/ml, and the 50% inhibitory concentration (IC50) values were 134 µg/ml and 60 µg/ml for larval saliva and larval hemolymph, respectively. The IC50 for Glucantime, used a positive control, was (11.65 µg/ml). Statistically significant differences in viability percentages of promastigotes were observed for different doses of both larval saliva and hemolymph when compared with the negative control (p ≤ 0.0001). Microscopic evaluation of the amastigote forms revealed that treatment with 150 µg/ml larval hemolymph and 450 µg/ml larval saliva significantly decreased the rate of macrophage infection and the number of amastigotes per infected macrophage cell. Conclusion Larval saliva and hemolymph of L. sericata have acceptable leishmanicidal properties against L. tropica. Graphical Abstract ![]()
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Rahimi
- Department of Medical Entomology and Vector Control, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Ali Khamesipour
- Center for Research and Training in Skin Diseases and Leprosy, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Amir Ahmad Akhavan
- Department of Medical Entomology and Vector Control, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Javad Rafinejad
- Department of Medical Entomology and Vector Control, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Reza Ahmadkhaniha
- Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Department of Human Ecology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mahmood Bakhtiyari
- Department of Community Medicine and Epidemiology, School of Medicine Non-communicable Diseases Research Center Alborz, University of Medical Sciences, Karaj, Iran
| | - Arshad Veysi
- Zoonoses Research Center, Research Institute for Health Development, Kurdistan University of Medical sciences, Sanandaj, Iran
| | - Kamran Akbarzadeh
- Department of Medical Entomology and Vector Control, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
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Abdel-Samad MRK. Antiviral and virucidal activities of Lucilia cuprina maggots' excretion/secretion (Diptera: Calliphoridae): first work. Heliyon 2019; 5:e02791. [PMID: 31844722 PMCID: PMC6895714 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2019.e02791] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2018] [Revised: 09/27/2019] [Accepted: 10/31/2019] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Maggots of Lucilia sericata and L. cuprina are a backbone of the maggot debridement therapy. Further, the excretion/secretion (E/S) of these maggots has antibacterial and antifungal activities, nevertheless the antiviral activity of E/S for these maggots still out the focus. This study aimed to evaluate the E/S of L. cuprina maggots against the Rift Valley Fever (RVF) and Coxsackie B4 (CB4) viruses for first time. After collection of the E/S, its cytotoxicity on Vero cells was evaluated and the safe concentration was determined which used to investigate the antiviral and virucidal effect of E/S on the selected viruses. The E/S decreased the titers of the tested viruses compared with that of untreated viruses. The outcome data refer to that the E/S of L. cuprina consider as a promising antiviral and virucidal agent.
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Fonseca-Muñoz A, Pérez-Pacheco R, Ortega-Morales BO, Reyes-Estebanez M, Vásquez-López A, Chan-Bacab M, Ruiz-Vega J, Granados-Echegoyen CA. Bactericidal Activity of Chrysomya rufifacies and Cochliomyia macellaria (Diptera: Calliphoridae) Larval Excretions-Secretions Against Staphylococcus aureus (Bacillales: Staphylococcaceae). J Med Entomol 2019; 56:1598-1604. [PMID: 31287880 DOI: 10.1093/jme/tjz109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
The inhibitory effect of Chrysomya rufifacies (Macquart) and Cochliomyia macellaria (Fabricius) larval excretions-secretions (ES) on Staphylococcus aureus was determined using a portable colorimetric method without the need for any dedicated spectral instrument. Polystyrene 96 well microplates were used and 100 μl of the bacterial inoculum (5 × 105 CFU/ml) plus 100 μl of the dipteran exosecretions at different concentrations were added to each well. Subsequently, 50 μl of a 1% solution of the triphenyl tetrazolium chloride stain was added to each well to determine the bacterial viability. The color development in each well was measured with the ImageJ software S. aureus was exposed to different concentrations of the ES of both species individually. At a concentration of 800 ppm ES of C. rufifacies or Co. macellaria, bacterial growth was inhibited 97.45 ± 1.70% and 82.21 ± 1.88%, respectively. As expected, exposure to a lower concentration (i.e., 50 ppm) was less inhibitory (C. rufifacies ES, 77.65 ± 4.25% and Co. macellaria ES, 43.54 ± 4.63%). This study demonstrates for the first time the bactericidal activity of C. rufifacies and Co. macellaria ES against S. aureus. This finding is promising as it could result in the identification and synthesis of proteins capable of suppressing pathogen development in wounds. Additionally, the proposed method can simplify the use of expensive laboratory instruments for antimicrobial activity determination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alicia Fonseca-Muñoz
- Instituto Politécnico Nacional (IPN), Centro Interdisciplinario de Investigación para el Desarrollo Integral Regional (CIIDIR) Unidad Oaxaca, Calle Hornos, Santa Cruz, Xoxocotlán, Oaxaca, México, CP
- Doctorado en Ciencias en Conservación y Aprovechamiento de Recursos Naturales, CIIDIR-IPN-Oaxaca, Oaxaca, México
| | - Rafael Pérez-Pacheco
- Instituto Politécnico Nacional (IPN), Centro Interdisciplinario de Investigación para el Desarrollo Integral Regional (CIIDIR) Unidad Oaxaca, Calle Hornos, Santa Cruz, Xoxocotlán, Oaxaca, México, CP
| | - Benjamín Otto Ortega-Morales
- Departamento de Microbiología Ambiental y Biotecnología (DEMAB), Universidad Autónoma de Campeche (UAC), Av. Agustín Melgar s/n, Col. Buenavista, Campeche, México, CP
| | - Manuela Reyes-Estebanez
- Departamento de Microbiología Ambiental y Biotecnología (DEMAB), Universidad Autónoma de Campeche (UAC), Av. Agustín Melgar s/n, Col. Buenavista, Campeche, México, CP
| | - Alfonso Vásquez-López
- Instituto Politécnico Nacional (IPN), Centro Interdisciplinario de Investigación para el Desarrollo Integral Regional (CIIDIR) Unidad Oaxaca, Calle Hornos, Santa Cruz, Xoxocotlán, Oaxaca, México, CP
| | - Manuel Chan-Bacab
- Departamento de Microbiología Ambiental y Biotecnología (DEMAB), Universidad Autónoma de Campeche (UAC), Av. Agustín Melgar s/n, Col. Buenavista, Campeche, México, CP
| | - Jaime Ruiz-Vega
- Instituto Politécnico Nacional (IPN), Centro Interdisciplinario de Investigación para el Desarrollo Integral Regional (CIIDIR) Unidad Oaxaca, Calle Hornos, Santa Cruz, Xoxocotlán, Oaxaca, México, CP
| | - Carlos A Granados-Echegoyen
- Departamento de Microbiología Ambiental y Biotecnología (DEMAB), Universidad Autónoma de Campeche (UAC), Av. Agustín Melgar s/n, Col. Buenavista, Campeche, México, CP
- Centro de Estudios de Desarrollo Sustentable y Aprovechamiento de la Vida Silvestre (CEDESU), CONACYT- Universidad Autónoma de Campeche (UAC), Avenida Héroe de Nacozari, Campeche, México, CP
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Kaihanfar M, Momeni-Moghaddam M, Moghaddam MJM, Hajar T, Pak VD, Bidi JO. Investigation of antimicrobial effects of treated Lucilia sericata larvae extract on bacteria. Iran J Microbiol 2018; 10:409-416. [PMID: 30873269 PMCID: PMC6414746] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Larval therapy refers to the use of Lucilia sericata larvae on chronic wounds, which is a successful method of chronic wounds treatment. The secretions of these larvae contain antibacterial compounds and lead to death or inhibition of bacterial growth. MATERIALS AND METHODS In this study, we investigated the antibacterial effects of Lucilia sericata larvae secretions which were in sterilized and multi antibiotic-resistant bacteria-treated forms on Gram-positive Bacillus subtilis bacteria and Gram-negative Escherichia coli bacteria. In the following, we evaluated changes in gene expression of lucifensin and attacin during treatment with multi antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Investigation of the antibacterial effect was carried out using optical absorption and antibiotic disk diffusion in order to study the expression of the aforementioned genes. RESULTS The results of this study showed that E. coli-treated larvae were able to inhibit the growth of E. coli and secretions of B. subtilis-treated larvae and were also able to inhibit the growth of B. subtilis. Gene expression of antibacterial peptides in multi antibiotic-resistant bacteria-treated larvae was increased in comparison to non-treated larvae. CONCLUSION Due to the significant antibacterial potency of bacteria-treated larvae secretions, the secretions can be a suitable candidate as a drug against antibiotic resistant bacteria, but additional tests are required. Since the antimicrobial peptides of insects have not yet produced any resistance in human pathogenic bacteria, they can be considered as a promising strategy for dealing with resistant infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maryam Kaihanfar
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, Hakim Sabzevari University, Sabzevar, Iran,Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Guilan, Rasht, Iran
| | - Madjid Momeni-Moghaddam
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, Hakim Sabzevari University, Sabzevar, Iran,Corresponding author: Madjid Momeni-Moghaddam, PhD, Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, Hakim Sabzevari University, Sabzevar, Iran. Tel: 05144013336, Fax: 05144013336,
| | | | - Toktam Hajar
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, Hakim Sabzevari University, Sabzevar, Iran
| | - Vahab Dast Pak
- Pharmaceutical Technology Development Center, Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
| | - Jalal Omrani Bidi
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, Hakim Sabzevari University, Sabzevar, Iran
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Cruz-Saavedra L, Díaz-Roa A, Gaona MA, Cruz ML, Ayala M, Cortés-Vecino JA, Patarroyo MA, Bello FJ. The effect of Lucilia sericata- and Sarconesiopsis magellanica-derived larval therapy on Leishmania panamensis. Acta Trop 2016; 164:280-9. [PMID: 27686957 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2016.09.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2016] [Revised: 06/28/2016] [Accepted: 09/24/2016] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
This study's main objective was to evaluate the action of larval therapy derived from Lucilia sericata and Sarconesiopsis magellanica (blowflies) regarding Leishmania panamensis using an in vivo model. Eighteen golden hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus) were used; they were divided into 6 groups. The first three groups consisted of 4 animals each; these, in turn, were internally distributed into subgroups consisting of 2 hamsters to be used separately in treatments derived from each blowfly species. Group 1 was used in treating leishmanial lesions with larval therapy (LT), whilst the other two groups were used for evaluating the used of larval excretions and secretions (ES) after the ulcers had formed (group 2) and before they appeared (group 3). The three remaining groups (4, 5 and 6), consisting of two animals, were used as controls in the experiments. Biopsies were taken for histopathological and molecular analysis before, during and after the treatments; biopsies and smears were taken for assessing parasite presence and bacterial co-infection. LT and larval ES proved effective in treating the ulcers caused by the parasite. There were no statistically significant differences between the blowfly species regarding the ulcer cicatrisation parameters. There were granulomas in samples taken from lesions at the end of the treatments. The antibacterial action of larval treatment regarding co-infection in lesions caused by the parasite was also verified. These results potentially validate effective LT treatment against cutaneous leishmaniasis aimed at using it with humans in the future.
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