Evaluation of the antichagasic activity of batroxicidin, a cathelicidin-related antimicrobial peptide found in Bothrops atrox venom gland

Abstract

Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are potential alternatives to conventional antibiotics, as they have a fast mode of action, a low likelihood of resistance development and can act in conjunction with existing drug regimens. We report in this study the effects of batroxicidin (BatxC), a cathelicidin-related AMP from Bothrops atrox venom gland, over Trypanosoma cruzi, a protozoan that causes Chagas' disease. BatxC inhibited all T. cruzi (Y strain: benznidazole-resistant) developmental forms, with selectivity index of 315. Later, separate flow cytometry assays showed T. cruzi cell labeling by 7-aminoactinomycin D, the increase in reactive oxygen species and the loss of mitochondrial membrane potential when the parasite was treated with BatxC, which are indication of necrosis. T. cruzi cell death pathway by a necrotic mechanism was finally confirmed by scanning electron microscopy which observed loss of cell membrane integrity. In conclusion, BatxC was able to inhibit T. cruzi, with high selectivity index, by inducing necrosis.

Revisiting the Therapeutic Potential of Bothrops jararaca Venom: Screening for Novel Activities Using Connectivity Mapping

“…Although anti-parasitic ( Leishmania amazonensis , L. chagas , L. infantum , L. major , Trypanosoma cruzi , and Plasmodium falciparum ) activities have already been reported for venoms (and fractions thereof) from different Bothrops genus snakes [ 14 , 15 , 16 , 78 , 79 , 81 , 82 , 83 ], an anti- Plasmodium activity had not yet been described specifically for B. jararaca venom. However, isolated PLA 2 from snake venoms belonging to different genera, including the genus Bothrops , displayed anti- Plasmodium activity [ 12 , 16 , 84 , 85 ].…”

Anticancer and antibacterial effects of Iranian viper (Vipera latifii) venom; an in‐vitro study

“…Furthermore, many anticancer proteins have been extracted from venom of different snake species including a zinc‐metalloproteinase (Nasulysin‐1) from Porthidium nasutum venom (Bonilla‐porras, Vargas, Jimenez‐del‐rio, Nuñez, & Velez‐pardo, ) with apoptotic effect on Jurkat cells (a T‐cell acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL)) and K562 (chronic myeloid leukemia (AML)). BaltLAAO‐I (an L‐amino acid oxidase) from Bothrops alternatus venom showed anticancer effects on various cancer cell lines (Mello et al, ).…”

Comparative Analysis of Antimicrobial Peptides Gene Expression in Susceptible / Resistant Mice Macrophages to Leishmania Major Infection

“…There is a number of infections referred to as AMPs imbalance, in which they influence susceptibility or resistance to infections (Rivas-Santiago et al, 2009). Surprisingly, these peptides classified in the innate immunity of living organisms, can kill or inhibit pathogens in each category (Lehrer and Ganz, 2002a, Lehrer and Ganz, 2002b, Zasloff, 2002, Bardan et al, 2004, Cavalcante et al, 2017, Kao et al, 2016, Mello et al, 2017, Vieira-Girao et al, 2017. They can be used as new drugs or applied as vaccine and resistance to them is rare (Dabirian et al, 2013, Diamond, 2001, Hancock and Sahl, 2006.…”