The immune system of maggots of the blow fly (Calliphora vicina) as a source of medicinal drugs

Abstract

Studies of cellular and humoral immunity of the blow fly Calliphora vicina maggot revealed three groups of pharmacologically active substances that are perspective for use in medicine: alloferons, allocations, and antimicrobial peptides. Alloferons are the C. vicina peptide family selectively stimulating cytotoxic activity of the natural killer cells, an evolutionary ancient group of immunocompetent cells playing the key role in antiviral and antitumoral immunity of mammals. Alloferons are used in medicine for treatment of herpes viral infections and viral hepatitis B. Allostatins are synthetic peptides combining structural characteristics both of alloferons and of some mammalian immunoactive proteins. Allostatins, like alloferons, stimulate cytotoxic activity of the natural killer cells and interferon production, but, unlike alloferons, have pronounced adjuvant properties, i.e., the ability to enhance immune recognition of alien (non-self) antigens. At present, allostatins are used to enhance resistance of skin and mucous membranes to viral infections; in future, they might find use in immunotherapy of cancer and other diseases. One more group of proteins and peptides of the C. vicina maggot immune response, which are promising for use in medicine, serve antimicrobial peptides. The study of the preparation whose composition inclusdes defensins, cecropins, diptericins, and proline-rich peptides of C. vicina show that this type of drugs has great potential for treatment and prevention of antibiotic-resistant infections.

Insect Antimicrobial Peptide Complexes Prevent Resistance Development in Bacteria

“…MS analysis of fractions 27 to 33 revealed masses precisely corresponding to the masses of defensin, P-peptide, 4 diptericins and cecropin previously isolated from C . vicina and structurally characterized [ 8 , 10 ]. Profiles of the peptides’ antibacterial activity (prevalence of anti- M .…”

“…Active antibacterial fractions were analyzed by MS (MicroTOF ESI, Bruker Daltonics) and experimentally determined masses were compared with the previously published characteristics of C . vicina individual AMPs [ 8 , 10 ]. The peptides were sequenced by Edman degradation method as described [ 10 ].…”

“…In our opinion, based on the study of insect immunity, a possible solution to the riddle lies in the fact that the immune system engages not a single AMP but a battery of active molecules integrated into a co-adapted antimicrobial peptide complex [ 8 ]. The capacity for preventing resistance development, from that standpoint, is a feature of the complex as a whole, but not individual compounds.…”

“…C . vicina larvae are known to respond to bacterial infection or septic injury by production and accumulation in the hemolymph of AMP complex comprising all major families of insect AMPs like defensins, cecropins, diptericins, proline-rich peptides and antiviral peptides alloferons [ 8 , 10 – 11 ]. The antibacterial activity spectrum of the complex covers different groups of human pathogens from Enterobacteriacea , Coccaceae , Enterococcaceae , Pseudomonadaceae , Moraxellaceae and Corynebacteriaceae families commonly present in the larvae natural habitats [ 8 ].…”

Alloferon Alleviates Dextran Sulfate Sodium-induced Colitis

“…The pharmaceutical value of the peptide has been mainly related to its ability to not only stimulate NK cytotoxicity and IFN production in animal and human models, but to also enhance anti-viral and anti-tumor activities in mice ( 7 8 9 ). The antiviral and immunomodulatory effects of alloferon have also been clinically proved in patients infected with herpes simplex virus (HSV) and the human papillomavirus (HPV) ( 23 24 ). We recently reported that alloferon decreased the production of UVB-induced pro-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-1α, IL-1β, IL-6, and IL-18 by the inhibition of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) inactivation ( 10 ).…”