Pumilacidins from the Octocoral-Associated Bacillus sp. DT001 Display Anti-Proliferative Effects in Plasmodium falciparum

Molecules. 2018 Aug 29;23(9):2179. doi: 10.3390/molecules23092179.

Abstract

Chemical examination of the octocoral-associated Bacillus species (sp.) DT001 led to the isolation of pumilacidins A (1) and C (2). We investigated the effect of these compounds on the viability of Plasmodium falciparum and the mechanism of pumilacidin-induced death. The use of inhibitors of protein kinase C (PKC) and phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) was able to prevent the effects of pumilacidins A and C. The results indicated also that pumilacidins inhibit parasite growth via mitochondrial dysfunction and decreased cytosolic Ca2+.

Keywords: Bacillus; P. falciparum; apoptosis; coral-associated bacteria; pumilacidins; surfactins.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Anthozoa / microbiology
  • Antimalarials / chemistry
  • Antimalarials / pharmacology*
  • Bacillus / chemistry*
  • Calcium / metabolism
  • Mitochondria / drug effects
  • Molecular Structure
  • Peptides / chemistry
  • Peptides / pharmacology*
  • Plasmodium falciparum / drug effects
  • Plasmodium falciparum / growth & development*
  • Plasmodium falciparum / metabolism
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors / pharmacology

Substances

  • Antimalarials
  • Peptides
  • Protein Kinase Inhibitors
  • pumilacidin
  • Calcium