Mechanistic Insights into the Leishmanicidal and Bactericidal Activities of Batroxicidin, a Cathelicidin-Related Peptide from a South American Viper (Bothrops atrox)

J Nat Prod. 2021 Jun 25;84(6):1787-1798. doi: 10.1021/acs.jnatprod.1c00153. Epub 2021 Jun 2.

Abstract

Snake venoms are important sources of bioactive molecules, including those with antiparasitic activity. Cathelicidins form a class of such molecules, which are produced by a variety of organisms. Batroxicidin (BatxC) is a cathelicidin found in the venom of the common lancehead (Bothrops atrox). In the present work, BatxC and two synthetic analogues, BatxC(C-2.15Phe) and BatxC(C-2.14Phe)des-Phe1, were assessed for their microbicidal activity. All three peptides showed a broad-spectrum activity on Gram-positive and -negative bacteria, as well as promastigote and amastigote forms of Leishmania (Leishmania) amazonensis. Circular dichroism (CD) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) data indicated that the three peptides changed their structure upon interaction with membranes. Biomimetic membrane model studies demonstrated that the peptides exert a permeabilization effect in prokaryotic membranes, leading to cell morphology distortion, which was confirmed by atomic force microscopy (AFM). The molecules considered in this work exhibited bactericidal and leishmanicidal activity at low concentrations, with the AFM data suggesting membrane pore formation as their mechanism of action. These peptides stand as valuable prototype drugs to be further investigated and eventually used to treat bacterial and protozoal infections.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Animals
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / chemistry
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / pharmacology*
  • Antimicrobial Peptides / chemistry
  • Antimicrobial Peptides / pharmacology*
  • Antiprotozoal Agents / chemistry
  • Antiprotozoal Agents / pharmacology*
  • Bothrops*
  • Cathelicidins
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Leishmania / drug effects
  • Macrophages
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Microbial Sensitivity Tests
  • Snake Venoms / chemistry*
  • South America

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Antimicrobial Peptides
  • Antiprotozoal Agents
  • Cathelicidins
  • Snake Venoms