Antichagasic effect of hemocyanin derived from antimicrobial peptides of penaeus monodon shrimp.

Antichagasic effect of hemocyanin derived from antimicrobial peptides of penaeus monodon shrimp. Exp Parasitol. 2020 May 25;:107930 Authors: Monteiro ML, Lima DB, Paula Pessoa Bezerra de Menezes RR, Sampaio TL, Silva BP, Serra Nunes JV, Cavalcanti MM, Morlighem JE, Costa Martins AM Abstract Trypanosoma cruzi, the etiological agent of Chagas disease, is responsible for the infection of millions of people worldwide and it is a public health problem, without an effective cure. Four fragments with antimicrobial potential from the hemocyanin of Penaeus monodon shrimp were identified using a computer software AMPA. The present study aimed to evaluate the antichagasic effect of these four peptides (Hmc364-382, Hmc666-678, Hmc185-197 and Hmc476-498). The peptides were tested against the epimastigote, trypomastigote and amastigote forms of Trypanosoma cruzi Y strain (benznidazole-resistant strain) and cytotoxicity in mammalian cells was evaluated against LLC-MK2 lineage cells. Two fragments (Hmc364-382, Hmc666-678) showed activity against the epimastigote and trypomastigote forms and their selectivity index (SI) was calculated. The Hmc364-382 peptide was considered the most promising (SI > 50) one and it was used for further studies, using flow cytometry analyses with specific molecular probes and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Hmc364-382 was able to induce cell death in T. cruzi through necrosis, observed by loss of membrane inte...
Source: Experimental Parasitology - Category: Parasitology Authors: Tags: Exp Parasitol Source Type: research