Recombinant scorpine: a multifunctional antimicrobial peptide with activity against different pathogens.
Scorpine is an antimicrobial peptide whose structure resembles a hybrid between a defensin and a cecropin. It exhibits antibacterial activity and inhibits the sporogonic development of parasites responsible for murine malaria. In this communication we report the production of scorpine in a heterelogous system, using a specific vector containing its cloned gene. The recombinantly expressed scorpine (RScp) in (Anopheles gambie) cells showed antibacterial activity against (Bacillus subtilis) and (Klebsiella pneumoniae), at 5 and 10 microM, respectively. It also produced 98% mortality in sexual stages of (Plasmodium berghei) at 15 microM and 100% reduction in (Plasmodium falciparum) parasitemia at 5 microM. RScp also inhibited virus dengue-2 replication in C6/36 mosquito cells. In addition, we generated viable and fertile transgenic (Drosophila) that overexpresses and correctly secretes RScp into the insect hemolymph, suggesting that the generation of transgenic mosquitoes resistant to different pathogens may be viable.
Carballar-Lejarazú
R
R
Centro de Investigaciones sobre Enfermedades Infecciosas, Instituto Nacional de Salud Pública, Av. Universidad 655. Sta. María Ahuacatitlán, Cuernavaca, Morelos, México, CP 62100.
Rodríguez
M H
MH
de la Cruz Hernández-Hernández
F
F
Ramos-Castañeda
J
J
Possani
L D
LD
Zurita-Ortega
M
M
Reynaud-Garza
E
E
Hernández-Rivas
R
R
Loukeris
T
T
Lycett
G
G
Lanz-Mendoza
H
H
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D030801:Animals, Genetically Modified; D000852:Anopheles; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001412:Bacillus subtilis / Q000187:drug effects*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D023082:Defensins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D007711:Klebsiella pneumoniae / Q000187:drug effects*; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010962:Plasmodium berghei / Q000187:drug effects; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012604:Scorpion Venoms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology
D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides; D023082:Defensins; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012604:Scorpion Venoms; C407873:scorpine