title: Anti-plasmodium activity of angiotensin II and related synthetic peptides.
abstract: Plasmodium species are the causative agents of malaria, the most devastating insect-borne parasite of human populations. Finding and developing new drugs for malaria treatment and prevention is the goal of much research. Angiotensins I and II (ang I and ang II) and six synthetic related peptides designated Vaniceres 1-6 (VC1-VC6) were assayed in vivo and in vitro for their effects on the development of the avian parasite, Plasmodium gallinaceum. Ang II and VC5 injected into the thoraces of the insects reduced mean intensities of infection in the mosquito salivary glands by 88% and 76%, respectively. Although the mechanism(s) of action is not completely understood, we have demonstrated that these peptides disrupt selectively the P.gallinaceum cell membrane. Additionally, incubation in vitro of sporozoites with VC5 reduced the infectivity of the parasites to their vertebrate host. VC5 has no observable agonist effects on vertebrates, and this makes it a promising drug for malaria prevention and chemotherapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Parasitology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Ceres
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Maciel
authors.forename: Vani Xavier
authors.initials: VX
authors.lastname: de Oliveira Junior
authors.forename: Marcos Antonio
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Fázio
authors.forename: Rafael
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Nacif-Pimenta
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Miranda
authors.forename: Paulo F P
authors.initials: PF
authors.lastname: Pimenta
authors.forename: Margareth Lara
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Capurro
mesh_terms: D000330:Aedes / Q000235:genetics; D000803:Angiotensin I / Q000737:chemistry; D000804:Angiotensin II / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D000977:Antiparasitic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000187:drug effects; D002645:Chickens; D003593:Cytoplasm / Q000378:metabolism; D006461:Hemolysis; D006801:Humans; D008288:Malaria / Q000188:drug therapy*; D015233:Models, Statistical; D010455:Peptides / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010964:Plasmodium gallinaceum / Q000378:metabolism; D034101:Sporozoites / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000977:Antiparasitic Agents; D010455:Peptides; D000804:Angiotensin II; D000803:Angiotensin I