title: Dermaseptins and magainins: antimicrobial peptides from frogs' skin-new sources for a promising spermicides microbicides-a mini review.
abstract: Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), the causative agents of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), are two great concerns in the reproductive health of women. Thus, the challenge is to find products with a double activity, on the one hand having antimicrobial/antiviral properties with a role in the reduction of STI, and on the other hand having spermicidal action to be used as a contraceptive. In the absence of an effective microbicide along with the disadvantages of the most commonly used spermicidal contraceptive worldwide, nonoxynol-9, new emphasis has been focused on the development of more potential intravaginal microbicidal agents. Topical microbicides spermicides would ideally provide a female-controlled method of self-protection against HIV as well as preventing pregnancies. Nonoxynol-9, the only recommended microbicide spermicide, damages cervicovaginal epithelium because of its membrane-disruptive properties. Clearly, there is an urgent need to identify new compounds with dual potential microbicidal properties; antimicrobial peptides should be candidates for such investigations. Dermaseptins and magainins are two classes of cationic, amphipathic alpha-helical peptides that have been identified in the skin extracts of frogs Phyllomedusa sauvagei and Xenopus laevis. Regarding their contraceptive activities and their effect against various STI-causing pathogens, we believe that these two peptides are appropriate candidates in the evaluation of newer and safer microbicides spermicides in the future.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Biochemistry, 4002 Sousse, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Amira
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zairi
authors.forename: Frédéric
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Tangy
authors.forename: Khaireddine
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bouassida
authors.forename: Khaled
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hani
mesh_terms: D029845:Amphibian Proteins / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000818:Animals; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism / Q000627:therapeutic use; D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D054806:Magainins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D011898:Ranidae / Q000378:metabolism*; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012867:Skin / Q000378:metabolism*; D013089:Spermatocidal Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D029845:Amphibian Proteins; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides; D054806:Magainins; D013089:Spermatocidal Agents; C070905:dermaseptin