title: Three valuable peptides from bee and wasp venoms for therapeutic and biotechnological use: melittin, apamin and mastoparan.
abstract: While knowledge of the composition and mode of action of bee and wasp venoms dates back 50 years, the therapeutic value of these toxins remains relatively unexploded. The properties of these venoms are now being studied with the aim to design and develop new therapeutic drugs. Far from evaluating the extensive number of monographs, journals and books related to bee and wasp venoms and the therapeutic effect of these toxins in numerous diseases, the following review focuses on the three most characterized peptides, namely melittin, apamin, and mastoparan. Here, we update information related to these compounds from the perspective of applied science and discuss their potential therapeutic and biotechnological applications in biomedicine.
authors.affiliation: Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB Barcelona), Baldiri i Reixac, 10, Barcelona 08028, Spain. miguel.irbbarcelona@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Miguel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Moreno
authors.affiliation: Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB Barcelona), Baldiri i Reixac, 10, Barcelona 08028, Spain. ernest.giralt@irbbarcelona.org.
authors.forename: Ernest
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Giralt
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001030:Apamin / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D008555:Melitten / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010455:Peptides / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014862:Wasp Venoms / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D010455:Peptides; D014862:Wasp Venoms; D008555:Melitten; D001030:Apamin; C037500:mastoparan
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