title: Integrated analysis of the ecotoxicological and genotoxic effects of the antimicrobial peptide melittin on Daphnia magna and Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata.
abstract: Melittin is a major constituent of the bee venom of Apis mellifera with a broad spectrum of activities. Melittin therapeutical potential is subject to its toxicity and the assessment of ecotoxicity and genotoxicity is of particular interest for therapeutic use. Here we analyzed the biological effects of melittin on two aquatic species, which are representative of two different levels of the aquatic trophic chain: the invertebrate Daphnia magna and the unicellular microalgae Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata. The attention was focused on the determination of: i) ecotoxicity; ii) genotoxicity; iii) antigenotoxicity. Our main finding is that melittin is detrimental to D. magna reproduction and its sub-lethal concentrations create an accumulation dependent on exposition times and a negative effect on DNA. We also observed that melittin significantly delayed time to first eggs. Moreover, results showed that melittin exerted its toxic and genotoxic effects in both species, being a bit more aggressive towards P. subcapitata.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, University of Naples "Federico II", Via Cinthia Complesso Monte Sant'Angelo, 80134, Naples, Italy. Electronic address: egaldier@unina.it.
authors.forename: Emilia
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Galdiero
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, University of Naples "Federico II", Via Cinthia Complesso Monte Sant'Angelo, 80134, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Valeria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Maselli
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples "Federico II", Via Mezzocannone 16, 80134, Naples, Italy; DFM Scarl, University of Naples "Federico II", Via Mezzocannone 16, 80134, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Annarita
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Falanga
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, University of Naples "Federico II", Via Cinthia Complesso Monte Sant'Angelo, 80134, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Renato
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gesuele
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples "Federico II", Via Mezzocannone 16, 80134, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Stefania
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Galdiero
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, University of Naples "Federico II", Via Cinthia Complesso Monte Sant'Angelo, 80134, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Domenico
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Fulgione
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, University of Naples "Federico II", Via Cinthia Complesso Monte Sant'Angelo, 80134, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Guida
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000460:Chlorophyta / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development; D004249:DNA Damage; D003621:Daphnia / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D008555:Melitten / Q000633:toxicity*; D009153:Mutagens / Q000633:toxicity*; D012098:Reproduction / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D009153:Mutagens; D008555:Melitten
keywords: Antimicrobial peptide; Ecotoxicity; Genotoxicity