Identification of natural peptides as a new class of antimalarial drugs byin silicoapproaches.
Malaria is one of the most widespread and serious parasitic diseases worldwide. Currently available antimalarial drugs have side effects, and many strains ofPlasmodiahave developed resistance to such drugs. The present review examines the use of annexins and of natural peptides from snake venom as a new class of anti-malarial agents, with the key property of reducing inflammation. Severe cases of malaria manifest elevated serum levels of liver enzymes, inflammation, fibrin deposition, apoptosis, and reduction in peripheral CD8+T cells. The annexin-A1/5 proteins trigger inflammation via increased expression of diverse cytokines (tumor necrosis factor alpha, interleukin-1 beta, interleukin-10), however, by shielding microbial phospholipids they prevent injury via damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs). Here, we also review anin silico-based bioengineering approach that may allow for a better design, synthesis and characterization of novel peptides from snake venom as a more effective approach to treatment due to their improved antimalarial activity.
Department of Physiology, NUS Immunology Programme, Centre for Life Sciences (CeLS), Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University Health System, National University of Singapore, 28 Medical Drive, Singapore 117597, phsrp@nus.edu.sg.
Ramar Perumal
RP
Samy
Department of Physiology, NUS Immunology Programme, Centre for Life Sciences, National University Health System (NUHS), Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore - 117456.
Sok Lin
SL
Foo
Centro de Analises Proteomicas e Bioquimicas/ Programa de Pos-Graduacao em Ciencias Genomicas e Biotecnologia, UCB, Brasilia, DF, Brazil, S-inova, Programa de Pos-Graduacao em Biotecnologia, Universidade Catolica Dom Bosco, Campo Grande-MS, Brazil.
Octavio L
OL
Franco
Integrated Toxicology Division, US Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, Fort Detrick, Maryland 21702-5011, USA, Department of Biology, Wilson College, 1015 Philadelphia Avenue, Chambersburg, Pennsylvania 17201, USA.
Bradley G
BG
Stiles
Cancer Science Institute, National University of Singapore, Singapore-117597.
Alan P
AP
Kumar
School of Biomedical Sciences, Curtin University, Western Australia.
Gautam
G
Sethi
Department of Physiology, NUS Immunology Programme, Centre for Life Sciences, National University Health System (NUHS), Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore-117456.
Lina Hk
LH
Lim
D000818:Animals; D017302:Annexins / Q000097:blood / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000962:Antimalarials / Q000097:blood / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D008288:Malaria / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy; D010455:Peptides / Q000097:blood / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000494:pharmacology*
D017302:Annexins; D000962:Antimalarials; D010455:Peptides