title: Evaluation of the antichagasic activity of batroxicidin, a cathelicidin-related antimicrobial peptide found in Bothrops atrox venom gland.
abstract: Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are potential alternatives to conventional antibiotics, as they have a fast mode of action, a low likelihood of resistance development and can act in conjunction with existing drug regimens. We report in this study the effects of batroxicidin (BatxC), a cathelicidin-related AMP from Bothrops atrox venom gland, over Trypanosoma cruzi, a protozoan that causes Chagas' disease. BatxC inhibited all T. cruzi (Y strain: benznidazole-resistant) developmental forms, with selectivity index of 315. Later, separate flow cytometry assays showed T. cruzi cell labeling by 7-aminoactinomycin D, the increase in reactive oxygen species and the loss of mitochondrial membrane potential when the parasite was treated with BatxC, which are indication of necrosis. T. cruzi cell death pathway by a necrotic mechanism was finally confirmed by scanning electron microscopy which observed loss of cell membrane integrity. In conclusion, BatxC was able to inhibit T. cruzi, with high selectivity index, by inducing necrosis.
authors.affiliation: Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade Federal do Ceará, Fortaleza, CE, Brazil.
authors.forename: Clarissa Perdigão
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Mello
authors.affiliation: Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade Federal do Ceará, Fortaleza, CE, Brazil.
authors.forename: Danya Bandeira
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Lima
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Fisiologia e Farmacologia, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal do Ceará, Fortaleza, CE, Brazil.
authors.forename: Ramon Róseo Paula Pessoa Bezerra de
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Menezes
authors.affiliation: Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade Federal do Ceará, Fortaleza, CE, Brazil.
authors.forename: Izabel Cristina Justino
authors.initials: IC
authors.lastname: Bandeira
authors.affiliation: Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade Federal do Ceará, Fortaleza, CE, Brazil.
authors.forename: Louise Donadello
authors.initials: LD
authors.lastname: Tessarolo
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Fisiologia e Farmacologia, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade Federal do Ceará, Fortaleza, CE, Brazil.
authors.forename: Tiago Lima
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Sampaio
authors.affiliation: Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade Federal do Ceará, Fortaleza, CE, Brazil.
authors.forename: Claudio Borges
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Falcão
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Ciências do Mar, Universidade Federal do Ceara, Fortaleza, CE, Brazil.
authors.forename: Gandhi
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rádis-Baptista
authors.affiliation: Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade Federal do Ceará, Fortaleza, CE, Brazil. Electronic address: martinsalice@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Alice Maria Costa
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Martins
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000977:Antiparasitic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017837:Bothrops; D003435:Crotalid Venoms / Q000737:chemistry*; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D053078:Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial / Q000187:drug effects; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism; D014349:Trypanosoma cruzi / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure
chemical_list: D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides; D000977:Antiparasitic Agents; D003435:Crotalid Venoms; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species
keywords: Antimicrobial peptide; Batroxicidin; Cathelicidin; Chagas' disease; Necrosis; Trypanosoma cruzi