title: Non-disulfide-Bridge Peptide 5.5 from the ScorpionHadrurus gertschiInhibits the Growth ofMycobacterium abscessussubsp.massiliense.
abstract: Multi-drug resistant microorganisms have been a growing concern during the last decades due to their contribution in mortality rates worldwide. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are broad spectrum antimicrobial agents that display potent microbicidal activity against a wide range of microorganisms. AMPs generally have a rapid mode of action that reduces the risk of resistance developing among pathogens. In this study, an AMP derived from scorpion venom, NDBP-5.5, was evaluated againstMycobacterium abscessussubsp.massiliense, a rapidly growing and emerging pathogen associated with healthcare infections. The minimal bactericidal concentration of NDBP-5.5, AMP quantity necessary to stop bacteria visible growth, againstM. abscessussubsp.massiliensewas 200 μM, a concentration that did not induce hemolysis of human red blood cells. The therapeutic index was 3.05 indicating a drug with low toxicity and therefore good clinical potential. Treatment of infected macrophages with NDBP-5.5 or clarithromycin presented similar results, reducing the bacterial load.M. abscessussubsp.massiliense-infected animals showed a decrease in the bacterial load of up to 70% when treated with NDBP-5.5. These results revealed the effective microbicidal activity of NDBP-5.5 againstMycobacterium, indicating its potential as an antimycobacterial agent.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Immunopathology of Infectious Disease, Tropical Institute of Pathology and Public Health, Department of Microbiology, Immunology, Parasitology and Pathology, Federal University of Goiás Goiânia, Brazil.
authors.forename: Monalisa M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Trentini
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Immunopathology of Infectious Disease, Tropical Institute of Pathology and Public Health, Department of Microbiology, Immunology, Parasitology and Pathology, Federal University of Goiás Goiânia, Brazil.
authors.forename: Rogério C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: das Neves
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Immunopathology of Infectious Disease, Tropical Institute of Pathology and Public Health, Department of Microbiology, Immunology, Parasitology and Pathology, Federal University of Goiás Goiânia, Brazil.
authors.forename: Bruno de Paula Oliveira
authors.initials: BP
authors.lastname: Santos
authors.affiliation: Collaborative Center of Biosystems, Regional Jataí, Federal University of Goiás Goiânia, Brazil.
authors.forename: Roosevelt A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: DaSilva
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Neuropharmacology, Department of Physiological Sciences, Institute of Biological Sciences, University of Brasília Brasília, Brazil.
authors.forename: Adolfo C Barros
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: de Souza
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Neuropharmacology, Department of Physiological Sciences, Institute of Biological Sciences, University of Brasília Brasília, Brazil.
authors.forename: Márcia R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Mortari
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Neuropharmacology, Department of Physiological Sciences, Institute of Biological Sciences, University of Brasília Brasília, Brazil.
authors.forename: Elisabeth F
authors.initials: EF
authors.lastname: Schwartz
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Immunopathology of Infectious Disease, Tropical Institute of Pathology and Public Health, Department of Microbiology, Immunology, Parasitology and Pathology, Federal University of Goiás Goiânia, Brazil.
authors.forename: André
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kipnis
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Immunopathology of Infectious Disease, Tropical Institute of Pathology and Public Health, Department of Microbiology, Immunology, Parasitology and Pathology, Federal University of Goiás Goiânia, Brazil.
authors.forename: Ana P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Junqueira-Kipnis
keywords: AMP; antimycobacterial agents; infection; non-disulfide bridged peptide; rapid-growing mycobacteria; scorpion venom