The emergence of antibiotic resistance drives an essential race against time to reveal new molecular structures capable of addressing this alarming global health problem. Snake venoms are natural catalogs of multifunctional toxins and privileged frameworks, which serve as potential templates for the inspiration of novel treatment strategies for combating antibiotic resistant bacteria. Phospholipases A2 (PLA2s) are one of the main classes of antibacterial biomolecules, with recognized therapeutic value, found in these valuable secretions. Recently, a number of biomimetic oligopeptides based on small fragments of primary structure from PLA2 toxins has emerged as a meaningful opportunity to overcome multidrug‐resistant clinical isolates. Thus, this review will highlight the biochemical and structural properties of antibacterial PLA2s and peptides thereof, as well as their possible molecular mechanisms of action and key roles in development of effective therapeutic strategies. Chemical strategies possibly useful to convert antibacterial peptides from PLA2s to efficient drugs will be equally addressed.

La presente revisión detalla los mecanismos de virulencia de tres virus tropicales emergentes: Zika, dengue y chikungunya, y los asocia o enlaza o vincula con el desarrollo de la respuesta inmune del hospedador ante cada uno de estos, para posteriormente mostrar los avances tecnológicos y las dificultades a las que se enfrentan los estudios de vacunas contra dichos virus. Además, se mencionan los principales países involucrados activamente en las diferentes fases de investigación de vacunas, refiriéndose adicionalmente, a las dificultades que tienen los países más afectados por estas infecciones para participar en el desarrollo de vacunas que puedan implementarse y mejorar la calidad de vida de la población.

Bothrops atrox snakebites are a relevant problem in the Amazon basin. In this biodiverse region, the ethnomedicinal approach plays an important role as an alternative to antivenom therapy. Urospatha sagittifolia (Araceae) is a plant used for this purpose; however, its neutralizing properties have not been scientifically accessed. To fill this gap, we investigated the ability of U. sagittifolia to modulate the catalytic activity of Bothrops atrox venom, and their toxic consequences, such as local damage and lethality. The venom profile of B. atrox was assessed by chromatography and electrophoresis. Inhibition of the three main enzymatic and medically important toxins from the venom was evaluated using synthetic substrates and quantified by chromogenic activity assays. Additionally, the neutralization of lethality, hemorrhage and edema were investigated by in vivo assays. The possible interactions between venom proteins and plant molecules were visualized by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Finally, the phytochemical constituents present in the ethanolic extract were determined by qualitative and quantitative analyses. The ethanolic extract reduced the activity of the three main enzymes of venom target, achieving ranges from 19% to 81% of inhibition. Our in vivo venom neuralizations assays showed a significant inhibition of edema (38.72%) and hemorrhage (42.90%). Additionally, lethality was remarkably counteracted. The highest extract ratio evaluated had a 75% survival rate. Our data support the biomedical value of U. sagittifolia as a source of natural enzyme inhibitors able to neutralize catalytically active B. atrox venom toxins and their toxic effects.