Antimicrobial and cytolytic peptides of venomous arthropods

Kuhn‐Nentwig, Lucia

doi:10.1007/s00018-003-3106-8

Cited by 186 publications

(139 citation statements)

References 126 publications

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“…However both the amino acid composition and sequence of apidaecins strongly differ from dominulins. Between a wide list of antimicrobial and cytolytic peptides reported for the venom of Arthropods [6], dominulins appear more similar to some peptides included in the class of mastoparans, hemolytic tetradecapeptides which have from 7 to 10 hydrophobic amino acid residues and from 2 to 4 lysine residues in their primary sequence. Mastoparans have been found in the venom of various solitary and social wasps [29].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 96%

“…The first defense of the colony against spreading of infectious diseases is represented by a set of hygienic behaviors (such as the elimination of corpses and organic wastes and the removal of infected insects from the nest), and by the use of fungicides and bactericides which may be produced by the colony members or be collected from plants [1]. As a further protection, the immune system of insects responds to microorganisms penetrating the body by releasing antimicrobial and antifungal peptides and proteins into the hemolymph [3][4][5][6]. Although the fat body is clearly the main source of the inducible antipathogenic peptides in insects [4], epidermis, including epithelial cells underlying cuticle, has also been demonstrated to produce antibacterial and antifungal peptides in response to local infections [7,8, and quotations reported therein].…”

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confidence: 99%

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Dominulin A and B: Two new antibacterial peptides identified on the cuticle and in the venom of the social paper waspPolistes dominulususing MALDI-TOF, MALDI-TOF/TOF, and ESI-ion trap

Turillazzi

Mastrobuoni

Dani

et al. 2006

J. Am. Soc. Mass Spectrom.

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Two new antibacterial peptides, denominated as Dominulin A and B, have been found on the cuticle and in the venom of females of the social paper wasp Polistes dominulus. The amino acidic sequence of the two peptides, determined by mass spectrometry, is INWKKIAE VGGKIL SSL for Dominulin A (MW ϭ 1854 Da) and INWKKIAEIGKQVL SAL (MW ϭ 1909 Da) for Dominulin B. Their presence on the cuticle was confirmed using MALDI-TOF by means of micro-extractions and direct analyses on body parts. The presence in the venom and the primary structure of the dominulins suggest their classification in the mastoparans, a class of peptides found in the venom of other Aculeate hymenoptera. Their antimicrobial action against Gramϩ and GramϪ bacteria fits in the range of the best natural antimicrobial peptides. Dominulins can represent an important defense of the colony of Polistes dominulus against microbial pathogens. (J Am Soc Mass Spectrom 2006, 17, 376 -383)

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 96%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Dominulin A and B: Two new antibacterial peptides identified on the cuticle and in the venom of the social paper waspPolistes dominulususing MALDI-TOF, MALDI-TOF/TOF, and ESI-ion trap

Turillazzi

Mastrobuoni

Dani

et al. 2006

J. Am. Soc. Mass Spectrom.

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“…A large class of cytotoxic venom components consists of proteins with direct cytolytic activities that are dependent on the ability of these compounds to bind and disrupt cellular membranes either through direct pore formation or cleavage of membrane phospholipids (5)(6)(7). This class of toxins includes various cytolytic cationic peptides, such as melittin in bee venom, scorpion toxins in scorpion venom, lycotoxins in wolf spider venom (7,8), direct lytic factor in Indian Cobra venom, and Crotamine in South American rattlesnake venom (9,10). Furthermore, nearly all insect and snake venoms contain phospholipase A2s (PLA2s), which can lead to cell lysis by cleaving plasma membrane phospholipids (1).…”

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confidence: 99%

Role of the inflammasome in defense against venoms

Palm

Medzhitov

2013

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

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Venoms consist of a complex mixture of toxic components that are used by a variety of animal species for defense and predation. Envenomation of mammalian species leads to an acute inflammatory response and can lead to the development of IgE-dependent venom allergy. However, the mechanisms by which the innate immune system detects envenomation and initiates inflammatory and allergic responses to venoms remain largely unknown. Here we show that bee venom is detected by the NOD-like receptor family, pyrin domain-containing 3 inflammasome and can trigger activation of caspase-1 and the subsequent processing and unconventional secretion of the leaderless proinflammatory cytokine IL-1β in macrophages. Whereas activation of the inflammasome by bee venom induces a caspase-1-dependent inflammatory response, characterized by recruitment of neutrophils to the site or envenomation, the inflammasome is dispensable for the allergic response to bee venom. Finally, we find that caspase-1-deficient mice are more susceptible to the noxious effects of bee and snake venoms, suggesting that a caspase-1-dependent immune response can protect against the damaging effects of envenomation.melittin | phospholipase a2 | mast cells | detoxification | noxious xenobiotics

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“…The presence of polar compounds with antimicrobial activity has already been detected on the epicuticular layer of arthropods (Kuhn-Nentwig 2003), including social insects (Hölldobler & Wilson 1990;Turillazzi et al 2006;Mazza et al 2011). Cucujus spp.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 95%

Beetles “in red”: are the endangered flat bark beetles Cucujus cinnaberinus and C. haematodes chemically protected? (Coleoptera: Cucujidae)

Bonacci

Mazzei

Naccarato

et al. 2018

The European Zoological Journal

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Two native species of the genus Cucujus show a wide geographic distribution in Europe, Cucujus cinnaberinus (Scopoli, 1763) and C. haematodes Erichson, 1845. Although data on the distribution and ecology of these rare and endangered species are increasing, there are few reports on their biology and behaviour, and some aspects of their feeding ecology remain problematic. Our aim was to study, for the first time, the cuticular chemical profiles of these two beetles to (i) investigate the presence of chemicals potentially involved in defence by pathogens and (ii) lay the foundation for understanding the role of their bright red colour. The analysis of the cuticular profile was performed in-vivo by solid phase microextraction coupled with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. In the cuticular profiles of the two species we identified 24 compounds belonging to different classes of molecules, i.e. hydrocarbons, aldehydes, esters, n-alkyl morpholines, and a high number of organic acids. Qualitative differences in terms of both signal intensity and detected compounds were found between the two species. As reported in other insects, the remarkable array of avoidance substances suggests a strict relationship with the bright red colour of the adults, which probably acts as an aposematic or warning signal. European Cucujus species are probably well protected against enemies because some identified chemicals, particularly fatty acids, are related to an antipredatory strategy to fight off predators that use their sense of smell to locate their prey. Other substances found on the cuticular layer of these beetles are probably involved in an antimicrobial and antifungal function, as demonstrated in other insects living in habitats that host many pathogens.

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Antimicrobial and cytolytic peptides of venomous arthropods

Cited by 186 publications

References 126 publications

Dominulin A and B: Two new antibacterial peptides identified on the cuticle and in the venom of the social paper waspPolistes dominulususing MALDI-TOF, MALDI-TOF/TOF, and ESI-ion trap

Dominulin A and B: Two new antibacterial peptides identified on the cuticle and in the venom of the social paper waspPolistes dominulususing MALDI-TOF, MALDI-TOF/TOF, and ESI-ion trap

Role of the inflammasome in defense against venoms

Beetles “in red”: are the endangered flat bark beetles Cucujus cinnaberinus and C. haematodes chemically protected? (Coleoptera: Cucujidae)

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