Gomesin, a peptide produced by the spiderAcanthoscurria gomesiana, is a potent anticryptococcal agent that acts in synergism with fluconazole

Abstract

Gomesin is an 18-residue cysteine-rich antimicrobial peptide produced by hemocytes of the spider Acanthoscurria gomesiana. In the present study, the antifungal properties of gomesin against Cryptococcus neoformans, the etiologic agent of cryptococcosis, were evaluated. Gomesin bound to the cell surface of cryptococci, which resulted in cell death associated with membrane permeabilization. Antifungal concentrations of gomesin were not toxic for human brain cells. Supplementation of cryptococcal cultures with the peptide (1 microM) caused a decrease in capsule expression and rendered fungal cells more susceptible to killing by human brain phagocytes. The possible use of gomesin in combination with fluconazole, a standard antifungal drug, was also evaluated. In association with fluconazole, gomesin concentrations with low antimicrobial activity (0.1-1 microM) inhibited fungal growth and enhanced the antimicrobial activity of brain phagocytes. These results reveal the potential of gomesin to promote inhibition of cryptococcal growth directly or by enhancing the effectiveness of host defenses.

Antifungal and antitumor models of bioactive protective peptides

“…Gomesin bound to the surface of Cryptococcus neoformans, resulting in cell death by membrane permeabilization. Fungal growth, in the presence of the peptide, induced a decrease in capsule expression, rendering cells more susceptible to brain phagocytes and, in association with fluconazole, in concentrations with low antimicrobial activity (0.1-1μM), inhibited fungal growth and enhanced the antimicrobial activity of brain phagocytes (Barbosa et al 2007). One of the models described in the present review is that of gomesin cytotoxicity in murine and human tumor cells .…”

“…The peptide is active against Grampositive and Gram-negative bacteria, filamentous fungi, yeast (Silva et al 2000), Cryptococcus neoformans (Barbosa et al 2007) and parasites, such as Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium berghei (Moreira et al 2007). …”

Organogênese in vitro de batata (Solanum tuberosum L.) cultivar Atlantic visando transformação genética

“…Atualmente, a utilização de peptídeos antimicrobianos têm-se mostrado com um grande potencial para aplicações em humanos, outros animais e em plantas (SILVA; DAFFRE; BULET, 2000;BARBOSA et al, 2007;SARIKA;IQUEBAL;RAI, 2012). Trata-se de moléculas pequenas de até 5 kDa que apresentam um amplo espectro de atividade contra microorganismos.…”

Estudo terapêutico da gomesina em camundongos com candidíase disseminada e vaginal.

“…A atividade antifúngica in vitro da gomesina, já foi reportada por nosso grupo de pesquisa e colaboradores (SILVA et al, 2000;BARBOSA et al, 2007). Entretanto, a atividade antifúngica in vitro da gomesina contra isolados clínicos de Candida albicans resistentes a antifúngicos da classe dos azóis ainda não foi analisada, assim como seu potencial terapêutico contra a candidíase.…”