<b>Antibacterial activity of different types of snake venom from the Viperidae family against <i>Staphylococcus aureus

Abstract

ABSTRACT. Toxins and venoms produced by living organisms have exhibited a variety of biological activities against microorganisms. In this study, we tested seven snake venoms from the family Viperidae for antibacterial activity and the activities of reversal of antibiotic resistance and inhibition of biofilm formation against 22 clinical isolates of Staphylococcus aureus. Bothrops moojeni venom exhibited anti staphylococcal activity with the lowest mean value of minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC). Moreover, reversal of antibiotic resistance was observed for combinations of B. moojeni venom (½ x MIC) and norfloxacin or ampicillin (both ½ x MIC) for 86.4% and 50% of the isolates, respectively. B. moojeni venom alone at ½ MIC inhibited 90% of biofilm formation, whereas in combination with ciprofloxacin, both at ½ MIC, a reduction on the NorA efflux pump activity was observed. The detection of in vitro mutants colonies of S. aureus resistant to B. moojeni venom was low and they did not survive. A phospholipase A2 was purified from the venom of B. moojeni and displayed anti-staphylococcal activity when tested alone or in combination with ciprofloxacin. The results presented here will contribute to the search for new antimicrobial agents against resistant S. aureus.

Antimicrobial Activity of Protein Fraction from Naja ashei Venom against Staphylococcus epidermidis

“…Firstly, the F2 fraction shows synergistic effects with antibiotics (ampicillin and tetracycline). Despite the fact, that tetracycline and ampicillin belong to two different classes of antibiotics and use different mechanisms of action against bacteria, for both antibiotics, a similar effect for antimicrobial peptides was previously described [42][43][44] and for the whole venom of Bothrops moojeni [45]. The antibacterial effect of ampicillin is based on the inhibition of penicillin-binding proteins involved in cell wall synthesis, whereas tetracycline inhibits 30S subunit during protein synthesis [46].…”

“…It is also known that Staphylococci have an efflux pump, which determines drug resistance to a large extent because it is responsible for removing from cells various types of substances, which are unnecessary for metabolism or harmful to cells [57]. Bothrops moojeni venom inhibits the action of such a pump in Staphylococcus aureus and thus, in combination with antibiotics, increases their effectiveness [45]. Perhaps, therefore, one of the components of the F2 fraction may also have similar properties.…”

Antibacterial and Hemolytic Activity of Crotalus triseriatus and Crotalus ravus Venom

“…In this respect, the efficiency of these compounds, specially phospholipase A2 against antibioticresistant bacteria, holds promise for biotechnological applications, in this case, new medical treatment alternatives, however, it should be understood there are different antibacterial activity mechanisms from venom-based drugs [23,24]. Antibacterial activity of rattlesnake's venoms against P. aeruginosa: (a) columns 1-3, CT1 from 100 at 0.78 µg/mL, columns 4-6, CR4 from 100 at 0.78 µg/mL, columns 7-9, CT2 from 100 at 0.78 µg/mL, columns 10-12, CR3 from 100 at 0.78 µg/mL.…”

“…In this respect, the efficiency of these compounds, specially phospholipase A 2 against antibiotic-resistant bacteria, holds promise for biotechnological applications, in this case, new medical treatment alternatives, however, it should be understood there are different antibacterial activity mechanisms from venom-based drugs [23,24].…”

Investigating Antibacterial Effects of Latrodectus Dahli Crude Venom on Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus subtilis

“…Recently, researchers have focused on antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) to combat antibiotic resistance (1,2). These peptides contain deformed amino acids that are not found in polypeptides made by ribosomes.…”