Novel Antimicrobial Peptides Isolated from Skin Secretions of the Mexican Frog Hyla eximia

Abstract

In this work, we describe the original characterization of peptides and proteins present in the skin secretions of the Mexican amphibian Hyla eximia. To this purpose, a novel water/dark extraction method, as well as the classic electrical stimulation procedure, was applied in order to extract the skin secretion. Two novel antimicrobial peptides He-1 and He-2 were sequenced. In addition, a molecular mass fingerprint revealed more than one hundred different molecules. Eight peptides in homogeneous form were assayed against five species of bacteria. Thereafter, the peptide He-2 demonstrated high antiparasitic activity against ookinete forms of malaria parasites at low concentration.

The Chemistry and Biological Activities of Peptides from Amphibian Skin Secretions

“…Those AMPs are shorter than 20 residues. All are linear, cationic α-helical peptides and inhibit the growth of a wide range of microorganisms. ,− In contrast from other Hyla AMPs, hylins b1 and b2 from the skin secretions of the Brazilian Hylidae frog H. biobeba contain a large number of hydrophobic residues and an amidated C-terminus, and have hemolyticity .…”

Antimalarial Peptides: The Long and the Short of It

“…in a 4-day mouse malaria test. The 6,534-Da molecule from frog (Hyla eximia) skin named He-2 was 80-90% effective on cultured P. berghei ookinetes when applied for 24 h at 10 or 20 M [95].…”

Rational Discovery of Antimicrobial Peptides by Means of Artificial Intelligence

“…The analysis predicted four possible AM motifs for the peptide: (i) LWKD, (ii) ALWK, (iii) WKDL, and (iv) LKKV. The first motif has been widely studied within dermaseptin peptides, and the second one is merely an extension of it [ 78 , 79 , 80 , 81 , 82 ]. The third one has also been identified and studied previously [ 83 ].…”