Pharma-entomology: when bugs become drugs

Dimarcq, Jean Luc; Hunneyball, Ian

doi:10.1016/s1359-6446(02)02582-5

Cited by 23 publications

(11 citation statements)

References 8 publications

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“…Vol. 60,2003 Review Article even in high concentrations [151]. The cytolytic peptides presented here derive from only a few venomous arthropod species.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Antimicrobial and cytolytic peptides of venomous arthropods

Kuhn‐Nentwig

2003

Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences (CMLS)

186

131

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As a response to invading microorganisms, the innate immune system of arthropods has evolved a complex arrangement of constitutive and inducible antimicrobial peptides that immediately destroy a large variety of pathogens. At the same time, venomous arthropods have developed an additional offensive system in their venom glands to subdue their prey items. In this complex venom system, several enzymes, low-molecular-mass compounds, neurotoxins, antimicrobial and cytolytic peptides interact together, resulting in extremely rapid immobilization and/or killing of prey or aggressors. This review provides an overview of antimicrobial peptides identified in the hemolymph of venomous arthropods, and especially of cytolytic peptides in their venom. For these peptides a dual role is proposed: acting as antimicrobials as well as increasing the potency of the venom by influencing excitable cells.

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“…Vol. 60,2003 Review Article even in high concentrations [151]. The cytolytic peptides presented here derive from only a few venomous arthropod species.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Antimicrobial and cytolytic peptides of venomous arthropods

Kuhn‐Nentwig

2003

Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences (CMLS)

186

131

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“…Insects have been a rich source of antimicrobial peptides, with a cecropin from the moth Hyalophora cecropia (Steiner et al, 1981) being one of the first antimicrobial peptides isolated. Drosophila melanogaster has been extensively studied and is known to produce at least seven different antimicrobial peptides, most in multiple forms (Dimarcq and Hunneyball, 2003).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The discovery and analysis of a diverged family of novel antifungal moricin-like peptides in the wax moth Galleria mellonella

Brown

Howard

Kasprzak

et al. 2008

Insect Biochemistry and Molecular Biology

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“…Thus, most pharmaceutical strategies have been devoted to the development of agents for topical applications, largely because of the relative safety of topical therapy and the uncertainty surrounding the long-term toxicology of any new class of drug administered systemically (15). An approach to controlling unwanted biofilm formation at the surface of implanted materials is to kill the bacteria during their initial attachment rather than trying to remove them once they have adhered.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Multilayer Polyelectrolyte Films Functionalized by Insertion of Defensin: a New Approach to Protection of Implants from Bacterial Colonization

Étienne

Picart

Taddéi³

et al. 2004

Antimicrob Agents Chemother

192

178

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Infection of implanted materials by bacteria constitutes one of the most serious complications following prosthetic surgery. In the present study, we developed a new strategy based on the insertion of an antimicrobial peptide (defensin from Anopheles gambiae mosquitoes) into polyelectrolyte multilayer films built by the alternate deposition of polyanions and polycations. Quartz crystal microbalance and streaming potential measurements were used to follow step by step the construction of the multilayer films and embedding of the defensin within the films. Antimicrobial assays were performed with two strains: Micrococcus luteus (a gram-positive bacterium) and Escherichia coli D22 (a gram-negative bacterium). The inhibition of E. coli D22 growth at the surface of defensin-functionalized films was found to be 98% when 10 antimicrobial peptide layers were inserted in the film architecture. Noticeably, the biofunctionalization could be achieved only when positively charged poly(L-lysine) was the outermost layer of the film. On the basis of the results of bacterial adhesion experiments observed by confocal or electron microscopy, these observations could result from the close interaction of the bacteria with the positively charged ends of the films, which allows defensin to interact with the bacterial membrane structure. These results open new possibilities for the use of such easily built and functionalized architectures onto any type of implantable biomaterial. The modified surfaces are active against microbial infection and represent a novel means of local host protection.

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Pharma-entomology: when bugs become drugs

Cited by 23 publications

References 8 publications

Antimicrobial and cytolytic peptides of venomous arthropods

Antimicrobial and cytolytic peptides of venomous arthropods

The discovery and analysis of a diverged family of novel antifungal moricin-like peptides in the wax moth Galleria mellonella

Multilayer Polyelectrolyte Films Functionalized by Insertion of Defensin: a New Approach to Protection of Implants from Bacterial Colonization

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