Antiprotozoan and Antiviral Activities of Non‐Cytotoxic Truncated and Variant Analogues of Mussel Defensin
Open Access
- 1 January 2000
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Wiley in Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine
- Vol. 1 (2) , 167-174
- https://doi.org/10.1093/ecam/neh033
Abstract
We previously reported the crucial role displayed by loop 3 of defensin isolated from the Mediterranean mussel, Mytilus galloprovincialis, in antibacterial and antifungal activities. We now investigated antiprotozoan and antiviral activities of some previously reported fragments B, D, E, P and Q. Two fragments (D and P) efficiently killed Trypanosoma brucei (ID50 4–12μM) and Leishmania major (ID50 12–45μM) in a time/dose-dependent manner. Killing of T. brucei started as early as 1h after initiation of contact with fragment D and reached 55% mortality after 6h. Killing was temperature dependent and a temperature of 4°C efficiently impaired the ability to kill T. brucei. Fragments bound to the entire external epithelium of T. brucei. Prevention of HIV-1 infestation was obtained only with fragments P and Q at 20μM. Even if fragment P was active on both targets, the specificity of fragments D and Q suggest that antiprotozoan and antiviral activities are mediated by different mechanisms. Truncated sequences of mussel defensin, including amino acid replacement to maintain 3D structure and increased positive net charge, also possess antiprotozoan and antiviral capabilities. New alternative and/or complementary antibiotics can be derived from the vast reservoir of natural antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) contained in marine invertebrates.Keywords
Funding Information
- Bilateral Scientific Cooperation program of Flanders (BWS03/06)
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