Diversity of the Antimicrobial Peptide Genes in Collembola
Multidrug-resistant bacteria are a current health crisis threatening the world’s population, and scientists are looking for new drugs to combat them. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), which are part of the organism’s innate immune system, are a promising new drug class as they can disrupt bacterial cel...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-02-01
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| Series: | Insects |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/14/3/215 |
| _version_ | 1797611083384487936 |
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| author | Goma Pradhan Patamarerk Engsontia |
| author_facet | Goma Pradhan Patamarerk Engsontia |
| author_sort | Goma Pradhan |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Multidrug-resistant bacteria are a current health crisis threatening the world’s population, and scientists are looking for new drugs to combat them. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), which are part of the organism’s innate immune system, are a promising new drug class as they can disrupt bacterial cell membranes. This study explored antimicrobial peptide genes in collembola, a non-insect hexapod lineage that has survived in microbe-rich habitats for millions of years, and their antimicrobial peptides have not been thoroughly investigated. We used in silico analysis (homology-based gene identification, physicochemical and antimicrobial property prediction) to identify AMP genes from the genomes and transcriptomes of five collembola representing three main suborders: Entomobryomorpha (<i>Orchesella cincta</i>, <i>Sinella curviseta</i>), Poduromorpha (<i>Holacanthella duospinosa</i>, <i>Anurida maritima</i>), and Symphypleona (<i>Sminthurus viridis</i>). We identified 45 genes belonging to five AMP families, including (a) cysteine-rich peptides: diapausin, defensin, and Alo; (b) linear α-helical peptide without cysteine: cecropin; (c) glycine-rich peptide: diptericin. Frequent gene gains and losses were observed in their evolution. Based on the functions of their orthologs in insects, these AMPs potentially have broad activity against bacteria, fungi, and viruses. This study provides candidate collembolan AMPs for further functional analysis that could lead to medicinal use. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T06:22:52Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-3873396408ab4d54a04d0b24e0e615ab |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2075-4450 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T06:22:52Z |
| publishDate | 2023-02-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Insects |
| spelling | doaj.art-3873396408ab4d54a04d0b24e0e615ab2023-11-17T11:45:31ZengMDPI AGInsects2075-44502023-02-0114321510.3390/insects14030215Diversity of the Antimicrobial Peptide Genes in CollembolaGoma Pradhan0Patamarerk Engsontia1Division of Biological Science, Faculty of Science, Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai, Songkhla 90110, ThailandDivision of Biological Science, Faculty of Science, Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai, Songkhla 90110, ThailandMultidrug-resistant bacteria are a current health crisis threatening the world’s population, and scientists are looking for new drugs to combat them. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), which are part of the organism’s innate immune system, are a promising new drug class as they can disrupt bacterial cell membranes. This study explored antimicrobial peptide genes in collembola, a non-insect hexapod lineage that has survived in microbe-rich habitats for millions of years, and their antimicrobial peptides have not been thoroughly investigated. We used in silico analysis (homology-based gene identification, physicochemical and antimicrobial property prediction) to identify AMP genes from the genomes and transcriptomes of five collembola representing three main suborders: Entomobryomorpha (<i>Orchesella cincta</i>, <i>Sinella curviseta</i>), Poduromorpha (<i>Holacanthella duospinosa</i>, <i>Anurida maritima</i>), and Symphypleona (<i>Sminthurus viridis</i>). We identified 45 genes belonging to five AMP families, including (a) cysteine-rich peptides: diapausin, defensin, and Alo; (b) linear α-helical peptide without cysteine: cecropin; (c) glycine-rich peptide: diptericin. Frequent gene gains and losses were observed in their evolution. Based on the functions of their orthologs in insects, these AMPs potentially have broad activity against bacteria, fungi, and viruses. This study provides candidate collembolan AMPs for further functional analysis that could lead to medicinal use.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/14/3/215antimicrobial peptideAMP evolutionAMP gene identificationcollembola immunitydrug discovery |
| spellingShingle | Goma Pradhan Patamarerk Engsontia Diversity of the Antimicrobial Peptide Genes in Collembola Insects antimicrobial peptide AMP evolution AMP gene identification collembola immunity drug discovery |
| title | Diversity of the Antimicrobial Peptide Genes in Collembola |
| title_full | Diversity of the Antimicrobial Peptide Genes in Collembola |
| title_fullStr | Diversity of the Antimicrobial Peptide Genes in Collembola |
| title_full_unstemmed | Diversity of the Antimicrobial Peptide Genes in Collembola |
| title_short | Diversity of the Antimicrobial Peptide Genes in Collembola |
| title_sort | diversity of the antimicrobial peptide genes in collembola |
| topic | antimicrobial peptide AMP evolution AMP gene identification collembola immunity drug discovery |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/14/3/215 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT gomapradhan diversityoftheantimicrobialpeptidegenesincollembola AT patamarerkengsontia diversityoftheantimicrobialpeptidegenesincollembola |