Therapeutic use of a cationic antimicrobial peptide from the spider <it>Acanthoscurria gomesiana </it>in the control of experimental candidiasis
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Antimicrobial peptides are present in animals, plants and microorganisms and play a fundamental role in the innate immune response. Gomesin is a cationic antimicrobial peptide purified from haemocytes of the spider <it>Acanthos...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2012-03-01
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| Series: | BMC Microbiology |
| Online Access: | http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2180/12/28 |
| _version_ | 1818063837189898240 |
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| author | Rossi Diego C Muñoz Julian E Carvalho Danielle D Belmonte Rodrigo Faintuch Bluma Borelli Primavera Miranda Antonio Taborda Carlos P Daffre Sirlei |
| author_facet | Rossi Diego C Muñoz Julian E Carvalho Danielle D Belmonte Rodrigo Faintuch Bluma Borelli Primavera Miranda Antonio Taborda Carlos P Daffre Sirlei |
| author_sort | Rossi Diego C |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Antimicrobial peptides are present in animals, plants and microorganisms and play a fundamental role in the innate immune response. Gomesin is a cationic antimicrobial peptide purified from haemocytes of the spider <it>Acanthoscurria gomesiana</it>. It has a broad-spectrum of activity against bacteria, fungi, protozoa and tumour cells. <it>Candida albicans</it> is a commensal yeast that is part of the human microbiota. However, in immunocompromised patients, this fungus may cause skin, mucosal or systemic infections. The typical treatment for this mycosis comprises three major categories of antifungal drugs: polyenes, azoles and echinocandins; however cases of resistance to these drugs are frequently reported. With the emergence of microorganisms that are resistant to conventional antibiotics, the development of alternative treatments for candidiasis is important. In this study, we evaluate the efficacy of gomesin treatment on disseminated and vaginal candidiasis as well as its toxicity and biodistribution.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Treatment with gomesin effectively reduced <it>Candida albicans </it>in the kidneys, spleen, liver and vagina of infected mice. The biodistribution of gomesin labelled with technetium-99 m showed that the peptide is captured in the kidneys, spleen and liver. Enhanced production of TNF-α, IFN-γ and IL-6 was detected in infected mice treated with gomesin, suggesting an immunomodulatory activity. Moreover, immunosuppressed and <it>C. albicans</it>-infected mice showed an increase in survival after treatment with gomesin and fluconazole. Systemic administration of gomesin was also not toxic to the mic</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Gomesin proved to be effective against experimental <it>Candida albicans</it> infection. It can be used as an alternative therapy for candidiasis, either alone or in combination with fluconazole. Gomesin's mechanism is not fully understood, but we hypothesise that the peptide acts through the permeabilisation of the yeast membrane leading to death and/or releasing the yeast antigens that trigger the host immune response against infection. Therefore, data presented in this study reinforces the potential of gomesin as a therapeutic antifungal agent in both humans and animals.</p> |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-10T14:26:27Z |
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| id | doaj.art-b2a70b24b3f0458c8c75cf23419aeb80 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1471-2180 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-10T14:26:27Z |
| publishDate | 2012-03-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
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| spelling | doaj.art-b2a70b24b3f0458c8c75cf23419aeb802022-12-22T01:45:04ZengBMCBMC Microbiology1471-21802012-03-011212810.1186/1471-2180-12-28Therapeutic use of a cationic antimicrobial peptide from the spider <it>Acanthoscurria gomesiana </it>in the control of experimental candidiasisRossi Diego CMuñoz Julian ECarvalho Danielle DBelmonte RodrigoFaintuch BlumaBorelli PrimaveraMiranda AntonioTaborda Carlos PDaffre Sirlei<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Antimicrobial peptides are present in animals, plants and microorganisms and play a fundamental role in the innate immune response. Gomesin is a cationic antimicrobial peptide purified from haemocytes of the spider <it>Acanthoscurria gomesiana</it>. It has a broad-spectrum of activity against bacteria, fungi, protozoa and tumour cells. <it>Candida albicans</it> is a commensal yeast that is part of the human microbiota. However, in immunocompromised patients, this fungus may cause skin, mucosal or systemic infections. The typical treatment for this mycosis comprises three major categories of antifungal drugs: polyenes, azoles and echinocandins; however cases of resistance to these drugs are frequently reported. With the emergence of microorganisms that are resistant to conventional antibiotics, the development of alternative treatments for candidiasis is important. In this study, we evaluate the efficacy of gomesin treatment on disseminated and vaginal candidiasis as well as its toxicity and biodistribution.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Treatment with gomesin effectively reduced <it>Candida albicans </it>in the kidneys, spleen, liver and vagina of infected mice. The biodistribution of gomesin labelled with technetium-99 m showed that the peptide is captured in the kidneys, spleen and liver. Enhanced production of TNF-α, IFN-γ and IL-6 was detected in infected mice treated with gomesin, suggesting an immunomodulatory activity. Moreover, immunosuppressed and <it>C. albicans</it>-infected mice showed an increase in survival after treatment with gomesin and fluconazole. Systemic administration of gomesin was also not toxic to the mic</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Gomesin proved to be effective against experimental <it>Candida albicans</it> infection. It can be used as an alternative therapy for candidiasis, either alone or in combination with fluconazole. Gomesin's mechanism is not fully understood, but we hypothesise that the peptide acts through the permeabilisation of the yeast membrane leading to death and/or releasing the yeast antigens that trigger the host immune response against infection. Therefore, data presented in this study reinforces the potential of gomesin as a therapeutic antifungal agent in both humans and animals.</p>http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2180/12/28 |
| spellingShingle | Rossi Diego C Muñoz Julian E Carvalho Danielle D Belmonte Rodrigo Faintuch Bluma Borelli Primavera Miranda Antonio Taborda Carlos P Daffre Sirlei Therapeutic use of a cationic antimicrobial peptide from the spider <it>Acanthoscurria gomesiana </it>in the control of experimental candidiasis BMC Microbiology |
| title | Therapeutic use of a cationic antimicrobial peptide from the spider <it>Acanthoscurria gomesiana </it>in the control of experimental candidiasis |
| title_full | Therapeutic use of a cationic antimicrobial peptide from the spider <it>Acanthoscurria gomesiana </it>in the control of experimental candidiasis |
| title_fullStr | Therapeutic use of a cationic antimicrobial peptide from the spider <it>Acanthoscurria gomesiana </it>in the control of experimental candidiasis |
| title_full_unstemmed | Therapeutic use of a cationic antimicrobial peptide from the spider <it>Acanthoscurria gomesiana </it>in the control of experimental candidiasis |
| title_short | Therapeutic use of a cationic antimicrobial peptide from the spider <it>Acanthoscurria gomesiana </it>in the control of experimental candidiasis |
| title_sort | therapeutic use of a cationic antimicrobial peptide from the spider it acanthoscurria gomesiana it in the control of experimental candidiasis |
| url | http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2180/12/28 |
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