Diversity and Molecular Evolution of Antimicrobial Peptides in Caecilian Amphibians
Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are key molecules in the innate immune defence of vertebrates with rapid action, broad antimicrobial spectrum, and ability to evade pathogen resistance mechanisms. To date, amphibians are the major group of vertebrates from which most AMPs have been characterised, but m...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2024-03-01
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| Series: | Toxins |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6651/16/3/150 |
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| author | Mario Benítez-Prián Héctor Lorente-Martínez Ainhoa Agorreta David J. Gower Mark Wilkinson Kim Roelants Diego San Mauro |
| author_facet | Mario Benítez-Prián Héctor Lorente-Martínez Ainhoa Agorreta David J. Gower Mark Wilkinson Kim Roelants Diego San Mauro |
| author_sort | Mario Benítez-Prián |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are key molecules in the innate immune defence of vertebrates with rapid action, broad antimicrobial spectrum, and ability to evade pathogen resistance mechanisms. To date, amphibians are the major group of vertebrates from which most AMPs have been characterised, but most studies have focused on the bioactive skin secretions of anurans (frogs and toads). In this study, we have analysed the complete genomes and/or transcriptomes of eight species of caecilian amphibians (order Gymnophiona) and characterised the diversity, molecular evolution, and antimicrobial potential of the AMP repertoire of this order of amphibians. We have identified 477 candidate AMPs within the studied caecilian genome and transcriptome datasets. These candidates are grouped into 29 AMP families, with four corresponding to peptides primarily exhibiting antimicrobial activity and 25 potentially serving as AMPs in a secondary function, either in their entirety or after cleavage. In silico prediction methods were used to identify 62 of those AMPs as peptides with promising antimicrobial activity potential. Signatures of directional selection were detected for five candidate AMPs, which may indicate adaptation to the different selective pressures imposed by evolutionary arms races with specific pathogens. These findings provide encouraging support for the expectation that caecilians, being one of the least-studied groups of vertebrates, and with ~300 million years of separate evolution, are an underexplored resource of great pharmaceutical potential that could help to contest antibiotic resistance and contribute to biomedical advance. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-24T17:47:48Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-ee2b73dad1e540d4a4cf09613db8fdd3 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2072-6651 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-24T17:47:48Z |
| publishDate | 2024-03-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Toxins |
| spelling | doaj.art-ee2b73dad1e540d4a4cf09613db8fdd32024-03-27T14:06:25ZengMDPI AGToxins2072-66512024-03-0116315010.3390/toxins16030150Diversity and Molecular Evolution of Antimicrobial Peptides in Caecilian AmphibiansMario Benítez-Prián0Héctor Lorente-Martínez1Ainhoa Agorreta2David J. Gower3Mark Wilkinson4Kim Roelants5Diego San Mauro6Department of Biodiversity Ecology and Evolution, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040 Madrid, SpainDepartment of Biodiversity Ecology and Evolution, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040 Madrid, SpainDepartment of Biodiversity Ecology and Evolution, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040 Madrid, SpainNatural History Museum, London SW7 5BD, UKHerpetology Lab, Natural History Museum, London SW7 5BD, UKbDIV, Biology Department, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Pleinlaan 2, 1050 Elsene, BelgiumDepartment of Biodiversity Ecology and Evolution, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040 Madrid, SpainAntimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are key molecules in the innate immune defence of vertebrates with rapid action, broad antimicrobial spectrum, and ability to evade pathogen resistance mechanisms. To date, amphibians are the major group of vertebrates from which most AMPs have been characterised, but most studies have focused on the bioactive skin secretions of anurans (frogs and toads). In this study, we have analysed the complete genomes and/or transcriptomes of eight species of caecilian amphibians (order Gymnophiona) and characterised the diversity, molecular evolution, and antimicrobial potential of the AMP repertoire of this order of amphibians. We have identified 477 candidate AMPs within the studied caecilian genome and transcriptome datasets. These candidates are grouped into 29 AMP families, with four corresponding to peptides primarily exhibiting antimicrobial activity and 25 potentially serving as AMPs in a secondary function, either in their entirety or after cleavage. In silico prediction methods were used to identify 62 of those AMPs as peptides with promising antimicrobial activity potential. Signatures of directional selection were detected for five candidate AMPs, which may indicate adaptation to the different selective pressures imposed by evolutionary arms races with specific pathogens. These findings provide encouraging support for the expectation that caecilians, being one of the least-studied groups of vertebrates, and with ~300 million years of separate evolution, are an underexplored resource of great pharmaceutical potential that could help to contest antibiotic resistance and contribute to biomedical advance.https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6651/16/3/150AMPGymnophionagenometranscriptomeantimicrobial activity predictiondirectional selection |
| spellingShingle | Mario Benítez-Prián Héctor Lorente-Martínez Ainhoa Agorreta David J. Gower Mark Wilkinson Kim Roelants Diego San Mauro Diversity and Molecular Evolution of Antimicrobial Peptides in Caecilian Amphibians Toxins AMP Gymnophiona genome transcriptome antimicrobial activity prediction directional selection |
| title | Diversity and Molecular Evolution of Antimicrobial Peptides in Caecilian Amphibians |
| title_full | Diversity and Molecular Evolution of Antimicrobial Peptides in Caecilian Amphibians |
| title_fullStr | Diversity and Molecular Evolution of Antimicrobial Peptides in Caecilian Amphibians |
| title_full_unstemmed | Diversity and Molecular Evolution of Antimicrobial Peptides in Caecilian Amphibians |
| title_short | Diversity and Molecular Evolution of Antimicrobial Peptides in Caecilian Amphibians |
| title_sort | diversity and molecular evolution of antimicrobial peptides in caecilian amphibians |
| topic | AMP Gymnophiona genome transcriptome antimicrobial activity prediction directional selection |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6651/16/3/150 |
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