Cockroaches, locusts, and envenomating arthropods: a promising source of antimicrobials
Objective(s): To present a brief overview of various natural sources of antimicrobials with the aim of highlighting invertebrates living in polluted environments as additional sources of antimicrobials. Materials and Methods: A PubMed search using antibacterials, antimicrobials, invertebrates, and n...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Mashhad University of Medical Sciences
2018-09-01
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| Series: | Iranian Journal of Basic Medical Sciences |
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| Online Access: | http://ijbms.mums.ac.ir/article_11263_2f5a35b9c7ff333c40ea72a09b7baa33.pdf |
| _version_ | 1818231564783321088 |
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| author | Mahnoor Ummul-Warah Faateemah Zehra Mosaheb Naveed Khan Ruqaiyyah Siddiqui |
| author_facet | Mahnoor Ummul-Warah Faateemah Zehra Mosaheb Naveed Khan Ruqaiyyah Siddiqui |
| author_sort | Mahnoor Ummul-Warah Faateemah Zehra Mosaheb |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Objective(s): To present a brief overview of various natural sources of antimicrobials with the aim of highlighting invertebrates living in polluted environments as additional sources of antimicrobials. Materials and Methods: A PubMed search using antibacterials, antimicrobials, invertebrates, and natural products as keywords was carried out. In addition, we consulted conference proceedings, original unpublished research undertaken in our laboratories, and discussions in specific forums.Results: Representative of a stupefying 95% of the fauna, invertebrates are fascinating organisms which have evolved strategies to survive germ-infested environments, yet they have largely been ignored. Since invertebrates such as cockroaches inhabit hazardous environments which are rampant with pathogens, they must have developed defense mechanisms to circumvent infections. This is corroborated by the presence of antimicrobial molecules in the nervous systems and hemolymph of cockroaches. Antimicrobial compounds have also been unraveled from the nervous, adipose, and salivary glandular tissues of locusts. Interestingly, the venoms of arthropods including ants, scorpions, and spiders harbor toxins, but also possess multiple antimicrobials.Conclusion: These findings have rekindled the hopes for newer and enhanced therapeutic agents derived from a plentiful and diverse resource to combat fatal infectious diseases. Such antimicrobials from unusual sources can potentially be translated into clinical practice, however intensive research is needed over the next several years to realize these expectations. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-12T10:52:24Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-ef401a1567b947d9899906cbeed94cb3 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2008-3866 2008-3874 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-12T10:52:24Z |
| publishDate | 2018-09-01 |
| publisher | Mashhad University of Medical Sciences |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Iranian Journal of Basic Medical Sciences |
| spelling | doaj.art-ef401a1567b947d9899906cbeed94cb32022-12-22T00:26:44ZengMashhad University of Medical SciencesIranian Journal of Basic Medical Sciences2008-38662008-38742018-09-0121987387710.22038/ijbms.2018.30442.733911263Cockroaches, locusts, and envenomating arthropods: a promising source of antimicrobialsMahnoor Ummul-Warah Faateemah Zehra Mosaheb0Naveed Khan1Ruqaiyyah Siddiqui2Department of Biological Sciences, School of Science and Technology, Sunway University, Selangor, MalaysiaDepartment of Biological Sciences, School of Science and Technology, Sunway University, Selangor, MalaysiaDepartment of Biological Sciences, School of Science and Technology, Sunway University, Selangor, MalaysiaObjective(s): To present a brief overview of various natural sources of antimicrobials with the aim of highlighting invertebrates living in polluted environments as additional sources of antimicrobials. Materials and Methods: A PubMed search using antibacterials, antimicrobials, invertebrates, and natural products as keywords was carried out. In addition, we consulted conference proceedings, original unpublished research undertaken in our laboratories, and discussions in specific forums.Results: Representative of a stupefying 95% of the fauna, invertebrates are fascinating organisms which have evolved strategies to survive germ-infested environments, yet they have largely been ignored. Since invertebrates such as cockroaches inhabit hazardous environments which are rampant with pathogens, they must have developed defense mechanisms to circumvent infections. This is corroborated by the presence of antimicrobial molecules in the nervous systems and hemolymph of cockroaches. Antimicrobial compounds have also been unraveled from the nervous, adipose, and salivary glandular tissues of locusts. Interestingly, the venoms of arthropods including ants, scorpions, and spiders harbor toxins, but also possess multiple antimicrobials.Conclusion: These findings have rekindled the hopes for newer and enhanced therapeutic agents derived from a plentiful and diverse resource to combat fatal infectious diseases. Such antimicrobials from unusual sources can potentially be translated into clinical practice, however intensive research is needed over the next several years to realize these expectations.http://ijbms.mums.ac.ir/article_11263_2f5a35b9c7ff333c40ea72a09b7baa33.pdfAntibacterial agentsAnti-infective agentsAntimicrobial peptidesCommunicable diseasesDrug resistanceInvertebrate peptides |
| spellingShingle | Mahnoor Ummul-Warah Faateemah Zehra Mosaheb Naveed Khan Ruqaiyyah Siddiqui Cockroaches, locusts, and envenomating arthropods: a promising source of antimicrobials Iranian Journal of Basic Medical Sciences Antibacterial agents Anti-infective agents Antimicrobial peptides Communicable diseases Drug resistance Invertebrate peptides |
| title | Cockroaches, locusts, and envenomating arthropods: a promising source of antimicrobials |
| title_full | Cockroaches, locusts, and envenomating arthropods: a promising source of antimicrobials |
| title_fullStr | Cockroaches, locusts, and envenomating arthropods: a promising source of antimicrobials |
| title_full_unstemmed | Cockroaches, locusts, and envenomating arthropods: a promising source of antimicrobials |
| title_short | Cockroaches, locusts, and envenomating arthropods: a promising source of antimicrobials |
| title_sort | cockroaches locusts and envenomating arthropods a promising source of antimicrobials |
| topic | Antibacterial agents Anti-infective agents Antimicrobial peptides Communicable diseases Drug resistance Invertebrate peptides |
| url | http://ijbms.mums.ac.ir/article_11263_2f5a35b9c7ff333c40ea72a09b7baa33.pdf |
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