Antibacterial and antiviral activity of melittin and its impact on the proteomic profile of Acinetobacter baumannii, Enterococcus faecium, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Zika Virus and SARS-CoV-2

• Grant number: 23/01554-1
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Duration: July 01, 2023 - June 30, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Microbiology - Applied Microbiology
• Convênio/Acordo: CNPq
• Principal Investigator: Rui Seabra Ferreira Junior
• Grantee: Rui Seabra Ferreira Junior
• Host Institution: Centro de Estudos de Venenos e Animais Peçonhentos (CEVAP). Centro Virtual de Toxinologia. Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Botucatu. Botucatu , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 21/11936-3 - Center for Translational Science and Biopharmaceutical Development, AP.CCD
• Associated scholarship(s): 23/09921-3 - Antibacterial and antiviral activity of melittin and its impact on the proteomic profile of Acinetobacter baumannii, Enterococcus faecium, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Zika virus and SARS-CoV-2, BP.JD

Abstract

Natural products such as antimicrobial peptides may present an alternative to face antibiotic-resistant bacteria and virus. Melittin, a fraction of Apis mellifera bee venom, is an antimicrobial peptide with a broad spectrum of action, with antibacterial, antifungal and antiviral activity. This project aims to: evaluate antibacterial activity of melittin against Acinetobacter baumannii, Enterococcus faecium and Klebsiella pneumoniae, which presents a higher resistance to antibiotics and associated with hospital infections; evaluate antiviral activity of melittin against Zika virus and SARS-CoV-2, virus with rapid dissemination and with little or no available treatment; verify synergism of melittin and regularly used antibiotics, aiming a lower dose of antimicrobials and less cytotoxicity; evaluate antibiofilm activity of melittin against the bacterias; and evaluate the proteomic profile of Acinetobacter baumannii, Enterococcus faecium, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Zika virus and SARS-CoV-2 with subinhibitory concentrations of melittin compared to control. The results of this project aims to contribute to the search for new antimicrobial agents and alternatives to combat antimicrobial resistance, infections associated with bacterial biofilms and the spread of virus. (AU)