Prospection of bioactive peptides with antitumor activity isolated from scorpion venoms from the Brazilian Amazon

• Grant number: 23/01083-9
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: July 01, 2023
• End date: June 30, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Pharmacy - Toxicological Analysis
• Agreement: CNPq
• Principal Investigator: Eliane Candiani Arantes Braga
• Grantee: Eliane Candiani Arantes Braga
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto (FCFRP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Ribeirão Preto , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 21/11936-3 - Center for Translational Science and Biopharmaceutical Development, AP.CCD
• Associated scholarship(s): 23/10400-8 - Prospection of bioactive peptides with antitumor activity isolated from scorpion venoms from the Brazilian Amazon, BP.JD

Abstract

Cancer is one of the diseases with the highest incidence, morbidity, and mortality worldwide. InBrazil, the incidence in 2020 was estimated at 670 thousand new cases. Despite scientific andtechnological advances, antitumor treatments have been practiced in the same way for about acentury, that is, combined treatment modalities/techniques: surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, andimmunotherapy. Venoms from scorpions are made up of a complex mixture of organic compoundswith great potential for biotechnological application. Among these, peptides are an important sourceof molecules with potential for important biological actions and, consequently, the generation of newdrugs. In this light, the isolation of new molecules derived from venoms becomes a promisingalternative for the discovery of new drugs. In the present study, we will isolate the peptides from thecrude venom of the scorpions Tityus silvestres, Tityus strandi, Tityus metuendus and Brotheasamazonicus and characterize the biological activity of these peptides in breast tumor cells (MCF-7,SKBr3 and MDA-MB231) using MCF10A breast epithelial cells as a control. We will first investigatethe direct action of these peptides on tumor cells, as well as the intracellular pathways induced by thepeptides that lead to tumor growth inhibition. The results obtained will contribute to the generationof new drugs with potential therapeutic application in the treatment of breast cancer. (AU)

Scientific publications

(4)

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

MARTINS, JONAS GAMA; REIS, MOUZARLLEM BARROS; ZUANAZZI, BEATRIZ ACQUARONI; BORDON, KARLA DE CASTRO FIGUEIREDO; ZOCCAL, KARINA FURLANI; PROCOPIO, RUDI EMERSON DE LIMA; ARANTES, ELIANE CANDIANI. Clinical outcomes in a murine model after envenoming by the Amazonian scorpions Tityus strandi and Tityus dinizi. Toxicon, v. 246, p. 8-pg., 2024-06-10. (21/11936-3, 23/01083-9)

REIS, MOUZARLLEM BARROS; ARANTES, ELIANE CANDIANI. Immunosuppressive therapies in scorpion envenomation: new perspectives for treatment. FRONTIERS IN TOXICOLOGY, v. 6, p. 6-pg., 2024-11-19. (21/11936-3, 23/01083-9, 23/10400-8)

FIGUEIREDO BORDON, KARLA DE CASTRO; ACOSTA, LETICIA; VARGAS RECHIA, CAREM GLEDES; ARANTES, ELIANE CANDIANI. ENZYMATIC CHARACTERIZATION OF PROTEASES AND AMYLASES FROM TITYUS SERRULATUS VENOM. Toxicon, v. 248, p. 1-pg., 2024-09-01. (21/11936-3, 23/01083-9)

WIEZEL, GISELE A.; OLIVEIRA, ISADORA S.; REIS, MOUZARLLEM B.; FERREIRA, ISABELA G.; CORDEIRO, KALYNKA R.; BORDON, KARLA C. F.; ARANTES, ELIANE C.. The complex repertoire of Tityus spp. venoms: Advances on their composition and pharmacological potential of their toxins. Biochimie, v. 220, p. 23-pg., 2024-01-11. (23/11264-0, 21/11936-3, 20/13176-3, 22/08964-8, 23/01083-9, 23/10400-8)