Biologically active peptides against pathogenic micro-organisms

• Grant number: 14/12938-6
• Support type: Regular Research Grants
• Duration: October 01, 2014 - September 30, 2016
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Biochemistry - Chemistry of Macromolecules
• Principal researcher: Vani Xavier de Oliveira Junior
• Grantee: Vani Xavier de Oliveira Junior
• Home Institution: Centro de Ciências Naturais e Humanas (CCNH). Universidade Federal do ABC (UFABC). Ministério da Educação (Brasil). Santo André , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The peptides are versatile molecules, which can be used for various purposes and applications. In this project we propose a study about the effects of synthetic peptides on different micro-organisms. The first target is the protozoa that cause malaria, which still affects 300 million people each year, and even then, does not have an effective drug in the treatment, or with a suitable preventative. In this sense, the discovery of antiplasmodial action of angiotensin II (AII) - by our research group - has provided the report of various actives and relevant analogues, which there is a need for more accurate information and an enhancement of the action of these molecules, in the different stages of this disease. Concomitantly to this research and, due to acquired resistance by various micro-organisms, such as bacteria, fungi, viruses and parasites forms by treatment used, when these infect the host, we propose a systematic study using antimicrobial peptides, in order to obtain new active compounds to eradicate them. Thus, this project proposes the synthesis of antimalarial and antimicrobial peptides, in order to obtain compounds of expressive activity, which did not show significant hemolytic activity. The peptides will be synthesized by solid phase method, purified by High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) and characterized by Mass Spectrometry (LC / ESI-MS). The biological tests will be conducted in various micro-organisms strains and in different evolutionary stages of Plasmodium. Conformational studies will be conducted by Circular Dichroism (CD) and probably by Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR). (AU)

Scientific publications

(11)

(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)

TORRES, MARCELO D. T.; SILVA, ADRIANA F.; ANDRADE, GISLAINE P.; PEDRON, CIBELE N.; CERCHIARO, GISELLE; RIBEIRO, ANDERSON O.; OLIVEIRA JR, VANI X.; DE LA FUENTE-NUNEZ, CESAR. The wasp venom antimicrobial peptide polybia-CP and its synthetic derivatives display antiplasmodial and anticancer properties. BIOENGINEERING & TRANSLATIONAL MEDICINE, JUN 2020. Web of Science Citations: 0.

CHICA ACEVEDO, ISABEL CRISTINA; SILVA, JR., PEDRO ISMAEL; SILVA, FERNANDA DIAS; ARAUJO, IRIS; ALVES, FLAVIO LOPES; OLIVEIRA, CYNTIA SILVA; OLIVEIRA, JR., VANI XAVIER. IsCT-based analogs intending better biological activity. JOURNAL OF PEPTIDE SCIENCE, OCT 2019. Web of Science Citations: 0.

TORRES, MARCELO D. T.; ANDRADE, GISLAINE P.; SATO, ROSELI H.; PEDRON, CIBELE N.; MANIERI, TANIA M.; CERCHIARO, GISELLE; RIBEIRO, ANDERSON O.; DE LA FUENTE-NUNEZ, CESAR; OLIVEIRA, JR., VANI X. Natural and redesigned wasp venom peptides with selective antitumoral activity. Beilstein Journal of Organic Chemistry, v. 14, p. 1693-1703, JUL 6 2018. Web of Science Citations: 8.

TORRES, MARCELO D. T.; SILVA, ADRIANA F.; PEDRON, CIBELE N.; CAPURRO, MARGARETH L.; DE LA FUENTE-NUNEZ, CESAR; OLIVEIRA JUNIOR, VANI X. Peptide Design Enables Reengineering of an Inactive Wasp Venom Peptide into Synthetic Antiplasmodial Agents. CHEMISTRYSELECT, v. 3, n. 21, p. 5859-5863, JUN 7 2018. Web of Science Citations: 4.

PEDRON, CIBELE NICOLASKI; ANDRADE, GISLAINE PATRICIA; SATO, ROSELI HIROMI; TOROSSIAN TORRES, MARCELO DER; CERCHIARO, GISELLE; RIBEIRO, ANDERSON ORZARI; OLIVEIRA, JR., VANI XAVIER. Anticancer activity of VmCT1 analogs against MCF-7 cells. CHEMICAL BIOLOGY & DRUG DESIGN, v. 91, n. 2, p. 588-596, FEB 2018. Web of Science Citations: 4.

TORRES, MARCELO D. T.; PEDRON, CIBELE N.; HIGASHIKUNI, YASUTOMI; KRAMER, ROBIN M.; CARDOSO, MARLON H.; OSHIRO, KAREN G. N.; FRANCO, OCTAVIO L.; SILVA JUNIOR, I, PEDRO; SILVA, FERNANDA D.; OLIVEIRA JUNIOR, VANI X.; LU, TIMOTHY K.; DE LA FUENTE-NUNEZ, CESAR. Structure-function-guided exploration of the antimicrobial peptide polybia-CP identifies activity determinants and generates synthetic therapeutic candidates. COMMUNICATIONS BIOLOGY, v. 1, 2018. Web of Science Citations: 16.

TORRES, MARCELO DER TOROSSIAN; PEDRON, CIBELE NICOLASKI; DA SILVA LIMA, JULIA APARECIDA; DA SILVA JUNIOR, PEDRO ISMAEL; DA SILVAA, FERNANDA DIAS; OLIVEIRA JUNIOR, VANI XAVIER. Antimicrobial activity of leucine-substituted decoralin analogs with lower hemolytic activity. JOURNAL OF PEPTIDE SCIENCE, v. 23, n. 11, p. 818-823, NOV 2017. Web of Science Citations: 6.

SILVA, ADRIANA FARIAS; TOROSSIAN TORRES, MARCELO DER; SILVA, LEANDRO SOUZA; ALVES, FLAVIO LOPES; DE SA PINHEIRO, ANA ACACIA; MIRANDA, ANTONIO; CAPURRO, MARGARETH LARA; DE LA FUENTE-NUNEZ, CESAR; OLIVEIRA, JR., VANI XAVIER. Angiotensin II-derived constrained peptides with antiplasmodial activity and suppressed vasoconstriction. SCIENTIFIC REPORTS, v. 7, OCT 30 2017. Web of Science Citations: 4.

TORRES, MARCELO D. T.; PEDRON, CIBELE N.; ARAUJO, IRIS; SILVA, JR., PEDRO I.; SILVA, FERNANDA D.; OLIVEIRA, VANI X. Decoralin Analogs with Increased Resistance to Degradation and Lower Hemolytic Activity. CHEMISTRYSELECT, v. 2, n. 1, p. 18-23, JAN 10 2017. Web of Science Citations: 11.

SILVA, ADRIANA FARIAS; TOROSSIAN TORRES, MARCELO DER; SILVA, LEANDRO DE SOUZA; ALVES, FLAVIO LOPES; DE SA PINHEIRO, ANA ACACIA; MIRANDA, ANTONIO; CAPURRO, MARGARETH LARA; OLIVEIRA, JR., VANI XAVIER. New linear antiplasmodial peptides related to angiotensin II. Malaria Journal, v. 14, NOV 4 2015. Web of Science Citations: 3.

SILVA, ADRIANA FARIAS; SILVA, LEANDRO DE SOUZA; ALVES, FLAVIO LOPES; TOROSSIANTORRES, MARCELO DER; DE SAPINHEIRO, ANA ACACIA; MIRANDA, ANTONIO; LARACAPURRO, MARGARETH; OLIVEIRA, JR., VANI XAVIER. Effects of the angiotensin II Ala-scan analogs in erythrocytic cycle of Plasmodium falciparum (in vitro) and Plasmodium gallinaceum (ex vivo). Experimental Parasitology, v. 153, p. 1-7, JUN 2015. Web of Science Citations: 2.