In silico and biological characterization of peptides present in scorpion venom Tityus serrulatus

• Grant number: 20/01213-1
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• Start date: August 01, 2020
• End date: August 31, 2022
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Collective Health - Public Health
• Principal Investigator: Fernanda Calheta Vieira Portaro
• Grantee: Lais Gomes da Silva
• Host Institution: Instituto Butantan. Secretaria da Saúde (São Paulo - Estado). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Scorpionism is considered a public health problem in countries with tropical and subtropical climates. Scorpions of the Tityus genus are considered the most dangerous in South America and are responsible for most of the envenoming and fatalities. In Brazil, the Tityus serrulatus is the main responsible for accidents, due to the toxicity of its venom, which induces local and systemic inflammatory response. Recent studies have shown that the T. serrulatus venom is mainly composed of peptides, most of which have biological functions still unknown. For this reason, our group has been working on the selection of low molecular weight peptides for a better understanding of the venom and for the biotechnological development of new drugs. The main objective of this project is to carry out in silico analyzes of 700 peptide sequences, previously identified by our group, present in the T. serrulatus venom. These studies will be performed using bioinformatic platforms, focusing on toxic, antimicrobial, antifungal, hemolytic, antihypertensive and immunomodulatory activities. The peptides of interest will be synthesized and evaluated experimentally to confirm the predicted biological functions. Preliminary results from in silico analyzes using 70 peptide sequences indicated that 15 of them may have antimicrobial activity. Therefore, the continuity of this study will be of fundamental importance for the functional characterization of these molecules, since the results may assist in understanding the mechanism of action of the venom and, also, indicate new drugs or prototypes for the development of new drugs. (AU)

Academic Publications

(References retrieved automatically from State of São Paulo Research Institutions)

SILVA, Lais Gomes da. In silico and biological characterization of peptides present in the venom of the scorpion Tityus serrulatus. 2023. Master's Dissertation - Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas (ICB/SDI) São Paulo.