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: 23/09921-3
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Support Program for Fixating Young Doctors
• Effective date (Start): August 01, 2023
• Effective date (End): June 30, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Microbiology - Applied Microbiology
• Acordo de Cooperação: CNPq
• Principal Investigator: Rui Seabra Ferreira Junior
• Grantee: Ana Flávia Marques Pereira
• 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: 23/01554-1 - 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, AP.R

Abstract

Natural products such as antimicrobial peptides may present an alternative to faceantibiotic-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 ofmelittin against Acinetobacter baumannii, Enterococcus faecium and Klebsiellapneumoniae, which presents a higher resistance to antibiotics and associated withhospital infections; evaluate antiviral activity of melittin against Zika virus and SARSCoV-2, virus with rapid dissemination and with little or no available treatment; verifysynergism of melittin and regularly used antibiotics, aiming a lower dose ofantimicrobials and less cytotoxicity; evaluate antibiofilm activity of melittin against thebacterias; and evaluate the proteomic profile of Acinetobacter baumannii, Enterococcusfaecium, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Zika virus and SARS-CoV-2 with subinhibitoryconcentrations of melittin compared to control. The results of this project aims tocontribute to the search for new antimicrobial agents and alternatives to combatantimicrobial resistance, infections associated with bacterial biofilms and the spread ofvirus.