Nociceptive and antinociceptive studies of isolated peptides from neotropicals insects of São Paulo State

• Grant number: 08/09624-9
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• Start date: March 01, 2009
• End date: November 30, 2011
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Chemistry - Organic Chemistry
• Principal Investigator: Mario Sergio Palma
• Grantee: Patrícia Brigatte
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biociências (IB). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Rio Claro. Rio Claro , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 06/57122-7 - Searching for lead compounds for rational development of new drugs and pesticides through bioprospecting in Brazilian arthropods, AP.BTA.TEM

Abstract

Natural substances with therapeutic proprieties have been used since ancient civilizations. Nowadays, using technologies such as highthroughput screening, combinatorial chemistry, biotechnology and genomic studies, scientists and pharmaceutical industries are developing a number of novel drugs derived from venoms and animal toxins with potential clinical application. Substances present in toxic insect's secretion, especially wasps, are natural candidate for bioprospection of leader-compounds with therapeutic proprieties. Despite the great number of social wasps in tropical or subtropical regions, there are few studies about the composition and pharmacology of these insect's venom. Recently, new peptides pharmacologically active were isolated from neotropical wasps. The aim of this project is to evaluate the effect of some new peptides isolated from Polybia paulista, Agellaia pallipes pallipes, Protopolybia exigua and Protonectarina sylveirae wasps, Solenopsis saevissima ant and Apis mellifera bee venoms. Molecules with pharmacological activity will be selected for subsequent synthesis for analysis of therapeutic applicability, especially for pain control. To determine the pharmacological activity of the different peptides, experimental models of nociceptive evaluation will be used to characterize hiperalgesic or analgesic, inflammatory or anti-inflammatory effects of the peptide. Moreover, the present project aims will introduce new methodologies for the study of inflammation and pain in the UNESP/Rio Claro and will contribute to the formation of students.