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- Title
In silico characterization of cysteine-stabilized αβ defensins from neglected unicellular microeukaryotes.
- Authors
Senra, Marcus Vinicius Xavier
- Abstract
Background: The emergence of multi-resistant pathogens have increased dramatically in recent years, becoming a major public-health concern. Among other promising antimicrobial molecules with potential to assist in this worldwide struggle, cysteine-stabilized αβ (CS-αβ) defensins are attracting attention due their efficacy, stability, and broad spectrum against viruses, bacteria, fungi, and protists, including many known human pathogens. Results: Here, 23 genomes of ciliated protists were screened and two CS-αβ defensins with a likely antifungal activity were identified and characterized, using bioinformatics, from a culturable freshwater species, Laurentiella sp. (LsAMP-1 and LsAMP-2). Although any potential cellular ligand could be predicted for LsAMP-2; evidences from structural, molecular dynamics, and docking analyses suggest that LsAMP-1 may form stably associations with phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphates (PIP2), a phospholipid found on many eukaryotic cells, which could, in turn, represent an anchorage mechanism within plasma membrane of targeted cells. Conclusion: These data stress that more biotechnology-oriented studies should be conducted on neglected protists, such ciliates, which could become valuable sources of novel bioactive molecules for therapeutic uses.
- Subjects
DEFENSINS; MOLECULAR dynamics; EUKARYOTIC cells; CELL membranes; ANTIMICROBIAL peptides; CILIATA; PARAMECIUM
- Publication
BMC Microbiology, 2023, Vol 23, Issue 1, p1
- ISSN
1471-2180
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1186/s12866-023-02817-w