Ocellatins: new antimicrobial peptides from the skin secretion of the South American frog Leptodactylus ocellatus (Anura: Leptodactylidae).

The emergence, in recent years, of microbial resistance to commonly used antibiotics has aroused a search for new naturally occurring bactericidal and fungicidal agents that may have clinical utility. In the present study, three new antimicrobial peptides were purified from the electrical-stimulated skin secretion of the South American frog Leptodactylus ocellatus by reversed-phase chromatographic procedures. Ocellatin 1 (1GVVDILKGAGKDLLAHLVGKISEKV25-CONH2), ocellatin 2 (1GVLDIFKDAAKQILAHAAEKQI25-CONH2) and ocellatin 3 (1GVLDILKNAAKNILAHAAEQI21-CONH2) are structurally related peptides.

Antimicrobial peptides from anurans skin secretions.

This article is an overview of antimicrobial peptides found in anurans skin secretions. These molecules constitute an initial barrier against microbial infections because of their activity against a large array of microorganisms. These peptides hold remarkable pharmaceutical and technological interest since they selectively kill microorganisms and are unlikely to induce resistance in pathogens.