Peripheral 5-HT3 Receptors Are Involved in the Antinociceptive Effect of Bunodosine 391.

Bunodosine 391 (BDS 391), a low molecular weight compound isolated from the sea anemone , increases the nociceptive threshold and inhibits inflammatory hyperalgesia. Serotonin receptors are involved in those effects. In this study, we have expanded the characterization of the antinociceptive effect of BDS 391 demonstrating that, in rats: (a) the compound inhibits (1.

BcsTx3 is a founder of a novel sea anemone toxin family of potassium channel blocker.

Sea anemone venoms have become a rich source of peptide toxins which are invaluable tools for studying the structure and functions of ion channels. In this work, BcsTx3, a toxin found in the venom of a Bunodosoma caissarum (population captured at the Saint Peter and Saint Paul Archipelago, Brazil) was purified and biochemically and pharmacologically characterized. The pharmacological effects were studied on 12 different subtypes of voltage-gated potassium channels (K(V)1.

Biochemical and electrophysiological characterization of two sea anemone type 1 potassium toxins from a geographically distant population of Bunodosoma caissarum.

Sea anemone (Cnidaria, Anthozoa) venom is an important source of bioactive compounds used as tools to study the pharmacology and structure-function of voltage-gated K+ channels (KV). These neurotoxins can be divided into four different types, according to their structure and mode of action. In this work, for the first time, two toxins were purified from the venom of Bunodosoma caissarum population from Saint Peter and Saint Paul Archipelago, Brazil.

Crotamine pharmacology revisited: novel insights based on the inhibition of KV channels.

Crotamine, a 5-kDa peptide, possesses a unique biological versatility. Not only has its cell-penetrating activity become of clinical interest but, moreover, its potential selective antitumor activity is of great pharmacological importance. In the past, several studies have attempted to elucidate the exact molecular target responsible for the crotamine-induced skeletal muscle spasm.

Clinical and laboratory alterations in dogs naturally infected by Leishmania chagasi.

Introduction: Canine visceral leishmaniasis (CVL) is a zoonotic disease with different clinical manifestations. Parasitism often occurs in bone marrow, but changes have been observed in peripheral blood and serum biochemical parameters. The aim of this study was to evaluate the hematological and biochemical parameters in dogs naturally infected by Leishmania chagasi.

Profile of anti-Leishmania antibodies related to clinical picture in canine visceral leishmaniasis.

This research investigated the profile of anti-Leishmania antibodies in different clinical forms of canine visceral leishmaniasis (CVL). Naturally infected dogs were divided into two groups: subclinical dogs (SD, n=10) and clinical dogs (CD, n=68). Non-infected dogs (ND, n=7) comprised the negative control group.

Peptide fingerprinting of the neurotoxic fractions isolated from the secretions of sea anemones Stichodactyla helianthus and Bunodosoma granulifera. New members of the APETx-like family identified by a 454 pyrosequencing approach.

Sea anemones are known to contain a wide diversity of biologically active peptides, mostly unexplored according to recent peptidomic and transcriptomic studies. In the present work, the neurotoxic fractions from the exudates of Stichodactyla helianthus and Bunodosoma granulifera were analyzed by reversed-phase chromatography and mass spectrometry. The first peptide fingerprints of these sea anemones were assessed, revealing the largest number of peptide components (156) so far found in sea anemone species, as well as the richer peptide diversity of B.

Characterization of selectivity and pharmacophores of type 1 sea anemone toxins by screening seven Na(v) sodium channel isoforms.

During their evolution, animals have developed a set of cysteine-rich peptides capable of binding various extracellular sites of voltage-gated sodium channels (VGSC). Sea anemone toxins that target VGSCs delay their inactivation process, but little is known about their selectivities. Here we report the investigation of three native type 1 toxins (CGTX-II, δ-AITX-Bcg1a and δ-AITX-Bcg1b) purified from the venom of Bunodosoma cangicum.

Bunodosine 391: an analgesic acylamino acid from the venom of the sea anemone Bunodosoma cangicum.

A new acylamino acid, bunodosine 391 (BDS 391), was isolated from the venom of the sea anemone Bunodosoma cangicum. The structure was elucidated by spectroscopic analyses (2D NMR, ESIMS/MS) and verified by its synthesis. Intraplantar injection of BDS 391 into the hind paw of a rat induced a potent analgesic effect.

Proteomics of the neurotoxic fraction from the sea anemone Bunodosoma cangicum venom: Novel peptides belonging to new classes of toxins.

In contrast to the many studies on the venoms of scorpions, spiders, snakes and cone snails, up to now there has been no report of the proteomic analysis of sea anemones venoms. In this work we report for the first time the peptide mass fingerprint and some novel peptides in the neurotoxic fraction (Fr III) of the sea anemone Bunodosoma cangicum venom. Fr III is neurotoxic to crabs and was purified by rp-HPLC in a C-18 column, yielding 41 fractions.

Revisiting cangitoxin, a sea anemone peptide: purification and characterization of cangitoxins II and III from the venom of Bunodosoma cangicum.

Sodium channel toxins from sea anemones are employed as tools for dissecting the biophysical properties of inactivation in voltage-gated sodium channels. Cangitoxin (CGTX) is a peptide containing 48 amino acid residues and was formerly purified from Bunodosoma cangicum. Nevertheless, previous works reporting the isolation procedures for such peptide from B.

BcIV, a new paralyzing peptide obtained from the venom of the sea anemone Bunodosoma caissarum. A comparison with the Na+ channel toxin BcIII.

Sea anemones produce a wide variety of biologically active compounds, such as the proteinaceous neurotoxins and cytolysins. Herein we report a new peptide, purified to homogeneity from the neurotoxic fraction of B. caissarum venom, by using gel filtration followed by rp-HPLC, naming it as BcIV.

Cytoskeleton alterations induced by Geodia corticostylifera depsipeptides in breast cancer cells.

Crude extracts of the marine sponge Geodia corticostylifera from Brazilian Coast have previously shown antibacterial, antifungal, cytotoxic, haemolytic and neurotoxic activities. The present work describes the isolation of the cyclic peptides geodiamolides A, B, H and I (1-4) from G. corticostylifera and their anti-proliferative effects against sea urchin eggs and human breast cancer cell lineages.

Toxicity and toxin identification in Colomesus asellus, an Amazonian (Brazil) freshwater puffer fish.

Toxicity and toxin identification in Colomesus asellus, an Amazonian (Brazil) freshwater puffer fish. By using four different techniques--mouse bioassay, ELISA, HPLC and mass spectrometry-we evaluated the toxicity in the extracts of C. asellus, a freshwater puffer fish from the rivers of the Amazon, and identified for the first time the components responsible for its toxicity.

Physiological and behavioral effects of chemoreceptors located in different body parts of the swimming crab Callinectes danae.

By perfusing their branchial chambers with filtered seawater, we have developed a preparation that allows us to maintain the swimming crab Callinectes danae outside water without any major effects on its cardiac activity. This in turn allowed us to selectively stimulate chemoreceptors located in different body parts, and specifically to discriminate between the receptors located in the branchial chambers and those located in the oral region (mainly in the mouthparts, antennules and antennae). We show that a taurine solution can evoke bradycardia when applied to the oral region or to a combination of the oral region and the branchial chambers.

Cytotoxicity in the marine dinoflagellate Prorocentrum mexicanum from Brazil.

The microscopic algae in the oceans are crucial food for filter feeding bivalve shellfish (oysters, mussels, scallops, clams, etc.) as well as for the larvae of commercially important crustaceans. Some species of microalgae have the capacity to produce potent toxins, such as saxitoxins and ciguatoxins, which may intoxicate humans.

Caissarolysin I (Bcs I), a new hemolytic toxin from the Brazilian sea anemone Bunodosoma caissarum: purification and biological characterization.

Two cationic proteins, C1 and C3, were purified to homogeneity from the hemolytic fraction of the venom of Bunodosoma caissarum sea anemone. The purification processes employed gel filtration followed by ion exchange chromatography, being the purity and molecular mass confirmed by SDS-PAGE and mass spectrometry. Protein C1 represented the second major peak of the hemolytic fraction and was previously believed to be a cytolysin belonging to a new class of hemolysins.

Neurotoxic activity induced by a haemolytic substance in the extract of the marine sponge Geodia corticostylifera.

In our search for marine bioactive compounds we chose a Brazilian Coast sponge, Geodia corticostylifera (Demospongiae), whose extracts showed previously antibacterial and antifungal activities. In the present work we studied the following toxic properties of G. corticostylifera extract: neurotoxic (in mouse neuromuscular junction); mouse acute toxicity (IP) and haemolytic (against mouse and frog erythrocytes).

Mass spectrometric and high performance liquid chromatography profiling of the venom of the Brazilian vermivorous mollusk Conus regius: feeding behavior and identification of one novel conotoxin.

Carnivorous mollusks belonging to the genus Conus paralyze their prey by injecting a rich mixture of biologically active peptides. Conus regius is a vermivorous member of this genus that inhabits Brazilian tropical waters. Inter-, intra-species and individual variations of cone snail venom have been previously reported.

Binding specificity of sea anemone toxins to Nav 1.1-1.6 sodium channels: unexpected contributions from differences in the IV/S3-S4 outer loop.

Sea anemones are an important source of various biologically active peptides, and it is known that ATX-II from Anemonia sulcata slows sodium current inactivation. Using six different sodium channel genes (from Nav1.1 to Nav1.