Blastocystis infection accounts for one of the causes of gastrointestinal problems with the prevalence rate of 3-100% worldwide. There is a wide range of drugs examined for the treatment of infected patients, among them metronidazole (MTZ) has been introduced as one of the efficient drugs. Besides to the suitable clinical effects, the administration of MTZ has some reported side-effects which emphasize on the identification of putative alternates. To this end, we aimed to evaluate the cytotoxicity effect of a newly-introduced synthetic antimicrobial peptide (AMP) named CM11 on in vitro cultured Blastocystis. Our results exhibited that CM11 treatment affected the viability of parasites in two cultural conditions including culturing alone and in co-culture with the Caco-2 cell line. The time- and dose-dependent effect of CM11 was consistent with the effect of MTZ which was used as control positive. The highest toxicity effect of CM11 was observed at the concentration of 24 μg/ml, leading to 28.7% and 25% viable parasites after 24 h and 48 h incubation times, respectively. Interestingly, the disruption of the Blastocystis cell membrane could be observed in the treated parasites. Therefore, CM11 can be suggested as a potential treatment for Blastocystis-infected patients after further in vitro and in vivo assessments.
Download full-text PDF |
Source |
---|---|
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.actatropica.2020.105384 | DOI Listing |
Protein Pept Lett
January 2025
Department of Exact Sciences, State University of Santa Cruz - UESC, Rodovia Jorge Amado Km 16, CEP: 45662-900, Ilhéus - BA, Brazil.
Introduction: Tritrpticin (TRP3) is a peptide belonging to the cathelicidin family and has a broad spectrum of antimicrobial activity. However, this class of biomolecules can be easily degraded in the body, making it necessary to use an efficient transport system. The ability to form stable nanostructures from the interaction of glycyrrhizin saponin with the pluronic polymer F127 was demonstrated, forming mixed biopolymeric micelles, highly promising as drug carriers.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFActa Naturae
January 2024
Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, 117997 Russian Federation.
The growing incidence of infections caused by antibiotic-resistant strains of pathogens is one of the key challenges of the 21 century. The development of novel technological platforms based on single-cell analysis of antibacterial activity at the whole-microbiome level enables the transition to massive screening of antimicrobial agents with various mechanisms of action. The microbiome of wild animals remains largely underinvestigated.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFExpert Opin Drug Deliv
January 2025
Center for Targeted Drug Delivery, Department of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chapman University School of Pharmacy, Irvine, California, USA.
Introduction: Cyclic antimicrobial peptides (CAMPs) are gaining attention as promising candidates in advanced drug delivery systems due to their structural stability, resistance to proteolytic degradation, and versatile therapeutic potential. Their unique properties enable applications that extend beyond combating multidrug-resistant (MDR) pathogens. Their amphipathic and cell-penetrating properties allow them to efficiently transport drugs across cellular membranes.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFVet Res
January 2025
Department of Fundamental Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Shandong Agricultural University, 61 Daizong Street, Tai'an, 271018, Shandong, China.
Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) is one of the most harmful pathogens in the swine industry. Our previous studies demonstrated that the small extracellular domain (ECL2) of CLDN4 effectively blocks PRRSV infection. In this study, we explored the in vivo administration of swine ECL2 (sECL2) and found that it blocked HP-PRRSV infection and alleviated histopathological changes in organs.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFACS Biomater Sci Eng
January 2025
Xiangya School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Central South University, Changsha 410013, P. R. China.
Bacterial biofilms, complex microbial communities encased in a protective extracellular matrix, pose a significant threat to public health due to their inherent antibiotic resistance. This review explores the potential of peptides, particularly antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), as innovative tools to combat biofilm-related infections. AMPs, characterized by their potent antimicrobial activity and tissue permeability, offer a promising approach to overcome the challenges posed by biofilms.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEnter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!