Repurposing a peptide toxin from wasp venom into antiinfectives with dual antimicrobial and immunomodulatory properties

• DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2012379117
• Publication Date: 2020-10-13T00:30:35Z
• Authors: Osmar N. Silva; Marcelo D. T. Torres; Jicong Cao; Eliane S. F. Alves; Leticia V. Rodrigues; Jarbas M. Resende; Luciano M. Lião; William F. Porto; Isabel C. M. Fens...; Timothy K. Lu; Octavio L. Franco; Cesar de la Fuent...
• Keywords: Pore Forming Cytotoxic Proteins; 0301 basic medicine; 0303 health sciences; Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; Bacteremia; Wasp Venoms; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; 3. Good health; Mice; 03 medical and health sciences; HEK293 Cells; Drug Design; Animals; Humans; 14. Life underwater

Significance Novel antibiotics are urgently needed to treat the ever-increasing number of drug-resistant infections. Venoms constitute a treasure trove of novel potential medicines. Here, we converted a peptide derived from venom into potent antimicrobials capable of resolving otherwise lethal infections in mice. We demonstrate that the peptide acts directly on bacteria by targeting their membrane, while also modulating the host immune response and dampening unwanted inflammation. Venom-derived molecules such as the ones described here represent an exciting new source of antibiotics.