ANTIMICROBIAL EFFECT INDUCED BY THE Bothrops jararacussu AND Bothrops alternatus VENOM IN Staphylococcus aureus AND Escherichia coli.

Carlos, G. B.(1), Soares, A. M.(2), Marcussi, S.(1), Pietro, R. C. L. R.(3),

(1)Mestrado em Biotecnologia de Plantas Medicinais e Microrganismos, UNAERP, (2)Departamento de Biotecnologia, UNAERP, (3)Departamento de Farmácia, Universidade de Ribeirão Preto, UNAERP.

Group-II phospholipases had been described present bactericidal properties, specially the mammalian enzymes of inflammatory fluids and the isolated from snake venom from genus Bothrops.  This study investigates the antimicrobial activity of Bothrops jararacussu and Bothrops alternatus crude venom on Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was visually determined through the macrodilution method using 4 x 10⁵ CFU (Colony-forming units)/mL and venom diluted in saline. MIC was defined as the lowest venom concentration that prevented the growth. The minimal bactericidal concentration (MBC) was estimated by subculturing the incubations in Müller-Hinton solid medium after different times: 20 minutes, 1 and 24 hours, and MBC was expressed in that concentration that reduces 90-100% of growth. The MIC and MBC were 1 and 2 mg/mL to B. jararacussu and B. alternatus crude venom to S. aureus. To E. coli the results of MIC and MBC were higher than these values. Our results show that the crude venom of Bothrops has antimicrobial activity especially to Gram-positive bacteria. This effect suggests that the crude venom of Bothrops genus presents biotechnologic importance to the research of new antimicrobial agents. Further studies should clarify the mechanism of antimicrobial activity of venom peptides.

Financial support: UNAERP

CORRESPONDENCE TO:

Guilherme Barbosa Carlos, Aldo Focosi 431, Apto 76, Ribeirão Preto, SP, CEP: 14091-310, Brasil, Email: guilhermecarlos@hotmail.com