F-Effects of Bothrops moojeni venom on Leishmania amazonensis promastigote forms

Full text

J. Venom. Anim. Toxins incl. Trop. Dis.

V.17, n.2, p.150-158, 2011.

Original paper - ISSN 1678-9199.

Effects of Bothrops moojeni venom on Leishmania amazonensis promastigote forms

Castilhos P (1, 2), Pereira CG (1), Silva ALN (1), Napolitano DR (2), Oliveira F (2), Souza MA (1)

(1) Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Federal University of Uberlândia, Uberlândia, Minas Gerais State, Brazil; (2) Laboratory of Biophysics, Federal University of Uberlândia, Uberlândia, Minas Gerais State, Brazil

Abstract: In the present work, the effect of Bothrops moojeni venom fractions on Leishmania promastigotes was evaluated. The snake venom was fractionated into five protein fractions (E1 to E5), by ion exclusion chromatography, that were used to treat Leishmania amazonensis and Leishmania braziliensis promastigote forms whereas the viability and nitric oxide production were evaluated. It was observed that E5 venom fraction strongly inhibited Leishmania amazonensis nitric oxide production, while in Leishmania braziliensis the nitric oxide production was enhanced in all doses. Bothrops moojeni crude venom reduced the viability of both parasites in a dose-dependent manner and a peptide of 64 kDa was apparently degraded. Bothrops moojeni E5 venom fraction only reduced the viability and nitric oxide production of Leishmania amazonensis and no protein degradation was observed. Thus, these results suggest that Bothrops moojeni E5 venom fraction may offer components with a promising antileishmanial therapeutic application.

Key words: Leishmania spp., Bothrops moojeni, snake venom, nitric oxide.

SUBMISSION STATUS

Received: November 5, 2010.

Accepted: February 10, 2011.

Abstract published online: February 10, 2011.

Full paper published online: May 31, 2011.

CONFLICTS OF INTEREST

There is no conflict.

FINANCIAL SOURCE

The National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq) and The State of Minas Gerais Research Foundation (Fapemig) provided the financial grants.

CORRESPONDENCE TO

MARIA A. SOUZA, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, Av. Pará, 1720, Campus Umuarama, bloco 6T07, Uberlândia, MG, 38.400-902, Brasil. Phone: +55 34 3218 2549. Fax: +55 34 3218 2333. Email: masouza@ufu.br.