In vitro activity of phospholipase A sub(2) and of peptides from Crotalus durissus terrificus venom against amastigote and promastigote forms of Leishmania (L.) infantum chagasi

• Published in: The journal of venomous animals and toxins including tropical diseases Vol. 21
• Main Authors: Barros, Gustavo A C, Pereira, Andreia V, Barros, Luciana C, Lourenco, Airton Jr, Calvi, Sueli A, Santos, Lucilene D, Barraviera, Benedito, Ferreira, Rui Seabra
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 01-01-2015
• Subjects: Crotalus durissus terrificus; Leishmania; Lutzomyia longipalpis
• ISSN: 1678-9180; 1678-9199
• DOI: 10.1186/s40409-015-0049-0

American visceral leishmaniasis is caused by the intracellular parasiteLeishmania (L.) infantum chagasi, and transmitted by the sand fly Lutzomyia longipalpis. Since treatment is based on classical chemotherapeutics with significant side effects, the search for new drugs remains the greatest global challenge. Thus, this in vitro study aimed to evaluate the leishmanicidal effect ofCrotalus durissus terrificus venom fractions on promastigote and amastigote forms of Leishmania (L.) infantum chagasi. Phospholipase A 2 (PLA 2) and a pool of peptide fraction were purified from Crotalusvenom. Furthermore, promastigotes and peritoneal macrophages of mice infected by amastigotes were exposed to serial dilutions of the PLA 2 and peptides at intervals varying between 1.5625 [mu]g/mL and 200 [mu]g/mL. We have demonstrated the in vitro leishmanicidal activity of the PLA2 and peptide fraction ofCrotalus venom. The results encourage further studies to describe the metabolic pathways involved in cell death, as well as the prospecting of molecules with antiparasitic activity present in the peptide fraction of Crotalus durissus terrificus venom.