Effector molecules

A lytic peptide called SB-37 similar (in term of length and amino acids property) to Shiva-1 (the lytic peptide of our ordered immunotoxin) was used to kill P. falciparum in vitro [1]. SB-37 is a slightly modified version of a Cecropin, the Cecropin B [1], the sequence is in the paper [1].

Cecropins are peptides derived from the insect immune defence (a giant moth). Cecropin A was expressed in a simbiont of the bug Rhodnius prolixus in order to kill T. cruzi, a parasite that cause the Chagas disease [2]. More recently, It was also expressed in the mosquito’s gut (transgenic mosquitoes) to prevent the propagation of the malaria [3] (See [http://www.anaspec.com/products/product.asp?id=30699 Sequence]). Because of its hight homology the cecropins A and B, cecropin D could also be used (sequence: [4]). There exists 6 cecropins : cecropin A, … , F.

The Glossina attacin is an antimicrobial peptide effective on both gram-negative bacteria and protozoa (Plasmodium is a protozoa!). It was expressed in a symbiont of the tsetse fly in order to kill the pasasite T.brucei; We should determine if it acts on Asaia, attacins kill E.Coli but [http://www.copewithcytokines.org/cope.cgi?key=Attacins do not act on many other gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria]. Sequence: [5].

Other effectors molecules against Plasmodium are cited by Jacobs-Lorena and al. [6]:

The salivary gland/midgut peptide (SM1), it is a dodecapeptide (sequence: [7]), It was found by testing a number of random peptides, and it binds to both the gut and salivary gland bocking the Plasmodium at these two stages.

An other attractive approach is to block chitinase present in the mousquito’s gut. This enzyme plays an important role in modelling of the peritrofic matrix (PM, that surround the bood meal) which is an important barrier for the Plasmodium. It has been shown that inhibiting chitinase make the PM thicker and efficiently blocks the plasmodium development. Chitinase is activated by cleaving an N-terminal propeptide, and it has been demonstrated, by feeding the mosquito with the peptide, that this same propeptide, called prochitinase peptide (13 amino-acids) blocks efficiently the chinase activity and the plasmodium developement in the mosquito’s gut (sequence: [8]).

The Phospholypase A2 (PLA2) inhibits oocyst formation in the mousquito’s gut by feeding or expressing it in transgenic mousquitos (See [9] and [10]). Interestingly this enzyme comes from the snake or bee venom and its anti-malaria activity does not depend on its hydrolytic activity.

In summary we have those potential effector molecules:

References