Medicinal leech antimicrobial peptides lacking toxicity represent a promising alternative strategy to combat antibiotic-resistant pathogens
Research article published in European journal of medicinal chemistry (2019)
Abstract
The rise of antibiotic resistance has necessitated the development of alternative strategies for the treatment of infectious diseases. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), components of the innate immune response in various organisms, are promising next-generation drugs against bacterial infections. The ability of the medicinal leech Hirudo medicinalis to store blood for months with little change has attracted interest regarding the identification of novel AMPs in this organism. In this study, we employed computational algorithms to the medicinal leech genome assembly to identify amino acid sequences encoding potential AMPs. Then, we synthesized twelve candidate AMPs identified by the algorithms, determined their secondary structures, measured minimal inhibitory concentrations against three bacterial species (Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis, and Chlamydia thrachomatis), and assayed cytotoxic and haemolytic activities. Eight of twelve candidate AMPs possessed antimicrobial activity, and only two of them, 3967 (FRIMRILRVLKL) and 536-1 (RWRLVCFLCRRKKV), exhibited inhibition of growth of all tested bacterial species at a minimal inhibitory concentration of 10 μmol. Thus, we evidence the utility of the developed computational algorithms for the identification of AMPs with low toxicity and haemolytic activity in the medicinal leech genome assembly.
Abstract sourced from PubMed (NCBI) for the cited record. See the original publication for the authoritative version.
Resumen
The rise of antibiotic resistance has necessitated the development of alternative strategies for the treatment of infectious diseases. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), components of the innate immune response in various organisms, are promising next-generation drugs against bacterial infections.
Por qué esto importa para la hirudoterapia
Este estudio aplicó algoritmos computacionales al ensamblaje del genoma de Hirudo medicinalis para identificar secuencias que codifican potenciales péptidos antimicrobianos (AMPs), sintetizó doce candidatos y caracterizó sus estructuras secundarias, concentraciones mínimas inhibitorias contra Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis y Chlamydia trachomatis, y actividades citotóxica y hemolítica. Ocho péptidos mostraron actividad antimicrobiana, con dos que exhibieron inhibición del crecimiento de amplio espectro a 10 μmol y baja toxicidad o hemólisis. Este trabajo es directamente relevante para comprender el repertorio inmunitario innato de la sanguisuela medicinal, ya que dichos AMPs podrían sustentar la capacidad del organismo de conservar la sangre ingerida durante meses sin deterioro bacteriano, y los péptidos identificados podrían representar candidatos frente a patógenos resistentes a antibióticos. Sin embargo, los hallazgos se limitan a la caracterización in vitro; no se presentan datos en animales ni humanos, eficacia clínica ni aplicación terapéutica que involucre a las propias sanguisuelas, y la traslación a la práctica de la hirudoterapia sigue siendo especulativa.
Citación
Medicinal leech antimicrobial peptides lacking toxicity represent a promising alternative strategy to combat antibiotic-resistant pathogens.
Grafskaia E et al. · European journal of medicinal chemistry, 2019
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Añadido a la biblioteca ASH: March 18, 2026 · Última actualización del sitio: June 18, 2026