Journal article
Two Novel Mosquitocidal Peptides Isolated from the Venom of the Bahia Scarlet Tarantula (Lasiodora klugi)
Toxins, Vol.15(7), pp.1-14
2023
PMCID: PMC10467143
PMID: 37505687
Abstract
Effective control of diseases transmitted by Aedes aegypti is primarily achieved through vector control by chemical insecticides. However, the emergence of insecticide resistance in A. aegypti undermines current control efforts. Arachnid venoms are rich in toxins with activity against dipteran insects and we therefore employed a panel of 41 spider and 9 scorpion venoms to screen for mosquitocidal toxins. Using an assay-guided fractionation approach, we isolated two peptides from the venom of the tarantula Lasiodora klugi with activity against adult A. aegypti. The isolated peptides were named U-TRTX-Lk1a and U-TRTX-Lk2a and comprised 41 and 49 residues with monoisotopic masses of 4687.02 Da and 5718.88 Da, respectively. U-TRTX-Lk1a exhibited an LD50 of 38.3 pmol/g when injected into A. aegypti and its modeled structure conformed to the inhibitor cystine knot motif. U-TRTX-Lk2a has an LD50 of 45.4 pmol/g against adult A. aegypti and its predicted structure conforms to the disulfide-directed β-hairpin motif. These spider-venom peptides represent potential leads for the development of novel control agents for A. aegypti.
Details
- Title
- Two Novel Mosquitocidal Peptides Isolated from the Venom of the Bahia Scarlet Tarantula (Lasiodora klugi)
- Authors
- Jamila Ahmed (Author) - Ahmadu Bello UniversityAndrew A Walker (Author) - The University of QueenslandHugo D. Perdomo (Author) - The University of QueenslandShaodong Guo (Author) - The University of QueenslandSamantha A Nixon (Author) - The University of QueenslandIrina Vetter (Author) - The University of QueenslandHilary I. Okoh (Author) - Federal University Oye EkitiDalhatu M. Shehu (Author) - Ahmadu Bello UniversityMohammed N. Shuaibu (Author) - Ahmadu Bello UniversityIliya S. Ndams (Author) - Ahmadu Bello UniversityGlenn F King (Author) - The University of QueenslandVolker Herzig (Corresponding Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, School of Science, Technology and Engineering
- Publication details
- Toxins, Vol.15(7), pp.1-14
- Publisher
- MDPI AG
- Date published
- 2023
- DOI
- 10.3390/toxins15070418
- ISSN
- 2072-6651
- PMID
- 37505687; PMC10467143
- Copyright note
- © 2023 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
- Grants
- Grant note
- International Foundation for Science Sweden (I-1-F-6130-1) and the Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Australia.
- Organisation Unit
- School of Science, Technology and Engineering; Centre for Bioinnovation
- Language
- English
- Record Identifier
- 99738098802621
- Output Type
- Journal article
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