Identificação de moléculas antimicrobianas na peçonha de Bothrops alternatus

Abstract

The diversity of biological, biochemical and pharmacological functions of snake venoms demonstrates the presence of components acquired throughout their evolution. Among these, protein components stand out, such as hemorrhagic proteinases, type A2 phospholipases (PLA2) and L-aminoacidooxidases present in snake venoms, which have pharmacological potential. In this work, fractions of Bothrops alternatus venom were isolated and tested against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus, respectively representing gram-negative and gram-positive organisms. The results obtained rule out the antimicrobial potential against these organisms in most of the fractions obtained, with the exception of a high molecular weight fraction on the gram-positive organism S. aureus, which presents a dosedependent effect. Additional studies must be carried out to identify, and to obtain full structural and functional characterization of the fraction with promising effects.