Carballar-Lejarazú R, Rodríguez M H, de la Cruz Hernández-Hernández F, Ramos-Castañeda J, Possani L D, Zurita-Ortega M, Reynaud-Garza E, Hernández-Rivas R, Loukeris T, Lycett G, Lanz-Mendoza H
Centro de Investigaciones sobre Enfermedades Infecciosas, Instituto Nacional de Salud Pública, Av. Universidad 655. Sta. María Ahuacatitlán, Cuernavaca, Morelos, México, CP 62100.
Cell Mol Life Sci. 2008 Oct;65(19):3081-92. doi: 10.1007/s00018-008-8250-8.
Scorpine is an antimicrobial peptide whose structure resembles a hybrid between a defensin and a cecropin. It exhibits antibacterial activity and inhibits the sporogonic development of parasites responsible for murine malaria. In this communication we report the production of scorpine in a heterelogous system, using a specific vector containing its cloned gene. The recombinantly expressed scorpine (RScp) in (Anopheles gambie) cells showed antibacterial activity against (Bacillus subtilis) and (Klebsiella pneumoniae), at 5 and 10 microM, respectively. It also produced 98% mortality in sexual stages of (Plasmodium berghei) at 15 microM and 100% reduction in (Plasmodium falciparum) parasitemia at 5 microM. RScp also inhibited virus dengue-2 replication in C6/36 mosquito cells. In addition, we generated viable and fertile transgenic (Drosophila) that overexpresses and correctly secretes RScp into the insect hemolymph, suggesting that the generation of transgenic mosquitoes resistant to different pathogens may be viable.
蝎毒素是一种抗菌肽，其结构类似于防御素和天蚕素的杂交体。它具有抗菌活性，并能抑制导致鼠疟的寄生虫的孢子生殖发育。在本通讯中，我们报告了利用含有其克隆基因的特定载体在异源系统中生产蝎毒素的情况。在冈比亚按蚊细胞中重组表达的蝎毒素（RScp）分别在5微摩尔和10微摩尔时对枯草芽孢杆菌和肺炎克雷伯菌显示出抗菌活性。在15微摩尔时，它还使伯氏疟原虫有性阶段的死亡率达到98%，在5微摩尔时使恶性疟原虫的寄生虫血症减少100%。RScp还抑制登革热2型病毒在C6/36蚊细胞中的复制。此外，我们培育出了能存活且可育的转基因果蝇，其过量表达并将RScp正确分泌到昆虫血淋巴中，这表明培育对不同病原体具有抗性的转基因蚊子可能是可行的。
