Quantitative Biology Lab, Department of Integrative Biology, School of Bio Sciences and Technology, Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT, Deemed to be University), Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India.
J Pept Sci. 2024 Nov;30(11):e3613. doi: 10.1002/psc.3613. Epub 2024 May 15.
Prevalent worldwide, the Androctonus scorpion genus contributes a vital role in scorpion envenoming. While diverse scorpionisms are observed because of several different species, their secretions to protect themselves have been identified as a potent source of antimicrobial peptide (AMP)-like compounds. Distinctly, the venom of these species contains around 24 different AMPs, with definite molecules studied for their therapeutic potential as antimicrobial, antifungal, antiproliferative and antiangiogenic agents. Our review focuses on the therapeutic potential of native and synthetic AMPs identified so far in the Androctonus scorpion genus, identifying research gaps in peptide therapeutics and guiding further investigations. Certain AMPs have demonstrated remarkable compatibility to be prescribed as anticancer drug to reduce cancer cell proliferation and serve as a potent antibiotic alternative. Besides, analyses were performed to explore the characteristics and affinities of peptides for membranes. Overall, the study of AMPs derived from the Androctonus scorpion genus provides valuable insights into their potential applications in medicine and drug development.
在全球范围内普遍存在的安德罗克图斯属蝎子在蝎子螫伤中起着重要作用。虽然由于多种不同的物种观察到了不同的蝎子病，但已确定它们为保护自己而分泌的物质是具有抗菌肽 (AMP) 样化合物的潜在来源。这些物种的毒液中含有约 24 种不同的 AMP，其中某些确定的分子因其作为抗菌、抗真菌、抗增殖和抗血管生成剂的治疗潜力而被研究。我们的综述重点关注迄今为止在安德罗克图斯属蝎子中鉴定出的天然和合成 AMP 的治疗潜力，确定了肽治疗中的研究空白，并指导进一步的研究。某些 AMP 被证明具有很高的兼容性，可以作为抗癌药物开处方，以减少癌细胞增殖，并作为有效的抗生素替代品。此外，还进行了分析以探索肽对膜的特性和亲和力。总的来说，对安德罗克图斯属蝎子衍生的 AMP 的研究为它们在医学和药物开发中的潜在应用提供了有价值的见解。
