1 Department of Mathematics and Statistics, Concordia University, 1455 de Maisonneuve Blvd W, Montreal, Quebec, H3G 1M8, Canada; PERFORM Centre, Concordia University, 7200 Sherbrooke St W, Montreal, Quebec, H4B 1R6, Canada. Electronic address: lisa.kakinami@concordia.ca.
2 Centre de recherche du centre hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal, 900 Rue Saint-Denis, Montréal, Quebec, H2X 0A9, Canada; INDI Department, Concordia University, 7141 Sherbrooke St W, Montreal, Quebec, H4B 1R6, Canada.
3 School of Human Kinetics, University of Ottawa, 125 University Private, Ottawa, ON, K1N 6N5, Canada.
4 Centre de recherche du centre hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal, 900 Rue Saint-Denis, Montréal, Quebec, H2X 0A9, Canada.
5 Department of Pediatrics, McGill University, 1001 Décarie Blvd, Montreal, Quebec, H4A 3J1, Canada.
6 Faculty of Kinesiology & Physical Education, University of Toronto, Faculty of Kinesiology and Physical Education, 55 Harbord St, Toronto, Ontario, M5S 2W6, Canada.
7 Centre de recherche du centre hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal, 900 Rue Saint-Denis, Montréal, Quebec, H2X 0A9, Canada; Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, University of Montreal, 7101 Parc Ave, 3rd floor, Montreal, Quebec, H3N 1X9, Canada; Institut national de sante publique du Quebec, 190 Crémazie Blvd E, Montreal, Quebec, H2P 1E2, Canada.

Characterization of two novel antimicrobial peptides from the cuticular extracts of the ant Trichomyrmex criniceps (Mayr), (Hymenoptera: Formicidae).

Arch Insect Biochem Physiol. 2017 Apr;94(4):

Authors: Bhagavathula N, Meedidoddi V, Bourque S, Vimaladevi R, Kesavakurup S, Selvadurai D, Shrivastava S, Krishnappa C

Abstract

Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) from cuticular extracts of worker ants of Trichomyrmex criniceps (Mayr, Hymenoptera: Formicidae) were isolated and evaluated for their antimicrobial activity. Eight peptides ranging in mass from 804.42 to 1541.04 Da were characterized using a combination of analytical and bioinformatics approach. All the eight peptides were novel with no similarity to any of the AMPs archived in the Antimicrobial Peptide Database. Two of the eight novel peptides, the smallest and the largest by mass were named Crinicepsin-1 and Crinicepsin-2 and were chemically synthesized by solid phase peptide synthesis. The two synthetic peptides had antibacterial and weak hemolytic activity.

PMID: 28346717 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]