Federal University of Piauí / Disclosure
Cane toad, native to the Amazon
Study discovers molecules with antibiotic potential and provides new data on the biology of this species, which is still little known to science.
A study led by researchers linked to the Butantan Institute identified, in Amazon cane toad venom (Rhaebo dropped), molecules with antibiotic potential and also brought new data about the biology of this species, which is still little known to science.
A described the proteins present in amphibian venom and identified several peptides — protein fragments — which, according to computational analyses, may have antimicrobial activity.
In a growing context, the authors highlight the importance of searching in nature for new compounds capable of creating future drugs against resistant bacteria.
In frogs, the poison is stored in glands in the skin and works as a defense mechanismboth against predators and pathogens, including viruses, bacteria and fungi. This dual function means that amphibian skin secretions contain substances with different biological effects, including antibacterial and antiviral properties.
The surprise
One of results more unexpected was the detection of BASP1 protein, until now never identified in venoms from anurans, a group that includes toads and frogs.
Normally associated with the nervous system of humans and other animals, this protein could, according to researchers, be related to the contraction and regeneration of skin glands after release of venoma process that causes a natural inflammation.
The study also found proteins linked to muscle contraction, oxidative stress and the animal’s immune response.
To achieve these results, scientists resorted to proteomics, focused exclusively on the identification of venom proteins. First, it was necessary to transform the viscous, yellowish secretion into a homogeneous solution. Afterwards, the components were separated by liquid chromatography and analyzed in a mass spectrometer, a device that allows individual molecules to be identified.
In addition to the biomedical potential, the study reinforces knowledge about a little-studied Amazonian species and shows similarities between its venom and that of other cane toads from South America and Australia. The team also remembers that, in 2011, it had already demonstrated that the Rhaebo fell It can eject venom when it feels threatened, a behavior described for the first time in scientific literature.
