Insights into the Role of Proteolytic and Adhesive Domains of Snake Venom Metalloproteinases from <i>Bothrops</i> spp. in the Control of <i>Toxoplasma gondii</i> Infection
Toxoplasmosis is an alarming public health problem that affects more than one-third of the world’s population. In our work, we investigated the antiparasitic effects of catalytically active [BpMP-I and Jararhagin (Jar)] and catalytically inactive [Jararhagin-C (Jar-C)] snake venom metalloproteinases...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2025-02-01
|
| Series: | Toxins |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6651/17/2/95 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| Summary: | Toxoplasmosis is an alarming public health problem that affects more than one-third of the world’s population. In our work, we investigated the antiparasitic effects of catalytically active [BpMP-I and Jararhagin (Jar)] and catalytically inactive [Jararhagin-C (Jar-C)] snake venom metalloproteinases (SVMPs) in human HeLa cells. These toxins impaired the parasite invasion and intracellular growth, and modulated IL-6, IL-8, and MIF cytokines that control the cell susceptibility and response against <i>T. gondii</i>. Furthermore, we verified that the antiprotozoal activities are not restricted to the presence of the proteolytic domain, and the adhesive domains participate in the control of <i>T. gondii</i> infection. Also, by analyzing the structures of Jar and Jar-C through molecular modeling and dynamics, we observed that the adhesive domains in Jar-C are more exposed due to the absence of the proteolytic domain, which could favor the interaction with different targets. Our investigation on the role of SVMP domains in combating <i>T. gondii</i> infection highlights their potential application as biotechnological tools for creating more effective treatments for toxoplasmosis. |
|---|---|
| ISSN: | 2072-6651 |