Abstract

LAZO, Fanny et al. Antimicrobial activity of a flavoprotein isolated from the Bothrops atrox peruvian snake venom. Rev. Soc. Quím. Perú [online]. 2007, vol.73, n.4, pp.197-207. ISSN 1810-634X.

Antimicrobial activity on Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria was investigated using L- amino acid oxidase (LAO) from the venom of Bothrops atrox snake. Besides activity against promastigotes from Leishmania braziliensis braziliensis and epimastigotes from Trypanosoma cruzi were evaluated with either total venom and LAO. In addition, edemaforming, haemorragic and hemolytic effects of LAO were assayed. The antibacterial effect of whole venom as well as purified enzyme was demonstrated by Grove's method on Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus faecalis, Vibrio cholerae and Escherichia coli grown cultures, being Gram positive, more sensible than Gram negative bacteria. In the same way B. atrox crude venom and its purified enzyme LAO, showed in vitro effect on Leishmania braziliensis braziliensis promastigotes (EC50 of 7,82 and 1,33 µg/ml respectively) and Trypanosoma cruzi epimastigotes (EC50 of 7,95 ug/ml for whole venom and 1,38 µg/ml for purified enzyme). LAO does not have neither haemorragic activity on mouse skin (20-22 g ) nor hemolytic activity on human red blood cells; however, LAO produces edema with a MED of 15,18 µg of protein.

Keywords : Protozoa; bacteria; snake; enzyme; venom.

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