Protein content analysis and antimicrobial activity of the crude venom of Montivipera bornmuelleri; a viper from Lebanon

Infect Disord Drug Targets. 2014;14(1):49-55. doi: 10.2174/1871526514666140522114754.

Abstract

Viperidae snakes venoms represent a source of efficient bioactive components that have already led to the development of several new drugs. In this work, we analyzed the protein content of the Montivipera bornmuelleri crude venom using LC-ESI-MS, sephadex G-75 gel filtration and SDS-PAGE and demonstrated the presence of proteins with molecular masses corresponding to metalloprotease III, serine-protease and PLA2 in three fractions collected after gel filtration. Equally, we examined the antimicrobial effect of the venom that showed an important potency, as bactericidal agent, based on MBC and MIC values obtained, against Staphylococcus aureus and Morganella morganii bacteria. However, no activity was registered against Enterococcus faecalis, being the most resistant bacteria, neither against Aspergillus flavus and Penicillium digitatum fungal. Furthermore, on eleven other bacterial strains and the Candida albicans fungus, the venom has shown an intermediate efficacy by slightly reducing the growth. Our data concerning the Montivipera bornmuelleri venom give evidence of a rich and complex content aiding the exploration of new bioactive molecules for biopharmaceuticals purposes.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / chemistry
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / pharmacology*
  • Candida albicans / drug effects
  • Candida albicans / growth & development
  • Chromatography, Gel
  • Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel
  • Group II Phospholipases A2 / isolation & purification
  • Lebanon
  • Matrix Metalloproteinase 3 / isolation & purification
  • Microbial Sensitivity Tests
  • Molecular Weight
  • Morganella morganii / drug effects*
  • Morganella morganii / growth & development
  • Proteomics* / methods
  • Reptilian Proteins / isolation & purification
  • Serine Proteases / isolation & purification
  • Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization
  • Staphylococcus aureus / drug effects*
  • Staphylococcus aureus / growth & development
  • Viper Venoms / chemistry
  • Viper Venoms / pharmacology*
  • Viperidae*

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Reptilian Proteins
  • Viper Venoms
  • Group II Phospholipases A2
  • Serine Proteases
  • Matrix Metalloproteinase 3