Comparative Analysis ofViperidaeVenoms Antibacterial Profile: a Short Communication for Proteomics

Abstract

Bacterial infections involving multidrug-resistant strains are one of the ten leading causes of death and an important health problem in need for new antibacterial sources and agents. Herein, we tested and compared four snake venoms (Agkistrodon rhodostoma, Bothrops jararaca, B. atrox and Lachesis muta) against 10 Gram-positive and Gram-negative drug-resistant clinical bacteria strains to identify them as new sources of potential antibacterial molecules. Our data revealed that, as efficient as some antibiotics currently on the market (minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) = 1–32 μg mL−1),A. rhodostomaandB. atroxvenoms were active againstStaphylococcus epidermidisandEnterococcus faecalis(MIC = 4.5 μg mL−1), whileB. jararacainhibitedS. aureusgrowth (MIC = 13 μg ml−1). As genomic and proteomic technologies are improving and developing rapidly, our results suggested thatA. rhodostoma, B. atroxandB. jararacavenoms and glands are feasible sources for searching antimicrobial prototypes for future design new antibiotics against drug-resistant clinical bacteria. They also point to an additional perspective to fully identify the pharmacological potential of these venoms by using different techniques.