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      Snake Venom: Any Clue for Antibiotics and CAM?

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          Abstract

          Lately several naturally occurring peptides presenting antimicrobial activity have been described in the literature. However, snake venoms, which are an enormous source of peptides, have not been fully explored for searching such molecules. The aim of this work is to review the basis of antimicrobial mechanisms revealing snake venom as a feasible source for searching an antibiotic prototype. Therefore, it includes (i) a description of the constituents of the snake venoms involved in their main biological effects during the envenomation process; (ii) examples of snake venom molecules of commercial use; (iii) mechanisms of action of known antibiotics; and (iv) how the microorganisms can be resistant to antibiotics. This review also shows that snake venoms are not totally unexplored sources for antibiotics and complementary and alternative medicine (CAM).

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          Most cited references134

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          Defensins: antimicrobial peptides of innate immunity.

          Tomas Ganz (2003)
          The production of natural antibiotic peptides has emerged as an important mechanism of innate immunity in plants and animals. Defensins are diverse members of a large family of antimicrobial peptides, contributing to the antimicrobial action of granulocytes, mucosal host defence in the small intestine and epithelial host defence in the skin and elsewhere. This review, inspired by a spate of recent studies of defensins in human diseases and animal models, focuses on the biological function of defensins.
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            The role of cationic antimicrobial peptides in innate host defences.

            Cationic antimicrobial peptides are found in all living species. A single animal can contain >24 different antimicrobial peptides, which fall into four structural classes. These peptides are produced in large quantities at sites of infection and/or inflammation and can have broad-spectrum antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, antiprotozoan and antisepsis properties. In addition, they interact directly with host cells to modulate the inflammatory process and innate defences.
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              The importance of efflux pumps in bacterial antibiotic resistance.

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                Author and article information

                Journal
                Evid Based Complement Alternat Med
                Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine
                Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine
                Oxford University Press
                1741-427X
                1741-4288
                March 2005
                : 2
                : 1
                : 39-47
                Affiliations
                1Laboratório de Bioquímica e Modelagem Molecular (LaBioMol), Departamento de Biologia Celular e Molecular, Instituto de Biologia, Universidade Federal Fluminense CEP 24001-970, Niterói, RJ, Brazil
                2Instituto Nacional de Controle de Qualidade em Saúde Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, RJ, Brazil
                3Laboratório de Modelagem Molecular e QSAR (ModMolQSAR), Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro CEP 21941-590, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
                Author notes
                *For reprints and all correspondence: Dr Helena Carla Castro, Laboratório de Bioquímica e Modelagem Molecular (LaBioMol), 3o andar, Departamento de Biologia Celular e Molecular, IB-CEG, Universidade Federal Fluminense, CEP 24001-970, Niterói, RJ, Brazil. Tel: +55 21 2717.2043, Fax: +55 21 2719.5934. E-mail: hcastrorangel@ 123456yahoo.com.br or Dr Carlos R. Rodrigues, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, CEP 21941-590, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil. Tel: +55-0XX21-2690-9192; E-mail: rangel@ 123456pharma.ufrj.br
                Article
                10.1093/ecam/neh063
                1062156
                15841277
                16ed52bc-f8e3-4d3b-9181-bd94b6c99cc1
                © The Author (2005). Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved.

                The online version of this article has been published under an open access model. Users are entitled to use, reproduce, disseminate, or display the open access version of this article for non-commercial purposes provided that: the original authorship is properly and fully attributed; the Journal and Oxford University Press are attributed as the original place of publication with the correct citation details given; if an article is subsequently reproduced or disseminated not in its entirety but only in part or as a derivative work this must be clearly indicated. For commercial re-use, please contact journals.permissions@ 123456oupjournals.org

                History
                : 21 October 2004
                : 30 December 2004
                : 10 January 2005
                Categories
                Review

                Complementary & Alternative medicine
                antibacterial,resistance,peptide,mechanism,reptiles
                Complementary & Alternative medicine
                antibacterial, resistance, peptide, mechanism, reptiles

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