Tweet
Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis. 2019 Aug 17. doi: 10.1007/s10096-019-03674-0. [Epub ahead of print]
Melittin: a venom-derived peptide with promising anti-viral properties.
Memariani H1, Memariani M2, Moravvej H1, Shahidi-Dadras M1.
Author information
1 Skin Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. 2 Skin Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. memaryani@gmail.com.
Abstract
Despite tremendous advances in the development of anti-viral therapeutics, viral infections remain a chief culprit accounting for ongoing morbidity and mortality worldwide. Natural products, in particular animal venoms, embody a veritable cornucopia of exotic constituents, suggesting an immensurable source of anti-infective drugs. In this context, melittin, the principal constituent in the venom of the European honeybee Apis mellifera, has been demonstrated to exert anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic, anti-infective, and adjuvant properties. To our knowledge, there is no review appertaining to effects of melittin against viruses, prompting us to synopsize experimental investigations on its anti-viral activity throughout the past decades. Accumulating evidence indicates that melittin curbs infectivity of a diverse array of viruses including coxsackievirus, enterovirus, influenza A viruses, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), herpes simplex virus (HSV), Jun?n virus (JV), respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV), and tobacco mosaic virus (TMV). However, medication safety, different routes of administrations, and molecular mechanisms behind the anti-viral activity of melittin should be scrutinized in future studies.
KEYWORDS:
Anti-viral activity; Bee; Drug; Melittin; Venom
PMID: 31422545 DOI: 10.1007/s10096-019-03674-0
Melittin: a venom-derived peptide with promising anti-viral properties.
Memariani H1, Memariani M2, Moravvej H1, Shahidi-Dadras M1.
Author information
1 Skin Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. 2 Skin Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. memaryani@gmail.com.
Abstract
Despite tremendous advances in the development of anti-viral therapeutics, viral infections remain a chief culprit accounting for ongoing morbidity and mortality worldwide. Natural products, in particular animal venoms, embody a veritable cornucopia of exotic constituents, suggesting an immensurable source of anti-infective drugs. In this context, melittin, the principal constituent in the venom of the European honeybee Apis mellifera, has been demonstrated to exert anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, anti-diabetic, anti-infective, and adjuvant properties. To our knowledge, there is no review appertaining to effects of melittin against viruses, prompting us to synopsize experimental investigations on its anti-viral activity throughout the past decades. Accumulating evidence indicates that melittin curbs infectivity of a diverse array of viruses including coxsackievirus, enterovirus, influenza A viruses, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), herpes simplex virus (HSV), Jun?n virus (JV), respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV), and tobacco mosaic virus (TMV). However, medication safety, different routes of administrations, and molecular mechanisms behind the anti-viral activity of melittin should be scrutinized in future studies.
KEYWORDS:
Anti-viral activity; Bee; Drug; Melittin; Venom
PMID: 31422545 DOI: 10.1007/s10096-019-03674-0