AUTHOR=Amorim-Carmo Bruno , Parente Adriana M. S. , Souza Eden S. , Silva-Junior Arnóbio A. , Araújo Renata M. , Fernandes-Pedrosa Matheus F. TITLE=Antimicrobial Peptide Analogs From Scorpions: Modifications and Structure-Activity JOURNAL=Frontiers in Molecular Biosciences VOLUME=9 YEAR=2022 URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/molecular-biosciences/articles/10.3389/fmolb.2022.887763 DOI=10.3389/fmolb.2022.887763 ISSN=2296-889X ABSTRACT=

The rapid development of multidrug-resistant pathogens against conventional antibiotics is a global public health problem. The irrational use of antibiotics has promoted therapeutic limitations against different infections, making research of new molecules that can be applied to treat infections necessary. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are a class of promising antibiotic molecules as they present broad action spectrum, potent activity, and do not easily induce resistance. Several AMPs from scorpion venoms have been described as a potential source for the development of new drugs; however, some limitations to their application are also observed. Here, we describe strategies used in several approaches to optimize scorpion AMPs, addressing their primary sequence, biotechnological potential, and characteristics that should be considered when developing an AMP derived from scorpion venoms. In addition, this review may contribute towards improving the understanding of rationally designing new molecules, targeting functional AMPs that may have a therapeutic application.