Discovery and bioactivity assessment of a peptide, QUB-1976, from the skin secretion of the Senegal running frog, (Kassina senegalensis)
Skin secretions of amphibians contain four main types of compounds: biogenic amines, bufadienolides, indole alkaloids, peptides, and proteins. Among these four types, peptides and proteins are the most studied. All these peptides and proteins have been divided into different types according to their bioactivity. Among all types of peptides, AMPs (antimicrobial peptides) are the most significant for their clinical value in infection therapy. This study focused on a peptide isolated from the skin secretion of the Senegal running frog, (Kassina senegalensis). Through molecular cloning, a peptide named QUB-1976 has been successfully sequenced. The peptide was synthesised by SPPS and was proven to be synthesised correctly by HPLC and MALDI-TOF MS. Finally, several bioactivity assessments were performed to discover the potential value of QUB-1976. QUB-1976 had antimicrobial activity against S. aureus and showed no haemolysis of horse red blood cells. It has the potential to be a succedaneum for antibiotics.
Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations