Avaliação do potencial antimicrobiano de uma lectina da esponja marinha Aplysina cauliformis em combinação com antibióticos

Abstract

Lectins are proteins or glycoproteins that have the ability to bind to specific carbohydrates, playing a fundamental role in biological processes such as cell recognition, adhesion, immune response, and regulation of cell growth. Lectins from marine sponges have attracted interest due to their structural and functional diversity, as well as their biological activities. These proteins can exhibit antiviral, anticancer, antimicrobial, and immunomodulatory properties. Lectins from marine sponges have shown potential as tools for glycobiology studies and for the development of therapies targeted at diseases related to glycoprotein disorders. Research on lectins from marine sponges can contribute to significant advancements in medicine, such as the development of new antiviral, anticancer, and antimicrobial drugs. Additionally, these proteins can provide valuable insights into cellular recognition and immunity mechanisms, leading to a better understanding of diseases and new therapeutic strategies. The present work was conducted with a focus on evaluating the effect of the ACL lectin isolated from the marine sponge Aplysina cauliformis in combination with the antibiotics ampicillin and tetracycline. The assays performed throughout this work for ACL extraction and purification consisted of salting in and salting out, combined affinity chromatography, and ion exchange techniques. The purification process was monitored by SDS-PAGE gel electrophoresis, protein quantification tests, and hemagglutination activity. The secondary structure composition of the lectin was determined using circular dichroism, resulting in a structure corresponding to 57% beta-sheet. ACL was subjected to combined assays with antibiotics against Staphylococcus aureus, S. epidermidis, and Escherichia coli strains, which demonstrated the synergistic effect of the lectin in combination with antibiotics.