Identification of an Antimicrobial Protease from Acanthamoeba via a Novel Zymogram

de Obeso Fernández del Valle, Alvaro; Melgoza-Ramírez, Luis Javier; Esqueda Hernández, María Fernanda; Rios-Pérez, Alfonso David; Maciver, Sutherland K.

doi:10.3390/pr11092620

Open AccessCommunication

Identification of an Antimicrobial Protease from Acanthamoeba via a Novel Zymogram

by

Alvaro de Obeso Fernández del Valle

^1,*

,

Luis Javier Melgoza-Ramírez

¹

,

María Fernanda Esqueda Hernández

¹,

Alfonso David Rios-Pérez

¹ and

Sutherland K. Maciver

²

¹

Departamento de Bioingeniería, Escuela de Ingeniería y Ciencias, Tecnologico de Monterrey, Ave. Eugenio Garza Sada 2501, Monterrey 64849, Mexico

²

Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, Edinburgh Medical School, Biomedical Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Hugh Robson Building, George Square, Edinburgh EH8 9XD, Scotland, UK

^*

Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.

Processes 2023, 11(9), 2620; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr11092620

Submission received: 18 July 2023 / Revised: 11 August 2023 / Accepted: 17 August 2023 / Published: 2 September 2023

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in the Biochemistry and Biotechnology of Antibacterial Treatments)

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Abstract

Proteases play a role in different processes for protozoans and for the free-living amoeba Acanthamoeba. Some of these processes are related to pathogenicity and to encystment. In this study we describe the discovery of a protease with antimicrobial activity produced by Acanthamoeba. To identify it, we developed a novel zymogram using bacteria as an in-gel substrate that can help identify proteins capable of bacterial degradation. We used chromatography to isolate the proteases and showed that it quickly degrades in the environment. Additionally, we identified overexpressed proteases during encystment. The study of proteases from Acanthamoeba can serve several purposes including new antimicrobial proteins that the amoeba can use for potentially predigesting prokaryotes. Secondly, it can help with the identification of potential new therapies against Acanthamoeba infection.

Keywords: Acanthamoeba; protease; encystment; zymogram; antimicrobial

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MDPI and ACS Style

de Obeso Fernández del Valle, A.; Melgoza-Ramírez, L.J.; Esqueda Hernández, M.F.; Rios-Pérez, A.D.; Maciver, S.K. Identification of an Antimicrobial Protease from Acanthamoeba via a Novel Zymogram. Processes 2023, 11, 2620. https://doi.org/10.3390/pr11092620

AMA Style

de Obeso Fernández del Valle A, Melgoza-Ramírez LJ, Esqueda Hernández MF, Rios-Pérez AD, Maciver SK. Identification of an Antimicrobial Protease from Acanthamoeba via a Novel Zymogram. Processes. 2023; 11(9):2620. https://doi.org/10.3390/pr11092620

Chicago/Turabian Style

de Obeso Fernández del Valle, Alvaro, Luis Javier Melgoza-Ramírez, María Fernanda Esqueda Hernández, Alfonso David Rios-Pérez, and Sutherland K. Maciver. 2023. "Identification of an Antimicrobial Protease from Acanthamoeba via a Novel Zymogram" Processes 11, no. 9: 2620. https://doi.org/10.3390/pr11092620

APA Style

de Obeso Fernández del Valle, A., Melgoza-Ramírez, L. J., Esqueda Hernández, M. F., Rios-Pérez, A. D., & Maciver, S. K. (2023). Identification of an Antimicrobial Protease from Acanthamoeba via a Novel Zymogram. Processes, 11(9), 2620. https://doi.org/10.3390/pr11092620

Note that from the first issue of 2016, this journal uses article numbers instead of page numbers. See further details here.

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Identification of an Antimicrobial Protease from Acanthamoeba via a Novel Zymogram

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