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Title [sv]
Nya jonkanalstoxiner från svensk fauna
Title [en]
Exploring ion channel toxins from the Swedish Fauna
Abstract [en]
Venoms and toxins play an important role in nature’s chemical ecology, and are intriguing sources for discovery of pharmacological tools, insecticides, and drugs. The overall aim of the current project is the exploration of a neglected source of animal toxins: the peptides that ribbon worms (nemerteans) use to capture their prey and for their defense. We have recently discovered a novel family of peptide toxins with potent and instant activity on voltage gated sodium channels, with specificity on invertebrates (supported by VR 2014-3327, running from 2015-2018).In the current project we will continue the exploration of nemertean toxins by addressing the following specific aims:Map the diversity and occurrence of all families of peptide toxins specific to nemerteans, using transcriptomics and peptidomics.Establish routes for large scale production of novel toxins, by recombinant expression and solid phase peptide synthesis.Characterize the biological activities of toxins, by studies in vitro and in vivo.The current project will provide fundamental insights into the biology of nemerteans and their chemical arsenal, and the role of these intriguing toxins in nature.¬†It will also guide us about potential uses of nemertean toxins, such as in health care or agriculture.
Publications (1 of 1) Show all publications
Laborde, Q., Dancewicz, K., Jacobsson, E., Strömstedt, A. A., Muhammad, T., Eriksson, C., . . . Andersson, H. S. (2025). Nemertide Alpha-1 as a Biopesticide: Aphid Deterrence, Antimicrobial Activity, and Safety Aspects. Marine Drugs, 23(10), Article ID 388.
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Nemertide Alpha-1 as a Biopesticide: Aphid Deterrence, Antimicrobial Activity, and Safety Aspects
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2025 (English)In: Marine Drugs, E-ISSN 1660-3397, Vol. 23, no 10, article id 388Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

Aphid control often relies on synthetic pesticides, but their overuse has raised concerns about resistance development and negative impact on wildlife and human health. Consequently, the search for new biopesticide agents has gained significant attention. Nemertide alpha-1, a peptide toxin from the marine nemertean worm Lineus longissimus (Gunnerus, 1770), is known for its pesticide activity but has less documented biological safety. This study investigates the aphid feeding deterrence and biological safety of the experimental biopesticide nemertide alpha-1. Nemertide alpha-1 demonstrated a clear dose-dependent repellent effect on the penetration behaviour of the green peach aphid (Myzus persicae, Sulzer). It also demonstrates bacteriostatic and bactericidal effects in an MIC (Minimum Inhibitory Concentration) assay, respectively, on E. coli (MIC: 112.5 µM) and S. aureus (MIC: 28.4 µM). In a bacterial liposome leakage assay, nemertide alpha-1 exhibits a less pronounced effect than the melittin control (20% maximum leakage at 100 µM), strengthening the hypothesis on the specificity of its neurotoxic mode of action. It is not toxic to mammalian cell U-937 GTB with only a slight decline in the percentage of survival at the highest concentration tested (80 µM). Finally, nemertide alpha-1 displays thermal stability over time for four weeks in three different conditions: cold (6 °C), room temperature (20–24 °C), and physiological temperature (37 °C). Nemertide alpha-1 deters green peach aphid feeding in the low micromolar range and exhibits low antimicrobial properties and very low toxicity to human cells. Its potential utility is further underscored by thermal stability over time.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
MDPI, 2025
Keywords
biopesticide, peptide toxin, pest control, repellent, Nemertea, aphid, Myzus persicae
National Category
Pharmacology and Toxicology
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:uu:diva-571275 (URN)10.3390/md23100388 (DOI)001601920500001 ()41149591 (PubMedID)2-s2.0-105020051890 (Scopus ID)
Funder
Swedish Research Council Formas, 2018-00613Swedish Research Council, 2014-3327Swedish Research Council, 2018-005403
Available from: 2025-11-10 Created: 2025-11-10 Last updated: 2025-11-10Bibliographically approved
Principal InvestigatorGöransson, Ulf
Coordinating organisation
Uppsala University
Funder
Period
2019-01-01 - 2022-12-31
National Category
Other Chemistry TopicsOther Biological Topics
Identifiers
DiVA, id: project:6220Project, id: 2018-05403_VR

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