Wasp venom peptide, synoeca-MP, from Synoeca surinama shows antimicrobial activity against human and animal pathogenic microorganisms

The rising number of multidrug-resistant microorganisms has triggered interest in the prospection of biocompounds with antimicrobial activities. Synoeca-MP consists of an antimicrobial peptide (AMP) classified as a mastoparan, which was isolated from the venom of Synoeca surinama, a social wasp. Synoeca-MP presented a potent antimicrobial activity, with values of MIC50 and MIC90 against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus-MRSA (1.9 and 2.2 mu M), Escherichia coli ESBL (2.0 and 2,1 mu M), vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecalis (8.3 and 17.1 mu M), Pseudomonas aeruginosa metallo-ss-lactamase (5.2 and 5.9 mu M), and Klebsiella pneumoniae KPC (3.5 and 4.7 mu M). Synoeca-MP was also tested against six Candida species, with MICs varying from 10 to 40 mu M. Moreover, the structural prediction for Synoeca-MP demonstrated a cationic alpha-helix capable of interacting with in silico membranes and low hemolytic activity. Due to its antimicrobial activity, synoeca-MP shows potential as an adjuvant to antibiotics and antifungals commonly used in antibiotic therapies.