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Antimicrobial Peptides in Spider Venoms

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Spider Venoms

Part of the book series: Toxinology ((TOXI))

Abstract

Historically, toxinologists have regarded venom studies focusing on lethality and other apparent toxic effects using mammals and insects as models. Nevertheless, with the development of sensitive and accessible analytical techniques, novel structures, especially peptides lacking observable effects in mammal and insect systems, have been increasingly noticed. Among such novel structures and activities are the antimicrobial peptides (AMPs). In this chapter, we review the current literature dealing with AMPs from spider venoms since their first appearance back in 1998, when a peptide was isolated from the venom of a species of wolf spider. It is also worth mentioning that the description of such peptides is constantly expanding, along with the information gathered regarding their structure and functional relationships over the last decade.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departamento de Bioquímica e Imunologia, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Av. Antônio Carlos, 6627, 31270-901, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil

    Daniel M. Santos, Pablo. V. Reis & Adriano M. C. Pimenta

Authors
  1. Daniel M. Santos
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  2. Pablo. V. Reis
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  3. Adriano M. C. Pimenta
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Correspondence to Adriano M. C. Pimenta .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Anatomy, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore

    P. Gopalakrishnakone

  2. Department of Molecular Medicine and Bioprocesses, The Biotechnology Institute National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico

    Gerardo A. Corzo

  3. Departamento de Bioquímica e Imunologia Laboratório de Venenos e Toxinas Animais, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil

    Maria Elena de Lima

  4. Veerle, Belgium

    Elia Diego-García

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Santos, D.M., Reis, P.V., Pimenta, A.M.C. (2016). Antimicrobial Peptides in Spider Venoms. In: Gopalakrishnakone, P., Corzo, G., de Lima, M., Diego-García, E. (eds) Spider Venoms. Toxinology. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-6389-0_19

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