In vitro and in vivo investigation of the antimicrobial effects of androctonus crassicauda and leiurus abdullahbayrami scorpion venom peptides on some nosocomial infection agents

Nosocomial infectionscaused by antibiotic-resistant bacteria cause significant economic and human health problems. For this reason, natural anti-bacteriaş substances against antibiotic resistant bacteria are being sought. In order to find effective substances against these bacteria, we aimed to investigate the effectiveness of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) in the venom of Androctonus crassicauda and Leiurus abdullahbayramii scorpions purified by the HPLC method. The effectiveness of the AMP was investgated in vitro and in vivo by inducing sepsis with ESCAPE bacterial strains in rats. We also considered strengthening the antimicrobial activity of these purfied peptides by coating them with nanparticles. In the in vitro study, activeity aganist bacteria was investigated by the agar well method. While no activity was found in the L.abdullahbayramii scorpion spicies, activity was detected against the K.pneumoniae strain in the 36th min fraction in the venom of the A.crassicauda species. Nanoparticle coating process was performed on this fraction and then the particles were characterized. In in vitro experiments, sepsis was induced in rats aallocated into groups, with the clinic strain of K.pneomoniae. scorpion venom was applied 6 hours after bacterial application, and the rats were sacrificed at 24 hours. Lung tissues were taken and subjected to homogenization process. In the homogenates, TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6 and IL-10 measurements were made with ELİSA. Histopathological examinations were performed using anti-MMP-2 and MMP-9 antibody kits in terms of extracellular matrix and fibrosis. In the light of the biochemical, histopathological and immunohistochemical data, a significant difference was found compared to the control group in which sepsis was induced with K.pneumoniae. In addition, histological changes in the alveolar septa in the lung tissue sections in the sepsis group, inflammation areas and a decrease in the hyaline membrane structure were observed in both scorpion species. HeLa cells were used to determine cytotoxicity. Cytotoxic activity was detected in both scorpion species at 24 and 48 hours intervals. İn light of these findings, it was concluded that AcraX was effective against K.pneumoniae strains.