Amaurocine: Anti-Trichomonas vaginalis protein produced by the basidiomycete Amauroderma camerarium

• Amaurocine is a 12 kDa protein produced by the mushroom Amauroderma camerarium.
• Amaurocine presented strong activity against different T. vaginalis isolates.
• Amaurocine stimulated nitric oxide release form human neutrophils.
• Amaurocine presented low cytotoxicity against human neutrophils.

Trichomonas vaginalis is the causative agent of trichomoniasis, the most common nonviral STD worldwide. This infection can lead to severe health conditions, especially when women are affected. Metronidazole and tinidazole are the only choices of treatment. In this sense, natural bioactive compounds against T. vaginalis are an interesting approach in the search for more efficient therapies. Herein, amaurocine, a 12 kDa protein, produced by the mushroom Amauroderma camerarium was purified and tested against T. vaginalis, including two fresh clinical isolates. Amaurocine presented MIC values at 2.6 μM against the ATCC isolate 30236, and 5.2 μM against the fresh clinical isolates, TV-LACH1 and TV-LACM2. Furthermore, besides increasing human neutrophils nitric oxide release, amaurocine presented a low toxicity toward those cells, suggesting it exerts a proinflammatory character.

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