Panacea within a Pandora's box: the antiparasitic effects of phospholipases A2 (PLA2s) from snake venoms.

Parasitic diseases affect millions of individuals worldwide, mainly in low-income regions. There is no cure for most of these diseases, and the treatment relies on drugs that have side effects and lead to drug resistance, emphasizing the urgency to find new treatments. Snake venom has been gaining prominence as a rich source of molecules with antiparasitic potentials, such as phospholipases A 2 (PLA 2 s). Here, we compile the findings involving PLA 2 s with antiparasitic activities against helminths, Plasmodium , Toxoplasma , and trypanosomatids. We indicate their molecular features, highlighting the possible antiparasitic mechanisms of action of these proteins. We also demonstrate interactions between PLA 2 s and some parasite membrane components, shedding light on potential targets for drug design that may provide better treatment for the illnesses caused by parasites. Despite treatments available (most of them inefficient), human parasitic diseases are still affecting millions of individuals worldwide. Snake venoms are a rich source of bioactive molecules (small molecules, peptides, and proteins) potentially useful for various biotechnological applications. PLA 2 s, important snake-venom components, have striking features that make this class of proteins an excellent candidate to be used as anti-infectious agents. Recent data suggest that both Asp49 and Lys49 svPLA 2 s can promote pharmacological effects regardless of their catalytic activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]