-
Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) Mar 2024The traditional Chinese medicine toad venom () has been extensively used to treat various diseases, including cancers, in China and other Southeast Asian countries. The...
The traditional Chinese medicine toad venom () has been extensively used to treat various diseases, including cancers, in China and other Southeast Asian countries. The major constituents of toad venom, e.g., bufadienolides and alkaloids, exhibit broad-spectrum pharmacological effects in cancers. Herein, two new bufadienolides ( and ), along with eleven known compounds (-) were successfully isolated from Schneider. Their structures were elucidated by extensive spectroscopic data and X-ray diffraction analysis. Furthermore, four lactam derivatives were synthesized through the transformation of bufadienolides lactones. The inhibitory effects of these compounds against human prostate cancer cell lines PC-3 and DU145 were evaluated. The outcomes indicated a notable trend, with a substantial subset displaying nanomolar range IC values against PC-3 and DU145 cells, underscoring their pronounced cytotoxicity. Moreover, a noteworthy distinction surfaces, wherein lactones consistently outperformed their lactam counterparts, further validating their heightened potency for the treatment of prostate cancer. This study contributes significant preclinical evidence substantiating the therapeutic viability of bufadienolides and toad venom as intervention strategies for prostate cancer.
Topics: Humans; Male; Animals; Prostatic Neoplasms; Antineoplastic Agents; Amphibian Venoms; Bufanolides; Bufonidae; Lactams; Lactones
PubMed: 38611850
DOI: 10.3390/molecules29071571 -
ZooKeys 2024The genus (Bufonidae) comprises 92 species of Neotropical toads. In Colombia, is represented by 22 recognized species, of which nine belong to the group. Over the...
The genus (Bufonidae) comprises 92 species of Neotropical toads. In Colombia, is represented by 22 recognized species, of which nine belong to the group. Over the past decade, there has been increasing evidence of cryptic diversity within this group, particularly in the context of Andean forms. Specimens of collected in high Andean forests on both slopes of the Central Cordillera in Colombia belong to an undescribed species, Genetic analyses using the mitochondrial 16S rRNA gene indicated that the individuals belong to the species group. However, they can be distinguished from other closely related species such as and by a combination of morphological traits including the presence of tarsal fold, a moderate body size, and substantial genetic divergence in the 16S rRNA gene (> 5%). Through this integrative approach, the specimens from the Central Cordillera of Colombia are considered an evolutionary divergent lineage that is sister to , and described as a new species. is restricted to the Central Cordillera of Colombia inhabiting both slopes in the departments of Caldas and Tolima, in an elevational range between 2420 and 3758 m. With the recognition of this new species, the genus now comprises 93 species with 23 of them found in Colombia, and ten species endemic to the country.
PubMed: 38566619
DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1196.114861 -
Toxins Mar 2024Toad Venom (TV) is the dried product of toxic secretions from Cantor (BgC) or Schneider (BmS). Given the increasing medical demand and the severe depletion of wild...
Toad Venom (TV) is the dried product of toxic secretions from Cantor (BgC) or Schneider (BmS). Given the increasing medical demand and the severe depletion of wild toads, a number of counterfeit TVs appeared on the market, posing challenges to its quality control. In order to develop an efficient, feasible, and comprehensive approach to evaluate TV quality, a thorough analysis and comparison of chemical compounds among legal species BgC and BmS, as well as the main confusion species Schmidt (BaS) and Strauch (BrS), were conducted by ultra-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q-TOF/MS), high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), sodium dodecylsulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE), and Nano LC-MS/MS analyses. We identified 126 compounds, including free or conjugated bufadienolides, indole alkaloids and amino acids, among the four species. The content of main bufadienolides, such as gamabufotalin, bufotalin, bufalin, cinobufagin, and resibufogenin, and the total protein contents varied widely among 28 batches of TV due to their origin species. The sum of the five bufadienolides within the BgC, BmS, BaS, and BrS samples were 8.15-15.93%, 2.45-4.14%, 11.15-13.50%, and 13.21-14.68%, respectively. The total protein content of BgC (6.9-24.4%) and BaS (19.1-20.6%) samples were higher than that of BmS (4.8-20.4%) and BrS (10.1-13.7%) samples. Additionally, a total of 1357 proteins were identified. There were differences between the protein compositions among the samples of the four species. The results indicated that BgC TV is of the highest quality; BaS and BrS TV could serve as alternative resources, whereas BmS TV performed poorly overall. This research provides evidence for developing approaches to evaluate TV quality and selecting the proper species as the origin source of TV listed in the Chinese pharmacopoeia.
Topics: Animals; Amino Acids; Bufanolides; Bufonidae; Tandem Mass Spectrometry
PubMed: 38535825
DOI: 10.3390/toxins16030159 -
Toxins Mar 2024Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are key molecules in the innate immune defence of vertebrates with rapid action, broad antimicrobial spectrum, and ability to evade...
Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are key molecules in the innate immune defence of vertebrates with rapid action, broad antimicrobial spectrum, and ability to evade pathogen resistance mechanisms. To date, amphibians are the major group of vertebrates from which most AMPs have been characterised, but most studies have focused on the bioactive skin secretions of anurans (frogs and toads). In this study, we have analysed the complete genomes and/or transcriptomes of eight species of caecilian amphibians (order Gymnophiona) and characterised the diversity, molecular evolution, and antimicrobial potential of the AMP repertoire of this order of amphibians. We have identified 477 candidate AMPs within the studied caecilian genome and transcriptome datasets. These candidates are grouped into 29 AMP families, with four corresponding to peptides primarily exhibiting antimicrobial activity and 25 potentially serving as AMPs in a secondary function, either in their entirety or after cleavage. In silico prediction methods were used to identify 62 of those AMPs as peptides with promising antimicrobial activity potential. Signatures of directional selection were detected for five candidate AMPs, which may indicate adaptation to the different selective pressures imposed by evolutionary arms races with specific pathogens. These findings provide encouraging support for the expectation that caecilians, being one of the least-studied groups of vertebrates, and with ~300 million years of separate evolution, are an underexplored resource of great pharmaceutical potential that could help to contest antibiotic resistance and contribute to biomedical advance.
Topics: Humans; Animals; Antimicrobial Peptides; Anura; Bufonidae; Evolution, Molecular; Anti-Infective Agents
PubMed: 38535816
DOI: 10.3390/toxins16030150 -
Biology Mar 2024Resources are limited in global biodiversity conservation efforts, which emphasizes the significance of setting conservation priorities. Using standardized criteria, we...
Resources are limited in global biodiversity conservation efforts, which emphasizes the significance of setting conservation priorities. Using standardized criteria, we evaluated 58 amphibian species in Chile to determine their conservation priority (CP). Species with insufficient historical data had their values marked as missing. With a median value of = 1.67, the results demonstrated CP values ranging from = 0.48 to = 3.0, classifying species into priority and non-priority groups. Four levels were established for the priority categories: no priority, low priority, medium priority, and high priority. Additionally, the Telmatobiidae and Alsodidae families were identified as two more priority families. Notably, the species with the highest priority were found to be , , , , , and , where and have equal priority for conservation at the national level according to the conservation priority analysis. Eight priority families-the Alsodidae, Batrachylidae, Bufonidae, Ceratophryidae, Leptodactylidae, Rhinodermatidae, and Telmatobiidae-were determined, and 14 species-or 24% of the species examined-need further study. Based on the conservation priority analysis, the species and share the highest priority for conservation at the national level ( = 2.50). With 70% of the amphibians under study being threatened mainly by habitat loss, pollution, and emerging diseases, the creation of conservation categories made the threat assessment process easier. Due to a lack of information on geographic distribution and abundance, quantitatively classifying amphibians in Chile remains difficult. The analysis of conservation priorities and potential extinction threats informs appropriate management strategies.
PubMed: 38534439
DOI: 10.3390/biology13030169 -
PloS One 2024Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) is a lethal fungal species that parasitizes vertebrates and is associated with the worldwide decline of amphibian populations. The...
Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) is a lethal fungal species that parasitizes vertebrates and is associated with the worldwide decline of amphibian populations. The development of sensitive, rapid detection methods, particularly DNA-based techniques, is critical for effective management strategies. This study evaluates the efficacy of DNA extraction and a portable PCR device in a mountable field laboratory setup for detecting Bd near the habitats of three critically endangered Atelopus toad species in Ecuador. We collected skin swabs from Atelopus balios, A. nanay, and A. bomolochos, and environmental DNA (eDNA) samples from streams in Andean and coastal regions of Ecuador. For eDNA, a comparison was made with duplicates of the samples that were processed in the field and in a standard university laboratory. Our findings revealed Bd detection in eDNA and swabs from 6 of 12 water samples and 10 of 12 amphibian swab samples. The eDNA results obtained in the field laboratory were concordant with those obtained under campus laboratory conditions. These findings highlight the potential of field DNA-based monitoring techniques for detecting Bd in amphibian populations and their aquatic habitats, particularly in remote areas. Furthermore, this research aligns with the National Action Plan for the Conservation of Ecuadorian Amphibians and contributes to the global effort to control this invasive and deadly fungus.
Topics: Humans; Animals; Batrachochytrium; Ecuador; Chytridiomycota; Bufonidae; Amphibians; DNA; DNA, Environmental; Ecosystem
PubMed: 38484016
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0299246 -
Proceedings. Biological Sciences Feb 2024By imposing novel selection pressures on both participants, biological invasions can modify evolutionary 'arms races' between hosts and parasites. A spatially replicated...
By imposing novel selection pressures on both participants, biological invasions can modify evolutionary 'arms races' between hosts and parasites. A spatially replicated cross-infection experiment reveals strong spatial divergence in the ability of lungworms () to infect invasive cane toads () in Australia. In areas colonized for longer than 20 years, toads are more resistant to infection by local strains of parasites than by allopatric strains. The situation reverses at the invasion front, where super-infective parasites have evolved. Invasion-induced shifts in genetic diversity and selective pressures may explain why hosts gain advantage over parasites in long-colonized areas, whereas parasites gain advantage at the invasion front.
Topics: Animals; Humans; Parasites; Rhabditoidea; Host-Parasite Interactions; Rhabditida Infections; Bufo marinus; Introduced Species
PubMed: 38351807
DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2023.2403 -
Scientific Reports Feb 2024The Houston toad (Bufo [= Anaxyrus] houstonensis) is an endangered amphibian with a small geographic range. Land-use changes have primarily driven decline in B....
The Houston toad (Bufo [= Anaxyrus] houstonensis) is an endangered amphibian with a small geographic range. Land-use changes have primarily driven decline in B. houstonensis with population supplementation predominant among efforts to reduce its current extinction risk. However, there has been historic uncertainty regarding the evolutionary and conservation significance of B. houstonensis. To this end, we used 1170 genome-wide nuclear DNA markers to examine phylogenetic relationships between our focal taxon, representatives of the Nearctic B. americanus group, and B. nebulifer, a sympatric Middle American species. Phylogenetic analyses indicate B. houstonensis is a taxon that is distinct from B. americanus. We corroborated such genetic distinctiveness with an admixture analysis that provided support for recent reproductive isolation between B. americanus and B. houstonensis. However, ABBA-BABA tests for ancient admixture indicated historic gene flow between Nearctic species while no signal of historic gene flow was detected between Nearctic and Middle-American species. We used an admixture analysis to recognize four Management Units (MU) based on observed genetic differentiation within B. houstonensis and recommend captive propagation, population supplementation, and habitat restoration efforts specific to each MU. Our results re-affirm the evolutionary novelty of an endangered relict.
Topics: Animals; Bufonidae; Phylogeny; Reproduction; Ecosystem; Genetics, Population
PubMed: 38332325
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-53705-w -
Scientific Reports Jan 2024Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) is a fungal pathogen that has decimated amphibian populations worldwide for several decades. We examined the changes in gene...
Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) is a fungal pathogen that has decimated amphibian populations worldwide for several decades. We examined the changes in gene expression in response to Bd infection in two populations of the common toad, Bufo bufo, in a laboratory experiment. We collected B. bufo eggs in southern and northern Sweden, and infected the laboratory-raised metamorphs with two strains of the global panzoonotic lineage Bd-GPL. Differential expression analysis showed significant differences between infected and control individuals in both liver and skin. The skin samples showed no discernible differences in gene expression between the two strains used, while liver samples were differentiated by strain, with one of the strains eliciting no immune response from infected toads. Immune system genes were overexpressed in skin samples from surviving infected individuals, while in liver samples the pattern was more diffuse. Splitting samples by population revealed a stronger immune response in northern individuals. Differences in transcriptional regulation between populations are particularly relevant to study in Swedish amphibians, which may have experienced varying exposure to Bd. Earlier exposure to this pathogen and subsequent adaptation or selection pressure may contribute to the survival of some populations over others, while standing genetic diversity in different populations may also affect the infection outcome.
Topics: Humans; Animals; Bufo bufo; Batrachochytrium; Mycoses; Chytridiomycota; Bufonidae; Amphibians; Liver; Gene Expression Profiling
PubMed: 38291226
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-52975-8 -
Die Naturwissenschaften Jan 2024The Neotropical genus Atelopus is the most diverse genus of bufonids comprising 99 species. Tadpoles of these frogs are readily distinguished based on the presence of a...
Harlequin frog tadpoles-comparative buccopharyngeal morphology in the gastromyzophorous tadpoles of the genus Atelopus (Amphibia, Anura, Bufonidae), with discussion on the phylogenetic and evolutionary implication of characters.
The Neotropical genus Atelopus is the most diverse genus of bufonids comprising 99 species. Tadpoles of these frogs are readily distinguished based on the presence of a belly sucker, used by them to stay attached to rocks in fast-flowing streams. Despite their intriguing biology, information about their anatomy is scarce and many morphological systems are unknown. We describe the buccopharyngeal cavity of five Atelopus species. The Atelopus buccopharyngeal cavity is characterized by (1) presence of a pendulum-like papillae in the prenarial arena, (2) presence of a glandular zone in the prenarial arena, (3) narial vacuities, (4) conical median ridge, (5) absence of buccal roof arena papillae, (6) absence of buccal roof pustulations, (7) single pair of infralabial papillae, (8) absence of lingual papillae, and (9) absence of pustulations in the buccal floor. We propose that characters 1, 2, and 3 are new synapomorphies for the genus. We also propose that the presence of a single pair of infralabial papillae is a synapomorphy for bufonid. Finally, we discuss the convergent evolution of gastromyzophorous and suctorial tadpoles withing anurans.
Topics: Animals; Bufonidae; Larva; Phylogeny; Anura; Rivers
PubMed: 38252296
DOI: 10.1007/s00114-024-01889-6