Nicholas Silva Dos Santos Filho, Lua Silva, Rossana de Aguiar Cordeiro, Patrícia Gomes Lima, Nilton Araripe Dos Santos Neto, Pedro Victor da Rocha Lima, Francisco Italo Rodrigues Gomes, João Lucas Timbó Mororó, José Hélio de Araújo Filho, Felipe Pantoja Mesquita, Pedro Filho Noronha Souza
Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) occur naturally in living organisms and play an essential role in defense against pathogens. Consequently, these peptides are significant in public health research as alternatives in addressing microbial resistance. Here, we present the proteomic profile of Cryptococcus neoformans treated with RcAlb-PepII, an AMP derived from the 2S albumin of Ricinus communis seed cake. This research is noteworthy, as C. neoformans is an emerging fungal pathogen classified by the World Health Organization (WHO) as a critical threat. Proteomic analysis revealed depletion of proteins involved in DNA and RNA metabolism, reduced protein biosynthesis, and mitochondrial damage-associated proteins in C. neoformans following RcAlb-PepII treatment. These findings advance the understanding of the therapeutic profile of AMPs and underscore their importance in combating critical pathogens.