Cambios en el perfil protéico de E. coli O157:H7 frente al tratamiento con Ib-M1 e IONP@Ib-M1 / Changes in the protein profile of E. coli O157: H7 against treatment with Ib-M1 and IONP@Ib-M1 / Identificação de alterações no perfil protetor de E. coli O157: H7 contra o tratamento com Ib-M1 e IONP@Ib-M1

Resumen Escherichia coli 0157:H7 es una bacteria patógena reconocida por su capacidad de resistencia a diversos antibióticos; razón por la cual, se generan complicaciones en el tratamiento de infecciones producidas por esta bacteria. El péptido Ib-M1 y el bioconjugado I0NP@Ib-M1 han surgido como una nueva alternativa antimicrobiana contra E. coli 0157:H7. El mecanismo de acción de Ib-Mi e I0NP@Ib-M1 contra esta bacteria aún es desconocido; por lo tanto, el objetivo de esta investigación fue identificar el cambio en el perfil de proteínas de E. coli 0157:H7 luego del tratamiento con Ib-M1 e I0NP@ Ib-M1 como primer paso para determinar su mecanismo de acción. Para esto, se llevó a cabo la obtención de proteínas, posteriormente se realizó una electroforesis bidimensional para finalmente realizar la determinación de la variabilidad de los perfiles proteicos. Una vez obtenidos estos perfiles, se llevó a cabo un análisis de varianza (AN0VA). Se identificaron 72 proteínas expresadas diferencialmente, las cuales pueden relacionarse con el efecto sobre el crecimiento de la bacteria en presencia de Ib-M1 e I0NP@Ib-M. Estas proteínas se encuentran involucradas en procesos de transferencia de grupos acilo (proteína Yhbs), translocación de lipoproteínas (proteína LolA) y transporte de aminoácidos (proteína GpmA), entre otros.

Abstract Escherichia coli 0157: H7 is a pathogenic bacterium which is recognized for the ability to resist multiple antibiotics; accordingly, complications occur in the treatment of infections caused by this bacterium. The Ib-M1 peptide and the I0NP @ Ib-M1 bioconjugate have emerged as a new antimicrobial alternatives against E. coli 0157: H7. The mechanism of action of Ib-M1 and I0NP @ Ib-M1 against this bacterium is still unknown; therefore, the goal of this research was to identify the change in the proteins profile of E. coli 0157: H7 after treatment with Ib-M1 and I0NP @ Ib-M1 as a first step to determine its mechanism of action. For this, the proteins were obtained first, and then a two-dimensional electrophoresis was performed to finally determine the variability of the protein profiles. 0nce the protein profiles were obtained, an analysis of variance (AN0VA) was carried out. 72 differentially expressed proteins were identified, which can be connected to the effect on the bacterium's growth in the presence of Ib-M1 and I0NP @ Ib-M. These proteins are involved in acyl groups transfer processes (Yhbs protein), lipoprotein translocation (LolA protein) and amino acid transport (GpmA protein), among others.

Resumo Escherichia coli O157: H7 é uma bactéria patogênica reconhecida por sua capacidade de resistir a vários antibióticos; razão pela qual, complicações são geradas no tratamento de infecções produzidas por essa bactéria. O peptídeo Ib-M1 livre e imobilizado em nanopartículas magnéticas de óxido de ferro (IONP @ Ib-M1) surgiu como uma nova alternativa antimicrobiana contra E. coli O157: H7 e isolados clínicos desta bactéria. O mecanismo de ação de Ib-M1 e IONP @ Ib-M1 contra E. coli O157: H7 ainda é desconhecido; Portanto, o objetivo desta pesquisa foi identificar a alteração no perfil proteico de E. coli O157: H7 após o tratamento com Ib-M1 e IONP @ Ib-M1 como um primeiro passo para determinar seu mecanismo de ação. Para isso, foi realizada a obtenção das proteínas, posteriormente foi realizada uma eletroforese bidimensional para finalmente determinar a variabilidade dos perfis protéicos. Uma vez obtidos os perfis de proteínas, foi realizada uma análise de variância (ANOVA). Os resultados mostram a identificação de proteínas expressas diferencialmente e que estão envolvidas em processos de transferência de grupos acila (proteína Yhbs), translocação de lipoproteínas (proteína LolA) e transporte de aminoácidos (proteína GpmA), entre outros.

Morphological changes and growth of filamentous fungi in the presence of high concentrations of PAHs

In this study, we evaluated the effect of low and high molecular weight polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), i.e., Phenanthrene, Pyrene and Benzo[a]pyrene, on the radial growth and morphology of the PAH-degrading fungal strains Aspergillus nomius H7 and Trichoderma asperellum H15. The presence of PAHs in solid medium produced significant detrimental effects on the radial growth of A. nomius H7 at 4,000 and 6,000 mg L⁻¹ and changes in mycelium pigmentation, abundance and sporulation ability at 1,000–6,000 mg L⁻¹. In contrast, the radial growth of T. asperellum H15 was not affected at any of the doses tested, although sporulation was observed only up to 4,000 mg L⁻¹ and as with the H7 strain, some visible changes in sporulation patterns and mycelium pigmentation were observed. Our results suggest that fungal strains exposed to high doses of PAHs significantly vary in their growth rates and sporulation characteristics in response to the physiological and defense mechanisms that affect both pigment production and conidiation processes. This finding is relevant for obtaining a better understanding of fungal adaptation in PAH-polluted environments and for developing and implementing adequate strategies for the remediation of contaminated soils.

Polymorphisms of toll-like receptor 2 and 4 genes in Chagas disease

The aim of this study was to test the possible implication of toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) and TLR4 gene polymorphisms in determining the susceptibility to Chagas' disease. Genotypes were determined by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism in 475 individuals from Colombia, 143 seropositive with chagasic cardiomyopathy, 132 seropositive asymptomatic and 200 seronegative. The TLR2 arginine to glutamine substitution at residue 753(Arg753Gln) polymorphism was absent in the groups analyzed. The TLR4 Asp299Gly and Thr399Ile polymorphisms are in linkage disequilibrium and we observed a very low frequency of these polymorphisms in our study population (2.6 percent and 1.8 percent respectively). The overall TLR2 and TLR4 alleles and genotype distribution in seronegative and seropositive were not significantly different. We compared the frequencies between asymptomatic patients and those with chagasic cardiomyopathy and we did not observe any significant differences in the distribution of alleles or genotypes. In summary, this study corroborates the low frequency of TLR2 and TLR4 polymorphisms observed in other populations and suggest that these do not play an important role in Chagas' disease. The validation of these findings in independent cohorts is needed to firmly establish a role for TLR2 and TLR4 variants in Chagas' disease.