ABSTRACT
Heavy agricultural losses are closely related to attacks by insect-pests and phytopathogens such as bacteria and fungi. Among them, the fungus Botrytis cinerea can cause gray mold in more than 200 different species of plants, and is considered a challenging problem for agribusiness. Fungicides are commonly used to control this pathogen because they are fast-working and easy to apply. However, the continuous use of fungicides may promote the selection of resistant fungi and can also cause profound contamination in ecosystems. Aiming to find alternative strategies to solve these problems, several studies have focused on searching for plant proteins and peptides with antifungal activities (AFPs). With this in mind, this report shows the isolation and characterization of two novels antifungal proteins from flowers of rosemary pepper (Lippia sidoides Cham.) with 10 and 15 kDa. Isolation was performed by using an Octyl-Sepharose hydrophobic column. In vitro bioassays indicated that isolated proteins were able to inhibit B. cinerea development, but were not effective against all bacteria tested. Moreover, N-termini sequences indicate that both proteins showed sequence homology with NBS-LRR R proteins with a lower molecular mass, suggesting possible protein fragmentation. Data reported here could help in the development of biotechnological products for crop protection against phytopathogenic fungi in the near future.
Subject(s)
Botrytis , Fungicides, Industrial/chemistry , Fungicides, Industrial/isolation & purification , Lippia/chemistry , Peptides/isolation & purification , Plant Proteins/isolation & purification , Adenosine Monophosphate/analogs & derivatives , Adenosine Monophosphate/chemistry , Adenosine Monophosphate/isolation & purification , Amino Acid Sequence , Animals , Brazil , Flowers/chemistry , Molecular Sequence Data , Peptides/chemistry , Peptides/genetics , Plant Proteins/chemistry , Plant Proteins/genetics , Thionucleotides/chemistry , Thionucleotides/isolation & purificationABSTRACT
Antifungal proteins and peptides, essential compounds for plant defense, have been isolated from several tissues of various plants. These proteins could be used as a natural alternative to control phytopathogenic fungi. In this report a heterodimeric antifungal protein named Pa-AFP1, showing higher identity with the 2S albumin family, was purified by using 70-100% ammonium sulfate saturation and further purification steps such as anionic exchange Q-Sepharose chromatography associated with HPLC reversed-phase C4 chromatography. Analysis by Tricine-SDS-PAGE revealed two peptidic molecular masses of approximately 4500 Da and 7000 Da, in the presence of ß-mercaptoethanol, while by removing the reducing agent a single protein with molecular mass of about 11,500 Da was obtained. Moreover, dimer mass was confirmed by MALDI-TOF analyses (11,569.76 Da). The antifungal protein, named Pa-AFP1, efficiently inhibited the growth of filamentous fungi Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, and was added to a short list of 2S albumins with antimicrobial properties. Otherwise, this same peptide showed no activity toward bacteria and yeasts. In summary, this compound could be used in the future to develop biotechnological products for the control of phytopathogenic fungi.
Subject(s)
Albumins/chemistry , Anti-Infective Agents/chemistry , Anti-Infective Agents/pharmacology , Passiflora/chemistry , Peptides/chemistry , Peptides/pharmacology , Candida/drug effects , Candida albicans/drug effects , Candida glabrata/drug effects , Colletotrichum/drug effects , Cryptococcus neoformans/drug effects , Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel , Microbial Sensitivity Tests , Salmonella typhimurium/drug effects , Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization , Staphylococcus aureus/drug effectsABSTRACT
Flowers represent a relatively unexplored source of antimicrobial peptides of biotechnological potential. This review focuses on flower-derived defense peptide classes with inhibitory activity towards plant pathogens. Small cationic peptides display diverse activities, including inhibition of digestive enzymes and bacterial and/or fungal inhibition. Considerable research is ongoing in this area, with natural crop plant defense potentially improved through the application of transgenic technologies. In this report, comparisons were made of peptide tertiary structures isolated from diverse flower species. A summary is provided of molecular interactions between flower peptides and pathogens, which include the role of membrane proteins and lipids. Research on these peptides is contributing to our understanding of pathogen resistance mechanisms, which will, given the perspectives for plant genetic modification, contribute long term to plant genetic improvement for increased resistance to diverse pathogens.
Subject(s)
Anti-Infective Agents/metabolism , Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides/metabolism , Flowers/chemistry , Plant Proteins/metabolism , Anti-Infective Agents/chemistry , Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides/chemistry , Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides/genetics , Carrier Proteins/genetics , Carrier Proteins/metabolism , Defensins/chemistry , Defensins/genetics , Defensins/metabolism , Glycoside Hydrolases/genetics , Glycoside Hydrolases/metabolism , Plant Lectins/genetics , Plant Lectins/metabolism , Plant Proteins/chemistry , Plant Proteins/geneticsABSTRACT
We report a rare case of chronic disseminated histoplasmosis with several ulcerated lesions in the oral cavity in an alcoholic patient without human immunodeficiency virus infection, with no detectable signs and symptoms of systemic disease or extraoral manifestations. Histopathological analysis revealed chronic inflammatory process with granulomas containing Histoplasma-like organisms. The isolation of Histoplasma capsulatum provided the definitive diagnosis. Treatment with itraconazole resulted in complete remission of oral lesions. As far we aware, this is the second case report of oral histoplasmosis in an HIV negative patient described in Brazil.
Subject(s)
Histoplasmosis/diagnosis , Mouth Diseases/microbiology , Antifungal Agents/therapeutic use , Chronic Disease , Histoplasma/isolation & purification , Histoplasmosis/drug therapy , Humans , Itraconazole/therapeutic use , Male , Middle Aged , Mouth Diseases/diagnosis , Mouth Diseases/drug therapyABSTRACT
Reportamos um caso raro de histoplasmose crônica disseminada com diversas lesões ulceradas na cavidade oral de um paciente alcoólatra, sem o vírus da imunodeficiência humana, com nenhum outro sinal detectável ou sintomas de doença sistêmica ou manifestações extra-orais. Análise histopatológica revelou processo inflamatório crônico com granulomas contendo organismos fúngicos. O isolamento do Histoplasma capsulatum forneceu o diagnóstico definitivo. Tratamento com itraconazol resultou numa remissão completa das lesões orais. De acordo com nosso conhecimento, este é o segundo caso reportado de histoplasmose oral em um paciente HIV negativo descrito no Brasil.
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Histoplasma/isolation & purification , Histoplasmosis/diagnosis , Mouth Diseases/microbiology , Antifungal Agents/therapeutic use , Chronic Disease , Histoplasmosis/drug therapy , Itraconazole/therapeutic use , Mouth Diseases/diagnosis , Mouth Diseases/drug therapyABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Tegumentary leishmaniasis and leprosy display similar spectra of disease phenotypes, which are dependent on cell-mediated immunity to specific antigens. Diffuse cutaneous leishmaniasis and lepromatous leprosy represent the anergic end of the spectrum, whereas mucocutaneous leishmaniasis and tuberculoid leprosy are associated with marked antigen-specific cellular immune response. METHODS: We characterized and compared the cell-mediated response to Leishmania and Mycobacterium leprae antigens in a patient with an intriguing association of mucocutaneous leishmaniasis with lepromatous leprosy, which are at opposite ends of the immunopathological spectra of these diseases. This was done by performance of skin tests and by assessment of the cell proliferation and cytokine production of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). RESULTS: Strong skin-test reactions and PBMC proliferation were observed in response to Leishmania antigens but not to M. leprae antigens. The stimulation of PBMCs with Leishmania and M. leprae antigens induced comparable levels of tumor necrosis factor- alpha , interleukin-5, and interleukin-10. However, the interferon- gamma response to Leishmania antigens was remarkably high, and that to M. leprae antigens was almost nil. CONCLUSIONS: We found that concomitant leprosy and tegumentary leishmaniasis can produce opposite polar forms associated, respectively, with absent or exaggerated cell-mediated immune responses to each pathogen. This suggests that independent mechanisms influence the clinical outcome of each infection. Moreover, interferon- gamma appears to play a major role in the clinical expression of these intracellular infections.
Subject(s)
Antigens, Bacterial/immunology , Antigens, Protozoan/immunology , Interferon-gamma/metabolism , Leishmaniasis, Mucocutaneous/immunology , Leprosy, Lepromatous/immunology , Animals , Antiprotozoal Agents/therapeutic use , Cell Proliferation , Humans , Leishmania/immunology , Leishmaniasis, Mucocutaneous/drug therapy , Leishmaniasis, Mucocutaneous/metabolism , Leprostatic Agents/therapeutic use , Leprosy, Lepromatous/drug therapy , Leprosy, Lepromatous/metabolism , Male , Middle Aged , Mycobacterium leprae/immunology , Neutrophils/immunology , Neutrophils/metabolism , Skin TestsABSTRACT
Concentra-se sobre a origem, difusão e história das leishmanioses tegumentares americanas (LTA), com especial enfoque sobre a leishmaniose mucosa (LM) no continente sul-americano, cuja análise foi feita através de fontes históricas.
Subject(s)
Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous/history , Leishmaniasis, Mucocutaneous/history , Bolivia , Brazil , Communicable Diseases/history , PeruABSTRACT
Concentra-se sobre a origem, difusäo e história das leishmanioses tegumentares americanas (LTA), com especial enfoque sobre a leishmaniose mucosa (LM) no continente sul-americano, cuja análise foi feita através de fontes históricas. (AU)
Subject(s)
Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous/history , Leishmaniasis, Mucocutaneous/history , Indians, South American , Peru , Bolivia , Brazil , Communicable Diseases/historyABSTRACT
A Paracoccidioidomicose (PCM) é uma micose profunda sistêmica causada por um fungo dimorfo, de aspecto microscópico similar a roda de leme de navio, o Paracoccidioides brasiliensis (Pb). A PCM apresenta distribuiçäo geográfica restrita ao continente americano, acomete sobretudo indivíduos do sexo masculino, sem predileçäo por raça. Seu quadro clínico é bastante variado. OBJETIVO: Realizar análise epidemiológica de 26 casos de PCM avaliados no Setor de Otorrinolaringologia da Fundaçäo Oswaldo Cruz - FIOCRUZ. FORMA DE ESTUDO: Clínico retrospectivo. MATERIAL E MÉTODO: Estudou-se retrospectivamente 26 prontuários de pacientes com manifestaçöes otorrinolaringológicas da PCM atendidos no período de outubro de 1998 a setembro de 2001. Avaliou-se: sexo, idade, profissäo, grau de escolaridade, se etilistas e/ou tabagistas, sintomatologia, local das lesöes, presença de co-infecçäo, exames complementares realizados e opçäo terapêutica. RESULTADOS: 23 (88,5 por cento) pacientes eram do sexo masculino e 3 (11,5 por cento) do sexo feminino, com idade entre 32 e 72 anos. 11 (42,3 por cento) pacientes eram agricultores e 21 (80,8 por cento) tabagistas e/ou etilistas. Os locais mais comumente atingidos foram a epiglote e a parede nasal lateral. Utilizaram-se derivados sulfamídicos para o tratamento de 14 (53,9 por cento) pacientes e imidazólicos em 12 (46,1 por cento) casos. DISCUSSÄO: Lesöes pulmonares podem ser confundidas com tuberculose, devido a suas semelhanças clínicas e radiográficas. A desnutriçäo pode predispor quadros clínicos de extrema gravidade. CONCLUSÄO: A anamnese detalhada dos pacientes portadores de PCM revela importantes aspectos, como procedência e hábitos pessoais. A atuaçäo interdisciplinar, sobretudo de médicos e dentistas, colabora para um precoce diagnóstico e adequado acompanhamento do doente
ABSTRACT
Drawing from four sixteenth-century sources, the article reports some apparent incidents of American Tegumentary Leishmaniasis within the territory of the Andes. Reinterpretation of these sources affords a look at the longstanding issue of the origin of espundia,or mucosal Leishmaniasis (ML). The study reinforces the hypothesis that ML originated in the western Amazon region, from there climbing into the high forests and later into hot inter-Andean lands via Bolivia's and Peru's borders with Brazil, above al through human migration. dating to archeological times, this process intensified during the Inca period under the social policies of the mitmaq or mitimaes. These events transpired within the historical and social context of the fall of the Inca Empire and the advent of Spanish colonization.
