Secretory expression of Porcine Circovirus Type 2 capsid protein in Pichia pastoris.

Porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) is associated with postweaning multisystemic wasting syndrome (PMWS). The PCV2 capsid (Cap) protein is a leading antigen candidate for vaccine and serological diagnostic testing, due to its immunogenic properties. In this study, the codon-optimized PCV2 Cap gene was cloned into a pPICZαA vector for secretory expression in the methylotrophic yeast Pichia pastoris after methanol induction. The screening of recombinant yeasts was followed by detection of the recombinant Cap (rCap) protein by Western blot, using sera from pigs naturally infected with PCV2. The rCap secreted protein was used without prior purification as a coating antigen in the ELISA test, with high discrimination between PCV2-positive and negative sera. These results reveal a high confidence in the specific immunoreactivity of the secreted antigen and show the antigenicity of the recombinant protein. The feasibility of the P. pastoris expression system for the production of PCV2 Cap as secreted protein and its apparent bioactivity, suggests there are good prospects for the use of this antigen in the investigation of PCV2 infections and testing for vaccine purposes.

Atividade inibitória das folhas e caule de Kalanchoe brasiliensis Cambess frente a microrganismos com diferentes perfis de resistência a antibióticos / Inhibitory activity of aerial parts of Kalanchoe brasiliensis Cambess against microorganisms with variation profile antibiotic-resistant

A avaliação antimicrobiana das partes aéreas de Kalanchoe brasiliensis Cambess, Crassulaceae, a qual é comumente utilizada para o tratamento de inflamações da mucosa oral, bronquites e congestão nasal, é relatada. Esta atividade foi avaliada em discos de Petri usando o método de difusão para a determinação da Concentração Inibitória Mínima (MIC) e cinética bactericida. Foram usadas amostras bacterianas gram-positivas, gram-negativas e cepas de fungos leveduriformes do gênero Cândida. Apenas o óleo essencial demonstrou ser efetivo, apresentando atividade frente amostras gram-positivas de Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) meticilina resistente. A ação observada foi considerada bacteriostática por reduzir um log10 UFC/mL a partir da sexta hora de exposição da amostra ao óleo essencial nas concentrações de 4 por cento e 8 por cento. Compostos fenólicos estão presentes em óleo essencial, sugerindo que o efeito foi devido à presença dos mesmos. Por este motivo à planta Kalanchoe brasiliensis Cambess pode representar uma alternativa terapêutica para infecções provocadas por Staphylococcus aureus.

This study reports the antimicrobial evaluation of the aerial parts of Kalanchoe brasiliensis Cambess, Crassulaceae, commonly used for the treatment of the oral mucosa inflammation, bronchitis and nasal congestion. The antimicrobial activity was assayed in petri dishes using the diffusion method for determination of the minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) and the kill curve kinetic methods. It were used gram-positive and gram-negative strain, leveduriforms fungi strain classified in genus Cândida. Only the essential oil showed activity against methicilin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). This action was considered bacteriostatic with the reduction to one log10 CFU/ml after six hour of exhibition at the concentration of 4 percent and 8 percent. There are studies accounts that polyphenols are present in the essential oil and are active against bacteria. K. brasiliensis is rich in polyphenols suggering that the antimicrobial effect showed is due to this. For this reason, the plant Kalanchoe brasiliensis, can represent a therapeutic alternative against infections caused for Staphylococcus aureus.

In vivo study of the anti-inflammatory and antitumor activities of leaves from Plectranthus amboinicus (Lour.) Spreng (Lamiaceae).

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Plectranthus amboinicus (Lour.) Spreng is a medicinal specie often used in Brazil, especially in Northeast Region, for the treatment of several diseases including inflammations and cancer. AIM OF THE STUDY: To evaluate the anti-inflammatory and antitumor activities of the hydroalcoholic extract from leaves of P. amboinicus in an attempt to determine whether the medicinal uses are supported by pharmacological effects. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Anti-inflammatory activity was determined by carrageenan-induced paw edema method. The antitumor effect was evaluated in an in vivo experimental study, using the following tumors: Sarcoma-180 and Erlich ascite carcinoma. RESULTS: There were statistically significant decreases (p<.05) of edema paw in at the doses of 150, 250 and 350 mg/kg (i.p.) of the hydroalcoholic extract of P. amboinicus. Similarly, the administration of P. amboinicus at the doses of 100, 150, 250 and 350 mg/kg (i.p.) inhibited the growth of sarcoma-180 and Ehrlich ascite carcinoma tumors in mice. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that the hydroalcoholic extract of P. amboinicus possesses anti-inflammatory and antitumor activities, supporting the folk use of this medicinal specie.

Atividade antimicrobiana do extrato de Anacardium occidentale Linn. em amostras multiresistentes de Staphylococcus aureus / Antimicrobial activity of the hydroalcoholic extract of Anacardium occidentale Linn. against multi-drug resistant strains of Staphylococcus aureus

Plantas medicinais com propriedades terapêuticas são de grande relevância em todo o mundo, principalmente em países em desenvolvimento. A planta Anacardium occidentale Linn. é largamente usada na medicina tradicional na nossa região, como antidiarréico, para amigdalite, bronquites, artrites, e antiiflamatório. No presente estudo avaliou-se a ação antimicrobiana do extrato hidroalcóolico da casca do caule do cajueiro frente a amostras de Staphylococcus aureus resistentes e sensíveis à meticilina, obtidas a partir de pacientes internados do Hospital Universitário/Universidade Federal da Paraíba. A atividade antimicrobiana foi determinada pelo método de difusão em meio sólido para a determinação da Concentração Inibitória Mínima do extrato, e foi observada no total de 30 amostras, pela presença ou não do halo de inibição. Todas as amostras ensaiadas mostraram-se sensíveis à ação do extrato do cajueiro, com diâmetros dos halos de inibição variando de 10 a 20 mm, demonstrando grande eficácia do cajueiro. Assim, o uso desta planta na nossa região pode inferir uma alternativa terapêutica eficiente e de baixo custo, contra infecções bacterianas causadas por Staphylococcus aureus.

Medicinal plants with therapeutical properties are of great significance in the whole world, especially in developing countries. Anacardium occidentale Linn. is a plant widely used in the traditional medicine in our region against diarrhea, tonsillitis, bronchitis, arthritis, and inflammation. In this paper, the antimicrobial activity of the hydroalcoholic extract of the cashew tree stem was evaluated against samples of meticillin-resistant and meticillin-sensible Staphylococcus aureus, attained from patients interned at Hospital Universitário/Universidade Federal da Paraíba. The antimicrobial activity was determined by the diffusion method in solid milieu to determine the Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) of the extract, and it was observed in 30 samples the presence or not of inhibition zone. All the assayed samples proved to be sensible to the activity of the extract of the cashew tree, with inhibition zones diameter of 10 to 20 mm, displaying consequently great effectiveness of the extract of the cashew tree stem. Thus, the use of this plant in our region can infer a low cost and efficient therapeutical alternative against bacterial infections caused by Staphylococcus aureus.