RESUMO
Last year ActinoBase, a Wiki-style initiative supported by the UK Microbiology Society, published a review highlighting the research of particular interest to the actinomycete community. Here, we present the second ActinoBase review showcasing selected reports published in 2020 and early 2021, integrating perspectives in the actinomycete field. Actinomycetes are well-known for their unsurpassed ability to produce specialised metabolites, of which many are used as therapeutic agents with antibacterial, antifungal, or immunosuppressive activities. Much research is carried out to understand the purpose of these metabolites in the environment, either within communities or in host interactions. Moreover, many efforts have been placed in developing computational tools to handle big data, simplify experimental design, and find new biosynthetic gene cluster prioritisation strategies. Alongside, synthetic biology has provided advances in tools to elucidate the biosynthesis of these metabolites. Additionally, there are still mysteries to be uncovered in understanding the fundamentals of filamentous actinomycetes' developmental cycle and regulation of their metabolism. This review focuses on research using integrative methodologies and approaches to understand the bigger picture of actinomycete biology, covering four research areas: i) technology and methodology; ii) specialised metabolites; iii) development and regulation; and iv) ecology and host interactions.
Assuntos
Actinobacteria , Actinobacteria/genética , Actinomyces , Antibacterianos , Família Multigênica , Biologia SintéticaRESUMO
Senna occidentalis is an invasive plant producing a series of allelochemicals that might inhibit the development of other plants. The objective of this study was to assess the phytotoxic effect of S. occidentalis extracts on the germination, development and antioxidant defence of the native species Tabebuia chrysotricha, T. pentaphylla, T. roseoalba and Handroanthus impetiginosus (Ipê species). We evaluated the effects of chemicals extracted from S. occidentalis on the germination rate, germination speed index (GSI) and biometric parameters of the test species under controlled conditions. The effect of the extracts on the pigment content, amount of H2 O2 and malondialdehyde (MDA), and the activity of the antioxidant enzymes in roots and leaves were also tested. Alkaloids, coumarins, phenols, saponins, free steroids and condensed tannins were present in all extracts of S. occidentalis, while catechins were present only in leaf and stem extracts. Stem and root extracts caused a growth reduction in all Ipê species and total inhibition of seed germination in T. chrysotricha and T. roseoalba. All target species showed an increase in H2 O2 and MDA in radicles and leaves. Oxidative stress contributed strongly to the morphological changes, such as seed blackening, thinning and darkening of radicle tips and reduction of biomass allocation in all Ipê species. Although there was activation of antioxidant defence mechanisms, such as an increase in activity of ascorbate peroxidase (APX) and peroxidase (POD) enzymes, the joint action of the allelochemicals caused phytotoxicity, leading to cell dysfunction in all Ipê species.
Assuntos
Germinação/efeitos dos fármacos , Estresse Oxidativo/efeitos dos fármacos , Extratos Vegetais/farmacologia , Plântula/efeitos dos fármacos , Sementes/efeitos dos fármacos , Senna/química , Tabebuia/efeitos dos fármacos , Peróxido de Hidrogênio/metabolismo , Espécies Introduzidas , Malondialdeído/metabolismo , Folhas de Planta/efeitos dos fármacos , Folhas de Planta/metabolismo , Raízes de Plantas/efeitos dos fármacos , Raízes de Plantas/metabolismo , Plântula/metabolismo , Tabebuia/crescimento & desenvolvimento , Tabebuia/metabolismoRESUMO
Streptomyces leeuwenhoekii strains C34T, C38, C58 and C79 were isolated from a soil sample collected from the Chaxa Lagoon, located in the Salar de Atacama in northern Chile. These streptomycetes produce a variety of new specialised metabolites with antibiotic, anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory activities. Moreover, genome mining performed on two of these strains has revealed the presence of biosynthetic gene clusters with the potential to produce new specialised metabolites. This review focusses on this new clade of Streptomyces strains, summarises the literature and presents new information on strain C34T.
Assuntos
Streptomyces/classificação , Streptomyces/fisiologia , Antibacterianos/biossíntese , Antibacterianos/química , Chile , Genoma Bacteriano/genética , Estrutura Molecular , Família Multigênica/genética , Filogenia , Microbiologia do Solo , Streptomyces/genética , Streptomyces/metabolismoRESUMO
Metabolic modelling is a useful tool that enables the rational design of metabolic engineering experiments and the study of the unique capabilities of biotechnologically important microorganisms. The extreme abiotic conditions of the Atacama Desert have selected microbial diversity with exceptional characteristics that can be applied in the mining industry for bioleaching processes and for production of specialised metabolites with antimicrobial, antifungal, antiviral, antitumoral, among other activities. In this review we summarise the scientific data available of the use of metabolic modelling and flux analysis to improve the performance of Atacama Desert microorganisms in biotechnological applications.