scholarly journals Sexual ornamentation reflects antibacterial activity of ejaculates in mallards

2011 ◽  
Vol 7 (5) ◽  
pp. 740-742 ◽  
Author(s):  
Melissah Rowe ◽  
Gábor Árpád Czirják ◽  
Kevin J. McGraw ◽  
Mathieu Giraudeau
Keyword(s):  
Antibacterial Activity ◽  
Phenotypic Traits ◽  
Sperm Function ◽  
Male Reproductive Success ◽  
Bacterial Killing ◽  
Associated Bacteria ◽  
Sexually Transmitted ◽  
Sexual Ornamentation ◽  
Ornamental Traits

Bacteria present in ejaculates can impair sperm function and reduce male reproductive success. Thus, selection should favour the evolution of antimicrobial defences to limit the detrimental effects of sperm-associated bacteria. Additionally, current hypotheses suggest that ornamental traits may signal information about the infection status of an individual or the ability of an individual to resist bacterial-induced sperm damage. However, despite the evolutionary implications of ejaculate antimicrobials, and the putative importance of pathogens for the evolution of male ornamentation, tests of these hypotheses are lacking. We examined the antibacterial activity of semen from mallard ducks ( Anas platyrhynchos ) and tested whether the bactericidal capacity of semen was associated with bill coloration, a sexually selected trait. We show that mallard semen exhibits significant antibacterial activity, as measured by the in vitro capacity to kill Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus . Furthermore, we demonstrate that males with more colourful bills have semen with superior bacterial-killing ability. These results suggest that females could use male phenotypic traits to avoid sexually transmitted pathogens and acquire partners whose sperm suffer less bacteria-induced damage.

scholarly journals Antimicrobial Actions of the Nadph Phagocyte Oxidase and Inducible Nitric Oxide Synthase in Experimental Salmonellosis. I. Effects on Microbial Killing by Activated Peritoneal Macrophages in Vitro

2000 ◽  
Vol 192 (2) ◽  
pp. 227-236 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrés Vazquez-Torres ◽  
Jessica Jones-Carson ◽  
Pietro Mastroeni ◽  
Harry Ischiropoulos ◽  
Ferric C. Fang
Keyword(s):  
Nitric Oxide ◽  
Antibacterial Activity ◽  
Peritoneal Macrophages ◽  
Interferon Γ ◽  
Independent Effect ◽  
No Production ◽  
Bacterial Killing ◽  
Phagocyte Oxidase ◽  
Inducible Nitric Oxide

The contribution of the NADPH phagocyte oxidase (phox) and inducible nitric oxide (NO) synthase (iNOS) to the antimicrobial activity of macrophages for Salmonella typhimurium was studied by using peritoneal phagocytes from C57BL/6, congenic gp91phox−/−, iNOS−/−, and doubly immunodeficient phox−/−iNOS−/− mice. The respiratory burst and NO radical (NO·) made distinct contributions to the anti-Salmonella activity of macrophages. NADPH oxidase–dependent killing is confined to the first few hours after phagocytosis, whereas iNOS contributes to both early and late phases of antibacterial activity. NO-derived species initially synergize with oxyradicals to kill S. typhimurium, and subsequently exert prolonged oxidase-independent bacteriostatic effects. Biochemical analyses show that early killing of Salmonella by macrophages coincides with an oxidative chemistry characterized by superoxide anion (O2·−), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), and peroxynitrite (ONOO−) production. However, immunofluorescence microscopy and killing assays using the scavenger uric acid suggest that peroxynitrite is not responsible for macrophage killing of wild-type S. typhimurium. Rapid oxidative bacterial killing is followed by a sustained period of nitrosative chemistry that limits bacterial growth. Interferon γ appears to augment antibacterial activity predominantly by enhancing NO· production, although a small iNOS-independent effect was also observed. These findings demonstrate that macrophages kill Salmonella in a dynamic process that changes over time and requires the generation of both reactive oxidative and nitrosative species.

scholarly journals Vaginal Microbiota of the Sexually Transmitted Infections Caused by Chlamydia trachomatis and Trichomonas vaginalis in Women with Vaginitis in Taiwan

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (9) ◽  
pp. 1864
Author(s):  
Shu-Fang Chiu ◽  
Po-Jung Huang ◽  
Wei-Hung Cheng ◽  
Ching-Yun Huang ◽  
Lichieh Julie Chu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Chlamydia Trachomatis ◽  
Sexually Transmitted Infections ◽  
Trichomonas Vaginalis ◽  
Vaginal Microbiota ◽  
Gardnerella Vaginalis ◽  
Associated Bacteria ◽  
Sexually Transmitted ◽  
Prevotella Bivia ◽  
Initial Interaction

The three most common sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are Chlamydia trachomatis (CT), Neisseria gonorrhoeae (GC) and Trichomonas vaginalis (TV). The prevalence of these STIs in Taiwan remains largely unknown and the risk of STI acquisition affected by the vaginal microbiota is also elusive. In this study, a total of 327 vaginal swabs collected from women with vaginitis were analyzed to determine the presence of STIs and the associated microorganisms by using the BD Max CT/GC/TV molecular assay, microbial cultures, and 16S rRNA sequencing. The prevalence of CT, TV, and GC was 10.8%, 2.2% and 0.6%, respectively. A culture-dependent method identified that Escherichia coli and Streptococcus agalactiae (GBS) were more likely to be associated with CT and TV infections. In CT-positive patients, the vaginal microbiota was dominated by L. iners, and the relative abundance of Gardnerella vaginalis (12.46%) was also higher than that in TV-positive patients and the non-STIs group. However, Lactobacillus spp. was significantly lower in TV-positive patients, while GBS (10.11%), Prevotella bivia (6.19%), Sneathia sanguinegens (12.75%), and Gemella asaccharolytica (5.31%) were significantly enriched. Using an in vitro co-culture assay, we demonstrated that the growth of L. iners was suppressed in the initial interaction with TV, but it may adapt and survive after longer exposure to TV. Additionally, it is noteworthy that TV was able to promote GBS growth. Our study highlights the vaginal microbiota composition associated with the common STIs and the crosstalk between TV and the associated bacteria, paving the way for future development of health interventions targeting the specific vaginal bacterial taxa to reduce the risk of common STIs.

scholarly journals Semen-Derived Enhancer of Viral Infection (SEVI) Binds Bacteria, Enhances Bacterial Phagocytosis by Macrophages, and Can Protect against Vaginal Infection by a Sexually Transmitted Bacterial Pathogen

2013 ◽  
Vol 57 (6) ◽  
pp. 2443-2450 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Easterhoff ◽  
Fernando Ontiveros ◽  
Lauren R. Brooks ◽  
Yoel Kim ◽  
Brittany Ross ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Antibacterial Activity ◽  
Neisseria Gonorrhoeae ◽  
Viral Infection ◽  
Bacterial Pathogen ◽  
Prostatic Acid Phosphatase ◽  
Necrosis Factor Alpha ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Sexually Transmitted ◽  
A Charge

ABSTRACTThe semen-derived enhancer of viral infection (SEVI) is a positively charged amyloid fibril that is derived from a self-assembling proteolytic cleavage fragment of prostatic acid phosphatase (PAP248-286). SEVI efficiently facilitates HIV-1 infectionin vitro, but its normal physiologic function remains unknown. In light of the fact that other amyloidogenic peptides have been shown to possess direct antibacterial activity, we investigated whether SEVI could inhibit bacterial growth. Neither SEVI fibrils nor the unassembled PAP248-286peptide had significant direct antibacterial activityin vitro. However, SEVI fibrils bound to both Gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus) and Gram-negative (Escherichia coliandNeisseria gonorrhoeae) bacteria, in a charge-dependent fashion. Furthermore, SEVI fibrils but not the monomeric PAP248-286peptide promoted bacterial aggregation and enhanced the phagocytosis of bacteria by primary human macrophages. SEVI also enhanced binding of bacteria to macrophages and the subsequent release of bacterially induced proinflammatory cytokines (tumor necrosis factor alpha [TNF-α], interleukin-6 [IL-6], and IL-1β). Finally, SEVI fibrils inhibited murine vaginal colonization withNeisseria gonorrhoeae. These findings demonstrate that SEVI has indirect antimicrobial activity and that this activity is dependent on both the cationic charge and the fibrillar nature of SEVI.

scholarly journals Two Novel Vaginal Microbicides (Polystyrene Sulfonate and Cellulose Sulfate) Inhibit Gardnerella vaginalis and Anaerobes Commonly Associated with Bacterial Vaginosis

2002 ◽  
Vol 46 (8) ◽  
pp. 2692-2695 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jose A. Simoes ◽  
Diane M. Citron ◽  
Alla Aroutcheva ◽  
Robert A. Anderson ◽  
Calvin J. Chany ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Bacterial Vaginosis ◽  
Gardnerella Vaginalis ◽  
Polystyrene Sulfonate ◽  
Cellulose Sulfate ◽  
Transmitted Infection ◽  
Vaginal Microbicides ◽  
Associated Bacteria ◽  
Sexually Transmitted ◽  
Immunodeficiency Virus

ABSTRACT This is the first report demonstrating the in vitro inhibitory activity of two novel microbicides (cellulose sulfate and polystyrene sulfonate) against bacterial vaginosis (BV)-associated bacteria. Vaginal application of these microbicides not only may reduce the risk of acquisition of human immunodeficiency virus and other sexually transmitted infection-causing organisms but may also decrease the incidence of BV.

Antibacterial activity in vitro of cefpirome against clinical isolates causing sexually transmitted diseases

1992 ◽  
Vol 29 (suppl A) ◽  
pp. 13-17
Author(s):  
M. Limbert ◽  
G. Seibert ◽  
I. Winkler ◽  
D. Isert ◽  
N. Klesel ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Antibacterial Activity ◽  
Sexually Transmitted Diseases ◽  
Clinical Isolates ◽  
Sexually Transmitted

A comparative study of the antibacterial activity of Quercus robur (Ethanolic extract) and Zinc oxide nanoparticles on Salmonella (In vitro)

2018 ◽  
Vol 9 (SPL1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hams H. H. Alfattli ◽  
Ghufran Zuhair Jiber ◽  
Ghaidaa Gatea Abbass
Keyword(s):  
Zinc Oxide ◽  
Antibacterial Activity ◽  
Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles ◽  
Quercus Robur ◽  
Ethanolic Extract ◽  
Inhibitory Effect ◽  
Significant Inhibition ◽  
Oxide Nanoparticles ◽  
Inhibition Zones

This study which designed to evaluate the inhibitory effect of Ethanolic extract of (Quercusrobur) and Zinc oxide nanoparticles on the growth of one genus of enterobacteriacae (Salmonella). In vitro. For this purpose graduate concentrates for plant extract (50, 100, 200, 400 )mg/ml which prepared and compared with Zinc oxide nanoparticles of different concentration (2, 1, 0.5, 0.25) μg/ml,and examined. The result showed that the studied medicinal plant has antibacterial activity against this bacteria which used. The result showed that the plant has good activity in decrease the growth of this bacteria. The results of the study also showed that the nano-ZnO has very effective antibacterial action against the studied bacteria which was Salmonella,nanoparticles concentrations lead to increasing in the inhibition zones of tested bacterial growth. We also study the effect of three antibiotics Lomefloxacin (LOM), Ciprofloxacin (SIP) and Rifampin (RA) and the result showed,in a comparison within the tested bacteria,Salmonella had a significant inhibition increase in Lomefloxacin ; the ciprofloxacin showed effect on tested bacteria. However,Rifampin does not show any effect on tested bacteria.

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