scholarly journals Exploring the Diversity and Biotechnological Potential of Cultured and Uncultured Coral-Associated Bacteria

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (11) ◽  
pp. 2235
Author(s):  
Caren Leite Spindola Vilela ◽  
Helena Dias Müller Villela ◽  
Caio Tavora Coelho da Costa Rachid ◽  
Flávia Lima do Carmo ◽  
Alane Beatriz Vermelho ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Coral Species ◽  
Enzymatic Assays ◽  
Associated Bacteria ◽  
Biotechnological Potential ◽  
Porites Astreoides ◽  
Commercially Important ◽  
Ecological Importance ◽  
Species Specific ◽  
Micro Organisms

Coral-associated microbes are crucial for the biology of their hosts, contributing to nutrient cycling, adaptation, mitigation of toxic compounds, and biological control of pathogens. Natural products from coral-associated micro-organisms (CAM) may possess unique traits. Despite this, the use of CAM for biotechnological purposes has not yet been adequately explored. Here, we investigated the production of commercially important enzymes by 37 strains of bacteria isolated from the coral species Mussismilia braziliensis, Millepora alcicornis, and Porites astreoides. In-vitro enzymatic assays showed that up to 56% of the isolates produced at least one of the seven enzymes screened (lipase, caseinase, keratinase, cellulase, chitinase, amylase, and gelatinase); one strain, identified as Bacillus amyloliquefaciens produced all these enzymes. Additionally, coral species-specific cultured and uncultured microbial communities were identified. The phylum Firmicutes predominated among the isolates, including the genera Exiguobacterium, Bacillus, and Halomonas, among others. Next-generation sequencing and bacteria culturing produced similar but also complementary data, with certain genera detected only by one or the other method. Our results demonstrate the importance of exploring different coral species as sources of specific micro-organisms of biotechnological and industrial interest, at the same time reinforcing the economic and ecological importance of coral reefs as reservoirs of such diversity.

scholarly journals Ocimum basilicum L. associated bacteria with antifungal activity

2021 ◽  
Vol 38 (4) ◽  
pp. 913-933
Author(s):  
Pablo Arce-Amezquita ◽  
Mirella Romero-Bastidas ◽  
Maurilia Rojas-Contreras
Keyword(s):  
Antifungal Activity ◽  
Antagonistic Bacteria ◽  
Genus Bacillus ◽  
La Paz ◽  
Associated Bacteria ◽  
Biotechnological Potential ◽  
Neoscytalidium Dimidiatum ◽  
Bacillus Genus

The presence of pathogens, like fungi, is one of the most important causes of basil crop loss around the world; however, many microorganisms have a crucial role on plant development including protection against pathogenic ones. In the present study, basil associated bacteria were isolated, quantified and preserved. Characterization of isolated bacteria showed 165 Gram positive strains, 152 with bacillary and 13 with coccoid morphology. Later, in vitro antagonism assays were performed, first against Aspergillus spp. and then against Neoscytalidium dimidiatum, Alternaria spp. and Aspergillus spp. Finally, the effect of the isolated bacteria on basil seed germination and first stages of development were carried out. Sampled basil plants, produced around La Paz, Baja California Sur, Mexico, were colonized by known antagonistic bacteria of the Bacillus genus. Bacillus amyloliquefaciens strains were the prevailing species with antifungal activity. Moreover, strains ALMH42, ALMR73 and ALAH91 did not show any deleterious effect on basil seedling development. Biotechnological potential exploration of these isolated strains from healthy basil plants is of great interest for future applications on this and other crops.

scholarly journals The effects of in-vitro pH decrease on the gametogenesis of the red tree coral, Primnoa pacifica

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ashley M Rossin ◽  
Rhian G Waller ◽  
Robert P Stone
Keyword(s):  
Coral Species ◽  
Cold Water ◽  
North Pacific Ocean ◽  
The North ◽  
Effects Of Ph ◽  
Control Oocyte ◽  
Commercially Important ◽  
Ph Decrease ◽  
The North Pacific

AbstractPrimnoa pacifica is the most ecologically important coral species in the North Pacific Ocean where it provides important habitat for commercially important fish and invertebrates. Ocean acidification (OA) is more rapidly increasing in high-latitude seas because anthropogenic CO2 uptake is greater in these regions. This is due to the solubility of CO2 in cold water and the reduced buffering capacity due to low alkalinity of colder waters. Primnoa pacifica colonies were cultured for six to nine months in either pH 7.55 (predicted 2100 pH levels) or pH 7.75 (control). Oocyte development and fecundity in females, and spermatocyst stages in males were measured to assess the effects of pH on gametogenesis. Oocyte diameters were 13.6% smaller and fecundities were 30.9% lower in the Year 2100 samples, indicating that OA may limit oocyte formation, potentially through lipid limitation. A higher proportion of vitellogenic oocytes (65%) were also reabsorbed (oosorption) in the Year 2100 treatment. Lowered pH appeared to advance the process of spermatogenesis with a higher percentage of later stage sperm compared to control controls. There was a laboratory effect observed in all measurement types, however these only significantly affected the analyses of spermatogenesis. These results indicate that reproduction may not be possible in an acidified ocean, or that if spawning could occur, spawned oocytes would not be sufficiently equipped to support the normal development of larvae.

Novel Toxin-antitoxin System Xn-mazEF from Xenorhabdus nematophi-la: Identification, Characterization and Functional Exploration

2020 ◽  
Vol 16 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jogendra Singh Nim ◽  
Mohit Yadav ◽  
Lalit Kumar Gautam ◽  
Chaitali Ghosh ◽  
Shakti Sahi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Interaction Analysis ◽  
Functional Characterization ◽  
Host Cells ◽  
System Control ◽  
Xenorhabdus Nematophila ◽  
Functional Features ◽  
Dynamics Simulations ◽  
Species Specific ◽  
Rna Interaction

Background: Xenorhabdus nematophila maintains species-specific mutual interaction with nematodes of Steinernema genus. Type II Toxin Antitoxin (TA) systems, the mazEF TA system controls stress and programmed cell death in bacteria. Objective: This study elucidates the functional characterization of Xn-mazEF, a mazEF homolog in X. nematophila by computational and in vitro approaches. Methods: 3 D- structural models for Xn-MazE toxin and Xn-MazF antitoxin were generated, validated and characterized for protein - RNA interaction analysis. Further biological and cellular functions of Xn-MazF toxin were also predicted. Molecular dynamics simulations of 50ns for Xn-MazF toxin complexed with nucleic acid units (DU, RU, RC, and RU) were performed. The MazF toxin and complete MazEF operon were endogenously expressed and monitored for the killing of Escherichia coli host cells under arabinose induced tightly regulated system. Results: Upon induction, E. coli expressing toxin showed rapid killing within four hours and attained up to 65% growth inhibition, while the expression of the entire operon did not show significant killing. The observation suggests that the Xn-mazEF TA system control transcriptional regulation in X. nematophila and helps to manage stress or cause toxicity leading to programmed death of cells. Conclusion: The study provides insights into structural and functional features of novel toxin, XnMazF and provides an initial inference on control of X. nematophila growth regulated by TA systems.

Total weak acid concentration and effective dissociation constant of nonvolatile buffers in human plasma

2001 ◽  
Vol 91 (3) ◽  
pp. 1364-1371 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter D. Constable
Keyword(s):  
Dissociation Constant ◽  
Human Plasma ◽  
Total Concentration ◽  
Weak Acid ◽  
Strong Ion Difference ◽  
Acid Base ◽  
Horse Plasma ◽  
Using Data ◽  
Species Specific

The strong ion approach provides a quantitative physicochemical method for describing the mechanism for an acid-base disturbance. The approach requires species-specific values for the total concentration of plasma nonvolatile buffers (Atot) and the effective dissociation constant for plasma nonvolatile buffers ( K a), but these values have not been determined for human plasma. Accordingly, the purpose of this study was to calculate accurate Atot and K a values using data obtained from in vitro strong ion titration and CO2tonometry. The calculated values for Atot (24.1 mmol/l) and K a (1.05 × 10−7) were significantly ( P < 0.05) different from the experimentally determined values for horse plasma and differed from the empirically assumed values for human plasma (Atot = 19.0 meq/l and K a = 3.0 × 10−7). The derivatives of pH with respect to the three independent variables [strong ion difference (SID), Pco 2, and Atot] of the strong ion approach were calculated as follows: [Formula: see text] [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text]where S is solubility of CO2 in plasma. The derivatives provide a useful method for calculating the effect of independent changes in SID+, Pco 2, and Atot on plasma pH. The calculated values for Atot and K a should facilitate application of the strong ion approach to acid-base disturbances in humans.

scholarly journals Pan-American Lancehead Pit-Vipers: Coagulotoxic Venom Effects and Antivenom Neutralisation of Bothrops asper and B. atrox Geographical Variants

Toxins ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 78
Author(s):  
Lachlan A. Bourke ◽  
Christina N. Zdenek ◽  
Edgar Neri-Castro ◽  
Melisa Bénard-Valle ◽  
Alejandro Alagón ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Evolutionary Biology ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Clinical Manifestations ◽  
In Vivo Studies ◽  
Factor X ◽  
Clotting Factors ◽  
Bothrops Asper ◽  
Species Specific

The toxin composition of snake venoms and, thus, their functional activity, can vary between and within species. Intraspecific venom variation across a species’ geographic range is a major concern for antivenom treatment of envenomations, particularly for countries like French Guiana that lack a locally produced antivenom. Bothrops asper and Bothrops atrox are the most medically significant species of snakes in Latin America, both producing a variety of clinical manifestations, including systemic bleeding. These pathophysiological actions are due to the activation by the venom of the blood clotting factors Factor X and prothrombin, thereby causing severe consumptive coagulopathy. Both species are extremely wide-ranging, and previous studies have shown their venoms to exhibit regional venom variation. In this study, we investigate the differential coagulotoxic effects on human plasma of six venoms (four B. asper and two B. atrox samples) from different geographic locations, spanning from Mexico to Peru. We assessed how the venom variation of these venom samples affects neutralisation by five regionally available antivenoms: Antivipmyn, Antivipmyn-Tri, PoliVal-ICP, Bothrofav, and Soro Antibotrópico (SAB). The results revealed both inter- and intraspecific variations in the clotting activity of the venoms. These variations in turn resulted in significant variation in antivenom efficacy against the coagulotoxic effects of these venoms. Due to variations in the venoms used in the antivenom production process, antivenoms differed in their species-specific or geographical neutralisation capacity. Some antivenoms (PoliVal-ICP, Bothrofav, and SAB) showed species-specific patterns of neutralisation, while another antivenom (Antivipmyn) showed geographic-specific patterns of neutralisation. This study adds to current knowledge of Bothrops venoms and also illustrates the importance of considering evolutionary biology when developing antivenoms. Therefore, these results have tangible, real-world implications by aiding evidence-based design of antivenoms for treatment of the envenomed patient. We stress that these in vitro studies must be backed by future in vivo studies and clinical trials before therapeutic guidelines are issued regarding specific antivenom use in a clinical setting.

scholarly journals Seminal Plasma: Relevant for Fertility?

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (9) ◽  
pp. 4368
Author(s):  
Heriberto Rodriguez-Martinez ◽  
Emilio A. Martinez ◽  
Juan J. Calvete ◽  
Fernando J. Peña Vega ◽  
Jordi Roca
Keyword(s):  
Seminal Plasma ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Inorganic Ions ◽  
Vitro Fertilization ◽  
Dna And Rna ◽  
Model Animal ◽  
Sexual Glands ◽  
Species Specific

Seminal plasma (SP), the non-cellular component of semen, is a heterogeneous composite fluid built by secretions of the testis, the epididymis and the accessory sexual glands. Its composition, despite species-specific anatomical peculiarities, consistently contains inorganic ions, specific hormones, proteins and peptides, including cytokines and enzymes, cholesterol, DNA and RNA—the latter often protected within epididymis- or prostate-derived extracellular vesicles. It is beyond question that the SP participates in diverse aspects of sperm function pre-fertilization events. The SP also interacts with the various compartments of the tubular genital tract, triggering changes in gene function that prepares for an eventual successful pregnancy; thus, it ultimately modulates fertility. Despite these concepts, it is imperative to remember that SP-free spermatozoa (epididymal or washed ejaculated) are still fertile, so this review shall focus on the differences between the in vivo roles of the SP following semen deposition in the female and those regarding additions of SP on spermatozoa handled for artificial reproduction, including cryopreservation, from artificial insemination to in vitro fertilization. This review attempts, including our own results on model animal species, to critically summarize the current knowledge of the reproductive roles played by SP components, particularly in our own species, which is increasingly affected by infertility. The ultimate goal is to reconcile the delicate balance between the SP molecular concentration and their concerted effects after temporal exposure in vivo. We aim to appraise the functions of the SP components, their relevance as diagnostic biomarkers and their value as eventual additives to refine reproductive strategies, including biotechnologies, in livestock models and humans.

scholarly journals A rapid, parasite-dependent cellular response to Dirofilaria immitis in the Mongolian jird (Meriones unguiculatus)

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher C. Evans ◽  
Katherine M. Day ◽  
Yi Chu ◽  
Bridget Garner ◽  
Kaori Sakamoto ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cellular Response ◽  
Dirofilaria Immitis ◽  
Cell Attachment ◽  
Early Response ◽  
Meriones Unguiculatus ◽  
Filarial Parasite ◽  
Immune Mediated ◽  
Secretory Products ◽  
Species Specific

Abstract Background The Mongolian jird (Meriones unguiculatus) has long been recognized as a permissive host for the filarial parasite Brugia malayi; however, it is nonpermissive to another filarial parasite, canine heartworm (Dirofilaria immitis). By elucidating differences in the early response to infection, we sought to identify mechanisms involved in the species-specific clearance of these parasites. We hypothesized that the early clearance of D. immitis in intraperitoneal infection of the jird is immune mediated and parasite species dependent. Methods Jird peritoneal exudate cells (PECs) were isolated and their attachment to parasite larvae assessed in vitro under various conditions: D. immitis and B. malayi cultured separately, co-culture of both parasites, incubation before addition of cells, culture of heat-killed parasites, and culture with PECs isolated from jirds with mature B. malayi infection. The cells attaching to larvae were identified by immunohistochemistry. Results In vitro cell attachment to live D. immitis was high (mean = 99.6%) while much lower for B. malayi (mean = 5.56%). This species-specific attachment was also observed when both filarial species were co-cultured, with no significant change from controls (U(9, 14) = 58.5, p = 0.999). When we replicated these experiments with PECs derived from jirds subcutaneously infected with B. malayi, the results were similar (99.4% and 4.72% of D. immitis and B. malayi, respectively, exhibited cell attachment). Heat-killing the parasites significantly reduced cell attachment to D. immitis (mean = 71.9%; U(11, 14) = 7.5, p < 0.001) while increasing attachment to B. malayi (mean = 16.7%; U(9, 15) = 20, p = 0.002). Cell attachment to both species was reduced when larvae were allowed a 24-h pre-incubation period prior to the addition of cells. The attaching cells were identified as macrophages by immunohistochemistry. Conclusions These results suggest a strongly species-dependent response from which B. malayi could not confer protection by proxy in co-culture. The changes in cell attachment following heat-killing and pre-incubation suggest a role for excretory/secretory products in host immune evasion and/or antigenicity. The nature of this attachment is the subject of ongoing study and may provide insight into filarial host specificity.

scholarly journals Elucidation of the core betalain biosynthesis pathway in Amaranthus tricolor

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yu-Cheng Chang ◽  
Yi-Ching Chiu ◽  
Nai-Wen Tsao ◽  
Yuan-Lin Chou ◽  
Choon-Meng Tan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Transcriptome Analysis ◽  
Natural Antioxidants ◽  
Biosynthesis Pathway ◽  
Comparative Transcriptome ◽  
Amaranthus Tricolor ◽  
Enzymatic Assays ◽  
Comparative Transcriptome Analysis ◽  
Elevated Expression ◽  
Green Coloration

AbstractAmaranthus tricolor L., a vegetable Amaranthus species, is an economically important crop containing large amounts of betalains. Betalains are natural antioxidants and can be classified into betacyanins and betaxanthins, with red and yellow colors, respectively. A. tricolor cultivars with varying betalain contents, leading to striking red to green coloration, have been commercially produced. However, the molecular differences underlying betalain biosynthesis in various cultivars of A. tricolor remain largely unknown. In this study, A. tricolor cultivars with different colors were chosen for comparative transcriptome analysis. The elevated expression of AmCYP76AD1 in a red-leaf cultivar of A. tricolor was proposed to play a key role in producing red betalain pigments. The functions of AmCYP76AD1, AmDODAα1, AmDODAα2, and AmcDOPA5GT were also characterized through the heterologous engineering of betalain pigments in Nicotiana benthamiana. Moreover, high and low L-DOPA 4,5-dioxygenase activities of AmDODAα1 and AmDODAα2, respectively, were confirmed through in vitro enzymatic assays. Thus, comparative transcriptome analysis combined with functional and enzymatic studies allowed the construction of a core betalain biosynthesis pathway of A. tricolor. These results not only provide novel insights into betalain biosynthesis and evolution in A. tricolor but also provide a basal framework for examining genes related to betalain biosynthesis among different species of Amaranthaceae.

scholarly journals In Vitro Cytotoxicity of Trastuzumab (Tz) and Se-Trastuzumab (Se-Tz) against the Her/2 Breast Cancer Cell Lines JIMT-1 and BT-474

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (9) ◽  
pp. 4655
Author(s):  
Priyanka Bapat ◽  
Debalina Goswami Sewell ◽  
Mallory Boylan ◽  
Arun K. Sharma ◽  
Julian E. Spallholz
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Cell Growth ◽  
Sodium Selenite ◽  
In Vitro Cytotoxicity ◽  
Breast Cancer Cell Lines ◽  
Redox Cycle ◽  
Enzymatic Assays ◽  
Her 2 ◽  
Covalently Linked

Her/2+ breast cancer accounts for ~25% mortality in women and overexpression of Her/2 leads to cell growth and tumor progression. Trastuzumab (Tz) with Taxane is the preferred treatment for Her/2+ patients. However, Tz responsive patients often develop resistance to Tz treatment. Herein, redox selenides (RSe-) were covalently linked to Tz using a selenium (Se)-modified Bolton–Hunter Reagent forming Seleno-Trastuzumab (Se-Tz; ~25 µgSe/mg). Se-Tz was compared to Tz and sodium selenite to assess the viability of JIMT-1 and BT-474 cells. Comparative cell viability was examined by microscopy and assessed by fluorometric/enzymatic assays. Se-Tz and selenite redox cycle producing superoxide (O2•−) are more cytotoxic to Tz resistant JIMT-1 and Tz sensitive BT-474 cells than Tz. The results of conjugating redox selenides to Tz suggest a wider application of this technology to other antibodies and targeting molecules.

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