<i>In vitro</i> Antibacterial Activity of <i>Moringa oleifera</i> Ethanolic Extract against Tomato Phytopathogenic Bacteria

The tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) is one of the world’s most important vegetable crops. Still, phytopathogenic bacteria affect the yield and quality of tomato cultivation, like Agrobacterium tumefeciens (At), Clavibacter michiganensis subsp. michiganensis (Cmm), Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato (Pst), Ralstonia solanacearum (Rs), and Xanthomonas axonopodis (Xa). Synthetic chemical products are used mostly on disease plant control, but overuse generates resistance to bacterial control. This study aimed to evaluate the in vitro antibacterial activity of the ethanolic extract of Moringa oleifera Lam. leaves against At, Cmm, Pst, Rs, and Xa, as well as information about this plant species’ chemical composition. Antibacterial activity against pathogens observed by microplate technique, phytochemical screening, and FTIR analysis revealed different bio-active compounds on ethanolic extracts with antibacterial activity. The growth inhibition rate ranged between 0.08% and 99.94%. The inhibitory concentration, IC50, required to inhibit 50% of At, Cmm, Pst, Rs, and Xa bacterial growth, was 276.67, 350.48, 277.85, 351.49, and 283.22 mg/L, respectively. Inhibition of phytopathogen bacteria’s growth increased as the concentrations of the extract also increased. Moringa oleifera extract can be recommended as a potent bio-bactericide.     

Contribution of peeling host for epiphyte abundance in two tropical dry forests in the “El Cielo Biosphere Reserve”, Mexico

Host traits partly determine the abundance and species richness of epiphytes in tropical forests. It has been proposed that older trees with rough bark and evergreens often house more individuals and more epiphytic species than those with thin, smooth, and peeling bark, which harbor few epiphytes. We hypothesize (i) that epiphytes are more abundant and species-rich in the more shaded forest, which is related to bark roughness, and (ii) that epiphytes are distributed in the middle of the host, where microenvironmental conditions are more favorable to survival. We evaluated abundance, species richness, and vertical distribution of epiphytes in two tropical dry forests, according to the deciduousness and basal area of the trees. Moreover, we selected the most abundant epiphytes to test whether their distribution is related to a specific bark type and examine their vertical distribution in two dry forests. We distinguished a high abundance and species richness of epiphytes in the deciduous forest, although basal area and host species richness were higher in the semi-deciduous forest. In both forests, we found a positive relationship between epiphyte abundance and basal area. Higher abundance of epiphytes was related to the predominance of Tillandsia schiedeana, a drought-adapted species, in both forests. Unexpectedly, epiphytes abundantly colonized Bursera simaruba, a host with peeling bark and a very branched crown, where small individuals of T. schiedeana colonized abundantly toward the top of the crown. Our results show the importance of the tropical dry forest, particularly, B. simaruba, in maintaining epiphyte diversity in terms of T. schiedeana colonization.     

Development, characterisation, and across-taxa utility of oil palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.) microsatellite markers.

The results of the development of oil palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.) microsatellite markers are given step by step, from the screening of libraries enriched in (GA)n, (GT)n, and (CCG)n simple-sequence repeats (SSRs) to the final characterisation of 21 SSR loci. Also published are primer sequences, estimates of allele size range, and expected heterozygosity in E. guineensis and in the closely related species E. oleifera, in which an optimal utility of the SSR markers was observed. Multivariate data analyses showed the ability of SSR markers to efficiently reveal the genetic-diversity structure of the genus Elaeis in accordance with known geographical origins and with measured genetic relationships based on previous molecular studies. High levels of allelic variability indicated that E. guineensis SSRs will be a powerful tool for genetic studies of the genus Elaeis, including variety identification and intra- or inter-specific genetic mapping. PCR amplification tests on a subset of 16 other palm species and allele-sequence data showed that E. guineensis SSRs are putative transferable markers across palm taxa. In addition, phenetic information based on SSR flanking region sequences makes E. guineensis SSR markers a potentially useful molecular resource for any researcher studying the phylogeny of palm taxa.     

Synergy of Omeprazole and Praziquantel In Vitro Treatment against Schistosoma mansoni Adult Worms

BackgroundTreatment and morbidity control of schistosomiasis relies on a single drug, praziquantel (PZQ), and the selection of resistant worms under repeated treatment is a concern. Therefore, there is a pressing need to understand the molecular effects of PZQ on schistosomes and to investigate alternative or synergistic drugs against schistosomiasis.MethodologyWe used a custom-designed Schistosoma mansoni expression microarray to explore the effects of sublethal doses of PZQ on large-scale gene expression of adult paired males and females and unpaired mature females. We also assessed the efficacy of PZQ, omeprazole (OMP) or their combination against S. mansoni adult worms with a survival in vitro assay.ConclusionsFunctional analysis of gene interaction networks is an important approach that can point to possible novel synergistic drug candidates. We demonstrated the potential of this strategy by showing that PZQ in combination with OMP displayed increased efficiency against S. mansoni adult worms in vitro when compared with either drug alone.     

Taenia solium metacestode immunodominant peptides recognized by IgG antibodies in cerebrospinal fluid and serum paired samples from patients with active and inactive neurocysticercosis

The aim of this study was to test if serological distinction between patients with active and inactive neurocysticercosis (NCC), could be accomplished by the recognition of immunodominant peptides in total saline antigenic extract of Taenia solium metacestodes by IgG antibody in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and serum paired samples. CSF and serum samples of 10 each, active NCC patients, inactive NCC, and individuals with other neurological disorders, were used to recognize the antigenic peptides by western blot (WB). In the active NCC the 28-32 and 39-42 kDa peptides were more frequently detected in CSF than in sera (p < 0.05). The 47-52, 64-68, and 70 kDa antigens showed high frequencies in both samples from patients with active NCC. All the CSF samples of inactive NCC and other neurological disorder (control) patients tested negative, while serum samples from these last two groups recognized mainly the 80, 86, 95, and 98 kDa bands. This finding eliminates the use of the high molecular weigh bands (>or= 80 kDa) for diagnosis of NCC. The final conclusions were that the difference between active and inactive NCC may be done with the detection of peptides only in the CSF samples and that the 47-52, 64-68, and 70 kDa bands may be included as specific markers for active NCC when detected in CSF samples by WB using total saline extract of T. solium metacestode.     

Use of the paired samples (cerebrospinal fluid and serum) in immunodiagnostic of active and inactive human neurocysticercosis

Paired samples of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and serum of 30 patients--10 with active, 10 with inactive neurocysticercosis (NCC), and 10 control subjects--were evaluated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using two Taenia crassiceps metacestode extracts as antigen in order to detect IgG antibodies. In active NCC, high levels of IgG were detected (p < 0.05). The CSF samples showed 80% (CI 72-88) of reactivity in the saline extract (S) and 90% (CI 84-95) in sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS) and the serum samples were reactive in 90% (CI 84-95) and 100% (CI 98-100) in the S and SDS antigenic extracts, respectively. The use of the paired samples of CSF and serum in active NCC showed equivalent results suggesting that the serum samples could be used as a screening in those patients whose CSF puncture is counter-indicated.     

Potential use of loss of heterozygosity in pleural effusions of breast cancer metastases using the microsatellite marker of the 16q22.1 region of the CDH1 gene

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the presence of allelic loss in 16q22.1, including the locus of E-cadherin, in pleural effusions in breast cancer patients. STUDY DESIGN: Molecular analysis of DNA was performed using a DNA extraction kit (NucleoSpin, Macherey-Nagel, Germany). Loss of heterozygosity (LOH) in primary tumors and pleural effusions was analyzed using a microsatellite marker of the CDH1 gene, D16S265, described in previous studies. LOH was evaluated by radioactive polymerase chain reaction assay in 17 samples of pleural effusions and breast tissues (primary tumors and nonneoplastic adjacent tissue) from breast cancer patients: 7 positive for neoplastic cells, 6 suspected and 4 cases without evidence of neoplastic cells in the effusions. RESULTS: Thirteen cases (76%) were informative. LOH was detected in 5 cases (38.5%). In 3 of them LOH was detected only in the cytologic sample, and in 2 of them LOH was detected in the primary tumor and cytologic sample. CONCLUSION: Results show that LOH in the CDH1 gene can identify tumor cells in pleural effusions when morphologic analysis is difficult.     

A DNA vaccine encoding CCL4/MIP-1beta enhances myocarditis in experimental Trypanosoma cruzi infection in rats

Chagas' disease, caused by Trypanosoma cruzi, is a major cause of cardiovascular disease in Latin America. Exacerbated inflammation disproportional to parasite load characterizes chronic myocardial lesions in chagasic patients. Chemokines and their receptors are expected to account for the renewed inflammatory processes after the inoculation of the parasite, but their potential unique functions are far from being clear. Herein, we evaluated the effect of a DNA vaccine encoding CCL4/MIP-1beta, a CC-chemokine, in T. cruzi-elicited myocarditis in rats. Holtzman rats were given intramuscularly cardiotoxin and the CCL4/MIP-1beta DNA-containing plasmid (100microg) was delivered in this muscular site four times. Fourteen days after last immunization, animals were inoculated with a myotropical CL-Brener T. cruzi clone. Peak of parasitism was observed at day 15 after infection, preceding the peak of myocardial inflammation at day 20. Myocarditis was still intense at day 30, but the inflammatory infiltrates showed a more focal distribution. The expression of CCL2/MCP-1 and CCL4/MIP-1beta correlated closely with the kinetics of myocardial inflammation. The CCL4/MIP-1beta DNA vaccine induced an increase of the levels of the anti-CCL4/MIP-1beta observed in T. cruzi-infected animals. This was associated with an exacerbation of myocardial inflammation and fibrosis, although alterations in parasitemia and myocardial parasitism were not observed. Our data suggest that CCL4/MIP-1beta plays a role in preventing excessive inflammation and pathology rather than in controlling parasite replication.