Antimicrobial and antiviral activities of an actinomycete (Streptomyces sp.) isolated from a Brazilian tropical forest soil

A promising producer of bioactive compounds isolated from a Brazilian tropical soil was tested for its range of antimicrobial activities. Strain 606, classified as Streptomyces sp., could not be identified up to species level, suggesting a possible new taxon. The supernatant and 10 extracts and fractions, obtained by extraction and chromatographic techniques, presented antimicrobial activity using antibiograms. The methanolic fraction was highly active against pathogenic bacteria, phytopathogenic fungi and the human pathogenic yeast Candida albicans. It also possessed high antiviral activity inhibiting the propagation of an acyclovir-resistant herpes simplex virus type 1 strain on HEp-2 cells at non-cytotoxic concentration. The strong cytotoxic effect suggests an antitumour action. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

The steroidal glycoalkaloid α-tomatine

The literature relating to chemical, biochemical and biological aspects of the steroidal glycoalkaloid, α-tomatine, is reviewed. The alkaloid, which can be used as a starting compound for the synthesis of steroidal hormones, is toxic to a wide range of living organisms. The significance of tomatine to plants which elaborate it is discussed and some possible uses of the compound are mentioned.     

Complex patterns of grooming and sexual activity in Barbary macaques (Macaca sylvanus)

Grooming in primates is often considered a “currency” that can be exchanged for other “services” or “commodities” such as reciprocal grooming, coalitionary support, infant handling, tolerance around food sources, active food sharing, or mating opportunities. Previous studies on primate grooming‐for‐sex exchange viewed the males as the demanding class, with the females as suppliers of mating opportunities. In this study, we examine the broader context of grooming‐for‐mating exchange in Barbary macaques in Gibraltar. Our data show that Barbary macaque males groom females with whom they are mating more frequently and for longer periods than other females, and the relationship between grooming and mating remains significant in both sexual and nonsexual contexts. In addition, females groomed males with whom they were mating more frequently and for longer periods than other males. In both sexes, grooming was observed to be far more frequent and to occur for longer durations in sexual compared to nonsexual contexts. We did not find any difference in grooming behavior between presexual and postsexual contexts. Our data suggest that there is no simple model to describe Barbary macaque grooming patterns in sexual contexts. Although our results are partly consistent with male use of grooming as payment for mating, broadly assessed grooming‐mating patterns cannot be solely explained by a male‐driven grooming‐for‐mating exchange.     

Structure–antimicrobial activity of some natural isocoumarins and their analogues

Three naturally occurring isocoumarins (paepalantine, paepalantine 9-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside and paepalantine 9-O-beta-D-allopyranosyl(1 --> 6) glucopyranoside) and two semi-synthetic analogues, 9,10-acylated compound and 9-OH-10-methylated compound, structurally similar to paepalantine, were evaluated for antimicrobial activity using a spectrophotometric microdilution technique. The paepalantine was active against S. aureus, S. epidermidis, and E. faecalis while the other four compounds proved ineffective against all microorganisms tested at concentrations of 500 microg/ml. Variations in phenolic substitution at OH-9 and/or OH-10 in the paepalantine molecule resulted in compounds without antimicrobial activity. A combination of structural features, two phenolic groups as cathecolic system, forms an oxygenated system arrangement that may reflect the potentially antimicrobial properties of paepalantine.     

Anticomplement cycloartane triterpene glycosides from Beesia calthaefolia (Maxim.)

Investigation of the n-BuOH extract of the whole plant of Beesia calthaefolia led to the isolation of three new cycloartane triterpenoids (1–3) and two known compounds (4, 5). Their structures were elucidated by 1D and 2D NMR, HRESIMS and optical rotation spectral data. All of the isolates were investigated for their inhibitory effects on the classical pathway of the complement system. Among them, compound 3 showed stronger inhibitory activity (IC₅₀ 148.0 μM) than the positive control (rosmarinic acid, IC₅₀ 181.8 μM), while other compounds (1, 2, 4 and 5) showed moderate activity. The chemical compound studied in this article was rosmarinic acid (PubChem CID: 5281792).     

Automated Food-Procuring Movement-Related Neuronal Activity in the Basolateral Amygdala of the Rat

We studied the impulse activity of neurons of the basal and lateral amygdalar nuclei generated when experimental animals (rats) performed fast stereotyped food-procuring movements by the forelimb. Within the basolateral amygdala, there are neurons whose activity is related to different stages of getting off the food, and according to the characteristics of their spiking these neurons should be divided into a number of subpopulations. Activation forestalling the movement initiation by 0.5-1.0 sec was observed in most neurons of the basolateral amygdala; this is considered a manifestation of excitation related to a motivation component of the food-procuring behavior. Activation of amygdalar neurons following movement initiation can result from generation in this structure of additional excitation necessary for successful performance of a complete food-procuring motor cycle.     

Relationship between cell density and prolidase activity in human skin fibroblasts: effects of ascorbate and fructose

To evaluate the influence of cell density on the activity of fibroblast prolidase (EC 3.4.13.9), we determined this activity in sparse and dense cultures. We also investigated, the effects of different concentrations of β-d(?) fructose and l(+) ascorbate, which both increased cell density at confluency. For a fructose concentration of 25 mM, we observed that in the absence of glucose, intracellular total proteins increased 1.5-fold and prolidase specific activity, 1.8-fold. For ascorbate, a broad optimum concentration was found (range 0.01 – 0.50 mM). Addition to cultures of 0.1 mM ascorbate increased total proteins 1.4-fold, and doubled prolidase activity. This investigation was prompted by our previous results [J. Metab. Dis. 1983, 6, 27–31], confirmed here, and suggesting that increased prolidase activity at confluency was due to a rise in cell density.     

Developmental Patterns of Catechol-O-Methyltransferase in Genetically Different Rat Strains: Enzymatic and Immunochemical Studies

Abstract: Catechol- O -methyltransferase (COMT) activity in the liver and kidneys of adult Fischer-344 (F-344) rats is only half of that in the same organs of Wistar-Furth (W-F) rats. The trait of low COMT activity in these animals is inherited in an autosomal recessive fashion. A comprehensive study of patterns of change in COMT activity during growth and development was performed to determine whether "temporal gene" effects might play a role in the inherited differences in enzyme activity present in adult animals. The COMT activity expressed per mg protein in liver and kidneys of newborn F-344 rats is only 50–60% of that in the same organs of W-F animals. The liver and the kidneys of newborn rats of both strains have COMT activity an order of magnitude higher than those in brain, heart, or blood. In addition, in both strains there are much larger increases in liver and kidney COMT activities during growth and development (5–10 fold) than in blood, brain, or heart (one- to twofold). Immunotitration with antibodies against rat COMT demonstrates that differences in immunoreactive COMT parallel differences in COMT activity, both between strains and within strains during growth and development. However, when the temporal patterns of change in enzyme activities in the liver and the kidneys of the two strains of rat are compared at multiple times during growth and development, no differences in the patterns are present. These results make it unlikely that temporal gene effects can explain the inherited differences in COMT activity in liver and kidneys of F-344 and W-F rats.     

Cytotoxic and antiprotozoal activity of flavonoids from Lonchocarpus spp.

A number of flavonoids isolated from Lonchocarpus spp. were evaluated for their antiprotozoal and cytotoxic activity. Flavone 6 and chalcone 7 were found to be the most active against Leishmania parasites and against cell cultures of Leukemia P388DI and adenocarcinoma prostate PC-3.     

Enhancing the fungicidal activity of amphotericin B via vacuole disruption by benzyl isothiocyanate,a cruciferous plant constituent

Amphotericin B (AmB), a typical polyene macrolide antifungal agent, is widely used to treat systemic mycoses. In the present study, we show that the fungicidal activity of AmB was enhanced by benzyl isothiocyanate (BITC), a cruciferous plant-derived compound, in the budding yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae. In addition to forming a molecular complex with ergosterol present in fungal cell membranes to form K⁺-permeable ion channels, AmB has been recognized to mediate vacuolar membrane disruption resulting in lethal effects. BITC showed no effect on AmB-induced plasma membrane permeability; however, it amplified AmB-induced vacuolar membrane disruption in S. cerevisiae. Furthermore, the BITC-enhanced fungicidal effects of AmB significantly decreased cell viability due to the disruption of vacuoles in the pathogenic fungus Candida albicans. The application of the combinatorial antifungal effect of AmB and BITC may aid in dose reduction of AmB in clinical antifungal therapy and consequently decrease side effects in patients. These results also have significant implications for the development of vacuole-targeting chemotherapy against fungal infections.