scholarly journals Full-Length Galectin-3 Is Required for High Affinity Microbial Interactions and Antimicrobial Activity

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shang-Chuen Wu ◽  
Alex D. Ho ◽  
Nourine A. Kamili ◽  
Jianmei Wang ◽  
Kaleb L. Murdock ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Antimicrobial Activity ◽  
Adaptive Immunity ◽  
Molecular Mimicry ◽  
Binding Specificity ◽  
Immunological Tolerance ◽  
Microbial Interactions ◽  
Terminal Domain ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Galectin 3 ◽  
Microarray Format

While adaptive immunity enables the recognition of a wide range of microbial antigens, immunological tolerance limits reactively toward self to reduce autoimmunity. Some bacteria decorate themselves with self-like antigens as a form of molecular mimicry to limit recognition by adaptive immunity. Recent studies suggest that galectin-4 (Gal-4) and galectin-8 (Gal-8) may provide a unique form of innate immunity against molecular mimicry by specifically targeting microbes that decorate themselves in self-like antigens. However, the binding specificity and antimicrobial activity of many human galectins remain incompletely explored. In this study, we defined the binding specificity of galectin-3 (Gal-3), the first galectin shown to engage microbial glycans. Gal-3 exhibited high binding toward mammalian blood group A, B, and αGal antigens in a glycan microarray format. In the absence of the N-terminal domain, the C-terminal domain of Gal-3 (Gal-3C) alone exhibited a similar overall binding pattern, but failed to display the same level of binding for glycans over a range of concentrations. Similar to the recognition of mammalian glycans, Gal-3 and Gal-3C also specifically engaged distinct microbial glycans isolated and printed in a microarray format, with Gal-3 exhibiting higher binding at lower concentrations toward microbial glycans than Gal-3C. Importantly, Gal-3 and Gal-3C interactions on the microbial microarray accurately predicted actual interactions toward intact microbes, with Gal-3 and Gal-3C displaying carbohydrate-dependent binding toward distinct strains of Providentia alcalifaciens and Klebsiella pneumoniae that express mammalian-like antigens, while failing to recognize similar strains that express unrelated antigens. While both Gal-3 and Gal-3C recognized specific strains of P. alcalifaciens and K. pneumoniae, only Gal-3 was able to exhibit antimicrobial activity even when evaluated at higher concentrations. These results demonstrate that while Gal-3 and Gal-3C specifically engage distinct mammalian and microbial glycans, Gal-3C alone does not possess antimicrobial activity.

scholarly journals Antimicrobial Activity of Leaves and Flowers of Cassia auriculata linn

1970 ◽  
Vol 46 (4) ◽  
pp. 513-518 ◽  
Author(s):  
V Subhadradevi ◽  
K Asokkumar ◽  
M Umamaheswari ◽  
AT Sivashanmugam ◽  
JR Ushanandhini ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Antimicrobial Activity ◽  
Antimicrobial Agents ◽  
Inhibitory Concentration ◽  
Dominant Role ◽  
Ethanolic Extract ◽  
Diffusion Method ◽  
Cassia Auriculata ◽  
Potential Source ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Ancient Times

Since ancient times plant as sources of medicinal compounds have continued to play a dominant role in the maintenance of human health. To treat chronic and infectious diseases plants used in traditional medicine contain a wide range of ingredients. In this regard, Cassia auriculata L. (Caesalpiniaceae) is widely used in Ayurvedic medicine as a tonic, astringent and as a remedy for diabetes, conjunctivitis, ulcers, leprosy, skin and liver diseases. The aim of present study was to evaluate the antimicrobial activity of ethanolic extract of Cassia auriculata leaves and flowers (CALE & CAFE). CALE and CAFE exhibited broad spectrum antimicrobial activity against standard strains of Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Bacillus subtilis and exhibited no antifungal activity against standard strains of Candida albicans and Aspergillus niger. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and Minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) was carried out for CALE and CAFE. The results obtained in the present study indicate that the CALE and CAFE can be a potential source of natural antimicrobial agents. Key words: Cassia auriculata; Antimicrobial activity; Agar well diffusion method. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bjsir.v46i4.9600 BJSIR 2011; 46(4): 513-518

scholarly journals Subinhibitory Antimicrobial Concentrations: A Review of In Vitro and In Vivo Data

1992 ◽  
Vol 3 (4) ◽  
pp. 193-201 ◽  
Author(s):  
George G Zhanel ◽  
Daryl J Hoban ◽  
Godfrey KM Harding
Keyword(s):  
Antimicrobial Activity ◽  
Animal Studies ◽  
Molecular Level ◽  
Bacterial Virulence ◽  
Antibacterial Effects ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Immune Defences

Antimicrobial activity is not an ‘all or none’ effect. An increase in the rate and extent of antimicrobial action is usually observed over a wide range of antimicrobial concentrations. Subinhibitory antimicrobial concentrations are well known to produce significant antibacterial effects, and various antimicrobials at subinhibitory concentrations have been reported to inhibit the rate of bacterial growth. Bacterial virulence may be increased or decreased by subinhibitory antimicrobial concentrations by changes in the ability of bacteria to adhere to epithelial cells or by alterations in bacterial susceptibility to host immune defences. Animal studies performed in rats, hamsters and rabbits demonstrate decreased bacterial adherence, reduced infectivity and increased survival of animals treated with subinhibitory antimicrobial concentrations compared to untreated controls. The major future role of investigation of subinhibitory antimicrobial concentrations will be to define more fully, at a molecular level, how antimicrobials exert their antibacterial effects.

Secretory Proteases of the Human Skin Microbiome

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wisely Chua ◽  
Si En Poh ◽  
Hao Li
Keyword(s):  
Human Skin ◽  
Hydrolytic Enzymes ◽  
Microbial Interactions ◽  
Skin Microbiome ◽  
Protein Cleavage ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Range Of Functions ◽  
Diverse Community ◽  
Secreted Proteases ◽  
Pathogenic Agents

The human skin is our outermost layer and serves as a protective barrier against external insults. Advances in next generation sequencing have enabled the discoveries of a rich and diverse community of microbes - bacteria, fungi and viruses that are residents of this surface. The genomes of these microbes also revealed the presence of many secretory enzymes. In particular, proteases which are hydrolytic enzymes capable of protein cleavage and degradation are of special interest in the skin environment which is enriched in proteins and lipids. In this minireview, we will focus on the roles of these skin-relevant microbial secreted proteases, both in terms of their widely studied roles as pathogenic agents in tissue invasion and host immune inactivation, and their recently discovered roles in inter-microbial interactions and modulation of virulence factors. From these studies, it has become apparent that while microbial proteases are capable of a wide range of functions, their expression is tightly regulated and highly responsive to the environments the microbes are in. With the introduction of new biochemical and bioinformatics tools to study protease functions, it will be important to understand the roles played by skin microbial secretory proteases in cutaneous health, especially the less studied commensal microbes with an emphasis on contextual relevance.

scholarly journals In vitro antimicrobial activity of the organic extract of Cladonia substellata Vainio and usnic acid against Staphylococcus spp. obtained from cats and dogs

2017 ◽  
Vol 37 (4) ◽  
pp. 368-378 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jusciêne B. Moura ◽  
Agueda C. de Vargas ◽  
Gisele V. Gouveia ◽  
João J. de S. Gouveia ◽  
Juracy C. Ramos-Júnior ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Antimicrobial Activity ◽  
Biological Activities ◽  
Meca Gene ◽  
Usnic Acid ◽  
Organic Extract ◽  
In Vitro Antimicrobial Activity ◽  
Low Concentrations ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Staphylococcus Spp

ABSTRACT: Cladonia substellata Vainio is a lichen found in different regions of the world, including the Northeast of Brazil. It contains several secondary metabolites with biological activity, including usnic acid, which has exhibited a wide range of biological activities. The aim of this study was to evaluate the in vitro antimicrobial activity of the organic extract of C. substellata and purified usnic acid. Initially, Staphylococcus spp., derived from samples of skin and ears of dogs and cats with suspected pyoderma and otitis, were isolated and analyzed. In antimicrobial susceptibility testing against Staphylococcus spp., 77% (105/136) of the isolates were resistant to the antimicrobials tested. In the assessment of biofilm production, 83% (113/136) were classified as producing biofilm. In genetic characterization, 32% (44/136) were positive for blaZ, no isolate (0/136) was positive for the mecA gene, and 2% (3/136) were positive for the icaD gene. The in vitro antimicrobial activity of the organic extract of C. substellata and purified usnic acid against Staphylococcus spp. ranged from 0.25mg/mL to 0.0019mg/mL, inhibiting bacterial growth at low concentrations. The substances were more effective against biofilm-producing bacteria (0.65mg/mL-0.42mg/mL) when compared to non-biofilm producing bacteria (2.52mg/mL-2.71mg/mL). Usnic acid and the organic extract of C. substellata can be effective in the treatment of pyoderma and otitis in dogs and cats caused by Staphylococcus spp.

scholarly journals Insights into the Mode of Action of Chitosan as an Antibacterial Compound

2008 ◽  
Vol 74 (12) ◽  
pp. 3764-3773 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dina Raafat ◽  
Kristine von Bargen ◽  
Albert Haas ◽  
Hans-Georg Sahl
Keyword(s):  
Antimicrobial Activity ◽  
Cell Wall ◽  
Cell Membrane ◽  
Mode Of Action ◽  
Membrane Lipids ◽  
Expression Profiles ◽  
Transcriptional Response ◽  
Response Analysis ◽  
Sequence Of Events ◽  
Wide Range

ABSTRACT Chitosan is a polysaccharide biopolymer that combines a unique set of versatile physicochemical and biological characteristics which allow for a wide range of applications. Although its antimicrobial activity is well documented, its mode of action has hitherto remained only vaguely defined. In this work we investigated the antimicrobial mode of action of chitosan using a combination of approaches, including in vitro assays, killing kinetics, cellular leakage measurements, membrane potential estimations, and electron microscopy, in addition to transcriptional response analysis. Chitosan, whose antimicrobial activity was influenced by several factors, exhibited a dose-dependent growth-inhibitory effect. A simultaneous permeabilization of the cell membrane to small cellular components, coupled to a significant membrane depolarization, was detected. A concomitant interference with cell wall biosynthesis was not observed. Chitosan treatment of Staphylococcus simulans 22 cells did not give rise to cell wall lysis; the cell membrane also remained intact. Analysis of transcriptional response data revealed that chitosan treatment leads to multiple changes in the expression profiles of Staphylococcus aureus SG511 genes involved in the regulation of stress and autolysis, as well as genes associated with energy metabolism. Finally, a possible mechanism for chitosan's activity is postulated. Although we contend that there might not be a single classical target that would explain chitosan's antimicrobial action, we speculate that binding of chitosan to teichoic acids, coupled with a potential extraction of membrane lipids (predominantly lipoteichoic acid) results in a sequence of events, ultimately leading to bacterial death.

scholarly journals Deciphering the evolution of microbial interactions: in silico studies of two-member microbial communities

2022 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gayathri Sambamoorthy ◽  
Karthik Raman
Keyword(s):  
Microbial Communities ◽  
In Silico ◽  
Microbial Interactions ◽  
Interaction Patterns ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Community Function ◽  
Evolutionary Forces ◽  
In Silico Studies ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
In The Wild

Microbes thrive in communities, embedded in a complex web of interactions. These interactions, particularly metabolic interactions, play a crucial role in maintaining the community structure and function. As the organisms thrive and evolve, a variety of evolutionary processes alter the interactions among the organisms in the community, although the community function remains intact. In this work, we simulate the evolution of two-member microbial communities in silico to study how evolutionary forces can shape the interactions between organisms. We employ genomescale metabolic models of organisms from the human gut, which exhibit a range of interaction patterns, from mutualism to parasitism. We observe that the evolution of microbial interactions varies depending upon the starting interaction and also on the metabolic capabilities of the organisms in the community. We find that evolutionary constraints play a significant role in shaping the dependencies of organisms in the community. Evolution of microbial communities yields fitness benefits in only a small fraction of the communities, and is also dependent on the interaction type of the wild-type communities. The metabolites cross-fed in the wild-type communities appear in only less than 50% of the evolved communities. A wide range of new metabolites are cross-fed as the communities evolve. Further, the dynamics of microbial interactions are not specific to the interaction of the wild-type community but vary depending on the organisms present in the community. Our approach of evolving microbial communities in silico provides an exciting glimpse of the dynamics of microbial interactions and offers several avenues for future investigations.

scholarly journals Synthesis, spectral characterization and antimicrobial activity of some M(II) complexes with Ciprofloxacin

2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Emir Horozić ◽  
Amira Cipurković ◽  
Zahida Ademović ◽  
Demir Bjelošević ◽  
Amila Zukić ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Antimicrobial Activity ◽  
Salmonella Enteritidis ◽  
Gram Negative Bacteria ◽  
Bacterial Strains ◽  
Antimicrobial Screening ◽  
Fluoroquinolone Antibiotics ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Oxygen Donors ◽  
And Staphylococcus Aureus

Ciprofloxacin, CFL is a drug that belongs to the second generation of fluoroquinolone antibiotics with a wide range of effects on Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. The aim of this work was to investigate the interaction of CFL as ligand with divalent biological cations (Mn2+, Ni2+ and Co2+) in approximate physiological conditions. Synthesized complexes were characterized using FTIR and stereo-microscopy. Antimicrobial screening was performed on bacterial strains of Escherichia coli, Salmonella Enteritidis, Enterococcus faecalis and Staphylococcus aureus. The results of FTIR spectroscopy showed that the M(II) complexes with CFL were formed through the oxygen donors of the carboxyl and carbonyl group of the ligand. Stereo-microscopic characterization revealed the difference in color and size of crystals of the ligand and metal complexes. Antimicrobial screening has shown that CFL and complexes have almost similar antimicrobial activity against investigated bacterial strains.

Microbial community composition is linked to Sphagnum acclimation to warming

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tatjana Živković ◽  
Alyssa A Carell ◽  
Gustaf Granath ◽  
Mats B Nilsson ◽  
Manuel Helbig ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Growth Rate ◽  
Host Plant ◽  
Climate Warming ◽  
Elevated Temperatures ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Temperature Acclimation ◽  
Microbial Interactions ◽  
Germ Free ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Thermal Origin

<p>Peatlands store about third of the terrestrial carbon (C) and exert long-term climate cooling. Dominant plant genera in acidic peatlands, <em>Sphagnum</em> mosses, are main contributors to net primary productivity. Through associative relationships with diverse microbial organisms (microbiome), <em>Sphagnum</em> mosses control major biogeochemical processes, namely uptake, storage and potential release of carbon and nitrogen. Climate warming is expected to negatively impact C accumulation in peatlands and alter nutrient cycling, however <em>Sphagnum</em>-dominated peatland resilience to climate warming may depend on <em>Sphagnum</em>-microbiome associations. The ability of the microbiome to rapidly acclimatize to warming may aid <em>Sphagnum</em> exposed to elevated temperatures through host-microbiome acquired thermotolerance. We investigated the role of the microbiome on <em>Sphagnum</em>’s ability to acclimate to elevated temperatures using a microbiome-transfer approach to test: a) whether the thermal origin of the microbiome influences acclimation of <em>Sphagnum</em> growth and b) if microbial benefits to <em>Sphagnum</em> growth depend on donor <em>Sphagnum</em> species.</p><p>            Using a full-factorial design, microbiomes were separated from <em>Sphagnum</em> “donor” species from four different peatlands across a wide range of thermal environments (11.4-27°C). The microbiomes were transferred onto germ-free “recipient” <em>Sphagnum</em> species in the laboratory and exposed to a range of experimental temperatures (8.5 – 26.5°C) for growth analysis over 4 weeks.</p><p>            Normalized growth rates were maximized for plants that received a microbiome from a matched “donor” and with a similar origin temperature (ΔT<sub>treatment-origin</sub>: 0.3±0.9°C [±standard error], p = 0.73). For non-matched “donor-recipient” <em>Sphagnum</em> pairs, ΔT<sub>treatment-origin</sub> was slightly negative with -4.1±2.1°C (p = 0.06). The largest growth rate of the “recipient” was measured when grown with a microbiome from a matching “donor” <em>Sphagnum</em> species and was 252% and 48% larger than the maximum growth rate of the germ-free <em>Sphagnum</em> and the non-matched “donor-recipient” <em>Sphagnum</em> pairs, respectively.</p><p>            Our results suggest that the composition of the <em>Sphagnum</em> microbiome plays a critical role in host plant temperature acclimation. We found that microbially-provided benefits to the host plant were most pronounced when: 1) the thermal origin of the microbiome is similar to experimental temperatures, and 2) when donor and recipient <em>Sphagnum</em> species are the same. Together, these results suggest that <em>Sphagnum</em> temperature acclimation can be modulated, in part, by microbial interactions and may potentially play a role in peatland resilience to climate warming.</p>

Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Activities of the Fresh aerial parts of Ammi visnaga L. from Algeria

2016 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 70-76
Author(s):  
Soumia Keddari ◽  
Narimen Benaoum ◽  
Yasmina Mokhtaria Boufadi ◽  
Mansouria Belhocine ◽  
Ali Riazi
Keyword(s):  
Staphylococcus Aureus ◽  
Antimicrobial Activity ◽  
Phenolic Compounds ◽  
Biological Activities ◽  
Antibacterial Properties ◽  
Ethanolic Extract ◽  
Diffusion Method ◽  
E Coli ◽  
Ammi Visnaga ◽  
Wide Range

Medicinal plants have been used for countries as cures for human diseases because they contain components of therapeutic value. Among these medi-cinal plants, Ammi visnage which have an immense reservoir of potential compounds attributed to the secondary metabolites which have the advan-tage of being of great diversity of chemical structure and have a very wide range of biological activities. The objectives of the present work were to stu-dy the antioxidant and antimicrobial activity of phenolic compounds ex-tracted from A. visnaga L. Its extraction is performed by two methods, etha-nol extraction and water extraction. The results showed that A. visnaga L.. ethanolic extract contains a mixture of phytochemical classes as polyphenol, flavonoids and revealed that this plant has high antioxidant activity (IC50 0.069 mg/ml). Regarding the antimicrobial activity results expressed by the diameter of the inhibition zones by diffusion method AWDT, the most signifi-cant inhibition was observed against to Staphylococcus aureus (12 mm) to the ethanol extract at concentration of 100mg / ml. Thus the aqueous ex-tract had a significant inhibitory activity against on the strains Staphylococ-cus aureus (8 mm), E. coli ATCC 10536 (8 mm) to a concentration of 100 mg / ml. The results for the antibacterial properties have shown that Gram-positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus, Listeria monocytogenes and M. luteus.) were more sensitive than gram-negative (Pseudomonas aeruginosa, E. coli ATCC 10536) against from the action of phenolic compounds of the Ammi visnaga ethanolic extract.

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