Antidermatophytic quinolizidine alkaloids from Calpurnia aurea subsp. aurea (Aiton) Benth.

From the leaves and stem bark of the Kenyan medicinal plant Calpurnia aurea subsp. aurea, four previously undescribed quinolizidine alkaloids namely, 2ß-methoxy-13α-O-(2'-pyrrolylcarbonyl) virgiline, 2α-methoxy-13ß-O-(2'-pyrrolylcarbonyl) virgiline, 3α-O-angelate-2ß-hydroxy-13α-O-(2'-pyrrolylcarbonyl) virgiline, 2,3-dehydro-virgiline were isolated together with four known ones. Structural elucidation of the compounds was based on 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy and mass spectrometry. Their relative configurations were determined by NOESY correlations and literature. The quinolizidine alkaloids were tested against Trichophyton rubrum, Trichophyton interdigitale, Trichophyton benhamiae, Microsporum canis and Nannizzia gypsea, common causative agents of most of the tinea infections in human. All the isolated quinolizidine alkaloids exhibited antidermatophytic activity with MIC ranging from 37.5 µg/ml to 300 µg/ml.

Draft Genome Sequence of Enterococcus faecalis 1351, Isolated from a Mastitis-Affected Camel in Isiolo County, Kenya.

Enterococcus faecalis causes mastitis disease in livestock, leading to massive economic losses. Sequencing of isolates obtained from resource-poor regions will facilitate the design of novel sensitive diagnostics and efficacious vaccines. We announce the draft genome of E. faecalis strain 1351, which was obtained from a camel in Isiolo County, Kenya.