Figainin 1, a Novel Amphibian Skin Peptide with Antimicrobial and Antiproliferative Properties.

Amphibian skin secretions are abundant in bioactive compounds, especially antimicrobial peptides. These molecules are generally cationic and rich in hydrophobic amino acids, have an amphipathic structure and adopt an α-helical conformation when in contact with microorganisms membranes. In this work, we purified and characterized Figainin 1, a novel antimicrobial and antiproliferative peptide from the cutaneous secretion of the frog Boana raniceps. Figainin 1 is a cationic peptide with eighteen amino acid residues-rich in leucine and isoleucine, with an amidated C-terminus-and adopts an α-helical conformation in the presence of trifluoroethanol (TFE). It displayed activity against Gram-negative and especially Gram-positive bacteria, with MIC values ranging from 2 to 16 µM, and showed an IC50 value of 15.9 µM against epimastigote forms of T. cruzi; however, Figanin 1 did not show activity against Candida species. This peptide also showed cytolytic effects against human erythrocytes with an HC50 of 10 µM, in addition to antiproliferative activity against cancer cells and murine fibroblasts, with IC50 values ranging from 10.5 to 13.7 µM. Despite its adverse effects on noncancerous cells, Figainin 1 exhibits interesting properties for the development of new anticancer agents and anti-infective drugs against pathogenic microorganisms.

Biological Properties of a Novel Multifunctional Host Defense Peptide from the Skin Secretion of the Chaco Tree Frog, Boana raniceps.

In recent years, the number of new antimicrobial drugs launched on the market has decreased considerably even though there has been an increase in the number of resistant microbial strains. Thus, antimicrobial resistance has become a serious public health problem. Amphibian skin secretions are a rich source of host defense peptides, which generally are cationic and hydrophobic molecules, with a broad-spectrum of activity. In this study, one novel multifunctional defense peptide was isolated from the skin secretion of the Chaco tree frog, Boana raniceps. Figainin 2 (1FLGAILKIGHALAKTVLPMVTNAFKPKQ28) is cationic and hydrophobic, adopts an α-helical structure in 50% (v/v) trifluoroethanol (TFE), and is thermally stable. This peptide exhibited activity against Gram-negative and Gram-positive pathogenic bacteria arboviruses, T. cruzi epimastigotes; however, it did not show activity against yeasts. Figainin 2 also showed antiproliferative activity on cancer cells, is moderately active on human erythrocytes, and activates the oxidative burst in human neutrophils.

Cirurgia "sem corte": ciência ou apenas estratégia de marketing? / Blunt Surgery: Science or just marketing strategy?

The so-called "blunt" or flapless surgery is considered less traumatic or invasive. However, as there is a need for rupture of the epithelial tissue performed by surgical drills or other means, the term is conceptually incorrect and known as marketing. The objective of the present study is to discuss the technique in the so - called blunt surgeries considered by the Federal Council of Dentistry (CFO) as an irregular or misleading advertisement, even when preceded by tomographic planning and performed by means of surgical guides. Furthermore, the lack of bone limits this type of surgery, in which case conventional surgery with mucoperiosteal flap elevation is indicated. As a consensus, is there a significant increase in apical lesions in implants related to this technique? (AU)

A cirurgia denominada "sem corte" ou flapless é considerada menos traumática ou invasiva. Entretanto como há necessidade de ruptura do tecido epitelial realizada por brocas cirúrgicas ou outros meios, o termo é conceitualmente incorreto e sabidamente utilizado como marketing. O objetivo do presente trabalho é discutir a técnica nas cirurgias ditas sem corte, considerada pelo Conselho Federal de Odontologia - CFO, como propaganda irregular ou enganosa, mesmo quando precedidas por um planejamento tomográfico e realizadas por meio de guias cirúrgicos. Além do mais, a falta de osso limita esse tipo de cirurgia, sendo nesse caso indicada uma cirurgia convencional com elevação de retalho mucoperiosteo. Como consenso, estaria o aumento significativo de lesões apicais nos implantes relacionados com esta técnica? (AU)

Proteome Dataset of Qualea grandiflora Mart. (Vochysiaceae) by LC-MS/MS Label-Free Identification in Response to Aluminum.

This dataset brief is about the descriptive proteome of Qualea grandiflora plants by label free mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Q. grandiflora is a plant that accumulates aluminum (Al) in high quantities and requires it for growth and development. Although quite relevant for the understanding of Al effects on plants, the proteome of Q. grandiflora has not been studied yet. Therefore, the current proteome analysis identifies a total of 2010 proteins. Furthermore, the identified Q. grandiflora root proteins are associated with several crucial molecular functions, biological processes, and cellular sites. Hence, the proteome analysis of Q. grandiflora will contribute to unravel how plants evolved to cope with high levels of Al in soils. All data can be accessed at the Centre for Computational Mass Spectrometry - MassIVE MSV000082284 - https://massive.ucsd.edu/ProteoSAFe/dataset.jsp?task=adb9647282a5421a9cffe3124c060f46.

Stress and cell cycle regulation during somatic embryogenesis plays a key role in oil palm callus development.

Oil palm is an oleaginous plant of relevant economic importance since its fruits are rich in vegetable oil. These plants have a single apical meristem and the main method for vegetative propagation is somatic embryogenesis. The aim of this study was to identify differentially abundant proteins from oil palm genotypes contrasting in the capacity of embryogenic competence acquisition, using shotgun proteomics. Oil palm leaves were subjected to callus induction and the material was collected in biological triplicates at 14 and 90 days of callus induction. LC-MS/MS analysis was performed and revealed a total of 4695 proteins. Responsive and non-responsive genotypes were compared at 14 and 90 days of callus induction and 221 differentially abundant proteins were obtained. The data analysis revealed several proteins mainly related to energy metabolism, stress response and regulation of cell cycle, further analyzed by qRT-PCR, which seem important for embryogenic development. We suggest some of these proteins as key factors for the success of callus formation in oil palm including antioxidant and cell division proteins as well as proteins involved in the ubiquitination pathway. These proteins may also be potential biomarkers for the acquisition of embryogenic competence. SIGNIFICANCE: Antioxidant and cell division proteins as well as proteins involved in the ubiquitination pathway are key factors for the success of callus formation in oil palm. The proteins identified in this study may be potential biomarkers for embryogenic competence acquisition.

Exploring Trichoderma and Aspergillus secretomes: Proteomics approaches for the identification of enzymes of biotechnological interest.

Filamentous fungal secretomes comprise highly dynamic sets of proteins, including multiple carbohydrate active enzymes (CAZymes) which are able to hydrolyze plant biomass polysaccharides into products of biotechnological interest such as fermentable sugars. In recent years, proteomics has been used to identify and quantify enzymatic and non-enzymatic polypeptides present in secretomes of several fungi species. The resulting data have widened the scientific understanding of the way filamentous fungi perform biomass degradation and offered novel perspectives for biotechnological applications. The present review discusses proteomics approaches that have been applied to the study of fungal secretomes, focusing on two of the most studied filamentous fungi genera: Trichoderma and Aspergillus.

Two ß-xylanases from Aspergillus terreus: characterization and influence of phenolic compounds on xylanase activity.

Sugarcane bagasse was used as an inexpensive alternative carbon source for production of ß-xylanases from Aspergillus terreus. The induction profile showed that the xylanase activity was detected from the 6th day of cultivation period. Two low molecular weight enzymes, named Xyl T1 and Xyl T2 were purified to apparent homogeneity by ultrafiltration, gel filtration and ion exchange chromatographies and presented molecular masses of 24.3and 23.60 kDa, as determined by SDS-PAGE, respectively. Xyl T1 showed highest activity at 50 °C and pH 6.0, while Xyl T2 was most active at 45 °C and pH 5.0. Mass spectrometry analysis of trypsin digested Xyl T1 and Xyl T2 showed two different fingerprinting spectra, indicating that they are distinct enzymes. Both enzymes were specific for xylan as substrate. Xyl T1 was inhibited in greater or lesser degree by phenolic compounds, while Xyl T2 was very resistant to the inhibitory effect of all phenolic compounds tested. The apparent km values of Xyl T2, using birchwood xylan as substrate, decreased in the presence of six phenolic compounds. Both enzymes were inhibited by N-bromosuccinimide and Hg(2+) and activated by Mn(2+). Incubation of Xyl T1 and Xyl T2 with L-cysteine increased their half-lives up to 14 and 24 h at 50 °C, respectively. Atomic force microscopy showed a bimodal size distribution of globular particles for both enzymes, indicating that Xyl T1 is larger than Xyl T2.