ABSTRACT
Short-chain bioactive peptides are new and promising antimicrobial, immune moderating, and antioxidant agents. Therefore, the present study was conducted to evaluate in vitro antibacterial activity of CM11, a short antimicrobial peptide (AMP), against Streptococcus iniae and Yersinia ruckeri as fish pathogenic bacteria using standard disk diffusion and microdilution assays. In addition, in vivo effects of CM11 on fish growth, immunity, antioxidant activity, and disease resistance were evaluated using zebrafish (Danio rerio) as an animal model. For in vivo study, based on in vitro susceptibility results, four diets were designed to include zero (as control), 10, 20, and 50 µg of CM11 per g diet referred to as control, P1, P2, and P3 treatments, respectively. After eight weeks of dietary trial, fish were challenged with Streptococcus iniae, and the survival rate was calculated for a period of two weeks. Results showed that CM11 effectively inhibited the growth of S. iniae and Y. ruckeri on agar plates at a concentration of eight µg/ml. Minimum inhibitory and minimum bactericidal concentrations of CM11 were measured at 8 and 32 µg/ml for S. iniae and 16 and 64 µg/ml Y. ruckeri, respectively. In vivo results showed no noticeable effects on fish growth parameters, however, feed conversion ratio (FCR) was found lower in P3 and P2 compared to control (P < 0.05). Immunological and antioxidant responses were found strongly affected by CM11 in all treatment groups in which the highest values were found in the P3 treated group. Key immune and antioxidant genes were up-regulated particularly in fish receiving the highest level of CM11 (P3). Fish receiving the CM11 peptide showed better survival when challenged with S. iniae. These findings suggest the potential of CM11 for use in aquaculture as an antibacterial and immunostimulant agent.
Subject(s)
Fish Diseases , Streptococcal Infections , Yersinia Infections , Animal Feed/analysis , Animals , Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology , Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides , Antimicrobial Peptides , Antioxidants , Diet/veterinary , Dietary Supplements , Disease Resistance , Streptococcal Infections/veterinary , Streptococcus iniae , Yersinia Infections/veterinary , ZebrafishABSTRACT
Lead (Pb) is a known toxic heavy metal which accumulates in different tissues and causes oxidative stress (OS) and inflammation. The brain tissue is considered as one of the most vulnerable organs to the Pb-induced toxicity. The aim of this study was to investigate the therapeutic effects of vitamin D3 (VD) supplementation against the damages caused by chronic Pb toxicity in the cerebral cortex. Forty Wistar rats were divided into four equal groups and were treated as follows: control group received no treatment, VD group received 1000 IU/kg of VD by intramuscular injection every other day, Pb group received 1000 mg/L of Pb in drinking water, and Pb + VD group received VD and Pb simultaneously. The experiment lasted for 4 weeks and the analyses were conducted 24 h after the last administrations. The obtained results demonstrated that Pb significantly increased cortical lipid peroxidation and reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels. At the same time, there was a significant reduction in glutathione (GSH) content, catalase (CAT), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities, as well as a significant increase in the tissue level of inflammatory cytokines. Furthermore, Pb increased the messenger RNA (mRNA) expression level of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) and nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB). Anyhow, VD administration during the period of Pb exposure suppressed the OS and inflammation by increasing the antioxidant molecules and decreasing the inflammatory cytokines and consequently repaired Pb-induced cortical tissue damages. Remarkably, these responses were concomitant with the alterations in Nrf2 and NF-κB gene expressions. In conclusion, the present study discloses the potential protective effects for VD against Pb-induced neurotoxicity via anti-inflammatory and antioxidative mechanisms.
Subject(s)
Cholecalciferol/pharmacology , Lead/toxicity , NF-E2-Related Factor 2/antagonists & inhibitors , NF-kappa B/antagonists & inhibitors , Signal Transduction/drug effects , Animals , Anti-Inflammatory Agents/pharmacology , Antioxidants/pharmacology , Cerebral Cortex/drug effects , Cerebral Cortex/metabolism , Lipid Peroxidation/drug effects , Lipid Peroxidation/physiology , Male , NF-E2-Related Factor 2/biosynthesis , NF-kappa B/biosynthesis , Oxidative Stress/drug effects , Oxidative Stress/physiology , Rats , Rats, Wistar , Reactive Oxygen Species/antagonists & inhibitors , Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolism , Signal Transduction/physiologyABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: With the development of various branches of sciences, we will be able to resolve different clinical aspects of various diseases better. The convergence of these sciences can potentially tackle the new corona crisis. AREAS COVERED: In this review, we attempted to explore and describe various scientific branches studying COVID-19. We have reviewed the literature focusing on the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of COVID-19. The primary databases targeted were Science Direct, Scopus and PubMed. The most relevant reports from the recent two decades were collected utilizing keywords including SARS-CoV, MERS-CoV, COVID-19, epidemiology, therapeutics and diagnosis. EXPERT OPINION: Based on this literature review, both traditional and emerging approaches are vital for the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of COVID-19. The traditional sciences play an essential role in the preventive and supportive care of corona infection, and modern technologies appear to be useful in the development of precise diagnosis and powerful treatment approaches for this disease. Indeed, the integration of these sciences will help us to fight COVID-19 disease more efficiently.