Untargeted Metabolomics Sheds Light on the Secondary Metabolism of Fungi Triggered by Choline-Based Ionic Liquids.

Fungal secondary metabolites constitute a rich source of yet undiscovered bioactive compounds. Their production is often silent under standard laboratory conditions, but the production of some compounds can be triggered simply by altering the cultivation conditions. The usage of an organic salt - ionic liquid - as growth medium supplement can greatly impact the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites, leading to higher diversity of compounds accumulating extracellularly. This study examines if such supplements, specifically cholinium-based ionic liquids, can support the discovery of bioactive secondary metabolites across three model species: Neurospora crassa, Aspergillus nidulans, and Aspergillus fumigatus. Enriched organic extracts obtained from medium supernatant revealed high diversity in metabolites. The supplementation led apparently to increased levels of either 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate or α-aminoisobutyric acid. The extracts where bioactive against two major foodborne bacterial strains: Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. In particular, those retrieved from N. crassa cultures showed greater bactericidal potential compared to control extracts derived from non-supplemented cultures. An untargeted mass spectrometry analysis using the Global Natural Product Social Molecular Networking tool enabled to capture the chemical diversity driven by the ionic liquid stimuli. Diverse macrolides, among other compounds, were putatively associated with A. fumigatus; whereas an unexpected richness of cyclic (depsi)peptides with N. crassa. Further studies are required to understand if the identified peptides are the major players of the bioactivity of N. crassa extracts, and to decode their biosynthesis pathways as well.

Molecular and electrophysiological characterization of anion transport in Arabidopsis thaliana pollen reveals regulatory roles for pH, Ca2+ and GABA.

We investigated the molecular basis and physiological implications of anion transport during pollen tube (PT) growth in Arabidopsis thaliana (Col-0). Patch-clamp whole-cell configuration analysis of pollen grain protoplasts revealed three subpopulations of anionic currents differentially regulated by cytoplasmic calcium ([Ca2+ ]cyt ). We investigated the pollen-expressed proteins AtSLAH3, AtALMT12, AtTMEM16 and AtCCC as the putative anion transporters responsible for these currents. AtCCC-GFP was observed at the shank and AtSLAH3-GFP at the tip and shank of the PT plasma membrane. Both are likely to carry the majority of anion current at negative potentials, as extracellular anionic fluxes measured at the tip of PTs with an anion vibrating probe were significantly lower in slah3-/- and ccc-/- mutants, but unaffected in almt12-/- and tmem16-/- . We further characterised the effect of pH and GABA by patch clamp. Strong regulation by extracellular pH was observed in the wild-type, but not in tmem16-/- . Our results are compatible with AtTMEM16 functioning as an anion/H+ cotransporter and therefore, as a putative pH sensor. GABA presence: (1) inhibited the overall currents, an effect that is abrogated in the almt12-/- and (2) reduced the current in AtALMT12 transfected COS-7 cells, strongly suggesting the direct interaction of GABA with AtALMT12. Our data show that AtSLAH3 and AtCCC activity is sufficient to explain the major component of extracellular anion fluxes, and unveils a possible regulatory system linking PT growth modulation by pH, GABA, and [Ca2+ ]cyt through anionic transporters.

Atenção odontológica integral ao idoso: uma abordagem holística / Integral oral attention to elderly: a holistic approach

O presente trabalho tem por objetivo discutir a atuação da Odontologia na atenção integral à saúde do idoso, considerando-se a necessidade da abordagem interdisciplinar. É apresentada a atual situação da Odontologia geriátrica e os problemas que ocorrem no Brasil pela falta de estudos específicos e de recursos humanos capacitados em geriatria dentro da Odontologia. São destacadas as interações entre as diversas profissões de saúde e a Odontologia, para a promoção de saúde, prevenção específica e reabilitação de pacientes idosos, com ênfase na importância da comunicação e da troca de informações. Por meio da literatura estudada, pode-se observar que os profissionais que buscam qualidade no atendimento aos seus pacientes, principalmente aqueles cuja clientela está focada nos indivíduos da terceira idade, devem aprender sobre conceitos da Odontogeriatria e aplicar a interdisciplinaridade na sua rotina de trabalho. A abordagem interdisciplinar da atenção ao idoso, no que se refere à saúde bucal, tem se mostrado eficiente ao influenciar na qualidade de vida deste indivíduo, por permitir que o paciente seja tratado dentro de uma visão integrada, sem desprezar a ocorrência de doenças sistêmicas que interfiram no ambiente bucal

This paper aims to discuss the role of Dentistry in the comprehensive health care for the elderly, considering the necessity of interdisciplinary approach. It shows the current status of Geriatric Dentistry and problems that occur in Brazil by the lack of specific studies and human resource training in geriatrics in Dentistry. The authors emphasize interactions between the various health professions and Dentistry, for health promotion, specific prevention and rehabilitation of elderly patients, emphasizing the importance of communication and information exchange. Through literature study, we can see that the professionals who seek quality care to their patients, especially those whose patients are elderly individuals, must learn and apply concepts of the interdisciplinary Geriatric Dentistry in their routine work; the interdisciplinary approach to the elderly, with regard to oral health, has proven effective in influencing the quality of life of this individual, by allowing the patient to be treated within an integrated vision, without neglecting the occurrence of systemic illnesses that interfere with the oral environment

Calcium-regulated anion channels in the plasma membrane of Lilium longiflorum pollen protoplasts.

• Currents through anion channels in the plasma membrane of Lilium longiflorum pollen grain protoplasts were studied under conditions of symmetrical anionic concentrations by means of patch-clamp whole-cell configuration. • With Cl(-) -based intra- and extracellular solutions, three outward-rectifying anion conductances, I(Cl1) , I(Cl2) and I(Cl3) , were identified. These three activities were discriminated by differential rundown behaviour and sensitivity to 5-nitro-2-(phenylpropylamino)-benzoate (NPPB), which could not be attributed to one or more channel types. All shared strong outward rectification, activated instantaneously and displayed a slow time-dependent activation for positive potentials. All showed modulation by intracellular calcium ([Ca(2+) ](in) ), increasing intensity from 6.04 nM up to 0.5 mM (I(Cl1) ), or reaching a maximum value with 8.50 µM (I(Cl2) and I(Cl3) ). • After rundown, the anionic currents measured using NO(3) (-) -based solutions were indistinguishable, indicating that the permeabilities of the channels for Cl(-) and NO(3) (-) are similar. Additionally, unitary anionic currents were measured from outside-out excised patches, confirming the presence of individual anionic channels. • This study shows for the first time the presence of a large anionic conductance across the membrane of pollen protoplasts, resulting from the presence of Ca(2+) -regulated channels. A similar conductance was also found in germinated pollen. We hypothesize that these putative channels may be responsible for the large anionic fluxes previously detected by means of self-referencing vibrating probes.