In-Vitro Antibacterial and Antifungal Effects of High Levels of Chinese Star Anise

This study investigated the in-vitro antibacterial and fungicidal activities of three crude extracts of Illicium verum (absolute methanol, 50% methanol and aqueous extracts) against two Gram-positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus and Listeria monocytogenes), two Gram-negative bacteria (Escherichia coli and Salmonella Arizona), and two fungi (Aspergillus fumigatus and Aspergillus niger). The antibacterial action was measured using an agar disk diffusion test, and the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) and minimum bactericidal concentrations (MBCs) were determined. The fungicidal activity of the star anise extracts was assessed by the agar disk diffusion test, and poisoned food techniques, and the MICs and minimum fungicidal concentrations (MFCs) were determined. The Chinese star anise extracts showed antibacterial and antifungal activities against A. fumigatus. The results of this study suggest that alcoholic extracts are more active than aqueous extracts and that star anise could be used as a natural antimicrobial agent.(AU)

In-Vitro Antibacterial and Antifungal Effects of High Levels of Chinese Star Anise

This study investigated the in-vitro antibacterial and fungicidal activities of three crude extracts of Illicium verum (absolute methanol, 50% methanol and aqueous extracts) against two Gram-positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus and Listeria monocytogenes), two Gram-negative bacteria (Escherichia coli and Salmonella Arizona), and two fungi (Aspergillus fumigatus and Aspergillus niger). The antibacterial action was measured using an agar disk diffusion test, and the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) and minimum bactericidal concentrations (MBCs) were determined. The fungicidal activity of the star anise extracts was assessed by the agar disk diffusion test, and poisoned food techniques, and the MICs and minimum fungicidal concentrations (MFCs) were determined. The Chinese star anise extracts showed antibacterial and antifungal activities against A. fumigatus. The results of this study suggest that alcoholic extracts are more active than aqueous extracts and that star anise could be used as a natural antimicrobial agent.

Salivary anti-PGL-1 IgM may indicate active transmission of Mycobacterium leprae among young people under 16 years of age

Abstract Considering that the main route of Mycobacterium leprae transmission is the upper respiratory tract, detection of salivary antibodies can be a useful tool for diagnosing early infection. The study aimed to analyze salivary anti-PGL-1 IgA and IgM antibodies in 169 children aged 4-16 years old, who lived nearby or inside the house of multibacillary or paucibacillary leprosy patients in two endemic cities in Alagoas State - Brazil. Salivary anti-PGL-1 antibodies were quantified by modified ELISA method. The frequency of contact and clinical form of the index case were significantly associated with salivary antibody levels. High frequency of IgM positivity strongly suggests active transmission of M. leprae in these communities. We suggest in the present work that salivary anti-PGL IgA and IgM are important biomarkers to be used for identifying communities with probable active transmission of M. leprae.

Salivary anti-PGL-1 IgM may indicate active transmission of Mycobacterium leprae among young people under 16 years of age.

Considering that the main route of Mycobacterium leprae transmission is the upper respiratory tract, detection of salivary antibodies can be a useful tool for diagnosing early infection. The study aimed to analyze salivary anti-PGL-1 IgA and IgM antibodies in 169 children aged 4-16 years old, who lived nearby or inside the house of multibacillary or paucibacillary leprosy patients in two endemic cities in Alagoas State - Brazil. Salivary anti-PGL-1 antibodies were quantified by modified ELISA method. The frequency of contact and clinical form of the index case were significantly associated with salivary antibody levels. High frequency of IgM positivity strongly suggests active transmission of M. leprae in these communities. We suggest in the present work that salivary anti-PGL IgA and IgM are important biomarkers to be used for identifying communities with probable active transmission of M. leprae.

Effects of feeding a multivalent polyclonal antibody preparation on feedlot performance, carcass characteristics, rumenitis, and blood gas profile in Bos indicus biotype yearling bulls.

The objective of this study was to evaluate effects of feeding monensin (MON) or a multivalent polyclonal antibody preparation (PAP) against several rumen microorganisms on feedlot performance, carcass characteristics, blood gas profile, and rumenitis of Bos indicus biotype (BT) yearling bulls. The study was designed as a completely randomized design with a 3 × 2 factorial arrangement, replicated 4 times, in which 32 yearling bulls of each of 3 BT evaluated (3-way-cross, TC; Canchim, CC; and Nellore, NE) were fed diets containing either MON at 300 mg·d(-1) or PAP at 10 mL·d(-1) across 3 different periods. No significant (P > 0.10) feed additive (FA) main effects were observed for any of the feedlot performance variables and carcass characteristics with the exception of dressing percentage. Yearling bulls receiving PAP had a decreased (P = 0.047) dressing percentage when compared with yearling bulls receiving MON. Significant (P < 0.05) BT main effects were observed for all feedlot performance variables and carcass characteristics with the exception of kidney-pelvic fat expressed in kilograms (P = 0.49) and LM lipids content (P = 0.45). Crossbred yearling bulls (TC and CC) had greater (P < 0.001) ADG, DMI in kilograms, DMI as % of BW, and improved (P = 0.001) G:F when compared with NE yearling bulls. A tendency (P = 0.072) for a FA main effect was observed for rumenitis scores, in which yearling bulls receiving PAP had lesser rumenitis scores than those receiving MON. When the data were disposed as frequency percentage, 55.6% and 45.7% of the rumens from yearling bulls fed PAP and MON were scored between 0 and 1, respectively (0 = no lesions, 10 = severe lesions). Likewise, a significant BT main effect was observed (P = 0.008), where NE yearling bulls had greater rumenitis scores than those of crossbred yearling bulls (TC and CC). No significant FA main effects were observed (P > 0.10) for any of the fatty acids measured in the subcutaneous adipose tissue, with the exception that yearling bulls receiving MON had greater (P < 0.05) concentrations of palmitic acid (16:0), margaric acid (17:0), docosapentaenoic acid (22:5), and docosahexaenoic acid (22:6) than those yearling bulls receiving PAP. Feeding PAP tended to decrease incidence of rumen lesions and led to similar feedlot performance compared with feeding MON. Thus, PAP is a new technology that presents a possible alternative for ionophores.

Induction of a protective response with an IgA monoclonal antibody against Mycobacterium tuberculosis 16kDa protein in a model of progressive pulmonary infection.

Mycobacterium tuberculosis is a facultative intracellular pathogen for which cell-mediated immunity is considered the major component of the immune response. For many decades, the prevailing scientific view has been the antibodies have little or no role in modifying the course of M. tuberculosis infection. In recent years, several studies have challenged this dogma, and there is a body of evidence that supports a role of antibodies against M. tuberculosis. In the present work, we evaluated the protective activity of two monoclonal antibodies (TBA61 and TBA84). Here, we chose the intratracheal model of pulmonary infection to evaluate bacterial load and morphometric and histological changes in the lungs of treated mice. Data obtained revealed the reduction of bacterial load and milder morphometric and histopathological changes in mice treated with TBA61 at 21 days post-infection with M. tuberculosis H37Rv compared to those treated with TBA84 and control mice. These results allow continuing exploring the potential use of monoclonal antibodies as prophylactic and therapeutic agents against intracellular pathogens such as M. tuberculosis.

Desarrollo de un ensayo de dot-blot para la detección de adhesinas en Escherichia coli enterotoxigéna / Dot-blot immunoenzymatic reaction to detec adhesins from enteropathogenic Escherichia coli

Un método de detección de adhesinas K99, K88 y F41 de Escherichia coli enterotoxigénica ha sido desarrollado sobre membranas de nitrocelulosa, basado en la reacción inmunoenzimática de dot-blot. Suspensiones estandarizadas de este microorganismo, portando distintos tipos de adhesinas fueron sembrados en el papel y enfrentados a anticuerpos-sonda de especificidad probada y posteriormente a un conjugado peoxidasa-antianticuerpo. La prueba mostró ser de alta sensibilidad y específica del tipo de adhesina, pudiendo emplearse como ensayo diagnóstico en la detección de esos factores de virulencia

Desarrollo de un ensayo de dot-blot para la detección de adhesinas en Escherichia coli enterotoxigéna / Dot-blot immunoenzymatic reaction to detec adhesins from enteropathogenic Escherichia coli

Un método de detección de adhesinas K99, K88 y F41 de Escherichia coli enterotoxigénica ha sido desarrollado sobre membranas de nitrocelulosa, basado en la reacción inmunoenzimática de dot-blot. Suspensiones estandarizadas de este microorganismo, portando distintos tipos de adhesinas fueron sembrados en el papel y enfrentados a anticuerpos-sonda de especificidad probada y posteriormente a un conjugado peoxidasa-antianticuerpo. La prueba mostró ser de alta sensibilidad y específica del tipo de adhesina, pudiendo emplearse como ensayo diagnóstico en la detección de esos factores de virulencia

[Monoclonal antibodies against the lipopolysaccharide of Salmonella typhi 9,12,VI:d. Analysis of passive protection in a mouse model of typhoid fever]. / Anticuerpos monoclonales antilipopolisacarido de Salmonella typhi 9,12,Vi:d: análisis de protección pasiva en un modelo murino de fiebre tifoidea.

The current work was undertaken in order to assess the role of the monoclonal antibodies (Mabs) to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) of Salmonella typhi in the induction of passive protection against the challenge with the bacteria in a mice model. BALB/c mice were immunized with the whole bacteria, mice with high anti-LPS antibody titers were killed, the spleens were removed and splenocytes were fused with the mouse plasmocytoma SP2/0. Two IgM monoclonal antibodies against porins were developed. Each one of these Mabs recognized the polysaccharide region of LPS. Passive immunization with supernatant fluid of mice with one of these monoclonal antibodies did not protect against challenged with 20 LD50 and 100 LD50 of Salmonella typhi. The results suggest that LPS is not valuable immunogen for the induction of a protective status against typhoid fever.

Anticytotoxin-neutralizing antibodies in immune globulin preparations: potential use in hemolytic-uremic syndrome.

The pathogenesis of primary (classic) hemolytic-uremic syndrome (HUS) is thought to be related to cytotoxin-producing enteric pathogens such as Shigella dysenteriae serotype 1 and Escherichia coli serotypes O157:H7 and 026:H11. The relevant cytotoxins include Shiga toxin and the closely related Shiga-like toxins (SLTs) produced by some E. coli strains. Intravenously administered immune globulin (IVIG) therapy has been reported to be beneficial in a few children with HUS. We therefore examined commercially available immune globulin preparations for the presence of anticytotoxin-neutralizing antibodies. Cytotoxicity and neutralization of the HUS-associated cytotoxins were quantitatively determined by means of a (3H)thymidine-labeled HeLa cell assay. The immune globulin preparations tested almost completely neutralized Shiga toxin (produced by S. dysenteriae 1) and SLT-I (produced by E. coli serotype 026:H11). Twofold dilutions of the preparations showed significant (p less than 0.01) neutralizing titers of 1:64 to 1:128. No significant neutralization (greater than 20%) of SLT-II (produced by E. coli strain C600 (933W] was noted. The IVIG preparation lost its inhibitory activity when passed through a protein A-Sepharose column, which bound immune globulin, indicating that its neutralizing effect is related to the antibody content. We also examined sera from 30 children without diarrhea or HUS; only one child had neutralizing titers against Shiga toxin (1:64) and SLT-I (1:128). Immune globulin preparations contain anticytotoxin-neutralizing antibodies, a finding that warrants further investigation of the therapeutic role of these preparations in early treatment of children with HUS related to Shiga toxin and SLT-I.