Violacein antimicrobial activity on Staphylococcus epidermidis biofilm.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the antimicrobial potential of violacein (VIO) on Staphylococcus epidermidis biofilm. The minimum biofilm inhibition concentration (MBIC) and minimum biofilm eradication concentration (MBEC) were determined, as well as the effect of VIO exposure time on microbial viability in mature biofilm. Violacein showed good antibiofilm action, inhibiting biofilm formation and eradicating mature biofilm of S. epidermidis at concentrations of 20 µg.mL-1 and 160 µg.mL-1, respectively. At concentrations equal to MBEC and 2x MBEC, the biofilm was eradicated in 3 h and 2h30min of incubation, respectively.When evaluating VIO modulating effect on the action of clinically-used drugs (vancomycin, cefepime, ciprofloxacin and meropenem), especial synergism was observed in the violacein-ciprofloxacin association, it can completely erradicated the mature biofilm at the concentration of 1/2xMBEC and 1/4xMBEC, respectively. VIO shows good antimicrobial action on S. epidermidis biofilm and has the potential to synergistically modulate the activity of clinically-used antimicrobials.

Antichagasic effect of violacein from Chromobacterium violaceum.

AIMS: Violacein (VIO), a bacterial pigment produced by Chromobacterium violaceum, was examined to evaluate the antichagasic activity and its action mechanism against Trypanosoma cruzi Y strain. METHODS AND RESULTS: Violacein was tested against the epimastigote, trypomastigote and amastigote forms of T. cruzi Y strain (benznidazole-resistant strain). VIO inhibited all T. cruzi developmental forms, including amastigotes, which is implicated in the burden of infection in the chronic phase of Chagas disease (CD). VIO induced cell death in T. cruzi through apoptosis, as determined by flow cytometry analyses with specific molecular probes and morphological alterations, such as involvement of reactive oxygen species and changes in mitochondrial membrane potential and cell shrinkage. CONCLUSION: The results suggest antichagasic activity of VIO against T. cruzi Y strain with apoptotic involvement. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: The treatment of CD has limited efficacy and side effects that restrict patient tolerability and compliance. The VIO molecule could be used as a model for therapeutic alternatives for this disease.

Mycotic aneurysm caused by Burkholderia pseudomallei: report of a Brazilian strain genetically related to Thai strains.

Melioidosis, a severe infectious disease caused by Burkholderia pseudomallei that is prevalent in Southeast Asia and Northern Australia, has been sporadically reported in Brazil since 2003. We report a case of aortic aneurysm with blood culture positive for B. pseudomallei. The phylogenetic analysis of 16S ribosomal DNA showed this isolate to be evolutionarily grouped with the MSHR346 strains from Thailand.

New approach for petroleum hydrocarbon degradation using bacterial spores entrapped in chitosan beads.

Spores of Bacillus subtilis LAMI008 were entrapped in 3-mm chitosan beads and cross-linked with 0.3% glutaraldehyde for n-hexadecane biodegradation and biosurfactant recovery. When exposed to nutrients, the spores generated vegetative cells without morphological alterations as revealed by atomic force microscopy. The entrapped cells degraded almost 100% of 1% of n-hexadecane in medium supplemented with 1% glucose and produce biosurfactant within 48 h, as well as free cells. The number of viable cells inside the beads was maintained throughout the n-hexadecane degradation process and the released biosurfactant was not used as a carbon source. Entrapment of bacterial spores in chitosan beads overcomes problems with stability, storage, and long term cell viability encountered with vegetative cells. This approach can potentially be utilized for biodegradation of complex compounds by entrapping spores of different species of bacteria.

Genetic variability in Melipona quinquefasciata (Hymenoptera, Apidae, Meliponini) from northeastern Brazil determined using the first internal transcribed spacer (ITS1).

Melipona quinquefasciata is a ground-nesting South American stingless bee whose geographic distribution was believed to comprise only the central and southern states of Brazil. We obtained partial sequences (about 500-570 bp) of first internal transcribed spacer (ITS1) nuclear ribosomal DNA from Melipona specimens putatively identified as M. quinquefasciata collected from different localities in northeastern Brazil. To confirm the taxonomic identity of the northeastern samples, specimens from the state of Goiás (Central region of Brazil) were included for comparison. All sequences were deposited in GenBank (accession numbers EU073751-EU073759). The mean nucleotide divergence (excluding sites with insertions/deletions) in the ITS1 sequences was only 1.4%, ranging from 0 to 4.1%. When the sites with insertions/deletions were also taken into account, sequence divergences varied from 0 to 5.3%. In all pairwise comparisons, the ITS1 sequence from the specimens collected in Goiás was most divergent compared to the ITS1 sequences of the bees from the other locations. However, neighbor-joining phylogenetic analysis showed that all ITS1 sequences from northeastern specimens along with the sample of Goiás were resolved in a single clade with a bootstrap support of 100%. The ITS1 sequencing data thus support the occurrence of M. quinquefasciata in northeast Brazil.

Expression of a Canavalia brasiliensis lectin (ConBr) precursor in Pichia pastoris.

A precursor of ConBr, a glucose/mannose-binding plant lectin, was expressed in the yeast Pichia pastoris. Western blot analysis of transformed cells detected an intracellularly recombinant protein band with ca. 34.5 kDa. The recombinant protein was apparently active as suggested by its strong interaction with the mannose-rich yeast cell debris.

Establishment of a heterologous system for the expression of Canavalia brasiliensis lectin: a model for the study of protein splicing

During its biosynthesis in developing Canavalia brasiliensis seeds, the lectin ConBr undergoes a form of protein splicing in which the order of the N- and C-domains of the protein is reversed. To investigate whether these events can occur in other eukaryotic organisms, an expression system based on Pichia pastoris cells was established. A DNA fragment encoding prepro-ConBr was cloned into the vector pPICZB, and the recombinant plasmid was transformed in P. pastoris strain GS115. Ten clones were screened for effective recombinant protein production. Based on Western blot analysis of the two clones with the highest level of protein expression: 1) diffuse high-molecular mass immunoreactive bands were produced as early as 24 h after induction; 2) a single-, high-molecular mass protein was secreted into the medium, and 3) a significant fraction of the recombinant polypeptides that cross-reacted with anti-ConBr antibodies comprised a band of approximately 34.5 kDa. Diffuse protein bands with high molecular masses are attributed to hyperglycosylation at the single potential N-glycosylation site located in the linker peptide of prepro-ConBr. In contrast, native ConBr is made up of three polypeptides, the intact alpha chain (aa 1-237) and the fragments beta (aa 1-118) and gamma (aa 119-237), which have apparent molecular masses of 30, 16 and 12 kDa, respectively. Apparently, the yeast P. pastoris is not able to carry out all the complex post-translational proteolytic processing necessary for the biosynthesis of ConBr.

Antifungal susceptibility and genetic similarity of sequential isolates of Trichophyton rubrum from an immunocompetent patient with chronic dermatophytosis.

Chronic cutaneous dermatophytoses caused by Trichophyton rubrum are common in immunocompromised patients. In immunocompetent indivuals, the disease is more often associated with onychomycosis and tinea pedis. The aim of this study was to perform antifungal susceptibility tests and genetic analysis of sequential isolates of T. rubrum from an immunocompetent patient with chronic dermatophytosis. Antifungal susceptibility tests against griseofulvin, ketoconazole, itraconazole and fluconazole were performed with sequential isolates of T. rubrum. Genetic relationship among the isolates was analysed by the random amplification of polymorphic DNA (RAPD) method. The results revealed that treatment failure was not related to the development of drug resistance, as all of the sequential T. rubrum isolates were sensitive to antifungals tested in vitro. The RAPD data demonstrated that this disease was caused by identical isolates, with no genetic differences among them, representing a single T. rubrum strain. Treatment failure and chronicity of infection do not seem to be related to antifungal resistance.

Transport genes of Chromobacterium violaceum: an overview

The complete genome sequence of the free-living bacterium Chromobacterium violaceum has been determined by a consortium of laboratories in Brazil. Almost 500 open reading frames (ORFs) coding for transport-related membrane proteins were identified in C. violaceum, which represents 11 of all genes found. The main class of transporter proteins is the primary active transporters (212 ORFs), followed by electrochemical potential-driven transporters (154 ORFs) and channels/pores (62 ORFs). Other classes (61 ORFs) include group translocators, transport electron carriers, accessory factors, and incompletely characterized systems. Therefore, all major categories of transport-related membrane proteins currently recognized in the Transport Protein Database (http://tcdb.ucsd.edu/tcdb) are present in C. violaceum. The complex apparatus of transporters of C. violaceum is certainly an important factor that makes this bacterium a dominant microorganism in a variety of ecosystems in tropical and subtropical regions. From a biotechnological point of view, the most important finding is the transporters of heavy metals, which could lead to the exploitation of C. violaceum for bioremediation

Purification and characterization of a new lectin from the red marine alga Hypnea musciformis.

A lectin from the red marine alga Hypnea musciformis (HML) was purified by extraction with 20 mM PBS, precipitation with 70% saturated ammonium sulphate, ion-exchange DEAE-Cellulose chromatography and RP-HPLC. The 9.3 kDa polypeptide agglutinates erythrocytes from various sources and shows oligomerization tendencies under certain MALDI-TOF/MS conditions. Preliminary N-terminal sequencing and biological assays strongly suggest that the HML may belong to a new class of algae lectins.

Purification and partial characterization of a lectin from Canavalia grandiflora benth. seeds.

A D-glucose/D-mannose specific lectin from seeds of Canavalia grandiflora (ConGF) was purified by affinity chromatography on Sephadex G-50. By SDS-PAGE ConGF yielded three protein bands with apparent molecular masses of 29-30 kDa (alpha chain), 16-18 kDa (beta fragment) and 12-13 kDa (gamma fragment), like other related lectins from the genus Canavalia (Leguminosae). ConGF strongly agglutinates rabbit erythrocytes, has a high content of ASP and SER, and its N-terminal sequence (30 residues) is highly similar to the sequences of other related lectins from subtribe Diocleinae.

The amino-acid sequence of the glucose/mannose-specific lectin isolated from Parkia platycephala seeds reveals three tandemly arranged jacalin-related domains.

A mannose/glucose-specific lectin was isolated from seeds of Parkia platycephala, the most primitive subfamily of Leguminosae plants. The molecular mass of the purified lectin determined by mass spectrometry was 47 946 +/- 6 Da (by electrospray ionization) and 47 951 +/- 9 Da (by matrix-assisted laser-desoption ionization). The apparent molecular mass of the lectin in solutions of pH in the range 4.5-8.5 determined by analytical ultracentrifugation equilibrium sedimentation was 94 +/- 3 kDa, showing that the protein behaved as a non-pH-dependent dimer. The amino-acid sequence of the Parkia lectin was determined by Edman degradation of overlapping peptides. This is the first report of the primary structure of a Mimosoideae lectin. The protein contained a blocked N-terminus and a single, nonglycosylated polypeptide chain composed of three tandemly arranged homologous domains. Each of these domains shares sequence similarity with jacalin-related lectin monomers from Asteraceae, Convolvulaceae, Moraceae, Musaceae, Gramineae, and Fagaceae plant families. Based on this homology, we predict that each Parkia lectin repeat may display a beta prism fold similar to that observed in the crystal structure of the lectin from Helianthus tuberosus. The P. platycephala lectin also shows sequence similarity with stress- and pathogen-upregulated defence genes of a number of different plants, suggesting a common ancestry for jacalin-related lectins and inducible defence proteins.

In vivo lymphocyte activation and apoptosis by lectins of the Diocleinae subtribe.

This paper reports the overall effects of three lectins, extracted from Canavalia brasiliensis, Dioclea violacea, and D. grandiflora, on BALB/c mice popliteal draining lymph nodes. These lectins have presented high stimulatory capacity on lymph node T cells. Additionally, they were able to induce apoptosis and inflammation (frequently associated with high endothelial venule necrosis). The data presented here suggest that the Diocleinae lectins studied can stimulate in vivo T cell activation and apoptosis, as well as present important side effects.

Crystal structure of native and Cd/Cd-substituted Dioclea guianensis seed lectin. A novel manganese-binding site and structural basis of dimer-tetramer association.

Diocleinae legume lectins are a group of oligomeric proteins whose subunits display a high degree of primary structure and tertiary fold conservation but exhibit considerable diversity in their oligomerisation modes. To elucidate the structural determinants underlaying Diocleinae lectin oligomerisation, we have determined the crystal structures of native and cadmium-substituted Dioclea guianensis (Dguia) seed lectin. These structures have been solved by molecular replacement using concanavalin (ConA) coordinates as the starting model, and refined against data to 2.0 A resolution. In the native (Mn/Ca-Dguia) crystal form (P4(3)2(1)2), the asymmetric unit contains two monomers arranged into a canonical legume lectin dimer, and the tetramer is formed with a symmetry-related dimer. In the Cd/Cd-substituted form (I4(1)22), the asymmetric unit is occupied by a monomer. In both crystal forms, the tetrameric association is achieved by the corresponding symmetry operators. Like other legume lectins, native D. guianensis lectin contains manganese and calcium ions bound in the vicinity of the saccharide-combining site. The architecture of these metal-binding sites (S1 and S2) changed only slightly in the cadmium/cadmium-substituted form. A highly ordered calcium (native lectin) or cadmium (Cd/Cd-substituted lectin) ion is coordinated at the interface between dimers that are not tetrameric partners in a similar manner as the previously identified Cd(2+) in site S3 of a Cd/Ca-ConA. An additional Mn(2+) coordination site (called S5), whose presence has not been reported in crystal structures of any other homologous lectin, is present in both, the Mn/Ca and the Cd/Cd-substituted D. guianensis lectin forms. On the other hand, comparison of the primary and quaternary crystal structures of seed lectins from D. guianensis and Dioclea grandiflora (1DGL) indicates that the loop comprising residues 117-123 is ordered to make interdimer contacts in the D. grandiflora lectin structure, while this loop is disordered in the D. guianensis lectin structure. A single amino acid difference at position 131 (histidine in D. grandiflora and asparagine in D. guianensis) drastically reduces interdimer contacts, accounting for the disordered loop. Further, this amino acid change yields a conformation that may explain why a pH-dependent dimer-tetramer equilibrium exists for the D. guianensis lectin but not for the D. grandiflora lectin.

Characterization of the sugar-binding specificity of the toxic lectins isolated from Abrus pulchellus seeds.

The sugar-binding specificity of the toxic lectins from Abrus pulchellus seeds was investigated by combination of affinity chromatography of glycopeptides and oligosaccharides of well-defined structures on a lectin-Sepharose column and measurement of the kinetic interactions in real time towards immobilized glycoproteins. The lectins showed strong affinity for a series of bi- and triantennary N-acetyllactosamine type glycans. The related asialo-oligosaccharides interact more strongly with the lectins. The best recognized structures were asialo-glycopeptides from fetuin. Accordingly, the kinetic interaction with immobilized asialofetuin was by far the most pronounced. Human and bovine lactotransferrins and human serotransferrin interacted to a lesser extent. The interaction with asialofetuin was inhibited by galactose in a dose dependent manner. Lactose, N-acetyllactosamine and lacto-N-biose exhibited similar degree of inhibition while N-acetylgalactosamine was a poor inhibitor. These results suggested that the carbohydrate-binding site of the Abrus pulchellus lectins was specific for galactose and possess a remarkable affinity for the sequences lactose [beta-D-Gal-(1-->4)-D-Glc], N-acetyllactosamine [beta-D-Gal-(1-->4)-D-GlcNAc] and lacto-N-biose [beta-D-Gal-(1-->3)-D-GlcNAc].

Revisiting proteus: do minor changes in lectin structure matter in biological activity? Lessons from and potential biotechnological uses of the Diocleinae subtribe lectins.

Significant differences in function have been observed among lectins structurally similar to concanavalin A, but their high homology with this widely used lectin has kept them in obscurity. The observation of large differences in the potency of many of these Diocleinae lectins as stimulators of Interferon-g production by human peripheral blood mononuclear cells has lead to a major effort to unravel their chemical structure and biological activity. Modeling studies of some of these lectins reveal conformational changes in side chains of some residues involved in the carbohydrate-binding site, with possible effects on the ability of these proteins to recognize specific carbohydrate structures. Additionally, all them constitute in fact a mixture of isolectins, which in different proportions could lead to diverse effects. The present review of the biological actions of Diocleinae lectins includes several in vitro and in vivo immunological findings, as well as their effects on insect growth and reproduction. In these systems Diocleinae lectins proved to be quite diverse in their potency. Such diversity in the biological activity of highly related proteins recalls the origin of the name protein: like Proteus, the capability of assuming various forms is the essential feature of this class of molecules.

Purification, chemical, and immunochemical properties of a new lectin from Mimosoideae (Parkia discolor).

A glucose/mannose-binding lectin was isolated from seeds of Parkia discolor (Mimosoideae) using affinity chromatography on Sephadex G-100 gel. The protein presented a unique component in SDS-PAGE corresponding to a molecular mass of 58,000 Da, which is very similar to that of a closely related lectin from Parkia platycephala. Among the simple sugars tested, mannose was the best inhibitor, but biantennary glycans, containing the trimannoside core, present in N-glycoproteins, also seem to be powerful inhibitors of the haemagglutinating activity induced by the purified lectin. The protein was characterised by high content of glycine and proline and absence of cysteine. Rabbit antibodies, anti-P. platycephala seed lectin, recognised the P. discolor lectin. However, no cross-reaction was observed when a set of other legume lectins from sub-family Papilionoideae and others from families Moraceae and Euphorbiaceae were assayed with the Parkia lectins. This suggests that Parkia lectins comprise a new group of legume lectins exhibiting distinct characteristics.

The amino acid sequence of the agglutinin isolated from the red marine alga Bryothamnion triquetrum defines a novel lectin structure.

The primary structure of a lectin isolated from the red alga Bryothamnion triquetrum was established by combination of Edman degradation of sets of overlapping peptides and mass spectrometry. It contains 91 amino acids and two disulphide bonds. The primary structure of the B. triquetrum lectin does not show amino acid sequence similarity with known plant and animal lectin structures. Hence, this protein may be the paradigm of a novel lectin family.

Thermodynamic binding studies of lectins from the diocleinae subtribe to deoxy analogs of the core trimannoside of asparagine-linked oligosaccharides.

Lectins from seven different species of the Diocleinae subtribe have been recently isolated and characterized in terms of their carbohydrate binding specificities (Dam, T. K., Cavada, B. S., Grangeiro, T. B., Santos, C. F., de Sousa, F. A. M., Oscarson, S., and Brewer, C. F. (1998) J. Biol. Chem. 273, 12082-12088). The lectins included those from Canavalia brasiliensis, Cratylia floribunda, Dioclea rostrata, Dioclea virgata, Dioclea violacea, and Dioclea guianensis. All of the lectins exhibited specificity for Man and Glc residues, but much higher affinities for the branched chain trimannoside, 3,6-di-O-(alpha-d-mannopyranosyl)-d-mannose, which is found in the core region of all asparagine-linked carbohydrates. In the present study, isothermal titration microcalorimetry is used to determine the binding thermodynamics of the above lectins, including a new lectin from Canavalia grandiflora, to a complete series of monodeoxy analogs of the core trimannoside. From losses in the affinity constants and enthalpies of binding of certain deoxy analogs, assignments are made of the hydroxyl epitopes on the trimannoside that are involved in binding to the lectins. The pattern of binding of the deoxy analogs is similar for all seven lectins, and similar to that of concanavalin A which is also a member of the Diocleinae subtribe. However, differences in the magnitude of the thermodynamic binding parameters of the lectins are observed, even though the lectins possess conserved contact residues in many cases, and highly conserved primary sequences. The results indicate that non-contact residues in the lectins, even those distant from the binding sites, modulate their thermodynamic binding parameters.

Demonstration of a conserved histidine and two water ligands at the Mn2+ site in Diocleinae lectins by pulsed EPR spectroscopy.

Lectins from the Diocleinae subtribe, including Canavalia brasiliensis, Canavalia bonariensis, Canavalia grandiflora, Cratylia floribunda, Dioclea grandiflora, Dioclea guianensis, Dioclea rostrata, Dioclea violacea, and Dioclea virgata, have been recently isolated and characterized in terms of their carbohydrate binding specificities. Although all of the lectins are Man/Glc specific, they possess different biological activities. In the present study, electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy demonstrates that all nine Diocleinae lectins contain Mn2+. The spectra of C. floribunda and D. rostrata suggest Mn2+ site symmetry different from that of the other seven lectins. However, electron spin-echo envelope modulation (ESEEM) spectroscopy indicates that all nine lectins are coordinated to a histidyl imidazole, with similar electron-nuclear coupling to the Mn2+-bound imidazole nitrogen. ESEEM also demonstrates ligation of two water molecules to Mn2+ in all nine Diocleinae lectins. Thus, the EPR and ESEEM data indicate the presence of a Mn2+ binding site in the above Diocleinae lectins with a conserved histidine residue and two water ligands.