Tziminema unachi n. gen., n. sp. (Nematoda: Strongylidae: Strongylinae) parasite of Baird's tapir Tapirus bairdii from Mexico.

A new genus and species of nematode, Tziminema unachi n. gen., n. sp. is described from the caecum and colon of Baird's tapir Tapirus bairdii (Gill, 1865), found dead in the Reserva de la Biósfera El Triunfo, Chiapas State, in the Neotropical realm of Mexico. Tziminema n. gen. differs from the other nine genera included in the Strongylinae by two main characteristics: having 7-9 posteriorly directed tooth-like structures at the anterior end of the buccal capsule, and the external surface of the buccal capsule being heavily striated. Phylogenetic analyses of the DNA sequences of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase and nuclear DNA, including a partial sequence of the internal transcribed spacer 1, 5.8S and a partial sequence of the internal transcribed spacer 2 of the new taxon, confirmed its inclusion in Strongylinae and its rank as a new genus.

[Evaluation of antimicrobial activity of indol alkaloids]. / Evaluación de la actividad antimicrobiana de alcaloides indólicos.

In pursuing the study of the antimicrobial properties of alkaloids prepared from Cuban plants the activity of 10 indol alkaloids and 4 semisynthetic variables obtained from three plants--Catharanthus roseus G. Don., Vallesia antillana Wood and Ervatamia coronaria Staph, of the family Apocynaceae--growing in Cuba was assessed in vitro. The alkaloids and the variables used were catharantine, vindoline, vindolinine, perivine, reserpine, tabernaemontanine, tetrahydroalstonine, aparicine, vindolinic acid, reserpic acid and vindolininol. These were faced to 40 bacterial strains from the genera Salmonella, Shigella, Proteus, Escherichia, Pseudomonas, Staphylococcus and Corynebacterium as well as to fungi and yeasts from the genera Aspergillus, kCunnighamella, kCandida and Saccharomyces. The method involving cylindric sections in a double agar layer was applied and lectures were obtained at 24-48 hours of incubation at 25 degrees C for fungi and yeasts and 37 degrees C for bacteria. Inhibition zones are reported in millimeters.

[Preparation and evaluation of antibacterial activity of partial fractions of Vallesia antillana Wood]. / Preparación y evaluación de la actividad antibacteriana de fracciones parciales de Vallesia antillana Wood.

A study on the antibacterial properties of alkaloidal fractions of Vallesia antillana Wood, a Cuban plant belonging to the Apocynaceae family, is performed for the first time. Four partial fractions from bark of stems were prepared according to a classical extraction of total alkaloids and a partial fractionation of these, with the use of tartaric acid and ethyl ether and by a pH gradient with values of 2.5, 5.0, 7.0 and alkaline one. Data from thin layer chromatography on the alkaloidal content of different fractions are added and an assessment of antibacterial activity was made; for this, a method of sections in agar medium with bacterial species of human clinical interest was used; inhibitory halos found within 24 hours of incubation at 37 degrees C are reported in millimeters.

[Antimicrobial properties of extracts from Rhizophora mangle L]. / Propiedades antimicrobianas de extractos de Rhizophora mangle L.

Aqueous and alcoholic extracts are obtained from the roots, leaves and stems of ruddy mangrove-tree (Rhizophora mangle L.), a very common plant in Cuban coasts and to which different curative properties are attributed in our popular medicine. The inhibitory activity of these extracts on the growth of different human pathogenic organisms, among which are bacteria, fungii and yeasts, is reported. For this determination, a method of diffusion in an agar medium with holes in which 50 ml of each extract in question were poured was used; the size in millimeters of the inhibitory halo found in each species and the concentration of the dilution in broth for Mycobacterium strains are reported.

[Fungal activity of various alkaloids isolated from Catharanthus roseus G. Don]. / Estudio de la actividad fungistática de algunos alcaloides aislados de Catharanthus roseus G. Don.

Evaluation is made of the fungal activity of ajmalicine, aparacine, catarantine, reserpine, tetrahydroalstonine, vincubine, vindoline and vindolinina--alkaloids isolated from C. roseus growing in Cuba--on new fungi strains and yeasts which include some of human clinical interest. The method employed was the diffusion in an agar mean with sections or cylinders containing solutions of the alkaloids at 2% and 3% concentrations. The best results are obtained with an aparicine base, while tetrahydroalstonine, vincubine and vindolinine solutions did not inhibit the growth in any of the germs tested.

[Microbiological analysis of vindolinina (an alkaloid isolated from Catharanthus roseus) and some of its structural changes]. / Análisis microbiológico de vindolinina (alcaloides de Catharanthus roseus) y algunas de sus modificaciones estructurales.

Bacteriostatic properties of vindolinina (an alkaloid isolated from Catharanthus roseus that has an ester group within its molecule) as well as of its alkaline-hydrolysis product (vindolininic acid) crystallized as chlorhydrate, and of the product of its reduction with lithium and aluminum hydrides (vindolininol) are compared. Several strains of bacteria pathogenic to man (Proteus, Escherichia, Shigella, Staphylococcus, and Pseudomonas) cultured in nutritive-agar dishes containing disks and incubated at 37 degrees C were used and results were assessed 24 hours later. Data obtained show that bacterial growth inhibition is closely related to the structure of the compound as well as to its type of grouping.

[Biological evaluation of Cuban plants. II]. / Contribución a la evaluación biológica de plantas cubanas. II.

The study of the antimicrobial activity of aqueous, alcoholic and ketonic extracts from different parts of five superior, dried, grinded and defatted plants of the families Myrtaceae, Polypodiaceae and Zingiberaceae is pursued. Good results were obtained from Psidium guajaba leave and stem ketonic extracts as well as from Costus spicatus leave and root alcoholic extracts.

[Biological evaluation of Cuban plants. III]. / Contribución a la evaluación biológica de plantas cubanas. III.

Aqueous, alcoholic and ketonic extracts were prepared from different parts of species of the families Martiniaceae, Caricaceae, Umbeliferae, Nictaginaceae and Fitolacaceae in order to prove their antimicrobial action on bacteria which have a clinical interest in humans and live in our environment. The gel double-layer diffusion method was applied. The best results were obtained from Carica papaya leave extracts.

[Biological evaluation of Cuban plants. V]. / Contribución a la evaluación biológica de plantas cubanas. V.

The study of the antimicrobial activity of aqueuos, alcoholic and ketonic extracts from plants growing in Cuba is pursued. Six species of the families Rutaceae, Portulacaceae, Borraglinaceae and Jasminaceae were analyzed, and their activity on bacteria with a human clinical interest was assessed. The best results were obtained from Heliotropium campechianum, Jazminum sambac and Portulaca oleracea.

[Biological evaluation of Cuban plants. IV]. / Contribución a la evaluación biológica de plantas cubanas. IV.

Aqueous, alcoholic and ketonic extracts from leaves and stems of plants of the families Malvaceae, Anonaceae, Punicaceae, Verbenaceae and Urticaceae were analyzed in order to prove their antibacterial proprieties. The best results were obtained from Punica granatum extracts which inhibited over a 50% of bacteria.

[Biological evaluation of Cuban plants. I]. / Contribución a la evaluación biológica de plantas cubanas. I.

Aqueous, alcoholic and ketonic extracts from five species of superior plants of the families Papilonaceae, Euforbiaceae, Moraceae, Piperaceae and Solanaceae were assessed from an antibacterial viewpoint using the gel double-layer diffusion method with cylindric sections. Values of inhibition areas are depicted in diameter millimeters. The best results were obtained from Desmodium barbatum extracts.

[Biological evaluation of Cuban plants VI]. / Contribución a la evaluación biológica de plantas dubanas. VI.

The study of the antibacterial activity of plants growing in Cuba is pursued. Aqueous, alcoholic and ketonic extracts were prepared from five species, and it was found that the best inhibitions corresponded to the species Hamelia patens, Nephrolepis acuminata, Calocarpum sapota and Colocasia antiquorum.

[Plant extracts with cytostatic properties growing in Cuba. II]. / Extractos de plants con propiedades citostáticas que crecen en Cuba. Parte II.

The study of the cytostatic activity of aqueous, alcoholic and ketonic extracts from 18 parts of 9 species of superior plants of the families Araceae, Borraginacease, Burseraceae, Cesalpinaceae, Meliaceae, Compositae, Rebiaceae, Cruciferaceae and Verbenaceae using the microbiologic method of described by Kubas in 1972 is pursued. The best results were obtained from Hamelia patens. Lippia alba, Lepidium virginicum, Cassia ligustrina, Bursera simaruba and Heliotropium campechianum extracts.

[Plant extracts with cytostatic properties growing in Cuba. I]. / Extractos de plantas con propiedades citostáticas que crecen en Cuba. Parte I.

The cytostatic activity of aqueous, alcoholic and ketonic extracts of 9 species of superior plants of the families Fitolacaceae, Compositae, Moraceae, Zingiberaceae, Martiniaceae, Mirtaceae, Verbenaceae and Annonaceae was assessed. The Kubas microbiologic method and the fungus Ascomiceto Neurospora crassa were used in the assessment. The fungus growth was measured in millimeters. Inhibition percentages for every case regarding control are reported. The best results were obtained from Annona muricata, Costus spiralis, Cecropia peltata, Xanthium chinense and Pluchea adorata extracts.

[Patterns of drug resistance in Staphylococcus aureus from human clinical isolates]. / Patrones de drogorresistencia de cepas de Staphylococcus aureus de origen clínico humano.

Fifty circulating strains of Staphylococcus aureus of clinical origin were characterized by their drug susceptibility to 15 antimicrobials through the method of radial diffusion in Mueller Hinton medium. Also, beta-lactam production was determined by acidimetric and chromogenic methods as well as the presence of methicillin-resistant strains. It was confirmed that 32% of strain was susceptible to tested antimicrobials, the most effective of which were imipenem, norfloxacyn, and amikacyn for 98, 96 and 92% susceptibility respectively. Twenty-seven different drug resistance patterns were found in the studied strains. 22% of the total strains was beta-lactam producers whereas 27% of the latter turned out to be methicilline-resistant.