Today's global health and food security are facing an unprecedented threat in the form of antibiotic resistance, leading scientists to tirelessly seek novel antibiotic compounds displaying natural antimicrobial properties. The extraction of plant compounds to combat microbial infections has been a significant area of research over the past several decades. Beneficial biological functions, including antimicrobial activity, are exhibited by plant-derived biological compounds, contributing to our well-being. A wide array of naturally derived compounds enables substantial bioavailability of antibacterial molecules, which contributes to the prevention of various infections. Studies have confirmed the antimicrobial properties of marine plants, also recognized as seaweeds or macroalgae, showing efficacy against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, and a range of other human-infecting strains. Heparan solubility dmso The current study focuses on the investigation of antimicrobial compounds extracted from both red and green macroalgae within the Eukarya domain and Plantae kingdom. While the preliminary findings are encouraging, further research on the antibacterial properties of macroalgae compounds in laboratory and in vivo models is essential to developing novel, safe antibiotics.
Crypthecodinium cohnii, a heterotrophic dinoflagellate, stands as a prominent model system for studying dinoflagellate cell biology, and a substantial industrial source of the nutraceutical and pharmaceutical compound docosahexaenoic acid. While these elements are present, the Crypthecodiniaceae family's description is not complete, partly because of the degradation of their thecal plates and the insufficient presence of morphological descriptions referenced by ribotypes in many taxonomic groups. The significant genetic distances and phylogenetic clustering we report here provide evidence for inter-specific variations within the Crypthecodiniaceae. In this work, we describe Crypthecodinium croucheri sp. A list of sentences, this JSON schema, is returned to you. Kwok, Law, and Wong, exhibiting variations in genome size, ribotypes, and amplification fragment length polymorphism profiles, contrast significantly with those of C. cohnii. The ITS regions, conserved across intraspecific ribotypes, exhibited divergent truncation-insertion patterns that signified interspecific ribotypes. The considerable genetic divergence between Crypthecodiniaceae and other dinoflagellate orders warrants the elevation of this group, encompassing taxa distinguished by high oil content and modified thecal plates, to order-level classification. This research forms the basis for future focused demarcation-differentiation, a critical facet in food safety, biosecurity, sustainable agricultural feed programs, and the biotechnology licensing of new oleaginous models.
Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), a neonatal condition, is posited to develop within the womb, manifesting as an incomplete development of alveoli due to inflamed lungs. Among risk factors for newly developing borderline personality disorder (BPD) in human infants are intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR), premature birth (PTB), and formula feeding. In a mouse model, our research group recently reported a correlation between paternal exposure to 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) and a heightened risk of intrauterine growth retardation, premature birth, and the development of new-onset bronchopulmonary dysplasia in subsequent offspring. Regrettably, the formula supplementation of these newborns led to a heightened severity of pulmonary disease. In an independent study, we documented that a paternal preconception diet incorporating fish oil prevented TCDD-induced intrauterine growth restriction and preterm birth. Remarkably, eliminating these two substantial risk factors in new BPD patients also brought about a substantial decrease in neonatal lung disease cases. However, a preceding analysis failed to explore the possible ways in which fish oil provides its protective function. We investigated whether a paternal preconception fish oil diet mitigated toxicant-induced lung inflammation, a key factor in the development of new cases of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD). Offspring of TCDD-exposed males fed a fish oil diet before conception displayed a significantly reduced pulmonary expression of pro-inflammatory mediators, such as Tlr4, Cxcr2, and Il-1 alpha, compared to offspring of standard diet-fed, TCDD-exposed males. Moreover, the neonatal lungs of pups fathered by fish oil-treated fathers displayed negligible instances of hemorrhage or edema. Maternal health improvements, especially smoking cessation, and the reduction of preterm birth risks, such as with progesterone supplementation, currently constitute the primary focus in preventing Borderline Personality Disorder. Experiments conducted on mice underscore the significance of considering paternal factors in achieving improved pregnancy outcomes and promoting child health.
This research investigated the antifungal activity of different Arthrospira platensis extract types – ethanol, methanol, ethyl acetate, and acetone – to address the effect on tested pathogenic fungi (Candida albicans, Trichophyton rubrum, and Malassezia furfur). *A. platensis* extract's impact on both antioxidant and cytotoxicity was also measured across four specific cell lines. The methanol extract of *A. platensis* resulted in the most substantial inhibition zones against *Candida albicans*, as gauged via the well diffusion method. A transmission electron micrograph of the Candida cells treated with A. platensis methanolic extract revealed mild cytoplasmic organelle lysis and vacuolation. During an in vivo study of C. albicans infection in mice and concurrent A. platensis methanolic extract cream application, the skin layer displayed the elimination of Candida's spherical plastopores. A. platensis extract exhibited the highest antioxidant activity, as measured by its ability to scavenge DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) radicals, with an IC50 value of 28 mg/mL. The results of the MTT cytotoxicity assay demonstrated a strong cytotoxic effect of the A. platensis extract on HepG2 cells (IC50 2056 ± 17 g/mL) and a moderate cytotoxic effect against MCF7 and Hela cells (IC50 2799 ± 21 g/mL). Analysis by Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry (GC/MS) indicated that the potent activity of A. platensis extract arises from the combined effects of alkaloids, phytol, fatty acid hydrocarbons, phenolics, and phthalates.
The identification of non-terrestrial animal-sourced collagen alternatives is experiencing increasing demand. This investigation examined the application of pepsin- and acid-based extraction methods for isolating collagen from the swim bladders of Megalonibea fusca. Spectral analysis and sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) characterization were performed on the acid-soluble collagen (ASC) and pepsin-soluble collagen (PSC) samples after extraction, respectively. These analyses revealed both to be composed of type I collagen with a triple-helical conformation. Samples of ASC and PSC exhibited imino acid contents of 195 and 199 residues per 1000, respectively. Electron microscopy, specifically scanning electron microscopy, revealed that freeze-dried collagen samples presented a tightly packed lamellar structure. Further investigation with transmission electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy validated the self-assembly of these collagens into fibers. ASC samples demonstrated a more substantial fiber diameter than their PSC counterparts. The peak solubility of ASC and PSC occurred in acidic environments. The in vitro testing of ASC and PSC demonstrated no cytotoxicity, fulfilling a prerequisite for medical device biological evaluation. Hence, collagen obtained from the swim bladders of Megalonibea fusca holds substantial promise as a viable alternative to collagen extracted from mammals.
The unique toxicological and pharmacological properties of marine toxins (MTs) are due to their complex structural makeup as natural products. Heparan solubility dmso From the cultured microalgae strain Prorocentrum lima PL11, two prevalent shellfish toxins, okadaic acid (OA) (1) and OA methyl ester (2), were identified in this study. While OA can substantially trigger dormant HIV, it unfortunately carries substantial toxicity. To obtain more acceptable and effective latency-reversing agents (LRAs), we chemically modified the structure of OA using esterification, which produced one known compound (3) and four new derivatives (4-7). Flow cytometry analysis of HIV latency reversal by various compounds indicated compound 7 demonstrated superior activity (EC50 = 46.135 nM), contrasting with its lower cytotoxicity compared to OA. Early structure-activity relationships (SARs) showed that the carboxyl group in OA was required for activity; modification of the carboxyl or free hydroxyl groups via esterification positively impacted toxicity reduction. Through a mechanistic examination, the effect of compound 7 on P-TEFb's detachment from the 7SK snRNP complex and the ensuing reactivation of latent HIV-1 was elucidated. The research effort yields critical insights into OA-influenced HIV latent reservoir inactivation.
Fermentation of Aspergillus insulicola, a fungus derived from deep-sea sediment, produced three novel phenolic compounds, epicocconigrones C-D (1-2) and flavimycin C (3), alongside six known compounds: epicocconigrone A (4); 2-(10-formyl-11,13-dihydroxy-12-methoxy-14-methyl)-6,7-dihydroxy-5-methyl-4-benzofurancarboxaldehyde (5); epicoccolide B (6); eleganketal A (7); 13-dihydro-5-methoxy-7-methylisobenzofuran (8); and 23,4-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)-5-methylbenzyl-alcohol (9). From the integration of 1D and 2D NMR spectra and high-resolution electrospray ionization mass spectrometry data, the planar structures' characteristics were deduced. Heparan solubility dmso ECD calculations yielded the absolute configurations for compounds 1, 2, and 3. Compound 3, uniquely, showcased a fully symmetrical isobenzofuran dimer. Scrutinizing all compounds for their -glucosidase inhibitory potential, compounds 1, 4 through 7, and 9 displayed a more powerful -glucosidase inhibitory effect compared to the positive control, acarbose. IC50 values for these compounds spanned from 1704 to 29247 M, significantly lower than the IC50 value of 82297 M observed for acarbose, highlighting their potential as promising lead compounds in the development of new hypoglycemic drugs.