The genus Xanthomonas is a diverse and economically important group of bacterial phytopathogens, belonging to the γ-subdivision of the Proteobacteria. Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. citri (Xac) causes ...citrus canker, which affects most commercial citrus cultivars, resulting in significant losses worldwide. Symptoms include canker lesions, leading to abscission of fruit and leaves and general tree decline. Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris (Xcc) causes black rot, which affects crucifers such as Brassica and Arabidopsis. Symptoms include marginal leaf chlorosis and darkening of vascular tissue, accompanied by extensive wilting and necrosis. Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris is grown commercially to produce the exopolysaccharide xanthan gum, which is used as a viscosifying and stabilizing agent in many industries. Here we report and compare the complete genome sequences of Xac and Xcc. Their distinct disease phenotypes and host ranges belie a high degree of similarity at the genomic level. More than 80% of genes are shared, and gene order is conserved along most of their respective chromosomes. We identified several groups of strain-specific genes, and on the basis of these groups we propose mechanisms that may explain the differing host specificities and pathogenic processes.
In this paper, we complement our previous study on the antiproliferative activity of Calea fruticosa (Asteraceae) by isolating the compounds apigenin-4',7-dimethyl ether (1), budlein A (2), quercetin ...(3), and cichoriin (4) from the plant's aerial parts. The antiproliferative activity of these compounds was evaluated by the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) method against human tumor cell lines. Compound 3 displayed moderate antiproliferative activity in three cell lines (HCT-116, PC-3, and SF-295, with cell growth inhibition values of 72.97, 74.55, and 68.94%) and high antiproliferative activity (90.86%) in the HL-60 cell line. The in vitro sun protection factor (SPF) of the extracts and compound 4, with and without sunscreen, was determined by a spectrophotometric method. The ethanol extract exhibited the highest SPF (9.67) at a concentration of 0.100 mg/mL, while compound 4, isolated from this extract, showed a SPF of 13.79 at the same concentration. A relative increased efficacy of SPF was observed for the extracts and compound 4 when sunscreen was also used. Compound 4 has not been reported previously from any species within the genus Calea. Compounds 1-4 were obtained from this species for the first time. Key words: Flavone; Sesquiterpenic lactone; Flavonol; Glucosylated coumarin; Sunscreen preparation
The electronic spectroscopy of isolated furfural (2-furaldehyde) in the gas phase has been investigated using high-resolution photoabsorption spectroscopy in the 3.5-10.8 eV energy-range, with ...absolute cross section measurements derived. Electron energy loss spectra are also measured over a range of kinematical conditions. Those energy loss spectra are used to derive differential cross sections and in turn generalised oscillator strengths. These experiments are supported by ab initio calculations in order to assign the excited states of the neutral molecule. The good agreement between the theoretical results and the measurements allows us to provide the first quantitative assignment of the electronic state spectroscopy of furfural over an extended energy range.
Vanillin is the main component of natural vanilla extract and is responsible for its flavoring properties. Besides its well‐known applications as an additive in food and cosmetics, it has also been ...reported that vanillin can inhibit fungi of clinical interest, such as Candida spp., Cryptococcus spp., Aspergillus spp., as well as dermatophytes. Thus, the present work approaches the synthesis of a series of vanillin derivatives with 1,2,3‐triazole fragments and the evaluation of their antifungal activities against Candida albicans, Candida glabrata, Candida parapsilosis, Candida tropicalis, Cryptococcus neoformans, Cryptococcus gattii, Trichophyton rubrum, and Trichophyton interdigitale strains. Twenty‐two vanillin derivatives were obtained, with yields in the range of 60%–91%, from copper(I)‐catalyzed alkyne‐azide cycloaddition (CuAAC) click reaction between two terminal alkynes prepared from vanillin and different benzyl azides. In general, the evaluated compounds showed moderate activity against the microorganisms tested, with minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values ranging from 32 to >512 µg mL−1. Except for compound 3b against the C. gattii R265 strain, all vanillin derivatives showed fungicidal activity for the yeasts tested. The predicted physicochemical and ADMET (absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and toxicity) properties for the compounds indicated favorable profiles for drug development. In addition, a four‐dimensional structure‐activity relationship (4D‐SAR) analysis was carried out and provided useful insights concerning the structures of the compounds and their biological profile. Finally, molecular docking calculations showed that all compounds bind favorably at the lanosterol 14α‐demethylase enzyme active site with binding energies ranging from –9.1 to –12.2 kcal/mol.
Twenty‐two vanillin derivatives with 1,2,3‐triazole fragments were synthesized and evaluated for their activities against a number of fungal strains. The evaluated compounds showed moderate activity against the microorganisms tested, with minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values ranging from 32 to >512 µg mL−1. All compounds bind favorably at the lanosterol 14α‐demethylase enzyme active site.
To investigate the association between periconceptional environmental exposures and the occurrence of cleft lips and palates.
This case-control study analyzed 150 mothers of children with cleft lips ...and palates living in the same city as 250 mothers whose children did not present with this malformation (controls). Environmental exposure data were gathered through a questionnaire (Latin American Collaborative Study of Congenital Malformations methodology).
Multivariate analysis revealed that monthly income below minimum wage, having another malformed child, other diseases in the first gestational trimester (urinary infection), use of pesticides in home gardens, and pesticide use in farms close to the home were risk factors associated with the malformation, whereas taking vitamins was a protective factor.
Maternal and paternal exposure to pesticides is associated with cleft lip and palate in Mato Grosso State, Brazil.
Purpose
Pain is considered a stressful experience, related to real or possible tissue damage with emotional, sensory, social and cognitive components. The aim of the study was to evaluate and ...compare, using a digital algometer, the pressure pain threshold of temporal and masseter muscles of children and adolescents with and without intellectual disability.
Methods
A cross-sectional study was conducted. Data regarding gender and age were collected from the caregiver of children and adolescents with and without intellectual disability. The evaluations followed this sequence: pressure pain threshold of the masseter and temporal muscles, evaluation of pain on touch using the visual analog scale and signs and symptoms of Temporomandibular disorder. The
χ
2
test, the Kolgomorov–Smirnov test, Student
t
test and Mann–Whitney test were performed. The significance level was set at 5%.
Results
Two homogeneous groups by gender (
P
= 0.258) and age (
P
= 0.727) were evaluated, of which 25 children and adolescents presented intellectual disability and another 25 did not have intellectual disability. No significant difference was observed between groups on the pressure pain threshold of the masseter and temporal muscles, nor pressure average or exam time (
P
> 0.05). Regarding Temporomandibular dysfunction, no difference in signs or symptoms frequency was found (
P
> 0.05). However, the range of maximum mouth opening was smaller in the intellectual disability group (
P
= 0.006).
Conclusion
Children and adolescents with intellectual disability and preserved basic functionalities do not present alterations in pain perception when evaluated with computerized pressure algometer and visual analog scale. They present similar threshold of pain to pressure as those reported by normative children and adolescents. These results emphasize the importance to treat these children and adolescents with intellectual disability with respect to their pain threshold.
In this Policy Forum piece, Aditya Narayan and colleagues discuss the challenges and opportunities for tuberculosis preventive treatment in carceral settings.
There are no reports of the systemic human pathology of the novel swine H1N1 influenza (S-OIV) infection.
The autopsy findings of 21 Brazilian patients with confirmed S-OIV infection are presented. ...These patients died in the winter of the southern hemisphere 2009 pandemic, with acute respiratory failure.
Lung tissue was submitted to virologic and bacteriologic analysis with real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction and electron microscopy. Expression of toll-like receptor (TLR)-3, IFN-gamma, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, CD8(+) T cells and granzyme B(+) cells in the lungs was investigated by immunohistochemistry.
Patients were aged from 1 to 68 years (72% between 30 and 59 yr) and 12 were male. Sixteen patients had preexisting medical conditions. Diffuse alveolar damage was present in 20 individuals. In six patients, diffuse alveolar damage was associated with necrotizing bronchiolitis and in five with extensive hemorrhage. There was also a cytopathic effect in the bronchial and alveolar epithelial cells, as well as necrosis, epithelial hyperplasia, and squamous metaplasia of the large airways. There was marked expression of TLR-3 and IFN-gamma and a large number of CD8(+) T cells and granzyme B(+) cells within the lung tissue. Changes in other organs were mainly secondary to multiple organ failure.
Autopsies have shown that the main pathological changes associated with S-OIV infection are localized to the lungs, where three distinct histological patterns can be identified. We also show evidence of ongoing pulmonary aberrant immune response. Our results reinforce the usefulness of autopsy in increasing the understanding of the novel human influenza A (H1N1) infection.
The search for antiprion compounds has been encouraged by the fact that transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs) share molecular mechanisms with more prevalent neurodegenerative pathologies, ...such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's diseases. Cellular prion protein (PrP
) conversion into protease-resistant forms (protease-resistant PrP PrP
or the scrapie form of PrP PrP
) is a critical step in the development of TSEs and is thus one of the main targets in the screening for antiprion compounds. In this work, three trimethoxychalcones (compounds J1, J8, and J20) and one oxadiazole (compound Y17), previously identified
to be potential antiprion compounds, were evaluated through different approaches in order to gain inferences about their mechanisms of action. None of them changed PrP
mRNA levels in N2a cells, as shown by reverse transcription-quantitative real-time PCR. Among them, J8 and Y17 were effective in real-time quaking-induced conversion reactions using rodent recombinant PrP (rPrP) from residues 23 to 231 (rPrP
) as the substrate and PrP
seeds from hamster and human brain. However, when rPrP from residues 90 to 231 (rPrP
), which lacks the N-terminal domain, was used as the substrate, only J8 remained effective, indicating that this region is important for Y17 activity, while J8 seems to interact with the PrP
globular domain. J8 also reduced the fibrillation of mouse rPrP
seeded with
-produced fibrils. Furthermore, most of the compounds decreased the amount of PrP
on the N2a cell surface by trapping this protein in the endoplasmic reticulum. On the basis of these results, we hypothesize that J8, a nontoxic compound previously shown to be a promising antiprion agent, may act by different mechanisms, since its efficacy is attributable not only to PrP conversion inhibition but also to a reduction of the PrP
content on the cell surface.
Cassia occidentalis L. (Leguminosae) has long been used as natural medicine in rainforests and other tropical regions for the treatment of inflammation, fever, liver disorders, constipation, worms, ...fungal infections, ulcers, respiratory infections, snakebite and as a potent abortifacient.
This study has investigated the effects of oral sub-acute administration of
Cassia occidentalis during pregnancy in female Wistar rats.
Three groups of pregnant rats were treated orally from the 1st to the 6th day (pre-implantation period) and from the 7th to the 14th day (organogenic period) of pregnancy, with doses of 250 and 500
mg/kg. On the 20th day of pregnancy, the animals were euthanized and reproductive parameters evaluated.
The results revealed no statistically significant differences between the control and treated groups in terms of offspring/dam relationship; fetuses, placentae and ovaries weights; number of implantation and resorption sites; number of corpora lutea in the ovaries and pre- and post-implantation loss rates. However, the presence of dead fetuses was registered in both doses of 250 and 500
mg/kg of
Cassia occidentalis.
Further studies should therefore be conducted to obtain more detailed characteristics of the toxic effects of this species, the use of which is not recommended during pregnancy.
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