The aim of the following study was to evaluate the effect of a purified saponin mixture (PSM), isolated from
Astragalus corniculatus Bieb. (Fabaceae), on enzyme-induced and non-enzyme-induced lipid ...peroxidation (LPO), in liver microsomes from spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs) – strain Okamoto Aoki, as compared to normotensive Wistar rats (NTRs).
The enzyme-induced lipid peroxidation was performed by incubating rat liver microsomes with carbonetetrachloride (CCl
4) in the presence of NADPH. In nonenzyme-induced LPO, the microsomes were incubated with a solution of iron sulphate and ascorbinic acid (Fe
2+/AA). The effect of PSM (196.5
μg/ml) was assessed at 20 minutes’ incubation time. MDA, a product of LPO, was measured spectrophotometrically.
The results of our study showed that the initial MDA quantity in SHRs was significantly higher, than in NTRs. The incubation of the microsomes from both strains with PSM (196.5
μg/ml), resulted in significant reduction of MDA level, by 25% in SHRs. In NTRs, the formation of MDA was unchanged.
In enzyme-induced LPO model, PSM significantly decreased the formation of MDA, by 55% in NTRs and by 35% in SHRs, compared to the respective control groups. In the model of non-enzyme induced LPO, PSM significantly decreased the formation of MDA by 95% in NTRs and practically restored it to the control level. The MDA quantity in SHR's microsomes was reduced by 25%.
According to the results of this experiment we could conclude that PSM, isolated from
Astragalus corniculatus, shows antioxidant activity both in SHRs and NTRs and the effect in NTRs is more pronounced.
Mycoplasma mycoides
subsp.
mycoides
is the etiological agent of contagious bovine pleuropneumonia (CBPP). While several findings on CBPP prevalence in Nigeria were documented, no data were reported ...about the genomic characterization of Nigerian
M. mycoides
subsp.
mycoides
strains. Here, we present the draft genome sequences of two novel
M. mycoides
subsp.
mycoides
strains isolated in Nigeria.
ABSTRACT
Mycoplasma mycoides
subsp.
mycoides
is the etiological agent of contagious bovine pleuropneumonia (CBPP). While several findings on CBPP prevalence in Nigeria were documented, no data were reported about the genomic characterization of Nigerian
M. mycoides
subsp.
mycoides
strains. Here, we present the draft genome sequences of two novel
M. mycoides
subsp.
mycoides
strains isolated in Nigeria.
A purified saponin mixture (PSM) from
Astragalus corniculatus Bieb. protected significantly hamsters against the experimental Graffi myeloid tumor. The application of PSM increased the survival ...rates, prolonged mean survival time and the tumor growth was markedly reduced.
A purified saponin mixture (PSM) of
Astragalus corniculatus Bieb. was evaluated for its immunostimulating potentials on the phagocytic cells in Graffi-tumor bearing hamsters.
The number, migration and phagocytic indexes of peritoneal macrophages (pMøs) and of blood polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) were evaluated in healthy and Graffi-tumor bearing hamsters (G-TBH) treated with PSM. It was established that the Graffi myeloid tumor induced suppression of the phagocytic abilities of pMøs and PMNs. The number and migration of pMøs was significantly decreased during the whole period of observation.
All tested parameters—number, migration and phagocytic activities of pMøs, as well as phagocytic ability of PMNs increased significantly in healthy and G-TBH after i.p. application of the 50
mg/kg body weight PSM.
The PMS extracts from
Astragalus corniculatus Bieb. are isolated and examined and their immunostimulating and immunorestorating impact on phagocitic cells was proven for the first time. This effect could be due to their high content of purified saponins.
Muscimol is the main compound found in Amanita muscaria. Several studies have proven that muscimol has suppressive effects on essential tremor, without impairing speech and coordination. The effects ...of muscimol in Parkinson-affected patients is also described in a number of studies. These studies describe the free radical scavenging and antioxidant activity of the mushroom extract. We have evaluated the possible neuroprotective effects of a standardized extract from A. muscaria, containing high amounts of muscimol, on different models of neurotoxicity in rat brain microsomes, mitochondria, synaptosomes as well as on neuroblastoma cell line SH-SY5Y. The possible inhibitory effect on human recombinant monoaminoxidase-B (hMAOB) enzyme was also studied. The extract revealed statistically significant neuroprotective effects on the in vitro neurotoxicity models and no inhibitory activity on hMAOB.
•A. muscaria extract was evaluated at sub- and cellular level for neuroprotection.•The extract did not show any hMAOB inhibitory activity.•The in vitro study confirmed the antioxidant and neuroprotective effects of the extract.
The present study describes the use of microarray technology for rapid identification and differentiation of Mycoplasma mycoides subsp. mycoides from other mycoplasmas that may be pathogenic to ...ruminants, including those of the Mycoplasma mycoides cluster, genetically and antigenically strictly correlated with Mycoplasma mycoides subsp. mycoides. A microarray containing genetic sequences of 55 different bacterial species from Acholeplasma, Mycoplasma, Spiroplasma and Ureaplasma genera was constructed. Sequences to genes of interest were collected in FASTA format from NCBI. The collected sequences were processed with OligoPicker software. Oligonucleotides were then checked for their selectivity with BLAST searches in GenBank. The microarray was tested with ATCC/NCTC strains of Mycoplasma spp. of veterinary importance in ruminants including Mycoplasma belonging to the mycoides cluster as well as Mycoplasma mycoides subsp. mycoides and Mycoplasma mycoides subsp. capri field strains. The results showed that but one ATCC/NCTC reference strains hybridized with their species-specific sequences showed a profile/signature different and distinct from each other. The heat-map of the hybridization results for the nine genes interrogated for Mycoplasma mycoides subsp. mycoides demonstrated that the reference strain Mycoplasma mycoides subsp mycoides PG1 was positive for all of the gene sequences spotted on the microarray. CBPP field, vaccine and reference strains were all typed to be M. mycoides subsp. mycoides, and seven of the nine strains gave positive hybridization results for all of the nine genes. Two Italian strains were negative for some of the genes. Comparison with non-Mycoplasma mycoides subsp. mycoides reference strains showed some positive signals or considerable homology to Mycoplasma mycoides subsp. mycoides genes. As expected, some correlations were observed between the strictly genetically and antigenically correlated Mycoplasma mycoides subsp. mycoides and Mycoplasma mycoides subsp. capri strains. Specifically, we observed that some Italian Mycoplasma mycoides subsp. mycoides strains were positive for two out of the three Mycoplasma mycoides subsp. capri genes, differently from what has been observed for other European or African Mycoplasma mycoides subsp. mycoides strains. This study highlighted the use of microarray technology as a simple and effective method for a single-step identification and differentiation of Mycoplasma mycoides subsp. mycoides from other mycoplasmas that may be pathogenic to ruminants, including those of the Mycoplasma mycoides cluster, genetically and antigenically strictly correlated with Mycoplasma mycoides subsp. mycoides. The opportunity to discriminate several mycoplasmas in a single analysis enhances diagnostic rapidity and may represent a useful tool to screen occasionally mycoplasmas affecting animal farming in territories where diagnostic laboratory support is limited. The heat-map of the hybridization results of the comparative genomic hybridizations DNA-designed chip clearly indicates that the microarray performs well for the identification of the tested Mycoplasma mycoides subsp. mycoides reference and field strains, discriminating them from other mycoplasmas.
Investigations on the effect of purified saponin mixture (PSM) obtained from the aerial parts of
Astragalus corniculatus Bieb. (Fabaceae) on mitogen response of the spleen cells in Graffi tumor ...bearing (GTBH) and healthy hamsters were reported. The saponin mixture in a doses of 50
mg/kg b.w. was injected i.p. 4 times starting simultaneously with implantation of tumor cells. Stimulation indices to phytohemagglutinine (PHA) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) of lymphocytes in spleens of tumor bearing hamsters (TBH) were significantly decreased during the whole period of the observation. It was established that PSM stimulated the functions of spleen cells in Graffi-TBH, resulting in increased mitogen response to PHA and LPS. The stimulation was better expressed in healthy PSM-treated hamsters. The proliferation response of spleen lymphocytes to PSM was also found. PSM did not change the
in vitro proliferation ability of Graffi tumor cells.
The results obtained proved the immunostimulating and immunorestorating activity of PSM on the T- and B-spleen cells in healthy and GTBH hamsters, as well as the proliferative response of it to PSM.
Mycoplasma mycoides subsp. mycoides is generally considered one of most pathogenic Mycoplasma species, and it is the etiological agent of contagious bovine pleuropneumonia (CBPP). Here, we present ...the annotated genome sequence of M. mycoides subsp. mycoides Italian strain 57/13, isolated in 1992 during CBPP outbreaks in Italy.
Listeria monocytogenes is the ubiquitous food-borne pathogen which causes listeriosis, a disease with a high mortality rate, mostly transmitted through contaminated ready-to-eat foods. To better ...understand the systemic response of L. monocytogenes exposed at 3 environmental factors (T, pH and NaCl), the proteome of L. monocytogenes strain NRG 1749-2016, isolated from a meat product, was investigated to identify differences in the protein patterns of such pathogen. Four different conditions were carried out as follows: A) T 37 °C, pH 7.0, NaCl 0.5%; B) T 37 °C, pH 5.5, NaCl 7%; C) T 12° pH 7, NaCl 0.5%; D) T 12 °C, pH 5.5, NaCl 7%. The proteins belonging to cytosol (C1) and vesicles (C2) were isolated and purified by CelLytic B Cell Lysis Reagent and CelLytic IB Inclusion Body Solubilization Reagent according manufacturer's instructions. The analysis were conducted by SDS PAGE and Immunoblotting techniques. The protein concentrations were evaluated by Pierce BCA Protein Assay Kit. From preliminary results, the protein banding patterns generated by 1D SDS PAGE were found to be different at visual observation for C1 and C2, in A, B, C and D conditions. The presence of specific antigen-antibody immunocomplexes (Ag-Ab ICs) was identified by Immunoblotting, in C1 at 100, 60, 55, 35 and 25 kDa for all incubated conditions with a positive serum to L. monocytogenes. As regards C2, Ag-Ab ICs at 110 kDa were observed in A and B, Ag-Ab ICs at 80 kDa in C and D, Ag-Ab ICs at 60 kDa in A and D, while Ag-Ab ICs at 40 and 30 kDa in all conditions. The analysis of the proteome profiles shows an intra-strain variation in the protein patterns produced by L. monocytogenes during the adaptation at different environmental conditions. Further analysis will be carried out to better understand the systemic response of L. monocytogenes, in particular in order to characterize the immunogenic proteins highlighted by Immunoblotting and their role in the virulence expression of such pathogen.
Key messages
Understand how L. monocytogenes adapts physiologically to different environmental factors.
Development of new detection method of L. monocytogenes and prevention strategies for listeriosis outbreaks.
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