The repetitive cytoskeletal protein H49 of Trypanosoma cruzi is a calpain-like protein located at the flagellum attachment zone

Paracoccidioides brasiliensis causes paracoccidioidomycosis, a systemic mycosis in Latin America. Formamidases hydrolyze formamide, putatively plays a role infungal nitrogen metabolism. An abundant 45-kDa protein was identified as the P. brasiliensis formamidase. In this study, recombinant formamidase was over-expressed in bacteria and a polyclonal antibody to this protein was produced. Weidentified a 180-kDa protein species reactive to the antibody produced in miceagainst the P. brasiliensis recombinant purified formamidase of 45 kDa. The180-kDa purified protein yielded a heat-denatured species of 45 kDa. Both protein species of 180 and 45 kDa were identified as formamidase by peptide massfinger printing using MS. The identical mass spectra generated by the 180 and the45-kDa protein species indicated that the fungal formamidase is most likely homotetrameric in its native conformation. Furthermore, the purified formami-dase migrated as a protein of 191 kDa in native polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, thus revealing that the enzyme forms a homotetrameric structure in its native state. This enzyme is present in the fungus cytoplasm and the cell wall. Use of a yeast two-hybrid system revealed cell wall membrane proteins, in addition to cytosolic proteins interacting with formamidase. These data provide new insights intoformamidase structure as well as potential roles for formamidase and its interaction partners in nitrogen metabolism

Environmental contamination with arsenic and its effects on human health review

O arsênio está amplamente distribuído no ambiente, sendo encontrado sob formas orgânicas e inorgânicas. É classificado como cancerígeno humano, com base em estudos epidemiológicos. Sua presença na água potável é relacionada com efeitos à saúde como hipertensão, diabetes, câncer de pele e de órgãos internos. Devido aos efeitos adversos observados em populações expostas ao arsênio é interessante dispor de uma revisão atualizada sobre os aspectos toxicológicos deste elemento. Para a revisão foram utilizadas 308 publicações do período 1920 a 2003, considerando quatro temas: presença de arsênio no ambiente, toxicologia do arsênio, efeitos na saúde humana e biomarcadores para arsênio. As informações compiladas mostram que são necessários mais estudos sobre as formas químicas e biodisponibilidade do arsênio, temas identificados como pontos críticos para um melhor entendimento da toxicologia do arsênio. Também é sugerido o desenvolvimento de biomarcadores validados e específicos para sua utilização no processo de avaliação de risco do arsênio para humanos.Arsenic is widely distributed in the environment in the form of organic and inorganic compounds. Based on epidemiological studies, arsenic is classified as a carcinogenic substance. Several disorders (e.g., hypertension, diabetes, skin cancer and internal cancer) have been related to arsenic in drinking water. Thus the adverse effects of arsenic on exposed populations supports the idea of preparing a review on its toxicology and 308 publications from 1920 to 2003 were revised for this purpose. The review is focused on four selected subjects: arsenic in the environment, toxicological aspects, effect on human health and biomarkers for arsenic. From this study, speciation and bioavailability were identified as critical topics requiring further research for improving our understanding on arsenic toxicology. The development of validated and specific biomarkers for using in arsenic risk assessment on humans beings is also an important suggestion

Environmental contamination with arsenic and its effects on human health review

O arsênio está amplamente distribuído no ambiente, sendo encontrado sob formas orgânicas e inorgânicas. É classificado como cancerígeno humano, com base em estudos epidemiológicos. Sua presença na água potável é relacionada com efeitos à saúde como hipertensão, diabetes, câncer de pele e de órgãos internos. Devido aos efeitos adversos observados em populações expostas ao arsênio é interessante dispor de uma revisão atualizada sobre os aspectos toxicológicos deste elemento. Para a revisão foram utilizadas 308 publicações do período 1920 a 2003, considerando quatro temas: presença de arsênio no ambiente, toxicologia do arsênio, efeitos na saúde humana e biomarcadores para arsênio. As informações compiladas mostram que são necessários mais estudos sobre as formas químicas e biodisponibilidade do arsênio, temas identificados como pontos críticos para um melhor entendimento da toxicologia do arsênio. Também é sugerido o desenvolvimento de biomarcadores validados e específicos para sua utilização no processo de avaliação de risco do arsênio para humanos.Arsenic is widely distributed in the environment in the form of organic and inorganic compounds. Based on epidemiological studies, arsenic is classified as a carcinogenic substance. Several disorders (e.g., hypertension, diabetes, skin cancer and internal cancer) have been related to arsenic in drinking water. Thus the adverse effects of arsenic on exposed populations supports the idea of preparing a review on its toxicology and 308 publications from 1920 to 2003 were revised for this purpose. The review is focused on four selected subjects: arsenic in the environment, toxicological aspects, effect on human health and biomarkers for arsenic. From this study, speciation and bioavailability were identified as critical topics requiring further research for improving our understanding on arsenic toxicology. The development of validated and specific biomarkers for using in arsenic risk assessment on humans beings is also an important suggestion

Arsénico en el agua de bebida: un problema de salud pública Arsênio na água de beber: um problema de saúde pública

La presencia de arsénico en el ambiente es un problema de salud pública debido a que se trata de un evento de alta frecuencia que ha sido detectado en países como Argentina, Brasil, Chile, China, India, México y Taiwán, entre otros. El arsénico fue clasificado por la International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), como un agente carcinogénico para humanos con base en estudios epidemiológicos que relacionan la ingestión de arsénico en el agua de bebida y cáncer en la piel y estudios ocupacionales que relacionan la exposición al arsénico y cáncer de pulmón. La Organización Mundial de la Salud (OMS) recomienda um valor orientador para agua de bebida de 10 mg As/L. Por su parte la Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), considerando estimativas de riesgo realizadas utilizando modelos estadísticos basados en observaciones en humanos y extrapolando los datos para concentraciones inferiores a 50 µg/L, reducirá el valor guía para arsénico en el agua de bebida de 50 µg/L para 10 µg/L. La utilización de biomarcadores permite el desarrollo de la epidemiología molecular que promete ser una herramienta que ayudará a detectar efectos tempranos en poblaciones expuestas, permitiendo la prevención de efectos nocivos considerando las características genéticas de las poblaciones.<br>A presença de arsênio no ambiente é um problema de saúde pública por ser um evento de alta freqüência detectado em países como Argentina, Brasil, Chile, China, Índia, México e Taiwan, entre outros. O arsênio foi classificado pela Agência Internacional de Pesquisa sobre Câncer (IARC), como um agente carcinogênico para humanos com base em estudos epidemiológicos que relacionam a ingestão de arsênico na água para consumo humano e câncer na pele e estudos ocupacionais que relacionam a exposição ao arsênico e câncer no pulmão.A Organização Mundial da Saúde (OMS) recomenda um valor orientador para água de beber de 10 mg As/L, enquanto que a Agência de Proteção Ambiental dos Estados Unidos (EPA), considerando estimativas de risco com modelos estatísticos, baseadas em observações em humanos e extrapolando os dados para concentrações inferiores a 50 µg/L, reduzirá o valor guia para arsênico na água para consumo humano de 50 µg/L para 10 µg/L.A utilização de biomarcadores permite o desenvolvimento da epidemiologia molecular que promete ser uma ferramenta que ajudará a detectar efeitos precoces em populações expostas, possibilitando a prevenção de efeitos nocivos considerando as características genéticas das populações

Metagenome-Assembled Genome of Cyanocohniella sp. LLY from the Cyanosphere of Llayta, an Edible Andean Cyanobacterial Macrocolony

Cyanobacterial macrocolonies known as Llayta are found in Andean wetlands and have been consumed since pre-Columbian times in South America. Macrocolonies of filamentous cyanobacteria are niches for colonization by other microorganisms. However, the microbiome of edible Llayta has not been explored. Based on a culture-independent approach, we report the presence, identification, and metagenomic genome reconstruction of Cyanocohniella sp. LLY associated to Llayta trichomes. The assembled genome of strain LLY is now available for further inquiries and may be instrumental for taxonomic advances concerning this genus. All known members of the Cyanocohniella genus have been isolated from salty European habitats. A biogeographic gap for the Cyanocohniella genus is partially filled by the existence of strain LLY in Andes Mountains wetlands in South America as a new habitat. This is the first genome available for members of this genus. Genes involved in primary and secondary metabolism are described, providing new insights regarding the putative metabolic capabilities of Cyanocohniella sp. LLY

Draft Genome Sequence of a Bacillus

This article reports the draft genome sequence of a Bacillus bacterium isolated from the microflora of Nostoc colonies grown at the Andean wetlands in northern Chile

Haloterrigena sp. Strain SGH1, a Bacterioruberin-Rich, Perchlorate-Tolerant Halophilic Archaeon Isolated From Halite Microbial Communities, Atacama Desert, Chile

An extreme halophilic archaeon, strain SGH1, is a novel microorganism isolated from endolithic microbial communities colonizing halites at Salar Grande, Atacama Desert, in northern Chile. Our study provides structural, biochemical, genomic, and physiological information on this new isolate living at the edge of the physical and chemical extremes at the Atacama Desert. SGH1 is a Gram-negative, red-pigmented, non-motile unicellular coccoid organism. Under the transmission electron microscope, strain SGH1 showed an abundant electro-dense material surrounding electron-lucent globular structures resembling gas vacuoles. Strain SGH1 showed a 16S rRNA gene sequence with a close phylogenetic relationship to the extreme halophilic archaea Haloterrigena turkmenica and Haloterrigena salina and has been denominated Haloterrigena sp. strain SGH1. Strain SGH1 grew at 20–40°C (optimum 37°C), at salinities between 15 and 30% (w/v) NaCl (optimum 25%) and growth was improved by addition of 50 mM KCl and 0.5% w/v casamino acids. Growth was severely restricted at salinities below 15% NaCl and cell lysis is avoided at a minimal 10% NaCl. Maximal concentrations of magnesium chloride and sodium or magnesium perchlorates that supported SGH1 growth were 0.5 and 0.15M, respectively. Haloterrigena sp. strain SGH1 accumulates bacterioruberin (BR), a C xanthophyll, as the major carotenoid. Total carotenoids in strain SGH1 amounted to nearly 400 μg BR per gram of dry biomass. Nearly 80% of total carotenoids accumulated as geometric isomers of BR: all-trans-BR (50%), 5-cis-BR (15%), 9-cis-BR (10%), 13-cis-BR (4%); other carotenoids were dehydrated derivatives of BR. Carotenogenesis in SGH1 was a reversible and salt-dependent process; transferring BR-rich cells grown in 25% (w/v) NaCl to 15% (w/v) NaCl medium resulted in depigmentation, and BR content was recovered after transference and growth of unpigmented cells to high salinity medium. Methanol extracts and purified BR isomers showed an 8–9-fold higher antioxidant activity than Trolox or β-carotene. Both, plasma membrane integrity and mitochondrial membrane potential measurements under acute 18-h assays showed that purified BR isomers were non-toxic to cultured human THP-1 cells.This work was supported by Grant CeBiB FB-0001, Comisión Nacional de Investigación Científica y Tecnológica (CONICYT), Chile, Semillero de Investigación, Grant SI-5305 by Universidad de Antofagasta, Chile, and Grant PGC2018-094076-B-I00 from Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities (MCIU/AEI) (Spain) and FEDER (UE) to JW and CA. We acknowledge the support given by grant FONDEQUIP EQM-120137.With the funding support of the ‘Severo Ochoa Centre of Excellence’ accreditation (CEX2019-000928-S), of the Spanish Research Agency (AEI