A fucan from the brown seaweed Spatoglossum schröederi inhibits Chinese hamster ovary cell adhesion to several extracellular matrix proteins

Fucans, a family of sulfated polysaccharides present in brown seaweed, have several biological activities. Their use as drugs would offer the advantage of no potential risk of contamination with viruses or particles such as prions. A fucan prepared from Spatoglossum schröederi was tested as a possible inhibitor of cell-matrix interactions using wild-type Chinese hamster ovary cells (CHO-K1) and the mutant type deficient in xylosyltransferase (CHO-745). The effect of this polymer on adhesion properties with specific extracellular matrix components was studied using several matrix proteins as substrates for cell attachment. Treatment with the polymer inhibited the adhesion of fibronectin to both CHO-K1 (2 x 10(5))()and CHO-745 (2 x 10(5) and 5 x 10(5)) cells. No effect was detected with laminin, using the two cell types. On the other hand, adhesion to vitronectin was inhibited in CHO-K1 cells and adhesion to type I collagen was inhibited in CHO-745 cells. In spite of this inhibition, the fucan did not affect either cell proliferation or cell cycle. These results demonstrate that this polymer is a new anti-adhesive compound with potential pharmacological applications

Heparan sulfate and control of cell division: adhesion and proliferation of mutant CHO-745 cells lacking xylosyl transferase

We have examined the role of cell surface glycosaminoglycans in cell division: adhesion and proliferation of Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells. We used both wild-type (CHO-K1) cells and a mutant (CHO-745) which is deficient in the synthesis of proteoglycans due to lack of activity of xylosyl transferase. Using different amounts of wild-type and mutant cells, little adhesion was observed in the presence of laminin and type I collagen. However, when fibronectin or vitronectin was used as substrate, there was an enhancement in the adhesion of wild-type and mutant cells. Only CHO-K1 cells showed a time-dependent adhesion on type IV collagen. These results suggest that the two cell lines present different adhesive profiles. Several lines of experimental evidence suggest that heparan sulfate proteoglycans play a role in cell adhesion as positive modulators of cell proliferation and as key participants in the process of cell division. Proliferation and cell cycle assays clearly demonstrate that a decrease in the amount of glycosaminoglycans does not inhibit the proliferation of mutant CHO-745 cells when compared to the wild type CHO-K1, in agreement with the findings that both CHO-K1 and CHO-745 cells take 8 h to enter the S phase

Atividade antibacteriana de desinfetantes para uso na produção orgânica de aves Antibacterial activity of disinfectants for use in organic poultry keeping

A determinação de produtos eficazes para a desinfecção e que não causem danos ao meio ambiente é um grande desafio para a avicultura orgânica. Neste trabalho foram avaliadas as atividades antibacterianas de quatro desinfetantes: ácido peracético, amônia quaternária, hipoclorito de sódio a 1% e a 0,1% de cloro ativo e do composto de ácidos orgânicos (cítrico, lático e ascórbico), frente às amostras padrão de Escherichia coli, Salmonella enteritidis e Staphylococcus aureus, na presença e ausência de matéria orgânica, sob duas diferentes temperaturas e tempo de contato de 20 minutos. Os ácidos orgânicos mostraram-se menos efetivos na presença de matéria orgânica. No entanto, o ácido peracético, na ausência desta, foi o mais eficaz frente à S. Enteritidis e igualmente efetivo, independente da matéria orgânica, frente ao S. aureus e E. coli, revelando-se uma opção válida para desinfecção na avicultura orgânica, desde que precedida de limpeza criteriosa.<br>Efficient products in the disinfection that do not cause damages to the environment are a challenge for the organic poultry keeping. The antibacterial activity of four disinfectants was evaluated to per acetic acid, quaternary ammonium, sodium hypochlorite at 1% and 0,1% and the composed of organics acids (citric, lactic and ascorbic) against standard samples of Escherichia coli, Salmonella enteritidis and Staphylococcus aureus in the presence and absence of organic matter, at two different temperatures and with 20 minutes of contact. Organic acids were shown less effective in the presence of organic matter. However, the per acetic acid in the absence of this revealed most efficient against S. Enteritidis and equally effective in the presence of organic matter, against S. aureus and E. coli showing a valid option for disinfection in the organic poultry keeping since preceded of careful cleanness