Fungal endophytes from arid areas of Andalusia: high potential sources for antifungal and antitumoral agents

Native plant communities from arid areas present distinctive characteristics to survive in extreme conditions. The large number of poorly studied endemic plants represents a unique potential source for the discovery of novel fungal symbionts as well as host-specific endophytes not yet described. The addition of adsorptive polymeric resins in fungal fermentations has been seen to promote the production of new secondary metabolites and is a tool used consistently to generate new compounds with potential biological activities. A total of 349 fungal strains isolated from 63 selected plant species from arid ecosystems located in the southeast of the Iberian Peninsula, were characterized morphologically as well as based on their ITS/28S ribosomal gene sequences. The fungal community isolated was distributed among 19 orders including Basidiomycetes and Ascomycetes, being Pleosporales the most abundant order. In total, 107 different genera were identified being Neocamarosporium the genus most frequently isolated from these plants, followed by Preussia and Alternaria. Strains were grown in four different media in presence and absence of selected resins to promote chemical diversity generation of new secondary metabolites. Fermentation extracts were evaluated, looking for new antifungal activities against plant and human fungal pathogens, as well as, cytotoxic activities against the human liver cancer cell line HepG2. From the 349 isolates tested, 126 (36%) exhibited significant bioactivities including 58 strains with exclusive antifungal properties and 33 strains with exclusive activity against the HepG2 hepatocellular carcinoma cell line. After LCMS analysis, 68 known bioactive secondary metabolites could be identified as produced by 96 strains, and 12 likely unknown compounds were found in a subset of 14 fungal endophytes. The chemical profiles of the differential expression of induced activities were compared. As proof of concept, ten active secondary metabolites only produced in the presence of resins were purified and identified. The structures of three of these compounds were new and herein are elucidated.This work was supported by Fundación MEDINA and the Andalusian Government grant RNM-7987 ‘Sustainable use of plants and their fungal parasites from arid regions of Andalucía for new molecules useful for antifungals and neuroprotectors’

Dengue in an elderly patient

Although elderly populations are more exposed to the risk of getting dengue, the clinical peculiarities of this disease in this age range are not well known. This report is about an 80-year-old woman with dengue complications, self-medicated with salicylate. Literature indicates a more severe clinical condition, high hospitalization rate and significant mortality. This is caused by previous infections by other serotypes of this arbovirus, presence of chronic diseases, immunosenescence and high drug consumption, especially salicylates and the like. Analyses are required in a public health perspective in order to help health professionals that care for patients with dengue in this age range.Embora cada vez mais populações idosas estejam expostas ao risco de contrair dengue, pouco se sabe sobre peculiaridades clínicas desta doença nesta faixa etária, fato este que motivou este relato sobre octogenária com dengue agravada por automedicação de salicilato. A literatura consultada aponta para quadro clínico mais grave, elevado índice de hospitalizações e mortalidade significativa. Deve-se isto a infecções prévias com outros sorotipos desta arbovirose, presença de doenças crônico degenerativas, imunosenescência e alto consumo de medicamentos, particularmente salicilatos e similares. Análises, sob a ótica da saúde pública, são necessárias para auxiliar aos profissionais de saúde que assistem pacientes com dengue nesta faixa etári

ENaC Channels in Oocytes from <i>Xenopus laevis</i> and their Regulation by xShroom1 Protein

Shroom is a family of related proteins linked to the actin cytoskeleton. xShroom1 is constitutively expressed in X. oocytes and is required for the expression of amiloride sensitive sodium channels (ENaC). Oocytes were injected with a, b, and g mENaC and xShroom1 sense or antisense oligonucleotides. We used voltage clamp techniques to study the amiloride-sensitive Na(+) currents (INa((amil))). We observed a marked reduction in INa((amil)) in oocytes co-injected with xShroom1 antisense. Oocytes expressing a DEG mutant â-mENaC subunit (â-S518K) with an open probability of 1 had enhanced INa((amil)) although these currents were also reduced when co-injected with xShroom1 antisense. Addition of low concentration (20 ng/ml) of trypsin which activates the membrane-resident ENaC channels led to a slow increase in INa((amil)) in oocytes with xShroom1 sense but had no effect on the currents in oocytes coinjected with ENaC and xShroom1 antisense. The same results were obtained with higher concentrations of trypsin (2 ug/ml) exposed during 2.5 min. In addition, fluorescence positive staining of plasma membrane in the oocytes expressing a, b and g mENaC and xShroom1 sense were observed but not in oocytes coinjected with ENaC and xShroom1 antisense oligonucleotides. On this basis, we suggest that xShroom1-dependent ENaC inhibition may be through the number of channels inserted in the membrane.Fil: Assef, Yanina Andrea. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Investigaciones Médicas; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Ozu, Marcelo. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Investigaciones Médicas; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Marino, Gabriela Inés. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Investigaciones Médicas; ArgentinaFil: Galizia, Luciano. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Investigaciones Médicas; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Kotsias, Basilio Aristides. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Medicina. Instituto de Investigaciones Médicas; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentin