21 research outputs found
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