Antimicrobial activity of silver nanoparticles synthesized by the fungus Curvularia inaequalis

Silver nanoparticles have been widely reported in literature due to their vast industrial application in different areas. In this work, we explored a simple procedure for the biosynthesis of silver nanoparticles at room temperature from the action of Curvularia inaequalis as reduction agent. The degree of aggregation and size of biosynthesized particles were optimized from a factorial design involving combined variation of three different parameters of preparation. The resulting colloidal dispersion of silver nanoparticles presented strong antimicrobial activity against Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae in an indication that C. inaequalis represents a new potential candidate for alternative biosynthesis of silver nanoparticles with antimicrobial activity.Keywords: Antimicrobial activity, fungi, silver nanoparticlesAfrican Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 12(20), pp. 2917-292

Chitinase and peroxidase activity in different stages of eucalypt leaves after inoculation with Puccinia psidii and acibenzolar-S-metil

Chitinase and peroxidase activity in different stages of eucalypt leaves after inoculation with Puccinia psidii and acibenzolar-S-metil To elucidate some biochemical processes during infection in the pathosystem Puccinia psidii x eucalyptus, the defense metabolism in different-stage leaves was compared between rust-resistant and susceptible clones, respectively. In addition, chitinase and peroxidase activities were assayed. Each treatment consisted of 4 replicates, in a completely randomized design: 2 clones, inoculated and not inoculated with P. psidii; sprayed with acibenzolar-S-methyl (ASM) and distilled water; and represented by the 1(st) leaf pair (size equivalent to 1/5 total leaf development), 2(nd) pair (2/5 total development), and 4(th) pair (4/5 total leaf length). Leaves were harvested in 4 periods: 0, 24, 72 and 96 hours after inoculation. Results indicated that ASM treatment or P. psidii action led to higher chitinase and peroxidase activity level but did not alter the expression of these activities in developed leaves (4(th) pair) during the experiment. Alterations in enzyme levels after inoculation were only observed in developing leaves (1(st) and 2(nd) pairs), which suggests that the response to infection was concomitant to chitinase and peroxidase synthesis. The highest increases in enzymatic activities were observed in resistant clones at 72 hours after inoculation and in susceptible ones previously treated with ASM and later inoculated with the pathogen