2 research outputs found
IMA genome - F14 : Draft genome sequences of Penicillium roqueforti, Fusarium sororula, Chrysoporthe puriensis, and Chalaropsis populi
Draft genomes of Penicillium roqueforti, Fusarium sororula, Chalaropsis populi, and Chrysoporthe puriensis are presented.
Penicillium roqueforti is a model fungus for genetics, physiological and metabolic studies, as well as for biotechnological
applications. Fusarium sororula and Chrysoporthe puriensis are important tree pathogens, and Chalaropsis populi is a soilborne
root-pathogen. The genome sequences presented here thus contribute towards a better understanding of both
the pathogenicity and biotechnological potential of these species.The University of Pretoria, the Department of Science and Technology (DST)/National Research Foundation (NRF) Centre of Excellence in Tree Health Biotechnology (CTHB), South Africa, the Tree Protection Co-operative Programme (TPCP), the National Research Foundation and the DST-NRF SARChI chair in Fungal Genomics.http://www.imafungus.orgam2022BiochemistryForestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute (FABI)GeneticsMicrobiology and Plant Patholog
Calpurnia aurea (Aiton) benth extracts reduce quorum sensing controlled virulence factors in Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Pseudomonas aeruginosa is the causative agent of several life-threatening human infections.
Like many other pathogens, P. aeruginosa exhibits quorum sensing (QS) controlled virulence factors
such as biofilm during disease progression, complicating treatment with conventional antibiotics.
Thus, impeding the pathogen’s QS circuit appears as a promising alternative strategy to overcome
pseudomonas infections. In the present study, Calpurnia aurea were evaluated for their antibacterial
(minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC)), anti-quorumsensing/antivirulence (AQS), and antibiofilm
potential against P. aeruginosa. AQS and antivirulence (biofilm formation, swimming, and swarming
motility) activities of plant extracts were evaluated against Chromobacterium violaceum and P. aeruginosa,
respectively. The in vitro AQS potential of the individual compounds were validated using in
silico molecular docking. Acetone and ethanolic extracts of C. aurea showed MIC at 1.56 mg/mL.
The quantitative violacein inhibition (AQS) assay showed ethyl acetate extracts as the most potent at
a concentration of 1 mg/mL. GCMS analysis of C. aurea revealed 17 compounds; four (pentadecanol,
dimethyl terephthalate, terephthalic acid, and methyl mannose) showed potential AQS through
molecular docking against the CviR protein of C. violaceum. Biofilm of P. aeruginosa was significantly
inhibited by 60% using 1-mg/mL extract of C. aurea. Confocal laser scanning microscopy correlated
the findings of crystal violet assay with the extracts significantly altering the swimming motility.
C. aurea extracts reduced the virulence of pseudomonas, albeit in a strain- and extract-specific manner,
showing their suitability for the identification of lead compounds with QS inhibitory potential for the
control of P. aeruginosa infections.The South African National Research Foundation (NRF) Thuthuka Grant, South African Medical Research Council–Self Initiated Research (SAMRC-SIR), South African National Research Foundation’s (NRF) Incentive Funding for Rated Researchers and the DST/NRF SARChI in Mathematical Models and Methods in Bioengineering and Biosciences.http://www.mdpi.com/journal/moleculesam2021BiochemistryGeneticsMicrobiology and Plant PathologyPlant ScienceZoology and Entomolog