(1) Background: The detection of DNA double-strand breaks in vitro using the phosphorylated histone biomarker (γH2AX) is an increasingly popular method of measuring in vitro genotoxicity, as it is sensitive, specific and suitable for high-throughput analysis. The γH2AX response is either detected by flow cytometry or microscopy, the latter being more accessible. However, authors sparsely publish details, data, and workflows from overall fluorescence intensity quantification, which hinders the reproducibility. (2) Methods: We used valinomycin as a model genotoxin, two cell lines (HeLa and CHO-K1) and a commercial kit for γH2AX immunofluorescence detection. Bioimage analysis was performed using the open-source software ImageJ. Mean fluorescent values were measured using segmented nuclei from the DAPI channel and the results were expressed as the area-scaled relative fold change in γH2AX fluorescence over the control. Cytotoxicity is expressed as the relative area of the nuclei. We present the workflows, data, and scripts on GitHub. (3) Results: The outputs obtained by an introduced method are in accordance with expected results, i.e., valinomycin was genotoxic and cytotoxic to both cell lines used after 24 h of incubation. (4) Conclusions: The overall fluorescence intensity of γH2AX obtained from bioimage analysis appears to be a promising alternative to flow cytometry. Workflow, data, and script sharing are crucial for further improvement of the bioimage analysis methods.
Mycotoxins are secondary metabolites produced by several species of fungi, including the Fusarium, Aspergillus, and Penicillium species. Currently, more than 300 structurally diverse mycotoxins are known, including a group called minor mycotoxins, namely enniatins, beauvericin, and fusaproliferin. Beauvericin and enniatins possess a variety of biological activities. Their antimicrobial, antibiotic, or ionoforic activities have been proven and according to various bioassays, they are believed to be toxic. They are mainly found in cereal grains and their products, but they have also been detected in forage feedstuff. Mycotoxins in feedstuffs of livestock animals are of dual concern. First one relates to the safety of animal-derived food. Based on the available data, the carry-over of minor mycotoxins from feed to edible animal tissues is possible. The second concern relates to detrimental effects of mycotoxins on animal health and performance. This review aims to summarize current knowledge on the relation of minor mycotoxins to livestock animals.
Závěrečná zpráva o řešení grantu Agentury pro zdravotnický výzkum MZ ČR
Nestr.
Beauverolides represent a group of fungal cyclotetradepsipeptides, with only recently recognized potential for human medicine. Reflecting recent preclinical data, this project focuses at the use of beauverolides in modulation of pathologies associated with human metabolic syndrome and with immune system dysregulation. Current massive application of beauverolides in agriculture and forestry raises also the question on potential adverse effects of these applications on the humans, which were never addressed in detail. Thus, we would like to also focus on the association of current use of beauverolides with adverse effects on humans. Beauverolides will be produced under a spectrum of diverse cultivation conditions, which will result in a diversification of their chemical composition. Obtained fungal products will be purified and biochemically characterized in detail, and tested using the battery of biological tests, including those involving human cell lines primary cell isolates. Besides that, the exact mechanisms of metabolisation of beauverolides will be addressed as well.
Reflektujíc nedávný objev potenciálního využití beauverolidů (cyklotetradepsipeptidů produkovaných entomopatogenními houbami) v lékařství, předkládaný projekt navrhuje výzkum beauverolidů z pohledu jejich využitelnosti pro ovlivnění patologických stavů spojených s metabolickým syndromem a s deregulací buněk imunitního systému. Dopady stávající masivní aplikace beauverolidů v zemědělství a lesnictví na člověka dosud nebyly studovány. Zároveň bychom tedy v rámci předkládaného projektu rádi zjistili, zda stávající způsoby využití beauverolidů nejsou spojeny s nežádoucími účinky na člověka. Prostřednictvím modifikací v kultivačních podmínkách zdrojových organismů předpokládáme produkci širokého spektra beauverolidů navzájem odlišného chemického složení, které budou přečištěny, podrobně biochemicky charakterizovány, a následně testovány pomocí baterie biologických testů na lidských buněčných liniích a primárních buněčných izolátech. Zkoumán bude i způsob metabolizace beauverolidů.
- MeSH
- Beauveria izolace a purifikace MeSH
- depsipeptidy MeSH
- imunitní systém mikrobiologie patologie MeSH
- kultivované buňky mikrobiologie MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- metabolický syndrom mikrobiologie patologie MeSH
- Check Tag
- lidé MeSH
- Konspekt
- Patologie. Klinická medicína
- NLK Obory
- mikrobiologie, lékařská mikrobiologie
- botanika
- NLK Publikační typ
- závěrečné zprávy o řešení grantu AZV MZ ČR
A dodecadepsipeptide valinomycin (VLM) has been most recently reported to be a potential anti-coronavirus drug that could be efficiently produced on a large scale. It is thus of importance to study solid-phase forms of VLM in order to be able to ensure its polymorphic purity in drug formulations. The previously available solid-state NMR (SSNMR) data are combined with the plane-wave DFT computations in the NMR crystallography framework. Structural/spectroscopical predictions (the PBE functional/GIPAW method) are obtained to characterize four polymorphs of VLM. Interactions which confer a conformational stability to VLM molecules in these crystalline forms are described in detail. The way how various structural factors affect the values of SSNMR parameters is thoroughly analyzed, and several SSNMR markers of the respective VLM polymorphs are identified. The markers are connected to hydrogen bonding effects upon the corresponding (13C/15N/1H) isotropic chemical shifts of (CO, Namid, Hamid, Hα) VLM backbone nuclei. These results are expected to be crucial for polymorph control of VLM and in probing its interactions in dosage forms.
- MeSH
- Betacoronavirus chemie izolace a purifikace metabolismus MeSH
- izotopy dusíku chemie MeSH
- izotopy uhlíku chemie MeSH
- koronavirové infekce patologie virologie MeSH
- krystalografie MeSH
- magnetická rezonanční spektroskopie metody MeSH
- pandemie MeSH
- valinomycin chemie metabolismus MeSH
- virová pneumonie patologie virologie MeSH
- vodíková vazba MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
Beauverolides (beauveriolides) are abundant, biologically active cyclodepsipeptides produced by many entomopathogenic fungi, including those that are used as biopesticides. Beauverolides act as cholesterol acyltransferase inhibitors in humans; thus, their mode of action has been the subject of pharmacological and clinical research. The cost-effective analytical methods are needed for fast, routine laboratory analysis of beauverolides. We isolated beauverolides from the fungal strain Isaria fumosorosea PFR 97-Apopka and opened the rings of the isolated beauverolides using a pyridine alkaline medium. We separated fractions of cyclic and linearized beauverolides by thin-layer chromatography, and found the chloroform-acetate (9:1, v/v) and chloroform-acetonitrile-acetate (8:1:1, v/v/v) mobile phases, respectively, to be the most efficient. We examined all the fractions by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry using ion trap and Orbitrap high resolution mass spectrometry. For rapid screening of the contents of cyclic, and, particularly, linearized beauverolides, we developed a novel analytical method that consisted of using capillary electrophoresis coupled with contactless conductivity detection. Furthermore, we improved the separation of the peptides by applying capillary micellar electrokinetic chromatography with the N-cyclohexyl-2-aminoethanesulfonic acid:SDS:NaOH buffer, pH 9.8 as the background electrolyte. The described novel methods allow fast and cost-effective separation of chemically related groups of beauverolides.
- Klíčová slova
- beauverolidy, beauveriolidy,
- MeSH
- Alzheimerova nemoc farmakoterapie patofyziologie MeSH
- amyloidní beta-protein MeSH
- ateroskleróza farmakoterapie patofyziologie MeSH
- Beauveria metabolismus MeSH
- cholesterolacyltransferasa antagonisté a inhibitory fyziologie MeSH
- cyklické peptidy terapeutické užití MeSH
- depsipeptidy * terapeutické užití MeSH
- fungální proteiny * biosyntéza MeSH
- kalmodulin antagonisté a inhibitory fyziologie MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- makrofágy patologie účinky léků MeSH
- myši MeSH
- Check Tag
- lidé MeSH
- myši MeSH
- Publikační typ
- práce podpořená grantem MeSH
The randomized phase III ADMYRE trial evaluated plitidepsin plus dexamethasone (DXM) versus DXM alone in patients with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma after at least three but not more than six prior regimens, including at least bortezomib and lenalidomide or thalidomide. Patients were randomly assigned (2:1) to receive plitidepsin 5 mg/m2 on D1 and D15 plus DXM 40 mg on D1, D8, D15, and D22 (arm A, n = 171) or DXM 40 mg on D1, D8, D15, and D22 (arm B, n = 84) q4wk. The primary endpoint was progression-free survival (PFS). Median PFS without disease progression (PD) confirmation (IRC assessment) was 2.6 months (arm A) and 1.7 months (arm B) (HR = 0.650; p = 0.0054). Median PFS with PD confirmation (investigator's assessment) was 3.8 months (arm A) and 1.9 months (arm B) (HR = 0.611; p = 0.0040). Median overall survival (OS, intention-to-treat analysis) was 11.6 months (arm A) and 8.9 months (arm B) (HR = 0.797; p = 0.1261). OS improvement favoring arm A was found when discounting a crossover effect (37 patients crossed over from arm B to arm A) (two-stage method; HR = 0.622; p = 0.0015). The most common grade 3/4 treatment-related adverse events (% of patients arm A/arm B) were fatigue (10.8%/1.2%), myalgia (5.4%/0%), and nausea (3.6%/1.2%), being usually transient and reversible. The safety profile does not overlap with the toxicity observed with other agents used in multiple myeloma. In conclusion, efficacy data, the reassuring safety profile, and the novel mechanism of action of plitidepsin suggest that this combination can be an alternative option in patients with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma after at least three prior therapy lines.
- MeSH
- bortezomib aplikace a dávkování MeSH
- depsipeptidy aplikace a dávkování MeSH
- dexamethason aplikace a dávkování MeSH
- dospělí MeSH
- lenalidomid aplikace a dávkování MeSH
- lidé středního věku MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- míra přežití MeSH
- mnohočetný myelom farmakoterapie mortalita MeSH
- přežití po terapii bez příznaků nemoci MeSH
- protokoly antitumorózní kombinované chemoterapie aplikace a dávkování MeSH
- senioři nad 80 let MeSH
- senioři MeSH
- thalidomid aplikace a dávkování MeSH
- Check Tag
- dospělí MeSH
- lidé středního věku MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- mužské pohlaví MeSH
- senioři nad 80 let MeSH
- senioři MeSH
- ženské pohlaví MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- klinické zkoušky, fáze III MeSH
- multicentrická studie MeSH
- randomizované kontrolované studie MeSH
This study examined the effect of two natural toxins (a venom from the parasitic wasp Habrobracon hebetor and destruxin A from the entomopathogenic fungus Metarhizium anisopliae), and one pathogen (the entomopathogenic fungus Isaria fumosorosea) on the activity of basic digestive enzymes in the midgut of the cockroach Periplaneta americana. Simultaneously, the role of adipokinetic hormones (AKH) in the digestive processes was evaluated. The results showed that all tested toxins/pathogens elicited stress responses when applied into the cockroach body, as documented by an increase of AKH level in the central nervous system. The venom from H. hebetor showed no effect on digestive enzyme activities in the ceca and midgut in vitro. In addition, infection by I. fumosorosea caused a decrease in activity of all enzymes in the midgut and a variable decrease in activity in the ceca; application of AKHs did not reverse the inhibition. Destruxin A inhibited the activity of all enzymes in the midgut but none in the ceca in vitro; application of AKHs did reverse this inhibition, and no differences between both cockroach AKHs were found. Overall, the results demonstrated the variable effect of the tested toxins/pathogens on the digestive processes of cockroaches as well as the variable ability of AKH to counteract these effects.
- MeSH
- aktivace enzymů MeSH
- depsipeptidy toxicita MeSH
- gastrointestinální trakt enzymologie MeSH
- hmyzí hormony farmakologie MeSH
- kyselina pyrrolidonkarboxylová analogy a deriváty farmakologie MeSH
- oligopeptidy farmakologie MeSH
- Periplaneta účinky léků enzymologie MeSH
- vosí jedy toxicita MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Check Tag
- zvířata MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
Beauvericin (BEA) is a cyclic hexadepsipeptide, which derives from Cordyceps cicadae. It is also produced by Fusarium species, which are parasitic to maize, wheat, rice and other important commodities. BEA increases ion permeability in biological membranes by forming a complex with essential cations, which may affect ionic homeostasis. Its ion-complexing capability allows BEA to transport alkaline earth metal and alkali metal ions across cell membranes. Importantly, increasing lines of evidence show that BEA has an anticancer effect and can be potentially used in cancer therapeutics. Normally, BEA performs the anticancer effect due to the induced cancer cell apoptosis via a reactive oxygen species-dependent pathway. Moreover, BEA increases the intracellular Ca2+ levels and subsequently regulates the activity of a series of signalling pathways including MAPK, JAK/STAT, and NF-κB, and finally causes cancer cell apoptosis. In vivo studies further show that BEA reduces tumour volumes and weights. BEA especially targets differentiated and invasive cancer types. Currently, the anticancer activity of BEA is a hot topic; however, there is no review article to discuss the anticancer activity of BEA. Therefore, in this review, we have mainly summarized the anticancer activity of BEA and thoroughly discussed its underlying mechanisms. In addition, the human exposure risk assessment of BEA is also discussed. We hope that this review will provide further information for understanding the anticancer mechanisms of BEA.
- MeSH
- antitumorózní látky farmakologie toxicita MeSH
- depsipeptidy farmakologie toxicita MeSH
- Fusarium chemie MeSH
- hodnocení rizik MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- mykotoxiny farmakologie toxicita MeSH
- vystavení vlivu životního prostředí škodlivé účinky MeSH
- Check Tag
- lidé MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- přehledy MeSH
Since apicomplexans represent exclusively parasitic unicellular organisms with medical and economic impacts, the principles of their motility have been studied intensively. By contrast, the movement in apicomplexan basal groups, such as gregarines, remains to be elucidated. The present study focuses on Gregarina garnhami parasitising the digestive tract of the locust Schistocerca gregaria, and investigates the involvement of cytoskeletal elements (the ectoplasmic network and myonemes) and the secretion of mucosubstances during eugregarine gliding motility. Combined microscopic analyses were used to verify the role of actin filaments and membranes' organisation in G. garnhami motility. A freeze-etching analysis of membranes revealed the size, density, and arrangement of intramembranous particles along with the distribution and size of pores and ducts. Experimental assays using actin-modifying drugs (jasplakinolide, cytochalasin D) confirmed that actin most likely plays a role in cell motility, principally in its filamentous form (=F-actin). Myonemes, localised in the border between the ectoplasm and endoplasm, correspond to the concentric bundles of F-actin. Microscopic analyses confirmed that changes in gamonts motility corresponding to the changes in the organisation and density of myonemes and the ectoplasmic network in drug-treated cells, suggesting that these structures might serve as contractile elements facilitating gliding motility in G. garnhami.
