Herein, we investigated the anti-amoebic activity of phosphonium-chloride-based deep eutectic solvents against pathogenic Acanthamoeba castellanii of the T4 genotype. Deep eutectic solvents are ionic fluids composed of two or three substances, capable of self-association to form a eutectic mixture with a melting point lower than each substance. In this study, three distinct hydrophobic deep eutectic solvents were formulated, employing trihexyltetradecylphosphonium chloride as the hydrogen bond acceptor and aspirin, dodecanoic acid, and 4-tert-butylbenzoic acid as the hydrogen bond donors. Subsequently, all three deep eutectic solvents, denoted as DES1, DES2, DES3 formulations, underwent investigations comprising amoebicidal, adhesion, excystation, cytotoxicity, and cytopathogenicity assays. The findings revealed that DES2 was the most potent anti-amoebic agent, with a 94% elimination rate against the amoebae within 24 h at 30 °C. Adhesion assays revealed that deep eutectic solvents hindered amoebae adhesion to human brain endothelial cells, with DES2 exhibiting 88% reduction of adhesion. Notably, DES3 exhibited remarkable anti-excystation properties, preventing 94% of cysts from reverting to trophozoites. In cytopathogenicity experiments, deep eutectic solvent formulations and dodecanoic acid alone reduced amoebae-induced human brain endothelial cell death, with DES2 showing the highest effects. Lactate dehydrogenase assays revealed the minimal cytotoxicity of the tested deep eutectic solvents, with the exception of trihexyltetradecylphosphonium chloride, which exhibited 35% endothelial cell damage. These findings underscore the potential of specific deep eutectic solvents in combating pathogenic Acanthamoeba, presenting promising avenues for further research and development against free-living amoebae.
- MeSH
- Acanthamoeba castellanii * účinky léků genetika MeSH
- amébicidy farmakologie chemie MeSH
- buněčná adheze účinky léků MeSH
- endoteliální buňky účinky léků MeSH
- genotyp * MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- organofosforové sloučeniny farmakologie chemie MeSH
- rozpouštědla * chemie farmakologie MeSH
- trofozoiti účinky léků MeSH
- Check Tag
- lidé MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
Advanced imaging of microorganisms, including protists, is challenging due to their small size. Specimen expansion prior to imaging is thus beneficial to increase resolution and cellular details. Here, we present a sample preparation workflow for improved observations of the single-celled eukaryotic pathogen Giardia intestinalis (Excavata, Metamonada). The binucleated trophozoites colonize the small intestine of humans and animals and cause a diarrhoeal disease. Their remarkable morphology includes two nuclei and a pronounced microtubular cytoskeleton enabling cell motility, attachment and proliferation. By use of expansion and confocal microscopy, we resolved in a great detail subcellular structures and organelles of the parasite cell. The acquired spatial resolution enabled novel observations of centrin localization at Giardia basal bodies. Interestingly, non-luminal centrin localization between the Giardia basal bodies was observed, which is an atypical eukaryotic arrangement. Our protocol includes antibody staining and can be used for the localization of epitope-tagged proteins, as well as for differential organelle labelling by amino reactive esters. This fast and simple technique is suitable for routine use without a superresolution microscopy equipment.
In this study, we present a high-resolution dataset and bioinformatic analysis of the proteome of Bacillus subtilis 168 trp+ (BSB1) during germination and spore outgrowth. Samples were collected at 14 different time points (ranging from 0 to 130 min) in three biological replicates after spore inoculation into germination medium. A total of 2191 proteins were identified and categorized based on their expression kinetics. We observed four distinct clusters that were analyzed for functional categories and KEGG pathways annotations. The examination of newly synthesized proteins between successive time points revealed significant changes, particularly within the first 50 min. The dataset provides an information base that can be used for modeling purposes and inspire the design of new experiments.
During sporulation, Bacillus subtilis forms an asymmetric septum, dividing the cell into two compartments, a mother cell and a forespore. The site of asymmetric septation is linked to the membrane where FtsZ and SpoIIE initiate the formation of the Z-ring and the E-ring, respectively. These rings then serve as a scaffold for the other cell division and peptidoglycan synthesizing proteins needed to build the septum. However, despite decades of research, not enough is known about how the asymmetric septation site is determined. Here, we identified and characterized the interaction between SpoIIE and RefZ. We show that these two proteins transiently colocalize during the early stages of asymmetric septum formation when RefZ localizes primarily from the mother cell side of the septum. We propose that these proteins and their interplay with the spatial organization of the chromosome play a role in controlling asymmetric septum positioning.
Coccidiosis is a protozoan intestinal disease that reduces the production of the sheep industry and causes large economic losses for sheep. Although chemically synthesised drugs are routinely employed to treat coccidiosis in sheep, the anticoccidial drug resistance and drug residues in edible meat have prompted an urgent search for alternatives. Herein, the anticoccidial properties of diclazuril, a conventional anticoccidial drug, and Allium sativum, Houttuynia cordata and Portulaca oleracea were assessed. Forty 45-day-old lambs naturally infected with Eimeria spp. were selected and randomly divided into five groups. The results showed that the sheep treated for coccidiosis had considerably decreased average daily gain (ADG) during both administration and withdrawal of the drug compared to the control group. Furthermore, at days 14, 21, 28 and 35, respectively, the three herbs and diclazuril had similar anticoccidial effects, with lower oocysts per gram (OPG) than the control group. On day 78, OPG in the three herbal groups was significantly lower than in the diclazuril group. In addition, the abundance and composition of the gut microbiota were changed in sheep treated with the three herbs and diclazuril compared to the untreated sheep. Moreover, some intestinal microorganisms have a correlation with OPG and ADG when using Spearman correlation analysis. In summary, our results suggest that all three herbs produce anticoccidial effects similar to diclazuril and modulate the balance of gut microbiota in growing lambs.
- MeSH
- Eimeria účinky léků fyziologie MeSH
- kokcidiostatika farmakologie aplikace a dávkování MeSH
- kokcidióza * veterinární farmakoterapie parazitologie MeSH
- léky rostlinné čínské farmakologie aplikace a dávkování MeSH
- nemoci ovcí * parazitologie farmakoterapie MeSH
- oocysty účinky léků MeSH
- ovce MeSH
- střevní mikroflóra * účinky léků MeSH
- triaziny farmakologie aplikace a dávkování MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Check Tag
- zvířata MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
Fuscoporia is a cosmopolitan, poroid, wood-decaying genus, belonging to the Hymenochaetales. During a study of wood-inhabiting fungi in the USA, four unknown specimens were collected from Hawaii. Both morphological criteria and molecular genetic analyses based on the ITS+nLSU+EF1-α datasets and the nLSU dataset confirmed that these four specimens represent two new species of Fuscoporia, and they are described as F. hawaiiana and F. minutissima. Fuscoporia hawaiiana is characterized by pileate basidiocarps, the absence of cystidioles, hooked hymenial setae, broadly ellipsoid to subglobose basidiospores measuring 4-6 × 3.5-4.5 μm. Fuscoporia minutissima is distinguished by small pores (10-13 per mm) and basidiospores (3.4-4 × 2.4-3 μm). The taxonomic status of the two new species is briefly discussed. A key to the North American species of Fuscoporia is provided.
- MeSH
- Basidiomycota * genetika MeSH
- DNA fungální genetika MeSH
- fylogeneze MeSH
- sekvenční analýza DNA MeSH
- spory hub genetika MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- práce podpořená grantem MeSH
- Geografické názvy
- Havajské ostrovy MeSH
Introduction: The present study aims to determine the contamination of eighteen samples from different nuts and dried fruits from the markets of Mosul and Duhok city.Materials and Methods: This study included samples of local and imported nuts and dried fruits.Results: The study showed different genera of contaminant fungi such as Alternaria, Penicillium, and Aspergillus species which are very common fungi associated with samples. The most fungal contamination was found in pistachio and black raisins, followed by balahsisi, taffy raisins, yellow raisins, dried apricot and peanut with shell. A total of nine species of Aspergillus were isolated on (potato dextrose agar, malt extract agar and dichloran rose bengal agar) media A. niger, A. flavus, A. fumigatus, A. tamarii, A. aculeatus, A. parasiticus, A. oryzae, A. japonicus, A. ochraceus were detected from all types of nuts and dried fruits samples. The most frequent species were A. niger followed by A. flavus and A. fumigates with percentage frequencies of 45.2%, 20.3% and 13.9% respectively. The ability of toxicogenic fungi to produce AflatoxinB1 by ELISA test of Sunlong corporation in nuts and dried fruits samples ranged from 94.8 to 136.4 μg/kg, with the highest levels of ability to produce AflatoxinB1 in nuts samples (peanut with shell, sunflower seeds and walnut) at levels 135.8, 129.0, and 128.9 μg/kg respectively, while in dried fruits samples the highest ability to produce AflatoxinB1in dried apricot, taffy raisins and yellow raisins was at levels136.4,123.1 and 118.0 μg/kg, respectively.Conclusion: we conducted the fungal contamination and quantitative content of aflatoxin B1 in nuts and dried fruits notably those sold openly in food shops.
Toxoplasmosis is one of the world's most prevalent zoonoses. The causative agent, Toxoplasma gondii (Nicolle et Manceaux, 1908) is a facultative heteroxenic, polyxenic apicomplexan protist. There are several potential pathways of transmission within and between host species. Most infections with T. gondii result from close contact with pets/cats, ingestion of tissue cysts in undercooked meat of infected animals, and oocysts from food or water contaminated by feline faeces. Recently, epidemiological studies have shown that T. gondii infection plays a prominent role in the pathogenesis of several psychiatric disorders. This report reviews the association between T. gondii infection and patients with psychiatric disorders, particularly schizophrenia, depressive disorders and bipolar disorders.
- MeSH
- duševní poruchy * komplikace MeSH
- kočky MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- oocysty MeSH
- Toxoplasma * MeSH
- toxoplazmóza zvířat * komplikace epidemiologie MeSH
- zoonózy MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Check Tag
- kočky MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
OBJECTIVES: Studies on the pathogenesis and immune responses of Cryptosporidium infection and development of drugs and vaccines use mostly immunocompromised mouse models. In this study, we establish an immunocompetent mouse model of cryptosporidiosis with high intensity and long duration of infection. METHODS: We have obtained a Cryptosporidium tyzzeri isolate from laboratory mice, and infect adult C57BL/6 J mice experimentally with the isolate for determinations of infectivity, infection patterns, pathological changes, and transcriptomic responses. RESULTS: The isolate has an ID50 of 5.2 oocysts, with oocyst shedding lasting at high levels for >2 months. The oocyst shedding is boosted by immunosuppression of animals and suppressed by paromomycin treatment. The isolate induces strong inflammatory and acquired immune responses, but down-regulates the expression of α-defensins in epithelium. Comparative genomics analysis has revealed significant sequence differences from other isolates in subtelomeric genes. The down-regulation of the expression of α-defensins may be responsible for the high-intensity and long-lasting infection in this animal model. CONCLUSIONS: The immunocompetent mouse model of cryptosporidiosis developed has the advantages of high oocyst shedding intensity and long oocyst shedding duration. It provides an effective mechanism for the propagation of Cryptosporidium, evaluations of potential therapeutics, and studies of pathogen biology and immune responses.
- MeSH
- alfa-defensiny * MeSH
- Cryptosporidium parvum * MeSH
- Cryptosporidium * fyziologie MeSH
- feces MeSH
- kryptosporidióza * patologie MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- modely nemocí na zvířatech MeSH
- myši inbrední C57BL MeSH
- myši MeSH
- oocysty MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Check Tag
- lidé MeSH
- myši MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- práce podpořená grantem MeSH
The taxonomy of myxosporeans was traditionally dependent solely upon the spore morphological and morphometric data. Intensive reports of intraspecific morphological variation, however, are increasingly challenging the taxonomic approaches for myxosporeans. In the present work, the morphological pleomorphism of myxospores of Myxobolus drjagini (Akhmerov, 1954) was observed. More interestingly, all of these pleomorphic myxospores occurred in the same plasmodium of M. drjagini, which refutes the previous hypothesis that morphological variation of M. drjagini was derived from its responses to differences in nutrition and immunological responses associated with different host tissues. Bearing the intraspecific morphometric and morphotype variation in mind, the combination of morphological, ecological and molecular data should be applied to the species identification and delimitation for myxosporeans. This is the first reported myxobolid species with high pleomorphic myxospores which are present in the same plasmodium.
- MeSH
- fylogeneze MeSH
- Myxobolus * MeSH
- nemoci ryb * MeSH
- parazitární nemoci u zvířat * MeSH
- Plasmodium * MeSH
- spory protozoální MeSH
- žábry MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Check Tag
- zvířata MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
