The antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of lignin are often emphasized; however, not every type exhibits these properties. In this work, water-soluble fractions of alkali lignin (AL), poly-(caffeyl alcohol) lignin (PCFA), pyrolytic lignin (PL) and grape seed lignin (GSL) were prepared. The original and water-soluble lignin fractions were comprehensively characterized using high-resolution 2D NMR spectroscopy. Notably, water-soluble fractions of PCFA, PL and GSL lignins exhibited 3.6 to 3.9 higher antioxidant activities than the original lignins despite having a phenolic content of approximately 12 % to 55 % lower. Additionally, these fractions demonstrated antimicrobial activities against Micrococcus luteus, Serratia marcescens and Escherichia coli. The potential of water-soluble lignin fractions as active modifiers for physically crosslinked hydrogels was also investigated. Specifically, PL/F lignin served as an antioxidant and antimicrobial agent for modifying carrageenan without disrupting its viscoelastic and swelling behaviour. Carrageenan hydrogels with 6 % PL/F lignin showed an antioxidant activity of 219.6 mg TE g-1 hydrogel and reduction rates of 43.9 % against M. luteus, 31.6 % against S. marcescens and 20.6 % against E. coli.

• Klíčová slova
• Antibacterial properties, Antioxidant properties, Hydrogel, Lignin, NMR,
• MeSH
• antibakteriální látky * farmakologie   chemie   izolace a purifikace   MeSH
• antiinfekční látky * farmakologie   chemie   izolace a purifikace   MeSH
• antioxidancia chemie   farmakologie   izolace a purifikace   MeSH
• Escherichia coli účinky léků   MeSH
• hydrogely * chemie   farmakologie   MeSH
• karagenan chemie   MeSH
• lignin * chemie   farmakologie   izolace a purifikace   MeSH
• Micrococcus luteus účinky léků   MeSH
• mikrobiální testy citlivosti MeSH
• Serratia marcescens účinky léků   MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Názvy látek
• antibakteriální látky * MeSH
• antiinfekční látky * MeSH
• antioxidancia MeSH
• hydrogely * MeSH
• karagenan MeSH
• lignin * MeSH

Ticks are obligate hematophagous arthropods that transmit a wide range of pathogens to humans as well as wild and domestic animals. They also harbor a non-pathogenic microbiota, although our previous study has shown that the diverse bacterial microbiome in the midgut of Ixodes ricinus is quantitatively poor and lacks a core. In artificial infections by capillary feeding of ticks with two model bacteria (Gram-positive Micrococcus luteus and Gram-negative Pantoea sp.), rapid clearance of these microbes from the midgut was observed, indicating the presence of active immune mechanisms in this organ. In the current study, RNA-seq analysis was performed on the midgut of I. ricinus females inoculated with either M. luteus or Pantoea sp. or with sterile water as a control. While no immune-related transcripts were upregulated by microbial inoculation compared to that of the sterile control, capillary feeding itself triggered dramatic transcriptional changes in the tick midgut. Manual curation of the transcriptome from the midgut of unfed I. ricinus females, complemented by the proteomic analysis, revealed the presence of several constitutively expressed putative antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) that are independent of microbial stimulation and are referred to here as 'guard' AMPs. These included two types of midgut-specific defensins, two different domesticated amidase effector 2 (Dae2), microplusin/ricinusin-related molecules, two lysozymes, and two gamma interferon-inducible lysosomal thiol reductases (GILTs). The in vitro antimicrobial activity assays of two synthetic mature defensins, defensin 1 and defensin 8, confirmed their specificity against Gram-positive bacteria showing exceptional potency to inhibit the growth of M. luteus at nanomolar concentrations. The antimicrobial activity of midgut defensins is likely part of a multicomponent system responsible for the rapid clearance of bacteria in the tick midgut. Further studies are needed to evaluate the role of other identified 'guard' AMPs in controlling microorganisms entering the tick midgut.

• Klíčová slova
• Ixodes, Micrococcus luteus, antimicrobial peptide, defensin, immune system, midgut microbiome, tick,
• MeSH
• antimikrobiální peptidy metabolismus   MeSH
• gastrointestinální trakt mikrobiologie   imunologie   MeSH
• klíště * mikrobiologie   imunologie   MeSH
• Micrococcus luteus imunologie   MeSH
• proteomika MeSH
• stanovení celkové genové exprese MeSH
• transkriptom MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Názvy látek
• antimikrobiální peptidy MeSH

An actinobacterial strain, designated A5X3R13T, was isolated from a compost soil suspension supplemented with extracellular material from a Micrococcus luteus-culture supernatant. The strain was cultured on tenfold-diluted reasoner's 2A agar. The cells were ovoid-to-rod shaped, non-motile, Gram-stain-positive, oxidase-negative, catalase-positive and had a width of 0.5 µm and a length of 0.8-1.2 µm. The results of both 16S rRNA-based phylogenetic and whole-genome analyses indicate that A5X3R13T forms a distinct lineage within the family Nocardioidaceae (order Propionibacteriales). On the basis of the 16S rRNA gene sequence, A5X3R13T was closely related to Aeromicrobium terrae CC-CFT486T (96.2 %), Nocardioides iriomotensis IR27-S3T (96.2 %), Nocardioides guangzhouensis 130T (95.6 %), Marmoricola caldifontis YIM 730233T (95.5 %), Aeromicrobium alkaliterrae KSL-107T (95.4 %), Aeromicrobium choanae 9H-4T (95.4 %), Aeromicrobium panaciterrae Gsoil 161T (95.3 %), and Nocardioides jensenii NBRC 14755T (95.2 %). The genome had a length of 4 915 757 bp, and its DNA G+C content was 68.5 mol %. The main fatty acids were 10-methyl C17 : 0, C16 : 0, C15 : 0, C18 : 0, C17 : 0 and iso-C16 : 0. The main polar lipids were phosphatidylglycerol, diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylinositol and two unidentified phospholipids. MK-9(H4) was the predominant respiratory quinone. The peptidoglycan type was A3γ (A41.1) and contained alanine, glycine, glutamic acid and ll-diaminopimelic acid in a molar ratio of 1.2 : 0.9 : 1.0 : 0.8. On the basis of the results of the phylogenetic and phenotypic analyses and comparisons with other members of the family Nocardioidaceae, strain A5X3R13T is proposed to represent a novel species within a novel genus, for which the name Solicola gregarius gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is A5X3R13T (=DSM 112953T=NCCB 100840T).

• Klíčová slova
• Nocardioidaceae, compost soil, extracellular organic matter, resuscitation-promoting factor, soil bacteria, whole-genome average nucleotide identity,
• MeSH
• Actinomycetales * MeSH
• DNA bakterií genetika   MeSH
• fosfolipidy analýza   MeSH
• fylogeneze MeSH
• mastné kyseliny * chemie   MeSH
• Micrococcus luteus MeSH
• půdní mikrobiologie MeSH
• RNA ribozomální 16S genetika   MeSH
• sekvenční analýza DNA MeSH
• techniky typizace bakterií MeSH
• zastoupení bazí MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Názvy látek
• DNA bakterií MeSH
• fosfolipidy MeSH
• mastné kyseliny * MeSH
• RNA ribozomální 16S MeSH

An orange-golden iridescent culture, designated A1X5R2T, was isolated from a compost soil suspension which was amended with Micrococcus luteus NCTC 2665T culture supernatant. The cells were non-motile, Gram-stain-negative, 0.4-0.5 µm wide and 0.7-1.4 µm long. The 16S rRNA-based phylogenetic and whole-genome analyses revealed that strain A1X5R2T forms a distinct lineage within the family Sphingosinicellaceae and is closely related to members of the genus Sphingoaurantiacus (S. capsulatus, 93.04 % similarity, and S. polygranulatus, 92.77 %). The organism grew at 22-47 °C (optimal at 37 °C), salinity <3 % (optimal at 1.5 %) and at pH 7. The major respiratory quinone was ubiquinone-10, but a small quantity of ubiquinone-9 was also detected The major polyamine was homospermidine, but a small quantity of putrescine was also detected. The strain contained C18 : 1ω7c, C16 : 0, C16 : 1 ω7c and C18 : 0 as the major fatty acids. The main polar lipids were phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylinositol, sphingoglycolipid, diphosphatidylglycerol, two unidentified phospholipids and three unidentified amino lipids. The DNA G+C content was 64.9 mol%. According to the results of phylogenetic and phylogenomic analyses, as well as its physiological characteristics, strain A2X5R2T represents the type species of a novel genus within the family Sphingosinicellaceae. The name Pedomonas mirosovicensis gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed, with the type strain being A1X5R2T (=NCCB 100839T=DSM 112829T).

• Klíčová slova
• Sphingosinicellaceae, compost soil, extracellular organic matter, resuscitation-promoting factor, soil bacteria, whole genome average nucleotide identity,
• MeSH
• Alphaproteobacteria * genetika   MeSH
• DNA bakterií genetika   MeSH
• fosfolipidy chemie   MeSH
• fylogeneze MeSH
• mastné kyseliny chemie   MeSH
• Micrococcus luteus * MeSH
• půda MeSH
• půdní mikrobiologie MeSH
• RNA ribozomální 16S genetika   MeSH
• sekvenční analýza DNA MeSH
• techniky typizace bakterií MeSH
• ubichinon chemie   MeSH
• zastoupení bazí MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Názvy látek
• DNA bakterií MeSH
• fosfolipidy MeSH
• mastné kyseliny MeSH
• půda MeSH
• RNA ribozomální 16S MeSH
• ubichinon MeSH

In insects, external chemical defences, such as reflex bleeding, have been proved to be an efficient strategy against various predators. At the same time, significant costs of reflex bleeding can be expected because bled haemolymph is lost and all valuable components included have to be renewed. Interestingly, this issue has rarely been investigated for adult insects. In this study, we examined the immune and fitness costs of repeated reflex bleeding in adults of the invasive ladybird Harmonia axyridis, investigating several haemolymph parameters. Reflex bleeding induced twice a week for three weeks resulted in a significant reduction in haemocyte concentration, total protein content, and antimicrobial activity against Micrococcus luteus, and a marginally non-significant decrease in antimicrobial activity against Escherichia coli. Repeated reflex bleeding did not result in significant body mass reduction. Interestingly, resource limitation in the form of complete food absence did not significantly interact with reflex bleeding, even though starvation itself had a strong negative effect on all haemolymph parameters investigated and individual body mass. Daily reflex bleeding did not result in decreased fecundity of young ladybirds during the first 30 days of their adult life, but the start of ladybird reproduction was delayed by about two days. Moreover, ladybirds bleeding larger amounts of haemolymph started their reproduction significantly later. Overall, our results indicate that repeated reflex bleeding weakens a ladybird's immune system and can increase their susceptibility to pathogens, but a ladybird's reproductive potential remains almost unaffected, even by very intensive reflex bleeding.

• MeSH
• brouci imunologie   fyziologie   MeSH
• Escherichia coli patogenita   MeSH
• hemolymfa MeSH
• imunitní systém * MeSH
• Micrococcus luteus patogenita   MeSH
• rozmnožování MeSH
• tělesná hmotnost MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH

Avian eggs contend with omnipresent microorganisms entering the egg interior, where they affect embryo viability and hatchling phenotype. The incubation behaviour and deposition of egg white antimicrobial proteins (AMPs) vary highly across the avian altricial-precocial spectrum. Experimental evidence of how these alterations in avian reproductive strategies affect the antimicrobial properties of the precocial and altricial egg interior is lacking, however. Here, we tested the egg white antimicrobial activity in eggs of two representative model species, from each end of the avian altricial-precocial spectrum, against potentially pathogenic and beneficial probiotic microorganisms. Eggs were experimentally treated to mimic un-incubated eggs in the nest, partial incubation during the egg-laying period, the onset of full incubation and the increased deposition of two main egg white AMPs, lysozyme and ovotransferrin. We moreover assessed to what extent egg antimicrobial components, egg white pH and AMP concentrations varied as a result of different incubation patterns. Fully incubated precocial and altricial eggs decreased their antimicrobial activity against a potentially pathogenic microorganism, whereas partial incubation significantly enhanced the persistence of a beneficial probiotic microorganism in precocial eggs. These effects were most probably conditioned by temperature-dependent alterations in egg white pH and AMP concentrations. While lysozyme concentration and pH decreased in fully incubated precocial but not altricial eggs, egg white ovotransferrin increased along with the intensity of incubation in both precocial and altricial eggs. This study is the first to experimentally demonstrate that different incubation patterns may have selective antimicrobial potential mediated by species-specific effects on antimicrobial components in the egg white.

• Klíčová slova
• Albumen, Antimicrobials, Embryo viability, Incubation onset, Trans-shell infection,
• MeSH
• antiinfekční látky farmakologie   MeSH
• Bacillus subtilis účinky léků   MeSH
• Columbidae fyziologie   MeSH
• Coturnix fyziologie   MeSH
• Micrococcus luteus účinky léků   MeSH
• muramidasa farmakologie   MeSH
• ovotransferin farmakologie   MeSH
• ovum enzymologie   fyziologie   MeSH
• ptačí proteiny farmakologie   MeSH
• rozmnožování * MeSH
• vaječný bílek chemie   MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Názvy látek
• antiinfekční látky MeSH
• muramidasa MeSH
• ovotransferin MeSH
• ptačí proteiny MeSH

Pre-separation and pre-concentration of bacteria is an important step especially when they are uncultured and bacterial concentration in the matrix is low. This study describes a preparative method based on isoelectric focusing of colored microorganisms in a cellulose-based separation medium from a high conductivity matrix. The isoelectric points found for the examined cells were 1.8 for Micrococcus luteus, 3.5 for Dietzia sp., and 4.7 for Rhodotorula mucilaginosa using capillary isoelectric focusing. The final positions of the zones of colored microbial cells in the cellulose-bed are indicated by colored pI markers. Segments of the separation medium with cells were harvested by a spatula, simply purified using centrifugation and analyzed by capillary isoelectric focusing and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time of flight mass spectrometry. The determined recovery ranged from 78% to 93%. The viability of the harvested cells was verified by their cultivation.

• Klíčová slova
• CIEF and MALDI-TOF MS, Colored microorganisms, Isoelectric points, Preparative isoelectric focusing,
• MeSH
• Actinobacteria izolace a purifikace   MeSH
• celulosa chemie   MeSH
• isoelektrická fokusace * MeSH
• Micrococcus izolace a purifikace   MeSH
• Rhodotorula izolace a purifikace   MeSH
• spektrometrie hmotnostní - ionizace laserem za účasti matrice * MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Názvy látek
• celulosa MeSH

Myxobacteria, a group of antimicrobial producing bacteria, have been successfully cultured and characterized from ten soil samples collected from different parts of Slovakia. A total of 79 myxobacteria belonging to four genera (Myxococcus, Corallococcus, Sorangium, and Polyangium) were isolated based on aspects of their life cycle. Twenty-five of them were purified, fermented, and screened for antimicrobial activities against 11 test microorganisms. Results indicated that crude extracts showed more significant activities against Gram-positive than against Gram-negative bacteria or fungi. Based on a higher degree and broader range of antimicrobial production, the two most potential extracts (K9-5, V3-1) were selected for HPLC fractionation against Micrococcus luteus and Staphylococcus aureus and LC/MS analysis of potential antibiotic metabolites. The analysis resulted in the identification of polyketide-peptide antibiotics, namely corallopyronin A and B (K9-5) and myxalamid B and C (V3-1), which were responsible for important Gram-positive activity in the observed strains. A sequence similarity search through BLAST revealed that these strains showed the highest sequence similarity to Corallococcus coralloides (K9-5, NCBI accession number KX256198) and Myxococcus xanthus (V3-1, NCBI accession number KX256197). Although screening of myxobacteria is laborious, due to difficulties in isolating cultures, this research represented the first report covering the isolation and cultivation of this challenging bacterial group from Slovakian soils as well as the screening of their antimicrobial activity, cultural identification, and secondary metabolite identification.

• Klíčová slova
• 16S rRNA, Corallopyronins, Myxalamids, Myxobacteria, Soil,
• MeSH
• antibakteriální látky chemie   metabolismus   farmakologie   MeSH
• fylogeneze MeSH
• Micrococcus luteus účinky léků   MeSH
• Myxococcales chemie   genetika   izolace a purifikace   metabolismus   MeSH
• polyketidy chemie   metabolismus   farmakologie   MeSH
• půdní mikrobiologie * MeSH
• Staphylococcus aureus účinky léků   MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Názvy látek
• antibakteriální látky MeSH
• polyketidy MeSH

The formulation, characterization, and anticipated antibacterial properties of hemp seed oil and its emulsions were investigated. The oil obtained from the seeds of Cannabis sativa L. in refined and unrefined form was characterized using iodine, saponification, acid values, and gas chromatography, and was employed for the preparation of stable oil-in-water emulsions. The emulsions were prepared using pairs of non-ionic surfactants (Tween, Span). The effects of the emulsification method (spontaneous emulsification vs. high-intensity stirring), hydrophilic lipophilic balance (HLB), type and concentration of surfactant, and oil type on the size and distribution of the emulsion particles were investigated. It was found that the ability to form stable emulsions with small, initial particle sizes is primarily dependent on the given method of preparation and the HLB value. The most efficient method of emulsification that afforded the best emulsions with the smallest particles (151 ± 1 nm) comprised the high-energy method, and emulsions stable over the long-term were observed at HBL 9 with 10 wt % concentration of surfactants. Under high-intensity emulsification, refined and unrefined oils performed similarly. The oils as well as their emulsions were tested against the growth of selected bacteria using the disk diffusion and broth microdilution methods. The antibacterial effect of hemp seed oil was documented against Micrococcus luteus and Staphylococcus aureus subsp. aureus. The formulated emulsions did not exhibit the antibacterial activity that had been anticipated.

• Klíčová slova
• antibacterial activity, emulsion, fatty acid composition, hemp seed oil, particle size,
• MeSH
• antibakteriální látky chemie   izolace a purifikace   farmakologie   MeSH
• Cannabis chemie   MeSH
• emulze MeSH
• hydrofobní a hydrofilní interakce MeSH
• Micrococcus luteus účinky léků   MeSH
• mikrobiální testy citlivosti MeSH
• oleje rostlin chemie   izolace a purifikace   farmakologie   MeSH
• rostlinné extrakty chemie   izolace a purifikace   farmakologie   MeSH
• semena rostlinná chemie   MeSH
• Staphylococcus aureus účinky léků   MeSH
• velikost částic MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Názvy látek
• antibakteriální látky MeSH
• emulze MeSH
• oleje rostlin MeSH
• rostlinné extrakty MeSH

Limulus Clotting Factor C is a multi-domain serine protease that triggers horseshoe crab hemolymph clotting in the presence of trace amounts of bacterial lipopolysaccharides. Here we describe and functionally characterize an homologous molecule, designated as IrFC, from the hard tick Ixodes ricinus. Tick Factor C consists of an N-terminal cysteine-rich domain, four complement control protein (sushi) modules, an LCCL domain, a truncated C-lectin domain and a C-terminal trypsin-type domain. Developmental expression profiling by quantitative real-time PCR revealed that the irfc mRNA is expressed in all stages including eggs. In tissues dissected from adult I. ricinus females, the irfc mRNA is present mainly in tick hemocytes and accordingly, indirect immunofluorescence microscopy localized IrFC intracellularly, in tick hemocytes. Irfc mRNA levels were markedly increased upon injection of sterile saline, or different microbes, demonstrating that the irfc gene transcription occurs in response to injury. This indicates a possible role of IrFC in hemolymph clotting and/or wound healing, although these defense mechanisms have not been yet definitely demonstrated in ticks. RNAi silencing of irfc expression resulted in a significant reduction in phagocytic activity of tick hemocytes against the Gram-negative bacteria Chryseobacterium indologenes and Escherichia coli, but not against the yeast, Candida albicans. This result suggests that IrFC plays a role in the tick primordial complement system and as such possibly mediates transmission of tick-borne pathogens.

• Klíčová slova
• Complement, Innate immunity, Limulus Clotting Factor C, Phagocytosis, RNA interference, Tick Ixodes ricinus,
• MeSH
• Borrelia imunologie   MeSH
• Candida albicans imunologie   MeSH
• Escherichia coli imunologie   MeSH
• exprese genu MeSH
• fagocytóza MeSH
• klíště enzymologie   genetika   imunologie   mikrobiologie   MeSH
• komplement fyziologie   MeSH
• messenger RNA biosyntéza   genetika   MeSH
• Micrococcus luteus imunologie   MeSH
• molekulární sekvence - údaje MeSH
• prekurzory enzymů biosyntéza   genetika   MeSH
• přirozená imunita MeSH
• proteiny členovců biosyntéza   genetika   MeSH
• serinové endopeptidasy biosyntéza   genetika   MeSH
• upregulace imunologie   MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Názvy látek
• komplement MeSH
• Limulus clotting factor C MeSH Prohlížeč
• messenger RNA MeSH
• prekurzory enzymů MeSH
• proteiny členovců MeSH
• serinové endopeptidasy MeSH