scholarly journals Spermicidal Activity of the Safe Natural Antimicrobial Peptide Subtilosin

2008 ◽  
Vol 2008 ◽  
pp. 1-6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katia E. Sutyak ◽  
Robert A. Anderson ◽  
Sara E. Dover ◽  
Kenneth A. Feathergill ◽  
Alla A. Aroutcheva ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Antimicrobial Peptide ◽  
Alternative Therapies ◽  
Gardnerella Vaginalis ◽  
Dependent Manner ◽  
Valuable Component ◽  
Tissue Model ◽  
Conducting Tissue ◽  
Tissue Sensitivity ◽  
Human Use ◽  
Dose Dependent

Bacterial vaginosis (BV), a condition affecting millions of women each year, is primarily caused by the gram-variable organismGardnerella vaginalis. A number of organisms associated with BV cases have been reported to develop multidrug resistance, leading to the need for alternative therapies. Previously, we reported the antimicrobial peptide subtilosin has proven antimicrobial activity againstG. vaginalis, but not against the tested healthy vaginal microbiota of lactobacilli. After conducting tissue sensitivity assays using an ectocervical tissue model, we determined that human cells remained viable after prolonged exposures to partially-purified subtilosin, indicating the compound is safe for human use. Subtilosin was shown to eliminate the motility and forward progression of human spermatozoa in a dose-dependent manner, and can therefore be considered a general spermicidal agent. These results suggest subtilosin would be a valuable component in topical personal care products aimed at contraception and BV prophylaxis and treatment.

scholarly journals Adjuvant Activity of Emulsan, a Secreted Lipopolysaccharide from Acinetobacter calcoaceticus

2002 ◽  
Vol 9 (6) ◽  
pp. 1240-1247 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bruce Panilaitis ◽  
Atul Johri ◽  
Walter Blank ◽  
David Kaplan ◽  
Juliet Fuhrman
Keyword(s):  
Chemical Structure ◽  
Macrophage Activation ◽  
Acinetobacter Calcoaceticus ◽  
Dependent Manner ◽  
Adjuvant Activity ◽  
The Past ◽  
Antibody Titers ◽  
Human Use ◽  
Complex Polymer ◽  
Dose Dependent

ABSTRACT Several promising adjuvant candidates have been studied over the past 75 years; however, only alum is currently approved for human use. The complex acylated polysaccharide emulsan, secreted from Acinetobacter calcoaceticus, represents a new candidate. Unique features of this family of polymers are their amenability to structural tailoring and their emulsification behavior. We demonstrate that emulsan activates macrophages in a dose-dependent manner. This activation is dependent on the presence of the fatty acid side chains that decorate the polysaccharide backbone, and, furthermore, the level of activation can be affected by changes in the chemical characteristics of emulsan structural variants. One emulsan variant was examined in a classical hapten carrier immunization protocol and demonstrated significant adjuvant activity as determined by hapten-specific antibody titers. This immune response was characterized by a high immunoglobulin G2a titer, consistent with a Th1 response. The significant immunopotentiation demonstrated by this complex polymer establishes emulsan as an exciting new candidate adjuvant. Furthermore, by manipulating the chemical structure of this compound, we can explore the physical basis of pattern recognition receptors and macrophage activation.

scholarly journals Efficacy of ARV-1502, a Proline-Rich Antimicrobial Peptide, in a Murine Model of Bacteremia Caused by Multi-Drug Resistant (MDR) Acinetobacter baumannii

Molecules ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 24 (15) ◽  
pp. 2820 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yan Q. Xiong ◽  
Liang Li ◽  
Yufeng Zhou ◽  
Carl N. Kraus
Keyword(s):  
Antimicrobial Peptide ◽  
Acinetobacter Baumannii ◽  
Therapeutic Efficacy ◽  
Clinical Problem ◽  
Dependent Manner ◽  
Drug Resistant ◽  
Medical Need ◽  
Severe Infections ◽  
Dose Dependent

Acinetobacter baumannii bacteremia represents a serious and increasing clinical problem due to the high mortality and treatment failures because of high rates of antibiotic resistance. Any additional new therapies for A. baumannii bacteremia would address a growing unmet medical need. ARV-1502 (designated as Chex1-Arg20 or A3-APO monomer in prior publications) is a designer proline-rich antimicrobial peptide chaperone protein inhibitor derived from insects and has demonstrated potent activity against multi-drug resistant (MDR) Gram-negative bacteria. In the current studies, we investigated the therapeutic efficacy of ARV-1502 administered intravenously (iv) alone and in combination with imipenem/cilastatin (IPM/CIL) in a mouse bacteremia model due to a MDR clinical A. baumannii strain, HUMC1. All ARV-1502 regimens (1.25, 2.5 and 5.0 mg/kg) significantly reduced bacterial density in the target tissues in a dose-dependent manner, as compared to the untreated control and IPM/CIL monotherapy (40 mg/kg) groups in the model. In addition, ARV-1502 treatment, even at the lowest dose, significantly improved survival vs. the control and IPM alone groups. As expected, IMP/CIL monotherapy had no therapeutic efficacy in the model, since the HUMC1 strain was resistant to IMP in vitro. However, the combination of ARV-1502 and IPM/CIL significantly enhanced the efficacy of ARV-1502, except the lowest dose of ARV-1502. The superior efficacy of ARV-1502 in the bacteremia model caused by MDR A. baumannii provides further support for studying this compound in severe infections caused by other MDR Gram-positive and -negative pathogens.

scholarly journals Dose–response effects of an antimicrobial peptide, a cecropin hybrid, on growth performance, nutrient utilisation, bacterial counts in the digesta and intestinal morphology in broilers

2012 ◽  
Vol 108 (10) ◽  
pp. 1756-1763 ◽  
Author(s):  
Liu-Fa Wen ◽  
Jian-Guo He
Keyword(s):  
Antimicrobial Peptide ◽  
Intestinal Morphology ◽  
Growth Promoter ◽  
Dependent Manner ◽  
Electron Microscopic ◽  
Diet Sample ◽  
Bacterial Counts ◽  
Nutrient Utilisation ◽  
Poultry Diets ◽  
Dose Dependent

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the feasibility of an antimicrobial peptide, cecropin A(1-11)-D(12-37)-Asn (CADN), as an alternative to antibiotic growth promoter (AGP) in poultry diets. A total of 1500 14-d-old indigenous male chickens (222 (sd 13) g) were randomly allocated to five groups with five replicate cages of sixty birds each, and fed ad libitum five grower diets and subsequently five finisher diets for 14 d each. The diets were made up by supplementing their basal diets with a CADN liquid sample (CADNL) at 0, 2, 4, 6 and 8 ml/kg, respectively. During the feeding period, a metabolic experiment was carried out to determine the apparent digestibility of diethyl ether extract, nitrogen retention and apparent metabolisable energy of the diet sample fed to each cage of chicks. At the end of the feeding experiment, one chick from each cage was killed for bacteriological, light microscopic and scanning electron microscopic examination of the intestinal villi. CADN had a negative linear, positive quadratic and negative linear effect on feed intake (F), weight gain (G) and feed:gain ratio (F:G), respectively, for the growers; it had a quadratic effect on F, G or F:G for the finishers; it increased nutrient utilisation for both growers and finishers; it decreased aerobic bacterial counts in both jejunal and caecal digesta in a dose-dependent manner; it enhanced intestinal villus heights in a dose-dependent manner and made the duodenum villi of the CADNL8 group at 42 d appear as a netted leaf-like structure. CADN is therefore a possible alternative to AGP in broiler feeds.

Effects of Low Molecular Weight Heparin and Unfragmented Heparin on Induction of Osteoporosis in Rats

1990 ◽  
Vol 63 (03) ◽  
pp. 505-509 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas Mätzsch ◽  
David Bergqvist ◽  
Ulla Hedner ◽  
Bo Nilsson ◽  
Per Østergaar
Keyword(s):  
Molecular Weight ◽  
Bone Mineral ◽  
Low Molecular Weight Heparin ◽  
Zinc Content ◽  
Low Molecular Weight ◽  
Dependent Manner ◽  
Bone Mineral Mass ◽  
Bone Ash ◽  
Dose Dependent ◽  
Mineral Mass

SummaryA comparison between the effect of low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) and unfragmented heparin (UH) on induction of osteoporosis was made in 60 rats treated with either UH (2 IU/ g b w), LMWH in 2 doses (2 Xal U/g or 0.4 Xal U/g) or placebo (saline) for 34 days. Studied variables were: bone mineral mass in femora; fragility of humera; zinc and calcium levels in serum and bone ash and albumin in plasma. A significant reduction in bone mineral mass was found in all heparin-treated rats. There was no difference between UH and LMWH in this respect. The effect was dose-dependent in LMWH-treated animals. The zinc contents in bone ash were decreased in all heparin-treated rats as compared with controls. No recognizable pattern was seen in alterations of zinc or calcium in serum. The fragility of the humera, tested as breaking strength did not differ between treatment groups and controls. In conclusion, if dosed according to similar factor Xa inhibitory activities, LMWH induces osteoporosis to the same extent as UH and in a dose-dependent manner. The zinc content in bone ash was decreased after heparin treatment, irrespective of type of heparin given.

Effects of NO-Donors on Thrombus Formation and Microcirculation in Cerebral Vessels of the Rat

1996 ◽  
Vol 76 (01) ◽  
pp. 111-117 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yasuto Sasaki ◽  
Junji Seki ◽  
John C Giddings ◽  
Junichiro Yamamoto
Keyword(s):  
Blood Flow ◽  
Thrombus Formation ◽  
Dependent Manner ◽  
Red Cell ◽  
Cell Velocity ◽  
Red Cell Velocity ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Wall Shear ◽  
Dose Dependent

SummarySodium nitroprusside (SNP) and 3-morpholinosydnonimine (SIN-1), are known to liberate nitric oxide (NO). In this study the effects of SNP and SIN-1 on thrombus formation in rat cerebral arterioles and venules in vivo were assessed using a helium-neon (He-Ne) laser. SNP infused at doses from 10 Μg/kg/h significantly inhibited thrombus formation in a dose dependent manner. This inhibition of thrombus formation was suppressed by methylene blue. SIN-1 at a dose of 100 Μg/kg/h also demonstrated a significant antithrombotic effect. Moreover, treatment with SNP increased vessel diameter in a dose dependent manner and enhanced the mean red cell velocity measured with a fiber-optic laser-Doppler anemometer microscope (FLDAM). Blood flow, calculated from the mean red cell velocity and vessel diameters was increased significantly during infusion. In contrast, mean wall shear rates in the arterioles and venules were not changed by SNP infusion. The results indicated that SNP and SIN-1 possessed potent antithrombotic activities, whilst SNP increased cerebral blood flow without changing wall shear rate. The findings suggest that the NO released by SNP and SIN-1 may be beneficial for the treatment and protection of cerebral infarction

Melatonin actions in the heart; more than a hormone

2018 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 21-26 ◽  
Author(s):  
Darío Acuña-Castroviejo ◽  
Maria T Noguiera-Navarro ◽  
Russel J Reiter ◽  
Germaine Escames
Keyword(s):  
Cell Membranes ◽  
Myocardial Cell ◽  
Rat Tissues ◽  
Dependent Manner ◽  
Broad Distribution ◽  
Multiple Organs ◽  
High Doses ◽  
Extrapineal Melatonin ◽  
Dose Dependent ◽  
Different Doses

Due to the broad distribution of extrapineal melatonin in multiple organs and tissues, we analyzed the presence and subcellular distribution of the indoleamine in the heart of rats. Groups of sham-operated and pinealectomized rats were sacrificed at different times along the day, and the melatonin content in myocardial cell membranes, cytosol, nuclei and mitochondria, were measured. Other groups of control animals were treated with different doses of melatonin to monitor its intracellular distribution. The results show that melatonin levels in the cell membrane, cytosol, nucleus, and mitochondria vary along the day, without showing a circadian rhythm. Pinealectomized animals trend to show higher values than sham-operated rats. Exogenous administration of melatonin yields its accumulation in a dose-dependent manner in all subcellular compartments analyzed, with maximal concentrations found in cell membranes at doses of 200 mg/kg bw melatonin. Interestingly, at dose of 40 mg/kg b.w, maximal concentration of melatonin was reached in the nucleus and mitochondrion. The results confirm previous data in other rat tissues including liver and brain, and support that melatonin is not uniformly distributed in the cell, whereas high doses of melatonin may be required for therapeutic purposes.

Evaluating the Proposed Mechanism by Which Atorvastatin Can Protect Renal Tissue against Contrast Media: An Animal study

2019 ◽  
pp. 75-84
Keyword(s):  
Contrast Media ◽  
Kidney Injury ◽  
Saline Group ◽  
Pleiotropic Effect ◽  
Renal Tissue ◽  
Male Rats ◽  
Dependent Manner ◽  
Group 2 ◽  
Dose Dependent ◽  
Media Group

Contrast- induced nephropathy (CIN) is an elevation of serum creatinine of ≥ 0.5 mg/dL from baseline after two to three days of exposure to contrast substance if there is no other cause for acute kidney injury. Atorvastatin may protect normal kidney physiology from contrast- induced kidney injury by effects unrelated to hypolipidemia termed pleiotropic effect by decline of endothelin production, angiotensin system down regulation, and under expression of endothelial adhesion molecules. This study was conducted to assess the strategy by which atorvastatin can achieve protective effect for kidneys after exposure to contrast media in an animal model. A 40 male rats were distributed randomly into 4 groups; ten rats for each: group (1): given normal saline; group (2): CIN group given iopromide as contrast media; group (3): given atorvastatin (20mg/kg) and iopromide; and group (4): given atorvastatin (40mg/kg) and iopromide. Blood collected by cardiac puncture for detection of serum glutathione, malondialdehyde, matrix metalloproteinase-9, and interleukin-18. The results have shown a significant increase in inflammatory and oxidative stress markers in contrast media group, and significant reduction in these markers in atorvastatin treated groups, in a dose-dependent manner. As conclusion, atorvastatin mechanism for protection against CIN in a dose-dependent manner can mediate by anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects.

Oxygenation of 18-hydroxycorticosterone as the final reaction for aldosterone biosynthesis

1984 ◽  
Vol 107 (3) ◽  
pp. 395-400 ◽  
Author(s):  
Itaru Kojima ◽  
Etsuro Ogata ◽  
Hiroshi Inano ◽  
Bun-ichi Tamaoki
Keyword(s):  
Carbon Monoxide ◽  
Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase ◽  
Dependent Manner ◽  
In Vitro Production ◽  
Mitochondrial Preparation ◽  
Final Reaction ◽  
Vitro Production ◽  
Dose Dependent ◽  
Cytochrome P 450

Abstract. Incubation of 18-hydroxycorticosterone with the sonicated mitochondrial preparation of bovine adrenal glomerulosa tissue leads to the production of aldosterone, as measured by radioimmunoassay. The in vitro production of aldosterone from 18-hydroxycorticosterone requires both molecular oxygen and NADPH, and is inhibited by carbon monoxide. Cytochrome P-450 inhibitors such as metyrapone, SU 8000. SU 10603, SKF 525A, amphenone B and spironolactone decrease the biosynthesis of aldosterone from 18-hydroxycorticosterone. These results support the conclusion that the final reaction in aldosterone synthesis from 18-hydroxycorticosterone is catalyzed by an oxygenase, but not by 18-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase. By the same preparation, the production of [3H]aldosterone but not [3H]18-hydroxycorticosterone from [1,2-3H ]corticosterone is decreased in a dose-dependent manner by addition of non-radioactive 18-hydroxycorticosterone.

Ecological and physiological as well as biochemical properties of representatives of the Genus sedum L.

2014 ◽  
Vol 25 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 24-33
Author(s):  
O. I. Dzjuba ◽  
M. V. Yatsenko
Keyword(s):  
Nitric Oxide ◽  
Cell Line ◽  
Methanol Extract ◽  
Hepatoma Cell ◽  
Ethanol Extract ◽  
Biochemical Properties ◽  
Biologically Active ◽  
Hepatoma Cell Line ◽  
Dependent Manner ◽  
Dose Dependent

The article deals with the history of the study and the current state of research of physiological and biochemical properties of the plant genus Sedum that are useful for human and has been used in folk medicine for many years. It was noticed that antioxidant properties of extracts from plants S. sarmentosum, S. sempervivoides, S. takesimense were caused by the presence of phenolic compounds. Methanol extract of plants S. takesimense exhibited strong scavenging activities against 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and superoxide radicals as well as significant inhibitory effects on lipid peroxidation and low density lipoprotein (LDL) oxidation induced by a metal ion Cu2+. Various immunomodulatory activities of various fractions of plants extracts (S. dendroideum, S. kamtschaticum, S. sarmentosum, S. telephium) are observed. It was shown that the ethanol extract of S. sarmentosum and it’s fractions suppressed specific antibody and cellular responses to ovalbumin in mice. The methanol extract of plants S. sarmentosum reduced the levels of anti-inflammatory markers, such as volume of exudates, number of polymorphonuclear leukocytes, suppressed nitric oxide synthesis in activated macrophages via suppressed induction of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS). Polysaccharides fractions from plants S. telephium inducing productions of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), increasing the intensity of phagocytosis in vitro and in vivo. Methanol extract from the whole part of S. kamtschaticum strongly inhibit PGE2 production from lipopolysaccharide-induced RAW 264.7 cells, a mouse macrophage cell line via modulating activity in gene expression of the enzyme cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2). The methanol extract of plants S. sarmentosum and the major kaempferol glycosides from S. dendroideum have antinociceptive activity. It was noticed that anti-adipogenic activity of extracts from plants S. kamtschaticum were caused by inhibition of peroxisome-proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) expression and it’s dependent target genes, such as genes encoding adipocyte protein 2 (аР2), lipoprotein lipase (LPL), adiponectin and CD36. Polysaccharides fractions from S. telephium cause inhibition of cell adhesion of human fibroblast (MRC5) to laminin and fibronectin via interfere with integrin-mediated cell behaviour and they contributed to the role of polysaccharides in cell-matrix interaction. The methanol extract of plants S. sarmentosum exhibited a significant inhibitory activity in the chick embryo chorioallantoic membrane angiogenesis in a dose-dependent manner. The crude alkaloid fraction of S. sarmentosum caused a dose-dependent inhibition of cell proliferation on murine hepatoma cell line BNL CL.2 and human hepatoma cell line HepG2 without necrosis or apoptosis. Alkaloids from plants S. sarmentosum may improve survival of hepatoma patients via the inhibition of excessive growth of tumor cells. Plant’s juices have antiviral activity (S. sarmentosum, S. spurium, S. stahlii). Crude ethanol extract S. praealtum have spermicidal activity of the in mice and a relevant inhibitory effect of aqueous extract on human spermatozoa motility as well as an anti-fertilizing activity in rats. Hepatoprotective triterpenes, e.g., δ-amyrone, 3-epi-δ-amyrin, δ-amyrin and sarmentolin were isolated from S. sarmentosum. 2- and 2,6-substituted piperidine alkaloids (e.g., norsedamine, allosedridine, sedamine, allosedamine) are observed in plants S. acre, which in the presence of data on the use of pyridine and piperidine derivatives for treating neurodegenerative diseases (e.g., Alzheimer's disease), points on the promising research in this area. Taking into account that biologically active compounds are accumulated in the aboveground vegetative organs of plants of Sedum, the prospects of further study of the use of Sedum for the purposes of biotechnology and in the pharmaceutical industry becomes apparent. This work extends the existing views regarding the use of plants Sedum.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document