Draft Genome Sequences of Legionella Presumptive Novel Species Isolated during Environmental Surveillance in Artificial Water Systems

ABSTRACT We present the draft genome sequences of three Legionella strains that were isolated from a hotel water distribution system. Legionella species identification was performed by macrophage infectivity potentiator (mip) and RNA polymerase β subunit (rpoB) gene sequencing. Whole-genome sequencing and average nucleotide identity results supported the hypothesis of new Legionella species isolation.

Anti-Leishmania activity of extracts from Piper cabralanum C.DC. (Piperaceae)

Species of Piperaceae are known by biological properties, including antiparasitic such as leishmanicidal, antimalarial and in the treatment of schistosomiasis. The aim of this work was to evaluate the antileishmania activity, cytotoxic effect, and macrophage activation patterns of the methanol (MeOH), hexane (HEX), dichloromethane (DCM) and ethyl acetate (EtOAc) extract fractions from the leaves of Piper cabralanum C.DC. The MeOH, HEX and DCM fractions inhibited Leishmanina amazonensis promastigote-like forms growth with a half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) of 144.54, 59.92, and 64.87 μg/mL, respectively. The EtOAc fraction did not show any relevant activity. The half maximal cytotoxic concentration (CC50) for macrophages were determined as 370.70, 83.99, 113.68 and 607 μg/mL for the MeOH, HEX and DCM fractions, respectively. The macrophage infectivity was concentration-dependent, especially for HEX and DCM. MeOH, HEX and DCM fractions showed activity against L. amazonensis with low cytotoxicity to murine macrophages and lowering infectivity by the parasite. Our results provide support for in vivo studies related to a potential application of P. cabralanum extract and fractions as a promising natural resource in the treatment of leishmaniasis.

Pharmacophore based virtual screening for identification of marine bioactive compounds as inhibitors against macrophage infectivity potentiator (Mip) protein of Chlamydia trachomatis

Macrophage infectivity potentiator (Mip) is the virulence factor fromChlamydia trachomatisthat is primarily responsible for causing sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and blindness.