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Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) May 2024Surfactants, also known as surface-active agents, have emerged as an important class of compounds with a wide range of applications. However, the use of chemical-derived... (Review)
Review
Surfactants, also known as surface-active agents, have emerged as an important class of compounds with a wide range of applications. However, the use of chemical-derived surfactants must be restricted due to their potential adverse impact on the ecosystem and the health of human and other living organisms. In the past few years, there has been a growing inclination towards natural-derived alternatives, particularly microbial surfactants, as substitutes for synthetic or chemical-based counterparts. Microbial biosurfactants are abundantly found in bacterial species, predominantly spp. and spp. The chemical structures of biosurfactants involve the complexation of lipids with carbohydrates (glycolipoproteins and glycolipids), peptides (lipopeptides), and phosphates (phospholipids). Lipopeptides, in particular, have been the subject of extensive research due to their versatile properties, including emulsifying, antimicrobial, anticancer, and anti-inflammatory properties. This review provides an update on research progress in the classification of surfactants. Furthermore, it explores various bacterial biosurfactants and their functionalities, along with their advantages over synthetic surfactants. Finally, the potential applications of these biosurfactants in many industries and insights into future research directions are discussed.
Topics: Surface-Active Agents; Lipopeptides; Humans; Bacteria; Glycolipids
PubMed: 38893420
DOI: 10.3390/molecules29112544 -
Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) May 2024Novel isoxazole-triazole conjugates have been efficiently synthesized using 3-formylchromone as starting material according to a multi-step synthetic approach. The...
Novel isoxazole-triazole conjugates have been efficiently synthesized using 3-formylchromone as starting material according to a multi-step synthetic approach. The structures of the target conjugates and intermediate products were characterized by standard spectroscopic techniques (H NMR and C NMR) and confirmed by mass spectrometry (MS). The all-synthesized compounds were screened for their antibacterial activity against three ATCC reference strains, namely ATCC 25923, ATCC BAA-44, and ATCC 25922 as well as one strain isolated from the hospital environment . The findings indicate that conjugate 7b exhibits a stronger antibacterial response against the tested ATCC 25922 and pathogenic strains compared to the standard antibiotics. Furthermore, hybrid compound proved to have a bactericidal action on the ATCC 25922 strain, as evidenced by the results of the MBC determination. Moreover, the ADMET pharmacokinetic characteristics revealed a favorable profile for the examined compound, as well as a good level of oral bioavailability. Molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulations were performed to explore the inhibition mechanism and binding energies of conjugate with the proteins of and bacterial strains. The in silico results corroborated the data observed in the in vitro evaluation for compound .
Topics: Anti-Bacterial Agents; Triazoles; Molecular Docking Simulation; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Escherichia coli; Isoxazoles; Staphylococcus aureus; Drug Design; Molecular Dynamics Simulation; Molecular Structure; Structure-Activity Relationship; Computer Simulation
PubMed: 38893386
DOI: 10.3390/molecules29112510 -
Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) May 2024The human paraoxonase 2 (PON2) is the oldest member of a small family of arylesterase and lactonase enzymes, representing the first line of defense against bacterial...
The human paraoxonase 2 (PON2) is the oldest member of a small family of arylesterase and lactonase enzymes, representing the first line of defense against bacterial infections and having a major role in ROS-associated diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular diseases, neurodegeneration, and diabetes. Specific Post-Translational Modifications (PTMs) clustering nearby two residues corresponding to polymorphic sites and their impact on the catalytic activity are not yet fully understood. Thus, the goal of the present study was to develop an improved PON2 purification protocol to obtain a higher amount of protein suitable for in-depth biochemical studies and biotechnological applications. To this end, we also tested several compounds to stabilize the active monomeric form of the enzyme. Storing the enzyme at 4 °C with 30 mM Threalose had the best impact on the activity, which was preserved for at least 30 days. The catalytic parameters against the substrate 3-Oxo-dodecanoyl-Homoserine Lactone (3oxoC12-HSL) and the enzyme ability to interfere with the biofilm formation of () were determined, showing that the obtained enzyme is well suited for downstream applications. Finally, we used the purified rPON2 to detect, by the direct molecular fishing (DMF) method, new putative PON2 interactors from soluble extracts of HeLa cells.
Topics: Aryldialkylphosphatase; Humans; Proteomics; Protein Refolding; Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Enzyme Stability; Biofilms; Protein Processing, Post-Translational
PubMed: 38893310
DOI: 10.3390/molecules29112434 -
Journal of Clinical Medicine Jun 2024Acute or chronic ear, nose and throat (ENT) conditions in people living with HIV can lead to hospitalization and affect their quality of life. The aim of our study was...
Acute or chronic ear, nose and throat (ENT) conditions in people living with HIV can lead to hospitalization and affect their quality of life. The aim of our study was to determine the frequency and characteristics of hospitalizations for acute sinusitis (AS) and acute otitis (AO) in people living with HIV. We performed a retrospective analysis over the course of six years (from January 2018 to December 2023), assessing all hospitalizations for AS and/or AO occurring in patients living with HIV, at the largest infectious diseases hospital in Romania. We identified a total of 179 cases, among which 149 cases (83.2%) were attributed to AS and 41 cases (22.9%) were due to AO. Among cases of AS, maxillary sinuses were most frequently involved ( = 140/149, 94.0%), and among cases of AO, acute congestive otitis media ( = 14, 34.1%) and acute purulent otitis media ( = 13, 31.7%) were the most common forms. The underlying HIV infection was classified as stage C3 in 57.5% of cases. In 19.6% of cases, it was possible to identify either the trigger or the etiological agent, and the most frequent bacterial pathogens were , , and . In conclusion, this study highlights that hospitalizations due to acute sinus and ear involvement are not isolated events in people living with HIV. A prospective follow-up is needed to gain a deeper and more dynamic understanding of how ENT health is affected in people with HIV infection. Furthermore, promoting prevention through vaccination may reduce to a certain extent the burden of ENT infections in this population.
PubMed: 38893057
DOI: 10.3390/jcm13113346 -
International Journal of Molecular... May 2024The pyoverdine siderophore is produced by to access iron. Its synthesis involves the complex coordination of four nonribosomal peptide synthetases (NRPSs), which are...
The pyoverdine siderophore is produced by to access iron. Its synthesis involves the complex coordination of four nonribosomal peptide synthetases (NRPSs), which are responsible for assembling the pyoverdine peptide backbone. The precise cellular organization of these NRPSs and their mechanisms of interaction remain unclear. Here, we used a combination of several single-molecule microscopy techniques to elucidate the spatial arrangement of NRPSs within pyoverdine-producing cells. Our findings reveal that PvdL differs from the three other NRPSs in terms of localization and mobility patterns. PvdL is predominantly located in the inner membrane, while the others also explore the cytoplasmic compartment. Leveraging the power of multicolor single-molecule localization, we further reveal co-localization between PvdL and the other NRPSs, suggesting a pivotal role for PvdL in orchestrating the intricate biosynthetic pathway. Our observations strongly indicates that PvdL serves as a central orchestrator in the assembly of NRPSs involved in pyoverdine biosynthesis, assuming a critical regulatory function.
Topics: Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Oligopeptides; Peptide Synthases; Bacterial Proteins; Siderophores
PubMed: 38892200
DOI: 10.3390/ijms25116013 -
International Journal of Molecular... May 2024The aim of this work was to develop and characterize a thin films composed of hyaluronic acid/ellagic acid for potential medical application. Its principal novelty,...
The aim of this work was to develop and characterize a thin films composed of hyaluronic acid/ellagic acid for potential medical application. Its principal novelty, distinct from the prior literature in terms of hyaluronic acid films supplemented with phenolic acids, resides in the predominant incorporation of ellagic acid-a distinguished compound-as the primary constituent of the films. Herein, ellagic acid was dissolved in two different solvents, i.e., acetic acid (AcOH) or sodium hydroxide (NaOH), and the surface properties of the resultant films were assessed using atomic force microscopy and contact angle measurements. Additionally, various physicochemical parameters were evaluated including moisture content, antioxidant activity, and release of ellagic acid in phosphate buffered saline. Furthermore, the evaluation of films' biocompatibility was conducted using human epidermal keratinocytes, dermal fibroblasts, and human amelanotic melanoma cells (A375 and G361), and the antimicrobial activity was elucidated accordingly against ATCC 6538 and ATCC 15442. Our results showed that the films exhibited prominent antibacterial properties particularly against , with the 80HA/20EA/AcOH film indicating the strong biocidal activity against this strain leading to a significant reduction in viable cells. Comparatively, the 50HA/50EA/AcOH film also displayed biocidal activity against . This experimental approach could be a promising technique for future applications in regenerative dermatology or novel strategies in terms of bioengineering.
Topics: Hyaluronic Acid; Humans; Staphylococcus aureus; Biocompatible Materials; Ellagic Acid; Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Antioxidants; Fibroblasts; Keratinocytes; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Cell Line, Tumor; Surface Properties
PubMed: 38892078
DOI: 10.3390/ijms25115891 -
International Journal of Molecular... May 2024Peptides displaying antimicrobial properties are being regarded as useful tools to evade and combat antimicrobial resistance, a major public health challenge. Here we...
Peptides displaying antimicrobial properties are being regarded as useful tools to evade and combat antimicrobial resistance, a major public health challenge. Here we have addressed dendrimers, attractive molecules in pharmaceutical innovation and development displaying broad biological activity. Triazine-based dendrimers were fully synthesized in the solid phase, and their antimicrobial activity and some insights into their mechanisms of action were explored. Triazine is present in a large number of compounds with highly diverse biological targets with broad biological activities and could be an excellent branching unit to accommodate peptides. Our results show that the novel peptide dendrimers synthesized have remarkable antimicrobial activity against Gram-negative bacteria ( and ) and suggest that they may be useful in neutralizing the effect of efflux machinery on resistance.
Topics: Dendrimers; Triazines; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Escherichia coli; Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Antimicrobial Peptides; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Anti-Infective Agents; Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides
PubMed: 38892071
DOI: 10.3390/ijms25115883 -
Animals : An Open Access Journal From... May 2024Zinc is essential for animals, playing a vital role in enzyme systems and various biochemical reactions. It is crucial to ensure a sufficient intake of zinc through the...
Zinc is essential for animals, playing a vital role in enzyme systems and various biochemical reactions. It is crucial to ensure a sufficient intake of zinc through the diet to maintain efficient homeostasis. Only few studies on zinc effect in cow lactating diet evaluated the effects on milk and cheese quality, with conflicting findings. 24 cows of the Friesian breed were divided into two groups (CTR: control and TRT: treated group). Cows were selected for age, body weight, parity and phase of lactations (mid lactation, 140-160 days). CTR diet contained 38 mg/kg of Zn and TRT diet was supplied with 120 mg/kg of complete feed for 60 days. The objective of current investigation was to evaluate the impact of a dietary Zinc Oxide (ZnO) integration of lactating Friesian cows on chemical composition, zinc content, fatty acid and proteic profile, ammine content, pH, a, texture, and sensory profile of cheese and to improve the chemical-nutritional quality of milk and cheese. The results showed that ZnO supplementation reduced mesophilic aerobic bacteria and Presumptive spp. growth, proteolysis, biogenic amines content, lipid oxidation, odour intensity and sour and increased hardness, gumminess, chewiness, elasticity of cheese. Biogenic amines are considered an important aspect of food safety. ZnO integration in cow diet could represent a promising strategy for improving the quality, the safety and shelf-life of caciotta cheese.
PubMed: 38891689
DOI: 10.3390/ani14111642 -
Plants (Basel, Switzerland) May 2024Improving the quality of tree planting material for carbon sequestration through reforestation can help solve environmental problems, including the need to reduce the...
Improving the quality of tree planting material for carbon sequestration through reforestation can help solve environmental problems, including the need to reduce the concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. The purpose of this study was to investigate the possibility of using humic substances in combination with rhizosphere microorganisms DA1.2 and sp. 4CH as a means to stimulate the growth of seedlings of pine, poplar, large-leaved linden, red oak, horse chestnut, and rowan. Humic substances stimulated the growth of shoots and roots of pine, large-leaved linden, and horse chestnut seedlings. The effects of bacteria depended on both plant and bacteria species: DA1.2 showed a higher stimulatory effect than sp. 4CH on pine and linden, and sp. 4CH was more effective in the case of chestnut. An additive effect of humates and DA1.2 on the growth rate of pine and linden saplings was discovered. Poplar, red oak, and rowan seedlings were unresponsive to the treatments. The growth-stimulating effects of the treatments are discussed in connection with the changes in carbon, chlorophyll, and nitrogen contents in plants. The results show the need for further research in bacterial species capable of stimulating the growth of plant species that were unresponsive in the present experiments.
PubMed: 38891262
DOI: 10.3390/plants13111452 -
Cells Jun 2024Precise control of neuronal activity is crucial for the proper functioning of neurons. How lipid homeostasis contributes to neuronal activity and how much of it is...
Precise control of neuronal activity is crucial for the proper functioning of neurons. How lipid homeostasis contributes to neuronal activity and how much of it is regulated by cells autonomously is unclear. In this study, we discovered that absence of the lipid regulator , a functional ortholog of the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) in , resulted in defective pathogen avoidance behavior against (PA14). Functional NHR-49 was required in the neurons, and more specifically, in a set of oxygen-sensing body cavity neurons, URX, AQR, and PQR. We found that lowering the neuronal activity of the body cavity neurons improved avoidance in mutants. Calcium imaging in URX neurons showed that mutants displayed longer-lasting calcium transients in response to an O upshift, suggesting that excess neuronal activity leads to avoidance defects. Cell-specific rescue of NHR-49 in the body cavity neurons was sufficient to improve pathogen avoidance, as well as URX neuron calcium kinetics. Supplementation with oleic acid also improved avoidance behavior and URX calcium kinetics, suggesting that the defective calcium response in the neuron is due to lipid dysfunction. These findings highlight the role of cell-autonomous lipid regulation in neuronal physiology and immune behavior.
Topics: Animals; Caenorhabditis elegans; Lipid Metabolism; Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins; Neurons; Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Calcium; Mutation; Avoidance Learning; Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear
PubMed: 38891110
DOI: 10.3390/cells13110978