Carotenoids from the ripening bacterium Brevibacterium linens impart color to the rind of the French cheese,Fourme de Montbrison (PDO)

Abstract

Rind color of some high-value PDO cheeses is related to the presence of carotenoids, but little is known about the structure of the pigmented compounds and their origin. Our objective was to describe the carotenoids extracted from the rind of a French cheese, Fourme de Montbrison, and to compare them with the pigments produced by a bacterial strain used as an adjunct culture in the cheese ripening process. Eleven carotenoids were detected in the cheese rinds or in the biomass of Brevibacterium linens. Most of the carotenoids from the rinds belonged to the aryl (aromatic) carotenoid family, including hydroxylated and non-hydroxylated isorenieratene. Chlorobactene, a carotenoid rarely found in food products, was also detected. Agelaxanthin A was identified in the cheese rinds as well as in the B. linens biomass. Occurrence of this compound was previously described in only one scientific publication, where it was isolated from the sponge Agela schmidtii.     

Enhancement of the antibiotic activity of aminoglycosides by extracts from Anadenanthera colubrine (Vell.) Brenan var. cebil against multi-drug resistant bacteria

The aim of this work was to evaluate the antimicrobial activity of ethanol (EEAC) and hexane (HFAC) extracts from the stem bark of Anadenanthera colubrina (Vell.) Brenan var. cebil alone or in combination with aminoglycosides against multi-drug resistant (MDR) bacteria. Minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of the extracts were determined by using microdilution assay. For the evaluation of extracts as modulators of antibiotic resistance, MICs of neomycin and amikacin were determined in presence or absence of each compound at sub-inhibitory concentrations. Both EEAC and HFAC did not show antimicrobial activity against MDR strains tested. However, the addition of EEAC and HFAC enhanced the activity of neomycin and amikacin against Staphylococcus aureus SA10 strain. When the natural products were replaced by chlorpromazine, the same effect was observed. Anadenanthera colubrine var. cebil may be a source of phytochemicals able to potentiate the aminoglycoside activity against MDR S. aureus by the inhibition of efflux pump.     

Synthesis and Microtubule‐Destabilizing Activity of N‐Cyclopropyl‐4‐((3,4‐dihydroquinolin‐1(2H)‐yl)sulfonyl)benzamide and its Analogs

While clinically useful, microtubule‐targeting agents are limited by factors that include their susceptibility to multidrug resistance. A series of aryl sulfonamides, terminally substituted with an amide or carboxylic acid, was synthesized and assayed for biological activity in two human cancer cell lines. The resulting antiproliferative activity data demonstrated that an amide was superior to a carboxylic acid in the para position. The most potent compound ( 3 ) had an IC₅₀ for growth inhibition in the low micromolar range, caused cells to accumulate in G₂M of the cell cycle, and led to depolymerization of microtubules. It was also not susceptible to the P‐glycoprotein drug efflux pump that underpins the resistance of cells to long‐term drug treatment schedules.     

Separation of phenolic acids from sugarcane rind by online solid‐phase extraction with high‐speed counter‐current chromatography

Sugarcane rind contains some functional phenolic acids. The separation of these compounds from sugarcane rind is able to realize the integrated utilization of the crop and reduce environment pollution. In this paper, a novel protocol based on interfacing online solid‐phase extraction with high‐speed counter‐current chromatography (HSCCC) was established, aiming at improving and simplifying the process of phenolic acids separation from sugarcane rind. The conditions of online solid‐phase extraction with HSCCC involving solvent system, flow rate of mobile phase as well as saturated extent of absorption of solid‐phase extraction were optimized to improve extraction efficiency and reduce separation time. The separation of phenolic acids was performed with a two‐phase solvent system composed of butanol/acetic acid/water at a volume ratio of 4:1:5, and the developed online solid‐phase extraction with HSCCC method was validated and successfully applied for sugarcane rind, and three phenolic acids including 6.73 mg of gallic acid, 10.85 mg of p‐coumaric acid, and 2.78 mg of ferulic acid with purities of 60.2, 95.4, and 84%, respectively, were obtained from 150 mg sugarcane rind crude extracts. In addition, the three different elution methods of phenolic acids purification including HSCCC, elution–extrusion counter‐current chromatography and back‐extrusion counter‐current chromatography were compared.     

Chemical composition and evaluation of the antimicrobial activity of the essential oil from leaves of Eugenia platysema

This study describes the qualitative and quantitative chemical composition and evaluates the antibacterial activity of essential oil from Eugenia platysema leaves. Analysis by GC–FID and GC–MS allowed the identification of 22 compounds. Different from the other species of the Eugenia genus, the major compound found in the essential oil was the diterpene phytol (66.05%), being this the first report of the presence of this compound in the essential oils from Eugenia genus. The sesquiterpene elixene was the second most concentrated compound in the studied essential oil (9.16%). The essential oil from E. platysema was tested for its antibacterial activity against cell-walled bacteria and mollicute strains of clinical interest using the microdilution broth assay. The results showed that the essential oil of E. platysema was inactive until 1000 μg mL^?1 against tested bacteria.     

Isolation of a new triterpene derivative and in vitro and in vivo anticancer activity of ethanolic extract from root bark of Zizyphus nummularia Aubrev

The various parts of Zizyphus nummularia has been used traditionally in several disease conditions. However, its anticancer activity and mechanism of action remain to be elucidated. Considering this, the objective of this study was to isolate, identify and screen for possible anticancer activity in vitro and in vivo of the ethanolic extract (EE) and isolated identified compound (IC) from Z. nummularia root bark. The in vitro activity against human breast cancer, leukaemia, ovarian cancer, colon adenocarcinoma and human kidney carcinoma cell lines was determined. The in vivo activity in female Swiss albino mice against Ehrlich ascites carcinoma (EAC) was determined. The isolated compound is a new triterpene derivative. EE/IC showed cytotoxicity against different cell lines. The administration of EE/IC decreased tumour parameters such as tumour volume, viable tumour cell count and increased body weight, haematological parameters and life span in comparison to the EAC control mice.     

Facile Synthesis,Antimicrobial Activity and Molecular Docking of Novel 2,4,5‐Trisubstituted‐1H‐Imidazole–Triazole Hybrid Compounds

In the present work, a series of 18 imidazole–triazole hybrids ( 4a–r ) has been synthesized in good yield from substituted naphthaldehydes and 1,2‐diketones in the presence of ammonium acetate. The synthesized imidazole–triazole hybrid compounds were characterized by spectral techniques and screened in vitro for their antimicrobial activity. Compound 4h was found to be most active against Staphylococcus epidermidis, and compound 4e exhibited promising activity against Escherichia coli. In the fungal species under test, compound 4q was most potent against Aspergillus niger, even better than the fluconazole. Further, compound 4e was docked in the binding site of DNA gyrase topoisomerase II of E. coli.     

Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of the Novel Growth Inhibitor Streptol Glucoside,Isolated from an Obligate Plant Symbiont

The plant Psychotria kirkii hosts an obligatory bacterial symbiont, Candidatus Burkholderia kirkii, in nodules on their leaves. Recently, a glucosylated derivative of (+)-streptol, (+)-streptol glucoside, was isolated from the nodulated leaves and was found to possess a plant growth inhibitory activity. To establish a structure–activity relationship study, a convergent strategy was developed to obtain several pseudosugars from a single synthetic precursor. Furthermore, the glucosylation of streptol was investigated in detail and conditions affording specifically the α or β glucosidic anomer were identified. Although (+)-streptol was the most active compound, its concentration in P. kirkii plant leaves extract was approximately ten-fold lower than that of (+)-streptol glucoside. These results provide compelling evidence that the glucosylation of (+)-streptol protects the plant host against the growth inhibitory effect of the compound, which might constitute a molecular cornerstone for this successful plant-bacteria symbiosis.     

In vitro biological activity of aromadendrin-4′-methyl ether isolated from root extract of Ventilago madraspatana Gaertn with relevance to anticandidal activity

In this study, antimicrobial and antioxidant activities of the hexane extract of the root of Ventilago madraspatana were evaluated. Based on the significant bioactivity of crude hexane extract, an active compound was purified from the root extract. The active compound was further purified and identified as aromodendrin-4′-methyl ether by the ¹H NMR spectrum. The isolated compound significantly inhibited Staphylococcus epidermidis with the lowest MIC and MBC at 78 μg/mL (P < 0.05). The compound also exhibited significant anticandidal activity with MIC and MBC values of 312 and 625 μg/mL, respectively. The radical scavenging activity of aromodendrin-4′-methyl ether was evident by its lower IC₅₀ values of 60 μg/mL for DPPH scavenging and 3.2 μg/mL for ABTS scavenging. The compound also exhibited ferrous ion chelation and H₂O₂ scavenging activities. The study is an attempt to increase the industrial utility of V. madrasapatana.     

Echinosporamicin,a New Antibiotic Produced by Micromonospora echinospora ssp. echinospora,LL‐P175

Echinosporamicin ( 1 ), a novel antibiotic containing an aromatic polycyclic system and a piperazinone moiety, was isolated from the fermentation broth of a new strain of Micromonospora echinospora subspecies echinospora, LL‐P175. The structure of this compound was determined by spectroscopic analysis by using variable‐temperature NMR techniques. Compound 1 exhibited potent activity against methicillin‐resistant Staphylococci and vancomycin‐resistant Enterococci strains. The methyl, ethyl, and benzyl esters showed improved antibacterial activity against Streptococci.     

Discovery of 4H-thieno[3,2-b]pyrrole derivatives as potential anticancer agents

In this study, we describe the discovery of the 4H-thieno[3,2-b]pyrrole derivatives as an useful scaffold to obtain potent lead compounds for the treatment of colon cancer. We first started with the 4H-thieno[3,2-b]pyrrole derivatives which come from compound libraries screening, and then optimized their structures based on the cellular activities and pharmacophore models. The inhibition rate of cell growth assay demonstrated that this series compounds showed better inhibitory activities against colon cancer cells than other tested tumor cells. Moreover, the target of the most active compound 8i was explored by target fishing strategy and validated by molecular docking and biological activity analysis. The results of apoptosis and flow cytometry demonstrated that compound 8i induces cell apoptosis probably by inhibiting activity of methionine aminopeptidase 2, therefore compound 8i may be a potent inhibitor to methionine aminopeptidase 2.     

Antifungal and phytotoxic activity of essential oil from root of Senecio amplexicaulis Kunth. (Asteraceae) growing wild in high altitude-Himalayan region

This work was aimed to evaluate the essential oil from root of medicinally important plant Senecio amplexicaulis for chemical composition, antifungal and phytotoxic activity. The chemical composition analysed by GC/GC–MS showed the presence of monoterpene hydrocarbons in high percentage with marker compounds as α-phellandrene (48.57%), o-cymene (16.80%) and β-ocimene (7.61%). The essential oil exhibited significant antifungal activity against five phytopathogenic fungi, Sclerotium rolfsii, Macrophomina phaseolina, Rhizoctonia solani, Pythium debaryanum and Fusarium oxysporum. The oil demonstrated remarkable phytotoxic activity in tested concentration and significant reduction in seed germination percentage of Phalaris minor and Triticum aestivum at higher concentrations. The roots essential oil showed high yield for one of its marker compound (α-phellandrene) which makes it important natural source of this compound.     

A quantitative LC–MS/MS method for determination of a small molecule agonist of EphA2 in mouse plasma and brain tissue

Compound 27 {1, 12‐bis[4‐(4‐amino‐6,7‐dimethoxyquinazolin‐2‐yl)piperazin‐1‐yl]dodecane‐1,12‐dione} is a novel small molecule agonist of EphA2 receptor tyrosine kinase. It showed much improved activity for the activation of EphA2 receptor compared with the parental compound doxazosin. To support further pharmacological and toxicological studies of the compound, a method using liquid chromatography and electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS) has been developed for the quantification of this compound. Liquid–liquid extraction was used to extract the compound from mouse plasma and brain tissue homogenate. Reverse‐phase chromatography with gradient elution was performed to separate compound 27 from the endogenous molecules in the matrix, followed by MS detection using positive ion multiple reaction monitoring mode. Multiple reaction monitoring transitions m/z 387.3 → 290.1 and m/z 384.1 → 247.1 were selected for monitoring compound 27 and internal standard prazosin, respectively. The linear calibration range was 2–200 ng/mL with the intra‐ and inter‐day precision and accuracy within the acceptable range. This method was successfully applied to the quantitative analysis of compound 27 in mouse plasma and brain tissue with different drug administration routes.     

In vitro avarol does affect the growth of Candida sp.

This work extends in vitro screening of antimicrobial activity of avarol, the marine natural product firstly isolated from the Mediterranean sponge Dysidea avara. Its anticandidial activity was evaluated by microdilution method against eight Candida strains, two ATCC and six clinical ones. At a different extent this compound was proven to be active against all the strains tested (MIC 0.8–6.0 μg/mL and MFC 1.6–12.0 μg/mL, respectively). According to the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on avarol activity towards any yeast strain which may be of relevance for Alzheimer’s disease. Indeed, avarol derivatives showing moderate AChE activity should be screened for anticandidial activity both in vitro and in vivo.     

Design,Synthesis, and Bioactivity Evaluation of Novel 3‐(Substituted Phenoxy)‐6‐Methyl‐4‐(3‐Trifluoromethylphenyl) Pyridazine Derivatives

Using 3‐(4‐cyano phenoxy)‐6‐methyl‐4‐(3‐trifluoromethylphenyl) pyridazine (compound A ) as a leading compound, a total of 24 novel 3‐(substituted phenoxy)‐6‐methyl‐4‐(3‐trifluoromethylphenyl) pyridazine derivatives containing two electron‐withdrawing groups on the benzene ring (acylamine and oxime ether) were synthesized. Their herbicidal, insecticidal activities were bioassayed, and the herbicidal activity of compound CD-2 against Brassica campestris was 97.6% at 300 g/ha, which was better than the commercial herbicide diflufenican at the this concentration and is equal to the activity of the leading compound A . Compound CD-4 , CD-5 , CJ-3 , and CJ-5 displayed excellent insecticidal activity against Aphis laburni Kaltenbach (>95%). The results show that the oxime ether substitutions exhibit better bleaching and herbicidal activity than the acylamine ones. The bleaching and herbicidal activity of para‐position substitutions is better than the meta‐position ones. It seems that the para‐position on the benzene ring of oxime ether pyridazine derivatives is one of the key active sites that affect their herbicidal activities.     

A single-cell drug efflux assay in bacteria by using a directly accessible femtoliter droplet array

Active efflux of drugs, such as antibiotics, from a cell is one of the major mechanisms that cause multi-drug resistance in bacteria. Here we report a method to assess drug efflux activity in individual Escherichia coli cells enclosed and isolated in a directly accessible femtoliter droplet array with a fluorogenic compound. The inhibitory effect of a chemical compound on an exogenously expressed efflux pump system from pathogenic bacteria was easily detected at the single-cell level. We also present a proof-of-principle experiment to screen for the gene encoding a drug efflux pump by collecting individual droplets containing single cells in which the drug efflux activity was restored after introduction of the exogenous gene from pathogenic bacteria. Our approach will be a useful tool to screen novel pump inhibitors and efflux pump genes, and to overcome infectious diseases caused by multi-drug-resistant bacteria.     

A dynamic soil chamber system coupled with a tunable diode laser for online measurements of δ13C, δ18O,and efflux rate of soil‐respired CO2

High frequency observations of the stable isotopic composition of CO₂ effluxes from soil have been sparse due in part to measurement challenges. We have developed an open‐system method that utilizes a flow‐through chamber coupled to a tunable diode laser (TDL) to quantify the rate of soil CO₂ efflux and its δ¹³C and δ¹⁸O values (δ¹³C_R and δ¹⁸O_R, respectively). We tested the method first in the laboratory using an artificial soil test column and then in a semi‐arid woodland. We found that the CO₂ efflux rates of 1.2 to 7.3 µmol m^?2 s^?1 measured by the chamber‐TDL system were similar to measurements made using the chamber and an infrared gas analyzer (IRGA) (R² = 0.99) and compared well with efflux rates generated from the soil test column (R² = 0.94). Measured δ¹³C and δ¹⁸O values of CO₂ efflux using the chamber‐TDL system at 2 min intervals were not significantly different from source air values across all efflux rates after accounting for diffusive enrichment. Field measurements during drought demonstrated a strong dependency of CO₂ efflux and isotopic composition on soil water content. Addition of water to the soil beneath the chamber resulted in average changes of +6.9 µmol m^?2 s^?1, ?5.0‰, and ?55.0‰ for soil CO₂ efflux, δ¹³C_R and δ¹⁸O_R, respectively. All three variables initiated responses within 2 min of water addition, with peak responses observed within 10 min for isotopes and 20 min for efflux. The observed δ¹⁸O_R was more enriched than predicted from temperature‐dependent H₂O‐CO₂ equilibration theory, similar to other recent observations of δ¹⁸O_R from dry soils (Wingate L, Seibt U, Maseyk K, Ogee J, Almeida P, Yakir D, Pereira JS, Mencuccini M. Global Change Biol. 2008; 14: 2178). The soil chamber coupled with the TDL was found to be an effective method for capturing soil CO₂ efflux and its stable isotope composition at high temporal frequency. Published in 2010 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

一种双功能异噁唑酰腙的晶体结构、电子光谱、抑菌活性及其量化计算

以水杨醛和5-甲基-4-异噁唑甲酰肼为原料,于中温混合溶剂热体系中合成出标题化合物水杨醛-5-甲基-4-异噁唑甲酰腙[C12H11O3N3,3],用单晶X-射线衍射(XRD)、紫外及荧光和热重分析等实验方法对其进行了表征。结果表明,晶体属正交晶系,Pna21空间群。晶胞参数:a=1.28783(6)nm,b=1.13108(6)nm,c=0.86535(4)nm,V=1.2605nm3,Z=4。标题物3的水溶液在486nm处呈现一强蓝色荧光发射峰,可归属于激发态分子内质子转移电荷发光;同时,标题物3对枯草芽孢杆菌、铜绿脓杆菌、大肠杆菌和金黄色葡萄球菌等都有明显的抑菌活性;分子的静电势图(EPM)再现其具有较强的广谱抗菌活性。     

A Rhenium Isonitrile Complex Induces Unfolded Protein Response-Mediated Apoptosis in Cancer Cells

Complexes of the element Re have recently been shown to possess promising anticancer activity through mechanisms of action that are distinct from the conventional metal-based drug cisplatin. In this study, we report our investigations on the anticancer activity of the complex [Re(CO)₃(dmphen)(p-tol-ICN)]⁺ (TRIP) in which dmphen=2,9-dimethyl-1,10-phenanthroline and p-tol-ICN=para-tolyl isonitrile. TRIP was synthesized by literature methods and exhaustively characterized. This compound exhibited potent in vitro anticancer activity in a wide variety of cell lines. Flow cytometry and immunostaining experiments indicated that TRIP induces intrinsic apoptosis. Comprehensive biological mechanistic studies demonstrated that this compound triggers the accumulation of misfolded proteins, which causes endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, the unfolded protein response, and apoptotic cell death. Furthermore, TRIP induced hyperphosphorylation of eIF2α, translation inhibition, mitochondrial fission, and expression of proapoptotic ATF4 and CHOP. These results establish TRIP as a promising anticancer agent based on its potent cytotoxic activity and ability to induce ER stress.     

Synergistic Photobactericidal Activity Based on Ultraviolet‐A Irradiation and Ferulic Acid Derivatives

Ultraviolet‐A (UV‐A)‐mediated bactericidal activity was enhanced by combined treatment with trans‐ferulic acid (trans‐FA, compound 1 ) or its derivatives. Derivative compounds 4 and 10 contain a phenyl group or an l ‐tyrosine HCl tert‐butyl ester, respectively, linked to the carboxyl group of trans‐FA. Of the three compounds, 10 exhibited the highest synergistic activity in a photobactericidal assay based on treating Escherichia coli with a derivative compound and UV‐A irradiation (wavelength 350–385 nm). Inactivation of viable cells at a 4.9 J cm^?2 UV‐A fluence increased from 1.90 to 5.19 logs in the presence of 10 (100 μm ); a 4.95‐log inactivation was achieved with 10 (5 μm ) and a 7.4 J cm^?2 UV‐A fluence. Addition of antioxidants significantly suppressed photosynergistic bactericidal activity, suggesting that reactive oxygen species (ROS) are involved in the combined bactericidal mechanism. Flow cytometry revealed that combined treatment with UV‐A and compound 10 , which showed the highest photobactericidal activity, generates an excess of oxidative radicals in bacterial cells. The bactericidal activity of compound 10 may be due to electrostatic interaction between the molecule's cationic moiety and the cell surface, followed by amplification of ROS generation in the cells.