Synthesis, characterization, antimicrobial activity, and toxicity evaluation of aminolevulinic acid-silver and silver-iron nanoparticles for potential applications in agriculture.

Aminolevulinic acid (ALA) is considered one of the most critical plants growth regulators and essential precursors for chlorophyll biosynthesis; besides, its photodynamic activity can be used to exterminate larvae and microorganisms in plants and soil. Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) have unique physicochemical properties and potent antimicrobial, antiviral, and antifungal activities, and in agriculture, their application as nanopesticides has been proposed. In this study, silver and silver-iron nanoparticles capped/stabilized with aminolevulinic acid (ALAAgNPs and ALAAgFeNPs) were synthesized by the photoreduction method and characterized by UV-vis spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and zeta potential analysis.

Antimicrobial Activity of Silver and Gold Nanoparticles Prepared by Photoreduction Process with Leaves and Fruit Extracts of and .

The increased number of resistant microbes generates a search for new antibiotic methods. Metallic nanoparticles have emerged as a new platform against several microorganisms. The nanoparticles can damage the bacteria membrane and DNA by oxidative stress.

Leptolysin, a secreted metalloprotease of the pappalysin family with broad-spectrum activity.

Extracellular proteolytic enzymes are produced by a variety of pathogenic microorganisms, and contribute to host colonization by modulating virulence. Here, we present a first characterization of leptolysin, a metalloprotease of the pappalysin family identified in a previous exoproteomic study. Comparative molecular analysis of leptolysin with two other pappalysins from prokaryotes, ulilysin and mirolysin, reveals similarities regarding calcium, zinc, and arginine -binding sites conservation within the catalytic domain, but also discloses peculiarities.

L. Silver and Gold Nanoparticle Synthesis, Characterization, and Evaluation of the Photoreduction Process in Antimicrobial Activities.

, known as Brazilian cherry, is widely distributed in Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, and Paraguay. L. extracts contain phenolic compounds, such as flavonoids, tannins, triterpenes, and sesquiterpenes.

Tryptophan Silver Nanoparticles Synthesized by Photoreduction Method: Characterization and Determination of Bactericidal and Anti-Biofilm Activities on Resistant and Susceptible Bacteria.

The high rates of antibiotics use in hospitals have resulted in a condition where multidrug-resistant pathogens have become a severe threat to the human health worldwide. Therefore, there is an increasing necessity to identify new antimicrobial agents that can inhibit the multidrug-resistant bacteria and biofilm formation. In this study, antibacterial and anti-biofilm activities of tryptophan silver nanoparticles (TrpAgNP) were investigated.

Immune evasion by pathogenic Leptospira strains: the secretion of proteases that directly cleave complement proteins.

Leptospirosis is an infectious disease of public health importance. To successfully colonize the host, pathogens have evolved multiple strategies to escape the complement system. Here we demonstrate that the culture supernatant of pathogenic but not saprophytic Leptospira inhibit the three complement pathways.