Cutaneous glands of the striped toad, Rhinella crucifer (Wied-Neuwied, 1821) (Amphibia: Bufonidae): Histological study and bioactivities of glandular secretions.

This study investigated the morphology of Rhinella crucifer cutaneous glands, as well as the protein/peptide profiles and bioactivities of body gland secretions (BGS) and parotoid macrogland secretions (PS). The parotoid as well as dorsal and ventral skin fragments of male and female individuals were processed for histological analysis. The protein and peptide profiles of male and female gland secretions were evaluated.

Pomegranate sarcotesta lectin (PgTeL) inhibits planktonic growth and disrupts biofilm formed by Cryptococcus neoformans.

Aims: We investigated the putative fungistatic and fungicidal activities of pomegranate sarcotesta lectin (PgTeL) against Cryptococcus neoformans B3501 (serotype D), specifically the ability of PgTeL to inhibit yeast capsule and biofilm formation in this strain.

Methods And Results: PgTeL showed a minimum inhibitory concentration of 172.0 μg ml-1, at which it did not exhibit a fungicidal effect.

Quantum dots conjugated to lectins from Schinus terebinthifolia leaves (SteLL) and Punica granatum sarcotesta (PgTeL) as potential fluorescent nanotools for investigating Cryptococcus neoformans.

This study reports the development of conjugates based on quantum dots (QD)s and lectins from Schinus terebinthifolia leaves (SteLL) and Punica granatum sarcotesta (PgTeL). Cryptococcus neoformans cells were chosen to evaluate the efficiency of the conjugates. Lectins were conjugated to QDs via adsorption, and the optical parameters (emission and absorption) were monitored.

Purification, Characterization, and Assessment of Antimicrobial Activity and Toxicity of Portulaca elatior Leaf Lectin (PeLL).

Lectins are carbohydrate-binding proteins with several bioactivities, including antimicrobial properties. Portulaca elatior is a species found at Brazilian Caatinga and data on the biochemical composition of this plant are scarce. The present work describes the purification of P.

Degradation of the residual textile mixture cetyltrimethylammonium bromide/remazol yellow gold RNL-150%/reactive blue BF-5G: evaluation photo-peroxidation and photo-Fenton processes in LED and UV-C photoreactors.

This article presents a study on the degradation of a residual textile mixture composed of cationic surfactant cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) and the remazol yellow gold RNL-150% and reactive blue BF-5G textile dyes. This was carried out by employing the photo-peroxidation and photo-Fenton processes in LED and UV-C photoreactors. The photo-Fenton process was the most efficient as regards the degradation of the CTAB and dye mixture, for both types of radiation.

Punica granatum sarcotesta lectin (PgTeL) has antibacterial activity and synergistic effects with antibiotics against β-lactamase-producing Escherichia coli.

The sarcotesta of Punica granatum fruit contains an antimicrobial lectin called PgTeL. In this work, we evaluated the antibacterial activity of PgTeL against five drug-resistant Escherichia coli isolates able to produce β-lactamases. Minimum inhibitory (MIC) and bactericidal (MBC) concentrations were determined by broth dilution.

Portulaca elatior root contains a trehalose-binding lectin with antibacterial and antifungal activities.

Lectins are carbohydrate-binding proteins broadly distributed in plants and have several biological functions, including antimicrobial action. Portulaca elatior is a Caatinga plant whose chemical composition and biotechnological potential have not been extensively studied. In this work, a lectin was isolated from P.

Punica granatum sarcotesta lectin (PgTeL) impairs growth, structure, viability, aggregation, and biofilm formation ability of Staphylococcus aureus clinical isolates.

In this work, we evaluated the ability of Punica granatum sarcotesta lectin (PgTeL) to impair the growth and viability of the Staphylococcus aureus clinical isolates 8325-4 (non-resistant) and LAC USA300 (MRSA strain). The effects of this lectin on aggregating, hemolytic activity, biofilm-forming ability, and expression of virulence genes (hla, rnaIII, and spa) were also investigated. PgTeL showed antibacterial activity against 8325-4 and LAC USA300 strains by interfering with both the growth (MIC of 6.

Purification and characterization of a protease from the visceral mass of Mytella charruana and its evaluation to obtain antimicrobial peptides.

This work describes purification of a protease from the visceral mass of the mussel Mytella charruana as well as evaluation of its ability to hydrolyze milk casein to generate antimicrobial peptides. The enzyme showed pI of 4.1 and a single polypeptide band of 83.

PgTeL, the lectin found in Punica granatum juice, is an antifungal agent against Candida albicans and Candida krusei.

The pomegranate (Punica granatum) sarcotesta contains a chitin-binding lectin (PgTeL) with antibacterial activity against human pathogenic species. In this work, the structural stability of PgTeL was evaluated by fluorimetric analysis and the lectin was evaluated for cytotoxicity to human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and antifungal activity against Candida albicans and Candida krusei. PgTeL folding was impaired when lectin was incubated at pH≥6.

CasuL: A new lectin isolated from Calliandra surinamensis leaf pinnulae with cytotoxicity to cancer cells, antimicrobial activity and antibiofilm effect.

This work describes the isolation of a lectin (CasuL) from the leaf pinnulae of Calliandra surinamensis and the evaluation of its cytotoxic, antimicrobial and antibiofilm properties. Proteins from pinnulae extract were precipitated with ammonium sulphate (60% saturation) and submitted to Sephadex G-75 chromatography, which yielded isolated CasuL (purification factor: 113). Native CasuL is an acidic protein (pI 5.

Evaluation of antimicrobial, cytotoxic, and hemolytic activities from venom of the spider Lasiodora sp.

This study characterized the protein/peptide profile of venom isolated from the spider Lasiodora sp. (Mygalomorphae, Theraphosidae) found in northeastern Brazil and determined its antimicrobial activity, toxicity against human cells, and hemolytic activity. Protein concentration of the Lasiodora sp.