Characterisation of energy-dependent efflux of imazalil and fenarimol in isolates of Penicillium italicum with a low,medium and high degree of resistance to DMI-fungicides

Differential accumulation of [¹⁴C]imazalil and [¹⁴C]fenarimol by germlings of wild-type and DMI-resistant isolates ofPenicillium italicum was studied at various pH values. At pH 7 and 8 the low-resistant isolate E_300–3 accumulated 22% and 35%, respectively, less imazalil than the wild-type isolate W₅. Imazalil accumulation at pH 5 and 6 was similar. Isolate E_300–3 also accumulated less fenarimol as compared with the wild-type isolate. This difference was much more obvious than for imazalil and was observed at all pH values tested. Differences in accumulation of both imazalil and fenarimol between low (E_300–3), medium (H₁₇) and high resistant (I₃₃) isolates were not observed. These results suggest that decreased accumulation of DMIs is responsible for a low level of resistance only and that additional mechanisms of resistance might operate in isolates with a medium and high degree of resistance. With all isolates fenarimol accumulation was energy-dependent. This was not obvious for imazalil.The wild-type and DMI-resistant isolates had a similar plasma membrane potential as determined with the probe [¹⁴C]tetraphenylphosphonium bromide ([¹⁴C]TPP⁺). Various test compounds, among which ATPase inhibitors, ionophoric antibiotics and calmodulin antagonists, affected the accumulation of [¹⁴C]TPP⁺, [¹⁴C]imazalil and [¹⁴C]fenarimol. No obvious correlation between the effects of the test compounds on accumulation levels of the fungicides and [¹⁴C]TPP⁺ could be observed. These results indicate that the plasma membrane potential does not mediate the efflux of DMI fungicides byP. italicum.     

Mechanisms of resistance to acetyl-coenzyme A carboxylase inhibitors: a review

Resistance to acetyl-coenzyme A carboxylase (ACCase) inhibitors has developed in at least 10 grass weed species in recent years. In most instances, resistance is conferred by an ACCase alteration in the resistant biotypes that reduces sensitivity to aryloxyphenoxypropionate (AOPP) and cyclohexanedione (CHD) herbicides. Analysis of ACCase from many of these resistant weed biotypes suggests the presence of different mutations, each conferring a different pattern and level of resistance to various AOPP and CHD herbicides. In all cases analyzed to date, resistance is controlled by a single dominant or semi-dominant nuclear gene. In several weed biotypes, resistance is conferred by enhanced herbicide detoxification, primarily through elevated expression or activity of cytochrome P450 monooxygenase(s). This mechanism can confer cross-resistance to herbicides from other chemical classes with different modes of action. Finally, multiple herbicide resistance, i.e. the acquisition of several different resistance mechanisms, has been reported in some weed biotypes. ©1997 SCI     

Evaluation of efflux pump inhibitory activity of some plant extracts and using them as adjuvants to potentiate the inhibitory activity of some antibiotics against Staphylococcus aureus

Background:Antibiotic-resistant pathogens became a real global threat to human and animal health. This needs to concentrate the efforts to minimize and control these organisms. Efflux pumps are considered one of the important strategies used by bacteria to exclude harmful materials from the cell. Inhibition of these pumps can be an active strategy against multidrug resistance pathogens. There are two sources of efflux pump inhibitors that can be used, chemical and natural inhibitors. The chemical origin efflux pump inhibitors have many toxic side effects while the natural origin is characterized by a wide margin of safety for the host cell.Aim:In this study, the ability of some plant extracts like (propolis show rosemary, clove, capsaicin, and cumin) to potentiate the inhibitory activity of some antibiotics such as (ciprofloxacin, erythromycin, gentamycin, tetracycline, and ampicillin) against Staphylococcus aureus pathogen were tested.Methods:Efflux pump inhibitory activity of the selected plant extracts was tested using an ethidium bromide (EtBr) accumulation assay.Results:The results have shown that Propolis has a significant synergistic effect in combination with ciprofloxacin, erythromycin, and gentamycin. While it has no effect with tetracycline or ampicillin. Also, no synergic effect was noticed in a combination of the minimum inhibitory concentration for the selected plant extracts (rosemary, clove, capsaicin, and cumin) with any of the tested antibiotics. Interestingly, according to the results of the EtBr accumulation assay, Propolis has potent inhibitory activity against the S. aureus (MRS usa300) pump system.Conclusion:This study suggests that Propolis might act as a resistance breaker that is able to restore the activity of ciprofloxacin, erythromycin, and gentamycin against S. aureus strains, in case of the efflux-mediated antimicrobial resistance mechanisms.     

Effect of idazoxan on permeability of inflammatory blood-brain barrier model in vitro

AIM: To study the effect of idazoxan on the permeability of inflammatory blood-brain barrier (BBB) model in vitro and the expression of tight junction protein ZO-1.METHODS: In vitro BBB model was established by murine brain endothelial cell line bEnd.3 incubated for 7 d. The cells were treated with TNF-α (10 nmol/L) for additional 24 h to establish the inflammatory BBB model, which was pretreated with IDA at doses of 50, 100 and 200 μmol/L, respectively. The permeability was measured using fluorescein isothiocyanate-conjugated dextran (FD-40, MW 40,000), the expression of ZO-1 was detected by Western blot analysis, the distribution of ZO-1 was observed by immunofluorescence, and the mRNA expression of MMP-9/TIMP-1 was measured by RT-PCR.RESULTS: After incubated for 7 d, b.End3 cells converged to be confluent monolayer with low permeability. The inflammatory BBB model induced by TNF-α treatment displayed much higher permeability with decreased expression of tight junction protein ZO-1, destroyed distribution of ZO-1 and increased mRNA expression of MMP-9. When pretreated with IDA, the permeability was greatly decreased, the expression of ZO-1 was greatly increased, the abnormal distribution of ZO-1 was greatly ameliorated and the mRNA expression of MMP-9 was obviously reduced. The effect was most significant in IDA (200 μmol/L)-pretreated group (P<0.01).CONCLUSION: IDA directly acts on brain endothelial cells to reduce the expression of MMP-9, increase the expression of tight junction protein ZO-1 and ameliorate the destroyed distribution of ZO-1 in the inflammatory BBB, thus reversing the abnormally elevated permeability in a inflammatory BBB model in vitro induced by TNF-α.     

Study on bone marrow angiogenic mediators and inhibitors in aplastic anemia

AIM: Through detecting bone marrow angiogenic mediators and inhibitors in aplastic anemia (AA) patients,the value of angionesis in AA pathogenesis was elucidated.METHODS: The patients were divided into severe AA group (SAA,8 patients),non severe AA group (NSAA,10 patients),and normal control group (7 persons),5 patients were observed before treating (group beginning) and getting improvement (group improving).The angiogenic mediators vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and bFGF were detected by ELISA,angiogenic inhibitors IFN-γ and TSP were detected by ELISA and flow cytometry,respectively.RESULTS: The levels of VEGF were lower in SAA group and NSAA group than those in control group significantly (P<0.05),the levels of IFN-γ and TSP were higher than those in control group (P<0.05),especially in SAA group (P<0.01).Compared with group beginning,the level of VEGF was higher in group improving (P<0.05),the levels of IFN-γ,TSP were lower (P<0.05),there was no obviously difference between group beginning and group improving except IFN-γ.CONCLUSION: The dropping of angiogenic mediators and the rising of angiogenic inhibitors may be one reason of reducing the number of microvessel,which result in deficiency in supporting hemapoietic stem cells by bone marrow microenvironment.     

昆虫取食和剪叶刺激对油松针叶内部分防御物质的诱导效应

为了研究自然条件下昆虫取食及剪叶刺激对油松诱导抗性的影响,本试验应用香草醛—盐酸法,亚硝酸钠—硝酸铝比色法以及紫外分光光度法,分析了剪叶和不同程度油松毛虫取食处理后,混交林和纯林中油松针叶内部分次生代谢物和蛋白酶抑制剂活性的动态变化。结果表明:剪叶及不同程度油松毛虫取食能够诱导缩合单宁、黄酮含量和胰蛋白酶抑制剂、胰凝乳蛋白酶抑制剂活性增加。与对照相比,胰凝乳蛋白酶抑制剂在混交林中的活性比纯林更为明显。说明剪叶及昆虫取食可诱导增加油松针叶内的缩合单宁和黄酮含量、提高胰蛋白酶抑制剂和胰凝乳蛋白酶抑制剂的活性,进而增强油松的抗虫性,林分类型可在一定程度上影响油松诱导防御物质的变化。     

植物源血管紧张素转换酶抑制剂的研究进展

血管紧张素转换酶抑制剂(Angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors,ACEI)通过肾素-血管紧张素系统(RAS)和激肽释放酶-肽酶系统(KKS),抑制血管紧张素II的生成,减少缓激肽的降解,从而达到降血压的目的;植物来源的天然化合物具有来源广泛、结构多样、特异性高、毒性低等特点,因而从植物中筛选安全有效的ACEI成为研究热点。在此综述了血管紧张素转换酶(ACE)的活性测定方法以及植物来源的不同结构类型的ACEI研究进展。     

线粒体复合体Ⅰ呼吸抑制剂的研究

线粒体复合体Ⅰ呼吸抑制剂不仅在医药上有着重要的研究价值,在农药方面也有着特殊的意义。这类药剂的作用机制比较特殊,害虫不易产生抗性,是一类非常有前途的杀虫药剂。从植物,微生物等生物体中发现了许多线粒体复合体Ⅰ呼吸抑制剂,如鱼藤酮、粉蝶霉素A、辣椒碱,番荔枝内酯、myxalamid等,它们可以作为农药的先导化合物进行药物合成。根据不同的作用方式,线粒体复合体Ⅰ呼吸抑制剂可分3种类型,分别以粉蝶霉素A、鱼藤酮、辣椒碱为代表。     

樟树种子休眠机制初探

以樟树种子为试验材料,从种壳透水性和内源抑制物两方面探索种子休眠原因.结果表明:樟树种子坚硬的外壳影响种子的吸水透性;种壳、种仁中的萌发抑制物抑制了白菜种子的萌发率、淀粉酶活性以及白菜幼苗的鲜质量增加.种壳浸提液抑制强度顺序均为:种壳甲醇浸提液＞种壳乙醚浸提液＞种壳水浸提液,抑制物主要成分为极性物质,白菜种子萌发率依次...