Antibacterial and antiparasitic activities analysis of a hepcidinlike antimicrobial peptide from Larimichthys crocea

As an economically important marine fish,the large yellow croaker Larimichthys crocea suffered from marine white spot disease caused by the ectoparasite Cryptocaryon irritans in recent years.This disease not only could result in physiological damage,but also lead to secondary bacterial invasion.Reports indicated some AMPs(antimicrobial peptides)were of antiparasitic activity to C.irritans.Hepcidin-like(Lc-HepL)was one of the significant differential expression genes excavated from the transcriptome following a challenge with C.irritans.In this study,we characterized this AMP’s bioactivity based on the levels of mRNA and protein.After challenged by C.irritans,qRT-PCR showed Lc-HepL was significantly upregulated in six tissues,including gill,muscle,liver,head kidney and spleen during theront infection,trophont falling off,and secondary bacterial invasion stages,which implicated a role Lc-HepL played in the immune defense against C.irritans and secondary bacterial infection.Recombinant Lc-HepL(rLc-HepL)was induced and purified successfully.rLc-HepL exhibited antibacterial activity to certain bacteria in a dose-and time-dependent manners.Anti-C.irritans activity was explored for the first time and found it could cause the theronts membrane rupture and contents leakage.These results provided the first evidence that Lc-HepL had strong antiparasitic activity against marine fish ectoparasites C.irritans theronts.Together,data indicated that Lc-HepL might be an important component in the innate immune system against C.irritans and has the potential to be employed in future drug development.

Evaluation of antiparasitic,anticancer,antimicrobial and hypoglycemic properties of organic extracts from Panamanian mangrove plants

Objective: To investigate 33 organic extracts of mangrove plants for: antiparasitic, anticancer, and antibacterial activities, as well as their ability to inhibit the activity of the α-glucosidase enzyme. Methods: Leaves from all different plant mangrove species located in five mangrove zones of the Pacific coast of Panama were collected according to standard procedures. Qualitative phytochemical analysis of the organic extracts was performed by thin layer chromatography. The antiparasitic activity against Plasmodium falciparum, Trypanosoma cruzi and Leishmania donovani, toxicity against Artemia salina, anticancer activity in MCF-7 cell line, and antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa of all organic extract were investigated according protocols stablished in our institution. Finally, the ability to inhibit the enzymatic activity of α-glucosidase was evaluated by monitoring the hydrolysis of p-nitrophenyl α-Dglucopyranoside. Results: Thirty-three different samples belonging to nine different species of vascular plants with seeds of true mangroves were collected. Triterpenoids, phenolics, and tannins were the main groups of compounds found in the sampled mangroves. Saponins, quinones, and coumarins were found in less than 50%of the samples. Laguncularia racemosa showed moderate activity against Plasmodium falciparum. None of the extracts presented anticancer activity. Rhizophora mangle exhibited potent activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus subtilis [(90.41 ±7.33)% and(96.02±6.14)% of inhibition]; Avicennia germinans and Conocarpus erectus had activity against Escherichia coli[(71.17±6.15)% and(60.60±5. 13)% of inhibition,respectively]. About 60% of the mangroves showed α-glucosidase inhibitory activity. In particular, extracts from Laguncularia racemosa, Pelliciera rhizophorae, Conocarpus erectus, Mora oleifera, and Tabebuia palustris species showed α-glucosidase inhibitory potential, with IC_(50) values of(29.45±0.29),(20.60±0.70),(730.06±3.74),(25.59±0.37), and(853.39±5.30) μg/mL, respectively. Conclusions: Panamanian mangroves are mainly a promising potential source of hypoglycemic compounds, specifically α-glucosidase inhibitors.These results highlight the therapeutic virtues of extracts from American mangrove plants.