Thesis (M.Sc. (Microbiology)) -- University of Limpopo, 2020 / The aim of the study was to isolate and characterise the antibacterial and antioxidant compounds from the leaf extracts of the two mistletoes (Viscum rotundifolium and Tapinanthus oleifolius) and to determine the synergistic effects of the plants with their hosts (Mystroxylon aethiopicum and Dichrostachys cinerea). The leaves of the selected plants were collected, dried and ground into fine powder. The powdered plant leaves were extracted using n-hexane, ethyl acetate, acetone, methanol and water. The qualitative phytochemical analysis was done using standard chemical tests and thin layer chromatography. The total phenolic, tannin and flavonoid content were estimated using spectrophotometric methods. The qualitative antioxidant activity was determined using 2, 2-Diphenyl-1-pycrylhydryzyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging assay on thin layer chromatography and quantitative antioxidant activity was determined using colorimetric DPPH assay and ferric reducing power assay. The antibacterial activity of extracts was tested against S. aureus, E. faecalis, E. coli and P. aeruginosa using bioautography and serial broth micro-dilution assay. The cytotoxic effects of the plant extracts were determined using cell viability assay. The active compounds were extracted using serial exhaustive extraction and isolated using the bioassay-guided fractionation and then purified using thin layer chromatography and open column chromatography. The pure compound was identified using the NMR and mass spectroscopy. Methanol was the best extractant with the highest percentage yield. The distinct fluorescing compounds were observed on the CEF and EMW mobile phase. The non-fluorescing compounds detected with vanallin-sulphuric acid spray reagent showed that V. rotundifolium, T. oleifolius and D. cinerea have more polar compounds while M. aethiopicum have more non-polar compounds. All the plants revealed the presence of terpenoids, flavonoids, phlobatannin, tannins steroids and cardiac-glycosides and the absence of alkaloids and saponins. The n-hexane extract of T. oleifolius was significantly high in flavonoid content (34.801±0.798 mgQE/g of extract) and tannin content (15.367±0.320 mgGAE/g of extract) whereas the ethyl acetate extract of M. aethiopicum was high in phenolic content (893.210±3.016 mgGAE/g of extract). The results indicate that the compounds that exhibit antioxidant activity are non-polar to polar, which was confirmed by quantitative tests. M. aethiopicum showed activity against all tested bacteria while V. rotundifolium only had activity against E. faecalis whereas T. oleifolius and D. cinerea did not have any activity. The quantitative antibacterial test confirmed the activity of the plant extracts where the MIC values ranged from 0.04-2.5 mg/mL. The combination of V. rotundifolium and M. aethiopicum (n-hexane, ethyl acetate and acetone extracts) and T. oleifolius and D. cinerea (n-hexane, acetone and methanol extracts) showed synergistic effects in inhibiting the growth of S. aureus whereas the methanol extract of T. oleifolius and D. cinerea showed antagonistic effects in inhibiting the growth of all tested bacteria. The cell viability assay indicated that acetone extracts of all plants were non-toxic on the human liver (C3A) cells. M. aethiopicum was selected for isolation and purification of bioactive compounds. The bioassay-guided fractionation led to the isolation of oleanolic acid acetate. This study demonstrated that the selected plants have antibacterial potential that is ascribed to the phytochemicals present. Further studies including in vivo assays are needed in order to support their use in traditional medicine / National Research Foundation (NRF)

Thesis (MSc)--University of Stellenbosch, 2006. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Strain ST4SA, isolated from soya beans, was identified as Enterococcus mundtii. BacST4SA, a bacteriocin produced by strain ST4SA inhibited the growth of Acinetobacter baumannii, Bacillus cereus, Clostridium tyrobutyricum, Enterococcus faecalis, Enterococcus faecium, Lactobacillus sakei, Propionibacterium spp., Streptococcus caprinus, Pediococcus sp., Listeria monocytogenes, Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pneumoniae, and unidentified middle ear isolates A, BW, DW, F, G, and H. BacST4SA was active against Pseudomonas aeruginosa G, BG, I, J, B and E, although variable degrees of resistance were observed for some strains. BacST4SA is positively charged, hydrophobic, contains the YGNGV sequence in the N-terminal, a double-glycine processing site and a disulphide bridge, all of which is typical of a class IIa bacteriocin. The operon, which contains a structural-, ATP-dependent transporter- and immunity gene, is located on a 50-kb plasmid. The 58-amino acid prepeptide is homologous to mundticin KS, mundticin AT06 and bacteriocin QU 2, and differs from enterocin CRL35 by only two amino acids. The 674-amino acid ATP-dependent transporter, consisting of a peptidase C39B domain, an ABC-transporter and an ABC-DLP family domain, displayed 98.9% homology to mundticin KS and 99.25% to enterocin CRL35. The 98-amino acid immunity gene of bacST4SA is completely homologous to enterocin CRL35 and 96.9% to mundticin KS. BacST4SA is 3.950 kDa in size, based on electron spray mass spectrometry. The peptide was isolated from the cell-free supernatant, precipitated with 80% saturated ammonium sulphate, dialysed and freeze-dried to 1 638 400 AU (arbitrary units) per ml. No change in antimicrobial activity was recorded when bacST4SA was incubated in buffer ranging from pH 2 to 12, heated to 100 °C for 90 min and 121 °C for 20 min, and when incubated in the presence of Tween 20, Tween 80, Triton X-100, SDS, urea, EDTA, middle ear fluid and blood. Optimal levels of bacST4SA production (51 200 AU/ml) was recorded after 14 h of growth in MRS broth at 30°C. Maximum production (102 400 AU/ml) was recorded in modified MRS media supplemented with tryptone, yeast extract, a combination of tryptone and yeast extract, K2HPO4 (10.0 or 20.0 g/l), or with the addition of DL-6,8-thoictic acid, L-ascorbic acid, and thiamine, respectively. BacST4SA is bactericidal towards E. faecium HKLHS and bacteriostatic towards S. pneumoniae 40 and middle ear isolates F, BW and H. The peptide adsorbed maximal (94%) to S. pneumoniae 40, P. aeruginosa 25 and E. faecium HKLHS. BacST4SA forms pores in the cytoplasmic membrane of sensitive cells, leading to dissipation of the cell membrane and leakage of cytoplasmic material. BacST4SA was compared with various other antimicrobial treatment agents, and revealed similar to a higher activity towards a number of these agents. BacST4SA revealed a similar level of activity against E. faecium HKLHS and middle ear pathogens P. aeruginosa J and S. pneumoniae 27 when compared with tetracycline (30μg). However, bacST4SA revealed much higher activity when compared to nasal sprays, aminoglycosides, cephalosporins, fluoroquinolones, lincosamides, macrolides, nitroimidazole, penicillin, quinolones, sulfonamides, chloramphenicol, furanzolidone, fusidic acid, rifampicin, trimethoprim, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole and vancomycin when tested in vitro. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Stam ST4SA, geïsoleer uit sojabone, is as Enterococcus mundtii geidentifiseer. BacST4SA, ‘n bakteriosien geproduseer deur stam ST4SA het die groei van Acinetobacter baumannii, Bacillus cereus, Clostridium tyrobutyricum, Enterococcus faecalis, Enterococcus faecium, Lactobacillus sakei, Propionibacterium spp., Streptococcus caprinus, Pediococcus sp., Listeria monocytogenes, Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pneumoniae en ongeïdentifiseerde middeloor isolate A, BW, DW, F, G, en H geinhibeer. BacST4SA is aktief teen Pseudomonas aeruginosa stamme G, BG, I, J, B en E, alhoewel effense weerstand soms waargeneem is. BacST4SA het ‘n netto positiewe lading, is hidrofobies, bevat die YGNGV-volgorde in die N-terminaal, ‘n dubbel-glisien prosesserings setel en ‘n disulfied brug, kenmerkend van klas IIa bakteriosiene. Die operon, wat bestaan uit ‘n strukturele geen, ‘n ATP-afhanklike transport sisteem geen en ‘n immuniteits-geen, is op ‘n 50 kb plasmied gelokaliseer. Die voorloper peptied (58 aminosure lank), is homoloog aan mundticin KS, mundticin AT06 en bakteriosien QU 2 en verskil van enterocin CRL35 met slegs twee aminosure. Die ATP-afhanklike transporter (674 aminosure lank) bestaan uit ‘n peptidase C39B domein, ‘n ABC-transporter en ‘n ABC-DLP tipe domein en is 98.9% homoloog aan mundticin KS and 99.25% aan enterocin CRL35. Die immuniteits-geen (98 aminosure lank) van bacST4SA is ten volle homoloog aan enterocin CRL35 en 96.9% homoloog aan mundticin KS. BacST4SA is 3.950 kDa groot, gebaseer op elektrosproei-massa spektrometrie. Die peptied is uit selvrye supernatant geïsoleer, met 80% versadigde ammonium sulfaat gepresipiteer, gedialiseer en gevriesdroog tot ’n finale konsentrasie van 1 638 400 AE (arbitrêre eenhede) per ml. Geen verandering in antimikrobiese aktiwiteit is waargeneem tydens inkubasie van bacST4SA in buffer van pH 2 tot 12, tydens verhitting (100 °C vir 90 min en 121 °C vir 20 min) en tydens inkubasie in die teenwoordigheid van Tween 20, Tween 80, Triton X-100, SDS, ureum, EDTA, middeloor vloeistof en bloed. Optimale vlakke van bacST4SA produksie (51 200 AE/ml) is na 14 h groei in MRS media by 30°C waargeneem. Maksimale vlakke van die peptied (102 400 AE/ml) is geproduseer in gemodifiseerde MRS medium, aangevul met triptoon, gisekstrak, ‘n kombinasie van triptoon en gisekstrak, K2HPO4 (10.0 of 20.0 g/l), of met byvoeging van DL-6,8-thioktiensuur, L-askorbiensuur, en tiamien onderskeidelik. BacST4SA is bakteriosidies teenoor E. faecium HKLHS en bakteristaties teenoor S. pneumoniae 40 en middeloor isolate F, BW en H. Die peptied adsorbeer optimaal (94%) aan S. pneumoniae 40, P. aeruginosa 25 en E. faecium HKLHS. BacST4SA vorm porieë in die selmembraan van sensitiewe selle en lei tot vernietiging van die selmembraan en lekkasie van die sitoplasma inhoud. In vergelykende studies het bacST4SA ‘n soortgelyke en selfs hoër antimikrobiese aktiwiteit teenoor ‘n aantal bekende antimikrobiese middels getoon. Die aktiwiteit van bacST4SA is soortgelyk aan dié van tetrasiklien (30μg) in toetse teen E. faecium HKLHS en middeloor patogene P. aeruginosa J en S. pneumoniae 27. BacST4SA het egter in ’n in vitro vergelyking met neussproeie, aminoglisiedes, cephalosporiene, fluoroquinolone, lincosamides, makroliede, nitroimidazole, penisilien, quinolone, sulfonamide, chloramphenicol, furanzolidone, fusiensuur, rifampisien, trimethoprim, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazool en vankomisien ‘n baie hoër aktiwiteit teen patogene getoon.

Thesis (MSc (Microbiology))--Stellenbosch University, 2008. / Mastitis is considered to be the most costly disease affecting the dairy industry. Management strategies involve the extensive use of antibiotics to treat and prevent this disease. Prophylactic dosages of antibiotics used in mastitis control programmes could select for strains with resistance to antibiotics. In addition, a strong drive towards reducing antibiotic residues in animal food products has lead to research in finding alternative antimicrobial agents. Streptococcus macedonicus ST91KM, isolated from bulgarian goat yoghurt, produces the bacteriocin macedocin ST91KM with a narrow spectrum of activity against Grampositive bacteria. These include mastitis pathogens Streptococcus agalactiae, Streptococcus dysgalactiae, Streptococcus uberis, Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis as well as Lactobacillus sakei and Micrococcus varians. Macedocin ST91KM is, according to tricine-SDS PAGE, between 2.0 and 2.5 kDa in size. The activity of macedocin ST91KM remained unchanged after 2 h of incubation at pH 2.0 to 10.0 and 100 min at 100 °C. The peptide was inactivated after 20 min at 121 °C and when treated with pronase, pepsin and trypsin. Treatment with α-amylase had no effect on activity, suggesting that the mode of action does not depend on glycosylation. Precipitation with 60 % saturated ammonium sulphate, followed by Sep-Pak C18 separation recovered 43 % of macedocin ST91KM. Amplification of the genome of strain ST91KM with primers designed from the sequence of the macedocin prescursor gene (mcdA) produced two fragments (approximately 375 and 220 bp) instead of one fragment of 150 bp recorded for macedocin produced by S. macedonicus ACA-DC 198. Strain ACA-DC 198 was not available. However, the DNA fragment amplified from strain LMG 18488 (ACA-DC 206), genetically closely related to strain ACADC 198, revealed 99 % homology to the mcdA of S. macedonicus ACA-DC 198 (accession number DQ835394). Macedocin ST91KM may thus be a related bacteriocin described for S. macedonicus. The peptide adsorbed equally well (66 %) to L. sakei LMG13558 and insensitive cells, e.g. Enterococcus faecalis BFE 1071 and FAIR E92, and Streptococcus caprinus ATCC 700066. Optimal adsorption of macedocin ST91KM was recorded at 37 °C and 45 °C and at pH of 8 - 10. Addition of solvents decreased adsorption by 50%, suggesting that the receptors to which the bacteriocin binds have lipid moieties. The addition of MgCl2, KI and Na2CO3 completely prevented adsorption of macedocin ST91KM to the target cells, possibly due to competitive ion adsorption on the bacterial cell surface. The peptide has a bacteriocidal mode of action, resulting in lysis and the release of DNA and β-galactosidase. Atomic force microscopy of sensitive cells treated with macedocin ST91KM have shown deformation of the cell structure and developing of irregular surface areas. Antimicrobial susceptibility patterns were evaluated against eighteen mastitis pathogens. All isolates tested were resistant to methicillin and oxacillin, but had minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) falling in the intermediate and susceptible range against erythromycin. S. agalactiae and S. epidermidis had the highest sensitivity to macedocin ST91KM. A teat seal preparation containing macedocin ST91KM effectively released bacteriocin inhibiting the growth of the bacterial pathogen. Macedocin ST91KM could form the basis for an alternative dry cow therapy to prevent mastitis infections in dairy cows, as it is effective against pathogens that display resistance to conventional antibiotic therapy.

Thesis (MSc)--University of Stellenbosch, 2002. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Seed germination is the most vulnerable time in a plant's life cycle, since the thick protective seed coat ruptures and the moist and humid soil environment not only favours seed germination, but also the growth and development of plant pathogens. Infection of plant seeds during germination, however, is the exception rather than the rule. Plant seeds have - - -developed a--cemplex preformed defense mechanism that includes anttfungal agents thatdiffuse into the surrounding environment to form a protective layer around the seed. This protective layer prevents fungal and bacterial pathogens from infecting the young seedling. Over the last decade, scientists have studied the defense mechanisms of different seeds in an effort to understand and ultimately to introduce and/or manipulate these mechanisms in plants as part of the plant's endogenous disease resistance to pathogens. Various chemical compounds, peptides and proteins that showed strong in vitro activities against various fungi were isolated in these efforts. The mere demonstration of in vitro activity alone, however, is not sufficient to assign a defense role to these antifungal agents. Typically, mutant plants that have lost the ability to produce the antifungal agent, or mutants that are overproducing the agent, have been used to correlate the mutant phenotype to either a decline or increase in disease resistance respectively. Genetic transformation and the subsequent development of transgenic plants have made an unprecedented impact in this regard, specifically in understanding the role of specific defense-related proteins and their interaction with plant pathogens. In this study, the antifungal peptide, Hs-AFP1, from Heuchera sanguinea, a plant defensin, was evaluated in a heterologous in planta environment as a defense protein with potential for engineering disease resistant crops. The in vitro assays performed with Hs-AFP1 against Botrytis cinerea showed antifungal activities of 88% growth inhibition at a concentration of 8 J,lg/ml of the purified peptide, while inducing a characteristic hyperbranching effect on the Botrytis hyphae. Tobacco was subsequently transformed with a construct, pFAJ3068, expressing Hs-AFP1 under the strong constitutive 35S promoter. The peptide was targeted to the apoplastic region with the signal peptide from Mj-AMP2, an antimicrobial peptide from Mirabilis jalapa. Due to reports of peptide instability in transgenic plant systems, two additional constructs were prepared and transformed into tobacco to anticipate possible Hs-AFP1 instability in the heterologous tobacco environment. A putative peptide stabilization construct, pHs-EXG1, consisted of a fusion between Hs-AFP1 and the antifungal exo-glucanase (encoded by EXG1) from Saccharomyces cerevisiae. A control construct, pMj-EXG1, expressing EXG1 targeted to the apoplastic region with the Mj-AMP2 signal peptide, was also prepared and transformed into tobacco to normalize the background antifungal activity as a result of the exoglucanase in the fusion construct lines. Tobacco was successfully transformed with pFAJ3068, pHs-EXG1 and pMj-EXG1, resulting in transgenic tobacco lines designated THs, THE and TME respectively. Transgene expression was confirmed for the THs and THE transgenic lines. The translation of these transcripts into proteins was also confirmed with Western blot analysis. Moreover, the heterologous production of Hs-AFP1 in tobacco led to an increase in disease resistance to B. cinerea in the THs lines in comparison with the untransformed tobacco controls. An increase of up to 42% in disease resistance was observed in an in planta detached leaf assay. Crude protein extracts from the THs lines were also analyzed in an in vitro quantitative fungal growth assay. This assay confirmed the results obtained with the disease resistance assay, with crude protein extracts exhibiting up to 40% fungal growth inhibition. The incubation of B. cinerea in the presence of crude protein extracts from THs lines resulted in hyperbranching of the fungal hyphae, which is characteristic of Hs-AFP1 activity. From these analyses it was clear that the heterologously expressed Hs-AFP1 was quite stable in the transgenic environment. The fusion between Hs-AFP1 and EXG1 did not increase the stability of Hs-AFP1, but rather led to a loss of the Hs-AFP1 activity. All the analyses performed showed the THE lines to be reduced in their ability to inhibit fungal infection in comparison to the THs line. Also, microscopic analysis of the effects of the crude THE extracts on B. cinerea growth showed no hyperbranching activity, again confirming the loss of peptide activity due to the fusion to EXG1. This is in agreement with previous work, in which sarcotoxin 1A was fused to a reporter gene and also lost activity. Although integration of the Mj-EXG1 expression cassette was confirmed, no mRNA levels could be detected with Northern blot or RT-PCR analysis of the TME lines. These lines also did not show any in vitro antifungal activities, probably indicating post-transcriptional gene silencing. This silencing was overcome in the fusion constructs that were expressed in the THE plant lines. These lines also showed EXG1 protein activity, as measured by ~-glucosidase assays. Although the THE lines did not serve the functions originally envisaged, they fortuitously showed that a fusion strategy might stabilize glucanase expression in a transgenic environment. A variety of glucanases have been shown to be prone to gene silencing when overexpressed in a plant environment and the yeast glucanase can now be added to that list if it is not present as a fusion protein. Overall, this study confirmed that Hs-AFP1 is involved in plant defense systems and provided valuable information on the stability of small peptides in a heterologous environment. The positive results obtained with overexpressed Hs-AFP1 on fungal inhibition in this study merits further investigations into the use of this peptide in the engineering of disease-resistant crops. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Saadontkieming is die mees vatbare tyd vir siekteontwikkeling gedurende 'n plant se lewenssiklus. Die saadhuid bars en die vogtige grondkondisies bevoordeel nie net saadontkieming nie, maar ook die groei en ontwikkeling van plantpatogene. Infeksie van plantsade tydens ontkieming is egter die uitsondering eerder as die reël. Plantsade besit komplekse -veraeaigingsfueganfsmes-reen moontlike - patoqeeninteksies. Die meqanismes sluit die produksie van antifungiese agense, wat tydens saadontkieming na die omliggende omgewing diffundeer om 'n beskermende sone om die ontkiemende saad te vorm, in. Die gevolglike antifungiese sone beskerm die saad teen infeksie deur bakterieë en swamme. Gedurende die laaste dekade het navorsers baie aandag aan die bestudering van plantsaadverdedigingsmeganismes gegee. Dié kennis word gebruik om die verdedigingsmeganismes beter te verstaan, asook om dié meganismes te manipuleer en/of oor te dra aan plantspesies met inherente swak weerstandsmeganismes wat gereeld aan plantpatogeeninfeksies onderhewig is. Navorsing op plantsade het tot die isolasie van verskeie chemiese agense, peptiede en proteïene, wat sterk in vitro aktiwiteite teen 'n wye reeks swampatogene vertoon, gelei. Die vermoë van dié agense om swamme in 'n in vitro omgewing te inhibeer, is alleen egter nie 'n bewys dat hulle 'n rol in plantverdeging speel nie. Studies waar mutante gebruik word, is gewens om addisionele bewys te lewer dat die substanse 'n rol in plantverdediging vervul. Sodanige mutante sluit plantlyne, waarin die geen van belang gemuteer is of ooruitgedruk word om so die rol van die geen in 'n in planta omgewing te bepaal in. In hierdie toepassings het genetiese transformasie en die daarstelling van transgeniese plante 'n ongeëwenaarde bydrae gelewer. In dié studie is die antifungiese peptied, Hs-AFP1, wat aan die peptiedgroep van plant- "defensins" behoort en van Heuchera sanguine a afkomstig is, in 'n heteroloë in planta omgewing geëvalueer as 'n verdedigingspeptied met die potensiaal om in die generering van transgeniese siektebestande gewasse gebruik te word. Die antifungiese aktiwiteit van Hs-AFP1 is teen Botrytis cinerea in 'n in vitro reaksie geëvalueer, waar die toediening van 8 ,",g/mlgesuiwerde Hs-AFP1 peptied aanleiding gegee het tot 'n 88% afname in hifegroei van B. cinerea. Hipervertakkings van swamhifes, 'n kenmerkende eienskap van Hs-AFP1 aktiwiteit, kon duidelik waargeneem word. Tabakplante is voorts getransformeer met 'n konstruk, pFAJ3068, wat die koderende geen van Hs-AFP1 onder die sterk konstitutiewe CaMV 35S promotor bevat het. Die peptied is met behulp van die seinpeptied wat afkomstig is van die Mirabilis jalapa antimikrobiese peptied, Mj-AMP2, na die apoplastiese omgewing geteiken. Voorheen is gerapporteer dat transgeniese peptiede in die heteroloë omgewing soms onstabiel is. Dit het gelei tot die generering van twee addisionele konstrukte om die moontlikheid van peptiedonstabiliteit te ondervang. 'n Stabiliseringskonstruk, pHs-EXG1, bestaande uit In versmelting tussen Hs-AFP1 en In antifungiese eksoglukanase van Saccharomyces cerevisiae, gekodeer deur EXG1, is in tabakplante getransformeer. In Kontrolekonstruk, pMj-EXG1, met die EXG1-geen saam met die Mj-AMP2-seinpeptied, is ook voorberei en in tabakplante getransformeer. Dit is gebruik om die antifungiese aktiwiteit van die eksoglukanase in die antifungiese aktiwiteitstoetse van die stabiliseringskonstruk te kwantifiseer en te normaliseer. Tabak is suksesvol met pFAJ3068, pHs-EXG1 en pMj-EXG1 getransformeer, wat onderskeidelik gelei het tot die sogenaamde THs, THE en TME transgeniese tabaklyne. Transgeentranskripsie en -translasie in die THs en THE tabaklyne is onderskeidelik deur Noordelike- en Westelike-kladanalises bevestig. Die aktiewe uitdrukking van Hs-AFP1 het die vermoë van tabakplante om B. cinerea infeksies te weerstaan, met tot 42% verhoog in vergelyking met ongetransformeerde kontrole tabakplante tydens 'n in planta siekteweerstandstoets. Totale proteïenekstrakte van THs tabaklyne is voorts ook in In in vitro inhibisietoets geëvalueer, wat gelei het tot resultate wat goed met dié van die in planta toetse ooreenstem. Die totale proteïenekstrakte het swamgroei met 40% geïnhibeer en die kenmerkende hipervertakking van Hs-AFP1-aktiwiteit is ook mikroskopies waargeneem. Resultate wat verkry is vanaf al die analises wat op die transgeniese THs tabaklyne uitgevoer is, het aangedui dat Hs-AFP1 baie stabiel in die heteroloë tabakomgewing is en peptiedstabiliteit was dus nie In probleem, soos verwag is nie. Die fusie tussen Hs-AFP1 en EXG1 het dus nie die stabiliteit van die reeds stabiele Hs-AFP1 peptied verder verbeter nie, maar het wel tot die verlies van Hs-AFP1 aktiwiteit gelei. Die antifungiese analises van die THE tabaklyne het verder bevestig dat dié lyne selfs swakker inhibisie van B. cinereainfeksies tot gevolg gehad het, as ongetransformeerde tabakplante. Mikroskopiese analises van totale THE proteïenekstrakte het voorts ook geen kenmerkende hipervertakkings in die swamhifes vertoon nie, wat alles daarop dui dat die Hs-AFP1-deel van die fusieproteïen as gevolg van die fusie met EXG1 geïnaktiveer is. Dié resultaat is in lyn met vorige navorsing, wat getoon het dat In ander peptied, sarcotoxin 1A, sy antifungiese aktiwiteit verloor indien dit met In verklikkergeen versmelt word. Alhoewel integrasie van die pMj-EXG1-konstruk in die TME-tabaklyne bevestig is, kon geen mRNA met Noordelike-klad- of trutranskriptase-PKR (RT-PKR)-analises waargeneem word nie. Die TME plant het ook geen antifungiese aktiwiteit in in vitro toetse getoon nie en dit het geblyk dat die pMj-EXG1-konstruk aan geenafskakeling in die heteroloë tabakomgewing onderworpe was. Dié afskakelingseffek is egter in die THE plante oorkom, aangesien laasgenoemde sterk EXG1 proteïenaktiwiteit met J3-glukosidase aktiwiteitstoetse vertoon het. Alhoewel die THE plante nie die stabiliteit van Hs-AFP1 verbeter het nie, het dit onwerwags tot die stabilisering van EXG1 in In heteroloë omgewing gelei. Versmeltingstegnologie kan dus moontlik gebruik word as 'n strategie om ander glukanases, wat bekend is vir geenafskakeling in transgeniese omgewings, heteroloog uit te druk. In die geheel gesien, het dié studie getoon dat Hs-AFP1 'n onbetwiste rol in plantverdedigingsmeganismes speel en daar is voorts ook meer kennis oor die stabiliteit van peptiede in 'n heteraloë plantomgewing ingewin. Die positiewe resultate t.o.v. die verhoogde siekteweerstand in die transgeniese THs plantlyne regverdig ook die verdere bestudering van dié peptied om transgeniese siekteweerstand in gewasse te bewerkstellig.

No description available.

Cationic Antimicrobial Peptides (CAPs) exhibit broad-spectrum activity against a variety of microbial pathogens at concentrations that are non-toxic to higher eukaryotes. These properties make them excellent candidates for both pharmaceutical and agricultural applications. Here BMAP18, a CAP with an especially high charge to mass ratio, is evaluated for efficient production of the peptide and enhancement of disease resistance in transgenic potato. In vitro analyses indicated that BMAP18 had potent activity against a variety of clinically and agriculturally relevant pathogens, including the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma brucei. In planta activity was assessed by transformation of potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) plants with a synthetic BMAP18 gene under control of the enhanced CaMV 35S promoter or the Douglas-fir lumina] Binding Protein (PmBiP) promoter. Stable transformants expressing the transgene were shown to accumulate the peptide and exhibited enhanced resistance to Fusarium wilt and bacterial soft rot caused by Erwinia caratovora.

Diss. (sammanfattning) Stockholm : Karol. inst., 2004. / Härtill 6 uppsatser.

Thesis (MEng) -- Stellenbosch University, 2014. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: As overpopulation threatens the world’s ability to feed itself, food has become an invaluable resource. Unfortunately, almost a third of the food produced for human consumption is lost annually. Pests including insects, phytopathogens and weeds are responsible for more than a third of the annual major crop losses suffered around the world. The majority of current post-harvest control strategies employ synthetic agents. These compounds, however, have been found to be detrimental to the environment as well as human health, which has led researchers to investigate alternative strategies. Biocontrol agents are environmentally compatible, have a lower toxicity and are biodegradable, making them an attractive alternative to the synthetic control agents. The lipopeptides produced by Bacillus spp. in particular, have shown great potential as biocontrol agents against various post-harvest phytopathogens. Most biocontrol strategies apply the biocontrol organism, for example Bacillus, directly, whereas this study focused on the use of the lipopeptide itself as an antifungal agent. This is advantageous as the lipopeptides are less sensitive to their surroundings, such as temperature and pH, compared to living organisms, allowing for the production of a standardized product. This study investigated the production of the Bacillus lipopeptides surfactin, fengycin and iturin under controlled batch conditions. Parameters increasing lipopeptide production were quantified, focussing on antifungal lipopeptides (iturin and fengycin), and lipopeptide production was optimized. Experiments were performed in a fully instrumented 1.3 L bench-top bioreactor and lipopeptide analyses were performed via high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) and liquid chromatography-mass spectroscopy (LC-MS). After screening four Bacillus spp., Bacillus amyloliquefaciens DSM 23117 was found to be the best antifungal candidate. This was based on it outperforming other candidates in terms of maximum antifungals produced, Yp/x,antifungals (yield per cells), and antifungal productivity. Nitrate, in the form of NH4NO3, was critical for lipopeptide production and an optimum concentration was observed above which the CDW (cell dry weight) no longer increased significantly and both μmax (maximum specific growth rate, h-1) and lipopeptide production decreased. For μmax, the optimum NH3NO4 concentration was 10 g/L and for lipopeptides it was 8 g/L. At these respective NH4NO3 concentrations μmax = 0.58 (h-1), the maximum antifungals (fengycin and iturin) were 285.7 mAU*min and the maximum surfactin concentration was 302 mg/L. The lipopeptides produced by B. amyloliquefaciens, the antifungals (fengycin and iturin) and surfactin, are secondary metabolites, regardless of the optimization treatment, i.e. increased NH4NO3 concentrations. Using 30% enriched air extended the nitrate utilization period, suggesting that when increasing supply concentration, more oxygen was available to act as electron acceptors, allowing nitrate to be used for lipopeptide production. The number of iturin and fengycin homologues generally increased with an increase in nitrate concentration. This suggested that process conditions, such as nitrate concentration, can be used to manipulate homologue ratios, allowing for the possibility to tailor-make biocontrol-agent upstream, during the production process, and possibly increase the efficacy of the biocontrol strategy. The lipopeptides produced by B. amyloliquefaciens showed complete inhibition against Botryotinia fuckeliana and diminished the growth capabilities of Botrytis cinerea. No inhibition was observed against Penicillium digitatum. These results indicate potential of the biocontrol strategy, although scale-up and fed-batch studies are recommended, especially when considering commercial implementation. Studies regarding the lipopeptide application method, i.e. a single application or multiple applications, should also be investigated as this will influence the efficacy of the lipopeptides against the target organisms. / AFRIKKANSE OPSOMMING: Met oorbevolking wat die wêreld se vermoë om die groeiende bevolking te onderhou belemmer, het dit noodsaaklik geword om huidige voedselbronne te beskerm. Daar word beraam dat een derde van die voedsel wat wêreldwyd geproduseer word vir menslike verbruik verlore gaan elke jaar. Verder is insekte, plantpatogene en onkruide verantwoordelik vir meer as ‘n derde van die verliese rakend jaarlikse oeste. Meeste bestaande na-oes beheermetodes maak gebruik van sintetiese stowwe. Ongelukkig kan hierdie verbindings nadelig wees vir die omgewing sowel as menlike gesondheid. Navorsers het hulsef dus toespits daarop om alternatiewe beheermetodes te ondersoek. Bio-beheermetodes is omgewingsvriendelik sowel as bio-afbreekbaar, wat hulle ideale alternatiewe maak vir die sintetiese stowwe. Bacillus spp. lipopeptiede het veral hoë potensiaal getoon as bio-beheermiddels teen verskeie na-oes plantsiektes. Meeste bio-beheermetodes wend die biobeheer organisme, soos Bacillus, direk aan, waar hierdie studie op die gebruik van lipopeptiede as ‘n beheermiddel gefokus het. Die voordeel is dat lipopeptidiede minder sensitief is vir hul omgewings, soos temperatuur en pH, i.v.m. organismes en die moontlikheid bied van ‘n gestandardiseerde produk. Hierdie studie het die produksie van spesifieke Bacillus lipopeptide, naamlik surfactin, fengycin en iturin, onder beheerde lottoestande ondersoek. Parameters wat lipopeptied produksie verhoog is gekwantifiseer, spesifiek antifungiese middels (iturin en fengycin) en lipopeptied produksie is geoptimeer. Eksperimente is uitgevoer in ‘n 1.3 L bioreaktor en lipopeptiedanaliese is met behulp van hoë druk vloeistof chromatografie en vloeistofchromatografie-massa spektroskopie uitgevoer. Van die vier moontlike Bacillus spp., was Bacillus amyloliquefaciens DSM 23117 die mees belowende antifungus-produserende kandidaat. Dit het beter resultate gelewer in terme van maksimale antifungiese produksie, Yp/x,antifungies (opbrengs per sel) asook antifungiese produktiwiteit. Nitraat, in hierdie geval NH4NO3, was noodsaaklik vir lipopeptied produksie en ‘n optimale konsentrasie is waargeneem waarbo die seldigtheid nie meer beduidend toegeneem het nie en beide die μmax (maksimale spesifieke groei tempo, h-1) en lipopeptied produksie afgeneem het. Die optimale NH4NO3 konsentrasie vir μmax was 10 g/L en vir lipopeptiedproduksie was 8 g/L. By 10 g/L NH4NO3 was μmax = 0.58 (h-1) en by 8 g/L was die maksimale antifungiese produksie (fengycin en iturin) 285.7 mAU*min en die maksimale surfactin produksie 302 mg/L onderskeidelik. Die lipopeptide, die antifungiese middels (fengycin en iturin) en surfactin, geproduseer deur B. amyloliquefaciens is sekondêre metaboliete, ongeag van die optimerings-behandelinge wat toegepas word, soos ‘n verhoging in NH4NO3 konsentrasie. Die gebruik van 30% verrykte suurstof het die nitraat verbruikingsperiode verleng, wat voorgestel het dat met die verryking, meer suurstof beskikbaar was om te dien as finale elektron ontvanger en sodoende die nitraat beskikbaar te stel vir lipopeptied produksie. Iturin en fengycin homoloë, oor die algemeen, het toegeneem soos wat die nitraat konsentrasie verhoog is. Hierdie resultate dui daarop dat prosestoestande, soos nitraat konsentrasie, gebruik kan word om die verhouding waarin lipopeptied homoloë geproduseer word te manipuleer. Hierdie resultate dui op die potensiaal vir die stroomop produksie van ‘n unieke bio-beheermiddel, wat die effektiwiteit van die bio-beheermetode moontlik sal verhoog. Die geproduseerde lipopeptiede het totale inhibisie getoon teen Botryotinia fuckeliana en ook fungiese aktiwiteit belemmer met Botrytis cinerea. Geen inhibisie is getoon teen Penicillium digitatum nie. Hierdie resultate toon die potensiaal van die bio-beheermetode, maar ‘n opskalerings-studie asook ‘n voerlot studie word aanbeveel, veral met die oog op moontlike kommersiële implementering van die strategie. Verdere studies met betrekking tot die aanwendingsmetode van die lipopeptiede moet ook verder ondersoek word, m.a.w. enkel teenoor menigte aanwendigs, aangesien dit die effektiwiteit van die lipopeptiede teen die teikenorganismes sal beïnvloed.

The biosynthetic pathway for the production of the dipeptide antibiotic bacilysin has been the subject of intense research over the past three decades. These studies revealed the role of multiple enzymes in the biosynthesis of this antibiotic. The identification of different enzymes was initially guided by genetic studies on different strains of Bacillus. The functional role of some these enzymes have been validated in vitro in the recent past. Despite this, the in vitro synthesis of bacilysin still remains elusive. The focus of this study was on two oxidoreductases - BacC and BacG. In the course of these studies, several variations to conventional oxidoreductase mechanisms were observed. These studies also provided us an opportunity to examine an oxidoreductase, BacC, at atomic resolution. This thesis describes these structural studies alongside efforts to achieve the biosynthesis of bacilysin in vitro. Chapter 1 provides an introduction to the broad goals of this thesis. First, the diversity of naturally occurring antibiotics is described. This is followed by a description of nonribosomal peptides and their preferred route for antibiotic synthesis. A summary of previous work in this area is provided to place this study in perspective. Earlier studies performed in this laboratory and others provided a framework for understanding the role of BacC and BacG. These studies have been described with an emphasis on the pivotal role of oxidoreductases in this process. In this context, known features of oxidoreductases, classification of the enzyme family, known reaction mechanisms, preferred substrates and cofactors of the enzyme have been summarized in this chapter. Chapter 2 describes the structural and biochemical characterization of B.subtilis BacG. The crystal structures of BacG determined in the apo form and ligand bound states could capture different conformational states of this enzyme. These structures revealed a basis to understand the ping-pong reaction mechanism. The catalytic residues Tyr-Ser-Lys-Asn involved in the proton relay were examined by mutational analysis. These biochemical studies could corroborate our observations derived from structural analysis. Put together, these studies suggest synchronized conformational changes in BacG that can rationalize cofactor specificity and catalytic action on di hydroxyphenyl pyruvate to form tetra hydroxyphenyl pyruvate en route to anticapsin biosynthesis. Bacillus subtilis BacC could be structurally characterized at 1.19Å resolution. The atomic resolution structure formed the basis for the analysis reported in this chapter. The structure revealed aspects of non-covalent interactions that could be unambiguously determined due to the high resolution diffraction data. The atomic resolution structure also enabled us to conduct charge density analysis on this protein. Atomic displacement parameters were used as a tool to explore paths of non-covalent interactions. A commercially available substrate, 3-Quinuclidinone, was used to characterize enzymatic activity. We note that this enzyme follows a rapid equilibrium random mechanism. Furthermore, the kinetic profiles were conclusive to draw inferences on allosteric interactions. A comparison between the NADH-complex and the apo enzyme structure suggests aspects of nuanced atomic displacement that governs the intra structural signal transduction. Taken together, this study provided a template to analyze the role of non-covalent interactions in regulating enzymatic activity. Chapter 4 is based on a survey of oxidoreductases that have been previously described in literature. During this study, we collated the extensive structural and biochemical data in this family of enzymes. However, we noted that the data remains disperse thereby limiting efforts to understand the reaction mechanism from a structural perspective. Here we collate information of known sequences, structures, cofactors, ligand preferences, reaction mechanisms and their influence on higher order association and catalytic activity in this class of enzymes. Chapter 5 summarizes the findings on two oxidoreductases (BacC, BacG). These studies on two closely related oxidoreductases BacC and BacG performing different roles in the same biosynthetic pathway revealed aspects biosynthesis that are often poorly recognized in protein engineering. The role of the reaction mechanism and their influence on the cofactor specificity could be inferred from the studies on these two enzymes. These studies also suggest the feasibility of evaluating aspects of enzyme activity and regulation provided the wealth of a priori information that is currently available. Put together, these studies provide a data-set for protein engineering efforts on oxidoreductases with general inferences for other enzymes in the short-chain dehydrogenases/ reductases (SDR) family. Appendix 1 provides a schematic representation of our efforts to biosynthetically obtain bacilysin in vitro. The identification, mass spectrometry of the products and substrates en route to bacilysin biosynthesis are compiled in this section. Appendix 2 describes the preliminary characterization of B.subtilis BacF. This part of the work describes the cloning, expression and purification of BacF and attempts to obtain suitable diffracting crystals for structural analysis.

Les voies respiratoires des patients atteints de mucoviscidose sont colonisées par de nombreux pathogènes, parmi lesquels la bactérie P. aeruginosa est prédominante. Après des épisodes répétés d’infections du tractus respiratoire principalement liées à P. aeruginosa, les patients développent une insuffisance pulmonaire associée à un déclin du statut clinique et à une aggravation du pronostic puisqu’elle est souvent responsable du décès de ces patients. Les infections chroniques à P. aeruginosa affectent 80 à 90 % des patients atteints de mucoviscidose et, une fois ces infections installées, les associations actuelles d’antibiotiques sont incapables d’éradiquer la bactérie des voies aériennes de ces patients. La chronicité des infections est liée au développement de la bactérie sous un mode de vie particulier, le biofilm. Les bactéries s’assemblent en communautés complexes et organisées, entourées par la sécrétion d’une matrice extracellulaire polymérique. Ce mode de vie procure aux bactéries présentes dans le biofilm un environnement dense et protecteur, augmentant la résistance du pathogène au système immunitaire de l’hôte et aux antibiotiques conventionnels. <p><p>Dans la première partie de notre travail, nous avons caractérisé différentes souches de P. aeruginosa, comprenant des souches de référence et des souches cliniques isolées des expectorations de patients atteints de mucoviscidose. Les propriétés d’adhésion, de développement des biofilms, de mobilité, de production de rhamnolipides, l’activité protéolytique et la production d’acylhomosérine lactones se sont avérées très différentes au sein des souches. De plus, les caractéristiques phénotypiques des souches ne constituaient pas une valeur prédictive de la sensibilité des bactéries à un antibiotique, soulignant la nécessité d’étudier un panel large de souches pour caractériser l’effet d’un agent antimicrobien.<p><p>Dans la lutte pour combattre les infections et l’apparition de souches multirésistantes, de nouvelles stratégies thérapeutiques sont développées. Les céragenines sont une famille de molécules synthétisées dans le but de mimer la structure amphipatique des peptides antimicrobiens responsable de leur activité bactéricide importante. Contrairement à ces derniers, les céragenines maintiennent leur activité dans des conditions physiologiques. <p><p><p><p><p><p><p><p><p><p><p><p><p><p><p><p><p><p><p><p><p><p><p><p><p><p><p><p><p><p><p><p><p><p>Dans la deuxième partie de ce travail, nous avons étudié l’effet d’un composé antimicrobien appartenant à la famille des céragenines, le CSA-13, sur les différentes souches de P. aeruginosa. Nous avons confirmé le potentiel bactéricide du CSA-13 sur des cultures planctoniques de P. aeruginosa. Nous avons démontré qu’une concentration très faible et non cytotoxique de CSA-13 (10 fois inférieure à la CMI), inhibait la formation d’un biofilm de 3 souches de P. aeruginosa sur les 8 testées. L’étude du potentiel zêta des souches nous a permis de proposer un mécanisme basé sur des interactions électrostatiques pour expliquer l’action préventive du CSA-13 sur le développement du biofilm. Une concentration plus importante de CSA-13 a éradiqué l’entièreté d’un biofilm âgé de 24 h pour 7 des 8 souches étudiées. Six souches ont été évaluées dans un biofilm mature et toutes ont répondu au composé avec des concentrations croissantes ou un temps d’exposition du composé au biofilm plus important. Aucune résistance au CSA-13 n’est apparue durant le traitement. L’usage de la microscopie confocale à balayage laser a confirmé la rapidité et l’efficacité d’action du CSA-13 sur un biofilm robuste et complexe de P. aeruginosa par visualisation dans le temps et dans l’espace de l’effet du CSA-13 sur le biofilm. L’ensemble des observations de ce travail nous a permis de conclure que 7 sur les 8 souches de P. aeruginosa étaient sensibles au CSA-13, soit à un stade initial de la formation du biofilm, soit après maturation du biofilm. Ces résultats soulignent le potentiel thérapeutique important, envers tous les stades de formation et de développement du biofilm, de composés à structure amphiphile comme le CSA-13, avec une face cationique favorisant les interactions avec les membranes bactériennes chargées négativement et une face hydrophobe contribuant à la perturbation de ces membranes. <p><p>Le traitement de référence actuel envers les infections à P. aeruginosa, chez les patients souffrant de mucoviscidose, consiste en l’administration par inhalation de tobramycine commercialisée sous le médicament TOBI®. Nous avons investigué l’intérêt d’une administration combinée de l’aminoglycoside avec le CSA-13. Un bénéfice évident de la combinaison de CSA-13 et de tobramycine est apparu dans cette étude aussi bien sur biofilm jeune que mature. Dans certaines conditions, le CSA-13 semblait même prévenir la résistance à la tobramycine. Il sera cependant indispensable de concevoir des expériences in vivo pour confirmer l’intérêt du CSA-13 ou d’une co-administration de CSA-13 et de la tobramycine dans le traitement d’infections chroniques à P. aeruginosa chez des patients atteints de mucoviscidose.<p><p><p><p><p><p><p><p><p><p><p><p><p><p><p><p><p><p><p><p><p><p><p><p><p><p><p><p><p><p><p><p><p><p><p>Nos études in vitro sur cellules eucaryotes humaines ont mis en évidence une toxicité membranaire et mitochondriale provoquée par le CSA-13 lors de l’administration de concentrations importantes. L’association du CSA-13 avec l’acide pluronique F-127 a permis de réduire significativement la toxicité du composé sur les membranes. Cependant, l’association n’a pas diminué les effets délétères exercés par le CSA-13 sur l’activité mitochondriale. Les études devront donc se poursuivre afin d’affiner la compréhension du mécanisme d’action des céragenines et de pouvoir déceler des dérivés moins toxiques. L’évaluation de l’activité in vivo du composé devrait nous éclairer quant à la fenêtre thérapeutique utilisable en clinique.<p><p>\ / Doctorat en Sciences biomédicales et pharmaceutiques / info:eu-repo/semantics/nonPublished