Abstract Mucus, produced by Palythoa caribaeorum has been popularly reported due to healing, anti-inflammatory, and analgesic effects. However, biochemical and pharmacological properties of this mucus remains unexplored. Therefore, the present study aimed to study its proteome profile by 2DE electrophoresis and MALDI-TOF. Furthermore, it was evaluated the cytotoxic, antibacterial, and antioxidant activities of the mucus and from its protein extract (PE). Proteomics study identified14 proteins including proteins involved in the process of tissue regeneration and death of tumor cells. The PE exhibited cell viability below 50% in the MCF-7 and S-180 strains. It showed IC50 of 6.9 μg/mL for the J774 lineage, and also, favored the cellular growth of fibroblasts. Furthermore, PE revealed activity against Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus, and Staphylococcus epidermidis (MIC of 250 μg/mL). These findings revealed the mucus produced by Palythoa caribaeorum with biological activities, offering alternative therapies for the treatment of cancer and as a potential antibacterial agent.

ABSTRACT To the fungal microbiota the UFPE and biotechnological potential enzymatic and antimicrobial production. Air conditioned environments were sampled using a passive sedimentation technique, the air I ratio and the presence of aflatoxigenic strains evaluated for ANVISA. Icelles were to determine the enzymatic activity of lipase, amylase and protease metabolic liquids to determine antimicrobial activity. Diversity was observed in all CAV environments, CFU/m3 ranged from 14 to 290 and I/E ratio from 0.1 to 1.5. The of the fungal genera were: Aspergillus (50%), Penicillium (21%), Talaromyces (14%), Curvularia and Paecilomyces (7% each). Aspergillus sydowii (Bainier & Sartory) Thom & Church presented enzymatic activity and the Talaromyces purpureogenus Samson, Yilmaz, Houbraken, Spierenb., Seifert, Peterson, Varga & Frisvad presented antibacterial activity against all bacteria that all environments present fungal species biodiversity no toxigenic or pathogenic fungi were found, according to ANVISA legislation for conditioned environments and airborne filamentous fungi present potential for enzymatic and antimicrobial activity.

Foi realizado um levantamento de ocorrência da podridão-verde do inhame em diferentes Estados brasileiros, com análise dos tipos de colônia do patógeno, em 50 isolados de Penicillium obtidos para identificação. Os isolados foram originados de túberas infectadas das duas espécies de inhame Dioscorea cayennensis e D. alata. Os resultados foram obtidos mediante técnicas específicas de identificação de espécies do gênero Penicillium e práticas laboratoriais rotineiras de Fitopatologia. Constatou-se que a doença ocorria em todos os Estados estudados, sendo a doença sempre causada por Penicillium sclerotigenum, único organismo em constante associação com a doença. Os isolados do fungo apresentaram diversidade na morfologia das colônias, independentemente da espécie de Dioscorea e local de coleta da amostra.

A survey was carried out to determine the occurrence of soft-rot of yam in different states of Brazil. Fungus isolates were taken from diseased tubers of two edible yam species, Dioscorea cayennensis and D. alata. Observations were carried out to identify the 50 isolates of Penicillium obtained using specific techniques for the genus Penicillium taxonomy and routine laboratory techniques of plant pathology. It was concluded that the disease occurred in all surveyed states and Penicillium sclerotigenum was the only Penicillium species in constant association with the disease. The pathogen isolates presented high colony variation, independently of the yam species and collecting place.

Foi estudada a patogenicidade do Penicillium sclerotigenum, agente etiológico da podridão-verde do inhame, em quinze frutas e hortaliças diferentes. Após a realização de ferimentos em órgãos vegetais sadios, inoculou-se um isolado, reconhecidamente virulento do fungo sobre estas áreas. As avaliações foram feitas mediante uso de uma escala crescente de notas, indicando grau de susceptibilidade de 1 a 3. Os resultados demonstraram que maçã, pêra e banana, além das testemunhas positivas inhame da Costa (Dioscorea cayennensis), inhame nambu (D. alata) e taro, foram suscetíveis. As demais espécies estudadas foram moderadamente suscetíveis: batata inglesa, beterraba, berinjela e taro, ou resistentes: chuchu, cenoura, mamão, pepino, abobrinha, batata doce e aipim. Estes resultados ressaltaram a necessidade de ser evitada a contaminação de embalagens e ambientes compartilhados para a armazenagem do inhame e outros produtos suscetíveis à infecção de P. slerotigenum, especialmente banana, maçã e pêra, principalmente nos trópicos, onde o inhame é muito cultivado e a podridão-verde altamente disseminada. Os resultados obtidos indicaram também que, além das perdas de inhame durante o armazenamento, também perdas de banana, maçã e pêra possam ocorrer devido ao ataque deste fungo. Penicillium sclerotigenum pode ter uma gama de hospedeira bem mais ampla, resultando em maiores riscos de produção de patulina em produtos armazenados. Esta micotoxina tem atividades mutagênica, carcinogênica e teratogênica, demonstrada experimentalmente em animais, sendo a pêra e a maçã bons substratos para sua produção.

The aim of this investigation was to study the pathogenicity of the fungus Penicillium sclerotigenum, the causal agent of the green-rot of yams (Dioscorea spp.) on different fruits and vegetables. A highly virulent isolate of the fungus was wound-inoculated on selected fruits and vegetables. A disease index ranging from 1 to 3 was adopted in order to rank disease susceptible. The results pointed out apple, pear and banana as highly susceptible; potato, beet, eggplant and taro as relatively susceptible and charlotte, carrot, papaya, zuchinni, sweet-potato and cassava as resistant to infection. These results indicated the need of special care when packaging and storage areas are utilized for both yams and other products susceptible to infection by P. sclerotigenum, particularly bananas, apples and pears. So far, P. sclerotigenum has been reported only on yams and these new finding also indicate that, besides yams losses, storage losses of apple, pear and banana may also occur. Penicillium sclerotigenum ability to infect these other products may represent an additional source of patulin in under storage conditions. This mycotoxin has well demonstrated mutagenic, carcinogenic and teratogenic effects on animal and apple and pear are known to be good substrates for patulin production.

Estudaram-se as reações do inhame Dioscorea alata cv. São Tomé e D. cayennensis cv. Da Costa em relação à severidade da podridão-verde, causada pelo fungo Penicillium sclerotigenum. Ao mesmo tempo, foi pesquisada à ocorrência de especialização fisiológica do agente causal, em relação à patogenicidade, nas mencionadas espécies de inhame. Para complementar esse estudo, analisou-se, in vitro, o crescimento micelial de P. sclerotigenum em três meios de cultura semi-sintéticos, sendo dois à base de extrato de túberas das espécies de inhame supracitadas e o terceiro de batata inglesa (Solanum tuberosum), todos complementados com dextrose e ágar. Observou-se que a severidade da podridão-verde foi menor em D. alata do que em D. cayennensis, não sendo constada especialização fisiológica nos isolados de P. sclerotigenum. Corroborando com esses resultados, o crescimento e desenvolvimento dos isolados de P. sclerotigenum no meio D. alata Dextrose Ágar foi significativamente menor do que nos meios Batata Dextrose - Ágar e D. cayennensis Dextrose Agar, esses mais favoráveis para crescimento do fungo.

The degree of green rot severity was evaluated in two yam species, D. alata and D. cayennensis. The causal agent of this disease is the fungus Penicillium sclerotigenum, a highly virulent pathogen on D. cayennensis in the producing areas all over the world. In addition, by cross inoculation, an investigation was conducted on the occurrence of physiological adaptations of the fungus relative to its pathogenicity on these species of yams. To complement this study the mycelial growth of P. sclerotigenum was evaluated on three culture media, two based on extracts of the yam species examined and the other one on potato (Solanum tuberosum). Dextrose and agar were added to all cultures. The results showed that green rot was less severe on D. alata than on D. cayennensis. No physiological adaptation in relation to the pathogenicity of P. sclerotigenum to both yam species was found. Potato-dextrose-agar and D. cayennensis-dextrose-agar were the best substrates for P. sclerotigenum development and growth.

A mancha-aquosa, causada por Acidovorax avenae subsp. citrulli, é a mais importante doença bacteriana do meloeiro (Cucumis melo) no Nordeste. Objetivando buscar alternativas para seu controle, diferentes doses de kasugamicina (100, 200, 300, 500 e 700 ppm), oxicloreto de cobre (500 ppm) e mistura dos dois produtos (200+500 ppm) foram avaliadas quanto à inibição do patógeno, in vitro. Em seguida, dois ensaios de campo foram realizados no Rio Grande do Norte (RN) e Ceará (CE), registrando-se inicialmente as incidências médias da doença em plantas. Os tratamentos: 1 a 4 - kasugamicina 40, 50, 60 e 70 ppm; 5 - kasugamicina + oxicloreto de cobre 40 + 1250 ppm; 6 - oxicloreto de cobre 1250 ppm; 7 - sal de oxitetraciclina 82 ppm e 8 - testemunha, foram aplicados quatro vezes, sendo avaliada a incidência da doença em frutos, 67 dias após plantio. In vitro, 300, 500 e 700 ppm de kasugamicina inibiram significativamente o crescimento do patógeno, diferindo dos demais tratamentos, mas não diferindo entre si (teste não paramétrico de Friedman, P=0,01). Nos campos do RN e CE, incidências médias da doença de 67,8 e 46,3%, respectivamente, foram registradas inicialmente. Aos 67 dias após plantio, os tratamentos 4 e 6 no RN, bem como 5 e 7 no CE, reduziram significativamente a incidência da doença em frutos, com relação aos demais (teste z de duas proporções, P= 0,05).

Bacterial blotch caused by Acidovorax avenae subsp. citrulli is the most important bacterial disease of melon (Cucumis melo) in Northeastern Brazil. In an attempt to find alternatives for controlling this disease, several dosages of kasugamycin (100, 200, 300, 500 and 700 ppm), copper oxichloride (500 ppm) and a mixture of the two products (200 + 500 ppm) were evaluated for pathogen inhibition in vitro. Two field experiments were performed in Rio Grande do Norte (RN) and Ceará (CE) where disease incidence was initially determined. The treatments: 1 to 4 - kasugamycin 40, 50, 60 and 70 ppm; 5 - kasugamycin + copper oxichloride 40 + 1250 ppm; 6 - copper oxichloride 1250 ppm; 7 - oxitetracyclin salt 82 ppm and 8 - control were applied four times and evaluation was carried out 67 days after planting by recording disease incidence on fruits. In vitro 300, 500 and 700 ppm of kasugamycin significantly inhibited pathogen growth, differing from the other treatments but not among them (Friedman non parametric test, P=0.01). In field experiments in RN and CE, disease incidence was recorded initially at 67.8 and 46.3%, respectively. Sixty-seven days after planting, treatments 4 and 6 in RN, as well as 5 and 7 in CE, significantly reduced disease incidence on fruits (two-tailed z test, P=0.05).