Microbial Symbionts of Insects are the Focus of the First International Cooperative Biodiversity Group (ICBG) in Brazil

Pupo, Mônica Tallarico; Currie, Cameron R.; Clardy, Jon

doi:10.21577/0103-5053.20160284

Cited by 11 publications

(12 citation statements)

References 23 publications

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“…Recently, interdisciplinary research groups in Brazil have been mainly focused on the characterization of biologically active natural products from microbial symbionts of social insects [44]. Using an ecological-driven approach, the actinobacterial symbionts of attine ants have been systematically screened against the specialized pathogenic fungus Escovopsis and then selected for further screening against other bacterial, fungal, and protozoan human pathogens.…”

Section: Natural Products Mediating Microbial Symbiosis Fungus-farminmentioning

confidence: 99%

Chemical Ecology in Insect-microbe Interactions in the Neotropics

2020

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Small molecules frequently mediate symbiotic interactions between microorganisms and their hosts. Brazil harbors the highest diversity of insects in the world; however, just recently, efforts have been directed to deciphering the chemical signals involved in the symbioses of microorganisms and social insects. The current scenario of natural products research guided by chemical ecology is discussed in this review. Two groups of social insects have been prioritized in the studies, fungus-farming ants and stingless bees, leading to the identification of natural products involved in defensive and nutritional symbioses. Some of the compounds also present potential pharmaceutical applications as antimicrobials, and this is likely related to their ecological roles. Microbial symbioses in termites and wasps are suggested promising sources of biologically active small molecules. Aspects related to public policies for insect biodiversity preservation are also highlighted.

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Section: Natural Products Mediating Microbial Symbiosis Fungus-farminmentioning

confidence: 99%

Chemical Ecology in Insect-microbe Interactions in the Neotropics

2020

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“…As part of our efforts to identify biologically active natural products from bacterial symbionts of social insects, 10 we have selected the actinobacterium Streptomyces puniceus AB10, isolated from leaf-cutter ants Acromyrmex rugosus rugosus for isolation of small molecules. Griseorhodin A had its absolute configuration previously determined by time-dependent density functional theory calculations (TD-DFT) of electronic circular dichroism (ECD) spectra as 6 S ,6a S ,7 S ,8 S .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Absolute configurations of griseorhodins A and C

Ortega

Batista

Melo

et al. 2017

Tetrahedron Letters

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The known antibiotic and cytotoxic compounds griseorhodin A (1) and griseorhodin C (2) were produced in solid culture by Streptomyces puniceus AB10, which was isolated from the leaf-cutter ant Acromyrmex rugosus rugosus. Their absolute configurations were unambiguously established as 6S,6aR,7S,8S and 6R,6aR,7S,8R, respectively, using vibrational circular dichroism (VCD) and density functional theory (DFT) calculations.

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“…Naphthoquinones are compounds widespread in nature playing important physiological roles in animals and plants. Previous studies described that secondary metabolites bearing in their structure the 1,4- and 1,2-naphthoquinone moieties have been isolated from plants and exhibit interesting biological activities [40]. In addition, lapachol (2-hydroxy-3-prenyl-1,4-naphthoquinone), found in Tabebuia species, showed to be active against the Walker-256 carcinoma and Yoshida Sarcoma cells [29, 41, 42].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Lapachol and synthetic derivatives: in vitro and in vivo activities against Bothrops snake venoms

et al. 2019

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BackgroundIt is known that local tissue injuries incurred by snakebites are quickly instilled causing extensive, irreversible, tissue destruction that may include loss of limb function or even amputation. Such injuries are not completely neutralized by the available antivenins, which in general are focused on halting systemic effects. Therefore it is prudent to investigate the potential antiophidic effects of natural and synthetic compounds, perhaps combining them with serum therapy, to potentially attenuate or eliminate the adverse local and systemic effects of snake venom. This study assessed a group of quinones that are widely distributed in nature and constitute an important class of natural products that exhibit a range of biological activities. Of these quinones, lapachol is one of the most important compounds, having been first isolated in 1882 from the bark of Tabebuia avellanedae.Methodology/Principal findingsIt was investigated the ability of lapachol and some new potential active analogues based on the 2-hydroxi-naphthoquinone scaffold to antagonize important activities of Bothrops venoms (Bothrops atrox and Bothrops jararaca) under different experimental protocols in vitro and in vivo. The bioassays used to test the compounds were: procoagulant, phospholipase A2, collagenase and proteolytic activities in vitro, venom-induced hemorrhage, edematogenic, and myotoxic effects in mice. Proteolytic and collagenase activities of Bothrops atrox venom were shown to be inhibited by lapachol and its analogues 3a, 3b, 3c, 3e. The inhibition of these enzymatic activities might help to explain the effects of the analogue 3a in vivo, which decreased skin hemorrhage induced by Bothrops venom. Lapachol and the synthetic analogues 3a and 3b did not inhibit the myotoxic activity induced by Bothrops atrox venom. The negative protective effect of these compounds against the myotoxicity can be partially explained by their lack of ability to effectively inhibit phospholipase A2 venom activity. Bothrops atrox venom also induced edema, which was significantly reduced by the analogue 3a.ConclusionsThis research using a natural quinone and some related synthetic quinone compounds has shown that they exhibit antivenom activity; especially the compound 3a. The data from 3a showed a decrease in inflammatory venom effects, presumably those that are metalloproteinase-derived. Its ability to counteract such snake venom activities contributes to the search for improving the management of venomous snakebites.

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Microbial Symbionts of Insects are the Focus of the First International Cooperative Biodiversity Group (ICBG) in Brazil

Cited by 11 publications

References 23 publications

Chemical Ecology in Insect-microbe Interactions in the Neotropics

Chemical Ecology in Insect-microbe Interactions in the Neotropics

Absolute configurations of griseorhodins A and C

Lapachol and synthetic derivatives: in vitro and in vivo activities against Bothrops snake venoms

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