The potential of plant and fungal proteins in the control of gastrointestinal nematodes from animals

A complex metabolic network and its biomarkers regulate laccase production in white-rot fungus Cerrena unicolor 87613

BACKGROUND

White-rot fungi are known to naturally produce high quantities of laccase, which exhibit commendable stability and catalytic efficiency. However, their laccase production does not meet the demands for industrial-scale applications. To address this limitation, it is crucial to optimize the conditions for laccase production. However, the regulatory mechanisms underlying different conditions remain unclear. This knowledge gap hinders the cost-effective application of laccases.

RESULTS

In this study, we utilized transcriptomic and metabolomic data to investigate a promising laccase producer, Cerrena unicolor 87613, cultivated with fructose as the carbon source. Our comprehensive analysis of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and differentially abundant metabolites (DAMs) aimed to identify changes in cellular processes that could affect laccase production. As a result, we discovered a complex metabolic network primarily involving carbon metabolism and amino acid metabolism, which exhibited contrasting changes between transcription and metabolic patterns. Within this network, we identified five biomarkers, including succinate, serine, methionine, glutamate and reduced glutathione, that played crucial roles in co-determining laccase production levels.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study proposed a complex metabolic network and identified key biomarkers that determine the production level of laccase in the commercially promising Cerrena unicolor 87613. These findings not only shed light on the regulatory mechanisms of carbon sources in laccase production, but also provide a theoretical foundation for enhancing laccase production through strategic reprogramming of metabolic pathways, especially related to the citrate cycle and specific amino acid metabolism.

Low-Molecular-Weight Secondary Metabolites from Fungi: Cerrena unicolor as a New Proposal of an Effective Preparation against Rhabditis Nematodes

Plants and fungi are known as a valuable source of natural medicines used in the treatment of various diseases. Many of them are used to treat human and animal gastrointestinal diseases caused by parasites. The aim of this study was to investigate for the first time the antinematode properties of extracellular low-molecular subfractions (ex-LMS) obtained from the liquid growth medium of idiophasic Cerrena unicolor cultures. The fungal fractions were isolated according to a procedure previously described by Jaszek et al. The in vitro tests were performed using nematodes of the Rhabditis genus. As demonstrated by the results, the total fraction with a molecular weight < 10 kDa (CU-A) and the 0.02−1.5 kDa fraction (CU-B) had nematicidal activity. It was found that the analyzed substances induced movement disturbances caused by the paralysis of the back part of the nematode’s body. The degree of body paralysis was proportional to the increase in the concentration of the tested fractions. Summarizing the obtained results in the context of the available literature data, it seems that C. unicolor may be a good new candidate for research on nematode infections.

Beneficial Properties of Bromelain

Bromelain is a major sulfhydryl proteolytic enzyme found in pineapple plants, having multiple activities in many areas of medicine. Due to its low toxicity, high efficiency, high availability, and relative simplicity of acquisition, it is the object of inexhaustible interest of scientists. This review summarizes scientific reports concerning the possible application of bromelain in treating cardiovascular diseases, blood coagulation and fibrinolysis disorders, infectious diseases, inflammation-associated diseases, and many types of cancer. However, for the proper application of such multi-action activities of bromelain, further exploration of the mechanism of its action is needed. It is supposed that the anti-viral, anti-inflammatory, cardioprotective and anti-coagulatory activity of bromelain may become a complementary therapy for COVID-19 and post-COVID-19 patients. During the irrepressible spread of novel variants of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, such beneficial properties of this biomolecule might help prevent escalation and the progression of the COVID-19 disease.

Tropical plants as alternative anthelmintics against Cotylophoran cotylophorum of sheep

Effect of hydroalcoholic extracts of Pistacia vera L. shell, Anacardium occidentale L. shell, Illicium verum Hook.f. fruit, and Artocarpus heterophyllus Lam seed was assessed in vitro against adult, and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) of Cotylophoran cotylophorum of naturally infected sheep using worm motility assay and LDH activity assay kit, respectively. Extracts exhibited significant dose- and time-dependent anthelmintic responses by causing mortality of worms. Artocarpus heterophyllus seed exhibited maximum activity with 100% mortality of worms at a higher concentration of 4 mg/mL. Probit analysis revealed that the extracts of A. heterophyllus seed induced 50% worm mortality at a lower concentration (LD50=0.05 mg/mL) compared with those of I. verum fruit (LD50=2.22 mg/mL), P. vera shell (LD50=1.83 mg/mL) and A. occidentale seed (LD50=0.82 mg/mL) extracts. Evidently, A. heterophyllus seed extracts inhibited the LDH activity catalyzing the oxidation of lactate in adult C. cotylophorum. Qualitative screening of the extracts showed existence of amino acids, alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, and saponins, which are accountable for the anthelmintic effects observed.