Evaluation of cationic micropeptides derived from the innate immune system as inhibitors of marine biofouling

A series of 13 short synthetic amphiphilic cationic micropeptides, derived from the antimicrobial iron-binding innate defence protein lactoferrin, have been evaluated for their capacity to inhibit the marine fouling process. The whole biofouling process was studied and microfouling organisms such as marine bacteria and microalgae were included as well as the macrofouling barnacle Balanus improvisus. In total 19 different marine fouling organisms (18 microfoulers and one macrofouler) were included and both the adhesion and growth of the microfoulers were investigated. It was shown that the majority of the peptides inhibited barnacle cyprid settlement via a reversible nontoxic mechanism, with IC50 values as low as 0.5 μg ml(-1). Six peptides inhibited adhesion and growth of microorganisms. Two of these were particularly active against the microfoulers with MIC-values ranging between 0.01 and 1 μg ml(-1), which is comparable with the commercial reference antifoulant SeaNine.

Conventional and unconventional antimicrobials from fish, marine invertebrates and micro-algae

All eukaryotic organisms, single-celled or multi-cellular, produce a diverse array of natural anti-infective agents that, in addition to conventional antimicrobial peptides, also include proteins and other molecules often not regarded as part of the innate defences. Examples range from histones, fatty acids, and other structural components of cells to pigments and regulatory proteins. These probably represent very ancient defence factors that have been re-used in new ways during evolution. This review discusses the nature, biological role in host protection and potential biotechnological uses of some of these compounds, focusing on those from fish, marine invertebrates and marine micro-algae.

[Resistance to HIV1 infection in exposed uninfected individuals: light and shadow in the research of mechanisms]

Some individuals, dubbed here « EU » (exposed but uninfected), do not show any sign of infection in spite of repeated exposures to HIV1. For more than ten years a considerable research effort is made to uncover the mechanisms of resistance to HIV1 in EUs including host factors of protection. Two main not exclusive hypotheses are explored : 1) EUs are resistant to HIV1 infection ought to antiviral innate defences, either genetic or immune ; 2) EUs are protected from infection by immune specific responses that neutralise or eliminate the virus. Various mechanisms have been associated to the resistance to HIV1 infection in studies on different high-risk populations, although none of them can explain all the cases. The resistance to HIV1 infection seems to be linked to the contribution of multiple factors whose relative weight can differ according to EUs ethnic origin, environment and way of exposure.