Search results for "Toxin"

11,12-EET Stimulates the Association of BK Channel α and β1 Subunits in Mitochondria to Induce Pulmonary Vasoconstriction

2012

In the systemic circulation, 11,12-epoxyeicosatrienoic acid (11,12-EET) elicits nitric oxide (NO)- and prostacyclin-independent vascular relaxation, partially through the activation of large conductance Ca(2+)-activated potassium (BK) channels. However, in the lung 11,12-EET contributes to hypoxia-induced pulmonary vasoconstriction. Since pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells also express BK channels, we assessed the consequences of BKβ(1) subunit deletion on pulmonary responsiveness to 11,12-EET as well as to acute hypoxia. In buffer-perfused mouse lungs, hypoxia increased pulmonary artery pressure and this was significantly enhanced in the presence of NO synthase (NOS) and cyclooxygenase (…

Binding of Cyt1Aa and Cry11Aa Toxins of Bacillus thuringiensis Serovar israelensis to Brush Border Membrane Vesicles of Tipula paludosa (Diptera: Nem…

2007

ABSTRACT Bacillus thuringiensis serovar israelensis ( B. thuringiensis subsp. israelensis ) produces four insecticidal crystal proteins (ICPs) (Cry4A, Cry4B, Cry11A, and Cyt1A). Toxicity of recombinant B. thuringiensis subsp. israelensis strains expressing only one of the toxins was determined with first instars of Tipula paludosa (Diptera: Nematocera). Cyt1A was the most toxic protein, whereas Cry4A, Cry4B, and Cry11A were virtually nontoxic. Synergistic effects were recorded when Cry4A and/or Cry4B was combined with Cyt1A but not with Cry11A. The binding and pore formation are key steps in the mode of action of B. thuringiensis subsp. israelensis ICPs. Binding and pore-forming activity of…

Effect of Bacillus thuringiensis toxins on the midgut of the nun moth Lymantria monacha.

2000

Three steps of the proposed mode of action of Bacillus thuringiensis toxins have been studied in Lymantria monacha. We demonstrated that only the toxins that caused typical pathological changes in midgut epithelial cells and bound to the midgut brush border membrane were able to drastically reduce the midgut transepithelial voltage of the nun moth.

Update on the detection of beta-exotoxin in Bacillus thuringiensis strains by HPLC analysis.

2001

Aims: The current work aimed to study the presence of β-exotoxin by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) in supernatant fluids from final whole cultures of the 69 type strains and 13 subtypes of Bacillus thuringiensis strains, as well as from some insecticidal strains. Methods and Results: Results from HPLC and bioassays with Ephestia kuhniella (Lepidoptera Pyralidae) were compared. Type I β-exotoxin was only detected in type strains representing serotypes H1, H9 and H10a,10b. Discrepancies between HPLC and bioassays were found in H8a,8b and some insecticidal strains, which suggests the occurrence of another soluble toxin different from type I β-exotoxin, possibly type II β-exotoxi…

Study of two midgut aminopeptidases from Ostrinia nubilalis Hubner

2008

Aminopeptidases N (APNs) have been identified as Bacillus thuringiensis endotoxins receptor candidates in several Lepidopteran species. Employing the RACE PCR technique we obtained two complete cDNAs corresponding to two APNs expressed in the midgut of Ostrinia nubilalis larvae. One of the sequences was 3624 bp long, and the predicted protein was composed by 940 aminoacids, whereas the other cDNA was 3226 nucleotides long, leading a putative protein composed by 994 aminoacids. The in silico study of the sequences, showed in both proteins a signal peptide, a GPI-anchor domain, a zinc-binding region HEXXHX18E and a GAMEN motif, characteristic of the gluzincin aminopeptidases. Moreover, severa…

Importance of Propionibacterium acnes hemolytic activity in human intervertebral discs: A microbiological study

2018

Most patients with chronic lower back pain (CLBP) exhibit degenerative disc disease. Disc specimens obtained during initial therapeutic discectomies are often infected/colonized with Propionibacterium acnes, a Gram-positive commensal of the human skin. Although pain associated with infection is typically ascribed to the body's inflammatory response, the Gram-positive bacterium Staphylococcus aureus was recently observed to directly activate nociceptors by secreting pore-forming α-hemolysins that disrupt neuronal cell membranes. The hemolytic activity of P. acnes in cultured disc specimens obtained during routine therapeutic discectomies was assessed through incubation on sheep-blood agar. T…

Integrative Model for Binding of Bacillus thuringiensis Toxins in Susceptible and Resistant Larvae of the Diamondback Moth (Plutella xylostella)

1999

ABSTRACT Insecticidal crystal proteins from Bacillus thuringiensis in sprays and transgenic crops are extremely useful for environmentally sound pest management, but their long-term efficacy is threatened by evolution of resistance by target pests. The diamondback moth ( Plutella xylostella ) is the first insect to evolve resistance to B. thuringiensis in open-field populations. The only known mechanism of resistance to B. thuringiensis in the diamondback moth is reduced binding of toxin to midgut binding sites. In the present work we analyzed competitive binding of B. thuringiensis toxins Cry1Aa, Cry1Ab, Cry1Ac, and Cry1F to brush border membrane vesicles from larval midguts in a susceptib…

Production and characterization of Bacillus thuringiensis Cry1Ac-resistant cotton bollworm Helicoverpa zea (Boddie).

2007

ABSTRACT Laboratory-selected Bacillus thuringiensis -resistant colonies are important tools for elucidating B. thuringiensis resistance mechanisms. However, cotton bollworm, Helicoverpa zea , a target pest of transgenic corn and cotton expressing B. thuringiensis Cry1Ac (Bt corn and cotton), has proven difficult to select for stable resistance. Two populations of H. zea (AR and MR), resistant to the B. thuringiensis protein found in all commercial Bt cotton varieties (Cry1Ac), were established by selection with Cry1Ac activated toxin (AR) or MVP II (MR). Cry1Ac toxin reflects the form ingested by H. zea when feeding on Bt cotton, whereas MVP II is a Cry1Ac formulation used for resistance se…

Comparison of Different Methodologies for Binding Assays of Bacillus thuringiensis Toxins to Membrane Vesicles from Insect Midguts

2002

Occurrence of a common binding site in Mamestra brassicae, Phthorimaea operculella, and Spodoptera exigua for the insecticidal crystal proteins CryIA…

1997

Specific binding to midgut membrane proteins is required for the toxicity of insecticidal crystal proteins (ICP) from Bacillus thuringiensis. A direct relationship between toxicity and binding has been proposed. It has been hypothesized that sharing of a single receptor by more than one ICP could lead to the occurrence of multiple resistance in the event of an alteration in the common receptor. Binding of CryIA(a), CryIA(b) and CryIA(c), three structurally related ICPs, has been studied in Phthorimaea operculella, Mamestra brassicae and, Spodoptera exigua using brush border membrane vesicles (BBMV) from the midgut tissue. Using iodinated CryIA(b), the three insects showed similar results: o…