Antibacterial activity of acetylated Alkyl Galates against Xanthomonas citri subsp. citri

Author(s)

Abigail Savietto

• Document type: Master's Dissertation
• Press: Rio Claro. 2016-06-29.
• Institution: Universidade Estadual Paulista (Unesp). Instituto de Biociências. Rio Claro
• Defense date: 2016-06-23
• Advisor: Henrique Ferreira; Isabel Cristiane da Silva

Abstract

Xanthomonas citri subsp. citri (X.citri) is the etiological agent of citrus canker, a disease that affects all the varieties of citrus of economic importance around the world. Currently, eradication of infected trees constitutes the only effective practice to control the spread of X. citri. This disease has enormous social and economic impact in the orange juice production industry, especially concerning the difficulties to inspect plantations and to persuade growers to eliminate foci of the disease. Regarding this, recent relaxations in the policies of eradication within the state of São Paulo, the main orange producer in the world, indicate that citrus canker may become endemic in this area. The current proposal aims to extend the work that is being done in our research group, developing inhibitors of X. citri growth (alkyl gallates). In this study, four new molecules originated from alkyl gallates – acetylated alkyl gallates – were able to inhibit the X.citri growth, similarly to kanamycin (positive control), assessed by Resazurin Microtiter Plate Assay (REMA). In fluorescent microscopy assay, using a mutant strain of X. citri labeled with green fluorescent protein (GFP) in ZapA, the drugs were able to disrupt the location of septa, suggesting that the substances may have the cell division machinery as a target. However, in biochemical assays using FtsZ purified from X. citri in the presence of the drugs, the drugs showed low or no effect on the sedimentation or GTPase activity of FtsZ. Instead of this, they showed reasonable effect on membrane permeability and probably these drugs acts by dissipating the membrane potential. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 14/11402-5 - Genotoxicity and cytotoxicity of alkyl gallates used as antibacterial agents against citrus canker
• Grantee: Abigail Savietto
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master