Bacterial community associated with the trunk latex of Hancornia speciosa Gomes (Apocynaceae) grown in the northeast of Brazil.
Prevention or cure of different illnesses through the use of plant latex is a worldwide known concept. The antifungal activity of Hancornia speciosa latex has been observed against Candida albicans. However, H. speciosa latex is not a sterile plant exudate and secondary metabolites produced by bacteria could be involved in fungal inhibition. In the present study, the bacterial communities of the latex from three H. speciosa trees were characterized using traditional plating and molecular methods. Twelve strains isolated from the latex samples were clustered into four groups by amplified ribosomal DNA restriction analysis (ARDRA). One representative of each group was sequenced and they were identified as belonging to the genera Bacillus, Klebsiella, Enterobacter and Escherichia. None of the 12 isolates showed antifungal activity against C. albicans. A lack of a microbial origin for the antifungal properties of latex was noted. DGGE profiles generated from each of the three latex samples showed unique patterns. Sequencing of the DGGE bands demonstrated the affiliation with the genera Klebsiella, Pantoea, Enterobacter and Burkholderia. In addition, clone libraries were generated and the phylogenetic distribution of the 50 analyzed clones was similar to that obtained using DGGE. The presence of some potential pathogens should be considered before using H. speciosa latex in folk medicine.
Laboratório de Genética Microbiana, Departamento de Microbiologia Geral, Instituto de Microbiologia Prof Paulo de Góes, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Centro de Ciências da Saúde, Bloco I, Ilha do Fundão, Rio de Janeiro CEP 21941-590, Brazil.
Thais Freitas da
TF
Silva
Marcia Reed Rodrigues
MR
Coelho
Renata Estebanez
RE
Vollú
Fátima Regina
FR
de Vasconcelos Goulart
Daniela Sales
DS
Alviano
Celuta Sales
CS
Alviano
Lucy
L
Seldin
D029062:Apocynaceae / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000382:microbiology*; D001419:Bacteria / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000378:metabolism*; D001938:Brazil; D002176:Candida albicans / Q000187:drug effects; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D007840:Latex / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / Q000235:genetics
D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D007840:Latex; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S