Ringraziamo CAPES-Brasile, CNPq-Brasile, FAP/DF per il sostegno finanziario. Siamo grati al Dr. Hugo Costa Paes di revisione del manoscritto.

1. soluzioni e Media
<ol><li>Preparare 2 X Roswell Park Memorial Institute (RPMI) 1640 medie, tamponato fosfato salino (PBS), brodo di Sabouraud destrosio e Sabouraud agar destrosio come da tabella 1.</li>
</ol>2. condizioni di crescita fungine inoculo
<ol><li>Memorizzare tutti i ceppi fungini come gli stock congelati in 35% glicerolo a-80 ° C, fino a quando necessario.</li>
	<li>Attenersi alla seguente procedura prima di ogni esperimento.<ol>
<li>Per i ceppi di Candida albicans :<ol>
<li>Scongelare una fiala di magazzino e trasferire 200 µ l a 10 mL di brodo di Sabouraud destrosio in un tubo in polipropilene sterile 50 mL con tappo e coltura durante la notte a 30 ° C con agitazione (200 giri). Ricordarsi di inclinare il tubo e lasciare il coperchio leggermente aperto per una migliore areazione della cultura.</li>
		</ol>
</li>
		<li>Per i ceppi di Cryptococcus neoformans :<ol>
<li>Raschiare la superficie ghiacciata di un flaconcino stock. Piastra le cellule su piastre di agar Sabouraud destrosio e incubare per 48 h a 30 ° C. Dopo visibile crescita di colonie isolate, tenere le piastre in frigorifero (4 ° C) sigillato con la pellicola di paraffina per fino a 15 giorni.</li>
			<li>Raccogliere una colonia isolata di medie dimensioni dalla piastra utilizzando uno stuzzicadenti sterile o sterile ansa da inoculo e inoculare 10 mL di brodo di Sabouraud destrosio in una provetta conica sterile 50 mL. Incubare per circa 24 h a 30 ° C sotto agitazione (200 giri).</li>
			<li>Non superare le 24 ore di incubazione. Ricordarsi di inclinare il tubo e lasciare il coperchio leggermente aperto per una migliore areazione. È sempre buona standardizzare la fase di crescita delle cellule prima di ogni prova, poiché questo è un fattore importante che interessa la resistenza antimicrobica. Nota: Entrambi funghi sono stati coltivati a 30 ° C per propagazione rapida nei nostri esperimenti, ma la temperatura può essere modificata per riflettere gli obiettivi dello studio, il trattamento ad esempio clinico (37 ° C). La cosa più importante, questo tempo di incubazione iniziale dovrebbe essere stabilito in anticipo per ogni isolato fungina e mantenuto durante tutti i test per garantire la riproducibilità.</li>
		</ol>
</li>
	</ol>
</li>
	<li>Dopo la crescita di funghi, raccogliere le cellule mediante centrifugazione le provette coniche a 1.200 x g per 5 min a temperatura ambiente. Scartare il surnatante e aggiungere 10 mL di PBS.</li>
	<li>Risospendere le cellule e centrifugare nuovamente a 1.200 x g per 5 min a temperatura ambiente.</li>
	<li>Ripetere il lavaggio con PBS e centrifugazione di altre due volte. Dopo il terzo lavaggio, risospendere le cellule in 5 mL (secondo il formato della pallina) di 2 X RPMI-1640 medi.</li>
	<li>Preparare 1 mL di una diluizione 1: 100 o 1:1,000 in un tubo del microcentrifuge (a seconda la torbidità della sospensione delle cellule).</li>
	<li>Aliquotare 10 µ l di questa diluizione, metterlo in una camera di un emocitometro e contare il numero totale delle cellule nei quadranti quattro angolo sotto il microscopio. Calcolare la concentrazione dalla formula: (totale cella numero/4) x diluizione fattore x 104 (costante di diluizione di camera).<ol>
<li>Considera una redditività del 100% se le condizioni di conteggi e crescita di redditività sono stati sistematicamente correlate per l'isolato oggetto di studio. Nota: La standardizzazione e il controllo di qualità dei conteggi di redditività può essere fatto da retro-placcatura in accordo con il Comitato europeo sul metodo di concentrazione inibitoria minima (MIC) antimicotico test di suscettibilità antimicrobica (EUCAST) per lieviti10 .</li>
		<li>Se la correlazione di crescita/redditività non è stata stabilita per l'isolato sotto studio, misurare la redditività fungina contando le cellule vive in un emocitometro con l'ausilio di coloranti che colorano in modo selettivo le cellule morte, come Floxina B11, trypan blu 12, o Janus Green13. Utilizzare le cellule fungine per questo protocollo solo se la vitalità della popolazione a questo punto è 90% o superiore. Nota: Morti/vivi coloranti potrebbero non funzionare bene con il fungo di scelta. Si prega di testarli prima dell'uso. Ad esempio, il colorante trypan blu non funziona bene con c. neoformans.</li>
	</ol>
</li>
	<li>Dopo di che, preparare le sospensioni delle cellule in 2 X RPMI-1640 medi (2 X regolata inoculo nel medium RPMI-1640). Per piastre da 96 pozzetti considera un volume di 5 mL per ogni piatto.<ol>
<li>Per tutti i ceppi di c. albicans , preparare una sospensione di cellule stock di 4 x 103 cellule/mL. Questa concentrazione è di 2 volte della concentrazione finale delle cellule in ogni pozzetto (2 x 103 cellule/mL).</li>
		<li>Per i ceppi di c. neoformans , preparare una cultura stock di cellule 2 x 104 cellule/mL. Questa concentrazione è due volte la concentrazione di cella finale in ogni pozzetto (1 x 104 cellule/mL).</li>
		<li>Per altri funghi, prova con un antimicotico noto che la concentrazione sarà ideale per studio particolare per quanto riguarda il tempo di incubazione. Prendere tempo metabolismo e duplicazione del fungo in considerazione.</li>
	</ol>
</li>
</ol>3. peptidi (agente sconosciuto)
<ol><li>Memorizzare i peptidi liofilizzati a-20 ° C e scioglierle in acqua deionizzata prima di ogni esperimento. Il tempo massimo di conservazione una volta dissolto in acqua dipenderà la natura di ciascun peptide.</li>
	<li>Preparare le aliquote di due volte la più alta concentrazione finale nel test (2 X). Idealmente, preparare un piccolo numero di aliquote con abbastanza peptide per utilizzare una sola volta evitare cicli di gelo-disgelo. Nota: La scelta della concentrazione dovrebbe essere basata sulla letteratura e sulle proprietà del peptide. Si consiglia di iniziare le diluizioni seriali con circa 100 µM del peptide e quindi diminuire o aumentare la gamma di concentrazione a seconda dei risultati ottenuti.</li>
</ol>4. riferimento antimicotici (controlli positivi)
<ol><li>Per quelli diluiti in acqua: preparare una soluzione di 2 X di più alta concentrazione di analisi (vedere sezione 5: saggio di antimicotico per i passaggi di diluizione).<ol>
<li>Per i ceppi di c. albicans , preparare una soluzione di 128 µ g/mL di fluconazolo o 128 µ g/mL di caspofungin. La concentrazione di piastra per entrambi sarà 64 µ g/mL.</li>
		<li>Per i ceppi di c. neoformans , preparare una soluzione di 32 µ g/mL di amfotericina B (soluzione solubile in acqua). La concentrazione di piastra sarà 16 µ g/mL. Nota: Normalmente la amfotericina B è diluita in dimetilsolfossido (DMSO), poiché questo Antifungini è scarsamente solubile in acqua. Tuttavia, ci sono preparazioni solubili in acqua amfotericina B disponibile in commercio.</li>
	</ol>
</li>
	<li>Per gli antimicotici diluiti in un solvente organico: preparare una soluzione di riserva in DMSO a 100x, quindi diluirlo a 10 volte di acqua per uso. Nota: Così, nel pozzo, la concentrazione finale di DMSO non supererà 1%. Un pozzo dove il fungo crescerà in media che contengono 1% DMSO come controllo è obbligatorio, dato che alcuni funghi non tollerano bene questa concentrazione del solvente. Ricordate che DMSO è fotosensibile, quindi coprire la piastra con un foglio o posizionarlo in una camera oscura per tutta la durata del periodo d'incubazione.</li>
</ol>5. antifungino Assay
Nota: In vitro Antifungini saggi vengono eseguite in base al test di suscettibilità di microdilution brodo da linee guida di Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) M27-A3 con alcune modifiche.
<ol><li>Preparare una diluizione seriale di duplice di ciascun peptide e antimicotico in piastre microtiter da 96 pozzetti polistirolo ad un volume finale di 50 µ l di controllo.<ol>
<li>Utilizzando una pipetta aggiungere 100 µ l di antimicotico/peptide nella concentrazione X 2 dei più alti desiderata concentrazione finale nelle colonne 1-3, in fila A.</li>
		<li>Usando una pipetta multicanale, aggiungere 50 µ l di acqua sterile negli altri pozzetti, nelle righe B-H.</li>
		<li>Rimuovere 50 µ l di pozzi con la più alta concentrazione (riga A), trasferire a altro bene della concentrazione prossima (riga B) e omogeneizzare.</li>
		<li>Ripetere i passaggi precedenti fino al pozzo con la più bassa concentrazione e scartare 50 µ l di questo pozzo (fila H). Lasciare le colonne 11 e 12 (righe A, B, C) con solo acqua per controllo vuoto o controllo negativo/crescita.</li>
		<li>Aggiungere 50 µ l di 2x regolato inoculo nel medium RPMI-1640 ad ogni pozzetto (colonne 1-3 più colonna 11 (controllo negativo/crescita)); la concentrazione finale per c. albicans sarà 2 x 103 cellule/mL e la concentrazione finale di ceppi di c. neoformans sarà 104 cellule/mL.</li>
		<li>Preparare i controlli vuoti (50 µ l acqua + 50 µ l 2 medium RPMI-1640 X senza cellule) controllo negativo/crescita (50 µ l acqua + 50 µ l regolata inoculo 2 X RPMI-1640 medium senza antimicotico) e carico nella piastra ben come descritto sopra.</li>
	</ol>
</li>
	<li>Ripetere la procedura per ogni composto da testare e selezionato controllo antimicotico (colonne 4-10). Nota: Le diluizioni seriali possono essere fatto verticalmente come l'esperimento qui sotto, o orizzontalmente nella piastra (cioè, se il numero di diluizioni del composto/estratto dato che deve essere testato è otto o più).<ol>
<li>Se i composti, fare riferimento a farmaci, o ad uno qualsiasi dei suoi componenti sono fotosensibili, eseguire l'analisi in luce ridotta, coprire le piastre con un foglio o posto in una camera oscura durante le incubazioni.</li>
	</ol>
</li>
	<li>Considerare le seguenti raccomandazioni opzionale.<ol>
<li>Sigillare la piastra con un coperchio trasparente che consente lo scambio di gas, come questo aiuta a ridurre l'evaporazione.</li>
		<li>Posizionare la piastra in una camera umida; aiuterà anche a ridurre l'evaporazione.</li>
	</ol>
</li>
	<li>Incubare le piastre a 37 ° C per 24 ore o 48 ore per tutti i ceppi di c. albicans e per 48 h con 200 giri/min agitazione per c. neoformans. Il volume finale inferiore (100 µ l) garantisce che nessuna ricaduta si verifica. Nota: Nessuna differenza significativa è stata osservata fra MIC letture a h 24 e 48 ore per i ceppi di c. albicans . Ciò nonostante, letture a 48 h sono più facili da visualizzare.</li>
	<li>Osservare tutti i pozzetti, con l'aiuto di un microscopio ottico invertito, prima del periodo di incubazione e dopo per verificare i cambiamenti nella morfologia anche per verificare eventuali segni di contaminazione. Nota: Le letture possono essere fare visivamente e fotografate alla fine dell'esperimento. Prima di ogni lettura, omogeneizzare leggermente la piastra. Le letture possono essere eseguite anche misurando la sua OD a 600 nm, se cella ciuffi e filamentazione non vengano rispettate.</li>
	<li>Eseguire gli esperimenti almeno tre volte in date separate.</li>
</ol>

<ol>
	<li>Armstrong-James, D., Meintjes, G., Brown, G. D. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=A+neglected+epidemic:+fungal+infections+in+HIV/AIDS.">A neglected epidemic: fungal infections in HIV/AIDS.</a> Trends Microbiol. 22 (3), 120-127 (2014).</li><li>Romani, L. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Immunity+to+fungal+infections.">Immunity to fungal infections.</a> Nat Rev Immunol. 11 (4), 275-288 (2011).</li><li>Pfaller, M. A. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Antifungal+drug+resistance:+mechanisms,+epidemiology,+and+consequences+for+treatment.">Antifungal drug resistance: mechanisms, epidemiology, and consequences for treatment.</a> Am J Med. 125 (1 Suppl), S3-S13 (2012).</li><li>Hancock, R. E., Diamond, G. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+role+of+cationic+antimicrobial+peptides+in+innate+host+defences.">The role of cationic antimicrobial peptides in innate host defences.</a> Trends Microbiol. 8 (9), 402-410 (2000).</li><li>Wang, Y., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Snake+cathelicidin+from+Bungarus+fasciatus+is+a+potent+peptide+antibiotics.">Snake cathelicidin from Bungarus fasciatus is a potent peptide antibiotics.</a> PLoS One. 3 (9), e3217 (2008).</li><li>Du, Q., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=AaeAP1+and+AaeAP2:+novel+antimicrobial+peptides+from+the+venom+of+the+scorpion,+Androctonus+aeneas:+structural+characterisation,+molecular+cloning+of+biosynthetic+precursor-encoding+cDNAs+and+engineering+of+analogues+with+enhanced+antimicrobial+and+anticancer+activities.">AaeAP1 and AaeAP2: novel antimicrobial peptides from the venom of the scorpion, Androctonus aeneas: structural characterisation, molecular cloning of biosynthetic precursor-encoding cDNAs and engineering of analogues with enhanced antimicrobial and anticancer activities.</a> Toxins (Basel). 7 (2), 219-237 (2015).</li><li>Benincasa, M., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Fungicidal+activity+of+five+cathelicidin+peptides+against+clinically+isolated+yeasts.">Fungicidal activity of five cathelicidin peptides against clinically isolated yeasts.</a> J Antimicrob Chemother. 58 (5), 950-959 (2006).</li><li>CLSI. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=.">.</a> Reference Method for Broth Dilution Antifungal Susceptibiliy Testing of Yeasts; Approved Standard -Third Edition. CLSI document M27-A3. , (2008).</li><li>Guilhelmelli, F., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Activity+of+Scorpion+Venom-Derived+Antifungal+Peptides+against+Planktonic+Cells+of+Candida+spp.+and+Cryptococcus+neoformans+and+Candida+albicans+Biofilms.">Activity of Scorpion Venom-Derived Antifungal Peptides against Planktonic Cells of Candida spp. and Cryptococcus neoformans and Candida albicans Biofilms.</a> Front Microbiol. 7, 1844 (2016).</li><li>Roongruangsree, U. T., Kjerulf-Jensen, C., Olson, L. W., Lange, L. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Viability+Tests+for+Thick+Walled+Fungal+Spores+(ex:+Oospores+of+Peronospora+manshurica).">Viability Tests for Thick Walled Fungal Spores (ex: Oospores of Peronospora manshurica).</a> Journal of Phytopathology. 123 (3), 244-252 (1988).</li><li>Boedijn, K. B. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Trypan+blue+as+stain+for+fungi.">Trypan blue as stain for fungi.</a> Stain Technol. 31 (3), 115-116 (1956).</li><li>Goihman-Yahr, M., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Studies+on+plating+efficiency+and+estimation+of+viability+of+suspensions+of+Paracoccidioides+brasiliensis+yeast+cells.">Studies on plating efficiency and estimation of viability of suspensions of Paracoccidioides brasiliensis yeast cells.</a> Mycopathologia. 71 (2), 73-83 (1980).</li><li>Tati, S., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Histatin+5-spermidine+conjugates+have+enhanced+fungicidal+activity+and+efficacy+as+a+topical+therapeutic+for+oral+candidiasis.">Histatin 5-spermidine conjugates have enhanced fungicidal activity and efficacy as a topical therapeutic for oral candidiasis.</a> Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 58 (2), 756-766 (2014).</li><li>Petrou, M. A., Shanson, D. C. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Susceptibility+of+Cryptococcus+neoformans+by+the+NCCLS+microdilution+and+Etest+methods+using+five+defined+media.">Susceptibility of Cryptococcus neoformans by the NCCLS microdilution and Etest methods using five defined media.</a> J Antimicrob Chemother. 46 (5), 815-818 (2000).</li><li>Zaragoza, O., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Process+analysis+of+variables+for+standardization+of+antifungal+susceptibility+testing+of+nonfermentative+yeasts.">Process analysis of variables for standardization of antifungal susceptibility testing of nonfermentative yeasts.</a> Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 55 (4), 1563-1570 (2011).</li><li>Rodriguez-Tudela, J. L., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Influence+of+shaking+on+antifungal+susceptibility+testing+of+Cryptococcus+neoformans:+a+comparison+of+the+NCCLS+standard+M27A+medium,+buffered+yeast+nitrogen+base,+and+RPMI-2%+glucose.">Influence of shaking on antifungal susceptibility testing of Cryptococcus neoformans: a comparison of the NCCLS standard M27A medium, buffered yeast nitrogen base, and RPMI-2% glucose.</a> Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 44 (2), 400-404 (2000).</li><li>Beggs, W. H. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Growth+phase+in+relation+to+ketoconazole+and+miconazole+susceptibilities+of+Candida+albicans.">Growth phase in relation to ketoconazole and miconazole susceptibilities of Candida albicans.</a> Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 25 (3), 316-318 (1984).</li><li>Alcouloumre, M. S., Ghannoum, M. A., Ibrahim, A. S., Selsted, M. E., Edwards, J. E. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Fungicidal+properties+of+defensin+NP-1+and+activity+against+Cryptococcus+neoformans+in+vitro.">Fungicidal properties of defensin NP-1 and activity against Cryptococcus neoformans in vitro.</a> Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 37 (12), 2628-2632 (1993).</li></ol>

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Test di microdilution può analizzare le potenziali attività antifungina di un target composto utilizzando piccole quantità del composto e allo stesso tempo testarlo in un intervallo di concentrazioni. Di conseguenza, questo protocollo è consigliato come un primo passo nello screening per potenziali nuovi composti antifungini. Il protocollo qui presentato è basato sul protocollo M27-A3, inizialmente progettato per aiutare nella selezione della terapia antifungosa in cliniche e può essere adattato ad una varietà di ...

Le infezioni fungine sono diventati un'importante preoccupazione medica negli ultimi decenni, avendo aumentato considerevolmente principalmente a causa di un aumento del numero di individui immunocompromessi, come quelli sottoposti a trattamento del cancro e coloro che vivono con l'HIV/AIDS o trapiantati organi1,2. Tuttavia, una gamma molto limitata di farmaci antifungini disponibili e il numero aumentante dei rapporti sulla resistenza fungina a loro contribuiscono ai grandi problemi per quanto riguarda la terapeutica di micosi sistemiche3.
Una potenziale fonte di nuovi composti antifungini sono peptidi antimicrobici (amp), piccoli peptidi cationici prodotte da molti organismi come parte della loro risposta immunitaria innata a infezione4. Tuttavia, il metodo di screening per testare questi composti contro i patogeni fungini non è standardizzato. Le procedure differenti sono state usate per valutare l'attività antifungina di ampere, a volte per il modello stesso microrganismo5,6,7. Queste differenze e la mancanza di dettaglio in alcuni protocolli complicare i confronti tra composti e ostacola riproducibilità.
Un modo per standardizzare la sperimentazione di nuovi farmaci candidati è quello di seguire le linee guida utilizzate per definire antifungosa di predisposizione nelle regolazioni cliniche, quali la clinica e linee guida Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) M27-A3. Tuttavia, questi test di sensibilità antifungini sono troppo restrittivi e non prendono in variazione di considerazione nel metabolismo tra le specie, come essi sono stati stabiliti soltanto per alcuni agenti selezionare. Ad esempio, non prendono in considerazione le esigenze metaboliche dei lieviti non fermentanti.
Questo protocollo permette la valutazione dell'attività dei potenziali composti antifungine e viene implementato qui per la ricerca di peptidi antimicotici. Cui si basa il test di sensibilità di microdilution brodo dalle linee guida CLSI M27-A3 con modifiche che ottimizzano lo screening di nuovi composti8,9. Queste modifiche consentono l'uso di piccole quantità di composto, variazioni di temperatura o inoculo iniziale e media diversi per la crescita ottimale di pre-test, standardizzando i risultati con l'uso di antimicotici di riferimento come controlli. Questo metodo, con l'uso di piastre multi-pozzetto cultura, rende possibile rapidamente e in modo affidabile a schermo un gran numero di composti.
Grazie alla sua flessibilità intrinseca, questo protocollo può essere usato con differenti classi chimiche dei composti e contro altri microrganismi, con alcuni adattamenti.

<table>
	<tbody>
		<tr>
			<td>Media and Reagents</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>RPMI 1640 medium with l-glutamine, without sodium bicarbonate</td>
			<td>Thermo Fisher</td>
			<td>31800-022</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>3-(N-morpholino) propane sulfonic acid (MOPS) (o que a gente usa tem um s&#243;dio, completa o nome dele please)</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td></td>
			<td>Use to buffer 2X RPMI medium</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Sodium chloride (NaCl)</td>
			<td>Din&#226;mica</td>
			<td>1528-1</td>
			<td>137 mM for Phosphate buffered saline (PBS)</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Potassium chloride (KCl)</td>
			<td>J.T.Baker</td>
			<td>3040-01</td>
			<td>2.7 mM for Phosphate buffered saline (PBS)</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Sodium phosphate dibasic (Na2HPO4)</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>V000129</td>
			<td>10 mM for Phosphate buffered saline (PBS)</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Potassium dihydrogen phosphate (KH2PO4)</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>60230</td>
			<td>2 mM for Phosphate buffered saline (PBS)</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>BD Difco Sabouraud dextrose broth</td>
			<td>BD</td>
			<td>238230</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>BD Difco Sabouraud Dextrose Agar</td>
			<td>BD</td>
			<td>210950</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Glycerol</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>V000123</td>
			<td>35% for (solu&#231;&#227;o de estoque? Criopreserva&#231;&#227;o?)</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Sterile water</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td>Para dilui&#231;&#227;o das drogas na dilui&#231;&#227;o seriada</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Antifungal drugs</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Amphotericin B</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>A2942</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Fluconazole</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>F8929</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Caspofungin</td>
			<td>Sigma-Aldrich</td>
			<td>PHR1160</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Plastics</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>50 mL conical tube</td>
			<td>Sarstedt</td>
			<td>62.547.254</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Dish petri</td>
			<td>J.Prolab</td>
			<td>0304-5</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>96 well plate</td>
			<td>Corning</td>
			<td>3595</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Sterile Solution Reservoir</td>
			<td>KASVI</td>
			<td>K30-208</td>
			<td>Use to pippet the solutions using the multichannel pippet</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Equipment and other materials</td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Optical microscope</td>
			<td>Nikon</td>
			<td>E200MV</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Centrifugue</td>
			<td>Thermo Fisher</td>
			<td>MegaFuge 16R</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Incubator</td>
			<td>Ethik Technology</td>
			<td>403-3D</td>
			<td>Set to 37&#176; C</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Shaker</td>
			<td>New Brunswick Scientific</td>
			<td>Excella E25</td>
			<td>Set to 37&#176; C, 200 RPM</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Cell counting chamber, Neubauer</td>
			<td>BOECO Germany</td>
			<td>BOE 13</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Multichannel pipette</td>
			<td>HTL</td>
			<td>5123</td>
			<td></td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

broth microdilution in vitro screening: an easy and fast method to detect new antifungal compounds

Le infezioni fungine sono diventati un'importante condizione medica negli ultimi decenni, ma il numero di farmaci antifungini disponibili è limitato. In questo scenario, è necessaria la ricerca di nuovi farmaci antifungini. Il protocollo qui riportato i dettagli di un metodo a peptidi di schermo per le loro proprietà antifungine. Cui si basa il test di sensibilità di microdilution brodo dagli orientamenti Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) M27-A3 con modifiche per soddisfare la ricerca di peptidi antimicrobici come potenziale nuovi anti-fungine. Questo protocollo descrive un'analisi funzionale per valutare l'attività dei composti Antifungini e può essere facilmente modificato per soddisfare una particolare classe di molecole in esame. Poiché le analisi vengono eseguite in piastre da 96 pozzetti utilizzando piccoli volumi, uno screening su larga scala può essere completato in un breve lasso di tempo, soprattutto se effettuate in un contesto di automazione. Questa procedura illustra come un protocollo clinico standardizzato e regolabile può aiutare il banco di lavoro perseguimento di nuove molecole per migliorare la terapia di malattie fungine.

Il MIC è definito come la più bassa concentrazione di composta antimicrobici che inibisce completamente la crescita fungina visibile alla fine del periodo d'incubazione. Poiché l'obiettivo del presente protocollo è quello di avere un metodo veloce per potenziali antimicotici schermo, qualsiasi bene con Chiara media simili ai pozzetti del bianco è considerato un risultato positivo, considerando che qualsiasi bene con torbidità analoga per i pozzetti di controllo negativo/crescita è ...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about Broth Microdilution In Vitro Screening: An Easy and Fast Method to Detect New Antifungal Compounds at JoVE.com

Broth Microdilution In Vitro Screening: An Easy and Fast Method to Detect New Antifungal Compounds

Un metodo di microdilution del brodo facile e adattabile per lo screening di composti Antifungini ed estratti.

Microdilution del brodo In Vitro Screening: un metodo facile e veloce per rilevare nuovi composti Antifungini

Fungal infections have become an important medical condition in the last decades, but the number of available antifungal drugs is limited. In this ...

broth-microdilution-vitro-screening-an-easy-fast-method-to-detect-new

Research

JoVE Journal

Biology

Broth Microdilution In Vitro Screening: An Easy and Fast Method to Detect New Antifungal Compounds

18.7K Views.  University of Brasília. Un metodo di microdilution del brodo facile e adattabile per lo screening di composti Antifungini ed estratti.

Video: Broth Microdilution In Vitro Screening: An Easy and Fast Method to Detect New Antifungal Compounds

Using Laser Tweezers For Manipulating Isolated Neurons In Vitro

In this paper and video, we describe the protocols used in our laboratory to study the targeting preferences of regenerating cell processes of adult retinal neurons in vitro. Procedures for preparing retinal cell cultures start with the dissection, digestion and trituration of the retina, and end with the plating of isolated retinal cells on dishes made especially for use with laser tweezers. These dishes are divided into a cell adhesive half and a cell repellant half. The cell adhesive side is coated with a layer of Sal-1 antibodies, which provide a substrate upon which our cells grow. Other adhesive substrates could be used for other cell types. The cell repellant side is coated with a thin layer of poly-HEMA. The cells plated on the poly-HEMA side of the dish are trapped with the laser tweezers, transported and then placed adjacent to a cell on the Sal-1 side to create a pair. Formation of cell groups of any size should be possible with this technique. "Laser-tweezers-controlled micromanipulation" means that the investigator can choose which cells to move, and the desired distance between the cells can be standardized. Because the laser beam goes through transparent surfaces of the culture dish, cell selection and placement are done in an enclosed, sterile environment. Cells can be monitored by video time-lapse and used with any cell biological technique required. This technique may help investigations of cell-cell interactions.

This video describes the manipulation of cultured neurons using laser tweezers in vitro.

Utilizzando pinzette laser per manipolare i neuroni isolato in vitro

In this paper and video, we describe the protocols used in our laboratory to study the targeting preferences of regenerating cell processes of adult ...

Ricerca

Biologia

Protein Membrane Overlay Assay: A Protocol to Test Interaction Between Soluble and Insoluble Proteins in vitro

Validating interactions between different proteins is vital for investigation of their biological functions on the molecular level. There are several methods, both in vitro and in vivo, to evaluate protein binding, and at least two methods that complement the shortcomings of each other should be conducted to obtain reliable insights. 
For an in vivo assay, the bimolecular fluorescence complementation (BiFC) assay represents the most popular and least invasive approach that enables to detect protein-protein interaction within living cells, as well as identify the intracellular localization of the interacting proteins 1,2. In this assay, non-fluorescent N- and C-terminal halves of GFP or its variants are fused to tested proteins, and when the two fusion proteins are brought together due to the tested proteins&#x2019; interactions, the fluorescent signal is reconstituted3-6. Because its signal is readily detectable by epifluorescence or confocal microscopy, BiFC has emerged as a powerful tool of choice among cell biologists for studying about protein-protein interactions in living cells 3. This assay, however, can sometimes produce false positive results. For example, the fluorescent signal can be reconstituted by two GFP fragments arranged as far as 7 nm from each other due to close packing in a small subcellular compartment, rather that due to specific interactions7.
Due to these limitations, the results obtained from live cell imaging technologies should be confirmed by an independent approach based on a different principle for detecting protein interactions. Co-immunoprecipitation (Co-IP) or glutathione transferase (GST) pull-down assays represent such alternative methods that are commonly used to analyze protein-protein interactions in vitro. However, iIn these assays, however, the tested proteins must be readily soluble in the buffer that supportsused for the binding reaction. Therefore, specific interactions involving an insoluble protein cannot be assessed by these techniques.
 Here, we illustrate the protocol for the protein membrane overlay binding assay, which circumvents this difficulty. In this technique, interaction between soluble and insoluble proteins can be reliably tested because one of the proteins is immobilized on a membrane matrix. This method, in combination with in vivo experiments, such as BiFC, provides a reliable approach to investigate and characterize interactions faithfully between soluble and insoluble proteins. In this article, binding between Tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) movement protein (MP), which exerts multiple functions during viral cell-to-cell transport8-14, and a recently identified plant cellular interactor, tobacco ankyrin repeat-containing protein (ANK) 15, is demonstrated using this technique.

Protein Membrane Overlay Assay: A Protocol to Test Interaction Between Soluble and Insoluble Proteins in vitro

Testing protein-protein interaction is indispensable for dissection of protein functionality. Here, we introduce an in vitro protein-protein binding assay to probe a membrane-immobilized protein with a soluble protein. This assay provides a reliable method to test interaction between an insoluble protein and a protein in solution.

Proteine ​​di membrana Overlay saggio: un protocollo di prova interazione tra proteine ​​solubili e insolubili In vitro</em

Validating interactions between different proteins is vital for investigation of their biological functions on the molecular level.  There are several ...

Measuring Fast Calcium Fluxes in Cardiomyocytes

Cardiomyocytes have multiple Ca2+ fluxes of varying duration that work together to optimize function 1,2. Changes in Ca2+ activity in response to extracellular agents is predominantly regulated by the phospholipase C&beta;- G&alpha;q pathway localized on the plasma membrane which is stimulated by agents such as acetylcholine 3,4. We have recently found that plasma membrane protein domains called caveolae5,6 can entrap activated G&alpha;q 7. This entrapment has the effect of stabilizing the activated state of G&alpha;q and resulting in prolonged Ca2+ signals in cardiomyocytes and other cell types8. We uncovered this surprising result by measuring dynamic calcium responses on a fast scale in living cardiomyocytes. Briefly, cells are loaded with a fluorescent Ca2+ indicator. In our studies, we used Ca2+ Green (Invitrogen, Inc.) which exhibits an increase in fluorescence emission intensity upon binding of calcium ions. The fluorescence intensity is then recorded for using a line-scan mode of a laser scanning confocal microscope. This method allows rapid acquisition of the time course of fluorescence intensity in pixels along a selected line, producing several hundreds of time traces on the microsecond time scale. These very fast traces are transferred into excel and then into Sigmaplot for analysis, and are compared to traces obtained for electronic noise, free dye, and other controls. To dissect Ca2+ responses of different flux rates, we performed a histogram analysis that binned pixel intensities with time. Binning allows us to group over 500 traces of scans and visualize the compiled results spatially and temporally on a single plot. Thus, the slow Ca2+ waves that are difficult to discern when the scans are overlaid due to different peak placement and noise, can be readily seen in the binned histograms. Very fast fluxes in the time scale of the measurement show a narrow distribution of intensities in the very short time bins whereas longer Ca2+ waves show binned data with a broad distribution over longer time bins. These different time distributions allow us to dissect the timing of Ca2+fluxes in the cells, and to determine their impact on various cellular events.

We present a method to isolate rapid (microsecond) calcium events from slower fluxes in living cells using laser scanning confocal microscopy. The method measures fluorescence intensity fluctuations of calcium indicators by recording line scans of several hundred pixels in a cell. Histogram analysis allows us to isolate the time scales of different calcium fluxes.

Misurare flussi di calcio veloce in cardiomiociti

Cardiomyocytes have multiple Ca2+ fluxes of varying duration that work together to optimize function 1,2. Changes in Ca2+ activity in response to ...

In vitro Transcription and Capping of Gaussia Luciferase mRNA Followed by HeLa Cell Transfection

In vitro transcription is the synthesis of RNA transcripts by RNA polymerase from a linear DNA template containing the corresponding promoter sequence (T7, T3, SP6) and the gene to be transcribed (Figure 1A). A typical transcription reaction consists of the template DNA, RNA polymerase, ribonucleotide triphosphates, RNase inhibitor and buffer containing Mg2+ ions.
Large amounts of high quality RNA are often required for a variety of applications. Use of in vitro transcription has been reported for RNA structure and function studies such as splicing1, RNAi experiments in mammalian cells2, antisense RNA amplification by the "Eberwine method"3, microarray analysis4 and for RNA vaccine studies5. The technique can also be used for producing radiolabeled and dye labeled probes6. Warren, et al. recently reported reprogramming of human cells by transfection with in vitro transcribed capped RNA7. The T7 High Yield RNA Synthesis Kit from New England Biolabs has been designed to synthesize up to 180 &mu;g RNA per 20 &mu;l reaction. RNA of length up to 10kb has been successfully transcribed using this kit. Linearized plasmid DNA, PCR products and synthetic DNA oligonucleotides can be used as templates for transcription as long as they have the T7 promoter sequence upstream of the gene to be transcribed.
Addition of a 5' end cap structure to the RNA is an important process in eukaryotes. It is essential for RNA stability8, efficient translation9, nuclear transport10 and splicing11. The process involves addition of a 7-methylguanosine cap at the 5' triphosphate end of the RNA. RNA capping can be carried out post-transcriptionally using capping enzymes or co-transcriptionally using cap analogs. In the enzymatic method, the mRNA is capped using the Vaccinia virus capping enzyme12,13. The enzyme adds on a 7-methylguanosine cap at the 5' end of the RNA using GTP and S-adenosyl methionine as donors (cap 0 structure). Both methods yield functionally active capped RNA suitable for transfection or other applications14 such as generating viral genomic RNA for reverse-genetic systems15 and crystallographic studies of cap binding proteins such as eIF4E16.
In the method described below, the T7 High Yield RNA Synthesis Kit from NEB is used to synthesize capped and uncapped RNA transcripts of Gaussia luciferase (GLuc) and Cypridina luciferase (CLuc). A portion of the uncapped GLuc RNA is capped using the Vaccinia Capping System (NEB). A linearized plasmid containing the GLuc or CLuc gene and T7 promoter is used as the template DNA. The transcribed RNA is transfected into HeLa cells and cell culture supernatants are assayed for luciferase activity. Capped CLuc RNA is used as the internal control to normalize GLuc expression.

In vitro Transcription and Capping of Gaussia Luciferase mRNA Followed by HeLa Cell Transfection

This method describes high yield in vitro synthesis of both capped and uncapped mRNA from a linearized plasmid containing the Gaussia luciferase (GLuc) gene. The RNA is purified and a fraction of the uncapped RNA is enzymatically capped using the Vaccinia virus capping enzyme. In the final step, the mRNA is transfected into HeLa cells and cell culture supernatants are assayed for luciferase activity.

Trascrizione in vitro e tappatura mRNA Luciferase Gaussia Seguito da cellule HeLa Transfection

In vitro transcription is the synthesis of RNA transcripts by RNA polymerase from a linear DNA template containing the corresponding promoter sequence ...

Construction of an Affordable and Easy-to-Build Zebrafish Facility

In vivo biomedical research is pivotal to translate in vitro findings into clinical advances. Small academic institutions with limited resources find it virtually impossible to build and maintain typical rodent facilities for research. Zebrafish research has been demonstrated to be a valuable alternative for in vivo research in pharmacology, physiology, development and genetic studies. This article demonstrates that a functional zebrafish facility can be built in an easy and affordable manner. We demonstrate that such a facility could be built in about one working day with minimal tools and expertise. The cost of the 27 1.8 L fish tank zebrafish facility constructed in this study was approximately $1,500. We estimate that the maintenance of an initial working 150 fish colony for 3 months is $1,000. This project involved students, who were introduced to aquaculturing of zebrafish for research proposes.

A Zebrafish facility suitable for breeding and in vivo research is built in an easy and affordable manner. Maintenance is minimal. This facility is ideal for student involvement and independent research.

Costruzione di una build di facile strumento Zebrafish Affordable e

In vivo biomedical research is pivotal to translate in vitro findings into clinical advances. Small academic institutions with limited resources find it ...

A Fast Air-dry Dropping Chromosome Preparation Method Suitable for FISH in Plants

Preparation of chromosome spreads is a prerequisite for the successful performance of fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). Preparation of high quality plant chromosome spreads is challenging due to the rigid cell wall. One of the approved methods for the preparation of plant chromosomes is a so-called drop preparation, also known as drop-spreading or air-drying technique. Here, we present a protocol for the fast preparation of mitotic chromosome spreads suitable for the FISH detection of single and high copy DNA probes. This method is an improved variant of the air-dry drop method performed under a relative humidity of 50%-55%. This protocol comprises a reduced number of washing steps making its application easy, efficient and reproducible. Obvious benefits of this approach are well-spread, undamaged and numerous metaphase chromosomes serving as a perfect prerequisite for successful FISH analysis. Using this protocol we obtained high-quality chromosome spreads and reproducible FISH results for Hordeum vulgare, H. bulbosum, H. marinum, H. murinum, H. pubiflorum and Secale cereale.

A protocol is described for the preparation of high-quality mitotic plant chromosome spreads by a fast air-dry dropping method suitable for the FISH detection of single and high copy DNA probes.

Un rapido aria secca cadente Cromosoma Metodo di preparazione adatto per i pesci nelle piante

Preparation of chromosome spreads is a prerequisite for the successful performance of fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). Preparation of high ...

Directed Evolution Method in Saccharomyces cerevisiae: Mutant Library Creation and Screening

Directed evolution in Saccharomyces cerevisiae offers many attractive advantages when designing enzymes for biotechnological applications, a process that involves the construction, cloning and expression of mutant libraries, coupled to high frequency homologous DNA recombination in vivo. Here, we present a protocol to create and screen mutant libraries in yeast based on the example of a fungal aryl-alcohol oxidase (AAO) to enhance its total activity. Two protein segments were subjected to focused-directed evolution by random mutagenesis and in vivo DNA recombination. Overhangs of ~50 bp flanking each segment allowed the correct reassembly of the AAO-fusion gene in a linearized vector giving rise to a full autonomously replicating plasmid. Mutant libraries enriched with functional AAO variants were screened in S. cerevisiae supernatants with a sensitive high-throughput assay based on the Fenton reaction. The general process of library construction in S. cerevisiae described here can be readily applied to evolve many other eukaryotic genes, avoiding extra PCR reactions, in vitro DNA recombination and ligation steps.

Directed Evolution Method in Saccharomyces cerevisiae: Mutant Library Creation and Screening

We present a detailed protocol to construct and screen mutant libraries for directed evolution campaigns in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Diretto Evolution Metodo<em&gt; Saccharomyces cerevisiae</em&gt;: Mutant Biblioteca Creazione e screening

Directed evolution in Saccharomyces cerevisiae offers many attractive advantages when designing enzymes for biotechnological applications, a process that ...

An Easy Method for Plant Polysome Profiling

Translation of mRNA to protein is a fundamental and highly regulated biological process. Polysome profiling is considered as a gold standard for the analysis of translational regulation. The method described here is an easy and economical way for fractionating polysomes from various plant tissues. A sucrose gradient is made without the need for a gradient maker by sequentially freezing each layer. Cytosolic extracts are then prepared in a buffer containing cycloheximide and chloramphenicol to immobilize the cytosolic and chloroplastic ribosomes to mRNA and are loaded onto the sucrose gradient. After centrifugation, six fractions are directly collected from the bottom to the top of the gradient, without piercing the ultracentrifugation tube. During collection, the absorbance at 260 nm is read continuously to generate a polysome profile that gives a snapshot of global translational activity. Fractions are then pooled to prepare three different mRNA populations: the polysomes, mRNAs bound to several ribosomes; the monosomes, mRNAs bound to one ribosome; and mRNAs that are not bound to ribosomes. mRNAs are then extracted. This protocol has been validated for different plants and tissues including Arabidopsis thaliana seedlings and adult plants, Nicotiana benthamiana, Solanum lycopersicum, and Oryza sativa leaves.

This protocol describes an easy method to extract and fractionate transcripts from plant tissues on the basis of the number of bound ribosomes. It allows a global estimate of translation activity and the determination of the translational status of specific mRNAs.

Un metodo facile per piante polysome Profiling

Translation of mRNA to protein is a fundamental and highly regulated biological process. Polysome profiling is considered as a gold standard for the ...

Gap Junctional Intercellular Communication: A Functional Biomarker to Assess Adverse Effects of Toxicants and Toxins, and Health Benefits of Natural Products

This protocol describes a scalpel loading-fluorescent dye transfer (SL-DT) technique that measures intercellular communication through gap junction channels, which is a major intercellular process by which tissue homeostasis is maintained. Interruption of gap junctional intercellular communication (GJIC) by toxicants, toxins, drugs, etc. has been linked to numerous adverse health effects. Many genetic-based human diseases have been linked to mutations in gap junction genes. The SL-DT technique is a simple functional assay for the simultaneous assessment of GJIC in a large population of cells. The assay involves pre-loading cells with a fluorescent dye by briefly perturbing the cell membrane with a scalpel blade through a population of cells. The fluorescent dye is then allowed to traverse through gap junction channels to neighboring cells for a designated time. The assay is then terminated by the addition of formalin to the cells. The spread of the fluorescent dye through a population of cells is assessed with an epifluorescence microscope and the images are analyzed with any number of morphometric software packages that are available, including free software packages found on the public domain. This assay has also been adapted for in vivo studies using tissue slices from various organs from treated animals. Overall, the SL-DT assay can serve a broad range of in vitro pharmacological and toxicological needs, and can be potentially adapted for high throughput set-up systems with automated fluorescence microscopy imaging and analysis to elucidate more samples in a shorter time.

This protocol describes a scalpel loading-fluorescent dye transfer technique that measures intercellular communication through gap junction channels. Gap junctional intercellular communication is a major cellular process by which tissue homeostasis is maintained and disruption of this cell signaling has adverse health effects.

Spazi di giunzione intercellulare di comunicazione: un biomarker funzionale per valutare gli effetti avversi dei tossici e tossine, e benefici per la salute di prodotti naturali

This protocol describes a scalpel loading-fluorescent dye transfer (SL-DT) technique that measures intercellular communication through gap junction ...

An Easy and Flexible Inoculation Method for Accurately Assessing Powdery Mildew-Infection Phenotypes of Arabidopsis and Other Plants

Reducing crop losses due to fungal diseases requires improved understanding of the mechanisms governing plant immunity and fungal pathogenesis, which in turn requires accurate determination of disease phenotypes of plants upon infection with a particular fungal pathogen. However, accurate disease phenotyping with unculturable biotrophic fungal pathogens such as powdery mildew is not easy to achieve and can be a rate-limiting step of a research project. Here, we have developed a safe, efficient, and easy-to-operate disease phenotyping system using the Arabidopsis-powdery mildew interaction as an example. This system mainly consists of three components: (i) a wooden inoculation box fitted with a removable lid mounted with a stainless steel or nylon mesh of ~50 &#181;m pores for inoculating a flat of plants with fungal spores, (ii) a transparent plastic chamber with a small front opening for minimizing spore escape while conducting inoculation inside, and (iii) a spore-dislodging and distribution method for even and effective inoculation. The protocols described here include the steps and parameters for making the inoculation box and the plastic chamber at a low cost, and a video demonstration of how to use the system to enable even inoculation with powdery mildew spores, thereby improving accuracy and reproducibility of disease phenotyping.

We present a protocol for constructing a simple spore-distribution system consisting of an inoculation box with a ~50 &#181;m mesh and a transparent plastic chamber. This can be used to evenly inoculate plants with powdery mildew spores, thereby enabling accurate and reproducible assessment of disease phenotypes of plants under study.

Un metodo di inoculazione semplice e flessibile per valutare accuratamente i fenotipi di infezione da oidio di Arabidopsis e altre piante

Reducing crop losses due to fungal diseases requires improved understanding of the mechanisms governing plant immunity and fungal pathogenesis, which in ...