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Journal ArticleDOI

Chitinases: in agriculture and human healthcare

18 Aug 2014-Critical Reviews in Biotechnology (Crit Rev Biotechnol)-Vol. 34, Iss: 3, pp 215-232
TL;DR: This review covers the recent advances of chitinases as a biocontrol agent and its various applications including preparation of medically important chitooligosaccharides, bioconversion of Chitin as well as in implementing chit inases as diagnostic and prognostic markers for numerous diseases and the prospect of their future utilization.
Abstract: Biological control of phytopathogenic fungi and insects continues to inspire the research and development of environmentally friendly bioactive alternatives. Potentially lytic enzymes, chitinases can act as a biocontrol agent against agriculturally important fungi and insects. The cell wall in fungi and protective covers, i.e. cuticle in insects shares a key structural polymer, chitin, a β-1,4-linked N-acetylglucosamine polymer. Therefore, it is advantageous to develop a common biocontrol agent against both of these groups. As chitin is absent in plants and mammals, targeting its metabolism will signify an eco-friendly strategy for the control of agriculturally important fungi and insects but is innocuous to mammals, plants, beneficial insects and other organisms. In addition, development of chitinase transgenic plant varieties probably holds the most promising method for augmenting agricultural crop protection and productivity, when properly integrated into traditional systems. Recently, human proteins with chitinase activity and chitinase-like proteins were identified and established as biomarkers for human diseases. This review covers the recent advances of chitinases as a biocontrol agent and its various applications including preparation of medically important chitooligosaccharides, bioconversion of chitin as well as in implementing chitinases as diagnostic and prognostic markers for numerous diseases and the prospect of their future utilization.
Citations
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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Yeasts represent a largely unexplored field of research and plentiful opportunities for the development of commercial, yeast-based applications for plant protection exist, but the scarcity of fundamental studies on yeast biocontrol mechanisms and of registered yeast- based biocOntrol products is highlighted.
Abstract: Yeasts occur in all environments and have been described as potent antagonists of various plant pathogens. Due to their antagonistic ability, undemanding cultivation requirements, and limited biosafety concerns, many of these unicellular fungi have been considered for biocontrol applications. Here, we review the fundamental research on the mechanisms (e.g., competition, enzyme secretion, toxin production, volatiles, mycoparasitism, induction of resistance) by which biocontrol yeasts exert their activity as plant protection agents. In a second part, we focus on five yeast species (Candida oleophila, Aureobasidium pullulans, Metschnikowia fructicola, Cryptococcus albidus, Saccharomyces cerevisiae) that are or have been registered for the application as biocontrol products. These examples demonstrate the potential of yeasts for commercial biocontrol usage, but this review also highlights the scarcity of fundamental studies on yeast biocontrol mechanisms and of registered yeast-based biocontrol products. Yeast biocontrol mechanisms thus represent a largely unexplored field of research and plentiful opportunities for the development of commercial, yeast-based applications for plant protection exist.

187 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: A review on properties and applications of chitinases starting from bacteria, followed by fungi, insects, plants, and vertebrates is presented in this paper, where a rational approach for improved catalytic activity for cost-effective field applications has also been explored.
Abstract: Chitin is the second most plenteous polysaccharide in nature after cellulose, present in cell walls of several fungi, exoskeletons of insects, and crustacean shells. Chitin does not accumulate in the environment due to presence of bacterial chitinases, despite its abundance. These enzymes are able to degrade chitin present in the cell walls of fungi as well as the exoskeletons of insect. They have shown being the potential agents for biological control of the plant diseases caused by various pathogenic fungi and insect pests and thus can be used as an alternative to chemical pesticides. There has been steady increase in demand of chitin derivatives, obtained by action of chitinases on chitin polymer for various industrial, clinical, and pharmaceutical purposes. Hence, this review focuses on properties and applications of chitinases starting from bacteria, followed by fungi, insects, plants, and vertebrates. Designing of chitinase by applying directed laboratory evolution and rational approaches for improved catalytic activity for cost-effective field applications has also been explored.

143 citations


Cites background from "Chitinases: in agriculture and huma..."

  • ...Recently published research articles and reviews on human chitinases have implied its role in pathogenesis and as a biomarker [1, 43, 44]....

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Journal ArticleDOI
23 Sep 2019
TL;DR: In this article, the authors discuss the use of antifungal agents in agriculture worldwide, the need to develop new ant-agents, and improvement of regulations regarding ant-drug use.
Abstract: Fungal diseases have been underestimated worldwide but constitute a substantial threat to several plant and animal species as well as to public health. The increase in the global population has entailed an increase in the demand for agriculture in recent decades. Accordingly, there has been worldwide pressure to find means to improve the quality and productivity of agricultural crops. Antifungal agents have been widely used as an alternative for managing fungal diseases affecting several crops. However, the unregulated use of antifungals can jeopardize public health. Application of fungicides in agriculture should be under strict regulation to ensure the toxicological safety of commercialized foods. This review discusses the use of antifungals in agriculture worldwide, the need to develop new antifungals, and improvement of regulations regarding antifungal use.

129 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
19 Jul 2017
TL;DR: Chitinolytic microorganisms are likely to play an important role as biocontrol agents and pathogen antagonists and may also function in the control of postharvest rot.
Abstract: Chitin is an important component of the exteriors of insects and fungi. Upon degradation of chitin by a number of organisms, severe damage and even death may occur in pathogens and pests whose external surfaces contain this polymer. Currently, chemical fungicides and insecticides are the major means of controlling these disease-causing agents. However, due to the potential harm that these chemicals cause to the environment and to human and animal health, new strategies are being developed to replace or reduce the use of fungal- and pest-killing compounds in agriculture. In this context, chitinolytic microorganisms are likely to play an important role as biocontrol agents and pathogen antagonists and may also function in the control of postharvest rot. In this review, we discuss the literature concerning chitin and the basic knowledge of chitin-degrading enzymes, and also describe the biocontrol effects of chitinolytic microorganisms and their potential use as more sustainable pesticides and fungicides in the field.

116 citations


Cites background from "Chitinases: in agriculture and huma..."

  • ...the environment, its degradation has been extensively reviewed with regard to general biochemistry, molecular biology, biogeochemistry, and microbial ecology [8,12,13,14]....

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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Chitinases in combination with recombinant technology can be a promising tool for improving plant resistance to fungal diseases.
Abstract: Crop cultivation is crucial for the existence of human beings, as it fulfills our nutritional requirements. Crops and other plants are always at a high risk of being attacked by phytopathogens, especially pathogenic fungi. Although plants have a well-developed defense system, it can be compromised during pathogen attack. Chitinases can enhance the plant’s defense system as they act on chitin, a major component of the cell wall of pathogenic fungi, and render the fungi inactive without any negative impact on the plants. Along with strengthening plant defense mechanisms, chitinases also improve plant growth and yield. Chitinases in combination with recombinant technology can be a promising tool for improving plant resistance to fungal diseases. The applicability of chitinase-derived oligomeric products of chitin further augment chitinase prospecting to enhance plant defense and growth.

101 citations

References
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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, a classification for crystal protein genes of Bacillus thuringiensis is presented, based on the insecticidal spectra and the amino acid sequences of the encoded proteins.

2,044 citations

01 Jan 1989
TL;DR: Studies on the biochemical mechanisms of toxicity suggest that B. thuringiensis crystal proteins induce the formation of pores in membranes of susceptible cells, and these approaches are potentially powerful strategies for the protection of agriculturally important crops against insect damage.
Abstract: characterized by its ability to produce crystalline inclusions during spor-ulation. TIhese inclusions consist of proteins exhibiting a highly specific insecticidal activity (reviewed in references 4 and 97). Many B. thuriuigiensis strains with different insect host spectra have been identified (9). TIhey ar-e classified into different serotypes or subspecies based on their flagellar antigens. Most strains are active against larvae of certain members of the Lepidoptera, but some show toxicity against dipterian (reviewed in refer-ence 22) or coleopteran (53) species. For several cryst.al-producing strains.

1,900 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Chitinase and β-1,3-glucanase purified from pea pods have been shown to act synergistically in the degradation of fungal cell walls.
Abstract: Chitinase and β-1,3-glucanase purified from pea pods acted synergistically in the degradation of fungal cell walls. The antifungal potential of the two enzymes was studied directly by adding protein preparations to paper discs placed on agar plates containing germinated fungal spores. Protein extracts from pea pods infected with Fusarium solani f.sp. phaseoli, which contained high activities of chitinase and β-1,3-glucanase, inhibited growth of 15 out of 18 fungi tested. Protein extracts from uninfected pea pods, which contained low activities of chitinase and β-1,3-glucanase, did not inhibit fungal growth. Purified chitinase and β-1,3-glucanase, tested individually, did not inhibit growth of most of the test fungi. Only Trichoderma viride was inhibited by chitinase alone, and only Fusarium solani f.sp. pisi was inhibited by β-1,3-glucanase alone. However, combinations of purified chitinase and β-1,3-glucanase inhibited all fungi tested as effectively as crude protein extracts containing the same enzyme activities. The pea pathogen, Fusarium solani f.sp. pisi, and the nonpathogen of peas, Fusarium solani f.sp. phaseoli, were similarly strongly inhibited by chitinase and β-1,3-glucanase, indicating that the differential pathogenicity of the two fungi is not due to differential sensitivity to the pea enzymes. Inhibition of fungal growth was caused by the lysis of the hyphal tips.

1,242 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: It is concluded that plasma chitotriosidase levels can serve as a new diagnostic hallmark of GD and should prove to be useful in assessing whether clinical manifestations of GD are present and for monitoring the efficacy of therapeutic intervention.
Abstract: Gaucher disease (GD; glucosylceramidosis) is caused by a deficient activity of the enzyme glucocerebrosidase (GC). Clinical manifestations are highly variable and cannot be predicted accurately on the basis of the properties of mutant GC. Analysis of secondary abnormalities, such as elevated plasma levels of some hydrolases, may help to increase insight into the complicated pathophysiology of the disease and could also provide useful disease markers. The recent availability of enzyme supplementation therapy for GD increases the need for markers as early predictors of the efficacy of treatment. We report the finding of a very marked increase in chitotrisidase activity in plasma of 30 of 32 symptomatic type 1 GD patients studied: the median activity being > 600 times the median value in plasma of healthy volunteers. In three GC-deficient individuals without clinical symptoms, only slight increases were noted. Chitotriosidase activity was absent in plasma of three control subjects and two patients. During enzyme supplementation therapy, chitotriosidase activity declined dramatically. We conclude that plasma chitotriosidase levels can serve as a new diagnostic hallmark of GD and should prove to be useful in assessing whether clinical manifestations of GD are present and for monitoring the efficacy of therapeutic intervention.

865 citations


"Chitinases: in agriculture and huma..." refers background in this paper

  • ...It has two major isoforms with isoelectric points of 7.2 and 8.0 and molecular masses of 50 and 39 kDa, respectively, both of them were purified from the spleen of a Gaucher patient (Boot et al., 1995; Hollak et al., 1994; Renkema et al., 1995)....

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  • ...…it has been discovered that chitinases also exist in humans and their role in human diseases has been extensively studied (Bargagli et al., 2007; Boot et al., 1999; Chen et al., 2009; Hollak et al., 1994; Tjoelker, 2000; Vazquez-Torres & Balish, 1997; Vicencio et al., 2008; Zhu et al., 2004)....

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  • ...…i.e. chito- triosidase (ChT), a chitinolytic enzyme produced by mono- cyte-derived macrophages, was identified as a protein which was highly elevated in the serum of patients with GD (Hollak et al., 1994), a recessively inherited lysosomal storage disorder that leads to lipid-laden macrophages....

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  • ...0 and molecular masses of 50 and 39 kDa, respectively, both of them were purified from the spleen of a Gaucher patient (Boot et al., 1995; Hollak et al., 1994; Renkema et al., 1995)....

    [...]

  • ...triosidase (ChT), a chitinolytic enzyme produced by monocyte-derived macrophages, was identified as a protein which was highly elevated in the serum of patients with GD (Hollak et al., 1994), a recessively inherited lysosomal storage disorder that leads to lipid-laden macrophages....

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Journal ArticleDOI
11 Jun 2004-Science
TL;DR: It is shown that acidic mammalian chitinase (AMCase) is induced via a T helper-2 (Th2)–specific, interleukin-13 (IL-13)–mediated pathway in epithelial cells and macrophages in an aeroallergen asthma model and expressed in exaggerated quantities in human asthma.
Abstract: Chitin is a surface component of parasites and insects, and chitinases are induced in lower life forms during infections with these agents. Although chitin itself does not exist in humans, chitinases are present in the human genome. We show here that acidic mammalian chitinase (AMCase) is induced via a T helper-2 (Th2)-specific, interleukin-13 (IL-13)-mediated pathway in epithelial cells and macrophages in an aeroallergen asthma model and expressed in exaggerated quantities in human asthma. AMCase neutralization ameliorated Th2 inflammation and airway hyperresponsiveness, in part by inhibiting IL-13 pathway activation and chemokine induction. AMCase may thus be an important mediator of IL-13-induced responses in Th2-dominated disorders such as asthma.

795 citations


"Chitinases: in agriculture and huma..." refers background in this paper

  • ...Thus, the enzymatic activity of AMCase was suggested to be involved in asthma progression (Zhu et al., 2004)....

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  • ...Thus, the enzymatic activity of AMCase was suggested to be involved in asthma progression (Zhu et al., 2004)....

    [...]

  • ...…it has been discovered that chitinases also exist in humans and their role in human diseases has been extensively studied (Bargagli et al., 2007; Boot et al., 1999; Chen et al., 2009; Hollak et al., 1994; Tjoelker, 2000; Vazquez-Torres & Balish, 1997; Vicencio et al., 2008; Zhu et al., 2004)....

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