Antimicrobial activity of terpenoids from Copaifera langsdorffii Desf. against cariogenic bacteria

In the present work, the anticariogenic activities of nine labdane type‐diterpenes and four sesquiterpenes were investigated. Among these metabolites, (‐)‐copalic acid (CA) was the most active compound displaying MIC values very promising (ranging from 2.0 to 6.0 µg/mL) against the main microorganisms responsible for dental caries: Streptococcus salivarius, S. sobrinus, S. mutans, S. mitis, S. sanguinis and Lactobacillus casei. Time kill assays performed with CA against the primary causative agent (S. mutans) revealed that, in the first 12 h, this compound only inhibits the growth of the inoculum (bacteriostatic effect). However, its bactericidal effect is clearly noted thereafter (between 12 and 24 h). Also, CA did not show a synergistic effect when combined with the anticariogenic gold standard (chlorhexidine, CHD) in the checkerboard assays against S. mutans. In conclusion, the results points out CA as an important metabolite in the search for new effective anticariogenic agents. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Unrelated donor hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for infantile enteropathy due to IL‐10/IL‐10 receptor defect

Recent advances in genetic diagnosis have identified mutations in gene encoding interleukin‐10 (IL‐10) and IL‐10 receptor (IL‐10R) proteins as a cause for early‐onset enterocolitis leading to hyperinflammatory immune response. Allogeneic HSCT offers a potential cure; however, it was only performed in a few infants and mainly from family‐related donors. We report a case of a girl who presented very early in life with severe infantile enterocolitis. Gene sequencing confirmed IL‐10R defect. Her older sister died at 13 months of age from severe undiagnosed enterocolitis. There was no family donor. An unrelated search identified a potential 10/10 high‐resolution HLA‐matched donor. There was some delay in donor activation because IL‐10R defect was not on the standard list of indications for unrelated HSCT. Our patient received the unrelated HSCT at seven months of age, and she is currently nine months after transplant and doing very well. Because HSCT is the curative option of choice for this disorder, we encourage adding IL‐10 and IL‐10R protein defects to the list of HSCT indications for unrelated donor procurement.