90 research outputs found
Staphylococcus epidermidis glucose uptake in biofilm versus planktonic cells
The aim of this work was to compare the glucose
uptake of biofilms formed by four different Staphylococcus
epidermidis strains as well as to compare between
sessile and planktonic cells of the same strain. Biofilm cells
showed a lower level of glucose uptake compared to
planktonic cells. Moreover, glucose uptake by cells in the
sessile form was strongly influenced by biofilm composition.
Therefore, this work helps to confirm the phenotypic
variability of S. epidermidis strains and the different
behaviour patterns between sessile and free cells.Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT) - POCTI/ESP/42688/2001;
SFRH/BD/19265/2004
Biofilms of non-Candida albicans Candida species : quantification, structure and matrix composition
Most cases of candidiasis have been attributed to C. albicans, but recently, non-
Candida albicans Candida (NCAC) species have been identified as common
pathogens. The ability of Candida species to form biofilms has important clinical
repercussions due to their increased resistance to antifungal therapy and the ability
of yeast cells within the biofilms to withstand host immune defenses. Given this
clinical importance of the biofilm growth form, the aim of this study was
to characterize biofilms produced by three NCAC species, namely C. parapsilosis,
C. tropicalis and C. glabrata. The biofilm forming ability of clinical isolates of
C. parapsilosis, C. tropicalis and C. glabrata recovered from different sources, was
evaluated by crystal violet staining. The structure and morphological characteristics
of the biofilms were also assessed by scanning electron microscopy and the
biofilm matrix composition analyzed for protein and carbohydrate content. All
NCAC species were able to form biofilms although these were less extensive for
C. glabrata compared with C. parapsilosis and C. tropicalis. It was evident that C.
parapsilosis biofilm production was highly strain dependent, a feature not evident
with C. glabrata and C. tropicalis. Scanning electron microscopy revealed structural
differences for biofilms with respect to cell morphology and spatial arrangement.
Candida parapsilosis biofilm matrices had large amounts of carbohydrate with less
protein. Conversely, matrices extracted from C. tropicalis biofilms had low
amounts of carbohydrate and protein. Interestingly, C. glabrata biofilm matrix
was high in both protein and carbohydrate content. The present work demonstrates
that biofilm forming ability, structure and matrix composition are highly
species dependent with additional strain variability occurring with C. parapsilosis.Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT) - SFRH/BD/28341/2006, PDTC/BIO/61112/200
Predictors of success for mandibular repositioning appliance in obstructive sleep apnea syndrome
Examination of potential virulence factors of Candida tropicalis clinical isolates from hospitalized patients
Candida tropicalis has been reported to be one of the Candida species which is most likely to cause bloodstream and urinary tract infections in hospitalized patients. Accordingly, the aim of this study was to characterize the virulence of C. tropicalis by assessing antifungal susceptibility and comparing the expression of several virulence factors. This study was conducted with seven isolates of C. tropicalis from urine and blood cultures and from central venous catheter. C. tropicalis ATCC 750 was used as reference strain. Yeasts adhered (2 h) to epithelial cells and silicone and 24 h biofilm biomass were determined by crystal violet staining. Pseudohyphae formation ability was determined after growth in fetal bovine serum. Enzymes production (hemolysins, proteases, phospholipases) was assessed by halo formation on agar plates. Susceptibility to antifungal agents was determined by E-test. Regarding adhesion, it can be highlighted that C. tropicalis strains adhered significantly more to epithelium than to silicone. Furthermore, all C. tropicalis strains were able to form biofilms and to express total hemolytic activity. However, protease was only produced by two isolates from urine and by the isolates from catheter and blood. Moreover, only one C. tropicalis (from catheter) was phospholipase positive. All isolates were susceptible to voriconazole, fluconazole and amphotericin B. Four strains were susceptible-dose dependent to itraconazole and one clinical isolate was found to be resistant
Activated peripheral lymphocytes with increased expression of cell adhesion molecules and cytotoxic markers are associated with dengue fever disease
Efeitos de um programa de reabilitação pulmonar sobre mecânica respiratória e qualidade de vida de mulheres obesas
Differential Gene Expression Changes in Children with Severe Dengue Virus Infections
Dengue virus infection is an impressively emerging disease that can be fatal in severe cases. It is not precisely clear why some patients progress to severe disease whereas most patients only suffer from a mild infection. In severe disease, a “cytokine storm” is induced, which indicates the release of a great number of inflammatory mediators (“cytokines”). Evidence suggested that a balance could be involved between protective and pathologic cytokine release patterns. We studied this concept in a cohort of Indonesian children with severe dengue disease using a gene expression profiling method
Gene Expression Profiling during Early Acute Febrile Stage of Dengue Infection Can Predict the Disease Outcome
Background: We report the detailed development of biomarkers to predict the clinical outcome under dengue infection. Transcriptional signatures from purified peripheral blood mononuclear cells were derived from whole-genome gene-expression microarray data, validated by quantitative PCR and tested in independent samples. Methodology/Principal Findings: The study was performed on patients of a well-characterized dengue cohort from Recife, Brazil. The samples analyzed were collected prospectively from acute febrile dengue patients who evolved with different degrees of disease severity: classic dengue fever or dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF) samples were compared with similar samples from other non-dengue febrile illnesses. The DHF samples were collected 2-3 days before the presentation of the plasma leakage symptoms. Differentially-expressed genes were selected by univariate statistical tests as well as multivariate classification techniques. The results showed that at early stages of dengue infection, the genes involved in effector mechanisms of innate immune response presented a weaker activation on patients who later developed hemorrhagic fever, whereas the genes involved in apoptosis were expressed in higher levels. Conclusions/Significance: Some of the gene expression signatures displayed estimated accuracy rates of more than 95%, indicating that expression profiling with these signatures may provide a useful means of DHF prognosis at early stages of infection. © 2009 Nascimento et al
Implantação e impacto do Programa Nacional de Suplementação de Ferro no município de Viçosa - MG
Composição química e eficácia da multimistura como suplemento dietético: revisão da literatura
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