Phage-derived peptidoglycan degrading enzymes: challenges and future prospects for in vivo therapy

Peptidoglycan degrading enzymes are of increasing interest as antibacterial agents, especially against multi-drug resistant pathogens. Herein we present a review about the biological features of virion-associated lysins and endolysins, phage-derived enzymes that have naturally evolved to compromise the bacterial peptidoglycan from without and from within, respectively. These natural features may determine the adaptability of the enzymes to kill bacteria in different environments. Endolysins are by far the most studied group of peptidoglycan-degrading enzymes, with several studies showing that they can exhibit potent antibacterial activity under specific conditions. However, the lytic activity of most endolysins seems to be significantly reduced when tested against actively growing bacteria, something that may be related to fact that these enzymes are naturally designed to degrade the peptidoglycan from within dead cells. This may negatively impact the efficacy of the endolysin in treating some infections in vivo. Here, we present a critical view of the methods commonly used to evaluate in vitro and in vivo the antibacterial performance of PG-degrading enzymes, focusing on the major hurdles concerning in vitro-to-in vivo translation.By the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) under the scope of the strategic funding of UID/BIO/04469/2013 unit, COMPETE 2020 (POCI-01-0145-FEDER-006684) and the Project PTDC/BBB-BSS/6471/2014 (POCI-01-0145-FEDER-016678). This work was also supported by BioTecNorte operation (NORTE-01-0145-FEDER-000004) funded by the European Regional Development Fund under the scope of Norte2020—Programa Operacional Regional do Norte. Hugo Oliveira acknowledges the FCT grant SFRH/BPD/111653/2015.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Concentration of manganese gondite by magnetic separation and flotation – a preliminary study / Concentração de gonita de manganês por separação magnética e flutuação - um estudo preliminar

Traditionally, manganese mining exploited rich deposits and produced rich granular concentrates with high commercial acceptance. But the scarcity of these rich ores results in searches for new alternatives to support the market demand. This work, for example, proposed the evaluation of a low-grade manganese ore concentration, aiming to produce a concentrate to be destined steelmaking. The liberation study, realized in the characterization step, showed the associations between grouped manganese oxides/hydroxides, spessartine, and quartz (minerals with predominantly proportions in gondite). The material studied was a gondite (metasedimentary rock with low manganese content), submitted to characterization and pre-concentration. Flotation results pointed to a metallurgical reasonable recovery of 88.76%, but a product with manganese content equal to 21.51%, indicating a low enrichment of 1.11. The greatest metallic recovery was 92.48% to a size range of –147 +38 μm applying the magnetic concentration tests with field strengths of 15,500 Gauss. The magnetic concentration product with the best metallic recovery (92.48%) produced manganese content equal to 22.84%, representing an enrichment of 1.18. The BSE images revealed particles of manganese oxides with the liberated surface, but also the permanence of spessartine particles involved by the other manganese oxides

Improving diagnostic models for temporomandibular disease using cost-effective variables:an analysis of the Dimitroulis Classification

Temporomandibular disorders (TMD) are a class of degenerative musculoskeletal and neuromuscular conditions involving the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) complex and surrounding musculature. The etiology of TMD is multifactorial, including biological,environmental, social, emotional, and cognitive triggers. Due to the complexity of the disease’s signs and symptoms, the diagnosis and correct treatment of TMD remain a challenge. The Dimitroulis classification (DC) divides TMD into five categories (DC1, DC2, . . . , DC5) based on the degree of disease severity with an indication for treatment. The classification is based on history and physical examination and diagnostic imaging is used to access intra-articular derangements. This process presented some subjectivity in the analysis and, has significant associated costs. The present study aims to identify variables based on patient complaints with lower associated costs and more objective, prompt, and less burdensome classification.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Influence of hematite particle morphology on friable itabirite concentration in Humphreys spiral concentrator / Influência da morfologia da hematita presente em itabirito friável na concentração por espiral concentradora Humphreys

The depletion of hematitic mineral deposits and the growing content of itabirites in the iron ores mined in the Quadrilátero Ferrífero - Brazil calls for further studies in an effort to adjust the actual technologies, due to the different behaviors of the different mineral species present in the new ore. Currently, little is known about the fundamentals of particle separation in Humphreys spiral, as far as the different particles morphologies. Therefore, the performance of a spiral concentrator was evaluated by a sequence of friable itabirite tests at an industrial scale. The smallest iron content and smaller metallurgical recovery attained in the tests owe to a small particle size in sample (33.67% < 106 µm and d80 ? 675 µm) and a greater content of tabular hematite. The sample showing the worst metallurgical recovery results (46.20%) and iron content (62.39%) also presented the highest percentage of tabular hematite (68.69%). The samples with a greater amount of martite produced sinter feed with the highest metallurgical recovery (65.65%). It is believed that there was a predominant effect of the hematite morphology on other parameters such as density. Thus, a careful characterization step and the adoption of blending procedures concerning iron content and morphology simultaneously can be positive for the process.

First steps of bacteriophage SPP1 entry into Bacillus subtilis

AbstractThe mechanism of genome transfer from the virion to the host cytoplasm is critical to understand and control the beginning of viral infection. The initial steps of bacteriophage SPP1 infection of the Gram-positive bacterium Bacillus subtilis were monitored by following changes in permeability of the cytoplasmic membrane (CM). SPP1 leads to a distinctively faster CM depolarization than the one caused by podovirus ϕ29 or myovirus SP01 during B. subtilis infection. Depolarization requires interaction of SPP1 infective virion to its receptor protein YueB. The amplitude of depolarization depends on phage input and concentration of YueB at the cell surface. Sub-millimolar concentrations of Ca2+ are necessary and sufficient for SPP1 reversible binding to the host envelope and thus to trigger depolarization while DNA delivery to the cytoplasm depends on millimolar concentrations of this divalent cation. A model describing the early events of bacteriophage SPP1 infection is presented

Lack of detectable allergenicity of transgenic maize and soya samples

Background: The safety issues regarding foods derived from genetically modified (GM) plants are central to their acceptance into the food supply. The potential allergenicity of proteins newly introduced in GM foods is a major safety concern. Objective: We sought to monitor, in potentially sensitive human populations, the allergenicity effects of 5 GM materials obtained from sources with no allergenic potential and already under commercialization in the European Union. Methods: We have performed skin prick tests with protein extracts prepared from transgenic maize (MON810, Bt11, T25, Bt176) and soya (Roundup Ready) samples and from nontransgenic control samples in 2 sensitive groups: children with food and inhalant allergy and individuals with asthmarhinitis. We have also tested IgE immunoblot reactivity of sera from patients with food allergy to soya (Roundup Ready) and maize (MON810, Bt11, Bt176) samples, as well as to the pure transgenic proteins (CryIA[b] and CP4 5-enolpyruvylshikimate- 3-phosphate synthase). Results: None of the individuals undergoing tests reacted differentially to the transgenic and nontransgenic samples under study. None of the volunteers tested presented detectable IgE antibodies against pure transgenic proteins. Conclusion: The transgenic products under testing seem to be safe in terms of allergenic potential. We propose postmarket testing as an important screening strategy for putative allergic sensitization to proteins introduced in transgenic plants.Supported by Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian, research project SDH.SP.I.01.11 and by Comissão de Fomento da Investigação em Cuidados de Saúde, research project no. 186/0

A atuação dos intérpretes de Libras na educação profissional e tecnológica

Este trabalho  é resultado de uma pesquisa de natureza qualitativa e que objetiva compreender a atuação profissional do Tradutor Intérprete de Libras nas modalidades de ensino ofertadadas pela Rede Federal de Educação Profissional e Tecnológica, com foco no Instituto Federal Goiano. A análise se deu a partir de uma revisão da literatura a fim de confrontar as premissas que levem em consideração as peculiaridades da legislação e realidades dos TILS. Este estudo foi desenvolvido em quatro tópicos. No primeiro tópico, apresentamos sobre os percursos históricos da EPT no Brasil e a formação omnilateral. No segundo, estão contempladas as bases legais e normativas que regulamentam a profissão do tradutor intérprete de Libras. No terceiro, apresentamos a Libras , por fim, no último tópico discorremos sobre o intérprete educacional. Concluimos que há uma legislação concisa no que se refere a profissionalização dos TILS, tanto federal quanto institucional. A EPT tem elaborado uma série de documentos, regulamentos, formação/capacitação de docentes e Técnicos em Administrativos em Educação, impactando positivamente na atuação dos TILS. No entanto, é necessária a consolidação da identidade profissional e ampliação de vagas para atuação em todos os níveis da educação brasileira

A atuação dos intérpretes de Libras na educação profissional e tecnológica

Este trabalho é resultado de uma pesquisa de natureza qualitativa e que objetiva compreender a atuação profissional do Tradutor Intérprete de Libras nas modalidades de ensino ofertadadas pela Rede Federal de Educação Profissional e Tecnológica, com foco no Instituto Federal Goiano. A análise se deu a partir de uma revisão da literatura a fim de confrontar as premissas que levem em consideração as peculiaridades da legislação e realidades dos TILS. Este estudo foi desenvolvido em quatro tópicos. No primeiro tópico, apresentamos sobre os percursos históricos da EPT no Brasil e a formação omnilateral. No segundo, estão contempladas as bases legais e normativas que regulamentam a profissão do tradutor intérprete de Libras. No terceiro, apresentamos a Libras , por fim, no último tópico discorremos sobre o intérprete educacional. Concluimos que há uma legislação concisa no que se refere a profissionalização dos TILS, tanto federal quanto institucional. A EPT tem elaborado uma série de documentos, regulamentos, formação/capacitação de docentes e Técnicos em Administrativos em Educação, impactando positivamente na atuação dos TILS. No entanto, é necessária a consolidação da identidade profissional e ampliação de vagas para atuação em todos os ní­veis da educação brasileira

Psoralen analogues: synthesis, inhibitory activity of growth of human tumor cell lines and computational studies

Eight psoralens have been evaluated for their ability to inhibit the in vitro growth of three human turner cell lines representing different tumor types, MCF-7 (breast cancer), NCI-14460 (non-small cell lung cancer) and SF-268 (CNS cancer). The synthesis of four new psoralens (benzofur-ocournarins) is presented as well as the results of the ab initio calculations to find the parameters that relate the structure with the antitumor activity. This work provides supplementary information that could allow the development of new psoralen analogues with this type of biological activity.For financial support from Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia, Portugal (I&D no. 226/9 and to CQ-UM), POCTI and FEDER; Ph.D. grants from FCT: Ana M.A.G. Oliveira (PRAXIS XXI/BD/19707/99), Madalena Pedro (SFRH/BD/1456/2000) and César Portela (SFRH/BD/3036/2000). For financial support and research grants to FAPEMIG (Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de Minas Gerais) and CNPq (Conselho Nacional do Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico, Brazil). The authors thank National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD (USA) for kindly providing the tumor cell lines and Elisa Pinto for obtaining 1H-NMR and 13C-NMR spectra and elemental analyses.POCTI

In vitro design of a novel lytic bacteriophage cocktail with therapeutic potential against organisms causing diabetic foot infections

In patients with diabetes mellitus, foot infections pose a significant risk. These are complex infections commonly caused by Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acinetobacter baumannii, all of which are potentially susceptible to bacteriophages. Here, we characterized five bacteriophages that we had determined previously to have antimicrobial and wound-healing potential in chronic S. aureus, P. aeruginosa and A. baumannii infections. Morphological and genetic features indicated that the bacteriophages were lytic members of the family Myoviridae or Podoviridae and did not harbour any known bacterial virulence genes. Combinations of the bacteriophages had broad host ranges for the different target bacterial species. The activity of the bacteriophages against planktonic cells revealed effective, early killing at 4 h, followed by bacterial regrowth to pre-treatment levels by 24 h. Using metabolic activity as a measure of cell viability within established biofilms, we found significant cell impairment following bacteriophage exposure. Repeated treatment every 4 h caused a further decrease in cell activity. The greatest effects on both planktonic and biofilm cells occurred at a bacteriophage : bacterium input multiplicity of 10. These studies on both planktonic cells and established biofilms allowed us to better evaluate the effects of a high input multiplicity and a multiple-dose treatment protocol, and the findings support further clinical development of bacteriophage therapy.supported by TechnoPhage S.A. and Tecnifar; Foundation for Science and Technology (PTDC/SAUMIC/122816/2010 – ‘Biofilms in diabetic foot: microbial virulence characterization and cross-talk of major isolates’); FCT PhD fellowship (SFRH/BD/72872/2010); FCT ‘Ciência 2007’ programmeinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio