Hypocrellin B, a perylenequinonoid pigment, and its complexes with lanthanide ions: optical characterization and enhancements in its photodynamic properties

Hypocrellins, perylenequinonoid pigments isolated from Hypocrella bambusae, are known photodynamic agents. They exhibit several advantages over the other photosensitizers, such as ready preparation, easy purification, low aggregation tendency, high singlet oxygen generation quantum yield and rapid metabolism in vivo. However, hypocrellins do not exhibit absorption at wavelengths longer than 600 nm, which limits their application for PDT. To solve this problem our efforts were focused towards modifying the properties of hypocrellin B. in this study, hypocrellin B complexes formed with the lanthanide ions lanthanum (La(3+)), terbium (Tb(3+)) and europium (Eu(3+)), using ethanol as solvent, had their optical properties characterized through spectroscopic methods. We observed that all the lanthanide ions change the HB molecular structure, since displacements in the bands were noted in both absorption and emission spectra. Different molar ratios between the HB and the lanthanide ions were tested, and it was verified that the complexes with 1 mol of HB for 2 mol of lanthanide ions present the larger red-shift comparatively to pure HB. We also determined the dimerization constants for these complexes. Under excitation at 532 nm the singlet oxygen generation quantum yields were estimated by the emission at 1270 nm, where singlet oxygen has a well known emission peak. It can be affirmed that such complexations were responsible for an improvement in the optical properties of the HB molecule, which suggests that these complexes may find a good application at in vivo studies.IPEN CNEN SP, Ctr Laser & Aplicacoes, São Paulo, BrazilUniv Fed Sao Paulo, ICAQF, Departamento de Ciências Exatas e da Terra, Diadema, BrazilWeb of Scienc

Draft Genome Sequence of a Pathogenic O86:H25 Sequence Type 57 Escherichia coli Strain Isolated from Poultry and Carrying 12 Acquired Antibiotic Resistance Genes

Free PMC Article: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4582591/Escherichia coli is a commensal bacterium that is frequently associated with multidrug-resistant zoonotic and foodborne infections. Here, we report the 5.6-Mbp draft genome sequence of an E. coli recovered from poultry, which encodes multiple acquired antibiotic resistance determinants, virulence factors, pathogenicity determinants, and mobile genetic elements.Daniela Jones-Dias and Vera Manageiro have received research funding from Fundação para Ciência e Tecnologia (grant numbers SFRH/BD/ 80001/2011 and SFRH/BPD/77486/2011, respectively). This work was supported by Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (grant number PEst-OE/AGR/UI0211/2011-2014)

Atributos Determinantes da Competitividade dos Destinos de Sol e Praia Brasileiros

Destination competitiveness models reached a development level in which all the characteristics that somehow influence competitiveness were mapped, whereas without identifying which factors are decisive for competitiveness (Crouch, 2011). We used the Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA) technique, adopting the domestic and international tourist inflows as criteria variables for identifying which competitiveness dimensions are decisive for Brazilian sun and sand destinations. Our results suggest that Access, Cultural Aspects, Local Economy, and Business Capacity dimensions have a greater influence on destination performance. In addition, the results indicate that it is not necessary to have a high level of development in a large number of dimensions in order to achieve higher performance. Results provide practical guidance for sun and sand destinations management.Los modelos de competitividad de destinos turísticos alcanzaron un nivel de desarrollo en el que todas las características que de alguna forma influencian la competitividad fueron mapeadas, pero sin identificar qué factores son decisivos para la competitividad (Crouch, 2011). La técnica Análisis Comparativo Cualitativo fue empleada para identificar cuáles dimensiones de competitividad son decisivas para los destinos de sol y arena brasileños, adoptando los flujos de turistas domésticos e internacionales como variables criterio. Nuestros resultados sugieren que las dimensiones Acceso, Aspectos Culturales, Economía Local y capacidad empresarial tienen mayor influencia en el desempeño de los destinos. Además, los resultados indican que no es necesario tener un alto nivel de desarrollo en un gran número de dimensiones para obtener un rendimiento superior. Los resultados proporcionan orientación práctica para la gestión de destinos de sol y playa.Os modelos de competitividade de destinos turísticos alcançaram um nível de desenvolvimento em que todas as características que de alguma forma influenciam a competitividade foram mapeadas, sem, no entanto, identificar quais fatores são decisivos para a competitividade (Crouch, 2011). A técnica QCA (Análise Comparativa Qualitativa) foi empregada para identificar quais dimensões de competitividade são decisivas para os destinos de sol e areia brasileiros, adotando os fluxos de turistas domésticos e internacionais como variáveis critério. Nossos resultados sugerem que as dimensões Acesso, Aspectos Culturais, Economia Local e Capacidade Empresarial têm maior influência no desempenho dos destinos. Além disso, os resultados indicam que não é necessário ter um alto nível de desenvolvimento em um grande número de dimensões para obter um desempenho superior. Os resultados fornecem orientação prática para a gestão de destinos de sol e praia

Genetic Background and Expression of the New qepA4 Gene Variant Recovered in Clinical TEM-1- and CMY-2-Producing Escherichia coli

A new QepA4 variant was detected in an O86:H28 ST156-fimH38 Escherichia coli, showing a multidrug-resistance phenotype. PAβN inhibition ofqepA4-harboring transconjugant resulted in increase of nalidixic acid accumulation. TheqepA4andcatA1genes were clustered in a 26.0-kp contig matching an IncF-type plasmid, and containing a Tn21-type transposon with multiple mobile genetic elements. This QepA variant is worrisome because these determinants might facilitate the selection of higher-level resistance mutants, playing a role in the development of resistance, and/or confer higher-level resistance to fluoroquinolones in association with chromosomal mutations.VM was supported by FCT fellowship (grant SFRH/BPD/77486/2011), financed by the European Social Funds (COMPETE-FEDER) and national funds of the Portuguese Ministry of Education and Science (POPH-QREN). The authors thank Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT) for project grant PEst-OE/AGR/UI0211/2011-2014, Strategic Project UI211-2011-2014info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Genome Sequencing of 10 Helicobacter pylori Pediatric Strains from Patients with Nonulcer Dyspepsia and Peptic Ulcer Disease

We present draft genome sequences of 10 Helicobacter pylori clinical strains isolated from children. This will be important for future studies of comparative genomics in order to better understand the virulence determinants underlying peptic ulcer disease.This work was supported by the FCT-PTDC/BIM-MEC/1051/2012 grant from the Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT) (to M.O.). A.N. and F.F.V. are recipients of postdoctoral fellowships (SFRH/BPD/75295/2010 and SFRH/BPD/95125/2013, respectively) from FCT, and R.R. is a recipient of a fellowship (BRJ-DDI/2012) from the National Institute of Health

Compostos derivados de 2-benzil-2-halogenomalonatos, composição, uso e processo de obtenção dos compostos

DepositadaA presente invenção descreve compostos derivados de 2-benzil-2-halogenomalonatos com efeito depressor no sistema nervoso central (SNC), composições compreendendo os ditos compostos, o uso dos compostos e o processo de obtenção dos referidos compostos. A presente invenção situa-se nos campos da química, farmácia e medicina

Antioxidant, photoprotective and inhibitory activity of tyrosinase in extracts of Dalbergia ecastaphyllum

Dalbergia ecastaphyllum is a native Brazil plant with importance for beekeeping, and widely used in folk medicine. For the first time, the extracts of this plant were assessed for the presence of hydrophilic and lipophilic antioxidants, as well as inhibition of tyrosinase, free radicals scavenging and sunscreen protection. The antioxidant activity was evaluated by free radical scavenging (DPPH) andβ-carotene bleaching assay. The tyrosinase inhibitory activity was evaluated and calculated the EC50. The photoprotective activity was measured using different concentrations of D. ecastaphyllum extracts. The Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of the samples was higher than 6, and the sample from Ilhe ´us showed the most pronounced photoprotective effect. Sample from Canavieiras presented the highest antioxidant activity by free radical scavenging DPPH andβ-carotene bleaching method, with 92.41% and 48.34%, respectively. All samples inhibited the tyrosinase, especially the sample from Prado that was most effective (124.62μg.mL-1). Significant negative correlation was found between flavonoid contents and inhibition of tyrosinase. The overall results provide relevant information about the Dalbergia ecastaphyllum species, indicating as potential material to cosmetic and pharmaceutical industry.We thank MSc Vandira Pereira da Mata for the support during the sample collectioninfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Expression of CD90 and P75NTR stem cell markers in ameloblastomas : a possible role in their biological behavior

Multicystic and unicystic ameloblastomas are benign odontogenic tumors that present distinct biological behavior. The investigation of stem cells has become an important branch of tumor biology, with several studies addressing the possible role of these cells in tumor growth, angiogenesis, progression, infiltration and invasiveness. This study evaluated the immunohistochemical expression of CD90(Thy-1) and P75NTR stem cell markers in multicystic and unicystic ameloblastomas. Seventeen (17) samples of ameloblastomas (multicystic, n = 10; unicystic, n = 7) were submitted to immunohistochemical reactions and graded semi-quantitatively. The Kolmogorov-Smirnov test was used to verify possible differences in CD90 and P75NTR expressions between multicystic and unicystic ameloblastomas (p < 0.05). CD90 immunostaining was observed in all multicystic ameloblastoma specimens (n = 10), in the cytoplasm of the fibroblasts and vascular endothelial cells of the tumor stroma, near the neoplastic odontogenic epithelia. The staining of stromal CD90 was significantly higher in multicystic than in unicystic ameloblastomas (p = 0.003). Nuclear P75NTR immunostaining was observed in all ameloblastoma specimens. A significant difference was seen in the epithelial staining of P75NTR between multicystic and unicystic types (p = 0.007). The increased expression of CD90 and P75NTR found in multicystic ameloblastomas suggests a behavioral biological difference between multicystic and unicystic ameloblastomas, as well as a difference in ameloblastoma development

Primeira ocorrência de Pleurodira (Testudines) para a Formação Guabirotuba, Bacia de Curitiba, Paraná, Brasil

The vertebrate fossil record of the Guabirotuba Formation, Curitiba Basin (Cenozoic), South Brazil, was restricted to a crocodyliform tooth and indeterminate bone fragments. New specimens collected in an outcrop located in Curitiba city, in the State of Paraná, are herein described and represent the first record of Pleurodira (Testudines) to this basin. The presence of aquatic Testudines associated to Crocodyliformes corroborates the lacustrine and fluvial paleoenvironment for the Guabirotuba Formation deposition and indicates a more humid climate than previously proposed.Keywords: Testudines, Pleurodira, Curitiba Basin, Guabirotuba Formation, Cenozoic.O registro de vertebrados fósseis da Formação Guabirotuba, Bacia de Curitiba (Cenozoico), no sul do Brasil, restringia-se a um dente de crocodiliforme e fragmentos ósseos indeterminados. Novos espécimes, coletados em afl oramento localizado na cidade de Curitiba, no Estado do Paraná, são aqui descritos e correspondem ao primeiro registro de Pleurodira (Testudines) para a bacia. A presença de Testudines aquáticos, associadas a Crocodyliformes corrobora a interpretação de um paleoambiente fluvio-lacustre para os depósitos da Formação Guabirotuba e indica um clima mais úmido do que previamente proposto.Palavras-chave: Testudines, Pleurodira, Bacia de Curitiba, Formação Guabirotuba, Cenozoico

Salmonella Enteritidis Isolate Harboring Multiple Efflux Pumps and Pathogenicity Factors, Shows Absence of O Antigen Polymerase Gene.

BACKGROUND: Salmonella enterica is one of the most important causes of gastrointestinal infection in humans, being the great majority of infections related to the consumption of poultry meat and eggs (Foley and Lynne, 2008; EFSA/ECDC, 2015). In animals, infections caused by serotype Enteritidis are rarely responsible for severe disease with animals frequently becoming asymptomatic carriers, except in the case of young chicks and poults, where outbreaks exhibiting clinical disease are often accompanied by high mortality rates (Foley et al., 2008, 2013). Indeed, S. enterica subsp. enterica serovar Enteritidis (S. Enteritidis) has been responsible for severe disease in industrial poultry farming facilities worldwide, posing a potential hazard for public health (Lutful Kabir, 2010). In order to be infectious, Salmonella needs to adapt to different niches and conditions, where virulence and heavy-metal-tolerance factors play an important role, through co-selection events and the formation of pathogenicity islands, respectively (Hensel, 2004; Medardus et al., 2014). Furthermore, antibiotic resistance determinants can also facilitate their survival, with ubiquitous chromosomally encoded efflux mechanisms, playing an important role in both intrinsic, and acquired multidrug resistance. Other resistance mechanisms, such as changes in the membrane permeability, enzymatic modification, and target alterations may increase the levels of bacterial resistance, contributing to the success of the infection (Poole, 2004; Delmar et al., 2014; Li et al., 2015). Both antibiotic susceptibility determination and serotyping constitute very useful tools for the epidemiologic classification of S. enterica isolates. Indeed, in S. enterica, the resistance rates fluctuate according to the serotype and with the antibiotic (Clemente et al., 2015). Classically, serotyping is based on the antigenic reactivity of lipolysaccharide (O antigen) and flagellar proteins (H antigen), followed by a designation using names or formulas (Grimont and Weill, 2007). In this study, we aimed to analyze the genome of a S. Enteritidis isolate responsible for omphalitis in chicks, exploring the molecular features associated with antibiotic resistance and pathogenicity, as well as the ability to spread the respective determinants.DJ has received research funding from Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT, grant number SFRH/BD/80001/2011). VM was supported by FCT fellowship (grant SFRH/BPD/77486/2011), financed by the European Social Funds (COMPETE-FEDER) and national funds of the Portuguese Ministry of Education and Science (POPH-QREN). We thank the support of FCT grant number PEst-OE/AGR/UI0211/2011-2014 and UID/MULTI/00211/2013.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio