Candida glabrata : a review of its features and resistance

Candida species belong to the normal microbiota of the oral cavity and gastrointestinal and vaginal tracts, and are responsible for several clinical manifestations, from mucocutaneous overgrowth to bloodstream infections. Once believed to be non-pathogenic, Candida glabrata was rapidly blamable for many human diseases. Year after year, these pathological circumstances are more recurrent and problematic to treat, especially when patients reveal any level of immunosuppression. These difficulties arise from the capacity of C. glabrata to form biofilms and also from its high resistance to traditional antifungal therapies. Thus, this review intends to present an excerpt of the biology, epidemiology, and pathology of C. glabrata, and detail an approach to its resistance mechanisms based on studies carried out up to the present.The authors are grateful to strategic project PTDC/SAU-MIC/119069/2010 for the financial support to the research center and for Celia F. Rodrigues' grant

A comprehensive overview of radioguided surgery using gamma detection probe technology

The concept of radioguided surgery, which was first developed some 60 years ago, involves the use of a radiation detection probe system for the intraoperative detection of radionuclides. The use of gamma detection probe technology in radioguided surgery has tremendously expanded and has evolved into what is now considered an established discipline within the practice of surgery, revolutionizing the surgical management of many malignancies, including breast cancer, melanoma, and colorectal cancer, as well as the surgical management of parathyroid disease. The impact of radioguided surgery on the surgical management of cancer patients includes providing vital and real-time information to the surgeon regarding the location and extent of disease, as well as regarding the assessment of surgical resection margins. Additionally, it has allowed the surgeon to minimize the surgical invasiveness of many diagnostic and therapeutic procedures, while still maintaining maximum benefit to the cancer patient. In the current review, we have attempted to comprehensively evaluate the history, technical aspects, and clinical applications of radioguided surgery using gamma detection probe technology

Genome sequencing reveals Zika virus diversity and spread in the Americas

Although the recent Zika virus (ZIKV) epidemic in the Americas and its link to birth defects have attracted a great deal of attention, much remains unknown about ZIKV disease epidemiology and ZIKV evolution, in part owing to a lack of genomic data. Here we address this gap in knowledge by using multiple sequencing approaches to generate 110 ZIKV genomes from clinical and mosquito samples from 10 countries and territories, greatly expanding the observed viral genetic diversity from this outbreak. We analysed the timing and patterns of introductions into distinct geographic regions; our phylogenetic evidence suggests rapid expansion of the outbreak in Brazil and multiple introductions of outbreak strains into Puerto Rico, Honduras, Colombia, other Caribbean islands, and the continental United States. We find that ZIKV circulated undetected in multiple regions for many months before the first locally transmitted cases were confirmed, highlighting the importance of surveillance of viral infections. We identify mutations with possible functional implications for ZIKV biology and pathogenesis, as well as those that might be relevant to the effectiveness of diagnostic tests

The anti-biofilm potential of commonly discarded agro-industrial residues against opportunistic pathogens

CNPQ - CONSELHO NACIONAL DE DESENVOLVIMENTO CIENTÍFICO E TECNOLÓGICOCAPES - COORDENAÇÃO DE APERFEIÇOAMENTO DE PESSOAL E NÍVEL SUPERIORBrazil is one of the largest producers of agro-industrial residues in the world. The aim of the study was to evaluate the anti-biofilm potential of hydroalcoholic extracts from agro-industrial residues. Organic residues from different parts were obtained from companies and subjected to hydroalcoholic extraction. A total of 14 extracts from the species Theobroma cacao (cocoa), Coffea arabica (coffee), Psidium guajava (guava), Citrus sinensis (orange), Malus domestica (apple), geopropolis, Punica granatum (pomegranate) and Solanum lycopersicum (tomato) were obtained and screened for their MIC/MBC against reference microorganisms (eleven bacterial strains and one yeast strain). The most bioactive extracts were chemically characterized by GC/MS and tested for their ability to inhibit adhesion, kill mature biofilm cells, and disrupt biofilm morphology. Eight extracts showed antimicrobial activity with MIC values ranging from 31.25 to 2000 mu g/ml and MBC/MFC ranging from 62.50 to 4000 mu g/ml. The extracts of geopropolis, pomegranate batchs #1 and #2 and coffee were able to inhibit adhesion at their MICs by 23% to 80% depending on the strain. At 10 x MIC, three extracts also inhibited mature biofilm of seven pathogens. Toxicity tests were performed in vivo with the extracts of geopropolis, pomegranate I and pomegranate 2 in G. mellonella larvae. At the dose of 50 mg/kg, the extracts did not exert considerable acute toxic effects in the larvae over a period of 72 h. The extracts from agro-industrial residues have promising anti-biofilm activity against opportunistic pathogens of clinical relevance in the medical and dental settings. (C) 2016 Published by Elsevier B.V.Brazil is one of the largest producers of agro-industrial residues in the world. The aim of the study was to evaluate the anti-biofilm potential of hydroalcoholic extracts from agro-industrial residues. Organic residues from different parts were obtained from companies and subjected to hydroalcoholic extraction. A total of 14 extracts from the species Theobroma cacao (cocoa), Coffea arabica (coffee), Psidium guajava (guava), Citrus sinensis (orange), Malus domestica (apple), geopropolis, Punica granatum (pomegranate) and Solanum lycopersicum (tomato) were obtained and screened for their MIC/MBC against reference microorganisms (eleven bacterial strains and one yeast strain). The most bioactive extracts were chemically characterized by GC/MS and tested for their ability to inhibit adhesion, kill mature biofilm cells, and disrupt biofilm morphology. Eight extracts showed antimicrobial activity with MIC values ranging from 31.25 to 2000 mu g/ml and MBC/MFC ranging from 62.50 to 4000 mu g/ml. The extracts of geopropolis, pomegranate batchs #1 and #2 and coffee were able to inhibit adhesion at their MICs by 23% to 80% depending on the strain. At 10 x MIC, three extracts also inhibited mature biofilm of seven pathogens. Toxicity tests were performed in vivo with the extracts of geopropolis, pomegranate I and pomegranate 2 in G. mellonella larvae. At the dose of 50 mg/kg, the extracts did not exert considerable acute toxic effects in the larvae over a period of 72 h. The extracts from agro-industrial residues have promising anti-biofilm activity against opportunistic pathogens of clinical relevance in the medical and dental settings87150160CNPQ - CONSELHO NACIONAL DE DESENVOLVIMENTO CIENTÍFICO E TECNOLÓGICOCAPES - COORDENAÇÃO DE APERFEIÇOAMENTO DE PESSOAL E NÍVEL SUPERIORCNPQ - CONSELHO NACIONAL DE DESENVOLVIMENTO CIENTÍFICO E TECNOLÓGICOCAPES - COORDENAÇÃO DE APERFEIÇOAMENTO DE PESSOAL E NÍVEL SUPERIOR140029/2014-1; 308644/2011-5sem informaçã

Virulence of Cryptococcus sp. biofilms in vitro and in vivo using Galleria mellonella as an alternative model.

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Cryptococcosis: epidemiology, fungal resistance, and new alternatives for treatment

Cryptococcosis is an important systemic mycosis and the third most prevalent disease in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive individuals. The incidence of cryptococcosis is high among the 25 million people with HIV/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), with recent estimates indicating that there are one million cases of cryptococcal meningitis globally per year in AIDS patients. In Cryptococcus neoformans, resistance to azoles may be associated with alterations in the target enzyme encoded by the gene ERG11, lanosterol 14α-demethylase. These alterations are obtained through mutations, or by overexpressing the gene encoding. In addition, C. gattii and C. neoformans present a heteroresistance phenotype, which may be related to increased virulence. Other species beyond C. neoformans and C. gattii, such as C. laurentii, have been diagnosed mainly in patients with immunosuppression. Infections of C. albidus have been isolated in cats and marine mammals. Recent evidence suggests that the majority of infections produced by this pathogen are associated with biofilm growth, which is also related with increased resistance to antifungal agents. Therefore, there is a great need to search for alternative antifungal agents for these fungi. The search for new molecules is currently occurring from nanoparticle drugs of plant peptide origin. This article presents a brief review of the literature regarding the epidemiology of cryptococcosis, as well as fungal resistance and new alternatives for treatment. © 2013 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg