Simulated Vaginal Fluid: Candida resistant strains biofilm characterization and vapor phase of essential oil effect

Introduction : Vulvovaginal candidiasis is a disease that affects millions of women worldwide. Oral formulations, topical creams or ointments are the conventional dosage forms, with an increase in drug administration through vaginal via. The use of simulated biological fluids (e.g. vaginal fluid) in the evaluation of antifungal therapies may better mimic the real biological environments and therefore provide a better understanding of the behavior of the antifungal. Methods : The main objective of this work was to compare planktonic growth and biofilm formation of Candida species, on common growth medium, Sabouraud Dextrose Broth (SDB) and on vaginal simulation conditions, Simulated Vaginal Fluid (SVF), through the optical density determination, colony-forming units and scanning electron microscopy. In addition, under the same conditions this study also evaluated the ability of vapor phase of oregano and white thyme essential oils (VP-EOs), potential alternative treatment, to inhibit biofilm formation and to destroy mature biofilms of vaginal isolates, through the colony-forming units determination. Results : Candida isolates maintained the same biofilm formation capacity and morphology in both media (SVF and SDB). Furthermore, the results obtained in this work related with VP-EOs effect agree with results acquired, previously, with SDB. This means that the effect of VP-EOs is not affected by the SVF medium, and that this fluid allows the dissolution of the volatile and bioactive compounds. Conclusions : These results can predict the in vivo behaviour, suggesting a potential effective application of VP-EOs as prophylactic or therapeutic treatment for biofilm-related vulvovaginal candidiasis.This study was supported by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) under the scope of the strategic funding of UIDB/04469/2020 unit and grant ref 2020.05720.BD for Liliana Fernandes. Also, this study was supported by LABBELS — Associate Laboratory in Biotechnology, Bioengineering and Microelectromechanical Systems, LA/P/0029/2020 and Maria Elisa Rodrigues thanks FCT for funding through program DL 57/2016—Norma transitóriainfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Aspectos teóricos e didáticos da formação do professor de ensino religioso: perspectivas à luz da Ciência(s) da(s) Religião(ões) e da Base Nacional Comum Curricular

Esse artigo busca oferecer breves reflexões sobre a formação de docentes para o Ensino Religioso escolar (ER) tendo em mente os aspectos teóricos da Ciência(s) da(s) Religião(ões), como ciência de base para o ER, e princípios didáticos para uma prática docente significante à luz da Base Nacional Comum Curricular (BNCC). O artigo se fundamenta em autores que elucidam sobre aspectos epistemológicos e práticos do ER como Rodrigues (2015), Junqueira (2007), Oliveira (2017), Pieper (2014), dentre outros, assim como as próprias diretrizes da BNCC para o ER. O artigo tem por objetivo fornecer aos docentes indicativos de uma fundamentação teórico/prática relevante e significativa para os educandos, com a finalidade de formar cidadãos conscientes que respeitem à diversidade cultural e religiosa brasileira

Essential oils as a good weapon against drug-resistant Candida auris

Candida auris is a recently found Candida species, mainly associated with nosocomial outbreaks in intensive care hospital settings, and unlike other Candida species, it can be transmitted through person-to-person or by contact with surfaces. C. auris is described as resistant to first-line antifungals and, consequently, associated with high mortality. Nowadays, essential oils (EOs) are known to be effective against fungal and bacterial infections. This work aimed to evaluate the effect of four EOs (tea tree, niaouli, white thyme and cajeput) against C. auris. The EO’s effect on C. auris planktonic growth was evaluated by the minimum inhibitory concentration determination and by the agar disc diffusion method. Then, the same effect was evaluated on biofilm by colony-forming units’ enumeration. The results showed that EOs were able to inhibit the C. auris planktonic growth, with an MIC50 between 0.78 and 1.56% and halos of 20–21 mm for white thyme and tea tree and 13–14 mm for cajeput and niaouli. In addition, the EOs were also able to completely inhibit biofilm formation. Moreover, white thyme and cajeput completely eradicate pre-formed biofilms, while tea tree and niaouli significantly reduce it. Thus, this work demonstrates that EOs are a possible therapeutic alternative and a future perspective for the hard fight against C. auris.This study was supported by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) under the scope of the strategic funding of UIDB/04469/2020 unit and grant ref 2020.05720.BD for Liliana Fernandes. Also, this study was supported by LABBELS—Associate Laboratory in Biotechnology, Bioengineering and Microelectromechnaical Systems, LA/P/0029/2020 and M. Elisa Rodrigues thanks FCT for funding through program DL 57/2016—Norma transitória.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Candida albicans antimicrobial and antibiofilm activity of novel endodontic solvents

Background: Candida albicans is the most prevalent fungi isolated in endodontic infections. In this study, the ability of C. albicans biofilm to tolerate the novel solvent mixtures methyl ethyl ketone (MEK)/tetrachloroethylene (TCE) and MEK/orange oil (OOil) sequentially to the standard irrigation of sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) and ethylenediaminetetraacetic (EDTA) was evaluated. Methods: Biofilm cell cultures of C. albicans SC 5314 were treated sequentially with NaOCl and EDTA and exposed to MEK/TCE or MEK/OOil. The effect of the antimicrobial treatment was evaluated using the disk diffusion method for planktonic culture, and the enumeration of colony-forming units (CFUs) and scanning electron microscope (SEM) for biofilm cell culture. Results: C. albicans mature biofilm (24 h) was significantly reduced in biomass and cell viability after solvent mixtures exposure, compared with the previous NaOCl and EDTA treatments. MEK/OOil combination caused a total reduction of biofilm, while with MEK/TCE, there was a 3-log (CFU/cm2) reduction compared with the sequence NaOCl and EDTA, and a 4-log (CFU/cm2) reduction compared with the control. Conclusions: The additional exposure of a preformed 24 h C. albicans biofilm to novel solvent mixtures MEK/TCE and MEK/OOil caused a positive antibiofilm impact, overcoming the performance of the conventional endodontic irrigating protocol.This article was supported by National Funds through FCT-Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, I.P., within CINTESIS, R&D Unit (reference UIDB/4255/2020). This work was supported by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) under the scope of the strategic funding of UIDB/04469/2020 unit and grant ref 2020.05720.BD for Liliana Fernandes; BioTecNorte operation (NORTE-01-0145-FEDER-000004) funded by the European Regional Development Fund under the scope of Norte2020-Programa Operacional Regional do Norte.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Oficina culinária como estratégia didático-pedagógica interdisciplinar na formação do nutricionista

Os objetivos deste estudo foram relatar a experiência da utilização de oficinas culinárias como estratégia didático-pedagógica na disciplina de educação nutricional, e analisar as percepções dos estudantes quanto à interdisciplinaridade e aplicabilidade na atuação profissional, pela análise de conteúdo temática. Este é um relato de experiência da utilização de oficinas culinárias durante a disciplina de Educação Nutricional no curso de nutrição de uma universidade pública. Foram quantificados os tipos de receitas selecionadas e seus respectivos princípios dietéticos e/ou dietoterápicos. Identificamos que 80% das receitas selecionadas priorizavam o conteúdo de nutrientes dos ingredientes como princípio dietético/dietoterápico e somente 20% consideraram aspectos sensoriais e culturais. Na análise qualitativa, foram identificados três eixos temáticos: (1) O olhar do estudante sobre a oficina culinária; (2) O aprendizado da oficina culinária para sua prática profissional; (3) A racionalização da alimentação. A oficina foi considerada uma experiência inovadora e enriquecedora para a formação acadêmica, principalmente pela interdisciplinaridade. Conclui-se que o uso de oficinas culinárias como estratégia didático-pedagógica interdisciplinar nos cursos de Nutrição pode trazer benefícios na formação dos futuros nutricionistas.The objectives of this study were to report the experience of using culinary workshops as a didactic-pedagogical strategy in the nutrition education discipline, and analyze the students’ perceptions regarding interdisciplinarity and applicability in their professional practices through thematic-content analysis. This is an experience report on the use of culinary workshops during the nutritional education discipline in the nutrition course of a public university. The types of recipes selected and their respective dietetic/diet therapy principles were quantified. We found that 80% of the selected recipes were based on the nutritional composition of foods and only 20% considered sensory and cultural aspects. In the qualitative analysis, 3 thematic axes were identified: (1) The student’s perception of the culinary workshop; (2) The learning in the culinary workshop for their professional practice; (3) The rationalization of food. The workshop was considered an innovative and enriching experience for academic training, mainly due to its interdisciplinarity. It is concluded that the use of culinary workshops as an interdisciplinary didactic-pedagogical strategy in Nutrition courses can bring benefits to the training of future nutritionists.Los objetivos de este estudio fueron relatar la experiencia del uso de talleres de cocina como estrategia didáctico-pedagógica en la disciplina de educación nutricional, y analizar las percepciones de los estudiantes sobre la interdisciplinariedad y la aplicabilidad en la práctica profesional, a través del análisis de contenido temático. Este es un relato de experiencia del uso de talleres de cocina durante el curso de Educación Nutricional en el curso de nutrición en una universidad pública. Se cuantificaron los tipos de recetas seleccionadas y sus respectivos principios dietéticos y/o dietoterápicos. Identificamos que el 80% de los estudiantes seleccionaron las recetas con base en la composición nutricional de los alimentos y solo el 20% consideró aspectos sensoriales y culturales. En el análisis cualitativo se identificaron 3 ejes temáticos: (1) La mirada del estudiante sobre el taller de cocina; (2) Aprender el taller de cocina para su práctica profesional; (3) La racionalización de los alimentos. El taller fue considerado una experiencia innovadora y enriquecedora para la formación académica, principalmente por su interdisciplinariedad. Se concluye que el uso de talleres de cocina como estrategia didáctico-pedagógica interdisciplinaria en cursos de Nutrición puede traer beneficios en la formación de futuros nutricionistas

Monte Molião durante a dinastia Antonina

Os trabalhos arqueológicos realizados em Monte Molião (Lagos, Portugal) permitiram identificar contextos domésticos do século II. O estudo dos materiais neles identificados em associação directa, muito especialmente das cerâmicas importadas, possibilitaram uma leitura integrada que teve em consideração as dinâmicas evolutivas da região algarvia em particular, e da província da Lusitânia, em geral, durante a dinastia Antonina.  O sítio manteve-se integrado nas redes comerciais activas na área meridional da Península Ibérica, mostrando, contudo, especificidades próprias no que diz respeito ao consumo de produtos manufacturados de importação

Monte Molião during the Antonine dynasty: readings through ceramic imports

Os trabalhos arqueológicos realizados em Monte Molião (Lagos, Portugal) permitiram identificar contextos domésticos do século II. O estudo dos materiais neles identificados em associação directa, muito especialmente das cerâmicas importadas, possibilitaram uma leitura integrada que teve em consideração as dinâmicas evolutivas da região algarvia em particular, e da província da Lusitânia, em geral, durante a dinastia Antonina. O sítio manteve-se integrado nas redes comerciais activas na área meridional da Península Ibérica, mostrando, contudo, especificidades próprias no que diz respeito ao consumo de produtos manufacturados de importação.Archaeological work carried out at Monte Molião (Lagos, Portugal) allowed the identification of domestic contexts of the 2nd century CE. The study of the materials identified in these contexts, particularly the imported wares, granted an integrated reading which took into consideration the evolutionary dynamics not only of the Algarve region, but also of the Lusitanian province during the Antonine dynasty. The site remained integrated in the active existing commercial networks of the southern area of the Iberian Peninsula, showing, nonetheless, its own specificities concerning the consumption of imported manufactured wares.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Vapor-phase of essential oils as a promising solution to prevent Candida vaginal biofilms caused by antifungal resistant strains

Background: Vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) is a disease with high incidence, a huge impact on the quality of life and health of women, and which represents a great challenge to treat. The growing need to apply antifungal intensive therapies have contributed to an emergence of drug-resistant Candida strains. Thus, effective therapeutic options, to meet the antifungal-resistance challenge and to control high resilient biofilms, are urgently needed. This study aimed to investigate the antifungal activity of essentials oils (EOs) on drug-resistant Candida vaginal isolates. Method: Therefore, the antimicrobial effect of tea tree, niaouli, white thyme, and cajeput EOs on the planktonic growth of Candida isolates was initially evaluated by an agar disc diffusion method. Then, the vapor-phase effect of tea tree EO (VP-TTEO) on biofilm formation and on pre-formed biofilms was evaluated by crystal violet staining, XTT reduction assay, colony forming units’ enumeration, and scanning electron microscopy. Results: The results revealed high antifungal activity of EOs against drug-resistant Candida isolates. Additionally, the VP-TTEO showed a significant inhibitory effect on the biofilm formation of all tested isolates and was able to provoke an expressive reduction in mature Candida albicans biofilms. Conclusions: Overall, this study suggests that the VP-EO may be a promising solution that is able to prevent biofilm-related VVC caused by antifungal-resistant strains.This study was supported by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) under the scope of the strategic funding of UIDB/04469/2020 unit and grant ref 2020.05720.BD for Liliana Fernandes. Also, this study was supported by LABBELS—Associate Laboratory in Biotechnology, Bioengineering and Microelectromechanical Systems, LA/P/0029/2020 and Maria Elisa Rodrigues thanks FCT for funding through program DL 57/2016—Norma transitória.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Tertiary treatment of dairy industry wastewater with production of Chlorella vulgaris biomass: evaluation of effluent dilution

Efluentes secundários da indústria de laticínios, quando não tratados adequadamente, podem provocar eutrofização de corpos d’água, principalmente por conter nutrientes como fósforo e nitrogênio. O tratamento terciário empregando microalgas poderia ser uma solução adequada para o estado de Minas Gerais, maior produtor brasileiro de leite, contribuindo na redução de impactos ambientais, bem como fornecendo biomassa para extração de óleos e obtenção de compostos ativos e insumos (incluindo proteínas) para nutrição animal. Neste trabalho, avaliaram-se diluições (com água destilada) do efluente secundário da indústria de laticínios para cultivo de Chlorella vulgaris em fotobiorreator tubular em escala de bancada. Os resultados encontrados indicam a viabilidade do uso de efluente de indústria de laticínios, pós tratamento secundário, para o cultivo de microalgas, apresentando crescimento similar àquele obtido em cultivos padrões (meio basal Bold). O efluente secundário sem diluição (100% efluente) foi o que apresentou melhor desempenho na produção de biomassa. Além disso, a biomassa obtida em efluentes não apresentou diferenças em relação àquela obtida em meio basal Bold (controle), no que se refere a teores de proteínas, lipídios ou perfil de ácidos graxos.Secondary wastewaters from the dairy industry may cause eutrophication of water bodies when not properly treated, mainly because they contain nutrients such as phosphorus and nitrogen. Tertiary treatment using microalgae could be an adequate solution for Minas Gerais State, the largest Brazilian milk producer, contributing to the reduction of environmental impacts, as well as providing biomass for oil extraction, and obtaining active compounds and inputs (including proteins) for animal feeding. In this work, dilutions (with distilled water) of the secondary wastewater from the dairy industry were evaluated to cultivate Chlorella vulgaris in a bench-scale tubular photobioreactor. Theresults indicate the feasibility of using wastewater from the dairy industry, after secondary treatment, to cultivate microalgae, showing cell growth like that obtained in control cultures (Bold basal medium). The secondary wastewater without dilution (100% wastewater) provided the best condition for biomass production. The biomass obtained in wastewater showed no differences from the biomass obtained in the Bold basal medium (control) in terms of protein, lipid content, or fatty acid profile

Oregano essential oil: an effective and non-toxic approach for prevent or treat resistant candida species

Vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) is one of the most prevalent vaginal infectious diseases, and the emergence of drug-resistant Candida strains has presented a growing challenge in its treatment. This highlights the urgent need to develop effective and non-toxic alternative treatments. In this context, essential oils (EOs) have emerged as a promising alternative considering low toxicity and high antimicrobial activity. This work is divided into two parts, the first consists of evaluating the effect of the vapor phase of oregano EO (VP-OEO) on biofilms of antifungal-resistant Candida species (Candida albicans and Candida glabrata) quantified by colony forming units enumeration and determine their mode of action by flow cytometry. Interestingly, the VP-EOs has shown to be more effective against Candida growth than their liquid form. Indeed, the results revealed high antifungal activity of VP-OEO against these drug-resistant strains, significantly reducing biofilm formation and mature biofilms, with impact on membrane integrity and metabolic activity of the fungal cells. The second part consists of the design and evaluation of nanoencapsulated OEO (KNP-OEO) as another alternative application of OEO for VVC treatment. These nanoparticles provided stability to OEO and controlled release of the EO. The results demonstrated complete inhibition of C. albicans growth. Moreover, in in vivo assay with BALB/C female mice, a single intravaginal application of KNP-OEO reduced C. albicans growth and preserved a healthy vaginal microbiota, including Lactobacillus species. In conclusion, these studies highlight the promising efficacy of OEO as an alternative for VVC treatment. Both approaches, VP-OEO and OEO-KNP, showed effective antifungal activity against drug-resistant strains while preserving vaginal health. These therapeutic options not only combat antifungal resistance, but also potentially propose a safer option for women's health due to their natural characteristics. However, further research is needed to confirm these promising results and advance the development of these alternative VVC therapies.This study was supported by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) under the scope of the strategic funding of UIDB/04469/2020 unit and grant ref 2020.05720.BD for Liliana Fernandes. Also, this study was supported by LABBELS—Associate Laboratory in Biotechnology, Bioengineering and Microelectromechanical Systems, LA/P/0029/2020 and Maria Elisa Rodrigues thanks FCT for funding through program DL 57/2016—Norma transitória. Sofia Costa de Oliveira acknowledges national funds through FCT, I.P., within the scope of the project "RISE - LA/P/0053/2020. Nuno Pereira Mira acknowledges support from FCT through its funding of research focused on Candida-lactobacilii interactions through LactoCan project (contract number: PTDC/BIA-MIC/31515/2017), iBB (contract: UIDB/04565/2020) and i4HB funding (contract: LA/P/0140/2020). Lorena Cussó acknowledges support by Agencia Estatal de Investigación (PRE2020-095268 MCIN / AEI /10.13039/501100011033 and by "ESF Investing in your future"), by Instituto de Salud Carlos III (PT20/00044) and co-funded by European Union (ERDF, "A way to make Europe")info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio