In vitro antimicrobial activity, total polyphenols and flavonoids contents of Nopalea cochenillifera (L.) Salm-Dyck (Cactaceae)

This study evaluated the antimicrobial activity in vitro qualitative and quantitative methods, and made the determination of total polyphenols and flavonoids in the ethanol extract of Nopalea cochenillifera. The assessment determined the antimicrobial minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) against Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhi, Micrococcus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus, Candida albicans, Candida glabrata, Prototheca zopffi, Cryptococcus neoformans, Saccharomyces cervisiae e Malassezia furfur. The determination of total polyphenols and flavonoids were significant when compared respectively to the standards of gallic acid and rutin

High frequency of potentially pathogenic yeast species in goat’s raw milk and creamed cheese in Southern Brazil

There are few reports concerning isolation, counting and identification of yeasts in goat´s raw milk and derivates. The objective of this study was to evaluate the diversity of yeasts found in raw goat milk and goat creamed cheese collected in a Metropolitan area in Porto Alegre - Brazil. A simplified HMA (Heteroduplex Mobility Assay) of the 26S rDNA D1/D2 region was developed in order to rapidly confirm the identification of the isolates belonging to potentially pathogenic species. Yeasts were isolated from 59% of the samples. Fifty six strains were isolated and identified in the genera Bullera, Candida, Cryptococcus, Debaryomyces, Dekkera, Pichia, Rhodotorula, Sporodiobolus, Trichosporon, Yarrowia and Zygoascus. The average yeast count in raw milk was superior to 2 log UFC.mL-1, while cheese count was superior to 3 log UFC.g-1. Lipolytic activity was present in almost 92% of the isolates, while only 14% had proteolytic activity. Twelve potentially pathogenic ascomycetic isolates were identified by the conventional yeast identification methodology, and correspond to the species Candida parapsilosis, Candida tropicalis and Pichia guilliermondii. All of them had their identities confirmed by the simplified HMA assay. None of the isolates belonging to potentially pathogenic species were resistant to the antifungal agents tested. More studies are necessary to evaluate the real significance of the isolation of these clinically relevant yeasts

Immunotherapy for Fungal Infections

Opportunistic fungal infections are a major health problem being appointed by some studies as the fourth main cause of hospital-acquired infection in susceptible populations. The constantly growing incidences of these diseases are associated with the growing number of susceptible individuals, such as immunocompromised individuals (leukemia, AIDS, etc) and treatment-induced immunodeficiency (hematopoietic stem cell, solid organ transplant, anticancer therapy). Furthermore, other advances in medical care, patient’s long-term hospitalization and antimicrobial therapies have created several vulnerable populations to fungal infections. Currently, antifungal drug therapies are several times inefficient, and the poor outcomes are linked to difficulties in the early diagnosis of fungal infections and drug resistance among fungal pathogens. In this context, novel therapeutic approaches are welcome to stimulate efficiently the host immune response to eliminate the fungal pathogen. This chapter is intended to review advances in immunotherapy strategies for fungal infections

Comparison of different culture media for mycological evaluation of commercial pet food

The choice of a culture media to proceed a mycological analysis of food is extremely important to guarantee the reliability of the analysis. The medium should allow an excellent recovery of fungal species present in the food at the same time that it is necessary to avoid bacterial development. Thus the real microbial ecology will be reflected in the results. The efficacy of three media for fungal isolation and quantification (potato dextrose agar, dichloran rose of bengal and chloramphenicol agar and dichloran glycerol 18% agar) was compared for analysis of 54 samples of dry commercial pet food (34 for dogs and 20 for cats). Fungi were present in 74% of samples and 23 genera were isolated and identified. Aspergillus sp. and Aspergillus niger were respectively the most frequent genera and species isolated, whatever the culture medium selected to proceed the analysis. Dichloran glycerol 18% agar was the medium that presented the best results considering both the quantity and variety of isolated fungi. Comparing the results obtained in different media, it was observed that the fungi  recovered can vary according to the selected culture medium. Eurotium was the genus that presented the biggest difference in occurrence among the media where samples were cultivated to enumeration in this study. Therefore, the utilization of specific media, selected according to the characteristics of the food to be analyzed (specially water activity) allow a better visualization of the presence of food spoilage fungi

Atividade enzimática e hemolítica de Candida dubliniensis

Candida dubliniensis is an opportunistic yeast that has been recovered from several body sites in many populations; it is most often recovered from the oral cavities of human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients. Although extensive studies on epidemiology and phylogeny of C. dubliniensis have been performed, little is known about virulence factors such as exoenzymatic and hemolytic activities. In this study we compared proteinase, hyaluronidase, chondroitin sulphatase and hemolytic activities in 18 C. dubliniensis and 30 C. albicans strains isolated from AIDS patients. C. albicans isolates produced higher amounts of proteinase than C. dubliniensis (p ; 0.05). Hemolytic activity was affected by CaCl2; when this component was absent, we did not notice any significant difference between C. albicans and C. dubliniensis hemolytic activities. On the contrary, when we added 2.5 g% CaCl2, the hemolytic activity was reduced on C. dubliniensis and stimulated on C. albicans tested strains (p ; 0,05). Constatou-se que a atividade hemolítica foi influenciada pelo CaCl2; em sua ausência não foram observadas diferenças na atividade hemolítica das duas espécies; todavia, ao se agregar 2,5% de CaCl2, a atividade hemolítica de C. dubliniensis foi reduzida enquanto a de C. albicans, estimulada (p < 0,05)

Significações psicossociais sobre o sentido do trabalho e a competitividade em modos de produção contemporâneos

The restructuring of production, since the 70’s has been established a new order demanding for workers capacities and dedication, aiming to obtain more quality and productivity in the means of production. In this new dynamic have developed the outsourcing, in which enterprises hire a specialized company to execute the activities which are not part of the critical processes, the core business; with an aim of cost reduction and increase of the efficiency rate. The manner to produce goods or services is a result of the conjugation of material resources, technology and labour force, which allows a wide array of configuration of labour organizations. This article presents a case study, which research has been investigated the outsourcing as a manner of organization, the management model as a mechanism to adequate labour relations and the teamworks as a structuring element of labour. It means one seeking to understand the way in which human and organizational interests and needs are catered for, highlighting the formation of the psychological identity and the social insertion of individuals, operational efficiency and the competitiveness of companies. A reestruturação da produção, desde os anos 1970, estabeleceu uma nova ordem com exigências de capacitação e dedicação dos trabalhadores visando mais qualidade e produtividade nos modos de produção. Nessa nova dinâmica desenvolveu-se a terceirização, na qual as empresas tomadoras repassam às empresas prestadoras e especialistas, as atividades que, supostamente, não fazem parte dos processos críticos do negócio, o core business; com pressupostos de redução de custos e aumento de eficiência. A forma de produzir bens ou serviços é resultado da conjunção de recursos materiais, tecnologia e força de trabalho, o que permite ampla gama de configurações da organização. Este artigo apresenta um estudo de caso, cuja pesquisa investigou a terceirização como forma de organização, o modelo de gestão como mecanismo de adequação das relações, e a atuação em equipes como elemento estruturante do trabalho. Buscou-se entender como se dá o atendimento dos interesses e necessidades humanas e empresariais, com foco na formação da identidade psicológica e inserção social dos indivíduos, na eficiência operacional e competitividade das empresas.

In vitro synergisms obtained by amphotericin B and voriconazole associated with non-antifungal agents against Fusarium spp

AbstractFusarium spp is an opportunistic fungal pathogen responsible for causing invasive hyalohyphomycosis in immunocompromised patients. Due to its susceptibility pattern with a remarkable resistance to antifungal agents the treatment failures and mortality rates are high. To overcome this situation, combination therapy may be considered which must be subjected to in vitro tests.In vitro activities of amphotericin B, itraconazole, and voriconazole associated with azithromycin, ciprofloxacin, fluvastatin, ibuprofen, metronidazole, and also the combination of amphotericin B plus rifampin against 23 strains of Fusarium spp. through the checkerboard technique based on M38-A2 [Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (2008). Reference method for broth dilution antifungal susceptibility testing of filamentous fungi; approved standard, 2nd ed. (CLSI document M38-A2) (ISBN 1-56238-668-9). Wayne, PA: CLSI] were evaluated.The best synergistic interactions with amphotericin B were with ibuprofen (43.5%) (FICI [fractional inhibitory concentration index] range = 0.25–2). Combinations with voriconazole showed synergism, mainly with ciprofloxacin (30.4%) (FICI range = 0.25–3) and metronidazole (30.4%) (FICI range = 0.1–4); however, all the combinations with itraconazole were indifferent. In general, antagonistic interactions were not registered.Our results showed that in vitro synergisms obtained by some combinations studied deserve attention since they were better than those showed by the antimycotic

Suscetibilidade in vitro a antifúngicos, de amostras clínicas e ambientais de Cryptococcus neoformans isoladas no sul do Brasil

The purpose of the present study was to compare the susceptibility to four antifungal agents of 69 Cryptococcus neoformans strains isolated from AIDS patients with that of 13 C. neoformans strains isolated from the environment. Based on the NCCLS M27-A methodology the Minimal Inhibitory Concentrations (MICs) obtained for amphotericin B, itraconazole and ketoconazole were very similar for clinical and environmental isolates. Clinical isolates were less susceptible to fluconazole than environmental isolates. The significance of these findings and aspects concerning the importance, role and difficulties of C. neoformans susceptibility testing are also discussed.Comparou-se a suscetibilidade de 69 amostras de C. neoformans isoladas de pacientes com SIDA com 13 amostras de C. neoformans isoladas do meio ambiente, frente a quatro agentes antifúngicos. Com base na metodologia preconizada pelo NCCLS (M27-A) as concentrações inibitórias mínimas (CIMs) obtidas para a anfotericina B, itraconazol e cetoconazol foram muito semelhantes nos dois grupos estudados. Todavia, frente ao fluconazol, os isolados clínicos evidenciaram menor sensibilidade do que os provenientes do meio ambiente. Alguns aspectos envolvendo a importância e dificuldades dos testes de suscetibilidade com Cryptococcus neoformans são também discutidos pelos autores

Differentiation of Candida dubliniensis from Candida albicans with the use of killer toxins

The aim of this study was to report the ability of killer toxins, previously used as biotyping techniques, as a new tool to differentiate C. albicans from C. dubliniensis. The susceptibility of C. albicans and C. dubliniensis to killer toxins ranged from 33.9 to 93.3% and from 6.67 to 93.3%, respectively.Avaliou-se a capacidade das toxinas killer, previamente utilizadas na biotipagem de C. albicans, como método para diferenciar C. albicans de C. dubliniensis. A susceptibilidade de C. albicans e C. dubliniensis às toxinas killer variou de 33,9% a 93,3% para C. albicans e de 6,67% a 93,3% para C. dubliniensis