This research evaluated the fungistatic and fungicidal activities of red propolis alcoholic extract (RPAE) against different Candida species isolated from chronic periodontitis cases, and compared with chlorhexidine (CHX). Nineteen samples of Candida species (C. albicans [n = 12], C. tropicalis [n = 5] and C. glabrata [n = 2]) isolated from chronic periodontitis cases were analyzed. The fungistatic and fungicidal activity of both RPAE and CHX were evaluated using fluconazole and C. parapsilosis (ATCC 6258) as a control. Fungistatic activity was analyzed based on the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) reference procedure to determine the minimum inhibitory concentrations. Fungicidal activity was established according to the absence of fungal growth on Sabouraud Dextrose Agar medium. The fungistatic and fungicidal activities of RPAE were observed, respectively, at 32-64 μg/mL and 64-512 μg/mL for C. albicans, 64 μg/mL and 64-256 μg/mL for C. glabrata, and 32-64 μg/mL and 64 µg/mL for C. tropicalis. CHX fungistatic activity was observed at concentrations of 0.003-1.92 µg/mL for C. albicans, 1.92 µg/mL for C. glabrata, and 0.03-1.92 µg/mL for C. tropicalis. Fluconazole fungistatic activity ranged between 1-64 μg/mL, and fungicidal activity occurred at 8-64 μg/mL, for the three Candida species analyzed. All the Candida species were susceptible to RPAE antifungal activity, but five samples of C. albicans, one of C. tropicalis and one of C. glabrata were resistant to fluconazole antifungal activity. CHX showed fungistatic activity against all the Candida species analyzed. The antifungal potential of these substances suggests that they can be applied as an alternative treatment for diseases affected by these species.

Aims:  The in vitro antifungal activity of Brazilian green and red propolis was tested against different species of Trichophyton. Methods and Results:  The antifungal activity of the Brazilian aqueous and alcoholic extracts of the green propolis and the alcoholic extract of red propolis was observed against Trichophyton rubrum, Trichophyton tonsurans and Trichophyton mentagrohytes samples, using as controls itraconazole and terbinafine. The minimal inhibitory concentration was determined following the microdilution method indicated by the ‘Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute’. The minimal fungicide concentration was determined by the absence of growth in liquid sabouraud culture medium. The data obtained showed that the green propolis alcoholic extract’s antifungal activity was from 64 to 1024 μg ml−1, whereas the red propolis alcoholic extract was from 8 to 1024 μg ml−1. Conclusions:  The antifungal activity of the red propolis alcoholic extract was more efficient than the green propolis alcoholic extract for all three species studied. The T. rubrum samples were shown to be more sensitive to the antifungal activity of the alcoholic extracts of the propolis. Significance and Impact of the Study:  The antifungal potential of the alcoholic extracts of green and red propolis demonstrated suggest an applicable potential as an alternative treatment for dermatophytosis caused by these species.

Lectins are carbohydrate-binding proteins of non-imune origin. This group of proteins is distributed widely in nature and they have been found in viruses, microorganisms, plants and animals. Lectins of plants have been isolated and characterized according to their chemical, physical-chemical, structural and biological properties. Among their biological activities, we can stress its fungicidal action. It has been previously described the effect of the lectins Dviol, DRL, ConBr and LSL obtained from the seeds of leguminous plants on the growth of yeasts isolated from vaginal secretions. In the present work the experiments were carried out in microtiter plates and the results interpreted by both methods: visual observations and a microplate reader at 530nm. The lectin concentrations varied from 0.5 to 256μg/mL, and the inoculum was established between 65-70% of trammitance. All yeast samples isolated from vaginal secretion were evaluated taxonomically, where were observed macroscopic and microscopic characteristics to each species. The LSL lectin did not demonstrate any antifungal activity to any isolate studied. The other lectins DRL, ConBr and DvioL, showed antifungal potential against yeast isolated from vaginal secretion. These findings offering offer a promising field of investigation to develop new therapeutic strategies against vaginal yeast infections, collaborating to improve women's health.

A própolis é um produto resinoso derivado das abelhas e tem sido amplamente utilizada pela medicina popular ao longo dos anos para diversas finalidades. Um amplo potencial biológico tem sido atribuído ao uso da própolis vermelha brasileira, principalmente sua atividade antimicrobiana, que representa o meio de proteção das abelhas contra patógenos microbianos. Este estudo teve como objetivo avaliar a atividade antibacteriana in vitro do extrato etanólico da própolis vermelha brasileira produzida por Apis mellifera contra bactérias multidroga-resistentes adquiridas em infecções hospitalares. Cinco isolados de Escherichia coli e sete de Klebsiella pneumoniae foram utilizados neste estudo, os quais apresentaram os fenótipos ESBL e/ou KPC. O ensaio antimicrobiano in vitro foi realizado pelo método de microdiluição. As concentrações mínimas inibitórias e bactericidas (CIM e CBM) do extrato etanólico da própolis vermelha foram determinadas para cada cepa bacteriana e exibiu atividade bacteriostática e bactericida contra cepas multidroga-resistentes de E. coli e K. pneumoniae, apresentando a CIM de 2,05 e 0,13 mg/mL e CBM de 15,63 e 3,91 mg/mL, respectivamente. Estes resultados confirmaram a atividade antibacteriana da própolis vermelha brasileira contra cepas multidroga-resistentes, destacando seu uso como um potencial alvo terapêutico para o tratamento adjuvante de infecções bacterianas multidroga-resistentes.

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ABSTRACT.-Torres M.E.L.M., Herculano P.N., Lima M.L.F., Soares P.T., Siqueira A.B.S., Souza-Motta C.M., Porto A. Dermatophytes are fungi that can cause superficial infections of the skin, hair and nails in man and animals. The most frequent dermatophyte species isolated from dogs and cats are Microsporum gypseum, most notably Microsporum canis. The crucial role during the infection process is the production of extracellular enzymes essential for the invasion and establishment of the pathogen in the host tissue. The objective of this research was to isolate dermatophytes from dogs and cats and evaluate the enzymatic profile of the isolates obtained. Hair samples and epidermal scales were collected from dogs and cats in veterinary facilities in Recife-PE, and the isolates were identified based on macroscopic and microscopic characteristics. The qualitative analysis of the enzymes urease, protease, lipase, collagenase and phospholipase was evaluated from the isolated dermatophytes. During 10 months, a total of 106 animals, comprising of 99 dogs and seven cats with clinical signs, regardless of sex and race were evaluated. Only eight animals were confirmed with dermatophytosis, mostly dogs (n=7), being six affected by M. canis and one by M. gypseum, the race most affected was Yorkshire (n=3). However, only one cat was confirmed with M. canis. No sex-related predisposition was observed regarding the occurrence of dermatophytosis in dogs and cats evaluated. Isolated dermatophytes showed similar profiles for the enzymes urease, lipase, protease, phospholipase and collagenase, important characteristic for pathogenic infections. The diagnosis of this zoonosis based on microbiological confirmation and a better understanding of the underlying mechanisms is of great importance for the treatment and prevention of fungal diseases in animals.