Introduction: Candida parapsilosis is one of the main species that is able to adhere to forming biofilms on inert materials. Adhesion is the first step towards the colonization and invasion of host cells during the infectious process. Among the infections, vulvovaginal candidiasis is increasingly common. The objective was to evaluate the profile of adherence and biofilm formation of eight isolates of C. parapsilosis on the metal used in intrauterine devices (IUDs).Methods:Eight strains of C. parapsilosis presenting strong adhesion and biofilm formation properties were isolated from vaginal secretions in a previous study. To assay the adhesion and biofilm formation, copper fragments were made and cultivated in tubes containing 3 mL of phosphate-buffered saline and incubated for 6 and 24 h at 37 °C to evaluate biofilm formation. After incubation, the intensity of adherence and of biofilm formation on copper fragments were determined by performing a colony count.Results:All isolates were able to form biofilms and the isolate Cp62 showed many cells joined in a planktonic mode forming biofilms. The use of an IUD is one of the main factors that favors vulvovaginal candidiasis, and the presence of copper in this device increases the chance of recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis (CVVR) due to the ease with which species of the genus Candida can adhere to inert surfaces.Conclusion:This research showed that the clinical isolates studied adhered to IUD copper fragments and formed biofilms, further increasing their virulence.

This study evaluated the effect of green propolis extract on the adhesion and biofilm formation of Candida species in dentistry materials. Phytochemical analysis of green propolis extract was performed by high-performance liquid chromatography. Adhesion was quantified by counting the number of yeast cells adherent to dental material fragments in a Neubauer chamber. Biofilm formation was determined by counting colony-forming units recovered from dental material fragments. The intensity of biofilm adhesion was classified as negative, weak, moderate, strong, or very strong. Fifteen compounds, mainly flavonoids, were identified in green propolis extract. All strains adhered to and formed biofilms on the surfaces of the orthodontic materials studied. On steel and resin, yeast cell adhesion intensities were weak at all incubation times, except for those of Candida parapsilosis and C. tropicalis, which were moderate at 12 h. At 24 and 48 h, C. albicans formed biofilms on steel with moderate adhesion affinities; at 24 and 48 h, C. parapsilosis formed biofilms with very strong affinities. C. tropicalis formed biofilms with strong and very strong affinities at 24 and 48 h, respectively. On resin, all species displayed strong affinity for biofilm formation at 24 and 48 h, except for C. tropicalis, which displayed very strong affinity at only 48 h. Green propolis extract displayed antifungal activity and inhibited both adhesion and biofilm formation at 2.5 μg/mL. This study reinforces the idea that green propolis has antifungal activity and interferes with the virulence of Candida species.

Euterpe oleracea Mart. (açai) is a native palm from the Amazon region. There are various chemical constituents of açai with bioactive properties. This study aimed to evaluate the chemical composition and cytotoxic effects of açai seed extract on breast cancer cell line (MCF-7). Global Natural Products Social Molecular Networking (GNPS) was applied to identify chemical compounds present in açai seed extract. LC-MS/MS and molecular networking were employed to detect the phenolic compounds of açai. The antioxidant activity of açai seed extract was measured by DPPH assay. MCF-7 breast cancer cell line viability was evaluated by MTT assay. Cell death was evaluated by flow cytometry and time-lapse microscopy. Autophagy was evaluated by orange acridin immunofluorescence assay. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) production was evaluated by DAF assay. From the molecular networking, fifteen compounds were identified, mainly phenolic compounds. The açai seed extract showed cytotoxic effects against MCF-7, induced morphologic changes in the cell line by autophagy and increased the ROS production pathway. The present study suggests that açai seed extract has a high cytotoxic capacity and may induce autophagy by increasing ROS production in breast cancer. Apart from its antioxidant activity, flavonoids with high radical scavenging activity present in açai also generated NO (nitric oxide), contributing to its cytotoxic effect and autophagy induction.

O artigo científico tem por objetivo avaliar os agentes etiológicos das vulvovaginites nos resultados de exames citopatológicos de mulheres atendidas em uma Unidade de Saúde da Família em São Luís-MA. As vulvovaginites estão presentes em cerca de 70% das queixas ginecológicas. Essa patologia caracteriza-se por uma manifestação inflamatória do trato genital inferior. As formas mais comuns são tricomoníase e candidíase. As vulvovaginites podem ser originadas por bactérias (vaginose bacteriana - VB), por fungos (vulvovaginite fúngica), por protozoários (tricomoníase) e por associações de micro-organismos (vulvovaginites mistas), sendo encontrados com maior frequência, os três primeiros processos infecciosos vaginais. Com base na pesquisa, obteve-se os seguintes resultados: houve predominância de 50% entre as entrevistadas na faixa etária de 30 a 34 anos. Em relação à escolaridade, um percentual de 66,6% informaram ter concluído o 1º grau. Um total de 53,3% das entrevistadas eram casadas. Identificou-se que 73,4% das pacientes possuem renda familiar de 1 salário mínimo. Um percentual de 86,7% dos casos da amostra apresentaram agentes etiológicos da doença vulvoganite, havendo predominância de Mobiluncus sp (93,8%). Dentre os sintomas apresentados, o corrimento obteve maior índice com 92%.Palavras-chave: Agentes etiológicos. Vulvovaginites. Exames citopatológicos

Bacteriophages or phages are bacterial viruses that are known to invade bacterial cells and, in the case of the lytic phages, impair bacterial metabolism, causing them to lyse. Since the discovery of these microorganisms by Felix d’Herelle, a French-Canadian microbiologist who worked at Institut Pasteur in Paris, Bacteriophages begin to be used in the treatment of human diseases, like dysentery and staphylococcal skin disease. However, due to the controversial efficacy of phage preparations, and with the advent of antibiotics, commercial production of therapeutic phage preparations ceased in most of the Western world. Nevertheless, phages continued to be used as therapeutic agents (together with or instead of antibiotics) in Eastern Europe and in the former Soviet Union. Therefore, there is a sufficient body of data that incite the accomplishment of further studies in the field of phage therapy.

Background: Species of mycotoxin-producing fungi are potentially dangerous to humans and animals. The liver is the best-known organ of action of these substances. The aim of this study was to isolate microscopic fungi from honey and investigate the cytotoxic effect of the extract of Penicillium sp. in an experimental model. Methods: Honey samples were cultured in Sabouraud agar. After isolated and identified microscopically, the colonies of the genus Penicillium sp. were transplanted to the Sabouraud dextrose agar culture medium. After its development, they were processed to obtain an extract. Eighteen Wistar mice were randomly assigned to experimental (GI) and control (GII) groups. The GI was subjected to an oral inoculation of the extract, while GII received a placebo. Procedures were performed every day for thirty days, after which the liver of each animal was removed for analysis. Results: Aspergillus sp. (86.2%), Geotrichum sp. (6.89%) and Penicillium sp. (6.89%) were isolated. The most frequent species was Aspergillus niger (46%). In relation to the cytotoxic effects of the extract of Penicillium sp., the gross findings in the liver of GI suggested mainly congestion. Light microscopy showed that the little hepatic lobules were preserved and there was vascular congestion of sinusoids. Light microscopy of specimens from the experimental group showed that 68.2% were abnormal, whereas 87.5% of the control group were within normal limits. Conclusions: The results suggest that there was contamination in honey samples. There was a predominance of macroscopic and microscopic changes in the liver of experimental rats, suggesting liver damage by Penicillium sp.

Talaromyces islandicus TI01 was isolated from a marine-influenced environment that has been suffering for decades from anthropogenic actions in its body of water. Broth microdilution technique was performed to analyze the antimicrobial activity. For analysis of the cytotoxic activity, the MTT [3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl) -2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide] assay was conducted. The chemical analysis of the extract was performed by LC/MS (liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry). The minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of T. islandicus for E. coli ATCC 25922 and S. aureus ATCC 25923 was 1000 μg/ml. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) for E. coli was 250 μg/ mL and for S. aureus 500 μg/mL, respectively, whereas for C. tropicalis ATCC 1369 was 62.5 μg/mL. IC50 for breast cancer cell line (MCF-7) was 45.43 ± 1.657 μg / mL. The major compounds present in the extract were: Luteoskyrin (1) and N-GABA-PP-V (6-[(Z)-2-Carboxyvinyl]-N-GABA-PP-V) (2). The results show that T. islandicus TI01 has a prominent antibacterial activity against E. coli and S. aureus, making this fungi for the development of new food preservatives.

No abstract