The rapid spread of SARS-CoV-2 caused a global pandemic. Due to the lack of treatment and vaccines, safety strategies must be found to stop the virus dissemination. The objective of this study was to evaluate the virucidal activity of ozonated water, a powerful oxidizing agent, against SARS-CoV-2. A special faucet was the source of ozonated water at a low concentration (0.2-0.8 ppm). At this concentration, tests with SARS-Cov-2 in Vero CCL81 lineage showed two log 10 reduction in virus infectivity upon 1 min exposure to ozonated water, in comparison to controls. It shows the potential as an efficient and rapid alternative for controlling viral spread in hospitals and other environments.

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Sporotrichosis is a subcutaneous mycosis that affects animals and humans. Varying in severity, occurrences range from local lesions to systemic involvement. It is caused by thermodimorphic and saprobic fungi from the Sporothrix pathogenic clade. This study aimed to identify the species and the sexual idiomorph distribution patterns responsible for diagnosed cases of sporotrichosis in São José do Rio Preto, Brazil. We included 188 isolates of Sporothrix sp. from feline lesions and 27 of human origin, which underwent molecular identification and genotyping for mating-type MAT1-1 and MAT1-2. The results showed that Sporothrix brasiliensis is the prevalent species in feline sporotrichosis outbreaks with the overwhelming presence of a single mating-type, MAT1-2 (P < 0.0001), suggesting a prevalently clonal form of spread. Morphological analyses did not discriminate among cryptic species in the genus Sporothrix, and molecular identification was essential for the correct identification of the species responsible for the observed cases of sporotrichosis. Distribution analyses of MAT1-2 isolates support the hypothesis of unidirectional migration from the current epidemics in São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro to the municipality of São José do Rio Preto.

Onychomycoses are nail infections caused primarily by dermatophytes fungi, yeasts, and other filamentous fungi, characterized by persistent infections, prolonged therapy, and high recurrence rates. In clinical practice, some of these occurrences present two or more microorganisms, and the interactions among them can change the chemical environment mediated by small diffusible molecules, producing a competitive niche. The aim of this study was to evaluate the antifungal activity of individual extracts of pure cultures of Candida albicans and C. parapsilosis against dermatophytes. To obtain the fungal extracts, cultures were filtered through a 0.2 μm membrane and submitted to liquid-liquid extraction using ethyl acetate. The Minimal Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) of each extract was evaluated by broth microdilution method and checkerboard assay with fluconazole against clinical isolates of Trichophyton rubrum and T. mentagrophytes. The invertebrate model of Galleria mellonella was used to evaluate the toxicity of the extracts. As results, the extracts of C. albicans and C. parapsilosis showed antifungal activity with MICs between 31,2 – 2000 μg/mL. In association with fluconazole, synergistic effect was detected for all combinations. The extracts presented low toxicity in G. mellonella. In the future, isolation and identification of the extract compounds may allow new therapeutic approaches in the control of fungal infections.

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Ação antimicrobiana do gás ozônio em superfícies e na aeromicrobiotaAntimicrobial action of ozone gas on surfaces and in the air Acción antimicrobiana del gas ozono en superfi cies y en la microbiota del aire

Background The use of O 3 as antimicrobial has stood out as a useful chemical compound for disinfection processes and/or sterilization due to its high oxidant power. Antimicrobial effects of ozone gas (O 3 ), produced by two commercial equipment on cultures of two fungi were studied.Method Petri dishes were plated with concentrations of Candida albicans and Aspergillus fumigatus and placed on a countertop at three distances, 30 cm, 1 m and 2 m, in three directions of exposure of O 3, with and without air conditioning.Results Both equipment showed potential antifungal activity; however, the Mod. I generator (p<0.05) presented twice the O 3 flow rate. The results of the inhibitory activity of O 3 of Mod. II, except the cultures of Candida albicans at the distance of 2 m and, of Aspergillus fumigatus , at distances of 1 m and 2 m, showed significant differences (p<0.05). Candida albicans was more sensitive to O 3 (p<0.05) than the filamentous fungus Aspergillus fumigatus. The experiments conducted with the air conditioning turned off proved the great antimicrobial activity of O 3 . The worst result was observed for the dishes of Aspergillus fumigatus , at the distance of 2 m and near the wall and the best for the central dishes, at the distance of 30 cm, of Candida albicans.Conclusion This method of disinfection by O 3 shows a feasible antimicrobial potential to establish new protocols for hygiene and hospital disinfection, reducing environmental contamination by fungi.