Publications by authors named "Alvaro Cantini Nunes"

Article Synopsis
  • * In a study, mice treated with W. paramesenteroides WpK4 showed increased intestinal mucus production, better villi regeneration, and 100% survival, compared to 60% survival in the control group after chemotherapy with 5-fluorouracil (5-FU).
  • * The probiotic strain can produce and metabolize tryptophan, and its protective effects are associated with increased expression of tryptophan-related molecules in the mice, but these benefits are negated when an AhR inhibitor is
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Amoebiasis is a disease caused by Entamoeba histolytica, affecting the large intestine of humans and occasionally leading to extra-intestinal lesions. Entamoeba dispar is another amoeba species considered commensal, although it has been identified in patients presenting with dysenteric and nondysenteric colitis, as well as amoebic liver abscess. Amoebic virulence factors are essential for the invasion and development of lesions.

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  • The study analyzed the bacterial and fungal diversity in kefir drinks made with milk or sugared water, sourced from different Brazilian cities, by sequencing their RNA transcripts.
  • Both types of kefir contained common bacterial families but differed in yeast presence, with more Saccharomycetaceae in water kefir and Dipodascaceae and Pichiaceae in milk kefir.
  • Although the kefir samples had varying microbial communities, their functional processes were similar, showcasing differences mainly in energy metabolism and genetic information processing between the two types.
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This study aims to verify the antibacterial and antibiofilm action of cell-free spent medium (CFSM) from four lactic acid bacteria with potential probiotic characteristics (, , , and ) against two strains. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of the CFSM, antibacterial activity by analysing the formation of inhibition zones, and inhibition of planktonic cultures were determined. Whether an increase in the concentration of CFSM influenced the growth of pathogenic strains and the anti-adhesive activity of the CFSM in biofilm formation (crystal violet and MTT assays) were determined, which were all corroborated by using scanning electron microscopy.

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Amebiasis is the most severe protozoan infection affecting the human intestine, and the second leading cause of death among parasitic diseases. The mechanisms of amoebic virulence factors acquisition are poorly understood, and there are few studies showing the interaction between Entamoeba dispar and bacteria. Salmonella enterica subsp.

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CIRM-BIA 129 ( wild type, WT) is a probiotic bacterium, which exerts immunomodulatory effects. This strain possesses extractable surface proteins, including SlpB, which are involved in anti-inflammatory effect and in adhesion to epithelial cells. We decided to investigate the impact of gene mutation on immunomodulation and .

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Article Synopsis
  • * All three strains produced beneficial metabolites that significantly reduced immune responses in lab tests, indicating their potential health benefits.
  • * Among the strains, L. paracasei CIDCA8339 showed the best probiotic qualities and safety, suggesting it could be a great option for functional food development without posing risks to health.
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Kefir is a beverage obtained by fermentation of milk or sugar solution by lactic acid bacteria and yeasts, and several health benefits have been attributed to its ingestion, part of them being attributed to species. The objective of the present study was to evaluate, , the probiotic potential of 1Z, isolated from Brazilian kefir grains. Initially, conventional mice were orally treated daily or not during 10 days with a suspension of 1Z, and then orally challenged with serovar Typhimurium.

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Although Lactobacillus species are recognized as normal inhabitants of porcine gastric mucosa, the association of these bacteria with health status or gastric ulcer disease has never been considered. We investigated the bacterial load of Lactobacillus isolated from the antrum, corpus, and pars esophagea of stomachs with (n = 13) and without (n = 10) ulcer of the pars esophagea of slaughtered pigs. We also evaluated in vitro antagonistic properties against typical pathogens of strains isolated from stomachs without ulcer.

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Sour cassava starch (Polvilho azedo) is obtained from a spontaneous fermentation conducted by microorganisms from raw materials and fermentation tanks. This product is traditionally used in the baking industry for the manufacture of biscuits and Brazilian cheese breads. However, the end of fermentation is evaluated empirically, and the process occurs without standardization, which results in products of inconsistent quality.

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Kefir is a fermented milk obtained by the activity of kefir grains which are composed of lactic and acetic acid bacteria, and yeasts. Many beneficial health effects have been associated with kefir consumption such as stimulation of the immune system and inhibition of pathogenic microorganisms. The biological activity of kefir may be attributed to the presence of a complex microbiota as well as the microbial metabolites that are released during fermentation.

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Leptospires are usually classified by methods based on DNA-DNA hybridization and the conventional cross-agglutination absorption test, which uses polyclonal antibodies against lipopolysaccharides. In this study, the amplification of the rpoB gene, which encodes the beta-subunit of RNA polymerase, was used as an alternative tool to identify Leptospira. DNA extracts from sixty-eight serovars were obtained, and the hypervariable region located between 1990 and 2500-bp in the rpoB gene was amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR).

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Brazilian kefir is a homemade fermented beverage that is obtained by incubating milk or a brown sugar solution with kefir grains that contribute their different microbiological compositions. It is highly important to isolate and characterize microorganisms from Brazilian kefir grains to obtain starter cultures for the industrial production of a standardized commercial kefir. Thus, the present study aimed to isolate lactic acid bacteria from eight kefir grains that were propagated in milk or sugar solutions from five different locations in Brazil and to select Lactobacillus isolates based on desirable in vitro probiotic properties.

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