Analysis of free-living seabirds from Brazil as potential hosts of Toxoplasma gondii and serological investigation for antibodies against Leptospira spp.

Dispersal patterns of zoonotic pathogens can be strongly influenced by mobility and contact among hosts. Toxoplasma gondii infection has been documented in many avian species, however, there is little information regarding free-living seabird populations. Leptospira can infect domestic and wild animals, with birds being potential carriers of the bacteria.

Potential of biochar to restoration of microbial biomass and enzymatic activity in a highly degraded semiarid soil.

Biochar is an effective material for enhancing soil ecosystem services. However, the specific impacts of biochar on microbial indicators, particularly in degraded soils, remain poorly understood. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of biochar produced from cashew residues and sewage sludge, in a highly degraded soil, on microbial indicators.

Social conditions impact functional outcome in patients with hand osteoarthritis: the low-income hand osteoarthritis (LIHOA) cohort.

Background: Hand osteoarthritis (HOA) is a highly prevalent disease that may be impacted by social inequalities. Few studies in HOA are from underdeveloped regions. We intend to contribute to fill this gap presenting clinical characteristics of our low-income HOA cohort (LIHOA).

Nanoparticles and plants: A focus on analytical characterization techniques.

Nanotechnology has brought about significant progress through the use of goods based on nanomaterials. However, concerns remain about the accumulation of these materials in the environment and their potential toxicity to living organisms. Plants have the ability to take in nanomaterials (NMs), which can cause changes in their physiology and morphology.

Bacteria-Derived Cellulose Membranes Modified with Graphene Oxide-Silver Nanoparticles for Accelerating Wound Healing.

This study reports on the modification of bacterial cellulose (BC) membranes produced by static fermentation of bacterial strains with graphene oxide-silver nanoparticles (GO-Ag) to yield skin wound dressings with improved antibacterial properties. The GO-Ag sheets were synthesized through chemical reduction with sodium citrate and were utilized to functionalize the BC membranes (BC/GO-Ag). The BC/GO-Ag composites were characterized to determine their surface charge, morphology, exudate absorption, antimicrobial activity, and cytotoxicity by using fibroblast cells.

Hepatic endotheliitis in Golden Syrian hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus) experimentally infected with SARS-CoV-2.

Hepatic injuries in COVID-19 are not yet fully understood and indirect pathways (without viral replication in the liver) have been associated with the activation of vascular mechanisms of liver injury in humans infected with SARS-CoV-2. Golden Syrian hamsters are an effective model for experimental reproduction of moderate and self-limiting lung disease during SARS-CoV-2 infection. As observed in humans, this experimental model reproduces lesions of bronchointerstitial pneumonia and pulmonary vascular lesions, including endotheliitis (attachment of lymphoid cells to the luminal surface of endothelium).

Antibodies against Leptospira spp. in Free-living and Captive Broad-snouted Caiman (Caiman latirostris) and Free-living Yacare Caiman (Caiman yacare) in Brazil.

We evaluated antibodies against Leptospira spp. in both free-living and captive Caiman latirostris from Atlantic Forest, and free-living Caiman yacare from Pantanal, Brazil, by using a microscopic agglutination test. Overall seropositivity was 17%, with rates of 36% in captive C.

Effects of chemical aging on carbonaceous materials: Stability of water-dispersible colloids and their influence on the aggregation of natural-soil colloid.

Although hydrochar and biochar have been used as soil conditioners, there is not a clear understanding of how their properties changes due to aging impacts their colloidal particles behavior on the soil system. From this premise, we produced hydrochar and biochar from the same feedstock (cashew bagasse) and aged with different chemical methods: (i) using hydrogen peroxide, (ii) a mixture of nitric and sulfuric acids, and (iii) hot water. It was analyzed the effects of aging on the stability of the carbonaceous materials (CMs) colloids in aqueous medium with different ionic strength (single systems), as well as the stability of the natural-soil colloid when interacting with biochar and hydrochar colloids (binary systems).

Substrate-Induced Changes on the Optical Properties of Single-Layer WS.

Among the most studied semiconducting transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs), WS2 showed several advantages in comparison to their counterparts, such as a higher quantum yield, which is an important feature for quantum emission and lasing purposes. We studied transferred monolayers of WS2 on a drilled Si3N4 substrate in order to have insights about on how such heterostructure behaves from the Raman and photoluminescence (PL) measurements point of view. Our experimental findings showed that the Si3N4 substrate influences the optical properties of single-layer WS2.

Acute toxicity of titanium dioxide microparticles in Artemia sp. nauplii instar I and II.

In this study, the toxicity effects of titanium dioxide (MTiO ) microparticles on Artemia sp. nauplii instar I and II between 24 and 48 h was evaluated. The MTiO were characterized using different microscopy techniques.

Assessing the Fate of Superparamagnetic Iron Oxide Nanoparticles Carrying Usnic Acid as Chemical Cargo on the Soil Microbial Community.

In the present study we evaluate the effect of superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) carrying usnic acid (UA) as chemical cargo on the soil microbial community in a dystrophic red latosol (oxysol). Herein, 500 ppm UA or SPIONs-framework carrying UA were diluted in sterile ultrapure deionized water and applied by hand sprayer on the top of the soil. The experiment was conducted in a growth chamber at 25 °C, with a relative humidity of 80% and a 16 h/8 h light-dark cycle (600 lx light intensity) for 30 days.

In Silico Evaluation of the Antimicrobial Activity of Thymol-Major Compounds in the Essential Oil of Mart. & Schauer (Verbenaceae).

In this paper, we evaluated the drug-receptor interactions responsible for the antimicrobial activity of thymol, the major compound present in the essential oil (EO) of Mart. & Schauer (Verbenaceae). It was previously reported that this EO exhibits antimicrobial activity against (), (), and ().

Phytochemical Profile and Herbicidal (Phytotoxic), Antioxidants Potential of Essential Oils from (Myrtaceae) Specimens, and in Silico Study.

The essential oil (EO) of Calycolpus goetheanus (Myrtaceae) specimens (A, B, and C) were obtained through hydrodistillation. The analysis of the chemical composition of the EOs was by gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry CG-MS, and gas chromatography coupled with a flame ionization detector CG-FID. The phytotoxic activity of those EOs was evaluated against two weed species from common pasture areas in the Amazon region: L.

Anti-SARS-CoV-2 equine F (Ab') immunoglobulin as a possible therapy for COVID-19.

The new outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has infected and caused the death of millions of people worldwide. Intensive efforts are underway around the world to establish effective treatments. Immunoglobulin from immunized animals or plasma from convalescent patients might constitute a specific treatment to guarantee the neutralization of the virus in the early stages of infection, especially in patients with risk factors and a high probability of progressing to severe disease.

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) internalization and passage through the Lactuca sativa (Asteraceae) outer cell wall.

Silver nanoparticle (AgNPs) toxicity is related to nanoparticle interaction with the cell wall of microorganisms and plants. This interaction alters cell wall conformation with increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the cell. With the increase of ROS in the cell, the dissolution of zero silver (Ag0) to ionic silver (Ag+) occurs, which is a strong oxidant agent to the cellular wall.

Profiles not metrics: the case of Brazilian universities.

Public universities, and science in general, in Brazil, are under attack from key persons of the government in interviews and articles published in non-scientific journals. Here we look at bibliography data from international science metric platforms (Scival® and Incites®) and official Brazilian agencies such as CAPES and CNPq to reach some conclusions based on scientific analysis. Brazilian Science has shown a steady improvement in quantity and quality over the last 20 years but has recently suffered (since 2015) under severe financial restrictions.

Sperm viability, serological, molecular, and modified seminal plasma agglutination tests in the diagnosis of Leptospira in the semen and serum of bovine bulls.

The present study investigated the serum microscopic agglutination test (MAT) among 203 bovine bulls with reproduction by natural means, without apparent signs of orchitis or inflammation of accessory reproductive glands. Simultaneously, the semen of all bulls was subjected to sperm viability analysis and PCR based on the 16S rRNA gene. PCR-positive results of semen samples were confirmed by sequencing.

Chemical Composition of Volatile Compounds in Propolis from the Northeast Region of Pará State, Brazil.

Propolis is a balsamic product obtained from vegetable resins by exotic Africanized bees L., transported and processed by them, originating from the activity that explores and maintains these individuals. Because of its vegetable and natural origins, propolis is a complex mixture of different compound classes; among them are the volatile compounds present in the aroma.

Origin of the Giant Enhanced Raman Scattering by Sulfur Chains Encapsulated inside Single-Wall Carbon Nanotubes.

In this work, we explain the origin and the mechanism responsible for the strong enhancement of the Raman signal of sulfur chains encapsulated by single-wall carbon nanotubes by running resonance Raman measurements in a wide range of excitation energies for two nanotube samples with different diameter distributions. The Raman signal associated with the vibrational modes of the sulfur chain is observed when it is confined by small-diameter metallic nanotubes. Moreover, a strong enhancement of the Raman signal is observed for excitation energies corresponding to the formation of excited nanotube-chain-hybrid electronic states.

GroEL protein of the Leptospira spp. interacts with host proteins and induces cytokines secretion on macrophages.

Background: Leptospirosis is a zoonotic disease caused by infection with spirochetes from Leptospira genus. It has been classified into at least 17 pathogenic species, with more than 250 serologic variants. This wide distribution may be a result of leptospiral ability to colonize the renal tubules of mammalian hosts, including humans, wildlife, and many domesticated animals.

Usefulness of the Ranking Technique in the Microscopic Agglutination Test (MAT) to Predict the Most Likely Infecting Serogroup of .

The microscopic agglutination test (MAT) used for the serological diagnosis of leptospirosis, as a robust and inexpensive method, is still the reality in many laboratories worldwide. Both the performance and the interpretation of the MAT vary from region to region, making standardization difficult. The prediction of the probable infecting serogroup using this test is indispensable for elucidating the epidemiology of the disease; however, in veterinary medicine, many studies consider any reaction detected with a titer of 100, which may ultimately overestimate some serogroups.

Leptospira interrogans serogroup Pomona strains isolated from river buffaloes.

At present, little is known regarding the prevalence of buffalo leptospirosis worldwide, especially with respect to which Leptospira strains may infect this animal species. Furthermore, most investigations into this disease in buffaloes have only been performed with serological studies. In Brazil, particularly in the Amazon, buffalo production is growing and is just as important as cattle production, although few studies have been performed on buffalo compared to cattle.

Leptospira strains isolated from cattle in the Amazon region, Brazil, evidence of a variety of species and serogroups with a high frequency of the Sejroe serogroup.

In Brazil, there have been few leptospires isolated from cattle, especially in the Amazon, implying that the epidemiology of the disease in this region is still largely unclear. In a previous study, 52 Leptospira isolates were obtained from urine of cattle raised in the Brazilian Amazon and, to achieve a greater understanding of Leptospira infection in cattle of this region, the present study aimed to serologically and molecularly characterizes all these isolates. The laboratory assays used were the microscopic agglutination test (MAT) adopting a panel of polyclonal antisera against Leptospira spp.

Molecular Typing and Antimicrobial Susceptibility Profile of Isolates Recovered from Bovine Mastitis and Nasal Samples.

In the present study, we aimed to determine the antimicrobial resistance and molecular typing of recovered from transient and persistent intramammary infections and nares/muzzles in dairy cows. We investigated the antimicrobial resistance of 189 strains using a broad antimicrobial susceptibility profile. Furthermore, 107 isolates were strain-typed using staphylococcal protein-A (spa) typing.