Antibiotics stimulates the development of persistent cells in biofilms of bloodstream isolates.

invasive candidiasis is considered a global health problem. In such cases, biofilm formation on implanted devices represents a therapeutic challenge and the presence of metabolically inactive persistent cells (PCs) in these communities increases their tolerance to fungicidal drugs. This study investigated the influence of amoxicillin, AMX; cefepime, CEF; gentamicin, GEN; amikacin, AMK; vancomycin, VAN; and ciprofloxacin, CIP; on the production of PCs in biofilms of bloodstream isolates.

β-Estradiol and progesterone enhance biofilm development and persister cell formation in monospecies and microcosms biofilms derived from vulvovaginal candidiasis.

The present study aimed to: (1) evaluate the influence of the steroid hormones (SH) on biofilm development; (2) investigate the formation of persister cells (PC) in biofilms; and (3) investigate the influence of SH on PC formation. Biofilms were derived from vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) samples and evaluated by three models: microcosm biofilms grown in Vaginal Fluid Simulator Medium (MiB-VFSM); monospecies biofilms grown in VFSM (MoB-VFSM) and RPMI media (MoB-RPMI). SH altered cell counting and biomass of biofilms grown in VSFM; MoB-RPMI were negatively affected by SH.

Promethazine inhibits efflux, enhances antifungal susceptibility and disrupts biofilm structure and functioning in .

spp. are emerging opportunistic fungi associated with invasive infections, especially in patients with haematological malignancies. The present study investigated the inhibition of efflux pumps by promethazine (PMZ) as a strategy to control and .

Antimicrobial susceptibility and production of virulence factors by bacteria recovered from bitches with pyometra.

Pyometra is one of the most common diseases in adult female dogs, characterized by a suppurative bacterial infection of the uterus with accumulation of inflammatory exudate and a variety of local and systemic clinical manifestations. This study aimed to identify the bacteria within the uterine content and vaginal canal of bitches with pyometra and evaluate their antimicrobial susceptibility and production of virulence factors. Uterine and vaginal content were collected with sterile swabs from 30 bitches diagnosed with pyometra.

Neutralizing Effect of Synthetic Peptides toward SARS-CoV-2.

The outbreak caused by SARS-CoV-2 has taken many lives worldwide. Although vaccination has started, the development of drugs to either alleviate or abolish symptoms of COVID-19 is still necessary. Here, four synthetic peptides were assayed regarding their ability to protect Vero E6 cells from SARS-CoV-2 infection and their toxicity to human cells and zebrafish embryos.

The spike glycoprotein of SARS-CoV-2: A review of how mutations of spike glycoproteins have driven the emergence of variants with high transmissibility and immune escape.

Late in 2019, SARS-CoV-2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2) emerged, causing an unknown type of pneumonia today called coronaviruses disease 2019 (COVID-19). COVID-19 is still an ongoing global outbreak that has claimed and threatened many lives worldwide. Along with the fastest vaccine developed in history to fight SARS-CoV-2 came a critical problem, SARS-CoV-2.

Genomic Diversity of Burkholderia pseudomallei in Ceara, Brazil.

is a Gram-negative bacterium that causes the sapronotic disease melioidosis. An outbreak in 2003 in the state of Ceara, Brazil, resulted in subsequent surveillance and environmental sampling which led to the recognition of as an endemic pathogen in that area. From 2003 to 2015, 24 clinical and 12 environmental isolates were collected across Ceara along with one from the state of Alagoas.

Antifungal activity of different molecular weight chitosans against planktonic cells and biofilm of Sporothrix brasiliensis.

Sporotrichosis, caused by Sporothrix schenckii complex species, is the most prevalent subcutaneous mycosis in many areas of Latin America. Chitosan has been used as an antifungal agent; however the effects of the molecular weight (MW) of chitosan (i.e.

Effect of the molecular weight of chitosan on its antifungal activity against Candida spp. in planktonic cells and biofilm.

Difficulties in the treatment of Candida spp. invasive infections are usually related to the formation of biofilms. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of molecular weight (MW) of chitosan (using high (HMW), medium (MMW) and low (LMW) molecular weight chitosan) on Candida albicans, Candida tropicalis and Candida parapsilosis sensu stricto.

A proposal for antifungal epidemiological cut-off values against Histoplasma capsulatum var. capsulatum based on the susceptibility of isolates from HIV-infected patients with disseminated histoplasmosis in Northeast Brazil.

Epidemiological cut-off values (ECVs) have been used as a tool to detect the acquisition of resistance mechanisms to antifungal drugs. In this context, the objective of this study was to determine the ECVs for classic antifungals against Histoplasma capsulatum var. capsulatum isolates from human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients with a diagnosis of disseminated histoplasmosis.

Phenotype-driven strategies for screening Candida parapsilosis complex for molecular identification.

In this study, phenotypic methods presented >80% agreement with the molecular identification of 59 Candida parapsilosis complex. Growth at 15% NaCl or pH 7.0 significantly reduced cfu-counts of Candida orthopsilosis, suggesting these conditions may support the development of phenotypic methods for the differentiation of the cryptic species of C.

Yeasts from Scarlet ibises (Eudocimus ruber): A focus on monitoring the antifungal susceptibility of Candida famata and closely related species.

This study aimed to identify yeasts from the gastrointestinal tract of scarlet ibises (Eudocimus ruber) and from plant material collected from the environment where they live. Then, the isolates phenotypically identified as Candida famata were submitted to molecular identification of their closely related species and evaluated for their antifungal susceptibility and possible resistance mechanisms to antifungal drugs. Cloacal swabs from 20 scarlet ibises kept in captivity at Mangal das Garças Park (Brazil), pooled stool samples (n = 20) and samples of trunks and hollow of trees (n = 20) obtained from their enclosures were collected.

Aeromonas and Plesiomonas species from scarlet ibis (Eudocimus ruber) and their environment: monitoring antimicrobial susceptibility and virulence.

The present study aimed at evaluating the role of captive scarlet ibises (Eudocimus ruber) and their environment as reservoirs of Aeromonas spp. and Plesiomonas spp., and analyzing the in vitro antimicrobial susceptibility and virulence of the recovered bacterial isolates.

RYP1 gene as a target for molecular diagnosis of histoplasmosis.

This study analyzed the RYP1 gene as a target for the molecular diagnosis of histoplasmosis. This assay detected fungal DNA in 13/13 blood samples from HIV/AIDS-patients with histoplasmosis. Therefore, the detection of RYP1 gene in whole blood sample is a quick and sensitive test to diagnose histoplasmosis.

Azole resistance in Candida spp. isolated from Catú Lake, Ceará, Brazil: an efflux-pump-mediated mechanism.

Since, there is no study reporting the mechanism of azole resistance among yeasts isolated from aquatic environments; the present study aims to investigate the occurrence of antifungal resistance among yeasts isolated from an aquatic environment, and assess the efflux-pump activity of the azole-resistant strains to better understand the mechanism of resistance for this group of drugs. For this purpose, monthly water and sediment samples were collected from Catú Lake, Ceará, Brazil, from March 2011 to February 2012. The obtained yeasts were identified based on morphological and biochemical characteristics.

Exogenous tyrosol inhibits planktonic cells and biofilms of Candida species and enhances their susceptibility to antifungals.

Tyrosol is a quorum-sensing molecule of Candida albicans able to induce hyphal development in the early and intermediate stages of biofilm growth. In the present study, we evaluated the effect of high concentrations of exogenous tyrosol on planktonic cells and biofilms of C. albicans (n = 10) and C.

β-Lactam antibiotics and vancomycin inhibit the growth of planktonic and biofilm Candida spp.: an additional benefit of antibiotic-lock therapy?

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of cefepime, meropenem, piperacillin/tazobactam (TZP) and vancomycin on strains of Candida albicans and Candida tropicalis in planktonic and biofilm forms. Twenty azole-derivative-resistant strains of C. albicans (n=10) and C.

Glucose and lactose as cryoprotectants for fungal strains immobilised in sodium alginate: an emphasis on the conservation of the zygomycetes Rhizopus and Mucor.

This research aimed at investigating the cryoprotectant action of glucose and lactose on strains of Malassezia spp. and zygomycetes immobilised in sodium alginate. Twelve strains of Malassezia spp.

Evaluation of the genetic diversity of Histoplasma capsulatum var. capsulatum isolates from north-eastern Brazil.

Since the beginning of the HIV epidemic, there has been a significant increase in the number of histoplasmosis cases in Ceará, a state in north-east Brazil. The lack of epidemiological data on the genotypes circulating in the north-east region shows the importance of more detailed studies on the molecular epidemiology of Histoplasma capsulatum var. capsulatum in this region.

Clinical-epidemiological features of 13 cases of melioidosis in Brazil.

The aim of this work was to catalog the clinical and ecoepidemiological characteristics of melioidosis in Brazil. The clinical-epidemiological features of melioidosis in Ceará are similar to those in other regions where the disease is endemic. These findings support the inclusion of this Brazilian state as part of the zone of endemicity for melioidosis.

Antifungal activity, toxicity and chemical composition of the essential oil of Coriandrum sativum L. fruits.

The aims of this study were to test the antifungal activity, toxicity and chemical composition of essential oil from C. sativum L. fruits.

Minimum inhibitory concentrations of amphotericin B, azoles and caspofungin against Candida species are reduced by farnesol.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the antifungal activity of farnesol and its interaction with traditional antifungals against drug-resistant strains of Candida species. To do so, we studied the minimum in vitro inhibitory concentration (MIC) of amphotericin B (AMB), fluconazole (FLC), itraconazole (ITC), caspofungin (CAS) and farnesol against 45 isolates of Candida spp., i.

Histoplasmosis in HIV-positive patients in Ceará, Brazil: clinical-laboratory aspects and in vitro antifungal susceptibility of Histoplasma capsulatum isolates.

This study contains a descriptive analysis of histoplasmosis in AIDS patients between 2006 and 2010 in the state of Ceará, Brazil. Additionally, the in vitro susceptibility of Histoplasma capsulatum isolates obtained during this period was assessed. We report 208 cases of patients with histoplasmosis and AIDS, describing the epidemiological, clinical, laboratory and therapeutic aspects.