Publications by authors named "Marcos Rocha"

There is growing concern about infections caused by non- species, including species of the complex - which have seen a considerable increase in cases during the COVID-19 pandemic - in addition to concern about nematode resistance to currently used anthelmintics. Lupeol is a triterpenoid phytosterol that has a wide range of biological activities, although its antifungal and antiparasitic potential is still poorly explored. Additionally, its effect on the biofilm of the species complex has not yet been studied.

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The peels of pequi (Caryocar brasiliense Camb.), native to the Brazilian Cerrado, represent ∼80% of the mass of the whole fruit. Despite their high quantities of dietary fiber and bioactive compounds, they are generally discarded as waste.

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In veterinary medicine, mammary tumors are the most common neoplasms in female dogs and the third most frequent in cats, representing a significant challenge. Efforts have been directed toward adopting standardized diagnostic criteria to better understand tumor behavior and progression in these species. Meanwhile, the use of animal models has substantially advanced the understanding of comparative mammary carcinogenesis.

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Article Synopsis
  • The Candida parapsilosis species complex is a significant concern in healthcare settings due to rising antifungal resistance.
  • Geraniol, a terpene from essential oils, has demonstrated potential antimicrobial effects against this yeast species in both planktonic and biofilm forms.
  • In lab tests, geraniol showed an effective minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) between 256-512 µg/ml and reduced biofilm activity, while also enhancing the effectiveness of certain antifungal medications like amphotericin B and fluconazole.
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  • Otitis externa is a condition in dogs where the external ear canal becomes inflamed, usually due to bacterial infections, and this study focuses on testing promethazine's effectiveness against it.
  • * The research evaluated how promethazine affects bacterial growth and biofilm formation over 120 hours, determining its minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) and minimum biofilm eradication concentration (MBEC).
  • * Results showed that promethazine significantly reduced biofilm growth and could be a promising treatment for recurring bacterial otitis in dogs, highlighting the benefits of repurposing existing drugs to combat antimicrobial resistance.
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  • The article investigates the use of carbonyl cyanide m-chlorophenyl hydrazone (CCCP) as an efflux pump inhibitor to combat antimicrobial resistance and biofilm formation.
  • It found that CCCP significantly reduces biofilm biomass and enhances the effectiveness of antibiotics against biofilms when used at certain concentrations (128 µM and 512 µM).
  • CCCP also impacts the production of virulence factors, decreasing protease production and increasing siderophore release, indicating its potential as a therapeutic aid in managing infections related to biofilms.
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Nanocomposites have garnered attention for their potential as catalysts in electrochemical reactions vital for technologies like fuel cells, water splitting, and metal-air batteries. This work focuses on developing three-dimensional (3D) nanocomposites through aqueous phase exfoliation, non-covalent functionalization of building blocks with surfactants and polymers, and electrostatic interactions in solution leading to the nanocomposites assembly and organization. By combining molybdenum disulfide (MoS) layers with graphene nanoplatelets (GnPs) to form a binary 2D composite (MoS/GnP), and subsequently incorporating multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) to create ternary 3D composites, we explore their potential as catalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) critical in fuel cells.

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Cryptococcal biofilms have been associated with persistent infections and antifungal resistance. Therefore, strategies, such as the association of natural compounds and antifungal drugs, have been applied for the prevention of biofilm growth. Moreover, the pathogenicity model has been used to investigate the capacity to inhibit the pathogenicity of .

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Histoplasmosis is a respiratory disease caused by , a dimorphic fungus, with high mortality and morbidity rates, especially in immunocompromised patients. Considering the small existing therapeutic arsenal, new treatment approaches are still required. Chitosan, a linear polysaccharide obtained from partial chitin deacetylation, has anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, biocompatibility, biodegradability, and non-toxicity properties.

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This study evaluated the antibiofilm activity of promethazine, deferiprone, and Manuka honey against Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa in vitro and ex vivo in a wound model on porcine skin. The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) and the effects of the compounds on biofilms were evaluated. Then, counting colony-forming units (CFUs) and confocal microscopy were performed on biofilms cultivated on porcine skin for evaluation of the compounds.

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Objective: Oral candidiasis is a common fungal infection that affects the oral mucosa, and happens when Candida albicans interacts with bacteria in the oral microbiota, such as Streptococcus mutans, causing severe early childhood caries. C. albicans and S.

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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.

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This study evaluated the effect of fluoxetine (FLU) on planktonic and biofilm growth and the antimicrobial susceptibility of . The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) for FLU were determined by broth microdilution. Its effect on growing and mature biofilms and its interaction with antibacterial drugs were evaluated by assessing biofilm metabolic activity, biomass and structure through confocal microscopy.

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The limited therapeutic options for fungal infections and the increased incidence of fungal strains resistant to antifungal drugs, especially Candida spp., require the development of new antifungal drugs and strategies. Histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACi), like vorinostat, have been studied in cancer treatment and have antifungal effects, acting alone or synergistically with classical antifungals.

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Although regular physical activity is known to improve cardiovascular health in men, evidence for its beneficial effects in postmenopausal females is less convincing and it remains unclear whether initiation of exercise training soon after, rather than many years after menopause impacts the magnitude of training-induced adaptations. We evaluated exercise-induced changes in markers of thrombotic risk and conduit artery function in recent compared with late postmenopausal females. Fourteen recent and 13 late healthy postmenopausal females completed 8 wk of regular intensive exercise training, consisting of floorball and cycling.

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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 .

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Ex vivo experiments have been performed aiming at mimicking in vivo environments. The main aim of this research was to standardize in vitro dual-species biofilm formation by Staphylococcus pseudintermedius and Malassezia pachydermatis as a strategy to establish an ex vivo biofilm model. Initially, the in vitro formation of biofilms in co-culture was established, using YPD medium, inoculum turbidity of 0.

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This study evaluated the effect of the iron chelator deferiprone (DFP) on antimicrobial susceptibility and biofilm formation and maintenance by . Planktonic susceptibility to DFP alone and in combination with antibiotics was evaluated by broth microdilution and biofilm metabolic activity was determined with resazurin. DFP minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) range was 4-64 µg/mL and in combination reduced the MIC for amoxicillin/clavulanate and meropenem.

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Feline sporotrichosis is a zoonotic mycosis caused by fungi belonging to the complex. In the state of Ceará, there are no reports of isolation of this fungus in cats. This study presents the first report of feline sporotrichosis caused by the species in the state of Ceará - Brazil.

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The sympathetic nervous system (SNS) has a critical role in continuously coordinating responses to stimuli internal and external to the human body by appropriately modulating the activity of the organs it innervates. The SNS is activated in response to various physiological stressors, including exercise, which can involve a significant increase in SNS activity. An increase in SNS activity directed toward the kidneys causes vasoconstriction of afferent arterioles within the kidneys.

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Freshwater cetaceans play a significant role as sentinel animals, providing important data on animal species and aquatic ecosystem health. They also may serve as potential reservoirs of emerging pathogens and host virulence genes in their microbiota. In this study, we evaluated virulence factors produced by Gram-negative bacteria recovered from individuals belonging to two populations of free-ranging Amazon river dolphins (Inia geoffrensis).

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This study aimed to standardize the use of an ex vivo wound model for the evaluation of compounds with antibiofilm activity. The in vitro susceptibility of Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 29213 and Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 27853 to ciprofloxacin and polyhexamethylene biguanide (PHMB) was evaluated in planktonic and biofilm growth. The effects of ciprofloxacin and PHMB on biofilms grown on porcine skin explants were evaluated by colony-forming unit (CFU) counting and confocal microscopy.

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Introduction: Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory disease that affects over 125 million people worldwide. Many studies have shown the importance of the microbiome for psoriasis exacerbation.

Aim: Explore the fungal load and species composition of cultivable yeasts on the skin of psoriatic patients (PP) and healthy volunteers living in a tropical area and evaluate the susceptibility to antifungals.

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Persistent apical periodontitis occurs when the endodontic treatment fails to eradicate the intraradicular infection, and is mainly caused by Gram-positive bacteria and yeasts, such as and , respectively. Phenothiazines have been described as potential antimicrobials against bacteria and fungi. This study aimed to investigate the antimicrobial potential of promethazine (PMZ) and chlorpromazine (CPZ) against and dual-species biofilms.

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and are emergent agents of deep-seated and disseminated infections in immunocompromised patients. The present study aimed to investigate the role of extracellular DNA (eDNA) and the enzyme deoxyribonuclease (DNase) on the structure of and biofilms, as well as to examine their effect on the susceptibility to antifungals. Biofilms reached maturity at 48 h; eDNA concentration in the supernatant increased over time (6 < 24 h < 48h).

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