Effect of prednisolone in a kindling model of epileptic seizures in rats on cytokine and intestinal microbiota diversity.

Epilepsy is a neurological disease characterized by spontaneous and recurrent seizures. Epileptic seizures can be initiated and facilitated by inflammatory mechanisms. As the dysregulation of the immune system would be involved in epileptogenesis, it is suggested that anti-inflammatory medications could impact epileptic seizures.

The intricate molecular identification of Streptomyces: a case study on Antarctic soil isolates.

Despite the worldwide use of 16S rRNA to identify bacterial species, the use of this gene does not discriminate the 750 species in the genus Streptomyces. A MLST scheme was constructed with rpoB, gyrB, recA, trpB and atpD genes to access the genomic variances in Streptomyces species evolution. We analyze the housekeeping genes in 49 Streptomyces isolates from Antarctic soil.

Gut microbiota modulation by prednisolone in a rat kindling model of pentylenetetrazol (PTZ)-induced seizure.

The gut microbiota is a complex community composed by several microorganisms that interact in the maintenance of homeostasis and contribute to physiological processes, including brain function. The relationship of the taxonomic composition of the gut microbiota with neurological diseases such as autism, Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, anxiety, and depression is widely recognized. The immune system is an important intermediary between the gut microbiota and the central nervous system, being one of the communication routes of the gut-brain axis.

Antifungal susceptibility of yeasts isolated from anthropogenic watershed.

Yeasts are unicellular fungi widespread in the environment, and studies suggest that there is a positive correlation between yeast and polluted aquatic environments. The aim of this study was to analyze the diversity and resistance of yeasts isolated from water samples collected along the Arroio Dilúvio in Porto Alegre to antifungals. Yeast isolates from the Arroio Dilúvio were subjected to susceptibility assays against antifungals using the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) test, and amplification of the ITS1-5.

Production of lipolytic enzymes by bacteria isolated from biological effluent treatment systems.

This work aimed to evaluate the production of lipolytic complexes, produced by microorganisms isolated from a biological treatment system of effluents from a hotel. To select the best lipolytic microorganism for use in biotechnological processes, we tested 45 bacterial isolates recovered from the raw effluent of the hotel's restaurant waste tank. Lipase production was assayed in culture medium supplemented with olive oil and rhodamine B, incubated at 25 °C and 30 °C for 24 h - 48 h.

Purification and characterization of a thermostable alkaline cellulase produced by Bacillus licheniformis 380 isolated from compost.

During composting processes, the degradation of organic waste is accomplished and driven by a succession of microbial populations exhibiting a broad range of functional competencies. A total of 183 bacteria, isolated from a composting process, were evaluated for cellulase activity at different temperatures (37, 50, 60, and 70°C) and pH values. Out of the 22 isolates that showed activity, isolate 380 showed the highest cellulase activity.

Genetic Background of β-Lactamases in Enterobacteriaceae Isolates from Environmental Samples.

The prevalence of β-lactamase-producing Enterobacteriaceae has increased worldwide. Although antibiotic-resistant bacteria are usually associated with hospitals, there are a growing number of reports of resistant bacteria in other environments. Concern about resistant microorganisms outside the hospital setting highlights the need to investigate mechanisms of antibiotic resistance in isolates collected from the environment.

Phenotypic Tests for the Detection of β-Lactamase-Producing Enterobacteriaceae Isolated from Different Environments.

Some bacteria from the Enterobacteriaceae family are showing a significant capability to disseminate β-lactams resistance mechanisms among them, and these same mechanisms can be carried out from the hospital environment to superficial water. The aim of this study was to evaluate different phenotypic methods for the detection β-lactamases production by enterobacteria isolated from the anthropogenic environment: hospital wastewater and from a stream that cross the city of Porto Alegre. The applied tests were the modified Hodge test (MHT) and phenotypic tests with the following inhibitors: carbapenemase-phenylboronic acid (APB), metallo-β-lactamase-EDTA, AmpC β-lactamase-cloxacillin, and the confirmatory test for extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-clavulanic acid.

Acanthamoeba T4, T5 and T11 isolated from mineral water bottles in southern Brazil.

Acanthamoeba is a protist potential pathogen, capable of causing a blinding keratitis in contact lens wearers and disseminated infection, leading to granulomatous amebic encephalitis in immunocompromised individuals. This amoeba is a ubiquitous organism that has been isolated from various domestic water systems, such as cooling towers and hospital water networks. The objective of this work was to investigate the presence of Acanthamoeba in mineral water bottles marketed in Porto Alegre, southern Brazil.

Genetic diversity among monoconidial and polyconidial isolates of Bipolaris sorokiniana.

Spot blotch caused by Bipolaris sorokiniana is a destructive disease of wheat in warm and humid wheat-growing regions of the world. This fungus shows a high genetic diversity and morphological and physiologic variability. In this study, 19 polysporic and 57 monosporic isolates of B.

Prevalence of enterotoxin-encoding genes and antimicrobial resistance in coagulase-negative and coagulase-positive Staphylococcus isolates from black pudding.

Introduction: Staphylococcal species are pathogens that are responsible for outbreaks of foodborne diseases. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of enterotoxin-genes and the antimicrobial resistance profile in staphylococcus coagulase-negative (CoNS) and coagulasepositive (CoPS) isolates from black pudding in southern Brazil.

Methods: Two hundred typical and atypical colonies from Baird-Parker agar were inoculated on mannitol salt agar.

Variability in the production of extracellular enzymes by entomopathogenic fungi grown on different substrates.

Entomopathogenic fungi are important controllers of pest-insects populations in agricultural production systems and in natural environment. These fungi have enzymatic machinery which involve since the recognition and adherence of spores in their hosts culminating with infection and death of these insects. The main objective of this study was to analyzed extracellular enzyme production of the fungi strains Beauveria bassiana, Metarhizium anisopliae and Paecilomyces sp when cultured on substrates.

Anti-phytopathogen potential of endophytic actinobacteria isolated from tomato plants (Lycopersicon esculentum) in southern Brazil, and characterization of Streptomyces sp. R18(6), a potential biocontrol agent.

Tomato plants (Lycopersicon esculentum) are highly susceptible to phytopathogen attack. The resulting intensive application of pesticides on tomato crops can affect the environment and health of humans and animals. The objective of this study was to select potential biocontrol agents among actinobacteria from tomato plants, in a search for alternative phytopathogen control.

The use of RAPD to characterize Bipolaris sorokiniana isolates.

Bipolaris sorokiniana is a phytopathogenic fungus causing diseases of cereal crops such as common root rot, the leaf spot disease, seedling blight, and black point of the grain. Random-amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) assay was used to investigate the genetic diversity of 20 isolates collected from different cultivars in wheat-producing regions in Brazil. Seventy primers, with random nucleotide sequences, were tested.

Intraspecific variability of Bipolaris sorokiniana isolates determined by random-amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD).

Isolates of Bipolaris sorokiniana were analyzed by random-amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) techniques to determine the amount of intraspecific genetic variability and to study host-pathogen interactions. Ten isolates originated from different regions of Brazil were examined. Plants of the wheat cultivars BR8, BH1146 (original host) and IAC-5 Maringá, classified as resistant, moderately resistant or susceptible to B.