The activity of hydrolytic enzymes and antibiotics against biofilms of bacteria isolated from industrial-scale cooling towers.

Background: Cooling towers (CTs) are crucial to myriad industrial processes, supporting thermal exchange between fluids in heat exchangers using water from lakes and rivers as coolant. However, CT water can sometimes introduce microbial contaminants that adhere to and colonize various surfaces within the CT system. These microorganisms can form biofilms, significantly hindering the system's thermal exchange efficiency.

Chemical and genetic characterization of lipopeptides from and with activity against .

Introduction: The fungus significantly threatens maize crops in tropical soils. In light of this, biological control has emerged as a promising strategy to reduce fungicide costs and environmental risks. In this study, we aimed to test the antifungal activity of cell-free supernatant (CFS) from three (CT02, IM14, and LIS05) and one (LIS04) against , thereby contributing to the development of effective biocontrol measures.

Exploring the mycobiota of bromeliads phytotelmata in Brazilian Campos Rupestres.

The phytotelmata is a water-filled tank on a terrestrial plant, and it plays an important role in bromeliad growth and ecosystem functioning. Even though previous studies have contributed to elucidate the composition of the prokaryotic component of this aquatic ecosystem, its mycobiota (fungal community) is still poorly known. In the present work, ITS2 amplicon deep sequencing was used to examine the fungal communities inhabiting the phytotelmata of two bromeliads species that coexist in a sun-exposed rupestrian field of Southeastern Brazil, namely Aechmea nudicaulis (AN) and Vriesea minarum (VM).

Effects of pharmaceuticals compounds and calcium on granulation, microbiology, and performance of anaerobic granular sludge systems.

Granular sludge is a promising biotechnology to treat sewage contaminated with pharmaceuticals due to its increased toxicity resistance. In this context, this study evaluated the potential of Ca as a granulation precursor and how pharmaceutical compounds (loratadine, prednisone, fluconazole, fenofibrate, betamethasone, 17α-ethinyl estradiol, and ketoprofen) affect granulation. Continuous and intermittent dosages of Ca in the presence and absence of pharmaceuticals were evaluated.

Antifungal activity of bacterial strains from maize silks against Fusarium verticillioides.

Fusarium verticillioides is pathogenic to maize and mycotoxin-producer, causing yield losses, feed and food contamination, and risks to human and animal health. Endophytic (ISD04 and IPR45) and epiphytic (CT02 and IM14) bacteria from maize silks were tested in vitro and greenhouse against F. verticillioides and for hydrolytic enzyme production (cellulase, pectinase, protease, lipase, and chitinase).

Synthetic Peptides Derived From Venom: Interaction With Phospholipid Membranes and Activity Against Resistant Bacteria.

Superbugs are a public health problem, increasing the need of new drugs and strategies to combat them. Our group has previously identified LyeTxI, an antimicrobial peptide isolated from spider venom. From LyeTxI, we synthesized and characterized a derived peptide named LyeTxI-b, which has shown significant and activity.

Plant growth-promoting traits of yeasts isolated from the tank bromeliad Vriesea minarum L.B. Smith and the effectiveness of Carlosrosaea vrieseae for promoting bromeliad growth.

Yeasts can play important roles in promoting plant growth; however, little information is available in this regard for yeasts in water of bromeliad tanks. Here, we characterize the ability of 79 yeast isolates from tank bromeliad Vriesea minarum, an endangered species, to solubilize phosphate, secrete siderophores, and synthesize indole-3-acetic acid (IAA). The results showed that 67.

Genomic and Phenotypic Insights Into the Potential of Rock Phosphate Solubilizing Bacteria to Promote Millet Growth .

Rock phosphate (RP) is a natural source of phosphorus for agriculture, with the advantage of lower cost and less impact on the environment when compared to synthetic fertilizers. However, the release of phosphorus (P) from RP occurs slowly, which may limit its short-term availability to crops. Hence, the use of P-solubilizing microorganisms to improve the availability of P from this P source is an interesting approach, as microorganisms often perform other functions that assist plant growth, besides solubilizing P.

Diversity of Metal-Resistant and Tensoactive-Producing Culturable Heterotrophic Bacteria Isolated from a Copper Mine in Brazilian Amazonia.

Bacterial extracellular polymeric substances (EPSs) present diverse properties of biotechnological interest, such as surface modification, metal adsorption and hydrophobic substances solubilization through surface tension reduction. Thus, there is a growing demand for new producing strains and structurally variable biomolecules with different properties. One approach for scanning this biodiversity consists of exploring environments under selective pressures.

Serratia liquefaciens FG3 isolated from a metallophyte plant sheds light on the evolution and mechanisms of adaptive traits in extreme environments.

Serratia liquefaciens strain FG3 (SlFG3), isolated from the flower of Stachytarpheta glabra in the Brazilian ferruginous fields, has distinctive genomic, adaptive, and biotechnological potential. Herein, using a combination of genomics and molecular approaches, we unlocked the evolution of the adaptive traits acquired by S1FG3, which exhibits the second largest chromosome containing the largest conjugative plasmids described for Serratia. Comparative analysis revealed the presence of 18 genomic islands and 311 unique protein families involved in distinct adaptive features.

Antifungal and Antivirulence Activity of Vaginal Spp. Products against Vaginal Isolates.

yeasts are generally found in the vaginal microbiota; however, disruption of the balance maintained by host factors and microorganisms results in vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC). This study evaluated the antagonistic activity of vaginal spp. on to verify whether active compounds of spp.

Metataxonomic analyses reveal differences in aquifer bacterial community as a function of creosote contamination and its potential for contaminant remediation.

Metataxonomic approach was used to describe the bacterial community from a creosote-contaminated aquifer and to access the potential for in situ bioremediation of the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) by biostimulation. In general, the wells with higher PAH contamination had lower richness and diversity than others, using the Shannon and Simpson indices. By the principal coordinate analysis (PCoA) it was possible to observe the clustering of the bacterial community of most wells in response of the presence of PAH contamination.

Evaluation of the interaction between polymyxin B and Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilm and planktonic cells: reactive oxygen species induction and zeta potential.

Background: Although the most widely accepted mechanism of action for polymyxins is related to bacterial lysis via disruption, we hypothesized that this antimicrobial drug class could have other effects on Pseudomonas aeruginosa planktonic and sessile cells. Little is known regarding oxidative burst and zeta potential (ZP) data associated with the interaction between polymyxin B and P. aeruginosa cells.

Long-term evaluation of membrane bioreactor inoculated with commercial baker's yeast treating landfill leachate: pollutant removal, microorganism dynamic and membrane fouling.

In this study, commercial baker's yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) was employed as a novel inoculum for a membrane bioreactor (MBRy). It was applied to landfill leachate (LFL) treatment to remove recalcitrant organic compounds as well as for the assimilation of recalcitrant compounds, since yeasts have a high ability to break such compounds down. The MBR was inoculated with 10 g L of commercial baker's yeast and was operated at a hydraulic retention time of 48 h and pH of 3.

A multiscale study of fungal endophyte communities of the foliar endosphere of native rubber trees in Eastern Amazon.

Hevea brasiliensis is a native hyperdiverse tree species in the Amazon basin with great economic importance since it produces the highest quality natural rubber. H. brasiliensis, in its natural habitat, may harbor fungal endophytes that help defend against phytopathogenic fungi.

Eugenol Induces Phenotypic Alterations and Increases the Oxidative Burst in .

Eugenol is a phenolic compound and the main constituent of the essential oil of clove India. Although there are reports of some pharmacological effects of eugenol, this study is the first that proposes to evaluate the antifungal effects of this phenol against both and cells. The effect of eugenol against yeast cells was analyzed for drug susceptibility, alterations in cell diameter, capsule properties, amounts of ergosterol, oxidative burst, and thermodynamics data.

Comparative study of free and liposome-entrapped chloramphenicol against biofilms of potentially pathogenic bacteria isolated from cooling towers.

This study aimed to investigate for the first time the antibiofilm effectiveness of two chloramphenicol liposome formulations against biofilms of potentially pathogenic bacteria associated to corrosion isolated from the water of cooling towers from a Brazilian industry. Antibiofilm assays with liposomes were performed in 96-wells microtiter plates, and data was compared to free chloramphenicol treatment. Chloramphenicol-loaded liposomes were successfully produced using the dehydration-rehydration method, with vesicle diameters of 131 nm (100 nm membrane extrusion) and 182 nm (200 nm membrane extrusion) assessed by dynamic light scattering.

Rapid detection of the New Delhi metallo-b-lactamase 1 (NDM-1) gene by loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP).

Background: New Delhi Metallo-b-lactamase (NDM-1) is an enzyme emerging around the world conferring resistance to a wide range of β-lactams agents and whose early detection is extremely important. We proposed to standardize the detection of the bla gene using the LOOP-mediated isothermal amplification technique (LAMP).

Methods: In all, 14 Gram-negative bacterial strains isolated from patients presenting pneumonia associated with mechanical ventilation were used for the bla standardization by LAMP.

Long-Term Rock Phosphate Fertilization Impacts the Microbial Communities of Maize Rhizosphere.

Phosphate fertilization is a common practice in agriculture worldwide, and several commercial products are widely used. Triple superphosphate (TSP) is an excellent soluble phosphorus (P) source. However, its high cost of production makes the long-term use of crude rock phosphate (RP) a more attractive alternative in developing countries, albeit its influence on plant-associated microbiota remains unclear.

Prediction, Antibacterial Spectrum, and Physicochemical Properties of a Putative Bacteriocin Produced by Strain L156.4.

A bacteriocinogenic L156.4 strain isolated from the feces of NIH mice was identified by 16S rRNA gene sequencing and MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry. The entire genome was sequenced using Illumina, annotated in the PGAAP, and RAST servers, and deposited.

Knowledge of the nursing team on pressure ulcer prevention.

Objective: describe and analyze the nursing team's knowledge about classification, evaluation and measures to prevent pressure ulcers (PU) in patients hospitalized in the ICU of a teaching hospital in the city of Manaus.

Method: a descriptive and exploratory study was conducted after approval by a research ethics committee. Data were collected using a validated instrument.

Ocellatin peptides from the skin secretion of the South American frog (Leptodactylidae): characterization, antimicrobial activities and membrane interactions.

Background: The availability of antimicrobial peptides from several different natural sources has opened an avenue for the discovery of new biologically active molecules. To the best of our knowledge, only two peptides isolated from the frog , namely pentadactylin and ocellatin-F1, have shown antimicrobial activities. Therefore, in order to explore the antimicrobial potential of this species, we have investigated the biological activities and membrane interactions of three peptides isolated from the anuran skin secretion.

Antibacterial Effect of Synthetic Peptide LyeTxI and LyeTxI/β-Cyclodextrin Association Compound Against Planktonic and Multispecies Biofilms of Periodontal Pathogens.

Background: Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) have shown rapid and potent effect against planktonic bacteria. However, control of periodontopathic biofilms is a challenge even for AMPs. Thus, the present study evaluates in vitro antimicrobial activity of synthetic peptide LyeTxI and association compound LyeTxI/β-cyclodextrin (βCD) against multispecies biofilms.

Solid Flocculation and Emulsifying Activities of the Lipopolysaccharide Produced by Trichosporon mycotoxinivorans CLA2.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the capability of a lipopolysaccharide, produced by Trichosporon mycotoxinivorans CLA2 using residue of biodiesel processing, to flocculate two different solids in suspension. In addition, the emulsifying activity and the stability of this lipopolysaccharide in response to pH and temperature variations and in the presence of some electrolytes were evaluated. The lipopolysaccharide was used in concentrations ranging from 20 to 80 mgL to flocculate 100 gL of kaolin and 50 gL of charcoal.

Isolation and identification of Candida species in patients with orogastric cancer: susceptibility to antifungal drugs, attributes of virulence in vitro and immune response phenotype.

Background: Because of the inherent immunosuppression of cancer patients opportunistic infections by Candida spp, occur frequently. This study aimed to identify Candida species in the oral mucosa of 59 patients with orogastric cancer (OGC) and to analyze the immunological phenotype of these patients.

Methods: The yeasts were identified by MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry (MS).