Cooperative growth in microbial communities is a driver of multistability.

Microbial communities often exhibit more than one possible stable composition for the same set of external conditions. In the human microbiome, these persistent changes in species composition and abundance are associated with health and disease states, but the drivers of these alternative stable states remain unclear. Here we experimentally demonstrate that a cross-kingdom community, composed of six species relevant to the respiratory tract, displays four alternative stable states each dominated by a different species.

Pomegranate sarcotesta lectin (PgTeL) inhibits planktonic growth and disrupts biofilm formed by Cryptococcus neoformans.

Aims: We investigated the putative fungistatic and fungicidal activities of pomegranate sarcotesta lectin (PgTeL) against Cryptococcus neoformans B3501 (serotype D), specifically the ability of PgTeL to inhibit yeast capsule and biofilm formation in this strain.

Methods And Results: PgTeL showed a minimum inhibitory concentration of 172.0 μg ml-1, at which it did not exhibit a fungicidal effect.

A chloroacetamide derivative as a potent candidate for fusariosis treatment.

Fusariosis has presented a significant increase in their incidence in the last years. This epidemiological panorama probably is due to the increasing profile of refractory susceptibility of Fusarium spp. to available drugs, especially in immunocompromised individuals.

Glass ionomer cement modified by a imidazolium salt: adding antifungal properties to a biomaterial.

We present the structural modification of a commercially available glass ionomer cement by inserting the imidazolium salt 1-n-hexadecyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride (CMImCl), composing a new biomaterial with antifungal biofilm activity. Test specimens were prepared using a commercial glass ionomer cement to which 10 ppm of cetylpyridinium chloride (reference ionic antifungal agent) or CMImCl were added. The feasibility and hypoallergenicity of the new biomaterial were assessed by microhardness plastic deformation and chorioallantoic membrane assays.

potential of a quinoline-derivative nail lacquer as a new alternative for dermatophytic onychomycosis treatment.

Onychomycosis infections currently show a significant increase, affecting about 10 % of the world population. is the main agent responsible for about 80 % of the reported infections. The clinical cure for onychomycosis is extremely difficult and effective new antifungal therapy is needed.

8-Hydroxyquinoline 1,2,3-triazole derivatives with promising and selective antifungal activity.

Fungal infections that affect humans and plants have increased significantly in recent decades. However, these pathogens are still neglected when compared to other infectious agents. Due to the high prevalence of these infections, the need for new molecules with antifungal potential is recognized, as pathogenic species are developing resistance to the main drugs available.

The contest of microbial pigeon neighbors: Interspecies competition between Serratia marcescens and the human pathogen Cryptococcus neoformans.

In nature, microorganisms often exhibit competitive behavior for nutrients and limited space, allowing them to alter the virulence determinants of pathogens. The human pathogenic yeast Cryptococcus neoformans can be found organized in biofilms, a complex community composed of an extracellular matrix which confers protection against predation. The aim of this study was to evaluate and characterize antagonistic interactions between two cohabiting microorganisms: C.

Scanning electron microscopy and machine learning reveal heterogeneity in capsular morphotypes of the human pathogen Cryptococcus spp.

Phenotypic heterogeneity is an important trait for the development and survival of many microorganisms including the yeast Cryptococcus spp., a deadly pathogen spread worldwide. Here, we have applied scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to define four Cryptococcus spp.

Design, synthesis, and evaluation of novel 2-substituted 1,4-benzenediol library as antimicrobial agents against clinically relevant pathogens.

Development of new antimicrobial agents, capable of combating resistant and multidrug-resistant fungal and bacterial clinical strains, is necessary. This study presents the synthesis and antimicrobial screening of 42 2-substituted-1,4-benzenediols, being 10 novel compounds. In total, 23 compounds showed activity against fungi and/or bacteria.

A Highly Active Triterpene Derivative Capable |of Biofilm Damage to Control spp.

is an encapsulated yeast responsible for more than 180,000 deaths per year. The standard therapeutic approach against cryptococcosis is a combination of amphotericin B with flucytosine. In countries where cryptococcosis is most prevalent, 5-fluorocytosine is rarely available, and amphotericin B requires intravenous administration.

Discovery of a novel and selective fungicide that targets fungal cell wall to treat dermatomycoses: 1,3-bis(3,4-dichlorophenoxy)propan-2-aminium chloride.

Background: Fungal infections are highly prevalent and are responsible for high rates of morbidity and mortality. In this context, the search for new treatment alternatives is very relevant.

Objectives: Analyse chemical compounds for antifungal potential against dermatomycosis fungi.

Chloroacetamide derivatives as a promising topical treatment for fungal skin infections.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the antifungal potential of 11 chloroacetamide derivatives and derivative incorporated into a film-forming system (FFS) as a potential alternative for the topical treatment of superficial and skin mycoses. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) evaluation followed Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute protocols M27-A3 () and M28-A2 (dermatophytes). Compounds , and were the most effective against species (MIC range: 25-50 µg/mL) and dermatophytes (MIC range: 3.

Structure-based design of δ-lactones for new antifungal drug development: susceptibility, mechanism of action, and toxicity.

Dermatophytes are the etiological agents of cutaneous mycoses, including the prevalent nail infections and athlete's foot. Candida spp. are opportunistic and emerging pathogens, causing superficial to deeper infections related to high mortality rates.

New insights into the mechanism of antifungal action of 8-hydroxyquinolines.

The 8-hydroxyquinoline core is a privileged scaffold for drug design explored to afford novel derivatives endowed with biological activity. Our research aimed at clarifying the antifungal mechanism of action of clioquinol, 8-hydroxy-5-quinolinesulfonic acid, and 8-hydroxy-7-iodo-5-quinolinesulfonic acid (three 8-hydroxyquinoline derivatives). The antifungal mode of action of these derivatives on spp.

Antifungal mechanism of action of Schinus lentiscifolius Marchand essential oil and its synergistic effect in vitro with terbinafine and ciclopirox against dermatophytes.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the antifungal, antichemotactic and antioxidant activities of Schinus lentiscifolius essential oil, as well as its combined effect with terbinafine and ciclopirox, against dermatophytes.

Methods: Essential oil was analysed by GC-MS. The antifungal activity and the mechanism of action were determined by broth microdilution, sorbitol and ergosterol assays, as well as scanning electron microscopy.

A Predicted Mannoprotein Participates in Capsular Structure.

The yeast-like pathogen is an etiological agent of cryptococcosis. The major cryptococcal virulence factor is the polysaccharide capsule, which is composed of glucuronoxylomannan (GXM), galactoxylomannan (GalXM), and mannoproteins (MPs). The GXM and GalXM polysaccharides have been extensively characterized; however, there is little information about the role of mannoproteins in capsule assembly and their participation in yeast pathogenicity.

Geometrical Distribution of Mediates Flower-Like Biofilm Development.

Microbial biofilms are highly structured and dynamic communities in which phenotypic diversification allows microorganisms to adapt to different environments under distinct conditions. The environmentally ubiquitous pathogen colonizes many niches of the human body and implanted medical devices in the form of biofilms, an important virulence factor. A new approach was used to characterize the underlying geometrical distribution of cells during the adhesion stage of biofilm formation.

Cryptococcal dissemination to the central nervous system requires the vacuolar calcium transporter Pmc1.

Cryptococcus neoformans is a basidiomycetous yeast and the cause of cryptococcosis in immunocompromised individuals. The most severe form of the disease is meningoencephalitis, which is one of the leading causes of death in HIV/AIDS patients. In order to access the central nervous system, C.

UV-Surface Treatment of Fungal Resistant Polyether Polyurethane Film-Induced Growth of Entomopathogenic Fungi.

Synthetic polymers are the cause of some major environmental impacts due to their low degradation rates. Polyurethanes (PU) are widely used synthetic polymers, and their growing use in industry has produced an increase in plastic waste. A commercial polyether-based thermoplastic PU with hydrolytic stability and fungus resistance was only attacked by an entomopathogenic fungus, , when the films were pre-treated with Ultraviolet (UV) irradiation in the presence of reactive atmospheres.

The Anti-helminthic Compound Mebendazole Has Multiple Antifungal Effects against .

is the most lethal pathogen of the central nervous system. The gold standard treatment of cryptococcosis, a combination of amphotericin B with 5-fluorocytosine, involves broad toxicity, high costs, low efficacy, and limited worldwide availability. Although the need for new antifungals is clear, drug research and development (R&D) is costly and time-consuming.

Bifunctional fluorescent benzimidazo[1,2-α]quinolines for Candida spp. biofilm detection and biocidal activity.

Biofilms provide an ideal environment for protecting the microbial cells from damage caused by humoral and cellular immune system components, promoting resistance, infections and increasing mortality and morbidity of patients in health facilities. In an attempt to provide an innovative solution for preventing contamination in hospital environments, this study evaluated nine structural complementary fluorescent benzimidazo[1,2-α]quinolines as bifunctional agents that both detect and have biocidal activity against yeast biofilms on stainless steel surfaces. The benzimidazoles' staining capability was determined by a fluorescence microscopy study and spraying the substance on yeast biofilm contaminated stainless steel surfaces.

Multitask Imidazolium Salt Additives for Innovative Poly(l-lactide) Biomaterials: Morphology Control, Candida spp. Biofilm Inhibition, Human Mesenchymal Stem Cell Biocompatibility, and Skin Tolerance.

Candida species have great ability to colonize and form biofilms on medical devices, causing infections in human hosts. In this study, poly(l-lactide) films with different imidazolium salt (1-n-hexadecyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride (C16MImCl) and 1-n-hexadecyl-3-methylimidazolium methanesulfonate (C16MImMeS)) contents were prepared, using the solvent casting process. Poly(l-lactide)-imidazolium salt films were obtained with different surface morphologies (spherical and directional), and the presence of the imidazolium salt in the surface was confirmed.

Integrated evaluation of the geology, aerogammaspectrometry and aeromagnetometry of the Sul-Riograndense Shield, southernmost Brazil.

An integrated evaluation of geology, aerogammaspectrometry and aeromagnetometry of the Sul-Riogran-dense Shield is permitted by the advanced stage of understanding of the geology and geochronology of the southern Brazilian Shield and a 2010 airborne geophysical survey. Gamma rays are registered from the rocks near the surface and thus describe the distribution of major units in the shield, such as the Pelotas batholith, the juvenile São Gabriel terrane, the granulite-amphibolite facies Taquarembó terrane and the numerous granite intrusions in the foreland. Major structures are also observed, e.