Metagenomics sheds light on the metabolic repertoire of oil-biodegrading microbes of the South Atlantic Ocean.

Unplanned oil spills during offshore oil production are a serious problem for the industry and the marine environment. Here we assess the biodegradation potential of marine microorganisms from three water depths in the Campos Basin (South Atlantic Ocean): (i) 5 m (surface), (ii) ∼80 m (chlorophyll maximum layer), and (iii) ∼1200 m (near the bottom). After incubating seawater samples with or without crude oil for 52 days, we used metagenomics and classic microbiology techniques to analyze microbial abundance and diversity, and measured physical-chemical parameters to better understand biodegradation processes. We observed increased microbial abundance and concomitant decreases in dissolved oxygen and hydrocarbon concentrations, indicating oil biodegradation in the three water depths treatments within approximately 27 days. An increase in metagenomic sequences of oil-degrading archaea, fungi, and bacteria (Alcanivorax, Alteromonas, Colwellia, Marinobacter, and Pseudomonas) accompanied by a significant increase in metagenomic sequences involved in the degradation of aromatic compounds indicate that crude oil promotes the growth of microorganisms with oil degradation potential. The abundance of genes involved in biodegrading benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, xylene, alkanes, and poly-aromatic hydrocarbons peaked approximately 3 days after oil addition. All 12 novel metagenome-assembled genomes contained genes involved in hydrocarbon degradation, indicating the oil-degrading potential of planktonic microbes in the Campos Basin.

Avaliação in vitro da atividade antimicrobiana de pastas endodônticas à base de extrato glicólico de Musa paradisiaca frente a Enterococcus faecalis / In vitro evaluation of the antimicrobial activity of endodontic pastes made of Musa paradisiaca glycolic extract over Enterococcus faecalis

Os produtos de Musa paradisiaca (bananeira) são usados como sedativo para odontalgia, cicatrizante de feridas cirúrgicas de exodontia, úlcera gástrica, entre outras indicações em comunidades que têm por tradição o uso das plantas como Medicina alternativa. Na Endodontia, almeja-se uma medicação intracanal ideal contra cepas resistentes em infecções endodônticas refratárias. Por esse motivo, o objetivo desse trabalho foi testar a atividade antimicrobiana do extrato glicólico de Musa paradisiaca (Mp) sobre Enterococcus faecalis (Ef). Para realizar o experimento, o extrato glicólico de Musa paradisiaca (EGB) substituiu o Polietilenoglicol 400 (PEG), que é um veículo que compõe algumas medicações intracanal. Foi utilizado o teste de difusão em ágar, pelo método do poço, para a avaliação da atividade antimicrobiana contra a cepa de Ef, normalmente relacionada a infecções refratárias endodônticas. Experimento “A”: G1, PEG (controle negativo); G2, PEG e Ca(OH) 2 ; G3, EGB; G4, EGB e Ca(OH) 2 e G5, gel de clorexidina 2% (CHX – controle positivo). Experimento “B”: G1, PEG (controle negativo); G2, PEG e ZnO; G3, PEG, Ca(OH) 2 e ZnO; G4, EGB e ZnO; G5, EGB, Ca(OH) 2 e ZnO e G6, CHX (controle positivo). Apenas a pasta de EGB e ZnO obteve atividade antimicrobiana estatisticamente significante, podendo ser uma propriedade importante para a composição de medicação intracanal. Todo novo biomaterial baseado na etnobotânica deve ser testado criteriosamente para viabilizar sua aplicabilidade clínica, o que justificou a pertinência deste estudo preliminar. No entanto, testes físico-químicos e de biocompatibilidade são imprescindíveis para futuro emprego de fitoterápicos na Endodontia

The products of Musa paradisiaca (banana plantain) are used as a sedative for dental pain, healing of tooth extraction surgical wounds, gastric ulcer, among other indications in communities that have the tradition of using plants as alternative Medicine. Endodontics searchs for an ideal intracanal medication for resistant strains on refractory endodontic infections. Therefore, the objective of this study was to test the antimicrobial activity of Musa paradisiaca (Mp) glycolic extract over Enterococcus faecalis (Ef). To perform the experiment, the Polyethyleneglycol 400 (PEG), used to make some intracanal medication, was replaced by Musa paradisiaca glycolic extract. Agar well diffusion test was used to evaluate antimicrobial activity over Ef. Strains normally related to refractory endodontic infections. Experiment “A”: G1, PEG (negative control); G2, PEG and Ca(OH)2; G3, EGB; G4, EGB and Ca(OH)2; and G5, 2% chlorhexidine gel (CHX - positive control). Experiment “B”: G1, PEG (negative control); G2, PEG and ZnO; G3, PEG, Ca(OH)2 and ZnO; G4, ZnO and EGB; G5, EGB, Ca(OH)2 and ZnO; and G6, CHX (positive control). Only the EGB and ZnO paste has obtained statistically significant antimicrobial activity, indicating that it can be an important property for a new intracanal medication. Every new biomaterial based on ethnobotanic should be carefully tested to allow its clinical applicability reinforcing the relevance of this preliminary study. However, physicochemical and biocompatibility tests are essential to future utilization of herbal medicines in Endodontics

Guarana (Paullinia cupana var. sorbilis), an anciently consumed stimulant from the Amazon rain forest: the seeded-fruit transcriptome.

Guarana (Paullinia cupana var. sorbilis) is a plant native to the central Amazon basin. Roasted seed extracts have been used as medicinal beverages since pre-Colombian times, due to their reputation as stimulants, aphrodisiacs, tonics, as well as protectors of the gastrointestinal tract. Guarana plants are commercially cultivated exclusively in Brazil to supply the national carbonated soft-drink industry and natural product stores around the world. In this report, we describe and discuss the annotation of 15,387 ESTs from guarana seeded-fruits, highlighting sequences from the flavonoid and purine alkaloid pathways, and those related to biotic stress avoidance. This is the largest set of sequences registered for the Sapindaceae family.