In vitro biological activity of extracts from marine bacteria cultures against Toxoplasma gondii and Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

AIMS: To evaluate the biological activity of extracts from cultures of marine bacteria against Toxoplasma gondii and Mycobacterium tuberculosis. METHODS AND RESULTS: Ethyl acetate extracts obtained from seven marine bacteria were tested against T. gondii GFP-RH and M. tuberculosis H37Rv. The cytotoxicity on HFF-1 cells was measured by a microplate resazurin fluorescent approach, and the haemolytic activity was determined photometrically. The extracts from Bacillus sp. (INV FIR35 and INV FIR48) affected the tachyzoite viability. The extracts from Bacillus, Pseudoalteromonas, Streptomyces and Micromonospora exhibited effects on infection and proliferation processes of parasite. Bacillus sp. INV FIR48 extract showed an minimum inhibitory concentration value of 50 µg ml-1 against M. tuberculosis H37Rv. All the extracts exhibited relatively low toxicity to HFF-1 cells and the primary culture of erythrocytes, except Bacillus sp. INV FIR35, which decreased cell viability under 20%. Liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry analysis of the most active bacterial extract Bacillus sp. INV FIR48 showed the presence of peptide metabolites related to surfactin. CONCLUSIONS: The extract from culture of deep-sea Bacillus sp. INV FIR48 showed anti-T. gondii and anti-tuberculosis (TB) biological activity with low cytotoxicity. In addition, peptide metabolites were detected in the extract. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: Toxoplasmosis and TB are among the most prevalent diseases worldwide, and the current treatment drugs exhibit side effects. This study confirm that marine bacteria are on hand sources of anti-infective natural products.

Factors influencing pigment production by halophilic bacteria and its effect on brine evaporation rates.

The disposal of reject brine, a highly concentrated waste by-product generated by various industrial processes, represents a major economic and environmental challenge. The common practice in dealing with the large amounts of brine generated is to dispose of it in a pond and allow it to evaporate. The rate of evaporation is therefore a key factor in the effectiveness of the management of these ponds. The addition of various dyes has previously been used as a method to increase the evaporation rate. In this study, a biological approach, using pigmented halophilic bacteria (as opposed to chemical dyes), was assessed. Two bacteria, an Arthrobacter sp. and a Planococcus sp. were selected due to their ability to increase the evaporation of synthetic brine. When using industrial brine, supplementation of the brine with an iron source was required to maintain the pigment production. Under these conditions, the Planococcus sp. CP5-4 produced a carotenoid-like pigment, which resulted in a 20% increase in the evaporation rate of the brine. Thus, the pigment production capability of halophilic bacteria could potentially be exploited as an effective step in the management of industrial reject brines, analogous to the crystallizer ponds used to mine salt from sea water.

Meeting Women Where They Are: Integration of Care As the Foundation of Treatment for At-Risk Pregnant and Postpartum Women.

Purpose In these times of rapidly changing health care policies, those involved in the health care of women, especially during the reproductive years, have a unique and daunting opportunity. There is great potential to positively impact women's health through focus on prevention, attention to addressing disparities, and new focus on the integration of behavioral health care in primary care settings. Description In this report from the field, we suggest that the integration of mental health care into other health services and addressing underlying social needs by partnering with community-based organizations should be a top priority for all settings seeking to provide excellent health care for women. Assessment We describe our experience in a diverse, urban, safety net system to draw attention to four areas of innovation that others might adapt in their own systems: (1) addressing social support and other social determinants of health; (2) tailoring services to the specific needs of a population; (3) developing integrated and intensive cross-disciplinary services for high-risk pregnant women; and (4) bridging the divide between prenatal and postpartum care. Conclusion Women are more likely to be engaged with healthcare during their pregnancy. This engagement, however limited, may be a unique "window of opportunity" to help them address mental health concerns and implement positive behavior change. Future work should include research and program evaluation of innovative programs designed to serve the entire family and meeting at-risk women where they are.