Increase in methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus spp. colonization among pregnant individuals during COVID-19 pandemic.

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus (MRS) has been associated with neonatal infections, with colonization of the anovaginal tract being the main source of vertical transmission. The COVID-19 pandemic has altered the frequency of antibiotic usage, potentially contributing to changes in the dynamics of bacterial agents colonizing humans. Here we determined MRS colonization rates among pregnant individuals attending a single maternity in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil before (January 2019-March 2020) and during (May 2020-March 2021) the COVID-19 pandemic. Anovaginal samples (n = 806 [521 samples before and 285 during the pandemic]) were streaked onto chromogenic media. Colonies were identified by MALDI-TOF MS. Detection of mecA gene and SCCmec typing were assessed by PCR and antimicrobial susceptibility testing was done according to CLSI guidelines. After the onset of the pandemic, MRS colonization rates increased significantly (p < 0.05) from 8.6% (45) to 54.7% (156). Overall, 215 (26.6%) MRS isolates were detected, of which S. haemolyticus was the most prevalent species (MRSH, 84.2%; 181 isolates). SCCmec type V was the most frequent among MRS (63.3%; 136), and 31.6% (68) of MRS strains had a non-typeable SCCmec, due to new combinations of ccr and mecA complexes. Among MRS strains, 41.9% (90) were resistant to at least 3 different classes of antimicrobial agents, and 60% (54) of them were S. haemolyticus harboring SCCmec V. MRS colonization rates and the emergence of multidrug-resistant variants detected in this study indicate the need for continuing surveillance of this important pathogen within maternal and child populations.

New approach for the strategic control of gastrointestinal nematodes in grazed beef cattle during the growing phase in central Brazil.

We evaluated the effect of different treatment protocols against gastrointestinal nematodes in Nelore beef cattle during the growing phase in the municipality of Terenos, MS, in central Brazil from May 2013 to April 2014 and from May 2014 to April 2015. Ninety-six Nelore calves were kept on Brachiaria brizantha grass during each trial period and were distributed into six experimental groups (replicate paddocks for each group) based on live weight and the number of eggs per gram of feces (EPG): T1 (control)-treated in May, July and September with a saline solution; T2-treated in May and November with 700 µg/kg doramectin; T3-treated in May (doramectin), July (4.7 mg/kg levamisole phosphate) and September (doramectin); T4-treated in May (doramectin), July (200 µg/kg moxidectin) and September (doramectin); T5-treated in May (doramectin), August (levamisole phosphate) and November (doramectin) and T6-treated in May (doramectin), August (moxidectin) and November (doramectin). The calves were weighed and feces were collected (for faecal culture and EPG counts) from calves every 28 days, concomitantly with the collection of forage samples. The efficacies of doramectin, moxidectin and levamisole were low, at 69.2, 65.9 and 69.4% in the first and 13.8, 92.6, and 76.5% in the second experimental periods, respectively, but only the untreated animals lost weight during the dry season. Final weight gains did not differ significantly (p>0.05) among the animals in T2 (120.8 kg), T3 (131.4 kg), T4 (131.2 kg) and T5 (134.4 kg). T6 was the only group with a significantly higher final weight gain (140.9 kg) compared to the protocol with two annual dosages (T2). The weight gain was 31.9% higher in T6 than in the untreated animals (T1). None of the protocols affected the number of larvae on the pasture. Body weight was significantly and negatively (r=-0.65) correlated with EPG counts, which were significantly lower in June (T2, T3, T4 and T6), August (T3), September (T5 and T6), October (T5) and November (T5 and T6). Haemonchus, Cooperia, Trichostrongylus and Oesophagostomum were identified. Treatments in May and November, the most common practice in Brazil, did not increase the final weight gain, so an additional and intermediate treatment during the dry season (August) is recommended.

Interferon-α induced psoriatic arthritis and autoimmune hemolytic anemia during chronic hepatitis C treatment.

Chronic hepatitis C (CHC) can occur simultaneously with a myriad of rheumatic diseases or can induce autoimmunity. Inflammatory arthropathy is the main extra-hepatic manifestation of infection by virus C. In addition, the treatment for CHC with INF-α and ribavirin is also able to cause some immune-mediated events. The present case report describes an unusual case of psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA) during therapy for CHC.

Synthesis, purification and characterization of recombinant glycosylated human prolactin (G-hPRL) secreted by cycloheximide-treated CHO cells.

Human prolactin (hPRL) is a 199 aminoacid protein hormone with a wide spectrum of biological activities which is best known for its stimulation of lactation and development of mammary gland. This protein contains only one potential asparagine-linked glycosylation site, which is partially (10-30%) occupied when the protein is synthesized in eukaryotic cells. Although the biological activity of glycosylated hPRL (G-hPRL) has been found to be approximately 4-fold lower than that of hPRL, its physiological function is not yet well defined. In order to better characterize and study this hormone variant, we carried out its laboratory scale purification from conditioned medium of genetically modified CHO cells that had been supplemented with cycloheximide. Addition of cycloheximide increased the absolute concentration of G-hPRL approximately 4-fold and the glycosylated versus non-glycosylated hPRL concentration ratio by approximately 7-fold. G-hPRL purification was carried out via a two-step process based on a cationic exchanger and a size-exclusion HPLC (HPSEC) column. Characterization was carried out by HPSEC, Western blotting, MALDI-TOF-MS and in vitro bioassay based on Nb2 and Ba/F3-LLP cells, the biological activity being of the same order (11-15 IU mg(-1)) in the two assays. Our results show that addition of cycloheximide can be an important strategy for increasing glycosylated protein production, facilitating the purification and characterization of these isoforms.

Distinct human prolactin (hPRL) and growth hormone (hGH) behavior under bacteriophage lambda PL promoter control: temperature plays a major role in protein yields.

When producing recombinant protein for therapy, it is desirable not only to obtain substantial amounts of the protein, but also to make sure that potential contaminants such as inducing agents are not present in the final product. To prevent this, one can use expression systems in which the promoter (lambdaP(L)) is activated by a temperature shift that denatures a repressor (e.g., cIts). In this manner, hGH was successfully expressed and secreted in Escherichia coli periplasm, with specific yields well above 1 microg ml(-1) A(600)(-1), after a temperature shift from 30 to 42 degrees C. However, attempts to express a related hormone, human prolactin, employing the same protocol were unsuccessful, providing 0.03 microg ml(-1) A(600)(-1) at the most. A process is described in which this labile protein is obtained from a cIts(-) strain under optimized temperature condition (37 degrees C). The highest periplasmic secretions of prolactin ever reported were thus obtained: 0.92+/-0.10 microg ml(-1) A(600)(-1) at an optical density of approximately 3 A(600) units in shake flask cultures and approximately 1 microg ml(-1) A(600)(-1), at an OD of 35 A(600) units, via a rapid and flexible batch feed process in laboratory bioreactor. Purified hPRL was monomeric, correctly processed (Mr=22,906), properly folded and bioactive (51.5+/-24.1 IU mg(-1)).