Bacterial Lighthouses-Real-Time Detection of Yersinia enterocolitica by Quorum Sensing.

Foodborne zoonotic pathogens have a severe impact on food safety. The demand for animal-based food products (meat, milk, and eggs) is increasing, and therefore faster methods are necessary to detect infected animals or contaminated food before products enter the market. However, conventional detection is based on time-consuming microbial cultivation methods. Here, the establishment of a quorum sensing-based method for detection of foodborne pathogens as Yersinia enterocolitica in a co-cultivation approach using a bacterial biosensor carrying a special sensor plasmid is described. We combined selective enrichment with the simultaneous detection of pathogens by recording autoinducer-1-induced bioluminescent response of the biosensor. This new approach enables real-time detection with a calculated sensitivity of one initial cell in a sample after 15.3 h of co-cultivation, while higher levels of initial contamination can be detected within less than half of the time. Our new method is substantially faster than conventional microbial cultivation and should be transferrable to other zoonotic foodborne pathogens. As we could demonstrate, quorum sensing is a promising platform for the development of sensitive assays in the area of food quality, safety, and hygiene.

3D Printed Modular Immunofiltration Columns for Frequency Mixing-Based Multiplex Magnetic Immunodetection.

For performing point-of-care molecular diagnostics, magnetic immunoassays constitute a promising alternative to established enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) because they are fast, robust and sensitive. Simultaneous detection of multiple biomolecular targets from one body fluid sample is desired. The aim of this work is to show that multiplex magnetic immunodetection based on magnetic frequency mixing by means of modular immunofiltration columns prepared for different targets is feasible. By calculations of the magnetic response signal, the required spacing between the modules was determined. Immunofiltration columns were manufactured by 3D printing and antibody immobilization was performed in a batch approach. It was shown experimentally that two different target molecules in a sample solution could be individually detected in a single assaying step with magnetic measurements of the corresponding immobilization filters. The arrangement order of the filters and of a negative control did not influence the results. Thus, a simple and reliable approach to multi-target magnetic immunodetection was demonstrated.

Levantamento etnofarmacológico e identificação botânica de plantas medicinais em comunidades assistidas por um serviço de saúde / Ethnopharmacological survey and botanical identification of medicinal plants in two communities served by a health service

Objetivos: Levantamento etnofarmacológico sobre o uso de plantas medicinais empregadas no tratamento de transtornos menores de saúde em comunidades assistidas por um serviço de saúde, e avaliar a capacidade da população em identificar corretamente as espécies botânicas utilizadas. Métodos: Estudo transversal com entrevistas nas residências de moradores dos bairros Dehon e Morrotes, do município de Tubarão, para coleta de informações sobre o uso das mesmas. Seguiu-se coleta de amostras das plantas indicadas pela população, para confirmação da espécie botânica. Resultados: Entrevistou-se 267 sujeitos que mencionaram o uso de 84 espécies de plantas para o tratamento de 1.328 diferentes transtornos menores de saúde. O boldo foi a planta mais citada (12,5%, n= 166), seguida de guaco (8,7%, n= 116) e limoeiro (5,7%, n= 74). Resfriado (71,9%), problemas de digestão (64,8%) e tosse (54,7%) foram as desordens com maior indicação de uso de plantas. Cinco das plantas mais citadas foram avaliadas botanicamente, resultando na identificação de espécies, sendo que apenas uma delas (CAMOMILA) houve 100,0% de correlação entre a espécie indicada pela população in natura e a identidade botânica. Para outras plantas como espinheira-santa, boldo e guaco estes valores foram inferiores, alcançando o valor mínimo de 25,0% para a malva. Conclusão: Observou-se grande utilização de plantas medicinais na população estudada, com boa correlação entre o emprego indicado por esta e suas propiedades biológicas. No entanto, houve grande variabilidade entre as espécies indicadas in natura e a identidade botânica das mesmas.

Objective: To conduct a survey on the use of medicinal plants for the treatment of minor ailments in communities served by a health service, and assess the population?s ability to identify correctly the species used. Methods: Cross-sectional study, interviews with household members of the Dehon and Morrotes neighborhoods in the municipality of Tubarão. Sample collection of plants for botanical identification. Results: We interviewed 267 subjects who mentioned 84 species for 1,328 indications for the treatment of different minor ailments. Boldo was the most cited (12.5%, n = 166), followed by guaco (8.7%, n = 116) and lemon tree (5.7%, n = 74). Cold (71.9%), poor digestion (64.8%) and cough (54.7%) were the disorders with major indication for the use of plants. Five of the most frequently cited plants were evaluated botanically; 12 species were identified, and only one (chamomile) had 100% correlation between species indicated in natura and that used as reference in the study; for the others (maytenus, boldo and guaco), these values were lower. Only mallow reached 25.0% of correspondence. Conclusion: A correlation was observed between the use indicated by the population for medicinal plants and their biological properties; there was a great variability among known species with the same common name.