Retrieving the real microbial diversity in aquatic plastisphere.

Disposed plastics in oceans provide a substrate to which microbes can adhere and structure the biofilm, namely the plastisphere. In this study, we showed that the mesoplastic density-based separation, routinely used in quantification assays, is detrimental to studying the microbiome diversity and ecology as it underestimates the real microbial diversity within these samples. Based on SEM and microbiome observations, we propose that chemically fixing samples before density separation preserves cellular diversity (2.32-fold change) and richness (1.12-fold change) that would be naturally lost due to the current methodology. OTUs assigned to Gram-negative bacterial species are the most negatively affected by omitting fixation and polymer composition was not decisive in shifting microbiome composition. Considering our findings, the formaldehyde-fixation step should be incorporated into the current methodology described in most studies as this is crucial to promote a deeper understanding of the microbial community in this ecosystem and biofilm-adhered scattering through aquatic ecosystems.

Drugs and nanoformulations for the management of Leishmania infection: a patent and literature review (2015-2022).

INTRODUCTION: Leishmaniasis is an important disease caused by parasites of the Leishmania. Due to the urgent need for financial incentives and research and development of new anti-Leishmania, a point that stands out is the creation of patents that comprise drugs and nanoformulations in treating the disease. AREAS COVERED: Information on individual patents and patent families containing potential drugs and nanoformulations were obtained by searching the Orbit software (QUESTEL SAS, France) using the following terms: Leishmania; treatment; nanoparticle*; drug×. The data obtained ranged from 2015 to 2022. EXPERT OPINION: Meglumine antimoniate is a pentavalent antimonial widely used in the classic treatment of leishmaniasis. It is part of the classic treatment recommended by WHO, being the first-choice drug globally about 75 years ago. Thus, the need to introduce new anti-Leishmania therapies into clinical medicine is evident since cases of resistance to monotherapy and multitherapy have increased greatly. Associated with this, the search for patents that are good candidates in treating this disease assues interest in investments of financial resources and raises a ray of hope for safe, effective, and low-cost therapies to become licensed for the treatment of leishmaniasis.

Delivering Beneficial Microorganisms for Corals: Rotifers as Carriers of Probiotic Bacteria.

The use of Beneficial Microorganisms for Corals (BMCs) to increase the resistance of corals to environmental stress has proven to be effective in laboratory trials. Because direct inoculation of BMCs in larger tanks or in the field can be challenging, a delivery mechanism is needed for efficient transmission of the BMC consortium. Packaged delivery mechanisms have been successfully used to transmit probiotics to other organisms, including humans, lobsters, and fish. Here, we tested a method for utilizing rotifers of the species Brachionus plicatilis for delivery of BMCs to corals of the species Pocillopora damicornis. Epifluorescence microscopy combined with a live/dead cell staining assay was used to evaluate the viability of the BMCs and monitor their in vivo uptake by the rotifers. The rotifers efficiently ingested BMCs, which accumulated in the digestive system and on the body surface after 10 min of interaction. Scanning electron microscopy confirmed the adherence of BMCs to the rotifer surfaces. BMC-enriched rotifers were actively ingested by P. damicornis corals, indicating that this is a promising technique for administering coral probiotics in situ. Studies to track the delivery of probiotics through carriers such as B. plicatilis, and the provision or establishment of beneficial traits in corals are the next proof-of-concept research priorities.