Distinct carbapenems susceptibility profiles in isogenic isolates of Klebsiella pneumoniae presenting Ompk36 disruption and expression of down-regulated blaKPC-2.

The isolation of multidrug-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae in hospitals is a major public health threat, increasing patient hospitalization costs, morbidity and mortality. Therefore, this work investigated the resistance mechanisms that produced different carbapenems susceptibility profiles in two isogenic strains of K. pneumoniae isolated from the same patient in a public hospital in Recife, Pernambuco. The genes that encode the main porins in K. pneumoniae, ompK35 and ompK36, and several beta-lactamase genes were analyzed. The expression of these genes was evaluated by quantitative real time PCR (polymerase chain reaction) with reverse transcriptase (RT-qPCR). SDS-PAGE (sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis) was performed to analyze the outer membrane proteins. The analysis of the ompK36 genetic environment disclosed an IS903 insertion sequence disrupting this gene in the ertapenem resistant isolate (KPN133). The blaKPC-2 gene showed down-regulated expression in both isolates. Our findings show that changes in porins, especially OmpK36, are more determinant to carbapenems susceptibility profile of bacterial isolates than variations in blaKPC gene expression.

Vitamin D levels reverberate in monocytes modulation in hemodialysis patients.

BACKGROUND: Patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) have a severe vitamin D deficiency and increasing epidemiological data suggesting that this deficiency may play a role in overall morbidity and mortality associated with CKD. It is known that vitamin D regulates the immune system, however, in dialysis patients this deficiency and the modulation of proinflammatory cells is unclear. Among these, monocytes arouse interest considering they constitutively express vitamin D receptors. AIM: This study aimed the evaluation of monocytic profile in CKD patients according to vitamin D levels. METHODS: Patients in hemodialysis (HD) were divided into two groups, regarding vitamin D levels: Group 1, vitamin D <26 ng/ml (n = 15) and Group 2, vitamin D ≥26 ng/ml (n = 18). Whole blood was collected aiming evaluation of (a) monocytic populations through CD14 and CD16 expression, (b) reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, and (c) apoptosis. RESULTS: We observed that in Group 1, when compared to Group 2, there was a significant increase in intermediate monocytes (CD14++ CD16 + ; 34.7 ± 31.6 vs. 12.1 ± 6.3; p = 0.006, respectively) and decrease in classical ones (CD14 ++ CD16 - ; 45.3 ± 31.8 vs. 70.4 ± 25.1; p = 0.017, respectively). There was no difference between groups regarding nonclassical monocytes (CD14 + CD16 ++ ), as well as to apoptosis and to ROS generation. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that HD patients with lower vitamin D levels might have an intensified inflammatory outline as intermediate monocytes with an inflammatory pattern are increased in this population, when compared with patients with higher levels of vitamin D.

Resistance in 27 Rice Cultivars to Sugarcane Borer (Lepidoptera: Crambidae).

Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is considered one of the most important crops in the world, and the sugarcane borer, Diatraea saccharalis Fabricius (Lepidoptera: Crambidae), is among the key pests damaging the crop in the Americas. The objective of this work was to identify rice genotypes as a source of resistance to D. saccharalis. Rice plants were infested in the greenhouse and subsequently evaluated for damage, larval weight and survival, and stem size. The cultivars 'Bonança', 'Caripuna', 'IR 42', 'Canela de Ferro', 'SWA Norte', 'BR IRGA 409', 'Pepita', 'Serra Dourada', 'Araguaia', 'Xingú', 'Tangará', and 'Soberana' showed antibiosis antixenosis, or both to D. saccharalis. These cultivars may be used as donor sources in the breeding program and used directly by Brazilian farmers as a component of rice-integrated pest management.

Cálcio e fitorreguladores no desenvolvimento e estado nutricional de Mentha spicata x suaveolens cultivada em solução nutritiva / Calcium and plant growth regulators on the development and nutritional status of Mentha spicata x suaveolens cultivated in nutrient solution

O trabalho teve como objetivo estudar o desenvolvimento e o estado nutricional de Mentha spicata x suaveolens cultivada em diferentes níveis de Calcio em solução nutritiva com aplicação de fitorreguladores. O experimento constou de esquema fatorial (4x4) sendo quatro níveis de Ca2+ na solução nutritiva (160, 120, 80 e 40 mg L-1) e três aplicações foliares, com intervalos de 15 dias, de ácido naftaleno acético (NAA), ácido giberélico (GA3), benzinaladenina (BA) e água destilada como testemunha. As plantas foram coletadas 60 dias após a transferência para a solução e avaliadas as variáveis, matéria fresca e seca, área foliar e número de folhas; volume, comprimento e superfície radiculares e teores de Ca, K, Mg, N e P das folhas. As variáveis foram submetidas à análise de variância e as médias comparadas pelo teste Tukey. Não foram encontradas diferenças entre os níveis de Ca para a produção de biomassa. A auxina não influenciou a matéria seca das plantas, embora tenha aumentado os teores foliares de Ca; a citocinina acarretou diminuição da matéria seca total e a giberelina aumento da matéria seca do caule. A variação de Ca2+ não influenciou os teores foliares de N, P, K e Mg. Houve resposta para aplicação de Ca2+, com teores foliares atingindo o máximo de 15,73 mg kg-1 na dose de 137,81 mg L-1 pela análise de regressão

This study aimed to verify the development and the nutritional status of Mentha spicata x suaveolens cultivated under different Ca2+ levels in nutrient solution with application of plant growth regulators. The experiment was in factorial design (4X4) with four Ca2+ levels in the nutrient solution (160, 120, 80 and 40 mg L-1) and three leaf applications, at 15-day intervals, of naphthalene acetic acid (NAA), gibberellic acid (GA3), benzyladenine (BA) and distilled water as control. Plants were harvested at 60 days after transferring to the nutrient solution and the following variables were evaluated fresh and dried matter, leaf area, number of leaves, volume, length and surface of roots, and leaf content of Ca, K, Mg, N and P. The variables were subjected to analysis of variance and means compared by Tukey's test. There were no differences between Ca levels for biomass production. The auxin did not influence the dry matter of plants although it increased the leaf content of Ca2+, the cytokinin reduced total dry matter and the gibberellin increased the stem dry matter. The change in Ca2+ did not influence the leaf content of N, P, K and Mg. There was response for the application of Ca2+, reaching the maximum of 15.73 mg L-1 leaf content at the level of 137.81 mg L-1, according to regression analysis

Estudo dos métodos de rotina diagnóstica de mastite no leite de éguas / Study of routine diagnosis methods of mastitis in mares

Routine diagnosis methods used in bovine mastitis were studied in 55 mares in lactation. The findings of strip cup test, California Mastitis Test-CMT, electronic somatic cell count-CCS, microbiological culture, and in vitro antimicrobial susceptibility profile of isolates were discussed. Streptococcus spp., Staphylococcus spp, and enterobacteria were the most common microorganisms isolated in health and CMT-positive mammary glands. Staphylococcus aureus and Arcanobacterium pyogenes were identified in two mares presenting clinical mastitis. Mean somatic cell count of eight mares without presence of microorganisms in milk was 247.57x10³/mL and 1.621,86x10³/mL in 47 mares with positive microbiological culture. Moderate concordance (63.8 percent) between positive reactions in CMT (1 to 3+) and microbiological culture was observed. Amicacin (78.9 percent), ceftiofur (74.7 percent), sulpha-trimetoprim (69,0 percent) and norfloxacin (69.0 percent), were the most effective drugs, while resistance of isolates was mainly observed against penicillin (64.8 percent), gentamycin (35.2 percent), azithromycin (35.2 percent), enrofloxacin (28.2 percent), and florfenicol (28.2 percent).