Bacterial Polyhydroxyalkanoates-based Therapeutics-delivery Nanosystems.

Microbial polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) are bio-based aliphatic biopolyester produced by bacteria as an intracellular storage material of carbon and energy under stressed conditions. PHAs have been paid attention to due to their unique and impressive biological properties including high biodegradability, biocompatibility, low cytotoxicity, and different mechanical properties. Under this context, the development of drug-delivery nanosystems based on PHAs has been revealed to have numerous advantages compared with synthetic polymers that included biocompatibility, biodegradability, non-toxic, and low-cost production, among others. In this review article, we present the available state of the art of PHAs. Moreover, we discussed the potential benefits, weaknesses, and perspectives of PHAs to the develop drug delivery systems.

[Virulence genes and bacteriocins in Enterococcus faecalis strains isolated from different clinical samples in Maule Region, Chile]. / Genes de virulencia y bacteriocinas en cepas de Enterococcus faecalis aisladas desde diferentes muestras clínicas en la Región del Maule, Chile.

The presence of virulence genes (VG) and bacteriocins from different clinical samples was studied in Enterococcus faecalis isolated from urinary tract infections (UTI), bacteremia and endodontitis and was correlated with haemolysin and gelatinase activity. We evaluated the presence of VG by PCR in 150 strains of E. faecalis including cylA, aggA, efaA, eep, gelE, esp, as-48, bac31, entL50A/B, entA, entP, entB, enlA andentl071. Haemolysin and gelatinase activity was studied. gelE and cylA genes expressed hemolysin and gelatinase, respectively. This activity was observed in some strains of bacteremia, UTI and endodontitis. The highest number of VG was detected in bacteremic strains, being aggA and entA genes the most frequent. efaA, esp, entA, entL50A/B were associated with their clinical origin (p < 0.05). The most common genetic profile was aggA-eep-enlA-entL50A/B. E. faecalis from UTI, bacteremia and endodontitis presented different gene combinations. Some of the genes studied were related to their clinical origin. The results obtained in this study are similar to those reported in other countries.

Genes de virulencia y bacteriocinas en cepas de Enterococcus faecalis aisladas desde diferentes muestras clínicas en la Región del Maule, Chile / Virulence genes and bacteriocins in Enterococcus faecalis strains isolated from different clinical samples in Maule Region, Chile

The presence of virulence genes (VG) and bacteriocins from different clinical samples was studied in Enterococcus faecalis isolated from urinary tract infections (UTI), bacteremia and endodontitis and was correlated with haemolysin and gelatinase activity. We evaluated the presence of VG by PCR in 150 strains of E. faecalis including cylA, aggA, efaA, eep, gelE, esp, as-48, bac31, entL50A/B, entA, entP, entB, enlA andentl071. Haemolysin and gelatinase activity was studied. gelE and cylA genes expressed hemolysin and gelatinase, respectively. This activity was observed in some strains of bacteremia, UTI and endodontitis. The highest number of VG was detected in bacteremic strains, being aggA and entA genes the most frequent. efaA, esp, entA, entL50A/B were associated with their clinical origin (p < 0.05). The most common genetic profile was aggA-eep-enlA-entL50A/B. E. faecalis from UTI, bacteremia and endodontitis presented different gene combinations. Some of the genes studied were related to their clinical origin. The results obtained in this study are similar to those reported in other countries.

Desde diferentes muestras clínicas se determinó la presencia de genes codificantes de factores de virulencia (FV) y bacteriocinas en Enterococcus faecalis aislados desde infecciones del tracto urinario (ITU), bacteriemias y endodontitis, correlacionándose con la actividad hemolisina y gelatinasa. En 150 cepas de E. faecalis fue evaluada mediante RPC la presencia de cylA, aggA, efaA, eep, gelE, esp, as-48, bac31, entL50A/B, entA, entP, entB, enlA, y ent1071 determinándose actividad hemolisina y gelatinasa. Los genes cylA y gelE expresaron hemolisina y gelatinasa, respectivamente. Esta actividad fue observada en algunas de las cepas causantes de bacteriemia, ITU y endodontitis. El mayor número de genes estudiados se detectó en cepas bacteriémicas. Los genes aggA y entA, fueron los más frecuentes. Los genes efaA, esp, entL50/AB y entA se asociaron a su origen clínico (p < 0,05). El perfil genético más recurrente fue aggA-eep-enlA-entL50A/B. Enterococcusfaecalis de ITU, bacteriemias y endodontitis presentaron distintas combinaciones génicas. AAlgunos de los genes estudiados se relacionaron con su origen clínico. Los resultados obtenidos son similares a los reportados en otros países.

[Isolation of periodontal bacteria from blood samples and atheromas in patients with atherosclerosis and periodontitis]. / Aislamiento de bacterias periodontopáticas desde hemocultivos y ateromas obtenidos de pacientes con aterosclerosis y periodontitis.

BACKGROUND: Periodontitis is a common oral disease produced by bacterial species that reside in the subgingival plaque. These microorganisms have been associated to atherosclerosis and it is suggested that periodontitis is a cardiovascular risk factor. AIM: To isolate periodontal bacteria from blood and atheroma samples, from patients with atherosclerosis and periodontitis. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Twelve patients with periodontitis and a clinical diagnosis of atherosclerosis and 12 patients with periodontitis but without atherosclerosis were studied. Blood samples were obtained immediately before and after scaling and root planing. The samples were incubated in aerobic and anaerobic conditions. One week after scaling, atheromatous plaques were obtained during endarterectomy in the 12 patients with atherosclerosis. These were homogenized and cultured for aerobic and anaerobic bacteria. Microorganisms were identified by means ofPCR. RESULTS: Five patients with and two without atherosclerosis, had bacteremia after scaling and root planing. Bacterial species isolated from blood samples were the same found in periodontic pockets. Four atheromatous plaques of patients with bacteremia yielded positive cultures. The isolated bacteria were the same found in blood samples and periodontal pockets. CONCLUSIONS: Bacteremia occurred in seven of 24 patients after scaling and root planing. In four patients, the same species found in periodontic pockets and blood cultures were detected in atherosclerotic plaques obtained one week after the dental procedure.

Aislamiento de bacterias periodontop ticas desde hemocultivos y ateromas obtenidos de pacientes con aterosclerosis y periodontitis / Isolation of periodontal bacteria from blood samples and atheromas in patients with atherosclerosis and periodontitis

Background: Periodontitis is a common oral disease produced by bacterial species that reside in the subgingival plaque. These microorganisms have been associated to atherosclerosis and it is suggested that periodontitis is a cardiovascular risk factor. Aim: To isolate periodontal bacteria from blood and atheroma samples, from patients with atherosclerosis and periodontitis. Material and methods: Twelve patients with periodontitis and a clinical diagnosis of atherosclerosis and 12 patients with periodontitis but without atherosclerosis were studied. Blood samples were obtained immediately before and after scaling and root planing. The samples were incubated in aerobic and anaerobic conditions. One week after scaling, atheromatous plaques were obtained during endarterectomy in the 12 patients with atherosclerosis. These were homogenized and cultured for aerobic and anaerobic bacteria. Microorganisms were identified by means ofPCR. Results: Five patients with and two without atherosclerosis, had bacteremia after scaling and root planing. Bacterial species isolated from blood samples were the same found in periodontic pockets. Four atheromatous plaques of patients with bacteremia yielded positive cultures. The isolated bacteria were the same found in blood samples and periodontal pockets. Conclusions: Bacteremia occurred in seven of 24 patients after scaling and root planing. In four patients, the same species found in periodontic pockets and blood cultures were detected in atherosclerotic plaques obtained one week after the dental procedure.

Aislamiento de cepas de Escherichia coli desde casos clínicos de infección vaginal: asociación con otros microorganismos y susceptibilidad antibacteriana / Presence of E. coli in vaginal fluids of women with vaginal infection and its antimicrobial susceptibility

Objetivo: Determinar la presencia de Escheríchia coli en fluidos vaginales de mujeres con infección vaginal y analizar la susceptibilidad antimicrobiana. Método: Se estudiaron 425 muestras de mujeres con diagnóstico clínico de infección vaginal (casos) y 100 mujeres sanas (controles). Las muestras vaginales fueron estudiadas mediante los criterios de Amsel y Nugent. Se utilizaron diferentes metodologías para identificar: Trichomonas vaginalis, Candida albicans, Gardnerella vaginalis, Chlamydia trachomatis, Myco-plasma hominis, Urea plasma urealyticum, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Mobiluncus sp., Streptococcus agalactiae, Enterococcus faecalis, enterobacterias, bacilos Gram negativo anaerobios estrictos, Lactobacillus sp. y Staphylococcus coagulasa negativo. Resultados: Se observaron 160 casos de vaginitis y 265 de vaginosis. En los primeros predominó C. albicans y T. vaginalis, aislándose 27 cepas de E. coli en los casos de vaginosis, G. vaginalis y E.E. coli fueron los más comunes. La mayor asociación se observó entre G. vaginalis y E. coli . En 47 casos se aisló únicamente E. coli , y en los controles se observaron 6 cepas de E. coli . El estudio caso-control demostró un OR: 4,7 (95 por ciento IC: 1,91-12,27). Sobre el 90 por ciento de las cepas aisladas de E. coli demostró sensibilidad a cefotaxima, ciprofloxacino y amikacina. Conclusión: E. coli de aislados monomicrobianos podría tener un rol potencial en la patogenia de la infección vaginal.

Objective: To determine the presence of Escheríchia E. coli vaginal fluids of women with vaginal infection and to study its antimicrobial susceptibility. Methods: 425 samples of women with clinical diagnosis of vaginal infection (cases) and 100 healthy women were studied (controls). The vaginal samples were studied by means of the criteria of Amsel and Nugent. Different methodologies were used to identify: Trichomonas vaginalis, Candida albicans, Gardnerella vaginalis, Chlamydia trachomatis, Mycoplasma hominis, Ureaplas-ma urealyticum, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Mobiluncus sp., Streptococcus agalactiae, Enterococcus faecalis, enterobacterias, strict anaerobic Gram negative bacilli, Lactobacillus sp. and coagulase negative Staphylococcus. Results: 160 cases of vaginitis and 265 of vaginosis were observed. In vaginitis predominated C. albicans and T vaginalis, and were isolated 27 E.E. coli strains. In the bacterial vaginosis, G. vaginalis and E. coli were the most common. The greater association was observed between G. vaginalis and E. coli . In 47 cases singleE. coli was isolated. In the controls 6E. coli strains were observed. The study of case-control demonstrated a OR: 4.7 (95 percent Cl: 1.91-12.27). Isolated E. coli demonstrated sensitivity over 90 percent to cefotaxime, ciprofloxacin and amikacin. Conclusion: SingleE. coli isolated could have a potential role in the pathogenia of the vaginal infection.