Does Quorum Sensing play a role in microbial shifts along spontaneous fermentation of cocoa beans? An in silico perspective.

Cocoa fermentation is a spontaneous process shaped by a variable microbial ecosystem which is assembled due to cross-feeding relationship among yeasts and bacteria, resulting in a synchronized microbial succession started by yeasts, followed by lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and finalized by acetic acid bacteria (AAB). Several studies have indicated the effect of microbial interactions in food ecosystems highlighting the importance of quorum sensing (QS) in bacterial adaptation in harsh environments modulating several phenotypes such as biofilm formation, tolerance to acid stress, bacteriocin production, competence, morphological modifications, motility, among others. However, antagonic interactions also occur, and can be marked by Quorum Quenching (QQ) activity, negatively impacting QS regulated phenotypes. Our current knowledge regarding microbial cocoa composition and functioning is based on culture-based analysis and culture-independent PCR-based methods. Therefore, we set out to investigate the application of metagenomics analysis on a classical spontaneous cocoa fermentation in order to describe: (I) the microbial taxonomic composition; (II) the functional potential of the cocoa microbiome; (III) the microbiome putative QS potential; and (IV) the microbiome QQ potential. Both aims III and IV are related to the expression of effectors that may confer advantageous traits along fermentation which can explain their dominance in specific time zones during the entire process. We have observed a bacterial succession shaped by yeasts and filamentous fungi and then Enterobacteriaceales, LAB and AAB, as well as a diverse genetic metabolic potential related to proteins and carbohydrates metabolism associated to the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae and members of the Enterobacteriaceales order and LAB and AAB groups. In addition, in silico evidences of interspecific QS arsenal were found in members of the genera Enterobacter, Lactobacillus, Bacillus and Pantoea, while inferences of intraspecific QS potential were found in the members of the genera Bacillus, Enterobacter, Komagataeibacter, Lactobacillus and Pantoea. In addition, a QQ potential was detected in Lactobacillus and in AAB members. These findings indicate that QS and QQ may modulate bacterial dominance in different time points during fermentation, along with cross-feeding, being responsible for their maintenance in a large time range.

Atividade antifúngica do óleo essencial de Origanum vulgare frente a Malassezia pachydermatis / Antifungal activity of Origanum vulgare essential oil against Malassezia pachydermatis

Objetivou-se com este estudo avaliar a atividade antifúngica in vitro do óleo essencial de Origanum vulgare frente a isolados clínicos de Malassezia pachydermatis. As folhas secas de O. vulgare foram adquiridas de distribuidor comercial com certificado de qualidade e origem e encaminhadas para extração do óleo essencial e cromatografia. Para realização do teste in vitro, foi utilizada a técnica de microdiluição em caldo (CLSI M27A3) com modificações para fitofármacos e M. pachydermatis. O óleo essencial de orégano foi testado nas concentrações de 28 a 0,87mg/mL diluído em caldo Sabouraud com 1% de tween 80. Todos os isolados foram testados em duplicata. Na análise cromatográfica do óleo essencial, foram identificados 12 compostos, sendo timol, a-terpineno e 4-terpineol os compostos majoritários. A CIM e a CFM dos 42 isolados de M. pachydermatis variaram de <0,87 a 7mg/mL, com valores de CIM50 e CIM90 de 1,18 e 3,28mg/mL, respectivamente. Com este estudo foi possível concluir que M. pachydermatis é sensível ao óleo essencial de orégano mesmo em concentrações baixas. Dessa maneira, o óleo essencial de orégano apresenta-se como promissor na bioprospecção de novos fármacos para o tratamento das otites e dermatites na clínica de pequenos animais...

The aim of this study was to evaluate the in vitro antifungal activity of essential oil of Origanum vulgare against clinical isolates of Malassezia pachydermatis. The dried leaves of O. vulgare were purchased from a commercial distributor with certified quality and origin and referred for essential oil extraction and chromatography. The technique for in vitro testing was microdilution (CLSI M27A3) with modifications to phytochemicals and M. pachydermatis. The essential oil of O. vulgare was tested at concentrations from 28 to 0.87mg/mL in Sabouraud broth diluted with 1% of tween 80. All isolates were tested in duplicate. In the chromatographic analysis of the essential oil 12 compounds were identified, and thymol, α-terpinene, 4-terpineol were the major compounds. The MIC and the MFC of the 42 isolates of M. pachydermatis ranged from <0.87 to 7mg/mL with MIC50 and MIC90 values of 1.18 and 3.28 mg/mL, respectively. With this study it was concluded that M. pachydermatis is sensible to O. vulgare essential oil even at low concentrations. Thus, the essential oil of O. vulgare is presented as bioprospecting in the promising new drugs for the treatment of otitis and dermatitis in small animal clinic...

Dermatite multifatorial em um canino / Multifactorial dermatitis in a dog

Relatou-se um caso clínico de dermatite multifatorial em cão, envolvendo Demodex canis, Sporothrix schenckii e bactérias dos gêneros Staphylococcus e Streptococcus. O animal, macho, da raça Pit Bull, com um ano e três meses de idade, apresentou lesões úmidas, hiperêmicas, descamativas e ulcerativas nas regiões do pescoço e do tórax. Exames laboratoriais confirmaram o diagnóstico de infecção concomitante por fungo, bactéria e parasito. A terapia antimicrobiana com moxidectina, itraconazol e amoxicilina foi efetiva, com remissão dos sinais clínicos após 30 dias de tratamento. Este relato salienta a importância do diagnóstico de certeza, que foi determinante para estabelecimento da terapêutica adequada e recuperação do animal.

A clinical case of dermatitis multifactorial in a dog was reported, involving Demodex canis, Sporothrix schenckii, and bacteria of the genera Staphylococcus and Streptococcus. The animal, male, Pit Bull, with a year and three months of age had soaked lesions, was hyperemic, scaly and had an ulcer in the neck and chest. Laboratory tests confirmed the diagnosis of concomitant infection by fungi, bacteria and parasites. Antimicrobial therapy with moxidectin, itraconazol and amoxicillin was effective, with remission of clinical signs after 30 days of treatment. This report emphasizes the importance of an accurate diagnosis, which was crucial to establish the correct treatment and recovery of the animal.

Long-term peritoneal dialysis experience in Portugal.

Peritoneal dialysis (PD) penetration varies widely. Since the beginning of this therapy, indications have changed and outcomes have improved. In Portugal, PD still remains clearly underutilized. The results of a 20 year PD programme were evaluated: 312 cumulative patients, 48+/-16 years, 27%>60 years old, 27% diabetic, 59% with prior hemodialysis (HD). The main reason for admission was vascular access failure (48.7%). Admission due to patient preference has increased significantly between first and second decades of the programme (33% vs 47% (P<0.001)); 98 patients (31.4%) were treated with automated PD but this prescription increased to 43% of the active patients.A total of 376 Tenckhoff catheters were surgically implanted, recently by the Popovich-Moncrief technique (77 catheters): the cumulative survival was 82%, 64% and 50% at 1, 3 and 5 years,respectively. A better catheter survival was found in the last decade (85.7%, 69.6%, 54.8% versus 77.3%, 55.5%, 40.2%, at 1, 3 and 5 years, respectively (P=0.007). The patient and technique cumulative survivals were 91, 74, 55% and 85, 67, 41%, at 1, 3, and 5 years, respectively. The main drop-out was to hemodialysis (35.8%), followed by death (23.7%), and transplantation (21.5%). Peritonitis and access-related infections caused 35% of the transfer to HD. Cardiovascular events caused 58% of deaths. The median PD retention was 35.5 months. The rate of peritonitis has decreased to one episode /30 patient months. Hospital admission has also decreased to 4.8 days/patient year. This is a first report on long-term PD experience in Portugal. It has been an effective modality of renal replacement therapy, reflected by the growing patient preference in our PD programme.Experience, knowledge and new technical solutions have improved the outcomes.