Dynamic evolution of kidney function in patients with STEC-hemolytic uremic syndrome followed for more than 15 years: unexpected changes.

BACKGROUND: Most studies regarding kidney outcomes in patients with Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli-hemolytic uremic syndrome (STEC-HUS) focus on kidney status at last assessment. We aimed to describe patterns of changes in kidney function during follow-up and investigate associations between kidney function at 1st, 5th, and 10th year after onset and long-term kidney outcomes. METHODS: Data of patients with STEC-HUS followed for at least 15 years were analyzed. Kidney function patterns were constructed considering kidney status at 1st, 5th, 10th, and ≥ 15 years and defined as (1) progressive, if patients changed from complete recovery to any chronic kidney disease (CKD) stage or if CKD worsened; (2) improvement, if they shifted from any CKD stage to complete recovery or to a milder stage; and (3) stable, if remained unchanged. RESULTS: Of 152 patients included, after 1 year of follow-up, 47% had complete recovery, 22% CKD1, and 32% CKD2-5. At last assessment, 46% had complete recovery, 34% CKD1, and 19% CKD2-5. Despite percentages seeming similar, patients differed: 48% were stable, 27% improved, and 25% worsened. Further, 62% of patients with CKD2-4 in the 1st year normalized their glomerular filtration rate (GFR) thereafter. Comparison of kidney function between 1st, 5th, and 10th year to last assessment shows a stable pattern in 48, 59, and 69% respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Changes in kidney function showed a dynamic and complex behavior, with patients moving from one group to another. Consistently, kidney function neither at the 1st, 5th, or 10th year was representative of final outcome. Unexpectedly, two-thirds of patients with CKD2-4 after 1 year achieved normal eGFR later during follow-up.

Future climate suitability of Hemileia vastatrix in arabica coffee under CMIP6 scenarios.

BACKGROUND: Coffee (Coffea arabica L.) is one of the most important commodities today, with a high economic value worldwide. Coffee leaf rust (Hemileia vastatrix Berk. et Br.) has been showing a high impact on Brazilian coffee trees among the various diseases that attack coffee. The climate has a great influence on the development of diseases, especially when fungi are the causal agents. This study aimed to carry out the zoning of climate favorability for coffee leaf rust in the traditional and main coffee-producing regions of Brazil. The study was conducted in 13 locations in the states of Paraná, São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Espírito Santo, Minas Gerais, Goiás and Bahia. Air temperature and daily precipitation data for the current scenario were collected using the WorldClim version 2.1 platform for the last climatological normal and future climate change data. The ideal climate conditions for coffee leaf rust consist of a mean air temperature ranging from 21 to 25 °C and precipitation >30 mm per month. The Coupled Model Intercomparison Projects scenarios associated with the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change reports consisted of the Shared Socio-Economic Pathways SSP-1 2.6, SSP-2 4.5, SSP-3 7.0 and SSP-5 8.5, the latter being considered one of the most catastrophic. All steps to carry out the suitability zoning were performed in a tool using the QGIS geographic information system software. RESULTS: Zoning for coffee leaf rust had three classes: favorable, relatively favorable and unfavorable. Currently, the largest coffee-producing region in Brazil has 49.1% of its analyzed area classified as favorable, 39.2% as relatively favorable and 11.7% as unfavorable. In the current scenario, Patrocínio and Três Pontas are locations with high coffee production in which the favorable class is predominant. The state of Minas Gerais has an annual mean of 55.3% of its entire territory apt for the disease, with the highest occurrence between September and March. CONCLUSIONS: Climate change has a negative impact on the development of coffee leaf rust, mainly in the long term, as in the period of 2081-2100, in which the SSP-5 8.5 scenario led to a decrease in the favorable and unfavorable areas and an increase in the relatively favorable areas of 9.8%, 18.6% and 71.5% for the Brazilian territory, respectively. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.

Alginate coatings applied on apple cubes as a vehicle for Lacticaseibacillus casei: probiotic viability and overall quality of a new functional product.

BACKGROUND: Worldwide, vegan and vegetarian lifestyles, as well as food allergies and intolerance (e.g. lactose intolerance and milk protein allergy) demand the development of alternatives to dairy-based probiotic foods. In the present study, probiotic Lacticaseibacillus casei CECT 9104 was added to alginate-based edible coatings enriched with inulin and oligofructose and applied to fresh-cut apple. Microbiological, physicochemical and sensory quality parameters of the apple cubes were monitored during 8 days of refrigerated storage. Lacticaseibacillus casei was tested for its antagonistic effect against inoculated Listeria innocua and Escherichia coli O157:H7. The viability of the probiotic strain during refrigerated storage and after simulated gastrointestinal digestion (GID) was evaluated. RESULTS: After 8 days of storage, 9.52-9.64 log colony-forming units (CFU) g-1 of L. casei were detected in apple samples. The functional apple cubes retained 8.31-8.43 log CFU g-1 of the probiotic after GID, without a significant effect of prebiotic addition. The microbiological quality and nutritional properties were maintained by the use of active coatings, whereas the sensory quality decreased after 8 days of storage. A bactericidal effect was exerted by the probiotic strain loaded in the coating against L. innocua artificially inoculated on apple cubes. Escherichia coli O157:H7 counts were reduced by 2.5 log after 8 days. CONCLUSION: This study has demonstrated the suitability of apple cubes as an alternative matrix to milk for carrying probiotic L. casei CECT 9104 and prebiotics, offering a promising alternative for the development of plant-based functional foods. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry.

Enhancing apple postharvest protection: Efficacy of pectin coatings containing Cryptococcus laurentii against Penicillium expansum.

The aim of this work is the application of pectin coatings containing Cryptococcus laurentii as a method of biocontrol of Penicillium expansum for postharvest protection of apples. For this purpose, the yeast was incorporated into a pectin matrix, and its viability and biocontrol activity in vitro and in vivo against P. expansum was evaluated over time. In addition, the influence of the sterilization process on coating thickness was studied. Results showed that pectin coating with C. laurentii enhanced mycelial growth inhibition in vitro studies, while no significant differences were observed in disease incidence and severity reduction in vivo studies. The sterilization process reduced the viscosity of the pectin solution, resulting in coating thicknesses ranging from 0.5 to 1 µm. As a general evaluation, in vitro and in vivo, biocontrol assays were useful in demonstrating better postharvest protection of the yeast at 7 °C concerning 25 °C.

Flow Cytometry and Automated Microscopy Integration for Phagocytic Analysis of Hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae in Dictyostelium discoideum.

This chapter introduces protocols for culturing and maintaining Dictyostelium discoideum and methods for conducting virulence assays in this organism to study bacterial pathogenicity. It outlines advanced techniques, such as automated microscopy and flow cytometry, for detailed cellular analysis and traditional microbiological approaches. These comprehensive protocols will enable researchers to probe the virulence factors of pathogens like Klebsiella pneumoniae and to elucidate the details of host-pathogen interactions within a cost-effective and adaptable laboratory framework.

Zebrafish Larvae Microinjection and Automated Fluorescence Microscopy for Studying Klebsiella pneumoniae Infection and the Host Immune Response.

Studying host-pathogen interactions is essential for understanding infectious diseases and developing possible treatments, especially for priority pathogens with increased virulence and antibiotic resistance, such as Klebsiella pneumoniae. Over time, this subject has been approached from different perspectives, often using mammal host models and invasive endpoint measurements (e.g., sacrifice and organ extraction). However, taking advantage of technological advances, it is now possible to follow the infective process by noninvasive visualization in real time, using optically amenable surrogate hosts. In this line, this chapter describes a live-cell imaging approach to monitor the interaction of K. pneumoniae and potentially other bacterial pathogens with zebrafish larvae in vivo. This methodology is based on the microinjection of fluorescent bacteria into the otic vesicle, followed by time-lapse observation by automated fluorescence microscopy with environmental control, monitoring the dynamics of immune cell recruitment, bacterial load, and larvae survival.

Chemical profiling and probiotic viability assessment in Gueuze-style beer: Fermentation dynamics, metabolite and sensory characterization, and in vitro digestion resistance.

Probiotic viability, metabolite concentrations, physicochemical parameters, and volatile compounds were characterized in Gueuze beers formulated with probiotic lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and yeast. Additionally, the sensory profile of the beers and the resistance of the probiotics to digestion were determined. The use of 2 International Bitterness Units resulted in high concentrations of probiotic LAB but a decline in probiotic yeast as pH decreased. Secondary fermentation led to the consumption of maltose, citric acid, and malic acid, and the production of lactic and propionic acids. Carbonation and storage at 4 °C had minimal impact on probiotic viability. The addition of probiotic LAB resulted in a distinct aroma profile with improved sensory characteristics. Our results demonstrate that sour beers produced with probiotic LAB and a probiotic yeast, and fermented using a two-step fermentation process, exhibited optimal physicochemical parameters, discriminant volatile compound profiles, promising sensory characteristics, and high probiotic concentrations after digestion.

Caribbean medicinal plant Argemone mexicana L.: Metabolomic analysis and in vitro effect on the vaginal microbiota.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Medicinal plants are frequently used in Caribbean traditional medicine as low-cost, culturally relevant treatments for women's health concerns, such as gynecological infections. These plants are typically applied topically, potentially affecting both pathogenic bacteria (e.g., Gardnerella vaginalis) and beneficial vaginal microbes (Lactobacillus spp.). However, few studies have examined the impact of these plants on both beneficial and pathogenic vaginal bacteria. AIM OF THE STUDY: Argemone mexicana, available in New York City and commonly used to treat gynecological infections by immigrants from the Dominican Republic, was investigated for its chemical variation and effects on the vaginal microbiota. We hypothesized that variations in the bioactivity of Argemone mexicana on Gardnerella vaginalis and Lactobacillus spp. are due to differences in antimicrobial compounds across different preparations. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Untargeted and targeted metabolomic analysis using UPLC-qToF-MS and UPLC-TQD-MS were conducted on Argemone mexicana samples collected in New York City. Antimicrobial assays were used to assess the effects of Argemone mexicana samples on beneficial and pathogenic vaginal bacteria. ProGenesis QI and EZinfo were used for metabolomic analysis to link bioactivity with chemometric data. RESULTS: UPLC-qToF-MS and statistical analyses showed that chemical variation correlated with plant tissue type and processing (dry or fresh samples). These differences were evident in antimicrobial screenings, where active plant samples were antimicrobial against pathogenic bacteria only, with no effect on beneficial Lactobacillus. Known antimicrobial benzoquinone alkaloids, such as berberine, were partly responsible for the observed microbiological activity. Berberine exhibited similar inhibition patterns, reduced biofilm formation, and trended towards higher concentration in active samples. CONCLUSIONS: Extracts of Argemone mexicana, a plant used in Caribbean women's health, did not have an effect on beneficial vaginal microbes, but did inhibit pathogenic Gardnerella vaginalis. This antimicrobial activity correlated with the chemical variation of berberine and other related alkaloids across traditional preparations of Argemone mexicana. These results may be relevant for treating gynecological infections, not only with this plant, but other berberine-containing taxa.

Efficacy of toothpaste containing Brazilian green propolis extracts with an optimal kaempferide/betuletol ratio for improving oral microbiota: A randomized, controlled, paired crossover study.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Propolis is a resinous substance collected by honeybees from various plant sources and has been used in traditional folk medicine for centuries. Propolis has various biological properties, including antibacterial, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, and anti-tumor properties. The use of propolis in oral health care is attributable to its antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory effects. However, limited evidence exists on the in vivo efficacy of propolis against periodontal pathogens. AIM OF THE STUDY: We aimed to evaluate the efficacy of Brazilian green propolis (BGP)-containing toothpaste for improving the oral environment and define its antibacterial compounds. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Overall, 48 student volunteers aged 18-40 years (24 females and 24 males) were randomly categorized into the BGP and placebo groups. The BGP and placebo groups received toothpaste with and without BGP, respectively. After a baseline assessment, the plaque index (PI) score, gingival index (GI) score, and proportion of periodontal pathogens on the tongue surface were analyzed at 0, 1, and 2 weeks. Antibacterial compounds were identified using liquid-liquid partitioning, high-performance liquid chromatography purification, and nuclear magnetic resonance methods. RESULTS: The concentration of BGP in the toothpaste was set at 0.0347 w/v%. Compared with the placebo group, the BGP group demonstrated a reduction in the PI score (p < 0.05) but not in the GI score, as well as a reduction in Porphyromonas gingivalis (Pg)/Total bacteria (Tb), Fusobacterium nucleatum (Fn)/Tb, and Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans (Aa)/Tb (p < 0.05) but not in Streptococcus salivalius/Tb. Effect sizes for Pg, Fn and Aa were 0.360, 0.556, and 0.164, respectively. The antibacterial compounds of the BGP-containing toothpaste included a mixture of kaempferide/betuletol. CONCLUSIONS: We confirmed the efficacy of propolis toothpaste with an optimal kaempferide/betuletol ratio for improving oral microbiota, thereby suggesting that BGP toothpaste is clinically useful in maintaining oral health and preventing periodontal disease.

Acute infections of the central nervous system in children and adults: diagnosis and management.

Central nervous system infections are due to different microorganisms such as viruses, bacteria, mycobacteria, fungi, amoebas, and other parasites. The etiology depends on multiple risk factors, and it defines the infection location because some microorganisms prefer meninges, brain tissue, cerebellum, brain stem or spinal cord. The microorganisms induce diseases in the nervous system through direct invasion, neurotoxin production, and the triggered immune response. To determine the infection etiology, there are several diagnostic tests which may be conducted with cerebrospinal fluid, blood, respiratory and stool samples. These tests include but are not limited to direct microscopic examination of the sample, stains, cultures, antigenic tests, nucleic acid amplification tests, metagenomic next-generation sequencing, immunologic biomarker and neuroimaging, especially contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging. The treatment may consist of specific antimicrobial treatment and supportive standard care. Since viruses have no specific antiviral treatment, antimicrobial treatment is mainly targeted at non-viral infections. This article will focus on diagnosis and treatment of acute acquired infections of the central nervous system beyond the neonatal period. The discussion defines the disease, provides the clinical presentation, explains the etiology and risk factors, and briefly mentions potential complications. This updated review aims to provide the reader with all the elements needed to adequately approach a patient with a central nervous system infection. Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection, Cryptococcus spp. infection and vaccines are not within the scope of this article.

Molecular detection of Ehrlichia spp., Anaplasma spp., and Bartonella spp. in dogs treated at a veterinary teaching clinic in Peru.

In recent years, vector-borne diseases have become widespread throughout the world and affect the health of humans and domestic animals. These diseases spread to areas where their primary vectors, fleas and ticks, thrive, particularly in tropical and subtropical climate regions, providing ideal conditions for their proliferation. The growing closeness between people and their pets increases the likelihood of bites from these ectoparasites, which represents a latent zoonotic risk. Therefore, the objective of the study was to determine the presence of Anaplasma spp., Ehrlichia spp., and Bartonella spp. in dogs treated at the Small Animal Clinic of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine of the Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, located in Lima, Peru. Blood samples from 214 dogs were molecularly analyzed for hemopathogen detection. The results revealed prevalences of 2.6 % (6/214) for Anaplasma platys, 5.14 % (11/214) for Ehrlichia canis, and 0.46 % (1/214) for Bartonella rochalimae. No statistically significant relationship was found between the animal infection and the age, sex, breed, presence of fleas (Ctenocephalides felis) and ticks (Rhipicephalus sanguineus), and locality. This study reported molecularly for the first time the presence of A. platys, E. canis, and B. rochalimae in dogs from Lima city, and demonstrates the occurrence of zoonotic pathogens in pets treated at the veterinary clinic.

Biofilm formation and increased mortality among cancer patients with candidemia in a Peruvian reference center.

BACKGROUND: Candidemia is an invasive mycosis with an increasing global incidence and high mortality rates in cancer patients. The production of biofilms by some strains of Candida constitutes a mechanism that limits the action of antifungal agents; however, there is limited and conflicting evidence about its role in the risk of death. This study aimed to determine whether biofilm formation is associated with mortality in cancer patients with candidemia. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study included patients treated at Peru's oncologic reference center between June 2015 and October 2017. Data were collected by monitoring patients for 30 days from the diagnosis of candidemia until the date of death or hospital discharge. Statistical analyses evaluated the association between biofilm production determined by XTT reduction and mortality, adjusting for demographic, clinical, and microbiological factors assessed by the hospital routinary activities. Survival analysis and bivariate and multivariate Cox regression were used, estimating the hazard ratio (HR) as a measure of association with a significance level of p < 0.05. RESULTS: A total of 140 patients with candidemia were included in the study. The high mortality observed on the first day of post-diagnosis follow-up (81.0%) among 21 patients who were not treated with either antifungal or antimicrobial drugs led to stratification of the analyses according to whether they received treatment. In untreated patients, there was a mortality gradient in patients infected with non-biofilm-forming strains vs. low/medium and high-level biofilm-forming strains (25.0%, 66.7% and 82.3%, respectively, p = 0.049). In treated patients, a high level of biofilm formation was associated with increased mortality (HR, 3.92; 95% p = 0.022), and this association persisted after adjusting for age, comorbidities, and hospital emergency admission (HR, 6.59; CI: 1.87-23.24, p = 0.003). CONCLUSIONS: The association between candidemia with in vitro biofilm formation and an increased risk of death consistently observed both in patients with and without treatment, provides another level of evidence for a possible causal association. The presence of comorbidities and the origin of the hospital emergency, which reflect the fragile clinical condition of the patients, and increasing age above 15 years were associated with a higher risk of death.

[Meningitis and myelitis by hypervirulent Klebsiella pneumoniae]. / Meningitis y mielitis por Klebsiella pneumoniae hipervirulenta.

Invasive liver abscess syndrome caused by hypervirulent Klebsiella. pneumoniae is a rare disease. This type of K. pneumoniae is aggressive and invasive, despite its sensitivity profile. We report the case of a 62-year-old man with diabetes mellitus, who was admitted to our hospital with meningeal syndrome. Within 24 hours of admission, Gram negative bacilli were isolated blood and cerebrospinal fluid cultures, which were later identified as K. pneumoniae. Liver abscess was detected by computed tomography. Despite early antibiotic treatment, the patient developed back pain that prevented him from moving and right hemiparesis. Increased signal from the central region of the spinal medulla compatible with myelitis was identified by magnetic resonance, for which he received methylprednisolone 1 g/day for 5 days. The patient evolved favorably. Infections caused by hypermucoviscous K. pneumoniae are aggressive and invasive, and more common in men with a history of diabetes mellitus, as in this case. These infections require early antibiotic treatment and the search of metastatic infections.

El síndrome de absceso hepático invasivo causado por cepas hipermucoviscosas de Klebsiella pneumoniae es una enfermedad poco frecuente. Esta serovariedad de Klebsiella se caracteriza por ser agresiva e invasiva pese a su perfil de sensibilidad. Se presenta el caso de un varón de 62 años con antecedentes de diabetes mellitus, que ingresó a nuestro centro con síndrome meníngeo. A las 24 horas del ingreso se aislaron en hemocultivos y en líquido cefalorraquídeo (LCR) bacilos Gram negativos que luego fueron tipificados como Klebsiella pneumoniae. Se identificó la presencia de un absceso hepático mediante tomografía computarizada. Pese al tratamiento antibiótico instaurado de manera temprana, el paciente evolucionó con dolor dorsal que le impedía movilizarse y hemiparesia derecha. En la resonancia magnética nuclear de columna se identificó aumento de la señal de la región central de la médula espinal compatible con mielitis por lo cual recibió tratamiento con metilprednisolona 1g/día por 5 días consecutivos. El paciente evolucionó de manera favorable. Las infecciones por K. pneumoniae hipermucoviscosas son agresivas e invasoras y más frecuentes en varones con antecedentes de diabetes mellitus, como en este caso. Su control requiere de un tratamiento antibiótico temprano y búsqueda de focos a distancia.

Combination of Live and Inactivated Salmonella Vaccines to Protect Against Fowl Typhoid in Laying Hens.

Fowl typhoid (FT) caused by Salmonella Gallinarum (SG) is a poultry disease distributed worldwide that has been eradicated in commercial production of many developed countries but still persists in many developing countries. Vaccination is one of the main strategies to reduce mortality, clinical signs, and vertical or horizontal transmission. The aim of this work was to assess the protection against FT conferred by vaccines based on Salmonella Enteritidis (SE), SG, or a combination. Five experimental groups of birds, vaccinated with different live or inactivated SG and SE vaccines were included in the trial: 1) two doses of a SG-SE bivalent inactivated vaccine; 2) four doses of the live attenuated SE vaccine; 3) three doses of the live attenuated SE vaccine and two doses of the SG-SE bivalent inactivated vaccine; 4) two doses of the live attenuated SG9R vaccine; and 5) unvaccinated birds. At 28 wk of age, all hens were challenged with a virulent strain of SG, and mortality was recorded during the subsequent 15 days. The results showed that the plan that included only the inactivated vaccine did not show significant protection (P = 1), while the plan based on the administration of the attenuated strain of SE significantly reduced mortality in the group of birds (P = 0.0309). However, the highest levels of protection were obtained in the group of hens immunized with the combination of the inactivated vaccine and the live attenuated SE strain (P < 0.0001), which was statistically similar to the homologous protection conferred by the SG 9R strain, a vaccine used in many countries to control FT. These results demonstrate that the combination of existing vaccines together with strict biosecurity measures on farms may help improve the control of the pathogen in countries where FT in an emerging or reemerging disease.

Nota de investigación- Combinación de vacunas vivas e inactivadas contra Salmonella para proteger contra la tifoidea aviar en gallinas de postura. La tifoidea aviar (FT) causada por Salmonella enterica serotipo Gallinarum biovar Gallinarum (SG) es una enfermedad distribuida en todo el mundo que ha sido erradicada de la producción av'icola comercial de muchos pa'ises desarrollados pero que aún persiste en muchos pa'ises en desarrollo. La vacunación es una de las principales estrategias para reducir la mortalidad, los signos cl'inicos y la transmisión vertical u horizontal. El objetivo de este trabajo fue evaluar la protección contra la tifoidea aviar conferida por vacunas elaboradas con Salmonella enterica serotipo Enteritidis (SE), SG o una combinación de ellas. Se incluyeron en el ensayo cinco grupos experimentales de aves, vacunadas con diferentes vacunas de SG y SE vivas o inactivadas: 1) dos dosis de una vacuna bivalente inactivada de SG y SE; 2) cuatro dosis de la vacuna SE viva atenuada; 3) tres dosis de vacuna SE viva atenuada y dos dosis de vacuna bivalente inactivada SG y SE; 4) dos dosis de la vacuna SG 9R viva atenuada; y 5) aves no vacunadas. A las 28 semanas de edad, todas las gallinas fueron expuestas a una cepa virulenta de SG y se registró la mortalidad durante los 15 d'ias siguientes. Los resultados mostraron que el plan que inclu'ia solo la vacuna inactivada no mostró protección significativa (P=1), mientras que el plan basado en la administración de la cepa atenuada de S. Enteritidis redujo significativamente la mortalidad en el grupo de aves (P = 0,0309). Sin embargo, los mayores niveles de protección se obtuvieron en el grupo de gallinas inmunizadas con la combinación de la vacuna inactivada y la cepa viva atenuada de SE (P < 0,0001), la cual fue estad'isticamente similar a la protección homóloga conferida por la cepa de SG 9R, que es una vacuna utilizada en muchos pa'ises para controlar la tifoidea aviar. Estos resultados demuestran que la combinación de las vacunas existentes junto con estrictas medidas de bioseguridad en las granjas puede ayudar a mejorar el control del patógeno en pa'ises donde la tifoidea aviar es una enfermedad emergente o reemergente.

Induction of defence response in peanut elicited by Bacillus sp. CHEP5: A biological strategy for control of smut disease caused by Thecaphora frezzii in the field.

Peanut is susceptible to many diseases; among them, peanut smut disease caused by Thecaphora frezzii is the most damaging, causing yield losses of 30%. Fungicide treatment is not effective to control this disease. In this scenario, biological control would be an alternative to diminish the disease. Systemic resistance induced by a biotic agent is known to be effective against a broad spectrum of pathogens. In this study we evaluated the effect of different inoculation strategies of Bacillus sp. CHEP5, a peanut native strain, on peanut smut incidence and severity in field experiments. Peroxidase activity and accumulation of phenolic compounds were measured as changes associated with induced defensive traits. After three consecutive field trials, we found that Bacillus sp. CHEP5 inoculation protects peanut from T. frezzii because incidence and severity were reduced in two field trials. Furthermore, bacterial inoculation in the furrow followed by foliar application around the date of peg development would be the best strategy to control the disease. In addition, a correlation was found between increase in plant phenolic content and decrease in smut disease parameters. Thereafter, we concluded that Bacillus sp. CHEP5 may reduce smut as a result of plant defence response induction.

Pseudoalteromonas simplex sp. nov. Isolated from the Skin of Bandtail Puffer Fish (Sphoeroides spengleri).

A novel bacterial isolate A520T (A520T = CBAS 737T = CAIM 1944T) was obtained from the skin of bandtail puffer fish Sphoeroides spengleri (Tetraodontidae Family), collected in Arraial do Cabo (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil). A520T is Gram-stain-negative, flagellated and aerobic bacteria. Optimum growth occurs at 25-30 °C in the presence of 3% NaCl. The genome sequence of the novel isolate consisted of 4.5 Mb (4082 coding genes and G+C content of 41.1%). The closest phylogenetic neighbor was Pseudoalteromonas shioyasakiensis JCM 18891T (97.9% 16S rRNA sequence similarity, 94.8% Average Amino Acid Identity, 93% Average Nucleotide Identity and 51.8% similarity in Genome-to-Genome-Distance). Several in silico phenotypic features are useful to differentiate A520T from its closest phylogenetic neighbors, including trehalose, D-mannose, cellobiose, pyrrolidonyl-beta-naphthylamide, starch hydrolysis, D-xylose, lactose, tartrate utilization, sucrose, citrate, glycerol, mucate and acetate utilization, malonate, glucose oxidizer, gas from glucose, nitrite to gas, L-rhamnose, ornithine decarboxylase, lysine decarboxylase and yellow pigment. The genome of the novel species contains 3 gene clusters (~ 66.81 Kbp in total) coding for different types of bioactive compounds that could indicate ecological roles pertaining to the bandtail puffer fish host. Based on genome-based taxonomic approach, strain A520T (A520T = CBAS 737T = CAIM 1944T) is proposed as a new species, Pseudoalteromonas simplex sp. nov.

Effects of Dietary Agavin on the Gut Microbiota of the Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) Reared at High Densities.

High-density stress can lead to dysbiotic microbiota, affecting the organism's metabolic, and protective functions. Agavin is a fructan with prebiotic properties that regulate the gut microbiota by promoting the growth of beneficial bacteria. This study evaluated the effect of agavin on the gut microbiota using Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) and its correlation with the growth parameters. Four groups of fish were fed different diets: a control diet (negative and positive control), without agavin supplementation, and two experimental diets supplemented with agavin at 20 g kg-1 and 40 g kg-1. Nile tilapias (1.04 g ± 0.01 g) were fed for 110 days. After 90 days of feeding, fish were subjected to high-density stress (63 kg m-3) for 20 days, except for the negative control. NGS detected 1579 different operational taxonomic units in the samples. In the correlation analysis of growth parameters, the families Vibrionaceae and Methyloligillaceae showed a positive correlation with fish growth parameters, these results may serve to know the relation of agavin and microbiota on the growth performance, as well as the metabolic activities of families in tilapia. Furthermore, high-density stress and agavin supplementation modify the gut microbiota in tilapia. At a low-density, supplementation with 20 g kg-1 agavin promoted the growth of the potentially beneficial families Sphingomonadaceae, Oxalobacteriaceae, and Chitinophagaceae; at high densities, reduced the abundance of pathogenic families (Vibrionaceae and Aeromonadaceae). These results suggest that, under stress conditions, agavin can stimulate the growth of potentially beneficial bacteria and reduce the growth of potentially pathogenic bacteria, suggesting its potential use as a prebiotic in aquaculture.

Cultivation of a Wild Strain of Wood Ear Auricularia cornea from Brazil.

Auricularia cornea has become one of the most important cultivated mushrooms worldwide. Although not remarkably flavorful, Auricularia species are very versatile and rehydrate easily after drying, adding a unique and pleasing texture to the dishes. In this study, we collected, identified, and domesticated a wild strain of A. cornea from the Brazilian Atlantic Rainforest. The wild strain was evaluated for mycelial growth at different temperatures and substrates, biological efficiency, and nutritional composition. The temperature that best favored the A. cornea mycelium growth was 30 °C, and the substrate was sterile Eucalyptus sawdust. The highest biological efficiency value obtained was 106.90 ± 13.28%. Nutritional analysis showed that the produced wood ears contained 71.02% carbohydrates, 19.63% crude fiber, 11.59% crude protein, 10.19% crude fat, and 4.24% ash on dry matter basis. For the mineral content profile, the elements K and P were the most abundant. This is the first report on cultivation of a wild strain of A. cornea from Brazil.

Do Streptomyces sp. Help Mycorrhization in Raspberry?

Actinobacteria may help the mycorrhizal symbiosis by producing various bioactive metabolites. Mycorrhizae, in turn, are very important since they increase the absorption of nutrients, promoting the growth of their host plant and making inoculation with arbuscular mycorrhizae fungi (AM) a common practice applied in agriculture and forestry. The cultivation of Rubus idaeus (raspberry) is widespread in Patagonia, Argentina; however, the potential benefits of using actinobacteria-mycorrhizal inoculums to enhance crop growth and yield remain unexplored. The objective of this work was to study the interaction between actinobacteria (Streptomyces, Actinomycetota) and AM in raspberry plants. We performed an experiment applying 4 treatments to raspberry plants growing in two substrates, sterile soil and natural (non-sterile) soil. The treatments consisted in a control (without inoculation) and three inoculations treatments (AM, Streptomyces SH9 strain, and AM + Streptomyces). After 3 months of inoculation, mycorrhization parameters (%) and plant growth were recorded. When comparing both substrates, the mycorrhization parameters were higher in natural soil than in sterile soil. The co-inoculation with AM + Streptomyces SH9 showed the highest mycorrhization. Both factors (treatment x substrate) interacted showing that in sterile soil the treatments with the highest effect on mycorrhization parameters were AM and the co-inoculation, while in natural soil all inoculations improved mycorrhization parameters, being highest with the co-inoculation. These results show that Streptomyces SH9 strain helps the mycorrhizal symbiosis in raspberry, being the first report about the effect of a native rhizospheric actinobacterium on an economically important species, promising potential for environmentally friendly improvements in raspberry crops within the temperate Southern Patagonian region.

Unveiling inflammatory biomarkers in multibacillary leprosy: the role of lymphocyte-platelet ratio in predicting leprosy reactions.

Leprosy is a neglected contagious disease that causes physical disability and episodes of inflammation, called leprosy reactions. There are currently no consolidated laboratory markers that can predict or confirm the diagnosis of leprosy reactions, negatively impacting the progression of the disease. The aim of this study was to analyze the behavior of inflammatory biomarkers in a population of patients with multibacillary leprosy. This prospective study in a northeastern capital involved 67 new cases of multibacillary leprosy, assessing inflammatory biomarkers at diagnosis. Histopathology, qPCR, slit skin smear microscopy, and laboratory tests, including CRP-albumin, neutrophil-lymphocyte, lymphocyte-monocyte, platelet-lymphocyte ratios, and systemic immune-inflammation index, were conducted. Statistical analysis utilized Stata version 16.0®, employing Chi-square, Kruskal-Wallis, and Poisson regression (5% significance). The population, mainly young brown men with low socioeconomic status, borderline leprosy, and and degree of physical disability one, saw 19.4% experiencing leprosy reactions. Standard multibacillary multidrug therapy was administered to all. Ratios and index values exceeding medians were prevalent (46.3-47.8%). Assessing biological markers against leprosy reactions revealed a positive relation between reactions and lymphocyte-platelet ratio (p = 0.05) and a positive trend with the systemic immune-inflammation index (p = 0.06). Patients with reactions were 1.3 times more likely to exhibit an elevated lymphocyte-platelet ratio. The lymphocyte-platelet ratio emerged as a potential indicator for recognizing leprosy reactions. Further research is essential to validate these findings, aiming for earlier detection of leprosy reactions.