Beatriz Gomes Vila Nova

Chikungunya is an arbovirus transmitted to humans through the bite of an infected arthropod, specifically Aedes mosquitoes. In Brazil, the first autochthonous cases were reported in 2014, and the disease has since become endemic in several regions of the country. The aim of this study was to evaluate serum cytokine levels in patients with Chikungunya fever (CHIKF) attended in public hospitals in a state in the Northeast region of Brazil. A total of 744 serum samples from patients were analyzed, and 547 were diagnosed with CHIK by ELISA (IgM-positive). Among these, 409 samples were from female patients and 138 from male patients, comprising 377 adults, 82 elderly individuals, and 88 children and adolescents. Most of the patients resided in urban areas (n= 490; 89.4%). Cytokine quantification was performed on a random subset of 240 samples using flow cytometry with the CBA Human Th1/Th2/Th17 cytokine kit. Interleukin-6 (IL-6) was identified as the most prevalent cytokine, particularly during the second week following symptom onset. Given that elevated IL-6 levels contribute to a positive feedback loop that exacerbates arthralgia, the detection and quantification of IL-6 may serve as a valuable biomarker for CHIKV diagnosis, prognosis, and severity assessment, as well as guiding clinical management.

Escherichia coli is a common intestinal microorganism that can cause a variety of diseases in humans and animals. The aim of this study was to evaluate the therapeutic effects of fish oil rich in omega-3 against intestinal infection caused by enteroaggregative E. coli (EAEC). Minimum inhibitory and bactericidal concentrations were determined, along with toxicity assays using HT-29 intestinal cells and Tenebrio molitor larvae. Swiss mice infected with EAEC 042 were used to assess the in vivo therapeutic potential of fish oil. Histological analyses of the liver, kidney, and colon were conducted to identify tissue alterations such as inflammation and necrosis. Fish oil exhibited a bacteriostatic effect on E. coli and was non-toxic to HT-29 cells at concentrations up to 50 mg/mL. It also enhanced survival in treated larvae. In infected mice, bacterial colony counts were significantly lower in the fish oil-treated group. Histological evaluation showed reduced inflammatory infiltrates in the liver and colon, and no progression of hepatic hydropic degeneration was observed in treated animals, unlike in the untreated infected group. These findings indicated that fish oil rich in omega-3 possesses antimicrobial activity against E. coli, is non-toxic to both cells and animal models, and effectively reduces intestinal infection and associated tissue damage in mice. This suggests its potential as a supportive therapeutic agent for infections caused by pathogenic E. coli.

Objective: The present study aimed to identify in the literature the bioactive compounds present in the extracts of leaves, fruits, and seeds of Syzygium cumini and their uses as therapy for some diseases. Theoretical Framework: Phytotherapy, a therapeutic method characterized using medicinal plants, has been widely employed in combating pathogenic microbial agents. Among the naturally occurring compounds used for this purpose is S. cumini. Various activities have been described for the compound, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, among others. Method: For this study, articles were searched in the LILACS, MEDLINE, and PUBMED databases, spanning the time frame from 2015 to 2020, using the following descriptors: Syzygium cumini; Phytotherapy; Natural Products. Sixteen articles related to the subject were chosen to be included in the study. Results and Discussion: With the data collection, it was possible to observe that S. cumini and its compounds are extensively studied due to their anti-hyperglycemic, anti-hyperlipidemic, antibacterial, antihypertensive, among other activities. Research Implications: Based on the data found, it was possible to demonstrate that S. cumini exhibits excellent phytotherapeutic activities, thus being able to be used for the treatment of various diseases, especially those of metabolic and bacterial origin. Originality/Value: This study offers a significant contribution to the literature by highlighting the main therapeutic effects of S. cumini and its active compounds in treating diseases. Furthermore, this natural product can have a significant impact on public health by offering effective and affordable alternatives for treating a variety of conditions.

Antimicrobial resistance is a global public health threat that has been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The aim of this study was to evaluate the resistance of Acinetobacter spp. isolated from patients with pneumonia in a Brazilian Pre-Amazon region during the pre-pandemic and pandemic periods of COVID-19. Bacterial strains were obtained from tracheal aspiration, sputum and bronchoalveolar lavage for diagnosis and phenotypic characterization. MALD-TOF was used to identify strains. The automated Phoenix and VITEK® 2 Compact system and the disc diffusion method were performed to determine the antimicrobial susceptibility profile. Were analyzed a total of 41,590 samples from patients admitted to hospitals of a Brazilian Pre-Amazon region, from January 2019 to December 2021. Of these, 162 isolates of Acinetobacter spp. were from the pre-pandemic period and 308 from the pandemic COVID-19. A. baumannii was the most prevalent species. Among the samples, 52% were male patients, aged over 60 years, hospitalized in intensive care units. Acinetobacter spp. showed higher rates of resistance to cefepime (79.1%), levofloxacin (77.8%), and ceftazidime (77%) in the pre-pandemic period and during the pandemic to piperacillin (72.4%), imipenem (71.6%) and ciprofloxacin (71.8%). Taken together, the data showed that A. baumannii was the most prevalent species among Acinetobacter spp., being more frequent among elderly patients admitted to the ICU. The strains presented high resistance to most antibiotics tested, mainly carbapenems. In addition, there was an increase in resistance to polymyxin B, which raises an alert since this is a therapeutic choice to treat infections caused by Acinetobacter spp. multidrug resistant.

Candida albicans is often associated with oral candidiasis, and drug-resistance profiles have contributed to an increase in morbidity and mortality. It is known that Lactobacillus spp. acts by competing for adhesion to the epithelium, absorption of nutrients and modulation of the human microbiota. Therefore, they are important to assist in the host's microbiological balance and reduce the growth of Candida spp. Until now, there have been no reports in the literature of reviews correlating to the use of Lactobacillus spp. in the treatment of oral candidiasis. Thus, this review aims to highlight the mechanisms of action of Lactobacillus spp. and methods that can be used in the treatment of oral candidiasis. This is a study carried out through the databases PubMed Central and Scientific Electronic Library Online, using the following keywords: Oral Candidiasis and Lactobacillus. Original articles about oral candidiasis were included, with both in vitro and in vivo analyses, and published from 2012 to 2022. Lactobacillus rhamnosus was the most common microorganism used in the experiments against Candida, acting mainly in the reduction of biofilm, filamentation, and competing for adhesion sites of Candida spp. Among in vivo studies, most researchers used immunosuppressed mouse modelsof Candida infection. The studies showed that Lactobacillus has a great potential as a probiotic, acting mainly in the prevention and treatment of mucosal diseases. Thus, the use of Lactobacillus may be a good strategy for the treatment of oral candidiasis.

Healthcare-related infections caused by resistant microorganisms are a severe public health problem and are becoming increasingly prevalent in the hospital environment, especially Pseudomonas aeruginosa. This work aimed to evaluate the resistance profile of Pseudomonas aeruginosa to antimicrobials before the COVID-19 pandemic and during the pandemic period. Bacteria strains were obtained from tracheal aspiration, sputum, and bronchoalveolar lavage for diagnosis and phenotypic characterization. Matrix assisted laser-desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry (MALD-TOF MS) was used to identify strains. Automated Phoenix and VITEK^® 2 Compact system and the disc diffusion method were performed to determine the antimicrobial susceptibility profile. A total of 41,000 medical reports from adult patients with pneumonia were analyzed. Of these, 951 patients were positive for P. aeruginosa, of which 373 were related to the pre-pandemic period and 578 to the pandemic period. Older men (≥60 years) were more prevalent in both periods. P. aeruginosa strains were resistant to imipenem in both periods: 38.8 and 42.5%, respectively, followed by meropenem (34.2 and 39.2%), ciprofloxacin (33.6 and 36.7%), and levofloxacin (34.9 and 43.5%). Intensive care units had the highest percentage of affected patients (62 and 65%) compared with other sectors, with a prevalence of 71% in the public network before COVID-19 and 59% during the pandemic. Our data showed a prevalence of P. aeruginosa in elderly patients in both the pre-pandemic and pandemic periods. In addition, an increase in P. aeruginosa resistance to beta-lactams, quinolones, carbapenems, and cephalosporins was observed during the COVID-19 pandemic compared with the period before the pandemic, especially in ICUs.

Tratar dos microrganismos e os relacionar com o seu extenso leque de benefícios, no âmbito escolar, é de suma importância na perspectiva de deixar-se de lado o conceito de que os mesmos são apenas nocivos à saúde humana. O objetivo do projeto foi averiguar o que estudantes do ensino médio compreendem ou acreditam compreender sobre os microrganismos, e a partir disso, promover conhecimento e desfazer os conceitos distorcidos, assegurando que os microrganismos também são passíveis de benefícios. O projeto foi realizado no Colégio Marista Araçagy localizado no município de São José de Ribamar, no Maranhão, com alunos do 3º ano do ensino médio. Previamente os alunos foram pré-avaliados para que pudéssemos estimar seus conhecimentos acerca dos microrganismos e quão benéficos são. Logo em seguida o tema foi abordado com o auxílio de slides, onde definiu-se conceitos, benefícios e exemplos foram relatados. Seguidamente, aplicou-se novamente um questionário com o intuito de mensurarmos o rendimento e aprendizado após os sujeitarmos à ação proposta. Após análise do questionário, verificou-se que dos 31 alunos que participaram, 39% não tinham conhecimento sobre a temática, enquanto 61% disseram já ter tido contato com o tema e 10% dos estudantes afirmaram que todas as bactérias são patogênicas. Só foi possível evidenciarmos um cenário animador após avaliarmos as respostas do segundo questionário. Contudo, favorecer conhecimento prévio sobre os microrganismos e seus benefícios é sem dúvida primordial na construção do saber acerca do que é verídico.