ABSTRACT
Abstract Good cell culture practices are a set of technical and management tools recommended for application in research and service laboratories to guarantee the traceability and reproducibility of in vitro experiments. However, most research laboratories do not have a structured quality assurance system and have difficulties organizing their workflows or even priorities in implementing acceptable laboratory practices. In this study, we applied management and quality assurance tools to define the steps necessary to implement acceptable laboratory practices in the multiuser laboratory of cell culture and establish a cell bank at the Carlos Chagas Institute FIOCRUZ-PR. Our team applied the 5W2H and 5S tools for initial diagnosis and established an action plan to implement and manage the laboratory over two years. Thereby, we defined the scope of laboratory activities, including the demand for establishing a cell bank, the supply of cell lines to internal users, user training, and quality control tests. We also mapped the main activities, establishing their flows and all the necessary documentation to ensure traceability and reproducibility. Additionally, the laboratory was organized in compliance with the 5S principles. In conclusion, using management tools, such as the 5W2H and 5S methods, is a simple and affordable method to organize and manage a cell culture laboratory and can be applied to other research laboratories.
ABSTRACT
This study had analyzed the antibacterial, antifungal and trypanocidal activity of the essential oils from Cinnamodendron dinisii Schwacke (Canellaceae) and Siparuna guianensis Aublet (Siparunaceae). The essential oils were obtained from fresh leaves by hydrodistillation, using a modified Clevenger apparatus. Chemical analysis by gas-liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC-MS) showed that these essential oils are rich in monoterpene and sesquiterpene hydrocarbons. Activity against the pathogenic bacteria Escherichia coli, Listeria monocytogenes, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella choleraesuis and Staphylococcus aureus was evaluated with the agar cavity diffusion method, while activity on the filamentous fungi Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus carbonarius and Penicillium commune was evaluated by the disk diffusion technique. Trypanocidal activity was tested against Trypanosoma cruzi epimastigotes, using the Tetrazolium salt (MTT) colorimetric assay. Both essential oils exhibited low inhibitory effect towards bacteria, showing high MIC values (125–500 μg mL−1), with Gram positive bacteria being more susceptible. Better inhibitory effect was obtained for the evaluated fungi, with lower MIC values (7.81–250 μg mL−1), being A. flavus the most susceptible species. Both essential oils presented low trypanocidal activity, with IC50/24 h values of 209.30 μg mL−1 for S. guianensis and 282.93 μg mL−1 for C. dinisii. Thus, the high values observed for the MIC of evaluated bacteria and for IC50/24 h of T. cruzi, suggest that the essential oils have a low inhibitory activity against these microorganisms. In addition, the low MIC values observed for the tested fungi species indicate good inhibitory activity on these microorganisms’s growth.