Melanin particles isolated from the fungus Fonsecaea pedrosoi activates the human complement system

BACKGROUND Melanin production has been associated with virulence in various pathogenic fungi, including Fonsecaea pedrosoi, the major etiological agent for chromoblastomycosis, a subcutaneous fungal disease that occurs in South America. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of acid-basic extracted F. pedrosoi melanin particles and fungal cell ghosts obtained by Novozym 234 treatment on their ability to activate the human complement system. METHODS The ability of melanin particles and fungal cell ghosts to activate the human complement system was evaluated by complement consumption, immunofluorescence, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). FINDINGS Unsensitised melanin particles and melanin ghosts presented complement consumption of 82.67 ± 2.08% and 96.04 ± 1.13%, respectively. Immunofluorescence assays revealed intense deposition of the C3 and C4 fragments on the surface of melanin particles and ghosts extracted from F. pedrosoi. Deposition of the C3, C4, and C5 fragments onto melanin samples and zymosan was confirmed by ELISA. Deposition of small amounts of C1q and C9 onto melanin samples and zymosan was detected by ELISA. CONCLUSION Fonsecaea pedrosoi melanin particles and fungal cell ghosts activated the complement system mainly through an alternative pathway.

The influence of orthodontic fixed appliances on the oral microbiota: A systematic review

Objective: To investigate whether there is scientific evidence to support the hypothesis that the presence of orthodontic fixed appliances influences the oral microbiota. Methods: The search for articles was conducted in PubMed; ISI Web of Knowledge and Ovid databases, including articles published in English until May 17th, 2012. They should report human observational studies presenting the following keywords: "fixed orthodontic appliance" AND "microbiological colonization"; OR "periodontal pathogens"; OR "Streptococcus"; OR "Lactobacillus"; OR "Candida"; OR "Tannerella forsythia"; OR "Treponema denticola"; OR "Fusobacterium nucleatum"; OR "Actimomyces actinomycetemcomitans"; OR "Prevotella intermedia", OR "Prevotella nigrescens"; OR "Porphyromonas gingivalis". Articles were previously selected by title and abstract. Articles that met the inclusion criteria were analyzed and classified as having low, moderate or high methodology quality. A new detailed checklist for quality assessment was developed based on the information required for applicable data extraction for reviews. The study design, sample, follow-up period, collection and microbial analysis methods, statistical treatment, results and discussion were assessed. Results: The initial search retrieved 305 articles of which 33 articles were selected by title and abstract. After full-text reading, 8 articles met the inclusion criteria, out of which 4 articles were classified as having low and 4 as moderate methodological quality. The moderate methodological quality studies were included in the systematic review. Conclusions: The literature revealed moderate evidence that the presence of fixed appliances influences the quantity and quality of oral microbiota. .

Objetivo: investigar se há evidências científicas para comprovar a hipótese de que a presença de aparelhos ortodônticos fixos influencia a microbiota bucal. Métodos: a busca por artigos foi realizada nas bases de dados do PubMed, ISI Web of Knowledge e Ovid, incluindo artigos publicados em inglês até 17 de maio de 2012. Esses deveriam relatar estudos observacionais humanos que apresentassem as palavras-chave: "aparelho ortodôntico fixo" e "colonização microbiológica"; ou "patógenos periodontais"; ou "Streptococcus"; ou "Lactobacillus"; ou "Candida"; ou "Tannerella forsythia"; ou "Treponema denticola"; ou "Fusobacterium nucleatum"; ou "Actimomyces actinomycetemcomitans"; ou "Prevotella intermedia"; ou "Prevotella nigrescens"; ou "Porphyromonas gingivalis". Artigos foram previamente selecionados pelo título e resumo. Artigos que atenderam aos critérios de inclusão foram analisados e classificados como de baixa, moderada ou alta qualidade metodológica. Uma nova lista de verificação detalhada para avaliação da qualidade foi desenvolvida, com base na informação necessária para a extração de dados aplicáveis para as revisões de literatura. O desenho do estudo, a amostra, o período de acompanhamento, coleta e métodos de análise microbiana, o tratamento estatístico, resultados e discussão foram avaliados. Resultados: a busca inicial encontrou 305 trabalhos. Em seguida, 33 artigos foram selecionados pelo título e resumo. Após a leitura do texto completo, apenas oito artigos preencheram os critérios de inclusão. Desses, quatro foram classificados como artigos com baixa qualidade metodológica e quatro como moderados. Os estudos de qualidade metodológica moderada foram incluídos na revisão sistemática. Conclusão: a literatura ...

Prevalence of Group B Streptococcus serotypes III and V in pregnant women of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

GBS serotypes III and V were the most prevalent in pregnant women and exhibited resistance to tetracycline, clindamycin and sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim. Serotype III showed high sialic acid content and PFGE analysis discerned 33 heterogeneous profiles. Phenotypic and genotypic characterization could be relevant to control GBS infections unaffected by intra-partum chemoprophylaxis.

Antimicrobial and fluoride release capacity of orthodontic bonding materials

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the antimicrobial and fluoride releasing capacity of 3 bonding materials. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Thirty nine specimens with standardized surface smoothness and dimensions were prepared. The antimicrobial capacity of the materials against S. mutans, L. casei and C. albicans was evaluated by determining the percentage of growth inhibition of these microorganisms in an inoculated medium, obtained by optical density readouts on a spectrophotometer. The potential to interfere in microbial growth on the surface of the studied materials was observed by means of scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The fluoride release capacity in ultrapure water for 14 days was analyzed by means of ion chromatography. RESULTS: The PLUS group presented the highest percentage of microbial inhibition and the most contamination-free surface. The FUJI group presented the best fluoride release capacity. CONCLUSIONS: The TransbondTM Plus Color Change was the one that presented the best general behavior considering the evaluated aspects. .

Microbial colonization in orthodontic mini-implants

Peri-implant inflammation contributes for loss of secondary stability of orthodontic mini-implants. The investigation of microbial colonization in this area would benefit its control, and consequently favor the long-term success of mini-implants. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the establishment and the evolution of microbial colonization process in orthodontic mini-implants for 3 months, since the time of their installation. One-hundred and fifty samples collected from 15 mini-implants were investigated from baseline up to 3 months. The biological material was obtained from peri-implant area using paper points. Nonspecific, Streptococcus spp, Lactobacillus casei and Candida spp colonizations were analyzed by cell growth methods. Porphyromonas gingivalis colonization was observed by 16S rDNA-directed polymerase chain reaction. Data from cell growth were submitted to the Wilcoxon sign rank test and results from molecular analysis were presented in a descriptive way. There was no significant difference in the microbial colonization among the examined time intervals, except for Streptococcus spp, between baseline and 24 h, which characterized the initial colonization in this time interval. Lactobacillus casei and Candida spp colonizations were insignificant. No Porphyromonas gingivalis was detected among the analyzed samples. The microbial colonization of mini-implants did not significantly change during the study. However, it should be monitored by orthodontists, since it is an important factor for mini-implants success.

A inflamação peri-implantar contribui para a perda da estabilidade secundária dos mini-implantes ortodônticos. A investigação da colonização microbiana desta área beneficiaria o seu controle e, consequentemente, favoreceria o sucesso dos mini-implantes a longo prazo. Portanto, o objetivo dos autores foi determinar o estabelecimento e evolução do processo de colonização microbiana em mini-implantes ortodônticos por três meses desde a instalação. Cento e cinquenta amostras coletadas de 15 mini-implantes foram investigadas desde o tempo inicial até 3 meses. O material biológico foi obtido da área peri-implantar com auxílio de cones de papel absorvente. As colonizações inespecíficas de Streptococcus spp, Lactobacillus casei e Candida spp foram analisadas por métodos de crescimento celular. A colonização por Porphyromonas gingivalis foi observada por meio da reação em cadeia da polimerase 16S rDNA. Os dados do crescimento celular foram submetidos ao teste de Wilcoxon sign rank e os resultados da biologia molecular foram apresentados de modo descritivo. Não houve diferença estatisticamente significante da colonização microbiana entre os intervalos de tempo avaliados, exceto para Streptococcus spp entre os tempos inicial e 24 h, o que caracterizou o início da colonização neste intervalo de tempo. As colonizações por Lactobacillus casei e Candida spp foram insignificantes. Não foi detectada a presença de Porphyromonas gingivalis nas amostras analisadas. A colonização microbiana nos mini-implantes não se alterou significativamente durante o estudo. No entanto, deve ser monitorada por ortodontistas, uma vez que é um fator importante para o sucesso dos mini-implantes.