Β-Glucan of candida albicans cell wall extract inhibits salmonella typhimurium colonization by potentiating cellular immunity (cd8 + and cd4 + t cells)

Abstract INTRODUCTION: Antimicrobial resistance has been reported in the drugs used for the treatment of typhoid fever. The immunomodulatory substance β-glucan can be used as an alternative therapy as it potentiates host immunity. The aims of this study are to observe the effect of Candida albicans cell wall (CCW) extract towards host immunity (TCD8+ and TCD4+ cells in spleen, intestinal sIgA) and its capacity to kill Salmonella in the intestine and liver of typhoid fever mice models. METHODS: Typhoid fever mice models were created by infecting mice with S. Typhimurium orally. Mice were divided into four groups: the Non-Infected, Infected, CCW (infected mice treated with 300 µg CCW extract/mouse once a day), and Ciprofloxacin groups (infected mice treated with 15 mg/kg BW ciprofloxacin twice a day). RESULTS: Secretory IgA (sIgA) concentrations of mice in the CCW group remained unchanged. However, their TCD4+ and TCD8+ cells increased substantially compared to those in the Non-Infected group. In the Ciprofloxacin group, sIgA concentrations increased markedly compared to those in the Non-Infected and CCW groups; TCD4+ and TCD8+ cells also increased significantly compared to those in the Infected Group, but not significant compared to those in the CCW group. Colonization of S. Typhimurium in the intestine and liver decreased significantly in the CCW and Ciprofloxacin groups compared to that in the Infected group, with the lowest reduction being found in the Ciprofloxacin group. CONCLUSIONS The inhibition of S. Typhimurium colonization by CCW is associated with the increase in TCD4+ and TCD8+ cells.

Influence of glucose and stirring in the fermentation process in order to produce anti-Candida metabolites produced by Streptomyces sp

ABSTRACT This study evaluated the influence of glucose and stirring in the fermentation process in order to produce anti-Candida metabolites produced by Streptomyces sp. MPO4 isolated from Amazon soil. The anti-Candida metabolites production was registered after 24 h of fermentation in stirred ISP2 medium, having antifungal inhibition halos between 12.3 mm and 25.3 mm, yielding higher production of anti-Candida agents after 96 h. Stirring was a determining factor for the production of anti-Candida secondary metabolites, since the absence of glucose reflected in the late production of the antifungal starting from Streptomyces sp.

RESUMO Este estudo avaliou a influência da glicose e agitação no processo de fermentação para a produção de metabólitos anti-Candida produzidos por Streptomyces sp. MPO4 isolado do solo da Amazônia. A produção dos metabólitos anti-Candida foi registrada a partir de 24 h de fermentação sob agitação em meio ISP2, apresentando halos de inibição entre 12,3 mm e 25,3 mm, obtendo-se maior produção do antifúngico em 96 h. A agitação foi um fator determinante para a produção de metabólitos secundários anti-Candida e a ausência de glicose refletiu na produção tardia do antifúngico a partir do Streptomyces sp.

Effect of sodium bicarbonate on Candida albicans adherence to thermally activated acrylic resin

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of 5 percent sodium bicarbonate on the adherence of Candida albicans to thermally activated acrylic resin. Fifty 4 mm² specimens of acrylic resin were obtained using a metallic matrix. The specimens received chemical polishing, were sterilized and then immersed in Sabouraud broth, inoculated with Candida albicans standardized suspension. After 24 hours of incubation at 37ºC, the specimens were divided into four groups according to the substance used for disinfection (5 percent sodium bicarbonate, 0.12 percent digluconate chlorhexidine, vinegar and Corega Tabs). A control group was included, in which distilled water was used. The adhered microorganisms were dispersed, diluted and plated onto culture media to determine the number of colony-forming units (cfu/mL). The results were analyzed through the Mann-Whitney statistical test at the 5 percent level of significance. Only 0.12 percent digluconate chlorhexidine and 5 percent sodium bicarbonate presented a statistically significant difference (p = 0.0010 and p = 0.0156, respectively) compared to the control group, decreasing the number of cfu/mL. However, when the different disinfecting solutions were compared with each other, only 0.12 percent digluconate chlorhexidine presented a statistically significant difference in the reduction of cfu/mL. It was concluded that although 0.12 percent digluconate chlorhexidine was more effective in the reduction of Candida albicans adherence values to thermally activated acrylic resin, 5 percent sodium bicarbonate also proved to be a viable alternative.

New mechanical disruption method for extraction of whole cell protein from Candida albicans.

Cell disruption or lysis is a crucial step to obtain cellular components for various biological studies. We subjected different concentrations of Candida albicans to 5, 10, 15 and 20 cycles of disruption. The degree of cell lysis was observed using light microscopy and the yields obtained were measured and analysed. The optimum extraction with 1 x 10(10) yeast cells/ml was achieved after 5 cycles of disruption with 1.0 mm diameter glass beads at 5,000 rpm. Approximately 80% of the cells were lysed and the protein yield was 6,000 microg/ml. SDS-PAGE analysis revealed approximately 25 distinct protein bands with molecular weights ranging from 8 kDa to 220 kDa. We conclude that this mechanical disruption of fungal cells is a rapid, efficient and inexpensive technique for extracting whole cell proteins from yeast cells.

Comparación de diferentes métodos para la identificación de especies del género Candida / Comparison of different methods for species identification of genus Candida

Las diferentes especies del género Candida producen una variedad de enfermedades, desde infecciones mucocutáneas leves a formas diseminadas graves. Tradicionalmente, la taxonomía de las levaduras se ha llevado a cabo en base a estudios morfológicos y fisiológicos, pero éstos dependen de las condiciones de cultivo de las cepas, por lo que se han observado diversas dificultades. Por tal motivo, recientemente, se han probado técnicas de biología molecular. El objetivo de este trabajo es correlacionar los estudios taxonómicos de las especies correspondientes a las principales patógenas: C. albicans, C. krusei, C. parapsilosis, C. tropicalis y C. glabrata, realizados por técnicas fenotípicas tradicionales, métodos comerciales y por PCR fingerprinting. Al comparar las técnicas que identifican Candida albicans, agar harina de maíz y formación de tubos germinativos, estadísticamente se observa que no existen diferencias significativas entre ambos métodos (valor de la estadística X2 = 0,5 p = 0,4795). Comparando los métodos que discriminan especies de Candida: pruebas fisiológicas, CHROMagar, API20C y PCR fingerprinting se observó que no existen diferencias significativas en las proporciones de resultados que identifican cualquier Candida entre las pruebas fisiológicas, API20C y PCR fingerprinting. La proporción de resultados definitivos es mayor a la obtenida usando el método CHROMagar (p< 0,001).

Different species of genus Candida can cause a wide range of pathologies, since mucocutaneous trivial infections to disseminated serious forms. Traditionally, taxonomy of yeast has been performed taking into account morphologic and physiologic studies, but they depend on the culture conditions of strains, what cause certain difficulties. Thus, recently, molecular biology methods have been tried. The aim of this work is to correlate taxonomic studies of most important pathogenic species -C. albicans, C. krusei, C. parapsilosis, C. tropicalis and C. glabrata- all of them performed by phenotypic traditional methods, commercial ones, and by a molecular method, PCR fingerprinting. Comparing useful methods for C. albicans identification, corn flour agar and germinative tube formation, no statistical differences between them are observed (X2 =0.5, p=0.4795). By comparison between methods to discriminate different Candida species, physiological tests, CHROMagar, API 20C and PCR fingerprinting we observed no significative differences in proportion of accurate results, in test that can identify any Candida species, such as physiological assays, API 20C and PCR fingerprinting. The proportion of unequivocal results is greater than the obtained performing the CHROMagar culture method (p< 0.001).

Aislamiento, identificación y serotipificación del flujo vaginal en pacientes con clínica de vaginitis / Isolation, identificatión and serotyping of vaginal flux in patients with vaginitis clinical

Se realizó un estudio en 105 pacientes con clínica de vaginitis que asistieron a la consulta de la Unidad de Enfermedades Infecciosas del Hospital Vargas referidas del Servicio de Ginecología, CUEI HV, con el fin de investigar la presencia de levaduras del género Candida. Se observó la presencia de levaduras en 23 casos (22 por ciento) de las cuales 12 fueron C.albicans, 5 C.tropicalis, 3 C.guilliermondii, 2 glabrata y 1 C.parapsilosi. La presencia de hifas fue observada en un 50 por ciento de los exámenes directos, en donde la especies no albacans. En este estudio de muestras vaginales, se observó muy poca diferencia entre los porcentajes del serotipo A y B, teniéndose un 58 por ciento de serotipo A y 42 por ciento del B, lo que contrasta con otros estudios realizados en Venezuela y otras localidades geográficas, en muestras clínicas diferentes, en donde el serotipo A se presenta con una incidencia más significativa al serotipo B. Esto nos sugiere que en la candidiasis vaginal parece encontrarse con mayor frecuencia el serotipo B de C.albicans

Ausencia de actividad antimicrobiana de un extracto acuoso liofilizado de Aloe vera (Sabila) / Absence of antimicrobial activity of lyophilized aqueous extract of Aloe vera (sabila)

Se estudio la actividad antimicrobiana de dos concentraciones (10 y 50 mg/mL) de un extracto acuoso liofilizado de hojas de Aloe vera (sabila), mediante el sistema de ensayo de difusion en agar, con una bateri aminima de cepas de microorganismos compuesta por cuatro bacterias (Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilils, Escherichia coli y Pseudomonas aeruginosa) y una levadura (Candida albicans). Los resultados indican que solo frente al Staphylococcus aureus se obteine una ligera actividad inhibitoria, al compararla con la que produce el control positivo (estreptomicina). Para el resto de los microorganismos estudiados la respuesta es negativa. Estos resultados permiten desestimar el uso del extracto acuoso liofilizado de Aloe vera como antimicrobiano, en tanto que sugiere explorar este efecto con otro tipo de extracto con el objetivo de avalar o no la utilizacion de esta planta como antimicrobiano

Actividad antimicrobiana del Schinus terebentifolius Raddi (copal) / Antimicrobial activity of Schinus terebentifolius Raddi (copal)

Se estudio la actividad antimicrobiana de diferentes concentraciones de un extracto fluido (etanol al 30 porciento) de hojas de Schinus terebenthifolius Raddi (copal) con una bateria minima de cepas de microorganismos que incluye Staphylococcus aureus y Bacillus subtilis, como grampositivo, escherichia coli y Pseudomonas aeruginosa, como gramnegativo y la levadura, Candida albicans, mediante el metdo de difusion en agar. Los resultados obtenidos indican que en la menor concentracion utilizada, del 10 porciento del extracto fluido, no se aprecia inhibicion de ninguno de los microorganismos evaluados, mientras que en las concentraciones del 50 y el 100 porciento del extracto fluido hay respuesta de inhibicion frente a las bacterias grampositiva y gramnegativa, pero no asi con la levadura. Estos resultados contribuyen a ratificar experimentalmente el uso tradicional que se hace de esta planta como antimicrobiano, ademas sugiere la elaboracion de formas farmaceuticas que permitan ampliar con mayor eficiencia su utilizacion para este objetivo