In vitro evaluation of the susceptibility of bacterial biofilms to hecogenin acetate.

Biofilms are a bacterial resistance strategy through which microorganisms organize themselves in the form of a colony fixed to a surface that is protected by a polymer matrix. Infectious diseases that result in biofilm formation have been considered a relevant public health problem due to the potential to increase patient morbidity and mortality, in addition to increasing the burden on health services. Such pathologies are treated with the use of antimicrobial drugs, the indiscriminate use of which has contributed to the process of bacterial resistance, demanding the need to invest in new alternatives to combat them. Based on this, the present work aimed to evaluate the anti-biofilm formation and eradication capacity of Hecogenin Acetate, a steroidal sapogenin of natural origin with important antibacterial properties. For this, we used strains of Streptococcus mutans INCQS 00,446 (ATCC 25,175), Enterococcus faecalis INCQS 00,018 (ATCC 14,506), Staphylococcus epidermidis INCQS 00,016 (ATCC 12,228), Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25,923, Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 9027 and Escherichia coli ATCC 259,223. The formation, formation inhibition and treatment assays were carried out in microdilution plates and revealed using the crystal violet method. Readings were carried out using absorbance at wavelengths of 492 nm. All tests were performed in triplicate and statistical analyzes were performed using Graphpad Prism v.5.0 software. It was observed that the bacterial strains used have a relevant capacity for biofilm formation, with the Gram positive ones identified in the present study as the best former. In the results of the analyzes with bacterial biofilm, it was identified that Hecogenin Acetate had a relevant antibiofilm capacity, and could therefore serve as a basis for further research into the development of new antimicrobial drugs.

Potentiation of Antibiotic Action and Efflux Pump Inhibitory Effect on Staphylococcus aureus Strains by Solasodine.

A worrisome fact is the increase in microbial resistance, which has as its main cause the indiscriminate use of antibiotics. Scientific studies have investigated bioactive compounds such as steroidal sapogenins, in the perspective of new beneficial alternatives for the control of bacterial resistance. Therefore, the objective of this work was to verify the antibacterial activity as well as the modifying action of antibiotics associated with solasodine and its ability to inhibit the efflux pump mechanism in strains of Staphylococcus aureus. Tests were performed to verify the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC). In addition, the action-modifying potential of antibiotics and the inhibitory capacity of the efflux pump NorA and MepA through synergistic effects on the antibiotic and ethidium bromide were evaluated. Solasodine showed significant results for the standard bacteria with an MIC of 512 µg/mL, and when associated with the antibiotics gentamicin and nofloxacin for the multidrug-resistant bacteria S. aureus 10, Escherichia coli 06, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa 24, it showed a 50% reduction in MIC. The association of solasodine with the antibiotic ciprofloxacin against S. aureus K2068 (MepA) showed synergism, with a reduction in the MIC of the antibiotic from 64 µg/mL to 40 µg/mL, and also a reduction in the MIC when the antibiotic was used in conjunction with the efflux pump inhibitors. Solasodine may be acting on the mechanism of action of the antibiotic, as it has shown a potentiating effect when associated with antibiotics, inducing a reduction in the MIC against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. Therefore, this study demonstrated significant results for the potentiating action of solasodine when associated with antibiotics of clinical importance.

Evaluation of the antibacterial and inhibitory activity of NorA and MepA efflux pumps from Staphylococcus aureus by diosgenin.

The increase in bacterial resistance to available antibiotics has driven several researchers to search for new agents with therapeutic properties. Diosgenin is a naturally occurring steroidal saponin that has demonstrated several pharmacological properties. In the present study, we report the antimicrobial activity of diosgenin against the standard and multidrug-resistant bacteria of Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus, in addition to the efflux pump inhibitory activity against Staphylococcus aureus strains carrying NorA and MepA pumps. For this purpose, the broth microdilution method was used, from which the value of the Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) was obtained, and this was associated with subinhibitory concentration (MIC/8) with antibiotic of clinical use and ethidium bromide for strains carrier by efflux pump. Diosgenin showed antimicrobial activity for standard S. aureus bacteria and potentiating activity in association with gentamicin and ampicillin for P. aeruginosa multidrug-resistant bacteria, it also showed potentiation in association with norfloxacin against the E. coli strain and gentamicin against the S. aureus strain. Antimicrobial activity against efflux pump-bearing strains revealed that saponin did not interfere with the efflux pump mechanism or intervened antagonistically. Thus, saponin has shown to be very promising against bacterial resistance in association with aminoglycoside, fluoroquinolones and beta-lactam, however additional studies should be carried out to better elucidate the mechanism of action of diosgenin.

Control of arboviruses vectors using biological control by Wolbachia pipientis: a short review.

The number of arbovirus cases has increased in recent years, demonstrating a need for investing in effective control actions. Among these actions, are strategies using biological control vectors, a field where Wolbachia pipientis has shown itself as useful. Wolbachia pipientis, an obligatory intracellular Gram-negative bacteria, which parasites arthropods naturally or through laboratory-induced infections, is capable of manipulating the reproduction of its host. A systematic literature review gathering studies on this bacteria over last 10 years (2007-2021) was performed given its important role in the reduction of insect disease vectors. 111 articles were found, from which 78 were used in this study. Information on the Wolbachia biology, mechanism of action and potential for the biological control of insect disease vectors was gathered. The present study may contribute to the knowledge surrounding the bacterium, as well as stimulate the production of other studies with the same theme.

O papel do profissional biólogo na residência multiprofissional em saúde coletiva: um relato de experiência / The role of the biologist professional in the multiprofessional residence in collective health: a report of experience

Os programas de residência no Brasil têm evoluído ao longo do tempo. Com o advento das residências multiprofissionais, essa pós-graduação deixou de ser exclusiva dos profissionais médicos, gerando oportunidade para outras categorias profissionais e possibilitando a oferta de um olhar multidisciplinar para os usuários do Sistema Único de Saúde. O Programa de Residência Multiprofissional em Saúde Coletiva (PRMSC) da Universidade Regional do Cariri (URCA) inclui em seu quadro de profissionais o biólogo, que encerrará a formação apto a participar e desenvolver ações no campo da saúde ambiental e nos diferentes cenários da rede de atenção em saúde em todos os seus níveis, além de atuar junto a comunidade nos processos de enfrentamento do mosquito Aedes aegypti. O presente trabalho é um relato de experiência que visa refletir sobre a inserção do biólogo dentro do PRMSC-URCA e descrever os desafios enfrentados por esse profissional na sua inserção dentro dos serviços de saúde. Os dois grandes entraves da inclusão do bíologo na área da saúde são a ausência de preceptoria e o fato de não realizarem atendimento clínico. Como alternativas de intrevenção estão as ações educativas, a implementação de hortas comunitárias e os programas de biossegurança para as unidades. As especificidades da formação do profissional biólogo são um desafio a ser vencido e que caminha de mãos dadas com a responsabilidade de abrir e assegurar um novo campo de atuação para a categoria. Dessa forma, é necessário que haja uma dedicação e valorização desse profissional, objetivando sua fixação no programa e seu crescimento junto a saúde

Residence programs in Brazil have evolved throughout the time. With the advent of multi-professional residences, this postgraduate program is no longer exclusive to medical professionals, creating opportunities to other professional categories and enabling the offer of a multidisciplinary view for the users of the Brazilian Unified National Health System. The Multi- professional Residency Program in Collective Health (PRMSC) of the Regional University of Cariri (URCA) includes in its professional staff biologists, who will at the end of the program be able to participate and develop actions in the field of environmental health and in the different scenarios of the health care network, at all levels, besides working with the community in the processes of coping the Aedes aegypti mosquito. The present work is an experience report that aims to reflect over the insertion of the biologist within the PRMSC-URCA and describe the challenges faced by this professional in their insertion within the health services. The two major obstacles to the inclusion of the biologist in the health area are the absence of preceptorship and the fact that they do not perform clinical care. As alternatives for intervention are the educational actions and the implementation of community gardens and biosafety programs for the units. The specifics of the educational background of the professional biologist are a challenge to be overcome and that goes hands tied with the responsibility to open and ensure a new field of action for the category. In this way, it is necessary that there is a dedication and valorization of this professional, aiming its fixation in the program and its growth together with health.

Los programas de residencia en Brasil han evolucionado a lo largo del tiempo. Con el advenimiento de las residencias multiprofesionales, posgrados como tal dejan de ser exclusivo de los profesionales médicos, generando oportunidad para otras categorías profesionales y posibilitando la oferta de uma perspectiva multidisciplinar para los usuarios del Sistema Único de Salud. El Programa de Residencia Multiprofesional en Salud Colectiva (PRASC) de la Universidad Regional del Cariri (URCA) incluye en su cuadro de profesional el biólogo, que encerrará los estudios apto para participar y desarrollar acciones en el campo de la salud ambiental y en los diferentes escenarios de la red de atención en salud en todos sus niveles, además de actuar junto de la comunidad en los procesos de enfrentamiento del mosquito Aedes aegypti. El presente trabajo es un relato de experiencia que pretende reflexionar sobre la inserción del biólogo dentro del PRMSC-URCA y describir los desafíos enfrentados por ese profesional en su inserción dentro de los servicios de salud. Los dos grandes obstáculos a la inclusión del biólogo en el área de la salud son la ausencia de precepción y la non realización de trabajos de atención al cliente. Como alternativas de intervención están las acciones educativas, la implementación de huertos comunitarios y los programas de bioseguridad para las unidades. Las especificidades de la formación del profesional biólogo son un desafío a ser vencido y que camina de la mano de la responsabilidad de abrir y asegurar un nuevo campo de actuación para la categoría. De esa forma, es necesario que haya una dedicación y valorización de ese profesional, objetivando su fijación en el programa y su crecimiento junto a la salud.