Detection of nontuberculous mycobacteria from water buffalo raw milk in Brazil.

Milk is an important nutritional source to man and water buffalo raw milk is used to produce mozzarella cheese. Products from unpasteurized milk have been associated with certain infectious diseases and can carry pathogenic mycobacteria. Nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) are emerging pathogens causing opportunistic infections in humans and animals. The objectives of this study were to demonstrate the presence of mycobacteria in water buffaloes' milk and to determine their role as possible sources of NTM infections. In this study, raw milk samples from dairy water buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis) (N = 23) were decontaminated by Petroff method and inoculated on to Löwenstein-Jensen and Stonebrink medium. After confirming positive colonies for acid fast bacilli (AFB) by Ziehl-Neelsen technique, the isolated mycobacteria were identified by PCR-Restriction Enzyme Analysis (PRA) and mycolic acids analysis by thin-layer chromatography (TLC). Mycobacterium simiae (2 isolates), Mycobacterium kansasii (2 isolates), Mycobacterium flavescens (2 isolates), Mycobacterium gordonae (3 isolates) and Mycobacterium lentiflavum (1 isolate) were identified by these techniques. The isolation of opportunistic pathogens such as M. kansasii, M. simiae and M. lentiflavum from raw milk represent a risk for the consumers of mozzarella cheese made by this milk.

Ação do extrato metanólico e etanólico de Davilla elliptica St. Hill. (Malpighiaceae) na resposta imune / Action of Davilla elliptica St. Hill. (Malpighiaceae) methanolic and ethanolic extracts in the immune response

Plantas têm contribuído no tratamento da maioria das doenças. Considerando a importância terapêutica das plantas medicinais, foi avaliada a atividade imunológica dos extratos metanólico e etanólico de Davilla elliptica. Macrófagos estão envolvidos em todos estágios da resposta imune, podendo liberar componentes como: peróxido de hidrogênio (H2O2), óxido nítrico (NO) e fator de necrose tumoral-alfa (TNF-alfa). A estimulação dos macrófagos foi avaliada pela determinação de H2O2, NO e TNF-alfa em culturas de macrófagos peritoneais de camundongos na presença dos extratos da D. elliptica. IC50 foi determinado através de ensaio utilizando MTT. Os estudos fitoquímicos realizados mostraram a presença de flavonóides derivados da quercetina e miricetina entre outros compostos. A produção de H2O2 não foi muito expressiva em ambos extratos, contudo a de NO foi significativa. Os dois extratos induziram a produção de TNF-alfa, sendo que a liberação dessa citocina pelo extrato metanólico foi quase cinco vezes maior do que pelo extrato etanólico. Uma relação entre as sínteses de NO e TNF-alfa foi observada. O aumento na produção de NO está relacionado com a indução de citocinas pró-inflamatórias como TNF-alfa. Analisando os resultados, sugere-se que os extratos metanólico e etanólico de D. elliptica podem modular a ativação de macrófagos.

Plants have contributed in a significant way to the treatment of most of the diseases. Considering the therapeutic importance of the medicinal plants, the immunological activity of the methanolic and ethanolic extract of Davilla elliptica was evaluated. In every stage of the immune response macrophages are involved and they can release many compounds such as hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), nitric oxide (NO) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha). Macrophages stimulation was evaluated by the determination of H2O2, NO and TNF-alpha in peritoneal macrophages cultures of mice in the presence of the D. elliptica extracts. IC50 was determined by MTT assay. The phytochemical study showed flavonoids derived from quercetin and myricetin and other compounds. The production of H2O2 was not very expressive in both extracts, but they presented a significant effect on NO production. The two extracts induced TNF-alpha production, although the methanolic liberated almost five times more TNF-alpha than the ethanolic one. A relationship among the synthesis of NO and TNF-alpha was observed. The increase of NO production is related with the induction of proinflammatory cytokines like TNF-alpha. Analyzing the results, it is suggested that methanolic and ethanolic extract of D. elliptica can modulate macrophage activation.