Evaluation of by-products from agricultural, livestock and fishing industries as nutrient source for the production of proteolytic enzymes.

This study presents an approach that utilizes low-value agro-industrial by-products as culture media for producing high-value proteolytic enzymes. The objective was to assess the impact of six agro-industrial by-products as culture media on the production of proteolytic enzymes. Bacillus subtilis strains, confirmed through comprehensive biochemical, morphological, and molecular analyses, were isolated and identified. Enzymatic activity was evaluated using azocasein and casein substrates, and the molecular sizes of the purified extract components were determined. The results demonstrated that the isolated bacteria exhibited higher metabolic and enzymatic activity when cultured in media containing 1 % soybean oil cake or feather meal. Furthermore, higher concentrations of the culture media were found to hinder the production of protease. Optimal protease synthesis on soybean oil cake and feather meal media was achieved after 4 days, using both the azocasein and casein methods. Semi-purification of the enzymatic extract obtained from Bacillus subtilis in feather meal and soybean oil cake resulted in a significant increase in azocaseinolytic and caseinolytic activities. Gel electrophoresis analysis revealed multiple bands in the fractions with the highest enzymatic activity in soybean oil cake, indicating the presence of various enzymes with varying molecular sizes. These findings highlight the potential of utilizing low-value agro-industrial by-products as efficient culture media for the sustainable and economically viable production of proteolytic enzymes with promising applications in various industries.

Novel Salmonella enterica Serovar Typhimurium Genotype Levels as Herald of Seasonal Salmonellosis Epidemics.

We examined the population dynamics of Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium during seasonal salmonellosis epidemics in New South Wales, Australia, during 2009-2016. Of 15,626 isolates, 5%-20% consisted of novel genotypes. Seasons with salmonellosis epidemics were associated with a reduction in novel genotypes in the preceding winter and spring.

Multidrug-Resistant Salmonella enterica 4,[5],12:i:- Sequence Type 34, New South Wales, Australia, 2016-2017.

Multidrug- and colistin-resistant Salmonella enterica serotype 4,[5],12:i:- sequence type 34 is present in Europe and Asia. Using genomic surveillance, we determined that this sequence type is also endemic to Australia. Our findings highlight the public health benefits of genome sequencing-guided surveillance for monitoring the spread of multidrug-resistant mobile genes and isolates.

Whole genome sequencing of Salmonella Typhimurium illuminates distinct outbreaks caused by an endemic multi-locus variable number tandem repeat analysis type in Australia, 2014.

BACKGROUND: Salmonella Typhimurium (STM) is an important cause of foodborne outbreaks worldwide. Subtyping of STM remains critical to outbreak investigation, yet current techniques (e.g. multilocus variable number tandem repeat analysis, MLVA) may provide insufficient discrimination. Whole genome sequencing (WGS) offers potentially greater discriminatory power to support infectious disease surveillance. METHODS: We performed WGS on 62 STM isolates of a single, endemic MLVA type associated with two epidemiologically independent, food-borne outbreaks along with sporadic cases in New South Wales, Australia, during 2014. Genomes of case and environmental isolates were sequenced using HiSeq (Illumina) and the genetic distance between them was assessed by single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) analysis. SNP analysis was compared to the epidemiological context. RESULTS: The WGS analysis supported epidemiological evidence and genomes of within-outbreak isolates were nearly identical. Sporadic cases differed from outbreak cases by a small number of SNPs, although their close relationship to outbreak cases may represent an unidentified common food source that may warrant further public health follow up. Previously unrecognised mini-clusters were detected. CONCLUSIONS: WGS of STM can discriminate foodborne community outbreaks within a single endemic MLVA clone. Our findings support the translation of WGS into public health laboratory surveillance of salmonellosis.

Supervivencia de molares temporales con tratamiento de pulpotomía: un análisis de kaplan-meier / Survival of deciduous molar teeth with pulpotomy treatment. a kaplan-meier analysis

El objetivo de este estudio es estimar la supervivencia de molares temporales sometidos a pulpotomía en la clínica odontológica de la Universidad Austral de Chile (UACh) y su relación con las variables: edad, sexo, y ubicación según arco. Se realizó una cohorte retrospectiva, de carácter censal, en la cual se revisaron las fichas clínicas de pacientes de 4 a 10 años atendidos en la clínica UACh, sometidos a tratamiento de pulpotomía desde marzo de 2008 hasta Junio 2011. Se incluyeron 125 pacientes, con un total de 170 pulpotomías. Se realizó un examen clínico en aquellos pacientes en los cuales la pulpotomía aún no había fracasado, aquellos pacientes que no asistieron al examen clínico, fueron censurados a la fecha del último control consignado en la ficha clínica. La tabulación y análisis de datos se realizó mediante el programa estadístico IBM SPSS Statistics 19. La supervivencia se obtuvo con el método Kaplan-Meier. Para determinar la diferencia estadística entre los intervalos de edad, sexo y ubicación según arco se utilizó el test de Mantel-Cox logrank (p<0,05). La mediana de supervivencia general es de 32 meses, no existe diferencia estadísticamente significativa entre los intervalos de edades estudiados, el sexo y los arcos dentarios. El pronóstico de la pulpotomía es bueno ya que establece que existe 50 por ciento de probabilidad de que el diente permanezca en boca al menos 32 meses, cumpliendo con el objetivo de evitar lapérdida prematura y sus consecuencias.

The aim of this study was to estimate the survival of deciduous molars, treated with pulpotomy at the Dental Clinic of the Universidad Austral de Chile, and its relation with age, sex and dental arch. The design was a retrospective cohort study. A census was made in which all patients of 4 to 10 years old treated at the Dental Clinic were included. Clinical records of patients treated between March 2008 until June 2011 were reviewed. In this study 125 patients with a total of 170 pulpotomies were included. A clinical exam was provided for those patients in which the pulpotomy had not failed. The patients who did not participate in this exam were considered censored, and the survival time was set from the date that the pulpotomy was performed to the last examination recorded in the clinical file. The analysis and tabulation was carried out the statistic program IBM SPSS Statistics 19. The median survival time was obtained through Kaplan Meier method. To determine the difference between age intervals, sex and dental arch the Mantel-Cox logrank method was used (p<0.05). The median survival time is 32 months. There was no statistical significant difference between the age intervals, sex and dental arch. Pulpotomy prognosis is good since it establishes a 50 percent probability of the molar remaining in the mouth at least 32 months, thereby fulfilling the aim of avoiding premature loss of the molar and related consequences.

Prevalence of human T-cell lymphotropic virus type 1 and 2 among patients with malignant hematological diseases in south Chile.

Human T-cell lymphotropic virus type 1 and 2 (HTLV-1/2) are oncogenic retroviruses linked etiologically to human diseases. In Chile, these viruses have been studied in ethnic populations, or patients diagnosed clinically with HTLV-1 associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis, but have not been studied in patients with malignant hematological diseases. The aim of this study was to determine the seroprevalence and viral prevalence of HTLV-1/2 among patients with malignant hematological diseases. Eighty-eight patients with malignant hematological diseases were tested by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for IgG anti-HTLV-1/2 and nested-PCR for the tax gene. The seroprevalence by ELISA was 3.4% and the viral prevalence by nested-PCR tax was 18.2%. HTLV-1 was found in 17% and HTLV-2 in 1% of the patients tested. HTLV-1/2 was found in 17.4% of patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphomas, 28.6% of patients with Hodgkin's lymphomas, 80% of patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia, 11.4% of patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia, and 22.2% of patients with acute myeloid leukemia. A high prevalence of HTLV-1/2 was found in patients with malignant hematological diseases. A high proportion of patients were seronegative to HTLV-1/2 infection, similar to other HTLV-1/2 associated disorders. Because 50% of patients positive for HTLV-1/2 were below 30 years old, it is suggested that vertical transmission could have played an important role in these patients.

Seroprevalence of human T-cell lymphotropic virus type 1 and 2 in blood donors from the regional hospital of Valdivia, Chile.

It is estimated that 15-20 millions of people are infected with human T-cell lymphotropic virus 1/2 (HTLV-1/2) worldwide, and 20-30% of them are Latin Americans. The seroprevalence rates vary according to geographic area, socio-demographic composition and individual risk behaviors. The impact of HTLV-1-associated diseases on the community, as well as the increasing concerns about blood transfusion safety due to infectious transmitted agents, has required mandatory screening assays of blood donors as an effective preventive strategy in HTLV-1 transmission. The aim of this study was to estimate the seroprevalence of HTLV-1/2 in blood donors from Valdivia, southern Chile during the first year of mandatory screening of HTLV by Chilean government. Blood samples were collected from blood donors between May 2009 and 2010 at the Regional Hospital of Valdivia, Chile. Serum samples were screened for antibodies against HTLV-1/2 by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay MUREX HTLV I + II Abbott. Among 6,237 samples tested by serological assay, 28 samples were reactive; nevertheless, confirmatory techniques indicate that only 15 samples were positive to HTLV-1. Our study shows HTLV-1 seroprevalence of 0.24%, indicating a similar seroprevalence associated with blood donors than previous reports for our country.

Prevalence of Epstein-Barr virus associated with nasal lymphoma in patients attending the regional hospital of Valdivia, Chile, between 1987 and 2005.

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is a ubiquitous herpes virus with a widespread infection in the world's adult population. EBV has been associated with human malignancies, mainly the nasal type NK/T cell lymphoma. The disease is more frequent in Asian than in Western countries. However, there are few studies from Latin American countries. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of EBV in patients with nasal lymphomas diagnosed in the Regional Hospital of Valdivia, southern Chile, during 1987-2005. Immunohistochemistry was done on paraffin sections using anti-CD3epsilon, anti-CD20, and anti-CD56. The presence of small ribonucleic acids (RNAs) of EBV was detected in paraffin sections by in situ hybridization using oligonucleotides targeting EBV-encoded small RNAs. The present study revealed a prevalence of 27.7% of Hodgkin's lymphomas and 72.3% of non-Hodgkin's lymphomas. From the latter group, there was a prevalence of 2.9% (10 cases) of nasal lymphoma. From these 10 cases, 6 (60%) were NK/T cell lymphomas, nasal type; 1 case (10%) was a T-cell phenotype; and 3 cases (30%) were B-cell phenotype. The prevalence was higher than reports from Western countries, but lower than the reports from Asian countries. These results agreed with previous reports suggesting that EBV is strongly associated with T lymphomas. This study contributes new epidemiological data on EBV in Chile.