RESUMO
Proteolytic starter cultures with intrinsic immunomodulatory activities are desirably features for the development of functional foods, which would significantly reduce the cost of their production (one-strain starter) having an additional beneficial effect on the host. In this work, Lactobacillus delbrueckii strains were selected according to their ability to efficiently hydrolyse ß-casein and to modulate the immune system. Among 36 strains evaluated, the highest proteolytic activities were found for L. delbrueckii subsp. lactis CRL581 and L. delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus CRL656. The immunomodulatory effect of both strains and their ß-casein hydrolysates (CRL581 and CRL656 hydrolysates, respectively) were studied in a murine model. Balb/c mice were fed lactobacilli or their hydrolysates for three days. One day after the last lactobacilli or hydrolysate treatments, mice were challenged with the Toll-like receptor 3 (TLR3) agonist poly(I:C) by intraperitoneal injection. Before and after poly(I:C) challenge the phagocytic and microbicidal activity of peritoneal macrophages, intestinal immunoglobulin A (IgA), cytokine profile, and histological analysis of the intestine were analysed. L. delbrueckii subsp. lactis CRL581 significantly increased the activation of peritoneal macrophages as well as the levels of intestinal IgA, interleukin (IL)-10 and interferon (IFN)-γ when compared to untreated controls. In addition, the CRL581 strain was able to significantly reduce the intestinal inflammatory damage triggered by TLR3 activation. L. delbrueckii CRL581 increased the levels of IL-10, IFN-γ and IFN-ß, and reduced tumour necrosis factor alpha and IL-6 concentrations in the intestine of poly(I:C)-challenged mice. No immunomodulatory effects were observed for the CRL656 strain or for the CRL581 or CRL656 hydrolysates. The results of this work show that the technologically relevant and high proteolytic strain L. delbrueckii CRL581 is able to beneficially modulate the intestinal innate antiviral immune response. Although further studies with the CRL581 strain are required to corroborate and deepen its immunological effects, this bacterium is an interesting alternative for the development of new functional foods with antiviral capabilities.
Assuntos
Imunomodulação , Intestinos/imunologia , Lactobacillus delbrueckii/metabolismo , Probióticos/metabolismo , Animais , Caseínas/administração & dosagem , Caseínas/análise , Caseínas/imunologia , Citocinas/metabolismo , Genótipo , Imunidade Inata , Imunoglobulina A Secretora/metabolismo , Inflamação/imunologia , Inflamação/terapia , Lactobacillus delbrueckii/genética , Macrófagos/imunologia , Masculino , Camundongos , Camundongos Endogâmicos BALB C , ProteóliseRESUMO
The aim of this study was to evaluate different feeding schedules and their relationship to calcium (Ca) and phosphorus (P) plasma levels and egg quality of broiler breeders. The feeding schedules were: single feeding at 8:00 AM; twice daily feeding (50% at 8:00 AM and 50% at 3:00 PM) and single feeding at 3:00 PM. 330 female and 45 male Cobb 500 broiler breeders were used from 40 to 60 weeks of age. The experimental design was completely randomized, consisting of 3 treatments with 5 replicates each, with 22 females and 3 males. The nutritional requirements were according to guideline recommendations. The following parameters were assessed weekly: total egg production, egg specific gravity, egg and eggshell weight, and eggshell thickness. Ca and P plasma levels, tibia weight and its length and Seedor index were evaluated at the end of the study. To determine the effect of feeding schedules, the total calcium and phosphorus plasma at oviposition time and 21 h after oviposition was evaluated. At 60 weeks of age, tibias were taken from the right leg, dried, measured and weighted. There were no differences among treatments regarding egg production, tibia length and Seedor index. Hens fed at 8:00 AM showed higher tibia weight than hens fed twice daily. Broiler breeders fed at 3:00 PM had higher egg (P = 0.0105) and shell (P = 0.0066) weight than others, and hens fed at 3:00 PM had more specific gravity (P = 0.0219) and eggshell thickness (P = 0.0419) than hens fed at 8:00 AM. Ca (P = 0.758) and P (P = 0.811) plasma levels were higher in hens fed at 8:00 AM than hens fed at 3:00 PM after 21 h of oviposition. Broiler breeders fed at 3:00 PM had better egg quality without any change in production, as well as these hens showing higher available Ca and P plasma levels.
Assuntos
Animais , Casca de Ovo/anormalidades , Casca de Ovo/crescimento & desenvolvimento , Galinhas/anormalidades , Galinhas/classificação , Galinhas/sangueRESUMO
The aim of this study was to evaluate different feeding schedules and their relationship to calcium (Ca) and phosphorus (P) plasma levels and egg quality of broiler breeders. The feeding schedules were: single feeding at 8:00 AM; twice daily feeding (50% at 8:00 AM and 50% at 3:00 PM) and single feeding at 3:00 PM. 330 female and 45 male Cobb 500 broiler breeders were used from 40 to 60 weeks of age. The experimental design was completely randomized, consisting of 3 treatments with 5 replicates each, with 22 females and 3 males. The nutritional requirements were according to guideline recommendations. The following parameters were assessed weekly: total egg production, egg specific gravity, egg and eggshell weight, and eggshell thickness. Ca and P plasma levels, tibia weight and its length and Seedor index were evaluated at the end of the study. To determine the effect of feeding schedules, the total calcium and phosphorus plasma at oviposition time and 21 h after oviposition was evaluated. At 60 weeks of age, tibias were taken from the right leg, dried, measured and weighted. There were no differences among treatments regarding egg production, tibia length and Seedor index. Hens fed at 8:00 AM showed higher tibia weight than hens fed twice daily. Broiler breeders fed at 3:00 PM had higher egg (P = 0.0105) and shell (P = 0.0066) weight than others, and hens fed at 3:00 PM had more specific gravity (P = 0.0219) and eggshell thickness (P = 0.0419) than hens fed at 8:00 AM. Ca (P = 0.758) and P (P = 0.811) plasma levels were higher in hens fed at 8:00 AM than hens fed at 3:00 PM after 21 h of oviposition. Broiler breeders fed at 3:00 PM had better egg quality without any change in production, as well as these hens showing higher available Ca and P plasma levels.(AU)
Assuntos
Animais , Galinhas/anormalidades , Galinhas/sangue , Galinhas/classificação , Casca de Ovo/anormalidades , Casca de Ovo/crescimento & desenvolvimentoRESUMO
We investigated the chemical and microbiological compositions of three types of whey to be used for kefir fermentation as well as the inhibitory capacity of their subsequent fermentation products against 100 Salmonella sp. and 100 Escherichia coli pathogenic isolates. All the wheys after fermentation with 10% (wt/vol) kefir grains showed inhibition against all 200 isolates. The content of lactic acid bacteria in fermented whey ranged from 1.04 × 10(7) to 1.17 × 10(7) CFU/ml and the level of yeasts from 2.05 × 10(6) to 4.23 × 10(6) CFU/ml. The main changes in the chemical composition during fermentation were a decrease in lactose content by 41 to 48% along with a corresponding lactic acid production to a final level of 0.84 to 1.20% of the total reaction products. The MIC was a 30% dilution of the fermentation products for most of the isolates, while the MBC varied between 40 and 70%, depending on the isolate. The pathogenic isolates Salmonella enterica serovar Enteritidis 2713 and E. coli 2710 in the fermented whey lost their viability after 2 to 7 h of incubation. When pathogens were deliberately inoculated into whey before fermentation, the CFU were reduced by 2 log cycles for E. coli and 4 log cycles for Salmonella sp. after 24 h of incubation. The inhibition was mainly related to lactic acid production. This work demonstrated the possibility of using kefir grains to ferment an industrial by-product in order to obtain a natural acidic preparation with strong bacterial inhibitory properties that also contains potentially probiotic microorganisms.
Assuntos
Produtos Fermentados do Leite/microbiologia , Escherichia coli/efeitos dos fármacos , Microbiologia de Alimentos , Proteínas do Leite/farmacologia , Salmonella/efeitos dos fármacos , Queijo/microbiologia , Contagem de Colônia Microbiana , Qualidade de Produtos para o Consumidor , Escherichia coli/crescimento & desenvolvimento , Fermentação , Contaminação de Alimentos/análise , Contaminação de Alimentos/prevenção & controle , Humanos , Probióticos , Salmonella/crescimento & desenvolvimento , Proteínas do Soro do LeiteRESUMO
Of 156 cases of histoplasmosis observed in the State of Rio Grande do Sul (Brazil), during a 21-year period (1978-1999) 137 were included in this study. Sixty-seven per cent of the patients had hematogeneous disseminated histoplasmosis, 24% had a self-limited syndrome (acute pulmonary histoplasmosis, histoplasmoma or primary pulmonary lymph node complex), and 9 per cent had chronic pulmonary histoplasmosis. Clinical, mycological, and epidemiological data were reviewed and commented.
Assuntos
Histoplasmose/epidemiologia , Adolescente , Adulto , Distribuição por Idade , Idoso , Brasil/epidemiologia , Criança , Pré-Escolar , Feminino , Histoplasmose/diagnóstico por imagem , Histoplasmose/microbiologia , Humanos , Lactente , Pneumopatias Fúngicas/diagnóstico por imagem , Pneumopatias Fúngicas/epidemiologia , Pneumopatias Fúngicas/microbiologia , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , RadiografiaRESUMO
Although sporotrichosis is not an AIDS-defining infection, reports of sporotrichosis in individuals infected with HIV are increasing. We report an unusual case of this co-infection in a man with progressive deep cutaneous ulcerations with numerous pleomorphic yeast cells of Sporothrix schenckii. In addition a review of the literature on this subject was carried out and commented upon.
RESUMO
To study hollows of living trees as natural habitats of Cryptococcus neoformans in an endemic area of cryptococcosis in the northeastern region of Brazil, samples of decaying wood were collected inside 32 hollows of living trees and plated on niger seed agar. Identification of C. neoformans was based upon morphological and physiological tests. Canavanine-glycine-bromothymol medium was used to screen the varieties and Crypto Check Iatron Kit to serotype the isolates. A total of 123 C. neoformans colonies were recovered from samples of six (18.5%) out of 32 hollow trees. C. neoformans var. neoformans and C. neoformans var. gattii were found occurring alone (pink shower tree, fig tree and pottery tree) or sharing the same hollow (pink shower tree). Long lasting positivity (19-36 months) and significant number of cfu of C. neoformans per gram of decaying wood (0.15-21.7 x 10(3) cfu g(-1)) inside hollows of pink shower tree, fig tree and pottery tree were observed, indicating colonization of these habitats by the fungus. For the first time, C. n. var. neoformans and C. n. var. gattii were found sharing the same natural biotope, thus establishing a possible link between them in their life cycle in nature and suggesting the primary natural niche for the species.
Assuntos
Cryptococcus neoformans/crescimento & desenvolvimento , Ecossistema , Árvores/microbiologia , Contagem de Colônia Microbiana , Cryptococcus neoformans/classificação , Cryptococcus neoformans/isolamento & purificação , Técnicas de Tipagem MicológicaRESUMO
Eleven cases of involvement of the genital tract in paracoccidioidomycosis were collected in a retrospective study of the clinical records of 683 patients seen in Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. These cases are herein summarily reported. Eighteen similar cases were gathered in review of the Brazilian literature. Obtained data are discussed.
Assuntos
Doenças dos Genitais Masculinos/microbiologia , Doenças dos Genitais Masculinos/patologia , Paracoccidioidomicose/patologia , Adulto , Idoso , Brasil , Humanos , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Estudos RetrospectivosRESUMO
Three cases of chronic pulmonary histoplasmosis affecting aged patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease are reported. They had a history of recurrent episodes of respiratory infection and presented radiological lung lesions inducing a misdiagnosis of chronic pulmonary tuberculosis of the adults. The diagnosis of histoplasmosis, suggested by the immunodiffusion test and the detection of yeastlike cells in smeared and stained sputum, was confirmed by the isolation and identification of Histoplasma capsulatum var. capsulatum in selective media. The treatment was carried out with amphothericin B and ketoconazole or itraconazole. Clinical, radiologic, mycologic and serologic improvement was obtained in all the patients. However, relapses occurred within a period of 1 to 18 months after the interruption of the treatment. Mycological diagnosis and the difficulties observed in the treatment were discussed. In addition data on the epidemiology of histoplasmosis in the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, were presented.
Assuntos
Histoplasma/isolamento & purificação , Histoplasmose/diagnóstico , Pneumopatias Fúngicas/diagnóstico , Pneumopatias Obstrutivas/complicações , Idoso , Anfotericina B/uso terapêutico , Antifúngicos/uso terapêutico , Brasil/epidemiologia , Evolução Fatal , Feminino , Histoplasmose/complicações , Histoplasmose/tratamento farmacológico , Histoplasmose/epidemiologia , Humanos , Imunodifusão , Itraconazol/uso terapêutico , Cetoconazol/uso terapêutico , Pneumopatias Fúngicas/complicações , Pneumopatias Fúngicas/tratamento farmacológico , Pneumopatias Fúngicas/epidemiologia , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Radiografia Torácica , Recidiva , Escarro/microbiologiaRESUMO
A case of peritonitis due to Scedosporium apiospermum in a boy undergoing continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis is reported. The finding of suggestive tissual form of the fungus in the effluent hastened the diagnosis of the infection.
Assuntos
Micetoma/microbiologia , Diálise Peritoneal Ambulatorial Contínua/efeitos adversos , Peritonite/microbiologia , Pseudallescheria , Líquido Ascítico/microbiologia , Criança , Humanos , Masculino , Micetoma/diagnósticoRESUMO
A case of sporotrichosis in a woman presenting 63 cutaneous lesions distributed all over the tegument is related. The patient had both humoral (Immunoglobulins) and cellular (Lymphocytes subpopulations) immunity within normal limits, but was under treatment with steroid during a long time (Prednisone 10 mg daily for 2 years), due to a sciatic pain. In addition a review of the Brazilian literature on this type of lesions was carried out and commented.
Assuntos
Anti-Inflamatórios/efeitos adversos , Dermatopatias/induzido quimicamente , Sporothrix , Esporotricose/tratamento farmacológico , Idoso , Feminino , Humanos , Dermatopatias/microbiologia , Dermatopatias/patologia , Esporotricose/microbiologia , Esporotricose/patologia , Esteroides , Fatores de TempoRESUMO
The first case of eumycetoma by Madurella grisea occurred in Southern Brazilian Region is herein related. In addition, Brazilian literature on this subject was reviewed and, the geographic distribution of this eumycetoma is presented.
Assuntos
Antifúngicos/uso terapêutico , Itraconazol/uso terapêutico , Madurella , Micetoma/diagnóstico , Micetoma/tratamento farmacológico , Adulto , Idoso , Brasil , Criança , Pré-Escolar , Feminino , Humanos , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Micetoma/patologiaRESUMO
Three cases of Cryptococcus neoformans var. gattii infection in AIDS patients observed in Rio Grande do Sul (Brazil) are related. A brief comment on the epidemiology of cryptococcosis in Brazil is also made.
RESUMO
We report a case of black grain mycetoma in a 74-years-old man who presented with a 50-yr. history of sinus-tract formation in the right foot. This is the first case of an Exophiala jeanselmeimycetoma successfully treated with itraconazole. In addition a review of the literature on this subject was done.
RESUMO
Thirty six cases of acute disseminated paracoccidioidomycosis in 3 to 12 year-old children, natives of the state of Rio de Janeiro, were seen in the period 1981-1996. All patients were residents in the rural region of 15 counties, scattered on the Southwestern part of this state. The rural region of two neighboring counties, where 16 cases (44.4%) occurred, was visited. It exhibited the environmental conditions that are considered favorable to the survival of P. brasiliensis. The most important of these conditions, abundant watercourses and autochthonous forest, are distributed on well defined and limited areas, in which the dwellings are also localized. Probably, a careful epidemiological study of forthcoming cases of the disease in children may facilitate the search for the micro-niche of the fungus.
Assuntos
Reservatórios de Doenças , Paracoccidioidomicose/epidemiologia , Características de Residência , Doença Aguda , Brasil/epidemiologia , Criança , Pré-Escolar , Feminino , Humanos , Masculino , População RuralRESUMO
No periodo 1981-1996 foram observados 36 casos de paracoccidioidomicose aguda disseminada em criancas, entre 3 e 12 anos de idade, nativas do estado do Rio de Janeiro. Todos os pacientes residiam em regiäo rural, distribuida por 15 municipios localizados na parte sudoeste do estado. Dois municipios vizinhos, onde haviam ocorrido 16 (44,4 por cento) dos casos, foram visitados. Na regiäo rural de ambos, existem as condicöes climáticas e ambientais favoraveis a sobrevivência do P. brasiliensis. Dentre essas condicöes, as mais importantes, abundantes cursos de agua e vegetacao nativa, distribuem-se em areas limitadas e bem definidas. Nessas areas localizam-se, também, as casas dos ruriculas. Provavelmente, um cuidadoso estudo epidemiologico de novos casos, que venham a ocorrer na regiäo, facilitara a busca do nicho do fungom
Assuntos
Humanos , Pré-Escolar , Criança , Características de Residência/classificação , Paracoccidioidomicose , Zona Rural , Doença Aguda , Brasil , Meio Ambiente , População Rural , Estações do AnoRESUMO
A case of a solitary pulmonary nodule due to Scedosporium apiospermum (Pseudallescheria boydii) is related. A review of the pertinent literature was done and, in addition, similar lesions caused by other opportunistic fungi are commented.
Assuntos
Pneumopatias Fúngicas/diagnóstico , Pneumopatias Fúngicas/microbiologia , Pseudallescheria/isolamento & purificação , Nódulo Pulmonar Solitário/diagnóstico , Nódulo Pulmonar Solitário/microbiologia , Adulto , Feminino , HumanosRESUMO
A case of paracoccidioidomycosis presenting as a solitary pulmonary nodular lesion in a patient with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) is presented. This case illustrates that restricted lung lesions can also be found and diagnosed in immunodeficient patients.
Assuntos
Infecções Oportunistas Relacionadas com a AIDS/microbiologia , Pneumopatias Fúngicas/microbiologia , Paracoccidioides/isolamento & purificação , Paracoccidioidomicose/microbiologia , Infecções Oportunistas Relacionadas com a AIDS/diagnóstico por imagem , Feminino , Humanos , Pulmão/diagnóstico por imagem , Pulmão/microbiologia , Pneumopatias Fúngicas/diagnóstico por imagem , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Paracoccidioidomicose/diagnóstico por imagem , RadiografiaRESUMO
A retrospective review of paracoccidioidomycosis cases seen between January 1966 to January 1997 revealled 27 of the 627 cases occurred in women (male to female ratio 27.3:1). Data for 23 of these 27 cases demonstrated the protective effect of female hormones.
RESUMO
Two cases of subcutaneous scedosporiosis, caused by Scedosporium apiospermum, are reported. Both patients had lesions localized in the forearm: a solitary ulceration in one and a sporotrichoid-like lesion in the other. The literature is reviewed.