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Limosilactobacillus fermentum (ATCC 23271) was originally isolated from the human intestine and has displayed antimicrobial activity, primarily against Candida species. Complete genome sequencing and comparative analyses were performed to elucidate the genetic basis underlying its probiotic potential. The ATCC 23271 genome was found to contain 2,193,335 bp, with 2123 protein-coding sequences. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the ATCC 23271 strain shares 941 gene clusters with six other probiotic strains of L. fermentum. Putative genes known to confer probiotic properties have been identified in the genome, including genes related to adhesion, tolerance to acidic pH and bile salts, tolerance to oxidative stress, and metabolism and transport of sugars and other compounds. A search for bacteriocin genes revealed a sequence 48% similar to that of enterolysin A, a protein from Enterococcus faecalis. However, in vitro assays confirmed that the strain has inhibitory activity on the growth of Candida species and also interferes with their adhesion to HeLa cells. In silico analyses demonstrated a high probability of the protein with antimicrobial activity. Our data reveal the genome features of L. fermentum ATCC 23271, which may provide insight into its future use given the functional benefits, especially against Candida infections.

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Dogs harbor numerous zoonotic pathogens, many of which are controlled through vaccination programs. The delivery of these programs can be difficult where resources are limited. We developed a dynamic model to estimate vaccination coverage and cost-per-dog vaccinated. The model considers the main factors that affect vaccination programs: dog demographics, effectiveness of strategies, efficacy of interventions and cost. The model was evaluated on data from 18 vaccination programs representing eight countries. Sensitivity analysis was performed for dog confinement and vaccination strategies. The average difference between modelled vaccination coverage and field data was 3.8% (2.3%-5.3%). Central point vaccination was the most cost-effective vaccination strategy when >88% of the dog population was confined. More active methods of vaccination, such as door-to-door or capture-vaccinate-release, achieved higher vaccination coverage in free-roaming dog populations but were more costly. This open-access tool can aid in planning more efficient vaccination campaigns in countries with limited resources.

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Staphylococcus aureus is a notorious human pathogen associated with serious nosocomial and community-acquired infections, such as pneumonia, meningitis, endocarditis, toxic shock syndrome, and sepsis, among others. The objective of this study was to investigate the molecular profile, antimicrobial resistance, and clonal diversity of S. aureus isolated from the bloodstream. The determination of the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of the antimicrobial was performed by an automated method. The presence of several virulence and resistance genes was evaluated by PCR. In addition, multilocus sequence typing (MLST) was used to analyze the clonal diversity of S. aureus. A high resistance to oxacillin (78%), clindamycin (78%), erythromycin (70%), ciprofloxacin (61%), and gentamicin (52%) was observed among the isolates. In most of them, the following virulence genes were detected: hlb (83%), ebpS (61%), icaA (57%), fnbpA (17%), and clfA (13%). Only one isolate carried the pvl gene. MLST analysis identified five new sequence types (STs): 5429, 5430, 5431, 5432, and 5433, as well as another seven-ST5, ST97, ST398, ST101, ST30, ST461, and ST2779-among the remaining strains. These seven STs and the four new STs are clustered in four clonal complexes: CC1, CC2, CC7, and CC17. Phylogenetic analysis showed the genetic relationship of the five new ST strains with another 18 strains. Altogether, these analyses indicate the horizontal transfer acquisition of virulence factor genes and multidrug resistance.

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The highest rate of human rabies deaths reported in the Americas is in Haiti, and most of these deaths result from rabies virus infections that occur after individuals are bitten by infected dogs and do not receive rabies post-exposure prophylaxis. One barrier to rabies prevention in Haiti is a lack of knowledge about this disease among healthcare professionals and community members. During the past 4 years, The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has collaborated with public health officials and partners to develop, test and refine educational materials aimed at filling this need for rabies education. This report summarizes the use of feedback from knowledge, attitudes and practises surveys; key informant interviews; and focus groups to develop culturally appropriate rabies prevention materials for community members, health officials, clinicians, laboratory professionals, veterinary professionals, government officials and national and local district leaders about ways to prevent rabies. These formative research methods were critically important in ensuring that the materials would be culturally appropriate and would stand the greatest likelihood of motivating Haitians to protect themselves from rabies. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is using lessons learned in Haiti to develop and test materials in other countries with high rates of canine rabies.

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Eugenol is a phenolic compound and the main constituent of the essential oil of clove India. Although there are reports of some pharmacological effects of eugenol, this study is the first that proposes to evaluate the antifungal effects of this phenol against both Cryptococcus gattii and C. neoformans cells. The effect of eugenol against yeast cells was analyzed for drug susceptibility, alterations in cell diameter, capsule properties, amounts of ergosterol, oxidative burst, and thermodynamics data. Data demonstrated that there is no interaction between eugenol and fluconazole and amphotericin B. Eugenol reduced the cell diameter and the capsule size, increased cell surface/volume, changed positively the cell surface charge of cryptococcal cells. We also verified increased levels of reactive oxygen species without activation of antioxidant enzymes, leading to increased lipid peroxidation, mitochondrial membrane depolarization and reduction of lysosomal integrity in cryptococcal cells. Additionally, the results showed that there is no significant molecular interaction between eugenol and C. neoformans. Morphological alterations, changes of cellular superficial charges and oxidative stress play an important role in antifungal activity of eugenol against C. gattii and C. neoformans that could be used as an auxiliary treatment to cutaneous cryptococcosis.

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Haiti has the highest human rabies burden in the Western Hemisphere. There is no published literature describing the public's perceptions of rabies in Haiti, information that is critical to developing effective interventions and government policies. We conducted a knowledge, attitudes and practices survey of 550 community members and 116 health professionals in Pétionville, Haiti in 2013 to understand the perception of rabies in these populations. The majority of respondents (85%) knew that dogs were the primary reservoir for rabies, yet only 1% were aware that bats and mongooses could transmit rabies. Animal bites were recognized as a mechanism of rabies transmission by 77% of the population and 76% were aware that the disease could be prevented by vaccination. Of 172 persons reporting a bite, only 37% sought medical treatment. The annual bite incidence rate in respondents was 0·9%. Only 31% of bite victims reported that they started the rabies vaccination series. Only 38% of respondents reported that their dog had been vaccinated against rabies. The majority of medical professionals recognized that dogs were the main reservoir for rabies (98%), but only 28% reported bats and 14% reported mongooses as posing a risk for rabies infection. Bites were reported as a mechanism of rabies transmission by 73% of respondents; exposure to saliva was reported by 20%. Thirty-four percent of medical professionals reported they would wash a bite wound with soap and water and 2·8% specifically mentioned rabies vaccination as a component of post-bite treatment. The majority of healthcare professionals recommended some form of rabies assessment for biting animals; 68·9% recommended a 14-day observation period, 60·4% recommended a veterinary consultation, and 13·2% recommended checking the vaccination status of the animal. Fewer than 15% of healthcare professionals had ever received training on rabies prevention and 77% did not know where to go to procure rabies vaccine for bite victims. Both study populations had a high level of knowledge about the primary reservoir for rabies and the mode of transmission. However, there is a need to improve the level of knowledge regarding the importance of seeking medical care for dog bites and additional training on rabies prevention for healthcare professionals. Distribution channels for rabies vaccines should be evaluated, as the majority of healthcare providers did not know where rabies vaccines could be obtained. Canine rabies vaccination is the primary intervention for rabies control programmes, yet most owned dogs in this population were not vaccinated.

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An estimated 59 000 persons die annually of infection with the rabies virus worldwide, and dog bites are responsible for 95% of these deaths. Haiti has the highest rate of animal and human rabies in the Western Hemisphere. This study describes the status of animal welfare, animal vaccination, human bite treatment, and canine morbidity and mortality in Haiti in order to identify barriers to rabies prevention and control. An epidemiologic survey was used for data collection among dog owners during government-sponsored vaccination clinics at fourteen randomly selected sites from July 2014 to April 2015. A total of 2005 surveys were collected and data were analysed using parametric methods. Over 50% of owned dogs were allowed to roam freely, a factor associated with rabies transmission. More than 80% of dog owners reported experiencing barriers to accessing rabies vaccination for their dogs. Nearly one-third of the dog population evaluated in this study died in the year preceding the survey (32%) and 18% of these deaths were clinically consistent with rabies. Dog bites were commonly reported, with more than 3% of the study population bitten within the year preceding the survey. The incidence of canine rabies in Haiti is high and is exacerbated by low access to veterinary care, free-roaming dog populations and substandard animal welfare practices. Programmes to better understand the dog ecology and development of methods to improve access to vaccines are needed. Rabies deaths are at historical lows in the Western Hemisphere, but Haiti and the remaining canine rabies endemic countries still present a significant challenge to the goal of rabies elimination in the region.

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Polycarpol, a recurrent lanostane-type triterpene in Annonaceae family, was confirmed by thin layer chromatography and mass spectrometry analysis in the aerial parts (twigs and trunk barks) of Unonopsis duckei R.E. Fr., U. floribunda Diels, U. rufescens (Baill.) R.E. Fr., U. stipitata Diels, Onychopetalum amazonicum R.E. Fr. and Bocageopsis pleiosperma Maas. Its chemotaxonomic significance was discussed for these three genera, as well for the Annonaceae family. In addition, the antimicrobial activity against several strains of microorganisms was evaluated for the first time for this compound, being observed significant antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 6538), Staphylococcus epidermidis (ATCC 1228) and Escherichia coli (ATCC 10538 and ATCC 10799) with minimal inhibitory concentration values between 25 and 50 μg ml−1.

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In northeastern Brazil, the reduction of the natural forest cover to a series of small, isolated fragments has had negative consequences for the local avian fauna, in particular, a loss of the more specialized species, while the populations of some generalists have tended to increase. The present study focuses on the composition and trophic groups of a bird community on a farm in the northeastern Brazilian state of Alagoas. Monthly surveys were conducted between November 2008 and October 2009, based on mist-netting and systematic observations. Overall, 112 species were recorded, of which 76 were associated with the two forest fragments surveyed, while all the others were observed exclusively in the surrounding matrix of pasture and orchards. The bird community presented a predominance of insectivorous species, followed by omnivores. However, specialized trunk-creeping and understory insectivores accounted for only around 15% of the species in this feeding category. The reduced diversity of other guilds and species with more specialized diets, and the complete absence of sensitive species such as large parrots and raptors, reflects the severe fragmentation and degradation of the local forests, which has greatly reduced the availability of dietary resources and breeding sites.

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BACKGROUND: Immunotherapy using autologous dendritic cell (DC) vaccination has not been systematically evaluated in osteosarcoma. We therefore conducted a phase I trial to assess feasibility, safety and tumour-specific immune responses in patients with relapsed disease. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Of 13 recruited patients with relapsed osteosarcoma, 12 received 3 weekly vaccines of autologous DCs matured with autologous tumour lysate and keyhole limpet haemocyanin (KLH), to a maximum of 6 vaccinations. An additional 3 paediatric patients afflicted with other tumour types and with relapsed disease received vaccines generated with identical methodology. Immune responses were assessed using an ELISpot assay for the detection of interferon gamma, whilst interleukin-2 and granzyme B were additionally assessed in cases where interferon-γ responses were induced. RESULTS: In total 61 vaccines, of homogeneous maturation phenotype and viability, were administered with no significant toxicity. Only in 2 out of 12 treated osteosarcoma cases was there an induction of specific T-cell immune response to the tumour, whilst a strong but non-specific immune response was induced in 1 further osteosarcoma patient. Immune response against KLH was induced in only 3 out of 12 osteosarcoma patients. In contrast, three additional non-osteosarcoma patients showed significant T-cell responses to vaccine. CONCLUSION: We have shown the strategy of DC vaccination in relapsed osteosarcoma is safe and feasible. However, significant anti-tumour responses were induced in only 2 out of 12 vaccinated patients with no evidence of clinical benefit. Comparison of results with identically treated control patients suggests that osteosarcoma patients might be relatively insensitive to DC-based vaccine treatments.

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OBJECTIVE: To investigate factors associated with overweight and abdominal obesity in male and female workers. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional population-based study. A representative sample of 1,054 workers ranging from 18 to 74 years of age, selected among individuals covered by the Workers´ Food Program living in the Metropolitan region of Belém, Northern Brazil. Health-related behavior and anthropometry were assessed. Fasting blood samples were collected. RESULTS: Overweight prevalence was 38.0% among women and 50.4% among men. Among overweight subjects, there were 6.1% obese women and 10.7% obese men. Multivariate analysis was used to identify social behavior and clinical-biochemical factors associated with increased body adiposity (BMI > 25 kg/m² and increased waist circumference: > 80 cm for women and > 94 cm for men). Variables positively and significantly associated with overweight and abdominal obesity in men according to prevalence ratio (PR) values were: age (1.02), high family income (1.05), smoking (1.36), hypertension (systolic blood pressure, 1.41; diastolic blood pressure, 1.85) and hypertriglyceridemia (2.29). In women, the PR of increased body adiposity was associated with: age (1.02), alcohol intake (1.42), hypertriglyceridemia (1.44), diastolic blood pressure (1.65) and hyperglycemia (1.71). CONCLUSIONS: The association of overweight and abdominal obesity with social behavior variables should be corrected with preventive and educational measures. Furthermore, association of overweight and abdominal obesity with clinical and biochemical variables places the urban workers from the Amazon region assisted by the Workers´ Food Program at a possible risk for morbidity and mortality from increased body adiposity.

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OBJECTIVE: To investigate factors associated with overweight and abdominal obesity in male and female workers. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional population-based study. A representative sample of 1,054 workers ranging from 18 to 74 years of age, selected among individuals covered by the Workers´ Food Program living in the Metropolitan region of Belém, Northern Brazil. Health-related behavior and anthropometry were assessed. Fasting blood samples were collected. RESULTS: Overweight prevalence was 38.0 percent among women and 50.4 percent among men. Among overweight subjects, there were 6.1 percent obese women and 10.7 percent obese men. Multivariate analysis was used to identify social behavior and clinical-biochemical factors associated with increased body adiposity (BMI > 25 kg/m² and increased waist circumference: > 80 cm for women and > 94 cm for men). Variables positively and significantly associated with overweight and abdominal obesity in men according to prevalence ratio (PR) values were: age (1.02), high family income (1.05), smoking (1.36), hypertension (systolic blood pressure, 1.41; diastolic blood pressure, 1.85) and hypertriglyceridemia (2.29). In women, the PR of increased body adiposity was associated with: age (1.02), alcohol intake (1.42), hypertriglyceridemia (1.44), diastolic blood pressure (1.65) and hyperglycemia (1.71). CONCLUSIONS: The association of overweight and abdominal obesity with social behavior variables should be corrected with preventive and educational measures. Furthermore, association of overweight and abdominal obesity with clinical and biochemical variables places the urban workers from the Amazon region assisted by the Workers´ Food Program at a possible risk for morbidity and mortality from increased body adiposity.

OBJETIVO: Investigar os fatores associados ao sobrepeso e a obesidade abdominal em trabalhadores de ambos os sexos. MÉTODO: Estudo transversal de base populacional, de uma amostra representativa de 1054 trabalhadores, com idade entre 18 e 74 anos, assistidos pelo Programa de Alimentação do Trabalhador na região metropolitana de Belém do Pará, na região norte do Brasil. Parâmetros relacionados à saúde e medidas antropométricas foram obtidas e amostra de sangue foram coletadas. RESULTADOS: A prevalência de sobrepeso foi de 38 por cento nas mulheres e 50,4 por cento nos homens. Dentre os indivíduos com sobrepeso, 6,1 por cento das mulheres eram obesas e 10,7 por cento dos homens tinham obesidade. Análise multivariada foi utilizada para identificar os fatores sociocomportamentais e clínico-bioquímicos associados com o aumento da adiposidade corporal (IMC > 25kg/m2 e circunferência de cintura > 80cm para mulheres e >94cm para homens). As variáveis e a razão de prevalência (PR) associadas ao sobrepeso e adiposidade abdominal nos homens foram: idade (1,02), renda familiar alta (1,05), fumo (1,36), hipertensão (pressão arterial sistólica 1,41 e pressão arterial diastólica 1,85) e hipertrigliceridemia (2,29). Nas mulheres as razões de chance para sobrepeso e adiposidade abdominal foram: idade (1,02), consumo de álcool (1,42), hipertrigliceridemia (1,44), pressão arterial diastólilca (1,65) e hiperglicemia (1,71). CONCLUSÃO: A associação do sobrepeso e obesidade abdominal com parâmetros sociocomportamentais devem ser corrigidos com medidas educativas e preventivas. Além disso, a associação de sobrepeso e obesidade abdominal com parâmetros clínicos e bioquímicos coloca os trabalhadores de Belém do Pará, assistidos pelo Programa de Alimentação do Trabalhador, em possível risco de morbidades e mortalidade precoce pelo aumento de adiposidade corporal.

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Cryptococcus neoformans and Cryptococcus gattii are important agents of meningoencephalitis in humans in the city of Belém. This clinical data suggests that the region may be a highly endemic area for the pathogenic Cryptococcus species within the state of Pará (PA), Northern Brazil. Preliminary analysis of 11 environmental samples from the city of Belém showed two positive locations, including a hollow of a kassod tree (Senna siamea) colonized simultaneously by C. gattii molecular type VGII and C. neoformans molecular type VNI, and a birdcage in a commercial aviary positive for C. neoformans, molecular type VNI. This is the first evidence of an environmental occurrence of molecular types VNI and VGII in PA.

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Cryptococcus neoformans and Cryptococcus gattii are important agents of meningoencephalitis in humans in the city of Belém. This clinical data suggests that the region may be a highly endemic area for the pathogenic Cryptococcus species within the state of Pará (PA), Northern Brazil. Preliminary analysis of 11 environmental samples from the city of Belém showed two positive locations, including a hollow of a kassod tree (Senna siamea) colonized simultaneously by C. gattii molecular type VGII and C. neoformans molecular type VNI, and a birdcage in a commercial aviary positive for C. neoformans, molecular type VNI. This is the first evidence of an environmental occurrence of molecular types VNI and VGII in PA.

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BACKGROUND: The great variability in the clinical presentation of Chagas disease may depend in part in the genetic variability of Trypanosoma cruzi populations. AIM: To compare prepatent period, parasitemia, mortality and histological lesions in mice infected with two populations of Trypanosoma cruzi isolated in Chile. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Two Trypanosoma cruzi populations, isolated from Chilean Triatomides and genetically characterized by kinetoplast restriction fragment DNA profiles, were compared. Two groups of 40 Balb/c mice were studied. Each mouse was inoculated with 10(4) trypomastigotes, of the V-121 and sp COMB 2 Trypanosoma cruzi populations. The prepatent period, parasitemia, mortality and histopathological lesions, at different evolutionary stages of infection were registered during 32 days. RESULTS: Prepatency and mortality were similar in both groups of mice. However, parasitemia was significantly greater in mice inoculated with V-121 than those inoculated with sp COMB 2. Amastigote pseudocysts and inflammation were present only in skeletal muscle and myocardium in both groups of mice. The intensity of tissue involvement was associated to the level of parasitemia, therefore it was greater in mice inoculated with V-121 population. CONCLUSIONS: V-121 population of Trypanosoma cruzi caused a greater parasitemia than COMB 2, in inoculated mice.

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Background:The great variability in the clinical presentation of Chagas disease may depend in part in the genetic variability of Trypanosoma cruzi populations. Aim: To compare prepatent period, parasitemia, mortality and histological lesions in mice infected with two populations of Trypanosoma cruzi isolated in Chile. Material and methods: Two Trypanosoma cruzi populations, isolated from Chilean Triatomides and genetically characterized by kinetoplast restriction fragment DNA profiles, were compared. Two groups of 40 Balb/c mice were studied. Each mouse was inoculated with 104 trypomastigotes, of the V-121 and sp COMB 2 Trypanosoma cruzi populations. The prepatent period, parasitemia, mortality and histopathological lesions, at different evolutionary stages of infection were registered during 32 days. Results: Prepatency and mortality were similar in both groups of mice. However, parasitemia was significantly greater in mice inoculated with V-121 than those inoculated with sp COMB 2. Amastigote pseudocysts and inflammation were present only in skeletal muscle and myocardium in both groups of mice. The intensity of tissue involvement was associated to the level of parasitemia, therefore it was greater in mice inoculated with V-121 population. Conclusions: V-121 population of Trypanosoma cruzi caused a greater parasitemia than COMB 2, in inoculated mice.

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Cissus verticillata, a Vitaceae very used in the traditional medicine in Pará and Minas Gerais State - Brazil, was investigated in order to validate its indication for the hyperglycaemia control. The aqueous extract reduces the normal glycaemia of male white Wistar rats in about 19.5 percent. The hypoglycaemic effect of this extract could be related to the flavonoids found in the preparation. Luteolin, Kaempferol and Luteolin-3'-sulphate could be isolated from the aqueous extract after acid hydrolysis.

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This report documents primate communities at two sites within Noel Kempff Mercado National Park in northeastern Santa Cruz Department, Bolivia. Diurnal line transects and incidental observations were employed to survey two field sites, Lago Caiman and Las Gamas, providing information on primate diversity, habitat preferences, relative abundance, and population density. Primate diversity at both sites was not particularly high, with six observed species: Callithrix argentata melanura, Aotus azarae, Cebus apella, Alouatta caraya, A. seniculus, and Ateles paniscus chamek. Cebus showed no significant habitat preferences at Lago Caiman and was also more generalist in use of forest strata, whereas Ateles clearly preferred the upper levels of structurally tall forest. Callithrix argentata melanura was rarely encountered during surveys at Lago Caiman, where it preferred low vine forest. Both species of Alouatta showed restricted habitat use and were sympatric in Igapo forest in the Lago Caiman area. The most abundant primate at both field sites was Ateles, with density estimates reaching 32.1 individuals/km2 in the lowland forest at Lago Caiman, compared to 14.1 individuals/km2 for Cebus. Both Ateles and Cebus were absent from smaller patches of gallery forest at Las Gamas. These densities are compared with estimates from other Neotropical sites. The diversity of habitats and their different floristic composition may account for the numerical dominance of Ateles within the primate communities at both sites.

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An outbreak of postinjection abscesses occurred in Barranquilla, Colombia, and was associated with local injections of lidocaine given in a single physician's office. Over a 5-month period, 350 (18%) of approximately 2,000 injected patients developed localized cutaneous abscesses or cellulitis; of 210 abscess specimens that were cultured, 205 were positive for rapidly growing mycobacteria, subsequently identified as Mycobacterium abscessus. The source of the outbreak was not identified. M. abscessus could not be characterized by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis, but all isolates were identical in terms of drug and heavy metal resistance patterns and random amplified polymorphic DNA PCR profiles. We believe this is the first report of the use of this latter technique for investigation of an outbreak due to M. abscessus. Therapy with a combination of surgical excision and 3-6 months' administration of clarithromycin was successful for 95% of 148 patients treated in this manner; in contrast, therapy was successful for less than one-third of patients treated with surgery alone or clarithromycin alone. This is the largest of the nine known outbreaks of postinjection abscesses that have occurred due to rapidly growing mycobacteria and is the first in which an effective method of therapy was demonstrated.

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