Andriele Mendonça Barbosa

Silver Nanocomposite Biosynthesis: Antibacterial Activity against Multidrug-Resistant Strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acinetobacter baumannii

Bacterial resistance is an emerging public health issue that is disseminated worldwide. Silver nanocomposite can be an alternative strategy to avoid Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria growth, including multidrug-resistant strains. In the present study a silver nanocomposite was synthesized, using a new green chemistry process, by the addition of silver nitrate (1.10−3 mol·L−1) into a fermentative medium of Xanthomonas spp. to produce a xanthan gum polymer. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) was used to evaluate the shape and size of the silver nanoparticles obtained. The silver ions in the nanocomposite were quantified by flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS). The antibacterial activity of the nanomaterial against Escherichia coli (ATCC 22652), Enterococcus faecalis (ATCC 29282), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC 27853) and Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 25923) was carried out using 500 mg of silver nanocomposite. Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acinetobacter baumannii multidrug-resistant strains, isolated from hospitalized patients were also included in the study. The biosynthesized silver nanocomposite showed spherical nanoparticles with sizes smaller than 10 nm; 1 g of nanocomposite contained 49.24 µg of silver. Multidrug-resistant strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acinetobacter baumannii, and the other Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria tested, were sensitive to the silver nanocomposite (10–12.9 mm of inhibition zone). The biosynthesized silver nanocomposite seems to be a promising antibacterial agent for different applications, namely biomedical devices or topical wound coatings.

Antiproliferative Activity of Neem Leaf Extracts Obtained by a Sequential Pressurized Liquid Extraction

Azadirachta indica A. Juss (neem) extracts have been used in pharmaceutical applications as antitumor agents, due to their terpenes and phenolic compounds. To obtain extracts from neem leaves with potential antiproliferative effect, a sequential process of pressurized liquid extraction was carried out in a fixed bed extractor at 25 °C and 100 bar, using hexane (SH), ethyl acetate (SEA), and ethanol (SE) as solvents. Extractions using only ethanol (EE) was also conducted to compare the characteristics of the fractionated extracts. The results obtained by liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization mass spectrometry suggested a higher concentration of terpenes in the SEA extract in comparison to SH, SE, and EE extracts. Therefore, antiproliferative activity showed that SEA extracts were the most efficient inhibitor to human tumor cells MCF-7, NCI-H460, HeLa, and HepG2. Hepatocellular cells were more resistant to SH, SEA, SE, and EE compared to breast, lung, hepatocellular, and cervical malignant cells. Neem fractioned extracts obtained in the present study seem to be more selective for malignant cells compared to the non-tumor cells.

Atherosclerosis: analysis of the eNOS (T786C) gene polymorphism

The coronary arteriosclerotic disease is the most common cardiovascular disease. Atherosclerosis affects large- and medium-sized arteries leading to severe thrombosis or artery stenosis that could evolve to myocardial infarction, ischemic stroke, ischemic injury of kidneys and intestines, and several other life-threatening clinical manifestations. Nitric oxide has been shown to be a promising therapeutic agent against cardiovascular diseases. The eNOS gene assumes several important functions, including regulation of vascular tone and regional blood flow, the suppression of vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation, and modulation of leukocyte-endothelium interactions. The T786C polymorphism is an important point mutation, where thymine is changed to cytosine. T786C significantly reduces the activity of the eNOS promoter gene. Two hundred and ninety-seven peripheral blood samples were collected from patients with the previous diagnosis of atherosclerotic disease based on clinical examination and confirmed by imaging methods. Results were compared using the chi-square test and the G-test. In the present study, the TC genotype was more frequent in both case and control groups with no statistically significant difference. Comparing the relation TC/TT and CC genotypes in the case and control groups, there was no statistically significant difference. No significant difference was found when genotypes were analyzed regarding gender and smoking. Our results suggest a strong tendency of the T allele, in single or double dose, to be associated with atherosclerosis that was not confirmed by the scientific data.

Analysis of p53 gene polymorphism (codon 72) in symptomatic patients with atherosclerosis

Atherosclerosis is a multifactorial pathological disease that alters the morphology and function of arterial walls. The atheroma growth leads to vessel hardening and lumen narrowing, limiting the blood flow. The atheroma plaque can eventually break, expose highly thrombogenic material and lead to platelet activation and subsequent formation of a thrombus that may block blood flow in loco, or even leading to obstruction of other vessels with a smaller diameter. This process is one of the main determinants of the clinical manifestations of atherosclerosis, such as coronary artery disease, ischemic stroke, and peripheral arterial disease. Although the inflammatory theory about atherosclerosis is the most renowned one, observations point to common biological characteristics between cancer and atherosclerosis suggesting a possible association between p53 and atherosclerotic diseases. We collected peripheral blood samples from 200 individuals with clinical manifestations of atherosclerotic disease and 100 individuals without manisfestation of the disease to form the control group. DNA was subjected to molecular analysis (PCR) to identify the polymorphism of the p53 gene. We have not found any relationship between the polymorphism of the p53 gene and atherosclerosis in the population studied (P = 0.36). There was no relationship between atherosclerosis, polymorphism of p53 and the variables accounted: smoking habit (P = 0.72, 0.51 and 0.62 for smokers, non-smokers and former smokers respectively), alcohol consumption (P = 0.17 for individuals with drinking habits and 0.38 for those who do not consume alcohol beverage), systemic arterial hypertension (P = 0.60), diabetes mellitus (P = 0.34), and dyslipidemia (P = 0.89). Our population has a high rate of miscegenation and heterozygotes, and according to studies the arginine variant is more related to plaque formation because it induces apoptosis more frequently when compared to the proline variant. According to our results, there is no association between the polymorphism of the p53 gene, atherosclerosis and its risk factors in the population studied.

Association of CYP1A1 (cytochrome P450) MspI polymorphism in women with endometriosis

Endometriosis is a disease that affects 10 to 15% of the women of reproductive age. It is characterized by the presence of endometrial-like tissues outside of the uterus. Some definitions claim that the functional ectopic tissue is sensitive to the action of hormones. Severity of endometriosis is defined according to a system proposed by the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, which is based on laparoscopic findings. A large number of genetic polymorphisms has been reported for CYP1A1, the gene that is responsible for enzymes involved in stage I detoxification of xenobiotics; this gene is located at 15q22-24, and encodes an isoenzyme that catalyzes the oxidation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons present in phenolic compounds and epoxides. The aim of this study was to analyze the frequency of the MspI polymorphism and its relation to endometriosis. We obtained peripheral blood samples from 52 women with endometriosis (confirmed by laparoscopy) as well as 42 women without endometriosis (control group). In the case group, the women were between 25 and 35 years of age; the age range was between 25 and 57 years old in the control group. Molecular analysis was performed by polymerase chain reaction. We found a significant association (P = 0.039) between the polymorphic allele m1 and endometriosis (32.70%). In conclusion, this study showed that the m1 polymorphism is associated with endometriosis, and that W1/m1 and m1/m1 polymorphisms are more frequently observed in patients with infertility and severe endometriosis.

Study of the biological potential of in vitro extracts for Zeyheria tuberculosa (Bignoniaceae)

Study of the biological potential of in vitro extracts for Zeyheria tuberculosa (Bignoniaceae) Isabelle Souza de Melo Silva, Raissa Fernanda Evangelista Pires dos Santo, Naelia Monique Moreira Brito Silva, Andressa Leticia Lopes da Silva, Ingridy Viana Lucena, Andriele Mendonca Barbosa, Klebson Silva Santos, Thiane de Vasconcellos Costa Melo, Genilson Sarmento Lins Junior, Francine Ferreira Padilha, Patricia de Albuquerque Sarmento, Maria Lysete de Assis Bastos

Study of antimicrobial potential and cytotoxic of Cordia nodosa species

Study of antimicrobial potential and cytotoxic of Cordia nodosa species Raíssa Fernanda Evangelista Pires dos Santos, Isabelle Souza de Mélo Silva Silva, Lukas Reis d’Costa, Andriele Mendonça Barbosa, Klebson Santos Silva, Mariene Ribeiro Amorim, Fernando Mendonça Diz, Thais Honório Lins, Regina Célia Santos Sales Verissimo, Francine Ferreira Padilha, Eliane Aparecida Campesatto, Maria Lysete de Assis Bastos

Production and characterization of films from nanocomposite coating of sunflower seeds

Production and characterization of films from nanocomposite coating of sunflower seeds Andriele Mendonca Barbosa, Klebson Silva Santos, Malone Santos Pinheiro, Isabelle Souza de Melo Silva, Flavia Manuella Ribeiro de Mendonca, Fernando Mendonca Diz , Luzia Nilda Tabosa Andrade , Resende Yane Tainara Menezes , Rafaela Andrade Fonseca , Juliana Cordeiro Cardoso, Maria Lucila Hernandez Macedo , Francine Ferreira Padilha 1

Evaluation of antimicrobial potential and cytotoxic of Pouteria venosa species

Evaluation of antimicrobial potential and cytotoxic of Pouteria venosa species Raissa Fernanda Evangelista Pires dos Santos, Isabelle Souza de Melo Silva Silva , Eleci Adriano Hendges, Andressa Leticia Lopes da Silva, Andriele Mendonca Barbosa, Klebson Silva Santos, Renata Rego de Souza, Thais Honorio Lins, Regina Celia Santos Sales Verissimo, Francine Ferreira Padilha, Eliane Aparecida Campesatto, Maria Lysete de Assis Bastos

Evaluation of antibacterial and toxicity activity in vitro of extracts from Tournefortia bicolor S.W (Boraginaceae)

Evaluation of antibacterial and toxicity activity in vitro of extracts from Tournefortia bicolor S.W (Boraginaceae) Isabelle Souza de Melo Silva, Andressa Leticia Lopes da Silva, Raissa Fernanda Evangelista Pires dos Santos, Renata Rego de Souza, Andriele Mendonca Barbosa, Klebson Silva Santos, Mariene Ribeiro Amorim, Lenilson Santos da Trindade, Laiza Canielas Krause, Eliane Aparecida Campesatto, Francine Ferreira Padilha, Maria Lysete de Assis Bastos