Denise Wanderlei Silva

Swine and Poultry Pathogens: the Complete Genome Sequences of Two Strains of Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae and a Strain of Mycoplasma synoviae

This work reports the results of analyses of three complete mycoplasma genomes, a pathogenic (7448) and a nonpathogenic (J) strain of the swine pathogen Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae and a strain of the avian pathogen Mycoplasma synoviae; the genome sizes of the three strains were 920,079 bp, 897,405 bp, and 799,476 bp, respectively. These genomes were compared with other sequenced mycoplasma genomes reported in the literature to examine several aspects of mycoplasma evolution. Strain-specific regions, including integrative and conjugal elements, and genome rearrangements and alterations in adhesin sequences were observed in the M. hyopneumoniae strains, and all of these were potentially related to pathogenicity. Genomic comparisons revealed that reduction in genome size implied loss of redundant metabolic pathways, with maintenance of alternative routes in different species. Horizontal gene transfer was consistently observed between M. synoviae and Mycoplasma gallisepticum. Our analyses indicated a likely transfer event of hemagglutinin-coding DNA sequences from M. gallisepticum to M. synoviae.

The complete genome sequence of Chromobacterium violaceum reveals remarkable and exploitable bacterial adaptability

Chromobacterium violaceum is one of millions of species of free-living microorganisms that populate the soil and water in the extant areas of tropical biodiversity around the world. Its complete genome sequence reveals (i) extensive alternative pathways for energy generation, (ii) ≈500 ORFs for transport-related proteins, (iii) complex and extensive systems for stress adaptation and motility, and (iv) widespread utilization of quorum sensing for control of inducible systems, all of which underpin the versatility and adaptability of the organism. The genome also contains extensive but incomplete arrays of ORFs coding for proteins associated with mammalian pathogenicity, possibly involved in the occasional but often fatal cases of human C. violaceum infection. There is, in addition, a series of previously unknown but important enzymes and secondary metabolites including paraquat-inducible proteins, drug and heavy-metal-resistance proteins, multiple chitinases, and proteins for the detoxification of xenobiotics that may have biotechnological applications.

Atividade antimicrobiana de frações da própolis vermelha de Alagoas, Brasil

The red propolis is a new type of propolis founded in Brazil with large biological action. This study evaluated the antimicrobial activity of ethanol extract and fractions of hexane, chloroform and acetanolica of propolis from the apiary of the state of Alagoas. The microbial strains used were: Shigella flexneri, Proteus vulgaris, Staphylococcus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Proteus mirabilis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Candida albicans. The ethanolic extract showed activity against Gram-positive strains (100%), Gram-negative (62.5%) and fungi (100%) with efficiency against 76.9% of all the analyzed strains. The hexanic fraction showed efficiency against 76.9% as observed with the ethanolic extract, though the chloroform fraction showed activity against 92.3% of the strains analyzed. Klebsiella pneumoniae was the only resistant species. The ethyl acetate was the fraction that showed the best antimicrobial activity with efficiency against 100% of all strains analized. Excellent results were observed to Candida albicans mainly with ethyl acetate fraction with the value of minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) similar to those observed to Gram-positives bacteria. We concluded that the partitions of red propolis showed excellent antimicrobial activity mainly against Gram-positive microorganisms and Candida albicans. Furthermore, we observed the ethyl acetate fraction stood out as a promissory biotechnological product.

Distribution of Hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotypes in seropositive patients in the state of Alagoas, Brazil

We determined the frequency of hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotypes in anti-HCV seropositive patients in the state of Alagoas, Brazil, by means of nested-reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-nested-PCR) followed by restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) of amplified fragments of the 5´NCR. The nested-PCR with genotype-specific primers from the core region was carried out when detection was not possible by the first approach. Detectable HCV-RNA was present in 115 (74.7%) of 154 serum samples. Genotype 1 was the most frequent (77.4%), against 20.9% of genotype 3 and 0.8% of genotype 2. Subtype 1b was predominant (65.2%), followed by subtypes 1a (8.7%), and 3a (6.1%). Coinfection (1a/3a) was detected in 0.8% of the samples. Indeed, there was no significant differences in the prevalence of genotype 1 compared to what has been obtained from anti-HCV seropositive patients from other locations in Brazil. Here we report for the first time the genotype 2 in the state of Alagoas.

Prevalence of β-hemolytic Streptococcus in children with special health care needs

UNLABELLED Pharyngotonsillitis by β-hemolytic Streptococcus mostly affects children and immunocompromised, being Streptococcus pyogenes (Group A) the most common agent in bacterial pharyngotonsillitis. AIM This work targeted the research of β-hemolytic Streptococcus Group-A (SBHGA) and No-A (SBHGNA) in the oropharynx of individuals with special health needs from the APAE (Maceió-AL). METHOD A prospective study with oropharynx samples from patients with Down syndrome and other mental disorders (test) and students from a private school (control) aged 5-15 years. Cultures in blood agar (5%) were identified through Gram/catalase tests and bacitracin/trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole disk diffusion method, applying the chi-squared statistical analysis. RESULTS A total of 222 bacterial colonies were isolated in 74 individuals from APAE and 65 in the control group. In the test group, previous episodes of pharyngotonsillitis were reported by 36.49% (27/74) and 9.46% (7/74) were diagnosed with symptoms and/or signs suggestive of oropharynx infection. No positive sample of S. pyogenes was confirmed at APAE, being all samples classified as SBHGNA, with 5 SBHGA in the control group. CONCLUSION The early identification of β-hemolytic Streptococcus is important for the fast treatment of pharyngotonsillitis and the absence of S. pyogenes avoid future suppurative or not-suppurative sequels in the group from APAE.

First detection of metallo-β-lactamases in nosocomial isolates ofPseudomonas aeruginosain Alagoas, Brazil

Introduction:Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a leading cause of opportunistic infections in humans, and the choice of effective antimicrobial agents to control this bacterium has been limited, mainly due to its ability to produce metallo-β-lactamases (MβL), enzymes capable of inactivating many antimicrobials through hydrolysis.Objective:This study aimed to detect the presence of multidrug-resistant (MDR) P. aeruginosa strains and the MβL-encoding genes (blaSPM, blaIMP and blaVIM) in nosocomial isolates in Maceio (AL).Methods:The isolates were collected from four public institutions/hospitals in Maceio, and cultures were identified by conventional methods. Antibiotic susceptibility was determined by the disk diffusion method according to the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI), and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to identify the presence of the MβL-encoding genes blaSPM, blaIMP and blaVIM.RESULTS:Forty-three strains of P. aeruginosa were MDR among 85 identified nosocomial isolates (50.6%), 79.1% and 20% of which were resistant to carbapenem (imipenem and meropenem) and aztreonam, respectively. PCR was performed in susceptible or resistant isolates and we identified nine (20.9%) MDR strains with blaSPM gene, whereas only one strain had blaIMP and none blaVIM positive was found.Conclusion:Production of MβL is an important mechanism of resistance to carbapenems and other β-lactams among P. aeruginosa strains in the evaluated samples. We reported the first identification of MβL-encoding genes in P. aeruginosa from nosocomial environments in Maceio, a new insight for the epidemiology of MβL in the Northeastern region of Brazil.

First detection of metallo-β-lactamases in nosocomial isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in Alagoas, Brazil

Introduction:Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a leading cause of opportunistic infections in humans, and the choice of effective antimicrobial agents to control this bacterium has been limited, mainly due to its ability to produce metallo-β-lactamases (MβL), enzymes capable of inactivating many antimicrobials through hydrolysis.Objective:This study aimed to detect the presence of multidrug-resistant (MDR) P. aeruginosa strains and the MβL-encoding genes (blaSPM, blaIMP and blaVIM) in nosocomial isolates in Maceio (AL).Methods:The isolates were collected from four public institutions/hospitals in Maceio, and cultures were identified by conventional methods. Antibiotic susceptibility was determined by the disk diffusion method according to the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI), and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to identify the presence of the MβL-encoding genes blaSPM, blaIMP and blaVIM.RESULTS:Forty-three strains of P. aeruginosa were MDR among 85 identified nosocomial isolates (50.6%), 79.1% and 20% of which were resistant to carbapenem (imipenem and meropenem) and aztreonam, respectively. PCR was performed in susceptible or resistant isolates and we identified nine (20.9%) MDR strains with blaSPM gene, whereas only one strain had blaIMP and none blaVIM positive was found.Conclusion:Production of MβL is an important mechanism of resistance to carbapenems and other β-lactams among P. aeruginosa strains in the evaluated samples. We reported the first identification of MβL-encoding genes in P. aeruginosa from nosocomial environments in Maceio, a new insight for the epidemiology of MβL in the Northeastern region of Brazil.