Rosália Rubel

Isolation and identification of Clostridium perfringens in the venom and fangs of Loxosceles intermedia (brown spider): enhancement of the dermonecrotic lesion in loxoscelism.

Loxoscelism or the envenoming by the brown spiders (Loxosceles genus spiders), may produce extensive dermonecrosis and hemorrhage at the bite site and, eventually, systemic reactions that may be lethal. Isolation and identification of many different bacteria, among them Clostridium perfringens, of great medical importance due to its involvement in dermonecrotizing and systemic conditions, was carried out from the venomous apparatus (fangs and venom) of spiders obtained directly from nature, through microbiological cultures in aerobic and anaerobic conditions. Working with Loxosceles intermedia venom (alone) and with the venom conjugated with Clostridium perfringens using rabbits as experimental models for dermonecrosis, allowed for the observation that venom and anaerobic bacteria conjugated resulted in a striking increase of the dermonecrotic picture when compared to venom alone, suggesting a role for Clostridium perfringens in the severe dermonecrotic picture of these patients and opening the possibility for the association of antibiotic therapy in treating loxoscelism.

Medicinal mushroom Ganoderma lucidum (Leyss: Fr) Karst. triggers immunomodulatory effects and reduces nitric oxide synthesis in mice.

This study investigated the effect of Ganoderma lucidum supplementation on lymphocytes and peritoneal macrophages from mice. Our results show that G. lucidum in vivo was able to increase interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) concentration but reduced CD3(+) and CD8(+) spleen lymphocytes. Ex vivo, IFN-gamma; and interleukin-10 levels were increased and the tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) level was reduced by peritoneal macrophages from mice fed with G. lucidum. In the absence of stimuli nitric oxide production was reduced in mice fed with G. lucidum, and with lipopolysaccharide stimulation nitric oxide production was increased but was lower than control values (P < .05). G. lucidum was grown by solid-state culture in wheat grain, and a chow containing 10% G. lucidum mycelium was formulated (G10). Swiss male mice were divided into two groups, termed G10 and control groups according to the diet, and were fed for 3 months. Peritoneal macrophages were obtained and investigated with regard to phagocytosis, lysosomal volume, hydrogen peroxide, superoxide anion, and cytokines ex vivo. In the plasma we investigated concentrations of cytokines, and in the spleen we determined subsets of CD3(+), CD4(+), CD8(+), and CD19(+) lymphocytes.

Agaricus brasiliensis mycelium supplementation in Sarcoma 180tumour-bearing mice reverses the immune response induced by the tumour

Abstract The biological properties of Agaricus brasiliensis mycelium, including their immuno-stimulating and anti-tumour activities, have previously been investigated. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of long-term intake of A. brasiliensis mycelium cultivated on wheat grains by solid-state culture on tumour growth and immune response in Sarcoma 180 tumour-bearing mice. Mice received dietary supplementation with 100% or 50% Agaricus mycelium cultivated on wheat grains for 14 weeks and were inoculated with Sarcoma 180 tumours. We found that A. brasiliensis had anti-tumour activity, and that dietary supplementation with a 50% concentration (A50S) prevented loss of body weight, inhibited tumour growth, induced the increase of CD4+ T cells and CD25+ CD4+ T subsets in peripheral organs and downregulated Tumor necrosis factor alpha production in plasma. Our results confirm that dietary supplementation with Agaricus may offer immuno-modulatory activity and protection against tumour growth.

Hypolipidemic and Antiatherosclerotic Potential of Pleurotus ostreatus, Cultived by Submerged Fermentation in the High-fat Diet Fed Rats

The ability of Pleurotus ostreatus biomass, cultived by submerged fermentation, to produce beneficial effect on lipid profile and macrophages activity during a high-fat diet (HFD) for a long-term intake was investigated. Blood samples were collected through cardiac puncture to measure the plasma cholesterol, triglycerides, low-density protein (LDL), high-density protein (HDL), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) activity, urea-blood urea nitrogen (BUN)/creatinine ratio of rats fed on an HFD for 4 months. Dosage of lipid hydroperoxides was carried out on methanolic extract of liver tissue. Peritoneal macrophages activity was evaluated in relation to the superoxide anion, hydrogen peroxide and nitric oxide production, phagocytosis and lysosomal volume. The administration of P. ostreatus significantly altered the lipid profile and oxidative stress as related to the LDL and triglycerides decrease and inhibitory effects on superoxide anion and hydrogen peroxide production. All findings of this study lead us to suggest that the P. ostreatus maybe a beneficial agent in the hyperlipidemia and atherosclerosis treatments.

Production biomolecule with inhibitory activity against Gram-negative bacteria isolated from faeces of broilers and swine

ABSTRACT The aim of this study was to investigate the potential of lactic acid bacteria, bacilli and yeasts isolates to produce antimicrobial substances, especially against Gram-negative bacteria isolated from the animal faeces, searching for a new alternative to control the enteritis diseases in animal health. Evaluations were performed by microdilution in broth using crude extract obtained from the cultivation of 272 strains against Escherichia coli, S. Typhimurium, S. Enteritidis and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Thirty-five lactic acid bacteria presented some antimicrobial action. One Lactobacillus isolate, named FLPB-1, was selected to studies the kinetics of the production. An important increase in the production was obtained when the producer strain had cell-to-cell contact with a Gram-positive inducer culture. Maximal production of antimicrobial compounds was obtained in the beginning of stationary phase and the addition of urea in the medium increased the inhibition rate. Key words: antimicrobial, enteritis, lactic acid bacteria, bacteriocin.

Immunomodulatory and Antitumoral Properties of Ganoderma lucidum and Agaricus brasiliensis (Agaricomycetes) Medicinal Mushrooms

Medicinal mushrooms are used in popular medicine largely as health promoters, mainly because of their antitumor and immunomodulatory activities. Ganoderma lucidum (lingzhi or reishi) and Agaricus brasiliensis are mushrooms that have long been used for medicinal purposes. This study evaluated their immunomodulatory and antitumor effects on mice fed a diet supplemented with G. lucidum and A. brasiliensis mycelia obtained from solid-state fermentation. For 14 weeks the mice were fed chow containing 50% A. brasiliensis and G. lucidum mycelia, using ground wheat as an excipient. The consumption of the supplemented diet inhibited Sarcoma 180 tumor growth and caused important changes in the immune system. The pattern of immune response shifted, increasing CD4+ and CD8+ and decreasing CD19+ cell populations. The restoration of a proper balance between cellular and humoral immunity is an essential process for restraining tumor growth. These results suggest that polysaccharides, such as β-glucans and other mushroom metabolites, possibly promote the T-cell dominance that is imperative to restrain tumor growth.

Cordyceps spp. e sua Participação no Sistema Reprodutivo Animal

O presente estudo foi realizado com o objetivo de verificar a influencia de residuos orgânicos no crescimento e na nutricao de mudas de Calophyllum brasiliense Cambess. As mudas de C. brasiliense foram produzidas em canteiro com areia e, apos periodo de incubacao, foram transplantadas para os tubetes. Os residuos orgânicos foram misturados em diferentes proporcoes ao substrato comercial Basaplant® e solo, em tubetes com capacidade para 240 cm³. O delineamento utilizado foi o inteiramente casualizado com 23 tratamentos e quatro repeticoes. Foram avaliados: altura, diâmetro de coleto, biomassa e a concentracao de nutrientes. A influencia dos substratos no crescimento das mudas de C. brasiliense dependera das combinacoes e proporcoes de residuos. No entanto, as combinacoes nao foram eficientes na disponibilizacao de N, Ca e Cu, devendo-se atentar para possiveis elevacoes nas concentracoes de macronutrientes que podem provocar sintomas de toxidez nas plantas.Esta revisao descrevera brevemente a relacao entre o Cordyceps spp. e sua participacao no sistema reprodutivo animal. Recentemente, estudos reportaram que ratos tratados com o Cordyceps sinensis apresentaram capacidade esteroidogenica aumentada. Assim, esta revisao providenciara uma perspectiva atual sobre as ultimas pesquisas que abordam tal assunto e suas implicacoes no tratamento complementar da andropausa. Outros aspectos basicos tambem serao discutidos como os androgenios.

Cordyceps sinensis biomass produced by submerged fermentation in high-fat diet feed rats normalizes the blood lipid and the low testosterone induced by diet

This study investigated the effect of Cordyceps sinensis biomass supplementation obtained from submerged fermentation on blood lipid and low testosterone induced by high-fat diet (HFD). The experiments were carried out using a long-term intake of HFD and HFD plus Simvastatin or C. sinensis (4 months). Our results show that plasma cholesterol, triglycerides and LDL were decreased by Cordyceps sinensis biomass supplementation (CSBS). A long-term intake of HFD caused a significant liver damage which has been reverted by CSBS. CSBS normalized decreasing testosterone levels observed in high-fat diet feed rats. All these findings lead us to suggest that C. sinensis was able to decrease blood lipid concentration, increase hepatoprotective activity and normalize testosterone levels.