RESUMO Este estudo objetivou avaliar os efeitos da adição de quitosana e inoculante homolático sobre as perdas fermentativas, composição química, perfil fermentativo e estabilidade aeróbia da silagem de planta inteira de soja (SPIS). Em adição, foi avaliado o consumo e a digestibilidade de nutrientes em ovinos alimentados com dietas contendo níveis crescentes de SPIS. Trinta silos experimentais foram aleatoriamente alocados a um dos seguintes tratamentos: 1) CON: controle, SPIS sem aditivos; 2) LPPA: SPIS com Lactobacillus plantarum e Pediococcus acidilactici; e 3) QUI: quitosana, SPIS com 5 g/kg de quitosana. Dez ovinos machos foram usados para avaliar os níveis dietéticos de SPIS: 0, 200, 400, 600 e 800 g/kg da matéria seca (MS). Os aditivos aumentaram a contagem de bactérias láticas e reduziram a contagem de fungos e leveduras e as perdas fermentativas totais da SPIS. Silagens tratadas com aditivos tiveram menores pH, N-NH3 e etanol e maiores concentrações de ácido lático e propiônico, quando comparadas ao tratamento controle. Silos tratados com LPPA apresentaram maiores teores de matéria orgânica e carboidratos não fibrosos do que aqueles do tratamento QUI. Os aditivos aumentaram a estabilidade aeróbia da SPIS. A adição de SPIS na dieta de ovinos aumentou linearmente o consumo e a digestibilidade dos nutrientes. Quitosana e inoculante microbiano homolático melhoram a fermentação, estabilidade aeróbia e o valor nutricional da SPIS. A substituição de feno de Cynodon por SIPS aumenta o consumo e a digestibilidade dos nutrientes em ovinos.

ABSTRACT This study aimed to evaluate the effects of chitosan and homolactic microbial inoculant on fermentative losses, chemical composition, fermentative profile, and aerobic stability of whole-plant soybean silage (WPSS). Additionally, it was evaluated nutrients intake and digestibility of sheep fed increasing levels of WPSS. Thirty experimental silos were randomly allocated to one of the following treatments: 1) CON: control, WPSS without additives; 2) LPPA: WPSS with Lactobacillus plantarum and Pediococcus acidilactici; and 3) CHI: chitosan, WPSS with 5 g/kg of chitosan. Ten male sheep were used to evaluate increasing dietary levels of WPSS: 0, 200, 400, 600, and 800 g/kg of diet dry matter (DM). Additives increased silage lactic acid bacteria and decreased the count of mold and yeast, gas, and total losses. Silages treated with additives had lower pH, NH3-N, and ethanol concentrations and higher lactic and propionic acids relative to CON. LPPA-treated silos showed higher organic matter and non-fiber carbohydrates content than CHI-ones. Additives increased the aerobic stability of WPSS. The addition of WPSS in sheep diets linearly increased nutrients intake and digestibility. Chitosan and LPPA improve WPSS fermentation, aerobic stability, and nutritional value. The WPSS in substitution to Cynodon hay increases sheep feed intake and nutrients digestibility.

RESUMO A atrazina é um herbicida sintético comumente utilizado no controle de ervas gramíneas daninhas e folhagens em lavouras, e é um dos principais contaminantes dos solos e dos ecossistemas aquáticos. Muitos métodos têm sido sugeridos para remover herbicidas da água potável. Contudo, esses métodos são custosos, muitos têm problemas de desempenho, produzem diversos subprodutos intermediários tóxicos, prejudiciais e perigosos. Entretanto, a atrazina é susceptível à degradação por microrganismos presentes na água, no sedimento e no esgoto. Considerando esses aspectos, o objetivo principal do estudo foi investigar a biodegradação e a filtração por meio de filtros de carvão com atividade biológica (CAB) para remoção da atrazina, e sua identificação filogenética associada a esses microrganismos. Os resultados demonstraram que a atrazina foi degradada por microrganismos presentes no biofilme, com remoção superior a 89% nos filtros CAB. Os microrganismos encontrados integram-se ao grupo das bactérias, composto dos gêneros Acinetobacter,Bacillus, Exiguobacterium e Pseudomonas. Este estudo nos permite inferir sobre a capacidade de biodegradação da atrazina por bactérias presentes nos filtros CAB, a capacidade de remover herbicidas por meio desse sistema de filtros e a possível utilização dessa tecnologia como alternativa para o controle e a remoção dessa substância no tratamento de água.

ABSTRACT Atrazine is a synthetic herbicide commonly used to control weeds and foliage in crops, and is a major contaminants of soil and water ecosystems. Many methods have been suggested to remove herbicides from drinking water. However, these methods are very costly, many have performance problems, produce a lot of toxic intermediates which are very harmful and dangerous. However, atrazine is susceptible to degradation by microorganism present in water, sediment, and sewage effluents. Considering these aspects, the main objective of the study was to investigate the biodegradation and filtration for using biological activated carbon (BAC) filters to remove atrazine, and their phylogenetic identification associated with these microorganisms. The results showed that atrazine was biodegraded by microorganism present in the biofilm, with removal over 80% in BAC filters. The microorganisms found integrate to the group of bacteria, composed by the genera Acinetobacter, Bacillus, Exiguobacterium, and Pseudomonas. This study allows us to infer the ability to biodegrade atrazine by bacteria present in BAC filters and capacity to remove herbicides by BAC filters, and the possible use of this technology as an alternative for the control and removal of this substance in water treatment.

Abstract INTRODUCTION Incidence and antifungal susceptibility of Candida spp. from two teaching public hospitals are described. METHODS The minimum inhibitory concentrations of fluconazole, voriconazole, itraconazole, and amphotericin B were determined using Clinical Laboratory Standard Institute broth microdilution and genomic differentiation using PCR. RESULTS Of 221 Candida isolates, 50.2% were obtained from intensive care unit patients; 71.5% were recovered from urine and 9.1% from bloodstream samples. Candida parapsilosis sensu stricto was the most common candidemia agent. CONCLUSIONS We observed variations in Candida species distribution in hospitals in the same geographic region and documented the emergence of non-C. albicans species resistant to azoles.

Abstract This study aimed to evaluate DNA damage in animal and plant cells exposed to water from the Água Boa stream (Dourados, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil) by using bioassays, and to identify the chemical compounds in the water to determine the water quality in the area. Through the cytotoxicity bioassay with Allium cepa, using micronucleus test, and comet assay, using Astyanax altiparanae fish, the results indicated that biological samples were genetically altered. Micronuclei were observed in erythrocytes of A. altiparanae after exposure to water from locations close to industrial waste discharge. The highest DNA damage observed with the comet assay in fish occurred with the exposure to water from locations where the presence of metals (Cu, Pb, Cd, Ni) was high, indicating the possibility of genotoxic effects of these compounds. Thus, these results reinforce the importance of conducting genotoxicity tests for developing management plans to improve water quality, and indicate the need for waste management before domestic and industrial effluents are released into the rivers and streams.

In this study, the culture analysis of urine samples from patients hospitalized in the Central-West region of Brazil was performed, and the isolated microorganisms were phylogenetically identified as Trichosporon asahii. Maximum parsimony analysis of the IGS1 sequences revealed three novel genotypes that have not been described. The minimum inhibitory concentrations of the nine isolates identified were in the range of 0.06-1 μg/ml for amphotericin B, 0.25-4 μg/ml for fluconazole, and 0.03-0.06 μg/ml for itraconazole. Approximately 6/9 of the T. asahii isolates could form biofilms on the surface of polystyrene microplates. This study reports that the microorganisms isolated here as T. asahii are agents of nosocomial urinary tract infections. Furthermore, the IGS1 region can be considered a new epidemiological tool for genotyping T. asahii isolates. The least common genotypes reported in this study can be related to local epidemiological trends.

En este estudio fueron analizadas mediante el cultivo muestras de orina de pacientes hospitalizados en la región centro-oeste de Brasil; los microorganismos aislados fueron identificados filogenéticamente como Trichosporon asahii. A través del análisis de máxima parsimonia de las secuencias de IGS1, fueron encontrados 3 genotipos que no habían sido descritos anteriormente. Las concentraciones inhibitorias mínimas frente a los 9 aislados identificados presentaron un rango de 0,06-1 μg/ml en el caso de la anfotericina B, de 0,25-4 μg/ml en el del fluconazol, y de 0,03-0,06 μg/ml en el del itraconazol. Aproximadamente 6/9 de los aislados de T. asahii formaron biopelículas en la superficie de microplacas de poliestireno. Este trabajo documenta el aislamiento de T. asahii como agente causal de infeciones urinarias nosocomiales. Además, demuestra que la región IGS1 puede ser considerada una nueva herramienta epidemiológica para la genotipificación de los aislados de T. asahii. Los genotipos menos comunes encontrados en este estudio pueden estar relacionados con las características epidemiológicas locales.

The azoles are the class of medications most commonly used to fight infections caused by Candida sp. Typically, resistance can be attributed to mutations in ERG11 gene (CYP51) which encodes the cytochrome P450 14α-demethylase, the primary target for the activity of azoles. The objective of this study was to identify mutations in the coding region of theERG11 gene in clinical isolates of Candidaspecies known to be resistant to azoles. We identified three new synonymous mutations in the ERG11 gene in the isolates of Candida glabrata (C108G, C423T and A1581G) and two new nonsynonymous mutations in the isolates of Candida krusei - A497C (Y166S) and G1570A (G524R). The functional consequence of these nonsynonymous mutations was predicted using evolutionary conservation scores. The G524R mutation did not have effect on 14α-demethylase functionality, while the Y166S mutation was found to affect the enzyme. This observation suggests a possible link between the mutation and dose-dependent sensitivity to voriconazole in the clinical isolate of C. krusei. Although the presence of the Y166S in phenotype of reduced azole sensitivity observed in isolate C. kruseidemands investigation, it might contribute to the search of new therapeutic agents against resistant Candida isolates.

Introduction Hospital infections caused by Candida spp. are a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in hospitalized patients, particularly those that are critically ill or immunocompromised. In this study, the distribution of Candida species in isolates from the University Hospital of the Federal University at Grande Dourados and their in vitro susceptibility to antifungal drugs were analyzed. Methods Yeasts were phenotypically identified using classical methodologies. Antifungal susceptibility tests to amphotericin B and fluconazole were performed using the broth microdilution technique. Results A total of 50 Candida isolates were obtained from hospitalized patients during the study period. We analyzed yeast isolates from urine (n=31; 62%), blood (n=12; 24%), and tracheal secretions (n=7; 14%). The following Candida species were identified: C. tropicalis (n=21; 42%), C. albicans (n=18; 36%), C. glabrata (n=10; 20%), and C. krusei (n=1; 2%). Antifungal susceptibility tests demonstrated that C. albicans was susceptible to both antifungal agents. However, 31.2% of the non-C. albicans Candida isolates displayed dose-dependent susceptibility to fluconazole, and 3.1% were resistant to amphotericin B. Conclusions In contrast to previous reports, our results indicated that C. tropicalis was the most commonly isolated yeast species among the hospital patients. The predominance of non-C. albicans Candida infections confirms the importance of species-level identification for implementing appropriate antifungal therapies.

This review article is aimed to focus on biotechnology applications in food and its benefits to human health. The use of biotechnology to develop plant varieties promotes immeasurable benefits, which are being related to greater food production, with higher quality and nutritional value, it affects in future economic performance of countries and the nutritional status of their populations. Currently, the application of biotechnology in plants has been directed to evaluate and improve the nutritional quality of food. Many of them are in the category of "functional foods". Some of the foods that were developed and others that have being optimized will be exemplified. Thus, scientific information to society ensures that biotechnology applied to food can safely contribute to human health.

Este artículo de actualización tuvo por objetivo enfocar las aplicaciones biotecnológicas en los alimentos y sus beneficios para la salud humana. El uso de la biotecnología para el desarrollo de variedades vegetales promueve beneficios inmensos, los cuales se relacionan con una mayor producción de alimentos, con una mayor calidad y valor nutricional de ellos, lo que influye en el futuro, en el desempeño económico de los países y en la condición nutricional de sus poblaciones. Actualmente, la aplicación de la biotecnología en los vegetales ha sido dirigida a valorar y mejorar la calidad nutricional de los alimentos; muchos de ellos se encuentran en la categoría de "alimentos funcionales". Algunos de los alimentos que se desarrollaron y otros que están siendo optimizados se ejemplifican. La información científica garantiza a la sociedad que la biotecnología aplicada a los alimentos puede, de manera segura, contribuir con la salud humana.