Resumo Este estudo promoveu a detecção de DNA de Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato em amostras de sangue e soro de pacientes com manifestações clínicas e epidemiologia compatíveis com a doença de Lyme-símile brasileira ou síndrome de Baggio-Yoshinari. Para tanto, foi feita triagem sorológica pelos métodos de Elisa e Western blotting e a identificação molecular de B. burgdorferi por meio da amplificação de um fragmento do gene conservado que sintetiza o gancho flagelar (flgE). Os resultados demonstraram sorologia positiva e, pela primeira vez, a presença de DNA de Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato em humanos na Região Centro-Oeste do Brasil. A análise genética das sequências dos isolados mostrou similaridade às sequências disponíveis no GenBank. Pela análise filogenética inferida pela sequência parcial do gene flgE, a cepa brasileira agrupou-se com a sequência de B. burgdorferi sensu lato. Este estudo abre perspectivas promissoras e reforça a necessidade de estudos adicionais a fim de determinar as características epidemiológicas da doença, bem como o impacto da prevalência da borreliose brasileira no Estado de Mato Grosso do Sul, Brasil.

Abstract We aimed to detect DNA of Borrelia burgdorferi in whole blood and serum samples of patients with clinical symptoms and epidemiology compatible with Brazilian Lyme-like disease. Four patients with positive epidemiological histories were recruited for the study. Blood samples were collected, screened by serologic testing by ELISA and Western blotting and molecular identification of B. burgdorferi by amplifying a fragment of the conserved gene that synthesizes the hook flagellar flgE. The results showed positive serology and for the first time, the presence of B. burgdorferi sensu lato in humans in the Midwest region of Brazil. The resulting sequences were similar to GenBank corresponding sequences of B. burgdorferi flgE gene. By neighbor-joining the phylogenetic analysis, the flgE sequence of the Brazilian strain clustered in a monophyletic group with the sequence of B. burgdorferi sensu lato under 100% bootstrap support. This study opens up promising perspectives and reinforces the need for additional studies to determine the epidemiological characteristics of the disease, as well as the impact of the prevalence of Brazilian borreliosis in Mato Grosso do Sul State, Brazil.

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.

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.