Abstract The present report describes the first case of postpartum disseminated histoplasmosis in a 24-year-old HIV-negative woman. On the tenth day after vaginal delivery, the patient presented with dyspnea, fever, hypotension, tachycardia, and painful hepatomegaly. Yeast-like Histoplasma capsulatum features were isolated in the buffy coat. The phylogenetic analysis demonstrated that the fungal isolate was similar to other H. capsulatum isolates identified in HIV patients from Ceará and Latin America. Thus, histoplasmosis development in individuals with transitory immunosuppression or during the period of immunological recovery should be carefully examined.

ABSTRACT Mixed infection by Histoplasma capsulatum isolates with different mating types, in AIDS-patients are described in this study. Morphological, mating type-specific PCR assay and multilocus sequencing type analysis of H. capsulatum isolates recovered from two Brazilian AIDS-patients were performed. Five H. capsulatum isolates were recovered at different times from the two patients. Three isolates were obtained from bone marrow (day 1 – CE0411) and buffy coat cultures (day 1 – CE0311; day 2 – CE0511) of patient 1, and two isolates were isolated from buffy coat cultures (day 3 – CE2813; day 12 – CE2513) of patient 2. The mycelial colonies depicted different textures and pigmentation features. Dimorphic conversion to the yeast-phase in ML-Gema medium was achieved in all isolates. MAT1-1 idiomorph was identified in CE0311, CE0411 and CE2813 isolates; MAT1-2 idiomorph was found in CE0511 and CE2513 isolates. These H. capsulatum isolates were grouped within LAm A clade, highlighting that CE0311 and CE0411 isolates formed a subgroup supported by a high bootstrap value. The CE0511, CE2513, and CE2813 isolates clustered together with a Brazilian H151 isolate. This research reports mixed infections caused by H. capsulatum isolates with different mating types in Brazilian AIDS-patients for the first time in the literature.

Beta-barrel type proteins play an important role in both, human and veterinary medicine. In particular, their localization on the bacterial surface, and their involvement in virulence mechanisms of pathogens, have turned them into an interesting target in studies to search for vaccine candidates. Recently, Freeman and Wimley developed a prediction algorithm based on the physicochemical properties of transmembrane beta-barrels proteins (TMBBs). Based on that algorithm, and using Grails, a web-based application was implemented. This system, named Beta Predictor, is capable of processing from one protein sequence to complete predicted proteomes up to 10000 proteins with a runtime of about 0.019 seconds per 500-residue protein, and it allows graphical analyses for each protein. The application was evaluated with a validation set of 535 non-redundant proteins, 102 TMBBs and 433 non-TMBBs. The sensitivity, specificity, Matthews correlation coefficient, positive predictive value and accuracy were calculated, being 85.29%, 95.15%, 78.72%, 80.56% and 93.27%, respectively. The performance of this system was compared with TMBBs predictors, BOMP and TMBHunt, using the same validation set. Taking into account the order mentioned above, the following results were obtained: 76.47%, 99.31%, 83.05%, 96.30% and 94.95% for BOMP, and 78.43%, 92.38%, 67.90%, 70.17% and 89.78% for TMBHunt. Beta Predictor was outperformed by BOMP but the latter showed better behavior than TMBHunt.

Las proteínas de tipo barril-beta desempeñan un importante papel tanto en medicina humana como veterinaria. Su localización en la superficie bacteriana y su participación en los mecanismos de virulencia de los patógenos, hacen que se hayan convertido en un interesante blanco en los estudios de búsqueda de candidatos vacunales. Freeman y Wimley desarrollaron un algoritmo de predicción basado en las propiedades físico-químicas de proteínas barriles beta transmembrana (BBTMs). Basado en el mismo y utilizando Grails, se implementó una aplicación web. Este sistema (Beta Predictor), procesa hasta 10.000 proteínas, con un tiempo de respuesta aproximado de 0,019 s por proteína de 500 residuos y permite un análisis gráfico para cada proteína. La aplicación se evaluó con un conjunto de validación de 535 proteínas no redundantes, 102 BBTMs y 433 no-BBTMs. Se calculó la sensibilidad, especificidad, coeficiente de correlación de Matthews, valor predictivo positivo y la exactitud, siendo estos 85,29%, 95,15%, 78,72%, 80,56% y 93,27%, respectivamente. El rendimiento de este sistema se comparó con el de los predictores de BBTMs, BOMP y TMBHunt y se utilizó el mismo conjunto de validación. Se obtuvieron los siguientes resultados en el orden anterior: 76,47%, 99,31%, 83,05%, 96,30% y 94,95% para el BOMP y 78,43%, 92,38%, 67,90%, 70,17% y 89,78% para el TMBHunt. El predictor BOMP superó al Beta Predictor, pero este último mostró mejor comportamiento que el TMBHunt.

Trinta e seis extratos vegetais originários da Mata Atlântica foram testados quanto à sua atividade antimicobacteriana frente ao M. tuberculosis H37Rv e M. kansasii, utilizando o método REMA em concentrações seriadas de 100 a 0,20 µg/mL. Dentre os trinta e seis extratos testados, cinco mostraram atividade frente ao M. tuberculosis, e destes apenas, três mostraram atividade ao M. kansasii, que apresentou susceptibilidade a outros dez. O teste de citotoxicidade com células VERO foi realizado com os cinco extratos ativos frente ao M. tuberculosis em que identificou-se a não toxicidade em apenas um extrato (Peschiera affinis) na concentração de 100 µg/mL.

Thirty-six plant extracts from the brazilian Atlantic Forest were tested for their antimycobacterial activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv and M. kansasii, using the method REMA in seriate concentrations of 100 to 0.20 µg/mL. Among the thirty six extracts tested, five were active against M. tuberculosis, and three of these extracts also showed activity against M. kansasii. Cytotoxicity test with VERO cells was performed with the five extracts active against M. tuberculosis. Only the extract of Peschiera affinis was identified as non-toxic in the concentration of 100µg/mL.

No presente estudo, testamos o efeito de 27 extratos e frações de plantas de diferentes famílias botânicas sobre a atividade da proteína Pdr5p de membranas plasmáticas de leveduras, responsável pelo fenótipo de resistência a múltiplas drogas em leveduras. Alguns dos extratos foram capazes de produzir uma boa inibição na concentração fixa de 200 µg/mL e foram selecionados para uma investigação mais aprofundada. Curvas de dose-resposta foram obtidas para os extratos brutos etanólicos de Bathysa australis (A. St.-Hill.) Benth. & Hook f., Mabea fistulifera Mart. e Virola oleifera (Schott) A. C. Sm., com concentrações até 400 µg/mL. O menor valor de IC50 foi obtido para Virola oleifera, 22,8 µg/mL, seguido por Bathysa australis, 35,3 µg/mL e Mabea fistulifera, 42,5 µg/mL. Após o fracionamento dos extratos brutos por partição líquido-líquido com diferentes solventes orgânicos, cada fração foi novamente testada, sendo que apenas algumas das frações mantiveram a habilidade de inibir a atividade enzimática. Quando analisadas por HPLC/DAD, as frações ativas demonstraram a presença de derivados de flavonóides, que já demonstraram ter a habilidade de inibir a atividade ATPasica da Pdr5p, assim como outras classes de metabólitos secundários, tais como lignanas e alcalóides.

In the current study, we tested the effect of 27 plant extracts and fractions from different botanical families on the activity of Pdr5p from yeast plasma membrane, responsible for the multidrug resistance phenotype in yeast cells. Some of the extracts were able to produce a good inhibition in the fixed concentration (200 µg/mL) and were selected for a deeper investigation. Dose-response curves were obtained for the crude ethanol extracts of Bathysa australis (A. St.-Hill.) Benth. & Hook f., Mabea fistulifera Mart. and Virola oleifera (Schott) A. C. Sm. with concentrations ranging up to 400 µg/mL. The lower IC50 value was obtained for Virola oleifera, 22.8 µg/mL, followed by Bathysa australis, 35.3 µg/mL, and Mabea fistulifera, 42.5 µg/mL. After fractionation of the crude extracts by liquid-liquid partition with different organic solvents and each fraction was tested again, only some of the fractions retained the ability to inhibit the enzymatic activity. When analyzed by HPLC/DAD, the active fractions showed the presence of flavonoid derivatives, already reported for their ability to inhibit Pdr5p ATPase activity, as well as other classes of secondary metabolites such as lignans and alkaloids.

RESUMO A grápia (Apuleia leiocarpa (Vog.) Macbride) é uma espécie de grande interesse madeireiro, encontrando-se, atualmente, bastante dizimada por causa da exploração extrativista, sem haver reposição pelo reflorestamento. O presente estudo objetivou avaliar o efeito de fontes de nitrogênio mineral no crescimento de mudas de grápia. Foram avaliados cinco variações da concentração de N-NO3- e N-NH4+ (5:0, 4:1, 2,5:2,5, 1:4 e 0:5 mM de N) num arranjo experimental inteiramente casualizado com 16 repetições. A parcela experimental foi constituída de um vaso com 3,0 kg de um ARGISSOLO VERMELHO Distrófico arênico e duas plantas, sob condições de casa de vegetação. De quatro repetições escolhidas aleatoriamente, o crescimento das plantas e o pH do solo foram avaliados mensalmente a partir dos 60 até os 150 dias após a adubação (DAA). Independentemente da fonte de nitrogênio usada, o pH do solo diminuiu, sendo que aos 150 DAA a menor variação foi de 0,33 e a maior de 0,47 unidades de pH, respectivamente, nos tratamentos com 5 N-NO3-:0 N-NH4+ e 0 N-NO3-:5 N-NH4+. A presença de N-NH4+, partindo de 1 até 5 mM, provocou necrose nas folhas mais velhas e sua posterior abscisão. Aos 150 DAA, na presença de 5 mM N-NH4+, a sobrevivência das plantas foi reduzida em 31%. O efeito das fontes de N no crescimento da grápia pareceu depender da idade da planta e/ou das suas transformações no solo. Aos 120 DAA, a presença de N-NH4+ partindo da dose 2,5 mM proporcionou redução no número de nós do caule, altura de planta, diâmetro do caule, matéria seca da folha, do caule, de raízes e total da planta. Porém, em função da recuperação na taxa de crescimento, essas diferenças não foram constatadas aos 150 DAA, com exceção da razão entre a matéria seca das raízes e da parte aérea que diminuiu na presença exclusiva de N-NH4+. A razão adequada entre as fontes de N-NO3-:N-NH4+ na adubação para a produção de mudas de grápia, não deve ultrapassar, respectivamente, o valor de 4:1.

ABSTRACT Grápia (Apuleia leiocarpa (Vog.) Macbride) is an important native forest species that has been in extinction process. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of mineral nitrogen source on growth of grápia seedlings. Five variations in the concentration of N-NO3 - and N-NH4 + (5:0, 4:1, 2,5:2,5, 1:4, and 0:5 mM of N) were tested in an entirely random statistical design with 16 replicates. The experimental unity consisted of a vessel containing 3,0 kg of a Paleudalf soil and two plants, under glasshouse conditions. From 60 to 150 days after fertilization (DAF), the plant growth and soil pH were monthly analyzed from four replicates randomly taken. Independently of the nitrogen source used, the soil pH decreased, and on 150 DAF the smallest pH variation was 0.33 and the largest one was 0.47 pH units, respectively, on treatments with 5 N-NO3-:0 N-NH4+ and 0 N-NO3 -:5 N-NH4+ ratios. The presence of N-NH4+, from 1 to 5 mM, induced necrosis in old leaves and their ulterior abscission. To 150 DAF, in the presence of 5 mM N-NH4+, the plant survival was reduced to 31%. The effect of nitrogen sources on plant growth appeared to be depended on plant age and/or of their transformations in the soil. To 120 DAF, the presence of N-NH4+ from 2,5 to 5 mM reduced the number of stalk nodes, plant height, stem diameter, dry weight of leaves, of stem, of roots, and of the whole plant. However, to 150 DAF, because of the regain on the growth rate, these differences were not observed, with exception of the root/shoot dry weight ratio that was reduced on the exclusive presence of N-NH4+. The suitable N-NO3-:N-NH4+ ratio in the fertilization to grow grápia seedlings, cannot exceed, respectively, 4:1.