Article
Immunology
Vanessa Rafaela Milhomem Cruz-Leite, Mariana Vieira Tomazett, Juliana Santana de Curcio, Nicolau Sbaraini, Alexandre Melo Bailao, Relber Aguiar Goncales, Dayane Moraes, Maristela Pereira, Marilene Henning Vainstein, Augusto Schrank, Roberta Peres da Silva, Matthias Brock, Celia Maria de Almeida Soares
Summary: The study aimed to generate bioluminescent reporter strains of Paracoccidioides spp. by incorporating a thermostable luciferase gene under the control of different promoters. The transformation experiments and detection of luciferase confirmed the successful construction of the strains. Additionally, an in vivo model was proposed for the systemic study of paracoccidioidomycoses.
MICROBES AND INFECTION
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Luke Lear, Dan Padfield, Elze Hesse, Suzanne Kay, Angus Buckling, Michiel Vos
Summary: Metal pollution may decrease virulence in bacterial communities, but at a cost to diversity and productivity.
ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Liliana Scorzoni, Ana Carolina Alves de Paula e Silva, Haroldo Cesar de Oliveira, Claudia Tavares dos Santos, Junya de Lacorte Singulani, Patricia Akemi Assato, Caroline Maria Marcos, Lariane Teodoro Oliveira, Nathalia Ferreira Fregonezi, Diego Conrado Pereira Rossi, Leandro Buffoni Roque da Silva, Carlos Pelleschi Taborda, Ana Marisa Fusco-Almeida, Maria Jose Soares Mendes-Giannini
Summary: Three selected peptides from Paracoccidioides brasiliensis 14-3-3 protein showed no cytotoxicity against skin and lung cell lines, induced an immune response in Galleria mellonella, delayed death of infected larvae, and increased expression of antimicrobial peptides in Caenorhabditis elegans, indicating their potential as a therapeutic vaccine for Paracoccidioides spp. Further validation through mammalian methods is necessary.
Article
Food Science & Technology
Gabriela Guimarae Carvalho, Aline Parolin Calarga, Nahiara Esteves Zorgi, Carlos A. Astudillo-Trujillo, Marco Tulio Pardini Gontijo, Marcelo Brocchi, Selma Giorgio, Dirce Yorika Kabuki
Summary: This study evaluated the ability of Cronobacter spp. strains isolated from infant cereals to invade and survive within macrophages, investigated the virulence phenotype using the Galleria mellonella model, and identified possible genes involved in bacterial pathogenesis through pan-genome analysis. The isolates were able to invade macrophages and showed decreased survival over time. Some unique virulence genes were identified within the invasive isolates, and the isolates were grouped into distinct clusters in the pangenome analysis. This work revealed potential pathogenic strains of Cronobacter spp. recovered from infant cereals.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF FOOD MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Thilo Kohler, Alexandre Luscher, Lena Falconnet, Gregory Resch, Robert McBride, Quynh-Anh Mai, Juliette L. Simonin, Marc Chanson, Bohumil Maco, Raphael Galiotto, Arnaud Riat, Shawna McCallin, Benjamin Chan, Christian van Delden
Summary: The study documents the successful treatment of a male patient with life-threatening multi-drug resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection using personalized phage therapy and intravenous antibiotics. This indicates that phage therapy can be an alternative or complementary strategy for multidrug resistant bacterial infections.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Guillaume Menard, Astrid Rouillon, Gevorg Ghukasyan, Mathieu Emily, Brice Felden, Pierre-Yves Donnio
Summary: Utilizing a G. mellonella infection model allows for rapid and effective research on the roles of Staphylococcus aureus sRNAs during infection, providing important insights into the involvement of sRNAs as transcriptional regulators in staphylococcal virulence.
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR AND INFECTION MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Food Science & Technology
Laura Perez-Traves, Rosa de Llanos, Allen Flockhart, Lydia Garcia-Domingo, Marizeth Groenewald, Roberto Perez-Torrado, Amparo Querol
Summary: The number of human infections associated with yeast species involved in food processing is increasing, with some strains posing a potential risk for human health.
Article
Microbiology
Martyna Mroczynska, Anna Brillowska-Dabrowska
Summary: This study revealed that the factors enabling Candida spp. infections are related to the expression of proteases, hemolysins, and esterases, and some isolates display high virulence while others are avirulent or of low virulence.
Article
Entomology
Robin Y. Chen, B. Andrew Keddie
Summary: This study found that hemocytes of Galleria mellonella can release ETs after bacterial stimulation, which contributes to immobilizing and killing bacteria, thus increasing bacterial clearance rate. It represents the first documentation of insect hemocyte extracellular traps that protect insects against microbial infection.
JOURNAL OF INSECT SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Luke Lear, Daniel Padfield, Tirion Dowsett, Maia Jones, Suzanne Kay, Alex Hayward, Michiel Vos
Summary: The accumulation of plastics in the marine environment has detrimental consequences for ecosystems and wildlife. This study found that marine plastics are rapidly colonised by a wide diversity of bacteria, including pathogenic species. The presence of pathogenic bacteria increased over time, indicating a potential risk to health.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Daniel F. Q. L. Smith, Arturo Casadevall
Summary: This study investigated the relationship between pathogenic potential and infective inoculum in different microbial species. The pathogenic potential of Cryptococcus neoformans was found to decrease exponentially with increasing inoculum. These findings suggest that there are fundamental differences in host-microbe interactions and the mechanisms by which microbes cause disease.
Review
Microbiology
Masanori Asai, Yanwen Li, Sandra M. Newton, Brian D. Robertson, Paul R. Langford
Summary: G. mellonella larvae are widely used as surrogate infectious disease models due to their convenience and functional similarity to the innate immune system of vertebrates. Studies on G. mellonella-human intracellular bacteria pathogen infection models have increased understanding of host-bacterial interactive biology and facilitated the testing of antimicrobial drugs. The future use of these models will be driven by advances in G. mellonella genetics, imaging, metabolomics, proteomics, and transcriptomic methodologies.
FEMS MICROBIOLOGY REVIEWS
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Mafalda Cavalheiro, Daniela Romao, Rui Santos, Dalila Mil-Homens, Pedro Pais, Catarina Costa, Monica Galocha, Diana Pereira, Azusa Takahashi-Nakaguchi, Hiroji Chibana, Arsenio M. Fialho, Miguel C. Teixeira
Summary: The study identifies CgTpo4 as a key determinant of virulence in C. glabrata, protecting yeast cells from overexpression of antimicrobial peptides and conferring resistance to stress agents. The research also shows that activation of AMP expression in response to C. glabrata infection in G. mellonella suggests AMPs play a crucial role in host defense against the fungal pathogen.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Masaya Ono, Yoichi Hayakawa, Yoichiro Hama, Toyoshi Yoshiga
Summary: Parasitic nematodes and non-parasitic nematodes both have mechanisms to evade host cellular immunity, indicating a potential pre-adaptation for parasitism shared between them.
MICROBIAL PATHOGENESIS
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Alba Arranz San Martin, Jan Vogel, Sandra C. C. Wullich, Wim J. J. Quax, Susanne Fetzner
Summary: This study analyzed the quorum quenching properties of various enzymes on the Pseudomonas aeruginosa signal molecule PQS. The results showed that these enzymes significantly reduced the production of virulence factors and delayed mortality in infected animals.
Article
Dentistry, Oral Surgery & Medicine
Nadia Domingues, Lucas de Paula Ramos, Larissa Marques Pereira, Pamela Beatriz do Rosario Estevam dos Santos, Liliana Scorzoni, Thais Cristine Pereira, Amjad Abu Hasna, Claudio Antonio Talge Carvalho, Luciane Dias de Oliveira
Summary: This study evaluated the antimicrobial effect of four herbal plant extracts on mixed-species biofilms composed of Candida albicans and other pathogenic bacteria. The results showed that these extracts had inhibitory effects on the mixed-species biofilms, and some extracts even completely eliminated the biofilms. Therefore, the glycolic extracts of P. paniculata, H. virginiana, S. barbatiman, and G. sylvestre may be considered as potential alternatives for endodontic therapy.
AUSTRALIAN ENDODONTIC JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Betina Sayeg Burd, Cassamo Ussemane Mussagy, Junya de Lacorte Singulani, Jean Lucas Tanaka, Mateus Scontri, Giovana Sant'Ana Pegorin Brasil, Nayrim Brizuela Guerra, Patricia Akemi Assato, Ana Paula De Sousa Abreu, Camila Calderan Bebber, Maira Terra-Garcia, Juliana Campos Junqueira, Neda Farhadi, Ana Marisa Fusco Almeida, Maria Jose Soares Mendes-Giannini, Giannini, Bingbing Li, Rondinelli Donizetti Herculano
Summary: Excessive plastic production and improper disposal have led to unprecedented pollution. This study found that Galleria mellonella larvae have high biodegradation ability for polystyrene (PS) and low-density polyethylene (LDPE), making them a promising and cost-effective alternative.
JOURNAL OF POLYMERS AND THE ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Review
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Lais de Almeida Campos, Margani Taise Fin, Kelvin Sousa Santos, Marcos William de Lima Gualque, Ana Karla Lima Freire Cabral, Najeh Maissar Khalil, Ana Marisa Fusco-Almeida, Rubiana Mara Mainardes, Maria Jose Soares Mendes-Giannini
Summary: Invasive fungal infections have become a significant cause of mortality and morbidity worldwide. The current treatment options are limited due to low bioavailability and toxicity. Voriconazole is widely used to treat various fungal infections, but its non-linear pharmacokinetics and individual variations in metabolism can lead to supratherapeutic doses and increased toxicity. Recent research has explored the use of nanotechnology-based drug delivery systems to improve the delivery of voriconazole. These systems have shown promising results in enhancing drug permeation and deposition in target tissues, allowing for controlled and sustained release in different administration routes. Overall, nanotechnology-based drug delivery systems offer a more effective and safer alternative for treating fungal infections.
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Caroline B. Costa-Orlandi, Niura M. Bila, Jean Lucas C. Bonatti, Carolina O. Vaso, Mariana B. Santos, Carlos R. Polaquini, Mariana M. Santoni M. Biasioli, Rondinelli D. Herculano, Luis O. Regasini, Ana Marisa Fusco-Almeida, Maria Jose S. Mendes-Giannini
Summary: The ability of dermatophytes to form biofilms and resist antifungal drugs has led to treatment recurrence. In this study, the susceptibility and mechanism of action of nonyl 3,4-dihydroxybenzoate (nonyl) on planktonic cells and biofilms of T. rubrum and T. mentagrophytes were evaluated. The results showed that nonyl effectively damaged the biofilms, while synthetic drugs had little effect and even promoted the development of resistant structures. Confocal and transmission electron microscopy revealed a reduction in biofilm thickness and disruption of the plasma membrane. These findings support the potential of nonyl as a promising antifungal compound.
Article
Microbiology
Kelvin Sousa dos Santos, Lariane Teodoro Oliveira, Marina de Lima Fontes, Ketylin Fernanda Migliato, Ana Marisa Fusco-Almeida, Maria Jose Soares Mendes Giannini, Andrei Moroz
Summary: A 3D lung aggregate model using sodium alginate scaffolds was developed for studying interactions between Paracoccidioides brasiliensis and lung epithelial cells. The model showed low cytotoxicity, increased cell density, and maintained cell viability for seven days. Adding ECM proteins to the scaffolds resulted in a significantly higher number of retrieved fungi.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Isabela Jacob Moro, Flavio Alexandre Carvalho, Juhan Augusto Scardelato Pereira, Gabriela Brasil Romao, Andre Faibicher, Winner Duque Rodrigues, Renata Pires Assis, Iguatemy Lourenco Brunetti, Junya de Lacorte Singulani, Ana Marisa Fusco-Almeida, Andre Gonzaga dos Santos
Summary: This study used UHPLC-UV green chromatography to analyze the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities of Varronia curassavica, as well as its embryotoxicity in Zebrafish. The results showed that certain components in the leaves of V. curassavica exhibited good antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities, but also had some toxic effects on Zebrafish embryos.
CHEMISTRY & BIODIVERSITY
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Mariana C. Galeane, Paulo C. Gomes, Junya L. Singulani, Maria J. S. Mendes-Giannini, Ana M. Fusco-Almeida
Summary: In this study, an IsCT analogue peptide (PepM3) was designed based on structural studies of wasp mastoparans and its antifungal activity and toxicity were evaluated. The results showed that PepM3 exhibited activity against Candida albicans and synergistic effects with amphotericin B. The peptide had fungicidal action, low toxicity in human skin keratinocytes, and was nonteratogenic in zebrafish embryos.
FUTURE MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Evelyn Pulido-Camarillo, Jorge H. Sahaza, Nayla de Souza Pitangui, Maria Jose S. Mendes-Giannini, Ana M. Fusco-Almeida, Armando Perez-Torres, Maria Lucia Taylor
Summary: This study revealed differential host pulmonary inflammatory responses associated with distinct genotypes of H. capsulatum strains during infection. Mice infected with the LAm A2 strain showed progressive inflammation in the lung parenchyma during the early stages of infection, and granulomas with macrophages containing yeast cells at 14 and 21 days post-infection. In contrast, infection with the NAm 2 strain primarily induced bronchiolar-associated lymphoid tissue formation.
Review
Microbiology
Ana Marisa Fusco-Almeida, Samanta de Matos Silva, Kelvin Sousa dos Santos, Marcos William de Lima Gualque, Carolina Orlando Vaso, Angelica Romao Carvalho, Kaila Petrolina Medina-Alarcon, Ana Carolina Moreira da Silva Pires, Jenyffie Araujo Belizario, Ligia de Souza Fernandes, Andrei Moroz, Luis R. Martinez, Orville Hernandez Ruiz, Angel Gonzalez, Maria Jose Soares Mendes-Giannini
Summary: Due to global legislation restricting the use of mammalian animals in research, alternative methods have gained importance in the study of fungal pathogenesis. This review discusses the use of three-dimensional cultures and alternative animal models to study host-fungus interactions.
Article
Microbiology
Caroline Maria Marcos, Haroldo Cesar de Oliveira, Patricia Akemi Assato, Lariane Teodoro de Oliveira, Nathalia Fregonezi, Kelvin Sousa dos Santos, Caroline Barcelos Costa-Orlandi, Ana Marisa Fusco-Almeida, Maria Jose Soares Mendes-Giannini
Summary: This study explores signaling pathways implicated in fungal pathobiology and identifies the crucial role of the Drk1 protein in the morphological shift and virulence of Paracoccidioides brasiliensis. Peptides with affinity for PbDrk1 were found to inhibit the phase transition and adhesion of P. brasiliensis, and augment the effects of antifungal agents. The peptides also showed enhanced larval survival rates in a Galleria mellonella model. Further investigation of PbDrk1 may improve our understanding of P. brasiliensis and lead to the development of novel therapeutic strategies.
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Thais C. Pereira, Paulo H. F. do Carmo, Raquel T. de Menezes, Haroldo C. de Oliveira, Luciane D. de Oliveira, Juliana C. Junqueira, Liliana Scorzoni
Summary: This study evaluated the antifungal activity of verapamil alone and in combination with amphotericin B against Cryptococcus neoformans. Verapamil showed antifungal activity against C. neoformans and when combined with amphotericin B, exhibited synergistic effect and reduced the drugs' concentrations. The combination therapy also reduced the size and glucuronoxylomannnan content of C. neoformans capsule.
FOLIA MICROBIOLOGICA
(2023)
