Background/Objectives: Brazil has a high incidence of new tuberculosis cases influenced by socioeconomic factors. Inadequate housing, limited access to health services, and insufficient food increase vulnerability to the disease. This study aimed to identify sociodemographic, nutritional, and anthropometric factors associated with active pulmonary tuberculosis. Methods: This case–control study was conducted at the tuberculosis (TB) Referral Hospital in São Luís, Maranhão, Brazil, from 2022 to 2024. It included 65 patients with active pulmonary TB and 73 comparison individuals. Sociodemographic and nutritional data were collected using an adapted semi-quantitative questionnaire with 77 items, based on the validated ELSA-BRASIL questionnaire for adults, to assess the consumption of calcium, phosphorus, iron, zinc, vitamin B3, vitamin B6, vitamin C, vitamin E, and vitamin D. The Brazilian Food Insecurity Scale (EBIA) was used to analyze food and nutrition security or insecurity. Body Mass Index (BMI) was calculated based on weight and height measurements. Results: The TB patients were predominantly men (73.8%), of mixed ancestry (69.4%), with low education levels (73.4%), and had a mean age of 39 years. Furthermore, 26.2% of the patients were underweight, and 64% experienced some degree of food and nutrition insecurity. The variables education level, vitamin D, and BMI were associated with the outcome in the final model. Conclusions: The study identified a high prevalence of food insecurity and vitamin E deficiency in individuals with active tuberculosis, in addition to associating low educational levels, inadequate vitamin D intake, and overweight with a higher risk of TB. Although it has limitations, such as the cross-sectional design and sample size, the results highlight the importance of these determinants and point to the need for longitudinal research to confirm and expand the evidence.

Candidiasis is the most common fungal infection among immunocompromised patients. Its treatment includes the use of antifungals, which poses limitations such as toxicity and fungal resistance. Plant-derived extracts, such as Punica granatum, have been reported to have antimicrobial activity, but their antifungal effects are still unknown. We aimed to evaluate the antifungal and antiviral potential of the ethyl acetate fraction of P. granatum (PgEA) and its isolated compound galloyl-hexahydroxydiphenoyl-glucose (G-HHDP-G) against Candida spp. In silico analyses predicted the biological activity of G-HHDP-G. The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of PgEA and G-HHDP-G, and their effects on biofilm formation, preformed biofilms, and phospholipase production were determined. In silico analysis showed that G-HHDP-G has antifungal and hepatoprotective effects. An in vitro assay confirmed the antifungal effects of PgEA and G-HHDP-G, with MIC in the ranges of 31.25–250 μg/mL and 31.25 ≥ 500 μg/mL, respectively. G-HHDP-G and PgEA synergistically worked with fluconazole against planktonic cells. The substances showed antibiofilm action, alone or in combination with fluconazole, and interfered with phospholipase production. The antifungal and antibiofilm actions of PgEA and G-HHDP-G, alone or in combination with fluconazole, in addition to their effects on reducing Candida phospholipase production, identify them as promising candidates for therapeutics.

The incidence of infections caused by rapidly growing mycobacteria (RGM), especially Mycobacterium abscessus subsp. massiliense (Mabs), is increasing worldwide. Severe infections are associated with abscess formation and strong inflammatory response. This study evaluated the antimicrobial and anti‐inflammatory activities of a hydroalcoholic extract (BoHE) and ethyl acetate fraction (BoEA) of Bixa orellana leaves. Antimicrobial activity was evaluated by broth microdilution to determine the minimum inhibitory (MIC) and the minimum bactericidal (MBC) concentrations. Cytotoxicity was evaluated using erythrocytes and RAW 264.7 cells. Nitric oxide (NO) was assayed in stimulated RAW 264.7 cells, and inflammatory cell migration and acute toxicity were evaluated in a Mabs‐induced peritonitis mouse model. The compounds present in BoEA were identified by high performance liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry (HPLC‐MS). The MIC and MBC values were 2.34 mg/mL and 37.5 mg/mL for BoHE and 0.39 mg/mL and 6.25 mg/mL for BoEA. The extracts did not induce significant toxicity in erythrocytes and RAW 264.7 cells. High levels of NO induced by Mabs were decreased by treatment with both extracts. The anti‐inflammatory activity was confirmed in vivo by significant reduction of the cell migration to the peritoneum following BoHE and BoEA pretreatment. Animals treated with BoHE or BoEA did not show signs of acute toxicity in stomach, liver, and kidney. The chemical characterization of BoEA (the most active extract) revealed that kaempferol‐3‐O‐coumaroyl glucose is its major component. The extract of B. orellana may be effective for treating infections caused by Mabs.

Escherichia coli is an important pathogen responsible for a variety of diseases. We have recently shown that Pic, a serine protease secreted by E. coli, mediates immune evasion by the direct cleavage of complement molecules. The aim of this study was to investigate the action of a Pic-producing bacteria in a murine model of sepsis. Mice were infected with Pic-producing E. coli (F5) or F5∆pic mutant. Animal survival was monitored for five days, and a subset of mice was euthanized after 12 h for sample acquisition. The inoculation of Pic-producing bacteria induced 100% death within 24 h. The colony forming units count in the organs was significantly higher in F5. Hematological analysis showed a decrease of total leukocytes. Nitric oxide and cytokines were detected in serum, as well as on peritoneal lavage of the F5 group in higher levels than those detected in the other groups. In addition, immunophenotyping showed a decrease of activated lymphocytes and macrophages in the F5 group. Therefore, Pic represents an important virulence factor, allowing the survival of the bacterium in the bloodstream and several organs, as well as inducing a high production of proinflammatory mediators by the host, and concomitantly a cellular immunosuppression, leading to sepsis and death.

Several natural products have been investigated for their bactericidal potential, among these, cinnamaldehyde. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the activity of cinnamaldehyde in the treatment of animals with sepsis induced by extraintestinal pathogenic E. coli. Initially, the E. coli F5 was incubated with cinnamaldehyde to evaluate the minimum inhibitory and minimum bactericidal concentration. Animal survival was monitored for five days, and a subset of mice were euthanized after 10 h to evaluate histological, hematological, and immunological parameters, as well as the presence of bacteria in the organs. On the one hand, inoculation of bacterium caused the death of 100% of the animals within 24 h after infection. On the other hand, cinnamaldehyde (60 mg/kg) was able to keep 40% of mice alive after infection. The treatment significantly reduced the levels of cytokines in serum and peritoneum and increased the production of cells in both bone marrow and spleen, as well as lymphocytes at the infection site. Cinnamaldehyde was able to reduce tissue damage by decreasing the deleterious effects for the organism and contributed to the control of the sepsis and survival of animals; therefore, it is a promising candidate for the development of new drugs.

This study aimed to investigate the effect of the n-butanol fraction of Terminalia catappa Linn., (FBuTC) on biofilm of Candida albicans and Candida glabrata, as well as changes in color and roughness of polymethyl methacrylate resin (PMMA). The susceptibility of C. albicans and C. glabrata to FBuTC was evaluated by means of the Minimum Inhibitory and Minimum Fungicidal Concentration (MIC and MFC). PMMA acrylic resin discs (N= 108) were fabricated. For the susceptibility tests, biofilms of C. albicans and C. glabrata were developed on discs for 48 h and immersed in phosphate-saline buffer solution (PBS), 1% sodium hypochlorite (SH 1%), or FBuTC at MIC, 5xMIC, or 10xMIC. For the color and roughness change tests, the discs were immersed in distilled water, SH 1%, or FBuTC in the concentrations of 0.25 mg/mL, 2.5 mg/mL, or 25.0 mg/mL. After 28 days of incubation, color change was evaluated by spectrophotometry and roughness, by using a profilometer. The biofilms were investigated by one-way ANOVA and, the color and roughness changes (two-way ANOVA and the Tukey test; α=0.05). For both MIC and MFC the value of 0.25 mg/mL of FBuTC was observed for the planktonic cells of C. albicans and C. glabrata. Exposure to FBuTC at 10xMIC had a significant effect on the biofilm of C. albicans, showing a reduction in cell counts when compared with PBS, (p=0.001). For the biofilm of C. glabrata, the MIC was sufficient for significantly reducing the cell count (p0.05). It could be concluded that the immersion of acrylic resin for dental prosthesis in FBuTC was effective in reducing the biofilms of C. albicans and C. glabrata without evidence of change in roughness and color of this substrate.