Background: Especially on commodities crops like soybean, maize, cotton, coffee and others, high yields are reached mainly by the intensive use of pesticides and fertilizers. The biological management of crops is a relatively recent concept, and its application has increased expectations about a more sustainable agriculture. The use of fungi as plant bioinoculants has proven to be a useful alternative in this process, and research is deepening on genera and species with some already known potential. In this context, the present study focused on the analysis of the plant growth promotion potential of Purpureocillium lilacinum, Purpureocillium lavendulum and Metarhizium marquandii aiming its use as bioinoculants in maize, bean and soybean. Methods: Purpureocillium spp. and M. marquandii strains were isolated from soil samples. They were screened for their ability to solubilize phosphorus (P) and produce indoleacetic acid (IAA) and the most promising strains were tested at greenhouse in maize, bean and soybean plants. Growth promotion parameters including plant height, dry mass and contents of P and nitrogen (N) in the plants and in the rhizospheric soil were assessed. Results: Thirty strains were recovered and characterized as Purpureocillium lilacinum (25), Purpureocillium lavendulum (4) and Metarhizium marquandii (1). From the trial for P solubilization and IAA production, seven strains were selected and inoculated in maize, bean and soybean plants. These strains were able to modify in a different way the evaluated parameters involving plant growth in each crop, and some strains distinctly increased the availability of P and N, for the last, an uncommon occurrence involving these fungi. Moreover, the expected changes identified at the in vitro analysis were not necessarily found in planta. In addition, this study is the first to evaluate the effect of the isolated inoculation of these fungi on the growth promotion of maize, bean and soybean plants.

Shigatoxigenic and enteropathogenic Escherichia coli with virulence and multidrug resistance profile were isolated from Nile tilapia. This study finding is of great importance to public health because they help understand this pathogen epidemiology in fish and demonstrate how these animals can transmit E. coli related diseases to humans.

Avian pathogenic Escherichia coli (APEC) isolates from apparently healthy free range helmeted guineafowl were characterized. Most of them had a high frequency of virulence associated genes, multi drug resistance and high pathogenicity. We demonstrated that helmeted guineafowl have potential to transmit antibiotic resistant APEC to other species including humans.

Pyometra is recognized as one of the main causes of disease and death in the bitch, andEscherichia coliis the major pathogen associated with this disease. In this study, 70E. coliisolates from the uteri horn, mouth, and rectum of bitches suffering from the disease and 43E. coliisolates from the rectum of clinically healthy bitches were examined for the presence of uropathogenic virulence genes and susceptibility to antimicrobial drugs. DNA profiles of isolates from uteri horn and mouth in bitches with pyometra were compared by REP, ERIC, and BOX-PCR. Virulence gene frequencies detected in isolates from canine pyometra were as follows: 95.7%fim, 27.1%iss, 25.7%hly, 18.5%iuc, and 17.1%usp. Predominant resistance was determined for cephalothin, ampicillin, and nalidixic acid among the isolates from all sites examined. Multidrug resistance was found on∼50% pyometra isolates. Using the genotypic methods some isolates from uteri, pus, and saliva of the same bitch proved to have identical DNA profiles which is a reason for concern due to the close relationship between household pets and humans.

Nesse estudo foram avaliados tratamentos quanto à aceleração da decomposição de folhas de limoeiro 'Siciliano', como medida auxiliar no controle da mancha preta dos citros. Os tratamentos testados foram: 1) uréia (12,5 g/L); 2) nitrato de cálcio (12,5 g/L); 3) calcário dolomítico (2 t/ha); 4) Embiotic® (acelerador de compostagem - 1% do produto ativado); 5) Soil-Set® + Compostaid®(0,75 mL/L + 0,75 g/L) e 6) Testemunha. Os tratamentos 1, 2, 4 e 5 foram aplicados em solução sob a copa das plantas (800 L/ha), enquanto o calcário o foi com um distribuidor, direcionando o produto para um lado da planta. Os tratamentos mais eficientes na redução do peso das folhas foram uréia, nitrato de cálcio e Soil-Set® + Compostaid®. Quanto à cellulose, Embiotic® e Soil-Set® + Compostaid® reduziram o conteúdo da mesma, mostrando alta eficiência na taxa de decomposição das folhas. Quanto à atividade da dehydrogenase, houve aumento da mesma entre a primeira e segunda avaliações, seguido de redução entre a segunda e terceira avaliações, sendo essas entre 9,90%, no caso do calcário dolomítico e 72,41%, na testemunha. Os resultados demonstraram viabilidade da aceleração da decomposição das folhas cítricas caídas no solo como medida suplementar ao controle de Guignardia citricarpa.In the current study, various treatments were used in the acceleration of decomposition in Sicilian lemon leaves as an auxiliary measure to control citrus black spot. The treatments tested were: 1) urea (12.5 g/L); 2) calcium nitrate (12.5 g/L); 3) dolomitic limestone (2 t/ha); 4) Embiotic® (commercial composting accelerator - 1% of the activated product); 5) Soil-Set® + Compostaid® (0.75 mL/L + 0.75 g/L; and 6) control. Treatments 1, 2, 4, and 5 were applied in solution under the plant's crowns (800 L/ha), while dolomitic limestone was applied to only one side of the plant using a drop spreader. The most efficient treatment in reducing leaf weight was with urea, calcium nitrate and Soil-Set® + Compostaid®. In relation to cellulose, Embiotic® and Soil-Set® + Compostaid® reduced the same content showing a high efficiency in the decomposition rate of the lemon leaves. As for the dehydrogenase activity, there was an increase in the first and second evaluations, followed by a reduction in the second and third observations, amounting to 9.90% for dolomitic limestone, and 72.41% for the control. The results showed the viability of accelerating decomposition of citrus leaves fallen on the soil as a supplementary control measure for Guignardia citricarpa