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.

Statins are drugs used for people with abnormal lipid levels (hyperlipidemia) and are among the best-selling medications in the United States. Thus, the aspects related to the production of these drugs are of extreme importance for the pharmaceutical industry. Herein, we provide a non-exhaustive review of fungal species used to produce statin and highlighted the major factors affecting the efficacy of this process. The current biotechnological approaches and the advances of a metabolic engineer to improve statins production are also emphasized. The biotechnological production of the main statins (lovastatin, pravastatin and simvastatin) uses different species of filamentous fungi, for example Aspergillus terreus. The statins production is influenced by different types of nutrients available in the medium such as the carbon and nitrogen sources, and several researches have focused their efforts to find the optimal cultivation conditions. Enzymes belonging to Lov class, play essential roles in statin production and have been targeted to genetic manipulations in order to improve the efficiency for Lovastatin and Simvastatin production. For instance, Escherichia coli strains expressing the LovD have been successfully used for lovastatin production. Other examples include the use of iRNA targeting LovF of A. terreus. Therefore, fungi are important allies in the fight against hyperlipidemias. Although many studies have been conducted, investigations on bioprocess optimization (using both native or genetic- modified strains) still necessary.

Background/Objectives: The growing demand for functional foods and alternative therapeutic strategies has intensified the search for novel probiotic strains from underexplored ecosystems. This study aimed to isolate and phenotypically characterize lactic acid bacteria (LAB) from spontaneously fermented fruits found in the Legal Amazon (Ananas comosus, Humiria balsamifera, Manilkara zapota, and Platonia insignis) and to perform genome-based analysis of the most promising isolate to evaluate its probiotic potential. Methods: The isolates were identified by MALDI-TOF-MS and screened for tolerance to low pH, bile salts, lysozyme, growth at 39 °C, and antimicrobial activity against five enteric pathogens. The most promising isolate was evaluated by coaggregation and biofilm assays, in silico proteome and CAZyme analysis, bacteriocin cluster mining, and in vivo efficacy testing using Tenebrio molitor larvae. Results: Three isolates from H. balsamifera were identified as Lactiplantibacillus plantarum (M1, M2, M4) by MALDI-TOF-MS. These isolates exhibited high resilience to all tested physiological stressors. Antimicrobial activity was contact-dependent, with no inhibition by cell-free supernatants. M2 showed the strongest pathogen exclusion, moderate biofilm formation, and high coaggregation with S. enterica and E. faecalis. Genome analysis of M2 revealed a 3.40 Mb chromosome, absence of acquired resistance or virulence genes, two plantaricin gene clusters, and 93 CAZymes, including GT families linked to exopolysaccharides biosynthesis. SignalP predicted secretion signals in 10 CAZymes. M2 significantly improved larval survival against E. coli and S. enterica, especially under prophylactic treatment. Conclusions: L. plantarum M2 combines safety, stress tolerance, genomic features, and in vivo efficacy, positioning it as a promising probiotic candidate adapted to tropical niches. These findings highlight H. balsamifera as a reservoir of novel probiotic strains.

The crisis generated by the pandemic impacted several factors in people's daily lives and promoted changes that led to increased stress. This situation draws attention to possible psychiatric complications, not only in patients who have already been infected by the virus, but also in the entire population who had to deal with the measures implemented by the government. Thus, this study is based on evaluating the population's immune compromise associated with stress conditions in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic. This is an integrative literature review, with a qualitative approach based on the collection of national and international data from the following databases: Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online (MEDLINE/PubMed), Scientific Electronic Library Online (SciELO) and Google Scholar. In the study, the relationship between the nervous, immune and endocrine systems was observed, altering mechanisms in the neuroendocrine immune circuits and causing damage to health due to the stress processes of social isolation. There was increased expression of pro-inflammatory genes and decreased expression of antiviral genes, increasing the risk of complications from COVID-19 due to changes in cytokine transmission. Stress and COVID-19 increase the secretion of IL-6, a cytokine that is associated with death in cases of COVID-19. In health professionals there were changes in immune cells after being exposed to stressors. In view of the results obtained, it was found that stress during the pandemic affected the immune system by altering the response against SARS-CoV-2, increasing viral pathogenesis.

Anais do III SIMPÓSIO NACIONAL EM BIOÉTICA E EXPERIMENTAÇÃO ANIMAL (978-65-5941-615-8) - Análise Histológica E Antropométrica De Um Modelo Experimental De Indução De Dano Articular Em Rato.

A resposta imune eficaz do hospedeiro, contra SARS-Cov-2, incluindo imunidade inata e adaptativa, parece crucial para controlar e combater a infecção viral. Entretanto, respostas imunes desajustadas podem resultar em imunopatologia e alteração da troca gasosa pulmonar, levando a síndrome do desconforto respiratório agudo. Infelizmente, a fisiopatologia e o tratamento especialmente para o COVID-19 grave, ainda não estão bem esclarecidos. Sendo assim, objetivou-se com esta revisão demonstrar um breve panorama sobre a resposta imune inata e adaptativa desenvolvidas pelo organismo humano em casos de infecção pelo SARS-Cov-2. Para tanto, realizou-se uma revisão sistemática de caráter de caráter qualitativo, no qual foram utilizados artigos científicos indexados nas bases de dados Pubmed/Medline, bem como documentos oficiais produzidos pela Organização Mundial da Saúde e Ministério da Saúde – Brasil. A pesquisa bibliográfica apresentou 2827 resultados nas bases Pubmed/Medline, destes 42 foram utilizados para a redação deste trabalho. De acordo com a literatura consultada, pode-se concluir que a estimulação de uma resposta imunológica nos casos de SARS-Cov-2 é fundamental para o controle e eliminação do vírus, incluindo componentes da resposta imune inata e adaptativa. Entretanto pode-se observar que muitas das vezes a infecção pelo SARS-Cov-2 elabora uma resposta imune exacerbada, com a produção excessiva de mediadores inflamatórios, que do ponto de vista clínico colabora para o insucesso terapêutico e evolução da doença.