ABSTRACT Exposure to Pneumocystis jirovecii (P. jirovecii) can lead to a wide variety of presenting features ranging from colonization in immunocompetent patients with lung disease, to invasive infections in immunocompromised hosts. Colonization by this fungus in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) could be associated with higher rates of exacerbations and impaired lung function in these patients.Our objective was to determine whether colonization by P. jirovecii in patients with COPD is associated with increased exacerbations and deterioration of lung function.This was a prospective cohort study on patients with COPD. All participants meeting selection criteria underwent clinical and microbiological assessments and were then classified as colonized vs. non-colonized patients. Chi-squared tests were performed and multivariate logistic models were fitted in order to obtain risk ratios (RR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI).We documented a frequency of colonization by P. jirovecii of 32.3%. Most patients were categorized as having GOLD B and D COPD. The history of significant exacerbations in the last year, health status impairment (COPD Assesment Tool ≥10), airflow limitation (percent of post-bronchodilator FEV1), and BODEx score (≥5) were similar between groups. After a 52-week follow-up period, the rate of adjusted significant exacerbations did not differ between groups. However, a decrease in FEVI was found in both groups.

Objetivo. Determinar actividades amilolíticas, celulolíticas, lipolíticas, pectinolíticas y proteolíticas en 32 aislamientos de Fusarium spp. de origen humano, animal y vegetal. Materiales y métodos. Las actividades enzimáticas se determinaron a nivel cualitativo, por medio de la medición de halos de hidrólisis en placas de agar con el respectivo sustrato, y a nivel cuantitativo se realizó un cultivo líquido para determinar la degradación del respectivo sustrato por medio de técnicas colorimétricas. Resultados. Todos los aislamientos presentaron actividades enzimáticas a nivel cualitativo, excepto las amilolíticas y lipolíticas. La determinación a nivel cuantitativo fue posible para las enzimas evaluadas, a excepción de las lipasas. Conclusión. La determinación de los perfiles enzimáticos amilolíticos, celulolíticos, pectinolíticos y proteolíticos de cada uno de los aislamientos evaluados pertenecientes al género Fusarium sugirió su capacidad, indistintamente de su procedencia, de degradar estos sustratos.

Objective. To determine amylolytic, cellulolytic, lipolytic, pectinolytic and proteolytic activities in 32 Fusarium spp. isolates from humans, animals and plants. Materials and methods. Qualitative determination of enzymatic activities was done by measuring hydrolysis halos in agar plates with their corresponding substrate. Quantitative determination was done by colorimetric techniques, using liquid culture supernatants to determine the respective substrate degradation. Results. All isolates showed enzymatic activities from a qualitative point of view, except amylolytic and lipolytic. Quantitative determination was possible for all the evaluated enzymes except lipases. Conclusion. The determination of amylolytic, cellulolytic, pectinolytic and proteolytic enzymatic profiles of each of the Fusarium isolates assessed suggests their capacity to degrade these substrates, irrespectively of their origin.

Objetivo. Determinar as atividades amilolíticas, celulolíticas, lipolítica, pectinolíticas e proteolíticas em 32 isolamentos de Fusarium spp. de origem humana, animal e vegetal. Materiais e métodos. As atividades enzimáticas foram determinadas a nível qualitativo medindo os halos de hidrólise em placas de agar com o substrato respectivo e a nível quantitativo realizou-se uma cultura líquida para determinar a degradação do substrato respectivos por meio de técnicas colorimétricas. Resultados. Todos os isolados apresentaram uma atividade enzimática a nível qualitativo, exceto as amilolíticas e lipolíticas. A determinação a nível quantitativo foi possível para as enzimas testadas, exceto para as lipases. Conclusão. A determinação de perfis enzimáticos amilolíticos, celulolíticos, pectinolíticos e proteolíticos de cada um dos isolados testados pertencentes ao gênero Fusarium, sugeriu sua capacidade, independentemente da sua origem, para degradar estes substratos.