Abstract Plant growth-promoting bacteria are ecological alternatives for fertilization, mainly for gramineous. Since plant x bacteria interaction is genotype and strain dependent, searching for new strains may contribute to the development of new biofertilizers. We aim to characterize plant growth-promoting capacity of Leclercia adecarboxylata strain Palotina, formerly isolated by our group in corn. A single isolated colony was taken and its genome was sequenced using Illumina technology. The whole genome was compared to other Leclercia adecarboxylata strains, and their biological and growth-promoting traits, such as P solubilization and auxin production, were tested. Following that, a 4.8 Mb genome of L. adecarboxylata strain Palotina was assembled and the functional annotation was carried out. This paper is the first to report the genes associated with plant growth promotion demonstrating in vitro indole acid production by this strain. These results project the endophyte as a potential biofertilizer for further commercial exploitation.

Candida albicans is an opportunistic human pathogen that is capable of causing superficial and systemic infections in immunocompromised patients. Extracts of Sapindus saponaria have been used as antimicrobial agents against various organisms. In the present study, we used a combination of two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (2D-PAGE) and matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) to identify the changes in protein abundance of C. albicans after exposure to the minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) and sub-minimal inhibitory concentration (sub-MIC) of the butanolic extract (BUTE) of S. saponaria and also to fluconazole. A total of six different proteins with greater than 1.5 fold induction or repression relative to the untreated control cells were identified among the three treatments. In general, proteins/enzymes involved with the glycolysis (GPM1, ENO1, FBA1), amino acid metabolism (ILV5, PDC11) and protein synthesis (ASC1) pathways were detected. In conclusion, our findings reveal antifungal-induced changes in protein abundance of C. albicans. By using the previously identified components of the BUTE of S. saponaria (e.g., saponins and sesquiterpene oligoglycosides), it will be possible to compare the behavior of compounds with unknown mechanisms of action, and this knowledge will help to focus the subsequent biochemical work aimed at defining the effects of these compounds.

A jiboia (Boa constrictor), vertebrado carnívoro, tem sido encontrada em abundância na área urbana de Manaus. A identificação morfológica dos carrapatos coletados em 27 dessas serpentes verificou a ocorrência de Amblyomma dissimile Koch 1844, em todos os exemplares avaliados e a presença de Amblyomma rotundatum Koch 1844, em duas dessas serpentes. A análise do marcador 16S rRNA confirma a identificação morfológica das espécies A. rotundatum e A. dissimile e apresenta novas sequências destes organismos.

The Boa constrictor is one of the world's largest vertebrate carnivores and is often found in urban areas in the city of Manaus, Brazil. The morphological identification of ticks collected from 27 snakes indicated the occurrence of Amblyomma dissimile Koch 1844 on all individuals sampled. In contrast, Amblyomma rotundatum Koch was found on only two snakes. An analysis of the 16S rRNA molecular marker confirmed the morphological identification of these ectoparasites.

RESUMOIntrodução: A maioria das infecções fúngicas hospitalares são causadas por Candida spp. e C. albicans é a espécie mais comumente identificada. Métodos moleculares são ferramentas importantes para a avaliação da origem das leveduras isoladas em hospitais.Métodos: Este é um estudo sobre o perfil genético de 39 isolados clínicos nosocomiais de C. albicans através das técnicas de RAPD e microssatélite, foram usados dois diferentes iniciadores para cada técnica.Resultados: RAPD forneceu 10 e 11 diferentes perfis com valores de SAB 0,84 ± 0,126 e 0,88 ± 0,08 para os primers M2 e P4, respectivamente. A análise de microssatélites, usando os marcadores CDC3 e HIS3 permitiu a observação de seis e sete diferentes alelos respectivamente, com poder discriminatório combinado de 0,91.Conclusões: Embora seja clara a variabilidade genética, foi possível identificar alta similaridade, sugerindo origem comum para pelo menos parte deles. É importante enfatizar que foi comprovada origem comum de leveduras isoladas de colonização (urina, cateter ou secreção orotraqueal) e hemocultura do mesmo paciente, indicando que a candidemia deve ter iniciado a partir de um sítio de colonização. A combinação das técnicas RAPD e microssatélites fornece uma análise rápida e eficiente para investigação de similaridade entre isolados nosocomiais de C. albicans.

SUMMARYIntroduction: The majority of nosocomial fungal infections are caused by Candida spp. where C. albicans is the species most commonly identified. Molecular methods are important tools for assessing the origin of the yeasts isolated in hospitals.Methods: This is a study on the genetic profifiles of 39 nosocomial clinical isolates of C. albicans using two typing methods: random amplifified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) and microsatellite, two different primers for each technique were used.Results: RAPD provided 10 and 11 different profiles with values for SAB of 0.84 ± 0.126 and 0.88 ± 0.08 for primers M2 and P4, respectively. Microsatellite using two markers, CDC3 and HIS3, allowed the observation of six and seven different alleles, respectively, with combined discriminatory power of 0.91.Conclusions: Although genetic variability is clear, it was possible to identify high similarity, suggesting a common origin for at least a part of isolates. It is important to emphasize that common origin was proven from yeasts isolated from colonization (urine, catheter or endotracheal secretions) and blood culture from the same patient, indicating that the candidemia must have started from a site of colonization. The combination of RAPD and microsatellite provides a quick and efficient analysis for investigation of similarity among nosocomial isolates of C. albicans.

Didymosphenia geminata (Lyngbye) M. Schmidt es un alga unicelular fotosintética que vive en aguas dulces y que causa daños ecológicos considerables mediante crecimientos masivos o floraciones sobre lechos rocosos de ríos y lagos oligotróficos. El alga produce pedúnculos para fijarse a las rocas, los cuales cubren el fondo acuático y persisten aún después de la muerte de las células. Si bien los estudios sobre la autoecología de la especie están aún en desarrollo, los primeros experimentos muestran que las densas matas que se forman durante las floraciones actúan como bombas redox favorecidas por las condiciones de pH y oxígeno disuelto que en ellas se crean, bombas que permiten la adsorción de fósforo y nitrógeno desde la columna de agua a través de un mecanismo peduncular que permite la acumulación suntuosa en forma de corpúsculos polifosfatados a nivel de citoplasma. La adsorción de nutrientes producida en condiciones de alta luminosidad, que favorece altas tasas fotosintéticas, sostiene un mecanismo de reproducción asexual efectivo que permite la exclusión de competidores potenciales y la colonización rápida de grandes extensiones geográficas. La alta capacidad de resistencia a procesos adversos como la desecación, determinan también la rápida dispersión del alga en amplios ámbitos geográficos. El arribo de D. geminata a Sudamérica es relativamente reciente y hasta la fecha sólo se ha reportado en Argentina y Chile. Se expone en este trabajo la particular vulnerabilidad de los ecosistemas acuáticos bolivianos y la necesidad de establecer programas de monitoreo y prevención de la diseminación de este organismo perjudicial.

Didymosphenia geminata (Lyngbye) M. Schmidt is a photosynthetic unicellular alga that lives in freshwater and causes considerable ecological damage through production of massive growths or blooms on rocky beds of rivers and oligotrophic lakes. The alga produces stalks to attach to rocks, which cover the water bed and persist even after the death of the cells. While studies on the autecology of the species are still under development, the first experiments show that the dense mats that form during blooms act as redox pumps favored by the pH and dissolved oxygen conditions created in them; pumps that allow the adsorption of nitrogen and phosphorus from the water column through a stalk mechanism that permits the luxury comsumption and accumulation of polyphosphate bodies in the cytoplasm. The adsorption of nutrients produced in high light conditions, which favors high photosynthetic rates, supports an effective asexual reproduction mechanism that allows the exclusion of potential competitors and the rapid colonization of large geographic areas. The high resilience to adverse processes such as drying, also determines the rapid spread of this alga in large geographical areas. The arrival of D. geminata is relatively new to South America and to date it has only been reported from Argentina and Chile. In this manuscript, the particular vulnerability of Bolivian aquatic ecosystems and the need of programs for monitoring and prevention of the spreading of this harmful organism are presented.

Este trabalho relata um estudo sobre o consumo de drogas realizado em uma população de estudantes em duas universidades na cidade de Alfenas, no estado de Minas Gerais. Tanto drogas lícitas como ilícitas foram consideradas, incluindo álcool, tabaco, maconha, cocaína, heroína, crack, inalantes, cola, tranquilizantes, estimulantes, entre outras. METODOLOGIA: A pesquisa incluiu uma vasta revisão bibliográfica e a aplicação de um questionário em cerca de 23% dos acadêmicos (total 6.500). RESULTADOS: Um total de 1.500 estudantes participaram desta investigação. Os resultados demonstram que há um consumo significativo de tais drogas. Entretanto, o padrão do consumo de drogas na amostra foi semelhante a outras investigações realizadas no Brasil e em outros países. DISCUSSÃO: Foi verificado que 55% dos universitários realmente utilizam drogas. Entretanto, o achado mais surpreendente foi que a maioria dos estudantes (88%) que responderam "sim" à indagação "Você já experimentou algum tipo de droga, incluindo álcool e cigarros?" espontaneamente eles revelaram que consumiam tais drogas, porém antes da admissão na Universidade. Este resultado sugere claramente que o ambiente universitário não representa necessariamente o ponto de partida para o consumo de drogas.

This paper reports the study of drug consumption carried out within the population of undergraduate students from 2 colleges of Alfenas, in the state of Minas Gerais state. Both licit and illicit drugs were studied, including alcohol, tobacco, marijuana, cocaine, heroin, crack, inhalants, glue, tranquilizers, stimulants, and others. METHODOLOGY: The research included a wide bibliographical search and the application of a questionnaire to approximately 23% of the students (total of 6500 students). RESULTS: A total of 1500 students participated in this investigation. The results demonstrated that there was a significant consumption of both licit and illicit drugs. The pattern of drug consumption in the research sample was similar to other investigations conducted in Brazil and in other countries. DISCUSSION: It was observed that 55% of the university students use drugs. However, the most surprising finding was that most of the students (88%) answered "yes" to the inquiry, "Have you already tried any type of drug, including alcohol and cigarettes?" The students revealed that they had taken drugs even prior to the admission to the university. The results suggest clearly that the university environment does not necessarily represent the starting point for student drug consumption.

Objetivo: Este estudo objetiva identificar as queixas auditivas e orgânicas dos professores de ginástica e avaliar os níveis de pressão sonora (NPS) produzidos nas aulas de ginástica com música. A medição dos NPS foi realizada seguindo as condições sugeridas pela Associação Brasileira de Normas Técnicas (ABNT), na Norma 10151. Forma de estudo: Prospectivo clínico randomizado. Material e método: 32 professores de ginástica responderam a um questionário com questões referentes às queixas relacionadas aos NPS. Resultados: As queixas mais freqüentes foram: zumbidos (24%), sensação de ouvido tampado (15%) e baixa concentração (15%). As modalidades de ginástica nas quais foi realizada a avaliação dos níveis de pressão sonora foram: Step, Body Pump e Aerofitness. Conclusão: Os resultados desta avaliação revelaram intensidades que variaram de 73,9 a 94,2 dBA e sugerem presença de elevados níveis de pressão sonora em 66% das aulas avaliadas.

Aim: The present study aims at identifying auditory and health complaints of fitness instructors in fitness centers in Curitiba, and to evaluate the sound pressure levels (SPL) produced in fitness classes. SPL measurements were made following ABNT recommendations (Brazilian Technical Norms and Regulations Association - Norm 10151) and revealed levels that ranged from 73.9 to 94.2 dBA. Study design: Prospective clinical randomized. Material and method: 32 fitness instructors answered a questionnaire about their most frequent complaints related to SPL. Results: The most frequent complaints were: tinnitus (24%); ear fullness (15%) and poor concentration (15%). The classes in which sound pressure levels were investigated were: Step, Body Pump and Aerofitness. Conclusion: The results of the present research suggested the presence of high sound pressure levels in 66% of the evaluated classes.