Resumen La antracnosis de la planta de guaraná (Paullinia cupana) es una enfermedad causada por Colletotrichum guaranicola Albuq. Pocos estudios han analizado el origen, la forma de penetración y la colonización de hongos endofíticos en la planta de guaraná. El presente estudio tuvo como objetivo determinar las diferencias en las actividades enzimáticas de cepas endofíticas y patogénicas de C. guaranicola durante el proceso de infección inicial en hojas de clones sensibles a la antracnosis de guaraná. Se aislaron 14 cepas patogénicas y nueve endofíticas de C. guaranicola desde hojas de guaraná con y sin síntomas de antracnosis, respectivamente. Se evaluaron la actividad enzimática de proteasa, amilasa, polifenol oxidasa, lipasa, pectinasa y la actividad celulolítica para cada cepa del hongo. El diseño experimental para cada ensayo enzimático fue completamente al azar con cinco repeticiones. La evaluación enzimática se basó en la medición del halo de reacción enzimática formada en cada ensayo. Se evaluaron las conidias durante su germinación y formación de apresorios. Los resultados no detectaron diferencia enzimática entre las cepas potogénicas y endofíticas. Los datos previos a la germinación mostraron diferencias entre las cepas endofíticas y potogénicas. La colonización de los tejidos de la planta por cepas patogénicas se evidenció tras la aparición de síntomas de la enfermedad después de 48 horas de la inoculación (hdi), mientras que para las endofíticas se observó la presencia de apresorios en la superficie de la epidermis 48 hdi y no se observó la colonización de las células.

Summary Anthracnose of the guarana plant (Paullinia cupana) is a disease caused by Colletotrichum guaranicola Albuq. Few studies have analyzed the origin, the form of penetration and the colonization of endophytic fungi in the guarana plant. This study aimed to determine differences in the enzymatic activities of endophytic and pathogenic strains of C. guaranicola during the initial infection process in leaves of clones sensitive to guarana anthracnose. Fourteen pathogenic and nine endophytic strains of C. guaranicola were isolated from guarana leaves with and without anthracnose symptoms, respectively. The enzymatic activities of protease, amylase, polyphenol oxidase, lipase, pectinase, and cellulolytic activities were evaluated for each fungal strain. The experimental design for each enzymatic assay was completely randomized with five replicates. The enzymatic evaluation was based on the measurement of halo produced by the enzyme reaction in each assay. Conidia were evaluated during germination and appressoria formation. Results did not detect enzymatic difference between pathogenic and endophytic strains. Data prior to germination showed differences between endophytic and pathogenic strains. Colonization of plant tissues by pathogenic strain was evidenced after the appearance of disease symptoms 48 hours after inoculation (hai), while for endophytic strains the presence of appressoria was observed on the surface of the epidermis 48 hai, and colonization of cells was not observed.

Microbial culture collections underpin biotechnology applications and are important resources for clinical microbiology by supplying reference strains and/or performing microbial identifications as a service. Proteomic profiles by MALDI-TOF MS have been used for Candida spp. identification in clinical laboratories and demonstrated to be a fast and reliable technique for the routine identification of pathogenic yeasts. The main aim of this study was to apply MALDI-TOF MS combined with classical phenotypic and molecular approaches to identify Candida clinical isolates preserved from 1 up to 52 years in a Brazilian culture collection and assess its value for the identification of yeasts preserved in this type of collections. Forty Candida spp. clinical isolates were identified by morphological and biochemical analyses. Identifications were also performed by the new proteomic approach based on MALDI-TOF MS. Results demonstrated 15% discordance when compared with morphological and biochemical analyses. Discordant isolates were analysed by ITS sequencing, which confirmed the MALDI-TOF MS identifications and these strains were renamed in the culture collection catalogue. In conclusion, proteomic profiles by MALDI-TOF MS represents a rapid and reliable method for identifying clinical Candida species preserved in culture collections and may present clear benefits when compared with the performance of existing daily routine methods applied at health centres and hospitals.

Muitos fármacos estão associados a vários efeitos adversos e limitada biodisponibilidade. A resolução destes problemas continua sendo um alvo importante para a comunidade científica. O desenvolvimento de pró-fármacos que conduzam a uma liberação controlada in vivo é um caminho atrativo para resolver estes problemas. Um pró-fármaco clássico é molécula inativa, em que o princípio ativo é ligado covalentemente a uma unidade transportadora, de modo que o fármaco pode ser liberado através de uma reação química ou enzimática. Um sistema novo e interessante de pró-fármaco, que tem sido apresentado para fármacos possuidores de grupos amino, álcool e tiol, é aquele no qual o princípio ativo é liberado através de uma ciclização intramolecular. Neste caso, o processo de ciclização, dependendo da cadeia da unidade transportadora e do próprio fármaco, pode controlar a velocidade de liberação do princípio ativo. Desta forma, este trabalho apresenta uma revisão do desenvolvimento de pró-fármacos baseados na liberação do princípio ativo através de uma ciclização intramolecular.

Many drugs used for the treatment of common diseases are associated with various adverse effects and limited bioavailability. The suppression of such problems continues to be a very important target for scientists. The development of prodrugs for controlled release in vivo is an attractive way to overcome these problems. Classical in prodrug is an inactive molecule which the parent drug is covalently bonded to a carrier unit, and which can liberate the drug through chemical or enzymatic pathways. A new and interesting prodrug system for amine, alcohol, and thiol drugs takes advantage of several easy intramolecular cyclization reactions. So, the cyclization process can control the release rate of the parent drug. In this paper is a review about the prodrug strategies based on intramolecular cyclization reactions is presented.