Bioactive proteins and peptides derived from fruits, vegetables, meat or fish have great potential as functional foods or as substitutes for clinically used antimicrobials. In recent years, it has also been shown that the fungal kingdom could be a source of these compounds. This study investigated the bioactivity of an extract of the lignicolous fungus Trametes versicolor and its hydrolysate against reference and clinical strains of Staphylococcus spp. (no. of the patent application: P.445189).

The antimicrobial activity of the tested extract and hydrolysate was evaluated against staphylococcal reference (S. aureus ATCC 6538, methicillin-resistant S. aureus ATCC 1707, S. epidermidis ATCC 12228) and clinical isolates, by using the microdilution broth method according to EUCAST guidelines. In vitro activity of the test compounds (initial concentration 50 mg/mL) was determined on the basis of the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC). The MBC/MIC ratio was also used to assess the bacteriostatic (MBC/MIC ⩾4) or bactericidal (MBC/MIC <4) effect.

We found bactericidal activity of the lignicolous fungus Trametes versicolor extract and its hydrolysate against staphylococcal strains with MIC ranging 62.5 - 500 µg/mL. Extracts obtained from T. versicolor according to the invention show strong antimicrobial activity - extracts obtained from the lyophilisate have species-dependent bactericidal activity against staphylococci, including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).

The protein-rich T. versicolor extract and its hydrolysate can be used to produce preparations with antimicrobial activity, especially antimicrobial and antioxidant activity, including bioactive ingredients in cosmetics and anti-aging supplements or natural preservatives.

Introduction. Human milk is the perfect food for a newborn. It is composed mainly of water, proteins, lipids, carbohydrates, and biological components, such as bacteria, viruses, and archaea. The central bacteriome of human milk is known. These bacteria are considered to reach human milk via the entero-mammary route and from there, they colonize the intestine of the neonate by vertical transfer during lactation. In recent reports, archaea have been cultivated from human milk; however, their composition is unknown and is unclear if they are vertically transmitted. Also, their role in health remains to be elucidated. Methods. In this study, we sought to characterize the diversity of the archaeal community by V5-V6 16S-rRNA NGS from colostrum and fecal samples of 42 Mexican mothers and neonates. It was hypothesized that the archaeal community diversity present in the colostrum samples would be similar to that in neonate feces, showing a possible vertical transfer during lactation. Results: Our results indicate that alpha diversity differences between groups are significant; this is possibly due to the difference in biomass between samples. The beta diversity analysis featured that the sample types are quite similar. More robust analyzes reveal the absence of differential taxa between both groups, which is consistent with our hypothesis. This result is confirmed by the prediction of metabolic pathways, which indicates that there are no differential metabolic pathways between colostrum and feces. Conclusions: Overall, this gives the idea that these archaea may be specifically selected to fulfil an important role in the newborn intestine. Acknowledgements. Work supported by CONACyT 163235 INFR-2011-01 and CONACyT FORDECYT-PRONACES/6669/2020_Programa Presupuestario F003-Ciencia de Frontera 2019.

Introduction. Archaea are anaerobic prokaryotes that belong to a lineage independent of Bacteria that were first isolated from human feces in the 80s. Recently, they were detected in feces from adults, breast milk, and meconium of healthy donors, suggesting that they are members of the human microbiota, and potentially, pioneer colonizers of the gut. During breastfeeding, colostrum carries one of the first inoculums of immunoglobulin-coated bacteria that will promote the environmental development of the gut as well as the immune system of the newborn. However, it is unknown if these immunoglobulins coat archaea to mediate their selection in the gut. Objective. We aimed to describe the composition of the archaeal community in colostrum donated by Mexican women and newborn feces to evaluate if these taxa are bound differently. Methods. We selected good-quality DNA isolated from colostrum/feces cells sorted by magnetism using complexes of monoclonal anti- IgA1, IgA2, IgG, and IgM bound to magnetic beads and carried massive 16S amplicon sequencing to determine their taxonomy. Results. Methanosarcina and Methanoculleus are the most abundant genera and they are coated by the four immunoglobulin subtypes, whereas rare genera are bound by IgM in colostrum but by IgG in feces. Interestingly, functional metagenome prediction shows that while archaea in colostrum are associated to anaerobic respiration (i.e. methanogenesis), nucleotide and amino acid biosynthesis are the most abundant pathways in newborn feces. Conclusions. Our results suggest that maternal immunoglobulins bind differentially to archaea that might be pioneer colonizers and that the modeling of the gut environment may start as early as the newborn starts breastfeeding. Acknowledgments. Work supported by CONACyT 163235 INFR-2011-01 and CONACyT FORDECYT-PRONACES/6669/2020_Programa Presupuestario F003-Ciencia de Frontera 2019.

Veterinary Teaching hospitals (VTH) are associated with reservoirs of multi-resistant bacteria. Although Staphylococcus epidermidis is commensal in the skin, is also considered opportunistic, antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is increasing among these pathogens, representing a concern, in terms of nosocomial infection (NI) control measures.

This study was developed to assess Staphylococcus epidermidis contamination on the hands of staff at VTH, plus the existence of AMR.

25 samples were collected of the worker's hands from different services (Companion animals, Surgery, Infectious diseases, Exotic and wild animals, necropsy, Clinical pathology laboratory, and farm animals) of a VTH. The swabs were collected using the swab-wash technique on the dominant hand. Four serial dilutions were performed and inoculated in Baird-Parker agar, supplemented with egg yolk emulsion with potassium tellurite and sulfamethazine. The plates were then incubated at 37ºC for 48 hours, following the ISO 6887 protocol. Identification and antibiograms were carried out using Vitek2® system.

Results suggested that Staphylococcus epidermidis were present in 36% of staff hands (n=9). The necropsy and the laboratory services presented 1 positive each, surgery (n=3), farm animals (n=2), and companion animals (n=2).

From the nine isolates, six presented multi-resistance. The phenotypic profile of the isolates manifested resistance to clindamycin (100%) and erythromycin (66,67%). Conversely, gentamicin (11,1%) and kanamycin (11,1%) show a low percentage of resistance. Regarding the fluoroquinolones, enrofloxacin (88,89%), pradofloxacin (88,89%), and marbofloxacin (88,9%), the isolates were susceptible.

The presence of AMR organisms in staff hands represents a concern. More studies should be performed to improve hygiene and prevent NI.

In the gastrointestinal tract, commensal microorganisms protect and maintain host homeostasis. From the expansion of the oncobiome, dysbiosis has been related to inflammation precipitating tumorigenesis and mediating the anticancer immune response. Thus, given the modulation of the intestinal ecosystem, biotherapeutics emerges as an adjuvant in cancer treatment. Thus, the present work aims to investigate the influence of the intestinal microbiota on neoplastic progression and therapeutic response. For this, a Narrative Literature Review was carried out on the PubMed platform, with the descriptors “Gastrointestinal Microbiome”, “Neoplasms” and “Biological Treatment”, associated with the Boolean operator “AND”, being structured in a final sample of 18 articles. The results suggest that ecological imbalance and changes in microbial metabolites, such as short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), influence tumor progression and metastasis. Regarding the clinical response to chemotherapy/immunotherapy, it was demonstrated that Escherichia coli is one of the main species related to the increase in the metabolism of chemotherapy drugs, such as gemcitabine, decreasing its therapeutic efficacy. In contrast, the enrichment of certain strains leads to anticancer effects, such as Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium. This modulation can occur by transplantation of fecal microbiota or by probiotic therapy with live or dead organisms or their metabolites, which act at different points of regulation. Thus, it is proposed that, despite the deleterious examples referring to tumor progression, the intestinal microbiota can also positively impact anticancer therapy. The auxiliary use of its elements constitutes a therapeutic promise in design.

In Algeria, legumes are an important component of the diet because of their high protein content. They have long been considered as the most cultivated seed plants with cereals. In Algeria lentil (Lens culinaris) is classified as the third legume crop after bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) and pea (Pisum sativum). The inoculation of lentils with Plant Growth-Promoting Rhizobacteria (PGPR) has gained significant attention in agricultural research due to its potential in enhancing plant growth and improving crop productivity. 14 PGPR isolated from the region of Constantine, Algeria were investigated for their ability to promote the cultivation of this legume under hydroponic conditions. The isolated strains had a stimulatory effect on growth. In hydroaerponic conditions, application of PGPR significantly increased shoot length, root length, fresh weight and dry weight by 178 %, 169 %, 350 %, and 311 % as compared with the uninoculated control. PGPR also show an excellent accumulation of phosphorus in the root part compared to the aerial part, specifically for bacteria 29. These indicated that the isolated PGPR strains can be utilized as potential biofertilizers for stimulating growth of lentil

COVID-19 is a multisystemic disease caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The immunopathogenic conditions of the hyperinflammatory response that cause systemic inflammation are extremely linked to its severity. This research sought to review and build a didactic model about the immunopathological elements that contribute to its progression. This is a systematic review using the PUBMED, LILACS, MEDLINE, and SCIELO databases through articles of the types of clinical trials, case-controls, in vitro trials, case reports, cohort, case-control, cross-sectional studies, reviews, and experimental studies between May 2020 and July 2022 with the following search terms in conjunction with “AND”: “SARS-CoV-2”; “COVID-19”; “ARDS” and “Cytokine Storm”. The quality appraisal and risk of bias were assessed by the JBI checklists and the Cochrane Collaboration’s RoB 2.0 and ROBINS-I tools, respectively, and the risk of bias for in vitro studies by a pre-defined standard in the literature. From this, the schematic construction was made on paper with office supplies, and, therefore, its digitization and painting in Adobe Photoshop CS6 program. The search resulted in 39 articles. The main actors in this response denote SARS-CoV-2 Spike proteins, cellular proteases, leukocytes, cytokines, and proteolytic cascades. The “cytokine storm” itself brings several complications to the host through cytokines such as IL-6 and chemokines (such as CXCL10), which influence tissue inflammation through apoptosis and pyroptosis. There is an increase in several clinical parameters in patients, such as D-dimer, alanine aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), C-reactive protein (CRP), ferritin, and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH). The hyperinflammatory response causes several unfavorable outcomes in patients, and systemic inflammation caused largely by the dysregulation of the immune response should be controlled for their recovery.

This research paper aims to explore the challenges posed by emerging foodborne pathogens and the strategies employed to ensure food safety. The study conducted a comprehensive literature review to gather information on the latest trends in foodborne pathogens, their impact on public health, and the measures taken to mitigate their risks. Various scientific databases were utilized to identify relevant articles, research papers, and reports. The research findings highlight the emergence of new and re-emerging foodborne pathogens, such as Salmonella, Campylobacter, Escherichia coli, Listeria monocytogenes, and norovirus. These pathogens pose significant health risks and can lead to outbreaks and foodborne illnesses. The study examines the factors contributing to the emergence of these pathogens, including changes in food production, globalization, climate change, and antimicrobial resistance. Furthermore, the research explores the challenges faced in controlling and preventing the spread of these pathogens throughout the food supply chain. It examines issues related to contamination during production, processing, transportation, and consumption. The study also investigates the limitations of current detection methods and the need for improved surveillance systems to identify and respond to emerging pathogens effectively. In terms of strategies for ensuring food safety, the research highlights the importance of implementing preventive measures, such as good agricultural practices, proper sanitation, and hygiene protocols. It emphasizes the significance of robust food safety regulations and policies to enforce compliance across the industry. Additionally, the study explores the role of education and awareness campaigns in promoting safe food handling practices among consumers.

Overall, this research contributes to the understanding of emerging foodborne pathogens and provides insights into the challenges and strategies involved in ensuring food safety. The findings underscore the need for continuous monitoring, research, and collaboration among stakeholders to mitigate the risks associated with these pathogens and safeguard public health.

In Europe, there is a high consumption of meat products like sausages, especially in the Mediterranean countries. Studies into this type of product are therefore increasing, to improve food safety. In this area, the most recent focus has been on antimicrobial resistance (AMR) by food-borne bacteria. To this end, the Antimicrobial Stewardship strategy was developed in 2007, so that better results can be achieved through a careful choice of antimicrobials to be administered in the treatment of bacterial infections. The increase in antimicrobial resistance in food is mainly due to selective pressure since several antimicrobials were used in food-producing animals as growth promoters. In the meat industry, pork is the most consumed meat and is also considered to be one of the largest reservoirs of AMR. This study aims to review AMR in the three main pathogenic microbial groups.

One of the most worrying types of resistance in the food industry is methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, which is responsible for several foodborne outbreaks. In addition to being resistant to methicillin, these bacteria are resistant to almost all β-lactams, as well as vancomycin and fluoroquinolones. In addition to S. aureus, there is a group of enterobacteria that produce the enzyme extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) which confers resistance to β-lactams, such as penicillin and 1st to 3rd generation cephalosporins. Finally, vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus spp. have also been recorded in the food industry, being pathogenic species commonly found in the gastrointestinal tract. These bacteria can also exhibit resistance to other antimicrobials, such as ampicillin and oxazolidinones.

Background: The evaluation of the effect of SARS-CoV-2 infection during pregnancy has raised interest. Even if virus vertical transmission is still controversial, several researches have focused on the possible distinctive markers associated with different susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2 infection during pregnancy (Greco, Sanz et al. 2023, Schiuma, Beltrami et al. 2023).
Aim: Evaluate the effect of SARS-CoV-2 infection at tissue level in gestational COVID-19
Methods: Morphological alterations were assessed in the placental / chorionic villi, chorionic plate, basal plate, and umbilical cord tissues obtained from 7 subjects with symptomatic respiratory SARS-CoV-2 infection and compared with those in 7 non-COVID control subjects. The expression of SARS-CoV-2 Nucleoprotein (NP) and Human Leukocyte Antigen-G (HLA-G) was estimated by the use of immunohistochemistry.
Results: The 57%, 42,8%, and 28,6% of placental / chorionic villi, chorionic plate, and basal plate, respectively, were found positive for NP antigen (p<0.01), while none of the umbilical cords stained for NP. Placental / chorionic villi samples showed the highest positivity for NP. The presence of NP positivity correlated with high levels of the fibrinoid component in placental / chorionic villi samples and leukocyte infiltration in basal plate. All placental / chorionic villi samples were found positive for HLA-G, independently from NP staining. All the NP positive chorionic plate and half of the NP positive basal plate samples expressed HLA-G. On the contrary, the placental / chorionic villi, chorionic plate, and basal plate of all non-COVID subjects were positive for HLA-G, with a higher H-score in comparison to pathological samples (p<0.05).
Conclusions: The presence of SARS-CoV-2 NP expression in gestational tissues correlates with morphological alterations and a decreased HLA-G expression compared to the control group. These data suggest a possible implication of SARS-CoV-2 infection in morphological and protein expression modification during pregnancy, which might impact infection susceptibility, pregnancy complications, and vertical transmission.