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Fridericia chica (Bonpl.) L.G. Lohmann (synonym Arrabidaea chica Verlot) is widely used in Brazilian folk medicine. Considering overcoming pitfalls of scaling up production of plant extracts, herein the effects of N2 atmosphere for extract spray-drying process is reported. Samples were monitored by in vitro antioxidant activity and microbiological evaluation. The drying atmosphere influenced 3-deoxyanthocyanines content when using air as atomizing gas, decreasing carajurin (37.5%) content with concomitant increase in luteolin yield (24.1%). Both drying processes preserved the pharmacological activity. In the cell migration test with HaCaT cells, the extract dried under air flow (5 μg/mL) promoted wound closure by 78% (12 hours) whereas the extract dried using N2 flow promoted 49% (12 hours), with 98% closure (12 hours) for the positive control. The antimicrobial evaluation for Staphylococcus aureus did not differ within drying atmospheres, with MIC (minimum inhibitory concentration) at 0.39 mg/mL. Therefore, the drying process reported herein did not interfere with the biological activity’s outcome., The authors A.L.T.G.R.and M.A.F thank CNPq for research productivity fellowship. The authors also thank the Chemical, Biological, and Agricultural Pluridisciplinary Research Center (CPQBA/Unicamp) for the laboratory infrastructure. Sao Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP). This work was supported by the Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel (CAPES, Brazil, Financing Code 001) and the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq, Brazil, grant numbers # 132448/2016-5, # 132207/2017-6, # 429463/2018-9).

The prevalence of Extended-Spectrum Beta-Lactamase (ESBL)-producing Enterobacteriaceae is increasing worldwide and the Agri-Food sector acts as a reservoir of clinically relevant ESBL genes. Our study aimed at detecting and characterizing ESBL-producing Enterobacteriaceae responsible for intestinal colonization of Brazilian bovines.ESBL-producing E. coli isolates were recovered from fecal samples of healthy cattle in Northwest Brazil. Antimicrobial susceptibility was determined by disk diffusion. Resistance and virulence genes were identified by PCR and amplicons were sequenced, clonality was assessed by PFGE and MLST, and plasmids were characterized by replicon typing, S1-PFGE and Southern blot hybridizations. Transferability of ESBL genes was assessed by conjugation assay.A total of 40 ESBL-producing E. coli were characterized, which originated from 34/191 animals (17.8 %) and 15/22 farms (68.2 %). The blaWe report the first characterization and a high prevalence of ESBL-producing E. coli in the beef cattle sector in Brazil, which is mainly supported by the spread of an epidemic IncI1/pST113/bla

Mestrado em Microbiologia A actual situação do envelhecimento das populações e a proliferação de unidades de cuidados de geriatria é uma realidade em expansão. Estas unidades constituem nichos particulares da comunidade no que respeita à disseminação de resistência aos antibióticos podendo considerar-se como reservatórios de estirpes resistentes aos antibióticos. Esta é uma realidade que tem vindo a merecer a atenção da comunidade científica internacional mas ainda pouco divulgada no nosso País. O presente estudo teve como objectivo a detecção de Enterobacteriaceae produtoras de β-lactamases de espectro alargado (BLEA) colonizadoras do tracto intestinal de residentes em lares de idosos da zona norte do País. Nas 184 amostras de fezes, provenientes de residentes autónomos e dependentes de seis lares de idosos da zona norte do País, detectaram-se 58 isolados de Enterobacteriaceae produtoras de BLEA, das espécies Escherichia coli, Proteus mirabilis, Citrobacter freundii, Morganella morganii e dos géneros Klebsiella spp e Enterobacter spp. Nos lares de idosos com mais residentes dependentes registou-se maior número de isolados produtores de BLEA, comparativamente aos lares com maior número de residentes autónomos. A incidência de estirpes produtoras de BLEA detectada em cada lar de idosos, parece depender de características dos residentes em termos de dependência funcional e história de internamento em unidades hospitalares, bem como do tratamento antimicrobiano a que estão sujeitos. Nos isolados produtores de BLEA detectados no estudo verificou-se um predomínio de β-lactamases, com pontos isoeléctricos (pI) característicos de 5,4 e superior a 8,0, estando o fenótipo de BLEA associado principalmente a β-lactamases de pI superior a 8,0. Os genes de resistência aos antibióticos β-lactâmicos podem ser transferidos por processos de tranferência horizontal, através de elementos genéticos móveis, como por exemplo plasmídeos conjugativos, como foi possível demonstrar através de conjugação. O estudo permitiu verificar que os lares de idosos representam um nicho particular da comunidade que poderá funcionar como reservatório de estirpes e genes de resistência aos antibióticos, particularmente aos antibióticos β-lactâmicos. A colonização intestinal de residentes de lares de idosos por Enterobacteriaceae produtoras de BLEA é uma realidade com papel preponderante na disseminação destas estirpes bacterianas. Os lares de idosos assumem-se como unidades de prestação de cuidados de saúde da comunidade, devido às necessidades de prestação de cuidados de saúde aos residentes, particularmente os mais debilitados. É um ambiente relevante na disseminação da resistência a antibióticos, podendo considerar-se importante na introdução de estirpes resistentes aos antibióticos no ambiente hospitalar. O estudo alerta para a necessidade de medidas de controlo de infecção adequadas na prestação de cuidados de saúde aos residentes de lares de idosos. ABSTRACT: The current situation of population aging and the proliferation of Geriatric care facilities is a reality in expansion. Those institutions might be considered as antimicrobial resistant strains reservoirs, playing an important role in antimicrobial resistance dissemination. This reality has been addressed internationally, but in our country this reality was deserved little divulgation. The aim of our study was the detection of Enterobacteriaceae producing Extended Spectrum β-lactamases (ESBL) colonizing the intestinal tract of nursing home residents in the Northern area of our Country. In the 184 samples of faeces from independent and dependent residents of six nursing homes in the north of Portugal, 58 isolates of Enterobacteriaceae producing ESBL were detected, the species of Escherichia coli, Proteus mirabilis, Citrobacter freundii, Morganella morganii, Klebsiella spp and Enterobacter spp. Nursing homes with more dependent residents showed more isolates producing ESBL, compared to nursing homes with the highest number of autonomous residents. The incidence of ESBL producing strains detected in each nursing home seems to depend on characteristics of residents in terms of functional dependence and history of hospitalization, and the instituted antimicrobial treatment. Among ESBL producers isolated the study there was a predominance of β- lactamases, with characteristic isoelectric points of 5.4 and above 8.0. Genes for resistance to β-lactam antibiotics can be transferred horizontally transferred through mobile genetic elements, such as conjugative plasmids, as demonstrated by conjugation. The study has shown that the nursing homes represent a particular niche of the community that could serve as a reservoir of resistant strains and antibiotic resistance genes, particularly to the β-lactam antibiotics. The intestinal colonization of residents of nursing homes by ESBL producing Enterobacteriaceae is a reality with leading role in the spread of these bacterial strains. The nursing homes assume themselves as health care units of the community, because the needs of health care delivery to residents, particularly the weaked ones. This might be considered a namely in the introduction of antimicrobial resistant strains to the hospitals. The study points out the need of adequate infection control measures in the health care of nursing home residents.