No abstract

Studies with diterpenes from marine brown alga Canistrocarpus cervicornis showed the antiviral potential of the products from this alga in controlling the replication of HSV-1 and maintaining low cytotoxicity. Hence, the aim of this work was to evaluate the anti-herpetic efficacy of C. cervicornis extract ointment in BALB/c mice. To test the anti-herpetic efficacy in vivo, four groups of BALB/c mice (n = 5) were used: 1-untreated, 2-extract ointment (2 % or 0.4 mg cm −2 dose −1 ), 3-Acyclovir cream (5 % or 1.0 mg cm −2 dose −1 ), and 4-ointment base. The right midflank of each mouse was clipped and depilated with a chemical depilatory. After 2 days, the skin area was scratched and inoculated with HSV-1. The ointments and cream were applied three times a day over a 16-day period, beginning 1 h after virus inoculation. The development of skin lesions was continuously monitored and scored. To evaluate the effect of C. cervicornis topical treatment on biochemical parameters and on body weight, two uninfected groups were formed: an untreated group and a group treated with ointment C. cervicornis extract (2 %). The signs of infection appeared from the second day after infection, while on the 10th day of the experiment, the ointment base and untreated groups had significantly more severe lesions than did the groups that were treated with extract (p < 0.05) or acyclovir (p < 0,01). The topical application of extract ointment did not change body weight, hepatic, or renal function suggesting that the extract has a low toxicity in this route of administration. These results suggest that the extract may be useful in reducing the severity of HSV-1 cutaneous lesions.

The objective of this work was to assess the genetic characteristics of uropathogenic Escherichia coli, ciprofloxacin resistance or susceptibility, obtained from patients with gynecological cancer and urinary tract infection (UTI). Seventy-seven E. coli ciprofloxacin-resistant isolates and 38 ciprofloxacin-susceptible were analyzed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to determine the phylogenetic groups, virulence factors as iucC, fyuA, hlyC, cnf1 genes, and pks pathogenicity island. The presence of genes related to ciprofloxacin resistance such as qnrA, qnrB, qnrS, aac(6')-Ib-cr, and qepA, and the sequencing of DNA gyrase genes and topoisomerase IV were determined. The genetic profile of the isolates was determined by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). Statistical analysis was performed using Fisher's exact test and Chi-square test. Phylogenetic group B2 was the most prevalent although a great genetic diversity was observed by PFGE. Only genes associated to siderophores were found in ciprofloxacin-resistant isolates; however, in ciprofloxacin-susceptible isolates, genes related to siderophores and toxin, were detected. Additionally qnrB was detected in both populations, ciprofloxacin resistant and susceptible. DNA mutations in gyrA were Ser-83-Leu and Asp-87-Asn and in parC were Ser-80-Ile and Glu-84-Val, Glu-84-Lys. In conclusion, it was observed a high prevalence of qnrB in the population studied; in addition, it was the first time the pks island was observed only in ciprofloxacin-susceptible isolates.

The genus Osmundaria (Rhodophyta, Ceramilaes, Rhodomelaceae) comprises tropical and temperate regions red marine seaweeds species. Osmundaria obtusiloba is distributed from the northeastern coast of Brazil to the state of Rio de Janeiro. Studies with ethanol extract of red seaweed O. obtusiloba showed the antiviral potential of this alga. Hence, this study examined in BALB/c mice the acute toxicity after oral administration of O. obtusiloba crude extract. Then, female BALB/c mice received a single dose of O. obtusiloba extract by gavage at 550 mg/kg and their behaviors were monitored for a 14 day period. The biochemical and histological changes in the liver, kidney, stomach and spleen were analyzed. O. obtusiloba extract did not significantly change behavior, body weight, hematological or biochemical profiles. The organs of the animals did not show significant alterations when submitted to treatment with O. obtusiloba extract. In conclusion, the in vivo results revealed that O. obtusiloba has low toxicity and it can be and may be the target of further studies of biological activity.