Effect of fetal bovine serum on Candida glabrata cultures

Dissertação de mestrado integrado em Engenharia Biomédica (área de especialização em Engenharia Clínica)

Evaluation of zearalenone in vitro removal by Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains isolated from bovine forage

Zearalenone (ZEN) is a mycotoxin that has relatively low acute toxicity. However, it is a potent oestrogen, interfering with the reproductive tract of animals. Among other effects, ZEN decreases animals fertility, and induces fibrosis in the uterus, breast cancer and endometrial carcinoma (Zinedine et al., 2007). Anti-mycotoxin additives (AMA) are defined as a group of products that, when added to animal feed, are capable of adsorbing, inactivating, or neutralizing mycotoxins in the gastrointestinal tract of animals. One example of these products are adsorbents based on yeast cell walls, a safe and beneficial animal feed additive (Abreu et al., 2008). When based on active cells, yeast based products also act as a probiotic, contributing to improve the general animal health because it stimulates their immune system and promotes the integrity of intestinal mucosa (Albino et al., 2006). Strains of Saccharomyces cerevisiae isolated from silage were tested for their ZEN removal capability. Their effect on - and b-zearalenol (-ZOL and b-ZOL) was also tested. Strains were grown on YPD separately supplemented with ZEN, -ZOL and b-ZOL, and their elimination from culture media was quantified over time by HPLC-FL.

Control of bovine mastitis: old and recent therapeutic approaches

Mastitis is defined as the inflammatory response resulting of the infection of the udder tissue and it is reported in numerous species, namely in domestic dairy animals. This pathology is the most frequent disease of dairy cattle and can be potentially fatal. Mastitis is an economically important pathology associated with reduced milk production, changes in milk composition and quality, being considered one of the most costly to dairy industry. Therefore, the majority of research in the field has focused on control of bovine mastitis and many efforts are being made for the development of new and effective anti-mastitis drugs. Antibiotic treatment is an established component of mastitis control programs; however, the continuous search for new therapeutic alternatives, effective in the control and treatment of bovine mastitis, is urgent. This review will provide an overview of some conventional and emerging approaches in the management of bovine mastitis infections.