vol. 10 núm. 18 (2012)

The enormous diversity of microbial populations that colonize the human skin in permanent or temporar way depends on the topography and physiology of each area of the body. Each area of which are harmless and even beneficial. At the same time that regulate the basic conditions to prevent pathogenic bacteria colonization. Alterations in this dynamic equilibrium could spread the normal flora to a different place generating local or systemic infections.After the penicillin discovery for the treatment of infectious disease caused by bacteria, the microorganisms have developed strategies to survive through different mechanisms resulting in potentially ineffective antibiotics. Parallel to bacteria resistance has been the creation hundreds of antibiotics for clinical use.The multi-drug resistance phenomenon has direct impact on morbidity, mortality rates and in the health care, increased cost, thus it is essential to have a correct, appropriate and a rational use of antimicrobials. One key tools to prevent infection, is the environmental pollution control and hand washing, not less important a new approach to the understanding of the pathophysiology, the prevention of spreading using natural products and the creation of innovative molecules such as antimicrobial peptides.

Oxygen is an element with dual physiological effect is essential for the development of aerobic life and at the same time can participate in potentially toxic reactions involving oxygen free radicals. Free radicals are unstable molecules that can cause damage at cellular level due an imbalance between free radical production and antioxidant defenses, generating oxidative stress. This mechanism seems to contribute to several pathological conditions including degenerative processes, aging, diseases and syndromes. Understanding the origin of oxidative stress mechanisms at cellular level, and strategies to reduce it through the cell antioxidant defense system is the focus point of numerous studies. In the same way extensive research has been conducted to find a way to control free radicals production generated continuously through some cellular processes in the body such as oxidative metabolism of the mitochondria and the molecular process required to generate ATP.

This study was carried out within the indigenous community Yanacona, natives of Colombian Massif which were situated in Bogota city (San Joaquin- Ciudad Bolivar). A cross-sectional descriptive study was performed studying 21 members from the community, men and women between 19-48 years old. Three routine clinical laboratory tests were carried out: urinalysis, stool analysis and blood count. To check for iron-deficiency anemia a serum ferritin test was performed as indirect measurement of iron deposits. According with the results a low percentage of urinary and parasitic infections was observed and no cases of anemia. These findings indicated a population adapted to the city life conditions but requiring health promotion activities and disease prevention.

In this study were found urinary tract infection and intestinal parasitism in Embera and Huitoto indigenous children of Florencia (Caquetá, Colombia). Urinalysis and stool analysis were also carried out in adults as contribution from the research to these communities. The laboratory results showed that 4.8 % of the 21 children participating in the study had urinary tract infection and the 78.9 % intestinal parasitism with more than one parasite by individual. Accordingly with these results, the research group suggests the implementation of health promotion and prevention campaigns in order to improve the health level of the ethnics group’s child population.

A study of the plants associated with most common diseases in the TIKUNA community of Macedonia (located 57 km from Leticia, Colombia) were carried out from February 2008 to October 2009. Three types of surveys based on the "TRAMIL were applied. Total 115 plants with medicinal use and 308 remedies applied to cure various diseases were determined comprising 109 genera and 99 species. For each plant the vernacular name, Tikunas name, collection number, taxonomic family, traditional uses, part used, medicinal properties, method of preparation and administration, how was prepared (combined with a plant or animal) and whether it should be "diet" or not were documented. Each plant was documented: photographed on the field, collected and identified previously in SINCHI Leticia. The level of TRAMIL significant use value was calculated as well as phytoendemicity and fitoetnoaloctoneidad.Families Arecaceae, Bignoniaceae and species such as the Rubiaceae and Yarumo (Cecropia sciadophylla) the Carambolo (carambola), cat's claw (Uncaria tomentosa), the Acapu (Minquartia guianensis), the Lancetilla (Alternanthera brasiliana) and the Amacizo (Erythrina fusca) have great cultural value within the community. Additionally the use and application of different plants to relieve ailments were found shared by trapezium ethnic, although the validity or importance of plants depends on the cosmology and cosmogony of each community.

In this study was evaluated the implementation of manufacturing practices in the San Francisco and La Esmeralda mills through ethnographic surveys, photographic evidence and recovery of microbiological contaminants from panela, employees hands and working tools. A significant proportion of samples from hands, work tools and panela were found contaminate with bacteria such as Staphylococcus epidermidis, Streptococcus uberis, Leuconostoc mesenteroides, Bacillus, Corynebacterium, Actinomyces spp, Lactococcus lactis and Gardnerella vaginalis, and fungi including Fusarium spp, Aspergillus spp, Paecilomyces spp, Penicillium spp and Mucor spp. These results revealed failures in the production process due to the lack of implementation of Good Manufacturing Practices. Based in this study it was recommended to give regular trainings to the employees about food handling and basic hygiene practices. Also carry out a strict monitoring of the mills in order to be able in the future to rank Colombia as greater panela producer and exporter.

The purpose of this research was to establish the infectious disease profile of the indigenous population located in the Casanare department during the years 2010, 2011 and March 2012. We used data collected for the institutions in charge of the indigenous health care and gathered for the Yopal Department of health (Casanare, Colombia) classified by indigenous reservation: Cano Mochuelo, Chaparral Barro Negro and Orocue. The results showed that prevalent infectious diseases in the indigenous community are diarrhea, respiratory tract infection and intestinal parasitism with 702, 570 and 187 cases respectively.

Con este nuevo número, La Revista NOVA, mantiene su política de contribuir a la divulgación del conocimiento en ciencias biomédicas dando cabida a la difusión de las investigaciones adelantadas desde los diferentes campos disciplinares y transdisciplinares, cercanos a nuestras áreasde interés. Esto ha sido posible gracias al apoyo incondicional de la Universidad Colegio Mayor de Cundinamarca.

In the study the production of lactic acid from whey goats as main substrate (SLC) was optimized, following 2k experimental design combined with a central composite design and response surface analysis. It was also determined the combined effects of the concentration of three nutrient level (Riboflavin, yeast extract, ammonium sulfate): X1 and temperature (0C): X2 in lactic acid concentration. According with the results there is enough statistical evidence (95% confidence) that showed that the temperature and the concentration of complement and their interaction influence the production of lactic acid obtained by fermenting goat whey. The greatest lactic acid production (23, 68 g / liter) and bacterial growth were gotten with higher concentrations of nutrients and temperature of 42 ° C.

The use of microorganisms for biological control of plants diseases in an effective alternative that reduce pesticides use that affect soil fertility. Bacillus genus has become a point of interest due the production of secondary metabolites with antifungal properties effective against several phytopathogenics such as Fusarium, Pythium, Phytophthora and Rhizoctonia. The aim of this study was to identify the presence of secondary metabolites produced by liquid fermentation from Bacillus subtilis, analyzed by High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), and confirm its biocontrol effect on Fusarium sp. The antibiotic iturin A was identified, with a concentration around 151,805 mg/l. In vitro antagonism tests showed 70 to 100% growth inhibition of Fusarium sp. In the near future is expected to identify the existence of other secondary metabolites with possible significant effect on the plant protection, such as surfactin and fengycin.

This article is based on the principle that social projection is a valid strategy for the comprehensive education of bacteriology students. This proposal consists in rethinking the bacteriology socio humanistic curriculum as well as the universities social responsibility from a neo-institutional sociological approach to reestablishing the trust, improving networks cooperation, community visibility and civil society in curricular decision-making process. In the view of these arguments are presented thoughts and experiences from a group of teachers and students of the University of Cordoba without pretending to find answers to all the challenges that bacteriology programs face when building their academic paths. This is a contribution to the collective awareness of the importance of incorporating projects and actions to re-evaluate the concept of comprehensive training from the triad-teaching-research-social outreach.