William Gustavo Lima

Bio: William Gustavo Lima is an academic researcher from Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais. The author has contributed to research in topics: Antimicrobial & Acinetobacter baumannii. The author has an hindex of 13, co-authored 59 publications receiving 556 citations. Previous affiliations of William Gustavo Lima include National Council for Scientific and Technological Development & Universidade Federal de São João del-Rei.

Bee products as a source of promising therapeutic and chemoprophylaxis strategies against COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2).

Abstract: The emergence of novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) in 2019 in China marked the third outbreak of a highly pathogenic coronavirus infecting humans. The novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) spread worldwide, becoming an emergency of major international concern. However, even after a decade of coronavirus research, there are still no licensed vaccines or therapeutic agents to treat the coronavirus infection. In this context, apitherapy presents as a promising source of pharmacological and nutraceutical agents for the treatment and/or prophylaxis of COVID-19. For instance, several honeybee products, such as honey, pollen, propolis, royal jelly, beeswax, and bee venom, have shown potent antiviral activity against pathogens that cause severe respiratory syndromes, including those caused by human coronaviruses. In addition, the benefits of these natural products to the immune system are remarkable, and many of them are involved in the induction of antibody production, maturation of immune cells, and stimulation of the innate and adaptive immune responses. Thus, in the absence of specific antivirals against SARS-CoV-2, apitherapy could offer one hope toward mitigating some of the risks associated with COVID-19.

Chromosomally encoded and plasmid-mediated polymyxins resistance in Acinetobacter baumannii : a huge public health threat

Abstract: Acinetobacter baumannii is an opportunistic pathogen associated with nosocomial and community infections of great clinical relevance. Its ability to rapidly develop resistance to antimicrobials, especially carbapenems, has re-boosted the prescription and use of polymyxins. However, the emergence of strains resistant to these antimicrobials is becoming a critical issue in several regions of the world because very few of currently available antibiotics are effective in these cases. This review summarizes the most up-to-date knowledge about chromosomally encoded and plasmid-mediated polymyxins resistance in A. baumannii. Different mechanisms are employed by A. baumannii to overcome the antibacterial effects of polymyxins. Modification of the outer membrane through phosphoethanolamine addition, loss of lipopolysaccharide, symmetric rupture, metabolic changes affecting osmoprotective amino acids, and overexpression of efflux pumps are involved in this process. Several genetic elements modulate these mechanisms, but only three of them have been described so far in A. baumannii clinical isolates such as mutations in pmrCAB, lpxACD, and lpsB. Elucidation of genotypic profiles and resistance mechanisms are necessary for control and fight against resistance to polymyxins in A. baumannii, thereby protecting this class for future treatment.

Clinical course and risk factors for mortality of adult inpatients with COVID-19 in Wuhan, China: a retrospective cohort study

Abstract: Summary Background Since December, 2019, Wuhan, China, has experienced an outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Epidemiological and clinical characteristics of patients with COVID-19 have been reported but risk factors for mortality and a detailed clinical course of illness, including viral shedding, have not been well described. Methods In this retrospective, multicentre cohort study, we included all adult inpatients (≥18 years old) with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 from Jinyintan Hospital and Wuhan Pulmonary Hospital (Wuhan, China) who had been discharged or had died by Jan 31, 2020. Demographic, clinical, treatment, and laboratory data, including serial samples for viral RNA detection, were extracted from electronic medical records and compared between survivors and non-survivors. We used univariable and multivariable logistic regression methods to explore the risk factors associated with in-hospital death. Findings 191 patients (135 from Jinyintan Hospital and 56 from Wuhan Pulmonary Hospital) were included in this study, of whom 137 were discharged and 54 died in hospital. 91 (48%) patients had a comorbidity, with hypertension being the most common (58 [30%] patients), followed by diabetes (36 [19%] patients) and coronary heart disease (15 [8%] patients). Multivariable regression showed increasing odds of in-hospital death associated with older age (odds ratio 1·10, 95% CI 1·03–1·17, per year increase; p=0·0043), higher Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score (5·65, 2·61–12·23; p Interpretation The potential risk factors of older age, high SOFA score, and d-dimer greater than 1 μg/mL could help clinicians to identify patients with poor prognosis at an early stage. Prolonged viral shedding provides the rationale for a strategy of isolation of infected patients and optimal antiviral interventions in the future. Funding Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences Innovation Fund for Medical Sciences; National Science Grant for Distinguished Young Scholars; National Key Research and Development Program of China; The Beijing Science and Technology Project; and Major Projects of National Science and Technology on New Drug Creation and Development.

Remdesivir for 5 or 10 Days in Patients with Severe Covid-19.

Abstract: Background Remdesivir is an RNA polymerase inhibitor with potent antiviral activity in vitro and efficacy in animal models of coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19). Methods We conducted a ra...

COVID-19 Generated Changes to Planning and Development Controls in South Australia (preprint)

Abstract: South Australia is presently in the throes of major changes to its regulatory system governing land use, development of land and the development of planning policy against which development assessment decisions are to be made. Eventually the planning and development control system established under the Development Act 1993 (SA) will be replaced by a new system implemented by the Planning, Development and Infrastructure Act 2016 (SA) (the new Act).