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Characterization of Female External Genitalia and Eggs of Four South American Species of the Triatoma Laporte, 1832 Genus (Hemiptera: Reduviidae: Triatominae)
No full textTriatoma is the most diversified and one of the most important genera from an epidemiolog ical perspective. Given the difficulty in identifying some species of the Triatoma genus, morphological, histological, and morphometric studies were performed to provide new characters that make it possible to differentiate T. garciabesi, T. guasayana, T. patagonica, and T. sordida sensu stricto, triatomines that overlap geographically and have vector potential. Through the external female genitalia, as well as morphology, morphometry, and histology of eggshells, it was possible to discriminate the four species. In addition, this study reinforces the taxonomic validity of T. garciabesi and provides new data for discussion on systematic issues of T. guasayana and T. patagonica
The mutation G133D on Leishmania guyanensis AQP1 is highly destabilizing as revealed by molecular modeling and hypo-osmotic shock assay
No full textThe Leishmania aquaglyceroporin 1 (AQP1) plays an important role in osmoregulation and antimony (Sb) uptake, being determinant for resistance to antimony. We have previously demonstrated that G133D mutation on L. guyanensis AQP1 (LgAQP1) leads to reduced Sb uptake. Here, we investigated the effects of G133D mutation on LgAQP1 structure, associated with Sb uptake and alterations in osmoregulation capacity. High confidence molecular models of wild-type LgAQP1 as well as the LgAQP1::G133D mutant were constructed and optimized via comparative homology modeling. Computational methods from the mCSM platform were used to evaluate the effects on protein stability and on its ability to bind to glycerol. Functional validation of the disruptive effect of the mutation on LgAQP1 was done by challenging the parasites with hypo-osmotic chock. Glycine 133 is on transmembrane helix 3, buried in the membrane in both open and closed conformation. G133D mutation was predicted to be highly destabilizing, as it alters the helical bundling arrangement in order to accommodate the aspartic acid side chain. The shift in helices also resulted in fewer favorable contacts with glycerol in the channel, which would explain the reduced affinity for similar small molecules as SbO3. Under hypo-osmotic condition, L. guyanensis AQP1G133D presented a 3-fold increase in cellular volume and pronounced delay to recover osmosis homeostasis when compared to the wild-type, a profile that was enhanced in LgAQP1-/- mutants. In conclusion, G133D is a highly disruptive mutation that will destabilize the monomer, compromise tetramer formation and alter pore conformation, leading to reduced Sb uptake and deficient osmoregulation
Serum sickness-like reaction: drug-induced cutaneous disease in a child
No full textSerum sickness is defined as a type III hypersensitivity reaction, which leads to complement activation and hypocomplementemia, small vessel vasculitis, and nephropathy. From a clinical perspective it resembles Serum Sickness-Like Reaction (SSLR), presenting clinical similar findings. These are both rare diseases that can manifest with urticarial rash, fever, and arthralgia, mainly differing by their etiopathology and laboratory findings. SSLR pathogenesis remains unclear but is probably related to an inflammatory response to drug metabolites, more commonly, following beta-lactams use. It is not mediated by immunocomplexes and does not manifest hypocomplementemia
Helminth infection and human mobility in sambaquis: Paleoparasitological, paleogenetic, and microremains investigations in Jabuticabeira II, Brazil (2890 ± 55 to 1805 ± 65 BP)
No full textSambaquis or shellmounds are archeological sites constructed by hunter-fisher-gatherers that inhabited the Brazilian coast about 10,000–2000 yrs BP.
Jabuticabeira II (JABII: 2890 ± 55 to 1805 ± 65 BP) is one of dozens of contemporaneous sambaquis of the Santa Catarina state, South Brazil, and contains
hundreds of neatly organized burials, indicating great population density. In order to gather information about the health, diet and way of life of people
in JABII, a paleoparasitological, paleogenetic, and micro-human remains investigation was carried out. Pelvic region and environmental control samples
from six individuals exhumed from JABII were submitted to microscopic and ancient DNA (aDNA) investigation. Paleoparasitological analyses based on
light microscopy were negative. However, a variety of informative microremains were found. Diatoms, fish scales, and algae characterize the marine and
estuarine environment. Ipomoea batatas and Zea mays starch grains suggested cultivated items as part of their diet in agreement with the literature. The
finding of Podocarpus sp. pollen grain, characteristic of highlander vegetation, suggests human mobility of JABII individuals which were settlement in the
coast. Paleogenetic analyses showed Ascaris sp. helminth infection based on nad1 gene fragment detected from an individual excavated at L3 FS7 burial
(1826 ± 40 BP). This aDNA result places the antiquity of Ascaris sp. infection, and haplotypes that are circulating in humans and other animals nowadays,
in Pre-Columbian South American times
Technology foresight for identification of opportunities and partnerships in COVID-19 vaccines, biotherapeutics and diagnostics test
No full textOs autores externos submeteram sua publicação para apresentação de trabalho no evento “International Symposium on Immunobiologicals”, que foi coordenado e organizado pelo Instituto de Tecnologia em Imunobiológicos (Bio-Manguinhos), da Fundação Oswaldo Cruz
System biology analysis of THP1 cell line as in vitro model to evaluate yellow fever vaccine
No full textOs autores externos submeteram sua publicação para apresentação de trabalho no evento “International Symposium on Immunobiologicals”, que foi coordenado e organizado pelo Instituto de Tecnologia em Imunobiológicos (Bio-Manguinhos), da Fundação Oswaldo Cruz
Relato de experiência sobre o trabalho da comissão de crise COVID-19 no COREN-RJ
No full textIntrodução: Este artigo trata do relato de experiência sobre o trabalho desenvolvido pela Comissão de Crise Covid-19 instituído a partir de 18 de janeiro de 2021, por meio da Portaria 114/2021 COREN-RJ. Neste trabalho a Comissão de Crise teve como objetivo reunir algumas características entre os conselheiros e funcionários, expressando o perfil de mudança do comportamento epidemiológico a partir das ações apreendidas pelo grupo em função das necessidades de proteção contra o vírus. Aspectos metodológicos: Estabeleceu-se contato preliminar com todos os conselheiros e funcionários lhes esclarecendo a necessidade de conhecer e cuidar melhor da saúde e proteção de cada um e de todos. A Comissão ofereceu durante todo o mês de fevereiro de 2021 aulas online versando sobre boas práticas de biossegurança e LIVES semanais ao longo de todo o período de pandemia com debates sobre questões relacionadas a novas evidências sobre o coronavírus e a doença, assim como recomendações atualizadas sobre medidas de proteção. Foi esclarecido que necessitar-se-ia da participação contínua de todos e aderência as orientações, com possíveis mudanças de hábitos rotineiros. Nesse sentido, o uso de ferramentas de coleta e análise de informações foi fundamental para garantir previsibilidade dos resultados das ações planejadas. Resultados: Foram levantadas as principais dúvidas que os conselheiros e funcionários tinham sobre a doença e biossegurança, que foram esclarecidas no decorrer das sessões de educação para a saúde, com utilização de estratégia participativa, associados a vários recursos didáticos. Os termos técnicos foram decodificados para a linguagem popular. Com base nos temas trabalhados nas sessões, foram elaboradas duas notas técnicas e a compreensão sobre o conteúdo foi validado com todos. A experiência permitiu conhecer as peculiaridades do grupo e planejar orientações compreensíveis e significativas aos conselheiros e funcionários. Conclusão: A crise não abre espaço para erros, muito menos para “achismos”. O papel de uma comissão de crise neste tempo de pandemia é manter vigilância no comportamento de seus pares e informação legítima e constante para que as recomendações passadas tenham fundamentação e base científica. Neste sentido, os resultados alcançados por esta comissão até o momento refletem a base de suas ações
Exceso y alta velocidad de la información científica: impactos de la COVID-19 en el trabajo de los periodistas
No full textLicença atribuída ao artigo pela revista: CC BY-ND.Neste artigo, analisamos a percepção de jornalistas brasileiros que cobrem ciência sobre como a pandemia de COVID-19 impactou seu trabalho. O estudo foi realizado por meio de um questionário on-line com 26 profissionais: 14 mulheres e 12 homens, a maioria com mais de 40 anos, com experiências variadas no jornalismo científico e que trabalham em veículos de comunicação ou de forma autônoma nos estados do PR, RJ e SP. Entre as principais mudanças desse período estão o aumento na produção de matérias e a necessidade de adotar estratégias na busca por informações científicas confiáveis, muitas delas divulgadas rapidamente ou na forma de pré-print (sem revisão por pares).CNPq; FAPERJIn this article, we analyze the perception of Brazilian journalists covering science on how the COVID-19 pandemic impacted their work. The study was conducted throughan online survey with 26 professionals: 14 women and 12 men, most of them over 40 years old, with varied experiences in scientific journalism and who work in media outlets or autonomously in the states of PR, RJ and SP. Among the main changes of this period are the increase in the production of articles and the need to adopt strategies to find reliable scientific information, many of them published fastly or as a preprint (without peer review).En este artículo, analizamos la percepción de los periodistas brasileños que cubren ciencia sobre cómo la pandemia COVID-19 afectó su trabajo. El estudio se realizó a través de un cuestionario en línea con 26 profesionales: 14 mujeres y 12 hombres, la mayoría de ellos mayores de 40 años, con variadas experiencias en el periodismo científico y que trabajan en vehículos de comunicación o de forma autónoma en los estados de PR, RJ y SP. Entre los principales cambios de este período se encuentran el aumento en la producción de materiales y la necesidad de adoptar estrategias en la búsqueda de información científica confiable, muchas de ellas difundidas rápidamente o en forma de preprint (sin revisión por pares)
Enhancement of CD4+ T Cell Function as a Strategy for Improving Antibiotic Therapy Efficacy in Tuberculosis: Does It Work?
No full textIntramural Research Program of
the NIAID. DC is currently funded by Fundação de Amparo à
Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP), grant #2019/08445-
8. SN, EA, and AS are funded by the Intramural Research
Program of the NIAID, NIH. BA is funded by the Intramural
Research Program of the Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Brazil, and is
a senior fellow of the Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento
Cientı́fico e Tecnológico, Brazil.Tuberculosis (TB), caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) remains a major public
health problem worldwide due in part to the lack of an effective vaccine and to the lengthy
course of antibiotic treatment required for successful cure. Combined immuno/
chemotherapeutic intervention represents a major strategy for developing more effective
therapies against this important pathogen. Because of the major role of CD4+ T cells in
containing Mtb infection, augmentation of bacterial specific CD4+ T cell responses has
been considered as an approach in achieving this aim. Here we present new data from our
own research aimed at determining whether boosting CD4+ T cell responses can promote
antibiotic clearance. In these studies, we first characterized the impact of antibiotic
treatment of infected mice on Th1 responses to major Mtb antigens and then
performed experiments aimed at sustaining CD4+ T cell responsiveness during
antibiotic treatment. These included IL-12 infusion, immunization with ESAT-6 and
Ag85B immunodominant peptides and adoptive transfer of Th1-polarized CD4+ T cells
specific for ESAT-6 or Ag85B during the initial month of chemotherapy. These
approaches failed to enhance antibiotic clearance of Mtb, indicating that boosting Th1
responses to immunogenic Mtb antigens highly expressed by actively dividing bacteria is
not an effective strategy to be used in the initial phase of antibiotic treatment, perhaps
because replicating organisms are the first to be eliminated by the drugs. These results are
discussed in the context of previously published findings addressing this concept along with possible alternate approaches for harnessing Th1 immunity as an adjunct
to chemotherapy
