28492 research outputs found
Sort by
Protective effect of fungal extracellular vesicles against murine candidiasis
Get PDFVesículas extracelulares (EVs) são compartimentos de bicamadas lipídicas liberados por praticamente todas as células vivas, incluindo fungos. Entre as diversas moléculas transportadas por EVs fúngicas, vários imunógenos, fatores de virulência e reguladores foram caracterizados. Dentro das EVs, esses componentes podem potencialmente impactar os resultados da doença ao interagir com o hospedeiro. Dessa perspectiva, demonstramos anteriormente que EVs de Candida albicans podem ser absorvidos e ativar macrófagos e células dendríticas para produzir citocinas e expressar moléculas coestimulatórias. Além disso, o pré-tratamento de larvas de Galleria mellonella com EVs fúngicas protegeu os insetos contra uma infecção letal subsequente com leveduras de C. albicans. Esses dados indicam que EVs de C. albicans são compartimentos multiantigênicos que ativam o sistema imunológico inato e podem ser explorados como formulações de vacinas. Aqui, investigamos se a imunização com EVs de C. albicans induz um efeito protetor contra candidíase murina em camundongos imunossuprimidos. Os anticorpos IgG séricos totais e específicos para antígenos fúngicos aumentaram em 21 dias após a imunização, confirmando a eficácia do protocolo. A vacinação diminuiu a carga fúngica no fígado, baço e rim de camundongos desafiados com C. albicans. Os níveis esplênicos de citocinas indicaram uma resposta inflamatória menor em camundongos imunizados com EVs quando comparados com EVs + adjuvante de Freund (ADJ). Níveis mais altos de IL-12p70, TNFα e IFNγ foram detectados em camundongos vacinados com EVs + ADJ, enquanto IL-12p70, TGFβ, IL-4 e IL-10 foram aumentados quando nenhum adjuvante foi adicionado. A proteção total de camundongos desafiados letalmente foi observada quando EVs foram administrados, independentemente da presença de adjuvante. Propriedades físicas dos EVs também foram investigadas e os EVs produzidos por C. albicans foram relativamente estáveis após armazenamento a 4, -20 ou -80°C, mantendo sua capacidade de ativar células dendríticas e proteger G. mellonella contra uma candidíase letal. Nossos dados sugerem que os EVs fúngicos podem ser uma fonte segura de antígenos a serem explorados em formulações de vacinas.Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are lipid bilayered compartments released by virtually all living cells, including fungi. Among the diverse molecules carried by fungal EVs, a number of immunogens, virulence factors and regulators have been characterised. Within EVs, these components could potentially impact disease outcomes by interacting with the host. From this perspective, we previously demonstrated that EVs from Candida albicans could be taken up by and activate macrophages and dendritic cells to produce cytokines and express costimulatory molecules. Moreover, pre-treatment of Galleria mellonella larvae with fungal EVs protected the insects against a subsequent lethal infection with C. albicans yeasts. These data indicate that C. albicans EVs are multi-antigenic compartments that activate the innate immune system and could be exploited as vaccine formulations. Here, we investigated whether immunisation with C. albicans EVs induces a protective effect against murine candidiasis in immunosuppressed mice. Total and fungal antigen-specific serum IgG antibodies increased by 21 days after immunisation, confirming the efficacy of the protocol. Vaccination decreased fungal burden in the liver, spleen and kidney of mice challenged with C. albicans. Splenic levels of cytokines indicated a lower inflammatory response in mice immunised with EVs when compared with EVs + Freund's adjuvant (ADJ). Higher levels of IL-12p70, TNFα and IFNγ were detected in mice vaccinated with EVs + ADJ, while IL-12p70, TGFβ, IL-4 and IL-10 were increased when no adjuvants were added. Full protection of lethally challenged mice was observed when EVs were administered, regardless the presence of adjuvant. Physical properties of the EVs were also investigated and EVs produced by C. albicans were relatively stable after storage at 4, -20 or -80°C, keeping their ability to activate dendritic cells and to protect G. mellonella against a lethal candidiasis. Our data suggest that fungal EVs could be a safe source of antigens to be exploited in vaccine formulations
Triatoma petrocchiae (Hemiptera, Reduviidae, Triatominae): A Chagas disease vector of T. brasiliensis species complex associated to reptiles
No full textIn semi-arid areas of northeastern Brazil, Chagas disease vectors of Triatoma brasiliensis species complex comprise a monophyletic group of kissing bugs that inhabit rock outcrops. Most of them exhibit allopatric or parapatric distribution; the exception is T. petrocchiae, which is found in cohabitation with T. brasiliensis in rock outcrops. We used vertebrate mitochondrial gene sequencing applied to DNA isolated from bug midgut to identify the insect blood meal sources via BLAST procedure. Fourteen sylvatic insects from four geographic districts in the states of Rio Grande do Norte and Paraíba had their blood meal sources detected. While T. brasiliensis is recorded to be associated mainly (52-71%) with rodents, T. petrocchiae samples were strongly associated (86%) with reptiles of Tropidurus and Hemidactylus genera. We suggest that T. petrocchiae is the single member within this complex to be associated with reptiles, indicating a distinct niche occupation related to the trophic resources
Influence of seasonal variation on phenolic content and in vitro antioxidant activity of Secondatia floribunda A. DC. (Apocynaceae)
No full textFUNCAP, URCA, CAPES, CNPq, UFRPE and ICMBio.This study reports the effects of seasonal variation on the total polyphenol and flavonoid content and the in vitro antioxidant activity of Secondatia floribunda A. DC. The extracts were prepared from the inner bark and heartwood of samples harvested in the 2015 to 2016. The total phenolic and flavonoid content was determined by specific qualitative tests. The in vitro antioxidant capacity was analyzed using the following tests: 1-1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical (DPPH), 2,2'-azinobis-3-ethylbenzenothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS+), ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) and iron (Fe2+) chelating activity. The total polyphenol and total flavonoid content varied over the harvest period. The DPPH and ABTS tests revealed that in the dry season had the most potent in vitro antioxidant activity, although the extracts obtained during the rainy season presented the higher Fe2+ chelating and Ferric reducing activities. In conclusion, the phenolic content and in vitro antioxidant activity are correlated, and both are influenced by seasonality
Media matters! Alterations in the loading and release of Histoplasma capsulatum extracellular vesicles in response to different nutritional milieus
No full textHistoplasma capsulatum is a dimorphic fungus that most frequently causes pneumonia, but can also disseminate and proliferate in diverse tissues. Histoplasma capsulatum has a complex secretion system that mediates the release of macromolecule-degrading enzymes and virulence factors. The formation and release of extracellular vesicles (EVs) are an important mechanism for non-conventional secretion in both ascomycetes and basidiomycetes. Histoplasma capsulatum EVs contain diverse proteins associated with virulence and are immunologically active. Despite the growing knowledge of EVs from H. capsulatum and other pathogenic fungi, the extent that changes in the environment impact the sorting of organic molecules in EVs has not been investigated. In this study, we cultivated H. capsulatum with distinct culture media to investigate the potential plasticity in EV loading in response to differences in nutrition. Our findings reveal that nutrition plays an important role in EV loading and formation, which may translate into differences in biological activities of these fungi in various fluids and tissues
Covid-19 e as oportunidades de cooperação internacional em saúde é tema de artigo
No full textCom o tema Covid-19 e as oportunidades de cooperação internacional em saúde, o artigo do professor emérito da Fiocruz e ex-diretor da ENSP, Paulo Buss, publicado pelo Cadernos de Saúde Pública, comenta que “os Ministérios da Saúde da América do Sul estão se consultando, mas seria vantajoso conduzir essas relações institucionalmente ao mais alto nível e intensificar as consultas e a assistência mútua”. Para Buss, é importante implementar medidas técnicas racionais na vigilância sanitária fronteiriça, que dependem dos 12 países que têm essas fronteiras. Leia o artigo na íntegra no campo "Documento relacionado", abaixo
In vitro Infectivity of Strains Isolated From Dogs Naturally Infected With Leishmania infantum Present a Distinct Pathogenic Profile in Hamsters
No full textVisceral leishmaniasis (VL) is a severe disease caused byLeishmania infantum.Dogsare the parasite’s main reservoir, favoring its transmission in the urban environment.The analysis ofL. infantumfrom infected dogs contributes to the identification of morevirulent parasites, thereby supporting basic and applied studies such as vaccinal andtherapeutic strategies. We proposed thein vitroandin vivocharacterization ofL. infantumstrains from naturally infected dogs from a VL endemic area based on an infectivity andpathogenicity analysis. DH82 canine macrophages were infectedin vitrowith differentstrains for infectivity analysis, showing distinct infectivity profiles. The strains that showedgreater and lesser infectivity usingin vitroanalyses (616 and 614, respectively) were usedto infect hamsters for pathogenicity analysis. The group infected with strain 616 showed100% survival while the group infected with strain 614 showed 50% after seven monthsof follow up. Furthermore, the 614 strain induced more noticeable clinicopathologicalchanges and biochemical abnormalities in liver function, along with high inflammationand parasite load in the liver and spleen. We confirmed high variability of infectivity andpathogenicity inL. infantumstrains from infected dogs. The results support the beliefthat screening forL. infantuminfectivity usingin vitroexperiments is inadequate when itcomes to selecting the most pathogenic strain
Curso de Zotero - Vídeoaula 2: Instalando e configurando o Zotero
No full textNesta vídeoaula veremos como fazer a instalação do Zotero, sua configuração, como sincronizar o programa com a nuvem e também como instalar uma nova norma, como por exemplo a ABNT
Localizing Sustainable Development Goal 6: An Assessment of Equitable Access to Sanitation in a Brazilian Metropolitan Region
No full textIn order for the goals and targets of the 2030 Agenda to be achieved, it is essential to “localize” the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), since it is only at the local level that it is possible to move towards their effective implementation. This article seeks to contribute to the development of evaluation and monitoring strategies for target 6.2 at the local level, adapting the official SDG indicator 6.2.1a and the international criteria established by the Joint Monitoring Programme for Water Supply, Sanitation and Hygiene (coordinated by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF)) at the municipal scale. Using the Belo Horizonte Metropolitan Region (RMBH) as a case study, a series of methodological procedures is proposed to assess and monitor equitable access to sanitation services. Inequalities in access to services between different population subgroups and between the municipalities that make up the RMBH are explored in different ways, including the evaluation of intersecting forms of inequality, the mapping of a synthetic index of inequality based on multiple criteria and the projection of the time needed to achieve universal access to services according to international criteria. The procedures applied demonstrated the existence of significant inequalities among the municipalities and population subgroups of the RMBH, which are not evident in the analysis of the aggregated data by municipality
Outbreak of autochthonous cases of malaria in coastal regions of Northeast Brazil: the diversity and spatial distribution of species of Anopheles
No full textBackground: Brazil has the fourth highest prevalence of malaria of all countries in the Americas, with an estimated
42 million people at risk of contracting this disease. Although most cases occur in the Amazon region, cases of an
autochthonous nature have also been registered in the extra-Amazonian region where Anopheles aquasalis and An.
albitarsis are the mosquito species of greatest epidemiological interest. In 2019, the municipality of Conde (state
of Paraíba) experienced an epidemic of autochthonous cases of malaria. Here we present preliminary results of an
entomological and case epidemiology investigation, in an attempt to correlate the diversity and spatial distribution of
species of Anopheles with the autochthonous cases of this outbreak of malaria.
Methods: Case data were collected using case report forms made available by the Conde Municipal Health Depart-
ment. The entomological survey was carried out from July to November 2019. The various methods of capture
included the use of battery-powered aspirators, mouth aspirators, Shannon traps, BG-Sentinel traps (with and without
dry ice) and CDC light traps. Captured mosquitoes were separated, packaged and sent to the laboratory for sexing
and molecular identification of the various species of anophelines. The data were tabulated and analyzed using Micro-
soft Excel. Spatial analysis of the data was performed using ArcGis 10 software.
Results: In 2019, 20 autochthonous cases and one imported case of malaria caused by Plasmodium vivax were
diagnosed, with three cases of relapses. A total of 3713 mosquitoes were collected, of which 3390 were culicines and
323 were anophelines. Nine species of genus Anopheles were identified, with the most abundant being An. aquasalis
(38.9%), followed by An. minor (18.2%) and An. albitarsis (9.0%). Spatial analysis of the data showed that the area could
be considered to be at risk of malaria cases and that there was a high prevalence of Anopheles
Webinar. Rede Sudeste de Repositórios Institucionais
No full textA gravação do Webinar está disponível no link https://wiki.lyrasis.org/pages/viewpage.action?pageId=185991986Trabalho apresentado no Webinar, coordenado pela empresa NEKI-IT, onde foi abordado tudo o que foi desenvolvido pela Rede Sudeste de Repositórios Institucionais. Foram apresentados alguns pontos como: breve histórico da Rede, os principais objetivos; ações e reuniões realizadas; estatísticas; trabalhos produzidos pela Rede; projetos para 2020; e a importância e atuação dos Repositórios nas Instituições