Zika Virus NS1 Protein Detection Using Gold Nanoparticle-Assisted Dynamic Light Scattering.

The Zika virus (ZIKV) is a global health threat due to its rapid spread and severe health implications, including congenital abnormalities and neurological complications. Differentiating ZIKV from other arboviruses such as dengue virus (DENV) is crucial for effective diagnosis and treatment. This study presents the development of a biosensor for detecting the ZIKV non-structural protein 1 (NS1) using gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) functionalized with monoclonal antibodies employing dynamic light scattering (DLS). The biosensor named ZINS1-mAb-AuNP exhibited specific binding to the ZIKV NS1 protein, demonstrating high colloidal stability indicated by a hydrodynamic diameter (DH) of 140 nm, detectable via DLS. In the absence of the protein, the high ionic strength medium caused particle aggregation. This detection method showed good sensitivity and specificity, with a limit of detection (LOD) of 0.96 µg mL-1, and avoided cross-reactivity with DENV2 NS1 and SARS-CoV-2 spike proteins. The ZINS1-mAb-AuNP biosensor represents a promising tool for the early and accurate detection of ZIKV, facilitating diagnostic and treatment capabilities for arboviral infections.

Effects of resveratrol on rheumatic symptoms and hepatic metabolism of arthritic rats.

OBJECTIVES: Resveratrol has been studied as a potential agent for treating rheumatic conditions; however, this compound suppresses glucose synthesis and glycogen catabolism when infused in perfused livers of both arthritic and healthy rats. This study investigated the effects of oral administration of resveratrol on inflammation and liver metabolism in rats with arthritis induced by Freund's adjuvant, which serves as rheumatoid arthritis model. METHODS: Holtzman rats, both healthy and exhibiting arthritic symptoms, were orally treated with resveratrol at doses varying from 25 to 500 mg/kg for a 5-day period preceding arthritis induction, followed by an additional 20-day period thereafter. Paw edema, arthritic score and hepatic myeloperoxidase activity were assessed to evaluate inflammation. Glycogen catabolism and gluconeogenesis from lactate were respectively evaluated in perfused livers from fed and fasted rats. RESULTS: Resveratrol decreased the liver myeloperoxidase activity at doses above 100 mg/kg, and decreased the paw edema and delayed the arthritic score at doses above 250 mg/kg. The hepatic gluconeogenesis was decreased in arthritic rats and resveratrol did not improve it. However, resveratrol did not negatively modify the gluconeogenesis in livers of healthy and arthritic rats. Glycogen catabolism was in part and slightly modified by resveratrol in the liver of arthritic and healthy rats. CONCLUSIONS: It is improbable that resveratrol negatively affects the liver metabolism, especially considering that gluconeogenesis is highly fragile to changes in cellular architecture. The findings suggest that resveratrol could serve as alternative for treating rheumatoid arthritis. Nevertheless, prudence is advised regarding its transient effects on liver metabolism.

Innovating Leishmaniasis Treatment: A Critical Chemist's Review of Inorganic Nanomaterials.

Leishmaniasis, a critical Neglected Tropical Disease caused by Leishmania protozoa, represents a significant global health risk, particularly in resource-limited regions. Conventional treatments are effective but suffer from serious limitations, such as toxicity, prolonged treatment courses, and rising drug resistance. Herein, we highlight the potential of inorganic nanomaterials as an innovative approach to enhance Leishmaniasis therapy, aligning with the One Health concept by considering these treatments' environmental, veterinary, and public health impacts. By leveraging the adjustable properties of these nanomaterials─including size, shape, and surface charge, tailored treatments for various diseases can be developed that are less harmful to the environment and nontarget species. We review recent advances in metal-, oxide-, and carbon-based nanomaterials for combating Leishmaniasis, examining their mechanisms of action and their dual use as standalone treatments or drug delivery systems. Our analysis highlights a promising yet underexplored frontier in employing these materials for more holistic and effective disease management.

The impact of high-fat diet consumption and inulin fiber supplementation on anxiety-related behaviors and liver oxidative status in female Wistar rats.

BACKGROUND: Obesity is a worldwide public health problem associated with cognitive and mental health problems in both humans and rats. Studies assessing the effect of fiber supplementation on behavioral deficits and oxidative stress caused by high-fat diet (HFD) consumption in female rats are still scarce. We hypothesized that HFD consumption would lead to anxiety-related behavior and hepatic oxidative stress and that inulin would protect against these changes. We analyzed the impact of HFD-induced obesity combined with fiber supplementation (inulin) on anxiety-related defensive behavior and hepatic oxidative stress. RESULTS: Female rats were fed a high-fat diet (HFD; 45%) for nine weeks to induce obesity. The administration of inulin was found to decrease the adiposity index in both the control and obese groups. The consumption of a HFD combined with inulin supplementation resulted in a reduction in both CAT activity and carbonylated protein levels, leading to a shift in the hepatic redox balance. Interestingly, the behavioral data were conflicting. Specifically, animals that consumed a high-fat diet and received inulin showed signs of impaired learning and memory caused by obesity. The HFD did not impact anxiety-related behaviors in the female rats. However, inulin appears to have an anxiolytic effect, in the ETM, when associated with the HFD. On the other hand, inulin appears to have affected the locomotor activity in the HFD in both open field and light-dark box. CONCLUSION: Our results show that consumption of a HFD induced obesity in female rats, similar to males. However, HFD consumption did not cause a consistent increase in anxiety-related behaviors in female Wistar rats. Treatment with inulin at the dosage used did not exert consistent changes on the behavior of the animals, but attenuated the abdominal WAT expansion and the hepatic redox imbalance elicited by high-fat diet-induced obesity.

Age estimation by volumetric analysis of teeth using cone beam computed tomography.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the feasibility of using the pulp volume (Pv) to total volume (Tv) ratio (Pv:Tv), obtained from cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) scans of single-rooted teeth, for age estimation in a Brazilian population sample. METHODS: After obtaining approval from the ethics committee, the study commenced by applying inclusion criteria to screen CBCT scans, resulting in a probability-based sample of participants aged 18 years and older (ranging from 18 to 82 years, with a mean age of 46.44 years). A total of 517 single-rooted teeth, including maxillary central incisors (CI), mandibular canines (C), and mandibular first premolars (FP), were chosen based on excellent agreement values (> 0.9). Pv and Tv measurements were conducted using semi-automatic segmentation with ITK-SNAP 3.8 software. Statistical analysis was performed using Jamovi software, with a significance level set at 5% (α = 0.05). RESULTS: A strong negative correlation (r > -0.7) was observed between chronological age and the Pv:Tv ratio across all examined teeth. However, when conducting regression analysis with Pv:Tv data and chronological age as the independent variable, only the mandibular FP teeth exhibited a normal distribution. The resulting linear model demonstrated moderate predictive value (approximately 64%) in explaining the variance in chronological age, but caution should be exercised when interpreting these findings. CONCLUSIONS: The method of measuring individual tooth volume using CBCT to estimate chronological age via Pv:Tv has been demonstrated as effective and reproducible within the Brazilian population sample.

Total laryngectomy vs. non-surgical organ preservation in advanced laryngeal cancer: a metanalysis.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the oncological results and the functional outcomes of patients undergoing Total Laryngectomy (TL) with the non-surgical treatment (organ preservation protocol) in the treatment of advanced laryngeal carcinomas through systematic review and meta-analysis. METHODS: A literature survey strategy was employed in order to perform a systematic review of the available evidence. Success rate and functional outomes after oncological treatment of patients with advanced laryngeal carcinomas was evaluated through systematic review and metanalysis, comparing TL and organ preservation protocol. RESULTS: The surgical treatment was associated with better survival outcomes. When stratifying by T stage, while patients with T4 staging have less risk of mortality with TL, there is no difference between the different treatments for patients with T3 tumors. Surgery is related to a lower chance of recurrence, late dysphagia and feeding tube dependence. CONCLUSION: Patients with T4 tumors should undergo TL as their treatment of choice. For patients with T3 tumors, there is no differences on the risk of mortality according to the therapeutic option, however, there is a greater chance of recurrence and dysphagia when surgery is not performed.

Preventive effects of hesperidin in an experimental model ofs acute lung inflammation.

In this study, we hypothesized that long-term administration of hesperidin can modulate the inflammatory response and oxidative stress in animals submitted to mechanical ventilation (MV). Twenty-five C57BL/6 male mice were divided into 5 groups: control, MV, animals receiving hesperidin in three doses 10, 25 and 50 mg/kg. The animals received the doses of hesperidin for 30 days via orogastric gavage, and at the end of the period the animals were submitted to MV. In animals submitted to MV, increased lymphocyte, neutrophil and monocyte/macrophage cell counts were observed in the blood and airways. Associated to this, MV promoted an increase in inflammatory cytokine levels such as CCL2, IL-12 and TNFα. The daily administration of hesperidin in the three doses prevented the effects caused by MV, which was observed by a lower influx of inflammatory cells into the airways, a reduction in inflammatory markers and less oxidative damage.

Analysis of Factors Related to the Success of Pediatric Kidney Transplantation: A 35 Years Experience.

BACKGROUND: Despite the significant improvement results over the past 20 years, pediatric kidney transplantation remains a challenge. Chronic rejection, thrombosis, and recurrence of the primary disease are frequent causes of graft loss that have been little studied. Therefore, our objective is to analyze factors related to a better prognosis, which can be used to improve future strategies to allow higher pediatric transplant success rates. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study with patients under 15 years old submitted for kidney transplantation at the Hospital das Clínicas da UNICAMP between January 1, 1987, and January 1, 2022. Age, patient weight, time and type of dialysis, use of anticoagulation, complications, ischemia time, and donor weight were analyzed and related to graft loss. The significance level adopted for the statistical tests was 5%. RESULTS: One hundred ninety-two medical records were anaThe mean follow-up time was 11 years, and the mean graft duration was ration 8.5 years. The main causes of graft loss were chronic dysfunction, thrombosis, and acute cellular rejection. Thrombosis presented significantly with the donor's body mass index and second transplantation. There was no correlation between the analyzed variables and chronic dysfunction or acute cellular rejection. DISCUSSION: Thrombosis remains the main cause of early graft loss, followed by acute cellular rejection. Measures such as thrombophilia screening and thromboprophylaxis have been proposed to improve results. However, they are still not standardized. CONCLUSION: The main causes of graft loss were chronic dysfunction, thrombosis, and acute cellular rejection. Only the thrombosis was related to the donor's body mass index and a second transplantation.

Total laryngectomy vs. non-surgical organ preservation in advanced laryngeal cancer: a metanalysis

Abstract Objective To compare the oncological results and the functional outcomes of patients undergoing Total Laryngectomy (TL) with the non-surgical treatment (organ preservation protocol) in the treatment of advanced laryngeal carcinomas through systematic review and meta-analysis. Methods A literature survey strategy was employed in order to perform a systematic review of the available evidence. Success rate and functional outomes after oncological treatment of patients with advanced laryngeal carcinomas was evaluated through systematic review and metanalysis, comparing TL and organ preservation protocol. Results The surgical treatment was associated with better survival outcomes. When stratifying by T stage, while patients with T4 staging have less risk of mortality with TL, there is no difference between the different treatments for patients with T3 tumors. Surgery is related to a lower chance of recurrence, late dysphagia and feeding tube dependence. Conclusion Patients with T4 tumors should undergo TL as their treatment of choice. For patients with T3 tumors, there is no differences on the risk of mortality according to the therapeutic option, however, there is a greater chance of recurrence and dysphagia when surgery is not performed.

N-acetylcysteine modulates redox imbalance and inflammation in macrophages and mice exposed to formaldehyde.

This study aimed to evaluate the protective role of N-acetylcysteine (NAC) in cells and mice exposed to formaldehyde. For the in vitro study, J774A.1 macrophages cells were incubated for 8, 16 and 24 h with formaldehyde or NAC to assess cell viability and reactive oxygen species (ROS). In the in vivo study, C57BL/6 mice (n = 48) were divided into 6 groups: control (CG), vehicle (VG) that received saline by orogastric gavage, a group exposed to formaldehyde 1% (FG) and formaldehyde exposed groups that received NAC at doses of 100, 150 and 200 mg/Kg (FN100, FN150 and FN200) for a period of 5 days. In vitro, formaldehyde promoted a decrease in cell viability and increased ROS, while NAC reduced formaldehyde-induced ROS production. Animals exposed to formaldehyde presented higher leukocyte counts in the blood and in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, and promoted secretion of inflammatory markers IL-6, IL-15, and IL-10. The exposure to formaldehyde also promoted redox imbalance and oxidative damage characterized by increased activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase, decreased GSH/GSSG ratio, as well as it increased levels of protein carbonyls and lipid peroxidation. NAC administration after formaldehyde exposure attenuated oxidative stress markers, secretion of inflammatory mediators and lung inflammation. In conclusion, both in in vitro and in vivo models, NAC administration exerted protective effects, which modulated the inflammatory response and redox imbalance, thus preventing the development airway injury induced by formaldehyde exposure.

Chronic Oral Administration of Aluminum Hydroxide Stimulates Systemic Inflammation and Redox Imbalance in BALB/c Mice.

The present study is aimed at investigating the long-term effects of the aluminum hydroxide administration in the small intestine, lung, liver, and kidney of male BALB/c mice. The mice received via orogastric gavage phosphate buffered or 10 mg/kg aluminum hydroxide 3 times a week for 6 months. Administration of aluminum hydroxide decreased hemoglobin, hematocrit, and erythrocyte. In the blood, kidney and liver function markers were evaluated, and long-term administration of aluminum hydroxide led to an increase in AST levels and a decrease in urea levels. The animals exposed to aluminum showed higher lipid and protein oxidation in all the organs analyzed. In relation to the enzymes involved in antioxidant defense, the lungs showed lower superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase activity and a lower reduced and oxidized glutathione (GSH/GSSG) ratio. In the liver, aluminum administration led to a decrease in catalase activity and the GSH/GSSG ratio. Lower catalase activity was observed in the small intestine, as well as in the lungs and liver. In addition to alterations in antioxidant defense, increased levels of the chemokine CCL-2 were observed in the lungs, lower levels of IL-10 in the liver and small intestine, and decreased levels of IL-6 in the intestine of the animals that received aluminum hydroxide for 6 months. Long-term exposure to aluminum promoted steatosis in the liver. In the kidneys, mice treated with aluminum presented a decreased glomerular density than in the naive control group. In the small intestine, exposure caused villi shortening. Our results indicate that long-term oral administration of aluminum hydroxide provokes systemic histological damage, inflammation, and redox imbalance.

Programa para Promoção de Competências Emocionais em Crianças para Educadores (PROMCE-E): Relato de Experiência / Program for the Promotion of Emotional Skills in Children for Educators (PROMCE-E): Experience Report / Programa de Promoción de Habilidades Emocionales en Niños para Educadores (PROMCE-E): Informe de Experiência

A competência emocional é reconhecida como habilidade essencial para o desenvolvimento infantil, contribuindo para o bem-estar subjetivo, bom relacionamento interpessoal e desempenho acadêmico de crianças. Na fase escolar, por volta dos quatro/cinco anos, a mesma tem avanço expressivo, o que torna os professores agentes fundamentais nesse processo. Este estudo relatou a experiência de um projeto-piloto de implantação de um programa de promoção de competências emocionais em crianças dirigido a professores. Participaram seis professoras de educação infantil (M=40,6 anos), de duas escolas particulares do Rio de Janeiro e entorno, que preencheram instrumentos antes do início da implantação do projeto. Participaram ativamente de todas as etapas, demonstrando interesse pelos conteúdos e atividades. Seus relatos na entrevista final (gravados, transcritos e analisados) evidenciaram algumas conquistas nas competências emocionais das crianças, além de ganhos adicionais no autoconhecimento e satisfação das professoras com as atividades realizadas. Buscou-se refletir sobre o impacto desse programa e os desafios do projeto com foco no desenvolvimento da competência emocional das crianças. Acredita-se que esta proposta pode ser um diferencial em iniciativas voltadas para a melhora da vida acadêmica e a promoção de saúde dos educandos, ressaltando a importância da atenção ao desenvolvimento emocional infantil no ambiente escolar.

Emotional competence is recognized as an essential skill for child development, contributing to the subjective well-being, good interpersonal relationships, and academic performance of children. At the school stage, around four/five years, such competence shows significant progress, which makes teachers crucial agents in this process. This study reports the experience of a pilot project designed for teachers in order to implement a program to promote emotional competences on children. Six teachers (M=40.6 years) from early childhood education from two private schools in Rio de Janeiro and its surroundings had joined the research and filled out instruments before the project has started to run. All of them have participated actively in all stages, showing interest in its contents and activities. Their reports in the final interview (which has been recorded, transcribed, and analyzed) showed some achievements in the children's emotional skills, as well as additional gains in self-knowledge and teachers' satisfaction with the activities they have carried out. We intended to reflect on the impact of this program and the challenges of the project, focusing on the development of students' emotional competence. We believe that this approach can be a differential in initiatives that look for improving academic life and promoting the health of students, emphasizing the importance of attention to children's emotional development in the school environment.

La competencia emocional es una habilidad esencial para el desarrollo infantil, contribuyendo al bienestar subjetivo, las buenas relaciones interpersonales y el rendimiento académico de niños. En la etapa escolar, en torno a los cuatro/cinco años, hay avances significativos, lo que convierte a los docentes en agentes fundamentales de este proceso. Este estudio reportó la experiencia de un proyecto-piloto para implementar un programa de promoción de competencias emocionales en niños dirigido a docentes. Participaron seis docentes (M=40,6 años) de educación infantil de dos escuelas privadas de Río de Janeiro y alrededores y completaron instrumentos antes del inicio de la implantación. Participaron activamente en todas las etapas. Sus relatos (grabados, transcritos; analizados) evidenciaron logros en las habilidades emocionales de los niños, ganancias adicionales en autoconocimiento y la satisfacción de los docentes con las actividades realizadas. Buscamos reflexionar sobre el impacto del programa y desafíos del proyecto, enfocándonos en el desarrollo de la competencia emocional de los estudiantes. Se cree que esta propuesta puede ser un diferencial en iniciativas dirigidas a mejorar la vida académica y promover la salud de los estudiantes, destacando la importancia de la atención al desarrollo emocional de niños en el ámbito escolar.

Effects of a lycopene-layered double hydroxide composite administration in cells and lungs of adult mice.

Lycopene is a natural compound with one of the highest antioxidant activities. Its consumption is associated with lower risks in lung cancer and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, for example. Experimentally, a murine model demonstrated the ingestion of lycopene, which reduced the damage in lungs caused by cigarette smoke. Since lycopene is highly hydrophobic, its formulations in supplements and preparations for laboratory assays are based on oils, additionally, bioavailavility is low. We developed a lycopene layered double hydroxide (Lyc-LDH) composite, which is capable of transporting lycopene aqueous media. Our objective was to evaluate the cytotoxicity of Lyc-LDH and the intra-cellular production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in J774A.1 cells. Also, in vivo assays were conducted with 50 male C57BL/6 mice intranasally treated with Lyc-LDH 10 mg/kg (LG10), Lyc-LDH 25 mg/kg (LG25) and Lyc-LDH 50 mg/kg (LG50) during five days compared against a vehicle (VG) and control (CG) group. The blood, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and lung tissue were analyzed. The results revealed that Lyc-LDH composite attenuated intracellular ROS production stimulated with lipopolysacharide. In BALF, the highest doses of Lyc-LDH (LG25 and LG50) promoted influx of macrophages, lymphocytes, neutrophils and eosinophils compared to CG and VG. Also, LG50 increased the levels of IL-6 and IL-13, and promoted the redox imbalance in the pulmonary tissue. On the contrary, low concentrations did not produce significative effects. In conclusion, our results suggest that intranasal administration of high concentrations of Lyc-LDH induces inflammation as well as redox status changes in the lungs of healthy mice, however, results with low concentrations open a promising way to study LDH composites as vehicles for intranasal administration of antioxidant coadjuvants.

Clinical-epidemiological profile of the canine population in a shelter, Minas Gerais, Brazil, 2019-2020.

The aim of this study was to analyze the demographic, clinical, and hematological aspects of the population in a dog shelter located in the municipality of Lavras, Brazil. All animals were microchipped and evaluated by veterinarians. Whole blood samples were obtained from 329 dogs in the months of July-August 2019 and from 310 dogs in the months of January-February 2020. Most of the dogs were of mixed breed, received anti-rabies and polyvalent vaccines (100%), were dewormed (100%), and were spayed/neutered (98.59%), with a predominance of adult (86.51%), short-hair (67.51%), normal body condition (65.57%), medium-size (62.57%), and female (62.36%). The main clinical alterations detected were enlarged lymph nodes (38.69%), skin lesions (31.50%), overweight (23.32%), obesity (6.07%), elevated temperature (17.05%), and ear secretion (15.72%). Regarding hematological alterations, thrombocytopenia (36.31%), leukopenia (15.92%), anemia with decreased hemoglobin values (10.60%), hematocrit (9.70%), and red blood cells (5.14%) were observed. Most of the shelter dogs were apparently healthy, but specific measures for nutritional, dermatological, otological and disease management should be implemented once the health changes are verified, as they impact the general state of the population and adoptions.

Long-term e-cigarette aerosol exposure causes pulmonary emphysema in adult female and male mice.

This study aimed to evaluate long-term exposure to conventional cigarette smoke (CC) and electronic cigarette (EC) aerosol in adult male and female C57BL/6 mice. Forty-eight C57BL/6 mice were used, male (n = 24) and female (n = 24), both were divided into three groups: control, CC and EC. The CC and EC groups were exposed to cigarette smoke or electronic cigarette aerosol, respectively, 3 times a day for 60 consecutive days. Afterwards, they were maintained for 60 days without exposure to cigarettes or electronic cigarette aerosol. Both cigarettes promoted an influx of inflammatory cells to the lung in males and females. All animals exposed to CC and EC showed an increase in lipid peroxidation and protein oxidation. There was an increase of IL-6 in males and females exposed to EC. The IL-13 levels were higher in the females exposed to EC and CC. Both sexes exposed to EC and CC presented tissue damage characterized by septal destruction and increased alveolar spaces compared to control. Our results demonstrated that exposure to CC and EC induced pulmonary emphysema in both sexes, and females seem to be more susceptible to EC.

Exogenous surfactant reduces inflammation and redox imbalance in rats under prone or supine mechanical ventilation.

Mechanical ventilation (MV) is a lifesaving therapy for patients with acute or chronic respiratory failure. Despite, it can also cause lung injury by inducing or worsening inflammatory responses and oxidative stress. Several clinical approaches have protective effects on the lungs, including the prone position and exogenous surfactant; however, few studies have evaluated the association between the two strategies, especially in individuals without previous lung injury. We tested the hypothesis that the effects of the homogenization in lung aeration caused by the prone position in association with the anti-inflammatory properties of exogenous surfactant pre-treatment could have a cumulative protective effect against ventilator-induced lung injury. Therefore, Wistar rats were divided into four experimental groups: Mechanical Ventilation in Supine Position (MVSP), Mechanical Ventilation in Prone position (MVPP), Mechanical Ventilation in Supine Position + surfactant (MVSPS), and Mechanical Ventilation in Prone Position + Surfactant (MVPPS). The intranasal instillation of a porcine surfactant (Curosurf®) was performed in the animals of MVSPS and MVPPS 1 h before the MV, all the rats were subjected to MV for 1 h. The prone position in association with surfactant decreased mRNA expression levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines in ventilated animals compared to the supine position; in addition, the NfκB was lower in MVPP, MVSPS and MVPPS when compared to MVSP. However, it had no effects on oxidative stress caused by MV. Pre-treatment with exogenous surfactant was more efficient in promoting lung protection than the prone position, as it also reduced oxidative damage in the lung parenchyma. Nevertheless, the surfactant did not cause additional improvements in most parameters that were also improved by the prone position. Our results indicate that the pre-treatment with exogenous surfactant, regardless of the position adopted in mechanical ventilation, preserves the original lung histoarchitecture, reduces redox imbalance, and reduces acute inflammatory responses caused by mechanical ventilation in healthy adult Wistar rats.

B-Cell Epitope Mapping of the Plasmodium falciparum Malaria Vaccine Candidate GMZ2.6c in a Naturally Exposed Population of the Brazilian Amazon.

The GMZ2.6c malaria vaccine candidate is a multi-stage P. falciparum chimeric protein that contains a fragment of the sexual-stage Pfs48/45-6C protein genetically fused to GMZ2, an asexual-stage vaccine construction consisting of the N-terminal region of the glutamate-rich protein (GLURP) and the C-terminal region of the merozoite surface protein-3 (MSP-3). Previous studies showed that GMZ2.6c is widely recognized by antibodies from Brazilian exposed individuals and that its components are immunogenic in natural infection by P. falciparum. In addition, anti-GMZ2.6c antibodies increase with exposure to infection and may contribute to parasite immunity. Therefore, identifying epitopes of proteins recognized by antibodies may be an important tool for understanding protective immunity. Herein, we identify and validate the B-cell epitopes of GMZ2.6c as immunogenic and immunodominant in individuals exposed to malaria living in endemic areas of the Brazilian Amazon. Specific IgG antibodies and subclasses against MSP-3, GLURP, and Pfs48/45 epitopes were detected by ELISA using synthetic peptides corresponding to B-cell epitopes previously described for MSP-3 and GLURP or identified by BepiPred for Pfs48/45. The results showed that the immunodominant epitopes were P11 from GLURP and MSP-3c and DG210 from MSP-3. The IgG1 and IgG3 subclasses were preferentially induced against these epitopes, supporting previous studies that these proteins are targets for cytophilic antibodies, important for the acquisition of protective immunity. Most individuals presented detectable IgG antibodies against Pfs48/45a and/or Pfs48/45b, validating the prediction of linear B-cell epitopes. The higher frequency and antibody levels against different epitopes from GLURP, MSP-3, and Pfs48/45 provide additional information that may suggest the relevance of GMZ2.6c as a multi-stage malaria vaccine candidate.

Variability of the ß-casein gene polymorphism in Curraleiro Pé-Duro cattle: a geographical genetics approach.

This study purposes to examine the distribution of A2A2 alleles in herds of Curraleiro Pé-Duro (CPD) cattle and test association patterns with geographical and municipal development data. Eight CPD herds were selected from the municipalities of Tocantins State, Brazil. The frequency of the A1 and A2 allele was 40.0 and 60.0%, and the frequencies of genotypes A1A1, A1A2, and A2A2 were 20.0, 39.0, and 41.0%, respectively. Correlation estimates supported that the preferred genotype (A2A2) was mostly present in the relatively higher developed mesoregion (West) (P < 0.05). However, genotypic frequencies varied at random according to human population of municipalities and human development index (P > 0.05). The evaluation of the variability of the ß-casein gene polymorphism, coupled with spatially explicit methods (spatial autocorrelation, mantel test, and interpolation procedures), revealed some level of spatial dependency. The results suggest that the production of A2A2 milk in indigenous CPD cattle is feasible. This will depend on the adoption of selection schemes.

Acute Outcomes of Cigarette Smoke and Electronic Cigarette Aerosol Inhalation in a Murine Model.

Cigarette smoking throughout life causes serious health issues in the lungs. The electronic cigarette (E-Cig) use increased, since it was first introduced in the world. This research work compared the short-term exposure consequences to e-cigarette vapor and cigarette smoke in male mice. Forty-five C57BL/6 mice were randomized into control (C) in an ambient air exposition cigarette smoke (CS) and aerosol electronic cigarette (EC), both were exposed to 120 puffs, 3 times/day during five days. Then, in the experimental protocol, the euthanized mice had their tissues removed for analysis. Our study showed that CS and EC resulted in higher cell influx into the airways, and an increase in macrophage counts in CS (209.25 ± 7.41) and EC (220.32 ± 8.15) when compared to C (108.40 ± 4.49) (p < 0.0001). The CS (1.92 ± 0.23) displayed a higher pulmonary lipid peroxidation as opposed to C (0.93 ± 0.06) and EC (1.23 ± 0.17) (p < 0.05). The EC (282.30 ± 25.68) and CS (368.50 ± 38.05) promoted increased levels of interleukin 17 when compared to C (177.20 ± 10.49) (p < 0.05). The EC developed shifts in lung histoarchitecture, characterized by a higher volume density in the alveolar air space (60.21; 55.00-65.83) related to C (51.25; 18.75-68.75) and CS (50.26; 43.75-62.08) (p =0.002). The EC (185.6 ± 9.01) presented a higher respiratory rate related to CS (133.6 ± 10.2) (p < 0.002). Therefore, our findings demonstrated that the short-term exposure to e-cig promoted more acute inflammation comparing to cigarette smoke in the ventilatory parameters of the animals.

SARS-CoV-2 infects adipose tissue in a fat depot- and viral lineage-dependent manner.

Visceral adiposity is a risk factor for severe COVID-19, and a link between adipose tissue infection and disease progression has been proposed. Here we demonstrate that SARS-CoV-2 infects human adipose tissue and undergoes productive infection in fat cells. However, susceptibility to infection and the cellular response depends on the anatomical origin of the cells and the viral lineage. Visceral fat cells express more ACE2 and are more susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 infection than their subcutaneous counterparts. SARS-CoV-2 infection leads to inhibition of lipolysis in subcutaneous fat cells, while in visceral fat cells, it results in higher expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Viral load and cellular response are attenuated when visceral fat cells are infected with the SARS-CoV-2 gamma variant. A similar degree of cell death occurs 4-days after SARS-CoV-2 infection, regardless of the cell origin or viral lineage. Hence, SARS-CoV-2 infects human fat cells, replicating and altering cell function and viability in a depot- and viral lineage-dependent fashion.