Detection of Brucella S19 Vaccine Strain DNA in Domestic and Wild Ungulates from Brazilian Pantanal.

The Pantanal region, the largest floodplain in the world, has a huge biodiversity and is an important livestock center. Bovine brucellosis has been reported in the region over the last three decades, posing implications for cattle industry as well as for the maintenance of biodiversity. We aimed to investigate the presence of B. abortus S19 vaccine strain DNA in unvaccinated domestic and wild ungulates from the Brazilian Pantanal. Fifty-two heifers, 63 ovine, 24 domestic pigs, 28 feral pigs, and three Pampas deer were sampled. Brucella spp. was detected through bcsp31 PCR of blood samples in 45.3% (77/170) of the sampled animals, of which 36.4% (28/77) showed positivity in ery PCR corresponding to B. abortus S19 strain. Feral pigs presented the highest occurrence of positive samples in bcsp31 PCR (75%), followed by ovine (47.6%), domestic pigs (41.7%), and unvaccinated heifers (30.8%). We did not observe positivity in Pampas deer. Our results strongly suggest that vaccination against bovine brucellosis may promote spill-over of B. abortus S19 strain in the Pantanal region. Moreover, our data indicate that wild strains of Brucella circulates in the Pantanal Biome.

Caveolin-1/Endothelial Nitric Oxide Synthase Interaction Is Reduced in Arteries From Pregnant Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats.

We have investigated the role caveolae/caveolin-1 (Cav-1) plays in endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) activation and how it impacts pregnancy-induced decreased vascular reactivity in normotensive (Wistar rats) and spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). Wistar rats and SHR were divided into non-pregnant (NP) and pregnant (P). Nitrite levels were assessed by the Griess method in the aorta and mesenteric vascular bed. In functional studies, arteries were incubated with methyl-ß-cyclodextrin (dextrin, 10mmol/L), which disrupts caveolae by depleting cholesterol, and concentration-response curves to phenylephrine (PE) and acetylcholine (ACh) were constructed. Electronic microscopy was used to determine endothelial caveolae density in the aorta and resistance mesenteric artery in the presence of vehicle or dextrin (10mmol/L). Western blot was performed to evaluate Cav-1, p-Cav-1, calmodulin (CaM), and heat shock protein 90 (Hsp90) expression. Cav-1/eNOS interaction in the aorta and mesenteric vascular bed was assessed by co-immunoprecipitation. Nitric oxide (NO) generation was greater in arteries from P groups compared to NP groups. Dextrin did not change vascular responses in the aorta from P groups or the number of caveolae in P groups compared to NP groups. Compared to NP Wistar rats, NP SHR showed smaller number of caveolae and reduced Cav-1 expression. Pregnancy did not alter Cav-1, CaM, or Hsp90 expression in the aorta or mesenteric vascular bed from Wistar rats or SHR. These results suggest that pregnancy does not alter expression of the main eNOS regulatory proteins, but it decreases Cav-1/eNOS interaction. Reduced Cav-1/eNOS interaction in the aorta and mesenteric vascular bed seems to be an important mechanism to increase eNOS activity and nitric oxide production in pregnant normotensive and hypertensive rats.

Desinformação e covid-19: desafios contemporâneos na comunicação e saúde

No contexto de incertezas provocadas pela covid-19, e proeminência de novos regimes de verdade instaurados pelas mídias digitais, ganharam espaço e se consolidaram fenômenos comunicacionais complexos, como a infodemia, a sindemia, a desinformação e as chamadas fake news. Marca do nosso tempo, esses fenômenos, particularmente desafiadores no campo da saúde, atravessaram o cotidiano pandêmico, ampliando os desafios dos governos e, consequentemente, dos sistemas de saúde de todo o mundo no enfrentamento à crise sanitária. No Brasil, sob uma gestão federal errática, a propagação de discursos negacionistas e fraudulentos em torno da pandemia cresceu exponencialmente, ampliando os riscos pandêmicos. Entre outros desfechos nefastos, esses discursos contribuíram, por exemplo, para o aumento da hesitação vacinal e baixa adesão à quarentena e ao uso de máscaras, tornando vulneráveis ao vírus o conjunto da população. E deixou um saldo trágico, 700 mil mortos em março de 2023.