Sporothrix brasiliensis Infection Modulates Antimicrobial Peptides and Stress Management Gene Expression in the Invertebrate Biomodel Galleria mellonella.

Sporothrix brasiliensis is the most pathogenic species, responsible for the Brazilian cat-transmitted sporotrichosis hyperendemic. In this scenario, an investigation of the pathogen-host interaction can provide relevant information for future treatment strategies. To this end, the invertebrate Galleria mellonella has proven to be a suitable alternative for evaluating the virulence of pathogenic fungi, since the insect immune system is similar to the mammalian innate immune response. The aim of this work was to investigate phenotypic and molecular aspects of the immune response of G. mellonella throughout the S. brasiliensis infection. Hemocyte density and the evolution of the fungal load were evaluated. In parallel, RT-qPCR expression analysis of genes encoding antimicrobial peptides (Gallerimycin and Galiomycin) and stress management genes (C7 Contig 15362 and C8 Contig 19101) was conducted. The fungal load and hemocyte densities increased simultaneously and proportionally to the deleterious morphological events and larvae mortality. Gallerimycin, C7 Contig 15362 and C8 Contig 19101 genes were positively regulated (p < 0.05) at distinct moments of S. brasiliensis infection, characterizing a time-dependent and alternately modulated profile. Galiomycin gene expression remained unchanged. Our results contribute to the future proposal of potential alternative pathways for treating and consequently controlling S. brasiliensis zoonosis, a major public health issue in Latin America.

Polymorphisms in Toll-Like receptors genes and their associations with immunological parameters in Plasmodium vivax malaria in the Brazil-French Guiana Border.

BACKGROUND: The innate immune response plays an important role during malaria. Toll-like receptors (TLR) are capable of recognizing pathogen molecules. We aimed to evaluate five polymorphisms in TLR-4, TLR-6, and TLR-9 genes and their association with cytokine levels and clinical parameters in malaria from the Brazil-French Guiana border. METHODS: A case-control study was conducted in Amapá, Brazil. P. vivax patients and individuals not infected were evaluated. Genotyping of five SNPs was carried out by qPCR. Circulating cytokines were measured by CBA. The MSP-119 IgG antibodies were performed by ELISA. RESULTS: An association between TLR4 A299G with parasitemia was observed. There was an increase for IFN-ɤ, TNF-ɑ, IL-6, and IL-10 in the TLR-4 A299G and T3911, TLR-6 S249P, and TLR-9 1486C/T, SNPs for the studied malarial groups. There were significant findings for the TLR-4 variants A299G and T3911, TLR-9 1237C/T, and 1486C/T. For the reactivity of MSP-119 antibodies levels, no significant results were found in malaria, and control groups. CONCLUSIONS: The profile of the immune response observed by polymorphisms in TLRs genes does not seem to be standard for all types of malaria infection around the world. This can depend on the human population and the species of Plasmodium.

Spatio-temporal six-year retrospective study on dermatophytosis in Rio de Janeiro, Southeast Brazil: A tropical tourist locality tale.

Trichophyton, Microsporum, Nannizzia and Epidermophyton genera cause dermatophytosis, the most common and highly contagious infectious skin disease. Rio de Janeiro is one of the most visited cities in the Southern Hemisphere, located in the most visited state of Brazil. This retrospective study investigated epidemiological and laboratorial aspects of dermatophytosis in Rio de Janeiro state, Brazil, by using spatiotemporal analysis. More than half of all individuals were infected by one or more dermatophytes. A variation between 18 and 106 years-old of the studied population was verified, and women more frequently affected. Patients were more frequently infected by Trichophyton spp., most of them T. rubrum, followed by T. mentagrophytes. M. canis and N. gypsea were more frequently isolated in the age group between 40 and 60 years old, while T. rubrum predominates among younger patients. All species presented homogeneous distribution while T. tonsurans appears to be restricted to the Rio de Janeiro capital and E. floccosum to the municipality of Macaé (190 Km apart from RJ). Rio de Janeiro state presented spatial clusters of dermatophytosis with high density in Guanabara Bay (E. floccosum, M. canis, N. gypsea, T. tonsurans) and Niterói (T. rubrum, T. mentagrophytes) but low density in Macaé (E. floccosum). Significant spatiotemporal clusters on dermatophytosis cases were detected in distinct municipalities (p-value ≤ 0.05). The Vulnerability Index (r = 0.293) and Demographic Density (r = 0.652) distributed according to neighborhoods in Niterói were direct related with dermatophytosis cases whereas Income (r = -0.306) was inversely correlated (p-value ≤ 0.05). The dermatophytosis spatiotemporal distinct distribution after two major international events in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, highlight the pressing need for specific measures of its prevention and controlling. This is particularly relevant in touristic tropical localities which must consider both socio-economical and traveler's medicine variables.