Immune Reactions of Vector Insects to Parasites and Pathogens.

This overview initially describes insect immune reactions and then brings together present knowledge of the interactions of vector insects with their invading parasites and pathogens. It is a way of introducing this Special Issue with subsequent papers presenting the latest details of these interactions in each particular group of vectors. Hopefully, this paper will fill a void in the literature since brief descriptions of vector immunity have now been brought together in one publication and could form a starting point for those interested and new to this important area. Descriptions are given on the immune reactions of mosquitoes, blackflies, sandflies, tsetse flies, lice, fleas and triatomine bugs. Cellular and humoral defences are described separately but emphasis is made on the co-operation of these processes in the completed immune response. The paper also emphasises the need for great care in extracting haemocytes for subsequent study as appreciation of their fragile nature is often overlooked with the non-sterile media, smearing techniques and excessive centrifugation sometimes used. The potential vital role of eicosanoids in the instigation of many of the immune reactions described is also discussed. Finally, the priming of the immune system, mainly in mosquitoes, is considered and one possible mechanism is presented.

Ludicidade e idosas: uma análise de princípios na prática pedagógica com institucionalizadas / Ludic activities and the elderly: an analysis of principles in the pedagogical practice with institutionalized individuals

Este trabalho analisou contribuições teórico-metodológicas da ludicidade com idosas institucionalizadas. Para isso, contou com a Hermenêutica-Dialética como método, que busca na compreensão de falas, texto e contexto, a concepção dos fenômenos estudados, os quais foram evidenciados pela entrevista semiestruturada com 19 (dezenove)participantes envolvidos num programa de extensão com intervenção em Instituição de Longa Permanência para Idosos (ILPI) da cidade do Recife. As falas tratadas pela análise de conteúdo categorial por temática revelaram duas categorias empíricas, das quais, optamos pela ludicidade. Como conclusão, foram evidenciados princípios lúdicos, a saber: alegria, diversão, gratuidade, imaginação, plenitude, liberdade e cultura, sendo facetas que fundamentam a prática lúdica num viés teórico-metodológico, revelando contribuições para a melhoria da interação social em ILPI.

This work analyzed the theoretical-methodological contributions of ludic activities with institutionalized elderly women. To this end, it was based on the Hermeneutics-Dialectics as a method, which pursues understanding in speeches, text and context, the conception of the phenomena studied, these were evidenced through a semi-structured interview with 19 participants who were involved in an extension program with intervention in a Long-Stay institution for the Elderly (LSIE), in the city of Recife. The speeches dealt with categorical content analysis by theme and revealed two empirical categories, from which, we opted for playfulness. In conclusion, ludic principles were evidenced, namely: joy, fun, gratuity, imagination, fullness, freedom and culture, these being facets that base the ludic practice on a theoretical-methodological bias, thus revealing contributions to the improvement of social interaction in LSIE.

O lúdico no processo de hospitalização das crianças com câncer / Plays in the hospitalization process of children with cancer

Trata-se de uma pesquisa que tem como objetivo analisar as contribuições do lúdico para o processo de hospitalização das crianças com câncer. Durante a sua hospitalização, a criança é afetada em seu estado físico, psicológico ou emocional, porém isso pode ser amenizado através de atividades lúdicas. Metodologicamente, esta pesquisa foi desenvolvida na abordagem qualitativa com método da hermenêutica dialética, que envolveu crianças em tratamento no hospital de referência na cidade de Recife/PE. Nesse caso, a comunicação foi tratada através dos dados recolhidos em fontes bibliográficas, observações dos jogos através do diário de campo e das entrevistas semiestruturadas com as crianças com câncer e seus acompanhantes. Com isso, foi constatado que a ludicidade é um recurso terapêutico enriquecedor, que contribuiu para ao desenvolvimento das crianças com câncer.

This research aims to analyze playfulness's contributions to the hospitalization process of children with cancer. During hospitalization, a child is affected physically, psychologically, or emotionally; however, this can be alleviated through playful activities. Methodologically, this research was developed in a qualitative approach based on dialectic-hermeneutics, which involved children undergoing treatment at a reference hospital in the city of Recife/PE. In this case, communication was treated through data collected from bibliographic sources, observations of the games through field diaries, and semi-structured interviews of children with cancer and their caretakers. Thus, it has been found that playfulness is an enriching.

Lethal and sublethal effects of essential oil of Lippia sidoides (Verbenaceae) and monoterpenes on Chagas´ disease vector Rhodnius prolixus

The aim of this study was to identify the composition of the essential oil from leaves of Lippia sidoides (EOLS), a typical shrub commonly found in the dry northeast of Brazil, popularly known as “alecrim-pimenta”. Additionally, we investigated the nymphicidal, ovicidal, phagoinhibitory and excretion effects of EOLS, its major constituent thymol and its isomer carvacrol, on fourth instar nymphs and eggs of Rhodnius prolixus, the Chagas’ disease vector. The nymphicidal and ovicidal activity of thymol, carvacrol, and EOLS was assessed by tests using impregnated Petri dishes. The lethal concentration values (LC50) for EOLS, carvacrol, and thymol were 54.48, 32.98, and 9.38 mg/cm2, respectively. The ovicidal test showed that both carvacrol and thymol (50 mg/cm2) inhibited hatching (50% and 23.3%, respectively), while treatments with 10 mg/cm2 or 50 mg/cm2 EOLS did not affect the hatching rate at all (80% and 90%, respectively). We observed an anti-feeding effect in insects fed with blood containing natural products at the higher concentrations (100 µg/mL). Finally, excretion rate was affected by EOLS and carvacrol, but not by thymol. These findings offer novel insights into basic physiological processes that make the tested natural compounds interesting candidates for new types of insecticides.

Immune homeostasis to microorganisms in the guts of triatomines (Reduviidae): a review

Bacteria, fungi and parasites are in constant contact with the insect gut environment and can influence different aspects of the host gut physiology. Usually, some of these microorganisms develop and survive in the digestive tract. Therefore, the gut environment must be able to tolerate certain populations of these organisms for the establishment of interactions between non-pathogenic bacteria, parasites and the gut. This review provides a brief overview of the biological and molecular mechanisms that microorganisms use to interact with the gut epithelia in mosquitoes and speculates on their significances for the development of bacteria and Trypanosoma cruzi in the guts of triatomines.