The experiences of pregnant adolescents' relatives regarding the early pregnancy in Montes Claros/MG municipality / Experiencia de familiares de adolescentes embarazados en cuanto a la gestación precoz en el municipio de Montes Claros/MG / Experiência de familiares de adolescentes grávidas quanto a gestação precoce no município de Montes Claros/MG

Objective: The study's goal has been to gain further knowledge about the experiences of family members of pregnant adolescents assisted by the Family Health Strategies in Montes Claros city, MG, about early pregnancy. Methods: It is a descriptive study with a qualitative approach, in which 10 relatives of pregnant adolescents were interviewed. Results: It was perceived by the research that the adolescents' relatives refer to sexuality as a sexual act only. Interviewees relate early gestation to various factors. The acceptance of pregnancy has been referred positively, even when it is unexpected. Conclusion: The behaviors adopted by the adolescents' relatives varies from advising up to providing family support, however, almost always assigning responsibility toward the adolescents. The predominant feeling due to the precocity of gestation is the conformism

Objetivo: Conhecer as experiências de familiares de adolescentes grávidas assistidas pelas ESF do município de Montes Claros/MG, acerca da gestação precoce. Métodos: Trata-se de um estudo descritivo com abordagem qualitativa, no qual foram entrevistados 10 familiares de adolescentes grávidas. Resultados: Percebe-se com a pesquisa que os familiares referem a sexualidade como ato sexual somente. Os entrevistados relacionam a gestação precoce à vários fatores. A aceitação da gravidez é referida como positiva, mesmo quando inesperada. Conclusão: As condutas adotadas transitam desde o aconselhamento até a oferta de apoio familiar, mas quase sempre designando a responsabilidade para as adolescentes. O sentimento predominante é o de conformismo, devido à precocidade da gestação

Objetivo: Conocer las experiencias de la familia de las adolescentes embarazadas asistidas por municipio Montes del FSE Claros / MG, sobre el embarazo temprano. Metodos: Se realizó un estudio cualitativo descriptivo, que entrevistó a 10 familiares de las adolescentes embarazadas. Resultados: Se percibe a la investigación de la familia se refiere a la sexualidad, ya que sólo el coito. Los encuestados se relacionan con el embarazo temprano a varios factores. La aceptación de embarazo se denomina positiva, incluso cuando inesperado. Conclusion: Las tuberías adoptadas en tránsito desde el asesoramiento para ofrecer apoyo a la familia, pero a menudo la asignación de la responsabilidad de los adolescentes. La sensación predominante es el conformismo, debido a los embarazos precoces

Schistosoma mansoni schistosomula tegument (Smteg) immunization in absence of adjuvant induce IL-10 production by CD4+ cells and failed to protect mice against challenge infection.

The Schistosoma mansoni tegument interaction with the immune system plays a key role in disease establishment or elimination. We have recently demonstrated that S. mansoni schistosomula tegument (Smteg) is able to activate innate immune response and to induce protective immunity in a vaccine formulation with Freunds adjuvant. In this work, we evaluated the ability of Smteg to elicit protection in the absence of adjuvant. Smteg mice immunization resulted in significant antibody production, increased percentage of CD4+IFN-g+ and CD4+IL-10+ cells in spleen and increased production of IFN-g and IL-10 by spleen cells, but failed to reduce parasite burden, female fecundity and morbidity. We also demonstrated that BMDC stimulation with Smteg resulted in significant IL-10 production. Our results demonstrate that Smteg has immune modulatory proprieties.

Toll-like receptor 9 is required for full host resistance to Mycobacterium avium infection but plays no role in induction of Th1 responses.

To investigate the role of Toll-like receptor 9 (TLR9) in innate immunity to Mycobacterium avium, TLR9, TLR2, and MyD88 knockout (KO) mice were infected with this bacterium. Bacterial burdens were higher in the spleens, livers, and lungs of infected TLR9 KO mice than in those of C57BL/6 mice, indicating that TLR9 is required for efficient control of M. avium infection. However, TLR9 KO or TLR2 KO spleen cells displayed normal M. avium-induced tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and gamma interferon (IFN-γ) responses. This finding was confirmed by determining the number of splenic CD4(+) T cells producing IFN-γ by flow cytometry. Furthermore, TLR2 and MyD88, but not TLR9, played a major role in interleukin-12 and TNF-α production by M. avium-infected macrophages and dendritic cells (DCs). We also found that major histocompatibility complex class II molecule expression on DCs is regulated by TLR2 and MyD88 signaling but not by TLR9. Finally, lack of TLR9, TLR2, or MyD88 reduced the numbers of macrophages, epithelioid cells, and lymphocytes in M. avium-induced granulomas but only MyD88 deficiency affected the number of liver granulomas. In summary, our data demonstrated that the involvement of TLR9 in the control of M. avium infection is not related to the induction of Th1 responses.

IL-12 and TNF-alpha production by dendritic cells stimulated with Schistosoma mansoni schistosomula tegument is TLR4- and MyD88-dependent.

Schistosoma mansoni schistosomula are the most susceptible parasite life stage to host immune system attack. Complex host-parasite interactions take place on Schistosoma tegument, which is a unique double membrane structure involved in nutrition and immune evasion. Herein, we have demonstrated that schistosomula tegument (Smteg) activates Dendritic cells to produce IL-12p40, TNF-alpha and also to up-regulate the co-stimulatory molecules CD40 and CD86. Moreover, using DCs derived from MyD88-, TLR2-, TLR4- and TLR9-deficient mice we have shown that the ability of Smteg to activate DCs to produce IL-12 and TNF-alpha involves TLR4/Smteg interaction and MyD88 signaling pathway. Finally, our findings lead us to conclude that TLR4 is a key receptor involved in Smteg induction of pro-inflammatory cytokines.

Peptides containing T cell epitopes, derived from Sm14, but not from paramyosin, induce a Th1 type of immune response, reduction in liver pathology and partial protection against Schistosoma mansoni infection in mice.

Sm14 and paramyosin are two major Schistosoma mansoni vaccine candidate antigens. Recently, we have identified Sm14 and paramyosin epitopes that are recognized by T cells of resistant individuals living in endemic areas for schistosomiasis. Herein, mice were immunized with these peptides separately or in association in order to evaluate their vaccine potential. Immunization of mice with Sm14 peptides alone or mixed with paramyosin peptides was able to induce 26%-36.7% or 28%-29.2% of worm burden reduction, 67% or 46% of intestinal eggs reduction and also 54%-61% or 43%-52% of liver pathology reduction, respectively. Protection was associated with a Th1 type of immune response induced by Sm14 peptide immunization. In contrast, paramyosin peptide vaccination did not engender protective immunity or liver pathology reduction and immunization was associated with a Th2 type of immune response.