Do Latin American scientific journals follow dual-use review policies?

During the past decade, a number of journals have implemented dual-use policies in order to analyze whether the papers submitted for publication could raise concern because of the potential for misuse of their content. In this context, an analysis was performed on Latin American scientific journals to examine whether they apply formal written dual-use review policies and whether they inform their authors and reviewers about potentially sensitive issues in this area, as other international journals do. Peer-reviewed life sciences journals indexed in Latindex from Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, and Chile were analyzed. The Guide for Authors and the Instructions to Referees of 216 journals included in the Latindex catalogue (which means that they meet the best quality standards of the Latindex system) were screened for biosecurity-related information using the keywords biosecurity, biological weapons, and dual-use research of concern. Results showed that the screened publications had a total lack of dual-use review policies, even though some of them pointed out ethical behaviors to be followed related to authorship, plagiarism, simultaneous submission, research results misappropriation, ethical principles for medical research involving human subjects, guiding principles for the care and use of animals in research, research standard violations, and reviewer bias, among others.

Trypanocidal action of 2,4-dichloro-6-phenylphenoxyethyl diethylamine hydrobromide (Lilly 18947) on Trypanosoma cruzi.

AIM: To study the effect of the inhibitor of cytochrome P450 known as Lilly 18947 (2,4 dichloro-6 phenylphenoxy ethyl diethylamine) on Trypanosoma cruzi. METHODS: Trypanosoma cruzi epimastigotes were grown in culture, in absence or in presence of drug. The inhibition of its growth was followed by daily counting using a Neubauer chamber. The effect of Lilly 18947 on the parasite ultrastructure was examined by electron microscopy. To test the effect of different concentrations of drug on the parasite cycle, Vero cells were inoculated with trypomastigotes (RA strain) and after 72 h the percentage of infected cells and the number of intracellular parasites were estimated and expressed as the endocytic index. RESULTS: Growth of epimastigotes was inhibited by Lilly 18947. Concentrations as low a s 50 micromol/L resulted in a complete disappearance of the parasites in culture by the fourth day. With lower concentrations, little growth was observed and total (25 micro mol/L) or partial lysis (10 micromol/L) were registered by the eighth day of culture. Incubation of epimastigotes with 50 micromol/L of Lilly 18947 resulted in an early damage to cellular structures. Initial signs were dilatation of perinuclear membranes and mitochondria swelling. The infectivity of trypomastigotes to Vero cells in culture was nearly abolished at 15 and 30 micromol/L concentrations of the drug. CONCLUSION: Lilly 18947 was able to harm Trypanosoma cruzi membrane functions leading to t he loss of its infective properties and its death.

Trypanocidal effect of SKF525A, proadifen, on different developmental forms of Trypanosoma cruzi

SKF525A, an inhibitor and inducer of cytochrome P450, was tested on different developmental stages of Trypanosoma cruzi. Growth, motility and structure of epimastigotes, motility and infectivity of trypomastigotes, and infectivity of trypomastigotes to Vero cells in culture were abolished by the drug at 10-100 muM concentration. When blood from infected mice was treated with the drug, and used to infect 8 day-old-mice, no parasites were observed at 0.6-1 mM, and all animals survived. Blood cell morphology was well preserved, and the sleeping time of pentobarbital-treated mice inoculated with the same amount of drug was not increased. The present results suggest that SKF525A or other related inhibitors of cytochrome P450 coned be tested as an additive for blood sterilization in blood banks. (AU)

Trypanocidal effect of SKF525A, proadifen, on different developmental forms of Trypanosoma cruzi

SKF525A, an inhibitor and inducer of cytochrome P450, was tested on different developmental stages of Trypanosoma cruzi. Growth, motility and structure of epimastigotes, motility and infectivity of trypomastigotes, and infectivity of trypomastigotes to Vero cells in culture were abolished by the drug at 10-100 muM concentration. When blood from infected mice was treated with the drug, and used to infect 8 day-old-mice, no parasites were observed at 0.6-1 mM, and all animals survived. Blood cell morphology was well preserved, and the sleeping time of pentobarbital-treated mice inoculated with the same amount of drug was not increased. The present results suggest that SKF525A or other related inhibitors of cytochrome P450 coned be tested as an additive for blood sterilization in blood banks.