Nanoparticles as a Delivery System of Antigens for the Development of an Effective Vaccine against Toxoplasma gondii.

Nanoparticles include particles ranging in size from nanometers to micrometers, whose physicochemical characteristics are optimized to make them appropriate delivery vehicles for drugs or immunogens important in the fight and/or prevention of infectious diseases. There has been a rise in the use of nanoparticles in preventive vaccine formulations as immunostimulatory adjuvants, and as vehicles for immunogen delivery to target immune cells. Toxoplasma is important worldwide, and may cause human toxoplasmosis. In immunocompetent hosts, infection is usually asymptomatic, but in immunocompromised patients it can cause serious neurological and ocular consequences, such as encephalitis and retinochoroiditis. Primary infection during pregnancy may cause abortion or congenital toxoplasmosis. Currently, there is no effective human vaccine against this disease. Evidence has emerged from several experimental studies testing nanovaccines showing them to be promising tools in the prevention of experimental toxoplasmosis. For the present study, a literature review was carried out on articles published over the last 10 years through the PubMed database, pertaining to in vivo experimental models of T. gondii infection where nanovaccines were tested and protection and immune responses evaluated. This review aims to highlight the way forward in the search for an effective vaccine for toxoplasmosis.

Toxoplasma gondii infection reduces serum progesterone levels and adverse effects at the maternal-foetal interface.

AIMS: Pregnant BALB/c mice infected with a Toxoplasma gondii type II strain were used to determine how pregnancy interferes with the development of maternal immunity to T gondii and how infection disrupts pregnancy and foetal development. METHODS: Maternal and foetal parasite loads were assessed by amplification of T gondii SAG1 using qPCR. Adverse effects of infection were evaluated on foetal-placental development by quantification of implantation units undergoing resorption and by histopathological analyses. Serum progesterone levels were quantified by immunoassay. The effect of T gondii infection on maternal immunity was determined by assessing the cellular composition of spleens by flow cytometry. RESULTS: Infected pregnant mice exhibited clinical signs of infection, inflammation and necrosis at the maternal-foetal interface and decreased serum progesterone levels. In infected mice, there was a clear effect of pregnancy and infection on macrophage cell numbers. However, no differences in the parasite load were detected between non-pregnant and pregnant mice. CONCLUSIONS: Maternal T gondii infection induced adverse effects at the maternal-foetal interface. Alterations were found in immune spleen cells, dependent on the day of pregnancy, relative to nonpregnant animals. The results obtained suggest a pregnancy-dependent mechanism during T gondii infection able to interfere with macrophage numbers.

How does toxoplasmosis affect the maternal-foetal immune interface and pregnancy?

Toxoplasma gondii is a zoonotic parasite which, depending on the geographical location, can infect between 10% and 90% of humans. Infection during pregnancy may result in congenital toxoplasmosis. The effects on the foetus vary depending on the stage of gestation in which primary maternal infection arises. A large body of research has focused on understanding immune response to toxoplasmosis, although few studies have addressed how it is affected by pregnancy or the pathological consequences of infection at the maternal-foetal interface. There is a lack of knowledge about how maternal immune cells, specifically macrophages, are modulated during infection and the resulting consequences for parasite control and pathology. Herein, we discuss the potential of T. gondii infection to affect the maternal-foetal interface and the potential of pregnancy to disrupt maternal immunity to T. gondii infection.

[Dietary intake and cardiovascular risk among people living with HIV/AIDS]. / Consumo alimentar e risco cardiovascularem pessoas vivendo com HIV/AIDS.

This cross-sectional study evaluated the food intake patterns related to cardiovascular risk disease among people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) with viral suppression and receiving highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). Food intake was obtained by the annual food frequency questionnaire, separated into two groups, healthy and unhealthy food related intake and cardiovascular disease. Data were analyzed using Student's t Test for independent samples or the Mann-Whitney U Test and Fisher's exact test, with a significance level of p < 0.05. The sample consisted of 45 individuals with HIV/AIDS (60% female). The intake of unhealthy foods for cardiovascular risk was greater compared to the intake of healthy foods, both in men (3.91 ± 0.26 vs. 2.79 ± 0.32 p = 0.01) and women (3.40 ± 0.23 vs. 2.60 ± 0.29 p = 0.04). Metabolic syndrome prevalence was 33.3% in men and 37% in women. Men presented hypertriglyceridemia (50%) and low HDL (44%) and women presented central obesity (54%, p = 0.05 vs. men) hypercholesterolemia (66.7% p = 0.02 vs. men) and hypertriglyceridemia (46%). Study results indicate the presence of unhealthy food intake patterns and a high prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors in the evaluated subjects.

O presente estudo analisou o consumo alimentar e a presença de fatores de risco cardiovasculares em pessoas vivendo com HIV/AIDS (PVHA) em uso regular de antirretrovirais. O consumo alimentar foi avaliado por meio de questionário de frequência alimentar anual, dividido em alimentos protetores e não protetores para doença cardiovascular (DCV). Os dados foram calculados pelo Teste t de Student para amostras independentes, pelo Teste U de Mann-Whitney e pelo teste exato de Fischer, considerando significativo p < 0,05. A amostra consistiu de 45 PVHA (60% do sexo feminino). O consumo de alimentos não protetores para o risco cardiovascular foi maior do que o de alimentos protetores nos homens (3,91 ± 0,26 vs. 2,79 ± 0,32 p = 0,01) e nas mulheres (3,40 ± 0,23 vs. 2,60 ± 0,29 p = 0,04). A prevalência de síndrome metabólica foi 33,3% nos homens e 37% nas mulheres. Os homens apresentaram hipertrigliceridemia (50%) e baixas concentrações de HDL-c (44%), enquanto que as mulheres apresentaram hipertrigliceridemia (46%), hipercolesterolemia (66,7%, p < 0,02 vs. homens) e obesidade central (54%, p < 0,05 vs. homens). Os resultados deste estudo indicam a presença de padrão de consumo alimentar inadequado e elevada prevalência de fatores de risco relacionados às DCV nos indivíduos avaliados.

Consumo alimentar e risco cardiovascularem pessoas vivendo com HIV/AIDS / Dietary intake and cardiovascular risk among people living with HIV/AIDS

Resumo O presente estudo analisou o consumo alimentar e a presença de fatores de risco cardiovasculares em pessoas vivendo com HIV/AIDS (PVHA) em uso regular de antirretrovirais. O consumo alimentar foi avaliado por meio de questionário de frequência alimentar anual, dividido em alimentos protetores e não protetores para doença cardiovascular (DCV). Os dados foram calculados pelo Teste t de Student para amostras independentes, pelo Teste U de Mann-Whitney e pelo teste exato de Fischer, considerando significativo p < 0,05. A amostra consistiu de 45 PVHA (60% do sexo feminino). O consumo de alimentos não protetores para o risco cardiovascular foi maior do que o de alimentos protetores nos homens (3,91 ± 0,26 vs. 2,79 ± 0,32 p = 0,01) e nas mulheres (3,40 ± 0,23 vs. 2,60 ± 0,29 p = 0,04). A prevalência de síndrome metabólica foi 33,3% nos homens e 37% nas mulheres. Os homens apresentaram hipertrigliceridemia (50%) e baixas concentrações de HDL-c (44%), enquanto que as mulheres apresentaram hipertrigliceridemia (46%), hipercolesterolemia (66,7%, p < 0,02 vs. homens) e obesidade central (54%, p < 0,05 vs. homens). Os resultados deste estudo indicam a presença de padrão de consumo alimentar inadequado e elevada prevalência de fatores de risco relacionados às DCV nos indivíduos avaliados.

Abstract This cross-sectional study evaluated the food intake patterns related to cardiovascular risk disease among people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) with viral suppression and receiving highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). Food intake was obtained by the annual food frequency questionnaire, separated into two groups, healthy and unhealthy food related intake and cardiovascular disease. Data were analyzed using Student's t Test for independent samples or the Mann-Whitney U Test and Fisher's exact test, with a significance level of p < 0.05. The sample consisted of 45 individuals with HIV/AIDS (60% female). The intake of unhealthy foods for cardiovascular risk was greater compared to the intake of healthy foods, both in men (3.91 ± 0.26 vs. 2.79 ± 0.32 p = 0.01) and women (3.40 ± 0.23 vs. 2.60 ± 0.29 p = 0.04). Metabolic syndrome prevalence was 33.3% in men and 37% in women. Men presented hypertriglyceridemia (50%) and low HDL (44%) and women presented central obesity (54%, p = 0.05 vs. men) hypercholesterolemia (66.7% p = 0.02 vs. men) and hypertriglyceridemia (46%). Study results indicate the presence of unhealthy food intake patterns and a high prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors in the evaluated subjects.

Formação em saúde no âmbito do ensino em serviço: um relato sobre ser/estar facilitador de aprendizagem em um Curso Técnico em Agente Comunitário em Saúde

Este artigo discute o processo de formação em serviço pelo contar de um relato de experiência, relato esse que surge a partir de minha inserção como nutricionista no campo de ensino em serviço no municipio de Novo Hamburgo/RS por meio do Curso Técnico em Agente Comunitário em Saúde. Também se dá pelo encontro dessa experiencia de facilitar o processo de ensino em serviço com o período de estar residente no programa de Residência Multiprofissional em Saúde (RMS) no mesmo espaço-ambiente deste curso técnico. O relato desloca-se pelo atendimento da formação acadêmica, perpassando pela formação em serviço, seja esta proporcionada pela RMS ou proporcionada pelo Curso Técnico em Agente Comunitário em Saúde. No entando, a formaçãop em nutrição ainda inclina, de forma geral, para um fazer que implica pelo saber técnico, biologicista e o fortalecimento da especialização e da fragmentação do conhecimento e das práticas, afastando esse profissional do diálogo com os saberes das ciências humanas e sociais. Deste modo, o trabalho na perspectiva do ensino em serviço, a formação do nutricionista neste contexto caminha em direção para a quebra de alguns paradigmas, apontando então para a necessidade de profissionais generalistas, de postura política, comprometidos nas questões sociais que permeiam o cenário onde eles atuam.