Expression of a hantavirus N protein and its efficacy as antigen in immune assays

Hantavirus cardiopulmonary syndrome (HCPS) has been recognized as an important public heath problem. Five hantaviruses associated with HCPS are currently known in Brazil: Juquitiba, Araraquara, Laguna Negra-like, Castelo dos Sonhos, and Anajatuba viruses. The laboratory diagnosis of HCPS is routinely carried out by the detection of anti-hantavirus IgM and/or IgG antibodies. The present study describes the expression of the N protein of a hantavirus detected in the blood sample of an HCPS patient. The entire S segment of the virus was amplified and found to be 1858 nucleotides long, with an open reading frame of 1287 nucleotides that encodes a protein of 429 amino acids. The nucleotide sequence described here showed a high identity with the N protein gene of Araraquara virus. The entire N protein was expressed using the vector pET200D and the Escherichia coli BL21 strain. The expression of the recombinant protein was confirmed by the detection of a 52-kDa protein by Western blot using a pool of human sera obtained from HCPS patients, and by specific IgG detection in five serum samples of HCPS patients tested by ELISA. These results suggest that the recombinant N protein could be used as an antigen for the serological screening of hantavirus infection.FAPES

Next-Generation Isoprene Measurements From Space: Detecting Daily Variability at High Resolution

Isoprene is the dominant nonmethane organic compound emitted to the atmosphere, where it drives ozone and aerosol production, modulates atmospheric oxidation, and interacts with the global nitrogen cycle. Isoprene emissions are highly variable and uncertain, as is the nonlinear chemistry coupling isoprene and its primary sink, the hydroxyl radical. Space-based isoprene measurements can help close the gap on these uncertainties, and when combined with concurrent formaldehyde data provide a new constraint on atmospheric oxidation regimes. Here, we present a next-generation machine-learning isoprene retrieval for the Cross-track Infrared Sounder (CrIS) that provides improved sensitivity, lower noise, and thus higher space-time resolution than earlier approaches. The Retrieval of Organics from CrIS Radiances (ROCR) isoprene measurements compare well with previous space-based retrievals as well as with the first-ever ground-based isoprene column measurements, with 20%–50% discrepancies that reflect differing sources of systematic uncertainty. An ensemble of sensitivity tests points to the spectral background and isoprene profile specification as the most relevant uncertainty sources in the ROCR framework. We apply the ROCR isoprene algorithm to the full CrIS record from 2012 to 2020, showing that it can resolve fine-scale spatial gradients at daily resolution over the world's isoprene hotspots. Results over North America and Amazonia highlight emergent connections between isoprene abundance and daily-to-interannual variations in temperature and nitrogen oxides

Cytomegalovirus in colorectal cancer and idiopathic ulcerative colitis Citomegalovírus em câncer coloretal e colite idiopática ulcerativa

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a genus in the family Herpesviridae that has been associated with gastrointestinal syndromes. In this work we looked for a possible association of CMV infection with colorectal cancer and ulcerative colitis (UC). Blood and enteric tissue samples of 14 patients with colorectal cancer and of 21 with UC were subjected to a nested-PCR that amplifies part of the gB gene of CMV and also to immunohistochemistry using a specific monoclonal antibody to IE 76kDa protein of CMV. CMV was detected by nested-PCR in the blood and/or the enteric tissue of nine (64.3%) colorectal cancer and 16 (76.2%) ulcerative colitis patients. In the immunohistochemistry it was observed that 12 (12/21, 57.1%) positive enteric tissue samples of patients with UC and none from patients with colorectal cancer (0/14) were positive to CMV. The positivity of CMV infections in the UC patient group (12/21, 57.1%) showed by both techniques, was significantly higher (p = 0.015) than that observed for colorectal cancer patients (2/14, 14.3%). These results suggest an association of ulcerative colitis with CMV infection of the enteric tissue.<br>Os Cytomegalovírus (CMV) são um gênero da família Herpesviridae, que pode estar associado a síndromes gastrointestinais. No presente trabalho buscamos uma possível associação da infecção por CMV com câncer coloretal e retocolite ulcerativa (RCU). Amostras de sangue e tecido entérico de 14 pacientes com câncer coloretal e 21 com RCU foram submetidas a uma nested-PCR que amplifica parte do gene gB do CMV e a uma imunohistoquímica utilizando um anticorpo monoclonal específico para proteína IE 76Kda de CMV. CMV foi detectado pela nested-PCR em sangue e/ou tecido entérico de 9 (64,3%) dos pacientes com câncer coloretal e 16 (76,2%) dos pacientes com RCU. Na imunohistoquímica foram observadas 12 (57,1%) amostras positivas para CMV nos pacientes com RCU e nos pacientes com câncer coloretal o CMV não foi detectado em nenhuma amostra. A positividade das infecções no grupo de pacientes com RCU (12/21, 57.1%) foi significantemente mais alta (p = 0,015) que aquela observada nos pacientes com câncer coloretal (2/14, 14.3%). Estes resultados sugerem uma associação da presença de CMV no tecido entérico com RCU

ESTUDO SOBRE PROGRAMAS DE PREPARO DA EQUIPE DE ENFERMAGEM: FASES IMPLEMENTADAS NOS HOSPITAIS CAMPO DE PRÁTICA DA ESCOLA DE ENFERMAGEM DA UNIVERSIDADE DE SÃO PAULO

A autora faz um levantamento das fases e respectivas atividades que compõem os programas de desenvolvimento do pessoal de enfermagem, realizados pelos hospitais campo de prática da Escota de Enfermagem da Universidade de São Paulo.The author carries out a survey on the phases and on the activities which are part of the programmes for the development of nursing personnel, accomplished by the clinical agencies of the Escola de Enfermagem da USP