Comportamento de Biomphalaria glabrata variantes albina e melânica frente à infecção pelo Schistosoma mansoni

The behaviour of the albino and melanic variants of Biomphalaria glabrata of Belo Horizonte (MG. Brazil) was studied comparatively, in terms of their respective susceptibilities to infection by Schistosoma mansoni of the same origin, through observation of the elimination of cercariae for a three-month period and the calculation of mortality and infection rates, in control and in infected snails. The number of amoebocytes, granulocytes and hyalinocytes in the circulating hemolymph during different periods of infection was analyzed. The evolution of the infection in the tissues was observed by means of histological cross-sections. The melanic variant showed greater susceptibility to infection and a higher mortality rate. The albino variant showed a higher number of circulating amoebocytes, both granulocytes and hyalinocytes. A higher number of degenerated sporocysts were seen in the histological cross-sections of the albino variant. The results suggest that the melanic variant of B. glabrata was more susceptible to infection by S. mansoni than was the albino variant.Foi estudado comparativamente o comportamento das variantes albina e melânica de Biomphalaria glabrata de Belo Horizonte (MG. Brasil), em relação à susceptibilidade à infecção pelo Schistosoma mansoni de mesma origem, através da observação da eliminação de cercárias por um período de três meses e a verificação das taxas de mortalidade e infecção nos moluscos controles e infectados. Analisou-se também, o número de amebócitos granulócitos e hialinócitos na hemolinfa circulante em diferentes períodos de infecção. A evolução da infecção nos tecidos foi observada através de cortes histológicos. A variante melânica apresentou maior susceptibilidade à infecção e maior taxa de mortalidade. A variante albina apresentou maior número de amebócitos circulantes, tanto granulócitos quanto hialinócitos. Nos cortes histológicos foi verificado maior número de esporocistos degenerados na variedade albina. Por estes resultados sugere-se que nas populações estudadas a variante melânica de B. glabrata, foi mais susceptível à infecção pelo S. mansoni.21722

Magic-factor 1, a partial agonist of Met, induces muscle hypertrophy by protecting myogenic progenitors from apoptosis.

Hepatocyte Growth Factor (HGF) is a pleiotropic cytokine of mesenchymal origin that mediates a characteristic array of biological activities including cell proliferation, survival, motility and morphogenesis. Its high affinity receptor, the tyrosine kinase Met, is expressed by a wide range of tissues and can be activated by either paracrine or autocrine stimulation. Adult myogenic precursor cells, the so called satellite cells, express both HGF and Met. Following muscle injury, autocrine HGF-Met stimulation plays a key role in promoting activation and early division of satellite cells, but is shut off in a second phase to allow myogenic differentiation. In culture, HGF stimulation promotes proliferation of muscle precursors thereby inhibiting their differentiation

Hypoxia, hypoxia-inducible factor-1 alpha and vascular endothelial growth factor in a murine model of Schistosoma mansoni infection

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)Schistosomiasis mansoni is a chronic parasitic disease where much of the symptomatology is attributed to granuloma formation, an immunopathological reaction against Schistosoma eggs. To more clearly understand the immunopathology of schistosomiasis, the tissue microenvironment generated by S. marisoni infected mice was investigated. Using the hypoxia marker pimonidazole, we provide immunohistochemical evidence that hypoxia occurred in inflammatory cells infiltrated around the eggs and cells surrounding granulomas in the liver, intestine, spleen and lungs of infected mice. Hypoxia-inducible factor-let (HIF-1 alpha) was mainly expressed in inflammatory cells surrounding the eggs and in hepatocytes surrounding cellular and fibrocellular granulomas in infected mouse liver. HIF-1 alpha expression was also verified in granulomas in the other tissues tested (intestine, spleen and lungs). Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression was observed in the extracellular space surrounding inflammatory cells in liver granuloma. The VEGF expression pattern verified in infected mouse liver was very similar to that observed in the other tissues tested. A strong positive correlation occurred between pimonidazole binding and HIF-1 alpha and VEGF expression in the tissues tested, except for lung. This work is the first evidence that infection by a helminth parasite, S. mansoni, produces a hypoxic tissue microenvironment and induces HIF-1 alpha and VEGF expression. (C) 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.893327333Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES

Behaviour of albino and melanic variants of Biomphalaria glabrata Say, 1818 (Mollusca: Planorbidae) following infection by Schistosoma mansoni Sambon, 1907

The behaviour of the albino and melanic variants of Biomphalaria glabrata of Belo Horizonte (MG. Brazil) was studied comparatively, in terms of their respective susceptibilities to infection by Schistosoma mansoni of the same origin, through observation of the elimination of cercariae for a three-month period and the calculation of mortality and infection rates, in control and in infected snails. The number of amoebocytes, granulocytes and hyalinocytes in the circulating hemolymph during different periods of infection was analyzed. The evolution of the infection in the tissues was observed by means of histological cross-sections. The melanic variant showed greater susceptibility to infection and a higher mortality rate. The albino variant showed a higher number of circulating amoebocytes, both granulocytes and hyalinocytes. A higher number of degenerated sporocysts were seen in the histological cross-sections of the albino variant. The results suggest that the melanic variant of B. glabrata was more susceptible to infection by S. mansoni than was the albino variant

Mass spectrometry imaging: a new vision in differentiating Schistosoma mansoni strains

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Schistosomiasis is a neglected disease with large geographic distribution worldwide. Among the several different species of this parasite, S. mansoni is the most common and relevant one; its pathogenesis is also known to vary according to the worms' strain. High parasitical virulence is directly related to granulomatous reactions in the host's liver, and might be influenced by one or more molecules involved in a specific metabolic pathway. Therefore, better understanding the metabolic profile of these organisms is necessary, especially for an increased potential of unraveling strain virulence mechanisms and resistance to existing treatments. In this report, MALDI-MSI and the metabolomic platform were employed to characterize and differentiate two Brazilian S. mansoni strains: males and females from Belo Horizonte (BH) and from Sergipe (SE). By performing direct analysis, it is possible to distinguish the sex of adult worms, as well as identify the spatial distribution of chemical markers. Phospholipids, diacylglycerols and triacylglycerols were located in specific structures of the worms' bodies, such as tegument, suckers, reproductive and digestive systems. Lipid profiles were found to be different both between strains and males or females, giving specific metabolic fingerprints for each group. This indicates that biochemical characterization of adult S. mansoni may help narrowing-down the investigation of new therapeutic targets according to worm composition, molecule distribution and, therefore, aggressiveness of disease. Copyright (c) 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.4918692Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)INCT (National Science and Technology Institutes)Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq

Molecular detection of tick-borne bacterial agents in Brazilian and exotic captive carnivores

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)The present study aims to detect and characterize by molecular techniques, the presence of tick-borne pathogens in wild captive carnivore blood samples from Brazil. Blood was collected from 76 Brazilian felids, 23 exotic felids, 3 European wolves (Canis lupus), and 97 Brazilian canids maintained in captivity in zoos located in Sao Paulo and Mato Grosso states, Brazil. DNA of each sample was used in PCR reactions for Ehrlichia, Anaplasma, and Rickettsia identification. The blood from 10/100(10%) of canids (1 European wolf, 3 bush dogs, and 6 crab-eating foxes) and from 21/99 (21%) felids (4 pumas, 6 little spotted cats. 4 ocelots, 3 jaguarundis, 1 tiger, and 3 lions) contained fragments of 16S rRNA gene of Ehrlichia spp. Fragments of Anaplasma spp. groESL and 16S rRNA genes were detected in the blood of 1/100(1%) canids (1 bush dog) and in 4/99(3%) felids (4 little spotted cats), respectively. Rickettsia species infections were not identified. The present work showed that new strains of Ehrlichia and Anaplasma spp. circulate among wild carnivores in Brazil. (c) 2012 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.34247253Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)Instituto Brasileiro do Meio Ambiente e dos Recursos Naturals Renovaveis (IBAMA) [S02027.002943/2005, 15901-1]Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)FAPESP [07/59889-6, 08/55570-8]CAPES [1483-10-2]Instituto Brasileiro do Meio Ambiente e dos Recursos Naturals Renovaveis (IBAMA) [S02027.002943/2005, 15901-1

MOLECULAR AND SEROLOGICAL DETECTION OF BABESIA SPP. IN NEOTROPICAL AND EXOTIC CARNIVORES IN BRAZILIAN ZOOS

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Large and small piroplasms have been observed in the blood smears of various wild carnivores, but few studies utilizing molecular characterization have been done. The goal of this present study was to investigate the presence of Babesia sp. by molecular and serologic techniques in exotic and neotropical carnivores maintained in captivity at Brazilian zoos. Blood and sera samples were collected from 146 Brazilian wild felids, 21 exotic felids, 1 genet (Genetta tigrina), 3 European wolves (Canis lupus), and 94 Brazilian wild canids in Brazilian zoos in the Sao Paulo and Mato Grosso states and in the Federal District. A total of 53 wild felids (31.74%) and 10 wild canids (10.31%) were seropositive for Babesia cools by Indirect Fluorescent Antibody Test (IFAT). Antibodies were detected in ocelots, little-spotted cats, margays, pampas cats, jaguars, pumas, jaguarundis, crab-eating foxes, and bush dogs. Babesia sp. DNA, with high similarity to B. leo, was detected in one pampas cat and one genet.421139143Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)FAPESP [07/59889-6, 8/55570-8

Liposomal-praziquantel: Efficacy against Schistosoma mansoni in a preclinical assay

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Currently, schistosomiasis mansoni is treated clinically with praziquantel (PZQ). Nevertheless, cases of tolerance and resistance to this drug have been reported, creating the need to develop new drugs or to improve existing drugs. Considering the small number of new drugs against Schistosoma mansoni, the design of nanotechnology-based drug delivery systems is an important strategy in combating this disease. The aim of this study was to evaluate the activity of PZQ containing liposome (lip.PZQ) on S. mansoni, BH strain. Mice were treated orally with different concentrations of PZQand lip.PZQ30 and 45 days following infection. The number of worms, recovered by perfusion of the hepatic portal system, and the number of eggs found in the intestine and liver were analysed. Parasite egg counts were also performed. The most active formulation for all parameters was 300 mg/kg of lip.PZQ since as it decreased the total number of worms by 68.8%, the number of eggs in the intestine by 79%, and the number of hepatic granulomas by 98.4% compared to untreated controls. In addition, this concentration decreased egg counts by 55.5%. The improved efficacy of the treatment with lip.PZQ, especially when administered 45 days following infection, compared with the positive-control group (untreated) and the groups that received free PZQ can be explained by greater bioavailability in the host organism; the preferred target of lip.PZQis the liver, and lip.PZQis better absorbed by the tegument of S. mansoni, which has an affinity for phospholipids. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.12817075Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq

Molecular and Serologic Detection of Ehrlichia spp. in Endangered Brazilian Wild Captive Felids

Ehrlichiosis, an emergent tickborne disease that affects both humans and animals, may represent a threat to the survival and preservation of wild felids in Brazil There are few studies of ehrlichiosis in wild felids in Brazil, but Ehrlichia spp are present in domestic cats Antibodies to Ehrlichia canis have been reported in a puma (Puma concolor) In this study we assessed the presence of these hemoparasites in the blood of Brazilian wild captive felids Of the 72 animals tested, 5 (7%) were seropositive for the E cams antigen, and L1 (15%) were positive for E emirs DNA sequences We also performed sequence alignment to establish the identity of the parasite species infecting these animals using 16S rRNA and omp-1 genes Sequences based on 16S rRNA were similar to those found in dogs and cats from Thailand, Brazil, China, and Taiwan and with E canis obtained from a single individual (human) in Venezuela Ehrlichia sp sequence from sampled felines based on omp-1. gene was similar to the p28 and p30 multigene family of E canis To our knowledge, this is the first study of molecular detection of Ehrlichia sp in Brazilian wild feline species4631017102

Molecular Detection of Cytauxzoon spp. in Asymptomatic Brazilian Wild Captive Felids

Cytauxzoon. spp. DNA was detected for the first time in blood samples from asymptomatic Brazilian wild captive felids. In 2606, 72 EDTA blood samples from seven wild felids species: Puma concolor (pinna), Leopardus pardalis (ocelot), Puma yagouaroundi (jaguarundi), Leopardus wiedii (margay), Leopardus tigrinus (little spotted cat), Oncifelis colocolo (pampas cat) and Panthera. onca. (jaguar) were analyzed using polymerase chain reaction to amplify the 18S rRNA gene segment in order to verify the presence of Cytauxzoon spp. DNA. Nine samples were positive: six ocelots, two pumas, and one jaguar. In Brazil, wild felids may be natural reservoirs for Cytauxzoon spp.45123423