Parasite, Compartments, and Molecules: Trick versus Treatment on Chagas Disease

Chagas disease, caused by the protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi, is endemic to Latin America, standing out as a socio-economic problem for low-income tropical populations. Such disease affects millions of people worldwide and emerges in nonendemic areas due to migration and climate changes. The current chemotherapy is restricted to two nitroderivatives (benznidazole and nifurtimox), which is unsatisfactory due to limited efficacy (particularly in chronic phase) and adverse side effects. T. cruzi life cycle is complex, including invertebrate and vertebrate hosts and three developmental forms (epimastigotes, trypomastigotes, and amastigotes). In this chapter, we will discuss promising cellular and molecular targets present in the vertebrate-dwelling forms of the parasite (trypomastigotes and amastigotes). Among the cellular targets, the mitochondrion is the most frequently studied; while among the molecular ones, we highlight squalene synthase, C14α-sterol demethylase, and cysteine proteases. In this scenario, proteomics becomes a valuable tool for the identification of other molecular targets, and some previously identified candidates will be also discussed. Multidisciplinary studies are needed to identify novel key molecules in T. cruzi in order to increase trypanocidal activity and reduce mammalian toxicity, ensuring the development of novel drugs for Chagas disease

Teores de matéria orgânica em diferentes sistemas de preparo de solo e sucessão de culturas.

Para assegurar a sustentabilidade do uso agrícola do solo e minimizar ações danosas torna-se necessário a adoção de um bom sistema de manejo do solo. O objetivo do trabalho foi avaliar os teores de matéria orgânica em três profundidades (0-10,10-20 e 20-30cm)de um solo cultivado em diferentes sistemas de preparo de solo e sequência de culturas. O experimento instalado em 2007 foi conduzido em esquema de parcelas subsubdivididas 4x4x3, sendo que o fator preparo de solo foi: 1- PRT - preparo tradicional (uma operação com grade aradora e mais uma com grade niveladora), 2 - PRA - preparo alternativo (uma operação de subsolagem), 3 - PDA - plantio direto com um preparo alternativo a cada quatro anos e 4 - PDC - plantio direto contínuo. O fator seqüência de culturas foi: 1) S/F: soja - feijão; 2) S/M: soja ? milho; 3) M/F: milho-feijão; 4) M/M: milho-milho e com três repetições. O PRA apresentou maior teor de matéria orgânica (MO) e houve um decréscimo em MO com o aumento da profundidade com exceção do PRT

Assessment of solar shading strategies in low-income tropical housing: the case of Uganda

Developing countries in tropical and subtropical areas will be the worst hit by climate change. Very little research has been done to assess the impact of climate change on thermal comfort in low-income housing in these regions. The effects of solar shading strategies and solar absorptance properties of walls and roofs on thermal comfort in Ugandan low-income housing are studied in this paper. Various shading strategies including curtains, roof and window overhangs, veranda and trees as well as effects of painting on solar heat gain and thermal comfort are modelled using EnergyPlus software. An adaptive approach for naturally ventilated buildings defined by the European Committee for Standardization standard BS EN 15251:2007 is used to assess the conditions. According to the results, solar shading is less effective in meeting thermal comfort requirements and it should be used in conjunction with other strategies to achieve desirable results. White painting, in contrast, significantly improved the conditions and significantly reduced the risk of overheating. Solar shading proved to be effective during the hottest periods of the year, reducing the risk of extreme overheating by up to 52%