Transcriptional profiles of the human pathogenic fungus paracoccidioides brasiliensis in mycelium and yeast cells

This work was supported by MCT, CNPq, CAPES, FUB, UFG, and FUNDECT-MS. PbGenome Network: Alda Maria T. Ferreira, Alessandra Dantas, Alessandra J. Baptista, Alexandre M. Bailão, Ana Lídia Bonato, André C. Amaral, Bruno S. Daher, Camila M. Silva, Christiane S. Costa, Clayton L. Borges, Cléber O. Soares, Cristina M. Junta, Daniel A. S. Anjos, Edans F. O. Sandes, Eduardo A. Donadi, Elza T. Sakamoto-Hojo, Flábio R. Araújo, Flávia C. Albuquerque, Gina C. Oliveira, João Ricardo M. Almeida, Juliana C. Oliveira, Kláudia G. Jorge, Larissa Fernandes, Lorena S. Derengowski, Luís Artur M. Bataus, Marcus A. M. Araújo, Marcus K. Inoue, Marlene T. De-Souza, Mauro F. Almeida, Nádia S. Parachin, Nadya S. Castro, Odair P. Martins, Patrícia L. N. Costa, Paula Sandrin-Garcia, Renata B. A. Soares, Stephano S. Mello, and Viviane C. B. ReisParacoccidioides brasiliensis is the causative agent of paracoccidioidomycosis, a disease that affects 10 million individuals in Latin America. This report depicts the results of the analysis of 6,022 assembled groups from mycelium and yeast phase expressed sequence tags, covering about 80% of the estimated genome of this dimorphic, thermo-regulated fungus. The data provide a comprehensive view of the fungal metabolism, including overexpressed transcripts, stage-specific genes, and also those that are up- or down-regulated as assessed by in silico electronic subtraction and cDNA microarrays. Also, a significant differential expression pattern in mycelium and yeast cells was detected, which was confirmed by Northern blot analysis, providing insights into differential metabolic adaptations. The overall transcriptome analysis provided information about sequences related to the cell cycle, stress response, drug resistance, and signal transduction pathways of the pathogen. Novel P. brasiliensis genes have been identified, probably corresponding to proteins that should be addressed as virulence factor candidates and potential new drug targets

Exposure to organochlorine pesticides and cognitive development in children and adolescents in Boys Town, Duque de Caxias, RJ

Submitted by Gilvan Almeida ([email protected]) on 2016-08-10T18:28:18Z No. of bitstreams: 2 364.pdf: 2530196 bytes, checksum: c0258a369151ee146295977f5cf2f9ac (MD5) license.txt: 1748 bytes, checksum: 8a4605be74aa9ea9d79846c1fba20a33 (MD5)Approved for entry into archive by Maria Arruda ([email protected]) on 2018-01-31T16:20:23Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 2 364.pdf: 2530196 bytes, checksum: c0258a369151ee146295977f5cf2f9ac (MD5) license.txt: 1748 bytes, checksum: 8a4605be74aa9ea9d79846c1fba20a33 (MD5)Made available in DSpace on 2018-01-31T16:20:23Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 364.pdf: 2530196 bytes, checksum: c0258a369151ee146295977f5cf2f9ac (MD5) license.txt: 1748 bytes, checksum: 8a4605be74aa9ea9d79846c1fba20a33 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2014Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Escola Nacional de Saúde Pública Sergio Arouca. Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil.Introdução: Os pesticidas organoclorados (OC) são compostos lipofílicos altamente persistentes. Na atualidade, estes compostos são usados de forma restrita, principalmente em países em desenvolvimento. Os pesticidas OC são conhecidos interferentes endócrinos, capazes de alterar a homeostase do sistema tireóideo, fundamental no desenvolvimento do sistema nervoso central. Estudos epidemiológicos apontam uma associação entre a exposição pré e pós-natal a estes pesticidas e distúrbios do neurodesenvolvimento, embora as evidências ainda sejam limitadas. Objetivos: Avaliar o desenvolvimento cognitivo de crianças e adolescentes residentes no bairro Cidade dos Meninos, Duque de Caxias - RJ, área intensamente contaminada com pesticidas OC, e explorar a associação entre a exposição a estes compostos e o desempenho cognitivo infantil. Metodologia: Foi realizado um estudo seccional onde se avaliou o desempenho cognitivo de crianças e adolescentes de 6 a 16 anos residentes no local de setembro de 2012 a dezembro de 2013. A população de estudo foi composta por 102 crianças, das quais 42 possuíam as informações dos níveis séricos de pesticidas OC. Como medidas indiretas de exposição aos pesticidas, foram investigados o tempo de residência na localidade e de amamentação. O desenvolvimento cognitivo foi avaliado pela Escala de Inteligência Wechsler para crianças. Resultados: Um quociente de inteligência (QI) <90 pontos (abaixo da média) foi obtido por 40% ou mais da população para seis das sete funções cognitivas avaliadas. Um pior desempenho foi observado para o QI de execução, com média de 89,45 pontos. Em geral, não foi observada associação significativa entre ter nascido ou não em Cidade dos Meninos e tempo de amamentação e as funções cognitivas. O aumento da concentração sérica do pesticida alfa-HCH em 1 ng/ml foi associado a uma redução de 0,45, 0,33 e 0,46 pontos no QI de execução, de resistência à distração (RD) e de velocidade de processamento (VP), respectivamente. Para o aumento de cada unidade do gama-HCH observou-se, respectivamente, uma redução de 1,74 e 1,84 pontos no QI de RD e no QI de VP; e o p,p’-DDT foi associado com uma redução de 0,81 pontos no QI de VP. Um maior nível de triiodotironina total foi inversamente associado ao QI de organização perceptual (β= -0,211; IC95%= -0,147; 0,006). Conclusão: Os resultados são sugestivos de que a exposição crônica aos pesticidas OC interfere negativamente no desenvolvimento cognitivo das crianças e adolescentes residentes em Cidade dos Meninos.Introduction: Organochlorine (OC) pesticides are highly persistent lipophilic compounds. Today, use of OC pesticides is restricted, being mostly used in developing countries. OC pesticides are known endocrine-disrupting chemicals, and they are capable of altering homeostasis of the thyroid system, which has an important role during brain development. Epidemiological studies have shown associations between pre- and post-natal exposure to these compounds and neurodevelopmental delays. However, evidences for this association are still limited. Objectives: To assess the cognitive developmental status of children residents of Cidade dos Meninos, Duque de Caxias – RJ, a village heavily contaminated with OC pesticides, and to explore the association between early exposure to these pesticides and children’s cognitive development. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted to assess the cognitive development of children and adolescents aged 6-16 years residents in Cidade dos Meninos between September 2012 and December 2013. The study population included 102 children, from which 42 subjects had available information on serum levels of OC pesticides. Both number of years living in the study area and breastfeeding duration were analyzed as indirect indicators of OC pesticide exposure. Cognitive development was assessed by using the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children, 3rd edition (WISCIII). Results: More than 40% of the children obtained an intelligence quotient (IQ) <90 points (lower-than-average IQ) for 6 out of the 7 cognitive domains assessed by the WISC-III. A lower IQ was observed for the executive function, which showed a mean score of 89.45 points. In general, no significant association was observed between being born in Cidade dos Meninos and breastfeeding duration, respectively, and cognitive performance. An increase of 1 ng/ml in serum levels of the pesticide alfa-HCH was found to be associated with a reduction of 0.45, 0.33 and 0.46 points in the executive function, distraction resistance (RD) index and processing speed (VP) index, respectively. An increase of 1 ng/ml in levels of gama-HCH was associated with a reduction of 1.74 and 1.84 points in RD and VP indexes. Also, levels of p,p’-DDT were associated with a reduction of 0.81 points in the VP index. Total triiodothyronine (T3) levels were inversely associated with perceptual organization (OP) scores (β= -0.211; CI95%= -0.147; 0.006). Conclusion: These findings suggest that chronic exposure to high levels of OC pesticides may adversely affect cognitive development of children and adolescents living in Cidade dos Meninos.tivamente no desenvolvimento cognitivo das crianças e adolescentes residentes em Cidade dos Meninos

Exposição a metais em população adulta residente em áreas industriais: revisão sistemática da literatura.

This study aimed to review studies of human biomonitoring (HBM) that evaluated exposure to lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), mercury (Hg), nickel (Ni), arsenic (As) and manganese (Mn) in adults living close to industrial areas. A systematic review of studies was selected, without initial date limit through to December 2017, from the MEDLINE and BVS databases. Original studies in English, Portuguese or Spanish conducted among the adult population using blood and/or urine as biomarkers were included. The articles were evaluated according to methodological criteria, including studies with comparison groups and/or probabilistic sampling. Of the 28 studies selected, 54% were conducted in Europe, 36% in Asia, 7% in North America and 4% in Africa. Foundries, metal works and steel mills were the most frequently studied. Urine and blood were used in 82% and 50% of studies, respectively. The elements most investigated were Cd, Pb and As. Despite using heterogeneous methodologies, the results revealed higher metal concentrations, especially from As and Hg in general, than in the comparison group. This review highlights the need for more rigorous methodological studies of HBM, stressing the importance of public health vigilance among populations exposed to toxic metals, especially in developing countries