72 research outputs found
Fungal colonization with Pneumocystis correlates to increasing chloride channel accessory 1 (hCLCA1) suggesting a pathway for up-regulation of airway mucus responses, in infant lungs
AbstractFungal colonization with Pneumocystis is associated with increased airway mucus in infants during their primary Pneumocystis infection, and to severity of COPD in adults. The pathogenic mechanisms are under investigation. Interestingly, increased levels of hCLCA1 â a member of the calcium-sensitive chloride conductance family of proteins that drives mucus hypersecretion â have been associated with increased mucus production in patients diagnosed with COPD and in immunocompetent rodents with Pneumocystis infection. Pneumocystis is highly prevalent in infants; therefore, the contribution of Pneumocystis to hCLCA1 expression was examined in autopsied infant lungs. Respiratory viruses that may potentially increase mucus, were also examined. hCLCA1 expression was measured using actin-normalized Western-blot, and the burden of Pneumocystis organisms was quantified by qPCR in 55 autopsied lungs from apparently healthy infants who died in the community. Respiratory viruses were diagnosed using RT-PCR for RSV, metapneumovirus, influenza, and parainfluenza viruses; and by PCR for adenovirus. hCLCA1 levels in virus positive samples were comparable to those in virus-negative samples. An association between Pneumocystis and increased hCLCA1 expression was documented (P=0.028). Additionally, increasing Pneumocystis burden correlated with increasing hCLCA1 protein expression levels (P=0.017). Results strengthen the evidence of Pneumocystis-associated up-regulation of mucus-related airway responses in infant lungs. Further characterization of this immunocompetent host-Pneumocystis-interaction, including assessment of potential clinical significance, is warranted
The CHilean Automatic Supernova sEarch (CHASE)
The CHASE project started in 2007 with the aim of providing young southern
supernovae (SNe) to the Carnegie Supernova Project (CSP) and Millennium Center
for Supernova Studies (MCSS) follow-up programs. So far CHASE has discovered 33
SNe with an average of more than 2.5 SNe per month in 2008. In addition to the
search we are carrying out a follow-up program targeting bright SNe. Our fully
automated data reduction allows us to follow the evolution on the light curve
in real time, triggering further observations if something potentially
interesting is detectedComment: 4 pages, 2 figures, conference proceedin
Oxidation of isodrimeninol with PCC yields drimane derivatives with activity against candida yeast by inhibition of lanosterol 14-alpha demethylase
Indexación: Scopus.Candida species cause an opportunistic yeast infection called Candidiasis, which is responsible for more than 50,000 deaths every year around the world. Effective treatments against candidiasis caused by non-albicans Candida species such as C. glabrata, C. parapsilosis, C. aureus, and C. krusei are limited due to severe resistance to conventional antifungal drugs. Natural drimane sesquiterpenoids have shown promising antifungal properties against Candida yeast and have emerged as valuable candidates for developing new candidiasis therapies. In this work, we isolated isodrimeninol (C1) from barks of Drimys winteri and used it as starting material for the hemi-synthesis of four sesquiterpenoids by oxidation with pyridinium chlorochromate (PCC). The structure of the products (C2, C3, C4, and C5) was elucidated by 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy resulting in C4 being a novel compound. Antifungal activity assays against C. albicans, C. glabrata, and C. krusei revealed that C4 exhibited an increased activity (IC50 of 75 ”g/mL) compared to C1 (IC50 of 125 ”g/mL) in all yeast strains. The antifungal activity of C1 and C4 was rationalized in terms of their capability to inhibit lanosterol 14-alpha demethylase using molecular docking, molecular dynamics simulations, and MM/GBSA binding free energy calculations. In silico analysis revealed that C1 and C4 bind to the outermost region of the catalytic site of 14-alpha demethylase and block the entrance of lanosterol (LAN) to the catalytic pocket. Binding free energy estimates suggested that C4 forms a more stable complex with the enzyme than C1, in agreement with the experimental evidence. Based on this new approach it is possible to design new drimane-type sesquiterpenoids for the control of Candida species as inhibitors of 14-alpha demethylase. © 2020 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.https://www.mdpi.com/2218-273X/10/8/110
(I)Migrantes, diversidades e desigualdades no sistema educativo portuguĂȘs : balanço e perspectivas
O objectivo do presente artigo consiste
em procurar transmitir um olhar sociologicamente informado no que concerne Ă situação portuguesa no domĂnio das polĂticas
educativas pĂșblicas e investigaçÔes produzidas relacionadas com o sistema educativo e a (i)migração, ou seja, com a tentativa de construção de uma educação
intercultural. Neste sentido, serĂĄ realizada
uma anålise descritiva e compreensivo-interpretativa da evolução desta
problemĂĄtica em Portugal desde que a mesma se tornou objecto de reflexĂŁo por parte de investigadores/as e polĂticos nos finais da
dĂ©cada de oitenta, inĂcio da dĂ©cada de noventa do sĂ©culo XX. Nesta anĂĄlise, serĂĄ
dada ĂȘnfase Ă s investigaçÔes e quadros teĂłricos produzidos e Ă s medidas legislativas
e polĂticas educativas no domĂnio do tratamento da diferença cultural dentro do sistema educativo portuguĂȘs.The aim of this article consists in attempting to
transmit a sociologically informed view in what the Portuguese situation in the field of public policies and research related to
the educational system and (im)migration are
concerned, that is, in attempting to construct an intercultural education. In this way, a descriptive and comprehensiveinterpretative
analysis of the evolution of this problem in Portugal will be realized, since the latter became an object of reflection on the part of researchers and politicians towards the end of the 80s, the beginning of the 90s of the XXth century. In this analysis, emphasis will be given on the research and theoretical frameworks produced and on the legislative measures and educational policies in the field of treating cultural difference in the
Portuguese educational system
Plantando, colhendo, vendendo, mas nĂŁo comendo: prĂĄticas alimentares e de trabalho associadas Ă obesidade em agricultores familiares do Bonfim, PetrĂłpolis, RJ.
Objetivo: verificar a prevalĂȘncia de obesidade entre adultos das 86 famĂlias agricultoras de um bairro de PetrĂłpolis, RJ, e analisar seus determinantes socioculturais. MĂ©todos: estudo quantitativo e qualitativo sobre nutrição, prĂĄticas alimentares e de trabalho realizado em 2008. Dados antropomĂ©tricos foram coletados por inquĂ©rito nutricional domiciliar e o material qualitativo por observação participante e entrevistas. Resultados: a prevalĂȘncia de obesidade foi baixa (9,3%) entre os homens, mas bastante elevada entre as mulheres (29,9%). A prĂĄtica agrĂcola local implica em atividade fĂsica leve para mulheres e intensa para homens. Essa diferença nĂŁo Ă© acompanhada na dieta, semelhante para homens e mulheres, com predomĂnio de alimentos de alto valor calĂłrico. A produção familiar objetiva essencialmente a venda. A agricultura mercantil e a decorrente especialização dos cultivos favorecem comprar alimentos no mercado em vez de produzir para autoconsumo. ConclusĂŁo: os aspectos socioculturais e ocupacionais estudados podem ter contribuĂdo para elevar a prevalĂȘncia de obesidade nas mulheres e podem ser Ășteis no estudo de outros grupos com caracterĂsticas semelhantes. Esta pesquisa ratifica a importĂąncia de estudar a obesidade em nĂvel local, integrando abordagens quantitativas e qualitativas para identificar possĂveis limitaçÔes e portas de entrada para açÔes de intervenção localmente relevantes
Formas de organizaciĂłn de las Experiencias de Lectura Colectiva en Clases de comprensiĂłn de textosÂč
Chromosome landmarks and autosome-sex chromosome translocations in Rumex hastatulus, a plant with XX/XY1Y2 sex chromosome system
Rumex hastatulus is the North American endemic dioecious plant with heteromorphic sex chromosomes. It is differentiated into two chromosomal races: Texas (T) race characterised by a simple XX/XY sex chromosome system and North Carolina (NC) race with a polymorphic XX/XY1Y2 sex chromosome system. The gross karyotype morphology in NC race resembles the derived type, but chromosomal changes that occurred during its evolution are poorly understood. Our C-banding/DAPI and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) experiments demonstrated that Y chromosomes of both races are enriched in DAPI-positive sequences and that the emergence of polymorphic sex chromosome system was accompanied by the break of ancestral Y chromosome and switch in the localization of 5S rDNA, from autosomes to sex chromosomes (X and Y2). Two contrasting domains were detected within North Carolina Y chromosomes: the older, highly heterochromatinised, inherited from the original Y chromosome and the younger, euchromatic, representing translocated autosomal material. The flow-cytometric DNA estimation showed âŒ3.5 % genome downsizing in the North Carolina race. Our results are in contradiction to earlier reports on the lack of heterochromatin within Y chromosomes of this species and enable unambiguous identification of autosomes involved in the autosome-heterosome translocation, providing useful chromosome landmarks for further studies on the karyotype and sex chromosome differentiation in this species
Functional Annotation of All Salmonid Genomes (FAASG): an international initiative supporting future salmonid research, conservation and aquaculture
We describe an emerging initiative - the 'Functional Annotation of All Salmonid Genomes' (FAASG), which will leverage the extensive trait diversity that has evolved since a whole genome duplication event in the salmonid ancestor, to develop an integrative understanding of the functional genomic basis of phenotypic variation. The outcomes of FAASG will have diverse applications, ranging from improved understanding of genome evolution, to improving the efficiency and sustainability of aquaculture production, supporting the future of fundamental and applied research in an iconic fish lineage of major societal importance
- âŠ