Characterization of Hepatitis B virus (HBV) genotypes in patients from Rondônia, Brazil

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Hepatitis B virus (HBV) can be classified into nine genotypes (A-I) defined by sequence divergence of more than 8% based on the complete genome. This study aims to identify the genotypic distribution of HBV in 40 HBsAg-positive patients from Rondônia, Brazil. A fragment of 1306 bp partially comprising surface and polymerase overlapping genes was amplified by PCR. Amplified DNA was purified and sequenced. Amplified DNA was purified and sequenced on an ABI PRISM^®377 Automatic Sequencer (Applied Biosystems, Foster City, CA, USA). The obtained sequences were aligned with reference sequences obtained from the GenBank using Clustal X software and then edited with Se-Al software. Phylogenetic analyses were conducted by the Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) approach using BEAST v.1.5.3.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The subgenotypes distribution was A1 (37.1%), D3 (22.8%), F2a (20.0%), D4 (17.1%) and D2 (2.8%).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>These results for the first HBV genotypic characterization in Rondônia state are consistent with other studies in Brazil, showing the presence of several HBV genotypes that reflects the mixed origin of the population, involving descendants from Native Americans, Europeans, and Africans.</p

Copper(II) and silver(I)‑1,10‑phenanthroline‑5,6‑dione complexes interact with double‑stranded DNA: further evidence of their apparent multi‑modal activity towards Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Tackling microbial resistance requires continuous efforts for the development of new molecules with novel mechanisms of action and potent antimicrobial activity. Our group has previously identified metal-based compounds, [Ag(1,10-phenanthroline-5,6-dione)2]ClO4 (Ag-phendione) and [Cu(1,10-phenanthroline-5,6-dione)3](ClO4)2.4H2O (Cu-phendione), with efficient antimicrobial action against multidrug-resistant species. Herein, we investigated the ability of Ag-phendione and Cu-phendione to bind with double-stranded DNA using a combination of in silico and in vitro approaches. Molecular docking revealed that both phendione derivatives can interact with the DNA by hydrogen bonding, hydrophobic and electrostatic interactions. Cu-phendione exhibited the highest binding affinity to either major (− 7.9 kcal/mol) or minor (− 7.2 kcal/mol) DNA grooves. In vitro competitive quenching assays involving duplex DNA with Hoechst 33258 or ethidium bromide demonstrated that Ag-phendione and Cu-phendione preferentially bind DNA in the minor grooves. The competitive ethidium bromide displacement technique revealed Cu-phendione has a higher binding affinity to DNA (Kapp = 2.55 × 106 M−1) than Ag-phendione (Kapp = 2.79 × 105 M−1) and phendione (Kapp = 1.33 × 105 M−1). Cu-phendione induced topoisomerase I-mediated DNA relaxation of supercoiled plasmid DNA. Moreover, Cu-phendione was able to induce oxidative DNA injuries with the addition of free radical scavengers inhibiting DNA damage. Ag-phendione and Cu-phendione avidly displaced propidium iodide bound to DNA in permeabilized Pseudomonas aeruginosa cells in a dose-dependent manner as judged by flow cytometry. The treatment of P. aeruginosa with bactericidal concentrations of Cu-phendione (15 µM) induced DNA fragmentation as visualized by either agarose gel or TUNEL assays. Altogether, these results highlight a possible novel DNA-targeted mechanism by which phendione-containing complexes, in part, elicit toxicity toward the multidrug-resistant pathogen P. aeruginosa

Cymbopogon winterianus essential oil attenuates bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis in a murine model

The essential oil of Cymbopogon winterianus (EOCW) is a natural product with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antifibrotic properties. We studied the effect of EOCW in the progression of histological changes of pulmonary fibrosis (PF) in a rodent model. The oil was obtained by hydrodistillation and characterized using gas chromatographymass spectrometry. Intratracheal instillation of bleomycin was performed in 30 rats to induce PF, while Sham animals were subjected to instillation of saline solution. The treatment was performed using daily oral administration of distilled water, EOCW at 50, 100, and 200 mg/kg, and deflazacort (DFC). After 28 days, hemogram and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), tissue levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase (CAT) were assayed. Histological grading of PF, immunohistochemical expression of -smooth muscle actin (-SMA), and transforming growth factor- (TGF-) were also analyzed. The EOCW major compounds were found to be citronellal, geraniol, and citronellol. EOCW significantly reduced inflammation in BALF, reduced MDA levels, and increased SOD activity. EOCW attenuated histological grading of PF and reduced immunohistochemical expression of -SMA and TGF- in a dose-dependent way, likely due to the reduction of oxidative stress, inflammation, and TGF--induced myofibroblast differentiation.This research was financed by the Coordenação Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nivel Superior (CAPES), Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de Sergipe (FAPITEC), and Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq). EBS wishes to acknowledge the sponsorship of the project UIDB/04469/2020 (strategic fund) from the Portuguese Science and Technology Foundation, Ministry of Science and Education (FCT/MEC) through national funds, and was co-financed by FEDER, under the Partnership Agreement PT2020.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

BUSCANDO ENTENDER A PREPARAÇÃO DESPORTIVA A LONGO PRAZO A PARTIR DAS CAPACIDADES FÍSICAS EM CRIANÇAS

Atualmente no âmbito do Treinamento Desportivo, uma das preocupações direciona-se ao entendimento do processo de preparação a longo prazo para que se possa formar indivíduos capazes de realizar ou mesmo suportar as exigências que determinado desporto solicita. Nesse sentido o entendimento de que o processo de organização envolve diversos aspectos em diferentes âmbitos, pretende-se aqui discutir três aspectos: I) conhecimento das diferentes indicações de estruturação desportiva, II) entendimento das particularidades do organismo nesta faixa etária e, por fim, III) direcionamento do treinamento das diferentes capacidades físicas

Activity of arginine-phenylalanine and arginine-tryptophan-based surfactants against Staphylococcus aureus

Aims: This study aimed to evaluate the antibacterial effect of two new cationic surfactants based on phenylalanine-arginine (LPAM) and tryptophan-arginine (LTAM). Materials & methods: Antibacterial activity, mechanism of action and interactions with Staphylococcus aureus enzymes were measured through microbiological, flow cytometry and molecular docking assays, respectively. Results & conclusion: These compounds showed antibacterial activity in the range of 4.06-16.24 μg/ml against planktonic cells and no activity against mature biofilms, since they caused a loss of membrane integrity and increased DNA damage, as revealed by flow cytometry analysis. In silico assays revealed the existence of molecular bonds such as hydrogen bonds, mainly with DNA. Therefore, these compounds have promising pharmacological activity against MRSA strains.The authors would like to thank Central Analítica-UFC/CT-INFRA/MCTI- SISANO/Pró-Equipamentos CAPES for the support.Peer reviewe

HIV Aspartyl Peptidase Inhibitors Interfere with Cellular Proliferation, Ultrastructure and Macrophage Infection of Leishmania amazonensis

Submitted by Sandra Infurna ([email protected]) on 2019-01-08T13:43:09Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Ellenf_Altoe_etal_IOC_2009.pdf: 1452755 bytes, checksum: 77127a59920cef6bca71296107f6ec63 (MD5)Approved for entry into archive by Sandra Infurna ([email protected]) on 2019-01-08T13:51:34Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 Ellenf_Altoe_etal_IOC_2009.pdf: 1452755 bytes, checksum: 77127a59920cef6bca71296107f6ec63 (MD5)Made available in DSpace on 2019-01-08T13:51:34Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Ellenf_Altoe_etal_IOC_2009.pdf: 1452755 bytes, checksum: 77127a59920cef6bca71296107f6ec63 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2009Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Instituto Oswaldo Cruz. Laboratório de Biologia Molecular e Doenças Endêmicas. Rio de Janeiro, RJ. Brasil.Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro. Centro de Ciências da Saúde. Instituto de Microbiologia Prof. Paulo de Góes. Departamento de Microbiologia Geral,. Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil.Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Instituto Oswaldo Cruz. Laboratório de Biologia Molecular e Doenças Endêmicas. Rio de Janeiro, RJ. Brasil.Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Instituto Oswaldo Cruz. Laboratório de Biologia Molecular e Doenças Endêmicas. Rio de Janeiro, RJ. Brasil.Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Instituto Oswaldo Cruz. Laboratório de Biologia Molecular e Doenças Endêmicas. Rio de Janeiro, RJ. Brasil.Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Instituto Oswaldo Cruz. Laboratório de Biologia Molecular e Doenças Endêmicas. Rio de Janeiro, RJ. Brasil.Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro. Centro de Ciências da Saúde. Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho. Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil.Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro. Centro de Ciências da Saúde. Instituto de Microbiologia Prof. Paulo de Góes. Departamento de Microbiologia Geral,. Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil.Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro. Centro de Ciências da Saúde. Instituto de Microbiologia Prof. Paulo de Góes. Departamento de Microbiologia Geral,. Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil.Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Instituto Oswaldo Cruz. Laboratório de Biologia Molecular e Doenças Endêmicas. Rio de Janeiro, RJ. Brasil.Leishmania is the etiologic agent of leishmanisais, a protozoan disease whose pathogenic events are not well understood. Current therapy is suboptimal due to toxicity of the available therapeutic agents and the emergence of drug resistance. Compounding these problems is the increase in the number of cases of Leishmania-HIV coinfection, due to the overlap between the AIDS epidemic and leishmaniasis