Immune-evasion strategies of mycobacteria and their implications for the protective immune response

Mycobacteria are intracellular pathogens that have macrophages as their main host cells. However, macrophages are also the primary line of defense against invading microorganisms. To survive in the intracellular compartment, virulent mycobacteria have developed several strategies to modulate the activation and the effector functions of macrophages. Despite this, antigen-specific T cells develop during infection. While T cell responses are critical for protection they can also contribute to the success of mycobacteria as human pathogens, as immunopathology associated with these responses facilitates transmission. Here, we provide a brief overview of different immune-evasion strategies of mycobacteria and their impact on the protective immune response. This understanding will further our knowledge in host-pathogen interactions and may provide critical insights for the development of novel host-specific therapies.Our work is funded by the project NORTE-01-0145-FEDER-000013, supported by the Northern Portugal Regional Operational Programme (NORTE 2020), under the Portugal 2020 Partnership Agreement, through the European Regional Development Fund (FEDER); Infect-ERA grant BU_SPONT_HEAL; and the Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (FCT) through the FCT investigator grant IF/01390/2014 to E.T. and the postdoctoral grant SFRH/BPD/112903/2015 to A.G.F.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

CONSIDERAÇÕES SOBRE NUTRIÇÃO MINERAL E O CASO DO FEIJÃO VIGNA

A nutrição mineral de plantas tem como objetivo estudar quais são os elementos químicos essenciais para o ciclo vital das plantas, como são absorvidos, translocados, as funções que desempenham, as exigências nutricionais e os distúrbios causados quando em concentrações insuficientes ou excessivas. Apresenta estreita relação com a agronomia, em especial com a fertilidade do solo e a adubação das culturas. Os nutrientes essenciais são: C, H e O (organógenos), N, P, K, Ca, Mg e S (macronutrientes) e Fe, Cu, Zn, Mn, Mo, Cl, B e Ni (micronutrientes). Os teores dos macronutrientes (g kg-1) considerados adequados para o bom desenvolvimento do feijão-vigna são: 18 a 22 (N), 1,2 a 1,5 (P), 30 a 35 (K), 50 a 55 (Ca), 5 a 8 (Mg) e 1,5 a 2,0 (S). E dos micronutrientes (mg kg-1) são: 700 a 900 (Fe), 400 a 425 (Mn), 150 a 200 (B), 40 a 50 (Zn) e 5 a 7 (Cu)

ABDOMINOPLASTIA EM PACIENTE PÓS-BARIÁTRICO: ESTUDO DE CASO

Com o aumento do número de cirurgias bariátricas, decorrente da alta prevalência de obesos no Brasil, são visíveis as consequências decorrentes da perda ponderal como flacidez de pele e hérnias incisionais. A abdominoplastia em âncora é a melhor indicação por proporcionar resultados mais satisfatórios quanto à estética e a melhor qualidade de vida para o paciente. Objetivos: O objetivo desse trabalho é o estudo de uma situação específica, a abdominoplastia em âncora realizada em um paciente pos bariátrico com quadro de hérnia incisional volumosa supra umbilical. Metodologia: O estudo de caso foi realizado a partir de dados recolhidos utilizando diversos meios (ações diretas e indiretas, entrevistas, fotos, resultados de exames, entre outros), aliados a construção de embasamento teórico a partir de principais sites de artigos científicos e uso do prontuário médico, com termo de consentimento assinado pelo paciente. Conclusão: A abdominoplastia em ancora é uma ótima opção para tratamento da flacidez de pele em pacientes pós bariátrico. A associação com outros profissionais da área médica como o cirurgião geral, para tratamento concomitante da hérnia incional, trouxe melhores resultados estéticos e melhorou a qualidade de vida do paciente

DETERMINAÇÃO DO TEOR DE CARBONO ORGÂNICO TOTAL EM AMOSTRA VEGETAL PELO MÉTODO VOLUMÉTRICO COM DIFERENTES VOLUMES DE ÁCIDO SULFÚRICO

É imprescindível aprimorar e adaptar os métodos de determinação de carbono, para reduzir os custos e o descarte desnecessário de resíduos químicos. Com objetivo de reduzir o custo da operação e o descarte de ácido sulfúrico, que pode causar contaminação ambiental, o trabalho testou diferentes concentrações do ácido para observar se existia diferença significativa entre os teores de carbono determinados por diferentes volumes de ácido sulfúrico. Para tanto foi utilizada 0,1 g de amostra seca de madeira de juazeiro (Ziziphus joazeiro Mart.), digerida em ácido sulfúrico e dicromato de potássio, aquecida em bloco digestor e titulada com solução de sulfato ferroso amoniacal 0,5 N.  Como a metodologia tomada como referência utiliza 40 mL do ácido sulfúrico P.A., este volume foi adotado como testemunha e os demais tratamentos foram 10 mL, 20 mL e 30 mL, com cinco repetições para cada volume. O cálculo estatístico foi realizado por meio da análise de variância (ANOVA) e as médias comparadas pelo teste de Tukey a 5% de probabilidade. Como padrão de comparação foi utilizada a glicose por apresentar teor de carbono conhecido. Observou-se que os diferentes volumes de ácido não apresentaram diferença significativa, o que indica a viabilidade de utilização de 10 mL para análise e uma redução de 75% do material químico

Association Between Body Image and Mental Health in Adolescents: A Social Issue

The construct of esthetic beauty is culturally and socially determined and widely disseminated by the media. The body image dissatisfaction (BID) is considered a public health problem, it is an important risk factor for disorders related to mental health, which is highly prevalent in adolescents and has an impact on social behavior. We aimed to evaluate the possible association between BID and the mental health aspects of depression and risk of eating disorders and identify the prevalence in adolescent boys and girls. The sample consisted of 308 adolescent students: 167 girls (54.2%) and 141 boys (45.8%). BID was identified by the silhouette scale. The Childhood Depression Scale (CDS) and Eating Attitudes Test (EAT-26) were used to assess MH. The chi-squared contingency test showed an association between body image and mental health variables in both sexes. Results: 70.1% of the girls and 76.6% of the boys exhibited BID. The girls demonstrated a significant association between body image and depressive symptoms (X(1) = 8.523; p = 0.004) and the risk of ED (X(1) = 14.281; p = 0.000). However, the boys exhibited no interactions between body image and mental health-related factors. Although BID was high in adolescents of both sexes, it may be a marker for depression and eating disorders in girls.A construção da beleza estética é cultural e socialmente determinada e amplamente divulgada pela mídia. A insatisfação com a imagem corporal (BID), considerada um problema de saúde pública, é um importante fator de risco para transtornos relacionados à saúde mental que apresenta alta prevalência em adolescentes e impacta sobre o comportamento social. Objetivamos avaliar a possível associação entre BID e os aspectos de saúde mental da depressão e risco de transtornos alimentares e identificar a prevalência em meninos e meninas adolescentes. Método: A amostra foi composta por 308 adolescentes escolares: 167 meninas (54,2%) e 141 meninos (45,8%). O BID foi identificado pela escala de silhueta. A Escala de Depressão na Infância (CDS) e o Teste de Atitudes Alimentares (EAT-26) foram utilizados para avaliar a HM. O teste de contingência qui-quadrado mostrou associação entre a imagem corporal e as variáveis de saúde mental em ambos os sexos. Resultados: 70,1% das meninas e 76,6% dos meninos apresentaram BID. As meninas demonstraram associação significativa entre imagem corporal e sintomas depressivos (X(1) = 8,523; p = 0,004) e risco de TA (X(1) = 14,281; p = 0,000). No entanto, os meninos não exibiram interações entre a imagem corporal e os fatores relacionados à saúde mental. Conclusão: Embora o BID tenha sido elevado em adolescentes de ambos os sexos, pode ser um marcador de depressão e transtornos alimentares em meninas

CRESCIMENTO E ACÚMULO DE SOLUTOS ORGÂNICOS NO FEIJÃO VIGNA SUBMETIDO AO ESTRESSE SALINO

Foi conduzido um experimento em condições de casa de vegetação, pertencente à Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco, em Recife, PE., Brasil, com o objetivo de serem avaliados efeitos do estresse salino no crescimento e acúmulo de solutos orgânicos, em feijoeiro vigna, cultivar “pele de moça”. Os tratamentos foram organizados em arranjo fatorial, composto por duas texturas de solo: franco-arenosa e franco-argilosa, quatro níveis de salinidade: 0,0 (Testemunha), 4,0; 8,0 e 12,0 dS m-1 a 25ºC, com cinco repetições. A salinização foi feita pela aplicação de 2/3 NaCl e 1/3 CaCl2. A colheita das plantas ocorreu aos 28 dias após a semeadura. Os resultados obtidos mostraram que houve redução de biomassa seca da parte aérea (62,7%) e aumento nos teores de prolina (72,2%) nas plantas submetidas ao tratamento salino mais alto. Não houve relação significativa entre teor de glicina-betaína e salinidade do solo. Entretanto, o teor de carboidratos solúveis totais nas folhas aumentou 26,6%, quando se comparou o tratamento de mais alta salinidade com a testemunha. Os teores de clorofila das plantas submetidas à salinidade (12 dS m-1) tiveram valores superiores em relação à testemunha; 60,7% para clorofila a e 45,6% para clorofila b. Deste modo, observou-se que o feijoeiro vigna, quando submetido ao estresse salino, desenvolveu mecanismos de tolerância, denotados pelo acúmulo de alguns solutos orgânicos

Development of Inhalable Superparamagnetic Iron Oxide Nanoparticles (SPIONs) in microparticulate system for antituberculosis drug delivery

Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious disease which affects millions of people worldwide. Inhalable polymeric dry powders are promising alternatives as anti-TB drug carriers to the alveoli milieu and infected macrophages, with potential to significantly improve the therapeutics efficiency. Here, the development of a magnetically responsive microparticulate system for pulmonary delivery of an anti-TB drug candidate (P3) is reported. Microparticles (MPs) are developed based on a cast method using calcium carbonate sacrificial templates and incorporate superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles to concentrate MPs in alveoli and enable drug on demand release upon actuation of an external alternate magnetic field (AMF). The MPs are shown to be suitable for P3 delivery to the lower airways and for alveolar macrophage phagocytosis. The developed MPs reveal unique and promising features to be used as an inhalable dry powder allowing the AMF control over dosage and frequency of drug delivery anticipating improved TB treatments.The authors wish to acknowledge the financial support from the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) for the postdoctoral grant of M.S.M. (SFRH/BPD/110868/2015) and R.M.A.D (SFRH/BPD/112459/2015), FCT grant of E.T. (IF/01390/2014) and Recognize project (UTAP-ICDT/CTM-BIO/0023/2014). This article is also a result of the project “Accelerating tissue engineering and personalized medicine discoveries by the integration of key enabling nanotechnologies, marine-derived biomaterials and stem cells,” supported by Norte Portugal Regional Operational Programme (NORTE 2020), under the PORTUGAL 2020 Partnership Agreement, through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). The authors acknowledge the financial support from the European Union Framework Programme for Research and Innovation HORIZON 2020, under the TEAMING Grant Agreement No. 739572 – The Discoveries CTR.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Functional coupling of sensorimotor and associative areas during a catching ball task: a qEEG coherence study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Catching an object is a complex movement that involves not only programming but also effective motor coordination. Such behavior is related to the activation and recruitment of cortical regions that participates in the sensorimotor integration process. This study aimed to elucidate the cortical mechanisms involved in anticipatory actions when performing a task of catching an object in free fall.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Quantitative electroencephalography (qEEG) was recorded using a 20-channel EEG system in 20 healthy right-handed participants performed the catching ball task. We used the EEG coherence analysis to investigate subdivisions of alpha (8-12 Hz) and beta (12-30 Hz) bands, which are related to cognitive processing and sensory-motor integration.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Notwithstanding, we found the main effects for the factor block; for alpha-1, coherence decreased from the first to sixth block, and the opposite effect occurred for alpha-2 and beta-2, with coherence increasing along the blocks.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>It was concluded that to perform successfully our task, which involved anticipatory processes (i.e. feedback mechanisms), subjects exhibited a great involvement of sensory-motor and associative areas, possibly due to organization of information to process visuospatial parameters and further catch the falling object.</p

The impact of IL-10 dynamic modulation on host immune response against visceral leishmaniasis

Leishmaniasis is a vector-borne disease caused by protozoan parasites from the genus Leishmania. The most severe form of disease is visceral leishmaniasis (VL), which is fatal if left untreated. It has been demonstrated that interleukin (IL)-10, is associated with disease progression and susceptibility. In this work, we took advantage of a transgenic mouse model that expresses high levels of IL-10 upon zinc sulfate administration (pMT-10). We addressed the role of IL-10 during the initial stages of L. donovani infection by analyzing the parasite burden in the spleen and liver of the infected pMT-10 and WT mice as well as the histopathological alterations upon IL-10 induction. Furthermore, the profile of cytokines expressed by T cells was assessed. Our results demonstrate that an increase in IL-10 production has an impact early but not later after infection. This specific temporal role for IL-10-mediated susceptibility to VL is of interest.Northern Portugal Regional Operational Programme (NORTE 2020), under the Portugal 2020 Partnership Agreement, through the European Regional Development Fund (FEDER) (NORTE-01-0145-FEDER-000013) and the Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (FCT) (contracts SFRH/BD/120127/2016 to IM, PD/BDE/127830/2016 to CF, SFRH/BD/120371/2016 to AMB, IF/01147/2013 to RDO, IF/01390/2014 to ET, IF/00735/2014 to AC, SFRH/BPD/96176/2013 to CC and IF/00021/2014 to RS), and Infect-Era (project INLEISH). JE also thanks the Canada Research Chair program for financial assistanceinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Type I IFN inhibits alternative macrophage activation during mycobacterium tuberculosis infection and leads to enhanced protection in the absence of IFN-gamma signaling

Supplementary material: http://www.jimmunol.org/content/suppl/2016/11/12/jimmunol.1600584.DCSupplementalTuberculosis causes ∼1.5 million deaths every year, thus remaining a leading cause of death from infectious diseases in the world. A growing body of evidence demonstrates that type I IFN plays a detrimental role in tuberculosis pathogenesis, likely by interfering with IFN-γ–dependent immunity. In this article, we reveal a novel mechanism by which type I IFN may confer protection against Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection in the absence of IFN-γ signaling. We show that production of type I IFN by M. tuberculosis–infected macrophages induced NO synthase 2 and inhibited arginase 1 gene expression. In vivo, absence of both type I and type II IFN receptors led to strikingly increased levels of arginase 1 gene expression and protein activity in infected lungs, characteristic of alternatively activated macrophages. This correlated with increased lung bacterial burden and pathology and decreased survival compared with mice deficient in either receptor. Increased expression of other genes associated with alternatively activated macrophages, as well as increased expression of Th2-associated cytokines and decreased TNF expression, were also observed. Thus, in the absence of IFN-γ signaling, type I IFN suppressed the switching of macrophages from a more protective classically activated phenotype to a more permissive alternatively activated phenotype. Together, our data support a model in which suppression of alternative macrophage activation by type I IFN during M. tuberculosis infection, in the absence of IFN-γ signaling, contributes to host protection.This work was supported by the Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia, Portugal, cofunded by Programa Operacional Regional do Norte (ON.2 – O Novo Norte), Quadro de Referência Estratégico Nacional, through the Fundo Europeu de Desenvolvimento Regional (PTDC/SAU-MII/101977/2008 and PTDC/BIA-BCM/102776/2008); by the Francis Crick Institute, which receives its core funding from Cancer Research U.K. (FC001126), the U.K. Medical Research Council (FC001126), and the Wellcome Trust (FC001126); by the U.K. Medical Research Council (MR/U117565642/1); and by the European Research Council (294682-TB-PATH). This work was also supported by Research Grant 2015 from the European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (to M.S.). L.M.-T. was funded by the Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (SFRH/BPD/77399/2011) and the European Research Council (294682-TB-PATH). The M.S. laboratory was financed by Fundo Europeu de Desenvolvimento Regional (FEDER) funds through the COMPETE 2020-Operacional Programme for Competitiveness and Internationalisation (POCI), Portugal 2020, and by Portuguese funds through Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia, Portugal, in the framework of the Institute for Research and Innovation in Health Sciences project (POCI-01-0145-FEDER-007274). M.S. is a Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia Associate Investigator. E.T. is a Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia Auxiliary Investigator