Polymorphism in the flanking regions of the PbGP43 gene from the human pathogen Paracoccidioides brasiliensis: search for protein binding sequences and poly(A) cleavage sites

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p><it>Paracoccidioides brasiliensis </it>is a thermo-dimorphic fungus that causes paracoccidiodomycosis (PCM). Glycoprotein gp43 is the fungal main diagnostic antigen, which can also protect against murine PCM and interact with extracellular matrix proteins. It is structurally related to glucanases, however not active, and whose expression varies considerably. We have presently studied polymorphisms in the Pb<it>GP43 </it>flanking regions to help understand such variations.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>we tested the protein-binding capacity of oligonucleotides covering the Pb<it>GP43 </it>proximal 5' flanking region, including overlap and mutated probes. We used electrophoretic mobility shift assays and found DNA binding regions between positions -134 to -103 and -255 to -215. Only mutation at -230, characteristic of <it>P. brasiliensis </it>phylogenetic species PS2, altered binding affinity. Next, we cloned and sequenced the 5' intergenic region up to position -2,047 from <it>P. brasiliensis </it>Pb339 and observed that it is composed of three tandem repetitive regions of about 500 bp preceded upstream by 442 bp. Correspondent PCR fragments of about 2,000 bp were found in eight out of fourteen isolates; in PS2 samples they were 1,500-bp long due to the absence of one repetitive region, as detected in Pb3. We also compared fifty-six Pb<it>GP43 </it>3' UTR sequences from ten isolates and have not observed polymorphisms; however we detected two main poly(A) clusters (1,420 to 1,441 and 1,451 to 1,457) of multiple cleavage sites. In a single isolate we found one to seven sites.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>We observed that the amount of Pb<it>GP43 </it>transcripts accumulated in <it>P. brasiliensis </it>Pb339 grown in defined medium was about 1,000-fold higher than in Pb18 and 120-fold higher than in Pb3. We have described a series of features in the gene flanking regions and differences among isolates, including DNA-binding sequences, which might impact gene regulation. Little is known about regulatory sequences in thermo-dimorphic fungi. The peculiar structure of tandem repetitive fragments in the 5' intergenic region of Pb<it>GP43</it>, their characteristic sequences, besides the presence of multiple poly(A) cleavage sites in the 3' UTR will certainly guide future studies.</p

A to Z of the Muon anomalous magnetic moment in the MSSM with Pati-Salam at the GUT scale

We analyse the low energy predictions of the minimal supersymmetric standard model (MSSM) arising from a GUT scale Pati-Salam gauge group further constrained by an A4 × Z5 family symmetry, resulting in four soft scalar masses at the GUT scale: one left-handed soft mass m0 and three right-handed soft masses m1, m2, m3, one for each generation. We demonstrate that this model, which was initially developed to describe the neutrino sector, can explain collider and non-collider measurements such as the dark matter relic density, the Higgs boson mass and, in particular, the anomalous magnetic moment of the muon (g − 2)μ. Since about two decades, (g − 2)μ suffers a puzzling about 3σ excessoftheexperimentallymeasuredvalueoverthetheoreticalprediction,whichour model is able to fully resolve. As the consequence of this resolution, our model predicts specific regions of the parameter space with the specific properties including light smuons and neutralinos, which could also potentially explain di-lepton excesses observed by CMS and ATLAS

Reproducibility and validity of a food frequency questionnaire

OBJECTIVE: Methods to evaluate food consumption still need improvement. A study was conducted to verify the reproducibility and validity of a food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) among overweight adults. METHODS: The study was carried out in a private university in São Paulo, Brazil. The study sample consisted of 146 individuals of both sex with body mass index =25 kg/m² and age between 18 and 60 years old. For reproducibility the FFQ was applied by trained interviewers at two different instances with a mean interval time of 47 days. For validity, data collected from the FFQ were compared with those obtained from the average of 3 different daily records of a 24-hour dietary recall (mean interval time: 15 days). Validity and reproducibility of data on calories and macronutrients consumption was assessed using pondered kappa statistics and intraclass correlation coefficient. RESULTS: A higher variability in the reporting of regular food consumption was seen among obese than overweight individuals. Concerning reproducibility, kappa statistical values varied from 0.23 (carbohydrates and fats) to 0.40 (calories), and intraclass correlation coefficients ranged from 0.28 (protein) to 0.54 (total calories). For FFQ validity, the highest kappa value was 0.25 (calories), and the intraclass correlation coefficient was 0.21 (protein). CONCLUSIONS: Food consumption reports of overweight individuals tend to be underestimated. Despite its limitations, FFQ could be used in epidemiological studies to assess the regular food consumption of overweight individuals.OBJETIVO: Os métodos que avaliam o consumo alimentar são ainda imperfeitos. Assim, foi realizada pesquisa com o objetivo de verificar a reprodutibilidade e validade do Questionário de Freqüência de Consumo de Alimentos (QFCA) em população adulta com excesso de peso. MÉTODOS: O estudo foi realizado em uma instituição privada de ensino superior de São Paulo. A amostra teve 146 indivíduos, de ambos os sexos, com Índice de Massa Corporal =25kg/m² e idade entre 18 e 60 anos. Para o estudo de reprodutibilidade, o QFCA foi aplicado, mediante entrevista, em dois momentos separados com intervalo médio de 47 dias. No estudo de validade, as informações obtidas com o QFCA foram comparadas àquelas obtidas a partir da média de três dias de recordatório de 24h -- aplicado com intervalo médio de 15 dias. Verificaram-se a validade e a reprodutibilidade das informações referentes ao consumo de calorias e macronutrientes utilizando-se as estatísticas Kappa ponderado e o coeficiente de correlação intraclasse. RESULTADOS: Foi verificada maior variabilidade nos relatos de consumo habitual de alimentos entre os indivíduos obesos quando comparados àqueles com sobrepeso. Os valores da estatística kappa, para o estudo de reprodutibilidade, variaram de 0,23 (carboidratos e gorduras) a 0,40 (calorias), e os dos coeficientes de correlação intraclasse oscilaram de 0,28 (proteína) a 0,54 (calorias totais). No estudo de validade do QFCA, o maior valor de Kappa encontrado foi 0,25 (calorias), e o coeficiente de correlação intraclasse foi de 0,21 (proteína). CONCLUSÕES: Os relatos de consumo realizado por indivíduos com excesso de peso tendem a ser subestimados. Consideradas suas limitações, o QFCA poderá ser usado em estudos epidemiológicos para se conhecer o consumo alimentar habitual de indivíduos com excesso de peso.Universidade Metodista de São PauloUniversidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP) Escola Paulista de Medicina Departamento de Medicina PreventivaUNIFESP, EPM, Depto. de Medicina PreventivaSciEL

Profile Of Physiotherapy Intervention For Down Syndrome Children

A Síndrome de Down (SD) é um distúrbio genético que acarreta atraso global no desenvolvimento, incluindo funções motoras, linguagem e cognitivo. O tratamento fisioterapêutico é indicado desde o nascimento, visando estimular a aquisição de habilidades motoras. Quanto mais precoce for o tratamento, mais beneficiada poderá ser a criança, pois a plasticidade neural tem sua maior intensidade nos primeiros meses de vida. Este estudo teve como objetivo investigar o perfil do atendimento fisioterapêutico às crianças com SD, nos primeiros três anos de idade, em instituições especializadas. Tratou-se de um estudo qualitativo, sendo a coleta de dados realizada a partir de entrevistas semi-estruturadas, com 11 fisioterapeutas que atuavam em cidades do litoral paulista e da região metropolitana de São Paulo. Os resultados indicam que, apesar da maioria dos profissionais utilizarem a internet como meio para atualização e terem cursos de especialização nem sempre na área de neuropediatria, sentiam-se seguros para trabalhar na área logo após a graduação, utilizando os princípios do Conceito Bobath para nortear o tratamento, caracterizado por terapias de 30 minutos com frequência de uma a duas vezes por semana. Esses dados devem servir como base para a reflexão dos pais, que devem buscar conhecer quais são as experiências dos fisioterapeutas que atenderão seus filhos, e das instituições especializadas, que devem incentivar os profissionais na busca de uma especialização adequada, visando melhor qualidade e aproveitamento terapêutico.29469370

A comunhão espiritual na história e o risco de seu retorno no contexto de isolamento social

O isolamento social, imposto pela pandemia do Novo Corona vírus e recomendado pela Organização Mundial de saúde, levou as Igrejas a fecharem seus templos. Para não deixar seus fiéis sem a oração principal, a celebração eucarística, a Igreja Católica transmite a missa pelos diversos meios de comunicação disponíveis. Isso nos alerta para o risco de um retorno da chamada “comunhão espiritual”, surgida na Idade Média e que ainda tem resquícios nos nossos dias. Esse risco, por sua vez, nos leva a nos perguntar se não haveria outras formas de celebrações que pudessem nutrir a fé dos fiéis como, por exemplo, a celebração da Palavra de Deus na Igreja doméstica e qual a importância que a Palavra divina tem na liturgia e na vida dos fiéis

Gender diversity, governance and dividend policy in Brazil

Purpose – Considering that the heterogeneity in the composition of deliberation and management bodies can promote a differentiated impact on earnings distribution policies of companies, the purpose of this paper is to examine the marginal influence of female participation on the board of directors and executive board regarding decisions associated with dividend policy in companies operating in Brazil. Design/methodology/approach – The sample is composed of non-financial companies listed on the B3 Stock Exchange between 2010 and 2015, which encompasses 261 companies (1,084 observations per year). The tests aim at explaining the probability of earnings distribution and the payout level of companies through variables that measure the female presence – considering that the explanatory economic attributes of decisions over dividends are kept under control. The econometric analysis was carried out through the descriptive analysis of the variables and LOGIT and TOBIT tests of inference estimated with fixed effects and meeting all econometric requirements. Findings – The proportion of women in both deliberative and executive bodies affects marginally the dividend policy of Brazilian companies. The female presence in management bodies contributes to a higher probability of earnings distribution and increase in the payout level; such tendency is moderated when women are in the board of directors; so, we do not reject the hypothesis of female influence on dividend policy decisions in Brazil. Originality/value – One can find such investigations in foreign environments, but such tests had not been accomplished in Brazil so far. We discuss, therefore, in an unprecedented way, the heterogeneity in deliberative (governance) and executive (management) bodies and its outcomes in strategic decisions made in Brazilian companies, focusing on the female insertion and on fundamental decisions that are related to the relationship among stakeholders, which is the dividend policy per se