Seroprevalence of human herpesvirus 8 infection in children born to HIV-1- infected women in São Paulo, Brazil

Human herpesvirus-8 (HHV-8) appears to be transmitted mainly by sexual contact. However, several studies suggest that in developing countries the infection may be acquired early in life by routes other than sexual transmission. The present study estimated the seroprevalence of HHV-8 in Brazilian children born to HIV-1-infected mothers. The serum samples were collected in a cross-sectional cohort study from 99 children born to HIV-infected mothers (median age 3.27 years; range 1.5-13.8 years) attending the outpatient clinic of the Federal University of São Paulo. IgG antibodies to HHV-8 latency-associated nuclear antigen and lytic phase antigens were detected by immunofluorescence assays. The samples tested were collected from children aged 12 months or older to exclude the possibility of cross-placental antibody transport. The total prevalence of anti-lytic antibodies in this population (5/99; 5%) reveals that HHV-8 infection can occur during childhood. Children aged 1.5 to 2 years had a seroprevalence of 2% (1/50) and children aged 3.25 to 13.8 years had a seroprevalence of 8% (4/49). This difference was not statistically significant, probably because of the small size of the sample, but it suggests that HHV-8 infection occurs more commonly late in infancy. Further prospective studies are necessary to evaluate the timing and risk factors for primary HHV-8 infection in the pediatric population.Universidade de São Paulo Faculdade de Medicina Departamento de Moléstias Infecciosas e ParasitáriasUniversidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP) Escola Paulista de Medicina Centro de Atendimento da Disciplina de Infectologia PediátricaUNIFESP, EPM, Centro de Atendimento da Disciplina de Infectologia PediátricaSciEL

FIRST RECORD OF Platemys platycephala melanonota ERNST, 1984 (REPTILIA, TESTUDINES, CHELIDAE) FOR THE BRAZILIAN AMAZON.

In this short communication we report the first record of Platemys platycephala melanonota (Reptilia, Testudines, Chelidae) for Brazil.Key words: Platemys platycephala melanonota; distribution; Amazon; BrazilPRIMEIRO REGISTRO DE Platemys platycephala melanonota ERNST 1984 (REPTILIA, TESTUDINES, CHELIDAE) PARA A AMAZÔNIA BRASILEIRA.RESUMONesta nota nós relatamos o primeiro registro de Platemys platycephala melanonota (Reptilia, Testudines, Chelidae) para o Brasil.Palavras-chave: Platemys platycephala melanonota, distribuição, Amazônia, Brasi

Periodic-orbit analysis and scaling laws of intermingled basins of attraction in an ecological dynamical system

Chaotic dynamical systems with two or more attractors lying on invariant subspaces may, provided certain mathematical conditions are fulfilled, exhibit intermingled basins of attraction: Each basin is riddled with holes belonging to basins of the other attractors. In order to investigate the occurrence of such phenomenon in dynamical systems of ecological interest (two-species competition with extinction) we have characterized quantitatively the intermingled basins using periodic-orbit theory and scaling laws. The latter results agree with a theoretical prediction from a stochastic model, and also with an exact result for the scaling exponent we derived for the specific class of models investigated. We discuss the consequences of the scaling laws in terms of the predictability of a final state (extinction of either species) in an ecological experiment.Comment: 24 pages (preprint format), 6 figure

Classical scrapie diagnosis in ARR/ARR sheep in Brazil

Background: Scrapie is a transmissible spongiform encephalopathy (TSE) that affects sheep flocks and goat herds. The transfer of animals or groups of these between sheep farms is associated with increased numbers of infected animals and with the susceptibility or the resistance to natural or classical scrapie form. Although several aspects linked to the etiology of the natural form of this infection remain unclarified, the role of an important genetic control in scrapie incidence has been proposed. Polymorphisms of the PrP gene (prion protein, or simply prion), mainly in codons 136, 154, and 171, have been associated with the risk of scrapie. Case: One animal from a group of 292 sheep was diagnosed positive for scrapie in the municipality of Valparaíso, state of São Paulo, Brazil. The group was part of a flock of 811 free-range, mixed-breed Suffolk sheep of the two genders and ages between 2 and 7 years from different Brazilian regions. Blood was collected for genotyping (for codons 136, 141, 154 and 171), and the third lid and rectal mucosa were sampled for immunohistochemistry (IHC) for scrapie, from all 292 animals of the group. IHC revealed that seven (2.4%) animals were positive for the disease. Collection of samples was repeated for 90 animals, among which the seven individuals diagnosed positive and 83 other animals that had some degree of kinship with those. These 90 sheep were sacrificed and necropsied, when samples of brain (obex), cerebellum, third eyelid, rectal mucosa, mesenteric lymph node, palatine tonsil, and spleen were collected for IHC. The results of IHC analyses carried out after necropsy of the seven positive animals submitted to the second collection of lymphoreticular tissue and of the 83 animals with some degree of kinship with them confirmed the positive diagnosis obtained in the first analysis, and revealed that three other sheep were also positive for scrapie. Samples of 80 animals (89%) were negative for the disease in all organs and tissues analyzed. In turn, 10 sheep (11%) were positive, presenting immunoreactivity in one or more tissues. Genotyping revealed the presence of four of the five alleles of the PrP gene commonly detected in sheep: ARR, ARQ, VRQ and ARH. These allele combinations formed six haplotypes: ARR/ARR, ARR/ARQ, ARH/ARH, ARQ/ARH, ARQ/ARQ and ARQ/VRQ. Animals were classified according to susceptibility to scrapie, when 8.9% of the genotyped sheep were classified into risk group R1 (more resistant, with no restriction to breeding). In turn, 40% of the animals tested ranked in groups R4 and R5 (genetically very susceptible, cannot be used for breeding purposes). Discussion: The susceptibility of sheep flocks depends on the genetic pattern of animals and is determined by the sequence of the gene that codifies protein PrP. Additionally, numerous prion strains are differentiated based on pathological and biochemical characteristics, and may affect animals differently, depending on each individual’s genotype. Most epidemiologic data published to date indicate that animals that carry the ARR/ARR genotype are less susceptible to classical scrapie. However, in the present study, the fact that two scrapie-positive sheep presented the haplotype ARR/ARR indicates that this genotype cannot always be considered an indicator of resistance to the causal agent of the classical manifestation of the disease. The coexistence in the same environment of several crossbred animals from different flocks and farms, which characterizes a new heterogeneous flock, may have promoted a favorable scenario to spread the disease, infecting animals in the most resistant group

Heme-Induced ROS in Trypanosoma Cruzi Activates CaMKII-Like That Triggers Epimastigote Proliferation. One Helpful Effect of ROS

Heme is a ubiquitous molecule that has a number of physiological roles. The toxic effects of this molecule have been demonstrated in various models, based on both its pro-oxidant nature and through a detergent mechanism. It is estimated that about 10 mM of heme is released during blood digestion in the blood-sucking bug's midgut. The parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, the agent of Chagas' disease, proliferates in the midgut of the insect vector; however, heme metabolism in trypanosomatids remains to be elucidated. Here we provide a mechanistic explanation for the proliferative effects of heme on trypanosomatids. Heme, but not other porphyrins, induced T. cruzi proliferation, and this phenomenon was accompanied by a marked increase in reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation in epimastigotes when monitored by ROS-sensitive fluorescent probes. Heme-induced ROS production was time-and concentration-dependent. In addition, lipid peroxidation and the formation of 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal (4-HNE) adducts with parasite proteins were increased in epimastigotes in the presence of heme. Conversely, the antioxidants urate and GSH reversed the heme-induced ROS. Urate also decreased parasite proliferation. Among several protein kinase inhibitors tested only specific inhibitors of CaMKII, KN93 and Myr-AIP, were able to abolish heme-induced ROS formation in epimastigotes leading to parasite growth impairment. Taken together, these data provide new insight into T. cruzi- insect vector interactions: heme, a molecule from the blood digestion, triggers epimastigote proliferation through a redox-sensitive signalling mechanism

ESTÁGIO SUPERVISIONADO EM COMPUTAÇÃO: ENSINO MÉDIO E TÉCNICO – RELATO DE EXPERIÊNCIA

O presente artigo visa refletir sobre a importância das vivências de um acadêmico na disciplina Estágio Supervisionado II, do curso de Licenciatura em Computação da Universidade do Estado do Amazonas (UEA) para a formação completa do educando, bem como relatar sobre suas  vivências no campo de atuação  que ocorreu entre fevereiro e abril de 2023 na Escola Estadual Maria Almeida do Nascimento, e nos cursos de Técnico em Análise Clinicas e curso de Técnico em Informática no Centro de Educação Tecnológica do Amazonas- CETAM, localizados no município de Coari-AM, envolvendo as etapas de observação, coparticipação e regência. Como resultado do estágio, foi possível aprimorar habilidades e capacidades, as quais contribuíram significativamente para o aprimoramento profissional do aluno, além de oferecer oportunidades de aplicar recursos de mídias digitais para desenvolver a experiência profissional, ampliando a visão dos estudantes sobre a docência em sua reflexão sobre a prática, o cotidiano escolar, o currículo e as políticas educacionais que regulam o ensino-aprendizagem nas escolas.This article aims to reflect on the importance of the experiences of an academic in the discipline Supervised Internship II, of the Degree in Computing at the University of the State of Amazonas (UEA) for the complete formation of the student, as well as to report on his experience in the field of performance that took place between February and April 2023 at the Maria Almeida do Nascimento State School, and in the courses of Technician in Clinical Analysis and Computer Technician course at the Center for Technological Education of Amazonas - CETAM, located in the municipality of Coari-AM, involving the stages of observation, co-participation and conducting. As a result of the internship, it was possible to improve skills and abilities, which contributed significantly to the student's professional improvement, in addition to offering opportunities to apply digital media resources to develop professional experience, expanding the students' view of teaching in their reflection about the practice, the school routine, the curriculum and the educational policies that regulate teaching and learning in schools.Este artículo tiene como objetivo reflexionar sobre la importancia de las experiencias de un académico en la disciplina Pasantía Supervisada II, de la Licenciatura en Computación de la Universidad del Estado de Amazonas (UEA) para la formación integral del estudiante, así como relatar sobre su experiencia en el campo de actuación que tuvo lugar entre febrero y abril de 2023 en la Escuela Estadual Maria Almeida do Nascimento, y en los cursos de Técnico en Análisis Clínico y Técnico en Informática del Centro de Educación Tecnológica de Amazonas - CETAM, ubicado en el municipio de Coari-AM, involucrando las etapas de observación, coparticipación y realización. Como resultado de la pasantía se logró mejorar destrezas y habilidades, lo que contribuyó significativamente a la superación profesional del estudiante, además de ofrecer oportunidades de aplicar recursos de medios digitales para desarrollar experiencia profesional, ampliando la mirada de los estudiantes sobre la docencia en su reflexión. sobre la práctica, la rutina escolar, el currículo y las políticas educativas que regulan la enseñanza y el aprendizaje en las escuelas.O presente artigo visa refletir sobre a importância das vivências de um acadêmico na disciplina Estágio Supervisionado II, do curso de Licenciatura em Computação da Universidade do Estado do Amazonas (UEA) para a formação completa do educando, bem como relatar sobre suas  vivências no campo de atuação  que ocorreu entre fevereiro e abril de 2023 na Escola Estadual Maria Almeida do Nascimento, e nos cursos de Técnico em Análise Clinicas e curso de Técnico em Informática no Centro de Educação Tecnológica do Amazonas- CETAM, localizados no município de Coari-AM, envolvendo as etapas de observação, coparticipação e regência. Como resultado do estágio, foi possível aprimorar habilidades e capacidades, as quais contribuíram significativamente para o aprimoramento profissional do aluno, além de oferecer oportunidades de aplicar recursos de mídias digitais para desenvolver a experiência profissional, ampliando a visão dos estudantes sobre a docência em sua reflexão sobre a prática, o cotidiano escolar, o currículo e as políticas educacionais que regulam o ensino-aprendizagem nas escolas