Molecular and Biotechnological Approaches in the Diagnosis of Leprosy

Leprosy is a worldwide health problem, which needs the development of new and innovative strategies to be controlled. Early diagnosis of leprosy is an important contribution to reducing the incidence of the disease; thus, the development of biotechnology platforms, which include the mapping of antigens with potential to be used in immunodiagnostic and molecular methods for the detection of Mycobacterium leprae, is an important tool to confirm the clinical diagnostic. Molecular biology and biotechnological methods have been used to assist in the diagnosis of this disease, each one with its advantages and drawbacks. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) is the used method for leprosy diagnosis, and it allows the detection of infection-related antigens. Alternatively, due to their versatility to perform the same functions as the protein and non-protein natural antigens, mimetic peptides are considered an important tool. On the other hand, lateral flow assay (LFA) and optical and electrochemical biosensors are rapid and portable methods, capable of performing diagnosis in the field without sample preparation. This chapter presents such techniques, their uses in the diagnosis and detection of M. leprae, as well as the potential for the development of new techniques and strategies that can help to control and understand mycobacteriosis

Avaliação in silico e in vivo do perfil de metabolismo e toxicidade hepática de alcaloides β-carbolínicos sintéticos com prévia atividade antimalárica

Introduction: Malaria continues to be a serious global public health problem, given the high annual morbidity and mortality rates. It is caused by protozoa of the genus Plasmodium, with P. falciparum responsible for most serious cases and deaths. Treatment is based on the use of drugs such as chloroquine or artemisinin-based combined therapy, however, the resistance of parasites to available drugs has become an alarming reality. Therefore, it is necessary to study and develop new drugs with antimalarial activity. Objective: To evaluate the metabolism and liver toxicity profile of three β-carboline alkaloids (1, 2 and 3) selected in a previous study, which showed antimalarial activity in vitro and in vivo. Material and methods: This is a study with a qualitative and quantitative approach with an experimental and analytical nature. In silico analysis of the metabolism and toxicity properties of alkaloids was carried out using the SMILES notation through the AdmetSAR 2.0 program. Biochemical analysis of aspartate aminotrasferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) was also carried out in the serum of mice of the C57BL/6 lineage, treated with alkaloids or chloroquine, with subsequent statistical analysis using ANOVA and Tukey tests. Results: In the in silico analysis, the prediction of low hepatotoxic potential for alkaloids 1 and 2 was observed, and this result was corroborated by the ALT dosage, which presented results similar to those of the control group. Alkaloid 3, however, presented contrasting data, indicating hepatotoxic potential in in silico prediction, however, low potential in in vivo analysis, with ALT values ​​also close to the control group. All alkaloids under study showed potential for drug interactions. Conclusion: All alkaloids showed promising metabolic and toxicity parameters and could be good adjuvants for malaria pharmacotherapy. However, these results need to be confirmed to proceed the molecules in preclinical studies.Introdução: A malária continua sendo um grave problema de saúde pública mundial, dado os elevados índices anuais de morbimortalidade. O tratamento baseia-se no uso de medicamentos, entretanto, a resistência dos parasitos aos medicamentos disponíveis tem se tornado uma realidade alarmante, o que torna urgente o desenvolvimento de novos fármacos com atividade antimalárica. Em um estudo prévio, selecionou-se três alcaloides β-carbolínicos que apresentaram atividade antimalárica. Dessa forma, o presente trabalho se propôs a dar continuidade ao estudo dessas moléculas avaliando o perfil de metabolismo e toxicidade hepática. Objetivo: Avaliar o perfil de metabolismo e toxicidade hepática de três alcaloides β-carbolínicos (1, 2 e 3) selecionados em estudo prévio, que apresentaram atividade antimalárica in vitro e in vivo. Material e Métodos: Trata-se de um estudo de abordagem tanto qualitativa quanto quantitativa com caráter experimental e analítico. Foi realizada análise in silico das propriedades de metabolismo e toxicidade dos alcaloides empregando a notação SMILES por meio do programa AdmetSAR 2.0. A toxicidade hepática foi avaliada por meio da análise bioquímica da aspartato aminotrasferase (AST) e alanina aminotransferase (ALT) no soro de camundongos da linhagem C57BL/6, tratados com os alcaloides ou com cloroquina. Resultados: Na análise in silico foi observada a predição de baixo potencial hepatotóxico para os alcaloides 1 e 2, sendo este resultado corroborado pela dosagem de ALT, que apresentou resultados semelhantes ao do grupo controle. O alcaloide 3, no entanto, apresentou dados contrastantes, indicando potencial hepatotóxico na predição in silico, porém, baixo potencial em análise in vivo, com valores de ALT também próximos do grupo controle. Todos os alcaloides em estudo apresentaram potencial para interações medicamentosas. Conclusão: Os alcaloides avaliados nesse estudo apresentaram parâmetros metabólicos e de toxicidade promissores, podendo ser bons adjuvantes à farmacoterapia da malária. Entretanto, esses resultados precisam ser confirmados para seguimento das moléculas nos estudos pré-clínicos

Smartphone-based evaluation of static balance and mobility in long-lasting COVID-19 patients

BackgroundSARS-CoV-2 infection can lead to a variety of persistent sequelae, collectively known as long COVID-19. Deficits in postural balance have been reported in patients several months after COVID-19 infection. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the static balance and balance of individuals with long COVID-19 using inertial sensors in smartphones.MethodsA total of 73 participants were included in this study, of which 41 had long COVID-19 and 32 served as controls. All participants in the long COVID-19 group reported physical complaints for at least 7 months after SARS-CoV-2 infection. Participants were evaluated using a built-in inertial sensor of a smartphone attached to the low back, which recorded inertial signals during a static balance and mobility task (timed up and go test). The parameters of static balance and mobility obtained from both groups were compared.ResultsThe groups were matched for age and BMI. Of the 41 participants in the long COVID-19 group, 22 reported balance impairment and 33 had impaired balance in the Sharpened Romberg test. Static balance assessment revealed that the long COVID-19 group had greater postural instability with both eyes open and closed than the control group. In the TUG test, the long COVID-19 group showed greater acceleration during the sit-to-stand transition compared to the control group.ConclusionThe smartphone was feasible to identify losses in the balance motor control and mobility of patients with long-lasting symptomatic COVID-19 even after several months or years. Attention to the balance impairment experienced by these patients could help prevent falls and improve their quality of life, and the use of the smartphone can expand this monitoring for a broader population

Generalidades sobre o quadro clínico da Rinossinusite: uma revisão narrativa de literatura: Generalities about the clinical picture of Rhinosinusitis: a narrative literature reviewv

A rinossinusite é um processo inflamatório da mucosa dos seios paranasais e da cavidade nasal. O sistema nasossinusal é responsável pelo balanço adequado entre a fabricação e o clearence de muco nas cavidades paranasais. A fisiologia deste é de vital importância para a proteção das vias aéreas superiores. No advém, determinados fatores podem acarretar um desbalanço nesse complexo, consequentemente um processo inflamatório. Qualquer fator que altere a drenagem, seja por obstrução, maior produção ou espessamento do muco, como processo infecciosos ou alérgicos, haverá uma impactação de secreções e a facilitação de colonização bacteriana, dando início ao processo infeccioso. A identificação da inflamação do nariz e seios paranasais é basicamente clínica. A suspeição desta ocorre através da manifestação de dois ou mais sintomatologias. As quais são o bloqueio ou obstrução nasal, a descarga nasal, pressão ou dor facial e redução ou perda do olfato. De modo geral, é essencial à prevenção básica das rinossinusites agudas é barrar a infecção viral. O suporte inclui medidas gerais de higiene, alimentação e hidratação, imunização para o combate de vírus respiratórios , administração de fármacos para turbinar o sistema imune se necessário

Catálogo Taxonômico da Fauna do Brasil: setting the baseline knowledge on the animal diversity in Brazil

The limited temporal completeness and taxonomic accuracy of species lists, made available in a traditional manner in scientific publications, has always represented a problem. These lists are invariably limited to a few taxonomic groups and do not represent up-to-date knowledge of all species and classifications. In this context, the Brazilian megadiverse fauna is no exception, and the Catálogo Taxonômico da Fauna do Brasil (CTFB) (http://fauna.jbrj.gov.br/), made public in 2015, represents a database on biodiversity anchored on a list of valid and expertly recognized scientific names of animals in Brazil. The CTFB is updated in near real time by a team of more than 800 specialists. By January 1, 2024, the CTFB compiled 133,691 nominal species, with 125,138 that were considered valid. Most of the valid species were arthropods (82.3%, with more than 102,000 species) and chordates (7.69%, with over 11,000 species). These taxa were followed by a cluster composed of Mollusca (3,567 species), Platyhelminthes (2,292 species), Annelida (1,833 species), and Nematoda (1,447 species). All remaining groups had less than 1,000 species reported in Brazil, with Cnidaria (831 species), Porifera (628 species), Rotifera (606 species), and Bryozoa (520 species) representing those with more than 500 species. Analysis of the CTFB database can facilitate and direct efforts towards the discovery of new species in Brazil, but it is also fundamental in providing the best available list of valid nominal species to users, including those in science, health, conservation efforts, and any initiative involving animals. The importance of the CTFB is evidenced by the elevated number of citations in the scientific literature in diverse areas of biology, law, anthropology, education, forensic science, and veterinary science, among others

Biosynthesis of silver nanoparticles using Caesalpinia ferrea (Tul.) Martius extract: physicochemical characterization, antifungal activity and cytotoxicity

Background Green synthesis is an ecological technique for the production of well characterized metallic nanoparticles using plants. This study investigated the synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) using a Caesalpinia ferrea seed extract as a reducing agent. Methods The formation of AgNPs was identified by instrumental analysis, including ultraviolet–visible (UV–Vis) spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) of the AgNPs, and surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) spectra of rhodamine-6G (R6G). We studied the physicochemical characterization of AgNPs, evaluated them as an antifungal agent against Candida albicans, Candida kruzei, Candida glabrata and Candida guilliermondii, and estimated their minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum fungicidal concentration (MFC) values. Lastly, this study evaluated the cytotoxicity of the AgNPs in murine L929 fibroblasts cells using an MTT assay. Results The UV–Vis spectroscopy, SERS, SEM and XRD results confirmed the rapid formation of spheroidal 30–50 nm AgNPs. The MIC and MFC values indicated the antifungal potential of AgNPs against most of the fungi studied and high cell viability in murine L929 fibroblasts. In addition, this study demonstrated that C. ferrea seed extracts may be used for the green synthesis of AgNPs at room temperature for the treatment of candidiasis

A miocardite como uma complicação da covid-19: Uma revisão sistemática / Myocarditis as a complication of covid-19: A systematic review

INTRODUÇÃO: O vírus Sars-Cov-2 está em nosso meio desde março de 2020, e se manifesta como uma síndrome respiratória aguda grave, mas também pode ter  manifestações cardiovasculares. Este estudo objetiva realizar uma revisão bibliográfica dos mecanismos fisiopatológicos, apresentação clínica, diagnóstico e tratamento expostos em pesquisas publicadas sobre a associação entre o Sars-Cov-2 e o desenvolvimento de ? miocardite (infecção viral do miocárdio). METODOLOGIA: Trata-se de uma revisão sistemática, fundamentada nas bases de dados PubMed e SciELO com recorte temporal de 2017 a 2021. Os descritores usados foram “myocarditis” e “covid-19”, nas línguas inglesa e portuguesa, foi adicionado o operador booleano “AND” de forma que os dois descritores estivessem contidos nos artigos selecionados. RESULTADOS: Os artigos analisados foram publicados em periódicos nacionais e internacionais, foram selecionados artigos de revisão sistemática e expostos em uma tabela contida no artigo. DISCUSSÃO: O desenvolvimento da miocardite e doenças cardiovasculares a partir do covid-19 se concentra nas teorias da ação do vírus na enzima inibidora da conversão de angiotensina II e na tempestade de citocinas inflamatórias ocasionando lesão miocárdica, sendo a clínica, semelhante a uma insuficiência cardíaca. Assim, observamos a elevação da troponina como provável marcador de  gravidade porém inespecífico. O método de escolha para diagnóstico é a ressonância magnética demonstrando lesões no miocárdio, entretanto ainda está em fase de estudo. O tratamento ainda não possui uma sistematização e consenso, e os efeitos adversos se mostraram superiores aos benefícios. CONCLUSÃO: A covid-19 também possui manifestações extrapulmonares, como a miocardite,  foco deste artigo. Porém são necessários mais estudos e avaliações a longo prazo para estabelecimento de condutas adequadas diante do curso da doença

Comparative transcriptome analysis reveals different strategies for degradation of steam-exploded sugarcane bagasse by Aspergillus niger and Trichoderma reesei

Abstract Background Second generation (2G) ethanol is produced by breaking down lignocellulosic biomass into fermentable sugars. In Brazil, sugarcane bagasse has been proposed as the lignocellulosic residue for this biofuel production. The enzymatic cocktails for the degradation of biomass-derived polysaccharides are mostly produced by fungi, such as Aspergillus niger and Trichoderma reesei. However, it is not yet fully understood how these microorganisms degrade plant biomass. In order to identify transcriptomic changes during steam-exploded bagasse (SEB) breakdown, we conducted a RNA-seq comparative transcriptome profiling of both fungi growing on SEB as carbon source. Results Particular attention was focused on CAZymes, sugar transporters, transcription factors (TFs) and other proteins related to lignocellulose degradation. Although genes coding for the main enzymes involved in biomass deconstruction were expressed by both fungal strains since the beginning of the growth in SEB, significant differences were found in their expression profiles. The expression of these enzymes is mainly regulated at the transcription level, and A. niger and T. reesei also showed differences in TFs content and in their expression. Several sugar transporters that were induced in both fungal strains could be new players on biomass degradation besides their role in sugar uptake. Interestingly, our findings revealed that in both strains several genes that code for proteins of unknown function and pro-oxidant, antioxidant, and detoxification enzymes were induced during growth in SEB as carbon source, but their specific roles on lignocellulose degradation remain to be elucidated. Conclusions This is the first report of a time-course experiment monitoring the degradation of pretreated bagasse by two important fungi using the RNA-seq technology. It was possible to identify a set of genes that might be applied in several biotechnology fields. The data suggest that these two microorganisms employ different strategies for biomass breakdown. This knowledge can be exploited for the rational design of enzymatic cocktails and 2G ethanol production improvement

Comparison Between Pre-Exhaustion and Traditional Exercise Order on Muscle Activation and Performance in Trained Men

The purpose of this study was to measure the acute effects of pre-exhaustion vs. traditional exercise order on neuromuscular performance and sEMG in trained men. Fourteen young, healthy, resistance trained men (age: 25.5 ± 4.0 years, height: 174.9 ± 4.1 cm, and total body mass: 80.0 ± 11.1 kg) took part of this study. All tests were randomized and counterbalanced for all subjects and experimental conditions. Volunteers attended one session in the laboratory. First, they performed ten repetition maximum (10RM) tests for each exercise (bench press and triceps pushdown) separately. Secondly, they performed all three conditions at 10RM: pre-test (bench press and triceps pushdown, separately), pre-exhaustion (triceps pushdown+bench press, PE) and traditional (bench press+triceps pushdown, TR), and rested 30 minutes between conditions. Results showed that pre-test was significantly greater than PE (p = 0.031) but not different than TR, for total volume load lifted. There was a significant difference between the pre-test and the time-course of lactate measures (p = 0.07). For bench press muscle activity of the pectoralis major, the last repetition was significantly greater than the first repetition (pre-test: p = 0.006, PE: p = 0.016, and TR: p = 0.005). Also, for muscle activity of the triceps brachii, the last repetition was significantly greater than the first repetition (pre-test: p = 0.001, PE: p = 0.005, and TR: p = 0.006). For triceps pushdown, muscle activity of the triceps brachii, the last repetition was significantly greater than the first repetition (pre-test: p = 0.006, PE: p = 0.016, and TR: p = 0.005). For RPE, there were no significant differences between PE and TR (p = 0.15). Our results suggest that exercise order decreases repetitions performed, however, neuromuscular fatigue, lactate, and RPE are not impacted. The lack of difference in total volume load lifted between PE and TR might explain, at least in part, the similar metabolic and perceptual responses

Data_Sheet_1_Smartphone-based evaluation of static balance and mobility in long-lasting COVID-19 patients.PDF

BackgroundSARS-CoV-2 infection can lead to a variety of persistent sequelae, collectively known as long COVID-19. Deficits in postural balance have been reported in patients several months after COVID-19 infection. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the static balance and balance of individuals with long COVID-19 using inertial sensors in smartphones.MethodsA total of 73 participants were included in this study, of which 41 had long COVID-19 and 32 served as controls. All participants in the long COVID-19 group reported physical complaints for at least 7 months after SARS-CoV-2 infection. Participants were evaluated using a built-in inertial sensor of a smartphone attached to the low back, which recorded inertial signals during a static balance and mobility task (timed up and go test). The parameters of static balance and mobility obtained from both groups were compared.ResultsThe groups were matched for age and BMI. Of the 41 participants in the long COVID-19 group, 22 reported balance impairment and 33 had impaired balance in the Sharpened Romberg test. Static balance assessment revealed that the long COVID-19 group had greater postural instability with both eyes open and closed than the control group. In the TUG test, the long COVID-19 group showed greater acceleration during the sit-to-stand transition compared to the control group.ConclusionThe smartphone was feasible to identify losses in the balance motor control and mobility of patients with long-lasting symptomatic COVID-19 even after several months or years. Attention to the balance impairment experienced by these patients could help prevent falls and improve their quality of life, and the use of the smartphone can expand this monitoring for a broader population.</p