Reduction of protein levels and methionine and/or lysine supplementation in diets and their effects in total ammonia nitrogen excretion of tambaqui juveniles (Colossoma macropomum Cuvier, 1818)

It was evaluated the effect of the reduction of crude protein level (CP) and the lysine and/or methionine supplementation in total ammonia nitrogen excretion on tambaqui (Colossoma macropomum) juveniles. The experiment developed in a factorial and randomized design with two levels of protein contents (20% and 25% CP) and four levels of amino acid supplementation: a) Dl-methionine (0% of CP) and L-lysine (0% of CP), b) Dl-methionine (3% of CP), c) L-lysine (5% of CP), d) Dl-methionine (3% of CP) + L-lysine (5% of CP), during 55 days. The water sampling from experimental units was done at 3 moments (1(0) day, 27(0) day e 55(0) day). In these days, 3 samples of each experimental unit were collected in elapsing of the time (08:00 a.m., 02:00 p.m. and 08:00 p.m.). The ammonia excretion data were analysed by repeated-measures ANOVA (p>0,05) with time as within effect. The reduction of 5% in diet protein, decreased in 28,4% total ammonia excretion decreased, however, the lysine and methionine supplementation did not influenced this factor.Foi avaliado o efeito da redução dos níveis de proteína e a suplementação de metionina e/ou lisina em rações sobre a excreção de amônia em juvenis de tambaqui (Colossoma macropomum). O experimento foi realizado em delineamento inteiramente casualizado com esquema fatorial de duas entradas2 níveis protéicos (25 e 20%) e 4 níveis de inclusão de aminoácidosa) 0% de suplementação, b) DL-Metionina (3% da PB), c) L-lisina (5% da PB) e d) Dl-Metionina (3% da PB) + L-lisina (5% da PB), com duração de 55 dias. A coleta de água das unidades experimentais ocorreu em três momentos (1º dia, 27º dia e 55º dia) durante o período experimental. Nestes dias, foram realizadas 3 coletas de amostras de água para análise de amônia de cada unidade experimental (08:00 , 14:00 e 20:00 horas). Os dados de excreção de amônia foram analisados por ANOVA com medidas repetidas no tempo a 5% do nível de significância. A redução em 5% do nível de proteína na dieta gerou uma diminuição de 28,4% na excreção de amônia. Contudo, a suplementação de lisina e metionina não influenciaram esta diminuição

Surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 immunogenicity: loss of immunodominant HLA-A*02-restricted epitopes that activate CD8+ T cells

Introduction and methodsIn this present work, coronavirus subfamilies and SARS-CoV-2 Variants of Concern (VOCs) were investigated for the presence of MHC-I immunodominant viral peptides using in silico and in vitro tools.ResultsIn our results, HLA-A*02 haplotype showed the highest number of immunodominant epitopes but with the lowest combined prediction score. Furthermore, a decrease in combined prediction score was observed for HLA-A*02-restricted epitopes when the original strain was compared to the VOCs, indicating that the mutations on the VOCs are promoting escape from HLA-A2-mediated antigen presentation, which characterizes a immune evasion process. Additionally, epitope signature analysis revealed major immunogenic peptide loss for structural (S) and non-structural (ORF8) proteins of VOCs in comparison to the Wuhan sequence.DiscussionThese results may indicate that the antiviral CD8+ T-cell responses generated by original strains could not be sufficient for clearance of variants in either newly or reinfection with SARS-CoV-2. In contrast, N epitopes remain the most conserved and reactive peptides across SARS-CoV-2 VOCs. Overall, our data could contribute to the rational design and development of new vaccinal platforms to induce a broad cellular CD8+ T cell antiviral response, aiming at controlling viral transmission of future SARS-CoV-2 variants

Genotypic characterization of psittacid herpesvirus isolates from Brazil

AbstractThirty-six isolates of psittacid herpesvirus (PsHV), obtained from 12 different species of psittacids in Brazil, were genotypically characterized by restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis and PCR amplification. RFLP analysis with the PstI enzyme revealed four distinct restriction patterns (A1, X, W and Y), of which only A1 (corresponding to PsHV-1) had previously been described. To study PCR amplification patterns, six pairs of primers were used. Using this method, six variants were identified, of which, variants 10, 8, and 9 (in this order) were most prevalent, followed by variants 1, 4, and 5. It was not possible to correlate the PCR and RFLP patterns. Twenty-nine of the 36 isolates were shown to contain a 419bp fragment of the UL16 gene, displaying high similarity to the PsHV-1 sequences available in GenBank. Comparison of the results with the literature data suggests that the 36 Brazilian isolates from this study belong to genotype 1 and serotype 1

Artificial neural network applied in the analysis of health-related quality of life of adolescents / Rede neural artificial aplicada na análise da qualidade de vida de adolescentes

Objetivo: construir um modelo que explique a qualidade de vida em adolescentes escolares a partir do instrumento KIDSCREEN-27 por meio da criação de uma rede neural artificial. Método: estudo transversal e analítico com 635 adolescentes utilizando-se o KIDSCREEN-27. Foi desenvolvida uma rede neural artificial com quatro camadas para avaliar a variável qualidade de vida por meio da média das respostas. Para as três primeiras camadas de neurônios foi utilizada função logística como função de transferência e para a ativação foi utilizada função linear. Resultados: a rede neural alcançou acurácia de 98,96% e quando comparadas as dimensões do KIDSCREEN-27 com sexo e prática de atividades físicas todas apresentaram associação estatística significativa, exceto as dimensões suporte social e grupo de pares e ambiente escolar. Conclusão: os resultados podem ter importantes consequências para a identificação de adolescentes em risco e o direcionamento de políticas públicas de saúde.

Artificial neural network applied in the analysis of health-related quality of life of adolescents / Rede neural artificial aplicada na análise da qualidade de vida de adolescentes

Objective: to build a model that explains the quality of life in school adolescents from the KIDSCREEN-27 instrument through the creation of an artificial neural network. Method: cross-sectional and analytical study with 635 adolescents using KIDSCREEN-27. An artificial neural network with four layers was developed to evaluate the variable quality of life by means of the mean responses. For the first three layers of neurons, logistic function was used as transfer function and linear function was used for activation. Results: the neural network reached accuracy of 98.96% and when compared the dimensions of kidscreen-27 with sex and practice of physical activities all presented significant statistical association, except the dimensions social support and peer group and school environment. Conclusion: the results may have important consequences for the identification of adolescents at risk and the direction of public health policies.Objetivo: construir un modelo que explique la calidad de vida en adolescentes escolares a partir del instrumento KIDSCREEN-27 a través de la creación de una red neuronal artificial. Método: estudio transversal y analítico con 635 adolescentes utilizando KIDSCREEN-27. Se desarrolló una red neuronal artificial con cuatro capas para evaluar la variable calidad de vida mediante las respuestas medias. Para las tres primeras capas de neuronas, la función logística se utilizó como función de transferencia y la función lineal se utilizó para la activación. Resultados: la red neuronal alcanzó una precisión del 98,96% y cuando se compararon las dimensiones de kidscreen-27 con el sexo y la práctica de actividades físicas todos presentaron una asociación estadística significativa, excepto las dimensiones de apoyo social y grupo de pares y entorno escolar. Conclusión: los resultados pueden tener consecuencias importantes para la identificación de adolescentes en riesgo y la orientación de las políticas de salud.Objetivo: construir um modelo que explique a qualidade de vida em adolescentes escolares a partir do instrumento KIDSCREEN-27 por meio da criação de uma rede neural artificial. Método: estudo transversal e analítico com 635 adolescentes utilizando-se o KIDSCREEN-27. Foi desenvolvida uma rede neural artificial com quatro camadas para avaliar a variável qualidade de vida por meio da média das respostas. Para as três primeiras camadas de neurônios foi utilizada função logística como função de transferência e para a ativação foi utilizada função linear. Resultados: a rede neural alcançou acurácia de 98,96% e quando comparadas as dimensões do KIDSCREEN-27 com sexo e prática de atividades físicas todas apresentaram associação estatística significativa, exceto as dimensões suporte social e grupo de pares e ambiente escolar. Conclusão: os resultados podem ter importantes consequências para a identificação de adolescentes em risco e o direcionamento de políticas públicas de saúde.

Immune Modulation in Primary Vaccinia virus Zoonotic Human Infections

In 2010, the WHO celebrated the 30th anniversary of the smallpox eradication. Ironically, infections caused by viruses related to smallpox are being increasingly reported worldwide, including Monkeypox, Cowpox, and Vaccinia virus (VACV). Little is known about the human immunological responses elicited during acute infections caused by orthopoxviruses. We have followed VACV zoonotic outbreaks taking place in Brazil and analyzed cellular immune responses in patients acutely infected by VACV. Results indicated that these patients show a biased immune modulation when compared to noninfected controls. Amounts of B cells are low and less activated in infected patients. Although present, T CD4+ cells are also less activated when compared to noninfected individuals, and so are monocytes/macrophages. Similar results were obtained when Balb/C mice were experimentally infected with a VACV sample isolated during the zoonotic outbreaks. Taking together, the data suggest that zoonotic VACVs modulate specific immune cell compartments during an acute infection in humans

Autocoleta de swab nasofaríngeo e teste molecular em pool testing como estratégias para detecção de coronavírus da síndrome respiratória aguda grave 2 (SARS-CoV-2): viabilidade em estudantes de medicina da Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, 2021

Objective: To show the feasibility of using combined nasopharyngeal swab auto-collection and pool testing to detect SARS-CoV-2 in epidemiological surveys. Methods: The study involved a sample of 154 students from the Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, who performed the self-collection of the nasopharyngeal swab in individual booths without supervision. Molecular testing was performed using the pool testing technique. Results: Obtaining samples lasted about 5 minutes each. Analysis 6 was performed to detect endogenous RNA in 40 samples, and the results indicated that no failures resulted from self-collection. None of the pools detected the presence of viral RNA. The cost of performing the molecular test (RT-PCR) by pool testing with samples obtained by self-collection was about 10 times lower than with the usual methods. Conclusion: The investigated strategies showed to be economically feasible and valid for the research of SARS-CoV-2 in epidemiological surveys.Objetivo: Demostrar la viabilidad de utilizar el uso combinado de la autocollección de swabs nasofaríngeos y pool testing para la detección del SARS-CoV2 en encuestas epidemiológicas. Métodos: El estudio involucró a una muestra de 154 estudiantes de la Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, quienes realizaron la autocolección del hisopo nasofaríngeo en cabinas individuales sin supervision. La prueba molecular se realizó utilizando la técnica de prueba de grupo. Resultados: La obtención de muestras duró unos 5 minutos por persona. Se realizó un análisis para detectar RNA endógeno en 40 muestras y los resultados indicaron que no hubo fallas derivadas de la autocolección. Ninguno de los grupos detectó la presencia de RNA viral. El costo de realizar una prueba molecular (RT-PCR) por pool con muestras obtenidas por auto-recolección fue aproximadamente 10 veces menor que con los métodos habituales. Conclusión: Las estrategias investigadas demonstraram ser económicamente viables y válidas para la investigación del SARS-CoV-2 en encuestas epidemiológicas.Objetivo: Demonstrar a viabilidade da utilização combinada da autocoleta de swab nasofaríngeo e pool testing para detecção do SARS-CoV-2 em inquéritos epidemiológicos. Métodos: O estudo envolveu amostra de 154 estudantes da Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, que realizaram a autocoleta do swab nasofaríngeo em cabines individuais e sem supervisão. O teste molecular foi realizado utilizando-se a técnica de pool testing. Resultados: A obtenção de amostras durou cerca de 5 minutos por pessoa. Realizou-se análise para detecção de RNA endógeno em 40 amostras e os resultados indicaram que não houve falhas decorrentes da autocoleta. Nenhum dos pools detectou presença de RNA viral. O custo da realização do teste molecular (RT-PCR) por pool testing com amostras obtidas por autocoleta foi cerca de dez vezes menor do que nos métodos habituais. Conclusão: As estratégias investigadas mostraram-se economicamente viáveis e válidas para a pesquisa de SARS-CoV-2 em inquéritos epidemiológicos

Clinical Study Immune Modulation in Primary Vaccinia virus Zoonotic Human Infections

In 2010, the WHO celebrated the 30th anniversary of the smallpox eradication. Ironically, infections caused by viruses related to smallpox are being increasingly reported worldwide, including Monkeypox, Cowpox, and Vaccinia virus (VACV). Little is known about the human immunological responses elicited during acute infections caused by orthopoxviruses. We have followed VACV zoonotic outbreaks taking place in Brazil and analyzed cellular immune responses in patients acutely infected by VACV. Results indicated that these patients show a biased immune modulation when compared to noninfected controls. Amounts of B cells are low and less activated in infected patients. Although present, T CD4 + cells are also less activated when compared to noninfected individuals, and so are monocytes/macrophages. Similar results were obtained when Balb/C mice were experimentally infected with a VACV sample isolated during the zoonotic outbreaks. Taking together, the data suggest that zoonotic VACVs modulate specific immune cell compartments during an acute infection in humans