Publications by authors named "Alexandre M Pinheiro"

Article Synopsis
  • A new cyclic natural compound, formed from succinic acid and two alanine amino acid units, was isolated from honey extract and its structure was determined through various NMR techniques.
  • In cell culture studies, this compound reduced the number of tachyzoites (a parasitic stage) by 40-56% within 24 hours, and 25-50% over 72 hours, in a dose-dependent manner.
  • The compound showed no toxicity to glial cells at concentrations up to 25 µg/mL and was associated with increased nitric oxide levels, suggesting a potential impact on DNA synthesis and protein production in affected cells.
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The flaxseed is a nutraceutical food used as a source of α-linolenic acid, which can bring benefits to the health of mammals. This study was carried out to examine the effect of flaxseed inclusion in the diets on the intake of nutrients, body weight, and blood parameters of Alpine goats. Twenty-one adult females with an initial average weight of 41.

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Article Synopsis
  • Neuroinflammation is a key focus in neuroscience, common in nearly all neurological diseases, as it serves to protect the nervous system but can inadvertently cause harm.
  • The inflammatory response can vary from neuroprotective to neurotoxic depending on the nature of the insult and the type of glial cells involved, with multiple pathways and bioactive compounds activated during the process.
  • The kynurenine pathway, which breaks down tryptophan, is particularly significant, playing roles in immune regulation and neurotoxicity, making parasitic infections a useful model for studying its impact on neuroinflammatory responses.
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In the central nervous system, astrocytes and microglia contribute to homeostasis, regulating the immune response to infectious agents. is an obligate intracellular protozoan that infects different animal species and it is encysted in their nervous tissue while triggering an immune response modulated by glia. This study aimed to evaluate the infection of primary cultures of rat glial cells by through the catabolites of tryptophan, the expression of inflammatory mediators and the integrity of neural tissue.

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Tetragonisca angustula honey was fractioned in a SiO column to furnish three fractions (A-C) in which four hydroxycinnamic acid-Spermidine amides (HCAAs), known as N', N″, N‴-tris-p-coumaroyl spermidine, N', N″-dicaffeoyl, N‴-coumaroyl spermidine, N', N″, N‴-tris-caffeoyl spermidine and N', N″-dicaffeoyl and N‴-feruloyl spermidine were identified in the fractions B and C by electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry. A primary culture model previously infected with Neospora caninum (72 h) was used to evaluate the honey fractions (A-C) for two-time intervals: 24 and 72 h. Parasitic reduction ranged from 38% on fraction C (12.

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Neospora caninum (Apicomplexa; Sarcocystidae) is a protozoan that causes abortion in cattle, horses, sheep, and dogs as well as neurological and dermatological diseases in dogs. In the central nervous system of dogs infected with N. caninum, cysts were detected that exhibited gliosis and meningitis.

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Neospora caninum causes cattle abortion and neurological symptoms in dogs. Although infection is usually asymptomatic, classical neurological symptoms of neosporosis may be associated with encephalitis. This parasite can grow in brain endothelial cells without markedly damages, but it can modulate the cellular environment to promote its survival in the brain.

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Neospora caninum is a protozoan that causes abortion in cattle and neuromuscular lesions in dogs, making it an important target of veterinary medicine. Lysosomes are cellular organelles responsible for important biological functions as cellular defense mechanisms. The aim of this work was to evaluate the lysosomal stability of rat gliocytes infected in vitro with N.

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SUMOylation, the reversible covalent attachment of small ubiquitin-like modifier (SUMO) peptides has emerged as an important regulator of target protein function. Here we show, by characterization of the Toxoplasma gondii SUMO pathway, that the SUMO conjugation system operates in apicomplexan parasites. A gene encoding the SUMO tag was discovered as were genes encoding the various enzymes required for SUMO processing, ligation and release.

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The purpose of this study was to investigate whether sporulated Neospora caninum oocysts, which had been stored for 46 mo in a 2% sulfuric acid solution at 4 degrees C, remain morphologically viable and infective to gerbils (Meriones unguiculatus). Six gerbils were orally inoculated with doses of 400 or 1,200 oocysts. Two mo after inoculation, the animals did not show any clinical signs, had no histological lesions, and were seronegative for N.

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Neospora caninum is a protozoon that causes abortion in cattle and neuromuscular lesions in dogs, with the formation of cysts mainly in the central nervous system. Since N. caninum is an intracellular parasite with tropism for the cells of nervous system, this study evaluated the respiratory metabolism of glial cells infected by this* parasite.

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