Trypanosoma cruzi iron superoxide dismutases: insights from phylogenetics to chemotherapeutic target assessment.

Background: Components of the antioxidant defense system in Trypanosoma cruzi are potential targets for new drug development. Superoxide dismutases (SODs) constitute key components of antioxidant defense systems, removing excess superoxide anions by converting them into oxygen and hydrogen peroxide. The main goal of the present study was to investigate the genes coding for iron superoxide dismutase (FeSOD) in T.

New highly antigenic linear B cell epitope peptides from PvAMA-1 as potential vaccine candidates.

Peptide-based vaccines have demonstrated to be an important way to induce long-lived immune responses and, therefore, a promising strategy in the rational of vaccine development. As to malaria, among the classic vaccine targets, the Apical membrane antigen (AMA-1) was proven to have important B cell epitopes that can induce specific immune response and, hence, became key players for a vaccine approach. The peptides selection was carried out using a bioinformatic approach based on Hidden Markov Models profiles of known antigens and propensity scale methods based on hydrophilicity and secondary structure prediction.

Unraveling Ascaris suum experimental infection in humans.

Ascaris lumbricoides and Ascaris suum are two closely related parasites that infect humans and pigs. The zoonotic potential of A. suum has been a matter of debate for decades.

[School: a place for studying and eating].

This study seeks to discuss the significance of school nutrition expressed by students in public schools from the state of Bahia, Brazil. The objective is to understand the symbolic aspects associated with school nutrition. The results of a survey into the significance of nutrition offered by the Brazilian School Nutrition Program (PNAE) expressed by students from six public schools in municipalities in the state of Bahia, Brazil, are presented.

Hydrogen peroxide formation in cacao tissues infected by the hemibiotrophic fungus Moniliophthora perniciosa.

In plant-pathogen interaction, the hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) may play a dual role: its accumulation inhibits the growth of biotrophic pathogens, while it could help the infection/colonization process of plant by necrotrophic pathogens. One of the possible pathways of H₂O production involves oxalic acid (Oxa) degradation by apoplastic oxalate oxidase. Here, we analyzed the production of H₂O₂, the presence of calcium oxalate (CaOx) crystals and the content of Oxa and ascorbic acid (Asa)--the main precursor of Oxa in plants--in susceptible and resistant cacao (Theobroma cacao L.