Characterization of a Molecularly Engineered Banlec-Type Lectin (rBTL).

Lectins are proteins that reversibly bind to carbohydrates and are commonly found across many species. The Banana Lectin (BanLec) is a member of the Jacalin-related Lectins, heavily studied for its immunomodulatory, antiproliferative, and antiviral activity. In this study, a novel sequence was generated in silico considering the native BanLec amino acid sequence and 9 other lectins belonging to JRL.

Biofilm formation of from milk and expression of the adhesion genes and at different temperatures.

This study investigated the ability of isolates from milk to form biofilm, through detection of adhesion genes, investigating exopolysaccharide (EPS) production and biofilm formation on polystyrene (PS) and stainless steel (SS) surfaces, and by quantifying the expression of and genes under different temperatures and culture media. Among the 31 isolates, the adhesion genes and were found in 81% and 61% of the isolates, respectively. The screening tests for phenotype revealed that 58% of the isolates were EPS producers, and 45% showed the ability to produce biofilm on PS.

A standardized BioBrick toolbox for the assembly of sequences in mycobacteria.

For more than 25 years, recombinant Mycobacterium bovis BCG has been genetically engineered for use as a vehicle for antigen expression and immunomodulation, typically through introducing or deleting a gene from BCG genome. However, BCG transformation efficacy is still unpredictable, and cloning and expression of sequences from mycobacteria is difficult to predict due to the lack of standardization. To overcome such limitations, we have employed the BioBrick format to construct a toolbox of several mycobacterial parts, including coding sequences, reporter genes, selective markers, promoters, and other regulatory sequences.

Recombinant BCG strains expressing chimeric proteins derived from Leptospira protect hamsters against leptospirosis.

Leptospirosis is a zoonosis that is responsible for one million human cases per year. Fusing multiple immunogenic antigens represents a promising approach to delivering an effective vaccine against leptospirosis. Mycobacterium bovis bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) is a potential vaccine vector due to its adjuvant properties and safety.

Presence of genes associated with adhesion, invasion, and toxin production in Campylobacter jejuni isolates and effect of temperature on their expression.

The aims of this study were to evaluate the presence of genes associated with adhesion (cadF), invasion (ciaB), and cytotoxin production (cdtA, cdtB, and cdtC) among Campylobacter jejuni isolates from a poultry slaughterhouse and to investigate the effect of different temperatures on the expression of these virulence-associated genes. A total of 88 C. jejuni isolates from cecum, liver, chicken carcasses, chilled water, and scalding water were submitted to PCR assay for detection of virulence genes.

Recombinant BCG vaccines: molecular features and their influence in the expression of foreign genes.

Recombinant Mycobacterium bovis BCG vaccines (rBCG) were first developed in the 1990s as a means of expressing antigens from multiple pathogens. This review examines the key structural factors of recombinant M. bovis that influence the expression of the heterologous antigens and the generation of genetic and functional stability in rBCG, which are crucial for inducing strong and lasting immune responses.

Human and animal leptospirosis in Southern Brazil: A five-year retrospective study.

Background: Leptospirosis is an emerging zoonosis attributed to multiple reservoirs. Climatic conditions influence the transmission of pathogenic leptospires, which require warm and humid conditions for survival. The influence of seasonality in human and animal leptospirosis in the subtropical region of Brazil remains poorly understood.

A novel chimeric protein composed of recombinant Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae antigens as a vaccine candidate evaluated in mice.

Enzootic Pneumonia (EP) is caused by the Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae pathogenic bacteria, and it represents a significant respiratory disease that is responsible for major economic losses within the pig industry throughout the world. The bacterins that are currently commercially available have been proven to offer only partial protection against M. hyopneumoniae, and the development of more efficient vaccines is required.

Stable expression of Mycobacterium bovis antigen 85B in auxotrophic M. bovis bacillus Calmette-Guérin.

Background: Bovine tuberculosis (TB) is a zoonotic disease caused by Mycobacterium bovis, responsible for causing major losses in livestock. A cost effective alternative to control the disease could be herd vaccination. The bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine has a limited efficacy against bovine TB, but can improved by over-expression of protective antigens.

Reverse Vaccinology: An Approach for Identifying Leptospiral Vaccine Candidates.

Leptospirosis is a major public health problem with an incidence of over one million human cases each year. It is a globally distributed, zoonotic disease and is associated with significant economic losses in farm animals. Leptospirosis is caused by pathogenic spp.

Lectin from seeds of a Brazilian lima bean variety (Phaseolus lunatus L. var. cascavel) presents antioxidant, antitumour and gastroprotective activities.

Lectins are proteins able to interact specifically and reversibly with carbohydrates. They are present in all living beings, particularly in legume seeds, which have many biological functions. The aim of this study was to isolate, characterize and verify antioxidant, anti-hemolytic, antitumor and gastroprotective activities in a lectin present in seeds of Phaseolus lunatus L.

Anthocyanins control neuroinflammation and consequent memory dysfunction in mice exposed to lipopolysaccharide.

Peripheral inflammatory stimuli may activate a brain neuroinflammatory processes with consequences in brain function. The present study investigated if anthocyanins (ANT) consumption was able to prevent the memory loss, the neuronal damage, and the neuroinflammatory processes triggered by the intraperitoneal lipopolysaccharide (LPS) administration. C57BL6 male mice were treated with ANT (30-100 mg/kg by gavage).

Diagnostic potential of anti-rNcp-43 polyclonal antibodies for the detection of Neospora caninum.

Neosporosis is a disease caused by the apicomplexan parasite Neospora caninum, which is closely related to Toxoplasma gondii. N. caninum infection represents an important cause of reproductive failure in sheep, goats, horses, and cattle worldwide.

Vaccination with a BCG strain overexpressing Ag85B protects cattle against Mycobacterium bovis challenge.

Mycobacterium bovis is the causative agent of tuberculosis in cattle but also infects other animals, including humans. Previous studies in cattle have demonstrated that the protection induced by BCG is not complete. In order to improve the protection efficacy of BCG, in this study we overexpressed Ag85B in a BCG Pasteur strain, by using an expression system based on the use of an auxotrophic strain for the leucine amino acid, and complementation with leuD.

Auxotrophic recombinant Mycobacterium bovis BCG overexpressing Ag85B enhances cytotoxicity on superficial bladder cancer cells in vitro.

BCG therapy remains at the forefront of immunotherapy for treating patients with superficial bladder cancer. The high incidence of local side effects and the presence of non-responder diseases have led to efforts to improve the therapy. Hence, we proposed that an auxotrophic recombinant BCG strain overexpressing Ag85B (BCG ∆leuD/Ag85B), could enhance the cytotoxicity to the human bladder carcinoma cell line 5637.

High yield expression of leptospirosis vaccine candidates LigA and LipL32 in the methylotrophic yeast Pichia pastoris.

Background: Leptospirosis, a zoonosis caused by Leptospira spp., is recognized as an emergent infectious disease. Due to the lack of adequate diagnostic tools, vaccines are an attractive intervention strategy.

DAHP synthase from Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Rv: cloning, expression, and purification of functional enzyme.

Tuberculosis (TB), caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, remains the leading cause of mortality due to a bacterial pathogen. According to the 2004 Global TB Control Report of the World Health Organization, there are 300,000 new cases per year of multi-drug resistant strains (MDR-TB), defined as resistant to isoniazid and rifampicin, and 79% of MDR-TB cases are now "super strains," resistant to at least three of the four main drugs used to treat TB. Thus there is a need for the development of effective new agents to treat TB.