Disentangling the Taxonomy, Systematics, and Life History of the Spider-Parasitic Fungus (Cordycipitaceae, Hypocreales).

(Cordycipitaceae, Hypocreales) is frequently observed growing on spiders, but little is known about their host range. One of the greatest challenges in describing these interactions is identifying the host, since the fungus often rapidly consumes the parasitised spiders and destroys important diagnostic taxonomic traits. Additionally, the global diversity of remains unclear, as does the natural history and phylogenetic relationships of most of the species.

Metagenome-Assembled Genomes of from Kombucha Exposed to Mars-Like Conditions Reveal the Secrets in Tolerating Extraterrestrial Stresses.

Kombucha mutualistic community (KMC) is composed by acetic acid bacteria and yeasts, producing fermented tea with health benefits. As part of the BIOlogy and Mars EXperiment (BIOMEX) project, the effect of Mars-like conditions on the KMC was analyzed. Here, we analyzed metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs) of the , which is a predominant genus in KMC, to understand their roles in the KMC after exposure to Mars-like conditions (outside the International Space Station) based on functional genetic elements.

Metagenome Analysis Reveals a Response of the Antibiotic Resistome to Mars-like Extraterrestrial Conditions.

The spread of antibiotic resistance is becoming a serious global health concern. Numerous studies have been done to investigate the dynamics of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in both indoor and outdoor environments. Nonetheless, few studies are available about the dynamics of the antibiotic resistome (total content of ARGs in the microbial cultures or communities) under stress in outer space environments.

An Integrative View of the Phyllosphere Mycobiome of Native Rubber Trees in the Brazilian Amazon.

The rubber tree, , is a neotropical Amazonian species. Despite its high economic value and fungi associated with native individuals, in its original area in Brazil, it has been scarcely investigated and only using culture-dependent methods. Herein, we integrated in silico approaches with novel field/experimental approaches and a case study of shotgun metagenomics and small RNA metatranscriptomics of an adult individual.

Genome-wide identification of miRNAs and target regulatory network in the invasive ectoparasitic mite Varroa destructor.

Varroa destructor is an ectoparasite mite that attacks bees leading to colony disorders worldwide. microRNAs (miRNAs) are key molecules used by eukaryotes to post-transcriptional control of gene expression. Nevertheless, still lack information aboutV.

Esophageal varices: A rare non-cardiac finding in echocardiography.

A 43-years-old patient with hepatitis C and HIV co-infection was referred to debridement of a left sternoclavicular septic arthritis. Due to suspicion of endocarditis, the patient underwent transthoracic echocardiogram which revealed an mass posterior to left atrium and descending aorta. A thoracic computed tomography revealed esophageal varices.

Shotgun metagenomic analysis of kombucha mutualistic community exposed to Mars-like environment outside the International Space Station.

Kombucha is a multispecies microbial ecosystem mainly composed of acetic acid bacteria and osmophilic acid-tolerant yeasts, which is used to produce a probiotic drink. Furthermore, Kombucha Mutualistic Community (KMC) has been recently proposed to be used during long space missions as both a living functional fermented product to improve astronauts' health and an efficient source of bacterial nanocellulose. In this study, we compared KMC structure and functions before and after samples were exposed to the space/Mars-like environment outside the International Space Station in order to investigate the changes related to their re-adaptation to Earth-like conditions by shotgun metagenomics, using both diversity and functional analyses of Community Ecology and Complex Networks approach.

Elevated Pentraxin-3 Concentrations in Patients With Leprosy: Potential Biomarker of Erythema Nodosum Leprosum.

Background: Leprosy, the leading infectious cause of disability worldwide, remains a major public health challenge in the most severely affected countries despite the sharp decline in new cases in recent years. The search for biomarkers is essential to achieve a better understanding of the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying the disease.

Methods: Pentraxin-3 (PTX3) analyses of sera from 87 leprosy patients with or without reactions were conducted via enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

A framework to identify gene expression profiles in a model of inflammation induced by lipopolysaccharide after treatment with thalidomide.

Background: Thalidomide is an anti-inflammatory and anti-angiogenic drug currently used for the treatment of several diseases, including erythema nodosum leprosum, which occurs in patients with lepromatous leprosy. In this research, we use DNA microarray analysis to identify the impact of thalidomide on gene expression responses in human cells after lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulation. We employed a two-stage framework.

Patents in targets and drugs for unbalanced cytokine and chemokine network mediated disorders.

A wide range of pathologies are affected by unbalanced cytokine production namely autoimmune, metabolic and infectious diseases. The intrinsic regulation of the pathways involved are very complex, as they include incomplete described intracellular signaling pathways and the pleiotropic cytokine balance within the inflammatory mediators network. Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFalpha) is considered a key cytokine for the development of diverse pathologies.