Isradipine, an L-type calcium channel blocker, attenuates cocaine effects in mice by reducing central glutamate release.

Substance abuse disorder is a chronic condition for which pharmacological treatment options remain limited. L-type calcium channels (LTCC) have been implicated in drug-related plasticity and behavior. Specifically, dopaminergic neurons in the mesocorticolimbic pathway express Ca1.

High capacity of Brazilian populations to transmit a locally circulating lineage of Chikungunya virus.

The global incidence of chikungunya has surged in recent decades, with South America, particularly Brazil, experiencing devastating outbreaks. The primary vector for transmitting CHIKV in urban areas is the mosquito species , which is very abundant in Brazil. However, little is known about the impact of locally circulating CHIKV genotypes and specific combinations of mosquito populations on vector competence.

Chronic hyperpalatable diet induces impairment of hippocampal-dependent memories and alters glutamatergic and fractalkine axis signaling.

Chronic consumption of hyperpalatable and hypercaloric foods has been pointed out as a factor associated with cognitive decline and memory impairment in obesity. In this context, the integration between peripheral and central inflammation may play a significant role in the negative effects of an obesogenic environment on memory. However, little is known about how obesity-related peripheral inflammation affects specific neurotransmission systems involved with memory regulation.

Detection and clearance of a mosquito densovirus contaminant from laboratory stocks of Zika virus.

Background: The Zika virus (ZIKV) epidemics that affected South America in 2016 raised several research questions and prompted an increase in studies in the field. The transient and low viraemia observed in the course of ZIKV infection is a challenge for viral isolation from patient serum, which leads to many laboratories around the world sharing viral strains for their studies. C6/36 cells derived from Aedes albopictus larvae are commonly used for arbovirus isolation from clinical samples and for the preparation of viral stocks.

The small non-coding RNA response to virus infection in the Leishmania vector Lutzomyia longipalpis.

Sandflies are well known vectors for Leishmania but also transmit a number of arthropod-borne viruses (arboviruses). Few studies have addressed the interaction between sandflies and arboviruses. RNA interference (RNAi) mechanisms utilize small non-coding RNAs to regulate different aspects of host-pathogen interactions.

Nitric oxide synthase expression correlates with death in an experimental mouse model of dengue with CNS involvement.

Background: The clinical presentation of dengue is classified by the World Health Organization into dengue without warning signs, dengue with warning signs and severe dengue. Reports of neurological disease caused by Dengue virus (DENV) are becoming frequent, with symptoms that include reduced consciousness, severe headache, neck stiffness, focal neurological signs, tense fontanelle and convulsions. However, the immune mechanisms involved in neurovirulence remain poorly understood.

dsRNA sensing during viral infection: lessons from plants, worms, insects, and mammals.

Host defense systems often rely on direct and indirect pattern recognition to sense the presence of invading pathogens. Patterns can be molecules directly produced by the pathogen or indirectly generated by changes in host parameters as a consequence of infection. Viruses are intracellular pathogens that hijack the cellular machinery to synthesize their own molecules making direct recognition of viral molecules a great challenge.