Process development and characterization of recombinant nucleocapsid protein for its application on COVID-19 diagnosis.

COVID-19 pandemic was caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (Sars-CoV-2). The nucleocapsid (N) protein from Sars-CoV-2 is a highly immunogenic antigen and responsible for genome packing. Serological assays are important tools to detect previous exposure to SARS-CoV-2, complement epidemiological studies, vaccine evaluation and also in COVID-19 surveillance.

A new species of Microlepidogaster (Loricariidae: Hypoptopomatinae) from rio Pardo, a coastal drainage in eastern Brazil.

A new species of Microlepidogaster is described from rio Pardo drainage, a coastal basin in eastern Brazil. This species can be differentiated from its congeners by having the following unique features: 1) anterior portion of snout with a large odontode-free band extending laterally from the anterior tip of snout to the postrostral plate 2; 2) transverse process of second dorsal-fin pterygiophore exposed and bearing odontodes; and 3) exposed area of pectoral girdle extended to the mesial symphysis, with odontodes mainly distributed in the coracoid ventral expansion. The new species is further distinguished by several other morphological non-exclusive features.

Poor taxonomic sampling undermines nomenclatural stability: A reply to Roxo et al. (2019).

A recent study based on genomic data by Roxo et al. (2019) provided a phylogeny of the Loricariidae, the largest catfish family and second largest Neotropical fish family with approximately 1,000 species. The study represents a valuable and innovative contribution for understanding higher-level relationships within the family.

Brazilian meningococcal C conjugate vaccine: physicochemical, immunological, and thermal stability characteristics.

High temperature is known to cause some instability in polysaccharide-protein conjugated vaccines and studies under stress conditions may be useful in determining whether short-term accidental exposure to undesired conditions can compromise product quality. In this study, we examined the structural stability of three industrial batches of Brazilian Meningococcal C conjugate bulk (MPCT) incubated at 4, 37, and 55 °C for 5 weeks. The effect of exposure to the storage temperatures was monitored by HPLC-SEC, CZE, CD and NMR techniques.

, a new hypoptopomatine catfish (Loricariidae: Hypoptopomatinae) from Rio São Francisco basin, southeastern Brazil.

The number of species of Microlepidogaster recently increased considerably, the genus presently comprises six species distributed in the Paraná, São Francisco, and Jequitinhonha river basins. A new species of Microlepidogaster is herein described from the upper Rio São Francisco basin, which can be distinguished from all congeners by having two exclusive features within the genus: skin over swimbladder opening with two to five reduced unperforated platelets, and ventral laminar expansion of coracoid enclosing completely or almost completely the arrector fossa of the pectoral girdle. In addition, other features to recognize this species are: snout covered by many small plates bearing slender pointed odontodes; presence of iris operculum; exposure of pectoral girdle restricted to the lateral portion; presence of pectoral axillary slit only in juveniles; anterior portion of compound supraneural plus first dorsal-fin proximal radial contacting the neural spine of the eighth or ninth vertebra; first anal-fin pterygiophore covered only by skin; and uninterrupted, long median and mid-dorsal series of lateral plates.

Microlepidogaster discus, a new species of Hypoptopomatinae (Siluriformes: Loricariidae) from the rio Jequitinhonha basin, southeastern Brazil.

A new Hypoptopomatinae is described from the upper rio Jequitinhonha basin. The new species is distinguished from all congeners by having the ventral laminar expansions of cleithrum and coracoid bearing only 1-30 odontodes, restricted to the area near the pectoral-fin insertion; the anterior plates of mid-ventral lateral series reduced, not ventrally elongated, the first or the second markedly round; pectoral-fin unbranched ray distinctly divided distally, with 7-15 ossified segments, reaching almost half of its length; and accessory process on first epibranchial present. Microlepidogaster discus is further distinguished from its congeners by several other osteological features.

In vitro cytotoxicity of self-curing acrylic resins of different colors.

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the in vitro cytotoxicity of acrylic resins of different colors over time.

Methods: Specimens were divided into 4 groups (n = 6) according to the color of the acrylic resin (Orto Class, Clássico, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil): Group 1, clear acrylic resin; Group 2, pink acrylic resin; Group 3, blue acrylic resin; and Group 4, green acrylic resin. All specimens were fabricated according to the mass manipulation technique and submitted to mechanical polishing protocol.

Microlepidogaster arachas, a new species of hypoptopomatine catfish (Siluriformes: Loricariidae) from the upper rio Paraná basin, Brazil.

Microlepidogaster arachas Martins, Calegari & Langeani, sp. nov., a new Hypoptopomatinae, is described from the upper rio Paraná basin.

Evaluation of cytotoxicity and degree of conversion of glass ionomer cements reinforced with resin.

The objective of the present study was to evaluate the cytotoxicity and degree of monomer conversion of resin-reinforced glass ionomer cements (RGIC) over different time periods. Four RGICs: Fuji Ortho LC (FOLC), Fuji Ortho Band (FOB), Orthoglass (OGL), and Multicure Glass Ionomer (MCI) were evaluated for cytotoxicity in fibroblastic L929 cells and for their degree of monomer conversion over different time periods. Three control groups were also analysed: positive control (C+), consisting of Tween 80 cell detergent; negative control (C-), consisting of phosphate-buffered saline; and cell control (CC), consisting of cells exposed to any material.

Cytotoxicity of latex and non-latex orthodontic elastomeric ligatures on L929 mouse fibroblasts.

This study investigated the cytotoxicity exists between latex and non-latex Orthodontic elastomeric ligatures. Six elastomeric ligatures (1 latex, 2 latex-free and 3 polyurethane) from different manufacturers were divided into 6 groups of 15 elastics each: A (Latex-free, American Orthodontics), M (Polyurethane, Morelli), G (Polyurethane,GAC International), Te (Polyurethane, Tecnident), TP (Natural latex,TP Orthodontics) and U (Latex-free,3M Unitek). The cytotoxicity assay was performed using cell cultures (L929 mouse fibroblast cell line), which were subjected to the cell viability test with neutral red ("dye-uptake") at 1, 2, 3, 7 and 28 days.

Cytotoxicity of orthodontic separating elastics.

Background: Separating elastics may be cytotoxic to the interdental gingival tissues. Both latex and non-latex separating elastics are widely used and both types should be biocompatible.

Objective: To determine if latex and non-latex orthodontic separating elastics are cytotoxic.

Antiviral activity of the green marine alga Ulva fasciata on the replication of human metapneumovirus.

We evaluated the antiviral activity of the marine alga, Ulva fasciata, collected from Rasa beach and Forno beach, Búzios, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on the replication of human metapneumovirus (HMPV). The algae extracts were prepared using three different methodologies to compare the activity of different groups of chemical composites obtained through these different methodologies. Four out of the six extracts inhibited nearly 100% of viral replication.

Verbascoside isolated from Lepechinia speciosa has inhibitory activity against HSV-1 and HSV-2 in vitro.

Verbascoside has been isolated form L. speciosa after several different chromatographic methods. After its purification, the structure has been unequivocally established using modern spectroscopic techniques.

[Impact of low-intensity laser on the suppression of infections caused by Herpes simplex viruses 1 and 2: in vitro study].

The use of low-level laser to suppress infections caused by Herpes simplex viruses 1 and 2 was evaluated after one to five applications. A gradual reduction in replication of Herpes simplex viruses 1 and 2 was observed, with 68.4% and 57.