Bovine leukaemia virus genotypes 5 and 6 are circulating in cattle from the state of São Paulo, Brazil.

Purpose: Enzootic bovine leucosis (EBL) is a silent disease caused by a retrovirus [bovine leukaemia virus (BLV)]. BLV is classified into almost 10 genotypes that are distributed in several countries. The present research aimed to describe two BLV gp51 env sequences of strains detected in the state of São Paulo, Brazil and perform a phylogenetic analysis to compare them to other BLV gp51 env sequences of strains around the world.

Outbreak Control and Clinical, Pathological, and Epidemiological Aspects and Molecular Characterization of a Bovine Herpesvirus Type 5 on a Feedlot Farm in São Paulo State.

This paper describes the control, epidemiological, pathological, and molecular aspects of an outbreak of meningoencephalitis in calves due to bovine herpesvirus 5 at a feedlot with 540 animals in São Paulo State, Brazil. The introduction of new animals and contact between the resident animals and the introduced ones were most likely responsible for virus transmission. Bovine herpesvirus 1 vaccine was used, resulting in the efficacy of the outbreak control, although two bovine herpesvirus 1 positive animals, vaccinated and revaccinated, presented meningoencephalitis, thereby characterizing vaccinal failure.

Long-chain N-vanillyl-acylamides from Capsicum oleoresin.

N-Vanillyl-acylamides (NVAs) naturally occur as capsaicinoids in Capsicum plants. NVAs with a longer chain acyl moiety (LCNVAs) have been developed as attractive tools for medicinal usage because of their capsaicin-like bioactive and physiological properties, without harmful irritancy. In this study, we isolated four LCNVAs from Capsicum oleoresin.

Genetic analysis of phosphoprotein and matrix protein of rabies viruses isolated in Brazil.

To investigate the genetic characteristics of phosphoprotein (P) and matrix protein (M) genes of variable rabies virus (RV) prevalent in Brazil, the authors genetically characterized the P and M genes from 30 Brazilian RV field isolates. Phylogenetic analysis based on the P and M genes revealed the presence of six RV variants that consisted primarily of three insectivorous bats, the vampire bat, dog and fox in Brazil. Specific amino acid substitutions corresponding to these phylogenetic lineages were observed, with Asp(42) and Glu(62) in the P protein found to be characteristic of Brazilian chiroptera- and carnivora-related RVs, respectively.

Synaptic relationships between proopiomelanocortin- and ghrelin-containing neurons in the rat arcuate nucleus.

Both proopiomelanocortin (POMC) and ghrelin peptides are implicated in the feeding regulation. The synaptic relationships between POMC- and ghrelin-containing neurons in the hypothalamic arcuate nucleus were studied using double-immunostaining methods at the light and electron microscope levels. Many POMC-like immunoreactive axon terminals were found to be apposed to ghrelin-like immunoreactive neurons and also to make synapses with ghrelin-like immunoreactive neuronal perikarya and dendritic processes.

Pleiotropic functions of PACAP in the CNS: neuroprotection and neurodevelopment.

Pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP) is a pleiotropic neuropeptide that belongs to the secretin/glucagon/vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) family. PACAP prevents ischemic delayed neuronal cell death (apoptosis) in the hippocampus. PACAP inhibits the activity of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) family, especially JNK/SAPK and p38, thereby protecting against apoptotic cell death.

Neural interaction between galanin-like peptide (GALP)- and luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH)-containing neurons.

Galanin-like peptide (GALP), commonly known as an appetite-regulating peptide, has been shown to increase plasma luteinizing hormone (LH) through luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH). This led us to investigate, using both light and electron microscopy, whether GALP-containing neurons in the rat brain make direct inputs to LHRH-containing neurons. As LHRH-containing neurons are very difficult to demonstrate immunohistochemically with LHRH antiserum without colchicine treatment, we used a transgenic rat in which LHRH tagged with enhanced green fluorescence protein facilitated the precise detection of LHRH-producing neuronal cell bodies and processes.