Role of C-C chemokine receptor type 5 in pathogenesis of malaria and its severe forms.

Malaria is a mosquito-borne disease caused by Plasmodium parasites, responsible for a significant impact on public health in several tropical and sub-tropical countries. The majority of infection cases are classified as uncomplicated malaria, causing mild symptoms such as fever and headache. However, the disease may progress to severe malaria and death if the infection is not properly treated.

Production Process Optimization of Recombinant l-Asparaginase II in Fed-Batch Cultures and Analysis of Antileukemic Potential.

The aims of this work were to optimize the production of l-asparaginase II enzyme in by different fed-batch cultivation strategies using a benchtop bioreactor and to evaluate the therapeutic potential of the recombinant enzyme against different acute lymphoblastic leukemia cell lines. The highest enzyme activities (∼98,000 U/L) were obtained in cultures using the DO-stat feeding strategy with induction in 18 h of culture. Under these experimental conditions, the maximum values for recombinant l-asparaginase II (rASNase) yield per substrate, rASNase yield per biomass, and productivity were approximately 1204 U/g, 3660 U/g, and 3260 U/(L·h), respectively.

CCR5Δ32 and HLA allele diversity in bone marrow donors from southern Brazil.

Transplantation of stem cells derived from donors with CCR5Δ32 homozygous genotype is a potential strategy to achieve both the control of malignant hematological disease as well as sustained remission of the HIV infection, and researchers in different countries are looking for CCR5Δ32 homozygous donors to replicate such a 'double-target' strategy. We determined the frequency of the CCR5Δ32 variant in a sample of 1,398 bone marrow donors from Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil. This study also evaluated whether HLA-A, HLA-B and HLA-DRB1 genotypes are homogeneously distributed between CCR5Δ32 carriers and non-carriers in a population characterized by a significant genetic admixture.

The COVID-19 Pandemic Affected Hepatitis C Virus Circulation and Genotypic Frequencies-Implications for Hepatitis C Prevention, Treatment and Research.

Hepatitis C is regarded as a global health issue caused by hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. HCV is targeted for elimination by 2030 as a global public health goal. However, the COVID-19 pandemic has changed human circulation and prevented access to diagnostics and treatment to many other diseases, including hepatitis C.