Performance Assessment of ELISA Using the Specific Antigen Tc323 for the Diagnosis of Chronic Chagas Disease.

In the chronic phase of Chagas disease (CCD), diagnosis relies on detecting specific IgG antibodies due to the low or absent presence of the parasite in human blood. However, the performance of current serological tests is highly variable, lacking a "" assay with 100% sensitivity and specificity, which challenges the exploration of new biomarkers. In the present study, we evaluated the diagnostic accuracy of an optimized ELISA using the predicted immunogenic domains (called TcD3 and TcD6) of Tc323, a protein highly conserved among strains but absent in other clinically significant parasites such as .

Mesenchymal stem cells as a promising therapy for alcohol use disorder.

Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) is a highly prevalent medical condition characterized by impaired control over alcohol consumption, despite negative consequences on the individual's daily life and health. There is increasing evidence suggesting that chronic alcohol intake, like other addictive drugs, induces neuroinflammation and oxidative stress, disrupting glutamate homeostasis in the main brain areas related to drug addiction. This review explores the potential application of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs)-based therapy for the treatment of AUD.

Morphine self-administration is inhibited by the antioxidant N-acetylcysteine and the anti-inflammatory ibudilast; an effect enhanced by their co-administration.

Background: The treatment of opioid addiction mainly involves the medical administration of methadone or other opioids, aimed at gradually reducing dependence and, consequently, the need for illicit opioid procurement. Thus, initiating opioid maintenance therapy with a lower level of dependence would be advantageous. There is compelling evidence indicating that opioids induce brain oxidative stress and associated glial activation, resulting in the dysregulation of glutamatergic homeostasis, which perpetuates drug intake.

Expression, purification, and characterization of diacylated Lipo-YcjN from Escherichia coli.

YcjN is a putative substrate binding protein expressed from a cluster of genes involved in carbohydrate import and metabolism in Escherichia coli. Here, we determine the crystal structure of YcjN to a resolution of 1.95 Å, revealing that its three-dimensional structure is similar to substrate binding proteins in subcluster D-I, which includes the well-characterized maltose binding protein.

Expression, purification, and characterization of diacylated Lipo-YcjN from .

YcjN is a putative substrate-binding protein expressed from a cluster of genes involved in carbohydrate import and metabolism in . Here, we determine the crystal structure of YcjN to a resolution of 1.95 Å, revealing that its three-dimensional structure is similar to substrate binding proteins in subcluster D-I, which includes the well-characterized maltose binding protein (MBP).