Serotype-Specific Dengue Virus IgG Assay Using EDIII-Based Recombinant Proteins and Its Application in an Endemic Population in Northeast Brazil.

Dengue is the most prevalent arboviral disease globally, with Brazil currently experiencing a significant rise in cases. Dengue virus (DENV) typically co-circulates with other clinically and antigenically similar flaviviruses, such as Zika virus (ZIKV). The clinical diagnosis is difficult and accurate serological analysis represents an unmet challenge.

Neutralizing antibody response after immunization with a COVID-19 bivalent vaccine: Insights to the future.

The raising of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) variants led to the use of COVID-19 bivalent vaccines, which include antigens of the wild-type (WT) virus, and of the Omicron strain. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the impact of bivalent vaccination on the neutralizing antibody (NAb) response. We enrolled 93 volunteers who had received three or four doses of monovalent vaccines based on the original virus (n = 61), or a booster shot with the bivalent vaccine (n = 32).

Co-circulation of , , and serotype 1 of in Western Bahia, Brazil.

Chikungunya, mayaro, dengue, zika, and yellow fever are mosquito-borne viral diseases caused, respectively, by , (CHIKV and MAYV, respectively: : ), , (DENV, ZIKV, and YFV, respectively: : ). These viruses have an important epidemiological impact worldwide, especially in Brazil. Western Bahia is one of the less studied regions in that country regarding the circulation of these pathogens.

Anti-Black attitudes predict decreased concern about COVID-19 among Whites in the U.S. and Brazil.

Rationale: From the earliest days of the COVID-19 pandemic, public health officials and news organizations reported pervasive racial disparities in the infection, morbidity, and mortality of the virus. In both the U.S.

The third vaccine dose significantly reduces susceptibility to the B.1.1.529 (Omicron) SARS-CoV-2 variant.

The main coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine formulations used today are mainly based on the wild-type severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) spike glycoprotein as an antigen. However, new virus variants capable of escaping neutralization activity of serum antibodies elicited in vaccinated individuals have emerged. The Omicron (B.

Impact of Early Pandemic SARS-CoV-2 Lineages Replacement with the Variant of Concern P.1 (Gamma) in Western Bahia, Brazil.

Background: The correct understanding of the epidemiological dynamics of COVID-19, caused by the SARS-CoV-2, is essential for formulating public policies of disease containment.

Methods: In this study, we constructed a picture of the epidemiological dynamics of COVID-19 in a Brazilian population of almost 17000 patients in 15 months. We specifically studied the fluctuations of COVID-19 cases and deaths due to COVID-19 over time according to host gender, age, viral load, and genetic variants.

Impacts of El Niño Southern Oscillation on the dengue transmission dynamics in the Metropolitan Region of Recife, Brazil.

Background: This research addresses two questions: (1) how El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) affects climate variability and how it influences dengue transmission in the Metropolitan Region of Recife (MRR), and (2) whether the epidemic in MRR municipalities has any connection and synchronicity.

Methods: Wavelet analysis and cross-correlation were applied to characterize seasonality, multiyear cycles, and relative delays between the series. This study was developed into two distinct periods.

First description of a multisystemic and lethal SARS-CoV-2 variant of concern P.1 (Gamma) infection in a FeLV-positive cat.

Background: Phylogenetic studies indicate bats as original hosts of SARS-CoV-2. However, it remains unclear whether other animals, including pets, are crucial in the spread and maintenance of COVID-19 worldwide.

Methods: In this study, we analyzed the first fatal case of a SARS-CoV-2 and FeLV co-infection in an eight-year-old male cat.

The COVID-19 Humoral Immunological Status Induced by CoronaVac and AstraZeneca Vaccines Significantly Benefits from a Booster Shot with the Pfizer Vaccine.

A third vaccine dose against COVID-19 is already a reality in some countries around the world. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of the Brazilian immunization policy for COVID-19, which involves a booster shot. Participants ( = 210) provided serum samples, which were subjected to enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

Antecedents and consequences of COVID-19 conspiracy beliefs: A systematic review.

Rationale: Belief in COVID-19 conspiracy theories can have severe consequences; it is therefore crucial to understand this phenomenon, in its similarities with general conspiracy belief, but also in how it is context-dependent.

Objective: The aim of this systematic review is to provide a comprehensive overview of the available research on COVID-19 conspiracy beliefs and to synthesise this research to make it widely accessible.

Methods: We present a synthesis of COVID-19 conspiracy belief research from 85 international articles, identified and appraised through a systematic review, in line with contemporary protocols and guidelines for systematic reviews.

COVID-19 pandemic and tourism: The impact of health risk perception and intolerance of uncertainty on travel intentions.

Understanding tourist behavior during and after major tourism crises is essential to help destinations recover. The COVID-19 pandemic - a period of uncertainty and risk - makes it relevant to assess factors that influence travel intentions. There has been little research on tourist behavior during health crises and, in particular, on perceived health risk and uncertainty effects on travel intentions.

GTPases, genome, actin: A hidden story in DNA damage response and repair mechanisms.

The classical small Rho GTPase (Rho, Rac, and Cdc42) protein family is mainly responsible for regulating cell motility and polarity, membrane trafficking, cell cycle control, and gene transcription. Cumulative recent evidence supports important roles for these proteins in the maintenance of genomic stability. Indeed, DNA damage response (DDR) and repair mechanisms are some of the prime biological processes that underlie several disease phenotypes, including genetic disorders, cancer, senescence, and premature aging.

COVID-19 as an undesirable political issue: Conspiracy beliefs and intolerance of uncertainty predict adhesion to prevention measures.

Conspiracy theories thrive in moments of crises because they provide straightforward answers that assist individuals in coping with threats. The COVID-19 outbreak is such a crisis and is boosted by the political turmoil related to the politicization of the pandemic in some countries. To assess the role of political partisanship, intolerance of uncertainty (IU), and conspiracy beliefs in our two criterion variables (support for COVID-19 prevention measures and compliance with social distancing), we applied an online questionnaire to 662 participants.

DUSP3 maintains genomic stability and cell proliferation by modulating NER pathway and cell cycle regulatory proteins.

The DUSP3 phosphatase regulates cell cycle, proliferation, apoptosis and senescence of different cell types, lately shown as a mediator of DNA repair processes. This work evaluated the impact of DUSP3 loss of function () on DNA repair-proficient fibroblasts (MRC-5), NER-deficient cell lines (XPA and XPC) and translesion DNA synthesis (TLS)-deficient cells (XPV), after UV-radiation stress. The levels of DNA strand breaks, CPDs and 6-4-PPs have accumulated over time in all cells under DUSP3 , with a significant increase in NER-deficient lines.

Questionable research practices among Brazilian psychological researchers: Results from a replication study and an international comparison.

Research on scientific integrity is growing in psychology, and questionable research practices (QRPs) have received more attention due to its harmful effect on science. By replicating the procedures of previous research, the present study aimed at describing the use of QRPs among Brazilian psychological researchers and to make an international comparison with previous studies in other countries-the US and Italy. Two hundred and thirty-two Brazilian researchers in the field of psychology answered questions related to 10 different QRPs.

Revisiting the roles of VHR/DUSP3 phosphatase in human diseases.

Protein tyrosine phosphatases have long been considered key regulators of biological processes and are therefore implicated in the origins of various human diseases. Heterozygosity, mutations, deletions, and the complete loss of some of these enzymes have been reported to cause neurodegenerative diseases, autoimmune syndromes, genetic disorders, metabolic diseases, cancers, and many other physiological imbalances. Vaccinia H1-related phosphatase, also known as dual-specificity phosphatase 3, is a protein tyrosine phosphatase enzyme that regulates the phosphorylation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling pathway, a central mediator of a diversity of biological responses.

DUSP3/VHR: A Druggable Dual Phosphatase for Human Diseases.

Protein tyrosine kinases (PTK), discovered in the 1970s, have been considered master regulators of biological processes with high clinical significance as targets for human diseases. Their actions are countered by protein tyrosine phosphatases (PTP), enzymes yet underrepresented as drug targets because of the high homology of their catalytic domains and high charge of their catalytic pocket. This scenario is still worse for some PTP subclasses, for example, for the atypical dual-specificity phosphatases (ADUSPs), whose biological functions are not even completely known.

Measuring the Contributions of the Rho Pathway to the DNA Damage Response in Tumor Epithelial Cells.

Actin polymerization, actomyosin ring contraction, and stress fiber formation are examples of relevant actions of the RhoA/B/C pathway as GTPases that regulate the cytoskeleton. However, open questions that remain to be addressed are whether this pathway and/or downstream components protect against or facilitate the formation of DNA double-strand breaks, the most lethal form of DNA damage in cells. Genotoxic drugs are radiomimetic and/or chemotherapeutic agents that are currently used for cancer treatments and are associated with specific methodologies; thus, these compounds should represent good tools to answer these questions.

The crossroads of breast cancer progression: insights into the modulation of major signaling pathways.

Cancer is the disease with highest public health impact in developed countries. Particularly, breast cancer has the highest incidence in women worldwide and the fifth highest mortality in the globe, imposing a significant social and economic burden to society. The disease has a complex heterogeneous etiology, being associated with several risk factors that range from lifestyle to age and family history.

Experimental periodontitis promotes transient vascular inflammation and endothelial dysfunction.

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the systemic inflammatory response and cardiovascular changes induced by experimental periodontitis in rats.

Design: Experimental periodontitis was induced by placing a cotton ligature around the cervix of both sides of mandibular first molars and maxillary second molars in each male rat. Sham-operated rats had the ligature removed immediately after the procedure.