HGPRT and PNP: Recombinant Enzymes from and Their Role in Immunotherapy during Experimental Murine Schistosomiasis.

Schistosomiasis is a parasitic infection caused by trematode worms (also called blood flukes) of the genus sp., which affects over 230 million people worldwide, causing 200,000 deaths annually. There is no vaccine or new drugs available, which represents a worrying aspect, since there is loss of sensitivity of the parasite to the medication recommended by the World Health Organization, Praziquantel.

Cytotoxic Effects Caused by Functionalized Carbon Nanotube in Murine Macrophages.

Background/aims: The development of new nanomaterials has been growing in recent decades to bring benefits in several areas, especially carbon-based nanoparticles, which have unique physical-chemical properties and allow to take on several applications. Consequently, the use of new nanomaterials without previous toxicological studies raises concern about possible harmful health effects. The aim of this study was to investigate the cytotoxic profile of a new multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) functionalized with tetraethylenepentamine called OCNT-TEPA using in vitro assays in murine macrophage cells linage J774 A.

Bactericidal activity of AgVO/β-AgVO heterostructures against antibiotic-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae.

Although Ag-based materials are efficient against antibiotic-resistant bacteria, their high toxicity to living organisms represents a major challenge for obtaining useful products. In this work, we report the bactericidal activity of AgVO/β-AgVO heterostructures, which proved to be effective against Klebsiella pneumoniae (ATCC 1706, a standard strain; A54970, a multidrug-resistant carbapenemase (KPC)-producing strain; A34057, a multidrug-resistant strain capable of producing extended spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBL); and a community-isolated strain, A58240) at minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) as low as 62.5 μg/mL.

Toxicological effects of the mixed iron oxide nanoparticle (FeO NP) on murine fibroblasts LA-9.

The increase in large-scale production of magnetic nanoparticles (NP) associated with the incomplete comprehensive knowledge regarding the potential risks of their use on environmental and human health makes it necessary to study the biological effects of these particles on organisms at the cellular level. The aim of this study to examine the cellular effects on fibroblast lineage LA-9 after exposure to mixed iron oxide NP (FeO NP). The following analyses were performed: field emission gun-scanning electron microscopy (SEM-FEG), dynamic light scattering (DLS), zeta potential, ultraviolet/visible region spectroscopy (UV/VIS), and attenuated total reactance-Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy analyses for characterization of the NP.

Functionalized Titanium Nanoparticles Induce Oxidative Stress and Cell Death in Human Skin Cells.

Purpose: Nanoparticles are resources of advanced nanotechnology being present in several products. Titanium dioxide nanoparticles are among the five most widely used NP currently expanding their benefits from the oil industry to the areas of diagnostic medicine due to their properties and small size. However, its impact on human health is still controversial in the literature.

Analysis of cytotoxicity and genotoxicity in a short-term dependent manner induced by a new titanium dioxide nanoparticle in murine fibroblast cells.

The extensive use of titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO NPs) in cosmetics, food, personal care products, and industries brought concerns about their possible harmful effects. Nowadays it has become important to assess TiO NPs toxic effects as a way to understand their primary risks. In the cellular environment, after cell uptake, TiO NPs were described to induce reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, unbalance oxidative state, and activate apoptosis in several cell lines.

Antitumor Effect of IL-2 and TRAIL Proteins Expressed by Recombinant Salmonella in Murine Bladder Cancer Cells.

Background/aims: Cancer is the second most deadly disease in the world. The bladder cancer is one of the most aggressive types and shows a continuous increase in the number of cases. The use of bacteria as live vectors to deliver molecules directly to the tumor is a promising tool and has been used as an adjuvant treatment against several types of cancer.

Apoptosis and Oxidative Stress Triggered by Carbon Black Nanoparticle in the LA-9 Fibroblast.

Background/aims: A new type of nanoparticle, called NP CB-EDA (Black Carbon modified with ethylenediamine), is commonly used in the oil industry. In the literature, few studies are found in biological models, making NP-EDA potential cytotoxicity in organisms unclear. As its large surface area is capable of interacting with the biological system, that interaction could lead to factors harmful to health.

New Multi-Walled carbon nanotube of industrial interest induce cell death in murine fibroblast cells.

The search for new nanomaterials has brought to the multifactorial industry several opportunities for use and applications for existing materials. Carbon nanotubes (CNT), for example, present excellent properties which allow us to assume a series of applications, however there is concern in the industrial scope about possible adverse health effects related to constant exposure for inhalation or direct skin contact. Thus, using cell models is the fastest and safest way to assess the effects of a new material.

Cytotoxic Effects and Production of Cytokines Induced by the Endophytic Paenibacillus polymyxa RNC-D In Vitro.

Background: Prominent among all the organisms that have a potential value for the production of new medicines, are endophytes, fungi and bacteria that live inside plants without harming them. In this study, a total lyophilized extract (TLE) of Paenibacillus polymyxa RNC-D was used. The P.