Soluble isoforms of the DC-SIGN receptor can increase the dengue virus infection in immature dendritic cells.

Dengue is a disease with a high-impact on public health worldwide. Many researches have focused on the cell receptors involved in its pathogenesis. The role of soluble isoforms of DC-SIGN (Dendritic Cell-Specific ICAM-3 Grabbing Non-integrin) receptor in the process of Dengue Virus (DENV) infection is not well understood.

Systematic review of the molecular basis of hereditary breast and ovarian cancer syndrome in Brazil: the current scenario.

Background: A detailed understanding of the genetic basis of cancer is of great interest to public health monitoring programs. Although many studies have been conducted in Brazil, a global view on the molecular profile related to hereditary breast and ovarian cancer (HBOC) in this large and heterogeneous population is lacking.

Methods: A systematic review following the PRISMA guidelines was conducted in three electronic databases (PubMed, BIREME and SciELO).

Soluble DC-SIGN isoforms: Ligands with unknown functions - A mini-review.

The present study aimed to perform a mini-review of the complete soluble isoforms of Dendritic Cell-Specific Intercellular adhesion molecule-3-Grabbing Non-integrin (sDC-SIGN), their functions, and their correlation with diseases. The present review reveals the lack of studies regarding these soluble isoforms and poor understanding of the importance of the topic, considering the concordant findings on the relevant influence of sDC-SIGN in the viral and bacterial infection process, in addition to its possible use as a cancer marker.

Assays with recombinant soluble isoforms of DC-SIGN, a dengue virus ligand, show variation in their ability to bind to mannose residues.

The DC-SIGN glycoprotein is responsible for the initial adhesion of dengue virus (DENV) to immune cells by the carbohydrate recognition domain (CRD). There are thirteen soluble and membrane-bound DC-SIGN isoforms, but the role of soluble isoforms in the DENV internalization process is not known. Five isoforms with an altered or absent CRD were identified, and three different soluble isoforms were used to confirm the interactions with mannose residues.

Molecular study of hearing loss in Minas Gerais, Brazil.

Introduction: Deafness is the most frequent sensory deficit in humans. Incidence is estimated at 4:1000 births in Brazil. Specific programs for clinical care of patients with hearing loss are still scarce in Brazil and the issue is an important public health problem.

Mutation screening of TP53, CHEK2 and BRCA genes in patients at high risk for hereditary breast and ovarian cancer (HBOC) in Brazil.

Background: Few studies related to hereditary breast and ovarian cancer syndrome (HBOC) have been conducted in Brazil, and they are restricted to only small areas of the country. Here, we report the mutation profile of BRCA1/2, CHEK2 and TP53 genes in a cohort from Minas Gerais state.

Methods: These genes from 44 patients at high risk for HBOC were screened through high-resolution melting and/or sequencing.

Prevalence of polymorphisms in the ANKK1, DRD2, DRD3 genes and metabolic syndrome in refractory schizophrenia.

Objective: to estimate the prevalence of TaqIA, -141C and rs6280 polymorphisms of the ANKK1, DRD2 and DRD3 genes and evaluate their association with the occurrence of metabolic syndrome in patients with refractory schizophrenia.

Method: cross-sectional study conducted in the Extended Western Region of Minas Gerais, with refractory schizophrenic patients using the antipsychotic clozapine. Sociodemographic, clinical, anthropometric, biochemical and genetic data were collected.

Rational selection of immunodominant and preserved epitope Sm043300e from Schistosoma mansoni and design of a chimeric molecule for biotechnological purposes.

Human schistosomiasis is a neglected tropical disease of great importance in public health. A large number of people are infected with schistosomiasis, making vaccine development and effective diagnosis important control strategies. A rational epitope prediction workflow using Schistosoma mansoni hypothetical proteins was previously presented by our group, and an improvement to that approach is presented here.

Pharmacophoric characteristics of dengue virus NS2B/NS3pro inhibitors: a systematic review of the most promising compounds.

Dengue virus (DENV) infection can lead to a wide range of clinical manifestations, including fatal hemorrhagic complications. There is a need to find effective pharmacotherapies to treat this disease due to the lack of specific immunotherapies and antiviral drugs. That said, the DENV NS2B/NS3pro protease complex is essential in both the viral multiplication cycle and in disease pathogenesis, and is considered a promising target for new antiviral therapies.

UvrB protein of Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis complements the phenotype of knockout Escherichia coli and recognizes DNA damage caused by UV radiation but not 8-oxoguanine in vitro.

In prokaryotic cells, the UvrB protein plays a central role in nucleotide excision repair, which is involved in the recognition of bulky DNA lesions generated by chemical or physical agents. The present investigation aimed to characterize the uvrB gene of Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis (CpuvrB) and evaluate its involvement in the DNA repair system of this pathogenic organism. In computational analysis, the alignment of the UvrB protein sequences of Escherichia coli, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Bacillus caldotenax and Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis showed high similarity and the catalytic amino acid residues and functional domains are preserved.

Molecular surveillance of dengue in Minas Gerais provides insights on dengue virus 1 and 4 circulation in Brazil.

Dengue, caused by any of the four types of Dengue virus (DENV) is the most important arbovirus in the world. In this study we performed a molecular surveillance of dengue during the greatest dengue outbreak that took place in Divinópolis, Minas Gerais state, Southeast Brazil, in 2013. Samples from 100 patients with clinical symptoms of dengue were studied and 26 were positive.

Adenine Glycosylase MutY of Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis presents the antimutator phenotype and evidences of glycosylase/AP lyase activity in vitro.

Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis is the etiological agent of caseous lymphadenitis, a disease that predominantly affects small ruminants, causing significant economic losses worldwide. As a facultative intracellular pathogen, this bacterium is exposed to an environment rich in reactive oxygen species (ROS) within macrophages. To ensure its genetic stability, C.

Demethylation profile of the TNF-α promoter gene is associated with high expression of this cytokine in Dengue virus patients.

Dengue is the most prevalent arthropod-borne viral illness in humans. The overexpression of cytokines by Dengue virus (DENV) infected cells is associated with the most severe forms of the disease. Unmethylated CpG islands are related to a transcriptionally active structure, whereas methylated DNA recruits methyl-binding proteins that inhibit gene expression.

Screening of the BRCA1 gene in Brazilian patients with breast and/or ovarian cancer via high-resolution melting reaction analysis.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the profile of BRCA1 mutations among cancer-affected Brazilian women from the Midwest region of Minas Gerais state with clearly defined risk factors for hereditary breast and ovarian cancer (HBOC) syndrome. In this Brazilian region, the first Center for Hereditary Cancer Control began operation in 2011, and 90% of patients receive assistance from the public health service. Eighteen patients at high risk for HBOC were subjected to molecular analysis.

The Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis genome contains two formamidopyrimidine-DNA glycosylase enzymes, only one of which recognizes and excises 8-oxoguanine lesion.

The GO-system is a DNA repair mechanism that prevents and corrects oxidative DNA damage. Formamidopyrimidine-DNA glycosylase (FPG/MutM) participates in this system, avoiding the mutagenic effects of 8-oxoguanine lesion into DNA. Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis, the etiological agent of caseous lymphadenitis, is a facultative intracellular microorganism vulnerable to oxidative DNA damage.

Dengue outbreaks in Divinopolis, south-eastern Brazil and the geographic and climatic distribution of Aedes albopictus and Aedes aegypti in 2011-2012.

Objective: To entomologically monitor Aedes spp. and correlate the presence of these vectors with the recent epidemic of dengue in Divinopolis, Minas Gerais State, Brazil.

Methods: Ovitraps were installed at 44 points in the city, covering six urban areas, from May 2011 to May 2012.

Clinical, Molecular, and Epidemiological Analysis of Dengue Cases during a Major Outbreak in the Midwest Region of Minas Gerais, Brazil.

This study aims to perform the first molecular and clinical-epidemiological analysis of dengue cases in Divinopolis, MG, Brazil. Data from 4,110 cases of dengue were accessed and 190 clinical samples were collected for molecular analyses. In this study, 2.

Identification of a vaccine against schistosomiasis using bioinformatics and molecular modeling tools.

Schistosomiasis is a serious public health problem in Brazil and worldwide. Although the drugs used to treatment schistosomiasis are effective, the disease continues to expand in all endemic countries due to constant reinfection, poor sanitation, and the lack of effective programs for disease control. However, advances generated through genome projects have provided important information that has improved the understanding of the biology of this parasite.

Cervical uterine lesions: an epidemiological and molecular investigation in midwestern Minas Gerais, Brazil.

Cervical uterine cancer is the second most frequent form of cancer in the female population and the fourth cause of cancer deaths among Brazilian women. In Divinópolis county, Minas Gerais state, cervical cancer accounted for 6.6% of deaths in 2007.

Allele distribution of six STR/miniSTR loci (CD4, FABP2, D12S391, D14S1434, D22S1045 and D10S1248) for forensic purposes in Southeastern Brazil.

Background: Allele frequencies for six STR/miniSTR loci were determined in a sample of unrelated individuals from Southeastern Brazil.

Methods And Results: No significant deviations from Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium proportions were observed for the loci investigated (p-values ≥ 0.2320).

The time has come: a new scene for PKU treatment.

Phenylketonuria (PKU) is one of the few genetic diseases in which mental retardation can be prevented. Hence, diagnosis and treatment must be established early. PKU treatment consists of a phenylalanine-restricted diet supplemented with a phenylalanine-free mixture of amino acids.

Frequencies of phenylalanine hydroxylase mutations I65T, R252W, R261Q, R261X, IVS10nt11, V388M, R408W, Y414C, and IVS12nt1 in Minas Gerais, Brazil.

In order to determine the phenylketonuria (PKU) mutation spectrum in the population of Minas Gerais State, Brazil, 78 unrelated PKU patients found by the neonatal screening program from 1993 to 2003 were tested for nine phenylalanine hydroxylase mutations. These mutations were selected due to their high frequencies in other Brazilian populations and in Portugal, where the largest contingent of the Caucasian component of the Brazilian population originated from. The most frequent mutations were V388M (21%), R261Q (16%), IVS10nt11 (13.