Visualization and Quantification of Rapid Chromosome Movements at Early Stages of Mouse Meiosis.

Telomere-led rapid chromosome movements (RPMs) are a conserved characteristic of chromosome dynamics in meiosis. RPMs have been suggested to influence critical meiotic functions such as DNA repair and the association of the homologous chromosomes. Here, we describe a method using 3D time-lapse fluorescence imaging to monitor RPMs in Hoechst-stained mouse seminiferous tubules explants.

The IFIH1-A946T risk variant promotes diabetes in a sex-dependent manner.

Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is an autoimmune disease in which pancreatic islet β-cells are attacked by the immune system, resulting in insulin deficiency and hyperglycemia. One of the top non-synonymous single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) associated with T1D is in the interferon-induced helicase C domain-containing protein 1 (), which encodes an anti-viral cytosolic RNA sensor. This SNP results in an alanine to threonine substitution at amino acid 946 () and confers an increased risk for several autoimmune diseases, including T1D.

SHOC1 is a ERCC4-(HhH)2-like protein, integral to the formation of crossover recombination intermediates during mammalian meiosis.

Chromosome segregation errors during meiosis result in the formation of aneuploid gametes and are the leading cause of pregnancy loss and birth defects in humans. Proper chromosome segregation requires pairwise associations of maternal and paternal homologous chromosomes. Chiasmata, which are the cytological manifestations of crossovers (COs), provide a physical link that holds the homologs together as a pair, facilitating their orientation on the spindle at meiosis I.

MicroRNA expression signatures in lungs of mice infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

Tuberculosis (TB) is a major public health concern worldwide; however the factors that account for resistance or susceptibility to disease are not completely understood. Although some studies suggest that the differential expression of miRNAs in peripheral blood of TB patients could be useful as biomarkers of active disease, their involvement during the inflammatory process in lungs of infected individuals is unknown. Here, we evaluated the global expression of miRNAs in the lungs of mice experimentally infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis on 30 and 60 days post-infection.

Endonucleases: tools to correct the dystrophin gene.

Background: Various endonucleases can be engineered to induce double-strand breaks (DSBs) in chosen DNA sequences. These DSBs are spontaneously repaired by nonhomologous-end-joining, resulting in micro-insertions or micro-deletions (INDELs). We detected, characterized and quantified the frequency of INDELs produced by one meganuclease (MGN) targeting the RAG1 gene, six MGNs targeting three introns of the human dystrophin gene and one pair of zinc finger nucleases (ZFNs) targeting exon 50 of the human dystrophin gene.

B cells Can Modulate the CD8 Memory T Cell after DNA Vaccination Against Experimental Tuberculosis.

Background: Although B cells are important as antigen presenting cells (APC) during the immune response, their role in DNA vaccination models is unknown.

Methods: In this study in vitro and in vivo experiments were performed to evaluate the ability of B cells to protect mice against Mycobacterium tuberculosis challenge.

Results: In vitro and in vivo studies showed that B cells efficiently present antigens after naked plasmid pcDNA3 encoding M.

Intranasal vaccination with messenger RNA as a new approach in gene therapy: use against tuberculosis.

Background: mRNAs are highly versatile, non-toxic molecules that are easy to produce and store, which can allow transient protein expression in all cell types. The safety aspects of mRNA-based treatments in gene therapy make this molecule one of the most promising active components of therapeutic or prophylactic methods. The use of mRNA as strategy for the stimulation of the immune system has been used mainly in current strategies for the cancer treatment but until now no one tested this molecule as vaccine for infectious disease.

[Development policies of health and nursing human resources].

The sanitary movement brought about, in the educational setting, demands for health training focused on primary care, considering the inconsistency between professional practice and population health needs. This is a documental research with the objective to identify human resources development policies in National and Health Human Resources Conferences, in the period from 1986 to 2005. Results show that the debate concerning nursing education is presented in the following categories: legal landmarks in nursing education; curricular dimension of health education; perspectives of teaching-learning methods; and health human resources training.

Tissue distribution of DNA-Hsp65/TDM-loaded PLGA microspheres and uptake by phagocytic cells.

This study aimed to demonstrate that microspheres, used as delivery vehicle of DNA-Hsp65/TDM [plasmid DNA encoding heat shock protein 65 (Hsp65) coencapsulated with trehalose dimycolate (TDM) into PLGA microspheres], are widely spread among several organs after intramuscular administration in BALB/c mice. In general, we showed that these particles were phagocytosed by antigen presenting cells, such as macrophages and dendritic cells. Besides, it was demonstrated herein that draining lymph node cells presented a significant increase in the number of cells expressing costimulatory molecules (CD80 and CD86) and MHC class II, and also that the administration of the DNA-Hsp65/TDM and vector/TDM formulations resulted in the up-regulation of CD80, CD86 and MHC class II expression when compared to control formulations (vector/TDM and empty).

Influence of storage time and temperature on pleural fluid adenosine deaminase determination.

Objectives And Background: The determination of adenosine deaminase (ADA) activity in pleural fluid is important for differentiation of pleural effusions and diagnosing pleural tuberculosis. Although measurement of ADA is simple and inexpensive, controversies exist regarding potential errors caused by time elapsed between sample collection and analysis, storage temperature and the use of anticoagulants. The objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of storage time (1, 3, 7, 10 and 28 days) and temperature (4 degrees C and -20 degrees C) on the determination of ADA in pleural fluid samples collected in EDTA and sent at ambient temperature to the laboratory for initial processing within 1 h of collection.