Immunoinformatic approaches for ErpY-LemA chimeric protein design for use in leptospirosis control.

Aims: Currently, immunoinformatic approaches have shown promise in rapidly and cost-effectively identifying new antigens from the Leptospira proteome. Chimeric multiepitope proteins offer a strategy with significant potential for implementation in diagnosis and vaccines development.

Methods And Results: In this study, we detail the immunoinformatic analyses and design of a new recombinant chimeric protein constructed with epitopes identified from the sequences of ErpY-like and LemA proteins, previously identified as potential antigens for controlling leptospirosis.

Production of antigens expressed in Nicotiana benthamiana plant and Escherichia coli for the SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibody detection by ELISA.

The recent COVID-19 pandemic disclosed a critical shortage of diagnostic kits worldwide, emphasizing the urgency of utilizing all resources available for the development and production of diagnostic tests. Different heterologous protein expression systems can be employed for antigen production. This study assessed novel SARS-CoV-2 proteins produced by a transient expression system in Nicotiana benthamiana utilizing an infectious clone vector based on pepper ringspot virus (PepRSV).

Antimicrobial metabolites produced by endophytic fungi associated with the leaves of .

Investigation of the endophytic fungi , , and MeOH fractions isolated from the leaves of , a medicinal species from the Brazilian Pantanal, led to the identification of five compounds, namely a new compound (1,8)-10,11-dihydroxy-5,5,8-trimethyl-4-oxocycloundeca-1,8-diene-1-carbaldehyde () and four known compounds: 5-methylmellein (), sclerone (), daldinone A (), and lasiodiplodin (). All compounds were identified using spectroscopic methods, and was corroborated with mass spectrometry, while the known compounds were compared with data in the literature. The relative configuration of compound was determined based on theoretical conformational studies as well as the experimental values between the hydroxymethyne hydrogens.

The use of pediatric short-stay observation in Italy.

Background: In Italy, the State Regions Conference on 1 August 2019 approved the Guidelines for Short-Stay Observation (SSO). At the beginning of 2022, the main Scientific Societies of the pediatric hospital emergency-urgency area launched a national survey to identify the extent to which these national guidelines had been adopted in the emergency rooms and pediatric wards of the Italian Regions.

Methods: A survey has been widespread, among Pediatric Wards and Pediatric Emergency Departments (EDs), using both a paper questionnaire and a link to a database on Google Drive, for those who preferred to fill it directly online.

Bilateral interstitial keratitis in a patient with presumed brain tuberculoma.

Interstitial keratitis is an inflammation of the corneal stroma without epithelium or endothelium involvement. The underlying causes are mostly infectious or immune mediated. Brazil has one of the highest incidence rates of tuberculosis in the world.

New Isoquinoline Alkaloids from Paraphaeosphaeria sporulosa F03, a Fungal Endophyte Isolated from Paepalanthus planifolius.

As part of our continuing efforts to discover new bioactive compounds from endophytic fungal sources, we have investigated the extract of the F03 strain. The study led to the isolation of four new 3-methyl-isoquinoline alkaloids (1:  - 4: ) and four known polyketides (5:  - 8: ). The structures of compounds 1:  - 4: were elucidated by 1D and 2D NMR experiments and HRMS analysis.

DNA microarray for forensic intelligence purposes: High-density SNP profiles obtained directly from casework-like samples with and without a DNA purification step.

SNP analyses from a forensic intelligence perspective have proven to be an important tool to restrict the number of suspected offenders and find missing persons. DNA microarray assays have been demonstrated as a potential feature in forensic analysis, like such as forensic genetic genealogy. The objective of this study was to describe the results from DNA microarray assay from saliva samples deposited on a glass surface collected from by a double swab technique, commonly applied in crime scenes.

The Use of Lectins as Tools to Combat SARS-CoV-2.

Background: In December 2019, China announced the first case of an infection caused by an, until then, unknown virus: SARS-CoV-2. Since then, researchers have been looking for viable alternatives for the treatment and/or cure of viral infection. Among the possible complementary solutions are lectins, proteins that are reversibly bound to different carbohydrates.

Induction of metabolic variability of the endophytic fungus Xylaria sp. by OSMAC approach and experimental design.

This work has as the main focus, to analyze the behavior of physic-chemical variations from the fungus Xylaria sp., through the OSMAC (One Strain, Many Compounds) approach as an efficient way of obtaining new compounds. To perform such inductions and to explore the variability of the metabolic network of this microorganism, a factorial design was designed to induce variability (or enhancement) of metabolites.

Impact of novel coronavirus Disease-19 (COVID-19) pandemic in Italian pediatric emergency departments: a national survey.

Background: Coronavirus Disease-19 (COVID-19) has rapidly become a pandemic emergency, distressing health systems in each affected country. Preparation strategies for managing this pandemic have been keys to face the COVID-19 surge all over the world and all levels of care.

Materials And Methods: During the epidemic, the Italian society of pediatric emergency-urgency (SIMEUP) promoted a national survey aiming to evaluate preparedness and response of pediatric emergency departments (PED) critical in ensuring optimal management of COVID-19 cases.

Chemophenetic Significance of Metabolites are Revealed by Dereplication Using Molecular Networking Tools.

(Pax & K. Hoffm.) Ducke (Euphorbiaceae) is a singular species in the genus and is restricted and exclusive to the Brazilian Amazon.

Preparation of glass-ionomer cement containing ethanolic Brazilian pepper extract (Schinus terebinthifolius Raddi) fruits: chemical and biological assays.

Plants may contain beneficial or potentially dangerous substances to humans. This study aimed to prepare and evaluate a new drug delivery system based on a glass-ionomer-Brazilian pepper extract composite, to check for its activity against pathogenic microorganisms of the oral cavity, along with its in vitro biocompatibility. The ethanolic Brazilian pepper extract (BPE), the glass-ionomer cement (GIC) and the composite GIC-BPE were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR), and thermal analysis.

Transfection of exogenous DNA complexed to cationic dendrimer induces alterations of bovine sperm microRNAome.

MicroRNAs have been hypothesized to be involved in the regulation of male fertility potential. The primary aim of our study was to demonstrate the effects of transfection with dendrimer nanostructure on the parameters of bovine sperm quality and to investigate whether the microRNA profile could be disturbed after cationic dendrimer-mediated exogenous DNA transfection of bovine spermatozoa. The binding of exogenous DNA was significantly increased when dendrimer-based transfection was implemented.

Updated Guidelines for the Management of Acute Otitis Media in Children by the Italian Society of Pediatrics: Treatment.

Background: New insights into the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of acute otitis media (AOM) have been gained in recent years. For this reason, the Italian Paediatric Society has updated its 2010 guidelines.

Methods: A literature search was carried out on PubMed.

Rational design, cognition and neuropathology evaluation of QTC-4-MeOBnE in a streptozotocin-induced mouse model of sporadic Alzheimer's disease.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a multifactorial pathology characterized by amyloid deposits, neurofibrillary formation, oxidative stress and cholinergic system dysfunction. In this sense, here we report the rational design of a multi-target directed ligand (MTDL) for AD based on virtual screening and bioinformatic analyses, exploring the molecular targets β-secretase (BACE-1), glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK-3β) and acetylcholinesterase (AChE). After this screening, the compound with higher molecular docking affinity was selected, the 1-(7-chloroquinolin-4-yl)-N-(4-methoxybenzyl)-5-methyl-1H-1,2,3-triazole-4 carboxamide(QTC-4-MeOBnE).

Influenza vaccination: opinions of health care professionals working in pediatric emergency departments.

Background: Vaccine coverage of health care professionals against influenza is still low in Italy, as well as in other European countries.

Methods: Between March and May 2018, this study was performed to collect the opinions of Pediatric health care professionals, working in emergency departments, regarding the efficacy and safety of the influenza vaccine. An anonymous online survey was employed to evaluate socio-demographic and professional characteristics, knowledges, beliefs and attitudes.

Bauhinia lectins: Biochemical properties and biotechnological applications.

Lectins are proteins of non-immune origin present throughout all kingdoms of life. They are capable of binding to specific carbohydrates reversibly, thus performing several biological roles. Plant lectins are the most studied ones, with hundreds of isolated and characterized hemagglutinins.

Cardiac Hemodynamics Abnormalities Induced by Intermittent Left Bundle-branch Block: A Case Report.

The left bundle-branch block (LBBB) is related to worsening cardiac performance. We describe a case of a patient with an intermittent left bundle-branch block who underwent biventricular pacemaker implantation. We noted a detrimental effect on the performance of her left ventricle with the presence of the LBBB as compared to the performance after she underwent biventricular pacing or after reversal of LBBB (i.

Partial regression of large anterior scleral staphyloma secondary to rhinosporidiosis after corneoscleral graft - a case report.

Background: Rhinosporidiosis is a rare chronic infection of the mucous membranes caused by the Rhinosporidium seeberi. Approximately 15% of cases of rhinosporidiosis are ocular, occurring mainly in the tarsal conjunctiva. There are only 11 cases of scleral melt with staphyloma formation associated with bulbar conjuctival oculosporidiosis and none of them was associated with partial regression of the scleral ectasia after a corneoscleral tectonic graft.

Proteomic of goat milk whey and its bacteriostatic and antitumour potential.

Goat whey is normally discarded in the milk processing industry. However, several studies have addressed its biological properties and possible use in human or animal diet. The present study aimed to analysis the protein profile of goat whey to evaluate its possible oxidant, antioxidant, antibacterial, antitumour, and cytotoxic activities in vitro against human erythrocytes.

Genome of Leptospira borgpetersenii strain 4E, a highly virulent isolate obtained from Mus musculus in southern Brazil.

A previous study by our group reported the isolation and characterisation of Leptospira borgpetersenii serogroup Ballum strain 4E. This strain is of particular interest because it is highly virulent in the hamster model. In this study, we performed whole-genome shotgun genome sequencing of the strain using the SOLiD sequencing platform.

Whole-genome sequencing of Leptospira interrogans from southern Brazil: genetic features of a highly virulent strain.

BACKGROUND Leptospirosis is the most widespread zoonotic disease. It is caused by infection with pathogenic Leptospira species, of which over 300 serovars have been described. The accurate identification of the causative Leptospira spp.

Approaches for in silico finishing of microbial genome sequences.

The introduction of next-generation sequencing (NGS) had a significant effect on the availability of genomic information, leading to an increase in the number of sequenced genomes from a large spectrum of organisms. Unfortunately, due to the limitations implied by the short-read sequencing platforms, most of these newly sequenced genomes remained as "drafts", incomplete representations of the whole genetic content. The previous genome sequencing studies indicated that finishing a genome sequenced by NGS, even bacteria, may require additional sequencing to fill the gaps, making the entire process very expensive.

The Estimates of Retinal Ganglion Cell Counts Performed Better than Isolated Structure and Functional Tests for Glaucoma Diagnosis.

Purpose: To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of retinal ganglion cell (RGC) counts as estimated by combining data from standard automated perimetry (SAP) and spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT).

Methods: Healthy individuals and glaucoma patients were included in this cross-sectional study. All eyes underwent 24-2 SITA SAP and structural imaging tests.

Discovery of Novel Leptospirosis Vaccine Candidates Using Reverse and Structural Vaccinology.

spp. are diderm (two membranes) bacteria that infect mammals causing leptospirosis, a public health problem with global implications. Thousands of people die every year due to leptospirosis, especially in developing countries with tropical climates.