This study aimed at optimizing carotenoid extraction using the macroalga (L.) S.F.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFFront Cell Infect Microbiol
December 2024
Enteropathogenic (EPEC) strains are subdivided into typical (tEPEC) and atypical (aEPEC) according to the presence or absence of a virulence-associated plasmid called pEAF. Our research group has previously demonstrated that two aEPEC strains, 0421-1 and 3991-1, induce an increase in mucus production in a rabbit ileal loop model . This phenomenon was not observed with a tEPEC prototype strain.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFNeurodegenerative diseases are linked to the process of neurodegeneration. This can be caused by several mechanisms, including inflammation and accumulation of reactive oxygen species. Despite their high incidence, there is still no effective treatment or cure for these diseases.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFParkinson's disease (PD) is recognized as the second most prevalent primary chronic neurodegenerative disorder of the central nervous system. Clinically, PD is characterized as a movement disorder, exhibiting an incidence and mortality rate that is increasing faster than any other neurological condition. In recent years, there has been a growing interest concerning the role of the gut microbiota in the etiology and pathophysiology of PD.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFLeptospirosis is a widespread zoonotic infectious disease of human and veterinary concern caused by pathogenic spirochetes of the genus Leptospira. To date, little progress towards understanding leptospiral pathogenesis and identification of virulence factors has been made, which is the main bottleneck for developing effective measures against the disease. Some leptospiral proteins, including LipL32, Lig proteins, LipL45, and LipL21, are being considered as potential virulence factors or vaccine candidates.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFComplement C5 is the target of the monoclonal antibody eculizumab, used in complement dysregulating disorders, like the rare disease Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria (PNH). PNH is an acquired hematopoietic stem cell condition characterized by aberrant destruction of erythrocytes, chronic hemolytic anemia, and thromboembolism propensity. C5 is a protein component of the complement system which is part of the immune system of the body and plays a prominent role in the destruction of red blood cells, misidentifying them as a threat.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFLeptospira is a genus of bacteria that includes free-living saprophytic species found in water or soil, and pathogenic species, which are the etiologic agents of leptospirosis. Besides all the efforts, there are only a few proteins described as virulence factors in the pathogenic strain L. interrogans.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFNeurodegenerative diseases (NDs) are characterized by progressive and irreversible neuronal loss, accompanied by a range of pathological pathways, including aberrant protein aggregation, altered energy metabolism, excitotoxicity, inflammation, and oxidative stress. Some of the most common NDs include Alzheimer's Disease (AD), Parkinson's Disease (PD), Multiple Sclerosis (MS), Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), and Huntington's Disease (HD). There are currently no available cures; there are only therapeutic approaches that ameliorate the progression of symptoms, which makes the search for new drugs and therapeutic targets a constant battle.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAlzheimer's disease (AD) is well-known among neurodegenerative diseases for the decline of cognitive functions, making overall daily tasks difficult or impossible. The disease prevails as the most common form of dementia and remains without a well-defined etiology. Being considered a disease of multifactorial origin, current targeted treatments have only managed to reduce or control symptoms, and to date, only two drugs are close to being able to halt its progression.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCurrently available urinalysis methods are often applied for screening and monitoring of several pathologies. However, traditionally analyzed biomarkers in urinalysis still lack sensitivity and specificity to accurately diagnose some diseases. Several studies have proposed the use of electronic noses (eNoses) for the analysis of volatile organic compounds in urine samples that may, directly or indirectly, correlate with certain pathologies.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF() is an emergent zoonotic food-related pathogen that can be transmitted through the consumption of poultry meat. Data regarding the pathogenicity and resistance of are still scarce, and the presence of virulent MDR strains of this zoonotic pathogen in poultry meat is an issue of particular concern to public health. This study aimed to characterize the pathogenicity and antimicrobial resistance profiles of strains isolated from poultry meat sold at retail markets in São Paulo, Brazil.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground And Objectives: Hazardous substance use is a major public health concern among individuals with a history of sexual victimization. Although increased religiosity has been known to serve as a protective factor against hazardous substance use, religious individuals with a history of sexual victimization may be at a greater risk for hazardous substance use due to difficulties reconciling sexual victimization with their religious beliefs. Individuals with greater trauma-related shame may engage in hazardous substance use as a means of coping with the traumatic event.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFExtra-intestinal pathogenic (ExPEC) may inhabit the human gut microbiota without causing disease. However, if they reach extra-intestinal sites, common cystitis to bloodstream infections may occur, putting patients at risk. To examine the human gut as a source of endogenous infections, we evaluated the clonal diversity of 18 inpatients' guts and their relationship with strains isolated from urinary tract infection (UTI) in the same hospital.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFDespite the many challenges faced by the sudden adaptation of the teaching-learning processes during the emergency remote teaching (ERT) imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic, this period allowed the exploration of innovative educational methods. Here, we report the description and evaluation of a didactic activity designed to foster an active learning environment among Veterinary Medicine undergraduate students enrolling in Microbiology classes during the ERT period at the University of Minas Gerais. The activity consisted of initial expositive classes, followed by students' active search for information, and the execution of a report and short comics covering the topic.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCurrently, there is no known cure for neurodegenerative disease. However, the available therapies aim to manage some of the symptoms of the disease. Human neurodegenerative diseases are a heterogeneous group of illnesses characterized by progressive loss of neuronal cells and nervous system dysfunction related to several mechanisms such as protein aggregation, neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, and neurotransmission dysfunction.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFNeuroprotection is a need that remains unmet in treating chronic neurodegenerative disorders, despite decades of extensive research. To find new neuroprotective compounds, extracts of (L.) S.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFUrinary tract infections (UTI) affect community and healthcare patients worldwide and may have different clinical outcomes. We assessed the phylogenetic origin, the presence of 43 virulence factors (VFs) of diarrheagenic and extraintestinal pathogenic , and the occurrence of hybrid strains among isolates from 172 outpatients with different types of UTI. Isolates from phylogroup B2 (46%) prevailed, followed by phylogroups A (15.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFLeptospirosis is a neglected zoonosis, caused by pathogenic spirochetes bacteria of the genus . The molecular mechanisms of leptospirosis infection are complex, and it is becoming clear that leptospires express several functionally redundant proteins to invade, disseminate, and escape the host's immune response. Here, we describe a novel leptospiral protein encoded by the gene LIC13086 as an outer membrane protein.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFNeurodegenerative diseases (NDs) represent a drawback in society given the ageing population. Dementias are the most prevalent NDs, with Alzheimer's disease (AD) representing around 70% of all cases. The current pharmaceuticals for AD are symptomatic and with no effects on the progression of the disease.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBreast (BrCa) and prostate (PCa) cancers are the most common malignancies in women and men, respectively. The available therapeutic options for these tumors are still not curative and have severe side effects. Therefore, there is an urgent need for more effective antineoplastic agents.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe spirochetal bacteria spp. are causative agents of leptospirosis, a globally neglected and reemerging zoonotic disease. Infection with these pathogens may lead to an acute and potentially fatal disease but also to chronic asymptomatic renal colonization.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFFront Microbiol
September 2020
Leptospirosis is a prevalent zoonotic disease, caused by bacteria of the genus . Leptospirosis frequently leads to hemostatic disturbances, and the severe cases are marked by hemorrhages and low platelet number in circulation, which is associated with the patients' poor outcomes. Nevertheless, -platelet interactions remain poorly explored.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBiochem Biophys Res Commun
December 2020
Leptospira is a genus of spirochete bacteria highly motile that includes pathogenic species responsible to cause leptospirosis disease. Chemotaxis and motility are required for Leptospira infectivity, pathogenesis, and invasion of bacteria into the host. In prokaryotes, the most common chemoreceptors are methyl-accepting chemotaxis proteins that have a role play to detect the chemical signals and move to a favorable environment for its survival.
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