Co-expression gene module analysis in response to attenuated cercaria vaccine reveals a critical role for NK cells in protection against Schistosoma mansoni.

Background: Despite decades of research, an effective schistosomiasis vaccine remains elusive. The radiation-attenuated (RA) cercarial vaccine remains the best model for eliciting high levels of protection. We have recently explored this model in mice to identify potentially protective pathways by examining gene expression patterns in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC).

approaches for drug repurposing in oncology: a scoping review.

Cancer refers to a group of diseases characterized by the uncontrolled growth and spread of abnormal cells in the body. Due to its complexity, it has been hard to find an ideal medicine to treat all cancer types, although there is an urgent need for it. However, the cost of developing a new drug is high and time-consuming.

Transcriptome profiling reveals distinct alterations in the B-cell signature and dysregulation of peripheral B-cell subsets in sickle cell anemia patients.

Sickle cell anemia (SCA) is characterized by immune system activation and heightened susceptibility to infections. We hypothesized that SCA patients exhibit transcriptional alterations in B-cell-related genes, impacting their peripheral B-cell compartment and leading to dysregulated humoral immunity and increased infection susceptibility. Our objective was to conduct an in silico analysis of whole blood transcriptomes from SCA patients and healthy controls obtained from public repositories.

Update and elucidation of kinomes: Prioritization of kinases as potential drug targets for malaria.

Malaria is a tropical disease caused by spp. and transmitted by the bite of infected mosquitoes. Protein kinases (PKs) play key roles in the life cycle of the etiological agent of malaria, turning these proteins attractive targets for antimalarial drug discovery campaigns.

In silico approaches for drug repurposing in oncology: Protocol for a scoping review of existing evidence.

Drug repurposing has been applied in the biomedical field to optimize the use of existing drugs, leading to a more efficient allocation of research resources. In oncology, this approach is particularly interesting, considering the high cost related to the discovery of new drugs with therapeutic potential. Computational methods have been applied to predict associations between drugs and their targets.

Evaluation of the Inflammatory Cytokines and IL-10 Network in Individuals Co-infected With Human T-Cell Lymphotropic Virus and Hepatitis C Virus (HTLV/HCV).

Background: Co-infection between the human T-cell lymphotropic virus (HTLV) and the hepatitis C virus (HCV) can modify the natural history of HCV infection. The aim of this study was to describe the inflammatory cytokines and IL-10 network in patients co-infected with HTLV and HCV viruses in Bahia, Brazil.

Methods: Samples from 31 HTLV/HCV co-infected individuals and 27 HCV monoinfected individuals were evaluated.

Gene Duplication in : A Case for CRISPR-Cas9 Gene Editing.

On the surface of the promastigote, phosphoglycans (PG) such as lipophosphoglycan (LPG), proteophosphoglycan (PPG), free phosphoglycan polymers (PGs), and acid phosphatases (sAP), are dominant and contribute to the invasion and survival of within the host cell by modulating macrophage signaling and intracellular trafficking. Phosphoglycan synthesis depends on the Golgi GDP-mannose transporter encoded by the gene. Aiming to investigate the role of PG-containing molecules in infection process, herein we describe the generation and characterization of -deficient parasites.

Proteins involved in the biosynthesis of lipophosphoglycan in Leishmania: a comparative genomic and evolutionary analysis.

Background: Leishmania spp. are digenetic parasites capable of infecting humans and causing a range of diseases collectively known as leishmaniasis. The main mechanisms involved in the development and permanence of this pathology are linked to evasion of the immune response.

Leveraging User-Friendly Network Approaches to Extract Knowledge From High-Throughput Datasets.

Recent technological advances for the acquisition of multi- data have allowed an unprecedented understanding of the complex intricacies of biological systems. In parallel, a myriad of computational analysis techniques and bioinformatics tools have been developed, with many efforts directed towards the creation and interpretation of networks from this data. In this review, we begin by examining key network concepts and terminology.

Meta-Analysis of HTLV-1-Infected Patients Identifies CD40LG and GBP2 as Markers of ATLL and HAM/TSP Clinical Status: Two Genes Beat as One.

Human T-lymphotropic virus 1 (HTLV-1) was the first recognized human retrovirus. Infection can lead to two main symptomatologies: adult T-cell lymphoma/leukemia (ATLL) and HTLV-1 associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP). Each manifestation is associated with distinct characteristics, as ATLL presents as a leukemia-like disease, while HAM/TSP presents as severe inflammation in the central nervous system, leading to paraparesis.

Proteomic Analysis Reveals a Predominant NFE2L2 (NRF2) Signature in Canonical Pathway and Upstream Regulator Analysis of -Infected Macrophages.

CBA mice macrophages (MØ) control infection by and are susceptive to , suggesting that both parasite species induce distinct responses that play important roles in infection outcome. To evaluate the MØ responses to infection arising from these two species, a proteomic study using a Multidimensional Protein Identification Technology (MudPIT) approach with liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) was carried out on CBA mice bone-marrow MØ (BMMØ). Following SEQUEST analysis, which revealed 2,838 proteins detected in BMMØ, data mining approach found six proteins significantly associated with the tested conditions.

In Search of Biomarkers for Pathogenesis and Control of Leishmaniasis by Global Analyses of -Infected Macrophages.

Leishmaniasis is a vector-borne, neglected tropical disease with a worldwide distribution that can present in a variety of clinical forms, depending on the parasite species and host genetic background. The pathogenesis of this disease remains far from being elucidated because the involvement of a complex immune response orchestrated by host cells significantly affects the clinical outcome. Among these cells, macrophages are the main host cells, produce cytokines and chemokines, thereby triggering events that contribute to the mediation of the host immune response and, subsequently, to the establishment of infection or, alternatively, disease control.

An integrative, multi-omics approach towards the prioritization of Klebsiella pneumoniae drug targets.

Klebsiella pneumoniae (Kp) is a globally disseminated opportunistic pathogen that can cause life-threatening infections. It has been found as the culprit of many infection outbreaks in hospital environments, being particularly aggressive towards newborns and adults under intensive care. Many Kp strains produce extended-spectrum β-lactamases, enzymes that promote resistance against antibiotics used to fight these infections.

Follow up of a robust meta-signature to identify Zika virus infection in Aedes aegypti: another brick in the wall.

The mosquito Aedes aegypti is the main vector of several arthropod-borne diseases that have global impacts. In a previous meta-analysis, our group identified a vector gene set containing 110 genes strongly associated with infections of dengue, West Nile and yellow fever viruses. Of these 110 genes, four genes allowed a highly accurate classification of infected status.

Integrated Analysis Reveals That miR-193b, miR-671, and TREM-1 Correlate With a Good Response to Treatment of Human Localized Cutaneous Leishmaniasis Caused by .

Localized cutaneous leishmaniasis (LCL) is a chronic disease characterized by ulcerated skin lesion(s) and uncontrolled inflammation. The mechanisms underlying the pathogenesis of LCL are not completely understood, and little is known about posttranscriptional regulation during LCL. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are non-coding small RNAs that regulate gene expression and can be implicated in the pathogenesis of LCL.

Comparative Genomic Analysis of a Clinical Isolate of subsp. , a KPC-2 and OKP-B-6 Beta-Lactamases Producer Harboring Two Drug-Resistance Plasmids from Southeast Brazil.

The aim of this study was to unravel the genetic determinants responsible for multidrug (including carbapenems) resistance and virulence in a clinical isolate of subsp. by whole-genome sequencing and comparative analyses. Eighty-three clinical isolates initially identified as carbapenem-resistant were collected from nosocomial infections in southeast Brazil.

Meta-Analysis of Expression Datasets: Comparing Virus Infection and Blood-Fed Transcriptomes to Identify Markers of Virus Presence.

The mosquito (L.) is vector of several arboviruses including dengue, yellow fever, chikungunya, and more recently zika. Previous transcriptomic studies have been performed to elucidate altered pathways in response to viral infection.

The polymyxin B-induced transcriptomic response of a clinical, multidrug-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae involves multiple regulatory elements and intracellular targets.

Background: The emergence of multidrug-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae is a major public health concern. Many K. pneumoniae infections can only be treated when resorting to last-line drugs such as polymyxin B (PB).

A whole genome bioinformatic approach to determine potential latent phase specific targets in Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

Current Tuberculosis treatment is long and expensive, faces the increasing burden of MDR/XDR strains and lack of effective treatment against latent form, resulting in an urgent need of new anti-TB drugs. Key to TB biology is its capacity to fight the host's RNOS mediated attack. RNOS are known to display a concentration dependent mycobactericidal activity, which leads to the following hypothesis "if we know which proteins are targeted by RNOS and kill TB, we we might be able to inhibit them with drugs resulting in a synergistic bactericidal effect".

Analysis of the ergosterol biosynthesis pathway cloning, molecular characterization and phylogeny of lanosterol 14 α-demethylase (ERG11) gene of Moniliophthora perniciosa.

The phytopathogenic fungus Moniliophthora perniciosa (Stahel) Aime & Philips-Mora, causal agent of witches' broom disease of cocoa, causes countless damage to cocoa production in Brazil. Molecular studies have attempted to identify genes that play important roles in fungal survival and virulence. In this study, sequences deposited in the M.

Comparative analysis of the complete genome of KPC-2-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae Kp13 reveals remarkable genome plasticity and a wide repertoire of virulence and resistance mechanisms.

Background: Klebsiella pneumoniae is an important opportunistic pathogen associated with nosocomial and community-acquired infections. A wide repertoire of virulence and antimicrobial resistance genes is present in K. pneumoniae genomes, which can constitute extra challenges in the treatment of infections caused by some strains.

Pyrosequencing-based analysis reveals a novel capsular gene cluster in a KPC-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae clinical isolate identified in Brazil.

Background: An important virulence factor of Klebsiella pneumoniae is the production of capsular polysaccharide (CPS), a thick mucus layer that allows for evasion of the host's defense and creates a barrier against antibacterial peptides. CPS production is driven mostly by the expression of genes located in a locus called cps, and the resulting structure is used to distinguish between different serotypes (K types). In this study, we report the unique genetic organization of the cps cluster from K.