Bicistronic Vector Expression of Recombinant Jararhagin-C and Its Effects on Endothelial Cells.

Jararhagin-C (JarC) is a protein from the venom of consisting of disintegrin-like and cysteine-rich domains. JarC shows a modulating effect on angiogenesis and remodeling of extracellular matrix constituents, improving wound healing in a mouse experimental model. JarC is purified from crude venom, and the yield is less than 1%.

When spider and snake get along: Fusion of a snake disintegrin with a spider phospholipase D to explore their synergistic effects on a tumor cell.

Venoms of spiders and snakes contain toxins extremely active and, thus, provide a natural source for the development of new biotechnological tools. Among the diversity of toxins present in the venom of spiders from genus Loxosceles, the phospholipases D (PLDs) show high hydrolytic activity upon lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC) and sphingomyelin (SM), generating bioactive phospholipids such as cyclic phosphatidic acid (cPA). Since this mediator has been shown to play a major role in complex signaling pathways, including inhibition of tumor cells, the PLDs may hold the key to learn how toxins could be used for therapeutic purposes.

Design and Production of a Recombinant Hybrid Toxin to Raise Protective Antibodies Against Spider Venom.

Human accidents with spiders of the genus Loxosceles are an important health problem affecting thousands of people worldwide. Patients evolve to severe local injuries and, in many cases, to systemic disturbances as acute renal failure, in which cases antivenoms are considered to be the most effective treatment. However, for antivenom production, the extraction of the venom used in the immunization process is laborious and the yield is very low.

Enhanced detection of viral diversity using partial and near full-length genomes of human immunodeficiency virus Type 1 provirus deep sequencing data from recently infected donors at four blood centers in Brazil.

Background: Here, we report application of high-throughput near full-length genome (NFLG) and partial human immunodeficiency virus Type 1 (HIV-1) proviral genome deep sequencing to characterize HIV in recently infected blood donors at four major blood centers in Brazil.

Study Design And Methods: From 2007 to 2011, a total of 341 HIV+ blood donors from four blood centers were recruited to participate in a case-control study to identify HIV risk factors and motivations to donate. Forty-seven (17 from São Paulo, eight from Minas Gerais, 11 from Pernambuco, and 11 from Rio de Janeiro) were classified as recently infected based on testing by less-sensitive enzyme immunoassays.

Deep sequencing of HIV-1 near full-length proviral genomes identifies high rates of BF1 recombinants including two novel circulating recombinant forms (CRF) 70_BF1 and a disseminating 71_BF1 among blood donors in Pernambuco, Brazil.

Background: The findings of frequent circulation of HIV-1 subclade F1 viruses and the scarcity of BF1 recombinant viruses based on pol subgenomic fragment sequencing among blood donors in Pernambuco (PE), Northeast of Brazil, were reported recently. Here, we aimed to determine whether the classification of these strains (n = 26) extends to the whole genome sequences.

Methods: Five overlapping amplicons spanning the HIV near full-length genomes (NFLGs) were PCR amplified from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of 26 blood donors.