The pleiotropic protein P21 orchestrates the intracellular retention and parasitism control of virulent Y strain parasites.

P21 is a protein secreted by all forms of () with recognized biological activities determined in studies using the recombinant form of the protein. In our recent study, we found that the ablation of P21 gene decreased Y strain axenic epimastigotes multiplication and increased intracellular replication of amastigotes in HeLa cells infected with metacyclic trypomastigotes. In the present study, we investigated the effect of P21 using C2C12 cell lines infected with tissue culture-derived trypomastigotes (TCT) of wild-type and P21 knockout (TcP21) Y strain, and using an experimental model of infection in BALB/c mice.

Peptide L13S Derived from the BRN2 POU Domain Reduces Metastasis and Inhibits Cell Migration and Invasion .

Background/aim: The Brain-Specific Homeobox/POU Domain Protein 2 (BRN2) transcription factor supports melanoma progression by regulating the expression of several genes involved in cell migration and invasion. We hypothesized that a peptide designed based on the POU domain of BRN2 could block the BRN2 transcription activity and, consequently, reduce metastasis.

Materials And Methods: Cell viability was accessed by Trypan Blue exclusion dye assay and xCelligence platform.

Modulation of STAT-1, STAT-3, and STAT-6 activities in THP-1 derived macrophages infected with two strains.

is the causative protozoan of Chagas' Disease, a neglected tropical disease that affects 6-7 million people worldwide. Interaction of the parasite with the host immune system is a key factor in disease progression and chronic symptoms. Although the human immune system is capable of controlling the disease, the parasite has numerous evasion mechanisms that aim to maintain intracellular persistence and survival.

Quantum-Dot-Based Iron Oxide Nanoparticles Activate the NLRP3 Inflammasome in Murine Bone Marrow-Derived Dendritic Cells.

Inflammasomes are cytosolic complexes composed of a Nod-like receptor, NLR, the adaptor protein, ASC, and a proteolytic enzyme, caspase-1. Inflammasome activation leads to caspase-1 activation and promotes functional maturation of IL-1β and IL-18, two prototypical inflammatory cytokines. Besides, inflammasome activation leads to pyroptosis, an inflammatory type of cell death.

Role of Virulence Factors of Trypanosomatids in the Insect Vector and Putative Genetic Events Involved in Surface Protein Diversity.

Trypanosomatids are flagellate protozoans that can infect several invertebrate and vertebrate hosts, including insects and humans. The three most studied species are the human pathogens , and spp. which are the causative agents of Human African Trypanosomiasis (HAT), Chagas disease and different clinical forms of leishmaniasis, respectively.