An automated positive selection screen in yeast provides support for boron-containing compounds as inhibitors of SARS-CoV-2 main protease.

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) virus continues to cause severe disease and deaths in many parts of the world, despite massive vaccination efforts. Antiviral drugs to curb an ongoing infection remain a priority. The virus-encoded 3C-like main protease (MPro; nsp5) is seen as a promising target.

Nano copper in the diet of laying quails: productive performance, metabolism, and tissue concentration.

The study evaluated the use of nano copper in semi-purified diets for laying quails and its effect on performance, metabolic state, and bioavailability. A total of 160 (180-days-old) quails were distributed in a completely randomized design, in a 3x3+1 factorial. The copper sources used were copper sulfate, copper oxide, and nano copper oxide, at levels of 200, 400, and 800 ppm each, totaling nine treatments plus a negative control (with no copper inclusion).

Phytate-phosphorus and phytase on performance, bone characteristics, tissue and serum mineral concentration on broilers.

Male broiler chickens (384), Cobb 500, were housed in metabolic cages to assess the efficacy of phytase in diets with low and high phytate-phosphorus on the performance, bone physical characteristics, tissue and serum mineral deposits. Birds were distributed in four treatments with a 2 x 2 factorial arrangement in a completely randomized block design. Experimental diets based on maize-soybean meal were T1 - diet low phytate-phosphorus; T2 - diet low phytate-phosphorus and phytase (500 FTU/kg); T3 - diet high phytate-phosphorus; T4 - diet high phytate-phosphorus and phytase (500 FTU/kg).

Tomographic evaluation of the glands and lymph nodes of the cervical region in the crab-eating fox (Cerdocyon thous).

The present study aimed to determine references of normality of computed tomographic (CT) images of mandibular and parotid salivary glands (PSGs), medial retropharyngeal and mandibular lymph nodes and thyroid gland of 10 clinically healthy crab-eating foxes, Cerdocyon thous. The location, shape, homogeneity of the parenchyma, and length, height, width and pre- and post-contrast attenuation values were evaluated. The anatomical structures in the crab-eating foxes studied here presented anatomical landmarks similar to those described for domestic dogs, and showed a regular shape and homogenous parenchyma, except for the PSGs, that showed predominantly heterogeneous parenchyma.

Evaluation of the efficacy of using indocyanine green associated with fluorescence in sentinel lymph node biopsy.

Introduction: Sentinel lymph node biopsy is the technique recommended for the axillary staging of patients with breast cancer in the initial stages without clinical axillary involvement. Three techniques are widely used globally to detect sentinel lymph nodes: patent blue, the radiopharmaceutical technetium 99 with gamma probe, and the combination of these two.

Objectives: To evaluate the sentinel lymph node detection rate with an innovative technique: indocyanine green (ICG) associated with fluorescence in breast cancer patients, and compare it with patent blue and a combination of patent blue and indocyanine green.

Computed tomography and anatomy of the abdominal structures in the giant anteater (Myrmecophaga tridactyla).

The giant anteater (Myrmecophaga tridactyla) is the largest of the Neotropical vermilinguans. This animal is the second mammal most frequently run over on the roads of Cerrado biome, Brazil. Therefore, it is pivotal to know the anatomy of this species to contribute to the clinical care of these animals.

Seroepidemiologic survey of the household contacts of leprosy patients.

Objective: Leprosy is a disabling infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium leprae. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of leprosy among household contacts of leprosy patients.

Methods: This study is a serological survey in household contacts of leprosy patients who had been treated or were undergoing treatment in the city of Presidente Prudente, São Paulo, Brazil, from 2006-2016, using clinical examination and screening for anti- Phenolic glycolipid-I antibodies with Mycobacterium leprae-flow serology.

Yeast Double Transporter Gene Deletion Library for Identification of Xenobiotic Carriers in Low or High Throughput.

The routes of uptake and efflux should be considered when developing new drugs so that they can effectively address their intracellular targets. As a general rule, drugs appear to enter cells via protein carriers that normally carry nutrients or metabolites. A previously developed pipeline that searched for drug transporters using Saccharomyces cerevisiae mutants carrying single-gene deletions identified import routes for most compounds tested.

Supplemental Effects of Functional Oils on the Modulation of Mucosa-Associated Microbiota, Intestinal Health, and Growth Performance of Nursery Pigs.

This study aimed to investigate the effects of functional oils on modulation of mucosa-associated microbiota, intestinal health, and growth performance of nursery pigs. Forty newly weaned pigs (20 barrows and 20 gilts) with 7.0 ± 0.

Dose-Finding in the Development of an LPS-Induced Model of Synovitis in Sheep.

Models of transient synovitis that can be controlled with antiinflammatory and analgesic drugs have been used to study pain amelioration. To this end, we aimed to determine the dose of intraarticularly administered LPS that induced signs of synovitis without systemic signs in clinically healthy male castrated sheep ( = 14). In phase 1, a single dose of LPS (0.

Structural features and development of an assay platform of the parasite target deoxyhypusine synthase of Brugia malayi and Leishmania major.

Deoxyhypusine synthase (DHS) catalyzes the first step of the post-translational modification of eukaryotic translation factor 5A (eIF5A), which is the only known protein containing the amino acid hypusine. Both proteins are essential for eukaryotic cell viability, and DHS has been suggested as a good candidate target for small molecule-based therapies against eukaryotic pathogens. In this work, we focused on the DHS enzymes from Brugia malayi and Leishmania major, the causative agents of lymphatic filariasis and cutaneous leishmaniasis, respectively.

In vitro and in vivo antitumoral activity of a ternary copper (II) complex.

Recently, a high number of copper derivatives has been evaluated as DNA-targeting metallodrugs, due to the lower toxicity and its potential to cleave DNA. Several strategies have been testing to develop metal compounds effective against tumour cells. In this work, the ternary copper (doxycycline)-(1,10-phenanthroline) complex [Cu(dox)(phen)] was especially designed as an antitumoral drug, previously showing high cytotoxicity and DNA cleavage activity.

Performance, metabolic efficiency and egg quality in Japanese quails fed with acidulated soybean soapstock and lecithin for a prolonged period.

This study aimed to evaluate the use of acidulated soybean soapstock in association with lecithin on productive performance, metabolic efficiency in the utilization of nutrientes, and the egg quality of Japanese quails. A total of 192 quails were used, distributed randomly in a 2×2×2 factorial scheme that included two types of oils, two levels of supplementation (4% and 8%) and two levels of lecithin (1% or 0%). At the end of the six-month experimental period, some double significant interactions were shown between the level of oil and lecithin for the performance variables (egg weight p=0.

Treatment with Lycopodium clavatum 200dH Intensifies Kidney and Liver Injury in Mice Infected with Toxoplasma gondii.

The effects of infection with Toxoplasma gondii vary from asymptomatic to the development of alterations in various organs (including the liver and kidneys) which may be irreversible, and lead to the death of the host. Whereas homeopathy is an alternative and effective method for treating various diseases, including those caused by protozoa, we questioned the effect of using Lycopodium clavatum in mice infected with T. gondii.

Development of nanoemulsions containing Physalis peruviana calyx extract: A study on stability and antioxidant capacity.

The aim of this study was to develop and evaluate the physicochemical and antioxidant stability of nanoemulsions containing a Physalis peruviana calyx extract (CPp-NE) and free extracts under different storage conditions (7 and 25 °C) and with absence or incidence of light for 120 days. The calyx extracts were prepared with ethanol 60% and characterized for later preparation of the nanoemulsions by spontaneous emulsification. The formulations presented nanometric sizes, low polydispersity index, negative zeta potential, acid pH, rutin content (11 μg·mL), and encapsulation efficiency of 85%.

Pravastatin and Simvastatin Pretreatment in Combination with Pyrimethamine and Sulfadiazine Reduces Infection Process of Toxoplasma gondii Tachyzoites (RH Strain) in HeLa Cells.

Purpose: Toxoplasma gondii is a protozoan from phylum Apicomplexa, which causes the toxoplasmosis infection; this one exhibits an apicoplast organelle which assists in the metabolism of isoprenoids and other pivotal mediators for the parasite survival. Statins are drugs that inhibit cholesterol synthesis, blocking the conversion of the substrate HMG-CoA to mevalonate, thus preventing the initial processes of the biosynthesis of these precursors, both in humans and parasite. Our goal was to verify whether the Toxoplasma gondii (RH strain) tachyzoites form pretreated with pravastatin and simvastatin in association with pyrimethamine and sulfadiazine at low concentrations could affect the infection processes, suggesting direct action on protozoa intracellular proliferation through the inhibition of isoprenoids in the parasite's apicoplast.

Concanavalin-A displays leishmanicidal activity by inducing ROS production in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells.

has a wide geographical distribution throughout South American countries and can cause self-healing to severe cases as mucocutaneous or visceral forms. Leishmaniasis presents a balance of inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines which is responsible for promoting the activation of phagocytes, essential to control the infection and lead to tissue repair/resolution of the disease, respectively. Our model revealed that the treatment with Con-A was capable to stimulate human PBMC cells by increasing the phagocytic capacity and promoting parasite elimination.

Interferon-gamma in mobilized stem cells: A possible prognostic marker in early post-transplant management in multiple myeloma.

Introduction: A complex network of cytokines in the bone marrow microenvironment has been implicated as an important factor in the pathogenesis of multiple myeloma (MM). Different cytokines have been studied in MM, both in peripheral blood and/or bone marrow, but there are few data correlating cytokines in leukapheresis product with post-transplant response depth to treatment.

Materials And Methods: In a retrospective cross-sectional study, levels of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), transforming growth factor beta-1 (TGF-β1) and interferon gamma (IFN-γ) in peripheral hematopoietic stem cells/leukapheresis product (PHSC) of patients with MM eligible for transplantation were evaluated.

Analysis of cytokines IFN-γ, TNF-α, TGF-β and nitric oxide in amniotic fluid and serum of pregnant women with toxoplasmosis in southern Brazil.

This study detected and compared the levels of IFN-γ, TNF-α, TGF-β and nitric oxide (NO) in amniotic fluid (AF) and serum of pregnancies with acute toxoplasmosis, Southern Brazil. It also was compared the levels of the same mediators in the serum of pregnancies in acute and chronic toxoplasmosis with non-infected. Serological investigation, anti-T gondii IgM and IgG, of the 67 pregnancies was determined by Elisa MEIA.

Glucantime reduces mechanical hyperalgesia in cutaneous leishmaniasis and complete Freund's adjuvant models of chronic inflammatory pain.

Objectives: To evaluate the analgesic effect of Glucantime (antimoniate N-methylglucamine) in Leishmania amazonensis infection and complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA), chronic paw inflammation model, in BALB/c mice.

Methods: Two models of chronic inflammatory pain in BALB/c mice paw were used: infection with L. amazonensis and CFA stimulation.

Pravastatin and simvastatin inhibit the adhesion, replication and proliferation of Toxoplasma gondii (RH strain) in HeLa cells.

The conventional treatment for toxoplasmosis with pyrimethamine and sulfadiazine shows toxic effects to the host, and it is therefore necessary to search for new drugs. Some studies suggest the use of statins, which inhibit cholesterol synthesis in humans and also the initial processes of isoprenoid biosynthesis in the parasite. Thus, the objective of this study was to evaluate the activity of the statins pravastatin and simvastatin in HeLa cells infected in vitro with the RH strain of T.

Mapping the body surface temperature of cattle by infrared thermography.

Infrared thermography (IRT) is an alternative non-invasive method that has been studied as a tool for identifying many physiological and pathological processes related to changes in body temperature. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the body surface temperature of Jersey dairy cattle in a thermoneutral environment in order to contribute to the determination of a body surface temperature pattern for animals of this breed in a situation of thermal comfort. Twenty-four Jersey heifers were used over a period of 35 days at APTA Brazil.

Brazilian propolis promotes immunomodulation on human cells from American Tegumentar Leishmaniasis patients and healthy donors infected with L. braziliensis.

American Tegumentar Leishmaniasis (ATL) is an infectious disease caused by Leishmania parasites with ineffective treatment. The properties of propolis have been studied in different experimental studies, however, few works have investigated the effects of propolis on human-derived peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) in leishmaniasis models. Thus, we investigate the immunomodulatory effects of propolis treatment on PBMC from ATL patients and on PBMC from healthy donors infected with Leishmania braziliensis.

Protective effect of metformin in an aberrant crypt foci model induced by 1,2-dimethylhydrazine: Modulation of oxidative stress and inflammatory process.

Colorectal Cancer (CRC) is the third most frequent type of cancer worldwide. In the past few years, studies have revealed a protective effect of metformin (MET-an anti-hyperglycemic drug, used to treat type 2 diabetes), against CRC. The protective effect of MET has been associated with AMPK activation (and mTOR inhibition), resulting in suppressed protein synthesis, and reduced cell proliferation in malignant transformed cells.