Comparative Evaluation of Immune Responses and Protection of Chitosan Nanoparticles and Oil-Emulsion Adjuvants in Avian Coronavirus Inactivated Vaccines in Chickens.

Efficient vaccines are the main strategy to control the avian coronavirus (AvCoV), although several drawbacks related to traditional attenuated and inactivated vaccines have been reported. These counterpoints highlight the importance of developing new alternative vaccines against AvCoV, especially those able to induce long-lasting immune responses. This study evaluated and compared two inactivated vaccines formulated with AvCoV BR-I variants, one composed of chitosan nanoparticles (AvCoV-CS) and the second by Montanide oily adjuvant (AvCoV-O).

Development of an indirect ELISA assay to evaluation of the adaptive immune response of pacu (Piaractus mesopotamicus).

The pacu is one of the most important species for Brazilian fish farming and is considered emerging in the global aquaculture. Despite its importance, no effective tool for evaluation of the adaptive immune response of this species has been developed. Therefore, this study aimed the development and standardization of indirect ELISA for the measurement of pacu antigen-specific antibodies using polyclonal rabbit anti-pacu IgM used as detector antibody.

Expression of osteoblastic phenotype in periodontal ligament fibroblasts cultured in three-dimensional collagen gel.

Objective: To investigate the influence of a three-dimensional cell culture model on the expression of osteoblastic phenotype in human periodontal ligament fibroblast (hPDLF) cultures.

Material And Methods: hPDLF were seeded on bi-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) collagen type I (experimental groups) and and on a plastic coverslip (control) for up to 14 days. Cell viability and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity were performed.

Effects of electroacupuncture on experimental periodontitis in rats.

Background: Acupuncture has shown the capability of modulating the immuno-inflammatory response of the host. This study aims to evaluate the effects of electroacupuncture (EA) on ligature-induced periodontitis in rats.

Methods: Thirty-two animals were divided into four groups: 1) control; 2) experimental periodontitis (EP); 3) sham-treated (EP/EA-sham); and 4) treated with EA (EP/EA).

Short-term evaluation of grafts fixed with either N-butyl-2-cyanocrylate or screws.

Purpose: N-butyl-2-cyanoacrylate (NB-Cn) is an alternative method for onlay graft fixation and might be efficient for preserving the graft volume. Our aim was to analyze the gene expression and mineralized tissue variations of calvarial bone grafting fixed in the mandible with either NB-Cn or a titanium screw (TiS).

Materials And Methods: New Zealand rabbits had bilateral calvarial grafts fixed at both sides of the mandible with either NB-Cn or a TiS.

Periodontal disease: a genetic perspective.

Periodontitis is a multifactorial disease that causes tooth loss. The complex pathogenesis of periodontitis implies the involvement of a susceptible host and a bacterial challenge. Many studies have provided a valuable contribution to understanding the genetic basis of periodontal disease, but the specific candidate genes of susceptibility are still unknown.

An experimental model of meningoencephalomyelitis by Rocio flavivirus in BALB/c mice: inflammatory response, cytokine production, and histopathology.

Rocio virus (ROCV) is a flavivirus, probably transmitted by Culex mosquitoes and maintained in nature as a zoonosis of wild birds. Rocio virus caused a human epidemic of severe encephalitis that lasted from 1973 to 1980 in the Ribeira valley, in the southeastern coast of Brazil. After this outbreak, serologic evidence of ROCV circulation has been reported and public health authorities are concerned about a return of ROCV outbreaks in Brazil.

Evaluation of glycoprotein B genotypes and load of CMV infecting blood leukocytes on prognosis of AIDS patients.

Background: Cytomegalovirus (CMV) remains an important pathogen to immunocompromised patients even in the era of HAART. The present study aimed at evaluating the influence of CMV viral load and its gB genotypes on AIDS patients' outcome.

Methods: Blood samples of 101 AIDS patients were collected and tested for HIV load, CD4 - cell count and opportunistic pathogens, including CMV.

Cytomegalovirus in colorectal cancer and idiopathic ulcerative colitis.

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a genus in the family Herpesviridae that has been associated with gastrointestinal syndromes. In this work we looked for a possible association of CMV infection with colorectal cancer and ulcerative colitis (UC). Blood and enteric tissue samples of 14 patients with colorectal cancer and of 21 with UC were subjected to a nested-PCR that amplifies part of the gB gene of CMV and also to immunohistochemistry using a specific monoclonal antibody to IE 76 kDa protein of CMV.