Application of the Sponge Model Implants in the Study of Vaccine Memory in Mice Previously Immunized with LBSap.

Background/objectives: Considering the large number of candidates in vaccine-testing studies against different pathogens and the amount of time spent in the preclinical and clinical trials, there is a pressing need to develop an improved in vivo system to quickly screen vaccine candidates. The model of a polyester-polyurethane sponge implant provides a rapid analysis of the specific stimulus-response, allowing the study of a compartmentalized microenvironment. The sponge implant's defined measurements were standardized as a compartment to assess the immune response triggered by the vaccinal antigen.

TNF-expressing CD1d+ monocytes are associated with the activation of CD4- CD8- T cells in patients with Chagas cardiomyopathy.

Background: Chagas disease cardiomyopathy is characterized by intense immune activation, with double-negative (DN) T cells as key producers of inflammatory cytokines. CD1d is an antigen-presenting molecule involved in the activation of DN T cells.

Methods: We characterized CD1d+ monocytes from patients with cardiac (CARD) and indeterminate (IND) disease using flow cytometry.

Recombinant proteins as promising antigens applied to the immunodiagnosis of Chagas disease: a scoping review.

Chagas disease (CD), caused by the protozoan , is an important public health problem, occurring mainly in Latin America. The disease has a major social and economical effect, negatively impacting the life of the infected individuals, and bringing great costs to public health. An early and accurate diagnosis is essential for administration of early treatment.

Global Distribution of Canine Visceral Leishmaniasis and the Role of the Dog in the Epidemiology of the Disease.

Visceral leishmaniasis is a disease caused by protozoa of the species (syn = ) and , which are transmitted by hematophagous insects of the genera and . The domestic dog () is considered the main urban reservoir of the parasite due to the high parasite load on its skin, serving as a source of infection for sandfly vectors and, consequently, perpetuating the disease in the urban environment. Some factors are considered important in the perpetuation and spread of canine visceral leishmaniasis (CVL) in urban areas, such as stray dogs, with their errant behavior, and houses that have backyards with trees, shade, and organic materials, creating an attractive environment for sandfly vectors.

The use of peptides for immunodiagnosis of human Chagas disease.

Chagas disease, caused by the protozoa Trypanosoma cruzi, continues to be a serious public health problem in Latin America, worsened by the limitations in its detection. Given the importance of developing new diagnostic methods for this disease, the present review aimed to verify the number of publications dedicated to research on peptides that demonstrate their usefulness in serodiagnosis. To this end, a bibliographic survey was conducted on the PubMed platform using the keyword "peptide" or "epitope" combined with "Chagas disease" or "Trypanosoma cruzi"; "diagno*" or "serodiagnosis" or "immunodiagnosis", without period restriction.

New Approaches to the Prevention of Visceral Leishmaniasis: A Review of Recent Patents of Potential Candidates for a Chimeric Protein Vaccine.

The development of prophylactic vaccines is important in preventing and controlling diseases such as visceral leishmaniasis (VL), in addition to being an economic measure for public health. Despite the efforts to develop a vaccine against human VL caused by , none is available, and the focus has shifted to developing vaccines against canine visceral leishmaniasis (CVL). Currently, commercially available vaccines are targeted at CVL but are not effective.

Correlation of blood-based immune molecules with cardiac gene expression profiles reveals insights into Chagas cardiomyopathy pathogenesis.

Introduction: Understanding compartmentalized immune responses in target organs is crucial for elucidating the pathogenesis of various diseases. However, obtaining samples from affected vital organs often poses safety challenges. In this study, we aimed to investigate potential correlations between the levels of disease-associated immune molecules in the bloodstream with their gene expression profiles in the hearts of patients suffering from Chagas Cardiomyopathy (CCC).

Transmission-Blocking Vaccines for Canine Visceral Leishmaniasis: New Progress and Yet New Challenges.

Dogs with visceral leishmaniasis play a key role in the transmission cycle of to humans in the urban environment. There is a consensus regarding the importance of developing a vaccine to control this disease. Despite many efforts to develop a protective vaccine against CVL, the ones currently available, Leish-tec and LetiFend, have limited effectiveness.

Polymeric Delivery Systems as a Potential Vaccine against Visceral Leishmaniasis: Formulation Development and Immunogenicity.

Recent studies suggest that the association of antigens in microparticles increases the anti- vaccine immunogenicity. This study aims to investigate the in situ effect of the adjuvant performance consisting of chitosan-coated poly(,-lactic) acid submicrometric particles (SMP) and analyze the inflammatory profile and toxicity. Two formulations were selected, SMP, containing poly(,-lactide) (PLA) 1% / and chitosan 1% /; and SMP, containing PLA 5% / and chitosan 5% /.

Blocking activation of CD4CD8 T cells modulates their cytotoxic potential and decreases the expression of inflammatory and chemotactic receptors.

CD4CD8 (double negative - DN) T cells represent a small fraction of circulating T lymphocytes but are a major source of pro-inflammatory cytokines in patients with infectious diseases, including chronic Chagas cardiomyopathy (CCC), one of the deadliest cardiopathies known. Chagas disease is caused by an infection with the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi and can lead to either an asymptomatic form or a high-mortality cardiac disease. While circulating DN T cells represent a major inflammatory cytokine-expressing cell population in Chagas disease, their potential to be recruited to the heart and to perform cytotoxicity has not been determined.

Cytokine Networks as Targets for Preventing and Controlling Chagas Heart Disease.

Chagas disease, a neglected disease caused by the protozoan , is endemic in 21 Latin American countries, affecting 6-8 million people. Increasing numbers of Chagas disease cases have also been reported in non-endemic countries due to migration, contamination via blood transfusions or organ transplantation, characterizing Chagas as an emerging disease in such regions. While most individuals in the chronic phase of Chagas disease remain in an asymptomatic clinical form named indeterminate, approximately 30% of the patients develop a cardiomyopathy that is amongst the deadliest cardiopathies known.

Vaccination with Formulation of Nanoparticles Loaded with Leishmania amazonensis Antigens Confers Protection against Experimental Visceral Leishmaniasis in Hamster.

Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is a fatal disease caused by the protozoa for which dogs are the main reservoirs. A vaccine against canine visceral leishmaniasis (CVL) could be an important tool in the control of human and CVL by reducing the infection pressure of . Despite the CVL vaccine available on the market, the Brazilian Ministry of Health did not implement the use of it in their control programs.

Nanoformulations with Antigens Triggered Controlled Parasite Burden in Vaccinated Golden Hamster () against Visceral Leishmaniasis.

Leishmaniasis is a widespread vector-borne disease in Brazil, with () as the primary etiological agent of visceral leishmaniasis (VL). Dogs are considered the main reservoir of this parasite, whose treatment in Brazil is restricted to the use of veterinary medicines, which do not promote a parasitological cure. Therefore, efficient vaccine development is the best approach to Canine Visceral Leishmaniasis (CVL) control.

Recent Advances in the Rheumatic Fever and Rheumatic Heart Disease Continuum.

Nearly a century after rheumatic fever (RF) and rheumatic heart disease (RHD) was eradicated from the developed world, the disease remains endemic in many low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), with grim health and socioeconomic impacts. The neglect of RHD which persisted for a semi-centennial was further driven by competing infectious diseases, particularly the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) pandemic. However, over the last two-decades, slowly at first but with building momentum, there has been a resurgence of interest in RF/RHD.

Central giant cell granulomas of the jaws stromal cells harbour mutations and have osteogenic differentiation capacity, in vivo and in vitro.

Background: Central giant cell granulomas (CGCG) of the jaws are osteolytic lesions that may behave aggressively and respond poorly to surgery. Microscopically, in addition to giant cells, there is a mononuclear cell population composed of macrophage/monocytic cells and spindle-shaped cells of mesenchymal origin. Seventy two percent of these tumours harbour mutually exclusive TRPV4, KRAS and FGFR1 mutations.

Double-negative T cells: Setting the stage for disease control or progression.

Double-negative (DN) T cells are present at relatively low frequencies in human peripheral blood, and are characterized as expressing the alpha-beta or gamma-delta T-cell receptor (TCR), but not the CD4 nor the CD8 co-receptors. Despite their low frequencies, these cells are potent producers of cytokines and, thus, are key orchestrators of immune responses. DN T cells were initially associated with induction of peripheral immunological tolerance and immunomodulatory activities related to disease prevention.

Distinct CD4CD8 (Double-Negative) Memory T-Cell Subpopulations Are Associated With Indeterminate and Cardiac Clinical Forms of Chagas Disease.

CD4CD8 (double-negative, DN) T cells are critical orchestrators of the cytokine network associated with the pathogenic inflammatory response in one of the deadliest cardiomyopathies known, Chagas heart disease, which is caused by infection. Here, studying the distribution, activation status, and cytokine expression of memory DN T-cell subpopulations in Chagas disease patients without cardiac involvement (indeterminate form-IND) or with Chagas cardiomyopathy (CARD), we report that while IND patients displayed a higher frequency of central memory, CARD had a high frequency of effector memory DN T cells. In addition, central memory DN T cells from IND displayed a balanced cytokine profile, characterized by the concomitant expression of IFN-γ and IL-10, which was not observed in effector memory DN T cells from CARD.

Corrigendum: Kinetics of Phenotypic and Functional Changes in Mouse Models of Sponge Implants: Rational Selection to Optimize Protocols for Specific Biomolecules Screening Purposes.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2020.

Vaccine approaches applied to controlling dog ticks.

Ticks are considered the most important vectors in veterinary medicine with a profound impact on animal health worldwide, as well as being key vectors of diseases affecting household pets. The leading strategy applied to dog tick control is the continued use of acaricides. However, this approach is not sustainable due to surging tick resistance, growing public concern over pesticide residues in food and in the environment, and the rising costs associated with their development.