A Global Collaborative Comparison of SARS-CoV-2 Antigenicity Across 15 Laboratories.

Setting up a global SARS-CoV-2 surveillance system requires an understanding of how virus isolation and propagation practices, use of animal or human sera, and different neutralisation assay platforms influence assessment of SARS-CoV-2 antigenicity. In this study, with the contribution of 15 independent laboratories across all WHO regions, we carried out a controlled analysis of neutralisation assay platforms using the first WHO International Standard for antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern (source: NIBSC). Live virus isolates (source: WHO BioHub or individual labs) or spike plasmids (individual labs) for pseudovirus production were used to perform neutralisation assays using the same serum panels.

Genome-Wide Exploration of Thiamin Pyrophosphate Riboswitches in Medically Relevant Fungi Reveals Diverse Distribution and Implications for Antimicrobial Drug Targeting.

The rising incidence of fungal infections coupled with limited treatment options underscores the urgent need for novel antifungal therapies. Riboswitches, particularly thiamin pyrophosphate (TPP) class, have emerged as promising antimicrobial targets. This study presents a comprehensive genome-wide analysis of TPP riboswitches in 156 medically relevant fungi utilizing advanced covariance models (CMs) tailored for fungal sequences.

Generation and characterization of a monoclonal antibody Fab fragment targeting PBP2a in methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is one of the main pathogens associated with nosocomial and community infections that are difficult to treat owing to its resistance to all β-lactams and other classes of antibiotics. Reports of MRSA demonstrate the pathogen relevance and urgency for developing innovative diagnostic and treatment strategies against this microorganism. In this context, monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) represent a powerful tool for such purposes.

The Biodiversity of Blackflies (Diptera: Simuliidae) in Brazil: New Distribution Records and Updated Checklist.

Currently, according to the most recent Simuliidae World Inventory, there are 97 valid species of blackflies recorded in Brazil, some of which act as vectors for zoonoses such as human onchocerciasis and mansonellosis in the northern and central-western regions of the country. Meanwhile, other species can cause serious socioeconomic problems due to the nuisance of female bites. Therefore, accurate knowledge of their distribution is crucial for the development and implementation of successful preventive strategies.

A nanochitosan-D-galactose formulation increases the accumulation of primaquine in the liver.

Primaquine is the mainstream antimalarial drug to prevent relapses. However, this drug can induce hemolysis in patients with glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency. Nanostructure formulations of primaquine loaded with D-galactose were used as a strategy to target the drug to the liver and decrease the hemolytic risks.

Spontaneous Vitiligo in a Captive Rhesus Monkey ().

Vitiligo affects a significant portion of human and animal populations. The disease causes irregular and multifocal progressive loss of fur, skin, and mucous membrane pigmentation due to the loss or absence of melanocytes. While etiopathogenesis is not completely understood, autoimmunity, environmental, and genetic factors are implicated We present a case report on a 16-y-old female rhesus macaque ( ) with depigmented areas that are progressively increasing on the skin and coat and are distributed on the head and back.

Stabilization of the Quadruplex-Forming G-Rich Sequences in the Rhinovirus Genome Inhibits Uncoating-Role of Na and K.

Rhinoviruses (RVs) are the major cause of common cold, a respiratory disease that generally takes a mild course. However, occasionally, RV infection can lead to serious complications in patients debilitated by other ailments, e.g.

Antimicrobial Activity of sp. from the Amazon Biome: Isolation of Kojic Acid.

The antimicrobial potential of sp., isolated from the Amazon biome, which is stored at the Amazon Fungi Collection-CFAM at ILMD/FIOCRUZ, was evaluated. The fungal culture was cultivated in yeast extract agar and sucrose (YES) for cold extraction of the biocompounds in ethyl acetate at 28 °C for 7 days in a BOD type incubator.

5/6 nephrectomy affects enteric glial cells and promotes impaired antioxidant defense in the colonic neuromuscular layer.

Aims: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) produces multiple repercussions in the gastrointestinal tract (GIT), such as alterations in motility, gut microbiota, intestinal permeability, and increased oxidative stress. However, despite enteric glial cells (EGC) having important neural and immune features in GIT physiology, their function in CKD remains unknown. The present study investigates colonic glial markers, inflammation, and antioxidant parameters in a CKD model.

Phenotypic investigation of 4-nitrophenylacetyl- and 4-nitro-1-imidazoyl-based compounds as antileishmanial agents.

Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is a spectrum of clinical manifestations characterized by severe skin ulcerations that leads to social stigma. There are limited treatment options for CL, and the available drugs are becoming less efficacious due to drug resistance. More efficacious and safer antileishmanial drugs are needed.

investigation of riboswitches in fungi: structural and dynamical insights into TPP riboswitches in .

Riboswitches are RNA sensors affecting post-transcriptional processes through their ability to bind to small molecules. Thiamine pyrophosphate (TPP) riboswitch plays a crucial role in regulating genes involved in synthesizing or transporting thiamine and phosphorylated derivatives in bacteria, archaea, plants, and fungi. Although TPP riboswitch is reasonably well known in bacteria, there is a gap in the knowledge of the fungal TPP riboswitches structure and dynamics, involving mainly sequence variation and TPP interaction with the aptamers.

7-Aryl-7-deazapurine 3'-deoxyribonucleoside derivative as a novel lead for Chagas' disease therapy: and pharmacology.

Background: The protozoan is auxotrophic for purines and causes Chagas' disease (CD), a neglected illness affecting >6 million people. Combining the 3-deoxyribofuranose part of cordycepin with the modified purine ring of a nucleoside 'hit' led to the discovery of 4-amino-5-(4-chlorophenyl)-N7-(3'-deoxy-β-d-ribofuranosyl)-pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidine (Cpd), revealing promising anti- activity.

Objectives: To further evaluate Cpd  and to fully assess its therapeutic potential against CD, covering cell culture sterilization through washout assays, drug combination with benznidazole and long-term administration in -infected mice.

6-Shogaol Exerts a Neuroprotective Factor in Offspring after Maternal Immune Activation in Rats.

6-Shogaol is one of the main active phenolic components of ginger and has neuroprotective effects by protecting brain against the oxidative stress and regulate the levels of neurotrophic factors. The objective of the present study was to verify the effect of 6-shogaol on neurochemical parameters in offspring after maternal immune activation by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in rats. Twelve pregnant Wistar rats received 100 μg/kg of LPS or saline solution on the gestational day 9.

Insecticide resistance selection and reversal in two strains of .

: Laboratory reared mosquito colonies are essential tools to understand insecticide action. However, they differ considerably from wild populations and from each other depending on their origin and rearing conditions, which makes studying the effects of specific resistance mechanisms difficult. This paper describes our methods for establishing multiple resistant strains of from two colonies as a new resource for further research on metabolic and target site resistance.

Clinical impact of respiratory virus in pulmonary exacerbations of children with Cystic Fibrosis.

Backgrounds: Cystic Fibrosis (CF) is a genetic, multisystemic, progressive illness that causes chronic suppurative lung disease. A major cause of morbimortality in this condition are pulmonary exacerbations. Although classically attributed to bacterial infections, respiratory virus have been increasingly recognized in its ethiopathogeny.

Drug screening using shape-based virtual screening and experimental models of cutaneous Leishmaniasis.

Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is one of the most disregarded tropical neglected disease with the occurrence of self-limiting ulcers and triggering mucosal damage and stigmatizing scars, leading to huge public health problems and social negative impacts. Pentavalent antimonials are the first-line drug for CL treatment for over 70 years and present several drawbacks in terms of safety and efficacy. Thus, there is an urgent need to search for non-invasive, non-toxic and potent drug candidates for CL.

Identifying patterns of diurnal blood pressure variation among ELSA-Brasil participants.

Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) is the gold standard method for the diagnosis of hypertension. ABPM provides a set of repeated measurements for blood pressure (BP), usually over 24 h. Traditional approaches characterize diurnal BP variation by single ABPM parameters such as average and standard deviation, regardless of the temporal nature of the data.

and Evaluation of an Adamantyl-Based Phenyl Sulfonyl Acetamide against Cutaneous Leishmaniasis Models of .

Phenotypic assay against and led to identification of an adamantyl-based phenyl sulfonyl acetamide (compound 1) as a promising antileishmanial agent. Compound 1 inhibited the growth of intracellular forms of (50% inhibitory concentration [IC] = 4 μM) and exhibited low toxicity to host cells, with a selectivity index (SI) of >125. However, in a cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) mouse model, compound 1 did not reduce lesions and parasite load when administered as monotherapy or when given simultaneously with a suboptimal dose of miltefosine.

The rare lncRNA GOLLD is widespread and structurally conserved among tRNA arrays.

Noncoding RNA (ncRNA) genes produce transcripts involved in a wide range of functions, including catalytic and regulatory functions. Besides, some transcripts have highly complex structures that may impact their activities. Among the largest bacterial ncRNAs, there is the rare GOLLD RNA, which is associated with tRNA genes and supposed to be chromosome- and phage-encoded in specialized groups of bacteria, including those from and orders.

Seroprevalence of antibodies against the three serotypes of poliovirus and IPV vaccine response in adult solid organ transplant candidates.

Objectives: To assess the prevalence of protective antibody titers to polioviruses in adults candidates for solid organ transplant (SOT), and to assess the immunogenic response to inactivated polio vaccine in this population.

Methods: The study included SOT candidates referred to Immunization Reference Centre of Evandro Chagas National Institute of Infectious Diseases from March 2013 to January 2016. It was conducted in 2 phases.

Binding capacity of mannose-binding lectin (MBL) is associated with the severity of chronic Chagas cardiomyopathy.

Chagas disease (CD) is a global problem. Currently, it affects approximately 15 million individuals in Latin America. It is well know that the human immune response is related to different clinical manifestations.

Assessment of antioxidant activity, lipid profile, general biochemical and immune system responses of Wistar rats fed with dairy dessert containing Lactobacillus acidophilus La-5.

The viability and survival of Lactobacillus acidophilus La5 under in vitro simulated gastrointestinal in probiotic dairy dessert was assessed. In addition, the effects of regular consumption of the dessert (5g/day) on the lipid profile, immune system, and antioxidant/biochemical status of Wistar rats were also evaluated after 2weeks of treatment. Adequate counts of L.

Hepatitis C virus and human T-cell lymphotropic virus type 1 co-infection: impact on liver disease, virological markers, and neurological outcomes.

Objectives: Human T-cell lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1) infection is associated with neurological abnormalities, such as HTLV-1-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP) and peripheral neuropathy (PN). Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is the leading cause of chronic liver disease worldwide, and causes PN in approximately 9% of patients. Because the interplay between these potentially neuropathogenic viruses in the same individual is still poorly understood, the clinical and laboratory outcomes of co-infected patients were evaluated and compared with those of controls.

Intention to leave profession, psychosocial environment and self-rated health among registered nurses from large hospitals in Brazil: a cross-sectional study.

Background: Nurses' intention to leave their profession is a worldwide concern. Studies have shown that it can take the form of a chain reaction: many nurses first leave the unit, then the hospital, and finally the profession. Organisation and other labour factors, personal and conjunctural, have been associated with the intention to quit nursing.

Weight gain and body mass index following change from daytime to night shift - a panel study with nursing professionals.

We analyzed the association between change in work schedule and modifications in nutritional status. We performed a panel study with nursing professionals based on two surveys seven year apart (n = 372). Groups with no change in work schedule, change from daytime to night shift, and change from night to daytime shift were analyzed.