Chemometric analysis of Hymenoptera toxins and defensins: A model for predicting the biological activity of novel peptides from venoms and hemolymph

When searching for prospective novel peptides, it is difficult to determine the biological activity of a peptide based only on its sequence. The trial and error approach is generally laborious, expensive and time consuming due to the large number of different experimental setups required to cover a reasonable number of biological assays. To simulate a virtual model for Hymenoptera insects, 166 peptides were selected from the venoms and hemolymphs of wasps, bees and ants and applied to a mathematical model of multivariate analysis, with nine different chemometric components: GRAVY, aliphaticity index, number of disulfide bonds, total residues, net charge, pI value, Boman index, percentage of alpha helix, and flexibility prediction. Principal component analysis (PCA) with non-linear iterative projections by alternating least-squares (NIPALS) algorithm was performed, without including any information about the biological activity of the peptides. This analysis permitted the grouping of peptides in a way that strongly correlated to the biological function of the peptides. Six different groupings were observed, which seemed to correspond to the following groups: chemotactic peptides, mastoparans, tachykinins, kinins, antibiotic peptides, and a group of long peptides with one or two disulfide bonds and with biological activities that are not yet clearly defined. The partial overlap between the mastoparans group and the chemotactic peptides, tachykinins, kinins and antibiotic peptides in the PCA score plot may be used to explain the frequent reports in the literature about the multifunctionality of some of these peptides. The mathematical model used in the present investigation can be used to predict the biological activities of novel peptides in this system, and it may also be easily applied to other biological systems. © 2011 Elsevier Inc.

Occupational exposure to contaminated biological material: perceptions and feelings experienced among dental students

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Conventional versus biological therapy for prevention of postoperative endoscopic recurrence in patients with Crohn's disease: an international, multicenter, and observational study

Postoperative endoscopic recurrence (PER) occurs in nearly 80% of patients 1 year after ileocecal resection in patients with Crohn's disease (CD). Biological agents were more effective in reducing the rates of PER in comparison with conventional therapy, in prospective trials. The aim of this study was to compare the PER rates of biological versus conventional therapy after ileocecal resections in patients with CD in real-world practice. The MULTIPER (Multicenter International Postoperative Endoscopic Recurrence) database is a retrospective analysis of PER rates in CD patients after ileocecal resection, from 7 referral centers in 3 different countries. All consecutive patients who underwent ileocecal resections between 2008 and 2012 and in whom colonoscopies had been performed up to 12 months after surgery, were included. Recurrence was defined as Rutgeerts' score ≥i2. The patients were allocated to either biological or conventional therapy after surgery, and PER rates were compared between the groups. Initially, 231 patients were evaluated, and 63 were excluded. Of the 168 patients in the database, 96 received anti-tumor necrosis factor agents and 72 were treated with conventional therapy after resection. The groups were comparable regarding age, gender, and perianal disease. There was longer disease duration, more previous resections, and more open surgical procedures in patients on biologicals postoperatively. PER was identified in 25/96 (26%) patients on biological therapy and in 24/72 (33.3%) patients on conventional therapy (P=0.310). In this retrospective observational analysis from an international database, no difference was observed between biological and conventional therapy in preventing PER after ileocecal resections in CD patients.

Biological therapy for the prevention and treatment of postoperative endoscopic recurrence in Crohn's disease: time for acceptance?

In most patients, postoperative endoscopic recurrence (PER) occurs 1 year after abdominal resection for Crohn’s disease (CD). Preventing PER is essential for disease control, as most patients develop further clinical and surgical recurrences. Conventional therapy with nitroimidazoles, aminosalicylates, and immunomodulators have limited efficacy for preventing PER. Initial trials with biological therapy (infliximab and adalimumab) showed promising results in preventing PER, and the efficacy of these drugs seems higher than that with conventional therapy. The aim of this review is to outline the results of studies that used infliximab or adalimumab for preventing and treating PER in CD patients. Data with both agents are available, and a few, small prospective trials have shown the efficacy of these drugs in patients with a high risk for recurrence. We believe that, in 2013, biological agents will be better accepted for the prevention PER in CD patients, in addition to the already existing data. Larger trials are still underway, and their results will certainly determine the role of these agents in PER, which develops after bowel resection for CD.

Uso de agentes microbianos e químico para o controle de Meloidogyne incognita em soja

Nematoides de galhas constituem importante grupo de patógenos da cultura da soja e o manejo integrado é uma das principais medidas de controle que visam à redução de perdas econômicas. Neste trabalho foi avaliada a eficácia dos fungos Paecilomyces lilacinus (Thom.) Samsom e Pochonia chlamydosporia (Goddard) Zare & Gams (sinonímia Verticillium chlamydosporium), de um produto comercial à base de Bacillus sp. (Nemix) e do nematicida químico Aldicarb no controle de Meloidogyne incognita em soja, variedade M-SOY 6101. O experimento foi realizado em casa-de-vegetação no delineamento experimental de blocos casualizados com nove tratamentos (três produtos biológicos usados no tratamento de sementes com ou sem a aplicação em pós-emergência, Aldicarb aplicado apenas em pós-emergência e duas testemunhas) e quatro repetições. Aldicarb reduziu o número de ovos e de juvenis do nematoide. P. lilacinus foi o mais atuante dos agentes biológicos, favorecendo a manutenção da quantidade de matéria seca da raiz de soja e reduzindo o número de ovos. O produto Nemix e P. chlamydosporia somente tiveram ação efetiva na redução do número de ovos do nematoide. Com base nos resultados, foi possível concluir que o agente químico e os agentes biológicos avaliados neste trabalho tiveram moderada atividade no controle de M. incognita em soja.

O significado do acidente de trabalho com material biológico para os profissionais de enfermagem

O objetivo deste estudo foi compreender o significado dos acidentes de trabalho com exposição a material biológico na perspectiva dos profissionais de enfermagem. de caráter exploratório com abordagem qualitativa pela análise de conteúdo de Bardin. No período de 2001 a 2006 ocorreram 87 acidentes com material biológico, sendo que destes, oito eram soropositivos para hepatite B e C e Síndrome da Imunodeficiência Adquirida/Vírus da Imunodeficiência Humana. Para coleta de dados utilizou-se entrevista com perguntas norteadoras. Ao indagar esses profissionais sobre o significado dos acidentes, emergiram quatro categorias: situação de risco; percepção de perigo; fatalidade e sentimentos. Embora não seja estratégia de esclarecimento, mas é fato que organização de trabalho e ações educativas tem impacto considerável para diminuir esse tipo de acidente, diminuindo prejuízos na vida dos acidentados.

Acidente com material perfurocortante entre profissionais de enfermagem de um hospital universitário

Os riscos ocupacionais a que os profissionais da equipe de enfermagem estão sujeitos no desempenho de suas funções são consideráveis. Assim estabeleceu-se como objetivo deste estudo analisar os acidentes perfurocortantes no período de 2002 a 2006, envolvendo a equipe de enfermagem de um hospital universitário, para compreender o contexto em que ocorrem. A utilização destas informações pode ser ferramenta de prevenção. Estudo descritivo, retrospectivo quantitativo e qualitativo. Na análise quantitativa foi utilizada estatística descritiva e na qualitativa o discurso do sujeito coletivo. Por meio das fichas de notificação do Núcleo de Vigilância Epidemiológica do Hospital, foi possível identificar acidentes do gênero no período pesquisado. Entrevistas foram direcionadas às vítimas de acidentes que tiveram como paciente-fonte portador de Síndrome da Imunodeficiência Adquirida/ Vírus da Imunodeficiência Humana, hepatite B e C. Os achados demonstraram que ainda persiste um grau significativo do desconhecimento ou banalização dos acidentes entre profissionais da saúde.

Controle biológico da podridão radicular (Pythium aphanidermatum) e promoção de crescimento por Pseudomonas chlororaphis 63-28 e Bacillus subtilis GB03 em alface hidropônica

Podridões radiculares causadas por espécies de Pythium são um importante problema em cultivos hidropônicos. Sintomas de subdesenvolvimento são observados nas plantas parasitadas pelo patógeno, sendo muitas vezes não diagnosticados pelo produtor. O objetivo do trabalho foi avaliar o controle biológico da podridão radicular causada por Pythium aphanidermatum e a promoção de crescimento por Pseudomonas chlororaphis 63-28 e Bacillus subtilis GB03, reconhecidos agentes de controle biológico de doenças de plantas. A inoculação das plantas com P. aphanidermatum ocasionou o subdesenvolvimento, sendo essa diminuição de 20%. A adição dos agentes de biocontrole na solução nutritiva teve um efeito positivo no aumento da massa (6% a 13%), no número de folhas (4% a 7%) e no teor de clorofila (3%) das plantas de alface. Entretanto, maiores estudos devem ser realizados para melhorar a capacidade de controle da doença e de promoção de crescimento pelos agentes de biocontrole estudados no cultivo de alface hidropônica.

Candida species: Current epidemiology, pathogenicity, biofilm formation, natural antifungal products and new therapeutic options

The incidence of fungal infections has increased significantly, so contributing to morbidity and mortality. This is caused by an increase in antimicrobial resistance and the restricted number of antifungal drugs, which retain many side effects. Candida species are major human fungal pathogens that cause both mucosal and deep tissue infections. Recent evidence suggests that the majority of infections produced by this pathogen are associated with biofilm growth. Biofilms are biological communities with a high degree of organization, in which micro-organisms form structured, coordinated and functional communities. These biological communities are embedded in a self-created extracellular matrix. Biofilm production is also associated with a high level of antimicrobial resistance of the associated organisms. The ability of Candida species to form drugresistant biofilms is an important factor in their contribution to human disease. The study of plants as an alternative to other forms of drug discovery has attracted great attention because, according to the World Health Organization, these would be the best sources for obtaining a wide variety of drugs and could benefit a large population. Furthermore, silver nanoparticles, antibodies and photodynamic inactivation have also been used with good results. This article presents a brief review of the literature regarding the epidemiology of Candida species, as well as their pathogenicity and ability to form biofilms, the antifungal activity of natural products and other therapeutic options. © 2013 SGM.

Development of a natural products database from the biodiversity of Brazil

We describe herein the design and development of an innovative tool called the NuBBE database (NuBBEDB), a new Web-based database, which incorporates several classes of secondary metabolites and derivatives from the biodiversity of Brazil. This natural product database incorporates botanical, chemical, pharmacological, and toxicological compound information. The NuBBEDB provides specialized information to the worldwide scientific community and can serve as a useful tool for studies on the multidisciplinary interfaces related to chemistry and biology, including virtual screening, dereplication, metabolomics, and medicinal chemistry. The NuBBEDB site is at http://nubbe.iq.unesp.br/nubbeDB.html. © 2013 The American Chemical Society and American Society of Pharmacognosy.

Carcinogênese quimicamente induzida por DMBA em glândulas salivares submandibulares de ratos (rattus norvegicus)

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Qualidade da água utilizada para consumo em escolas no município de São Carlos-SP

Pós-graduação em Alimentos e Nutrição - FCFAR

Bioecologia comparada de duas linhagens de Telenomus remus Nixon (Hymenoptera: Platygastridae) parasitando ovos de Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

Pós-graduação em Agronomia (Entomologia Agrícola) - FCAV

Percepção do cirurgião-dentista da rede pública de saúde sobre as condições de trabalho

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Variação e tendências dos parâmetros de qualidade de água do ecossistema aquático da microbacia hidrográfica Córrego da Onça no município de Ilha Solteira/SP

Pós-graduação em Engenharia Civil - FEIS