Uma Lectina D-lactose específica da esponja marinha Cinachyrella apion: purificação, caracterização e interação com Leishmania chagasi

Four different sponge species were screened using Ouchterlony agarose gel and immunodiffusion tests to identify cross-reactivity with the polyclonal antibody IgG anti-deglicosilated CvL, a lectin from Cliona varians. Crude extract from the sponge Cinachyrella apion showed cross-reactivity and also a strong haemmaglutinating activity towards human erythrocytes of all ABO groups. Thus, it was submitted to acetone fractionation, IgG anti-deglicosilated CvL Sepharose affinity chromatography, and Fast Protein Liquid Chromatography (FPLC-AKTA) gel filtration on a Superose 6 10 300 column to purify a novel lectin. C. apion lectin (CaL) agglutinated all types of human erythrocytes with preference for papainized type A and O erythrocytes. The haemagglutinating activity is independent of Ca2+, Mg2+ and Mn2+ ions, and it was strongly inhibited by the disaccharide D-lactose, up to a minimum concentration of 6.25 mM. CaL molecular mass determined by FPLC-AKTA gel filtration on a Superose 12 10 300 column and SDS gel electrophoresis was approximately 124 kDa, consisting of eight subunits of 15.5 kDa, assembled by hydrophobic interactions. The lectin was relatively heat- and pH-stable. Leishmania chagasi romastigotes were agglutinated by CaL, indicating that lactose receptors could be presented in this parasite stage. These findings are indicative of the physiological defense roles of CaL and its possible use in the antibiosis of pathogenic protozoa

Avaliação clínica e microbiológica das condições de saúde oral dos receptores de transplante renal do Hospital Universitário Onofre Lopes, Natal RN

Introduction: The chronic immunosuppression promotes the development of changes in the oral cavity of the kidney transplant recipients (KTR), however with the exception of gingival overgrowth, little is known regarding the prevalence of oral lesions in this population. Objective: To evaluate the prevalence of clinical and microbiological conditions of the oral cavity of the recipients of kidney transplantation and the associated factors. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study which examined 96 clinical KTR and experimental where collected saliva stimulated them to identify Candida sp. Data collection consisted of evaluation stomatologic, socio-demographic, clinical aspects of transplantation, condition of oral hygiene and dental caries, yonder to questions about knowledge of oral alteration after transplantation. Results: Of the total, 66.7% of KTR had some type of oral manifestation. The most common was saburral tongue, followed by gingival overgrowth, with both oral manifestations related to gender and concomitant use of cyclosporine and nifedipine (p <0.05). Tacrolimus showed a protective effect for gingival overgrowth (OR = 0.13). The oral hygiene was associated with saburral tongue(p = 0.03) and severity of gingival overgrowth (p = 0.0001). Oral candidiasis was diagnosed in 17.7% of patients and Candida albicans was isolated most frequently in the saliva of RTR with a colonization of 58.3%. The average DMF-T increased with age. The method of oral hygiene was most used brush and toothpaste to 61.5%. Changes in the oral cavity was seen in 54.2% of KTR, citing as the main growth and gingival ulcers. Instructions for oral hygiene after transplantation were neglected for 61.5% of RTR. Dry mouth and halitosis were reported in 30.2% and 36.5% respectively. Conclusions: More the half of the KTR had at least one injury of the mouth, the immunosuppressive drugs and oral hygiene are associated with these alterations. Prospective cohort studies are needed to elucidate the relationship between oral manifestations and levels of drug and risk of oral manifestations occur over time. The kidney transplant recipients showed to be aware of oral alterations occurred after transplantation and uninformed about the oral hygiene instructions. With regard to hygiene, the incidence of caries was considered high, conditions of risk were identified and improvements in primary attention should be encouraged and reflected in the monitoring of renal transplant

Bioquímica quântica na diferenciação dos níveis de ativação de receptores AMPA por agonistas parciais Wilardina

In the central nervous system (CNS) of mammalian, fast synaptic transmission between nerve cells is performed primarily by α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4- isoxazolepropionic acid (AMPA) receptors, an ionotropic glutamate receptor that is related with learning, memory and homeostasis of the nervous system. Impairments in their functions are correlated with development of many brain desorders, such as epilepsy, schizophrenia, autism, Parkinson and Alzheimer. The use of willardiine analogs has been shown a powerful tool to understanding of activation and desensitization mechanisms of this receptors, because the modification of a single ligand atom allows the observation of varying levels of efficacy. In this work, taking advantage of Fluorine Willardiine (1.35Å), Hydrogen Willardiine (1.65Å), Bromine Willardiine (1.8Å) and Iodine Willardiine (2.15Å) structures co-crystalized with GluA2 with codes 1MQI, 1MQJ, 1MQH and 1MQG, we attempted to energetically differentiate the four ligands efficacy. The complexes were submitted to energetic calculations based on density functional theory (DFT), under the optics of molecular fractionation with conjugate caps (MFCC) method. Obtained results show a relationship between the energetic values and willardiines efficacy order (FW> HW > BrW > IW), also show the importance of E705, R485, Y450, S654, T655, T480 e P478 as the amino acids that contribute most strongly with the interaction of four partial agonists. Furthermore, we outlined the M708 behaviour, attracted by FW and HW ligands, and repels by BrW and IW. With the datas reported on this work, it is possible for a better understanding of the AMPA receptor, which can serve as an aid in the development of new drugs for this system.

Uma Lectina D-lactose específica da esponja marinha Cinachyrella apion: purificação, caracterização e interação com Leishmania chagasi

Four different sponge species were screened using Ouchterlony agarose gel and immunodiffusion tests to identify cross-reactivity with the polyclonal antibody IgG anti-deglicosilated CvL, a lectin from Cliona varians. Crude extract from the sponge Cinachyrella apion showed cross-reactivity and also a strong haemmaglutinating activity towards human erythrocytes of all ABO groups. Thus, it was submitted to acetone fractionation, IgG anti-deglicosilated CvL Sepharose affinity chromatography, and Fast Protein Liquid Chromatography (FPLC-AKTA) gel filtration on a Superose 6 10 300 column to purify a novel lectin. C. apion lectin (CaL) agglutinated all types of human erythrocytes with preference for papainized type A and O erythrocytes. The haemagglutinating activity is independent of Ca2+, Mg2+ and Mn2+ ions, and it was strongly inhibited by the disaccharide D-lactose, up to a minimum concentration of 6.25 mM. CaL molecular mass determined by FPLC-AKTA gel filtration on a Superose 12 10 300 column and SDS gel electrophoresis was approximately 124 kDa, consisting of eight subunits of 15.5 kDa, assembled by hydrophobic interactions. The lectin was relatively heat- and pH-stable. Leishmania chagasi romastigotes were agglutinated by CaL, indicating that lactose receptors could be presented in this parasite stage. These findings are indicative of the physiological defense roles of CaL and its possible use in the antibiosis of pathogenic protozoa