Molecular and phylogenetic characterization based on the complete genome of a virulent pathotype of Newcastle disease virus isolated in the 1970s in Brazil

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Cytogenetic and morphologic approaches of hybrids from experimental crosses between Triatoma lenti Sherlock & Serafim, 1967 and T. sherlocki Papa et al., 2002 (Hemiptera: Reduviidae)

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Genetic history of hepatitis C virus in Pakistan

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype 3a accounts for similar to 80% of HCV infections in Pakistan, where similar to 10 million people are HCV-infected. Here, we report analysis of the genetic heterogeneity of HCV NS3 and NS5b subgenomic regions from genotype 3a variants obtained from Pakistan. Phylogenetic analyses showed that Pakistani genotype 3a variants were as genetically diverse as global variants, with extensive intermixing. Bayesian estimates showed that the most recent ancestor for genotype 3a in Pakistan was last extant in similar to 1896-1914 C.E. (range: 1851-1932). This genotype experienced a population expansion starting from similar to 1905 to similar to 1970 after which the effective population leveled. Death/birth models suggest that HCV 3a has reached saturating diversity with decreasing turnover rate and positive extinction. Taken together, these observations are consistent with a long and complex history of HCV 3a infection in Pakistan. Published by Elsevier B.V.

The effect of biomass immobilization support material and bed porosity on hydrogen production in an upflow anaerobic packed-bed bioreactor

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Chromosomal characteristics and distribution of constitutive heterochromatin in the Matogrossensis and Rubrovaria subcomplexes

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Identification and characterization of regions of difference between the Salmonella Gallinarum biovar Gallinarum and the Salmonella Gallinarum biovar Pullorum genomes

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Modelo de referência para o processo de desenvolvimento de produtos de empresas eletrônicas de base tecnológica de médio porte

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Effects of Yersinia enterocolitica O:3 derivatives on B lymphocyte activation in vivo

The potential sequelae of intestinal infection with Yersinia enterocolitica include reactive arthritis, erythema nodosum, Reiter's syndrome and other autoimmune diseases. The role of the immune response in the pathogenesis of these diseases has not been fully defined, but autoimmune manifestations may be a consequence of the increase in autoantibodies as a result of polyclonal B-cell activation induced by Yersinia. We investigated the effects of Y enterocolitica 0:3 derivatives on B lymphocyte activation in vivo. Groups of five specific pathogen free (SPF) Swiss mice were inoculated with bacterial cell extract, Yersinia outermembrane proteins (Yops) or lipopolysaccharide (LPS) obtained from Y enterocolitica 0:3 and their immunoglobulin-secreting spleen cells were detected by isotype-specific protein A plaque assay. The presence of specific anti-Yersinia antibodies and autoantibodies was determined in mouse sera by ELISA. In all experiments a marked increase in the number of secretory cells of different isotypes was observed as early as the third day after inoculation. IgG and IgM anti-Yersinia antibodies were detected in the sera of all inoculated mice, and autoantibodies against myosin in the sera of those inoculated with bacterial cell extract. The sera from animals stimulated with LPS reacted with myelin, actin and laminin, while the sera from mice inoculated with Yops reacted with myelin, thyroglobulin and cardiolipin. These results suggest that SPF Swiss mice inoculated with any one of the Y enterocolitica derivatives tested exhibited polyclonal activation of B lymphocytes as a result of stimulation by various bacterial components and not only LPS stimulation.

Methicillin resistance in Staphylococcus aureus and coagulase-negative staphylococci: Epidemiological and molecular aspects

Infections caused by the genus Staphylococcus are of great importance for human health. Staphylococcus species are divided into coagulase-positive staphylococci, represented by S. aureus, a pathogen that can cause infections of the skin and other organs in immunocompetent patients, and coagulase-negative staphylococci (CNS) which comprise different species normally involved in infectious processes in immunocompromised patients or patients using catheters. Oxacillin has been one of the main drugs used for the treatment of staphylococcal infections; however, a large number of S. aureus and CNS isolates of nosocomial origin are resistant to this drug. Methicillin resistance is encoded by the mecA gene which is inserted in the SCCmec cassette. This cassette is a mobile genetic element consisting of five different types and several subtypes. Oxacillin-resistant strains are detected by phenotypic and genotypic methods. Epidemiologically, methicillin-resistant S. aureus strains can be divided into five large pandemic clones, called Brazilian, Hungarian, Iberian, New York/Japan and Pediatric. The objective of the present review was to discuss aspects of resistance, epidemiology, genetics and detection of oxacillin resistance in Staphylococcus spp., since these microorganisms are increasingly more frequent in Brazil.

Detection of several carbohydrates using boron-doped diamond electrodes modified with nickel hydroxide nanoparticles

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Production of autoantibodies associated with polyclonal activation in Yersinia enterocolitica 0:8-infected mice

Polyclonal lymphocyte stimulation is one of the immunomodulatory mechanisms induced by arthritogenic pathogens. In this study we examined the polyclonal activation potential of a virulent strain of Y. enterocolitica serotype O:8 (WA 2707+) and its plasmidless isogenic pair (WA 2707-). SPF Swiss mice were infected intragastrically and spleen cells were obtained on days 7, 14, 21, 28, 35 and 42 after infection. The number of cells secreting nonspecific immunoglobulins of IgG, IgM and IgA isotypes was determined by the ELISPOT technique. The presence of serum-specific antibodies was investigated by ELISA and the presence of autoantibodies by dot-blot assay. Although the patterns of infection of the two bacterial strains were almost the same, only the animals infected with the virulent strain presented clinical anomalies. Neither arthritic nor inflammatory signs were observed in the joints of the infected animals. The greatest activation observed was that of the nonspecific IgM-secreting cells, and their peak of secretion occurred between the 28th and the 42nd day after infection, for both strains of Y. enterocolitica O:8. Only the animals infected with the virulent strain (WA 2707+) produced IgG-specific antibodies in the serum, from the 28th day after infection. The serum of animals infected with either strain showed reactivity to all the autologous constituents tested, mainly on the 28th and 42nd day after infection. It was concluded that infection of mice with either the virulent strain of Y. enterocolitica O:8 or with its plasmidless isogenic pair resulted in the polyclonal activation of the splenic B lymphocytes including some autoreactive clones.

Preparation of a clay-modified carbon paste electrode based on 2-thiazoline-2-thiol-hexadecylammonium sorption for the sensitive determination of mercury

A montmorillonite from Wyoming-USA was used to prepare an organo-clay complex, named 2-thiazoline-2-thiol-hexadecyltrimethylammonium-clay (TZT-HDTA-clay), for the purpose of the selective adsorption of the heavy metals ions and possible use as a chemically modified carbon paste electrode (CMCPE). Adsorption isotherms of Hg 2+, Pb 2+, Cd 2+, Cu 2+, and Zn 2+ from aqueous solutions as a function of the pH were studied at 298 K. Conditions for quantitative retention and elution were established for each metal by batch and column methods. The organo-clay complex was very selective to Hg(II) in aqueous solution in which other metals and ions were also present. The accumulation voltammetry of Hg(II) was studied at a carbon paste electrode chemically modified with this material. The mercury response was evaluated with respect to the pH, electrode composition, preconcentration time, mercury concentration, cleaning solution, possible interferences and other variables. A carbon paste electrode modified by TZT-HDTA-clay showed two peaks: one cathodic peak at about 0.0 V and an anodic peak at 0.25 V, scanning the potential from -0.2 to 0.8 V (0.05 M KNO 3 vs. Ag/AgCl). The anodic peak at 0.25 V presents excellent selectivity for Hg(II) ions in the presence of foreign ions. The detection limit was estimated as 0.1 μg L -1. The precision of determination was satisfactory for the respective concentration level. 2005 © The Japan Society for Analytical Chemistry.

Compostos de paládio(II) contendo ligantes sulfurados: síntese, caracterização e investigação da atividade biológica

This work deals with the synthesis, spectroscopic characterization of mono and polynuclear Pd(II) compounds obtained from the reaction between [PdCl2(MeCN)2] precursor and imidazolidine-2-thione (L1) and benzimidazoline-2-thione (L2). The interaction between [PdCl2(MeCN)2] and imidazolidine-2-thione, in the 1:2 molar ratio, using MeOH as solvent, yielded compound [Pd2Cl4(L1)4]Cl2 (1) whereas the complex [Pd2Br4(L1)4]Br2 (2) was obtained from the reaction between 1 and Br- ions. Binuclear compounds of general formulae [Pd2(L2)4]X23/2 MeOH {X= Cl-(3), Br-(4)} were synthesized using benzimidazoline-2-thione as ligand, employing the same procedure used in the synthesis of 1 and 2, respectively. The new complexes 1-4 are crystalline, air stable and soluble in methanol and dmso. The compounds were characterized by elemental analysis, IR spectroscopy, ESI/MS mass spectrometry and thermogravimetry. Coordination of the ligands L1 and L2 via sulphur atom was evidenced by the shift of the CS band (~499 cm-1, 1 and 2; ~620 cm-1, 3 and 4) to lower frequencies in comparison with those found in the free ligands (510 cm-1, L1; 660 cm-1, L2), indicating the weakening of the CS bom after coordination. ESI/EM mass spectra (positive mode) of the complexes 1-4 allowed atribute the molecular formulae [Pd2X4(L1)4]X2 {X= Cl-(1), Br-(2)} and [Pd2(L2)4]X2 {X= Cl-(3), Br-(4)} by the appearance of the peaks at m/z 794,61 [(1) + MeOH]+, m/z 836,77 [(2) - 2H - L1]+, m/z 810 [(3) - 2Cl]+, m/z 810 [(4) - 2Br]+. The TG-DTA curves showed that the complexes 1 and 2 are thermally stable up to 212 and 169º C, respectively, and further decompose to metallic palladium at 527º C (1, obt. 28,46 %; calcd. 27,88%) and 895º C (2, obt. 22,85 %; calcd. 22,62%). Compounds 3 and 4 exhibited an initial mass loss of ~5% between 25 -146º C related to the release of metanol molecules. The complexes 3...Fujimura Leite.