Leishmania (Viannia) shawi purified antigens confer protection against murine cutaneous leishmaniasis

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

Modulatory effects of tuberculosis vaccines on experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis

Although BCG is the only accepted vaccine against tuberculosis (TB), its protective ability is very limited. Therefore, many new vaccines are being evaluated. Our group has been working on DNAhsp65 - a genetic construction containing the hsp65 gene from Mycobacterium leprae. In previous experimental works, we demonstrated that both DNAhsp65 alone or associated with BCG, in a prime-boost regimen, were effective to control TB. A possible deleterious effect related to autoimmunity needed to be tested because hsp65 is highly homologous to the correspondent mammalian protein. In this investigation we tested the effect of a previous immunization with DNAhsp65 alone or associated with BCG in a rat model of multiple sclerosis. Female Lewis rats were immunized with three doses of DNAhsp65 or primed with BCG followed by two DNAhsp65 boosters. The animals were, then, immunized with myelin associated with complete Freund's adjuvant to develop experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). The following parameters were evaluated: weight loss, clinical score, central nervous system (CNS) inflammation and anti-myelin immune response. No deleterious effect was associated with these immunizations schedules. Immunized animals equally lost weight, the clinical scores were similar and CNS inflammation did not increase. Interestingly, both procedures determined decreased inflammation in the brain and lumbar spinal cord. This was concurrent with a modulatory effect over cytokine production by peripheral lymphoid organs. Cell cultures from spleen and lymph nodes in vitro stimulated with myelin produced less IFN-gamma and IL-10, respectively. This phenomenon was more clear in rats immunized with the genetic vaccine alone than with the prime-boost strategy. Together the results suggest that these strategies for TB prophylaxis would not accelerate or aggravate multiple sclerosis, being therefore, safe in this aspect. In addition, they indicate that these vaccination regimens have a potential anti-inflammatory activity that could be better explored in the future.

Immunization of Balb/c mice with modified auto-antigens for induction of autoimmune sialoadenitis

Sjögren's syndrome is an autoimmune disease characterized by sialoadenitis and elevated titers of autoantibodies. To assess whether it is possible to induce inflammatory changes in salivary gland tissues, a series of immunizations in Balb/c mice have been undertaken, using salivary gland extract, modified or not, added to several adjuvants. Mice's humoral immune response to salivary gland antigens was monitored by ELISA. Inflammatory cells infiltrating gland tissue were seen 3 months after immunization with salivary gland extract modified with pepsin (AgGp) and metaperiodate (AgGMp). Although pathological progression was not observed, the histopathological picture was similar to the initial phase of Sjögren's syndrome. In addition, a monoclonal antibody reactive with 3 gland polypeptides and anhydrase carbonic II was rescued among B cells from immunized mice. Thus, immunizations with modified autoantigens were able to initiate pathological damage to glandular tissue and stimulate the proliferation of auto-reactive B cells.

Resposta imune e capacidade de neutralização de anticorpos produzidos em ovinos jovens imunizados com veneno de Crotalus durissus terrificus nativo e irradiado com Cobalto 60

The ELISA technique was used to evaluate and compare young ovine humoral immune response during crotalic antiserum production. Animals were clinically evaluated throughout this process, and the neutralizing capacity of antisera raised against natural (NV) and Cobalt-60 irradiated (IrV) venoms of Crotalus durissus terrificus (C.d.t.) was verified by means of in vitro challenges. Three groups of six animals each were used: G1 received NV; G2 was inoculated with IrV; and G3 was used as control. Animals received six immunizations during 84 days at 14-day intervals. ELISA of antibody profile showed significant difference (p<5%) between experimental groups (G1

Efeito modulador de estratégias vacinais para tuberculose na encefalite autoimune experimental (EAE)

Pós-graduação em Doenças Tropicais - FMB

Diagnóstico de situação das práticas de manejo sanitário em sistemas de produção de bovinos de corte

Pós-graduação em Ciência Animal - FMVA

Comparação da resposta imune humoral, da capacidade de neutralização dos soros anticrotálicos produzidos em ovinos jovens, avaliação clínica e ponderal entre animais inoculados com veneno de serpente Crotalus durissus terrificus nativo ou irradiado com Cobalto-60

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Influencia dos hábitos de sucção na manifestação de dor temporo-mandibular: revisão sistemática

Objective: To assess the attitudes and knowledge about hepatitis by scholars and dental practitioners from Recife and its metropolitan region. Method: The research protocol was submitted and approved by the Ethics and Human Research Committee of the Federal University of Pernambuco. There were included 230 undergraduate students in dentistry and 104 dentists who exercise their professional activity in Recife and its Metropolitan Region. They signed a consent form and answered a questionnaire, the evaluative instrument, with objective questions about biosafety, transmission of hepatitis and sexually transmitted diseases. Results: About the types of hepatitis 133 (57.8%) students and 61 (58.7%) professionals claimed to know the types A, B and C. Concerning transmission 31 (13.5%) students and 25 (24.0%) professionals said that the main route of transmission were sexual and bloodstream respectively. Relating to imunization 221 (96.1%) students and 99 (95.2%) professionals reported that have been vaccinated against hepatitis B, however, only 126 (54.8%) students and 55 (52.9%) professionals have followed the immunization’s schema. Regarding the cleaning of the office equipment, 18.7% of the students replied that they do not know who does it. 56.7% of professionals said that it was performed with alcohol 70 ° GL.Conclusions: The findings indicate that there is a concern for biosafety but the knowledge about the forms of hepatitis transmission and biosecurity measures need to be better settled.

Diagnóstico de situação das práticas de manejo sanitário em sistemas de produção de bovinos de corte

We interviewed 21 farmers in order to access which sanitary practices adopted in the production systems of beef cattle on farms located in São Paulo, Mato Grosso, Mato Grosso do Sul and Rondonia. The survey was conducted through a qualitative approach to the collection of data obtained through questionnaire and personal interview with the landowners. We questioned the attitudes and sanitation procedures in these current production systems such as veterinary assistance, preventive health practices and disease surveillance, knowledge of health hazards for the safe production of food, animal feed, vaccine and immunizations, registration system, measures with newborns, products used in the environment and animals, grace period, employee training, destination of the dead animals, among others. Along with the data found that only 30% of properties had veterinary care, 67% said they meet the expiration dates of the products, although it was not mentioned on the products if there were any. In only 48% of properties were veterinarians who prescribed drugs to animals. Only two of the owners confirmed buying and using expired products in animals and only 48% have received some training on the property. In this setting, it is evident that farmers should be better prepared for insertion of its products in a highly demanding and competitive market. In this context, add value to the product depends mainly on the condition of sanitation of the herds.