Neuroglia and their roles in central respiratory control; an overview

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Differences in transcriptional activity of human papillomavirus type 6 molecular variants in recurrent respiratory papillomatosis

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

Effects of neuromuscular electrical stimulation on the masticatory muscles and physiologic sleep variables in adults with cerebral palsy: a novel therapeutic approach

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Respiratory regulation in workers of the leaf cutting ant Atta sexdens rubropilosa Forel, 1908

1. Respiratory rates of workers of the leaf cutting ant Atta sexdens rubropilosa were measured at different oxygen pressures, at 25°C. 2. In experiments where different ants were used at each of the oxygen pressures, respiration was regulated down to 70.8 mmHg. 3. When the same ants were submitted in sequence to declining pO2, the 'oxygen dependence indexes' (Tang P.S. (1933) Quart. Rev. Biol. 8, 260-274) also suggested a good regulatory capacity. 4. The results are discussed in terms of the variation of the partial pressures of O2 and CO2 that the ants probably encounter when wandering to and from the nest to forage, and when performing their heavy tasks (leaf transport, offspring and fungus care). 5. CO2 rise and O2 fall, from ants' respiration inside the ant hill, may act as the factors that, in a reflex way, keep the spiracles open and increase ventilation and the frequency of CO2 emission to keep the oxygen supply adequate to face the energetic demand of the routine level of activity of the workers, when passing from normoxia (air) to hypoxia (in nest galleries).

Respiratory responses of the tropical millipede Plusioporus setiger (Broelemann, 1902) (Spirostreptida: Spirostreptidae) to normoxic and hypoxic conditions

1. 1. Oxygen consumption and its relationship to declining oxygen tension was examined in the tropical spirotreptid millipede, Plusioporus setiger. 2. 2. At 25°C and normoxia, the allometric equations relating the weight-specific oxygen consumption rates and body weight were V ̇O2 = 2.1266 × W-53 for males, and V ̇O2 = 2.0915 × W-64 for females, but no significant difference was detected from the b-values. 3. 3. Plusioporus setiger regulated respiration down to 35.40 mmHg O2 when suddenly exposed to a lowered oxygen tension, or 17.70 mmHg O2, when examined in a stepwise declining oxygen tension. 4. 4. O2 dependence indices ( K1 K2) were relatively low, also expressing regulation, but no relation to size (weight) was recorded. 5. 5. After exposure to hypoxia, P. setiger showed a typical pattern of under repayment, on the return to normoxia. © 1987.

Coupling between respiratory and sympathetic activities as a novel mechanism underpinning neurogenic hypertension

Enhanced sympathetic outflow to the heart and resistance vessels greatly contributes to the onset and maintenance of neurogenic hypertension. There is a consensus that the development of hypertension (clinical and experimental) is associated with an impairment of sympathetic reflex control by arterial baroreceptors. More recently, chronic peripheral chemoreflex activation, as observed in obstructive sleep apnea, has been proposed as another important risk factor for hypertension. In this review, we present and discuss recent experimental evidence showing that changes in the respiratory pattern, elicited by chronic intermittent hypoxia, play a key role in increasing sympathetic activity and arterial pressure in rats. This concept parallels results observed in other models of neurogenic hypertension, such as spontaneously hypertensive rats and rats with angiotensin II–salt-induced hypertension, pointing out alterations in the central coupling of respiratory and sympathetic activities as a novel mechanism underlying the development of neurogenic hypertension.

Acidose ruminal subaguda em ovinos Santa Inês: estudo clínico, laboratorial e avaliação da laminite por termografia infravermelha e radiologia digital

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

Detection of serum antibodies to parainfluenza type 3 virus, respiratory syncytial virus, bovine viral diarrhea virus, and herpes virus type 1 in sheep in the region of Botucatu, São Paulo - Brazil

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

Ensaio clínico randomizado duplo-cego do perfil inflamatório e do nível de estresse oxidativo em indivíduos com diagnóstico polissonográfico de SAOS antes e após o uso de CPAP

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

THE GLYCOPROTEINS OF PORCINE REPRODUCTIVE AND RESPIRATORY SYNDROME VIRUS AND THEIR ROLE IN INFECTION AND IMMUNITY

The porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) is an economically important pathogen of swine and is known to cause abortion and infertility in pregnant sows and respiratory distress in piglets. PRRSV contains a major glycoprotein (GP5) and three minor glycoproteins (GP2a, GP3, and GP4) on the virion envelope, all of which are required for infectious virus production. To study their interactions amongst each other and with a cellular receptor for PRRSV, CD163, I cloned each of the viral glycoproteins and CD163 in various expression vectors. My studies have shown that while the GP2a, GP3, and GP4 are co-translationally glycosylated, the GP5 is post-translationally glycosylated. By using co-immunoprecipitation (co-IP) assays, strong interaction was demonstrated between GP4 and GP5 proteins, although weak interactions among the other envelope glycoproteins were also detected. Further, GP4 was found to mediate interactions leading to formation of multiprotein glycoprotein complex. My results also show that GP2a and GP4 proteins are the only two GPs that specifically interact with the CD163 molecule and that glycosylation of these GPs is required for efficient interaction. Based on these studies, I have developed an interactome map of the viral GPs and CD163 and have proposed a model of the viral glycoprotein complex and its interaction with CD163. Studies reported here also show that glycan addition at residue 184 (N184) of GP2a, and residues N42, N50, and N131 of GP3 is essential for recovery of infectious virus. Although single site glycosylation mutants of GP4 had no effect on infectious virus production, introduction of double mutations was lethal. The loss of glycan moieties of GP2a, GP3, and GP4 proteins had no effect on host neutralizing antibody production. Overall, I conclude that the PRRSV glycoproteins are co-translationally and post-translationally glycosylated, the GP4 protein is central to mediating interglycoprotein interactions, and along with GP2a, serves as the viral attachment protein that is responsible for interactions with the viral receptor, CD163. Further, glycosylation of GP2a, GP3, and GP4 proteins is required for infectious virus production, efficient interaction with CD163, but does not play any role in neutralizing antibody response in infected animals.

INFLUENCE OF TYPE 2 BOVINE VIRAL DIARRHEA VIRUS NPRO ON ENHANCEMENT OF BOVINE RESPIRATORY SYNCYTIAL VIRUS REPLICATION MEDIATED BY ANTAGONISM OF HOST CELL INTERFERON TYPE I RESPONSES

Bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) is a member of the genus Pestivirus, Family Flaviviridae. The virus can infect many species of animals of the order Artiodactyla. The BVDV genome encodes an auto protease, Npro, that degrades interferon regulatory factor-3 (IRF-3) reducing type I interferon (IFN-I) production from host cells. Bovine respiratory syncytial virus (BRSV) is a member of the genus Pneumovirus, Family Paramyxoviridae. Concurrent infection with BVDV and BRSV causes more severe respiratory and enteric disease than infection with either virus alone. Our hypothesis was that Npro modulates the innate immune responses to BVDV infection and enhances replication of BVDV or BRSV co-infection. The noncytopathic BVDV2 viruses NY93/c N- Npro 18 EGFP (a mutant with modified Npro fused with enhanced green fluorescent protein), NY93 infectious clone (NY93/c), wild-type NY93-BVDV2 (NY93-wt), and BRSV were evaluated in this study. The objectives of this study were: (1) to characterize the replication kinetics and IFN-I induction in Madin-Darby bovine kidney (MDBK) cells following infection with each of the BVDV isolates, and (2) to characterize the influence of BVDV-mediated IFN-I antagonism on enhancement of BRSV replication in bovine turbinate (BT) cells. NY93/c N- Npro 18 EGFP replicated 0.4 – 1.6 TCID50 logs lower than NY93-wt in MDBK cells. NY93/c N- Npro 18 EGFP-infected MDBK cells synthesized IFN-I significantly higher than NY93/c- and NY93-wt-infected MDBK cells. BT cells co-infected with NY93/c N- Npro 18 EGFP/BRSV or NY93-wt/BRSV were evaluated to determine the effects of co-infection on BRSV replication and IFN-I induction in BT cells. BRSV RNA levels in NY93-wt/BRSV co-infected BT cells were 2.49, 2.79, and 2.89 copy number logs significantly greater than in NY93/c N- Npro 18 EGFP/BRSV co-infected BT cells on days 5, 7, and 9 post-infection, respectively. BVDV RNA levels in NY93/c N- Npro 18 EGFP-infected BT cells were 1.64 – 4.38 copy number logs lower than in NY93-wt-infected BT cells. NY93/c N- Npro 18 EGFP single and co-infected BT cells synthesized IFN-I significantly higher than NY93-wt single and co-infected BT cells. In summary, these findings suggest: (1) NY93/c N- Npro 18 EGFP BVDV2 induced higher levels of IFN-I than BVDV2-wt and may be useful as a safer, replicating BVDV vaccine, and (2) Enhancement of BRSV infection by BVDV co-infection is mediated by antagonism of IFN-I.

Respiratory rhythms in stingless bee workers: circadian and ultradian components throughout adult development

The workers of the stingless bee, Melipona quadrifasciata, assume different tasks during their adult life. Newly emerged individuals remain inside the nest, without contact with the external environment. Maturing workers go to more peripheral regions and only the oldest, the foragers, leave the nest. As this diversity of activities implies different metabolic patterns, oxygen consumption has been measured in workers of three different ages: 24-48 h (nurses), 10-15 days (builders), and older than 25 days (foragers). Oxygen consumption of individually isolated workers was determined by intermittent respirometry, under constant darkness and temperature of 25 +/- 1 degrees C. Sets of 24-h measurements were obtained from individuals belonging to each of the three worker groups. Rhythmicity has been assessed in the daily (24 h) and ultradian (5-14 h) domains. This experimental design allowed detection of endogenous rhythms without the influence of the social group and without inflicting stress on the individuals, as would be caused by their longer isolation from the colony. Significant 24-h rhythms in oxygen consumption were present in nurses, builders and foragers; therefore, workers are rhythmic from the age of 24-48 h. However, the amplitude of the circadian rhythm changed according to age: nurses showed the lowest values, while foragers consistently presented the largest ones, about ten times larger than the amplitude of nurses` respiratory rhythm. Ultradian frequencies were detected for all worker groups, the power and frequencies of which varied little with age. This means that the ultradian strength was relatively larger in nurses and apparently maintains some relationship with the queen`s oviposition episodes.

Molecular epidemiology of the SH (small hydrophobic) gene of human respiratory syncytial virus (HRSV), over 2 consecutive years

Human respiratory syncytial virus (HRSV) strains were isolated from nasopharyngeal aspirates collected from 965 children between 2004 and 2005, yielding 424 positive samples. We sequenced the small hydrophobic protein (SH) gene of 117 strains and compared them with other viruses identified worldwide. Phylogenetic analysis showed a low genetic variability among the isolates but allowed us to classify the viruses into different genotypes for both groups, HRSVA and HRSVB. It is also shown that the novel BA-like genotype was well segregated from the others, indicating that the mutations are not limited to the G gene. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Respiratory rehabilitation: a physiotherapy approach to the control of asthma symptoms and anxiety

OBJECTIVES: The objectives of this study were to verify the degree of anxiety, respiratory distress, and health-related quality of life in a group of asthmatic patients who have experienced previous panic attacks. Additionally, we evaluated if a respiratory physiotherapy program (breathing retraining) improved both asthma and panic disorder symptoms, resulting in an improvement in the health-related quality of life of asthmatics. METHODS: Asthmatic individuals were assigned to a chest physiotherapy group that included a breathing retraining program held once a week for three months or a paired control group that included a Subtle Touch program. All patients were assessed using the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders IV, the Sheehan Anxiety Scale, the Quality of Life Questionnaire, and spirometry parameter measurements. RESULTS: Both groups had high marks for panic disorder and agoraphobia, which limited their quality of life. The Breathing Retraining Group program improved the clinical control of asthma, reduced panic symptoms and agoraphobia, decreased patient scores on the Sheehan Anxiety Scale, and improved their quality of life. Spirometry parameters were unchanged. CONCLUSION: Breathing retraining improves the clinical control of asthma and anxiety symptoms and the health-related quality of life in asthmatic patients.

Diversity and Adaptation of Human Respiratory Syncytial Virus Genotypes Circulating in Two Distinct Communities: Public Hospital and Day Care Center

HRSV is one of the most important pathogens causing acute respiratory tract diseases as bronchiolitis and pneumonia among infants. HRSV was isolated from two distinct communities, a public day care center and a public hospital in Sao Jose do Rio Preto - SP, Brazil. We obtained partial sequences from G gene that were used on phylogenetic and selection pressure analysis. HRSV accounted for 29% of respiratory infections in hospitalized children and 7.7% in day care center children. On phylogenetic analysis of 60 HRSV strains, 48 (80%) clustered within or adjacent to the GA1 genotype; GA5, NA1, NA2, BA-IV and SAB1 were also observed. SJRP GA1 strains presented variations among deduced amino acids composition and lost the potential O-glycosilation site at amino acid position 295, nevertheless this resulted in an insertion of two potential O-glycosilation sites at positions 296 and 297. Furthermore, a potential O-glycosilation site insertion, at position 293, was only observed for hospital strains. Using SLAC and MEME methods, only amino acid 274 was identified to be under positive selection. This is the first report on HRSV circulation and genotypes classification derived from a day care center community in Brazil.