A survey of hemoparasites and ectoparasites in Nasua nasua Linnaeus, 1766 with a redescription of Hepatozoon procyonis Richards, 1961 based on morphological and molecular data

Parasitology Research - Hemoparasites are vector-borne parasites that infect wild carnivores worldwide. Since data on hemoparasite infections in Nasua nasua from Brazil are lacking, the aim of this...     

Evaluation of Gamma Interferon Immune Response Elicited by the Newly Constructed PstS-1(285-374):CFP10 Fusion Protein To Detect Mycobacterium tuberculosis Infection

The PstS1 antigen is highly immunogenic, principally when combined with CFP10 during both latent and active TB infection. In the present study, a selected pstS1 gene fragment was cloned, fused with CFP10, and expressed in Escherichia coli. The product [PstS-1(285-374):CFP10] was compared to the recombinant fused RD1 (region of deletion 1) protein (ESAT-6:CFP10) in detecting Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection in 108 recent contacts of pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) cases, considering a positive tuberculin skin test (TST) to be the baseline. The release of gamma interferon (IFN-γ) in 22-h whole-blood and 5-day lymphocyte stimulation assays primed with each antigen was determined. All contacts were clinically followed for up to 1 year, and 87% of the tuberculin skin test-positive (TST^positive) patients accepted preventative treatment. Concerning the IFN-γ response to PstS-1(285-374):CFP10 in the 22-h and 5-day assays, a slight increase in contact-TST^positive detection was observed (23/54 and 26/54) compared to the level seen with the RD1 protein (18/54 and 24/54) whereas in the TST^negative group, similarly lower numbers (≤5/48) of responders were achieved for both antigens, except for RD1 in the 5-day assay (8/48). By combining the IFN-γ responders to both antigens in the 5-day assays, slightly higher increases in positivity were found in the TST^positive (32/54) and TST^negative (10/48) groups. Two of 12 untreated TST^positive contacts progressed to active TB and were concordantly positive in all assays, except for one contact who lacked positivity in the RD1 5-day assay. We demonstrated for the first time that PstS-1(285-374):CFP10 slightly increased contact positivity and detection of active disease progression, suggesting its potential application as a TB infection marker.     

Pseudoxanthoma elasticum: report of two cases

Pseudoxanthoma elasticum is a rare inherited multisystem disorder that is characterized by a pathological mineralization of the elastic connective tissue, which involves predominantly the skin, eyes and cardiovascular system. Its cause lies on mutations in the ABCC6 gene, which lead to reduction or absence of the transmembrane transport ADP dependent protein (MRP6), causing an accumulation of extracellular material and subsequent deposition of calcium and other minerals in the elastic tissue. The authors report two cases of pseudoxanthoma elasticum, emphasizing its major clinical features and the importance of early diagnosis of the disorder, aiming for adequate therapeutic management of associated complications.     

EVALUATION OF ANTIMICROBIAL AND CYTOTOXIC ACTIVITIES OF PLANT EXTRACTS FROM SOUTHERN MINAS GERAIS CERRADO

The antimicrobial activity of plant hidroethanolic extracts on bacteria Gram positive, Gram negative, yeasts, Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37 and Mycobacterium bovis was evaluated by using the technique of Agar diffusion and microdilution in broth. Among the extracts evaluated by Agar diffusion, the extract of Bidens pilosa leaf presented the most expressive average of haloes of growth inhibition to the microorganisms, followed by the extract of B. pilosa flower, of Eugenia pyriformis'' leaf and seed, of Plinia cauliflora leaf which statistically presented the same average of haloes inhibitory formation on bacteria Gram positive, Gram negative and yeasts. The extracts of Heliconia rostrata did not present activity. Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37 and Mycobacterium bovis (BCG) appeared resistant to all the extracts. The susceptibility profile of Candida albicans and Saccharomyces cerevisiae fungi were compared to one another and to the Gram positive Bacillus subtilis, Enterococcus faecalis and the Gram negative Salmonella typhimurium bacteria (p > 0.05). The evaluation of cytotoxicity was carried out on C6-36 larvae cells of the Aedes albopictus mosquito. The extracts of stem and flower of Heliconia rostrata, leaf and stem of Plinia cauliflora, seed of Anonna crassiflora and stem, flower and root of B. pilosa did not present toxicity in the analyzed concentrations. The highest rates of selectivity appeared in the extracts of stem of A. crassiflora and flower of B. pilosa to Staphylococcus aureus, presenting potential for future studies about a new drug development.