RESUMO
Many active principles produced by animals, plants and microorganisms have been employed in the development of new drugs for the treatment of human diseases. Among animals known to produce pharmacologically active molecules that interfere in human cell physiology. Rubella virus (genus Rubivirus, family Togaviridae) is a single stranded RNA virus of positive genome polarity. Rubella virus infection of susceptible women during the first trimester of pregnancy often results in long-term virus persistence in the fetus causing multiple organ abnormalities. Potent antiviral activity against rubella virus (RV) has been observed in the hemolymph of Podalia sp. (Lepidoptera: Megalopygidae). This study evaluated the effect of hemolymph on RV infected Statens Serum Institute Rabbit Cornea (SIRC) cells. Results of cell viability and cell proliferation assays indicated that hemolymph was not toxic to cultured SIRC cells. Viral binding assay, antiviral assay, PCR, real-time PCR, and transmission electron microscopy were used to demonstrate that hemolymph in post-treatment could inhibit the production of infectious RV particles. Specifically, hemolymph was found to inhibit RV adsorption to the SIRC cells.
RESUMO
The studies on chemical composition and biological activity of propolis had focused mainly on species Apis mellifera L. (Hymenoptera: Apidae). There are few studies about the uncommon propolis collected by stingless bees of the Meliponini tribe known as geopropolis. The geopropolis from Scaptotrigona postica was collected in the region of Barra do Corda, Maranhão state, Brazil. The chemical analysis of hydromethanolic extract of this geopropolis (HMG) was carried out through HPLC-DAD-ESI-MS/MS and the main constituents found were pyrrolizidine alkaloids and C-glycosyl flavones. The presence of alkaloids in extracts of propolis is detected for the first time in this sample. The antiviral activity of HMG was evaluated through viral DNA quantification experiments and electron microscopy experiments. Quantification of viral DNA from herpes virus showed reduction of about 98% in all conditions and concentration tested of the HMG extract. The results obtained were corroborated by transmission electron microscopy, in which the images did not show particle or viral replication complex. The antiviral activity of C-glycosyl flavones was reported for a variety of viruses, being observed at different points in the viral replication. This work is the first report about the antiviral activity of geopropolis from Scaptotrigona postica, in vitro, against antiherpes simplex virus (HSV).
Assuntos
Vírus , Abelhas , QuímicaRESUMO
Rubella virus (RV) infection during the early stages of pregnancy can lead to serious birth defects, known as the congenital rubella syndrome (CRS). In 2003, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) adopted a resolution calling for the elimination of rubella and the congenital rubella syndrome (CRS) in the Americas by the year 2010. Brazil will have implemented the recommended PAHO strategy for elimination and interruption of endemic rubella virus transmission. The characterization of genotypes during the final stages of rubella elimination is important for determining whether new rubella isolates represent endemic transmission or importations. Samples (blood, urine, cerebrospinal fluid, and throat swabs) collected from patients with symptoms suggestive of rubella infection in 1997-2004 were isolated in cell culture and genotyped. Twenty-eight sequences were analyzed and two genotypes were identified: 1a and 1G. The information reported in this paper will contribute to understanding the molecular epidemiology of RV in São Paulo, Brazil.
Assuntos
Vírus da Rubéola/classificação , Vírus da Rubéola/genética , Rubéola (Sarampo Alemão)/epidemiologia , Rubéola (Sarampo Alemão)/virologia , Adolescente , Adulto , Brasil/epidemiologia , Criança , Pré-Escolar , Análise por Conglomerados , Feminino , Genótipo , Humanos , Lactente , Recém-Nascido , Masculino , Dados de Sequência Molecular , Filogenia , Gravidez , RNA Viral/genética , Estudos Retrospectivos , Vírus da Rubéola/isolamento & purificação , Análise de Sequência de DNA , Cultura de Vírus , Adulto JovemRESUMO
Rubella virus (RV) is an important human pathogen that causes rubella, an acute contagious disease. It also causes severe birth defects collectively known as congenital rubella syndrome when infection occurs during the first trimester of pregnancy. Here, we present the phylogenetic analysis of RV that circulated in São Paulo during the 2007-2008 outbreak. Samples collected from patients diagnosed with rubella were isolated in cell culture and sequenced. RV RNA was obtained from samples or RV-infected cell cultures and amplified by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. Sequences were assigned to genotypes by phylogenetic analysis using RV reference sequences. Seventeen sequences were analyzed, and three genotypes were identified: 1a, 1G, and 2B. Genotypes 1a and 1G, which were isolated in 2007, were responsible for sporadic rubella cases in São Paulo. Thereafter, in late 2007, the epidemiological conditions changed, resulting in a large RV outbreak with the clear dominance of genotype 2B. The results of this study provide new approaches for monitoring the progress of elimination of rubella from São Paulo, Brazil.
Assuntos
Filogenia , Vírus da Rubéola/classificação , Vírus da Rubéola/genética , Rubéola (Sarampo Alemão)/epidemiologia , Rubéola (Sarampo Alemão)/virologia , Adolescente , Adulto , Brasil/epidemiologia , Pré-Escolar , Análise por Conglomerados , Feminino , Genótipo , Humanos , Recém-Nascido , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Epidemiologia Molecular , Dados de Sequência Molecular , Vírus da Rubéola/isolamento & purificação , Análise de Sequência de DNA , Cultura de Vírus , Adulto JovemAssuntos
Encefalite Viral/diagnóstico , Vírus da Rubéola/classificação , Vírus da Rubéola/isolamento & purificação , Rubéola (Sarampo Alemão)/complicações , Rubéola (Sarampo Alemão)/diagnóstico , Adolescente , Sangue/virologia , Líquido Cefalorraquidiano/virologia , Efeito Citopatogênico Viral , Encefalite Viral/patologia , Encefalite Viral/virologia , Genótipo , Humanos , Leucócitos Mononucleares/virologia , Masculino , Dados de Sequência Molecular , Filogenia , RNA Viral/genética , Rubéola (Sarampo Alemão)/patologia , Rubéola (Sarampo Alemão)/virologia , Vírus da Rubéola/genética , Vírus da Rubéola/crescimento & desenvolvimento , Análise de Sequência de DNA , Homologia de SequênciaRESUMO
Rubella virus (RV) infection has sporadically been linked to Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS), but the association with RV has been based only on clinical and/or serological backgrounds. In the present case it was possible to isolate RV (genotype 1a) from cerebrospinal fluid and peripheral blood mononuclear cells of an 18-year-old woman diagnosed with GBS after clinical manifestations of rubella. This report contributes to confirm RV as one of the triggering pathogens of this peripheral nervous system disease.
Assuntos
Síndrome de Guillain-Barré/virologia , Vírus da Rubéola/classificação , Vírus da Rubéola/genética , Adolescente , Sangue/virologia , Líquido Cefalorraquidiano/virologia , Feminino , Humanos , Leucócitos Mononucleares/virologia , Vírus da Rubéola/isolamento & purificaçãoRESUMO
Gymnotid electric fish explore their environment and communicate with conspecifics by means of rhythmic electric organ discharges. The neural command for each electric organ discharge arises from activity of a medullary pacemaker nucleus composed of two neuronal types: pacemaker and relay cells. During different behaviors as in courtship, exploration and agonistic interactions, these species display specific electric organ discharge frequency and/or waveform modulations. The neural bases of these modulations have been explained in terms of segregation of inputs to pacemaker or relay cells, as well as differential activation of the glutamate receptors of these cells. One of the most conspicuous electric organ discharge frequency modulations in Gymnotus carapo results from the activation of Mauthner cells, a pair of reticulospinal neurons that are involved in the organization of sensory-evoked escape responses in teleost fish. The activation of Mauthner cells in these animals produces a prolonged increase in electric organ discharge rate, whose neural mechanisms involves the activation of both N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) and metabotropic glutamatergic receptors of pacemaker cells. Here we provide evidence which indicates that pacemaker cells are the only cellular target of the synaptic inputs responsible for the Mauthner cell initiated electric organ discharge modulation at the medullary pacemaker nucleus. Additionally, although pacemaker cells express both NMDA and non-NMDA ionotropic receptors, we found that non-NMDA receptors are not involved in this synaptic action which suggests that NMDA and non-NMDA receptor subtypes are not co-localized at the subsynaptic membrane. NMDA receptor activation of pacemaker cells seems to be an efficient neural strategy to produce long-lasting enhancements of the fish sampling capability during Mauthner cell-initiated motor behaviors.
Assuntos
Vias Aferentes/fisiologia , Comportamento Animal/fisiologia , Relógios Biológicos/fisiologia , Encéfalo/fisiologia , Gimnotiformes/fisiologia , Transmissão Sináptica/fisiologia , Potenciais de Ação/efeitos dos fármacos , Potenciais de Ação/fisiologia , Vias Aferentes/anatomia & histologia , Animais , Relógios Biológicos/efeitos dos fármacos , Encéfalo/anatomia & histologia , Estimulação Elétrica , Reação de Fuga/efeitos dos fármacos , Reação de Fuga/fisiologia , Potenciais Evocados/fisiologia , Antagonistas de Aminoácidos Excitatórios/farmacologia , Potenciais Pós-Sinápticos Excitadores/efeitos dos fármacos , Potenciais Pós-Sinápticos Excitadores/fisiologia , Ácido Glutâmico/metabolismo , Gimnotiformes/anatomia & histologia , Interneurônios/efeitos dos fármacos , Interneurônios/fisiologia , Lisina/análogos & derivados , Atividade Motora/efeitos dos fármacos , Atividade Motora/fisiologia , Neurônios/efeitos dos fármacos , Neurônios/fisiologia , Receptores de N-Metil-D-Aspartato/fisiologia , Formação Reticular/citologia , Formação Reticular/efeitos dos fármacos , Formação Reticular/fisiologia , Transmissão Sináptica/efeitos dos fármacosRESUMO
This study reports on molecular analysis of a Measles virus (MV) isolate from a patient who was infected in Japan but showed symptoms after arriving to Brazil. This patient had typical clinical measles infection symptoms: fever, rash, cough and coryza. After isolating the virus in B95a cells, a fragment of the nucleoprotein (N) gene was amplified by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and subjected to direct nucleotide sequencing. The sequence data showed that the MV isolate of concern is of the D5 genotype.
Assuntos
Vírus do Sarampo/genética , Sarampo/epidemiologia , Brasil , Genótipo , Humanos , Lactente , Japão/epidemiologia , Sarampo/virologia , Vírus do Sarampo/classificação , Vírus do Sarampo/isolamento & purificação , Nucleoproteínas/análise , Nucleoproteínas/genética , Filogenia , Reação em Cadeia da Polimerase , RNA Viral/análiseRESUMO
INTRODUCTION AND DEVELOPMENT: Neuronal mechanisms that underlie diverse sensory motor integration processes (SMI) are essential for the motor control and determine the general organization of the nervous system. Spinal cord, sensory relay nucleus of brainstem and thalamus as well as higher motor control structures are some of the levels, of increasing complexity, at which several processes of SMI occurs during the execution of a motor act. The mechanisms that underlie SMI strategies operating at higher hierarchical levels of motor control are poorly understood. Escape response in teleosts fish is an advantageous experimental model for the analysis of the neural basis of behavior and of the mechanisms and functional consequences of diverse strategies of ISM. We describe several levels of ISM that operate in the neural system that organize this response in most teleosts and we deal with a detailed description of a novel strategy that occurs in Gymnotus carapo, a South American weakly electric fish. In this species, the activation of the Mauthner cell, a command neuron for the initial phase of escape, produces a powerful modulation of the sensory system responsible for active electrorreception, its main sensory modality. CONCLUSION: The neural basis of behavior, even those relatively simple, exhibit several strategies of complex SMI that determine its performance and whose cellular mechanisms begin to be unraveled.
Assuntos
Peixes/fisiologia , Modelos Neurológicos , Atividade Motora/fisiologia , Sensação/fisiologia , Animais , Encéfalo/fisiologia , Peixe Elétrico/fisiologia , Reação de Fuga/fisiologia , Modelos Animais , Vias Neurais/fisiologia , Neurônios/fisiologia , Reflexo/fisiologia , Medula Espinal/fisiologia , Tálamo/fisiologiaRESUMO
OBJECTIVE: The rapid growth of the rubella virus in RC-IAL2 with development of cytopathic effect, in response to rubella virus infection, is described. For purposes of comparison, the rubella virus RA-27/3 strain was titered simultaneously in the RC-IAL, Vero, SIRC and RK13 cell lines. METHODS: Rubella virus RA-27/3 strain are inoculated in the RC-IAL cell line (rabbit Kidney, Institute Adolfo Lutz). Plates containing 1.5x10(5) cells/ml of RC-IAL line were inoculated with 0.1ml s RA-27/3 strain virus containing 1x 10(4)TCID50/0.1ml. A 25% cytopathic effect was observed after 48 hours and 100% after 96 hours. The results obtained were compared to those observed with the SIRC, Vero and RK13 cell lines. Rubella virus was detected by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: With the results, it was possible to conclude that the RC-IAL cell line is a very good substrate for culturing rubella virus. The cells inoculated with rubella virus were examined by phase contrast microscopy and showed the characteristic rounded, bipolar and multipolar cells. The CPE in RC-IAL was observed in the first 48 hours and the curve of the increased infectivity was practically the same as observed in other cell lines. CONCLUSIONS: These findings are important since this is one the few cell lines described in the literature with a cytopathic effect. So it can be used for antigen preparation and serological testing for the diagnosis of specific rubella antibodies.
Assuntos
Vírus da Rubéola/crescimento & desenvolvimento , Animais , Antígenos Virais , Linhagem Celular/patologia , Linhagem Celular/virologia , Chlorocebus aethiops , Efeito Citopatogênico Viral/fisiologia , Técnicas Imunoenzimáticas , Coelhos , Rubéola (Sarampo Alemão)/virologia , Vírus da Rubéola/ultraestrutura , Sensibilidade e Especificidade , Células Vero/patologia , Células Vero/virologia , Cultura de Vírus/métodos , Replicação ViralRESUMO
Weakly electric fish generate meaningful electromotor behaviors by specific modulations of the discharge of their medullary pacemaker nucleus from which the rhythmic command for each electric organ discharge (EOD) arises. Certain electromotor behaviors seem to involve the activation of specific neurotransmitter receptors on particular target cells within the nucleus, i.e., on pacemaker or on relay cells. This paper deals with the neural basis of the electromotor behavior elicited by activation of Mauthner cells in Gymnotus carapo. This behavior consists of an abrupt and prolonged increase in the rate of the EOD. The effects of specific glutamate agonists and antagonists on basal EOD frequency and on EOD accelerations induced by Mauthner cell activation were assessed. Injections of both ionotropic (AMPA, kainate, and NMDA) and metabotropic (trans-(+/-)-1-amino-1,3-cyclopentanedicarboxylic acid) glutamate agonists induced increases in EOD rate that were maximal when performed close to the soma of pacemaker cells. In contrast, injections in the proximity of relay cells were ineffective. Therefore, pacemaker neurons are probably endowed with diverse glutamate receptor subtypes, whereas relay cells are probably not. The Mauthner cell-evoked electromotor behavior was suppressed by injections of AP-5 and (+/-)-amino-4-carboxy-methyl-phenylacetic acid, NMDA receptor and metabotropic glutamate receptor antagonists, respectively. Thus, this electromotor behavior relies on the activation of the NMDA and metabotropic glutamate receptor subtypes of pacemaker cells. Our study gives evidence for the synergistic effects of NMDA and metabotropic receptor activation and shows how a simple circuit can produce specific electromotor outputs.
Assuntos
Relógios Biológicos/fisiologia , Peixe Elétrico/fisiologia , Bulbo/fisiologia , Atividade Motora/fisiologia , Neurônios/fisiologia , Receptores de Glutamato Metabotrópico/fisiologia , Receptores de N-Metil-D-Aspartato/fisiologia , 2-Amino-5-fosfonovalerato/farmacologia , 6-Ciano-7-nitroquinoxalina-2,3-diona/farmacologia , Animais , Órgão Elétrico/efeitos dos fármacos , Órgão Elétrico/fisiologia , Eletrofisiologia , Agonistas de Aminoácidos Excitatórios/farmacologia , Antagonistas de Aminoácidos Excitatórios/farmacologia , Ácido Glutâmico/farmacologia , Bulbo/citologiaRESUMO
The study was based on activities developed at Embu, SP, between October 1989 and June 1990. Its purpose was to study serological turning after child vaccination against measles at the age of nine months. Two groups were compared, both within the same age limits. Group number I included eutrophic children and group number II included undernourished children. Gomes criteria was used to evaluate the childrens nutritional state. Antibodies (AB) dosage was done through hemagglutination inhibition (HI) and ELISA. These two laboratory methods were also checked regarding its sensibility. Out of 130 children studied, 80 could be evaluated. From this total, 56 (70%) belonged to group I and 24 (30%) belonged to group II. When the ELISA method was used, a significantly higher seroconversion percentage (P < 0.05 or 5%) was found among children belonging to group II. This percentage was not detected when the HI method was used.
RESUMO
Maternally acquired immunity was studied in 16 pairs of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-seropositive women and their newborns, and was compared to 18 control mother-newborn pairs. The HIV-infected women had higher IgG levels than the control subjects, but no difference was observed between newborn samples, presumably due to the limited placental IgG transfer in the HIV group. A poor type 2 poliovirus antibody transfer was also noted in this group. The population of newborns lacking demonstrable measles antibodies was higher in the HIV group than in the control group, probably because many of the HIV-infected mothers lacked measles antibodies also. These results show that maternally acquired immunity may be affected to newborns from HIV-infected women, either because of low maternal serum antibody levels or deficient transplacental transfer. If so, the measles vaccine schedule should be revised for these children and the same should be done for future passive immunization regarding fetus protection in pregnant HIV-seropositive women.
Assuntos
Soropositividade para HIV/imunologia , Imunidade Materno-Adquirida , Complicações Infecciosas na Gravidez/imunologia , Adulto , Anticorpos Antivirais/metabolismo , Feminino , Humanos , Imunização Passiva , Imunoglobulina G/metabolismo , Lactente , Vírus do Sarampo/imunologia , Placenta/metabolismo , Gravidez , VacinaçãoAssuntos
Anticorpos Antivirais/análise , Rotavirus/imunologia , Adolescente , Adulto , Idoso , Antígenos Virais/imunologia , Brasil , Criança , Pré-Escolar , Feminino , Testes de Inibição da Hemaglutinação , Humanos , Lactente , Recém-Nascido , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Infecções por Rotavirus/diagnósticoRESUMO
A conceptual theoretical model was built on the basis of prominent concepts of the generally accepted knowledge on the spread of contagious disease. Subsequently, the model was applied to a real epidemic of variola minor (the mild form of smallpox) and four phases of the epidemic were disclosed. The phases discriminated themselves through their relationships to invasion of certain city subdivisions and rural districts and particularly, through the type of social units involved and the type of persons introducing the disease into these units. Introduction of variola minor into day schools with further spread in classes passed across a threshold which led to a boosting of the number of households affected and of the area involved in the epidemic. The phase of maximal spread corresponded to this operation of day schools as diffusion agencies. The temporal-spatial-social correspondence suggests that phases of the epidemic did occur as a result of periodic variation of the mechanism of spread.
Assuntos
Surtos de Doenças/epidemiologia , Varíola/epidemiologia , Fatores Socioeconômicos , Brasil , Geografia , Humanos , Modelos Teóricos , Varíola/transmissão , Conglomerados Espaço-TemporaisRESUMO
Entre maio de 1980 e julho de 1982 foram selecionadas ao acaso 1.202 amostras de sangue de individuos encaminhados do Instituto Adolfo Lutz. Usou-se o metodo da inibicao da hemaglutinacao, visando titular anticorpos para rotavirus. O antigeno usado foi obtido da cepa de virus SA-11.Os resultados de 426 soros de criancas entre 0-23 meses de idade indicam que a distribuicao da infeccao e semelhante aquela encontrada em outros paises. Diminuicao dos anticorpos maternos ocorreu aos 6-7 meses de idade e o pico da frequencia ocorreu nos 1o. e 2o. anos de vida. Em seguida nao houve variacoes de interesse inclusive ate a faixa igual ou maior de 70 anos sugerindo reinfeccoes no decorrer da vida. Estatisticamente, os resultados em 738 amostras de soros entre 2-59 anos nao diferiram significantemente dos obtidos pelo metodo ELISA em outros paises, razao pela qual o metodo, alem de menos oneroso, e mais simples e deve ser usado em inqueritos sorologicos e estudos retrospectivos de surtos e/ou epidemias da infeccao