ABSTRACT
Introducción: La pandemia de la COVID-19 ha generado un incremento de la información sobre esta enfermedad, por lo que es fundamental garantizar la credibilidad y confiabilidad de las páginas web que brindan esta información. Objetivo: Evaluar la confiabilidad de la información sanitaria en español sobre la COVID-19 en el motor de búsqueda Google considerando los criterios de la herramienta HONcode. Material y métodos: Estudio observacional de corte transversal. Las páginas web de Google se analizaron en diciembre del 2020 desde Lima-Perú, utilizando 4 términos de búsqueda. Se evaluó la confiabilidad de la información sanitaria de las páginas web mediante la herramienta HONcode (versión 3.1.3). Se clasificaron según la fuente de información y su procedencia. El análisis estadístico se realizó para un nivel de significancia de p<0,05. Resultados: Se evaluaron 200 páginas web en español, el 16,5% poseían certificado HONcode, la mayoría fue de la OMS (33,3%), la principal fuente de información fue "académica-profesional" (30,0%). Además, el 33,0% de las páginas web eran peruanas, siendo mayormente de tipo gubernamental (42,4%), pero ninguna tenía certificado HONcode. Conclusiones: Solo una de cada seis páginas web proporcionaba información sanitaria confiable sobre la COVID-19. Además, se distingue la presencia de las páginas web de la OMS en proveer información sanitaria sobre la COVID-19 en Google. Si bien este estudio destaca las páginas web de organismos internacionales, se requiere fortalecer la comunicación desde las páginas web gubernamentales peruanas.
Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic has generated an increase in information about this disease, so it is essential to ensure the credibility and reliability of the web pages that provide this information. Objective: To evaluate the reliability of health information in Spanish on COVID-19 in the Google search engine considering the criteria of the HONcode tool. Material and methods: Observational cross-sectional study. Google web pages were analyzed in December 2020 from Lima-Peru, using 4 search terms. The reliability of the health information on the web pages was assessed using the HONcode tool (version 3.1.3). They were classified according to the source of information and its provenance. Statistical analysis was performed for a significance level of p<0.05. Results: 200 web pages in Spanish were evaluated, 16.5% were HONcode certified, most of them were from the WHO (33.3%), the main source of information was "academic-professional" (30.0%). In addition, 33.0% of the web pages were Peruvian, being mostly governmental (42.4%), but none had HONcode certificate. Conclusions: Only one out of six web pages provided reliable health information on COVID-19. In addition, the presence of WHO web pages in providing health information about COVID-19 on Google stands out. Although this study highlights the web pages of international organizations, there is a need to strengthen communication from Peruvian governmental web pages.
ABSTRACT
La biopelícula como un mecanismo de virulencia en Staphylococcus involucrada en infecciones intrahospitalarias es regulada por un represor negativo icaR, responsable de la transcripción completa del operón icaADBC. La búsqueda de dominios funcionales por modulación computacional de icaR permitió hallar las secuencias peptídicas con actividad biológica análoga a la proteína icaR. Mediante biología computacional se diseñaron péptidos empleando el programa de predicción AntiBP (http://www.imtech.res.in/raghava/antibp/); la síntesis química se hizo por Nα-Fmoc y se caracterizaron y purificaron tres moléculas por RP-HPLC y MALDI-TOF. Se evaluó su seguridad biológica mediante ensayo de actividad citotóxica realizada sobre macrófagos murinos de la línea J774 y la actividad hemolítica se determinó mediante el uso de glóbulos rojos. Los tres péptidos caracterizados IR1, IR2 e IR3, presentaron estructura secundaria predominantemente alfa helicoidal, alto grado de pureza y alto score antimicrobiano; además, mostraron baja toxicidad, evidenciada por la actividad citotóxica y hemolítica en las concentraciones ensayadas y en comparación con los controles usados, que permitiría su potencial uso como moléculas candidatas o principios activos con actividad análoga al represor nativo icaR, frente a la biopelícula de los Staphylococcus sp.
Staphylococcus sp. biofilm, formed as a mechanism of virulence that is involved in hospital acquired infections, is regulated by a negative repressor icaR, which is responsible for the full transcription of the operon icaADBC. This study, through functional commands by computational modulation of icaR, allowed to find peptide sequences with similar biological activity to the icaR protein. Peptides were designed by means of computational biology using the prediction program AntiBP (http://www.imtech.res.in/raghava/antibp/). The chemical synthesis of peptides was performed by Nα-Fmoc. The purification and characterization of three molecules were carried out using RP-HPLC and MALDI-TOF. Biological safety of peptides was evaluated by tests of cytotoxic activity on murine macrophage cells line J774, and their hemolytic activity was determined by using red cells. The three characterized peptides IR1, IR2 and IR3 presented a predominantly secondary alpha helical structure with a high degree of purity and high antimicrobial scores. In addition, the peptides exhibited low toxicity, proved by their low cytotoxic and hemolytic activity in the tested concentrations and in comparison to the standards used. These results allow the potential use of these peptides as candidate molecules or active principles with similar activity to the native repressor icaR against the Staphylococcus biofilm.
O biofilme formado como um mecanismo de virulência em Staphylococcus sp., que está envolvido com infecções intra-hospitalares, é regulado por um repressor negativo icaR, o qual é responsável pela plena transcrição do operão icaADBC. Por tanto, o presente estudo, avaliando a segurança biológica de moléculas, concebeu peptídeos antibiofilme semelhantes ao repressor icaR. Por meio da biologia computacional foram concebidos peptídeos usando o programa de predição AntiBP (http://www.imtech.res.in/raghava/antibp/) para identificar as sequências com uma atividade biologicamente similar à da proteína icaR. A Síntese química dos peptídeos se fez pelo Nα-Fmoc e foram caracterizadas e purificadas três moléculas por RP-HPLC e MALDI-TOF. O ensaio de atividade citotóxica foi realizado nos macrófagos murinos da linha J774 e a atividade hemolítica foi determinada por meio do uso de glóbulos vermelhos. Foram caraterizados três peptídeos IR1, IR2 e IR3, além de mostrarem uma estrutura secundaria predominantemente alfa helicoidal, com alto grau de pureza, alto score antimicrobiano e baixa toxicidade, estes podem ser postulados como moléculas candidatas ou princípios ativos com uma atividade similar ao repressor nativo icaR frente ao biofilme dos Staphylococcus sp.
ABSTRACT
The Plasmodium falciparum merozoite surface protein 1 has been studied due to its potential to becomea vaccine; likewise, the peptide 1585 which is located in the 42-kDa amino-terminal fragment inducesprotective immunity in primates. Despite the importance of antigen adsorption in the formulation andproduction of vaccines containing aluminium adjuvant, the protein fragment adsorption on aluminium hydroxide has not been thoroughly studied. Electrostatic attraction, hydrophobic interaction and ligand exchange have been identified as the major mechanisms involved in antigen retention on the adsorbent surface. Peptide 1585 was synthesized, and its solubility, adsorption on aluminium hydroxide, as well as its molecule release have been studied here. Results allowed us to raise a model for the adsorption and release of this peptide, which are important parameters to establish optimal conditions for peptide adsorbent interaction and, therefore, their response as a vaccine. Results also established the reversibility of such process due to the phosphate ion effect. Thus, this work provides a starting point for research works, leading to further development of vaccine formulations containing highly purified synthetic antigens adsorbed on aluminium adjuvant.