Genetic variability in G2 and F2 region between biological clones of human respiratory syncytial virus with or without host immune selection pressure

Human respiratory syncytial virus (HRSV) is an important respiratory pathogens among children between zero-five years old. Host immunity and viral genetic variability are important factors that can make vaccine production difficult. In this work, differences between biological clones of HRSV were detected in clinical samples in the absence and presence of serum collected from children in the convalescent phase of the illness and from their biological mothers. Viral clones were selected by plaque assay in the absence and presence of serum and nucleotide sequences of the G2 and F2 genes of HRSV biological clones were compared. One non-synonymous mutation was found in the F gene (Ile5Asn) in one clone of an HRSV-B sample and one non-synonymous mutation was found in the G gene (Ser291Pro) in four clones of the same HRSV-B sample. Only one of these clones was obtained after treatment with the child's serum. In addition, some synonymous mutations were determined in two clones of the HRSV-A samples. In conclusion, it is possible that minor sequences could be selected by host antibodies contributing to the HRSV evolutionary process, hampering the development of an effective vaccine, since we verify the same codon alteration in absence and presence of human sera in individual clones of BR-85 sample.

Neutralising antibodies for Mayaro virus in Pantanal, Brazil

The Pantanal hosts diverse wildlife species and therefore is a hotspot for arbovirus studies in South America. A serosurvey for Mayaro virus (MAYV), eastern (EEEV), western (WEEV) and Venezuelan (VEEV) equine encephalitis viruses was conducted with 237 sheep, 87 free-ranging caimans and 748 equids, including 37 collected from a ranch where a neurologic disorder outbreak had been recently reported. Sera were tested for specific viral antibodies using plaque-reduction neutralisation test. From a total of 748 equids, of which 264 were immunised with vaccine composed of EEEV and WEEV and 484 had no history of immunisation, 10 (1.3%) were seropositive for MAYV and two (0.3%) for VEEV using criteria of a ≥ 4-fold antibody titre difference. Among the 484 equids without history of immunisation, 48 (9.9%) were seropositive for EEEV and four (0.8%) for WEEV using the same criteria. Among the sheep, five were sero- positive for equine encephalitis alphaviruses, with one (0.4%) for EEEV, one (0.4%) for WEEV and three (1.3%) for VEEV. Regarding free-ranging caimans, one (1.1%) and three (3.4%), respectively, had low titres for neutralising antibodies to VEEV and undetermined alphaviruses. The neurological disorder outbreak could not be linked to the alphaviruses tested. Our findings represent strong evidence that MAYV and all equine encephalitis alphaviruses circulated in the Pantanal.

BAY 41-2272 activates host defence against local and disseminated Candida albicans infections

In our previous study, we have found that 5-cyclopropyl-2-[1-(2-fluoro-benzyl)-1H-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridine-3-yl]-pyrimidin-4-ylamine (BAY 41-2272), a guanylate cyclase agonist, activates human monocytes and the THP-1 cell line to produce the superoxide anion, increasing in vitro microbicidal activity, suggesting that this drug can be used to modulate immune functioning in primary immunodeficiency patients. In the present work, we investigated the potential of the in vivo administration of BAY 41-2272 for the treatment of Candida albicans and Staphylococcus aureus infections introduced via intraperitoneal and subcutaneous inoculation. We found that intraperitoneal treatment with BAY 41-2272 markedly increased macrophage-dependent cell influx to the peritoneum in addition to macrophage functions, such as spreading, zymosan particle phagocytosis and nitric oxide and phorbol myristate acetate-stimulated hydrogen peroxide production. Treatment with BAY 41-2272 was highly effective in reducing the death rate due to intraperitoneal inoculation of C. albicans, but not S. aureus. However, we found that in vitro stimulation of peritoneal macrophages with BAY 41-2272 markedly increased microbicidal activities against both pathogens. Our results show that the prevention of death by the treatment of C. albicans-infected mice with BAY 41-2272 might occur primarily by the modulation of the host immune response through macrophage activation. .

Bats and zoonotic viruses: can we confidently link bats with emerging deadly viruses?

An increasingly asked question is 'can we confidently link bats with emerging viruses?'. No, or not yet, is the qualified answer based on the evidence available. Although more than 200 viruses - some of them deadly zoonotic viruses - have been isolated from or otherwise detected in bats, the supposed connections between bats, bat viruses and human diseases have been raised more on speculation than on evidence supporting their direct or indirect roles in the epidemiology of diseases (except for rabies). However, we are convinced that the evidence points in that direction and that at some point it will be proved that bats are competent hosts for at least a few zoonotic viruses. In this review, we cover aspects of bat biology, ecology and evolution that might be relevant in medical investigations and we provide a historical synthesis of some disease outbreaks causally linked to bats. We provide evolutionary-based hypotheses to tentatively explain the viral transmission route through mammalian intermediate hosts and to explain the geographic concentration of most outbreaks, but both are no more than speculations that still require formal assessment.

Benefícios auxílio-doença concedidos aos trabalhadores empregados no ramo de carne e pescado no Brasil em 2008 / Sick leave benefits for workers in the Brazilian meat and fish industries in 2008 / Prestaciones sociales por enfermedad, concedidas por el Seguro Social, a los empleados en el sector de la carne y pescado en Brasil durante el año 2008

Este estudo objetivou identificar fatores associados à incidência de concessão de benefícios entre trabalhadores na atividade de carne e pescado no Brasil. Foram estudados os benefícios auxílio-doença concedidos pela Previdência Social aos empregados em carne e pescado no Brasil em 2008. As incidências por 10 mil vínculos empregatícios foram estratificadas por sexo, idade, diagnóstico, atividade econômica, unidade federada, espécie e duração dos benefícios auxílio-doença. Foram concedidos 31.913 benefícios auxílio-doença, com incidência de 788,7. O ramo abate de bovinos, equinos, ovinos e caprinos apresentou a maior incidência (1.223,2); o pescado, a maior duração (61 dias) de benefícios auxílio-doença. As mulheres apresentaram maior incidência, enquanto os homens, maior duração de benefícios auxílio-doença. Os grupos Lesões, doenças osteomusculares e transtornos mentais representaram 67,2% dos benefícios auxílio-doença. Os diagnósticos mais incidentes foram as dorsopatias, hemorragia no início da gravidez e episódios depressivos. O ramo de atividade, sexo, e a idade representaram importantes fatores associados à incidência de benefícios auxílio-doença, sugerindo uma precarização das condições/relações de trabalho.

This study aims to analyze factors associated with sick leave rates among workers in the meat, fish, and seafood industries in Brazil. The study analyzed all sick leave benefits granted by the country's social security system to workers in these industries in 2008. Incidence of sick leave per 10 thousand jobs was stratified by sex, age, diagnosis, job position, State, and nature and length of benefits. The study analyzed 31,913 sick leaves, with an annual incidence of 788.7. Meat processing and packaging showed the highest incidence, and fish and seafood processing and packaging showed the longest mean length of sick leave. Women showed a higher sick leave incidence, while men received longer average sick leaves. Injuries, musculoskeletal disorders, and mental disorders accounted for 67.2% of sick leaves. The most common diagnoses were lower back pain, first-trimester bleeding in pregnancy, and depression. The data suggest poor job protection and adverse working conditions in these industries.

El objetivo del presente estudio fue identificar factores asociados a la incidencia de concesión prestaciones sociales por enfermedad a los trabajadores del sector cárnico y pesquero en Brasil. Se estudiaron las prestaciones sociales por enfermedad, concedidas por el Seguro Social, a los empleados de los sectores anteriormente mencionados durante el año 2008. Las incidencias por cada 10 mil empleados fueron estratificadas por sexo, edad, diagnóstico, actividad económica, departamento, tipo y duración de las prestaciones por enfermedad. Se concedieron 31.913 prestaciones sociales por enfermedad, con una incidencia de 788,7. El colectivo perteneciente a mataderos de ganado vacuno, equino, bovino y caprino presentó la mayor incidencia (1.223,2) y el de pesca la mayor duración (61 días de prestaciones sociales por enfermedad). Las mujeres presentaron una mayor incidencia, mientras los hombres una mayor duración de las prestaciones por enfermedad. Los grupos de lesiones, enfermedades osteomusculares y trastornos mentales representaron un 67,2% de los beneficios de auxilio por enfermedad. Los diagnósticos más incidentes fueron las dorsopatías, hemorragias en el principio de la gestación y episodios depresivos, según las ramas de la actividad ejercida, el sexo y la edad son importantes factores, sugiriendo precariedad en las condiciones de trabajo.

Aparente dinamismo das exportaçöes brasileiras de produtos alimentícios industrializados / Apparent dynamism of the exportation of industrialized Brazilian food

Este trabalho procurou analisar alguns aspectos das exportaçöes brasileiras e produtos alimentícios industrializados, de 1968 a 1991. Foram identificados os sub-ramos mais dinâmicos nos grupos de produtos semi-elaborados da indústria alimentícia e os tradicionalmente importantes, assim como os produtos que mais contribuíram para o aumento ou queda das exportaçöes em cada sub-ramo, sendo também determinada a tendência geral das exportaçöes de cada setor. Apesar da diversificaçäo verificada em alguns sub-ramos, grande parte dos produtos näo se manteve na pauta de exportaçöes de cada setor. Apesar da diversificaçäo verificada em alguns sub-ramos, grande parte dos produtos näo se manteve na pauta de exportaçöes por período prolongado. Estas exportaçöes ainda se baseiam em produtos semi-elaborados, com menor valor agregado e, mesmo entre os elaborados, os produtos que mais se destacaram foram aqueles com menor grau de elaboraçäo

Potencial agroindustrial no setor de frutas na sub-regiäo de Campinas / The potential of agroindustry in the fruit sector of the region of Campinas

A avaliaçäo da situaçäo agroindustrial no setor de frutas na sub-regiäo de Campinas indica uma tendência de desaparecimento da fruticultura para a indústria de doces, geléias, polpas e sorvetes. A atratividade maior é encontrada nos ramos de polpas, principalmente as congeladas e de sorvetes, enquanto o de doces e geléias apresenta-se com uma tendência à progressiva reduçäo de consumo. As unidades industriais säo micro ou pequenas empresas ou ainda säo aquelas grandes, que produzem o doce como um pequeno complemento. A tecnologia empregada, na média, é razoável e os investimentos variam de pequenos montantes (US$70 mil) até grandes investimentos (US$3,5 milhöes), quando se trata de polpas congeladas ou sorvetes industriais. O consumo de frutas para a industrializaçäo é muito pequeno (3000t/ano na forma "in natura" e 3000t/ano na forma de polpa)