Cell damage caused by vaginal Candida albicans isolates from women with different symptomatologies.

The present study aimed to characterize cell damage caused by vaginal Candida albicans isolates from women with different symptomatologies. It was evaluated 12 clinical isolates of C. albicans from vaginal samples: 4 from asymptomatic women (AS), 4 from women with a single episode of vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) and 4 from women with recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis (RVVC). We evaluated the ability of C. albicans to adhere to human cervical cancer cells (SiHa), the yeast-SiHa cell interactions and cell damage. All of the clinical isolates presented a high adhesion capacity on SiHa cells. However, clinical isolates from symptomatic women (VVC and RVVC) had higher filamentation after contact (24 h) with SiHa cells and a greater capacity to cause cell damage (>80 %). Clinical isolates from symptomatic women had greater potential to invade SiHa cells, suggesting that they are more pathogenic than AS isolates.

Biochemical responses in mice experimentally infected with Paracoccidioides brasiliensis and treated with Canova

The objective of this work was to evaluate biochemical parameters in Paracoccidioides brasiliensis infected mice and the effect of Canova medicine on these parameters. Mice infected with the isolate Paracoccidioides brasiliensis Pb18 and treated with Canova for 17 weeks were used. The biochemical parameters analysed were the levels of aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase and amylase, and the concentration of total proteins, albumin and globulins. The results suggested that the animals that were treated with Canova had less functional alterations in their internal organs.

A Paracoccidioidomicose é uma micose sistêmica endêmica em alguns países da América Latina. Essa doença afeta principalmente pulmões, gânglios e mucosas, além de causar diminuição da imunidade celular. O medicamento Canova tem sido utilizado com sucesso por pacientes imunodeprimidos, como por exemplo portadores de câncer e de AIDS. O objetivo desse trabalho foi avaliar aspectos bioquímicos em camundongos infectados com Paracoccidioides brasiliensis e os efeitos do medicamento Canova sobre esses parâmetros. Foram utilizados camundongos infectados com o isolado de Paracoccidioides brasiliensis Pb18 e tratados com o medicamento Canova durante dezessete semanas. Os parâmetros bioquímicos analisados foram níveis de atividade de aspartato amino transferase, alanina amino transferase, fosfatase alcalina e amilase, concentração de proteínas totais, albumina e globulinas. Os resultados obtidos sugerem que os animais que receberam tratamento com o medicamento Canova tiveram menores alterações funcionais nos seus órgãos internos.