ABSTRACT
Paracoccidioides brasiliensis and the related species P. americana, P. restrepiensis, P. venezuelensis, and P. lutzii (Ascomycota, Ajellomycetaceae) are the etiological agents of paracoccidoidoimycosis (PCM), one of the most important systemic mycoses in Latin America. They are dimorphic fungi, with a mycelial life cycle in soil and a yeast phase associated with tissues of mammalian hosts. This study aimed to detect Paracoccidioides spp. in armadillo tissues and associated soil samples in three well-defined geographic areas, including the Alta Floresta, an area not only endemic for PCM in the central region of Brazil but also of probable P. lutzii occurrence, whose ecology and geographic distribution are poorly elucidated. The isolates were genotyped by sequencing ITS-rDNA and the gp43-exon-2 region, and by PCR-RFLP of alpha tubulin (tub1) gene; mycological aspects such as yeast-to-mycelial transition, growth and conidial production in soil extract agar were also evaluated. We confirmed that while armadillos are highly infected by P. brasiliensis, including multiple infections by distinct genotypes or species (P. brasiliensis and P. americana) in the same animal, the same does not hold true for P. lutzii, which in turn seems to present less capacity for mycelial growth and conidial production, when developing in a soil-related condition.
Subject(s)
Armadillos/microbiology , Genetic Variation , Paracoccidioides/isolation & purification , Paracoccidioidomycosis/veterinary , Soil Microbiology , Animals , Antigens, Fungal/genetics , Brazil , Cluster Analysis , DNA, Fungal/chemistry , DNA, Fungal/genetics , DNA, Ribosomal Spacer/chemistry , DNA, Ribosomal Spacer/genetics , Female , Fungal Proteins/genetics , Genotype , Glycoproteins/genetics , Male , Microbiological Techniques , Paracoccidioides/classification , Paracoccidioides/genetics , Paracoccidioides/physiology , Paracoccidioidomycosis/microbiology , Phylogeny , Sequence Analysis, DNA , Tubulin/geneticsABSTRACT
4-methylesculetin is one of the coumarin derivatives with great anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. Recent studies have shown that 4-methylesculetin has a promising potentiality to treat inflammatory diseases, especially those related to reactive oxygen species, as inflammatory bowel disease. Based on this, the present study aims to investigate the intestinal anti-inflammatory activity of 4-methylesculetin in dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) model. For this purpose, mice received DSS 5% for 5 days followed by 2 days of filtered tap water. Treated groups received orally 5 or 25 mg/kg of 4-methylesculetin daily since the first day. Macroscopic, microscopic and biochemical parameters were evaluated. 4-methylesculetin (25 mg/kg) improved microscopic parameters, decreased MPO activity, reduced the colonic levels of IL-6 and counteracted GSH depletion when compared with DSS-control group. Our results show the intestinal anti-inflammatory activity of 4-methylesculetin in DSS model, which is related to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. This way, 4-methylesculetin, is a new potential compound for treatment of both types of IBD.
Subject(s)
Colitis/chemically induced , Colon/drug effects , Coumarins/pharmacology , Dextran Sulfate , Umbelliferones/pharmacology , Animals , Colitis/pathology , Colitis/prevention & control , Colon/metabolism , Colon/pathology , Coumarins/chemistry , Coumarins/therapeutic use , Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay , Glutathione/metabolism , Interleukin-17/analysis , Interleukin-6/analysis , Male , Mice , Peroxidase/metabolism , Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/analysis , Umbelliferones/chemistry , Umbelliferones/therapeutic useABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Dysbiosis is linked to the cause of several human diseases, many of which having an immunity related component. This work investigated whether mice genetically selected for low or high antibody production display differences in intestinal bacterial communities, and consisted in the comparison of fecal 16SV6-V8 rDNA PCR amplicons resolved by temperature gradient gel electrophoresis (TGGE) of five each of low (LIII) and high (HIII) antibody producing mice. 16SV6 rDNA amplicons of 2 mice from each line were sequenced. RESULTS: LIII mice were grouped in a single TGGE cluster, displayed a low α-diversity, and were distinguished by low Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that genetically driven low antibody production in mice is associated with gut dysbiosis.
ABSTRACT
The aim of the present study was to evaluate the activity of macrophages, and the production of TNF-α and antibodies against experimental infection by Leptospira serovar Pomona in mice genetically selected for High (H) or Low (L) humoral immune response. To evaluate macrophagic activity, peritoneal and splenic lavages were performed for determination of oxygen (H2O2) and nitrogen (NO) intermediates. The production of the tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α) was investigated through bioassays in serum and homogenates of splenic and hepatic cells of control and infected animals, as was as specific antibodies production. The immune response against serovar Pomona in those lines, was characterized by high antibody production, especially in later periods of the infectious process, whereas values of bacterial recovery in culture medium were lower. The production of reactives oxygen and nitrogen intermediate, also helped to eliminate Leptospira Pomona in both lines; H2O2 production an important factor in HIV-A, as well as NO production in LIV-A, especially in later post-inoculation periods. The same was detected for TNF-α. Results suggest that such lines could be an important model to investigate the pathogenesis and the immune response of animals against the several Leptospira serovars.
