Pharmacological screening of mucus produced by the pacamã fish, Lophiosilurus alexandri / Triagem farmacológica de muco produzido pelo pacamã, Lophiosilurus alexandri

Recently, fish byproducts have been appraised as a source of structurally diverse bioactive compounds. In this context, fish mucus has revealed a myriad of pharmacological activities. This study describes a new bioactive molecule release system composed of protein nanoparticles from pacamã (Lophiosilurus alexandri) mucus, an endemic fish to the São Francisco River (Brazil). The process of obtaining and applying these nanoparticles, composed of proteins present in the pacamã mucus, as biocompatible carriers of bioactive molecules is also addressed herein. Therefore, the external mucus of the fish was collected, lyophilized and hydrated in deionized water containing the template molecule. After pH adjustment to 7.5, followed by sonication and centrifugation, the formed nanoparticles were collected in the supernatant. Additionally, the mucus and the particles were characterized, and pharmacological effects were evaluated regarding their antifungal, antibacterial, anticancer, anti or pro-inflammatory and antinociceptive proprieties. NP-Mucus did not exhibit antibacterial activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa or Staphylococcus aureus. However, it showed potential effects against Candida albicans with a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 1 µg/mL, and significant pro-inflammatory role, reflected by cellular recruitment activity and healing effects. Therefore, future studies are now needed in order to identify specific compounds in NP-mucus responsible for the observed effects in order to provide new pharmacological and therapeutic strategies.(AU)

Recentemente, os subprodutos de peixes foram avaliados como uma fonte de compostos bioativos estruturalmente diversos. Nesse contexto, o muco dos peixes revelou uma miríade de atividades farmacológicas. Este estudo descreve um novo sistema de liberação de moléculas bioativas compostas por nanopartículas de proteínas do muco do pacamã (Lophiosilurus alexandri), um peixe do Rio São Francisco (Brasil). O processo de obtenção e aplicação dessas nanopartículas, compostas por proteínas presentes no muco do pacamã, como carreadores biocompatíveis de moléculas bioativas também são abordados neste artigo. Para tanto, o muco externo dos peixes foi coletado, liofilizado e hidratado em água deionizada contendo a molécula template. Após ajuste do pH para 7,5, seguido de sonicação e centrifugação, as nanopartículas formadas foram coletadas no sobrenadante. Adicionalmente, foram caracterizados o muco e as partículas, sendo avaliados os efeitos farmacológicos quanto às propriedades antifúngicas, antibacterianas, anticancerígenas, anti ou pró-inflamatórias e antinociceptivas. NP-Mucus não exibiu atividade antibacteriana contra Pseudomonas aeruginosa ou Staphylococcus aureus. No entanto, apresentou efeitos potenciais contra Candida albicans com concentração inibitória mínima (MIC) de 1 µg/mL, além de importante papel próinflamatório, refletido pela atividade de recrutamento celular e efeitos cicatrizantes. Portanto, estudos são necessários para identificar compostos no NP-muco responsáveis pelos efeitos observados, a fim de fornecer novas estratégias farmacológicas e terapêuticas.(AU)

PHARMACOLOGICAL SCREENING OF MUCUS PRODUCED BY THE PACAMÃ FISH, Lophiosilurus alexandri

Recently, fish byproducts have been appraised as a source of structurally diverse bioactive compounds. In this context, fish mucus has revealed a myriad of pharmacological activities. This study describes a new bioactive molecule release system composed of protein nanoparticles from pacamã (Lophiosilurus alexandri) mucus, an endemic fish to the São Francisco River (Brazil). The process of obtaining and applying these nanoparticles, composed of proteins present in the pacamã mucus, as biocompatible carriers of bioactive molecules is also addressed herein. Therefore, the external mucus of the fish was collected, lyophilized and hydrated in deionized water containing the template molecule. After pH adjustment to 7.5, followed by sonication and centrifugation, the formed nanoparticles were collected in the supernatant. Additionally, the mucus and the particles were characterized, and pharmacological effects were evaluated regarding their antifungal, antibacterial, anticancer, anti or pro-inflammatory and antinociceptive proprieties. NP-Mucus did not exhibit antibacterial activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa or Staphylococcus aureus. However, it showed potential effects against Candida albicans with a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 1 µg/mL, and significant pro-inflammatory role, reflected by cellular recruitment activity and healing effects. Therefore, future studies a

Pharmacological screening of mucus produced by the pacamã fish, Lophiosilurus alexandri / Triagem farmacológica de muco produzido pelo pacamã, Lophiosilurus alexandri

Recently, fish byproducts have been appraised as a source of structurally diverse bioactive compounds. In this context, fish mucus has revealed a myriad of pharmacological activities. This study describes a new bioactive molecule release system composed of protein nanoparticles from pacamã (Lophiosilurus alexandri) mucus, an endemic fish to the São Francisco River (Brazil). The process of obtaining and applying these nanoparticles, composed of proteins present in the pacamã mucus, as biocompatible carriers of bioactive molecules is also addressed herein. Therefore, the external mucus of the fish was collected, lyophilized and hydrated in deionized water containing the template molecule. After pH adjustment to 7.5, followed by sonication and centrifugation, the formed nanoparticles were collected in the supernatant. Additionally, the mucus and the particles were characterized, and pharmacological effects were evaluated regarding their antifungal, antibacterial, anticancer, anti or pro-inflammatory and antinociceptive proprieties. NP-Mucus did not exhibit antibacterial activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa or Staphylococcus aureus. However, it showed potential effects against Candida albicans with a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 1 µg/mL, and significant pro-inflammatory role, reflected by cellular recruitment activity and healing effects. Therefore, future studies are now needed in order to identify specific compounds in NP-mucus responsible for the observed effects in order to provide new pharmacological and therapeutic strategies.

Recentemente, os subprodutos de peixes foram avaliados como uma fonte de compostos bioativos estruturalmente diversos. Nesse contexto, o muco dos peixes revelou uma miríade de atividades farmacológicas. Este estudo descreve um novo sistema de liberação de moléculas bioativas compostas por nanopartículas de proteínas do muco do pacamã (Lophiosilurus alexandri), um peixe do Rio São Francisco (Brasil). O processo de obtenção e aplicação dessas nanopartículas, compostas por proteínas presentes no muco do pacamã, como carreadores biocompatíveis de moléculas bioativas também são abordados neste artigo. Para tanto, o muco externo dos peixes foi coletado, liofilizado e hidratado em água deionizada contendo a molécula template. Após ajuste do pH para 7,5, seguido de sonicação e centrifugação, as nanopartículas formadas foram coletadas no sobrenadante. Adicionalmente, foram caracterizados o muco e as partículas, sendo avaliados os efeitos farmacológicos quanto às propriedades antifúngicas, antibacterianas, anticancerígenas, anti ou pró-inflamatórias e antinociceptivas. NP-Mucus não exibiu atividade antibacteriana contra Pseudomonas aeruginosa ou Staphylococcus aureus. No entanto, apresentou efeitos potenciais contra Candida albicans com concentração inibitória mínima (MIC) de 1 µg/mL, além de importante papel próinflamatório, refletido pela atividade de recrutamento celular e efeitos cicatrizantes. Portanto, estudos são necessários para identificar compostos no NP-muco responsáveis pelos efeitos observados, a fim de fornecer novas estratégias farmacológicas e terapêuticas.

Biotools: an R function to predict spatial gene diversity via an individual-based approach.

The gene diversity or expected heterozygosity (HE) is based on the allele frequency and is often used as a measure of genetic variability of populations. Knowing the pattern of spatial distribution of HE can be useful for determining strategies of conservation and sampling of collections of individuals. In addition, it can allow one to detect genetic boundaries in a landscape. We adapted a Wombling method based on assignment tests in a circular moving window extensively sampled over the study area in order to estimate HE at points of a prediction grid. The function sHe(), package biotools, is an easy-to-use and flexible implementation in R language that accepts as input geographical and genotyping data. The package biotools is distribution-free under the GPL-2/3 license and currently available from the Comprehensive R Archive Network (CRAN) at . The R platform and all R dependencies are similarly available from CRAN.

Natural hybridization between Gossypium mustelinum and exotic allotetraploid cotton species.

Cotton has been collected in Brazil for decades for its conservation, evaluation, and the use of its genetic resources. Gossypium mustelinum is an allotetraploid cotton species that only occurs in Brazil, and little is known about its genetic potential for improvement. However, the species is threatened by habitat fragmentation and interspecific hybridization with exotic species of cotton. In this study, we investigated the rate of natural hybridization in two populations of G. mustelinum in Bahia, Brazil, with G. hirsutum and G. barbadense using a set of microsatellite markers.

Protein-energy malnutrition as a risk factor for visceral leishmaniasis: a review.

The protein-energy malnutrition (PEM) and visceral leishmaniasis (VL) are important problems of public health, which affect millions of people worldwide. Currently, it has been accepted that the immunity or susceptibility to infect-parasitic diseases are directly related to the nutritional status of the host. However, the mechanisms that govern the relationship between the PEM and the course of the VL are multiple and little explained. In this study the current most important aspects and the synergism between these two illnesses were presented. Bibliographic search includes empirical reports, reviews, commentaries, reports from professional associations, books, editorials and annals of congress published in diverse languages between 1960 and January 2009. As much the PEM as the infections caused by parasites of the Leishmania genus are frequent problems in the current days. As new studies are developed on the subject, it becomes essential that the society knows them.

Protein-energy malnutrition decreases immune response to Leishmania chagasi vaccine in BALB/c mice.

Protein-energy malnutrition and visceral leishmaniasis are important problems of public health affecting millions of people worldwide. Vaccine efficacy depends on the ability of individuals to mount an appropriate immune response and may be inadequate in malnourished persons. In this study, we used a mouse model to verify the effect of combined protein, iron and zinc deficiency in the response to Leishmania chagasi antigen vaccine. BALB/c mice were fed with a low-protein (3% casein), iron- and zinc-deficient diet or control diet (14% casein and sufficient in zinc and iron). After malnutrition establishment, mice were vaccinated subcutaneously with L. chagasi Ag plus saponin. After vaccination, mice were nutritionally repleted and then all mice were challenged with L. chagasi promastigotes. Four weeks later, liver and spleen parasite load was evaluated. Our data show that vaccine caused a significant reduction in parasite load in spleen and liver from mice fed with control diet. However, splenic parasitism was increased in mice fed with deficient diet and this diet caused a reduction in splenocyte IFN-gamma production in response to the vaccine in repleted mice. These data suggest that malnutrition may alter immune response to L. chagasi vaccine in BALB/c model of infection, even after nutritional repletion.