Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Andreza do Socorro Silva da Veiga, Fernando Tobias Silveira, Edilene Oliveira da Silva, Jose Antonio Picanco Diniz Junior, Sanderson Correa Araujo, Marliane Batista Campos, Andrey Moacir do Rosario Marinho, Geraldo Celio Brandao, Valdicley Vieira Vale, Sandro Percario, Maria Fani Dolabela
Summary: This study evaluated the morphological changes caused by fractions and subfractions obtained from barks of Aspidosperna nitidum against L. (L.) amazonensis promastigotes. The results suggest that alkaloids isolated from A. nitidum show potential as leishmanicidal agents. Scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy analysis revealed changes in the parasites' morphology after treatment with the active fractions.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Alasteir Ong, Mark R. O'Brian
Summary: In Bradyrhizobium japonicum, iron uptake involves selective outer membrane proteins and non-selective periplasmic and cytoplasmic membrane components. FsrB is identified as an iron-regulated gene required for growth on catecholate- and hydroxymate-type siderophores. The activity of FsrB occurs in the periplasm and is involved in the reduction and dissociation of iron from the siderophore.
MOLECULAR MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Alonso da Silva Lira Filho, Emanuella Francisco Fajardo, Kwang Poo Chang, Pauline Clement, Martin Olivier
Summary: This study focuses on the role of GP63 in Leishmania spp.-derived exosomes/extracellular vesicles (EVs/LeishEXO) in modulating immune responses and exacerbating cutaneous leishmaniasis. The researchers confirmed the specificity of a novel model by analyzing the protein composition of the extracted EVs and found that GP63 was the primary virulence factor altered in the composition. They also demonstrated that EVs with different levels of GP63 cargo had distinct immunomodulatory capabilities and impact on the cutaneous pathology of Leishmania spp. infection. These findings provide new insights into the immune response and host-pathogen interaction in cutaneous leishmaniasis and have implications for the development of new treatments and vaccines.
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR AND INFECTION MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Jie Xiao, Yoo Gyeong Park, Ge Guo, Byoung Ryong Jeong
Summary: The growth and development of S. commixta in vitro was affected by both the Fe source and pH, with plantlets showing greener leaves under pH 4.70 and 5.70. Despite higher Fe absorption at pH 4.70, Fe-EDTA combined with pH 5.70 was found to be the most beneficial for the overall growth and development of S. commixta.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Thais Tenorio Soares Fujii, Pollyanna Stephanie Gomes, Rubens Lima do Monte-Neto, Daniel Claudio de Oliveira Gomes, Marc Ouellette, Eduardo Caio Torres-Santos, Valter Viana Andrade-Neto, Herbert Leonel de Matos Guedes
Summary: The study investigates the compensatory mechanisms of the sterol biosynthesis pathway in Leishmania parasites, revealing the important role of programmed regulation and gene expression in drug resistance. These findings have implications for the development of drugs and protease inhibitors targeting parasites.
Article
Microbiology
Alex Barbosa Alves, Bruna Taciane da Silva Bortoleti, Fernanda Tomiotto-Pellissier, Ana Flavia Marques Ganaza, Manoela Daiele Goncalves, Amanda Cristina Machado Carloto, Ana Carolina Jacob Rodrigues, Taylon Felipe Silva, Gerson Nakazato, Renata Katsuko Takayama Kobayashi, Danielle Lazarin-Bidoia, Milena Menegazzo Miranda-Sapla, Idessania Nazareth Costa, Wander Rogerio Pavanelli, Ivete Conchon-Costa
Summary: American tegumentary leishmaniasis, caused by the Leishmania genus, is difficult to treat due to administration difficulty, low efficacy, and parasite resistance. Oregano essential oil (OEO) and silver nanoparticles (AgNp) have shown promising antiparasitic activity. In this study, OEO + AgNp exhibited a synergistic effect on killing L. amazonensis promastigotes and infected macrophages, inducing multiple death mechanisms including NO and ROS production, mitochondrial depolarization, and damage to the parasite's plasma membrane. It also reduced the percentage of infected cells and the number of amastigotes per macrophage.
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Fernandes Nilma de Souza, Vania Cristina Desoti, Alcilene Dias, Yasmin Cunha da Silva, Ana Paula de Azevedo dos Santos, Guilherme Matos Passarini, Celso Vataru Nakamura, Valdir Florencio da Veiga Junior
Summary: This study found that the isolated compound SP from the Amazonian tree species has activity against Leishmania amazonensis, causing morphological and ultrastructural changes in parasites, cell cycle impairment, increased production of reactive oxygen species, accumulation of lipid bodies, and formation of autophagic vacuoles. In silico studies showed a high drug-score for SP, suggesting its potential for further investigation as a promising drug candidate for chemotherapy against parasitic infections.
NATURAL PRODUCT RESEARCH
(2021)
Review
Plant Sciences
Lovely Mahawar, Kesava Priyan Ramasamy, Aparna Pandey, Sheo Mohan Prasad
Summary: Iron is a crucial micronutrient for plant growth and human nutrition. Understanding iron homeostasis in plants is essential for improving growth and development and addressing iron deficiency in low-income rural populations. This review focuses on the role of signaling molecules, particularly phytohormones and nitric oxide, and their coordination in iron homeostasis in agriculturally important crops. These signaling molecules play a vital role in up-regulating iron acquisition genes, facilitating iron translocation, and enhancing iron accessibility, making them important biofortification strategies for addressing hidden hunger.
PLANT GROWTH REGULATION
(2023)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Timothy J. Cain, Aaron T. Smith
Summary: Iron is essential for life and its acquisition by unicellular pathogens through siderophores is crucial for virulence. Ferric reductases play a key role in reducing Fe3+ to Fe2+ for uptake, but remain poorly understood, highlighting the important connection between Fe3+ reduction and Fe2+ transport.
JOURNAL OF INORGANIC BIOCHEMISTRY
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Erika Alves Bezerra, Michel Mualem de Moraes Alves, Simone Kelly Rodrigues Lima, Emanuelly Elanny Andrade Pinheiro, Layane Valeria Amorim, Jose de Sousa Lima Neto, Fernando Aecio de Amorim Carvalho, Antonia Maria das Gracas Lopes Cito, Daniel Dias Rufino Arcanjo
Summary: The study found that extracts from Platonia insignis flowers and the biflavones mixture thereof have inhibitory effects on Leishmania parasite activity, with low toxicity to macrophages. Additionally, these extracts can increase lysosomal activity, potentially showing a modulatory effect.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Alex Graca Contato, Vanessa Kaplum, Debora Botura Scariot, Francielle Pelegrin Garcia, Hugo Falzirolli, Fabio Vandresen, Tania Ueda-Nakamura, Sueli de Oliveira Silva, Cleuza Conceicao da Silva, Celso Vataru Nakamura
Summary: Leishmaniasis is a tropical disease that affects approximately 1.3 million people annually. Current treatments for this disease have dangerous side effects. This study discovered that a limonene-acylthiosemicarbazide compound (ATZ-S-04) shows promising antiproliferative activity against Leishmania parasites and affects their morphology.
CHEMISTRY & BIODIVERSITY
(2023)
Article
Cell Biology
Barbara Peracino, Valentina Monica, Luca Primo, Enrico Bracco, Salvatore Bozzaro
Summary: Iron is essential for cellular activities and defense mechanisms against intracellular pathogens. Dictyostelium cells express iron transporter proteins and ferric reductase enzymes for iron transport and reduction.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF CELL BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Agronomy
Carla S. Santos, Clara Sousa, Maryam Bagheri, Simao Pinho, Marta W. Vasconcelos
Summary: This study evaluated the potential of Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy for detecting iron deficiency and oxidative stress in soybean plants. The results showed that FTIR spectroscopy could discriminate between iron-sufficient and iron-deficient plants at an early stage of stress induction, with high reproducibility. This technique may serve as an early, non-invasive, cheap, and environmentally friendly method for managing iron deficiency in plants.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Alfonso Olaya-Abril, Victor M. Luque-Almagro, Jesus Hidalgo-Carrillo, Eduardo Chicano-Galvez, Francisco J. Urbano, Conrado Moreno-Vivian, David J. Richardson, Maria Dolores Roldan
Summary: Denitrification is a sequential reduction process that involves various elements such as copper and iron. The NtrYX two-component regulatory system plays a crucial role in denitrification and is regulated by iron starvation.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Brunno R. F. Vercoza, Robson R. Bernardo, Luiz Augusto S. de Oliveira, Juliany C. F. Rodrigues
Summary: The therapeutic potential of green superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) produced with coconut water for treating cutaneous leishmaniasis caused by Leishmania amazonensis was evaluated. Optical and electron microscopy techniques were used to assess the effects on cell proliferation, infectivity percentage, and ultrastructure. The synthesized SPIONs exhibited promising activity against Leishmania and could be considered as a strong candidate for a new therapeutic approach for treating leishmaniases.
BEILSTEIN JOURNAL OF NANOTECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Cell Biology
Norma W. Andrews
CELLULAR MICROBIOLOGY
(2019)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
N. Rocco-Machado, D. Cosentino-Gomes, M. T. Nascimento, L. Paes-Vieira, Y. A. Khan, B. Mittra, N. W. Andrews, J. R. Meyer-Fernandes
FREE RADICAL BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE
(2019)
Editorial Material
Parasitology
Nilmar Silvio Moretti, Renato Arruda Mortara, Sergio Schenkman
TRENDS IN PARASITOLOGY
(2020)
Article
Immunology
Cristina M. Orikaza, Carina C. Pessoa, Fernanda Paladino, Pilar T. Florentino, Clara L. Barbieri, Hiro Goto, Eduardo Milton Ramos-Sanchez, Jose Franco Silveira, Michel Rabinovitch, Renato A. Mortara, Fernando Real
INFECTION AND IMMUNITY
(2020)
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Werica P. Bernardo, Renata T. Souza, Andre G. Costa-Martins, Eden R. Ferreira, Renato A. Mortara, Marta M. G. Teixeira, Jose Luis Ramirez, Jose F. Da Silveira
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Erika Gracielle Pinto, Leandro R. S. Barbosa, Renato A. Mortara, Andre Gustavo Tempone
CHEMICO-BIOLOGICAL INTERACTIONS
(2020)
Article
Immunology
Camila Macedo Medina, Eden Ramalho Ferreira, Bruno Souza Bonifacio, Renato Arruda Mortara, Alexis Bonfim-Melo
Summary: The study revealed that Trypanosoma cruzi extracellular amastigotes invade cells by relying on the host cell actin cytoskeleton. Rac1 and Cdc42 were found to be involved in the actin-dependent internalization of EAs in RAW 264.7 macrophages, suggesting a phagocytic-like mechanism in the process.
MICROBES AND INFECTION
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Pilar T. Florentino, Davi Mendes, Francisca Nathalia L. Vitorino, Davi J. Martins, Julia P. C. Cunha, Renato A. Mortara, Carlos F. M. Menck
Summary: Trypanosoma cruzi infection induces oxidative stress and DNA damage in host cells, affecting the parasite propagation. Pre-treatment with BNZ can reduce oxidative stress and DNA damage caused by infection, potentially preparing cellular metabolism to respond to T. cruzi infection and control parasite propagation.
Review
Immunology
Artur Leonel de Castro Neto, Jose Franco da Silveira, Renato Arruda Mortara
Summary: Trypanosoma brucei, Leishmania spp., and T. cruzi are the causative agents of human African trypanosomiasis, leishmaniasis, and Chagas disease, respectively, and they have developed mechanisms to evade the immune response system throughout the infection cycle, allowing them to survive and propagate in their hosts.
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR AND INFECTION MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Eden R. Ferreira, Alexis Bonfim-Melo, Barbara A. Burleigh, Jaime A. Costales, Kevin M. Tyler, Renato A. Mortara
Summary: This study provides the first description of the coordinated mechanism by which T. cruzi escapes from host cells, involving remodeling of the host cell cytoskeleton and rupture of the host cell plasma membrane. The degradation of F-actin by parasite proteases plays a key role in triggering egress, which can be a potential target for novel therapeutic interventions.
Article
Immunology
Nadjania Saraiva de Lira Silva, Cristina Mary Orikaza, Fabiana Rodrigues de Santana, Luana Aguiar dos Santos, Bruno Ramos Salu, Maria Luiza Vilela Oliva, Rita de Cassia Sinigaglia, Renato Arruda Mortara
Summary: IL-9 plays a role in controlling T. cruzi infection by reducing invasion and multiplication in vitro, and acts as a protective factor during the chronic phase of experimental infection in BALB/c mice, controlling cardiac fibrosis and proinflammatory cytokine production.
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR AND INFECTION MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Thaise Lara Teixeira, Miguel Angel Chiurillo, Noelia Lander, Cassiano Costa Rodrigues, Thiago Souza Onofre, Eden Ramalho Ferreira, Camila Miyagui Yonamine, Julia de Gouveia Santos, Renato Arruda Mortara, Claudio Vieira da Silva, Jose Franco da Silveira
Summary: P21 is an immunomodulatory protein in Trypanosoma cruzi that plays crucial roles in host cell invasion, internalization, and amastigote proliferation.
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR AND INFECTION MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Bruno Souza Bonifacio, Alexis Bonfim-Melo, Renato Arruda Mortara, Eden Ramalho Ferreira
Summary: This study investigates the invasion mechanism of Trypanosoma cruzi and reveals the crucial role of the host cell actin cytoskeleton in the process.
JOURNAL OF EUKARYOTIC MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Immunology
Artur Leonel de Castro Neto, Jose Franco da Silveira, Renato Arruda Mortara
Summary: This article discusses the roles of virulence molecules in insect vectors, showing the similarities and differences in their mode of action compared to humans. It also explores the genetic events that may have led to protein diversity in these vectors.
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR AND INFECTION MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Fernando Menegatti de Melo, Karine Kawasaki, Tarciso Almeida Sellani, Bruno Souza Bonifacio, Renato Arruda Mortara, Henrique Eisi Toma, Filipe Menegatti de Melo, Elaine Guadelupe Rodrigues
Summary: Inflammasomes are cytosolic complexes that play a vital role in host defense against pathogens and tissue damage. This study shows that quantum-dot-based iron oxide nanoparticles can activate the NLRP3 inflammasome and release proinflammatory cytokines. The activation is more pronounced when the nanoparticles are taken up by cells before inflammatory stimulation. These findings have implications for using the nanoparticles as both imaging and therapeutic tools.