Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Phileno Pinge-Filho
Summary: Blood pathogenic trypanosomatids like Trypanosoma cruzi have specialized systems to export virulence factors into host cells. Extracellular vesicles shed by T. cruzi can enhance infection susceptibility of host cells. The relationship between damage-associated molecular patterns and extracellular vesicles sheds by T. cruzi in the context of Chagas Disease is still unclear.
MEDICAL HYPOTHESES
(2021)
Review
Cell Biology
Luiza Dantas-Pereira, Rubem Menna-Barreto, Joseli Lannes-Vieira
Summary: Extracellular vesicles (EVs) play important roles in cell communication, immune response modulation, and as potential biomarkers and drug delivery systems for diseases such as Chagas disease. Chagas disease is caused by infection with the protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi and has attracted global attention. EVs released by both the pathogen and host cells in infectious diseases impact immune responses and pathological processes.
FRONTIERS IN CELL AND DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Izadora Volpato Rossi, Maria Alice Ferreira Nunes, Bruna Sabatke, Hennrique Taborda Ribas, Sheila Maria Brochado Winnischofer, Augusto Savio Peixoto Ramos, Jameel Malhador Inal, Marcel Ivan Ramirez
Summary: Chagas disease is caused by Trypanosoma cruzi, which uses blood-feeding triatomine bugs to infect mammalian hosts. The parasite needs to evade the complement system and quickly invade cells for infection, achieved through the expression of different molecules and release of extracellular vesicles (EVs). Selecting a population of T. cruzi after exposure to human serum stress factors can lead to increased metacyclogenesis, resistance to complement-mediated lysis, and greater infectivity.
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR AND INFECTION MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biology
Martha Alicia Ballinas-Verdugo, Rogelio Frank Jimenez-Ortega, Eduardo Martinez-Martinez, Nancy Rivas, Erick Abraham Contreras-Lopez, Roxana Carbo, Fausto Sanchez, Rafael Bojalil, Ricardo Marquez-Velasco, Fausto Sanchez-Munoz, Ricardo Alejandre-Aguilar
Summary: The expression levels of inflammatory microRNAs miR-21, miR-146a and miR-155 were up-regulated in both acutely and chronically infected mouse samples. Notably, miR-146a was consistently up-regulated in all samples from both phases, indicating its potential as a candidate biomarker for Chagas disease.
BIOLOGICAL RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Pablo Igor Ribeiro Franco, Jose Rodrigues do Carmo Neto, Marina Pacheco Miguel, Juliana Reis Machado, Mara Rubia Nunes Celes
Summary: This review summarizes the main molecular mechanisms of T. cruzi-related carcinogenesis and the mechanisms associated with tumor protection mediated by different parasite components.
Review
Immunology
Maria Gabriela Libisch, Natalia Rego, Carlos Robello
Summary: Chagas Disease is caused by the complex taxon T. cruzi, affecting nearly eight million people worldwide. T. cruzi has the ability to infect and interact with almost any nucleated cell, triggering molecular signaling cascades that depend on cell type, strain, and experimental variables. Host cell responses to infection, particularly in the respiratory chain and oxidative phosphorylation, vary depending on the T. cruzi strain and experimental model, while some responses remain consistent across strains, cell types, and conditions.
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR AND INFECTION MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Lei Zhang, Haiyan Wang, Guofa Zhao, Nan Li, Xiaofang Wang, Yumiao Li, Youchao Jia, Xiaoqiang Qiao
Summary: Exosomes, carrying a large amount of genetic materials, have become the most ideal analysis target for liquid biopsy. A novel Tim4@ILI-01 immunoaffinity material with high capture efficiency and easy release of captured exosomes has been successfully designed and developed, showing great potential for practical clinical applications in cancer diagnosis and prognosis.
ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
(2021)
Review
Parasitology
Emanuella Melgaco Garcez, Nelio Gomes, Aline Silva Moraes, Robert Pogue, Rosa Harumi Uenishi, Mariana Hecht, Juliana Lott Carvalho
Summary: Extracellular vesicle (EVs) traffic is an important cellular communication process between cells, which can occur within a single organism or between different organisms. The relevance of EV-mediated cellular communication is being increasingly studied, particularly in pathological conditions like parasitic disorders. In the context of Chagas Disease (CD), EVs have been explored, but a systematic review is lacking. This review identified 25 studies investigating EVs in CD, revealing their critical roles in the interaction between T. cruzi and mammalian hosts, immune system evasion, and chronic inflammation.
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Hans Desale, Pierre Buekens, Jackeline Alger, Maria Luisa Cafferata, Emily Wheeler Harville, Claudia Herrera, Carine Truyens, Eric Dumonteil
Summary: The study assessed the epigenetic effects of in utero exposure to maternal Trypanosoma cruzi infection. By comparing the DNA methylation patterns of umbilical cord blood cells from uninfected babies with chagasic and uninfected mothers, a differential DNA methylation signature was identified. The genes affected are related to hematopoietic cell differentiation, immune response, and developmental disorders.
Article
Immunology
Nubia Carolina Manchola Varon, Guilherme Rodrigo R. M. dos Santos, Walter Colli, Maria Julia M. Alves
Summary: The interaction between Trypanosoma cruzi and mammalian cells involves adhesion to the extracellular matrix (ECM) and an early phase of calcium signaling. The increase in intracellular calcium concentration during this interaction depends on Ca2+ uptake from the medium and is crucial for host cell invasion. The mitochondrion plays a significant role in Ca2+ homeostasis in Trypomastigotes during their interaction with ECM.
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR AND INFECTION MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Naiara Dutra Barroso Gomes, Emanuel Paula Magalhaes, Lyanna Rodrigues Ribeiro, John Washington Cavalcante, Marcelo Morais Gomes Maia, Felipe Ramon Cunha da Silva, Arif Ali, Marcia Machado Marinho, Emmanuel Silva Marinho, Helcio Silva dos Santos, Alice Maria Costa Martins, Ramon Roseo Paula Pessoa Bezerra de Menezes
Summary: This study evaluated the activity of synthetic p-aminochalcones against T. cruzi and found that they have a trypanocidal effect by causing membrane damage and oxidative stress. Their mechanism of action may be related to inhibition of cruzain and TR.
BIOORGANIC CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Fanny E. Eberhard, Sven Klimpel, Alessandra A. Guarneri, Nicholas J. Tobias
Summary: The study aimed to detect differences in the intestinal metabolome of the triatomine Rhodnius prolixus and predict exposure status to T. cruzi with high accuracies using logistic regression, a random forest classifier and a gradient boosting machine model. Important features for predicting exposure status and major metabolites for positive classification were identified, highlighting the complex interactions between triatomine vectors and parasites.
COMPUTATIONAL AND STRUCTURAL BIOTECHNOLOGY JOURNAL
(2021)
Article
Fisheries
Lihan Wang, Dianli Zhao, Renmin Han, Yan Wang, Jingjie Hu, Zhenmin Bao, Mengqiang Wang
Summary: This study investigates the potential function of exosomes in scallop innate immunity and identifies numerous innate immune-related proteins in the exosomal shuttle protein of Chlamys farreri. The research provides insights into the role of exosomes in intercellular communication and immune responses and expands the understanding of immune defense systems in marine invertebrates.
FISH & SHELLFISH IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Shizhen Shen, Zhangjin Shen, Conghui Wang, Xiaodong Wu, Lingfang Wang, Lele Ye, Songfa Zhang, Xiaodong Cheng
Summary: In this study, a method for extracting extracellular vesicles (EVs) from epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) tissues was optimized to investigate the effect of cryopreservation on the phenotypes, contents, and biological functions of the extracted EVs. The results showed that cryopreservation affected the yield and distribution of EVs, but not their morphology or particle mass ratio. The storage of tissues at -80°C increased both small and large EV yields, while the storage of lysates at -80°C decreased large EV yield and increased small EV yield. The cryopreserved EOC tissue retained a high percentage of proteins and miRNAs, and the extracted EVs could promote angiogenesis and invasive migration ability in human endothelial cells. This suggests that cryopreserved EOC tissue has clinical value for studying tissue-derived EVs, especially those related to EV proteins.
Article
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Maykon Tavares de Oliveira, Andre Schmidt, Maria Claudia da Silva, Eduardo Antonio Donadi, Joao Santana da Silva, Jose Antonio Marin-Neto
Summary: The study revealed that the blood parasite load in patients with CCC is highly variable and appears to be directly linked to the reduction of LVEF, an important prognostic indicator in CCC patients.
FRONTIERS IN CARDIOVASCULAR MEDICINE
(2021)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Hellen Weinschutz Mendes, Angelica Beate Winter Boldt, Ewalda von Rosen Seeling Stahlke, Jens Christian Jensenius, Steffen Thiel, Iara J. Taborda Messias-Reason
PLOS NEGLECTED TROPICAL DISEASES
(2020)
Article
Immunology
Leia Sena, Camila F. Oliveira-Tore, Thelma Skare, Iara Jose de Messias-Reason, Fabiana Antunes Andrade
Summary: The study revealed a significant association between C3 gene polymorphisms and susceptibility to and clinical presentation of Rheumatoid arthritis (RA), suggesting that the rs2230199G and rs1047286T alleles may play a role in the pathophysiology of RA.
IMMUNOLOGICAL INVESTIGATIONS
(2021)
Review
Plant Sciences
Vera Lucia Pereira dos Santos, Izabelle Cristina Garcia Rodrigues, Rodrigo Berte, Vijayasankar Raman, Iara Jose Messias-Reason, Jane Manfron Budel
Summary: The study aimed to gather key information about the morphoanatomy and biological activities of species of Piper found in the State of Parana, showing that these plants exhibit various biological activities, such as antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and antifungal properties.
Article
Immunology
Sandra Jeremias Catarino, Fabiana Antunes Andrade, Lorena Bavia, Luiza Guilherme, Iara Jose Messias-Reason
Summary: The study found that patients with RF had lower ficolin-3 serum levels, and RHD patients also had lower ficolin-3 levels. Low ficolin-3 levels may be associated with RF and could be a potential marker of disease progression.
IMMUNOLOGY LETTERS
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Daniele M. Catori, Elizangela H. Fragal, Igor Messias, Francielle P. Garcia, Celso Nakamura, Adley F. Rubira
Summary: This study focused on evaluating the effects of cellulose nanocrystals on pectin hydrogels and the properties of hydroxyapatite obtained through different methods. The results showed that hydrogels with 5% cellulose nanocrystals exhibited better mineralization of hydroxyapatite in the biomimetic method. Overall, hydrogels obtained through biomimetic method showed slightly higher biocompatibility compared to hybrid hydrogels obtained from chemical precipitation.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL MACROMOLECULES
(2021)
Article
Plant Sciences
Thais Latansio de Oliveira, Pamela Dias Fontana, Lorena Bavia, Luiza Stolz Cruz, Amanda Rabello Crisma, Guilherme Lanzi Sassaki, Leociley Rocha Alencar Menezes, Mei Wang, Flavio Luis Beltrame, Iara Jose Messias-Reason
Summary: The study evaluated the effects of Euphorbia umbellata latex extracts on complement pathways and neutrophil chemotaxis. The results showed different extracts had varying effects on pathway activation and all extracts inhibited neutrophil chemotaxis.
JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Fisheries
Thais Cristina Tirado, Lorena Bavia, Altair Rogerio Ambrosio, Monique Paiva Campos, Marta de Almeida Santiago, Iara Jose Messias-Reason, Fabiano Borges Figueiredo
Summary: Visceral Leishmaniasis primarily affects humans and dogs, with cats being naturally resistant. Research shows that the complement system plays a different role in human, dog, and cat sera regarding their effects on Leishmania infantum, impacting the parasite's viability differently.
DEVELOPMENTAL AND COMPARATIVE IMMUNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Fabiana Antunes Andrade, Isabela Goeldner Eibofner, Cristhine Pieczarka, Hoang van Tong, Leia Sena, Thelma Skare, Shirley Ramos da Rosa Utiyama, Iara Jose de Messias-Reason, Thirumalaisamy Velavan
Summary: The study suggests that the VSIG4 rs1044165T allele may be a risk factor for severe functional status of rheumatoid arthritis in women, possibly by affecting VSIG4 gene expression.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF IMMUNOGENETICS
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Karita Claudia Freitas Lidani, Fabiana Antunes Andrade, Marcia Holsbach Beltrame, Indira Chakravarti, Maria Regina Tizzot, Edneia Oliveira Cavalcanti, Thaisa Lucas Sandri, Paola Rosa Luz, Iara J. Messias-Reason
Summary: This study found that ficolin-3 levels were associated with clinical forms of chronic Chagas disease (CD), particularly with cardiac insufficiency, while FCN3 polymorphisms showed no significant association with CD. Ficolin-3 levels were related to cardiac function indicators in CD patients.
PARASITE IMMUNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Angelica Beate Winter Boldt, Camila de Freitas Oliveira-Tore, Gabriela Canalli Kretzschmar, Hellen Weinschutz Mendes, Servio Tulio Stinghen, Fabiana Antunes Andrade, Valeria Bumiller-Bini, Leticia Boslooper Goncalves, Anna Carolina de Moraes Braga, Ewalda von Rosen Seeling Stahlke, Thirumalaisamy P. Velavan, Steffen Thiel, Iara Jose Taborda de Messias-Reason
Summary: Polymorphisms of the complement system influence susceptibility to leprosy and HBV coinfection, with certain genetic combinations increasing infection risk while others provide protection.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2021)
Editorial Material
Immunology
Heribert Stoiber, Nicole Thielens, Reinhard Wuerzner, Iara De Messias Reason
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Thais Latansio de Oliveira, Lorena Bavia, Pamela Dias Fontana, Luiza Stolz Cruz, Katia Sabrina Paludo, Amanda Rabello Crisma, Iara Jose Messias-Reason, Flavio Luis Beltrame
Summary: Euphol isolated from Euphorbia umbellata latex showed regulatory effects on different complement pathways and affected neutrophil chemotaxis and cytotoxic activity in cell experiments. It also demonstrated the ability to induce cell death in a time-dependent manner.
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Altair Rogerio Ambrosio, Lorena Bavia, Priscila Mazzocchi Hiraiwa, Thais Cristina Tirado, Fabiano Borges Figueiredo, Iara Jose de Messias-Reason
Summary: Visceral leishmaniasis is a neglected and highly lethal disease mainly endemic in South American countries, with Brazil being responsible for the majority of cases. The disease is caused by the protozoan Leishmania (Leishmania) infantum, transmitted by infected sandflies. Research shows that collectins and ficolins may play a role in the initial immune response to Leishmania infantum by activating the complement system.
Article
Psychiatry
Diego Fabian Karvat Gracia, Eloisa Maria Pontarolo Gomes, Tamires Amelotti Coelho, Marcelo Carriello, Fabiana Antunes de Andrade, Lorena Bavia, Iara Jose Messias-Reason, Raffael Massuda
Summary: The study analyzed 49 patients with schizophrenia and found a negative association between the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale total score and ficolin activation, and a positive association between body mass index and serum levels of C3 and CRP. MBL activation was not associated with any independent variables. More studies with larger sample populations are needed to confirm the results.
PSYCHIATRY RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Medical Laboratory Technology
Renato Nisihara, Thelma Skare, Vanessa F. Picceli, Altair Ambrosio, Carolina Ferreira, Fernanda Baracho, Iara Messias-Reason
Summary: The study showed that serum pentosidine levels in patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) were not associated with disease activity and cumulative damage, with lower levels observed in patients with skin manifestations.
PRACTICAL LABORATORY MEDICINE
(2021)