Article
Cell Biology
Tenghui Yu, Jesse Slone, Wensheng Liu, Ryan Barnes, Patricia L. Opresko, Landon Wark, Sabine Mai, Steve Horvath, Taosheng Huang
Summary: Mitochondrial dysfunction plays a crucial role in the aging process, and the accumulation of mutations in the mitochondrial genome is believed to contribute to this dysfunction. By studying a mouse model with error-prone mitochondrial DNA polymerase, researchers found that high levels of mitochondrial DNA mutations can lead to oxidative damage, compromised DNA integrity, and accelerated aging. These findings suggest that mitochondria play a central role in aging and may guide future research on potential therapeutics to mitigate the aging process.
Article
Immunology
Leila dos Santos Moura, Vinicius Santana Nunes, Antoniel A. S. Gomes, Ana Caroline de Castro Nascimento Sousa, Marcos R. M. Fontes, Sergio Schenkman, Nilmar Silvio Moretti
Summary: The research highlights the involvement of lysine acetylation in the oxidative stress response of T. cruzi, especially through the mitochondrial lysine deacetylase TcSir2rp3 regulating the activity of mitochondrial superoxide dismutase A (TcSODA). The study also shows that acetylation of K97 in TcSODA plays a key role in modulating enzyme activity and maintaining redox homeostasis in trypanosomatids. Additionally, the interaction between TcSir2rp3 and TcSODA contributes to the understanding of mechanisms used by T. cruzi to progress during infection.
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR AND INFECTION MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biophysics
Hao Hu, Kejun Dong, Bei Yan, Yaoqin Mu, Yangwei Liao, Lei Zhang, Songcheng Guo, Xianjin Xiao, Xinyu Wang
Summary: This study proposed a shortened crRNA mode for the CRISPR-Cas12a system, greatly enhancing its signal-to-noise ratio. By taking advantage of this mode, a CRISPR-enhanced structure-switching aptamer assay (CESA) was developed for detecting 8-oxoG, which displayed impressive sensitivity and clinical practicability. Rating: 9/10.
BIOSENSORS & BIOELECTRONICS
(2023)
Review
Cell Biology
Mariarosaria De Rosa, Samuel A. Johnson, Patricia L. Opresko
Summary: Telomeres are protective nucleoprotein structures that cap linear chromosome ends, vital for genome stability. Shortening and dysfunction of telomeres may lead to cellular senescence, aging, or tumorigenesis. The enzyme telomerase is expressed in human reproductive cells, some stem cells, and most cancer cells to maintain telomere length by restoring telomeric DNA. Oxidative stress from excess reactive oxygen species is associated with accelerated telomere shortening and damage, which may contribute to degenerative diseases and cancer. The highly conserved guanine oxidation system involves specialized enzymes to mitigate the effects of mutagenic base lesions at telomeres.
FRONTIERS IN CELL AND DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Carolina Prolo, Damian Estrada, Lucia Piacenza, Diego Benitez, Marcelo A. Comini, Rafael Radi, Maria Noel Alvarez
Summary: This study shows that the lack of superoxide radical produced by Nox2-deficient macrophages leads to increased susceptibility to T. cruzi infection in a murine model. Reconstitution of intraphagosomal superoxide radical formation in these macrophages restores the control of infection. The presence of Nox2-derived superoxide radical plays a crucial role in controlling early phase T. cruzi infection in a murine model of Chagas disease.
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Ana Cristina S. Bombaca, Leonardo A. Silva, Otavio Augusto Chaves, Lorrainy S. da Silva, Juliana M. C. Barbosa, Ari M. da Silva, Aurelio B. B. Ferreira, Rubem F. S. Menna-Barreto
Summary: This study introduces a novel anti-protozoan drug N4 and its mechanism of action against Trypanosoma cruzi, showing high activity in all parasite stages and indicating it as a potential alternative treatment for Chagas disease. The results presented here may serve as a good starting point for the development of alternative treatments for Chagas disease and for understanding the mechanism of naphthoimidazoles in T. cruzi.
BIOMEDICINE & PHARMACOTHERAPY
(2021)
Review
Chemistry, Analytical
Ana-Maria Chiorcea-Paquim, Ana Maria Oliveira-Brett
Summary: Oxidative DNA damage is crucial in the pathogenesis of various diseases, with 8-oxoG and 8-oxodG being important biomarkers for predicting oxidative stress levels. Electrochemical sensors based on modified electrodes are gaining interest due to their high sensitivity, selectivity, low-cost, and easy miniaturization and automation for detecting and quantifying these biomarkers in complex samples.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Ana-Maria Chiorcea-Paquim
Summary: Reactive oxygen species (ROS) continuously produced in living cells can cause oxidative DNA damage. The quantification of 8-oxoG and 8-oxodG, which are regarded as significant biomarkers for oxidative DNA damage, is essential for assessing the risk, diagnosing, and evaluating the treatment of various diseases. High-performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection (HPLC-ECD) is widely used for the determination of 8-oxoG and 8-oxodG in biological samples due to its selectivity and sensitivity.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Nadine Mueller, Andriy Khobta
Summary: The oxidation-induced DNA modification 8-oxo-7,8-dihydro-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-oxodG) has been found to interfere with gene transcription activity in two distinct ways, affecting both the promoter activity and gene expression through different mechanisms. The excision preferences of the repair enzyme OGG1 for 8-oxodG at different positions lead to varying degrees of decrease in promoter activity. The presence of different lesions at specific positions can either silence gene expression or enhance promoter activity, suggesting a role for the AP endonuclease step in regulating the switch between active and repressed promoter states during base excision repair.
Article
Immunology
Francisco Callejas-Hernandez, Alfonso Herreros-Cabello, Javier del Moral-Salmoral, Manuel Fresno, Nuria Girones
Summary: This study analyzed the complete repertoire of maxicircle and minicircle sequences of different T. cruzi strains, revealing structural differences in minicircles and maxicircles among strains. Understanding the mitochondrial genome of Trypanosomatids is crucial for coordinating the expression of nuclear and mitochondrial genes involved in oxidative phosphorylation, and the heterogeneity observed in minicircles and maxicircles suggests a more complex organization than previously described.
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR AND INFECTION MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Parasitology
Francilene Capel Tavares de Carvalho, Larissa Ragozo Cardoso de Oliveira, Mariana Gatto, Karen Ingrid Tasca, Laura Denise Mendes da Silva, Klinsmann Carolo dos Santos, Damiana Tortolero Pierine, Erika Alessandra Pellison Nunes da Costa, Fabiane Valentini Francisqueti-Ferron, Rodrigo Mattos dos Santos, Camila Renata Correa
Summary: Chagas disease, caused by Trypanosoma cruzi, is a neglected disease that affects millions of people worldwide. The immune response to the parasite involves the activation of inflammation and production of reactive oxygen species, leading to tissue injury and DNA damage. The aim of this study was to evaluate oxidative stress parameters in symptomatic and asymptomatic patients with Chagas disease.
PARASITOLOGY INTERNATIONAL
(2023)
Article
Cell Biology
Hellida Marina Costa-Silva, Bruno Carvalho Resende, Adriana Castilhos Souza Umaki, Willian Prado, Marcelo Santos da Silva, Stela Virgilio, Andrea Mara Macedo, Sergio Danilo Junho Pena, Erich Birelli Tahara, Luiz Ricardo Orsini Tosi, Maria Carolina Elias, Luciana Oliveira Andrade, Joao Luis Reis-Cunha, Gloria Regina Franco, Stenio Perdigao Fragoso, Carlos Renato Machado
Summary: DNA topoisomerases, in particular topoisomerase 3 alpha, play crucial roles in genomic maintenance, cell growth, and DNA damage response in Trypanosoma cruzi. Knockout of topoisomerase 3 alpha affects parasite growth, invasion rates, and ability to repair DNA damage induced by genotoxic agents. These findings underscore the importance of topoisomerase 3 alpha in homologous recombination repair and replication stress in T. cruzi.
FRONTIERS IN CELL AND DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2021)
Review
Immunology
Edio Maldonado, Sebastian Morales-Pison, Fabiola Urbina, Aldo Solari
Summary: Trypanosomatids are primitive unicellular eukaryotes that can cause diseases in various organisms, with the integrity of their kinetoplast genome being crucial for cell survival. Base excision repair is a well-conserved pathway for DNA repair after oxidatively generated lesions, enabling cells to repair damage and proliferate. Pol beta and Pol beta-PAK are key enzymes involved in BER in trypanosomatids, with Pol beta-PAK showing additional trans-lesion synthesis capability across specific DNA lesions.
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR AND INFECTION MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
P. T. V. Florentino, F. N. L. Vitorino, D. Mendes, J. P. C. da Cunha, C. F. M. Menck
Summary: By using quantitative proteomic analysis, this study revealed the impact of Trypanosoma cruzi infection on the chromatin of host cells. It was discovered that parasites interfere with DNA metabolism during both early and late infection stages. Proteins related to DNA damage repair, oxidative phosphorylation, and vesicle-mediated transport showed increased abundance in the host chromatin. Additionally, the translocation of Apoptosis-inducing Factor to the host cell nucleus after infection suggests that the parasites can induce a programmed cell death known as Parthanatos. These findings contribute to a better understanding of how parasites manipulate the chromatin of host cells to disseminate infection and provide potential targets for future treatments.
JOURNAL OF PROTEOMICS
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Sneha Damal Villivalam, Scott M. Ebert, Hee Woong Lim, Jinse Kim, Dongjoo You, Byung Chul Jung, Hector H. Palacios, Tabitha Tcheau, Christopher M. Adams, Sona Kang
Summary: Exercise can significantly increase the expression of DNMT3A in oxidative red muscle, playing a pivotal role in endurance exercise by controlling intracellular oxidative stress. Deficiency of DNMT3A leads to reduced tolerance to endurance exercise, which can be rescued by inhibiting the ALDH1L1 pathway.
Article
Microbiology
Hemanoel Passarelli-Araujo, Gloria Regina Franco, Thiago M. Venancio
Summary: The study utilized a large number of Pseudomonas genomes to construct a genomic distance network and phylogenetic tree, revealing the potential diversity and classification issues within the genus. The findings suggest that Pseudomonas may be a mixture of different genera and should be further subdivided.
MICROBIOLOGICAL RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Parasitology
Newmar Pinto Marliere, Marcelo Gustavo Lorenzo, Alessandra Aparecida Guarneri
Summary: Infection of Trypanosoma rangeli affects the interaction between triatomines and vertebrate hosts, making infected bugs more vulnerable to predation and less likely to seek shelter, thereby increasing the potential for parasite transmission.
Article
Immunology
Anny Carolline Silva Oliveira, Luisa Rezende, Vladimir Gorshkov, Marcella Nunes Melo-Braga, Thiago Verano-Braga, Weslley Fernandes-Braga, Jorge Luis de Melo Guadalupe, Gustavo Batista de Menezes, Frank Kjeldsen, Helida Monteiro de Andrade, Luciana de Oliveira Andrade
Summary: Trypanosoma cruzi invades non-professional phagocytic cells by subverting their membrane repair process. Cells lacking LAMP1 and LAMP2 are less permissive to parasite invasion, but more prone to parasite intracellular multiplication. The ability of parasites to invade cells may differ depending on the intracellular environment.
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR AND INFECTION MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Thomaz Luscher-Dias, Rodrigo Juliani Siqueira Dalmolin, Paulo de Paiva Amaral, Tiago Lubiana Alves, Viviane Schuch, Gloria Regina Franco, Helder I. Nakaya
Summary: This study used cognitive computing text-mining techniques to construct a knowledge network of genes and diseases and analyzed the changes in these networks over the past 30 years. The study revealed the molecular basis of diseases, shared mechanisms between different diseases, and the genes commonly associated with multiple disorders. By exploring this knowledge network, relevant biological information and insights about human diseases can be extracted.
Article
Virology
Flavia F. Bagno, Luis A. F. Andrade, Sarah A. R. Sergio, Pierina L. Parise, Daniel A. Toledo-Teixeira, Ricardo T. Gazzinelli, Ana P. S. M. Fernandes, Santuza M. R. Teixeira, Fabiana Granja, Jose L. Proenca-Modena, Flavio G. da Fonseca
Summary: Previous studies have shown that individuals previously infected with SARS-CoV-2 can develop robust antibody responses after vaccination. In this study, the levels of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies were compared in vaccinated individuals with or without previous COVID-19 infection. The results showed that the antibody kinetics were different between naive individuals and those who had recovered from SARS-CoV-2 infection. Furthermore, naive individuals had no detectable neutralizing activity against certain variants, while recovered individuals retained significant neutralizing activity.
Article
Parasitology
Bruna Duarte da Silva, Alessandra Aparecida Guarneri
Summary: Infection of Tripanosoma rangeli significantly reduces the reproductive capacity and life expectancy of triatomines.
Article
Immunology
Nathalia Franchon Marques Tejada, Joao Vitor Ziroldo Lopes, Luis Eduardo Duarte da Goncalves, Izabela Mamede Costa Andrade da Conceicao, Gloria Regina Franco, Bruno Ghirotto, Niels Olsen Saraiva Camara
Summary: The enhancement of inflammasomes and the expression of AIM2 are correlated with T-cell activation and oxidative phosphorylation metabolism in acute rejection. AIM2 expression can serve as a potential biomarker for discerning acute rejection grafts.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Weslley Fernandes-Braga, Edenil Costa Aguilar, Juliana Maria Navia-Pelaez, Danielle Lima Avila, Luisa Rezende, Luciana de Oliveira Andrade, Sued Eustaquio Mendes Miranda, Andre Luis Branco de Barros, Luciano dos Santos Aggum Capettini, Jacqueline Isaura Alvarez-Leite
Summary: Atherosclerosis is a disease characterized by lipid accumulation in arterial walls due to dysregulation of cholesterol homeostasis in macrophages triggered by oxidized low-density lipoprotein (oxLDL). Fucoidan, a sulfated polysaccharide from brown seaweeds, has been shown to have atheroprotective activities. This study investigated the impact of fucoidan on atherogenesis, oxLDL uptake by macrophages, and the expression of scavenger receptors. It was found that fucoidan reduced dyslipidemia and atherosclerosis in mice and inhibited foam cell formation in macrophages by downregulating SR-A1/2 and upregulating SR-B1.
BIOCHEMICAL AND BIOPHYSICAL RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Jessica Coraiola Nevoa, Jose Manuel Latorre-Estivalis, Fabiano Sviatopolk-Mirsky Pais, Newmar Pinto Marliere, Gabriel da Rocha Fernandes, Marcelo Gustavo Lorenzo, Alessandra Aparecida Guarneri
Summary: This study characterized the gene expression profiles in the brain of starved R. prolixus nymphs through RNA sequencing. Neuromodulatory-related genes, such as neuropeptide precursors, neurohormones, and their receptors, as well as enzymes involved in neuropeptide and biogenic amine biosynthesis, were identified and analyzed. Other important genes, including neurotransmitter receptors, nuclear receptors, clock genes, sensory receptors, and takeouts genes, were also identified. The study suggests that further functional characterization of these highly expressed genes in starved R. prolixus brain could lead to the development of bug control tools.
Article
Immunology
Larissa M. G. Cassiano, Vanessa Cavalcante-Silva, Marina S. Oliveira, Barbara V. O. Prado, Cristianne G. Cardoso, Anna C. M. Salim, Gloria R. Franco, Vania D'Almeida, Saionara C. Francisco, Roney S. Coimbra
Summary: COVID-19 induces chromatin remodeling in host immune cells, and vitamin B12 downregulates inflammatory genes through methyl-dependent epigenetic mechanisms. This study evaluated the potential of B12 as an adjuvant drug using blood cultures from COVID-19 patients. B12 normalized the expression of inflammatory genes and increased the sulfur amino acid pathway, which regulates methyl bioavailability. The downregulation of CCL3 by B12 was strongly correlated with hypermethylation of CpGs in its regulatory regions. Transcriptome analysis showed that B12 attenuates the effects of COVID-19 on inflammation-related pathways.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Ana Elisa Antunes dos Santos, Tiago Cotta, Joao Paulo Ferreira Santos, Juliana Sofia Fonseca Camargos, Ana Carolina Correia do Carmo, Erika Gabriele Alves Alcantara, Claudia Fleck, Aline Goncalves Lio Copola, Julia Meireles Nogueira, Gerluza Aparecida Borges Silva, Luciana de Oliveira Andrade, Roberta Viana Ferreira, Erika Cristina Jorge
Summary: Electrospinning is a promising technique for scaffolds production in cultivated meat due to its simplicity, versatility, cost-effectiveness, and scalability. Cellulose acetate (CA) is a biocompatible and low-cost material that can support cell adhesion and proliferation. This study investigated CA nanofibers, with or without a bioactive annatto extract (CA@A), as potential scaffolds for cultivated meat and muscle tissue engineering. The results showed that CA@A nanofibers had increased fiber diameter and reduced stiffness compared to pure CA nanofibers, indicating their potential application as a scaffold for long-term muscle cells culture.
FRONTIERS IN BIOENGINEERING AND BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Laila C. Andrade, David Majerowicz, Pedro L. Oliveira, Alessandra A. Guarneri
Summary: In this study, the researchers investigated the effects of T. rangeli infection on the locomotory activity and triglyceride metabolism of Rhodnius prolixus nymphs. They found that infected nymphs had increased activity when starved and an accumulation of glycerides in the fat body and hemolymph. These alterations were associated with changes in the expression of key genes related to triglyceride metabolism in the fat body. The findings suggest that T. rangeli is able to alter the energetic processes of its invertebrate host to increase lipid availability for the parasite and modify host activity levels, potentially increasing the transmission rate of the parasite.
INSECT BIOCHEMISTRY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Izabela Mamede C. A. da Conceicao, Thomaz Luscher-Dias, Lucio R. Queiroz, Ana Gabrielle B. de Melo, Carlos Renato Machado, Karina B. Gomes, Renan P. Souza, Marcelo R. Luizon, Gloria R. Franco
Summary: This study characterized differentially affected lncRNA isoforms by metformin treatment in multiple human cell types, aiming to provide insights into the regulation of lncRNA by this drug. The results suggest the importance of considering DE isoforms of lncRNA for understanding metformin mechanisms at the molecular level.
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Nathalia Sernizon Guimaraes, Murilo Soares Costa, Elaine Leandro Machado, Hugo Itaru Sato, Eduarda de Carvalho Maia e Amaral, Rafaela Galvao Arivabene, Karine Lima Lourenco, Unai Tupinambas, Flavio Guimaraes da Fonseca, Ricardo Hiroshi Caldeira Takahashi, Santuza Maria Ribeiro Teixeira, Claudia Regina Lindgren Alves
Summary: The study demonstrates the feasibility and cost-effectiveness of self-collected nasopharyngeal swab combined with pool testing to detect SARS-CoV-2 in epidemiological surveys, making the research work more convenient and efficient.
EPIDEMIOLOGIA E SERVICOS DE SAUDE
(2022)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Veronica Santana Da Silva, Carlos Renato Machado
Summary: Protists, as the most ancestral representatives of eukaryotes, played a crucial role in the evolution of sexual reproduction through mechanisms like genetic exchange and DNA damage-induced recombination. Some recombination enzymes involved in meiotic sex in modern eukaryotes suggest that sexual reproduction emerged as a specific response to mutations and alterations in genetic material.
GENETICS AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY
(2022)