Article
Immunology
Roberto Rodrigues Ferreira, Elen Mello de Souza, Glaucia Vilar-Pereira, Wim M. S. Degrave, Rayane da Silva Abreu, Marcelo Meuser-Batista, Nilma Valeria Caldeira Ferreira, Steve Ledbeter, Robert H. Barker, Sabine Bailly, Jean-Jacques Feige, Joseli Lannes-Vieira, Tania C. De Araujo-Jorge, Mariana Caldas Waghabi
Summary: This study aimed to investigate the effect of TGF-beta neutralization on T. cruzi infection. The results showed that treatment with the 1D11 antibody greatly reduced cardiomyocyte invasion by T. cruzi and the number of parasites per infected cell. 1D11 treatment also reduced cardiac fibrosis and improved cardiac performance.
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR AND INFECTION MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
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
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Maria Carmo P. Nunes, Lewis F. Buss, Jose Luiz P. Silva, Larissa Natany A. Martins, Claudia Di Lorenzo Oliveira, Clareci Silva Cardoso, Bruno Oliveira de Figueiredo Brito, Ariela Mota Ferreira, Lea Campos Oliveira, Ana Luiza Bierrenbach, Fabio Fernandes, Michael P. Busch, Viviane Tiemi Hotta, Luiz Mario Baptista Martinelli, Maria Carolina F. Almeida Soeiro, Adriana Brentegani, Vera M. C. Salemi, Marcia M. Menezes, Antonio Luiz P. Ribeiro, Ester Cerdeira Sabino
Summary: This study provides a comprehensive description of the natural history of T. cruzi seropositivity in a contemporary patient population, highlighting the central importance of anti-T. cruzi antibody titer as a marker of Chagas disease activity and risk of progression.
Review
Immunology
Roberto Rodrigues Ferreira, Mariana Caldas Waghabi, Sabine Bailly, Jean-Jacques Feige, Alejandro M. Hasslocher-Moreno, Roberto M. Saraiva, Tania C. Araujo-Jorge
Summary: The anti-inflammatory cytokine TGF-beta plays a crucial role in Chagas disease, affecting the infection of Trypanosoma cruzi and the immune response and inflammation in the host. Inhibitors of the TGF-beta signaling pathway show promise as a potential therapeutic approach, and the level of TGF-beta in serum can serve as a biomarker of clinical relevance. Furthermore, TGF-beta polymorphisms are associated with susceptibility to Chagas disease.
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR AND INFECTION MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Sergio Castaneda, Marina Munoz, Peter J. Hotez, Maria Elena Bottazzi, Alberto E. Paniz-Mondolfi, Kathryn M. Jones, Rojelio Mejia, Cristina Poveda, Juan David Ramirez
Summary: Chagas disease is caused by Trypanosoma cruzi and has a profound impact on the gastrointestinal tract. Alterations in the gut microbiome caused by the parasite may play a crucial role in host-parasite interactions and immune responses. Understanding this interaction could provide valuable insights into the pathophysiology of the disease and the development of new treatments.
MICROBIOLOGY SPECTRUM
(2023)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Leonardo da Silva Lara, Guilherme Curty Lechuga, Lorraine Martins Rocha Orlando, Byanca Silva Ferreira, Bernardo Araujo Souto, Mauricio Silva dos Santos, Mirian Claudia de Souza Pereira
Summary: Chagas disease is a long-standing disease that primarily affects impoverished populations in Latin America. The available drugs have limited effectiveness and intense side effects. This study explores the biological activity of two new series of pyrazole-thiazoline derivatives with potential therapeutic options against Trypanosoma cruzi. These derivatives show potent activity with good oral bioavailability and low cytotoxicity, making them potential candidates for Chagas disease therapy.
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
Immunology
Yves Carlier, Carine Truyens, Eric Muraille
Summary: This study discusses the potential role of antibody-dependent enhancement (ADE) in the trans-placental parasite transmission or the development of severe and fatal clinical forms of congenital/neonatal Chagas disease in newborns of T. cruzi-infected mothers. It highlights the importance of understanding how antibodies transmitted from infected pregnant women may influence the neonatal immune response to the parasite.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Infectious Diseases
A. Abras, C. Ballart, A. Fernandez-Arevalo, T. Llovet, M. Gallego, C. Munoz
Summary: The study evaluated two algorithms for the diagnosis of chronic and congenital Chagas disease, with CMIA showing potential as a single diagnostic test in non-endemic countries and the revised algorithm with the >= 6 S/CO proving to be an efficient method for chronic CD diagnosis. For infants with congenital infection, CMIA could potentially be used as a single test for screening at 10 months or earlier, but further research is needed.
CLINICAL MICROBIOLOGY AND INFECTION
(2021)
Review
Microbiology
Natalia Vacani-Martins, Marcelo Meuser-Batista, Carina de Lima Pereira dos Santos, Alejandro Marcel Hasslocher-Moreno, Andrea Henriques-Pons
Summary: Chagas disease, caused by the protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi, was described over a century ago by Dr. Carlos Chagas in Brazil. Liver involvement, particularly hepatomegaly, is a common clinical sign and is more pronounced in cases of oral infection found in the Amazon region. Despite efforts to understand the mechanisms leading to cardiac and digestive manifestations in chronic patients, the importance of liver involvement and hepatic immune response in disease progression has not received much attention.
Article
Immunology
Amanda C. O. Silva, Maiara Bonfim, Jonathan L. M. Fontes, Washington L. C. dos-Santos, Jose Mengel, Fabiola Cardillo
Summary: Administration of alpha-tocopherol before T. cruzi infection can reduce parasitemia and mortality rate in mice, enhance IFN-gamma production by T and NK cells, increase IL-10 production by T and myeloid suppressor cells, and promote the formation of effector memory T cells while decreasing PD-1 expression on T cells.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Kayla J. J. Rayford, Ayorinde Cooley, Anthony W. W. Strode, Inmar Osi, Ashutosh Arun, Maria F. F. Lima, Smita Misra, Siddharth Pratap, Pius N. N. Nde
Summary: Trypanosoma cruzi is the cause of Chagas Disease, which has significant impacts on health and economics globally. This study investigates the dysregulation of a type of small noncoding RNA called piRNAs during early T. cruzi infection, and predicts their interactions with mRNA. The findings suggest that piRNAs play important roles in infection and pathogenesis, and could potentially be used as biomarkers and therapeutic targets for infectious diseases.
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR AND INFECTION MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Immunology
Luciana L. Soprano, Maximiliano R. Ferrero, Thomas Jacobs, Alicia S. Couto, Vilma G. Duschak
Summary: Chagas disease caused by Trypanosoma cruzi is still a major problem in Latin America. Glycoproteins containing sulfated N-linked oligosaccharides play important roles in molecular recognition. Mice immunized with C-T showed pathological effects, indicating the importance of sulfated antigens in the disease. Antibodies specific for sulfotopes may serve as biomarkers for predicting the progression of cardiac Chagas disease.
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR AND INFECTION MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Computer Science, Information Systems
Nidiyare Hevia-Montiel, Paulina Haro, Leonardo Guillermo-Cordero, Jorge Perez-Gonzalez
Summary: This research demonstrates the effectiveness and accuracy of deep learning methods based on the U-Net convolutional network architecture in the segmentation of histological images for Chagas disease.
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Mariana C. Pagotti, Herbert J. Dias, Ana Carolina B. B. Candido, Thais A. S. Oliveira, Alexandre Borges, Nicoli D. Oliveira, Carla D. Lopes, Renato P. Orenha, Renato L. T. Parreira, Antonio E. M. Crotti, Lizandra G. Magalhaes
Summary: Chagas disease, a neglected tropical disease, affects over 8 million people. Although current therapies have limited effectiveness and high toxicity, the search for new drugs remains important. In this study, neolignans were synthesized and evaluated for their activity against Trypanosoma cruzi strains. Four neolignans demonstrated activity against the T. cruzi strain, with DBN 1 exhibiting the highest activity. In silico analysis showed that these compounds could destabilize tubulin-microtubule interactions. These compounds have potential as molecular prototypes for developing new antiparasitic drugs.
Article
Microbiology
Marcos Gustavo Araujo Schwarz, Deborah Antunes, Paloma Rezende Correa, Antonio Jose da Silva-Goncalves, Wladimir Malaga, Ernesto Raul Caffarena, Christophe Guilhot, Leila Mendonca-Lima
Summary: Tuberculosis is a widespread disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The study on fumarate reductase in this organism reveals different isoforms and potential evolutionary mechanisms.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Review
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Nicolas Ricard, Sabine Bailly, Christophe Guignabert, Michael Simons
Summary: Endothelial cells play a crucial role in controlling oxygen, nutrient exchange, and cellular trafficking between blood and organs. The quiescent state of endothelium is actively regulated and constantly receives important signalling inputs. Understanding organ-specific pathways and their disruption in vascular pathologies can lead to the development of preventive strategies and new therapeutic targets.
NATURE REVIEWS CARDIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Marcos Gustavo Araujo Schwarz, Bianca Gallart Cinelli Luzes, Paloma Rezende Correa, Antonio Jose da Silva-Goncalves, Lucas de Almeida Machado, Ana Carolina Ramos Guimaraes, Leila Mendonca-Lima
Summary: Tuberculosis remains a global health concern, with ongoing research focusing on Mycobacterium tuberculosis for new preventive and therapeutic strategies. The BCG Moreau vaccine strain in Brazil has a single nucleotide polymorphism in a gene, potentially affecting its protein characteristics, resulting in slightly lower thermostability compared to the M. tuberculosis counterpart.
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR AND INFECTION MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Review
Anatomy & Morphology
Agnes Desroches-Castan, Emmanuelle Tillet, Claire Bouvard, Sabine Bailly
Summary: BMPs are a group of cytokines that play diverse roles in the body. In humans, there are 15 BMP ligands that initiate cellular signaling by forming complexes with specific receptors. Certain receptors have been directly linked to rare vascular diseases.
DEVELOPMENTAL DYNAMICS
(2022)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Tania C. Araujo-Jorge, Roberto R. Ferreira, Rita C. M. Rocha, Thallyta M. Vieira, Nancy D. Costa, Luzia L. Santos, Josefa O. Silva, Marcelo O. Mendes, Juliana A. Silva, Erik J. Costa, Rodrigo Mexas, Jonathan G. Oliveira, Ana M. Suarez-Fontes, Teresa C. M. Goncalves, Catarina M. Lopes, Marcio L. Mello, Cristina X. A. Borges, Luciana R. Garzoni, Daniel Gibaldi, Joseli Lannes-Vieira, Marcos A. Vannier-Santos
Summary: The research group developed a social technology named Chagas Express XXI (CE21) to translate Chagas Disease discoveries into education practices and actively search for asymptomatic cases, engaging both affected individuals and local partners in the process.
PLOS NEGLECTED TROPICAL DISEASES
(2021)
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Olivia A. Zin, Luiza M. Neves, Fabiana L. Motta, Dafne D. G. Horovitz, Leticia Guida, Leonardo H. F. Gomes, Daniela P. Cunha, Ana Paula S. Rodrigues, Andrea A. Zin, Juliana M. F. Sallum, Zilton F. M. Vasconcelos
Summary: Up to 25% of pediatric cataract cases are inherited, with half of the known mutant genes belonging to the crystallin family. A novel missense variant c.467G>A/p.Gly156Glu in CRYBB3 was identified in all family members with childhood cataract, classified as likely pathogenic by ACMG. This is the first report of the c.467G>A/p.Gly156Glu variant and the second time a mutation in CRYBB3 has been associated with microphthalmia.
Review
Microbiology
Natalia Vacani-Martins, Marcelo Meuser-Batista, Carina de Lima Pereira dos Santos, Alejandro Marcel Hasslocher-Moreno, Andrea Henriques-Pons
Summary: Chagas disease, caused by the protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi, was described over a century ago by Dr. Carlos Chagas in Brazil. Liver involvement, particularly hepatomegaly, is a common clinical sign and is more pronounced in cases of oral infection found in the Amazon region. Despite efforts to understand the mechanisms leading to cardiac and digestive manifestations in chronic patients, the importance of liver involvement and hepatic immune response in disease progression has not received much attention.
Article
Immunology
Tamiris Azamor, Daniela Prado Cunha, Andrea Marques Vieira da Silva, Ohanna Cavalcanti de Lima Bezerra, Marcelo Ribeiro-Alves, Thyago Leal Calvo, Fernanda de Souza Gomes Kehdy, Fernanda Saloum de Neves Manta, Thiago Gomes de Toledo Pinto, Lais Pereira Ferreira, Elyzabeth Avvad Portari, Leticia da Cunha Guida, Leonardo Gomes, Maria Elisabeth Lopes Moreira, Elizeu Fagundes de Carvalho, Cynthia Chester Cardoso, Marcelo Muller, Ana Paula Dinis Ano Bom, Patricia Cristina da Costa Neves, Zilton Vasconcelos, Milton Ozorio Moraes
Summary: The study revealed that newborns carrying the CG/CC genotypes of the IFNAR1 gene rs2257167 have a higher risk of developing CZS, while no association was observed between IFNL gene SNPs and CZS. Placental gene expression profiles in CZS cases showed imbalanced levels of type I and type III interferons, indicating a potential role of host genetics in modulating the immune response to congenital infections like Zika.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Virology
Andre Luiz N. Parcial, Natalia Gedeao Salomao, Elyzabeth Avvad Portari, Laiza Vianna Arruda, Jorge Jose de Carvalho, Herbert Leonel de Matos Guedes, Thayana Camara Conde, Maria Elizabeth Moreira, Marcelo Meuser Batista, Marciano Viana Paes, Kissila Rabelo, Adriano Gomes-Silva
Summary: This study reports the clinical history of five pregnant women infected with SARS-CoV-2 and investigates the placental alterations caused by the virus. The findings reveal significant pathological changes in the infected placentas, including vascular abnormalities, fibrin deposits, and inflammatory responses. These findings contribute to a better understanding of the impact of SARS-CoV-2 infection on placental tissue and vertical transmission.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Natalia Lins da Silva-Gomes, Leonardo Alexandre de Souza Ruivo, Claudia Moreira, Marcelo Meuser-Batista, Cristiane Franca da Silva, Denise da Gama Jaen Batista, Stenio Fragoso, Gabriel Melo de Oliveira, Maria de Nazare Correia Soeiro, Otacilio C. Moreira
Summary: In this study, genetically modified strains of Trypanosoma cruzi were used to evaluate the role of NTPDases in parasite infectivity. The results showed that parasites overexpressing TcNTPDase-1 had higher infectivity, while hemi-knockout parasites had lower infectivity and no significant electrocardiographic changes. These findings highlight the potential of NTPDases as a therapeutic target for Chagas disease.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Genetics & Heredity
L. Chomette, E. Hupkens, M. Romitti, L. Dewachter, J. L. Vachiery, S. Bailly, S. Costagliola, G. Smits, E. Tillet, Antoine Bondue
Summary: This study describes a pediatric case of PAH with a novel GDF2 mutation, resulting in the absence of circulating mature BMP9 and mature BMP9-10 heterodimers in the patient's plasma. Further in vitro studies showed that the mutation hampers the correct processing of BMP9, leading to the secretion of inactive pro-BMP9. Heterozygous carriers of the variant were asymptomatic, similar to previous reports.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF MEDICAL GENETICS PART A
(2023)
Article
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Veronica G. Mendes, Lorena Rimolo, Ana Carolina B. de Lima, Roberto R. Ferreira, Luciano S. Oliveira, Lindice M. Nisimura, Samuel I. M. Horita, Andrea R. Costa, Gilberto Marcelo S. da Silva, Luiz Henrique C. Sangenis, Fernanda S. N. S. Mendes, Andrea S. Sousa, Henrique H. Veloso, Marcelo T. Holanda, Mauro F. F. Mediano, Mariana C. Waghabi, Luciana R. Garzoni, Otacilio C. Moreira, Constanca Britto, Ademir B. Cunha, Alejandro Marcel Hasslocher-Moreno, Roberto M. Saraiva
Summary: This study investigated the prognostic value of biomarkers and new echocardiogram parameters in predicting outcomes of patients with chronic Chagas disease. The results showed that LV end-diastolic volume, strain analyses, 3-dimensional analyses, brain natriuretic peptide, and positive T cruzi polymerase chain reaction were independent predictors of cardiovascular events in CD patients.
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Talita Duarte Pagani, Paloma Rezende Correa, Cristiane Lima, Leonardo Henrique Ferreira Gomes, Marcos Gustavo Araujo Schwarz, Teca Calcagno Galvao, Wim Maurits Degrave, Napoleao Fonseca Valadares, Leila Mendonca-Lima
Summary: This study aims to investigate the genomic differences in BCG strains and discover the importance of the gene pair rv3407-rv3408 (vapB47-vapC47) in the expression and transcriptional regulation of the toxin-antitoxin system. The research also found that the genomic deletion RD16 in BCG Moreau strain leads to the inactivation of an upstream transcriptional repressor, resulting in increased vapBC47 expression. These findings provide insights into the physiology of BCG Moreau and the regulation of VapBC systems.
CURRENT ISSUES IN MOLECULAR BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Marcos Gustavo Araujo Schwarz, Paloma Rezende Correa, Paula Silva Lacerda Almeida, Leila Mendonca-Lima
Summary: Dodecin is a protein involved in flavin homeostasis with interesting temperature and osmolarity endurance features in Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Despite a single nucleotide polymorphism that leads to a shortened protein in BCG, dodecin is still produced and potentially plays a role in oxidative stress response.
Article
Health Care Sciences & Services
Roberta Pires Correa, Helena Carla Castro, Bruna Maria Castro Salomao Quaresma, Paulo Roberto Soares Stephens, Tania Cremonini Araujo-Jorge, Roberto Rodrigues Ferreira
Summary: Health professionals in Brazil have faced significant challenges and risks during the COVID-19 pandemic, including inadequate personal protective equipment and lack of information on protecting themselves, leading to anxiety, sleep difficulties, and inability to concentrate. The survey findings highlight the need for psychological support for this group and future health planning to ensure good mental health for medical teams in Brazil and other highly affected countries.
JMIR FORMATIVE RESEARCH
(2021)
