Oswaldo Cruz Foundation

About: Oswaldo Cruz Foundation is a facility organization based out in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Trypanosoma cruzi. The organization has 18673 authors who have published 36752 publications receiving 802378 citations. The organization is also known as: Fundação Oswaldo Cruz & FIOCRUZ.

Compositional and immunobiological analyses of extracellular vesicles released by Candida albicans

Abstract: Summary The release of extracellular vesicles (EV) by fungal organisms is considered an alternative transport mechanism to trans-cell wall passage of macromolecules. Previous studies have revealed the presence of EV in culture supernatants from fungal pathogens, such as Cryptococcus neoformans, Histoplasma capsulatum, Paracoccidioides brasiliensis, Sporothrix schenckii, Malassezia sympodialis and Candida albicans. Here we investigated the size, composition, kinetics of internalization by bone marrow-derived murine macrophages (MO) and dendritic cells (DC), and the immunomodulatory activity of C. albicans EV. We also evaluated the impact of EV on fungal virulence using the Galleria mellonella larvae model. By transmission electron microscopy and dynamic light scattering, we identified two populations ranging from 50 to 100 nm and 350 to 850 nm. Two predominant seroreactive proteins (27 kDa and 37 kDa) and a group of polydispersed mannoproteins were observed in EV by immunoblotting analysis. Proteomic analysis of C. albicans EV revealed proteins related to pathogenesis, cell organization, carbohydrate and lipid metabolism, response to stress, and several other functions. The major lipids detected by thin-layer chromatography were ergosterol, lanosterol and glucosylceramide. Short exposure of MO to EV resulted in internalization of these vesicles and production of nitric oxide, interleukin (IL)-12, transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) and IL-10. Similarly, EV-treated DC produced IL-12p40, IL-10 and tumour necrosis factor-alpha. In addition, EV treatment induced the up-regulation of CD86 and major histocompatibility complex class-II (MHC-II). Inoculation of G. mellonella larvae with EV followed by challenge with C. albicans reduced the number of recovered viable yeasts in comparison with infected larvae control. Taken together, our results demonstrate that C. albicans EV were immunologically active and could potentially interfere with the host responses in the setting of invasive candidiasis.

Wild and synanthropic reservoirs of Leishmania species in the Americas

Abstract: The definition of a reservoir has changed significantly in the last century, making it necessary to study zoonosis from a broader perspective. One important example is that of Leishmania, zoonotic multi-host parasites maintained by several mammal species in nature. The magnitude of the health problem represented by leishmaniasis combined with the complexity of its epidemiology make it necessary to clarify all of the links in transmission net, including non-human mammalian hosts, to develop effective control strategies. Although some studies have described dozens of species infected with these parasites, only a minority have related their findings to the ecological scenario to indicate a possible role of that host in parasite maintenance and transmission. Currently, it is accepted that a reservoir may be one or a complex of species responsible for maintaining the parasite in nature. A reservoir system should be considered unique on a given spatiotemporal scale. In fact, the transmission of Leishmania species in the wild still represents an complex enzootic “puzzle”, as several links have not been identified. This review presents the mammalian species known to be infected with Leishmania spp. in the Americas, highlighting those that are able to maintain and act as a source of the parasite in nature (and are thus considered potential reservoirs). These host/reservoirs are presented separately in each of seven mammal orders – Marsupialia, Cingulata, Pilosa, Rodentia, Primata, Carnivora, and Chiroptera – responsible for maintaining Leishmania species in the wild.

AIDS epidemic trends after the introduction of antiretroviral therapy in Brazil

Abstract: OBJETIVO: A terapia anti-retroviral disponivel no Brasil a partir de 1996, modificou o curso da epidemia de Aids, alterando sua evolucao e tendencias. Nesse sentido, o estudo teve por objetivo avaliar a epidemia da Aids no Brasil, nos seus aspectos epidemiologicos. METODOS: Estudo realizado a partir de bases de dados do Ministerio da Saude que caracterizavam a evolucao temporal da Aids nas macrorregioes brasileiras, de 1990 a 2003. Foram utilizados modelos de regressao exponencial, ajustados a serie temporal de 1990 a 1996 e estimados valores esperados para toda a serie. RESULTADOS: O percentual de internacoes nao se modificou no tempo, mas ocorreu diminuicao de hospitalizacoes entre os usuarios de terapia anti-retrovial. Houve um incremento de 2,7 vezes no numero de individuos em uso da terapia, de 1997 a 2003. Incidencia e mortalidade apresentaram crescimentos uniformes ate 1995, em todas as regioes. A partir de 1996, verificou-se uma reducao progressiva da mortalidade, embora a incidencia continue crescendo. Em todas as regioes, exceto a Norte, as incidencias esperadas foram maiores do que as observadas nos ultimos anos, embora as diferencas somente tenham atingido niveis de significância estatistica nas regioes Sudeste e Centro-Oeste. CONCLUSOES: As mudancas observadas no perfil de morbi-mortalidade da epidemia de Aids no Brasil poderiam ser explicadas pelo amplo acesso a terapia anti-retroviral. Tal fato representou um impacto importante sobre a mortalidade por HIV/Aids, porem, outros fatores devem ser considerados, como idade da epidemia, medidas de prevencao, conhecimento sobre HIV/Aids e anos de escolaridade.

O homem na atenção primária à saúde: discutindo (in)visibilidade a partir da perspectiva de gênero

Abstract: Este trabalho apresenta estudo de carater etnografico acerca da relacao entre homens e a assistencia a saude na Atencao Primaria, realizado em oito servicos de quatro estados brasileiros. Seu objetivo e compreender a (in)visibilidade dos homens no cotidiano da assistencia a partir da perspectiva de genero, que discute os mecanismos promotores de desigualdades presentes no trabalho em saude. Foram identificadas, nesse contexto, diferentes dimensoes desta (in) visibilidade: os homens como alvo de intervencoes no campo das politicas publicas de saude; como usuarios que enfrentam dificuldades na busca por atendimento e no estimulo a sua participacao efetiva; como sujeitos do cuidado (de si e de terceiros). O trabalho reforca a importância dos estudos de genero e sua relacao com a saude, na medida em que discute a producao das iniquidades sociais (re) produzidas pelas desigualdades de genero presentes no imaginario social e nos servicos de saude.