Red propolis reduces inflammation in cyclophosphamide-induced hemorrhagic cystitis in rats

Introduction. Cyclophosphamide (CP) is used to treat malignant neoplasias and control autoimmune diseases. Still, one of its metabolites, acrolein, is toxic to the urothelium and can lead to hemorrhagic cystitis and severe discomfort.Objective. To evaluate the ability of red propolis to prevent and treat CP-induced hemorrhagic cystitis in rats.Materials and methods. Red propolis was extracted in 1% gum arabic and administered subcutaneously (sc). In the first experiment, groups IA, IIA, and IIIA and groups IB, IIB, and IIIB received water, gum arabic (GA), or propolis, respectively, for 30 days. Then water (controls) or CP (treatment) was administered i.p. In the second experiment, groups IVA, VA, and VIA received water i.p. while groups IVB, VB, and VIB received CP i.p. This was followed by 5 injections at 2-hour intervals with either water, GA, or propolis. Bladder tissue was examined according to Gray’s criteria.Results. The total inflammatory histology score was significantly smaller in group VIB (11.33 ± 2.07). Mild inflammation predominated in group VIB while most of the animals in group IVB had severe inflammation (p=0.0375). Ulcers were predominantly multiple in Groups IVA and VB but rare or absent in Group VIB (p=0.0118). Urothelial cells were mostly absent in groups IVB and VB and present/normal in group VIB (p=0.0052). Fibrin was abundant in groups IVB and VA but mostly absent in group VIB (p=0.0273).Conclusions. Red propolis can reduce inflammation in CP-induced hemorrhagic cystitis in rats.     

Immunological Cross-Reactivity Between Simian Virus 40 Large T Antigen and D2 Hybrid T Antigen

A specific antiserum was raised in rabbits against D2 hybrid T antigen that had been purified from HeLa cells infected with the adenovirus/simian virus 40 hybrid, Ad2(+)D2. The specificity of this serum was compared with that of a conventional hamster antiserum against simian virus 40-induced tumors by immunoprecipitation and by a new radioimmune assay that can detect nanogram quantities of D2 hybrid T antigen.     

Intercellular adhesion molecule 1 deficiency leads to impaired recruitment of T lymphocytes and enhanced host susceptibility to infection with Trypanosoma cruzi

In this study, we investigated the involvement of Th1 cytokines in the expression of cell adhesion molecules (CAM) and recruitment of inflammatory cells to the heart of mice infected with Trypanosoma cruzi. Our results show that endogenously produced IFN-gamma is essential to induce optimal expression of VCAM-1 and ICAM-1 on the cardiac vascular endothelium of infected mice. Furthermore, the influx of inflammatory cells into the cardiac tissue was impaired in Th1 cytokine-deficient infected mice, paralleling the intensity of VCAM-1 and ICAM-1 expression on the vascular endothelium. Consistent with the importance of ICAM-1 in host resistance, ICAM-1 knockout (KO) mice were highly susceptible to T. cruzi infection, as assessed by mortality rate, parasitemia, and heart tissue parasitism. The enhanced parasitism was associated with a decrease in the numbers of CD4(+) and CD8(+) T lymphocytes in the heart tissue of ICAM-1 KO mice. Additionally, ICAM-1 KO mice mounted an unimpaired IFN-gamma response and IFN-gamma-dependent production of reactive nitrogen intermediates and parasite- specific IgG2a. Supporting the participation of ICAM-1 in cell migration during T. cruzi infection, the entrance of adoptively transferred PBL from T. cruzi-infected wild-type C57BL/6 mice into the cardiac tissue of ICAM-1 KO mice was significantly abrogated. Therefore, we favor the hypothesis that ICAM-1 plays a crucial role in T lymphocyte recruitment to the cardiac tissue and host susceptibility during T. cruzi infection.     

Identification, molecular biotyping and ultrastructural studies of bacterial communities isolated from two damaged frescoes of St Damian's Monastery in Assisi

AIM: To investigate the composition of the microbial community in biodeterioration of two frescoes in St Damian's Monastery in Assisi. METHODS AND RESULTS: A total of 1292 colonies were isolated from the most deteriorated parts, analysed by microbiological, biomolecular and ultrastructural techniques, and taxonomically classified. Molecular biotyping of Staphylococcus cohnii colonies, one of the most prevalent bacterial species, showed a very restricted genome diversity while Bacillus licheniformis were very homogeneous by RFLP, tDNA-PCR and random-amplified polymorphic DNA. Electron microscopy confirmed heterogeneity of the bacterial population in the different sampling areas. CONCLUSIONS: Several of the identified species are widespread in the soil or saprophytes of human skin. Although unable to demonstrate that they are involved in biodeterioration, they may represent trophic elements contributing to fungi-related chromatic alterations when adequate environmental conditions occur. Deterioration may in part be prevented or controlled by adequate air filtering or conditioning of the room.     

Mice deficient in LRG-47 display enhanced susceptibility to Trypanosoma cruzi infection associated with defective hemopoiesis and intracellular control of parasite growth

IFN-gamma is known to be required for host control of intracellular Trypanosoma cruzi infection in mice, although the basis of its protective function is poorly understood. LRG-47 is an IFN-inducible p47GTPase that has been shown to regulate host resistance to intracellular pathogens. To investigate the possible role of LRG-47 in IFN-gamma-dependent control of T. cruzi infection, LRG-47 knockout (KO) and wild-type (WT) mice were infected with the Y strain of this parasite, and host responses were analyzed. When assayed on day 12 after parasite inoculation, LRG-47 KO mice, in contrast to IFN-gamma KO mice, controlled early parasitemia almost as effectively as WT animals. However, the infected LRG-47 KO mice displayed a rebound in parasite growth on day 15, and all succumbed to the infection by day 19. Additional analysis indicated that LRG-47-deficient mice exhibit unimpaired proinflammatory responses throughout the infection. Instead, reactivated disease in the KO animals was associated with severe splenic and thymic atrophy, anemia, and thrombocytopenia not observed in their WT counterparts. In addition, in vitro studies revealed that IFN-gamma-stimulated LRG-47 KO macrophages display defective intracellular killing of amastigotes despite normal expression of TNF and NO synthetase type 2 and that both NO synthetase type 2 and LRG-47 are required for optimum IFN-gamma-dependent restriction of parasite growth. Together, these data establish that LRG-47 can influence pathogen control by simultaneously regulating macrophage-microbicidal activity and hemopoietic function.     

Structure-function analysis of the alpha5 and the alpha13 helices of human glucokinase: description of two novel activating mutations

It was recently described that the alpha5 and the alpha13 helices of human pancreatic glucokinase play a major role in the allosteric regulation of the enzyme. In order to understand the structural importance of these helices, we have performed site-directed mutagenesis to generate glucokinase derivatives with altered residues. We have analyzed the kinetic parameters of these mutated forms and compared them with wild-type and previously defined activating mutations in these helices (A456V and Y214C). We found two new activating mutations, A460R and Y215A, which increase the affinity of the enzyme for glucose. Our results suggest that substitutions in the alpha5 or the alpha13 helices that favor the closed, active conformation of the enzyme, either by improving the interaction with surrounding residues or by improving the flexibility of the region defined by these two helices, enhance the affinity of the enzyme for glucose, and therefore its performance as a glucose phosphorylating enzyme.     

A new genetically isolated population of theSaccharomyces sensu stricto complex from Brazil

Genetic and karyotypic studies of someSaccharomyces sensu stricto yeasts from Brazil revealed a genetically isolated population which apparently represents a new sibling species ofS. cerevisiae.     

Yeast diversity and killer activity dispersed in fecal pellets from marsupials and rodents in a Brazilian tropical habitat mosaic

Yeasts with counts of above 10⁶ g⁻¹ wet weight and high diversity were found in the fecal pellets of rodents and marsupials from a mosaic of forest fragments, grasslands, cultivated fields and pasture in Rio de Janeiro. The most frequently isolated yeasts were Debaryomyces hamsenii, Pichia membranaefaciens and Issatchenkia orientalis (and its anamorph Candida krusei ), probably reflecting a high fruit content in the diet of these animals. The opportunistic pathogens Candida albicans, Candida glabrata and Candida tropicalis were isolated at lower frequency. Some Pichia anomala and P. membranaefaciens cultures had killer activity affecting many of the other isolates. These animals can be involved in dispersal of yeasts.     

Yeast communities of the cactusPilosocereus arrabidae and associated insects in the Sandy Coastal Plains of Southeastern Brazil

The yeast communities from necrotic tissues, decaying flowers and fruits, and from larval feeding sites of the mothSigelgaita sp. in the cactusPilosocereus arrabidae were surveyed in three restinga ecosystems in Southeastern Brazil. Insects associated with these substrates were sampled to verify the vectoring of yeasts. The cactusPilosocereus arrabidae was shown to have four different yeast communities associated with it. Necrotic stems had a diverse yeast community with the prevalent speciesPichia barkeri, Candida sonorensis, Pichia cactophila, Geotrichum sp.,Myxozyma mucilagina andSporopachydermia sp. A, representing about 80% of the total isolates.Pichia sp. A and aCandida domercqii-like species represented more than 90% of the yeast isolates from decaying flowers. Fruits had a heterogeneous yeast community with typical fruit yeasts of the genusKloeckera, basidiomicetous anamorphs of the genusCryptococcus, the black yeastAureobasidium pullulans, Pichia sp. A, aCandida domercqii-like species, and some cactophilic yeasts, especiallyClavispora opuntiae. The feeding site ofSigelgaita sp. larvae hadClavispora opuntiae as the prevalent species. Insect vectors are suggested as one the most important factors influencing the composition of these yeast communities.