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INTRODUÇÃO: A campanha anti-rábica no Brasil é realizada anualmente utilizando a vacina de cérebro de camundongos lactentes Fuenzalida-Palacios. A resposta imune humoral de cães vacinados durante as campanhas foi analisada objetivando avaliar se os cães apresentavam título protetor (0,5 UI/ml), 12 meses após a vacinação, e quantos deles alcançam esse título 30 dias após o reforço vacinal. MATERIAL E MÉTODO: Foram analisadas 341 amostras de soro de cães domiciliados (259 do Município de São Paulo e 82 do Município de Paulínia), através da Técnica de Inibição de Focos de Fluorescência Rápida. A resposta imune foi avaliada considerando o estado nutricional do animal e o número de vacinações anteriores. RESULTADO: A maioria dos cães não tinha título de 0,5 UI/ml após 12 meses, independentemente do estado nutricional, e a resposta humoral ao reforço vacinal mostrou-se melhor em cães com duas ou mais vacinações prévias. DISCUSSÃO: São discutidos o referencial de 0,5 Ul/ml como título protetor para a espécie canina e a influência do estado nutricional e condição de saúde do animal como responsável pela resposta imune humoral.

No período de janeiro de 1988 adezembro de 1992, foi realizado diagnóstico de raiva em 289 morcegos através das técnicas de imunofluorescência direta e de inoculação intracerebral em camundongos. Dois morcegos insetívoros da espécie Nyctinomops macrotis se apresentaram positivos, representando 0,69% da amostra. Esses morcegos foram capturados, ainda vivos, em 1988 e 1990, na sala de um apartamento no sétimo andar e no muro de uma casa, respectivamente. Ambos em bairros residenciais. Apresentaram período de incubação de 13 e 11 dias, respectivamente, na prova biológica. A existência de morcegos insetívoros infectados com o vírus da raiva é preocupante, uma vez que essa população parece ser cada vez mais freqüente em áreas urbanas, porém isto não justifica ações predatórias indiscriminadas contra as espécies, principalmente levando-se em consideração a importância do morcego no equilíbrio ecológico da população de insetos, abundante em área urbana.

Abstract Background Obesity rates in adults continue to rise and effective treatment programs with a broad reach are urgently required. This paper describes the study protocol for a web-based randomized controlled trial (RCT) of a commercially available program for overweight and obese adult males and females. The aim of this RCT was to determine and compare the efficacy of two web-based interventions for weight loss and maintenance of lost weight. Methods/Design Overweight and obese adult males and females were stratified by gender and BMI and randomly assigned to one of three groups for 12-weeks: waitlist control, or basic or enhanced online weight-loss. Control participants were re-randomized to the two weight loss groups at the end of the 12-week period. The basic and enhanced group participants had an option to continue or repeat the 12-week program. If the weight loss goal was achieved at the end of 12, otherwise on completion of 24 weeks of weight loss, participants were re-randomized to one of two online maintenance programs (maintenance basic or maintenance enhanced), until 18 months from commencing the weight loss program. Assessments took place at baseline, three, six, and 18 months after commencing the initial weight loss intervention with control participants repeating the initial assessment after three month of waiting. The primary outcome is body mass index (BMI). Other outcomes include weight, waist circumference, blood pressure, plasma markers of cardiovascular disease risk, dietary intake, eating behaviours, physical activity and quality of life. Both the weight loss and maintenance of lost weight programs were based on social cognitive theory with participants advised to set goals, self-monitor weight, dietary intake and physical activity levels. The enhanced weight loss and maintenance programs provided additional personalized, system-generated feedback on progress and use of the program. Details of the methodological aspects of recruitment, inclusion criteria, randomization, intervention programs, assessments and statistical analyses are described. Discussion Importantly, this paper describes how an RCT of a currently available commercial online program in Australia addresses some of the short falls in the current literature pertaining to the efficacy of web-based weight loss programs. Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ANZCTR) number: ACTRN12610000197033

Abstract Background Obesity is a major cause of preventable death in Australia with prevalence increasing at an alarming rate. Of particular concern is that approximately 68% of men are overweight/obese, yet are notoriously difficult to engage in weight loss programs, despite being more susceptible than women to adverse weight-related outcomes. There is a need to develop and evaluate obesity treatment programs that target and appeal to men. The primary aim of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of two relatively low intensity weight loss programs developed specifically for men. Methods and Design The study design is an assessor blinded, parallel-group randomised controlled trial that recruited 159 overweight and obese men in Newcastle, Australia. Inclusion criteria included: BMI 25-40 (kg/m2); no participation in other weight loss programs during the study; pass a health-screening questionnaire and pre-exercise risk assessment; available for assessment sessions; access to a computer with e-mail and Internet facilities; and own a mobile phone. Men were recruited to the SHED-IT (Self-Help, Exercise and Diet using Internet Technology) study via the media and emails sent to male dominated workplaces. Men were stratified by BMI category (overweight, obese class I, obese class II) and randomised to one of three groups: (1) SHED-IT Resources - provision of materials (DVD, handbooks, pedometer, tape measure) with embedded behaviour change strategies to support weight loss; (2) SHED-IT Online - same materials as SHED-IT Resources plus access to and instruction on how to use the study website; (3) Wait-list Control. The intervention programs are three months long with outcome measures taken by assessors blinded to group allocation at baseline, and 3- and 6-months post baseline. Outcome measures include: weight (primary outcome), % body fat, waist circumference, blood pressure, resting heart rate, objectively measured physical activity, self-reported dietary intake, sedentary behaviour, physical activity and dietary cognitions, sleepiness, quality of life, and perceived sexual health. Generalised linear mixed models will be used to assess all outcomes for the impact of group (Resources, Online, and Control), time (treated as categorical with levels baseline, 3-months and 6-months) and the group-by-time interaction. These three terms will form the base model. 'Intention-to-treat' analysis will include all randomised participants. Discussion Our study will compare evidence-based and theoretically driven, low cost and easily disseminated strategies specifically targeting weight loss in men. The SHED-IT community trial will provide evidence to inform development and dissemination of sustainable strategies to reduce obesity in men. Trial Registration Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ACTRN12610000699066)

Relata-se um caso de raiva em morcego insetívoro, Lasyurus borealis, na região urbana, em bairro residencial, no Município de Jundiaí, SP (Brasil).

Relata-se um caso de infecção natural de raiva em morcego insetívoro Myotis nigricans, no Município de Ribeirão Pires, Grande São Paulo (Brasil). O diagnóstico realizou-se através das técnicas de imunofluorescência e inoculação intracerebral em camundongos, do tecido nervoso e da musculatura da região interescapular do morcego.

In eukaryotes, phosphorylation of the α-subunit of eIF2 is a mechanism to adjust cellular gene expression profiles in response to specific signals. The eIF2α kinases are a group of serine-threonine kinases that perform important functions in response to infection, proteotoxicity, and nutrient scavenging. The conserved nature of eIF2α kinases among fungi makes them potential evolutionary markers, which may contribute to deeper understanding of taxonomy and evolution. To date, only few studies are available of eIF2α kinases in black yeasts, which are members of Chaetothyriales containing potential agents of a gamut of major human diseases, such as chromoblastomycosis, phaeohyphomycosis and mycetoma. To establish the phylogenetic validity of sequences of eIF2α kinases hypothetical genes, we compared these genes between members of different classes of fungi, including black yeasts and allies, aiming at evaluation of the phylogeny of this group using an alternative molecular marker, compared to standard ribosomal genes. Trees generated with eIF2α kinase sequences of fungi were compared with those generated by ribosomal internal transcribed spacers (ITS rDNA) sequences from the same species. Sequences used were obtained from the protein Non-redundant database of NCBI, were aligned using CLUSTALX v1.8 and alignments were analyzed with RAxML v8.2.9 on the CIPRES Science Gateway portal. The trees generated had similar topologies, demonstrating that eIF2α kinases hypothetical gene sequences present a coherent reflection of evolution among fungi, compared to trees reconstructed by the use of ribosomal sequences. Our preliminary findings with a limited dataset strongly suggest that the evolution of kinases among black yeasts follows a similar path as revealed by ribosomal data, which underlines the validity of current taxonomy of black yeasts and relatives., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare and confirm that each one has made substantial contributions to the information or materials submitted for publication., (Copyright © 2020 British Mycological Society. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: The evolution of Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) has considerably reduced the cost per sequenced-base, allowing a significant rise of sequencing projects, mainly in prokaryotes. However, the range of available NGS platforms requires different strategies and software to correctly assemble genomes. Different strategies are necessary to properly complete an assembly project, in addition to the installation or modification of various software. This requires users to have significant expertise in these software and command line scripting experience on Unix platforms, besides possessing the basic expertise on methodologies and techniques for genome assembly. These difficulties often delay the complete genome assembly projects., Results: In order to overcome this, we developed SIMBA (SImple Manager for Bacterial Assemblies), a freely available web tool that integrates several component tools for assembling and finishing bacterial genomes. SIMBA provides a friendly and intuitive user interface so bioinformaticians, even with low computational expertise, can work under a centralized administrative control system of assemblies managed by the assembly center head. SIMBA guides the users to execute assembly process through simple and interactive pages. SIMBA workflow was divided in three modules: (i) projects: allows a general vision of genome sequencing projects, in addition to data quality analysis and data format conversions; (ii) assemblies: allows de novo assemblies with the software Mira, Minia, Newbler and SPAdes, also assembly quality validations using QUAST software; and (iii) curation: presents methods to finishing assemblies through tools for scaffolding contigs and close gaps. We also presented a case study that validated the efficacy of SIMBA to manage bacterial assemblies projects sequenced using Ion Torrent PGM., Conclusion: Besides to be a web tool for genome assembly, SIMBA is a complete genome assemblies project management system, which can be useful for managing of several projects in laboratories. SIMBA source code is available to download and install in local webservers at http://ufmg-simba.sourceforge.net .

Purpose: To test an iPad-delivered multiple behavior tailored intervention (Healthy Pregnancy: Step by Step) for pregnant women that addresses smoking cessation, stress management, and fruit and vegetable consumption., Design: A randomized 2 × 5 factorial repeated measures design was employed with randomization on the individual level stratified on behavior risk. Women completed three sessions during pregnancy and two postpartum at postdelivery months 1 and 4., Setting: Women were recruited from six locations of federally funded health centers across three states., Subjects: Participants (N = 335) were English- and Spanish-speaking women at up to 18 weeks gestation., Intervention: The treatment group received three interactive sessions focused on two priority health behavior risks. The sessions offered individually tailored and stage-matched change strategies based on the transtheoretical model of behavior change. The usual care group received March of Dimes brochures., Measures: The primary outcome was the number of behavior risks. Stage of change and continuous measures for all behaviors also were assessed., Analysis: Data were analyzed across all time points using generalized estimating equations examining repeated measures effects., Results: Women in the treatment group reported significantly fewer risks than those in usual care at 1 month (.85 vs. 1.20, odds ratio [OR] = .70) and 4 months postpartum (.72 vs. .91, OR = .81)., Conclusion: Healthy Pregnancy is an evidence-based and personalized program that assists pregnant women with reducing behavior risks and sustaining healthy lifestyle behaviors., (© 2016 by American Journal of Health Promotion, Inc.)

Background: Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis, a facultative intracellular bacterial pathogen, is the etiological agent of caseous lymphadenitis (CLA), an infectious disease that affects sheep and goats and it is responsible for significant economic losses. The disease is characterized mainly by bacteria-induced caseous necrosis in lymphatic glands. New vaccines are needed for reliable control and management of CLA. Thus, the putative virulence factors SpaC, SodC, NanH, and PknG from C. pseudotuberculosis FRC41 may represent new target proteins for vaccine development and pathogenicity studies., Results: SpaC, PknG and NanH presented better vaccine potential than SodC after in silico analyses. A total of 136 B and T cell epitopes were predicted from the four putative virulence factors. A cluster analysis was performed to evaluate the redundancy degree among the sequences of the predicted epitopes; 57 clusters were formed, most of them (34) were single clusters. Two clusters from PknG and one from SpaC grouped epitopes for B and T-cell (MHC I and II). These epitopes can thus potentially stimulate a complete immune response (humoral and cellular) against C. pseudotuberculosis. Several other clusters, including two from NanH, grouped B-cell epitopes with either MHC I or II epitopes. The four target proteins were expressed in Escherichia coli. A purification protocol was developed for PknG expression., Conclusions: In silico analyses show that the putative virulence factors SpaC, PknG and NanH present good potential for CLA vaccine development. Target proteins were successfully expressed in E. coli. A protocol for PknG purification is described.

Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis NCDO 2118 is a nondairy lactic acid bacterium, a xylose fermenter, and a gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) producer isolated from frozen peas. Here, we report the complete genome sequence of L. lactis NCDO 2118, a strain with probiotic potential activity., (Copyright © 2014 Oliveira et al.)