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Introdução: Apesar dos avanços tecnológicos, as doenças transmitidas por alimentos (DTA) continuam sendo um problema de saúde pública global. Nesse contexto, o manipulador de alimentos tem sido associado a muitos surtos, principalmente em função de falhas na higiene pessoal e na manipulação inadequada dos alimentos. Objetivo: Avaliar o conhecimento em Boas Práticas de Manipulação (BPM), a percepção de risco em DTA e a existência do fenômeno conhecido como viés otimista em manipuladores de alimentos de um hospital público. Método: Foi realizado um estudo de caso exploratório, utilizando um questionário estruturado dividido em três blocos de perguntas (1 - perfil sociodemográfico; 2 - avaliação do conhecimento de Boas Práticas de Manipulação; e 3 - percepção de risco em Doenças Transmitidas por Alimentos e viés otimista) com 50 respondentes. Os dados foram analisados por estatística descritiva, utilizando os testes Qui-quadrado, para identificar associações, e t-Student, para análise de similaridade entre variáveis. Resultados: O perfil da amostra foi de ≥ 41 anos (70%), sexo feminino (82%), ensino médio completo (46%) e experiência ≥ 6 anos na função (64%), com participação em treinamento há menos de três meses (84%). A média do grau de conhecimento em BPM foi satisfatória. Com relação à percepção de risco em DTA, os respondentes demonstraram alta percepção para identificar fatores de risco sanitário, não sendo observado viés otimista nas respostas. Conclusão: Apesar de os manipuladores apresentarem conhecimentos satisfatórios em BPM, algumas lacunas foram observadas, sendo importante ainda analisar se o conhecimento se transforma em atitudes e práticas adequadas e seguras.

Além de ser matéria-prima para o açúcar, a cana é considerada uma alternativa para o setor de biocombustíveis e outras bioenergias são produzidas a partir da queima do seu bagaço. A cana também é utilizada in natura sob a forma de forragem, e também como alimentação animal ou como matéria-prima para a fabricação de cachaça, caldo de cana, rapadura e melado. O caldo de cana é uma bebida obtida pela extração do caldo pela moagem (esmagamento) do colmo da cana-de-açúcar. O alto teor de sacarose em sua composição química, confere ao colmo o sabor doce devido. A cana-de-açúcar é uma cultura semiperene de grande versatilidade, sendo matéria-prima do açúcar (sacarose), da cachaça, do álcool e da rapadura. Como há poucos trabalhos na literatura científica que destacam a cana-de-açúcar para produção da bebida caldo de cana, também conhecida como garapa, este trabalho visa apresentar alguns aspectos da cultura e da bebida, como características químicas e conservação. A conservação é um aspecto importante a ser analisado, visto que o caldo de cana tem em sua composição alto teor de sacarose, o que pode promover elevado índice de degradação dos componentes da bebida e reduzir sua qualidade tão apreciada pelos brasileiros. Embora seja uma bebida popular, o caldo de cana ainda carece de condições de higiene mais apropriadas para a sua comercialização. Sendo assim, este trabalho destaca que ainda são necessárias contribuições científicas para o fortalecimento comercial da bebida.

Strigomonas culicis is a kinetoplastid parasite of insects that maintains a mutualistic association with an intracellular symbiotic bacterium, which is highly integrated into the protist metabolism: it furnishes essential compounds and divides in synchrony with the eukaryotic nucleus. The protist, conversely, can be cured of the endosymbiont, producing an aposymbiotic cell line, which presents a diminished ability to colonize the insect host. This obligatory association can represent an intermediate step of the evolution towards the formation of an organelle, therefore representing an interesting model to understand the symbiogenesis theory. Here, we used shotgun proteomics to compare the S. culicis endosymbiont-containing and aposymbiotic strains, revealing a total of 11,305 peptides, and up to 2,213 proteins (2,029 and 1,452 for wild type and aposymbiotic, respectively). Gene ontology associated to comparative analysis between both strains revealed that the biological processes most affected by the elimination of the symbiont were the amino acid synthesis, as well as protein synthesis and folding. This large-scale comparison of the protein expression in S. culicis marks a step forward in the comprehension of the role of endosymbiotic bacteria in monoxenous trypanosomatid biology, particularly because trypanosomatids expression is mostly post-transcriptionally regulated.

Trypanosoma cruziis the causative agent of Chagas disease, a vector-borne disease. The parasite molecules involved in vector interaction have been little investigated. Metallopeptidases and gp63 molecules have been implicated in parasite adhesion of several trypanosomatids to the insect midgut. Although gp63 homologues are highly expanded in theT. cruzigenome, and are implicated in parasite–mammalian host interaction, its role in the insect vector has never been explored. Here, we showed that divalent metal chelators or anti-Tcgp63-I antibodies impairedT. cruziadhesion toRhodnius prolixusmidgut. Parasites isolated after insect colonization presented a drastic enhancement in the expression of Tcgp63-I. These data highlight, for the first time, that Tcgp63-I and Zn-dependent enzymes contribute to the interaction ofT. cruziwith the insect vector.

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of Lactobacillus casei 01 on quality parameters of Minas Frescal cheese and to investigate the hematological and clinical effects of its regular consumption on hypertensive overweighed women (n = 30, 50 g, 28 days). Microbiological (lactic acid bacteria and probiotic counts), physicochemical parameters (proximate composition, pH, proteolysis, organic acid levels, and fatty acid profile), water mobility (TD-NMR), bioactivity [antioxidant and angiotensin I-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitory activity], and microstructure were evaluated. The addition of L. casei 01 (108 CFU/g) did not change the proximate composition and the microstructure of the cheeses, while a more suitable fatty acid profile, lower pH, and higher antioxidant and ACE inhibitory activities, proteolysis and organic acid levels were observed. L. casei 01 improved the total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol, triacylglycerides, diastolic and systolic pressure, hemoglobin, and hematocrit count of the hypertensive overweighed women.

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are toxic molecules involved in several biological processes such as cellular signaling, proliferation, differentiation and cell death. Adaptations to oxidative environments are crucial for the success of the colonization of insects by protozoa. Strigomonas culicis is a monoxenic trypanosomatid found in the midgut of mosquitoes and presenting a life cycle restricted to the epimastigote form. Among S. culicis peculiarities, there is an endosymbiotic bacterium in the cytoplasm, which completes essential biosynthetic routes of the host cell and may represent an intermediary evolutive step in organelle origin, thus constituting an interesting model for evolutive researches. In this work, we induced ROS resistance in wild type S. culicis epimastigotes by the incubation with increasing concentrations of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), and compared the oxidative and energetic metabolisms among wild type, wild type-H2O2 resistant and aposymbiotic strains. Resistant protozoa were less sensitive to the oxidative challenge and more dependent on oxidative phosphorylation, which was demonstrated by higher oxygen consumption and mitochondrial membrane potential, increased activity of complexes II-III and IV, increased complex II gene expression and higher ATP production. Furthermore, the wild type-H2O2 resistant strain produced reduced ROS levels and showed lower lipid peroxidation, as well as an increase in gene expression of antioxidant enzymes and thiol-dependent peroxidase activity. On the other hand, the aposymbiotic strain showed impaired mitochondrial function, higher H2O2 production and deficient antioxidant response. The induction of H2O2 resistance also led to a remarkable increase in Aedes aegypti midgut binding in vitro and colonization in vivo, indicating that both the pro-oxidant environment in the mosquito gut and the oxidative stress susceptibility regulate S. culicis population in invertebrates.

A pleiotropic response to the calpain inhibitor MDL28170 was detected in the tomato parasite Phytomonas serpens. Ultrastructural studies revealed that MDL28170 caused mitochondrial swelling, shortening of flagellum and disruption of trans Golgi network. This effect was correlated to the inhibition in processing of cruzipain-like molecules, which presented an increase in expression paralleled by decreased proteolytic activity. Concomitantly, a calcium-dependent cysteine peptidase was detected in the parasite extract, the activity of which was repressed by pre-incubation of parasites with MDL28170. Flow cytometry and Western blotting analyses revealed the differential expression of calpain-like proteins (CALPs) in response to the pre-incubation of parasites with the MDL28170, and confocal fluorescence microscopy confirmed their surface location. The interaction of promastigotes with explanted salivary glands of the insect Oncopeltus fasciatus was reduced when parasites were pre-treated with MDL28170, which was correlated to reduced levels of surface cruzipain-like and gp63-like molecules. Treatment of parasites with anti-Drosophila melanogaster (Dm) calpain antibody also decreased the adhesion process. Additionally, parasites recovered from the interaction process presented higher levels of surface cruzipain-like and gp63-like molecules, with similar levels of CALPs cross-reactive to anti-Dm-calpain antibody. The results confirm the importance of exploring the use of calpain inhibitors in studying parasites’ physiology.

Oroidin was isolated from the marine sponge Agelassventres and inhibited the activity and function of Pdr5p, an enzyme responsible for the multidrug resistance phenotype in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. This compound may help in the development of new drugs that reverse this dangerous phenotype of pathogenic yeast and fungi.

Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ). Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes. Departamento de Microbiologia Geral. Laboratório de Investigação de Peptidases. Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil. Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Instituto Oswaldo Cruz. Laboratório de Estudos Integrados em Protozoologia, Coleção de Protozoários. Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil / Instituto Federal de Educação, Ciência e Tecnologia – Campus Rio de Janeiro. Laboratório de Microbiologia. Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil. Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Instituto Oswaldo Cruz. Laboratório de Estudos Integrados em Protozoologia, Coleção de Protozoários. Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil. Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ). Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes. Departamento de Microbiologia Geral. Laboratório de Investigação de Peptidases. Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil. Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ). Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes. Departamento de Microbiologia Geral. Laboratório de Investigação de Peptidases. Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil. Background: Angomonas deanei is a trypanosomatid parasite of insects that has a bacterial endosymbiont, which supplies amino acids and other nutrients to its host. Bacterium loss induced by antibiotic treatment of the protozoan leads to an aposymbiotic strain with increased need for amino acids and results in increased production of extracellular peptidases. In this work, a more detailed examination of A. deanei was conducted to determine the effects of endosymbiont loss on the host calpain-like proteins (CALPs), followed by testing of different calpain inhibitors on parasite proliferation. Results: Western blotting showed the presence of different protein bands reactive to antibodies against calpain from Drosophila melanogaster (anti-Dm-calpain), lobster calpain (anti-CDPIIb) and cytoskeleton-associated calpain from Trypanosoma brucei (anti-CAP5.5), suggesting a possible modulation of CALPs influenced by the endosymbiont. In the cell-free culture supernatant of A. deanei wild type and aposymbiotic strains, a protein of 80 kDa cross-reacted with the anti-Dm-calpain antibody; however, no cross-reactivity was found with anti-CAP5.5 and anti-CDPIIb antibodies. A search in A. deanei genome for homologues of D. melanogaster calpain, T. brucei CAP5.5 and lobster CDPIIb calpain revealed the presence of hits with at least one calpain conserved domain and also with theoretical molecular mass consistent with the recognition by each antibody. No significant hit was observed in the endosymbiont genome, indicating that calpain molecules might be absent from the symbiont. Flow cytometry analysis of cells treated with the anti-calpain antibodies showed that a larger amount of reactive epitopes was located intracellularly. The reversible calpain inhibitor MDL28170 displayed a much higher efficacy in diminishing the growth of both strains compared to the non-competitive calpain inhibitor PD150606, while the irreversible calpain inhibitor V only marginally diminished the proliferation. Conclusions: Altogether, these results indicate that distinct calpain-like molecules are expressed by A. deanei, with a possible modulation in the expression influenced by the endosymbiont. In addition, treatment with MDL28170 affects the growth rate of both strains, as previously determined in the human pathogenic species Leishmania amazonensis and Trypanosoma cruzi, with whom A. deanei shares immunological and biochemical relationships.

OBJETIVO: Avaliar o resultado clínico e econômico de um Programa de Reabilitação Cardiopulmonar e Metabólica (PRCM) criado por um plano de saúde. MÉTODOS: A amostra foi constituída por 96 clientes, divididos em dois grupos de 48 indivíduos (grupo tratamento - GT, indivíduos que participavam do programa de RCPM; e grupo controle - GC, indivíduos que não participavam do programa), de ambos os sexos, idade entre 54 e 79 anos. O tempo de treinamento do GT foi de 22 (±3) meses. Para avaliação do resultado clínico antes e após a PRCM, foram determinadas as tolerâncias ao esforço físico, perfil lipoprotéico plasmático (CT, LDL-C, HDL-C, CT/HDL-C e triglicérides); pressão arterial sistêmica (PAS) de repouso e composição corporal (índice de massa corporal - IMC e relação cintura/quadril - RC/Q). RESULTADOS: O GT apresentou, respectivamente na avaliação pré e pós-PRCM: CT (mg/dl) 242,5 (±48,32) e 189,47(±39,83); LDL-C (mg/dl) 162(±37,72) e 116,3(±33,28); HDL-C (mg/dl) 46,5(±8,59) e 57,8(±10,36); Tg (mg/dl) 165,15(±90,24) e 113,29(±54,92); CT/HDL-C 5,42 (±1,10) e 3,35 (±0,81); VO2 pico (ml/kg/min) 26,92±7 e 32,64±5,92; IMC 29,35 (±3,93) e 28,12 (±3,55) para mulheres e 29,17 (±5,14) e 27,88 (±4,83) para homens; RC/Q 0,93(±0,05) e 0,94(±0,04) para mulheres e 0,93(±0,07) e 0,92(±0,06) para homens; PAS (mmHg) 151(±13,89) e 132(±9,56); PAD (mmHg) 83(±8,07) e 77(±5,92); despesas mensais GC (R$) 8.840,05 (±5.656,58) e 8.978,32 (±5.500,78); despesas mensais GT (R$) 2.016,98 (±2.861,69) e 1.470,73 (±1.333,25). CONCLUSÃO: No grupo submetido ao programa de PRCM foram observadas modificações clínicas favoráveis em relação a perfil lipoprotéico plasmático, PAS e tolerância ao esforço físico, sem relação com modificação de medicamentos. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the clinical and economic outcome of a Cardiopulmonary and Metabolic Rehabilitation Program (CPMR) created by an HMO. METHODS: The sample was comprised of 96 clients, divided into two groups of 48 individuals (treatment group - TG, individuals who participated in the CPMR program, and control group - CG, individuals who did not participate in the program) of both genders, with age ranging between 54 and 79 years. Training time of the TG was 22 (±3) months. To assess the clinical outcome before and after CPMR, exercise tolerance, plasma lipoprotein profile (TC, LDL-C, HDL-C, TC/HDL-C and triglycerides), resting blood pressure (BP), and body composition (Body mass index - BMI and Waist-to-hip ratio - W/HR) were determined. RESULTS: The TG presented the following results in the pre and post CPMR assessment, respectively: TC (mg/dL) 242,5 (±48,32) and 189.47(±39.83); LDL-C (mg/dL) 162(±37.72) and 116,3(±33,28); HDL-C (mg/dL) 46,5(±8,59) and 57.8(±10.36); Tg (mg/dL) 165.15(±90.24) and 113.29(±54,92); TC/HDL-C 5.42 (±1.10) and 3.35 (±0.81); VO2 peak (mL/Kg/min) 26.92 ± 7 and 32.64 ± 5.92; BMI 29.35 (±3.93) and 28.12 (±3.55) for women and 29.17 (±5.14) and 27.88 (±4.83) for men; W/HR 0.93(±0.05) and 0.94(±0.04) for women and 0.93(±0.07) and 0.92(±0.06) for men; BP (mmHg) 151(±13.89) and 132(±9.56); DBP (mmHg) 83(±8.07) and 77(±5.92); monthly expenses CG (R$) 8,840.05 (±5,656.58) and 8,978.32 (±5,500.78); monthly expenses TG (R$) 2,016.98 (±2,861.69) and 1,470.73 (±1,333.25). CONCLUSION: In the group undergoing the CPMR Program, favorable clinical changes were observed in relation to the plasma lipoprotein profile, blood pressure, and exercise tolerance, with no relation to changes in medications.

To evaluate the clinical and economic outcome of a Cardiopulmonary and Metabolic Rehabilitation Program (CPMR) created by an HMO.The sample was comprised of 96 clients, divided into two groups of 48 individuals (treatment group--TG, individuals who participated in the CPMR program, and control group--CG, individuals who did not participate in the program) of both genders, with age ranging between 54 and 79 years. Training time of the TG was 22 (+/-3) months. To assess the clinical outcome before and after CPMR, exercise tolerance, plasma lipoprotein profile (TC, LDL-C, HDL-C, TC/HDL-C and triglycerides), resting blood pressure (BP), and body composition (Body mass index--BMI and Waist-to-hip ratio--W/HR) were determined.The TG presented the following results in the pre and post CPMR assessment, respectively: TC (mg/dL) 242.5 (+/-48,32) and 189.47(+/-39.83); LDL-C (mg/dL) 162(+/-37.72) and 116.3(+/-33.28); HDL-C (mg/dL) 46.5(+/-8.59) and 57.8(+/-10.36); Tg (mg/dL) 165.15(+/-90.24) and 113.29(+/-54.92); TC/HDL-C 5.42 (+/-1.10) and 3.35 (+/-0.81); VO2 peak (mL/Kg/min) 26.92 +/- 7 and 32.64 +/- 5.92; BMI 29.35 (+/-3.93) and 28.12 (+/-3.55) for women and 29.17 (+/-5.14) and 27.88 (+/-4.83) for men; W/HR 0.93(+/-0.05) and 0.94(+/-0.04) for women and 0.93(+/-0.07) and 0.92(+/-0.06) for men; BP (mmHg) 151(+/-13.89) and 132(+/-9.56); DBP (mmHg) 83(+/-8.07) and 77(+/-5.92); monthly expenses CG (R$) 8,840.05 (+/-5,656.58) and 8,978.32 (+/-5,500.78); monthly expenses TG (R$) 2,016.98 (+/-2,861.69) and 1,470.73 (+/-1,333.25).In the group undergoing the CPMR Program, favorable clinical changes were observed in relation to the plasma lipoprotein profile, blood pressure, and exercise tolerance, with no relation to changes in medications.

Submitted by Boris Flegr (boris@uerj.br) on 2021-01-07T15:14:01Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Livia Almeida Uehara Tese completa.pdf: 2708195 bytes, checksum: bc06fdf4f320688e9a23006547507147 (MD5) Made available in DSpace on 2021-01-07T15:14:01Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Livia Almeida Uehara Tese completa.pdf: 2708195 bytes, checksum: bc06fdf4f320688e9a23006547507147 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2014-12-12 Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior The highly abundant surface peptidase of Leishmania spp., gp63, is widely distributed in the Trypanosomatidae family and is particularly involved in host-parasite interaction. The gp63 homologues in monoxenic trypanosomatids appears to be essential for nutrition and to interaction with the insect epithelial cells. In this context, this project aims through a biochemical approach to investigate the proteolytic profile of the Trypanosoma cruzi cellular extract, for the detection of gp63 in Dm28c strain, analyze the role of this metallopeptidase in the interaction of T. cruzi with an insect vector, Rhodnius prolixus and characterize the proteolytic profile of the triatomine peptidases. Ultimately, this set of approaches will assess the relevance of the parasite and insect peptidase in the interaction process. To this end, we have analyzed the effects of the treatment of T. cruzi with metallopeptidase inhibitors or anti-gp63 antibodies in the parasite adhesion to R. prolixus posterior midgut ex vivo. The interaction rate was reduced in the presence of 1,10-phenanthroline 0.5 µM (79%), EDTA 1 µM (74%) and EGTA 1 µM (68%) in comparison to control parasites. 1,10-phenanthroline presented a dose-dependent reduction on the adhesion. In addition, anti-gp63 antibodies (1:500) reduced the adhesion to the insect posterior midgut in 65% in comparison to control parasites. There were no significant differences in gp63 and cruzipain exposure when cells were treated with the inhibitor 1,10-phenanthroline for 1 h or 24 h as compared to non-treated cells. On the other hand, the level of gp63 exposure was drastic enhanced after in vivo passage in R. prolixus. In total cellular extract of T. cruzi, three typical halos of gelatin degradation were detected. A most prominent one of approximately 52 kDa, classified as metallopetidase, since it was inhibited in alkaline pH by 1,10-phenanthroline 20 mM, EDTA and EGTA 5 mM. Two other enzymes were detected: another metallopeptidase, presenting a fainter degradation halo, which migrates around 60 kDa, and a very weak cysteine peptidase that resisted the extraction in the presence of specific inhbitor. These results together demonstrate the presence of an active metallopeptidase in the parasite, possibly involved in the interaction with the vector. In relation to the characterization of active peptidases in R. prolixus, the proteolytic profile consist of three bands migrating in the range of 31-24 kDa in adult males and females midgut. Peptidases belong to the cysteine peptidase class (strongly inhibited by E-64), with activity better detected in acid pH (4.5) after 24 h of incubation. Moreover, enzymatic assays with the substrate Z-Phe-Arg-AMC showed the highest level of activity at pH (5.5). Collectively, our results suggest a possible involvement of metallopetidases, particularly gp63, in the interaction between T. cruzi and R. prolixus midgut. A glicoproteína gp63 consiste na metalopeptidase mais abundante em Leishmania, amplamente distribuída na família Trypanosomatidae e está particularmente envolvida na interação parasito-hospedeiro. Os homólogos de gp63 nos tripanossomatídeos monoxênicos parecem ser essenciais para a nutrição, bem como para interação com células epiteliais do inseto do hospedeiro. Nesse contexto, esse projeto visa através de uma abordagem bioquímica, investigar o perfil proteolítico do extrato celular de Trypanosoma cruzi, visando à detecção da gp63 na cepa Dm28c, analisar o papel dessa metalopeptidase na interação do T. cruzi com um inseto vetor, Rhodnius prolixus, bem como caracterizar o perfil proteolítico de peptidases do triatomíneo. Em última instância, esse conjunto de abordagens permitirá avaliar a relevância das peptidases do parasito e do inseto no processo de interação. Para tal, foram analisados os efeitos do pré-tratamento do T. cruzi com inibidores de metalopeptidases ou anticorpos anti-gp63 na taxa de adesão do parasito ao epitélio intestinal médio posterior dissecado de R. prolixus. A taxa de adesão foi reduzida na presença de 1,10-fenantrolina 0,5 µM (79%), EDTA 1 µM (74%) e EGTA 1 µM (68%) em comparação aos parasitos não tratados. O tratamento de parasitos com 1,10-fenantrolina apresentou um efeito dose-dependente sobre a taxa de adesão em relação aos parasitos não tratados. Além disso, o tratamento de epimastigotas com anticorpos anti-gp63 (1:500) induziu uma redução significativa de 65% na adesão. Não houve diferenças significativas na exposição de gp63 e da cruzipaína quando as células foram tratadas com o inibidor 1,10-fenantrolina por 1 h ou 24 h em relação às células não tratadas. Em contrapartida, a exposição da gp63 pelo T. cruzi teve um aumento drástico após a passagem in vivo em R. prolixus. No extrato celular total de T. cruzi, extraído na presença de inibidores de cisteína-, serina- e aspártico-peptidases, foram identificados três halos de degradação da gelatina típicas do parasita. Um mais proeminente de aproximadamente 52 kDa, classificado como metalopetidase, uma vez que a atividade foi inibida em pH alcalino por 1,10-fenantrolina 20 mM conjugada com EDTA e EGTA a 5 mM. Também foram identificadas uma metalopeptidase com atividade menos proeminente, que migra em torno de 60 kDa e uma banda de atividade bem fraca que consiste de cisteína peptidase que resistiu a extração na presença de inibidores específicos, totalmente inibida por E-64. Esses resultados em conjunto demonstram a presença de metalopeptidases ativas no parasito, possivelmente envolvidas na interação com o inseto vetor. Em relação à caracterização de peptidases ativas de R. prolixus, o perfil proteolítico mostrou ser composto por três bandas migrando na faixa de 31 e 24 kDa no intestino de adultos machos e fêmeas. As peptidases pertencem à classe de cisteína peptidases (fortemente inibidas por E-64), com atividades ótimas na faixa de pH ácido (4,5) e identificadas com 24 h de incubação. Em adição, ensaios com o substrato Z-Phe-Arg-AMC mostraram maior aumento no nível de atividade em pH ácido (5,5). Coletivamente, nossos resultados sugerem uma possível participação de metalopetidases, particularmente da gp63 na interação entre T. cruzi com o intestino do inseto vetor.