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RoundUp® (RUp) is a comercial formulation containing glyphosate (N-(phosphono-methyl) glycine), and is the world’s leading wide-spectrum herbicide used in agriculture. Supporters of the broad use of glyphosate-based herbicides (GBH) claim they are innocuous to humans, since the active compound acts on the inhibition of enzymes which are absent in human cells. However, the neurotoxic effects of GBH have already been shown in many animal models. Further, these formulations were shown to disrupt the microbiome of different species. Here, we investigated the effects of a lifelong exposure to low doses of the GBH-RUp on the gut environment, including morphological and microbiome changes. We also aimed to determine whether exposure to GBH-RUp could harm the developing brain and lead to behavioral changes in adult mice. To this end, animals were exposed to GBH-RUp in drinking water from pregnancy to adulthood. GBH-RUp-exposed mice had no changes in cognitive function, but developed impaired social behavior and increased repetitive behavior. GBH-Rup-exposed mice also showed an activation of phagocytic cells (Iba-1–positive) in the cortical brain tissue. GBH-RUp exposure caused increased mucus production and the infiltration of plama cells (CD138-positive), with a reduction in phagocytic cells. Long-term exposure to GBH-RUp also induced changes in intestinal integrity, as demonstrated by the altered expression of tight junction effector proteins (ZO-1 and ZO-2) and a change in the distribution of syndecan-1 proteoglycan. The herbicide also led to changes in the gut microbiome composition, which is also crucial for the establishment of the intestinal barrier. Altogether, our findings suggest that long-term GBH-RUp exposure leads to morphological and functional changes in the gut, which correlate with behavioral changes that are similar to those observed in patients with neurodevelopmental disorders.

SPIRIT checklist. (DOC 121 kb)

The tick Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus is an important parasite of cattle in many areas of the tropics. Characterization of molecules involved in mechanisms such as vitellogenesis and embryo development may contribute to a better understanding of this parasite’s physiology. The vitellin-degrading cysteine endopeptidase (VTDCE) is the most active enzyme involved in vitellin hydrolysis in R. microplus eggs. Here we show an association between VTDCE and vitellin in an additional site, apart from the active site. Our data also demonstrate cysteine endopeptidase activity in different tissues such as ovary, gut, fat body, salivary gland and female haemolymph, where it is controlled by a physiological inhibitor. In R. microplus female gut, VTDCE is localized in areas of protein synthesis and trafficking with the underlying haemolymph. VTDCE is also localized in the ovary basal region, in vesicle membranes of ovary pedicel cells and in oocyte cytosol. These results suggest that VTDCE plays a role in vitellin digestion during tick development.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is characterized by the presence of cytoplasmic inclusions composed of alpha-synuclein (alpha-syn) in dopaminergic neurons. This suggests a pivotal role of dopamine (DA) on PD development. Here, we show that DA modulates differently the stability of protofibrils (PF) and fibrils (F) composed of wild type or variants of alpha-syn (A30P and A53T) as probed by high hydrostatic pressure (HHP). While in the absence of DA, all alpha-syn PF exhibited identical stability, in its presence, the variant-composed PF acquired a greater stability (DAPFwt < DAPFA30P = DAPFA53T), implying that they would last longer, which could shed light onto why these mutations are so aggressive. When alpha-syn was incubated for long times (18 days) in the presence of DA, we observed the formation of F by electronic microscopy, suggesting that the PF trapped in the presence of DA in short times can evolve into F. The stability of F was also altered by DA. DAFwt was more labile than Fwt, indicating that the former would be more susceptible to breakage. PFA30P and DAPFA30P, when added to mesencephalic and cortical neurons in culture, decreased the number and length of neurites and increased the number of apoptotic cells. Surprisingly, these toxic effects of PFA30P and DAPFA30P were practically abolished with HHP treatment, which was able to break the PF into smaller aggregates, as seen by atomic force microscopy. These results suggest that strategies aimed at breaking and/or clearing these aggregates is promising in alleviating the symptoms of PD.

Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Instituto Oswaldo Cruz. Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil A hanseníase é uma doença infecciosa causada pelo Mycobacterium leprae, uma bactéria intracelular obrigatória. Estudos demonstram que a genética do hospedeiro pode influenciar no desfecho da doença em pelo menos em três etapas distintas: na hanseníase per se, no desenvolvimento das formas clínicas e nos episódios reacionais. Genes que participam da via principal de ativação da resposta imune inata a micobactérias tais como TRL1/2 e NOD2, foram apontados como associados à hanseníase em diferentes populações, alguns desses estudos avaliando os episódios reacionais como desfecho. Entretanto, o efeito dessas associações na população brasileira merece maior investigação. Assim o objetivo geral desse projeto foi estudar a associação dos genes TRL1 e NOD2 na susceptibilidade à hanseníase per se, e a associação de sete genes candidatos da resposta imune nos episódios reacionais. Inicialmente foram realizados estudos caso-controle e em famílias, conduzidos em quatro populações de diferentes regiões do Brasil, para verificar o efeito de SNPs do TLR1 na hanseníase. Os resultados mostraram a associação entre o TLR1 +743A>G (equivalente à troca N248S) e risco à hanseníase per se, o que foi confirmado em todas as populações estudadas (ORGG= 1,51, pG (amino acid exchang e N248S) and leprosy risk, which was confirmed in all populations used (OR GG = 1.51, p

Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Instituto Oswaldo Cruz. Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil A hanseníase é uma doença infecciosa crônica que afeta a pele e os nervos periféricos, causando deformidades e incapacidades físicas devido aos danos nos nervos. A hanseníase é causada pela micobactéria Mycobacterium leprae, um patógeno intracelular obrigatório. A resposta a infecções bacterianas, virais ou parasitárias é acompanhada por diversas alterações relacionadas à hemostasia, como por exemplo, aumento nos níveis de fibrinogênio. Compreender de que modo essas alterações são induzidas nessas condições pode ser relevante para o desenvolvimento de novas ferramentas terapêuticas. Na preparação do soro de pacientes hansênicos observarmos algumas vezes a formação de um sólido coágulo lipídico, que aqui denominamos Coágulo Hansênico. Inicialmente atribuímos a uma exacerbação dos lipídios séricos a formação desse coágulo. Dos cerca de 2000 pacientes que foram atendidos no ambulatório Souza Araújo, entre os anos de 2009 e 2013, 35 apresentaram o coágulo hansênico (1,75%), dos quais 35% estavam em reação tipo II (ENH) na data da coleta. A análise desse coágulo por cromatografia em camada delgada de alta performance (HPTLC), eletroforese e espectrometria de massa, mostrou que além de uma grande concentração de lipídeos, o coágulo hansênico contém alto teor de fibrina/fibrinogênio e de imunoglobulinas Diante disso, o principal objetivo deste trabalho foi realizar a análise proteômica do coágulo hansênico e quantificar, no soro e plasma dos pacientes multibacilares em reação tipo II ou multibacilares não reacionais, moléculas que poderiam estar envolvidas na formação desse coágulo. Verificamos que a presença de coágulo hansênico está associada a níveis elevados de fator de von Willebrand e fator tecidual. Além disso, pacientes multibacilares reacionais apresentaram maiores níveis de fibrinogênio quando comparados aos pacientes multibacilares não reacionais. Acreditamos que nos pacientes multibacilares a alta carga bacilar e a resposta imune à mesma são responsáveis pelo dano tecidual e consequente liberação de moléculas de matriz extracelular, acarretando a exacerbação do processo de coagulação observada nos mesmos Leprosy is a chronic infectious disease that affects the skin and peripheral nerves, causing deformities and disabilities due to nerve damage. Leprosy is caused by Mycobacterium leprae an obligate intracellular pathogen. Responses to bacterial, viral or parasitic infections ar e accompanied by several changes on hemostasis parameters, such as increased levels of fibrinogen. Understanding how these changes are induced in these conditions may be relevant to the development of new therapeutic tools. In prep aring serum of leprosy pa tients, sometimes it was observed formation of a lipid ic solid clot, here called Leprosum Clot, initially attributed to an exacerbation of serum lipids. Of the approximately 2000 patients treated in Souza Araújo Ambulatory (IOC/Fiocruz), between the years 2009 and 2013, 35 showed the leprosu m clot (1.75%), of w hich about 3 5% were in type II reaction (ENL) on the collect date. The analysis of such clot by high - performance thin layer chromatography (HPTLC), electrophoresis and mass spectrometry showed that in addition a high lipid contents, the leprosum clot conta ins high fibrin/fibrinogen and immunoglobulin levels. Therefore, the aim of this study was to perform a proteomic analysis of leprosum clot and quantify, in serum and plasma from multibacillary type II reactional patients and multibacillary not reactive on es, molecules that could be involved in the generation of this clot. It was observed that formation of leprosum clot is associated to elevated levels of von Willebrand factor and tissue factor. However, reactional multibacillary patients showed fibrinogen higher levels when compared to not reactive ones. We believe that in multibacillary patients the high bacterial load and immune response to it are responsible for tissue damage and subsequent release of extracellular matrix molecules, resulting in the coag ulation exacerbation observed in these patients.