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Background: Riverine communities face various health problems, which involve geographical and cultural barriers to accessing care, in addition to a lack of financial investments in services aimed at these communities, resulting in a process of invisibility for the population living in these regions. In this scenario, the significant burden of snakebite envenoming (SBE) highlights the need for participatory research to address ways to minimize this situation. Thus, this study aimed to describe the priority health problems identified by this population and the ranking of SBEs in that context, mapping solutions according to the local reality., Methodology/principal Findings: This study was conducted in Limeira, a riverine community located in Tabatinga, in the extreme Western Brazilian Amazonia, on the borders with Peru and Colombia. The research lasted approximately one year, from 2021 to 2022.It is a participatory study that followed three steps: baseline assessment of the community, community assembly, and final data analysis. The study included a total of 42 participants in the sociodemographic survey, which served as the basis for the subsequent stages of data collection. Of these 42 individuals, 32 participated in the qualitative interviews, and 20 took part in the community assembly. Participants emphasized snakebite envenoming as a significant health issue, though not the only one, and reported frequent encounters with snakes, underscoring its severity as a concern. The qualitative analysis identified three main themes: Snakebites in the Community, which focused on personal experiences with snakes; Common Health Problems, which addressed other health issues faced by community members; and Community Defining Solutions, which discussed strategies and solutions proposed by the community to address these challenges., Conclusions/significance: Improvements in health care delivery to populations living in Amazonian communities are possible with the judicious use of tested integrated interventions, particularly when the community identifies various concurrent health problems. SBE control programs in remote areas of the Brazilian Amazon should be planned with a multidisciplinary and intercultural approach, preferably integrated with broader interventions that address the population's needs for a range of health issues., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright: © 2025 Santos et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.)

Background: To eliminate malaria by 2035, Brazil must address Plasmodium vivax. Previously, first-line treatment was chloroquine plus 7-day primaquine (PQ) without glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency testing. In 2021, point-of-care quantitative G6PD testing and single-dose tafenoquine (TQ) were piloted in two municipalities. This study evaluated healthcare professional (HCP) and patient perceptions of TQ implementation., Methods: This qualitative observational study in Manaus and Porto Velho municipalities evaluated the pilot implementation of the new P. vivax malaria treatment algorithm in high/medium-complexity healthcare units (phase one), then low-complexity units (phase two). Qualitative data collection began 30 days after the first TQ treatment in each phase, i.e., October 2021 and March 2022. Perceptions of TQ were assessed using semi-structured in-depth interviews and field notes until saturation. Data were analysed through debriefing sessions, and systematic organization in Excel and MAXQDA, with themes derived by inductive and deductive analysis., Results: The study included 55 patients who received TQ and 94 HCPs. HCPs viewed the TQ single-dose regimen as a significant advancement over 7-day PQ, enhancing adherence. Patients appreciated the shorter duration of treatment and perceived a rapid clinical recovery and fewer side effects. HCPs also noted that TQ resulted in fewer recurrences of P. vivax. The single-dose administration of TQ facilitated complete supervision of the treatment, reduced HCP workload and ensured that patients received the necessary care and did not share the medication with family members. TQ packaging instilled patient trust, though HCPs working in the community found the packaging too bulky. Prescription insecurities among HCPs after initial training prompted requests for additional training. While some patients initially doubted single-dose efficacy, confidence grew with experience. TQ implementation increased awareness of pharmacovigilance and enhanced patient communication, with HCPs adhering to protocols for monitoring haemolysis symptoms., Conclusion: Single-dose TQ for P. vivax malaria in Brazil's Amazon region was positively received by HCPs and patients. Positive perceptions of the medication may aid in improving patient adherence to malaria treatment, thereby reducing malaria recurrences. The findings underscore the importance of adaptive training to optimize P. vivax radical cure implementation., Competing Interests: Declarations. Ethics approval and consent to participate: The Ethics Review Board at the Fundação de Medicina Tropical Dr Heitor Vieira Dourado in Manaus and the National Research Ethics Committee (CONEP) in Brasília, Brazil (CAAE: 47598921.2.0000.0005) approved the protocol for both study sites. All participants provided written consent for participation in the study and publication of their de-identified contributions. Competing interests: PGD is a consultant for MMV Medicines for Malaria Venture. All other authors declare that they have no competing interests., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

This study characterized the binding mechanisms of the lectin cMoL (from Moringa oleifera seeds) to carbohydrates using spectroscopy and molecular dynamics (MD). The interaction with carbohydrates was studied by evaluating lectin fluorescence emission after titration with glucose or galactose (2.0-11 mM). The Stern-Volmer constant (Ksv), binding constant (Ka), Gibbs free energy (∆G), and Hill coefficient were calculated. After the urea-induced denaturation of cMoL, evaluations were performed using fluorescence spectroscopy, circular dichroism (CD), and hemagglutinating activity (HA) evaluations. The MD simulations were performed using the Amber 20 package. The decrease in Ksv revealed that cMoL interacts with carbohydrates via a static mechanism. The cMoL bound carbohydrates spontaneously (ΔG < 0) and presented a Ka on the order of 10 2 , with high selectivity for glucose. Protein-ligand complexes were stabilized by hydrogen bonds and hydrophobic interactions. The Hill parameter (h~2) indicated that the binding occurs through the cMoL dimer. The loss of HA at urea concentrations at which the fluorescence and CD spectra indicated protein monomerization confirmed these results. The MD simulations revealed that glucose bound to the large cavity formed between the monomers. In conclusion, the biotechnological application of cMoL lectin requires specific methods or media to improve its dimeric protein structure.

This study investigated the morphology of Rhinella crucifer cutaneous glands, as well as the protein/peptide profiles and bioactivities of body gland secretions (BGS) and parotoid macrogland secretions (PS). The parotoid as well as dorsal and ventral skin fragments of male and female individuals were processed for histological analysis. The protein and peptide profiles of male and female gland secretions were evaluated. Male secretions were also assessed for proteolytic, trypsin inhibiting, hemagglutinating, hemolytic, antimicrobial, and anticoagulant activities. The R. crucifer skin structure presented protuberances that are clearly visible and formed by the integument, which has cutaneous glands throughout the body. An average of 438 and 333 glands were identified in males in females, respectively. No significant differences were observed in the distribution of glands across the body as well as for area and perimeter of glands. Differences were observed in protein composition between the PS and BGS from males and females, and secretions from animals collected from undisturbed and anthropogenically disturbed areas. Proteins with similarities to catalase and elongation factor 1-alpha were detected in the PS. Zymography revealed proteolytic activity in both male BGS and PS. Male BGS showed antibacterial activity against Enterococcus faecalis and Escherichia coli and anticoagulant activity, being able to prolong prothrombin time by 6.34-fold and activated partial thromboplastin time by 2.17-fold. Finally, male PS and BGS caused a maximum hemolysis degree of 1.4%. The data showed that the cutaneous secretions of R. crucifer are potentially promising for biotechnological prospecting., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

The widespread production and use of plastics have resulted in accumulation of plastic debris in the environment, gradually breaking down into smaller particles over time. Nano-plastics (NPs) and microplastics (MPs), defined as particles smaller than 100 nanometers and 5 millimeters, respectively, raise concerns due to their ability to enter the human body through various pathways including ingestion, inhalation, and skin contact. Various investigators demonstrated that these particles may produce physical and chemical damage to human cells, tissues, and organs, disrupting cellular processes, triggering inflammation and oxidative stress, and impacting hormone and neurotransmitter balance. In addition, micro- and nano-plastics (MNPLs) may carry toxic chemicals and pathogens, exacerbating adverse effects on human health. The magnitude and nature of these effects are not yet fully understood, requiring further research for a comprehensive risk assessment. Nevertheless, evidence available suggests that accumulation of these particles in the environment and potential human uptake are causes for concern. Urgent measures to reduce plastic pollution and limit human exposure to MNPLs are necessary to safeguard human health and the environment. In this review, current knowledge regarding the influence of MNPLs on human health is summarized, including toxicity mechanisms, exposure pathways, and health outcomes across multiple organs. The critical need for additional research is also emphasized to comprehensively assess potential risks posed by degradation of MNPLs on human health and inform strategies for addressing this emerging environmental health challenge. Finally, new research directions are proposed including evaluation of gene regulation associated with MNPLs exposure.

This research aimed to conduct an in silico study of compounds, mainly flavonoids, that are found in several plants, including the species of the Chamaecrista genus. The ADME properties, the drug-likeness score and properties of Lipinski and Veber rules of the molecules were determined using online databases. Based on the predicted properties, four flavonoids, apigenin, fisetin, luteolin and ononin were selected for molecular docking and dynamic simulations to study their interactions with DNA (PDB ID: 1BNA). The molecular docking showed that ononin has a high affinity for B-DNA, exhibiting a ΔG value of -9.3 kcal mol -1 , compared with the other flavonoids. The molecular dynamic simulations of the flavonoid-DNA complexes showed that the flavonoids interacted with DNA by hydrogen bonding, hydrophobic interaction and π -stacking. The flavonoid ononin showed the best interaction energy value of -291.3490 kJ mol -1 , compared with the other flavonoids.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

The Senna genus has a wide diversity of species, with an interesting chemical composition of secondary metabolites and applications as medicine. The folk medicine, mainly in developing countries, uses species of Senna to treat seizures, epilepsy and constipation. Though the recognized bioactivity, some Brazilian native species of Senna remain unexplored, such as Senna cearensis , a native species of Caatinga. This is the first report about the bioactivity of the flowers of S. cearensis Afr. Fern., a native species of northeast Brazil. In this communication, flavonoids and catechins are identified in S. cearensis flowers and the chemical composition is linked with its antioxidant, anticholinesterase, and cytotoxic activities. By UPLC-QTOF, some compounds that belong to the class of flavonoids were identified. They are: catechin, epigallocatechin, guibourtinidol-(4α-8)-catechin, and cassiaflavan-(Cat)-epicatechin. The cytotoxic activity is more noticeable for the HL60 (leukemia) cell line with a cell growth inhibition (GI%) of 81.65 ± 5.65.

Microalgae cultivation in swine wastewater (SW) allows the removal of nutrients and biomass production. However, SW is known for its Cu contamination, and its effects on algae cultivation systems such as high-rate algal ponds (HRAPs) are poorly understood. This gap in the literature limits the proposition of adequate concentrations of Cu to optimise SW treatment and resource recovery in HRAPs. For this assessment, 12 HRAPs installed outdoors were operated with 800 L of SW with different Cu concentrations (0.1-4.0 mg/L). Cu's interferences on the growth and composition of biomass and nutrient removal from SW were investigated through mass balance and experimental modelling. The results showed that the concentration of 1.0 mg Cu/L stimulated microalgae growth, and above 3.0 mg Cu/L caused inhibition accompanied by an accumulation of H 2 O 2 . Furthermore, Cu affected the contents of lipids and carotenoids observed in the biomass; the highest concentration was observed in the control (16%) and 0.5 mg Cu/L (1.6 mg/g), respectively. An innovative result was verified for nutrient removal, in which increased Cu concentration reduced the N-NH 4 + removal rate. In contrast, the soluble P removal rate was enhanced by 2.0 mg Cu/L. Removal of soluble Cu in treated SW reached 91%. However, the action of microalgae in this process was not associated with assimilation but with a pH increase resulting from photosynthesis. A preliminary evaluation of economic viability showed that the commercialisation of biomass considering the concentration of carotenoids obtained in HRAPs with 0.5 mg Cu/L could be economically attractive. In conclusion, Cu affected the different parameters evaluated in this study in a complex way. This can help managers consort nutrient removal, biomass production, and resource recovery, providing information for possible industrial exploitation of the generated bioproducts., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Lectins are carbohydrate-binding proteins with several bioactivities, including antimicrobial properties. Portulaca elatior is a species found at Brazilian Caatinga and data on the biochemical composition of this plant are scarce. The present work describes the purification of P. elatior leaf lectin (PeLL) as well as the assessment of its antimicrobial activity and toxicity. PeLL, isolated by chromatography on a chitin column, had native liquid charge and subunit composition evaluated by electrophoresis. Hemagglutinating activity (HA) of PeLL was determined in the presence of carbohydrates or divalent cations, as well as after heating and incubation at different pH values. Changes in the lectin conformation were monitored by evaluating intrinsic tryptophan fluorescence and using the extrinsic probe bis-ANS. Antimicrobial activity was evaluated against Pectobacterium strains and Candida species. The minimal inhibitory (MIC), bactericidal (MBC), and fungicidal (MFC) concentrations were determined. Finally, PeLL was evaluated for in vitro hemolytic activity in human erythrocytes and in vivo acute toxicity in mice (5 and 10 mg/kg b.w. per os). PeLL (pI 5.4; 20 kDa) had its HA was inhibited by mannose, galactose, Ca 2+ , Mg 2+ , and Mn 2+ . PeLL HA was resistant to heating at 100 °C, although conformational changes were detected. PeLL was more active in the acidic pH range, in which no conformational changes were observed. The lectin presented MIC and MBC of 0.185 and 0.74 μg/mL for all Pectobacterium strains, respectively; MIC of 1.48 μg/mL for C. albicans, C. tropicalis, and C. krusei; MIC and MFC of 0.74 and 2.96 μg/mL for C. parapsilosis. No hemolytic activity or signs of acute toxicity were observed in the mice. In conclusion, a new, low-toxic, and thermostable lectin was isolated from P. elatior leaves, being the first plant compound to show antibacterial activity against Pectobacterium., (© 2021. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

In the Brazilian Amazon, deaths and disabilities from snakebite envenomations (SBEs) are a major and neglected problem for the indigenous population. However, minimal research has been conducted on how indigenous peoples access and utilize the health system for snakebite treatment. A qualitative study was conducted to understand the experiences of health care professionals (HCPs) who provide biomedical care to indigenous peoples with SBEs in the Brazilian Amazon. Focus group discussions (FGDs) were carried out in the context of a three-day training session for HCPs who work for the Indigenous Health Care Subsystem. A total of 56 HCPs participated, 27 in Boa Vista and 29 in Manaus. Thematic analysis resulted in three key findings: Indigenous peoples are amenable to receiving antivenom but not to leaving their villages for hospitals; HCPs require antivenom and additional resources to improve patient care; and HCPs strongly recommend a joint, bicultural approach to SBE treatment. Decentralizing antivenom to local health units addresses the central barriers identified in this study (e.g., resistance to hospitals, transportation). The vast diversity of ethnicities in the Brazilian Amazon will be a challenge, and additional studies should be conducted regarding preparing HCPs to work in intercultural contexts.

Flocculation has been proved an efficient method for microalgal biomass harvesting, but some coagulant agents may have adverse effects on microalgae growth, making the reuse of the medium unfeasible. In this study, Haematococcus pluvialis was harvested by different flocculants, and the feasibility of the reuse of the culture medium was evaluated. Results suggested that both inorganics, polyaluminum chloride (PA) and ferric chloride (FC), and organics, extracted from Moringa oleifera seed (MSE) and chitosan (CH) resulted in efficient flocculation - flocculation efficiency above 99 %. However, using PA and FC had adverse effects on the astaxanthin recovery from haematocysts - losses of 58.6 and 73.5 %, respectively. Bioflocculants in the reused medium also had higher growth performance than inorganic ones. Furthermore, bioflocculants in reused medium increase the contents of β-carotene, astaxanthin, and linolenic acid. This investigation demonstrated that using MSE and CHI for harvesting H. pluvialis enables the water reusability from a flocculated medium., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Bio-flocculation is a sustainable low-cost harvesting technique for microalgae biomass production; however, it is generally less efficient than chemical flocculants. This study aims to investigate the efficiency of Moringa oleifera seeds as a bio-flocculant for harvesting Tetradesmus dimorphus biomass. Four extracts from integral and residual (seeds without lipids) biomass of M. oleifera seeds using salt or aqueous solutions were used at four concentrations (100, 200, 300, and 400 ppm). Flocculation efficiency (FE) increased as the pH decreased. The addition of the extracts reduced the pH of the cultures, dispensing pH adjustment after dosing the flocculating agent. Salt extracts exhibited higher flocculation efficiency than aqueous extracts. The highest flocculation efficiency (~ 98%) was obtained using a salt extract of residual biomass of seeds in any concentration varying from 100 to 400 ppm. The predicted values obtained from a data modeling using response surface methodology approached the real values ( r 2  = 0.9382), resulting in an adequate optimization of the flocculant concentration of ~ 335 ppm and pH 5.6 for a predicted FE of ~ 106%. The findings of the present study confirmed that the salt extract from residual biomass of M. oleifera seeds is an effective bio-flocculant for T. dimorphus biomass harvesting., Competing Interests: Conflict of interestThe authors declare no competing interests., (© The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature 2022.)

Objective: Patterns of cytokine levels and their association with stroke severity, infarct size, and muscle strength are obscure. We aimed to analyze the immune mediators linked to T helper (Th)1, Th2, Th17, and regulatory T cell patterns and their association with stroke severity, infarct size, and muscle strength., Materials and Methods: We included patients with acute stroke (n = 15) and healthy non-disabled individuals (n = 20) aged > 18 years. The dependent variables were stroke severity according to the National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS), infarct size on computed tomography, handgrip strength by dynamometry, and global muscle strength according to the Medical Research Council (MRC) scale. The independent variables were the circulating cytokine levels. The cytokine levels were compared between the groups, and correlations between the clinical data were verified., Results: The stroke group had higher interleukin (IL)-6 (p < 0.0001) and IL-10 (p < 0.0001) levels, but lower tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α (p = 0.036) levels than the control group. IL-10 and soluble tumor necrosis factor receptor (sTNF-RII) levels were correlated with each other (r = 0.533; p = 0.042) and infarct size (r = 0.653; p = 0.033 and r = 0.689; p = 0.018, respectively). MRC scores were positively and negatively correlated with handgrip strength of the affected side (r = 0.78; p = 0.001) and NIHSS scores (r = -0.87; p < 0.0001), respectively., Conclusions: Plasma levels of some cytokines were associated with changes in the acute phase of stroke, and IL-10 and sTNF-RII levels are potential biomarkers of infarct size., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest None., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

This study reports the development of conjugates based on quantum dots (QD)s and lectins from Schinus terebinthifolia leaves (SteLL) and Punica granatum sarcotesta (PgTeL). Cryptococcus neoformans cells were chosen to evaluate the efficiency of the conjugates. Lectins were conjugated to QDs via adsorption, and the optical parameters (emission and absorption) were monitored. Lectin stability in the conjugates towards denaturing agents was investigated via fluorometry. The conjugation was evaluated using fluorescence microplate (FMA) and hemagglutination (HA) assays. The labeling of the C. neoformans cell surface was quantified using flow cytometry and observed via fluorescence microscopy. The QDs-SteLL and QDs-PgTeL conjugates, obtained at pH 7.0 and 8.0, respectively, showed the maintenance of colloidal and optical properties. FMA confirmed the conjugation, and the HA assay indicated that the lectin carbohydrate-binding ability was preserved after conjugation. SteLL and PgTeL showed stability towards high urea concentrations and heating. Conjugates labeled over 90% of C. neoformans cells as observed via flow cytometry and confirmed through fluorescence microscopy. C. neoformans labeling by conjugates was inhibited by glycoproteins, suggesting specific interactions through the lectin carbohydrate-binding site. Thus, an effective protocol for the conjugation of SteLL or PgTeL with QDs was proposed, yielding new nanoprobes useful for glycobiological studies., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

This study aimed to evaluate the simultaneous interferences of Cu and Zn found in swine wastewater (SW) in the development of microalgae considering real conditions of cultivation in high rate algal ponds (HRAPs). Ten HRAPs on a pilot scale were fed with SW with different mixtures of Cu (0.5-3.0 mg/L) and Zn (5.0-25.0 mg/L). The interferences of these metals in removing nutrients (N-NH 4 + and soluble phosphorus (Ps)) from the SW were determined. In addition, this study evaluated the effects on biomass growth and biochemical composition. Chlorella sp. was dominant in all HRAPs and the condition that potentiated its growth occurred in medium containing 1.8 mg Cu/L + 15.0 mg Zn/L, while higher concentrations conferred inhibition. Only Cu compromised the removal rates of N-NH 4 + while the effects of Zn were not significant. Contrary, Zn interfered with Ps removal rates, but the impact of Cu was not significant. The greatest Cu applications increased the protein levels by biomass (50.5-55.2 %). Carbohydrate accumulation was favored by conditions that inhibited the development of microalgae due to either limitation or excess of metals. Copper and Zn compromised the levels of lipids, and the control treatment had the highest content (24.5 %). The presence of Cu and Zn changed the dynamics of HRAPs regarding nutrient removal, productivity, and biochemical composition of the biomass., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

To optimize the swine wastewater (SWW) treatment, this study investigated different hydraulic retention times (HRTs) for microalgae cultivation. For this purpose, five pilot-scale reactors operated in semi-continuous flow, with HRTs equal to 9, 12, 15, 18, 21 days were evaluated in terms of SWW polishing and biomass production. The effluent treatment was discussed accompanied by principal component analysis, which allowed identification of causes of variance in the data set, ideal for studies with real effluent and influenced by environmental conditions. All reactors show satisfactory removals of N-NH 4 + (91.6-95.3%), COD (15.8-39.9%), DO increment (in average 7.5 mg O 2 /L) and, only the longest HRT (21 days) was able to remove Ps (21%). The results obtained indicated that a consortium of microalgae and bacteria was developed for all the tested HRTs. On the other hand, HRT = 12 days provided a healthier culture of photosynthesizing organisms (chl-a/VSS = 3.04%). Carbohydrates (20.8-31.3%) and proteins (2.7-16.2%) were the compounds of commercial interest in the highest proportion in the biomass of all reactors, with contents comparable to that of terrestrial crops. Thus, it was suggested a valorization route of these compounds of high added value to return to pig farming, where the nutrients were intended to supplement the swine feed and clarified water for cleaning the pig stalls. Thus, in the circular economy context, this research contributes to water footprint reduction and the sustainability of the pig farming production chain. The economic and environmental analysis of the route is suggested to enable its implementation on a large scale, as well as further technical feasibility research (reactor types, exposure to external environment, evaluation of pathogen removal and animal feed supplementation from SWW microalgae biomass)., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Lippia alba is an aromatic shrub known to produce a diversity of essential oils, which can be classified into chemotypes. This study reports on the insecticidal activity of essential oil from L. alba leaves collected at Caatinga and its major compound against termite Nasutitermes corniger and maize weevil Sitophilus zeamais. The chromatographic analysis revealed the presence of 19 compounds, with 1,8-cineole being the most common (70.01%). When ingested, the oil promoted the mortality of N. corniger (LC 50 : 18.25 and 8.4 nL/g for workers and soldiers, respectively). The compound 1,8-cineole was also termiticidal for workers (LC 50 : 13.7 nL/g). The oil inhibited the activity of N. corniger exoglucanase, xylanase, and proteases. Toxicity by ingestion to S. zeamais was detected for the oil (LC 50 : 0.297 μL/g) but not for 1,8-cineole; however, both the oil and 1,8-cineole showed anti-nutritional effects. Fumigant effects of the oil and 1,8-cineole against S. zeamais (LC 50 of 78.0 and 13.64 μL/L in air, respectively) were detected. This is the first record of a chemotype VI oil from L. alba collected at Caatinga and the first report of the insecticidal activity of a chemotype VI oil. Our study demonstrates that essential oil from L. alba and 1,8 cineole have the potential for the development of natural insecticides., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

The measures currently used to minimize the spread of arboviruses, comprising dengue, Chikungunya, and Zika virus, involve controlling the size of population of the mosquito Aedes aegypti. However, the search for formulations containing new insecticides is gaining pace due to reports of mosquito populations showing resistance to commonly used compounds. In this study, tablets containing a protein fraction of Moringa oleifera seeds enriched in the WSMoL lectin, known to show larvicidal and ovicidal activities against A. aegypti, were developed. The compatibility between the fraction and the excipients used in obtaining the tablets was evaluated by thermogravimetry (TG), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) absorption spectroscopy. The larvicidal and ovicidal activities of the resulting tablets [5%, 10%, and 15% (w/w) of the fraction] were evaluated, as well as their effect on mosquito oviposition. Assays were also performed using a placebo tablet. According to the TG, DSC, and FTIR results, the protein composition of the fraction did not change when mixed with the components of the formulation. Tablets containing 10% and 15% WSMoL-rich fraction caused mortality of 42.5% and 95% of the larvae after 48 h, respectively, with larvae incubated with these tablets showing reduced acetylcholinesterase activity. All tablets inhibited egg hatching after 72 h (36-74%), and tablets containing 15% fraction were found to exert a repellent effect on oviposition. Our results show that the formulation developed in this study interfered with the life cycle of A. aegypti, and thus show potential for use in the control of this mosquito., (Copyright © 2020. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

In order to ease one of the main challenges of biomass production in wastewater, the harvest stage, this study proposes as main innovations: the comparison of technical and environmental performance of different methods of harvesting biomass which have not been addressed in the literature and the projection of an optimal environmental scenario for biomass harvesting. For this, three harvesting methods were evaluated and compared, namely the gravitational sedimentation (GS) via settling tank, coagulation with tannin followed by gravitational sedimentation (TC/GS), and a biofilm reactor operated in parallel with a settling tank (BR/GS). TC/GS required less time to concentrate the biomass (121.13 g/day); however, the biomass had a higher moisture content (99.02%), which may compromise its direct application for production of most bioproducts and bioenergy, only a dewatering step is recommended. The harvesting methods interfered in biomass characterisation, mainly in carbohydrate content, which was higher in biomass concentrated over time (28-37%) than biomass concentrated in a single day by coagulation (13.8%). The results of the life cycle assessment revealed that in scenarios which included TC/GS methods and the BR/GS presented less environmental impact in relation to only GS. Additionally, the combination of these two methods comprises the best scenario and promises to optimise the harvest of biomass grown in wastewater., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Introduction: In this study, we report a clonal dissemination of carbapenem resistant Acinetobacter baumannii isolates due to the acquisition of blaOXA-23 in a regional hospital located in Brazilian Amazon Region., Methods: The isolates were identified by MALDI-TOF and the carbapenemase-encoding genes were detected by multiplex-PCR. The genetic similarity was investigated by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE)., Results: Only 10 (55.6%) isolates harbored the gene bla OXA-23. PFGE analysis revealed that these isolates belong to a single clone., Conclusions: This dissemination strategy indicates the need for surveillance, adoption of control procedures defined in guidelines, and the careful administration of antimicrobials should be reinforced.

The glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) are enzymes involved in several distinct biological processes. In insects, the GSTs, especially delta and epsilon classes, play a key role in the metabolism of xenobiotics used to control insect populations. Here, we investigated its potential role in temephos resistance, examining the GSTE2 gene from susceptible (RecL) and resistant (RecR) strains of the mosquito Aedes aegypti, vector for several pathogenic arboviruses. Total GST enzymatic activity and the GSTE2 gene expression profile were evaluated, with the GSTE2 cDNA and genomic loci sequenced from both strains. Recombinant GSTE2 and mutants were produced in a heterologous expression system and assayed for enzyme kinetic parameters. These proteins also had their 3D structure predicted through molecular modeling. Our results showed that RecR has a profile of total GST enzymatic activity higher than RecL, with the expression of the GSTE2 gene in resistant larvae increasing six folds. Four exclusive RecR mutations were observed (L111S, I150V, E178A and A198E), which were absent in the laboratory susceptible strains. The enzymatic activity of the recombinant GSTE2 showed different kinetic parameters, with the GSTE2 RecR showing an enhanced ability to metabolize its substrate. The I150V mutation was shown to induce significant changes in catalytic parameters and a 3D modeling of GSTE2 mapped two of the RecR changes (L111S and I150V) near the enzyme's catalytic pocket, also implying an impact on its catalytic activity. Our results reinforce a potential role for GSTE2 in the metabolic resistance phenotype while contributing to the understanding of the molecular basis for the resistance mechanism., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest Authors declare that they have no competing interests, (Copyright © 2019 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Lectins are carbohydrate-binding proteins broadly distributed in plants and have several biological functions, including antimicrobial action. Portulaca elatior is a Caatinga plant whose chemical composition and biotechnological potential have not been extensively studied. In this work, a lectin was isolated from P. elatior root extract and evaluated for antimicrobial activity. The P. elatior root lectin (PeRoL) showed native molecular mass of 33 kDa, pI 3.8 and is comprised of two subunits of 15 kDa linked by disulfide bonds. No sequence similarities with Viridiplantae proteins were observed. The PeRoL hemagglutinating activity (HA) was not affected by heating and was detected in a pH ranging from 4.0 to 8.0. Trehalose was identified as an endogenous inhibitor of PeRoL present in the roots. Bacteriostatic activity was detected against Enterococcus faecalis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus (minimal inhibitory concentration of 8.1, 32.5 and 4.06 μg/mL, respectively). PeRoL induced the death of Candida albicans, Candida parapsilosis, Candida krusei, and Candida tropicalis cells, with a minimal fungicidal concentration of 16 μg/mL. The lectin (100 μg/mL) was not cytotoxic to human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and did not show hemolytic activity. In conclusion, the roots of P. elatior contain a trehalose-binding, thermostable, and antimicrobial lectin., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Objective: To evaluate the validity and reliability of the Johns Hopkins Fall Risk Assessment Tool (JH-FRAT), which assesses the risk of falls in hospitalized inpatients., Method: Study with 297 patients at a hospital in São Paulo, using retrospective data form 2014. Validity was assessed by accuracy (sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value - PPV and negative predictive value - NPV) and discriminant analysis (comparison of patients with and without falls in relation to the scale items and comparison of previous risk situations in relation to the injury). The χ2 test and Fisher's exact test were used. Reliability was assessed by reproducibility between methods and interobserver test-retest comparison in a subsample of 60 patients. We used the Kappa, quadratic weighted Kappa and PABAK statistics., Results: Sensitivity was 97.0%, specificity was 6%, PPV was 36.2% and NPV was 90.6%. Five of the eight items of the scale and the overall classification showed risk discrimination capability (p < 0.050). The risk of previous situations did not discriminate the injury resulting from the falls (p = 0.557). Reproducibility between methods was substantial (PABAK = 0.71). The interobserver reproducibility ranged between items (PABAK 0.25 to 1.00) and was substantial to the overall risk classification (PABAK = 0.71)., Conclusion: JH-FRAT showed validity and reliability expected of a screening tool for risk of falls, and it can contribute to the implementation of fall management strategies in hospitals.

Background: The outbreak of sylvatic Yellow Fever (SYF) in humans during 2016-2017 in Brazil is one of the greatest in the history of the disease. The occurrence of the disease in areas with low vaccination coverage favoured the dissemination of the disease; therefore, it is necessary to identify the areas vulnerability to the YF virus (YFV) to assist in the adoption of preventive measures., Objective: To correlate the physical-environmental elements associated with the occurrence of SYF in humans via a multicriteria analysis., Methods: For the multicriteria analysis, preponderant elements related to SYF occurrences, including soil usage and coverage, temperature, precipitation, altitude, mosquito transmitters, and non-human primate occurrence areas, were considered. The results were validated by assessing the correlation between the incidence of SYF and the vulnerable areas identified in the multicriteria analysis., Results: Two regions with different vulnerability to the occurrence of the disease were identified in the multicriteria analysis, with emphasis on the southern areas of the state of São Paulo northeast areas of Minas Gerais, and the entire states of Rio de Janeiro and Espírito Santo. The map of SYF vulnerability obtained in the multicriteria analysis coincides with the areas in which cases of the disease have been recorded. The regions that presented the greatest suitability were in fact the municipalities with the highest incidence., Main Conclusions: The multicriteria analysis revealed that the elements that were used are suited for and consistent in the prediction of the areas that are vulnerable to SYF. The results obtained indicate the proximity of the areas that are most vulnerable to the disease to densely populated areas where an Aedes aegypti infestation was observed, which confers a high risk of re-urbanisation of YF.

Antioxidant compounds have the ability to scavenge the reactive oxygen species in an attempt to minimise damage in seeds during the germination. This study aimed to evaluate the physiological and metabolic process of two well-established antioxidant compounds: kojic acid and hydroxyphenyl ethanol (tyrosol), at increasing concentrations, on wheat seeds. The use of different concentrations of tyrosol or kojic acid not showed any interference on seed germination rate. However, we observed isolated effect of antioxidants and their concentrations to: germination speed index, shoot length and electrolyte leakage; and significant interaction between the factors to: seedling total length, seedling fresh matter and α-amylase activity. Our results suggest that the use of antioxidant molecules can be applied on seed treatments for protection against damage oxidative stress and improve seed metabolism.

Background: Lectins, carbohydrate-binding proteins, from the bark (MuBL) and leaf (MuLL) of Myracrodruon urundeuva are termiticidal agents against Nasutitermes corniger workers and have been shown to induce oxidative stress and cell death in the midgut of these insects. In this study, we investigated the binding targets of MuBL and MuLL in the gut of N. corniger workers by determining the effects of these lectins on the activity of digestive enzymes. In addition, we used mass spectrometry to identify peptides from gut proteins that adsorbed to MuBL-Sepharose and MuLL-Sepharose columns., Results: Exoglucanase activity was neutralized in the presence of MuBL and stimulated by MuLL. α-l-Arabinofuranosidase activity was not affected by MuBL but was inhibited by MuLL. Both lectins stimulated α-amylase activity and inhibited protease and trypsin-like activities. Peptides with homology to apolipophorin, trypsin-like enzyme, and ABC transporter substrate-binding protein were detected from proteins that adsorbed to MuBL-Sepharose, while peptides from proteins that bound to MuLL-Sepharose shared homology with apolipophorin., Conclusion: This study revealed that digestive enzymes and transport proteins found in worker guts can be recognized by MuBL and MuLL. Thus, the mechanism of their termiticidal activity may involve changes in the digestion and absorption of nutrients. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry., (© 2018 Society of Chemical Industry.)

This work describes purification of a protease from the visceral mass of the mussel Mytella charruana as well as evaluation of its ability to hydrolyze milk casein to generate antimicrobial peptides. The enzyme showed pI of 4.1 and a single polypeptide band of 83.1 kDa after SDS-PAGE. Sequence similarities with tropomyosin and myosin from mollusks were detected. The protease showed a trypsin-like activity with optimal temperature of 40 °C and stability in a wide pH range (3.0-9.0). K m was 4.28 ± 0.34 mM of the synthetic substrate N-benzoyl-dl-arginyl-ρ-nitroanilide, whereas V max was 0.056 ± 0.001 nmol min -1 . The enzyme hydrolyzed casein, and the hydrolysate inhibited the growth of Escherichia coli, Micrococcus luteus, Bacillus subtilis, and Klebsiella pneumoniae at a minimal inhibitory concentration of 5.0 µg mL -1 . In conclusion, the visceral mass of M. charruana contains a trypsin-like protease that can generate peptides from casein that have a bacteriostatic effect., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

In this study, we report the purification and characterization of a multifunctional lectin (MvFL) from Microgramma vacciniifolia fronds as well as its immunomodulatory properties on human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). MvFL (pI 4.51; 54kDa) is a glycoprotein able to inhibit trypsin activity and that has sequence similarities (32% coverage) with a plant RNA-binding protein. Hemagglutinating activity of MvFL was not altered by heating at 100°C for 30min, but was reduced in alkaline pH (8.0 and 9.0). Fluorimetric analyses showed that this lectin did not undergo marked conformational changes when heated. However, the MvFL conformation changed depending on the pH. MvFL at 6.25-25μg/mL was not cytotoxic to lymphocytes present among PBMCs. The PBMCs incubated for 24h with the lectin (12.5μg/mL) showed increased TNF-α, IFN-γ, IL-6, IL-10, and nitric oxide production. MvFL also stimulated T lymphocytes from PBMCs to differentiate into CD8 + cells. The activation (indicated by CD28 expression) of these cells was also stimulated. In conclusion, MvFL is a heat-stable and multifunctional protein, with both lectin and trypsin inhibitor activities, and capable of inducing predominantly a Th1 response in human PBMCs as well as activation and differentiation of T lymphocytes., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The evaluation of ecotoxicity of mosquito larvicidal agents (such as the water-soluble lectin from Moringa oleifera seeds, WSMoL) is an essential step to establish the guidelines for their use. In this sense, this work evaluated the toxicity of WSMoL to Danio rerio embryos and larvae. Embryos were exposed to waterborne WSMoL (0.0125-0.2 mg mL -1 ) for 96 h and lethal and sub-lethal effects were observed every 24 h. In the bioassays with larvae, the individuals were exposed to the WSMoL (0.025-0.2 mg mL -1 ), mortality was recorded daily, and larval swimming velocities were analyzed after 72 h and 168 h of exposure. Additionally, acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity of larvae was determined after 168 h of exposure. WSMoL LC 50 values to embryos were 0.190, 0.133 and 0.049 mg mL -1 after 48, 72 and 96 h, respectively. No toxic endpoint was observed after exposure for 24 h. In addition, hatching was delayed and larval length at 96 h was reduced compared to the control. WSMoL LC 50 to larvae were 0.21 and 0.135 mg mL -1 , after 24 h and 96 h, respectively. Larvae exposed to 0.1 and 0.2 mg mL -1 showed a decrease in swimming speed and a significant reduction in AChE activity. In conclusion, WSMoL at waterborne concentrations needed for its use as a larvicide to A. aegypti causes lethal and sublethal effects to zebrafish embryos and larvae. Therefore, its use in waterbodies where there are non-target organisms is not recommended., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)