Identification of runs of homozygosity (ROHs) in Curraleiro Pé-Duro and Pantaneiro cattle breeds

This study aimed to identify and characterize runs of homozygosis (ROHs), genes involved in production characteristics and adaptation to tropical systems and to estimate the inbreeding coefficient of Curraleiro Pé-Duro (CPD) and Pantaneiro (PANT), two brazilian locally adapted cattle breeds. The results demonstrated that 79.25% and 54.29% of ROH segments were bigger than 8 Mb in CPD and PANT, respectively, indicating recent inbred matings in the studied population. Six homozygosis islands were identified simultaneously in both breeds, where 175 QTLs and 1072 genes previously described as associated with production traits are located. The inbreeding coefficient (FROH) estimated based on ROHs (FROH) showed that inbreeding is low (2 to 4%), which is different from expected for small populations such as locally adapted ones.

Chemical profile and biological potential of essential oil of Psidium bahianum Landrum & Funch (Myrtaceae)

The genus Psidium, belonging to the family Myrtaceae, encompasses several plant species rich in essential oils. Several studies involving different research areas have shown promising results for essential oils, which has attracted interest from diverse sectors, including pharmaceutical, food, and cosmetic industries. Thus, the objective of this study was to evaluate the biological activity of the essential oil extracted from Psidium bahianum leaves (EOPb) collected in an Atlantic Forest remnant in the northern coast of the state of Bahia, Brazil. EOPb was extracted by steam distillation and analyzed through proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H-NMR). The free radical scavenging activity was assessed using the DPPH methodology (analyzing the scavenging of the stable free radical 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl). Antimicrobial disk diffusion assays were conducted; toxicity was determined through assays on sheep erythrocytes and Artemia salina. 1H-NMR evaluation showed the presence mainly of monoterpenes and sesquisterpenes. The percentage of antioxidant activity was 18.03±2.53 53 for 125 125 µg mL-1. Antimicrobial assays showed that the essential oil at a concentration of 10 mg mL-1 inhibited the growth of the microorganisms Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, B. cereus, Micrococcus luteus, Escherichia coli, Aspergillus niger, Candida albicans, and C. glabrata. The toxicity results indicated that concentrations of EOPb at 10, 100, 250, and 500 µg mL-1 were not toxic to sheep erythrocytes. The toxicity assay on A. salina showed that the lethal concentration for 50% of individuals (LC50) within 24 and 48 hours were 371.48 and 302 µg mL-1 of EOPb, respectively, which were considered moderately toxic, whereas the LC50 within 72 horas was 33.11 µg mL-1, considered highly toxic. These findings are promising, as the essential oil from P. bahianum leaves showed antimicrobial activity against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria and fungi. The data obtained for the essential oil toxicity in A. salina could be tested on different tumor cell lines.

Cholesterol Dysregulation Drives Seed-Dependent Tau Aggregation in Patient Stem Cell-Derived Models of Tauopathy

Tauopathies are a class of neurodegenerative diseases characterized by the progressive misfolding and accumulation of pathological tau protein in focal regions of the brain, leading to insidious neurodegeneration. Abnormalities in cholesterol metabolism and homeostasis have also been implicated in various neurodegenerative diseases. However, the connection between cholesterol dysregulation and tau pathology remains largely unknown. To model and measure the impact of cholesterol dysregulation on tau, we utilized a combination of in vitro and ex vivo tau aggregation assays using an engineered tau biosensor cell line and human induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived neuronal cultures from an individual harboring an autosomal dominant P301L tau mutation and from a healthy control. We demonstrate that excess cholesterol esters lead to an increased rate of tau aggregation in vitro and an increase in seed-dependent insoluble tau aggregates detected in the biosensor line. We observed a strong correlation between cholesterol ester concentration and the presence of high-molecular-weight, oligomeric tau species. Importantly, in tauopathy patient iPSC-derived neurons harboring a P301L tau mutation with endogenous forms of misfolded tau, we show that acute dysregulation of cholesterol homeostasis through acute exposure to human plasma-purified cholesterol esters formed by the linkage of fatty acids to the hydroxyl group of cholesterol leads to the rapid accumulation of phosphorylated tau. Conversely, treatment with the same cholesterol esters pool did not lead to subsequent accumulation of phosphorylated tau in control iPSC-derived neurons. Finally, treatment with a heterobifunctional, small-molecule degrader designed to selectively engage and catalyze the ubiquitination and proteasomal degradation of aberrant tau species prevented cholesterol ester-induced aggregation of tau in the biosensor cell line in a Cereblon E3 ligase-dependent manner. Degrader treatment also restored the resiliency of tauopathy patient-derived neurons towards cholesterol ester-induced tau aggregation phenotypes. Taken together, our study supports a key role of cholesterol dysregulation in tau aggregation. Moreover, it provides further pre-clinical validation of the therapeutic strategy of targeted protein degradation with heterobifunctional tau degraders for blocking tau seeding.

Small molecule regulators of microRNAs identified by high-throughput screen coupled with high-throughput sequencing

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) regulate fundamental biological processes by silencing mRNA targets and are dysregulated in many diseases. Therefore, miRNA replacement or inhibition can be harnessed as potential therapeutics. However, existing strategies for miRNA modulation using oligonucleotides and gene therapies are challenging, especially for neurological diseases, and none have yet gained clinical approval. We explore a different approach by screening a biodiverse library of small molecule compounds for their ability to modulate hundreds of miRNAs in human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived neurons. We demonstrate the utility of the screen by identifying cardiac glycosides as potent inducers of miR-132, a key neuroprotective miRNA downregulated in Alzheimer's disease and other tauopathies. Coordinately, cardiac glycosides downregulate known miR-132 targets, including Tau, and protect rodent and human neurons against various toxic insults. More generally, our dataset of 1370 drug-like compounds and their effects on the miRNome provides a valuable resource for further miRNA-based drug discovery.

Improved Protocol for Reproducible Human Cortical Organoids Reveals Early Alterations in Metabolism with MAPT Mutations

Cerebral cortical-enriched organoids derived from human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) are valuable models for studying neurodevelopment, disease mechanisms, and therapeutic development. However, recognized limitations include the high variability of organoids across hPSC donor lines and experimental replicates. We report a 96-slitwell method for efficient, scalable, reproducible cortical organoid production. When hPSCs were cultured with controlled-release FGF2 and an SB431542 concentration appropriate for their TGFBR1 / ALK5 expression level, organoid cortical patterning and reproducibility were significantly improved. Well-patterned organoids included 16 neuronal and glial subtypes by single cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq), frequent neural progenitor rosettes and robust BCL11B+ and TBR1+ deep layer cortical neurons at 2 months by immunohistochemistry. In contrast, poorly-patterned organoids contain mesendoderm-related cells, identifiable by negative QC markers including COL1A2 . Using this improved protocol, we demonstrate increased sensitivity to study the impact of different MAPT mutations from patients with frontotemporal dementia (FTD), revealing early changes in key metabolic pathways.

A Cdk5-derived peptide inhibits Cdk5/p25 activity and improves neurodegenerative phenotypes

Aberrant activity of cyclin-dependent kinase (Cdk5) has been implicated in various neurodegenerative diseases. This deleterious effect is mediated by pathological cleavage of the Cdk5 activator p35 into the truncated product p25, leading to prolonged Cdk5 activation and altered substrate specificity. Elevated p25 levels have been reported in humans and rodents with neurodegeneration, and the benefit of genetically blocking p25 production has been demonstrated previously in rodent and human neurodegenerative models. Here, we report a 12-amino-acid-long peptide fragment derived from Cdk5 (Cdk5i) that is considerably smaller than existing peptide inhibitors of Cdk5 (P5 and CIP) but shows high binding affinity toward the Cdk5/p25 complex, disrupts the interaction of Cdk5 with p25, and lowers Cdk5/p25 kinase activity. When tagged with a fluorophore (FITC) and the cell-penetrating transactivator of transcription (TAT) sequence, the Cdk5i-FT peptide exhibits cell- and brain-penetrant properties and confers protection against neurodegenerative phenotypes associated with Cdk5 hyperactivity in cell and mouse models of neurodegeneration, highlighting Cdk5i's therapeutic potential.

A prolyl oligopeptidase inhibitor reduces tau pathology in cellular models and in mice with tauopathy

Tauopathies are neurodegenerative diseases that are characterized by accumulation of hyperphosphorylated tau protein, higher-order aggregates, and tau filaments. Protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) is a major tau dephosphorylating phosphatase, and a decrease in its activity has been demonstrated in tauopathies, including Alzheimer's disease. Prolyl oligopeptidase is a serine protease that is associated with neurodegeneration, and its inhibition normalizes PP2A activity without toxicity under pathological conditions. Here, we assessed whether prolyl oligopeptidase inhibition could protect against tau-mediated toxicity in cellular models in vitro and in the PS19 transgenic mouse model of tauopathy carrying the human tau-P301S mutation. We show that inhibition of prolyl oligopeptidase with the inhibitor KYP-2047 reduced tau aggregation in tau-transfected HEK-293 cells and N2A cells as well as in human iPSC-derived neurons carrying either the P301L or tau-A152T mutation. Treatment with KYP-2047 resulted in increased PP2A activity and activation of autophagic flux in HEK-293 cells and N2A cells and in patient-derived iNeurons, as indicated by changes in autophagosome and autophagy receptor markers; this contributed to clearance of insoluble tau. Furthermore, treatment of PS19 transgenic mice for 1 month with KYP-2047 reduced tau burden in the brain and cerebrospinal fluid and slowed cognitive decline according to several behavioral tests. In addition, a reduction in an oxidative stress marker was seen in mouse brains after KYP-2047 treatment. This study suggests that inhibition of prolyl oligopeptidase could help to ameliorate tau-dependent neurodegeneration.

Discovery and Optimization of Tau Targeted Protein Degraders Enabled by Patient Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells-Derived Neuronal Models of Tauopathy

Accumulation of misfolded, aggregating proteins concurrent with disease onset and progression is a hallmark of neurodegenerative proteinopathies. An important class of these are tauopathies, such as frontotemporal dementia (FTD) and Alzheimer’s disease (AD), associated with accumulation of aberrant forms of tau protein in the brain. Pathological tau undergoes abnormal post-translational modifications, misfolding, oligomerization and changes in solubility, cellular redistribution, and spreading. Development and testing of experimental therapeutics that target these pathological tau conformers requires use of cellular models that recapitulate neuronal endogenous, non-heterologous tau expression under genomic and physiological contexts relevant to disease. In this study, we employed FTD-patient induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC)-derived neurons, expressing a tau variant or mutation, as primary models for driving a medicinal chemistry campaign around tau targeting degrader series. Our screening goal was to establish structure-activity relationships (SAR) for the different chemical series to identify the molecular composition that most efficiently led to tau degradation in human FTD ex vivo neurons. We describe the identification of the lead compound QC-01-175 and follow-up optimization strategies for this molecule. We present three final lead molecules with tau degradation activity in mutant neurons, which establishes potential disease relevance and will drive future studies on specificity and pharmacological properties.

Differentiation of Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells into Cortical Neurons to Advance Precision Medicine

A major obstacle in studying human central nervous system (CNS) diseases is inaccessibility to the affected tissue and cells. Even in limited cases where tissue is available through surgical interventions, differentiated neurons cannot be maintained for extended time frames, which is prohibitive for experimental repetition and scalability. Advances in methodologies for reprogramming human somatic cells into induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC) and directed differentiation of human neurons in culture now allow access to physiological and disease relevant cell types. In particular, patient iPSC-derived neurons represent unique ex vivo neuronal networks that allow investigating disease genetic and molecular pathways in physiologically accurate cellular microenvironments, importantly recapitulating molecular and cellular phenotypic aspects of disease. Generation of functional neural cells from iPSCs relies on manipulation of culture formats in the presence of specific factors that promote the conversion of pluripotent stem cells into neurons. To this end, several experimental protocols have been developed. Direct differentiation of stem cells into post-mitotic neurons is usually associated with low throughput, low yield, and high technical variability. Instead, methods relying on expansion of the intermediate neural progenitor cells (NPCs) show incredible potential for posterior generation of suitable neuronal cultures for cellular and biochemical assays, as well as drug screening. NPCs are expandable, self-renewable multipotent cells that can differentiate into astrocytes, oligodendrocytes, and electrically active neurons. Here, we describe a protocol for generating iPSC-derived NPCs via formation of neural aggregates and selection of NPC precursor neural rosettes, followed by a simple and reproducible method for generating a mixed population of cortical-like neurons through growth factor withdrawal. Implementation of this protocol has the potential to advance the goals of precision medicine research for both neurological and psychiatric disorders.

Targeting Tau Mitigates Mitochondrial Fragmentation and Oxidative Stress in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

Understanding the mechanisms underlying amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is crucial for the development of new therapies. Previous studies have demonstrated that mitochondrial dysfunction is a key pathogenetic event in ALS. Interestingly, studies in Alzheimer's disease (AD) post-mortem brain and animal models link alterations in mitochondrial function to interactions between hyperphosphorylated tau and dynamin-related protein 1 (DRP1), the GTPase involved in mitochondrial fission. Recent evidence suggest that tau may be involved in ALS pathogenesis, therefore, we sought to determine whether hyperphosphorylated tau may lead to mitochondrial fragmentation and dysfunction in ALS and whether reducing tau may provide a novel therapeutic approach. Our findings demonstrated that pTau-S396 is mis-localized to synapses in post-mortem motor cortex (mCTX) across ALS subtypes. Additionally, the treatment with ALS synaptoneurosomes (SNs), enriched in pTau-S396, increased oxidative stress, induced mitochondrial fragmentation, and altered mitochondrial connectivity without affecting cell survival in vitro. Furthermore, pTau-S396 interacted with DRP1, and similar to pTau-S396, DRP1 accumulated in SNs across ALS subtypes, suggesting increases in mitochondrial fragmentation in ALS. As previously reported, electron microscopy revealed a significant decrease in mitochondria density and length in ALS mCTX. Lastly, reducing tau levels with QC-01-175, a selective tau degrader, prevented ALS SNs-induced mitochondrial fragmentation and oxidative stress in vitro. Collectively, our findings suggest that increases in pTau-S396 may lead to mitochondrial fragmentation and oxidative stress in ALS and decreasing tau may provide a novel strategy to mitigate mitochondrial dysfunction in ALS. pTau-S396 mis-localizes to synapses in ALS. ALS synaptoneurosomes (SNs), enriched in pTau-S396, increase oxidative stress and induce mitochondrial fragmentation in vitro. pTau-S396 interacts with the pro-fission GTPase DRP1 in ALS. Reducing tau with a selective degrader, QC-01-175, mitigates ALS SNs-induced mitochondrial fragmentation and increases in oxidative stress in vitro.

ELAVL4, splicing, and glutamatergic dysfunction precede neuron loss in MAPT mutation cerebral organoids

Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) because of MAPT mutation causes pathological accumulation of tau and glutamatergic cortical neuronal death by unknown mechanisms. We used human induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived cerebral organoids expressing tau-V337M and isogenic corrected controls to discover early alterations because of the mutation that precede neurodegeneration. At 2 months, mutant organoids show upregulated expression of MAPT, glutamatergic signaling pathways, and regulators, including the RNA-binding protein ELAVL4, and increased stress granules. Over the following 4 months, mutant organoids accumulate splicing changes, disruption of autophagy function, and build-up of tau and P-tau-S396. By 6 months, tau-V337M organoids show specific loss of glutamatergic neurons as seen in individuals with FTD. Mutant neurons are susceptible to glutamate toxicity, which can be rescued pharmacologically by the PIKFYVE kinase inhibitor apilimod. Our results demonstrate a sequence of events that precede neurodegeneration, revealing molecular pathways associated with glutamate signaling as potential targets for therapeutic intervention in FTD.

Phytochemical composition and biological activities of extracts from ten species of the family Melastomataceae Juss

Plants possess a renewable source of metabolites with enormous chemical structural diversity, which may have potential therapeutic relevance. Furthermore, this chemical diversity favors the possibility of finding new and different chemical constituents with antimicrobial, antioxidant and anti-tumor activities. This work analyzed preliminary phytochemical profiles and evaluated the antimicrobial, antioxidant and cytotoxic activities of hexane extracts of leaves of ten species of the family Melastomataceae. Phytochemical screening was performed using staining methods while total phenols and flavonoids were quantified by spectrophotometry. Antimicrobial activity was evaluated using the disk diffusion method. Antioxidant activity was determined by the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazil (DPPH) method. Toxicity was recorded using the lethality test with Artemia salina Leach (1819). Cytotoxic activity of the extracts was assessed in vitro with acute monocytic leukemia cells (THP-1). Phytochemical analysis detected the presence of tannins, terpenes, steroids, polyphenols and flavonoids and the absence of alkaloids. Clidemia capitellata (Bonpl.) D. Don had the greatest amount of polyphenols (205.95 mg/g ± 4.14) while Clidemia hirta (L.) D. Don had the highest content of total flavonoids (143.99 mg/g ± 4.18). The hexane extracts did not show antimicrobial activity nor toxicity against Artemia salina. The extract of Tibouchina francavillana Cogn. was the most active in sequestering the DPPH radical. The extracts showed cytotoxicity in THP-1 cells with the appearance of apoptotic bodies and cell death. The extracts of Miconia amoena, Clidemia sericea and Clidemia capitellata are non-toxic against Artemia salina and induce the formation of apoptotic bodies and cell death of the THP-1 lineage.

Exifone Is a Potent HDAC1 Activator with Neuroprotective Activity in Human Neuronal Models of Neurodegeneration

Genomic instability caused by a deficiency in the DNA damage response and repair has been linked to age-related cognitive decline and neurodegenerative diseases. Preventing genomic instability that ultimately leads to neuronal death may provide a broadly effective strategy to protect against multiple potential genotoxic stressors. Recently, the zinc-dependent class I histone deacetylase (HDAC1) has been identified as a critical factor for protecting neurons from deleterious effects of DNA damage in Alzheimer's disease (AD), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), and frontotemporal dementia (FTD). Translating these observations to a novel neuroprotective therapy for AD, ALS, and FTD may be advanced by the identification of small molecules capable of increasing the deacetylase activity of HDAC1 selectively over other structurally similar HDACs. Here, we demonstrate that exifone, a drug previously shown to be effective in treating cognitive deficits associated with AD and Parkinson's disease, the molecular mechanism of which has remained poorly understood, potently activates the deacetylase activity of HDAC1. We show that exifone acts as a mixed, nonessential activator of HDAC1 that is capable of binding to both free and substrate-bound enzyme, resulting in an increased relative maximal rate of HDAC1-catalyzed deacetylation. Exifone can directly bind to HDAC1 based upon biolayer interferometry assays with kinetic and selectivity profiling, suggesting that HDAC1 is preferentially targeted compared to other class I HDACs and the kinase CDK5, which have also been implicated in neurodegeneration. Consistent with a mechanism of deacetylase activation intracellularly, the treatment of human induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived neuronal cells resulted in globally decreased histone acetylation. Moreover, exifone treatment was neuroprotective in a tauopathy patient iPSC-derived neuronal model subject to oxidative stress. Taken together, these findings reveal exifone as a potent activator of HDAC1-mediated deacetylation, thereby offering a lead for novel therapeutic development aiming to protect genomic integrity in the context of neurodegeneration and aging.

Tauopathies: Deciphering Disease Mechanisms to Develop Effective Therapies

Tauopathies are neurodegenerative diseases characterized by the pathological accumulation of microtubule-associated protein tau (MAPT) in the form of neurofibrillary tangles and paired helical filaments in neurons and glia, leading to brain cell death. These diseases include frontotemporal dementia (FTD) and Alzheimer's disease (AD) and can be sporadic or inherited when caused by mutations in the MAPT gene. Despite an incredibly high socio-economic burden worldwide, there are still no effective disease-modifying therapies, and few tau-focused experimental drugs have reached clinical trials. One major hindrance for therapeutic development is the knowledge gap in molecular mechanisms of tau-mediated neuronal toxicity and death. For the promise of precision medicine for brain disorders to be fulfilled, it is necessary to integrate known genetic causes of disease, i.e., MAPT mutations, with an understanding of the dysregulated molecular pathways that constitute potential therapeutic targets. Here, the growing understanding of known and proposed mechanisms of disease etiology will be reviewed, together with promising experimental tau-directed therapeutics, such as recently developed tau degraders. Current challenges faced by the fields of tau research and drug discovery will also be addressed.

Strain of Bacillus thuringiensis from Restinga, toxic to Aedes (Stegomyia) aegypti (Linnaeus) (Diptera, Culicidae)

Bacillus thuringiensis is the most commonly used entomopathogen in the control of Aedes aegypti, which is a vector for different etiological agents that cause serious infections in humans. Several studies aim to isolate strains of this bacterium from different environments, with the perspective of selecting isolates with larvicidal activity for mosquitoes. Aiming at the insecticidal action of B. thuringiensis, the present study aimed to prospect B. thuringiensis of restinga and mangrove soils from the state of Maranhão, Brazil, with toxic potential for use in the biological control of Ae. aegypti. Bioassays were performed to determine the entomopathogenic activity of the bacilli against Ae. aegypti and lethal concentrations (LC50 and CL90) were estimated after the tests. Polymerase Chain Reaction and SDS-PAGE techniques were performed to verify the gene and protein content of the isolates, respectively. The soil of the mangrove and restinga ecosystems showed potential for obtaining B. thuringiensis. This isolate, in addition to having proteins with molecular mass similar to the toxins Cry and Cyt, also presented several diptera-specific genes cry and cyt, demonstrating that it has high potential to be used in the biological control of Ae. aegypti.

Human pluripotent stem cell-derived models and drug screening in CNS precision medicine

Development of effective therapeutics for neurological disorders has historically been challenging partly because of lack of accurate model systems in which to investigate disease etiology and test new therapeutics at the preclinical stage. Human stem cells, particularly patient-derived induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) upon differentiation, have the ability to recapitulate aspects of disease pathophysiology and are increasingly recognized as robust scalable systems for drug discovery. We review advances in deriving cellular models of human central nervous system (CNS) disorders using iPSCs along with strategies for investigating disease-relevant phenotypes, translatable biomarkers, and therapeutic targets. Given their potential to identify novel therapeutic targets and leads, we focus on phenotype-based, small-molecule screens employing human stem cell-derived models. Integrated efforts to assemble patient iPSC-derived cell models with deeply annotated clinicopathological data, along with molecular and drug-response signatures, may aid in the stratification of patients, diagnostics, and clinical trial success, shifting translational science and precision medicine approaches. A number of remaining challenges, including the optimization of cost-effective, large-scale culture of iPSC-derived cell types, incorporation of aging into neuronal models, as well as robustness and automation of phenotypic assays to support quantitative drug efficacy, toxicity, and metabolism testing workflows, are covered. Continued advancement of the field is expected to help fully humanize the process of CNS drug discovery.

Prolonged tau clearance and stress vulnerability rescue by pharmacological activation of autophagy in tauopathy neurons

Tauopathies are neurodegenerative diseases associated with accumulation of abnormal tau protein in the brain. Patient iPSC-derived neuronal cell models replicate disease-relevant phenotypes ex vivo that can be pharmacologically targeted for drug discovery. Here, we explored autophagy as a mechanism to reduce tau burden in human neurons and, from a small-molecule screen, identify the mTOR inhibitors OSI-027, AZD2014 and AZD8055. These compounds are more potent than rapamycin, and robustly downregulate phosphorylated and insoluble tau, consequently reducing tau-mediated neuronal stress vulnerability. MTORC1 inhibition and autophagy activity are directly linked to tau clearance. Notably, single-dose treatment followed by washout leads to a prolonged reduction of tau levels and toxicity for 12 days, which is mirrored by a sustained effect on mTORC1 inhibition and autophagy. This new insight into the pharmacodynamics of mTOR inhibitors in regulation of neuronal autophagy may contribute to development of therapies for tauopathies.

Postprandial glycemia in healthy subjects: Which probiotic dairy food is more adequate?

The consumption of probiotic-enriched dairy products has been associated with many health benefits, including anti-hyperglycemic activity. The effect on health is dependent on the type of probiotic culture used and the dairy product consumed. This study evaluated the effect of different probiotic-enriched dairy matrices (Minas Frescal cheese, Prato cheese, and whey dairy beverage) containing Lactobacillus casei on in vitro and in vivo anti-hyperglycemic activity. For this purpose, in vitro anti-hyperglycemic activity was determined by the inhibition of α-glucosidase and α-amylase activities, and a human study was performed with healthy individuals (n = 15, consumption of bread as a control; bread + Minas Frescal cheese; bread + Prato cheese; bread + dairy beverage) to assess the effects of different probiotic foods on postprandial glycemia. In vitro data showed that Prato cheese presented the highest lipid (36.9 g/100 g) and protein (26.5 g/100 g) contents as well as the highest α-amylase (60.7%) and α-glucosidase (52.6%) inhibition. The consumption of Prato cheese resulted in a lesser increase in blood glucose level (13 mg/dL) compared with the consumption of bread alone (19 mg/dL), Minas Frescal cheese (20 mg/dL), and whey dairy beverage (30 mg/dL), with glycemic indices similar to that observed for the control. The present results demonstrated a good correlation between in vitro and in vivo data, in which the type of dairy matrix affects the anti-hyperglycemic activity. It is concluded that the consumption of probiotic Prato cheese can contribute to the reduction of postprandial glycemia in healthy individuals.

Research Management Committee as strategic device for Implementation Research

Issue/problem

Implementation Research (IR) are particularly useful in identifying whether when an intervention does not succeed, this is because the intervention was ineffective in the new scenario or if a good intervention was poorly implemented. In order to do this, it is important to establish evaluation strategies capable of provide feedback and encourage learning and incorporation of changes. However, the best strategies for this are not clear yet.

Description of the problem

Despite the existence of references with clear definitions of the outcomes for IR, it is still unclear what are the best strategies for the stakeholders’ participation in these outcomes evaluation. By identifying that, the framework of participatory research could contribute to the choice of these strategies. We sought to retrieve some of the devices already used in other research to test whether they would be able to respond to the assumptions of IR. The chosen device was the Research Management Committee (RMC) which has its use evaluated by a qualitative study with focus group and the data review of the minutes of meetings held by the RMC.

Results

The RMC functioned as a space where members of the research team, managers and workers from the services where the intervention occurred could meet systematically to plan, monitor and make adaptations in the IR. Besides its success as a tool for accessing outcomes, the RMC has also proved to be an important strategy to promote the increasing of acceptability, adoption, penetration and sustainability.

Lessons

The RMC was an important promoter of the participation for the stakeholders in several aspects of the research; made possible the evaluation and monitoring of the meaning and feasibility of the research in the field of study from the point of view of those who live the experience of daily work and care; and favored access to the outcomes of IR in a transversal and organic way.

Key messages

The RMC is a strategic device for Implementation Research and configures a possibility to make the research a more dialogic and potentially transformative process. Besides its success as a tool for accessing outcomes, the RMC has also proved to be an important strategy to promote the increasing of acceptability, adoption, penetration and sustainability.

A Comprehensive Resource for Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells from Patients with Primary Tauopathies

Primary tauopathies are characterized neuropathologically by inclusions containing abnormal forms of the microtubule-associated protein tau (MAPT) and clinically by diverse neuropsychiatric, cognitive, and motor impairments. Autosomal dominant mutations in the MAPT gene cause heterogeneous forms of frontotemporal lobar degeneration with tauopathy (FTLD-Tau). Common and rare variants in the MAPT gene increase the risk for sporadic FTLD-Tau, including progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) and corticobasal degeneration (CBD). We generated a collection of fibroblasts from 140 MAPT mutation/risk variant carriers, PSP, CBD, and cognitively normal controls; 31 induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) lines from MAPT mutation carriers, non-carrier family members, and autopsy-confirmed PSP patients; 33 genome engineered iPSCs that were corrected or mutagenized; and forebrain neural progenitor cells (NPCs). Here, we present a resource of fibroblasts, iPSCs, and NPCs with comprehensive clinical histories that can be accessed by the scientific community for disease modeling and development of novel therapeutics for tauopathies.

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A collection of fibroblasts from 140 MAPT mutation carriers, PSP, CBD, and controls

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31 iPSC lines reprogrammed from MAPT mutation carriers, PSP patients, and controls

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33 iPSC lines engineered with CRISPR/Cas9 or TALENs

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Comprehensive resource for tauopathy modeling and discovery of novel therapeutics

Targeted degradation of aberrant tau in frontotemporal dementia patient-derived neuronal cell models

Tauopathies are neurodegenerative diseases characterized by aberrant forms of tau protein accumulation leading to neuronal death in focal brain areas. Positron emission tomography (PET) tracers that bind to pathological tau are used in diagnosis, but there are no current therapies to eliminate these tau species. We employed targeted protein degradation technology to convert a tau PET-probe into a functional degrader of pathogenic tau. The hetero-bifunctional molecule QC-01-175 was designed to engage both tau and Cereblon (CRBN), a substrate-receptor for the E3-ubiquitin ligase CRL4CRBN, to trigger tau ubiquitination and proteasomal degradation. QC-01-175 effected clearance of tau in frontotemporal dementia (FTD) patient-derived neuronal cell models, with minimal effect on tau from neurons of healthy controls, indicating specificity for disease-relevant forms. QC-01-175 also rescued stress vulnerability in FTD neurons, phenocopying CRISPR-mediated MAPT-knockout. This work demonstrates that aberrant tau in FTD patient-derived neurons is amenable to targeted degradation, representing an important advance for therapeutics.

Development of a reusable and sustainable biocatalyst by immobilization of soybean peroxidase onto magnetic adsorbent

In this work we synthesized an activated carbon/magnetite composite by a simple co-precipitation method. The activated carbon (AC) was synthesized from the solid waste obtained in the extraction process of the peroxidase enzyme and the magnetic composite was used as support for the immobilization of soybean peroxidase (SP). After the determination of the optimal immobilization parameters, a 100% yield was achieved under the following conditions: support:enzyme proportion of 1.0:0.05 g, equilibration time of 7 h, pH 3.0 (citrate buffer phosphate 0.1 mol L-1) and temperature of 50 °C. The determination of pH to the point of zero charge was also done to assist in the understanding of the immobilization process at different pH values. Several characterization techniques were used, such as thermogravimetric analysis, elemental analysis composition, X-ray powder diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and Scanning electron microscopy. The biocatalyst presented excellent operational stability and was reused for 11 consecutive cycles. The magnetic properties inserted in the AC contributed to the removal of the biocatalyst from the reaction medium without interfering in the adsorptive characteristics of the AC. Thus, the activated carbon/magnetite composite can be applied to different research fields with high performance.

Toxin Gene Contents and Activity of Bacillus thuringiensis Strains Against Two Sugarcane Borer Species, Diatraea saccharalis (F.) and D. flavipennella (Box)

Bacillus thuringiensis (Berliner) bears essential characteristics in the control of insect pests, such as its unique mode of action, which confers specificity and selectivity. This study assessed cry gene contents from Bt strains and their entomotoxicity against Diatraea saccharalis (F.) and Diatraea flavipennella (Box) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae). Bioassays with Bt strains were performed against neonates to evaluate their lethal and sublethal activities and were further analyzed by PCR, using primers to identify toxin genes. For D. saccharalis and D. flavipennella, 16 and 18 strains showed over 30% larval mortality in the 7th day, respectively. The LC₅₀ values of strains for D. saccharalis varied from 0.08 × 10⁵ (LIIT-0105) to 4104 × 10⁵ (LIIT-2707) spores + crystals mL^-1. For D. flavipennella, the LC₅₀ values of strains varied from 0.40 × 10⁵ (LIIT-2707) to 542 × 10⁵ (LIIT-2109) spores + crystals mL^-1. For the LIIT-0105 strain, which was the most toxic to D. saccharalis, the genes cry1Aa, cry1Ab, cry1Ac, cry1B, cry1C, cry1D, cry1F, cry1I, cry2Aa, cry2Ab, cry8, and cry9C were detected, whereas for the strain LIIT-2707, which was the most toxic to D. flavipennella, detected genes were cry1Aa, cry1Ab, cry1Ac, cry1B, cry1D, cry1F, cry1I, cry2Aa, cry2Ab, and cry9. The toxicity data and toxin gene content in these strains of Bt suggest a great variability of activity with potential to be used in the development of novel biopesticides or as source of resistance genes that can be expressed in plants to control pests.

Renovascular hypertension increases serum TNF and CX3CL1 in experimental Trypanosoma cruzi infection

Trypanosoma cruzi triggers a progressive inflammatory response affecting cardiovascular functions in humans and experimental models. Angiotensin II, a key effector of the renin-angiotensin system, plays roles in mediating hypertension, heart failure, and inflammatory responses. T. cruzi and AngII can induce inflammatory responses by releasing inflammatory mediators. The aim of this study was to evaluate systemic AngII, tumor necrosis factor (TNF), and CX3CL1 mediators in a two-kidney one-clip (2K1C) renovascular hypertension model using Wistar rats infected with T. cruzi. Our data showed an increase in serum AngII in uninfected and T. cruzi-infected rats 1 week after 2K1C surgery compared to non-2K1C (Sham) animals. The baseline systolic blood pressure was higher in both uninfected and infected 2K1C rats. Despite no difference in circulating parasites in the acute phase of infection, elevated serum TNF and CX3CL1 were observed at 8 weeks post-infection in 2K1C rats in association with higher cardiac inflammatory infiltration. In summary, AngII-induced hypertension associated with T. cruzi infection may act synergistically to increase TNF and CX3CL1 in the 2K1C rat model, thereby intensifying cardiac inflammatory infiltration and worsening the underlying inflammation triggered by this protozoan.

New records of Helminths in Reptiles from five states of Brazil

Forty five specimens representing nine species of reptile (Salvator merianae, Enyalius bilineatus, Amphisbaena alba, Xenopholis undulatus, Chironius fuscus, Helicops angulatus, Chironius flavolineatus, Erythrolamprus viridis and Crotalus durissus) collected in five Brazilian states were examined for helminths. Twelve helminth species were found as follow: nine Nematoda (Physaloptera tupinambae, Strongyluris oscari, Paracapillaria sp., Dracunculus brasiliensis, Physaloptera liophis, Serpentirhabias sp. 1, Serpentirhabias sp. 2, Serpentirhabias sp. 3 and Aplectana sp.), one Cestoda (Semenoviella amphisbaenia), one Trematoda (Paracotyletrema sp.), and one Acantocephala (Centrorhynchus sp.). Ten new host records and seven new locality records were reported.

An inhibitor of the proteasomal deubiquitinating enzyme USP14 induces tau elimination in cultured neurons

The ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS) is responsible for most selective protein degradation in eukaryotes and regulates numerous cellular processes, including cell cycle control and protein quality control. A component of this system, the deubiquitinating enzyme USP14, associates with the proteasome where it can rescue substrates from degradation by removal of the ubiquitin tag. We previously found that a small-molecule inhibitor of USP14, known as IU1, can increase the rate of degradation of a subset of proteasome substrates. We report here the synthesis and characterization of 87 variants of IU1, which resulted in the identification of a 10-fold more potent USP14 inhibitor that retains specificity for USP14. The capacity of this compound, IU1-47, to enhance protein degradation in cells was tested using as a reporter the microtubule-associated protein tau, which has been implicated in many neurodegenerative diseases. Using primary neuronal cultures, IU1-47 was found to accelerate the rate of degradation of wild-type tau, the pathological tau mutants P301L and P301S, and the A152T tau variant. We also report that a specific residue in tau, lysine 174, is critical for the IU1-47-mediated tau degradation by the proteasome. Finally, we show that IU1-47 stimulates autophagic flux in primary neurons. In summary, these findings provide a powerful research tool for investigating the complex biology of USP14.

Assessing the effects of different prebiotic dietary oligosaccharides in sheep milk ice cream

The objective of this study was to assess the effects of different prebiotic dietary oligosaccharides (inulin, fructo-oligosaccharide, galacto-oligossacaride, short-chain fructo-oligosaccharide, resistant starch, corn dietary oligosaccharide and polydextrose) in non-fat sheep milk ice cream processing through physical parameters, water mobility and thermal analysis. Overall, the fat replacement by dietary prebiotic oligosaccharides significantly decreased the melting time, melting temperature and the fraction and relaxation time for fat and bound water (T₂₂) while increased the white intensity and glass transition temperature. The replacement of sheep milk fat by prebiotics in sheep milk ice cream constitutes an interesting option to enhance nutritional aspects and develop a functional food.

Assessment of antioxidant activity, lipid profile, general biochemical and immune system responses of Wistar rats fed with dairy dessert containing Lactobacillus acidophilus La-5

The viability and survival of Lactobacillus acidophilus La5 under in vitro simulated gastrointestinal in probiotic dairy dessert was assessed. In addition, the effects of regular consumption of the dessert (5g/day) on the lipid profile, immune system, and antioxidant/biochemical status of Wistar rats were also evaluated after 2weeks of treatment. Adequate counts of L. acidophilus La-5 were observed regards the viability and gastrointestinal conditions. The probiotic dairy dessert was efficient in reducing the LDL-cholesterol, triacylglycerol and increased the HDL-cholesterol in serum. Aspartate amino transferase, alanine aminotransferase, total protein, albumin, heat shock proteins, immune system responses, and blood-cells counts (monocyte, lymphocyte, neutrophil and leucocyte) were not affected (p>0.05) after 15days of treatment. Overall, the probiotic dairy dessert may be a viable alternative to enhance the blood lipid profile and could be used to improve the antioxidant defenses.

Human iPSC-Derived Neuronal Model of Tau-A152T Frontotemporal Dementia Reveals Tau-Mediated Mechanisms of Neuronal Vulnerability

Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) and other tauopathies characterized by focal brain neurodegeneration and pathological accumulation of proteins are commonly associated with tau mutations. However, the mechanism of neuronal loss is not fully understood. To identify molecular events associated with tauopathy, we studied induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived neurons from individuals carrying the tau-A152T variant. We highlight the potential of in-depth phenotyping of human neuronal cell models for pre-clinical studies and identification of modulators of endogenous tau toxicity. Through a panel of biochemical and cellular assays, A152T neurons showed accumulation, redistribution, and decreased solubility of tau. Upregulation of tau was coupled to enhanced stress-inducible markers and cell vulnerability to proteotoxic, excitotoxic, and mitochondrial stressors, which was rescued upon CRISPR/Cas9-mediated targeting of tau or by pharmacological activation of autophagy. Our findings unmask tau-mediated perturbations of specific pathways associated with neuronal vulnerability, revealing potential early disease biomarkers and therapeutic targets for FTD and other tauopathies.

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Upregulation of tau and phospho-tau in FTD patient iPSC-derived tau A152T neurons

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Upregulation of insoluble tau in A152T neurons

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Altered proteostasis stress-inducible pathways in tau A152T neurons

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Tau-dependent vulnerability to stress in A152T neurons reverted by tau downregulation

Cry Proteins from Bacillus thuringiensis Active against Diamondback Moth and Fall Armyworm

Biopesticides based on Bacillus thuringiensis and genetically modified plants with genes from this bacterium have been used to control Plutella xylostella (L.) and Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith). However, the selection pressure imposed by these technologies may undermine the efficiency of this important alternative to synthetic insecticides. Toxins with different modes of action allow a satisfactory control of these insects. The purpose of this study was to characterize the protein and gene contents of 20 B. thuringiensis isolates from soil and insect samples collected in several areas of Northeast Brazil which are active against P. xylostella and S. frugiperda. Protein profiles were obtained by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). Polymerase chain reaction assays were used to determine toxin genes present within bacterial isolates. The protein profile of the majority of the isolates produced bands of approximately 130 kDa, suggesting the presence of Cry1, Cry8 and Cry9 proteins. The gene content of the isolates of B. thuringiensis investigated showed different gene profiles. Isolates LIIT-4306 and LIIT-4311 were the most actives against both species, with LC50 of 0.03 and 0.02 × 10(8) spores mL(-1), respectively, for P. xylostella, and LC50 of 0.001 × 10(8) spores mL(-1) for S. frugiperda. These isolates carried the cry1, cry1Aa, cry1Ab, cry1Ac, cry1B, cry1C, cry1D, cry1F, cry2, cry2A, cry8, and cry9C genes. The obtained gene profiles showed great potential for the control of P. xylostella and S. frugiperda, primarily because of the presence of several cry1A genes, which are found in isolates of B. thuringiensis active against these insects.

"Permethrin chronic exposure alters motor coordination in rats: effect of calcium supplementation and amlodipine"

Recently was observed that pyrethroids decrease motor coordination and that calcium channels can be important targets for this effect. To contribute with this observation, this work studied the motor coordination and exploration (using hole-board apparatus), and locomotion (using open-field apparatus) of rats exposed to following treatments: permethrin (PM), PM plus calcium gluconate (CG) and PM plus amlodipine (AML). The results obtained show that CG or AML alone not changed the motor coordination while PM decreases it. CG kept the effect of permethrin; AML, however, decreased the values of permethrin to the control. Locomotor activity and exploration, which could confound results of motor coordination, were not modified by treatments. The concentration of PM in brain tissue was increased by the CG and AML. The neurosomatic index (weight brain/body weight) was increased by the PM and PM+CG. In conclusion, the combined results here obtained indicates that the calcium ion and the channels in which it is involved can be important targets for the toxic effect of pyrethroid insecticide permethrin on motor nerve activity of rats.

Neuronal reprograming of protein homeostasis by calcium-dependent regulation of the heat shock response

Protein quality control requires constant surveillance to prevent misfolding, aggregation, and loss of cellular function. There is increasing evidence in metazoans that communication between cells has an important role to ensure organismal health and to prevent stressed cells and tissues from compromising lifespan. Here, we show in C. elegans that a moderate increase in physiological cholinergic signaling at the neuromuscular junction (NMJ) induces the calcium (Ca(2+))-dependent activation of HSF-1 in post-synaptic muscle cells, resulting in suppression of protein misfolding. This protective effect on muscle cell protein homeostasis was identified in an unbiased genome-wide screening for modifiers of protein aggregation, and is triggered by downregulation of gei-11, a Myb-family factor and proposed regulator of the L-type acetylcholine receptor (AChR). This, in-turn, activates the voltage-gated Ca(2+) channel, EGL-19, and the sarcoplasmic reticulum ryanodine receptor in response to acetylcholine signaling. The release of calcium into the cytoplasm of muscle cells activates Ca(2+)-dependent kinases and induces HSF-1-dependent expression of cytoplasmic chaperones, which suppress misfolding of metastable proteins and stabilize the folding environment of muscle cells. This demonstrates that the heat shock response (HSR) can be activated in muscle cells by neuronal signaling across the NMJ to protect proteome health.

Pathology of nasal infection caused by Conidiobolus lamprauges and Pythium insidiosum in sheep

Conidiobolomycosis and pythiosis are important diseases of sheep in midwestern Brazil. Veterinary practitioners consider it difficult to differentiate between these diseases because they have similar clinical features. In this study, 186 sheep were subjected to necropsy examination over a 6-year period. Thirty (16.1%) cases of rhinitis in sheep that were caused by Conidiobolus lamprauges (n = 15) or Pythium insidiosum (n = 15) were investigated further. The lesions of C. lamprauges infection were mainly rhinopharyngeal (86.7%), localized to the ethmoidal region and associated with exophthalmos. The lesions appear as a white to yellow, firm mass that microscopically appears as a granulomatous inflammatory reaction with numerous giant cells. In contrast, P. insidiosum infection is associated with rhinofacial (93.3%) lesions that mainly involve the frontal region and hard palate and appear as an irregular, friable, yellow to red mass. Microscopically, pythiosis presents as diffuse necrotizing eosinophilic rhinitis. Immunohistochemistry using polyclonal antisera raised specifically against the two organisms was used to confirm the identity of the infectious agent in each disease. This study reports the first immunohistochemical diagnosis of conidiobolomycosis and the first description of a rhinopharyngeal lesion caused by P. insidiosum in sheep.

Dynamic imaging by fluorescence correlation spectroscopy identifies diverse populations of polyglutamine oligomers formed in vivo

Protein misfolding and aggregation are exacerbated by aging and diseases of protein conformation including neurodegeneration, metabolic diseases, and cancer. In the cellular environment, aggregates can exist as discrete entities, or heterogeneous complexes of diverse solubility and conformational state. In this study, we have examined the in vivo dynamics of aggregation using imaging methods including fluorescence microscopy, fluorescence recovery after photobleaching (FRAP), and fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (FCS), to monitor the diverse biophysical states of expanded polyglutamine (polyQ) proteins expressed in Caenorhabditis elegans. We show that monomers, oligomers and aggregates co-exist at different concentrations in young and aged animals expressing different polyQ-lengths. During aging, when aggregation and toxicity are exacerbated, FCS-based burst analysis and purified single molecule FCS detected a populational shift toward an increase in the frequency of brighter and larger oligomeric species. Regardless of age or polyQ-length, oligomers were maintained in a heterogeneous distribution that spans multiple orders of magnitude in brightness. We employed genetic suppressors that prevent polyQ aggregation and observed a reduction in visible immobile species with the persistence of heterogeneous oligomers, yet our analysis did not detect the appearance of any discrete oligomeric states associated with toxicity. These studies reveal that the reversible transition from monomers to immobile aggregates is not represented by discrete oligomeric states, but rather suggests that the process of aggregation involves a more complex pattern of molecular interactions of diverse intermediate species that can appear in vivo and contribute to aggregate formation and toxicity.