No abstract

Aspergillus fumigatus (A. fumigatus) is an environmental fungus and a human pathogen. Neutrophils are critical effector cells during the fungal infections, and neutropenia is a risk factor for the development of pulmonary aspergillosis. Neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) are released by neutrophils in response to A. fumigatus and inhibit the conidial germination. In this work, we observed that the receptors TLR2, TLR4, and Dectin-1 were dispensable for the A. fumigatus induced NET release. In contrast CD11b/CD18 was critical for the NET release in response to A. fumigatus conidia, and this required the CD11b I-domain-mediated recognition, whereas the blockade of the CD11b lectin domain did not affect the A. fumigatus induced NET release. A. fumigatus induced NET release relied on the activity of spleen tyrosine kinase (Syk), Src family kinase(s), and class IA PI3 kinase δ. Although A. fumigatus promoted histone citrullination, this process was dispensable for the NET release in response to A. fumigatus conidia. The A. fumigatus induced NET release required the reactive oxygen species generation by the NOX2 complex, in a downstream pathway requiring CD11b/CD18, Src kinase family activity, Syk and PI3K class IA δ. Our findings thus reveal the signaling pathways involved in the formation of NETs in response to A. fumigatus.

No abstract

Coffea arabica L. is an important agricultural commodity, accounting for 60% of traded coffee worldwide. Nitrogen (N) is a macronutrient that is usually limiting to plant yield; however, molecular mechanisms of plant acclimation to N limitation remain largely unknown in tropical woody crops. In this study, we investigated the transcriptome of coffee roots under N starvation, analyzing poly-A+ libraries and small RNAs. We also evaluated the concentration of selected amino acids and N-source preferences in roots. Ammonium was preferentially taken up over nitrate, and asparagine and glutamate were the most abundant amino acids observed in coffee roots. We obtained 34,654 assembled contigs by mRNA sequencing, and validated the transcriptional profile of 12 genes by RT-qPCR. Illumina small RNA sequencing yielded 8,524,332 non-redundant reads, resulting in the identification of 86 microRNA families targeting 253 genes. The transcriptional pattern of eight miRNA families was also validated. To our knowledge, this is the first catalog of differentially regulated amino acids, N sources, mRNAs, and sRNAs in Arabica coffee roots.

Neutrophils are leukocytes that are capable of eliminating both intra-and extracellular pathogens by mechanisms such as phagocytosis, degranulation, and release of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs). Histoplasma capsulatum var. capsulatum (H. capsulatum) is a dimorphic fungus with a global distribution that causes histoplasmosis, a disease that is endemic in different geographic areas and is spreading worldwide. The release of NETs has been described as an important host defense mechanism against different fungi; however, there are no reports demonstrating that this process is implicated in neutrophil response to H. capsulatum infection. Therefore, the aim of this work is to investigate whether isolated human neutrophils release NETs in response to H. capsulatum and the potential mechanisms involved, as well as delineate the NETs antifungal activity. Using both confocal fluorescence and scanning electron microscopy techniques, we determined that NETs are released in vitro in response to H. capsulatum via an oxidative mechanism that is downstream of activation of the Syk and Src kinase pathways and is also dependent on CD18. NETs released in response to H. capsulatum yeasts involve the loss of neutrophil viability and are associated with elastase and citrullinated histones, however also can occur in a PAD4 histone citrullination independent pathway. This NETs also presented fungicidal activity against H. capsulatum yeasts. Our findings may contribute to the understanding of how neutrophils recognize and respond as immune effector cells to H. capsulatum, which may lead to better knowledge of histoplasmosis pathophysiology and treatment.

Objective: to estimate the prevalence of infection by respiratory viruses in pediatric patients with cancer and acute respiratory infection (ARI) and/or fever. Methods: cross-sectional study, from January 2011 to December 2012. The secretions of nasopharyngeal aspirates were analyzed in children younger than 21 years with acute respiratory infections. Patients were treated at the Grupo em Defesa da Criança Com Câncer (Grendacc) and University Hospital (HU), Jundiaí, SP. The rapid test was used for detection of influenza virus (Kit Biotrin, Inc. Ireland), and real-time multiplex polymerase chain reaction (FTD, Respiratory pathogens, multiplex Fast Trade Kit, Malta) for detection of influenza virus (H1N1, B), rhinovirus, parainfluenza virus, adenovirus, respiratory syncytial virus, human parechovirus, bocavirus, metapneumovirus, and human coronavirus. The prevalence of viral infection was estimated and association tests were used ( 2 or Fisher's exact test). Results: 104 samples of nasopharyngeal aspirate and blood were analyzed. The median age was 12 ± 5.2 years, 51% males, 68% whites, 32% had repeated ARIs, 32% prior antibiotic use, 19.8% cough, and 8% contact with ARIs. A total of 94.3% were in good general status. Acute lymphocytic leukemia (42.3%) was the most prevalent neoplasia. Respiratory viruses were detected in 50 samples: rhinoviruses (23.1%), respiratory syncytial virus AB (8.7%), and coronavirus (6.8%). Codetection occurred in 19% of cases with 2 viruses and in 3% of those with 3 viruses, and was more ଝ Please cite this article as: Benites EC, Cabrini DP, Silva AC, Silva JC, Catalan DT, Berezin EN, et al. Acute respiratory viral infections in pediatric cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy. J Pediatr (Rio J). 2014;90:370---6.

The use of forecasting methods is nowadays regarded as a business ally since it supports both the operational and the strategic decision making processes. This paper is based on a research project aiming the development of demand forecasting models for a company (designated here by PR) that operates in the food business, more specifically in the delicatessen segment.In particular, we focused on demand forecasting models that can serve as a tool to support production planning and inventory management at the company. The analysis of the company's operations led to the development of a new demand forecasting tool based on a combination of forecasts, which is now being used and tested by the company.

The use of creep feeding for preweaning piglets is important to improve the performance of the piglets. The objective of this experiment was evaluate the effect of using or altering the position of piglet's creep feeder during lactation on piglet's performance and on behavior of piglets and sows kept in a hot climate environment.Forty-fi ve sows and their litters at 10 days of lactation were randomly distributed into three treatments: front feeder (FF) -near the side of the sow's head; back feeder (BF)-near the side of the rump of the sow; and no feeder (NF). All piglets were weighed individually to evaluate the average weight, weight gain and coeffi cient of variation of the weight. Behavior assessments of the piglets and sows were recorded in 3 period. At 15 and 21 d, piglets of the FF treatment were heavier (P ≤ 0.0001) than piglets of the other treatments. At 10-21d piglets of FF treatment had 76.2% less belly nosing behavior than the NF piglets (P=0.015). The treatments had no impact on behavior of the sows. The creep feeders positioned in the front of the farrowing crate increased piglet growth rate and decreased frequency of belly nosing behavior.