The immunoregulatory effect of Artin M and jacalin from extract of Artocarpus integrifolia seeds (jack extract) against infection with Candida albicans was investigated. Swiss mice received jack extract containing 500 μg protein/ml PBS intraperitoneally (i.p.) or PBS alone and after 72 h were infected i.p. with C. albicans CR15 (10(7)) and sacrificed after 30 min, 2, 6, 24, and 72 h. ELISA analysis revealed that in jack extract-treated mice IFN-γ was predominantly produced versus IL-10 in control mice. These results suggest that jack extract induced a protective immune response, since C. albicans clearance was complete at 72 h postinfection. Jack extract presents two lectins (Artin M and jacalin) with distinct biological properties. Artin M was able to induce IL-12 production by macrophages. Also, Artin M in different concentrations, associated with jacalin or in jack extract induced both IFN-γ and IL-17 production. As a consequence, phagocytic and candidacidal activity increased significantly. Alanine aminotransferase activity (ALT) was used as parameter for damage of the liver. The activity of ALT correlated with inoculum size that increased significantly in control group, however, mice pretreated with jack extract 3 days before infection presented normal ALT. Mice pretreated with jack extract that received a lethal inoculum of Candida presented 90% survival versus 20% among controls or mice pretreated with jacalin. Thus, the results suggest that Artin M by itself, associated with jacalin or present in jack extract is able to induce protective Th1 and Th17 immune responses against Candida albicans infection.

No abstract

The mechanisms through which Candida albicans is recognized by immune cells and how it triggers host defence are not completely understood. In this study, we evaluated the effect of Concanavalin-A on the clearance of C. albicans by infected mice and their production of proinflammatory cytokine tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha). Subgroups of 5 animals were pretreated with Con-A (250 mug mL(-1) PBS) and after 96 h were infected intraperitoneally with 10(7) cells of C. albicans CR15 (an isolate from a HIV+ person); 30 min, 2, 6, 24 or 72 h after infection the mice were sacrificed. Phagocytosis of C. albicans by peritoneal macrophages increased 30 min after infection in mice pretreated with Con-A. The liver presented the greatest number of CFUs, and this number was reduced by pretreatment with Con-A. Control animals infected with C. albicans presented a significant increase in plasmatic alanine aminotransferase, which was not observed in mice treated with Con-A. Two hours after infection the production of TNF-alpha in the liver of mice pretreated with Con-A was significantly increased. These results suggest that a single dose of Con-A caused a beneficial modulating action of the inflammatory response during infection with C. albicans.

ResumoThe objective of this study was to determine the presence of intestinal parasites in samples of lettuce and chicory sold in street market and supermarket Londrina city, Paraná. For this purpose, eight samples of lettuce (Lactuca sativa) and eight samples of chicory (Cichorium intybus) were collected and analyzed. The analysis was performed at the Laboratory for Extension and Research in Enteroparasitosis -L.E.P.En. Cysts of Endolimax nana, Entamoeba coli, Entamoeba histolytica, Balantidium coli and Strongyloides stercoralis larvae, Hookworm larvae and eggs, and eggs of Ascaris spp were found in the samples. These results demonstrate the need for hygienic-sanitary measures, aimed at educating the community, enabling the improvement in living conditions of the population.Palavras-chave: Parasitas intestinais. Verduras. Pesquisa. Saúde pública.

In a previous study, our group verified that mice pretreated with concanavalin-A (Con-A) produced more tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha and presented greater Candida clearance from the peritoneal cavity, liver and spleen, which yielded a higher survival rate than control animals. In this work, the hypothesis that macrophages were of crucial importance in overcoming the infection was tested. Thus, peritoneal macrophages from mice pretreated for 3 days with Con-A or phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) were coincubated with CR1, CR15 and 577 isolates of Candida albicans for 0.5, 1 and 2 h. The ability of Con-activated macrophages to produce TNF-alpha, ingest via mannose receptors and kill all the isolates was significantly greater compared with PBS-treated macrophages, and activated macrophages exhibited a lower incidence of apoptosis, verified by binding to annexin V-fluorescein isothiocyanate. The transition of yeast cells to filamentous forms during coincubation for 2 h with control macrophages was about 73-80%, whereas in the presence of Con-A-activated macrophages, it was 35-40%. Our results suggest that a greater clearance of C. albicans infection through treatment with Con-A is probably due to the activation of macrophages, which produce more TNF-alpha, express more mannose receptors and are better endowed to kill ingested C. albicans.