Dermatophytes are fungal pathogens that cause cutaneous infections such as onychomycosis and athlete's foot in both healthy and immunocompromised patients.Trichophyton rubrum is the most prevalent dermatophyte causing human nail and skin infections worldwide, and because of its anthropophilic nature, animal infection models are limited. The purpose of this work was to compare the expression profile of T. rubrum genes encoding putative virulence factors during growth in ex vivo and in vitro infection models. The efficiency of the ex vivo skin infection model was confirmed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), which showed that the conidia had produced hyphae that penetrated into the epidermis. Quantitative RT-PCR (qRT-PCR) analysis showed that the expression of some genes is modulated in response to the infection model used, as compared to that observed in cells grown in glucose-containing media. We concluded that ex vivo infection models help assess the molecular aspects of the interaction of T. rubrum with the host milieu, and thus provide insights into the modulation of genes during infection.

BackgroundThe role of oxidative stress in schizophrenia has been demonstrated, particularly in subjects with treatment-resistant schizophrenia (TRS). In such patients, the decreased levels of antioxidants in conjunction with the increased generation of reactive oxygen species in the brain exposes the neurons to a higher risk of damage.Methods and findingsWe evaluated the association of deletion polymorphisms of two genes of the antioxidant Glutathione S-Transferase family, GSTT1 and GSTM1, with susceptibility to TRS. A total of 54 TRS patients (mean age 38.7 years) and 78 healthy control subjects (mean age 39.0 years) were enrolled in this study. The subjects were matched by sex, age, and smoking and alcohol consumption habits. In the case group, the frequencies of GSTT1-null and GSTM1-null genotypes were 24.1 and 51.9%, respectively, whereas for the control group, the frequencies were 12.8 and 46.2%, respectively. Analysis performed with respect to the risk of developing TRS associated with the GSTT1 and GSTM1 deletion polymorphisms, resulted in odds ratio (OR) values of 2.1 and 1.2, respectively. However, the association was not found to be significant (p = 0.1229 and p = 0.5916, respectively). The analysis performed with respect to the combined genotypes of GSTT1 and GSTM1 revealed that the double-null genotype confers a 4.6-fold increased risk of developing TRS (p = 0.0412).ConclusionThe results of the present study indicate that a combination of GST deficiencies may play a role in enhanced susceptibility to TRS, and the present genotype of one of these genes may buffer the deficiency caused by the lack (null genotype) of the other. The results suggest that combined deletion polymorphisms of GSTT1 and GSTM1 can have implications in the prediction of the clinical course of the disease.

The present study aimed to evaluate the applicability of an educational booklet that contained information for the general population about promotion and prevention of infections and neoplasic process caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV). The study was arranged in two phases. First, the booklet was given to 200 volunteers in the city of Goiânia, Goiás State. The applicability of the booklet was evaluated without the necessity of proving former knowledge. In the second phase, a detailed analysis of the data was made and the booklet revealed applicable. Then, the educational material was published and 2000 copies were distributed in a social event held by the Pontifícia Universidade Católica de Góias in the city of Goiânia. In the event, the booklet raised the interest of the general public and gave the volunteers a chance to participate in a study that investigated the presence of the HPV in the genital microbiote. The booklet proved to be applicable and reached its objective to inform and prevent. However, it's necessary to promote and improve campaigns to the population about the HPV and its relations with the neoplasic process.

Microorganisms play a vital role in bioethanol production whose usage as fuel energy is increasing worldwide. The filamentous fungus Neurospora crassa synthesize and secrete the major enzymes involved in plant cell wall deconstruction. The production of cellulases and hemicellulases is known to be affected by the environmental pH; however, the regulatory mechanisms of this process are still poorly understood. In this study, we investigated the role of the pH regulator PAC-3 in N. crassa during their growth on sugarcane bagasse at different pH conditions. Our data indicate that secretion of cellulolytic enzymes is reduced in the mutant Δpac-3 at alkaline pH, whereas xylanases are positively regulated by PAC-3 in acidic (pH 5.0), neutral (pH 7.0), and alkaline (pH 10.0) medium. Gene expression profiles, evaluated by real-time qPCR, revealed that genes encoding cellulases and hemicellulases are also subject to PAC-3 control. Moreover, deletion of pac-3 affects the expression of transcription factor-encoding genes. Together, the results suggest that the regulation of holocellulase genes by PAC-3 can occur as directly as in indirect manner. Our study helps improve the understanding of holocellulolytic performance in response to PAC-3 and should thereby contribute to the better use of N. crassa in the biotechnology industry.

No abstract