In the current study, phage-exposed mimotopes as targets against tegumentary leishmaniasis (TL) were selected by means of bio-panning cycles employing sera of TL patients and healthy subjects, besides the immune stimulation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) collected from untreated and treated TL patients and healthy subjects. The clones were evaluated regarding their specific interferon-γ (IFN-γ) and interleukin-4 (IL-4) production in the in vitro cultures, and selectivity and specificity values were calculated, and those presenting the best results were selected for the in vivo experiments. Two clones, namely A4 and A8, were identified and used in immunization protocols from BALB/c mice to protect against Leishmania amazonensis infection. Results showed a polarized Th1 response generated after vaccination, being based on significantly higher levels of IFN-γ, IL-2, IL-12, tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF); which were associated with lower production of specific IL-4, IL-10 and immunoglobulin G1 (IgG1) antibodies. Vaccinated mice presented significant reductions in the parasite load in the infected tissue and distinct organs, when compared with controls. In conclusion, we presented a strategy to identify new mimotopes able to induce Th1 response in PBMCs from TL patients and healthy subjects, and that were successfully used to protect against L. amazonensis infection.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of FSH and PI3K on the nuclear maturation, viability, steroidogenesis and embryo development of bovine cumulus–oocyte complexes (COCs). Oocyte maturation was achieved with MIV B, MIV B+100 µM LY294002, MIV B+10 ng/mL follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), or MIV B+10 ng/mL FSH+100 µM LY294002 treatments for 22–24 h. After the cultured COCs were denuded, oocytes were separated into those that extruded polar bodies (mature) and those that did not, and real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for BAX, BCL2, LHR, FSHR, CYP11A1, CYP19A1 and HSD17B1 genes was performed. The culture medium was collected to determine the levels of 17β-estradiol (E2) and progesterone (P4). The trypan blue test was used to study COC viability, and embryo development was evaluated. FSH increased nuclear maturation and PI3K blocked the maturation but did not influence oocyte viability. BAX and BCL2 expression levels in the cumulus cells were only affected by FSH, and the BAX levels decreased after treatment with LY294002. FSH increased the levels of E2 and P4, however inhibition of PI3K decreased E2 levels. MIV B enhanced levels of LHR, FSHR, CYP11A1, CYP19A1 and HSD17B1, whereas LY294002 inhibited the expression levels of all genes. MIV B+FSH decreased the expression levels of all genes except CYP11A1. LY294002 did not demonstrate any effects in the presence of FSH. Embryo development was significantly decreased when the MIV B+FSH medium was used. In conclusion, FSH controls the steroidogenesis, viability and gene expression in COCs. PI3K plays essential roles in nuclear maturation, steroidogenesis and embryo development.

Six deep-sea fish species are recorded for the first time off north-eastern Brazil: Conger esculentus, Talismania homoptera, Physiculus kaupi, Ectreposebastes imus, Centrodraco oregonus and an unidentified species of Myroconger. The material was caught during the Programme REVIZEE (Programme for Assessment of the Sustainable Yield of Living Resources of the Exclusive Economic Zone) and by commercial fishery operations from 1998 to 2005 off the coasts of Ceará and Rio Grande do Norte States. These new records extend the geographical distribution range and fill geographical distribution gaps of the species herein reported.