Regulation of Glucose metabolism is known to play an important role in pathogenesis of many diseases. Primarily because deregulation of this metabolic pathway can lead to either apoptosis or extended life span of the cells involved. Viruses are parasitic in nature, they utilize the host cellular pathways to support their own progeny; hence it is expected that viruses would regulate the central glucose metabolism of infected host cells. Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) causes acquired immune deficiency syndrome, and it uniquely infects both activated CD4+ T cells and terminally differentiated macrophages during the course of HIV-1 pathogenesis. While HIV-1 infection of CD4+ T cells induces G2 arrest and cell death within 2-3 days, HIV-1 infection of macrophages results in longer survival of infected cells and low constitutive viral production, generating viral reservoirs. Our studies show that HIV-1 infection lead to significant changes in the glycolytic pathway of infected cells by altering the enzymatic activity and protein expression of various glycolytic components. The data suggests that the two HIV-1 target cell types exhibit very different metabolic outcomes. During viral replication in monocyte/macrophage lineage cells we observe increase in glycolytic protein expression and the same proteins show no modulation in T-cell lines post viral replication. Similar differential regulation is observed in case of enzymatic activity of glycolytic enzymes as well. We also conducted proteomic studies in collaboration with the proteomics core. HIV-1 encoded viral protein Vpr is essential for infection of macrophages by HIV-1. Vpr is known to cause cell cycle block in infected cell and bring about cell death. However, macrophages are resistant to cell death and are viral reservoir, even Vpr over expression does not cause apoptosis in these cell types. The goal of the study was to use a stable-isotope labeling by amino acids in cell culture (SILAC) coupled with mass spectrometry-based proteomics approach to characterize the Vpr response in macrophages. More than 600 proteins were quantified in SILAC coupled with LC-MS/MS approach, among which 136 were significantly altered upon Vpr overexpression in macrophages. The proteomic data illustrating increase in abundance of enzymes in the glycolytic pathway (pentose phosphate and pyruvate metabolism) was further validated by western blot analysis. We observed that HIV-1 hijacks the macrophage glucose metabolism pathway via the Vpr-hypoxia inducible factor 1 alpha (HIF-1 alpha) axis to induce expression of hexokinase (HK), glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) and pyruvate kinase muscle type 2 (PKM2) that facilitates viral replication and biogenesis, and long-term survival of macrophages. We then focused on infected monocyte macrophages to identify if glycolytic components such as HK and G6PD were regulated by HIV-1 infection/replication. We report that Hexokinase-1 (HK-1) enzyme expression increases post infection of PBMCs where as the enzymatic activity of HK decreases. Similar effect is seen with HIV-1 replication in latently infected monocyte cell lines U1. The G6PD enzyme activity and expression both increases in infected PBMCs and in U1 cells post induction of viral replication with PMA. We also found that HK-1 translocate to the mitochondria of U1 cells post induction of HIV-1. It is known that the product of HK activity, Glucose 6-phosphate (G6P) releases HKI from the outer leaflet of mitochondria. Hence we conclude that the viral infection decreases HK activity to have less G6P produced in cell and increases G6PD enzyme activity ensuring the remaining G6P is quickly used up, supporting the adherence of outer mitochondrial membrane bound HK1. This sequence of cellular events ensures longer survival of infected cells supporting the viral progeny to propagate in the cell. We further show that suppressing the Pentose phosphate pathway (PPP) by blocking G6PD activity is not only detrimental to the survival of the infected cells it also suppresses viral replication and promoter level transactivation of the viral LTR. Next we sought to identify if glycolytic enzyme PKM2, that is also known to play a nonmetabolic dual role as a protein kinase regulating gene transcription has any effect on the transcription of HIV-LTR. Our study demonstrates upregulation of pyruvate kinase isoform M2 (PKM2) expression in whole cell extracts and nuclear extracts of HIV-1JRFL infected PBMCs and during reactivation of HIV-1 in chronically infected U1 cells. We then focused on understanding the potential role of PKM2 on HIV-1 LTR transactivation. Our studies demonstrate that over expression of PKM2 leads to transactivation of the HIV-1 LTR reporter construct. Using various deletions constructs of HIV-1 LTR, we mapped the region spanning between -120 bp to -80 bp to be essential for PKM2 mediated transactivation. This region contains the NFKB DNA binding site and mutation of NFKB binding site attenuated PKM2 mediated transactivation of HIV-LTR. Chromatin immune-precipitation (ChIP) analysis confirmed interaction of PKM2 with HIV-1 LTR. Our studies suggest that PKM2 is a transcriptional co-activator of HIV-1 LTR. Hence it opens up another possible target to curb HIV-1 replication at transcriptional level. This study sheds light on the regulation of glycolytic pathway of host cells by HIV-1 infection and its consequences for the virus, opening up new avenues to target viral replication and identify glycolytic markers of HIV-1 pathogenesis. / Biology

The human immunodeficiency virus type-1 (HIV-1) is the major etiological agent of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), the cause of over 30 million deaths worldwide. Highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) has demonstrated great efficacy at suppressing viral load and is therefore the standard therapeutic treatment for HIV-1 infection. Noncompliance due to severe HAART-associated side effects significantly undermines therapeutic efficacy. Dronabinol, the synthetic form of the cannabinoid THC found in marijuana, is FDA-approved for countering some of these side effects. Studies have reported that cannabinoids restrict HIV-1 replication, although no mechanism has yet been proposed. Thus the purpose of this study was to characterize the effects of cannabinoids on HIV-1 infection and to determine the molecular basis of cannabinoid-induced viral suppression. By transcriptomic sequencing of T cells treated with cannabinoids, we have found that the expression of BAG6, a protein uncharacterized within the context of HIV-1 infection, was downregulated. To identify the role of this protein during infection, we knocked down BAG6 and were able to recapitulate the protective effects of cannabinoids by observing reduced severity of viral challenge. Moreover, we have also identified BAG6 to be a binding partner of two HIV-1 viral accessory proteins, Vif and Vpr. Importantly, we have discovered that Vpr mediates targeted degradation of BAG6 by leveraging the host proteasome during the early stages of the viral lifecycle, revealing a hitherto unknown function of this poorly-understood viral protein. We thus establish modulation of BAG6 expression as a novel mediator of the effects of cannaninoids on HIV-1 infection. / Microbiology and Immunology

Yes / ABSTRACT Entry inhibitors represent a potent class of antiretroviral drugs that target a host cell protein, CCR5, an HIV-1 entry coreceptor, and not viral protein. Lack of sensitivity can occur due to preexisting virus that uses the CXCR4 coreceptor, while true resistance occurs through viral adaptation to use a drug-bound CCR5 coreceptor. To understand this R5 resistance pathway, we analyzed >500 envelope protein sequences and phenotypes from viruses of 20 patients from the clinical trials MOTIVATE 1 and 2, in which treatment-experienced patients received maraviroc plus optimized background therapy. The resistant viral population was phylogenetically distinct and associated with a genetic bottleneck in each patient, consistent with de novo emergence of resistance. Recombination analysis showed that the C2-V3-C3 region tends to genotypically correspond to the recombinant’s phenotype, indicating its primary importance in conferring resistance. Between patients, there was a notable lack of commonality in the specific sites conferring resistance, confirming the unusual nature of R5-tropic resistance. We used coevolutionary and positive-selection analyses to characterize the genotypic determinants of resistance and found that (i) there are complicated covariation networks, indicating frequent coevolutionary/compensatory changes in the context of protein structure; (ii) covarying sites under positive selection are enriched in resistant viruses; (iii) CD4 binding sites form part of a unique covariation network independent of the V3 loop; and (iv) the covariation network formed between the V3 loop and other regions of gp120 and gp41 intersects sites involved in glycosylation and protein secretion. These results demonstrate that while envelope sequence mutations are the key to conferring maraviroc resistance, the specific changes involved are context dependent and thus inherently unpredictable. IMPORTANCE The entry inhibitor drug maraviroc makes the cell coreceptor CCR5 unavailable for use by HIV-1 and is now used in combination antiretroviral therapy. Treatment failure with drug-resistant virus is particularly interesting because it tends to be rare, with lack of sensitivity usually associated with the presence of CXCR4-using virus (CXCR4 is the main alternative coreceptor HIV-1 uses, in addition to CD4). We analyzed envelope sequences from HIV-1, obtained from 20 patients who enrolled in maraviroc clinical trials and experienced treatment failure, without detection of CXCR4-using virus. Evolutionary analysis was employed to identify molecular changes that confer maraviroc resistance. We found that in these individuals, resistant viruses form a distinct population that evolved once and was successful as a result of drug pressure. Further evolutionary analysis placed the complex network of interdependent mutational changes into functional groups that help explain the impediments to the emergence of maraviroc-associated R5 drug resistance. / X.J. was supported by Medical Research Council (G1001806/1) and Wellcome Trust (097820/Z/11/A) funding and F.F. by a Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council studentship to D.L.R.

These studies were aimed at investigating the potential application of nanoparticles engineered from oil-in-water microemulsion precursors for enhancing immune responses to HIV-1 Tat and Gag p24 proteins. Both of the HIV-1 proteins have been reported to be critical in the virus life cycle and are being evaluated in clinical trials as vaccine candidates. Anionic nanoparticles were prepared using emulsifying wax as the oil phase and Brij 78 and sodium dodecyl sulfate as the surfactants. The resulting nanoparticles were coated with Tat and were demonstrated to produce superior immune responses after administration to BALB/c mice compared to Tat adjuvanted with Alum. Similarly, cationic nanoparticles were prepared using emulsifying wax and Brij 78 and cetyl trimethyl ammonium bromide as the surfactants. The cationic nanoparticles were investigated for delivery of immunostimulatory adjuvants, namely three Toll-like receptor ligands, for obtaining synergistic enhancements in immune responses to a model antigen, Ovalbumin (OVA). In vitro and in vivo studies were carried out to elucidate possible mechanisms by which nanoparticles may result in enhancements in immune responses. In vitro studies were carried out to evaluate the uptake of nanoparticles into dendritic cells and to assess the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines from dendritic cells in the presence of nanoparicles. In vivo studies were carried out using a MHC class I restricted transgenic mouse model to investigate the potential for nanoparticles coated with OVA to enhance presentation of the protein to CD8+ T cells compared to OVA alone. Finally, the preparation of nanoparticles with a low amount of surface chelated nickel for high affinity binding to histidine-tagged (his-tag) proteins was investigated. It was hypothesized that this strengthened interaction of his-tag protein to the nickel chelated nanoparticles (Ni-NPs) would result in a greater uptake of antigen in vivo; therefore, enhanced immune responses compared to protein bound to anionic nanoparticles. In vivo evaluation of his-tag HIV-1 Gag p24 bound to Ni-NPs resulted in enhanced immune responses compared to protein either adjuvanted with Alum or coated on the surface of nanoparticles.

Ce travail a confirmé le rôle protecteur de certains anticorps neutralisants dans la TME du VIH-1, a permis de suggérer que certaines souches seraient de bons indicateurs d’anticorps neutralisants associés à la protection, et a confirmé le rôle de la région V2 de l’enveloppe virale en tant que cible des anticorps neutralisants. Les caractéristiques moléculaires des virus transmis dans le contexte de la TME confortent les données en faveur de la transmission à l’enfant d’une population virale restreinte génétiquement. Une gp 120 plus compacte et une moindre glycosylation ne sont pas des caractéristiques des virus transmis de la mère à l’enfant. Cependant, deux sites de N-glycosylation semblent être sélectionnés chez les virus transmis. L’identification de deux cas de TME liés à des variants issus de recombinaisons entre variants maternels a confirmé la présence d’un « hot spot » dans la région C2 du gène env, et a révélé pour la première fois un second « hot spot » dans la région C3. / A lower risk of MTCT was associated with higher NAb titers against the CRF01_AE strain, MBA, in Thailand. The results suggest that some primary isolates may be useful indicators for identifying protective antibodies, and confirm the role of the V2 region in neutralization. We found that only viruses of a restricted subset were transmitted to the infant. We did not find that shorter gp120 or fewer PNGS were characteristics of viruses transmitted from mother to infant. However, a limited number of PNGS, particularly at positions N301 and N384, may confer an advantage on the virus to be transmitted. Moreover, we identified two cases that suggest that recombination probably contributed to adaptation of HIV-1 to its environment to be successfully transmitted from mothers to their infants. In addition, our data allow both to confirm, in natural in vivo conditions, a hot spot for recombination in the C2 region of HIV-1 envelope gene, and to suggest another hot spot in the C3 region.

Moquiniastrum e Richterago possuem 21 e 16 espécies, respectivamente. Nesse trabalho foi descrita a composição química de três espécies de Moquiniastrum (M. floribundum, M. blanchetianum e M. oligocephalum) e duas de Richterago (R. discoidea e R. campestres), avaliado as atividades citotóxica, antirradicalar, antileishmania, antitripanossoma e a inibição enzimática da transcriptase reversa (HIV-1) pelos metabólitos isolados, e as informações químicas dos metabólitos isolados e de literatura foram analisados como caracteres quimiotaxonômicos na segregação dos gêneros estudados. Dessas espécies foram identificadas 109 substâncias, sendo vinte e dois componentes graxos, um derivado de tocoferol, dezessete triterpenos, uma flavanona, quatro flavonas derivadas de apigenina, seis flavonas derivadas de luteolina, oito flavonóis derivados de caempferol, três flavonóis derivados de quercetina, três flavonóis acilados, quatro flavonóis glicosilados, dois ácidos fenólicos, quize derivados de ácido cinâmico, cinco lactonas sesquiterpênicas, seis diterpenos e doze sesquiterpenos de esqueleto bisabolano, totalizando 19 componentes inéditos em literatura. Moquiniastrum e Richterago apresentam como caracteres compartilhados a presença de triterpenos, flavonas derivadas de apigenina e luteolina, flavonóis acilados, ácidos cafeoil-quínicos e ácidos C6-C3. Adicionalmente, as espécies de Moquiniastrum caracterizam-se pela produção de flavonóis 3-O-metoxilados derivados de caempferol além de germacranolídeos, eudesmanolídeos e guaianolídeos lactonizados na posição 6,12. Por outro lado, as espécies de Richterago acumulam flavonóis 3-O-glicosilados derivados de quercetina, além de germacranolídeos lactonizados na posição 8,12. Dessa forma, os dados permitem a distinção química entre os gêneros e corroboram a segregação proposta para os mesmos. Na atividade antirradicalar os ácidos monocafeoilquinicos apresentaram mais de 100% Tx (comparativamente ao Trolox) e tanto os ácidos como os ésteres di- e tricafeoilquinicos mostraram mais de 213%Tx, evidenciando um grande potencial antirradicalar. No ensaio antileishmania nenhuma das substâncias isoladas apresentou atividade considerável. No ensaio antitripanossoma a genkwanina e o éster metílico do ácido 3,4,5-tricafeoilquínico apresentaram atividade frente a forma tripromastigota de Trypanossoma cruzi. No ensaio citotóxico a fase DCM de M. floribundum apresentou um grande potencial bioativo (> 90% na concentração de 50,0 µg.mL-1) porém as flavonas isoladas dessa fase foram testadas não apresentando atividade e as substâncias inéditas estão em avaliação. No ensaio anti HIV-1 os ácidos clorogenicos e as flavonas mostraram potencial como inibidores da transcriptase reversa do HIV-1. / Moquiniastrum and Richterago have 21 and 16 species, respectively. This work describes the chemical composition of three species of Moquiniastrum (M. floribundum, M. blanchetianum and M. oligocephalum) and two Richterago (R. discoidea and R. campestris). The isolated metabolites were evaluated as cytotoxic, antiradicalar, antileishmania, antitrypanosome and enzymatic reverse transcriptase inhibition (HIV-1) activities and the chemical data from the isolated compounds and literature data were analyzed as chemotaxonomic characters in the segregation of both genera. From these species 109 compounds were identified, including twenty-two fatty components, a tocopherol derivative, seventeen triterpenes, a flavanone, four flavones derived from apigenin, six flavones derived from luteolin, eight flavonols derived from caempferol, three flavonols derived from quercetin, three acylated flavonols, four glycosylated flavonols, two phenolic acids, fifteen cinnamic acid derivatives, five sesquiterpene lactones, six diterpenes and twelve sesquiterpenes pertaining to the bisabolane skeleton. Among these compounds 19 metabolites were unpublished in literature. Moquiniastrum and Richterago show as shared characters the presence of triterpenes, flavones derived from apigenin and luteolin, acylated flavonols, caffeoylquinic acids and C6-C3 acids. In addition, Moquiniastrum species are characterized by the production of 3-O-methoxylated flavonols derived from kaempferol, and germacranolides, eudesmanolides and guaianolides lactonized at 6,12 position. On the other hand, Richterago species accumulate 3-O-glycosylated flavonols derived from quercetin and germacranolides lactonized at 8,12 position. Therefore, the data allow the chemical distinction and corroborate the proposed segregation between both genera. For antiradical activity, the monocaffeoylquinic acids showed more than 100% Tx (compared to Trolox) and both di- and tricaffeoylquinic acids and esters exhibited more than 213% Tx, showing a great antiradical potential. None of isolated compounds showed considerable activity in the antileishmania assay, however for antitrypanosome assay, genkwanin and 3,4,5-tricaffeoylquinic acid methyl ester showed activity against the promastigote form of Trypanosoma cruzi. For cytotoxic assay the DCM phase from M. floribundum showed a high bioactive potential (> 90% at concentration of 50.0 µg.mL-1), however the isolated flavones were tested and showed no activity. The new compounds are under evaluation. Finally, for anti-HIV-1 assay the chlorogenic acids and flavones showed potential as inhibitors of HIV-1 reverse transcriptase.

Diferentemente do que muitos imaginam, o Brasil é detentor da maior diversidade de espécies de bambus dos países do Novo Mundo. O conhecimento sobre o potencial de aplicações de bambus nativos é extremamente subdesenvolvido em comparação ao de espécies asiáticas. Considerando que as espécies asiáticas são utilizadas na medicina popular e se têm relatos de várias atividades biológicas atribuídas à presença de flavonoides e outras substâncias fenólicas de interesse, espécies de bambu do Neotrópico são potenciais fontes de bioativos. Utilizando-se essa premissa, Merostachys pluriflora, uma espécie nativa de bambu, foi escolhida como modelo de estudo. Este trabalho teve como objetivos quantificar o teor de amido, carboidratos solúveis, lipídeos, fenóis totais, flavonoides, taninos totais e proantocianidinas de folhas e colmos de M. pluriflora; e avaliar o potencial biológico dos seus extratos, fases e substâncias isoladas através de ensaios in vitro da capacidade antioxidante, anti-HIV-1 e antibacteriana. Foi possível observar que o extrato bruto de folhas rendeu o dobro do extrato de colmo e que as fases obtidas com solventes mais polares, como a fase hidrometanólica, apresentaram maiores rendimentos. Dos metabólitos primários quantificados em M. pluriflora, os lipídeos se destacaram em conteúdo em ambos os órgãos estudados. Com relação as substâncias fenólicas, foi possível observar que o extrato bruto dos colmos apresentou uma maior abundância de fenilpropanoides e derivados do ácido clorogênico, enquanto o extrato bruto das folhas apresentou uma maior abundância de flavonoides, quando comparadas aos colmos. Das substâncias fenólicas presentes em M. pluriflora, foram identificadas duas flavonas, a vitexina e a isovitexina; e três fenilpropanoides, o ácido cafeíco, ácido ferúlico e o cafeato de metila. Das fases geradas por partição, a de acetato de etila e de diclorometano, para ambos os órgãos, foram as que apresentaram a maior parte dos constituintes fenólicos, sendo as fases de acetato de etila mais ricas em flavonoides e as de diclorometano em fenilpropanoides. No geral, os extratos brutos, assim como as fases de folhas e colmos de M. pluriflora, apresentaram um grande potencial antioxidante, principalmente antiradicalar e redutor de ferro, apresentando valores de EC50 de 16,30 μg/mL a 94,77 μg/mL no ensaio ABTS, no ensaio FRAP esses valores variaram de 27,92 μg/mL a 145,78 μg/mL. No ensaio antibacteriano, especialmente frente à P. pally, a fase de diclorometano de folhas se mostrou mais ativa, com MIC50 de 126,22 μg/mL o que pode indicar que as substâncias fenólicas de caráter lipofílico, nessa espécie, são promissoras para essa atividade. Embora o ensaio anti-HIV1 mostrou que as amostras não apresentam atividade antirretroviral, este estudo contribui para o conhecimento do potencial antiviral dos extratos de bambus brasileiros. M. pluriflora se mostrou uma espécie promissora para estudos de prospecção, com uma grande quantidade de substâncias fenólicas em sua composição / Brazil is the country with the highest diversity of bamboo species in the New World. Knowledge about the medicinal potential of native bamboos is extremely underdeveloped when compared to Asian species. Some Asian bamboo species are used in folk medicine and have reports of various biological activities attributed to the presence of phenolic compounds, so bamboo species of the Neotropics are potential sources of bioactive substances. Using this assumption, Merostachys pluriflora, a native bamboo species, was chosen as a model for this study. The aimed of this study was to quantify the contents of starch, soluble carbohydrates, lipids, total phenols, flavonoids, total tannins and proanthocyanidins in leaves and culms of M. pluriflora; and evaluate the biological potential of the extracts, phases and isolated substances through in vitro assays: antioxidant activity, anti-HIV1 and antibacterial activity. It was observed that the crude extract of leaves yielded twice more than the culm extract; phases obtained with more polar solvents, such as hydromethanolic phases, had the highest yields. Lipids were the class of primary metabolites that presented higher quantities on both organs studied. Regarding the phenolic substances, it was observed that the crude extract of culms presented higher abundance of phenylpropanoids and chlorogenic acid derivates, but the crude extract from leaves showed higher abundance of flavonoids (all of then derived from apigenin) when compared to culms. Were identified two flavones, vitexin and isovitexin, and three phenylpropanoids, caffeic acid, ferulic acid and methyl caffeate. Phases using ethyl acetate and dichloromethane as extraction solvents were those that retained the majority of phenolic constituents. Ethyl acetate phase presented flavonoids while dichloromethane phase presented phenylpropanoids as major contituients. In general, the crude extracts and phases from leaves and culms of M. pluriflora showed antioxidant activity, especially antiradical and iron reducer capacity, presenting EC50 values of 16.30 mg/mL to 94.77 mg/ml in ABTS assay. For FRAP assay these values ranged from 27.92 mg/mL to 145.78 mg/mL. In the antibacterial assay, especially for P. pally, the dichloromethane phase from leaves was more active, presenting MIC50 of 126.22 mg/mL. This might indicate that the lipophilic phenolic present in this species of bamboo are promising for antibacterial activity. Although the anti-HIV1 assay showed that the samples do not present antiretroviral potential, this study contributes to the knowledge of the antiviral potential of Brazilian bamboo species. M. pluriflora showed to be a promising species for prospecting studies, with a large amount of phenolic substances in its composition

INTRODUÇÃO E OBJETIVOS: Uma fonte secundária e não convencional de peptídeos que se ligam as moléculas MHC de classe I tem sido descrita como responsável por produzir peptídeos crípticos. Esses peptídeos são imunogênicos e portanto, capazes de induzir uma resposta imunológica por células T e assim, contribuir com a resposta total exercida pelas células T CD8+, colaborando na pressão que leva HIV-1 ao processo de mutação, e consequentemente ao escape viral. Alguns pacientes, que correspondem a menos de 5% da população infectada, são capazes de naturalmente controlar a progressão da doença, mantendo a contagem de célula T CD4+ acima de 500 células/uL ou mantendo a carga viral abaixo de 2.000 cópias/mL, por ao menos 12 meses, sem ser submetido a tratamento com antirretrovirais ou esquema HAART. Avaliar a resposta imunológica destes pacientes, controladores da infecção, contra peptídeos crípticos pode nos fornecer informações importantes que colaborem com o desenvolvimento de novas estratégias preventivas. METODOLOGIA: A resposta imunológica contra peptídeos crípticos, estes derivados da transcrição da seqüência consenso e da seqüência inversa do gene do HIV-1, foram avaliados em vários conjuntos (pools), utilizando amostras coletadas de pacientes controladores, tanto avirêmicos, também conhecidos como controladores de elite (carga viral < limite de detecção), bem como virêmicos (carga viral < 2.000 cópias/mL) e, de pacientes progressores. Foi observada que a resposta imunológica contra peptídeos crípticos é mais freqüente, com maior amplitude e magnitude entre os pacientes controladores comparados ao que foi observado entre pacientes progressores. Esta resposta, entretanto, parece inverter ao longo da infecção, como observada utilizando as amostras coletadas em momento tardio da infecção, onde os controladores parecem perder sua capacidade de responder aos peptídeos crípticos, enquanto que os progressores desenvolveram resposta, ressaltando que os pools indutores de resposta nas duas fases foram diferentes. Sugerindo que a resposta imunológica contra peptídeos crípticos pode exercer papel importante de pressão sobre o vírus, levando-o ao processo de escape viral. CONCLUSÔES E IMPORTÂNCIA: Peptídeos crípticos são capazes de induzir resposta imunológica e colaborar para explicar como ocorre a seleção de alguns vírus, seja este devido à mudança na expressão das proteínas principais do HIV-1, seja diretamente gerando vírus defeituoso e não infectante. Os peptídeos crípticos podem ser incluídos em desenhos de vacina, com o intuito de aumentar a amplitude e a magnitude da resposta imunológica por células T e consequentemente, aumentar a proteção contra infecção ou progressão da infecção pelo HIV-1 / BACKGROUND: A second and unconventional source of peptides that bind to MHC class I molecule has been described to produce cryptic peptides, which are immunogenic and are able elicit T cell response, that contributes to total CD8+ T cell immune response and then exert mutation pressure on HIV-1, leading to virus escape. Some rare patients, less than 5% of infected population, are naturally able to control disease progression, either maintaining CD4+ T cells over 500 cells/uL or viral load under 2,000 copies/mL, without being treated with HAART, for at least 12 months. Understanding their immune response to cryptic peptides might be a great value to help on developing better prevention strategies. METHODOLOGY: Immune response to cryptic peptides, derived from sense and antisense transcription of HIV-1, was evaluated in pools using samples from Elite (aviremic) or HIV (viremic, < 2,000 copies/mL) controllers and progressors. Immune response to cryptic peptides are more frequent, with a larger breadth and of greater magnitude in controllers than in progressors, and this response is inversed seen in a later time point, when controllers seems to lose this response, while progressors developed it, showing cryptic peptides immune response to different pools, suggesting that immune response to cryptic peptides might play some role in pressuring the virus mutation escape. CONCLUSIONS AND SIGNIFICANCE: cryptic peptides can elicit immune response and help to explain how some virus selection happens, either by changing expression of crucial HIV-1 proteins or generating defective virus. They can be included in vaccine design for enhancing the magnitude and breadth of T cell immune response and consequently the protection against infection or progression of HIV-1 infection

Estudos atuais revelam que, mesmo na era da terapia antirretroviral (TARV), a infecção pelo HIV-1 é associada com quadros graves e frequentemente refratários de periodontite crônica (PC), despertando para a possibilidade da existência de outros fatores associados ao desenvolvimento da PC nesses pacientes. Acredita-se que fatores relacionados à população microbiana, incluindo as infecções por Candida spp, e a expressão de peptídeos microbianos possam estar envolvidos na patogênese da PC em pacientes infectados pelo HIV-1. O objetivo desse estudo foi determinar a influência do tratamento periodontal não-cirúrgico, na contagem oral de Candida spp, e nos níveis salivares de lactoferrina (Lf) e histatina, por meio de um estudo quase-experimental. Pacientes infectados (Grupo 1) e não infectados pelo HIV-1 (Grupo 2 - controle), todos com PC, foram submetidos à terapia periodontal não cirúrgica. Os pacientes do grupo 1 apresentaram contagem de linfócitos T CD4+ < 200cel/mm3, e estavam em TARV regular. Foi avaliada a contagem de unidades formadoras de colônias (UFC) de Candida spp por meio de enxaguado bucal e níveis salivares de Lf e histatina antes (Tempo 0-1) e após a terapia periodontal (Tempo 2 e 3; 30 e 90 dias após o tratamento, respectivamente). Pacientes do grupo 1 apresentaram contagem de UFC superiores à verificada nos pacientes do grupo 2 (p=0, 268; ANOVAF). Houve tendência a redução de UFC após o tratamento periodontal em ambos os grupos, mas sem diferenças estatisticamente significantes. Os níveis de Lf foram semelhantes entre os grupos, e reduziram 30 dias após o tratamento periodontal (p=0,0111; Mann Whitney). Os níveis salivares de histatina ao tempo 0 foram mais elevados no grupo 1 quando comparado ao grupo 2 (p= 0,6481; Tukey-kramer), mas tiveram comportamento distinto após o tratamento periodontal: foram mais elevados no grupo 1 e reduziram no grupo 2. Estes resultados sugerem a associação entre a presença de Candida spp e a PC, e também a importância da manutenção da higiene oral na prevenção da candidíase. Além disso, Lf salivar pode ser um marcador da PC, tanto em pacientes não-infectados, quanto infectados pelo HIV. / Current studies reveal that, even in the era of antiretroviral therapy (ART), HIV-1 infection is associated with severe and frequently refractory chronic periodontitis (CP), which leads to the possibility of other factors associated with the development of CP in these patients. It is believed that factors related to the microbial population, including Candida spp infections, and the expression of microbial peptides may be involved in the pathogenesis of CP in patients infected with HIV-1. The aim of this study was to determine the influence of non-surgical periodontal treatment on the oral count of Candida spp and on the salivary levels of lactoferrin (Lf) and histatin, by means of a quasi-experimental study. Patients infected (Group 1) and non-HIV-1 infected (Group 2 - control), all with CP, underwent non-surgical periodontal therapy. Patients in group 1 had a CD4 + T-cell count <200cel / mm³, and were on regular ART. The counts of colony forming units (CFU) of Candida spp were evaluated by oral rinsing and salivary levels of Lf and histatin before (Time 0-1) and after periodontal therapy (Time 2 and 3, 30 and 90 days after the treatment, respectively). Patients in group 1 had a higher CFU count than in patients in group 2 (p = 0.268; ANOVAF). There was a tendency to reduce CFU after periodontal treatment in both groups, but without statistically significant differences. Lf levels were similar between groups, and reduced 30 days after periodontal treatment (p = 0.0111; Mann Whitney). Salivary levels of histatin at time 0 were higher in group 1 when compared to group 2 (p = 0.6481; Tukey-Kramer), but had distinct behavior after periodontal treatment: they were higher in group 1 and reduced in group 2. These results suggest the association between the presence of Candida spp and CP, and also the importance of maintaining oral hygiene in the prevention of candidiasis. In addition, Lf salivary can be a marker of CP in both uninfected and HIV infected patients.

Desde os primórdios da medicina, substâncias derivadas de animais, plantas e microrganismos têm sido utilizadas no tratamento e cura de diversas doenças. Especificamente o uso de plantas medicinais pela população como terapia alternativa no tratamento de doenças, tem sido uma prática comum desde milhares de anos antes da era presente (a.p.). Atualmente, sabe-se que muitos dos metabólitos secundários estão diretamente envolvidos nos mecanismos que permitem a adaptação das plantas ao seu habitat. Dessa forma, e pensando-se em espécies de uso medicinal, é esperado que o potencial biológico também sofra variações de acordo com os fatores bióticos e abióticos. Hyptis (Lamiaceae) constitui um gênero altamente promissor para estudos de prospecção de substâncias farmacologicamente ativas, favorecidos pela grande diversidade de espécies que ocorrem nos domínios fitogeográficos brasileiros, sendo, portanto, escolhido como modelo para responder às questões deste trabalho. O objetivo geral foi a expansão das análises fitoquímicas e do potencial biológico de quatro espécies de Hyptis pertencentes à seção Peltodon , além de verificar uma possível variação fitoquímica (quantitativa e/ou qualitativa) entre as espécies estudadas e coletadas não só em diferentes domínios, mas em diferentes fitofisionomias. Como resultado, Hyptis seção Peltodon apresentou composição química semelhante às espécies da subfamília Nepetoideae em relação à constituição fenólica, destacando a presença do ácido cafeico, ácido rosmarínico e nepetoidinas, corroborando estudos já existentes. Também reportamos que Hyptis seção Peltodon possui flavonoides derivados da flavona apigenina, sendo que identificação de flavonas C-glicosiladas nos extratos brutos sugerem o uso das mesmas como importantes marcadores taxonômicos no nível de seção. As espécies que apresentaram maior potencial antioxidante e anti-HIV-1 foram H. comaroides e H. meridionalis. Com relação às espécies coletadas nos dois domínios fitogeográficos propostos concluímos que para o grupo estudado e para as substâncias analisadas, populações que se encontrem no domínio Tropical Atlântico são as melhores candidatas como fonte de antioxidantes naturais. Entretanto, futuras pesquisas são necessárias a fim de investigar e compreender melhor os efeitos sinérgicos de múltiplos fatores ambientais no metabolismo secundário bem como no potencial biológico de espécies vegetais / Since the beginning of medicine, substances derived from animals, plants, and microorganisms have been used in the treatment and cure of various diseases. The use of medicinal plants by the population as an alternative therapy in the treatment of diseases has been a common practice for thousands of years before the present (b.p.). Nowadays we known that many of the plant secondary metabolites are directly involved in the mechanisms that allow adaptation to their habitat. Considering species of medicinal use, it is expected that the biological potential also suffers variations according to the biotic and abiotic factors. Hyptis (Lamiaceae) is a highly promising genus for prospective studies of bioactive substances, favored by the great diversity of species that occur in the Brazilian phytogeographical domains, being therefore chosen as a model to answer the questions of this work. The objective of this study was to contribute with chemical data and the biological potential of four Hyptis species belonging to the Peltodon section, as well as to verify a possible phytochemical variation (quantitative and/or qualitative) between species naturally occurring in two different phytogeographical domains. As results of this work, Hyptis section Peltodon presented phenolic composition similar to species of the subfamily Nepetoideae, with the presence of caffeic acid, rosmarinic acid, and nepetoidins, corroborating existing studies. We also reported that Hyptis section Peltodon possesses flavonoids derived from the flavone apigenin, and the identification of C-glycosylated flavones in the crude extracts suggest the use of these as important taxonomic markers at the section level. We observed that in general, the species that presented the highest antioxidant and anti-HIV-1 potential were H. comaroides and H. meridionalis. Regarding the influence of the phytogeographic domains we concluded that for the group studied and for the substances analyzed, populations that occurs in the Tropical Atlantic domain are the best candidates as source of natural antioxidants. Future research, however, is necessary to better understand the synergistic effects of multiple environmental factors on secondary metabolism, as well as the biological potential of plant species