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Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) has become a significant public health concern due to the increasing number of outbreaks worldwide and the associated comorbidities. Despite substantial efforts, there is no specific treatment or licensed vaccine against CHIKV to date. The E2 glycoprotein of CHIKV is a promising vaccine candidate as it is a major target of neutralizing antibodies during infection. In this study, we evaluated the immunogenicity of two DNA vaccines (a non-targeted and a dendritic cell-targeted vaccine) encoding a consensus sequence of E2 CHIKV and a recombinant protein (E2* CHIKV ). Mice were immunized with different homologous and heterologous DNAprime-E2* protein boost strategies, and the specific humoral and cellular immune responses were accessed. We found that mice immunized with heterologous non-targeted DNA prime- E2* CHIKV protein boost developed high levels of neutralizing antibodies, as well as specific IFN-γ producing cells and polyfunctional CD4 + and CD8 + T cells. We also identified 14 potential epitopes along the E2 CHIKV protein. Furthermore, immunization with recombinant E2* CHIKV combined with the adjuvant AS03 presented the highest humoral response with neutralizing capacity. Finally, we show that the heterologous prime-boost strategy with the non-targeted pVAX-E2 DNA vaccine as the prime followed by E2* protein + AS03 boost is a promising combination to elicit a broad humoral and cellular immune response. Together, our data highlights the importance of E2 CHIKV for the development of a CHIKV vaccine.

Background: The control of the COVID-19 pandemic has been a great challenge. Understanding the thoughts and beliefs underlying vaccine hesitancy can help in the formulation of public policies. The present study aimed to analyze the social representations of hesitant Brazilians about vaccination against COVID-19., Methods: Qualitative research guided by the Theory of Social Representations, carried out through an online survey among Brazilian adults living in Brazil. The data were analyzed using the IRaMuTeQ software., Results: Of the 173,178 respondents, 10,928 were hesitant and declared reasons for vaccination hesitation. The analysis generated three classes: mistrust of the vaccine and underestimation of the severity of the pandemic; (dis)information and distrust of political involvement; and fear of adverse reactions to COVID-19 vaccines., Conclusions: Social knowledge, presented by the representations apprehended in this study, demonstrates difficulty in discerning the reliability of information and a social imagination full of doubts and uncertainties. Understanding the internal dynamics of these groups, with their representations of the world, is important to propose policies and actions that echo and cause changes in the understanding of the role of immunization. It is essential to shed light on the sociological imagination so that gaps filled with false information can be dismantled and confronted with scientific knowledge accessible to the population.

Despite numerous efforts over the last three decades, nucleic acid-based therapeutics still lack delivery platforms in the clinical stage. Cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs) may offer solutions as potential delivery vectors. We have previously shown that designing a "kinked" structure in the peptide backbone resulted in a CPP with efficient in vitro transfection properties. Further optimization of the charge distribution in the C-terminal part of the peptide led to potent in vivo activity with the resultant CPP NickFect55 (NF55). Currently, the impact of the linker amino acid was further investigated in the CPP NF55, with the aim to discover potential transfection reagents for in vivo application. Taking into account the expression of the delivered reporter in the lung tissue of mice, and the cell transfection in the human lung adenocarcinoma cell line, the new peptides NF55-Dap and NF55-Dab* have a high potential for delivering nucleic acid-based therapeutics to treat lung associated diseases, such as adenocarcinoma.

Objective: This study aims to assess the trustworthiness of information sources, perception of clear information about the vaccine, and strategies to increase adherence to vaccination to provide managers with information that helps establish effective communication with the population about vaccination., Method: This is an online survey conducted between January 22 and 29, 2021, preceded by an Informed Consent, that aims to assess vaccine hesitancy, which corresponded to the first week of vaccination initiation to prevent COVID-19 in Brazil. Data were obtained from a questionnaire made available through a free platform and stored in Google Forms and later exported to the SPSS statistical package for analysis. The sample consisted of all questionnaires from participants who self-declared as age 18 or older, Brazilian, and residing in Brazil at the time of the survey. Incomplete records with more than 50% of blank items and duplicates were excluded. All categorical variables were analyzed from their absolute and relative frequencies. Multivariate logistic regression was performed to verify the relationship between dependent variables and independent variables., Results: The results show that trust in information sources diverges between hesitant and non-hesitant. They also showed that some participants show an overall distrust that seems to have deeper foundations than issues related only to the source of information. The high rejection of television and the WHO as sources of information among hesitant suggests that integrated actions with research institutes, public figures vaccinating, and religious leaders can help to combat vaccine hesitation. Two actors become particularly important in this dynamic, both for good and bad, and their anti-vaxxer behavior must be observed: the doctor and the Ministry of Health., Conclusion: This study contributes to gathering valuable information to help understand the behavior and thinking relevant to the adherence to vaccination recommendations., Competing Interests: No authors have competing interests., (Copyright: © 2023 Reis et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.)

One of the most remarkable examples of cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs) is Penetratin , a 16-mer fragment derived from the Drosophila Antennapedia homeobox. Understanding the structure of Penetratin /DNA complexes is a key factor for the successful design of new vectors for gene delivery and may assist in optimizing molecular carriers based on CPPs. Herein, we present a comprehensive study on the nanoscale structure of noncovalent complexes formed between Penetratin and DNA. The strong cationic nature of the peptide makes it a very efficient agent for condensing DNA strands via electrostatic attraction, and we show for the first time that DNA condensation is accompanied by random-to-β-sheet transitions of Penetratin secondary structure, demonstrating that nucleic acids behave as a structuring agent upon complexation. For the first time, nanoscale-resolved spectroscopy is used to provide single-particle infrared data from DNA carriers based on CPPs, and they show that the structures are stabilized by Penetratin β-sheet cores, whereas larger DNA fractions are preferentially located in the periphery of aggregates. In-solution infrared assays indicate that phosphate diester groups are strongly affected upon DNA condensation, presumably as a consequence of charge delocalization induced by the proximity of cationic amide groups in Penetratin . The morphology is characterized by nanoassemblies with surface fractal features, and short-range order is found in the inner structure of the scaffolds. Interestingly, the formation of beads-on-a-string arrays is found, producing nanoscale architectures that resemble structures observed in early steps of chromatin condensation. A complexation pathway where DNA condensation and peptide pairing into β-sheets are key steps for organization is proposed.

OBJECTIVE: To report a case of Devic disease, emphasizing its diagnosis, in addition to reviewing the medical literature. DESCRIPTION: Male, six-year-old patient suddenly developed weakness in lower limbs, with resolution during hospital stay. However, as the weakness disappeared, loss of vision occurred. The symptoms were reverted after the use of prednisone. COMMENTS: The diagnostic and therapeutic approach was similar to that used in other cases reported by different reference centers. In other words, clinical diagnosis and prednisone therapy were used, with the complete improvement of symptoms. However, there is still some controversy surrounding its etiology and relationship with other demyelinating diseases, such as multiple sclerosis.

Lyophilized cellulose was analysed to verify the degree of inflammatory reaction and axon realignment in the sciatic nerve after loss of neural substance. Ten mongrel dogs were divided into: Group 1 - 1 cm section of sciatic nerve which was replaced at lesion site; Group 2 nerve section without fragment replacement. The section site was involved with lyophilized cellulose. Group 3 -1 cm fragment section sutured epineurally. Motor response started at eighth week. Moderate fibrotic reaction to cellulose was seen in Group 1 and 2 animals. Groups 1 and 3 showed coaptation between the nerve and nerve graft with ongoing axons. In Group 2, 1 dog showed regrowth of axons through the empty space. It was concluded that lyophilized cellulose caused moderate fibrous reaction when implanted in peripheral nerve lesions with loss of substance; it can act as envelop protection in those lesions mainly if a neural graft is inserted.