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Since 1999, Vaccinia virus (VACV) has been described as a causative agent of bovine vaccinia (BV), a zoonotic disease that occurs mainly in rural areas of Brazil. However, the circulation of VACV in urban environments and its associated burden has been poorly explored. Moreover, the current Mpox outbreak has raised questions regarding the immune status of the worldwide population previous vaccinated against smallpox. Hence, we conducted a cross-sectional study to better understand the prevalence of anti-OPV neutralizing antibodies (NA) in a susceptible urban population of Brazil. A total of 372 individuals were sampled, yielding an overall seroprevalence of 16.9% (CI95%=13.4–21.1), and antibodies titers ranging from 100 to 800 NU/ml. The prevalence of NA among vaccinated individuals (≥36yo) was 24.9% (IC 95%=19.5–31.2), and among those unvaccinated (

BackgroundPork is of great importance in world trade and represents the largest source of fatty acids in the human diet. Lipid sources such as soybean oil (SOY), canola (CO), and fish oil (FO) are used in pig diets and influence blood parameters and the ratio of deposited fatty acids. Scientific studies that improve our nutrigenomic knowledge about pig and human health through the consumption of pork are of great importance. In this study, the main objective was to evaluate changes in gene expression in porcine skeletal muscle tissue resulting from the dietary oil sources and to identify metabolic pathways and biological process networks through RNA-Seq.ResultsThe addition of FO in the diet of pigs led to intramuscular lipid with a higher FA profile composition of C20:5 n-3, C22:6 n-3, and SFA (C16:0 and C18:0). Blood parameters for the FO group showed lower cholesterol and HDL content compared with CO and SOY groups. Skeletal muscle transcriptome analyses revealed 65 differentially expressed genes (DEG, FDR 10%) between CO vs SOY, and 531 DEG for SOY vs FO comparison, and 32 DEG for CO vs FO. The enrichment analysis of the DEG lists revealed lipid metabolism, metabolic diseases, and inflammation processes networks, such as "regulation of lipid metabolism: RXR-dependent regulation of lipid metabolism via PPAR, RAR and VDR", “transport HDL-mediated reverse cholesterol transport”, and "TNF- α , IL-1 β induce dyslipidemia and inflammation in obesity and type 2 diabetes in adipocytes". ConclusionThe genes identified in this study provided relevant information on biological processes and lipid metabolism pathways. The enrichment of the basal diet with oil containing different FA profiles influenced fatty acid composition of intramuscular fat, blood parameters, and the gene differential expression in metabolic pathways and processes network in skeletal muscle of pigs. The results provide mechanisms to help us understand the behavior of genes according to fatty acids.

Canola oil is an important source of oleic acid, in addition to being an accessible source for its use in the production of pigs’ diets. Oleic acid in turn is a type of unsaturated fatty acid that in pork is beneficial for human health. Therefore, this study was conducted to describe the fatty acid profile in brain and liver tissues from pigs supplemented with canola oil for 98 days, during the growth and finishing phases. For the analysis was used eighteen male pigs that had free access to feed and water throughout the experimental period. Dietary treatment consisted of corn-soybean meal growing-finishing diets supplemented with 3% fat from canola oil (CO). To obtain the fatty acid profile, the lipids from each tissue were cold extracted using the adapted method from Bligh and Dyer, methylated, and posteriorly injected in a gas chromatograph to obtain the fatty acid profile of the tissue. In both tissues there was a greater abundance of saturated fatty acids (stearic acid). The most abundant monounsaturated fatty acid was the oleic acid. Regarding polyunsaturated fatty acids, in the liver the most abundant was linoleic acid and in the brain docosahexaenoic acid. In summary, animals' diet influences the fatty acid profile in different tissues. Such modifications can increase unsaturated fatty acids concentration in relation to saturated, making pork healthier for human consumption.

Background The high similarity in anatomical and neurophysiological processes between pigs and humans make pigs an excellent model for metabolic diseases and neurological disorders. Lipids are essential for brain structure and function, and the polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) have anti-inflammatory and positive effects against cognitive dysfunction in neurodegenerative diseases. Nutrigenomics studies involving pigs and fatty acids (FA) may help us in better understanding important biological processes. In this study, the main goal was to evaluate the effect of different levels of dietary soybean oil on the lipid profile and transcriptome in pigs’ brain tissue. Results Thirty-six male Large White pigs were used in a 98-day study using two experimental diets corn-soybean meal diet containing 1.5% soybean oil (SOY1.5) and corn-soybean meal diet containing 3.0% soybean oil (SOY3.0). No differences were found for the brain total lipid content and FA profile between the different levels of soybean oil. For differential expression analysis, using the DESeq2 statistical package, a total of 34 differentially expressed genes (DEG, FDR-corrected p-value p-value ALOX15B (log2 fold change − 1.489), CALB1 (log2 fold change − 3.431) and CAST (log2 fold change + 0.421) genes. A “calcium transport” network (p-value = 2.303e-2), related to the CAST and CALB1 genes, was also identified. Conclusion The results found in this study contribute to understanding the pathways and networks associated with processes involved in intracellular calcium, lipid metabolism, and oxidative processes in the brain tissue. Moreover, these results may help a better comprehension of the modulating effects of soybean oil and its FA composition on processes and diseases affecting the brain tissue.

In the last decade, other quality attributes have emerged as the main aspects that impact pork consumers acceptance, such as environmentally friendly production, nutritional value, and animal welfare. This study applies a Check-All-That-Apply (CATA) questionnaire for sensory characterization of loins from genetically lean immunocastrated male pigs fed diets containing either a standard commercial diet with 1.5 % soybean oil (control) or 3 % oil from either soybean oil (SO), canola oil (CO), or fish oil (FO) during the growing-finishing phases. Twenty CATA attributes for loin samples were generated. We interviewed 101 consumers to select all the CATA terms that they considered suitable to characterize sensory attributes of longissimus lumborum muscle samples of pigs from each dietary treatment. The CATA results indicated differences among pork loin samples depending on the source and inclusion level of dietary oil. Loins from pigs fed 3 % SO were characterized by a higher frequency of the “juicy texture” attribute (p < 0.05) and a lower frequency of the “dry texture” attribute (p < 0.05) compared to loins from 3 % FO-fed pigs. Moreover, loins from pigs fed 3 % SO had a lower citation frequency of the “tasteless” attribute (p < 0.05) compared to loins from 3 % FO-fed pigs. The attributes “cooked pork meat-like taste”, “juicy texture”, “tender texture”, and “brightness” were placed close to the overall liking. “Tender texture”, “juicy texture”, “pork meat-like” (odor and taste), and “cooked pork meat-like taste” attributes were considered drivers of liking. Feeding genetically lean immunocastrated male pigs with diets containing 3 % SO may be advisable from a pork sensory quality perspective.

Pigs (Sus scrofa) are production animals of great importance for the economy due to the production of quality animal protein and for animal and human science as biomedical model animals. The brain of pigs has great similarity to that of humans and may have its fatty acid (FA) content and profile modulated by diet. Lipids act as signals that regulate several important biological processes and may influence gene expression. Thus, the study of the effects of different lipid sources on the brain transcriptome profile, is of great importance for new insights associated with animal and human health. The general aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of different sources and levels of oil on the lipid and transcriptional profile of brain tissue. The experimental diets consisted of corn and soybean meal diets containing 1.5% soybean oil (SOY1.5), or 3% soybean oil (SOY3.0), or 3% canola oil (CO), or 3% fish oil (FO). The experimental period was 98 days, the diets were offered in the growth and finishing phases of immunocastrated males, and 18 animals per treatment/diet were used. After slaughter, brain samples were collected for determination of total lipid content and for FA profiling. Total mRNA extraction was performed for the sequencing of the pig brain transcriptome. For statistical analysis of differential expression, the DESeq2 package was used, in which DEG were identified (FDR < 0.05) among brain samples. After the DEG identification, functional enrichment analysis was performed by using MetaCore software, from which metabolic pathways and networks were identified (p-value < 0.05). For the analysis of different levels of soybean oil (SOY1.5 or SOY3.0), no changes in total lipid content and FA profile were observed. The metabolic pathways and networks were associated with lipid metabolism, immune response, and calcium transport. For the analysis of the different oil sources there were no changes in total lipid content and some FA showed statistical differences. The main pathways and networks identified were associated with cell signaling, lipid metabolism, synaptic transmission, and inflammatory processes. The results found herein could guide us for a better understanding of the effects and mechanisms of dietary FA on the transcriptome and the FA profile of the brain tissue. Furthermore, these results contribute to advances in the nutrigenomics field and to improvements in animal and human health. The results allowed the writing of two manuscripts, already submitted to international scientific journals, available in chapters 1 and 2 of this dissertation. Os suínos (Sus scrofa) são animais de produção de grande importância para a economia devido à produção de proteína animal de qualidade e para a ciência animal e humana, como animais modelo biomédicos. O cérebro de suínos possui grande similaridade com o dos humanos e pode ter seu conteúdo e perfil de ácidos graxos (AG) modulados pela dieta. Os lipídios atuam como sinalizadores que regulam diversos processos biológicos importantes e podem influenciar na expressão gênica. Assim, o estudo dos efeitos de diferentes fontes de lipídios sobre o perfil do transcriptoma do cérebro, é de grande importância para novos insights associados à saúde animal e humana. O objetivo geral desse estudo foi avaliar o efeito de diferentes fontes e níveis de óleo sobre o perfil lipídico e transcricional do tecido cerebral. As dietas experimentais consistiam em dietas de milho e farelo de soja contendo 1,5% de óleo de soja (SOY1.5), ou 3% de óleo de soja (SOY3.0), ou 3% de óleo de canola (CO), ou 3% de óleo de peixe (FO). O período experimental foi de 98 dias, as dietas foram oferecidas nas fases de crescimento e terminação de machos imunocastrados e foram utilizados 18 animais por tratamento/dieta. Após o abate, as amostras de cérebro foram coletadas para a determinação do conteúdo total de lipídios e para o perfil de AG. A extração de RNAm total foi realizada para o sequenciamento do transcriptoma do cérebro dos suínos. Para a análise estatística da expressão diferencial foi utilizado o pacote DESeq2, em que foram identificados os GDE (FDR < 0,05) entre as amostras de cérebro. Após a identificação dos GDE, foi realizada a análise de enriquecimento funcional pelo software MetaCore, a partir do qual foram identificadas vias e redes metabólicas (p-valor < 0,05). Para a análise dos diferentes níveis de óleo de soja (SOY1.5 ou SOY3.0), não foram observadas mudanças no conteúdo total de lipídios e no perfil de AG. As vias e redes metabólicas foram associadas ao metabolismo lipídico, a resposta imune e ao transporte de cálcio. Para a análise das diferentes fontes de óleo não houve mudanças no conteúdo total de lipídios e alguns AG apresentaram diferenças estatísticas. As principais vias e redes identificadas foram associadas a sinalização celular, ao metabolismo lipídico, a transmissão sináptica e a processos inflamatórios. Os resultados aqui encontrados podem nos orientar para uma melhor compreensão dos efeitos e mecanismos dos AG dietéticos no transcriptoma e no perfil de AG do tecido cerebral. Além disso, esses resultados contribuem para os avanços na área da nutrigenômica e para melhorias na saúde animal e humana. Os resultados propiciaram a escrita de dois manuscritos, já submetidos em revistas científicas internacionais, disponibilizados nos capítulos 1 e 2 desta dissertação.

Studies on the influence of dietary components and their effects are fundamental for nutrigenomics, or the study of how nutrients can be cellular sensors, how they affect biological processes and gene expression in different tissues. Lipids are an important source of fatty acids (FA) and energy and are fundamental to biological processes and influence the regulation of transcription. Pigs are excellent model to study nutrigenomics, particularly lipid metabolism because the deposition and composition of FA in their tissues reflect the composition of FA in their diet. Recent studies show that FA supplementation is important in production systems, such as growing and finishing pigs, as it can improve the energy value of the feed, help reduce costs, improve animal welfare, and influence the nutritional value of the meat. Studies show that oleic (OA), linoleic (LA), docosahexaenoic (DHA), and eicosapentaenoic (EPA) acids are associated with the regulation of transcription in tissues such as muscle, liver, adipose tissue, and brain. Other studies indicate that EPA and DHA are associated with changes in specific signaling pathways, altering gene expression and biophysical properties of membranes. This review, therefore, focuses on the current knowledge of the effects of dietary FA on production traits and gene expression.

A total of 96 genetically lean immunocastrated male pigs were used in a 98-day study to evaluate the effects of including 3% soybean oil (SO), canola oil (CO), or fish oil (FO) in the diets vs. feeding a standard commercial diet with 1.5% SO (control) on growth performance, carcass and meat quality traits, consumer acceptability, and intramuscular fatty acid composition of the longissimus lumborum (LL) muscle. Pigs were blocked by initial body weight (BW; 28.44 ± 2.95 kg) and assigned to one of four treatments, with six replicate pens per treatment and four pigs per pen. Pig BW and pen feed disappearance were recorded weekly. At the conclusion of the study, pigs were slaughtered, carcass characteristics were measured, and a sample of the LL was removed for meat quality assessment, fatty acid composition analysis, and overall liking evaluation. Dietary treatments had no effect on overall growth performance and pig carcasses. Although loins from pigs fed diets containing either 3% SO or CO had decreased (P = 0.05) Warner-Bratzler shear force, only the addition of 3% SO to pig diets resulted in loin chops that were rated higher (P

Background There has been an increased interest in nutritional strategies to manipulate the fatty acid profile of pigs. Dietary regimens involving the use of oils that are high in monosaturated fatty acid (MUFA), primarily oleic acid (OA), such as canola oil (CO), as well as in omega (n)-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA), which are found in fish oil (FO), have been investigated aiming healthier fatty acid profile cuts, with a higher ratio of n-3 to n-6 fatty acids. Therefore, the effects of including 3% soybean oil (SO), CO, or FO in growing-finishing pig diets vs. feeding a standard commercial diet with 1.5% SO (control) on growth performance, carcass traits, meat quality, consumer acceptability, and intramuscular fatty acid composition of the longissimus lumborum (LL) muscle were evaluated. Results Dietary treatments had no effect on overall growth performance and pig carcasses. Although loins from pigs fed diets containing either 3% SO or CO showed a reduction (P = 0.05) in Warner-Bratzler shear force, only the addition of 3% SO to pig diets resulted in loin chops that were rated higher (P P P P P P P = 0.02) in the LL intramuscular fat. Conclusions Although adding 3% CO or FO to pig diets provided slight nutritional benefits to consumers in terms of MUFA and long chain n-3 PUFA contents, respectively, formulating growing-finishing diets with 1.5% SO was adequate enough in terms of LL intramuscular fatty acids composition for high quality meat destined to human consumption.

We evaluated 345 wild animals from southern and south-eastern Brazil to understand their role in vaccinia virus (VACV) transmission cycle. VACV DNA was detected in rodents, marsupials, chiroptera and cingulate, expanding the knowledge of VACV host range in wildlife that could potentially act as source of infection in rural and urban areas.

The new oil fields discovered in the Pre-Salt Province have large oil reserves, but the technological challenges for their economic exploitation are enormous. One of the problems with these reservoirs is that the associated gas has high concentrations of carbon dioxide, which must be removed and disposed of properly. In this way it is necessary to develop technologies for the separation of CO 2 from natural gas streams, but there is a complication for these new technologies; the fact that they must be able to treat currents with relatively high concentrations of carbon dioxide. In the present project, the alkaline-earth cations Ca, Mg, Ba and Sr in the molecular sieve MCM-41 will be impregnated for adsorption in natural gas streams, as this modification will provide the formation of acid sites favoring the adsorption reaction.

Devido a sua alta estabilidade térmica e acidez, a zeólita mordenita é utilizada como adsorvente na separação de gases ou misturas líquidas, e como catalisador nos processos de hidrocraqueamento, hidroisomerização, alquilação, reforma catalítica, desparafinação e síntese de dimetilaminas. A busca por novas propriedades das zeólitas conhecidas, a redução do tempo de cristalização e dos custos dos reagentes, torna o processo de síntese uma etapa crucial para sua viabilidade comercial. Este trabalho teve como finalidade destacar a importância do desenvolvimento de rotas para obtenção da mordenita, visto seu potencial de aplicação na indústria petroquímica. Para tanto, se desenvolveu uma fundamentação teórica a partir de patentes e artigos acessíveis nas bases de dados do INPI, Espacenet, WIPO, USPTO e Periódicos Capes. Como resultados destas análises foram estabelecidas as tendências para obtenção da zeólita mordenita.