Abstract Background: Triatomines are blood-feeding arthropods belonging to the subfamily Triatominae (Hemiptera; Reduviidae), capable of producing immunomodulatory and water-soluble molecules in their hemolymph, such as antimicrobial peptides (AMPs). In this work, we evaluated the antifungal and immunomodulatory activity of the hemolymph of Meccus pallidipennis (MPH) and Rhodnius prolixus (RPH) against Cryptococcus neoformans. Methods: We assessed the activity of the hemolymph of both insects on fungal growth by a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) assay. Further, RAW 264.7 macrophages were cultivated with hemolymph and challenged with C. neoformans. Then, their phagocytic and killing activities were assessed. The cytokines MCP-1, IFN-γ, TNF-α, IL-10, IL-12, and IL-6 were measured in culture supernatants 4- and 48-hours post-infection. Results: Both hemolymph samples directly affected the growth rate of the fungus in a dose-dependent manner. Either MPH or RPH was capable of inhibiting fungal growth by at least 70%, using the lowest dilution (1:20). Treatment of RAW 264.7 macrophages with hemolymph of both insects was capable of increasing the production of MCP-I and TNF-α. In addition, when these cells were stimulated with hemolymph in the presence of C. neoformans, a 2- and a 4-fold increase in phagocytic rate was observed with MPH and RPH, respectively, when compared to untreated cells. For the macrophage killing activity, MPH decreased in approximately 30% the number of viable yeasts inside the cells compared to untreated control; however, treatment with RPH could not reduce the total number of viable yeasts. MPH was also capable of increasing MHC-II expression on macrophages. Regarding the cytokine production, MCP-I and TNF-α, were increased in the supernatant of macrophages treated with both hemolymphs, 4 and 48 hours after stimulation. Conclusion: These results suggested that hemolymph of triatomines may represent a source of molecules capable of presenting antifungal and immunomodulatory activity in macrophages during fungal infection.

Esta pesquisa tem como objeto de estudo as relações subjetivas que emergem entre os psicólogos do CRAS de uma cidade do interior de Minas Gerais e entre os demais profissionais e a comunidade. O objetivo é identificar os pontos de represamento e os de invenção produzidos nessas relações, norteados pela filosofia da diferença e pelo método cartográfico. Foram realizadas entrevistas semi-estruturadas com a equipe e os usuários do CRAS, além da observação participante e do envolvimento da pesquisadora. As relações de poder, as diferenças e as conexões entre as categorias profissionais, os impasses e os desafios para a Psicologia nessa recente unidade pública tornaram-se os territórios explorados ao longo da pesquisa. Os efeitos analisados no trabalho mostram os movimentos ora de intercessão entre a equipe e os usuários, ora de especificidades de cada saber, experimentados tanto pelos profissionais quanto pela comunidade assistida. Além disso, concluímos que tanto o enrijecimento da visão de família nuclear como modelo para as intervenções como os atravessamentos de políticos e profissionais de outras organizações nas atividades cotidianas do CRAS muitas vezes inviabilizam o trabalho proposto. Por fim, percebemos a necessidade de intervenções psicológicas para além da psicologização e do modelo tradicional desse fazer.

This thesis conducted a study of the subjective relationships that are present among the psychologists of the CRAS of a small town in Minas Gerais and the other employees as well as the community. The goal is to identify the impoundment and the invention points that are produced in that relationship orientated by the philosophy of difference approach and by the cartographic method. Therefore semistructured interviews with staff and users of CRAS were used, as well as the participant observation and the commitment of the researcher. The power relationships, the differences and connections among the professional categories involved, the obstacles and challenges that concern psychology at this recent public unit became the subject explored during the research. The effects observed during the research show movements of intercession among the staff and the users and also movements of knowledge specificities, experienced by the professionals as well as by the assisted community. Beyond that, we concluded that both the stiffening of the vision of the nuclear family as a model for interventions and the crossings of politicians and professionals from other organizations in the daily activities of CRAS many times made the proposed work impracticable. At last, we noticed the need of psychological interventions beyond the psychologizing and the traditional model of this work.

Esta pesquisa tiene como objeto de estudio las relaciones subjetivas que emergen entre los psicólogos del CRAS de una ciudad del interior de Minas Gerais y entre los demás profesionales y la comunidad. El objetivo es identificar los puntos de represamiento y los de invención producidos en esas relaciones, norteados por la filosofía de la diferencia y por el método cartográfico. Fueron realizadas entrevistas semi-estructuradas con el equipo y los usuarios del CRAS, además de la observación participante y del envolvimiento de la pesquisidora. Las relaciones de poder, las diferencias y las conexiones entre las categorías profesionales, los impases y los desafíos para la Psicología en esa reciente unidad pública se tornaron los territorios explorados a lo largo de la pesquisa. Los efectos analizados en el trabajo muestran los movimientos ora de intercesión entre el equipo y los usuarios, ora de especificidades de cada saber, experimentados tanto por los profesionales como por la comunidad asistida. Además de eso, concluimos que tanto el endurecimiento de la visión de familia nuclear como modelo para las intervenciones como los atravesamientos de políticos y profesionales de otras organizaciones en las actividades cotidianas del CRAS muchas veces inviabilizan el trabajo propuesto. Por fin, percibimos la necesidad de intervenciones psicológicas para además de la psicologización y del modelo tradicional de ese hacer.