Oral tolerance blocks the development of specific immune responses to proteins ingested by the oral route. One of the first registries of oral tolerance showed that guinea pigs fed corn became refractory to hypersensitivity to corn proteins. Mice fed with chow containing corn are tolerant to zein, and parenteral injection of zein plus adjuvant blocks immunization to unrelated proteins injected concomitantly and reduces unspecific inflammation. Extensive and prolonged inflammatory infiltrate in the wound bed is one of the causes of pathological wound healing. Previous research shows that intraperitoneal injection of zein concomitant with skin injuries reduces the inflammatory infiltrate in the wound bed and improves wound healing. Herein, we tested if one subcutaneous injection of zein before skin injury improves wound healing. We also investigated how long the effects triggered by zein could improve skin wound healing. Mice fed zein received two excisional wounds on the interscapular skin under anesthesia. Zein plus Al(OH)3 was injected at the tail base at 10 min, or 3, 5, or 7 days before skin injuries. Wound healing was analyzed at days 7 and 40 after injury. Our results showed that a zein injection up to 5 days before skin injury reduced the inflammatory infiltrate, increased the number of T-cells in the wound bed, and improved the pattern of collagen deposition in the neodermis. These findings could promote the development of new strategies for the treatment and prevention of pathological healing using proteins normally found in the common diet.

ABSTRACT Stingless bee products such as honey, pollen, propolis, and geopropolis have been used for centuries in traditional medicine for the treatment of several illnesses. Investigation of the biological activity of stingless bee products, especially propolis and geopropolis, has revealed promising therapeutic properties. About 20% of total Neotropical stingless bees can be found in Brazil. Despite the species diversity, studies on their biological activity are scarce. The present review focuses on the antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of propolis and geopropolis from Brazilian stingless bees. In addition, the toxicity of these natural products was addressed. In order to provide new evidences for the toxic potential of propolis and geopropolis components, an in silico analysis was performed using the ADMET PredictorTM software. We observed that most of studies evaluated only crude ethanol extracts of a limited number of stingless bees species. Propolis and geopropolis displayed antioxidant capacity and antimicrobial activity. Concerning the toxic potential, the extracts of stingless bees propolis and geopropolis were considered safe. Nonetheless, in vitro and in vivo toxicological studies are still necessary.

Objetivou-se avaliar o perfil sanguíneo e o tamanho absoluto e relativo dos órgãos internos de bezerros em sistema de aleitamento convencional ou fracionado. Foram utilizadas 10 fêmeas, com peso corporal inicial médio de 37,53 kg (±2,36) e 12 machos com peso corporal médio de 81,6 kg (±8,6), ambos da raça Holandesa. O aleitamento convencional constituiu-se de quatro litros de leite fornecidos diariamente durante 54 dias de avaliação e o fracionado, de seis litros do 6º ao 25º dias de idade, quatro litros do 26º ao 45º dias de idade e dois litros do 46º ao 59º dias de idade, além de concentrado, feno de Cynodon sp., água e suplemento mineral fornecidos ad libitum. O delineamento experimental foi inteiramente ao acaso, com cinco repetições para os parâmetros sanguíneos e seis repetições para o desenvolvimento dos órgãos internos. As coletas de sangue foram realizadas nas fêmeas nos dias sete, 21, 28, 42, 49 e 56 de idade. Para a avaliação dos órgãos internos os machos foram abatidos aos dois meses de idade, após jejum de 16 horas. Não foram observadas diferenças para os valores de proteínas totais, albumina, globulina, creatinina, ureia, colesterol e β-hidroxibutirato nas idades avaliadas (p>0,05). Entretanto, para a concentração de glicose houve interação entre os sistemas de aleitamento e os períodos avaliados, podendo ser observado que com 21 dias de idade a concentração foi maior nas bezerras mantidas em sistema fracionado, quando comparadas aos animais do grupo convencional. O sistema de aleitamento não alterou o peso corporal final, peso corporal final vazio e o peso dos órgãos internos, exceto para o coração, demonstrando que o sistema de aleitamento fracionado não altera as avaliações dos órgãos internos.

The objective was to evaluate the blood profile together with the relative and absolute size of the internal organs of calves in conventional or fractionated feeding system. Ten females were used, with an average initial body weight of 37.53 kg (±2.36), and 12 males with a mean body weight of 81.6 kg (±8.6), both Holstein breed. The conventional feeding consisted of four liter milk supplied daily for 54 days of evaluation, and fractioned six liter milk was given from 6 to 25 days of age, four liter from 26 to 45 days of ager, and two liter from 46 to 59 days of age. Cynodon sp. hay, water and mineral supplement was provided ad libitum. The experimental design was completely randomized with five replicates for blood parameters and six replicates for the development of internal organs. Blood collections were performed in females on days seven, 21, 28, 42, 49 and 56 of age. For the evaluation of internal organs males were slaughtered at two months of age, after 16 hours of fasting. No differences occurred in the values of total protein, albumin, globulin, creatinine, urea, cholesterol and β-hydroxybutyrate in ages evaluated (p>0.05). However, for the concentration of glucose no interaction was found between lactation systems and periods evaluated. It can be noted that at 21 days of age the concentration was higher in calves kept in the fractionated system, when compared with animals of the conventional group. The feeding system did not affect the final body weight, the empty body weight or the weight of the internal organs, except for the heart, demonstrating that the fractional feeding system does not alter the assessment of the internal organs.

Estudou-se a ocorrência de anticorpos anti-Leptospira e os fatores de risco associados à infecção em primatas do gênero Cebus mantidos em cativeiro no Nordeste do Brasil. Foram analisadas 139 amostras de soro sanguíneo de diferentes espécies de primatas de ambos os sexos e idades variadas. Para a pesquisa de anticorpos empregou-se a técnica de Soroaglutinação Microscópica (SAM) e para estudo dos fatores de risco utilizou-se análise multivariada. Foram observados anticorpos anti-Leptospira, sorovar Patoc em 6,5% dos primatas (09/139). O fator de risco identificado nesse estudo foi a não higienização diária de bebedouros (Odds ratio=12,095; IC 95% = 1,73-84,52; p=0,012,). Conclui-se que a população de Cebus mantidos em cativeiros no Nordeste do Brasil está exposta à infecção por anticorpos anti-Leptospira e que medidas corretivas de manejo dos animais, especificamente aquelas relacionadas à higienização diária de bebedouros devem ser implementadas para reduzir o risco de infecção por sorovares de Leptospira spp.

This study aimed to verify the occurrence of anti-Leptospira antibodies and the risk factors associated with infection in the Cebus spp. mantained in captivity in the northeast of Brazil. One hundred and thirty nine blood samples of different species of primates of both sexes and varied ages were analyzed. For the study of antibodies the Microscopic Agglutination Test (MAT) was used, and for the risk factor study a multivariate analysis was used. Antibodies anti-Leptospira, serovar Patoc were observed in 6.5% of primates (09/139). The risk factor identified in this study was the lack of daily hygienization of drinking fountains (Odds ratio=12.095; IC 95% = 1.73-84.52; p=0.012,). The conclusion of the study was that the Cebus population maintained in captivity in the northeast of Brazil is exposed to infection by antibodies anti-Leptospira and that corrective measures of animal handling, especially those related to daily hygienization of drinking fountains, must be implemented to reduce the risk of infection by serovars of Leptospira spp.

O presente trabalho foi conduzido na Estação Experimental da Universidade Federal do Tocantins, Gurupi-TO, Brasil. O experimento foi instalado com o objetivo de avaliar durante 60 dias, em campo, a interferência de oito espécies utilizadas freqüentemente como adubos verdes (Mucuna aterrima, Mucuna pruriens, Crotalaria ochroleuca, Crotalaria spectabilis, Canavalia ensiformis, Cajanus cajan, Pennisetum americanum e Sorghum bicolor, híbrido BR304) sobre a comunidade infestante. As espécies de plantas daninhas mais freqüentes na área do experimento foram: Digitaria horizontalis, Hyptis lophanta e Amaranthus spinosus. Foram realizadas amostragens aos 15, 30, 45 e 60 dias após a formação da cobertura, utilizando um quadrado de amostragem equivalente a 0,25 m². As plantas daninhas foram devidamente identificadas, coletadas, secas e pesadas. O delineamento experimental utilizado foi inteiramente casualizado e constou de nove tratamentos, com quatro repetições cada. Verificou-se que as espécies C. spectabilis, S. bicolor, C. ochroleuca, M. aterrima e M. pruriens reduziram significativamente o número e o peso da matéria seca da população das plantas daninhas avaliadas (D. horizontalis, H. lophanta e A. Spinosus), principalmente as duas últimas, enquanto P. americanum mostrou-se a menos eficiente nesse aspecto.

This work was carried out at the Experimental Station of the University of Tocantins, Gurupi-TO, Brazil, to evaluate the interference of eight species frequently used as green manure (Mucuna aterrima, Mucuna pruriens, Crotalaria ochroleuca, Crotalaria spectabilis, Canavalia ensiformis, Cajanus cajan, Pennisetum americanum and Sorghum bicolor, hybrid BR304) in the weed community, for sixty days under field conditions. The most frequent weed species in the experimental area were Digitaria horizontalis, Hyptis lophanta and Amaranthus spinosus. Samplings were made at 15, 30, 45 and 60 days after formation of green manure covering, using a square sampler of 0.25 m². The weeds were identified, collected, dried and weighed. The experimental design consisted of nine treatments distributed in randomized blocks with four replicates. It was verified that C. spectabilis, S. bicolor, C. ochroleuca M. aterrima and M. pruriens reduced significantly the number and dry matter weight of the weeds evaluated, especially H.lophanta and A. spinosus, while P. americanum was the least efficient.