Elisa Conte | INSTITUTO METODISTA GRANBERY (original) (raw)

Papers by Elisa Conte

American Journal of Respiratory Cell and Molecular Biology, 2009

In this study, we evaluated the protective effect and therapeutic potential of the prostaglandin ... more In this study, we evaluated the protective effect and therapeutic potential of the prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)) synthetic analog 16,16-dimethyl-PGE(2) (dmPGE(2)) in the animal model of pulmonary fibrosis induced by bleomycin. Mice subjected to intratracheal administration of bleomycin (1 mg/kg) received a dmPGE(2) dose of 30 microg/kg/day by continuous subcutaneous infusion. Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL); immunohistochemical analysis for IL-1, TNF-alpha, and nitrotyrosine; measurement of fluid content in lung; myeloperoxidase activity assay; and lung histology were performed 1 week later. Lung histology and Sircol assay for collagen deposition were performed 3 weeks after treatments. Changes of body weight and survival rate were also evaluated at 1 and 3 weeks. Compared with bleomycin-treated mice, dmPGE(2) co-treated mice exhibited a reduced degree of body weight loss and mortality rate as well as of lung damage and inflammation, as shown by the significant reduction of: (1) lung infiltration by leukocytes; (2) myeloperoxidase activity; (3) IL-1, TNF-alpha, and nitrotyrosine immunostaining; (4) lung edema; and (5) histologic evidence of lung injury and collagen deposition. In a separate set of experiments, dmPGE(2) treatment was started 3 days after bleomycin administration, and the evaluation of lung damage and inflammation was assessed 4 days later. Importantly, delayed administration of dmPGE(2) also was able to protect from inflammation and lung injury induced by bleomycin. These results, indicating that dmPGE(2) is able to prevent and to reduce bleomycin-induced lung injury through its regulatory and anti-inflammatory properties, encourage further research to find new options for the treatment of pulmonary fibrosis.

Plant Pathology, 2009

A rapid and sensitive real time reverse transcription-PCR (RT-PCR) assay based on SYBR Green I ch... more A rapid and sensitive real time reverse transcription-PCR (RT-PCR) assay based on SYBR Green I chemistry was developed for the quantitative detection of Citrus viroid III (CVd-III) in citrus samples. CVd-III titre was determined at different times in green bark of sour orange, Troyer citrange, trifoliate orange and alemow seedlings inoculated with a CVd-IIIb source. Ten weeks after inoculation the viroid was detected in the four species, without substantial differences in viroid titre among them. Nine weeks later an overall increase of viroid titre was observed. The copy number of CVd-III in sour orange and Troyer citrange was monitored up to 52 weeks after inoculation and a further increase of viroid titre was observed at 35 weeks. For validation purposes, field samples were tested from 58 citrus trees with mixed infections of CVd-III, Citrus exocortis viroid (CEVd) and Hop stunt viroid (HSVd), as well as from healthy controls. Based on the sensitivity (100%), specificity (96·7%), accuracy (99·2%) and repeatability (Cohen's kappa index 0·98) of the assay, it is suggested that its employment in breeding programmes would be helpful in the evaluation of host resistance and viroid accumulation in plants.

Plant Pathology, 2009

A rapid and sensitive real time reverse transcription-PCR (RT-PCR) assay based on SYBR Green I ch... more A rapid and sensitive real time reverse transcription-PCR (RT-PCR) assay based on SYBR Green I chemistry was developed for the quantitative detection of Citrus viroid III (CVd-III) in citrus samples. CVd-III titre was determined at different times in green bark of sour orange, Troyer citrange, trifoliate orange and alemow seedlings inoculated with a CVd-IIIb source. Ten weeks after inoculation the viroid was detected in the four species, without substantial differences in viroid titre among them. Nine weeks later an overall increase of viroid titre was observed. The copy number of CVd-III in sour orange and Troyer citrange was monitored up to 52 weeks after inoculation and a further increase of viroid titre was observed at 35 weeks. For validation purposes, field samples were tested from 58 citrus trees with mixed infections of CVd-III, Citrus exocortis viroid (CEVd) and Hop stunt viroid (HSVd), as well as from healthy controls. Based on the sensitivity (100%), specificity (96·7%), accuracy (99·2%) and repeatability (Cohen's kappa index 0·98) of the assay, it is suggested that its employment in breeding programmes would be helpful in the evaluation of host resistance and viroid accumulation in plants.

SUMÁRIO CAPÍTULO I -INTRODUÇÃO. NOÇÕES GERAIS 1. A sociedade internacional. Conceito, caracteres

American Journal of Respiratory Cell and Molecular Biology, 2009

In this study, we evaluated the protective effect and therapeutic potential of the prostaglandin ... more In this study, we evaluated the protective effect and therapeutic potential of the prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)) synthetic analog 16,16-dimethyl-PGE(2) (dmPGE(2)) in the animal model of pulmonary fibrosis induced by bleomycin. Mice subjected to intratracheal administration of bleomycin (1 mg/kg) received a dmPGE(2) dose of 30 microg/kg/day by continuous subcutaneous infusion. Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL); immunohistochemical analysis for IL-1, TNF-alpha, and nitrotyrosine; measurement of fluid content in lung; myeloperoxidase activity assay; and lung histology were performed 1 week later. Lung histology and Sircol assay for collagen deposition were performed 3 weeks after treatments. Changes of body weight and survival rate were also evaluated at 1 and 3 weeks. Compared with bleomycin-treated mice, dmPGE(2) co-treated mice exhibited a reduced degree of body weight loss and mortality rate as well as of lung damage and inflammation, as shown by the significant reduction of: (1) lung infiltration by leukocytes; (2) myeloperoxidase activity; (3) IL-1, TNF-alpha, and nitrotyrosine immunostaining; (4) lung edema; and (5) histologic evidence of lung injury and collagen deposition. In a separate set of experiments, dmPGE(2) treatment was started 3 days after bleomycin administration, and the evaluation of lung damage and inflammation was assessed 4 days later. Importantly, delayed administration of dmPGE(2) also was able to protect from inflammation and lung injury induced by bleomycin. These results, indicating that dmPGE(2) is able to prevent and to reduce bleomycin-induced lung injury through its regulatory and anti-inflammatory properties, encourage further research to find new options for the treatment of pulmonary fibrosis.

Plant Pathology, 2009

A rapid and sensitive real time reverse transcription-PCR (RT-PCR) assay based on SYBR Green I ch... more A rapid and sensitive real time reverse transcription-PCR (RT-PCR) assay based on SYBR Green I chemistry was developed for the quantitative detection of Citrus viroid III (CVd-III) in citrus samples. CVd-III titre was determined at different times in green bark of sour orange, Troyer citrange, trifoliate orange and alemow seedlings inoculated with a CVd-IIIb source. Ten weeks after inoculation the viroid was detected in the four species, without substantial differences in viroid titre among them. Nine weeks later an overall increase of viroid titre was observed. The copy number of CVd-III in sour orange and Troyer citrange was monitored up to 52 weeks after inoculation and a further increase of viroid titre was observed at 35 weeks. For validation purposes, field samples were tested from 58 citrus trees with mixed infections of CVd-III, Citrus exocortis viroid (CEVd) and Hop stunt viroid (HSVd), as well as from healthy controls. Based on the sensitivity (100%), specificity (96·7%), accuracy (99·2%) and repeatability (Cohen's kappa index 0·98) of the assay, it is suggested that its employment in breeding programmes would be helpful in the evaluation of host resistance and viroid accumulation in plants.

Plant Pathology, 2009

A rapid and sensitive real time reverse transcription-PCR (RT-PCR) assay based on SYBR Green I ch... more A rapid and sensitive real time reverse transcription-PCR (RT-PCR) assay based on SYBR Green I chemistry was developed for the quantitative detection of Citrus viroid III (CVd-III) in citrus samples. CVd-III titre was determined at different times in green bark of sour orange, Troyer citrange, trifoliate orange and alemow seedlings inoculated with a CVd-IIIb source. Ten weeks after inoculation the viroid was detected in the four species, without substantial differences in viroid titre among them. Nine weeks later an overall increase of viroid titre was observed. The copy number of CVd-III in sour orange and Troyer citrange was monitored up to 52 weeks after inoculation and a further increase of viroid titre was observed at 35 weeks. For validation purposes, field samples were tested from 58 citrus trees with mixed infections of CVd-III, Citrus exocortis viroid (CEVd) and Hop stunt viroid (HSVd), as well as from healthy controls. Based on the sensitivity (100%), specificity (96·7%), accuracy (99·2%) and repeatability (Cohen's kappa index 0·98) of the assay, it is suggested that its employment in breeding programmes would be helpful in the evaluation of host resistance and viroid accumulation in plants.

SUMÁRIO CAPÍTULO I -INTRODUÇÃO. NOÇÕES GERAIS 1. A sociedade internacional. Conceito, caracteres