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University of Brasilia

5 ARTICLES PUBLISHED IN JoVE

Immunology and Infection

Parasite Induced Genetically Driven Autoimmune Chagas Heart Disease in the Chicken Model

Antonio R. L. Teixeira¹, Nadjar Nitz¹, Francisco M. Bernal¹, Mariana M. Hecht¹

¹Chagas Disease Multidisciplinary Research Laboratory, University of Brasilia

The inoculation of Trypanosoma cruzi in fertile eggs prior to incubation renders the parasite kDNA minicircle integration in embryo cells genome. Crossbreeding reveals the vertical transfer of the mutations to progeny. The kDNA integrates into coding regions at several chromosomes and the chickens die with an inflammatory autoimmune heart disease.

Chemistry

CN-GELFrEE - Clear Native Gel-eluted Liquid Fraction Entrapment Electrophoresis

Rafael D. Melani^*1,2, Henrique S. Seckler^*1, Owen S. Skinner¹, Luis H. F. Do Vale^1,3, Adam D. Catherman¹, Pierre C. Havugimana¹, Marcelo Valle de Sousa³, Gilberto B. Domont², Neil L. Kelleher¹, Philip D. Compton¹

¹Departments of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, Chemistry of Life Processes Institute, Proteomics Center of Excellence, Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Northwestern University, ²Institute of Chemistry, Proteomics Unit, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, ³Department of Cell Biology, Brazilian Center for Protein Research, Laboratory of Biochemistry and Protein Chemistry, University of Brasilia

This protocol describes how to prepare and perform clear native gel-eluted liquid fraction entrapment electrophoresis (CN-GELFrEE), a native separation technique for non-covalent biomolecular assemblies and proteins from heterogeneous samples that is compatible with various downstream protein analysis techniques.

Immunology and Infection

Sexual Transmission of American Trypanosomes from Males and Females to Naive Mates

Adriana B. Almeida¹, Perla F. Araújo¹, Francisco M. Bernal¹, Ana de Cassia Rosa¹, Sebastião A. Valente², Antonio R.L. Teixeira¹

¹Chagas Disease Multidisciplinary Research Laboratory, Faculty of Medicine, University of Brasilia, ²Instituto Evandro Chagas

The Trypanosoma cruzi agent of Chagas disease produces long-lasting asymptomatic infections that abruptly develop into clinically recognized pathology. The following research protocol describes a short-run family-based epidemiological study to unravel the T. cruzi infection transmitted sexually from parent to progeny.

Immunology and Infection

A Set of Screening Techniques for a Quick Overview of the Neutrophil Function

Isabelle Souza Luz¹, Raquel Takaya¹, Daiane Gonzaga Ribeiro¹, Natanael Sales Silva¹, Lucas Fontes², Mariana S. Castro¹, Wagner Fontes¹

¹Laboratory of Protein Chemistry and Biochemistry, Department of Cell Biology, University of Brasilia, ²Institute of Physics, University of Brasilia

This protocol features a set of neutrophil functional assays to be used as a screening method to cover functions from different signaling pathways. The protocol includes an initial and simple evaluation of cell viability, purity, reactive oxygen species production, real-time migration, phagocytosis, and a preliminary suggestion of neutrophil extracellular traps.

Biochemistry

RGBradford: Protein Quantitation with a Smartphone Camera

Daniel C. Moreira¹

¹Research Center in Morphology and Applied Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Brasilia

This paper provides a protocol for protein quantification using the Bradford assay and a smartphone as an analytical device. Protein levels in samples can be quantified using color data extracted from a picture of a microplate taken with a smartphone.