Browsing by Author "Benso, Bruna"

Now showing 1 - 15 of 15
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    Assessment of the bioavailability of an antibiotic prophylactic protocol in patients undergoing third molar surgery
    (2019) Aravena, Pedro C.; Yatabe, K.; Jerez, Alejandro; Monardes, Héctor; Groppo, Francisco Carlos; Benso, Bruna
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    Bacterial-derived extracellular polysaccharides reduce antimicrobial susceptibility on biotic and abiotic surfaces
    (2022) Souza, Joao Gabriel S.; Oliveira, Barbara E. Costa; Costa, Raphael C.; Bechara, Karen; Cardoso-Filho, Otavio; Benso, Bruna; Shibli, Jamil Awad; Bertolini, Martinna; Barao, Valentim A. R.
    Objective: Extracellular biofilm matrix plays a role in reducing bacterial susceptibility against antimicrobials. Since the surface where biofilm is growing modulates microbial accumulation and bacterial-derived exopoly-saccharides (EPS) synthesis, this study compared the role of EPS to reduce antimicrobial susceptibility on biotic (dental surface) and abiotic (titanium (Ti) material) surfaces and the effect of remaining matrix-enriched biofilms to promote bacterial recolonization. Design: 48 h Streptococcus mutans UA159 strain biofilms were grown on enamel and Ti surfaces. The medium was supplemented with 1% sucrose, substrate for EPS synthesis, or with 0.5% glucose + 0.5% fructose as control. Chlorhexidine (CHX) 0.2% was used for antimicrobial treatment. Biofilms were collected and the following analyses were considered: viable bacterial counts, biofilm pH, EPS content, and biofilm structure by scanning electron microscopy and confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM). Substrate surfaces were analyzed by 3D laser scanning confocal microscope. Results: Enamel surface showed a higher amount of EPS content (p < 0.05), which may be explained by the higher bacterial biomass compared to Ti material. EPS content reduced bacterial susceptibility against antimi-crobial treatments for both substrates, compared to EPS control (p < 0.05). However, sucrose-treated cells presented the same magnitude of reduction for Ti or enamel. Interestingly, matrix-enriched biofilms favored bacterial recolonization for both substrates. Conclusion: The surface where the biofilm is growing modulates the amount of EPS synthesized and matrix content plays a key role in reducing antimicrobial susceptibility and promoting bacterial recolonization.
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    Case‐based learning to teach scientific thinking to dental students
    (2022) Aguayo Paul, Sebastián; Benso, Bruna; Cantarutti Martínez, Cynthia; Ortuño Borroto, Duniel; Véliz, Claudia P.
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    Chalcone derivatives as non-canonical ligands of TRPV1
    (2019) Benso, Bruna; Bustos, Daniel; Zarraga, Miguel O.; González, Wendy; Caballero, Julio; Brauchi, Sebastián
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    Cost-Effective Pipeline for a Rational Design and Selection of Capsaicin Analogues Targeting TRPV1 Channels
    (2023) Bustos, Daniel; Galarza, Christian; Ordonez, Wilson; Brauchi, Sebastian; Benso, Bruna
    Transient receptor potential (TRP) channels constitute a large group of membrane receptors associated with sensory pathways in vertebrates. One of the most studied is TRPV1, a polymodal receptor tuned for detecting heat and pungent compounds. Specific inhibition of the nociceptive transduction at the peripheral nerve represents a convenient approach to pain relief. While acting as a chemoreceptor, TRPV1 shows high sensitivity and selectivity for capsaicin. In contrast to the drugs available on the market that target the inflammatory system, TRPV1 antagonists act as negative modulators of nociceptive transduction. Therefore, the development of com-pounds modulating TRPV1 activity has expanded dramatically over time. Experimental data suggest that most agonist and antagonist drugs interact at or near capsaicin's binding site. In particular, the properties of capsaicin's head play an essential role in modulating potency and affinity. Here, we explored a cost-efficient pipeline to predict the effects of introducing chemical modifications into capsaicin's head region. An extensive set of molecules was selected by first considering the geometrical properties of capsaicin's binding site and then molecular docking. Finally, the novel ligands were ranked by combining molecular and pharmacokinetic predictions.
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    Food-grade delivery systems of Brazilian propolis from Apis mellifera: From chemical composition to bioactivities in vivo
    (2024) Franchin, Marcelo; Saliba, Ana Sofia Martelli Chaib; Sartori, Alan Giovanini de Oliveira; Neto, Sebastiao Orestes Pereira; Benso, Bruna; Ikegaki, Masaharu; Wang, Kai; Alencar, Severino Matias de; Granato, Daniel
    Brazilian propolis from Apis mellifera is widely studied worldwide due to its unique chemical composition and biological properties, such as antioxidant, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory. However, although many countries produce honey, another bee product, the consumption of propolis as a functional ingredient is linked to hydroethanolic extract. Hence, other food uses of propolis still have to be incorporated into food systems. Assuming that propolis is a rich source of flavonoids and is regarded as a food-grade ingredient for food and pharmaceutical applications, this review provides a theoretical and practical basis for optimising the bioactive properties of Brazilian propolis, encompassing the extraction processes and incorporating its bioactive compounds in the delivery systems for food applications. Overall, pharmacotechnical resources can optimise the extraction and enhance the chemical stability of phenolic compounds to ensure the bioactivity of food formulations.
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    Fungal-Host Interaction : Curcumin Modulates Proteolytic Enzyme Activity of Candida albicans and Inflammatory Host Response in Vitro
    (2018) Chen, Emily; Benso, Bruna; Seleem, Dalia; Nunes Ferreira, Luiz Eduardo; Pasetto, Silvana; Pardi, Vanessa; Mendonça Murata, Ramiro
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    Malva sylvestris derivatives as inhibitors of HIV-1 BaL infection
    (2021) Benso, Bruna; Rosalen, Pedro Luiz; Pasetto, Silvana; Salome Marquezin, Maria Carolina; Freitas-Blanco, Veronica; Murata, Ramiro Mendonca
    The emphasis of the present study is to evaluate a natural product and the potential microbicide activity using a dual chamber infection method. Malva sylvestris extracts and fractions were screened for anti-HIV activity by measuring the virus-antibody neutralization. Plant extracts with strong antiviral activity working in nanomolar or picomolar range can be used to enhance the activity of synthetic compounds and work as anti-HIV agents. The aqueous fraction (AF) of M. sylvestris demonstrated antiviral activity in a model with epithelial and blood cell lines. The AF showed an effective antiviral potential on the TZM-bl cells with reduction scores higher than 60% of infectivity. Quantification of p24 in the supernatant of the co-culture model demonstrated a reduction in the number of viral particles after AF treatment (p < 0.05). Cytokines were quantified and all signaling inflammatory markers; IL1-alpha, IL-beta, IL-6, IL-8 and GM-CSF (p < 0.05) were modulated by positive control and AF treatments. In particular, IL-6 had lower levels of expression in Malva groups when compared to the Zidovudine positive control group. Natural occurring derivatives of M. sylvestris demonstrated to work inhibiting reverse transcriptase enzyme action. M. sylvestris contains highly potential anti-HIV-1 BaL components and may be considered a potential source for new formulations in the development of topical microbicides.
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    Modulatory Effect of Glycated Collagen on Oral Streptococcal Nanoadhesion
    (2020) Schuh, C. M. A. P.; Benso, Bruna; Naulin Gysling, Pamela Alejandra; Barrera Rojas, Nelson Patricio; Bozec, L.; Aguayo Paul, Sebastián
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    Novel apocynin regulates TRPV1 activity in the trigeminal system and controls pain in a temporomandibular joint neurogenic model
    (2024) Machado, Taisa Maria Mendes Matuiama; Aquino, Iara Goncalves; Franchin, Marcelo; Zarraga, Miguel O.; Bustos, Daniel; Spada, Fernanda Papa; Napimoga, Marcelo Henrique; Clemente-Napimoga, Juliana Trindade; Alencar, Severino Matias; Benso, Bruna; Abdalla, Henrique Ballassini
    Objective: Herein, we investigate the potential analgesic effect of a newly synthesized chalcone-derived apocynin in a neurogenic pain model. Methods: Molecular docking was used to foretell the apocynin binding features and dynamics with the TRPV1 channel, and the activity was tested in vitro, using transfected HEK 293T cells with the rat TRPV1 receptor. The analgesic effect of apocynin was investigated using a capsaicin-induced pain model. The expression of TRPV1, TRPA1, TRPM8, and MAPKs was assessed by electrophoresis, and immunosorbent assays were performed to quantify the neurotransmitters Substance P, Glutamate, and CGRP. A survival assay using Galleria mellonella was carried out to determine the toxicity. Results: We observed that apocynin exhibits greater thermodynamic stability. Upon apocynin ligand binding, it changes the electrostatic potential for a predominantly electronegative state in the interior and neutral in its external vanilloid pocket. Treatment of apocynin induces antinociceptive effects against the noxious challenge of capsaicin. Histologically, apocynin decreased the number of TRPV1+ immunopositive cells. Electrophoresis showed reduced phosphorylation of p44/42 (ERK1/2) and decreased protein levels of substance P, and CGRP. In the survival assay, apocynin showed low toxicity. Conclusions: In conclusion, we provide proof-of-principles that the newly synthesized apocynin compound effectively prevented nociception in a neurogenic model of orofacial pain.
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    Pathogenesis-Guided Engineering: pH-Responsive Imprinted Polymer Co-Delivering Folate for Inflammation-Resolving as Immunotherapy in Implant-Related Infections
    (2024) Costa, Raphael C.; Nagay, Bruna E.; Villa, Javier E. L.; Sotomayor, Maria D. P. T.; Neres, Lariel Chagas da Silva; Benso, Bruna; Aguayo, Sebastian; Sacramento, Catarina M.; Ruiz, Karina G. S.; Spada, Fernanda P.; de Avila, Erica Dorigatti; da Costa, Monique G.; Faverani, Leonardo P.; Cintra, Luciano T. A.; Souza, Joao Gabriel S.; Barao, Valentim A. R.
    Folate (FT) is a suitable targeting ligand for folate receptors (FOLR) overexpressed on inflamed cells. Thus, FT-loaded polymers can be used as FOLRs-targeted immunotherapy to positively modulate the inflammatory process. A novel biodegradable imprinted polymer with a FT delivery mechanism driven by pH changes [PCL-MIP@FT] is designed with molecularly imprinted technology. The pH mechanism is validated in vitro, demonstrating that an acidic environment accelerated and increased the release of FT for a period of 7 days (similar to 100 mu g mL-1). For the first time, FT receptors (FOLR-1 and FOLR-3) are discovered and also overexpressed on activated human gingival fibroblasts, representing a favorable target in the oral environment. Although FT itself does not have antimicrobial effects, the nanomechanical properties of biofilm are changed after topical FT administration. In vivo systemic toxicity of PCL-MIP@FT has been demonstrated to be a safe biomaterial (up to 1.3 mg kg-1). When the PCL-MIP@FT is assessed in the subcutaneous tissue, it promoted an alleviating inflammation and may be able to stimulate tissue repair. The present findings have demonstrated the reliable in vitro and in vivo anti-inflammatory actions of FT-loaded polymer and support its use as a novel drug-free therapeutic platform for modulating and mitigating inflammatory responses in dental implant-related infections.
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    PCR-detection of Helicobacter pylori from oral mucosa: A feasible early diagnostic tool
    (2022) Jara, Marianela Godoy; Benso, Bruna; Lagos, Maria Jose; Tapia, Patricio Carrasco; Paulino, Maria Beatriz; Silva, Carolina Inostroza
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    Potential Novel Strategies for the Treatment of Dental Pulp-Derived Pain: Pharmacological Approaches and Beyond
    (2019) Schuh, C. M. A. P.; Benso, Bruna; Aguayo Paul, Sebastián
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    Single-dose bioavailability for prophylactic coverage in patients undergoing dental implant surgery
    (2018) Aravena, P. C.; Oyarzún, C. P.; Arias, M. F.; Monardes, H.; Jerez, A.; Benso, Bruna
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    Unveiling Novel Urease Inhibitors for Helicobacter pylori: A Multi-Methodological Approach from Virtual Screening and ADME to Molecular Dynamics Simulations
    (2024) Valenzuela-Hormazabal, Paulina; Sepulveda, Romina V.; Alegria-Arcos, Melissa; Valdes-Munoz, Elizabeth; Rojas-Perez, Victor; Gonzalez-Bonet, Ileana; Suardiaz, Reynier; Galarza, Christian; Morales, Natalia; Leddermann, Veronica; Castro, Ricardo I.; Benso, Bruna; Urra, Gabriela; Hernandez-Rodriguez, Erix W.; Bustos, Daniel
    Helicobacter pylori (Hp) infections pose a global health challenge demanding innovative therapeutic strategies by which to eradicate them. Urease, a key Hp virulence factor hydrolyzes urea, facilitating bacterial survival in the acidic gastric environment. In this study, a multi-methodological approach combining pharmacophore- and structure-based virtual screening, molecular dynamics simulations, and MM-GBSA calculations was employed to identify novel inhibitors for Hp urease (HpU). A refined dataset of 8,271,505 small molecules from the ZINC15 database underwent pharmacokinetic and physicochemical filtering, resulting in 16% of compounds for pharmacophore-based virtual screening. Molecular docking simulations were performed in successive stages, utilizing HTVS, SP, and XP algorithms. Subsequent energetic re-scoring with MM-GBSA identified promising candidates interacting with distinct urease variants. Lys219, a residue critical for urea catalysis at the urease binding site, can manifest in two forms, neutral (LYN) or carbamylated (KCX). Notably, the evaluated molecules demonstrated different interaction and energetic patterns in both protein variants. Further evaluation through ADMET predictions highlighted compounds with favorable pharmacological profiles, leading to the identification of 15 candidates. Molecular dynamics simulations revealed comparable structural stability to the control DJM, with candidates 5, 8 and 12 (CA5, CA8, and CA12, respectively) exhibiting the lowest binding free energies. These inhibitors suggest a chelating capacity that is crucial for urease inhibition. The analysis underscores the potential of CA5, CA8, and CA12 as novel HpU inhibitors. Finally, we compare our candidates with the chemical space of urease inhibitors finding physicochemical similarities with potent agents such as thiourea.