Resumen en Inglés:

Chromoblastomycosis (CBM) is a chronic, debilitating subcutaneous mycosis that remains a major therapeutic challenge due to its limited responsiveness to conventional antifungal agents. Our research group investigated key cellular mechanisms underlying fungal virulence, persistence, and resistance, revealing that CBM-associated fungi can exhibit ectophosphatase and calcineurin activities, secrete aspartic and metallo-type peptidases, and form highly structured biofilms that reinforce their chronic behaviour and tolerance to treatment. Targeted inhibition of these enzymatic systems using classical inhibitors of peptidases [e.g., human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) aspartic peptidase inhibitors], acid phosphatases (e.g., sodium orthovanadate), and calcineurin (e.g., tacrolimus and cyclosporine A) markedly impaired fungal growth, morphogenesis, biofilm development, and/or host-cell interactions, underscoring their potential roles in key fungal biological processes and infection establishment. Furthermore, coordination compounds incorporating transition metals (e.g., silver) and 1,10-phenanthroline-derived ligands demonstrated potent antifungal efficacy against CBM-associated fungi and may interfere with key physiological and virulence-associated pathways. Collectively, these findings advance the understanding of CBM fungal pathophysiology, unveiling novel molecular targets and highlighting opportunities for alternative therapeutic strategies and antifungal drug development.

Resumen en Inglés:

The pathway of Instituto Oswaldo Cruz (IOC) runs parallel with the astonishing series of events in the 20th century, which might be viewed as a dispute between hope and ideological belief. As a centennial organisation the IOC has witnessed the same set of events and perhaps experienced some of them, but in most cases, it has been unable to influence or deter them. Since its beginnings the IOC has been engaged in addressing public health challenges and either by serendipitous findings or by the scientific inquiry it has brought some Res Novae and ignited sparks of hope that one day most of the infectious diseases that proliferate in Brazil might be controlled. In this perspective essay to introduce the series of articles in celebration of the 125th Anniversary of the IOC I will sketch an overview of its journey in the context of some 20th century events through a quarter of a century time frame.

Resumen en Inglés:

Giardiasis is a chronic disease that impairs intestinal absorption and, independently of diarrhoea, contributes to growth and developmental delays, making it an important risk factor for protein-energy malnutrition in children. Its high prevalence is associated with poor sanitation and multiple faecal-oral transmission routes, including person-to-person spread, contamination of water and food, and zoonotic cycles. Giardia lamblia closely interacts with the intestinal epithelium, triggering inflammatory and immune responses. Despite its impact, giardiasis is underdiagnosed, and there is an urgent need for microscopy-independent diagnostic tools suitable for large-scale use. Treatment options include metronidazole or single-dose regimens such as secnidazole and tinidazole, which are more effective but not yet implemented at the community level. Because exposure is continuous, reinfections are frequent, making sustained control particularly challenging. Control efforts could be strengthened through primary health care by expanding access to diagnosis and providing large-scale single-dose treatments, especially in vulnerable communities with poor sanitation. Giardiasis therefore remains an invisible and untreated disease, despite affecting millions and impairing childhood development.

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BACKGROUND Triatoma infestans complex comprises 39 species of South American triatomines, organised into different subcomplexes. These species act as vectors of the protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi, the etiological agent of Chagas disease. However, the evolutionary relationships among the subcomplexes remain unresolved. OBJECTIVES In this study, we present the most comprehensive morphological cladistic analysis of these species to date. METHODS Phylogenetic relationships were examined in a new analysis based on morphological data. We analysed a data matrix comprising 48 terminal taxa and 72 morphological characters, coded under implicit parsimony weights, with a range of concavities (k1-80). FINDINGS Our results indicate that the T. infestans and Triatoma rubrovaria subcomplexes constitute monophyletic groups, while Triatoma brasiliensis, Triatoma matogrossensis and Triatoma sordida subcomplexes are merophyletic. We also confirm that Triatoma maculata does not belong to the homonymous subcomplex. MAIN CONCLUSIONS The study presents the first cladistic analysis and provides a solid foundation for understanding phylogenetic relationships within of the T. infestans complex.

Resumen en Inglés:

BACKGROUND The deployment of the Wolbachia wMel strain is currently underway in multiple dengue-endemic municipalities across Brazil. The efficacy of this strategy in Rio de Janeiro remains uncertain, primarily due to the difficulty in sustaining high wMel prevalence in regions previously subjected to large-scale releases. A key contributing factor was the routine rotation of insecticides within the framework of Integrated Vector Management (IVM), which led to the use of the larvicide Spinosad for Aedes control in urban areas. This compound was associated with a precipitous decline in Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, regardless of the wMel infection status. While wMel-uninfected population recovered within weeks, wMel-infected population remained at low levels likely due to the fitness costs imposed by wMel on egg viability. OBJECTIVES and METHODS Evaluate the updated frequency of Wolbachia wMel strain in neighborhoods that received deployments. Fort that, we assessed the long-term persistence of wMel following its demographic collapse, by performing mosquito sampling across 12 neighbourhoods in Rio de Janeiro, 30 months after mosquito populations crashed. FINDINGS Our findings reveal that wMel introgression remains suboptimal, with a mean frequency of 9.87% across the sampled areas. Only two neighbourhoods exhibited wMel frequencies exceeding 15%, likely reflecting ongoing localised releases. MAIN CONCLUSIONS The reduced prevalence underscores the challenges of achieving self-sustaining wMel establishment in complex urban environments and highlight critical considerations for the implementation of Wolbachia-based dengue control programs in endemic regions.