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Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) is primarily associated with non-human-primates (NHPs) in Africa, which also infect humans. Since its introduction to Brazil in 2014, CHIKV has predominantly thrived in urban cycles, involving Aedes aegypti mosquitoes. Limited knowledge exists regarding CHIKV occurrence and implications in rural and sylvatic cycles where neotropical NHPs are potential hosts, from which we highlight Leontopithecus chrysomelas (Kuhl, 1820), the golden-headed lion tamarin (GHLT), an endangered species endemic to the Atlantic Forest (AF) in Southern Bahia State, Brazil. The present study investigated wild GHLT groups across two municipalities, Ilhéus and Una, Bahia. Surveys were conducted in three groups within cocoa agroforests ( cabrucas ) in Ilhéus, and four groups in anthropized forest and agroforestry fragments in Una, between 2021 and 2022. Thirty-two GHLT specimens were captured and chemically immobilized, examined and submitted to blood sample collection; nine specimens were later recaptured in 2022, totaling 41 samples. CHIKV viremia was not detected in any specimens (as assayed by RT-qPCR). Plaque reduction neutralization test (PRNT 90 ) detected CHIKV antibodies in two (6.3%) GHLTs, with 10–20 antibody titers. Seroprevalence in 2021 was 5.6% and in 2022 was 8.7% with an incidence of 4.5%, whereas, a male adult tested seropositive in both years, suggesting either natural re-exposure and antibody maintenance over time. All samples tested seronegative for Mayaro Virus. Eight mosquito species from the Culicidae family were collected, identified and assayed for CHIKV genomes, showing negative results. This study provides the first evidence of natural CHIKV exposure among free-living GHLTs in Brazil, emphasizing their susceptibility and potential role as reservoirs. These findings underscore the possible consequences of anthropic disturbances in the Brazilian AF, without a seroprevalence difference between non-protected forest formations, agroforest fragments and various mosaic farming landscapes in South Bahia, and highlight the importance of conservation efforts for this endemic and endangered primate species.

Loreto virus (LORV) is an insect-specific virus classified into the proposed taxon Negevirus. It was originally described in Iquitos, Peru, in 1977. Here, we describe three novel LORV genomes obtained from the isolates of three pooled samples of Trichoprosopon digitatum, Aedes (Ochlerotatus) fulvus, and Limatus durhamii collected in Ilhéus—Bahia, 2014. Samples were submitted to RNA sequencing on the Illumina platform to recover the LORV genome. The genomes presented, on average, 81.5% nucleotide identity and 92.6% global amino acid identity with the LORV reference genome (NC_034158). Subsequently, phylogenetic analysis was performed based on a multiple sequence alignment of the concatenated amino acid sequences predicted for the three ORFs of the Negevirus genomes, and the target sequences were clustered within the LORV clade. The taxon Negevirus is in constant expansion of its species content and host range. New data about insect specific negeviruses are important for virus evolution studies, along with those approaching interactions with the hosts and their influence in the transmission of arboviruses. Also, the assessment of these data may allow the development of biologic control strategies for arboviral vectors. This is the original report of the identification of LORV in Brazil, infecting three Culicidae species hosts native to the Atlantic Forest biome.

The advantages of living in a group include feeding benefits and/or predation avoidance, while the disadvantages are typically related to competition. One way to avoid competition while maintaining the benefits of living in a group is to form interspecific associations with species with relatively little dietary overlap. Here we report a stable association between a male golden-headed lion tamarin (GHLT), Leontopithecus chrysomelas , and a group of Wied’s black-tufted-ear marmosets (WBTMs), Callithrix kuhlii . We collected ecological and behavioral data on a duo of GHLTs from May to August 2008, totaling 62 h of observations. On 19 August 2008, the radio-collared GHLT dispersed alone and was located on 28 August in association with WBTMs. To examine possible changes in GHLT ecology and behavior, we monitored the mixed-species group between September and December 2008, totaling 122 h of observations. We found that the GHLT’s home range and daily path length decreased by about ten and three times, respectively, after joining the WBTM group, suggesting adaptations to the WBTMs’ use of space. All non-agonistic behaviors recorded in the mixed group were directed from GHLT to the WBMTs, whereas all agonistic interactions were directed from the WBMTs to the GHLT, indicating a subordinate position of GHLT in the mixed group. In golden lion tamarins, reproductive success of subordinate adult males that remain in the group is higher than that of those that disperse and “prospect” for a breeding opportunity. If dispersing individuals are unable to find a mate and defend a territory, they will likely die within a year. The dispersing GHLT in this study assumed a subordinate role in a mixed-species group outside a GHLT territory. Apparently, the benefits of waiting for a dispersing female in a relatively safe situation may exceed the costs of prospecting elsewhere or being a subordinate.

Breast cancer is the most common neoplasm worldwide. Viral infections are involved with carcinogenesis, especially those caused by oncogenic Human Papillomavirus (HPV) genotypes. Despite the detection of HPV in breast carcinomas, the virus’s activity against this type of cancer remains controversial. HPV infection promotes remodeling of the host’s immune response, resulting in an immunosuppressive profile. This study assessed the individual role of HPV oncogenes in the cell line MDA-MB-231 transfected with the E5, E6, and E7 oncogenes and co-cultured with peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Immunophenotyping was conducted to evaluate immune system modulation. There was an increase in CD4+ T cell numbers when compared with non-transfected and transfected MDA-MB-231, especially in the Treg profile. Pro-inflammatory intracellular cytokines, such as IFN-γ, TNF-α, and IL-17, were impaired by transfected cells, and a decrease in the cytolytic activity of the CD8+ and CD56+ lymphocytes was observed in the presence of HPV oncogenes, mainly with E6 and E7. The E6 and E7 oncogenes decrease monocyte expression, activating the expected M1 profile. In the monocytes found, a pro-inflammatory role was observed according to the cytokines released in the supernatant. In conclusion, the MDA-MB-231 cell lineage transfected with HPV oncogenes can downregulate the number and function of lymphocytes and monocytes.

Lung cancer has the highest mortality rates worldwide, and Human Papillomavirus (HPV) has been associated with its carcinogenesis. In this study, HPV16 genes’ expressions were investigated in patient samples, along with the immunological response promoted by lymphocytes and monocytes in A549 cells transfected with HPV oncogenes and co-cultured with PBMC. An increase in the expression of E5 was observed in the patients’ samples. In the in vitro analysis, a decrease in the number of monocytes and cytotoxic cells was observed when co-stimulated by E6 and E7, and it promoted an increase in the Th2 profile. In contrast, the high proliferation of cytotoxic cells in A549 cells transfected with E5, associated with the high expression of costimulatory molecules in monocytes, suggests a low capacity of E5 to inhibit the presentation of antigens by antigen-presenting cells (APC) and a possible use of E5 in future therapeutic strategies against lung cancers associated with HPV.

Neste trabalho analisamos a capacidade do ouro em preservar o valor de uma carteira de investimentos composta por açöes negociadas na Bolsa de Valores de Säo Paulo (BM&FBovespa) diante de variaçöes extremas do mercado. Para tanto, utilizamos um teste de razäo de verossimilhança baseado na estrutura de dependencia entre o ouro e o Índice Brasil 100 (IBrX 100). Investigamos se quando esse índice experimenta uma forte queda, o ouro responde com o crescimento extremo de valor ou vice-versa. Inicialmente, a partir da teoria dos valores extremos (TVE), identificamos movimentos extremos em ambos os mercados. Assim, pudemos analisar a relaçâo entre o ouro e o mercado acionário brasileiro através da formulaçâo de várias hipóteses sobre a dependencia condicional entre ambos. Utilizando dados diários da cotaçâo do mercado de açöes e do ouro referentes ao período compreendido entre janeiro de 2000 e março de 2015, encontramos evidencias de que o ouro atua como hedge e como fraco valor refugio diante de movimentos do mercado acionário.

Salmonella spp. are known to persist in the environment. Wild animals are believed to act as important reservoirs, with antimicrobial resistance frequently occurring in the environment. However, little is known about the role of the wildlife in Bahia as a reservoir for Salmonella in Brazil. This study aimed to isolate and characterize Salmonella spp. from wildlife in the Atlantic Forest and Caatinga biomes considering indicators such as the animal species, degree of anthropization, sampling area, and feeding habits. Convenience wildlife sampling and characterization were conducted, followed by microbiological and molecular identification of Salmonella isolates, serotyping, and antimicrobial susceptibility testing. A total of 674 fecal samples were collected from 12 municipalities during 2015–2021, and 4 were positive for the following Salmonella species: Salmonella enterica subspecies enterica serovar Agona (n = 1), Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serogroup O:16 (n = 2), and Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Muenchen (n = 1). Antimicrobial susceptibility analysis revealed that one isolate was resistant to six antibiotics, including extended-spectrum penicillins and beta-lactamase inhibitors. These results indicated a low frequency of Salmonella spp. in the sampled forest fragments. The presence of Salmonella in wild animals increases the risk to public health and biodiversity and indicates that they can act as sentinels of environmental contamination or indicators of preservation.

Habitat loss and fragmentation, especially due to agriculture expansion, pose the main threats to biodiversity conservation. While some species are able to survive and proliferate in human-modified habitats (winner species), others are highly dependent on well-preserved habitats, being more vulnerable to extinction (losers). Many raptors can be considered loser species due to their high trophic position, large home ranges, and low reproductive rates. Consequently, this group is frequently used to reflect the environmental quality of habitats and the biodiversity status of communities. Here we describe the diurnal raptor assemblages found in shaded-cocoa agroforests ( cabrucas ) of Southern Bahia, Brazil, and the determinants of raptor occupancy in this system. We systematically surveyed diurnal raptors in 16 cabruca sites using complementary sampling methods – active search, playback, and point-count – and modeled species occupancy using covariates related to vegetation structure, landscape, management intensity, and biological traits (body mass, trophic level, and diet specialisation). We found a high number of species (at least 18) as able to use cabrucas and a negative relationship between species occupancy and the degree of diet specialisation. Thus, our results suggest that cabrucas have a high potential to mitigate the effects of forest loss and fragmentation on diurnal raptors, but this system alone may not support complete assemblages of this group. It highlights the need for the maintenance of forest remnants in the landscapes to increase species diversity at a regional scale and to assure the conservation of this group in Southern Bahian Atlantic Forest.

During play, primates may become more vulnerable to predation. Our goal was to examine the potential role of predation risk on the play behavior of 3 groups of golden-headed lion tamarin, Leontopithecus chrysomelas, in shaded cocoa agroforest (cabruca) of Southern Bahia, Brazil. We identified the preferred (and safer) locations on vertical strata during playtime and investigated if frequency and duration of play differed according to group size. All groups preferred to play on the lower levels of vertical strata, which may be perceived as either a safer environment or as a more suitable location for play due to the vegetation structure. The smallest group played less than the others, while the largest group played more and for longer periods. Our data suggest that predation risk can influence where play takes place as well as its frequency and length.