Alterada nomencatura do antigo Instituto de Genética e Bioquímica: Resolução 05/99 do Conselho Universitário https://repositorio.ufu.br/handle/123456789/5167 2026-08-28T16:58:17Z 2026-08-28T16:58:17Z https://repositorio.ufu.br/handle/123456789/49926 2026-08-28T06:20:15Z 2026-07-29T00:00:00Z

Title: Novos compostos da classe dos benzotiazóis: atividades biológicas e alterações moleculares em células tumorais mamárias triplo-negativas Abstract: Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed malignant tumor among women worldwide. Different therapeutic strategies are employed, and for its most aggressive subtype, triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), chemotherapy remains the main clinical approach. However, the toxicity of the drugs used, the activation of resistance mechanisms, and recurrence rates remain major concerns. In this context, the search for new compounds is urgent, and benzothiazole-derived compounds have stood out due to their ability to modulate the redox and inflammatory status of cells. The present study aimed to evaluate the effects of nine novel compounds from this class in BC cell lines through cytotoxicity, clonogenicity, migration, and qPCR assays. Human non-tumoral cell lines HFF-1 (fibroblast) and MCF 10A (breast), as well as the tumor cell lines MCF7 (luminal BC) and MDA-MB-231 (triple-negative BC), were cultured. Among the tested compounds, only compound 2 showed activity and selectivity, with an IC50 = 12.26 µM and a selectivity index (SI) > 2.0. In addition, it significantly inhibited the clonogenicity and migration of triple-negative cells after 48 hours of treatment with 3.07 µM (IC50/4) and 6.13 µM (IC50/2) of 2. Finally, qPCR assays demonstrated that the compound 2 modulates the transcripts of IL6, TGFβ, KRT18, and VIM. Therefore, we suggest that compound 2 modulates the epithelial–mesenchymal transition process in TNBC cells, thereby controlling their aggressiveness. Additional studies are required to validate other EMT-related targets, including animal models.

2026-07-29T00:00:00Z https://repositorio.ufu.br/handle/123456789/49924 2026-08-28T06:20:14Z 2026-08-06T00:00:00Z

Title: Análise de novos compostos orgânicos sintéticos em formas promastigotas de Leishmania (Leishmania) amazonensis: potencial citotóxico e interações in silico Abstract: Leishmaniasis is a neglected tropical disease caused by protozoa of the genus Leishmania. This disease has two main forms: visceral leishmaniasis and cutaneous leishmaniasis. In Brazil, one of the main species responsible for the latter is Leishmania (L.) amazonensis. Its treatment involves drugs that are highly toxic to the human body, and there are reports of strains resistant to standard treatments, making it necessary to develop new leishmanicidal alternatives. This study aimed to investigate the cytotoxic potential of three synthetic compounds against promastigote forms of L. (L.) amazonensis and in murine macrophages, and to conduct in silico investigations to identify a potential protein target for these compounds. The results showed high cytotoxicity and selectivity of the tested compounds, with compound RMS25 standing out, exhibiting an IC50 of 1.194 μM and a selectivity of 20.335. The application of docking and molecular dynamics techniques to the selected protein, Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 from L. (L.) amazonensis, indicated favorable results for compound RMS25, such as high complex stability, consistent protein-ligand interactions, and low binding energy, comparable to a reference inhibitor.

2026-08-06T00:00:00Z https://repositorio.ufu.br/handle/123456789/49888 2026-08-28T06:20:23Z 2026-08-07T00:00:00Z

Title: Efeitos da exposição a pesticidas sobre a citotoxicidade e o potencial de membrana mitocondrial em células hepáticas humanas Abstract: The intensive use of pesticides in modern agriculture has increased in recent decades, driven by the growing demand for food and the need to control pests and diseases in crops of great economic importance. However, human exposure to these compounds, especially through residues present in food and the environment, has raised concerns due to their potential toxic effects. The liver is one of the main target organs of toxicity caused by agricultural pesticides, as it plays a central role in the biotransformation and detoxification of these compounds. In this context, this study aimed to evaluate the effects of the fungicides dimethomorph (DIM) and fenpropimorph (FEN) on cell viability, metabolic activity, and mitochondrial membrane potential in human hepatic cells lines HepG2 and LX-2. The cells were treated for 24 hours with different concentrations of the fungicides and subjected to Sulforhodamine B (SRB), Alamar Blue and tetramethylrhodamine ethyl ester (TMRE) assays. After 24 hours of exposure, DIM at 300 µM significantly reduced cell viability and metabolic activity in both HepG2 and LX-2 cells, whereas FEN reduced LX-2 cell viability at 1 µM. Alterations in mitochondrial membrane potential were also observed, with decreased TMRE fluorescence in HepG2 cells exposed to DIM and FEN and increased TMRE fluorescence in LX-2 cells, indicating concentration- and cell line-dependent mitochondrial responses. These findings contribute to the understanding of the cellular mechanisms associated with the toxicity of these fungicides and reinforce the importance of in vitro studies to support future risk assessments related to human exposure to pesticides.

2026-08-07T00:00:00Z https://repositorio.ufu.br/handle/123456789/49878 2026-08-28T06:20:17Z 2026-08-06T00:00:00Z

Title: Biossíntese de nanopartículas de ouro com extratos vegetais de Calliandra dysantha: estudo da atividade antibiofilme Abstract: Nanobiotechnology has advanced the sustainable biosynthesis of nanoparticles using plant derived bioactive compounds as reducing and stabilizing agents. Among these nanomaterials, gold nanoparticles have attracted considerable attention due to their unique physicochemical, optical, and biological properties. This study reports the biosynthesis of gold nanoparticles using flower and leaf extracts of Calliandra dysantha, a species native to the Brazilian Cerrado, and evaluates their antibiofilm activity against Staphylococcus aureus. The nanoparticles were synthesized using a green approach and characterized by ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) absorption spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), dynamic light scattering (DLS), and zeta potential analysis. Gold nanoparticle formation was confirmed by the characteristic localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) absorption band observed between 500 and 550 nm. Nanoparticles synthesized using flower extracts exhibited an average diameter of 13.8 ± 3.4 nm with low polydispersity, whereas those synthesized using leaf extracts showed an average diameter of 20.8 ± 12.7 nm and higher polydispersity. Dynamic light scattering analysis revealed that gold nanoparticles synthesized using flower extracts had a mean hydrodynamic diameter of 64.47 ± 10.62 nm and a polydispersity index (PDI) of 0.26 ± 0.01. In contrast, nanoparticles synthesized with leaf extracts exhibited a mean hydrodynamic diameter of 80.55 ± 0.04 nm and a PDI of 0.24 ± 0.02. Zeta potential measurements indicated moderate colloidal stability with a low tendency toward aggregation, with zeta potential values of −25 mV for flower extract-mediated nanoparticles and −23 mV for leaf extract-mediated nanoparticles. Antibiofilm activity was evaluated using the MTT assay, which enabled the assessment of the metabolic activity of biofilm-associated bacteria following exposure to the nanoparticles at concentrations of 125, 62.5, and 31.2 µg/mL. At 125 µg/mL, all treatments exhibited their greatest antibiofilm activity, indicating that both the extracts and the synthesized nanoparticles effectively reduced the metabolic activity of Staphylococcus aureus biofilms. Gold nanoparticles synthesized using flower extracts showed 93.51% antibiofilm activity, whereas those synthesized using leaf extracts showed 86% antibiofilm activity. These findings demonstrate that flower and leaf extracts of Calliandra dysantha serve as efficiently as reducing and stabilizing agents for the biosynthesis of gold nanoparticles with excellent antibiofilm activity, highlighting their potential for the development of novel strategies for bacterial biofilm control and future biotechnological applications.

2026-08-06T00:00:00Z