Effect of vaccination in Brazil against COVID-19 and its behavior against variants of concern and their sublineages Paulo Monteiro Araujo, Susan Catherine Lima Lemos, Maria Eduarda de Carvalho Barbosa, Igor Frederico da Silveira Ramos, Marcília Pinheiro da Costa, et al. Ciencia E Saude Coletiva, 2026 This study aims to evaluate the effect of vaccination in Brazil against COVID-19 by studying correlations. An ecological study was carried out that looked at the number of cases, stratifying them by the variants of concern (VOC) of SARS-CoV-2 and its sublineages, deaths, vaccination coverage and stringency index, evaluating the relationship of these variables using Kendall’s tau correlation coefficient (τ). It was possible to observe a strong correlation between the increase in vaccination coverage, total vaccinations (τ = -0.702, p < 0.001, 95%CI [-0.723; -0.679]) and immunized individuals (τ = -0.717, p < 0.001, 95%CI [-0.737; -0.695]), and the reduction in new deaths. There is also a relationship with the decrease in new cases, although considerably weaker. When stratifying by VOC, what stands out is what was observed in omicron and its sublineages, whose vaccination proved incapable of containing, suggesting that the negative correlation (τ = -0.199, p < 0.001, 95%CI [-0.249; -0.141]) between the number of estimated cases and the stringency index may be part of the explanation. The COVID-19 pandemic has required a cohesive, global effort to deal with it, and the effect of vaccination on reducing new cases and deaths for the Brazilian population is undeniable; however, it is important to combine these measures with other preventive actions.
Characterization of the Interaction of a Novel Anticancer Molecule with PMMA, PCL, and PLGA Polymers via Computational Chemistry Edwar D. Montenegro, Jamylle M. Nunes, Igor F. S. Ramos, Renata G. Almeida, Eufrânio N. da Silva Júnior, et al. Applied Sciences Switzerland, 2025 The development of anticancer drugs is costly and time intensive. Computational approaches optimize the process by studying molecules such as naphthoquinones. This research explores the quantitative structure–activity relationship (QSPR) and molecular interactions among 2,2-dimethyl-3-((3-nitrophenyl)amino)-2,3-dihydronaphtho[1,2-b]furan-4,5-dione (QPhNO2), a Nor-β-Lapachone derivative with anticancer properties, and the following polymers for nanoencapsulation: polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), polycaprolactone (PCL), and poly-lactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA). Spartan 14 optimized the compounds using density functional theory (DFT), while ArgusLab performed docking, and Discovery Studio analyzed post-docking results. Simulations indicated that polymers with larger energy gaps are more stable and less prone to deformation than QPhNO2, facilitating interaction with polymer chains. The binding energies for PMMA/QPhNO2, PCL/QPhNO2, and PLGA/QPhNO2 interactions were −4.607, −4.437, and −1.814 kcal/mol, respectively. Docking analysis revealed non-bonded interactions between polymers and QPhNO2. These findings highlight the role of computational methods in nanoencapsulation and molecular characterization, guiding the development of future analogs and combinations.
Biopolymer from Annona muricata Residues as a Potential Sustainable Raw Material for Industrial Applications Igor F. S. Ramos, Samuel C. Dias, Talissa B. C. Lopes, Francisco T. dos S. Silva Júnior, Ricardo de Araújo, et al. Polysaccharides, 2024 Annona muricata is a fruit species belonging to the Annonaceae family, which is native to the warmer tropical areas of North and South America. A large amount of discarded residue from A. muricata is of interest for obtaining new industrial inputs. To propose the applications of the biopolymer from A. muricata residues (Biop_AmRs), this study aimed to characterize this input chemically and functionally, as well as to evaluate its potential for hemocompatibility and cytotoxicity activity in vitro. Biop_AmRs is an anionic heteropolysaccharide composed of glucose, arabinose, xylose, galactose, mannose, uronic acid, and proteins. This biopolymer exhibited a semicrystalline structure and good thermal stability. Biop_AmRs exhibited excellent water holding capacity, emulsifying properties, and mucoadhesiviness and demonstrated hemocompatibility and cytocompatibility on the L929 cell line. These results indicate possible applications for this biopolymer as a potential environmentally friendly raw material in the food, pharmaceutical, biomedical, and cosmetic industries.
Naphth[1,2-d]imidazoles Bioactive from β-Lapachone: Fluorescent Probes and Cytotoxic Agents to Cancer Cells Victória Laysna dos Anjos Santos, Arlan de Assis Gonsalves, Délis Galvão Guimarães, Sidney Silva Simplicio, Helinando Pequeno de Oliveira, et al. Molecules, 2023 Theranostics combines therapeutic and imaging diagnostic techniques that are extremely dependent on the action of imaging agent, transporter of therapeutic molecules, and specific target ligand, in which fluorescent probes can act as diagnostic agents. In particular, naphthoimidazoles are potential bioactive heterocycle compounds to be used in several biomedical applications. With this aim, a group of seven naphth[1,2-d]imidazole compounds were synthesized from β-lapachone. Their optical properties and their cytotoxic activity against cancer cells and their compounds were evaluated and confirmed promising values for molar absorptivity coefficients (on the order of 103 to 104), intense fluorescence emissions in the blue region, and large Stokes shifts (20–103 nm). Furthermore, the probes were also selective for analyzed cancer cells (leukemic cells (HL-60). The naphth[1,2-d]imidazoles showed IC50 between 8.71 and 29.92 μM against HL-60 cells. For HCT-116 cells, values for IC50 between 21.12 and 62.11 μM were observed. The selective cytotoxicity towards cancer cells and the fluorescence of the synthesized naphth[1,2-d]imidazoles are promising responses that make possible the application of these components in antitumor theranostic systems.
The Role of Microorganisms in the Use of Food-Waste Monalisa de Alencar Lucena, Igor Frederico S. Ramos, Valesca Lima Fernandes, Allana Costa Araújo Souza, Márcia dos Santos Rizzo, et al. Bioprospection of Co Products and Agro Industrial Wastes A Sustainable Biotechnological Approach, 2023
Synthesis and antileishmanial activity of naphthoquinone-based hybrids Cleônia Roberta Melo Araújo, Délis Galvão Guimarães, Sidney Silva Simplício, Valéria Carlos de Sousa, Klinger Antonio Da Franca Rodrigues, et al. Revista Colombiana De Ciencias Quimico Farmaceuticas Colombia, 2021
Intraflagellar transport complex in Leishmania spp. in silico genome-wide screening and annotation of gene function Genetics and Molecular Research, 2007
