Little is known about the existence of drug-resistant Toxoplasma gondii strains and their possible impact on clinics. To expand our knowledge about the existence of natural variations on drug susceptibility of T. gondii strains in Brazil, we evaluated the in vitro and in vivo susceptibility to sulfadiazine (SDZ) and pyrimethamine (PYR) of three atypical strains (Wild2, Wild3, and Wild4) isolated from free-living wild birds. In vitro susceptibility assay showed that the three strains were equally susceptible to SDZ and PYR but variations in the susceptibility were observed to SDZ+PYR treatment. Variations in the proliferation rates in vitro and spontaneous conversion to bradyzoites were also accessed for all strains. Wild2 showed a lower cystogenesis capacity compared to Wild3 and Wild4. In the in vivo analysis, showed that while Wild3 was highly susceptible to all SDZ and PYR doses, and their combination, Wild2 and Wild4 showed low susceptibility to the lower doses of SDZ or PYR. Interestingly, Wild2 was also low susceptible to the higher doses of SDZ, PYR and their combination. Our results suggest that the variability to treatment response by T. gondii isolates could possibly be related not only to drug resistance but also the strain cystogenesis capacity.

Little is known about the existence of drug-resistant Toxoplasma gondii strains and their possible impact on clinic outcomes. To expand our knowledge about the existence of natural variations on drug susceptibility of T. gondii strains in Brazil, we evaluated the in vitro and in vivo susceptibility to sulfadiazine (SDZ) and pyrimethamine (PYR) of three atypical strains (Wild2, Wild3, and Wild4) isolated from free-living wild birds. In vitro susceptibility assay showed that the three strains were equally susceptible to SDZ and PYR but variations in the susceptibility were observed to SDZ plus PYR treatment. Variations in the proliferation rates in vitro and spontaneous conversion to bradyzoites were also accessed for all strains. Wild2 showed a lower cystogenesis capacity compared to Wild3 and Wild4. The in vivo analysis showed that while Wild3 was highly susceptible to all SDZ and PYR doses, and their combination, Wild2 and Wild4 showed low susceptibility to the lower doses of SDZ or PYR. Interestingly, Wild2 presented low susceptibility to the higher doses of SDZ, PYR and their combination. Our results suggest that the variability in treatment response by T. gondii isolates could possibly be related not only to drug resistance but also to the strain cystogenesis capacity.

ESTE RELATO DE EXPERIÊNCIA DISSERTA SOBRE AS VIVÊNCIAS INICIAIS DE LICENCIANDOS DO CURSO DE CIÊNCIAS BIOLÓGICAS DA UNIVERSIDADE FEDERAL DE MINAS GERAIS NO PROGRAMA DE RESIDÊNCIA PEDAGÓGICA DE BIOLOGIA DA CAPES-UFMG DURANTE PARTE DO ANO DE 2020, UM ANO ATÍPICO, DEVIDO A PANDEMIA DA COVID-19. DIANTE DESTE CONTEXTO PANDÊMICO, A PARTICIPAÇÃO DOS BOLSISTAS TEM OCORRIDO DE FORMA REMOTA EM UMA ESCOLA ESTADUAL DA REGIÃO METROPOLITANA DE BELO HORIZONTE. FORAM RELATADAS EXPERIÊNCIAS VIRTUAIS QUE OS RESIDENTES TIVERAM DESDE O INÍCIO DO PROGRAMA, SENDO ESTAS AS PRINCIPAIS: A CRIAÇÃO DO CANAL NO YOUTUBE, O ACOMPANHAMENTO E EXECUÇÃO DOS PETS, A CRIAÇÃO DE VIDEOAULAS TANTO ASSÍNCRONAS, COMO SÍNCRONAS. ESSAS VIVÊNCIAS ACONTECERAM NO ENSINO REMOTO, E AVALIAMOS COMO FUNDAMENTAIS PARA O APERFEIÇOAMENTO DA INICIAÇÃO À DOCÊNCIA DOS INTEGRANTES DESSE PROGRAMA, VISTO QUE A EDUCAÇÃO TEVE QUE SE ADAPTAR E, PORTANTO, OS FUTUROS E ATUAIS PROFESSORES TAMBÉM.