Screening for High-Risk Human Papillomavirus Reveals HPV52 and HPV58 among Pediatric and Adult Patient Saliva Samples.

Previous research has demonstrated that the human papillomavirus (HPV) can infect a wide range of human tissues, including those within the oral cavity. High-risk oral HPV strains have been associated with the development and progression of oral cancers, including oral squamous cell carcinomas. Although many studies have examined the prevalence of the high-risk strains HPV16 and HPV18, far fewer have assessed the prevalence of other high-risk HPV strains. An approved study protocol was used to identify HPV52 and HPV58 among clinical samples (n = 87) from a saliva biorepository. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) and validated primers for HPV52 and HPV58 were used to facilitate this screening. This screening demonstrated that a total of n = 4/45 or 8.9% of adult saliva samples harbored high-risk HPV52, and n = 2/45 or 4.4% tested positive for high-risk HPV58. In addition, a total of n = 6/42 or 14.3% of the pediatric saliva samples tested positive for high-risk HPV, including n = 5/42 or 11.9% with HPV52 and n = 3/42 or 7.1% for HPV58. These data demonstrate the presence of the high-risk oncogenic HPV52 and HPV58 strains among both adult and pediatric clinical patient samples. More detailed longitudinal research must be conducted to determine whether this prevalence may be increasing or decreasing over time. In addition, these data strongly support public health prevention efforts, such as knowledge and awareness of the nine-valent HPV vaccine covering additional high-risk strains, including HPV52 and HPV58.

Zoonotic Disease Risk and Life-History Traits: Are Reservoirs Fast Life Species?

The relationship between humans, wildlife and disease transmission can be complex and context-dependent, and disease dynamics may be determined by idiosyncratic species. Therefore, an outstanding question is how general is the finding that species with faster life histories are more probable hosts of zoonoses. Ecological knowledge on species, jointly with public health data, can provide relevant information on species that should be targeted for epidemiological surveillance or management. We investigated whether mammal species traits can be good indicators of zoonotic reservoir status in an intensified agricultural region of Argentina. We find support for a relationship between reservoir status and the pace of life syndrome, confirming that fast life histories can be a factor of zoonotic risk. Nonetheless, we observed that for certain zoonosis, reservoirs may display a slow pace of life, suggesting that idiosyncratic interactions can occur. We conclude that applying knowledge from the life history-disease relationship can contribute significantly to disease risk assessment. Such an approach may be especially valuable in the current context of environmental change and agricultural intensification.

Validating biochemical features at the genome level in the Antarctic bacterium Hymenobacter sp. strain UV11.

We present experimental data that complement and validate some biochemical features at the genome level in the UVC-resistant Antarctic bacterium Hymenobacter sp. UV11 strain. The genome was sequenced, assembled and annotated. It has 6 096 246 bp, a GC content of 60.6% and 5155 predicted genes. The secretome analysis, by combining in silico predictions with shotgun proteomics data, showed that UV11 strain produces extracellular proteases and carbohydrases with potential biotechnological uses. We observed the formation of outer membrane vesicles, mesosomes and carbon-storage compounds by using transmission electron microscopy. The in silico analysis of the genome revealed the presence of genes involved in the metabolism of glycogen-like molecules and starch. By HPLC-UV-Vis analysis and 1H-NMR spectra, we verified that strain UV11 produces xanthophyll-like carotenoids such as 2'-hydroxyflexixanthin, and the in silico analysis showed that this bacterium has genes involved in the biosynthesis of cathaxanthin, zeaxanthin and astaxanthin. We also found genes involved in the repair of UV-damaged DNA such as a photolyase, the nucleotide excision repair system and the production of ATP-dependent proteases that are important cellular components involved in the endurance to physiological stresses. This information will help us to better understand the ecological role played by Hymenobacter strains in the extreme Antarctic environment.

Characterization of the cellulase-secretome produced by the Antarctic bacterium Flavobacterium sp. AUG42.

Flavobacterium sp. AUG42 is a cellulase-producing bacterium isolated from the Antarctic oligochaete Grania sp. (Annelida). In this work, we report that AUG42 produces a glycoside hydrolase cocktail with CMCase, PASCase and cellobiase activities (optimum pHs and temperatures ranging from 5.5 to 6.5 and 40 to 50 °C, respectively). The time-course analyses of the bacterial growth and cellulase production showed that the cocktail has maximal activity at the stationary phase when growing at 16 °C with filter paper as a cellulosic carbon source, among the tested substrates. The analyses of the CAZome and the identification of secreted proteins by shotgun Mass Spectrometry analysis showed that five glycoside hydrolyses are present in the bacterial secretome, which probably cooperate in the degradation of the cellulosic substrates. Two of these glycoside hydrolyses may harbor putative carbohydrate binding modules, both with a cleft-like active site. The cellulolytic cocktail was assayed in saccharification experiments using carboxymethylcellulose as a substrate and results showed the release of glucose (a fermentable sugar) and other reducing-sugars, after 24 h incubation. The ecological relevance of producing cellulases in the Antarctic environment, as well as their potential use in the bio-refinery industry, are discussed.

Discovery of A-type procyanidin dimers in yellow raspberries by untargeted metabolomics and correlation based data analysis.

INTRODUCTION: Raspberries are becoming increasingly popular due to their reported health beneficial properties. Despite the presence of only trace amounts of anthocyanins, yellow varieties seems to show similar or better effects in comparison to conventional raspberries. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this work is to characterize the metabolic differences between red and yellow berries, focussing on the compounds showing a higher concentration in yellow varieties. METHODS: The metabolomic profile of 13 red and 12 yellow raspberries (of different varieties, locations and collection dates) was determined by UPLC-TOF-MS. A novel approach based on Pearson correlation on the extracted ion chromatograms was implemented to extract the pseudospectra of the most relevant biomarkers from high energy LC-MS runs. The raw data will be made publicly available on MetaboLights (MTBLS333). RESULTS: Among the metabolites showing higher concentration in yellow raspberries it was possible to identify a series of compounds showing a pseudospectrum similar to that of A-type procyanidin polymers. The annotation of this group of compounds was confirmed by specific MS/MS experiments and performing standard injections. CONCLUSIONS: In berries lacking anthocyanins the polyphenol metabolism might be shifted to the formation of a novel class of A-type procyanidin polymers.

Nonsense Mutation Inside Anthocyanidin Synthase Gene Controls Pigmentation in Yellow Raspberry (Rubus idaeus L.).

Yellow raspberry fruits have reduced anthocyanin contents and offer unique possibility to study the genetics of pigment biosynthesis in this important soft fruit. Anthocyanidin synthase (Ans) catalyzes the conversion of leucoanthocyanidin to anthocyanidin, a key committed step in biosynthesis of anthocyanins. Molecular analysis of the Ans gene enabled to identify an inactive ans allele in a yellow fruit raspberry ("Anne"). A 5 bp insertion in the coding region was identified and designated as ans+5. The insertion creates a premature stop codon resulting in a truncated protein of 264 amino acids, compared to 414 amino acids wild-type ANS protein. This mutation leads to loss of function of the encoded protein that might also result in transcriptional downregulation of Ans gene as a secondary effect, i.e., nonsense-mediated mRNA decay. Further, this mutation results in loss of visible and detectable anthocyanin pigments. Functional characterization of raspberry Ans/ans alleles via complementation experiments in the Arabidopsis thaliana ldox mutant supports the inactivity of encoded protein through ans+5 and explains the proposed block in the anthocyanin biosynthetic pathway in raspberry. Taken together, our data shows that the mutation inside Ans gene in raspberry is responsible for yellow fruit phenotypes.

HTLV-I: Enfermedades asociadas y seroprevalencia en la provincia de San Juan / HTLV-I: Associate diseases and seroprevalence in the state of San Juan

Presentamos nuestra experiencia en 5 casos clínicos: 3 ATLL (todos fallecidos) y 2 HAM/TSP. Incluímos ell ° caso de ATLL sometido a TAMO alogénico en el país. Presentamos nuestra experiencia en 5 casos clínicos: 3 ATLL (todos fallecidos) y 2 HAM/TSP. Incluímos ell ° caso de ATLL sometido a TAMO alogénico en el país. indeterminados". Palabras clave: Leucemia/Linfoma T del Adulto (ATLL); Mielopatía asociada a HTLV-I (HAM/TSP) trasplante alogénico; donantes de sangre; HGIP

Validación de una versión preliminar chilena del Child Abuse Potential Inventory para su uso en Chile / Validation of a preliminary chilean version of the Child Abuse Potential Inventory for it useful in Chile

Se administró la Versión Preliminar Chilena del Child Abuse Potential Inventory, con el fin de determinar su capacidad discriminante, a una muestra de sujetos perpetradores de maltrato físico infanto-juvenil (n=40) y a una muestra de comparación de sujetos no maltratadores (n=40), equiparados en 9 variables sociodemográficas. Se analizaron las características psicométricas de esta versión chilena a través del estudio de su validez de constructo (clasificación correcta y diferencia en los puntajes globales) y de su confiabilidad (consistencia interna), y se llevaron a cabo análisis de ítems univariados y multivariados. Para el grupo total(n=80), el porcentaje de clasificación correcta fue del 82,6 por ciento; mientras que para las muestras de maltratadores físicos y de comparación equiparada fue del 77,5 por ciento y 87,5 por ciento, respectivamente. Los análisis de ítems arrojaron un total de 51 ítems más significativos y el estudio de la confiabilidad de esta versión chilena entregó índices superiores a 82. Estos resultados revelan que la Versión Preliminar Chilena del CAP Inventory se comporta de manera similar a su versión origional en nuestra realidad. Se hace necesario, entonces, continuar trabajando en el desarrollo y validación de una versión definitiva de este inventario para la detección del maltrato físico infanto-juvenil en Chile