Role of MicroRNAs in Signaling Pathways Associated with the Pathogenesis of Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis: A Focus on Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition.

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a chronic and progressive disease with high mortality and unclear etiology. Previous evidence supports that the origin of this disease is associated with epigenetic alterations, age, and environmental factors. IPF initiates with chronic epithelial lung injuries, followed by basal membrane destruction, which promotes the activation of myofibroblasts and excessive synthesis of extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins, as well as epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Due to miRNAs' role as regulators of apoptosis, proliferation, differentiation, and cell-cell interaction processes, some studies have involved miRNAs in the biogenesis and progression of IPF. In this context, the analysis and discussion of the probable association of miRNAs with the signaling pathways involved in the development of IPF would improve our knowledge of the associated molecular mechanisms, thereby facilitating its evaluation as a therapeutic target for this severe lung disease. In this work, the most recent publications evaluating the role of miRNAs as regulators or activators of signal pathways associated with the pathogenesis of IPF were analyzed. The search in Pubmed was made using the following terms: "miRNAs and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF)"; "miRNAs and IPF and signaling pathways (SP)"; and "miRNAs and IPF and SP and IPF pathogenesis". Additionally, we focus mainly on those works where the signaling pathways involved with EMT, fibroblast differentiation, and synthesis of ECM components were assessed. Finally, the importance and significance of miRNAs as potential therapeutic or diagnostic tools for the treatment of IPF are discussed.

Molecular detection of Rickettsia sp. cf. Rickettsia monacensis in Ixodes sp. cf. Ixodes affinis collected from white-tailed deer in Campeche, Mexico.

Deer encompass a group of large-sized vertebrates that serve as hosts for a wide variety of ectoparasites, mainly ticks. In Mexico, ticks have relevance as vectors of pathogenic microorganisms, and 20 species of hard ticks are associated with four species of deer, although only a single study has been conducted to detect bacterial agents associated with ticks from deer in the country. In February, 2019 three white-tailed deers (Odocoileus virginianus) were hunted from the locality of Chiná from the municipality of Campeche, Mexico. The sampled deers were parasitized by 26 ticks belonged to three species: Amblyomma mixtum (5♀, 1♂), Amblyomma ovale (2♀, 1♂), and Ixodes sp. cf. Ixodes affinis (15♀, 2♂). Specimens were screened individually for Anaplasma, Borrelia, Ehrlichia, and Rickettsia DNA by the amplification of several fragments of 16S rRNA, gltA, 17-kDa, and flaB genes. This study report for the first time the presence of Rickettsia sp. cf. Rickettsia monacensis in Ixodes sp. cf. Ixodes affinis in Mexico.

New records of Haemaphysalis leporispalustris in the Transmexican Volcanic Belt province of Mexico with detection of rickettsial infection.

Haemaphysalis leporispalustris is a hard tick species that have been recorded mainly parasitizing rabbits and birds across the Nearctic and Neotropical regions. Particularly in Mexico, most of the records come from historical collection journeys from before the 1960s. In this paper, we bring new geographical records for this species in Mexico to provide the first genetic data in the country through the amplification of the 16S, COI, and 18S genes, and the detection of a rickettsial agent as well.

Choriodecidual leukocytes display a unique gene expression signature in spontaneous labor at term.

Prior to and during the process of human labor, maternal circulating leukocytes infiltrate the maternal-fetal interface (choriodecidua) and become activated resembling choriodecidual leukocytes. Since, there is no evidence comparing maternal circulating and choriodecidual leukocytes, herein, we characterized their transcriptome and explored the biological processes enriched in choriodecidual leukocytes. From women undergoing spontaneous term labor we isolated circulating and choriodecidual leukocytes, performed microarray analysis (n = 5) and qRT-PCR validation (n = 9) and interaction network analysis with up-regulated genes. We found 270 genes up-regulated and only 17 genes down-regulated in choriodecidual leukocytes compared to maternal circulating leukocytes. The most up-regulated genes were CCL18, GPNMB, SEPP1, FN1, RNASE1, SPP1, C1QC, and PLTP. The biological processes enriched in choriodecidual leukocytes were cell migration and regulation of immune response, chemotaxis, and humoral immune responses. Our results show striking differences between the transcriptome of choriodecidual and maternal circulating leukocytes. Choriodecidual leukocytes are enriched in immune mediators implicated in the spontaneous process of labor at term.

Molecular Confirmation of Rickettsia parkeri in Amblyomma ovale Ticks, Veracruz, Mexico.

We found Rickettsia parkeri in Amblyomma ovale ticks collected in Veracruz, Mexico, in 2018. We sequenced gene segments of gltA, htrA, sca0, and sca5; phylogenetic reconstruction revealed near-complete identity with R. parkeri strain Atlantic Rainforest. Enhanced surveillance is needed in Mexico to determine the public health relevance of this bacterium.

Pharmaco-Geno-Proteo-Metabolomics and Translational Research in Cancer.

The diagnosis, prognosis and treatment of cancer has had a great improvement due to the "omics" technologies such as genomics, proteomics, epigenomics, pharmacogenomics, and metabolomics. The technological progress of these technologies has allowed precision medicine to become a clinical reality. The study of different biomolecules such as DNA, RNA and proteins has helped to detect alterations in genes, changes in gene expression profiles and loss or gain of protein function, which allows us to make associations and better understand the cancer biology. Data obtained from different "omics" technologies gives a complementary spectrum of information that helps us to understand and unveil new information for a better diagnosis, prognosis, prediction of new molecular targets of anticancer therapies, etc. This chapter presents a general landscape of the interaction between the Pharmaco-Geno-Proteo-Metabolomic and translational medicine research in cancer.

Altered DNA methylation in liver and adipose tissues derived from individuals with obesity and type 2 diabetes.

BACKGROUND: Obesity is a well-recognized risk factor for insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes (T2D), although the precise mechanisms underlying the relationship remain unknown. In this study we identified alterations of DNA methylation influencing T2D pathogenesis, in subcutaneous and visceral adipose tissues, liver, and blood from individuals with obesity. METHODS: The study included individuals with obesity, with and without T2D. From these patients, we obtained samples of liver tissue (n = 16), visceral and subcutaneous adipose tissues (n = 30), and peripheral blood (n = 38). We analyzed DNA methylation using Illumina Infinium Human Methylation arrays, and gene expression profiles using HumanHT-12 Expression BeadChip Arrays. RESULTS: Analysis of DNA methylation profiles revealed several loci with differential methylation between individuals with and without T2D, in all tissues. Aberrant DNA methylation was mainly found in the liver and visceral adipose tissue. Gene ontology analysis of genes with altered DNA methylation revealed enriched terms related to glucose metabolism, lipid metabolism, cell cycle regulation, and response to wounding. An inverse correlation between altered methylation and gene expression in the four tissues was found in a subset of genes, which were related to insulin resistance, adipogenesis, fat storage, and inflammation. CONCLUSIONS: Our present findings provide additional evidence that aberrant DNA methylation may be a relevant mechanism involved in T2D pathogenesis among individuals with obesity.

Sequence analysis of mutations and translocations across breast cancer subtypes.

Breast carcinoma is the leading cause of cancer-related mortality in women worldwide, with an estimated 1.38 million new cases and 458,000 deaths in 2008 alone. This malignancy represents a heterogeneous group of tumours with characteristic molecular features, prognosis and responses to available therapy. Recurrent somatic alterations in breast cancer have been described, including mutations and copy number alterations, notably ERBB2 amplifications, the first successful therapy target defined by a genomic aberration. Previous DNA sequencing studies of breast cancer genomes have revealed additional candidate mutations and gene rearrangements. Here we report the whole-exome sequences of DNA from 103 human breast cancers of diverse subtypes from patients in Mexico and Vietnam compared to matched-normal DNA, together with whole-genome sequences of 22 breast cancer/normal pairs. Beyond confirming recurrent somatic mutations in PIK3CA, TP53, AKT1, GATA3 and MAP3K1, we discovered recurrent mutations in the CBFB transcription factor gene and deletions of its partner RUNX1. Furthermore, we have identified a recurrent MAGI3-AKT3 fusion enriched in triple-negative breast cancer lacking oestrogen and progesterone receptors and ERBB2 expression. The MAGI3-AKT3 fusion leads to constitutive activation of AKT kinase, which is abolished by treatment with an ATP-competitive AKT small-molecule inhibitor.

Deregulated MicroRNAs in Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts from Front Tumor Tissues of Lung Adenocarcinoma as Potential Predictors of Tumor Promotion.

Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are the main component of the tumor stroma and promote tumor progression through several mechanisms. Recent evidence indicates that small noncoding RNAs, microRNAs (miRNAs), play key roles in CAF tumor-promoting properties; however, the role of miRNAs in lung cancer-associated fibroblasts remains poorly defined. We characterized the differential miRNA expression profile of fibroblasts isolated from matched tumor front (F-CAFs), inner tumor (In-CAFs), and normal adjacent (NFs) tissues from four lung adenocarcinoma patients (ADs) using microarray analysis. Proliferation and invasion assays of A549 human lung cancer cells in the presence of conditioned medium from F-CAFs, In-CAFs or NFs were performed to assess tumorigenic properties. Ten identified candidate miRNAs in F-CAFs, In-CAFs and NFs from 12 ADs were then validated by RT-PCR. Both F-CAFs and In-CAFs enhanced the proliferation and invasion of A549 cells compared with NFs; moreover, F-CAFs showed a significantly stronger effect than In-CAFs. RT-PCR validation demonstrated three downregulated miRNAs in F-CAFs compared with NFs (miR-145-3p, miR-299-3p, and miR-505-3p), two in F-CAFs compared with In-CAFs (miR-410-3p and miR-485-5p), but no differentially expressed miRNAs between In-CAFs and NFs. Further target-gene prediction and pathway enrichment analysis indicated that deregulated miRNAs in F-CAFs showed significant associations with "pathways in cancer" (miR-145-3p, miR-299-3p and miR-410-3p), "Wnt signaling pathway" (miR-410-3p and miR-505-3p), and "TGF-beta signaling pathway" (miR-410-3p). Importantly, a tumor-promoting growth factor targeted by those miRNAs, VEGFA, was upregulated in F-CAFs compared with NFs, as judged by RT-PCR. In conclusion, deregulated miRNAs in F-CAFs are potentially associated with CAF tumor-promoting properties.

A transcriptome-based model of central memory CD4 T cell death in HIV infection.

BACKGROUND: Human central memory CD4 T cells are characterized by their capacity of proliferation and differentiation into effector memory CD4 T cells. Homeostasis of central memory CD4 T cells is considered a key factor sustaining the asymptomatic stage of Human Immunodeficiency Virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection, while progression to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is imputed to central memory CD4 T cells homeostatic failure. We investigated if central memory CD4 T cells from patients with HIV-1 infection have a gene expression profile impeding proliferation and survival, despite their activated state. METHODS: Using gene expression microarrays, we analyzed mRNA expression patterns in naive, central memory, and effector memory CD4 T cells from healthy controls, and naive and central memory CD4 T cells from patients with HIV-1 infection. Differentially expressed genes, defined by Log2 Fold Change (FC) ≥ |0.5| and Log (odds) > 0, were used in pathway enrichment analyses. RESULTS: Central memory CD4 T cells from patients and controls showed comparable expression of differentiation-related genes, ruling out an effector-like differentiation of central memory CD4 T cells in HIV infection. However, 210 genes were differentially expressed in central memory CD4 T cells from patients compared with those from controls. Expression of 75 of these genes was validated by semi quantitative RT-PCR, and independently reproduced enrichment results from this gene expression signature. The results of functional enrichment analysis indicated movement to cell cycle phases G1 and S (increased CCNE1, MKI67, IL12RB2, ADAM9, decreased FGF9, etc.), but also arrest in G2/M (increased CHK1, RBBP8, KIF11, etc.). Unexpectedly, the results also suggested decreased apoptosis (increased CSTA, NFKBIA, decreased RNASEL, etc.). Results also suggested increased IL-1ß, IFN-γ, TNF, and RANTES (CCR5) activity upstream of the central memory CD4 T cells signature, consistent with the demonstrated milieu in HIV infection. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings support a model where progressive loss of central memory CD4 T cells in chronic HIV-1 infection is driven by increased cell cycle entry followed by mitotic arrest, leading to a non-apoptotic death pathway without actual proliferation, possibly contributing to increased turnover.

Gene-expression profiles in lung adenocarcinomas related to chronic wood smoke or tobacco exposure.

BACKGROUND: Tobacco-smoke is the major etiological factor related to lung cancer. However, other important factor is chronic wood smoke exposure (WSE). Approximately 30 % of lung cancer patients in Mexico have a history of WSE, and present different clinical, pathological and molecular characteristics compared to tobacco related lung cancer, including differences in mutational profiles. There are several molecular alterations identified in WSE associated lung cancer, however most studies have focused on the analysis of changes in several pathogenesis related proteins. METHODS: Our group evaluated gene expression profiles of primary lung adenocarcinoma, from patients with history of WSE or tobacco exposure. Differential expression between these two groups were studied through gene expression microarrays. RESULTS: Results of the gene expression profiling revealed 57 statistically significant genes (p < 0.01). The associated biological functional pathways included: lipid metabolism, biochemistry of small molecules, molecular transport, cell morphology, function and maintenance. A highlight of our analysis is that three of the main functional networks represent 37 differentially expressed genes out of the 57 found. These hubs are related with ubiquitin C, GABA(A) receptor-associated like protein; and the PI3K/AKT and MEK/ERK signaling pathways. CONCLUSION: Our results reflect the intrinsic biology that sustains the development of adenocarcinoma related to WSE and show that there is a different gene expression profile of WSE associated lung adenocarcinoma compared to tobacco exposure, suggesting that they arise through different carcinogenic mechanisms, which may explain the clinical and mutation profile divergences between both lung adenocarcinomas.

On Predicting lung cancer subtypes using 'omic' data from tumor and tumor-adjacent histologically-normal tissue.

BACKGROUND: Adenocarcinoma (ADC) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) are the most prevalent histological types among lung cancers. Distinguishing between these subtypes is critically important because they have different implications for prognosis and treatment. Normally, histopathological analyses are used to distinguish between the two, where the tissue samples are collected based on small endoscopic samples or needle aspirations. However, the lack of cell architecture in these small tissue samples hampers the process of distinguishing between the two subtypes. Molecular profiling can also be used to discriminate between the two lung cancer subtypes, on condition that the biopsy is composed of at least 50 % of tumor cells. However, for some cases, the tissue composition of a biopsy might be a mix of tumor and tumor-adjacent histologically normal tissue (TAHN). When this happens, a new biopsy is required, with associated cost, risks and discomfort to the patient. To avoid this problem, we hypothesize that a computational method can distinguish between lung cancer subtypes given tumor and TAHN tissue. METHODS: Using publicly available datasets for gene expression and DNA methylation, we applied four classification tasks, depending on the possible combinations of tumor and TAHN tissue. First, we used a feature selector (ReliefF/Limma) to select relevant variables, which were then used to build a simple naïve Bayes classification model. Then, we evaluated the classification performance of our models by measuring the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC). Finally, we analyzed the relevance of the selected genes using hierarchical clustering and IPA® software for gene functional analysis. RESULTS: All Bayesian models achieved high classification performance (AUC > 0.94), which were confirmed by hierarchical cluster analysis. From the genes selected, 25 (93 %) were found to be related to cancer (19 were associated with ADC or SCC), confirming the biological relevance of our method. CONCLUSIONS: The results from this study confirm that computational methods using tumor and TAHN tissue can serve as a prognostic tool for lung cancer subtype classification. Our study complements results from other studies where TAHN tissue has been used as prognostic tool for prostate cancer. The clinical implications of this finding could greatly benefit lung cancer patients.

Discovery and prioritization of somatic mutations in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) by whole-exome sequencing.

To gain insight into the genomic basis of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), we performed massively parallel whole-exome sequencing of 55 primary tumor samples from patients with DLBCL and matched normal tissue. We identified recurrent mutations in genes that are well known to be functionally relevant in DLBCL, including MYD88, CARD11, EZH2, and CREBBP. We also identified somatic mutations in genes for which a functional role in DLBCL has not been previously suspected. These genes include MEF2B, MLL2, BTG1, GNA13, ACTB, P2RY8, PCLO, and TNFRSF14. Further, we show that BCL2 mutations commonly occur in patients with BCL2/IgH rearrangements as a result of somatic hypermutation normally occurring at the IgH locus. The BCL2 point mutations are primarily synonymous, and likely caused by activation-induced cytidine deaminase-mediated somatic hypermutation, as shown by comprehensive analysis of enrichment of mutations in WRCY target motifs. Those nonsynonymous mutations that are observed tend to be found outside of the functionally important BH domains of the protein, suggesting that strong negative selection against BCL2 loss-of-function mutations is at play. Last, by using an algorithm designed to identify likely functionally relevant but infrequent mutations, we identify KRAS, BRAF, and NOTCH1 as likely drivers of DLBCL pathogenesis in some patients. Our data provide an unbiased view of the landscape of mutations in DLBCL, and this in turn may point toward new therapeutic strategies for the disease.

Neurocysticercosis: the effectiveness of the cysticidal treatment could be influenced by the host immunity.

Neurocysticercosis, a clinically and radiologically pleomorphic parasitic disease, is still endemic to most non-developed countries of Latin America, Africa, and Asia. Anti-helminthic drugs (AHD) are generally effective and rapidly destroy parenchymal cysticerci. In contrast, several cycles of AHD are frequently necessary to damage extraparenchymally located parasites. The present study was designed to evaluate whether differences in the immunological profile of the patients is involved in the diversity of the response to AHD. To this end, a global gene expression microarray and a cytokine analysis were made. Responder patients were those showing a radiological reduction greater than 50 % in the parasite burden following AHD treatment. Microarray pre- and post-treatment comparisons showed that a total of eighteen immune-related genes were up-regulated in the five responder patients with respect the expression profile seen in the four non-responder subjects. The function of up-regulated genes exerted pro-inflammatory (RORγC, Sema4A, SLAMF3, SLAMF6), anti-inflammatory (TGFß, TNFRSF25, TNFRS18, SLAMF1, ILF2), or immunomodulatory effects (CXCL2, RUNX3, SLAMF9, TGFBR3). To further explore the causes of the heterogeneity in the response to treatment, a wide ELISA cytokine analysis was performed in serum, PBMC supernatants, and CSF samples from 39 responder and 26 non-responder patients. Responder patients showed higher CSF IL-17A levels (P = 0.04) and higher supernatant IL-6 levels (P = 0.03) 60 days after treatment. These results suggest a possible influence of pro-inflammatory cytokines on the response to AHD as observed by radiological methods, and thus the possible participation of the host immunity in the effectiveness of AHD treatment.

Environmental and Genetic Risk Factors in Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip for Early Detection of the Affected Population.

Diagnosis of developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) mostly relies on physical examination and ultrasound, and both methods are operator-dependent. Late detection can lead to complications in young adults. Current evidence supports the involvement of environmental and genetic factors, such as single nucleotide variants (SNVs). Incorporating genetic factors into diagnostic methods would be useful for implementing early detection and management of affected individuals. Our aim was to analyze environmental factors and SNVs in DDH patients. We included 287 DDH cases and 284 controls. Logistic regression demonstrated an association for sex (OR 9.85, 95% CI 5.55-17.46, p = 0.0001), family history (OR 2.4, 95% CI 1.2-4.5, p = 0.006), fetal presentation (OR 3.19, 95% CI 1.55-6.54, p = 0.002), and oligohydramnios (OR 2.74, 95%CI 1.12-6.70, p = 0.026). A model predicting the risk of DDH including these variables showed sensitivity, specificity, PPV, and NPV of 0.91, 0.53, 0.74, and 0.80 respectively. The SNV rs1800470 in TGFB1 showed an association when adjusted for covariables, OR 0.49 (95% CI 0.27-0.90), p = 0.02. When rs1800470 was included in the equation, sensitivity, specificity, PPV and NPV were 0.90, 0.61, 0.84, and 0.73, respectively. Incorporating no-operator dependent variables and SNVs in detection methods could be useful for establishing uniform clinical guidelines and optimizing health resources.

Cysticerci drive dendritic cells to promote in vitro and in vivo Tregs differentiation.

Regulatory T cells (Tregs) play a crucial role in immune homeostasis. Treg induction is a strategy that parasites have evolved to modulate the host's inflammatory environment, facilitating their establishment and permanence. In human Taenia solium neurocysticercosis (NC), the concurrence of increased peripheral and central Treg levels and their capacity to inhibit T cell activation and proliferation support their role in controlling neuroinflammation. This study is aimed at identifing possible mechanisms of Treg induction in human NC. Monocyte-derived dendritic cells (DC) from healthy human donors, cocultivated with autologous CD4(+) naïve cells either in the presence or absence of cysticerci, promoted CD25(high)Foxp3+ Treg differentiation. An increased Treg induction was observed when cysticerci were present. Moreover, an augmentation of suppressive-related molecules (SLAMF1, B7-H1, and CD205) was found in parasite-induced DC differentiation. Increased Tregs and a higher in vivo DC expression of the regulatory molecules SLAMF1 and CD205 in NC patients were also found. SLAMF1 gene was downregulated in NC patients with extraparenchymal cysticerci, exhibiting higher inflammation levels than patients with parenchymal parasites. Our findings suggest that cysticerci may modulate DC to favor a suppressive environment, which may help parasite establishment, minimizing the excessive inflammation, which may lead to tissue damage.

Characterization of triple negative breast cancer gene expression profiles in Mexican patients.

Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) is an aggressive type of cancer that accounts for ~23% of breast tumors in Mexico. In an attempt to understand in an improved way the behavior of TNBC, throughout the years, gene expression in these tumors has been studied. Lehman et al identified 6 subtypes of gene expression in TNBC with distinct characteristics. In the present study, it was aimed to assess clinical, pathological and prognostic characteristics of TNBC in a Mexican-based cohort. A total of 55 patients diagnosed with TNBC at Mexico's National Institute of Cancer (INCan) were included. Tumor needle biopsy samples were obtained and subjected to microarray analysis. Patients were thus classified into one of the 6 TNBC molecular subtypes. The prognostic, clinical and pathological information of patients was obtained, and differences across molecular subtypes were sought. Out of the 55 included patients, the following subtypes were identified: 9 basal-like-1, 11 basal-like-2 (BSL2), 16 immunomodulatory (IM), 12 mesenchymal, 6 androgen receptor-like and 1 mesenchymal stem-like. Mean follow-up time was 47.1 months. The IM molecular subtype had the best overall survival (OS) (median OS was not reached). BSL2 had the worst OS (15 months). A complete pathologic response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy was obtained more often in the IM subtype (P=0.032). No significant associations were found between any of the clinical or pathological characteristics and the TNBC molecular subtypes. The results obtained from the present study should be considered when seeking to implement a clinical-molecular model for TNBC patient care, particularly in Hispanic-based populations, as they have been frequently underrepresented in clinical studies assessing TNBC molecular subtypes.

A Bibliometric Review on Gut Microbiome and Alzheimer's Disease Between 2012 and 2021.

Research on the microbiome has drawn an increasing amount of attention over the past decade. Even more so for its association with disease. Neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease (AD) have been a subject of study for a long time with slow success in improving diagnostic accuracy or identifying a possibility for treatment. In this work, we analyze past and current research on microbiome and its positive impact on AD treatment and diagnosis. We present a bibliometric analysis from 2012 to 2021 with data retrieved on September 2, 2021, from the Scopus database. The query includes "Gut AND (Microbiota OR Microbiome) AND Alzheimer*" within the article title, abstract, and keywords for all kinds of documents in the database. Compared with 2016, the number of publications (NPs) on the subject doubled by 2017. Moreover, we observe an exponential growth through 2020, and with the data presented, it is almost certain that it will continue this trend and grow even further in the upcoming years. We identify key journals interested in the subject and discuss the articles with most citations, analyzing trends and topics for future research, such as the ability to diagnose the disease and complement the cognitive test with other clinical biomarkers. According to the test, mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is normally considered an initial stage for AD. This test, combined with the role of the gut microbiome in early stages of the disease, may improve the diagnostic accuracy. Based on our findings, there is emerging evidence that microbiota, perhaps more specifically gut microbiota, plays a key role in the pathogenesis of diseases, such as AD.

Leishmania (Leishmania) mexicana Infection in Wild Rodents from an Emergent Focus of Cutaneous Leishmaniasis in Yucatan, Mexico.

In 2015, emergent cases of localized cutaneous leishmaniasis (LCL) were reported in Tinum, Yucatan, Mexico. As part of an eco-epidemiological study to characterize the elements that trigger Leishmania infection in that area, we conducted a field study to investigate the occurrence of Leishmania infection in wild rodents. From November 2019 to February 2020, rodents were caught from three sites located in the municipality of Tinum, Yucatan. For each specimen, clinical signs suggestive of Leishmania infection were recorded. Samples from the tail, liver, and spleen were taken for the identification of Leishmania DNA by PCR. Twenty rodents belonging to two species were caught including Heteromys gaumeri (55%, 11/20) and Ototylomys phyllotis (45%, 9/20). Fifty-five percent of the animals presented white spots on the tail, 15% had splenomegaly, and 5% had hepatomegaly. Fifty-five percent (11/20) of the animals were found infected by Leishmania. Heteromys gaumeri was caught in all trapping sites and was the most infected species (63.6%, 7/11). The percentage of infection for O. phyllotis was 44.4% (4/9). Leishmania (Leishmania) mexicana was identified as the infecting species in two H. gaumeri. This study provides, for the first time, evidence of Leishmania infection in wild rodents from the Yucatan state. Heteromys gaumeri and O. phyllotis may be involved in the transmission cycle of L. mexicana in this emergent focus; however, further longitudinal studies are needed to confirm their role as primary reservoirs.

Genomic Characterization by Whole-Exome Sequencing of Hypermobility Spectrum Disorder.

No genetic basis is currently established that differentiates hypermobility spectrum disorders (HSD) from hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (hEDS). Diagnosis is entirely based on clinical parameters with high overlap, leading to frequent misdiagnosis of these two phenotypes. This study presents a landscape of DNA mutations through whole-exome sequencing of patients clinically diagnosed with generalized HSD. In this study, three genes (MUC3A, RHBG, and ZNF717) were mutated in all five patients evaluated. The functional enrichment analysis on all 1162 mutated genes identified the extracellular matrix (ECM) structural constituent as the primary overrepresented molecular function. Ingenuity pathway analysis identified relevant bio-functions, such as the organization of ECM and hereditary connective tissue disorders. A comparison with the matrisome revealed 55 genes and highlighted MUC16 and FREM2. We also contrasted the list of mutated genes with those from a transcriptomic analysis on data from Gene Expression Omnibus, with only 0.5% of the genes at the intersection of both approaches supporting the hypothesis of two different diseases that inevitably share a common genetic background but are not the same. Potential biomarkers for HSD include the five genes presented. We conclude the study by describing five potential biomarkers and by highlighting the importance of genetic/genomic approaches that, combined with clinical data, may result in an accurate diagnosis and better treatment.