Study of association between antibodies to non-HLA kidney self-antigens and progression to chronic immune injury after kidney transplantation.

BACKGROUND: Immune response to several kidney self-antigens (KSAg) such as Collagen IV (Col-IV), Perlecan (PL), and Fibronectin (FN) have been associated with antibody-mediated damage and poor allograft survival. Thus, the aim of this study was to determine if humoral immune responses to KSAg correlates with progression of chronic immune injury (CII) changes at 1 year or 2 years. METHODS: Kidney transplant recipients who underwent 1- or 2-year biopsies, with chronic interstitial inflammation (ci > 1) and/or glomerular membrane double contouring (cg > 0) were analyzed with matched controls. Sera were analyzed retrospectively for antibodies against KSAg using ELISA. The presence of antibodies to KSAg were compared at 0, 4, 12, and 24 months using logistic regression. RESULTS: We identified a cohort of 214 kidney transplant recipients. Of these, we identified 33 cases and matched 66 controls. Logistical regression showed an odds ratio of 1 with the confidence interval crossing 1 for the presence of response to KSAg at all the time points. CONCLUSIONS: Humoral immune responses to either KSAg alone or in combination with donor-specific anti-HLA antibodies are not associated with progression to CII at 1 and 2 years after kidney transplantation.

The Relationship Between Face Mask Use and Face-Touching Frequency in Public Areas: Naturalistic Study.

BACKGROUND: Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States, a major public health goal has been reducing the spread of the virus, with particular emphasis on reducing transmission from person to person. Frequent face touching can transmit viral particles from one infected person and subsequently infect others in a public area. This raises an important concern about the use of face masks and their relationship with face-touching behaviors. One concern discussed during the pandemic is that wearing a mask, and different types of masks, could increase face touching because there is a need to remove the mask to smoke, drink, eat, etc. To date, there have been few studies that have assessed this relationship between mask wearing and the frequency of face touching relative to face-touching behaviors. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to compare the frequency of face touching in people wearing a mask versus not wearing a mask in high-foot traffic urban outdoor areas. The purpose of this study was to assess if mask wearing was associated with increased face touching. METHODS: Public webcam videos from 4 different cities in New York, New Jersey, Louisiana, and Florida were used to collect data. Face touches were recorded as pedestrians passed under the webcam. Adult pedestrians wearing masks were compared to those not wearing masks. Quantitative measures of frequency, duration, site of touch, and oral activities were recorded. Linear regression analysis was used to assess the association between mask use and face touching. RESULTS: Of the 490 observed subjects, 241 (49.2%) were wearing a mask properly and 249 (50.8%) were not. In the unmasked group, 33.7% (84/249) were wearing it improperly, covering the mouth only. Face touching occurred in 11.4% (56/490) of the masked group and 17.6% (88/490) in the unmasked group. Of those who touched their face, 61.1% (88/144) of people were not wearing a mask. The most common site of face touching was the perioral region in both groups. Both the masked and unmasked group had a frequency of face touching for 0.03 touches/s. Oral activities such as eating or smoking increased face touching in the unmasked group. CONCLUSIONS: Contrary to expectations, non-mask-wearing subjects touched their face more frequently than those who were wearing a mask. This finding is substantial because wearing a face mask had a negative association with face touching. When wearing a mask, individuals are less likely to be spreading and ingesting viral particles. Therefore, wearing a mask is more effective in preventing the spread of viral particles.

Direct Correlation of Soluble HLA and HLA-Containing Exosomes and Inverse Correlation of Tolerance Marker-Containing Exosomes With Antibody-Mediated Rejection After Simultaneous Liver-Kidney Transplantation: A Case Study.

There is a lower incidence of antibody-mediated rejection (AMR) after simultaneous liver-kidney transplantation (SLKT) than after kidney-only transplantation. It has been suggested that soluble human leukocyte antigen (sHLA) produced by the liver protects the kidney from AMR. However, this hypothesis has not been tested after SLKT. We present a case of SLKT with 2 donor-specific antibodies (DSAs) (DR53, 12,364 mean fluorescence intensity [MFI]; DQ7, 1253 MFI) that displayed a decrease by day 7 (DR53, 2747 MFI; DQ7, 107 MFI). On day 351, the patient was diagnosed with kidney AMR associated with high levels of DSA (DR53, 18,542 MFI; DQ7, 22,007 MFI) that persisted until day 531. High levels of sHLA-DR/DQ and HLA-DR/DQ-containing exosomes were also detected on day 398. Consequently, the patient underwent treatment with plasmapheresis, intravenous immunoglobulin, prednisone, and rituximab. On day 752, biopsy results were negative for AMR. Moderate levels of DSA (DR53, 9798 MFI; DQ7, 1271 MFI), and baseline levels of sHLA-DR/DQ and HLA-DR/DQ-containing exosomes were observed. Increases in CD4+CD25+FOXP3+ regulatory T cell marker-containing exosomes (CD73, programmed death-ligand 1) were observed on day 752 compared to day 398. These data show a direct correlation between sHLA and HLA-containing exosomes and an inverse correlation between tolerance marker-containing exosomes and kidney AMR after SLKT.

Impact of Glomerulitis on Long-term Outcomes After Kidney Transplantation.

The Banff classification scheme provides a framework for interpreting transplant kidney biopsies and has undergone various updates in the past 2 decades especially related to antibody-mediated rejection. The clinical significance of early glomerulitis seen within 4 mo on protocol biopsies has received limited attention. We hypothesized that early glomerulitis seen on protocol biopsies will lead to significant adverse outcomes as assessed by histopathology and allograft outcome. Methods: A single-center retrospective study of a cohort of patients who underwent protocol biopsies within 4 mo after transplantation with timely follow-up protocol biopsies were assessed. Patients with recurrent glomerulonephritis were excluded. Results: We calculated glomerulitis (g) scores for 2212 biopsy specimens and identified 186 patients with glomerulitis (g > 0) and 2026 patients without glomerulitis (g = 0). The progression to chronic transplant glomerulopathy at 1 and 2 y was higher in patients with g > 0 as compared with g = 0 (year 1, 10.7% versus 2.3% [P < 0.001]' respectively; year 2, 17.2% versus 4.3% [P < 0.001], respectively) with no difference in other chronic lesions. The death-censored graft failure rate was higher in patients with g > 0 as compared with g = 0 (hazard ratio, 1.68 [95% CI, 1.07-2.65]; P = 0.02). We did not find any difference in outcomes in glomerulitis group based on donor-specific antibody. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that early glomerulitis (seen within 4 mo after transplantation) may lead to clinically significant long-term changes and thus could be a target for early intervention therapies.

Aspectos técnicos y clínicos de la prueba cruzada de histocompatibilidad en el trasplante de órganos solidos / Technical and clinical aspects of the histocompatibility crossmatch assay in solid organ transplantation

La presencia de anticuerpos dirigidos contra los antígenos leucocitarios humanos (Human Leukocyte Antigens, HLA) que se expresan en las células del donante, es uno de los factores de riesgo más importantes asociados con las complicaciones clínicas después del trasplante. La prueba cruzada es una de las pruebas de histocompatibilidad más eficaces para la detección de anticuerpos específicos contra el donante en los receptores de injertos. En los primeros métodos de la prueba cruzada, se utilizaba la citotoxicidad dependiente del complemento, que es útil para detectar dichos anticuerpos responsables del rechazo hiperagudo del injerto, pero carece de la sensibilidad adecuada. Por ello, se desarrollaron métodos de pruebas cruzadas más sensibles, entre ellas, la prueba cruzada por citometría de flujo que hoy se considera el método preferido. En este artículo se revisa la evolución de la prueba cruzada y los factores más importantes que deben tenerse en cuenta al realizarla y al interpretar los resultados de esta prueba fundamental para la supervivencia a largo plazo del injerto.

The presence of antibodies directed against human leukocyte antigens (HLA) expressed on donor cells is a significant risk factor for serious clinical complications after transplantation. The crossmatch assay is one of the most important tests available for the detection of donor-specific antibodies in potential allograft recipients. Early crossmatch methods utilized complement-dependent cytotoxicity, which is useful for detecting the donor-specific anti- HLA antibodies responsible for hyperacute allograft rejection but lacks adequate sensitivity. Consequently, more sensitive crossmatch methods have been developed, ultimately leading to the flow cytometry crossmatch as the currently preferred methodology. Herein, we review the evolution of the crossmatch assay and the most important factors to consider when performing and interpreting the results of this fundamental assay for ensuring the long-term survival of the transplanted organ.

Alloantibodies after simultaneous liver-kidney transplant: A story of primary nonfunction, retransplantation, and antibody-mediated rejection.

Simultaneous liver-kidney transplant (SLKT) in the presence of antihuman leukocyte antigen (HLA) donor-specific antibodies (DSA) is a well-accepted practice. Herein, we describe the evolution of alloantibodies in a patient who received an SLKT. The pre-SLKT serum sample showed multiple strong DSA. As expected, all DSA cleared in a sample collected 4 days after the SLKT. Because of the primary nonfunction of the liver in the SLKT, the patient had a second liver transplant 4 days later. An abrupt increase in DSA levels against the kidney was detected 10 days after the second liver transplant. These DSA were refractory to treatment, and the transplanted kidney was lost due to antibody-mediated rejection (AMR). A detailed study of the HLA epitopes recognized by DSA and, after normalization with third-party alloantibodies to address the effect of multiple transfusions and liver allograft neutralization, showed that the elimination of these antibodies depended on the HLA antigens expressed by the transplanted liver cells. The return of DSA after removal of the first transplanted liver was associated with AMR in the transplanted kidney.

Selection of New Probiotics for Endometrial Health.

Microbiota is a crucial player in gynecologic health, in which bacteria can shift to a dysbiotic state triggering a pathogenic process. Based on an ecological understanding of the problem, the aim of this study is to select a potential probiotic strain to improve female reproductive tract based on its capacity to initially lower pH and to promote the reduction of pathogenic bacteria. Based on this rationale, strain Lactobacillus rhamnosus BPL005 was initially selected for its capacity to reduce in vitro pH levels and produce organic acids. Subsequently, strain L. rhamnosus BPL005 (CECT 8800) was demonstrated to have a protective role on endometrial infections in an in vitro model of bacterial colonization of primary endometrial epithelial cells with Atopobium vaginae, Gardnerella vaginalis, Propionibacterium acnes, and Streptococcus agalactiae. In this model, BPL005 when co-cultured with those pathogens was shown to lower pH and to produce organic acids, being lactic acid the most relevant. The co-cultivation of strain L. rhamnosus BPL005 with tested reference pathogens produced a significant reduction in P. acnes and St. agalactiae levels and a non-significant reduction in A. vaginae and G. vaginalis. The colonization of L. rhamnosus BPL005 in the culture decreased IL-6, IL-8, and MCP-1, heightened in the presence of pathogens, and increased IL-1RA and IL-1 beta. Finally, safety was evaluated showing no signs of cytotoxicity, irritation in vaginal tests, or allergic contact dermatitis potential through the Local Lymph Node Assay. Overall, these results show the potential of L. rhamnosus BPL005 strain as a probiotic in gynecological health.

Variations in HLA-B cell surface expression, half-life and extracellular antigen receptivity.

The highly polymorphic human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class I molecules present peptide antigens to CD8+ T cells, inducing immunity against infections and cancers. Quality control mediated by peptide loading complex (PLC) components is expected to ensure the cell surface expression of stable peptide-HLA class I complexes. This is exemplified by HLA-B*08:01 in primary human lymphocytes, with both expression level and half-life at the high end of the measured HLA-B expression and stability hierarchies. Conversely, low expression on lymphocytes is measured for three HLA-B allotypes that bind peptides with proline at position 2, which are disfavored by the transporter associated with antigen processing. Surprisingly, these lymphocyte-specific expression and stability differences become reversed or altered in monocytes, which display larger intracellular pools of HLA class I than lymphocytes. Together, the findings indicate that allele and cell-dependent variations in antigen acquisition pathways influence HLA-B surface expression levels, half-lives and receptivity to exogenous antigens.

Use of Medaka Fish as Vertebrate Model to Study the Effect of Cocoa Polyphenols in the Resistance to Oxidative Stress and Life Span Extension.

Oxidative stress (OS) can induce cell apoptosis and thus plays an important role in aging. Antioxidant foods protect tissues from OS and contribute to a healthier lifestyle. In this study, we described the used of medaka embryos (Oryzias latipes) to study the putative antioxidant capacity of dietary cocoa extract in vertebrates. A polyphenol-enriched cocoa extract regulated the expression of several genes implicated in OS, thereby protecting fish embryos from induced OS. The cocoa extract activated superoxide dismutase enzyme activity in embryos and adult fish tissues, suggesting a common mechanism for protection during embryonic development and adulthood. Furthermore, long-term feeding of the cocoa extract increased fish life span. Our study demonstrates that the polyphenol-enriched cocoa extract decreases OS and extends life span in medaka fish, validating the use of medaka embryos as an economical platform to screen the antioxidant capacity of food compounds.

Use of complement binding assays to assess the efficacy of antibody mediated rejection therapy and prediction of graft survival in kidney transplantation.

BACKGROUND: The Luminex® single antigen bead assay (SAB) is the method of choice for monitoring the treatment for antibody-mediated rejection (AMR). A ⩾50% reduction of the dominant donor-specific antibody (IgG-DSA) mean fluorescence intensity (MFI) has been associated with improved kidney allograft survival, and C1q-fixing DSA activity is associated with poor outcomes in patients with AMR. We aimed to investigate if C1q-DSA can be used as a reliable predictor of response to therapy and allograft survival in patients with biopsy-proven AMR. METHODS: We tested pre- and post-treatment sera of 30 kidney transplant patients receiving plasmapheresis and low-dose IVIG for biopsy-proven AMR. IgG-DSA and C1q-DSA MFI were measured and correlated with graft loss or survival. Patients were classified as nonresponders (NR) when treatment resulted in <50% reduction in MFI of IgG-DSA and/or C1q-DSA was detectable following therapy. RESULTS: Differences in the percentage of patients deemed NR depended upon the end-point criterion (73% by reduction in IgG-DSA MFI vs. 50% by persistent C1q-DSA activity). None of the seven patients with <50% reduction of IgG-DSA but non-detectable C1q-DSA-fixing activity after therapy experienced graft loss, suggesting that C1q-DSA activity may better correlate with response. Reduction of C1q-DSA activity predicted graft survival better than IgG-DSA in the univariate Cox analysis (20.1% vs. 5.9% in NR; log-rank P-value=0.0147). CONCLUSIONS: A rapid reduction of DSA concentration below the threshold required for complement activation is associated with better graft survival, and C1q-DSA is a better predictor of outcomes than IgG-DSA MFI reduction.

Evidence that the endometrial microbiota has an effect on implantation success or failure.

BACKGROUND: Bacterial cells in the human body account for 1-3% of total body weight and are at least equal in number to human cells. Recent research has focused on understanding how the different bacterial communities in the body (eg, gut, respiratory, skin, and vaginal microbiomes) predispose to health and disease. The microbiota of the reproductive tract has been inferred from the vaginal bacterial communities, and the uterus has been classically considered a sterile cavity. However, while the vaginal microbiota has been investigated in depth, there is a paucity of consistent data regarding the existence of an endometrial microbiota and its possible impact in reproductive function. OBJECTIVE: This study sought to test the existence of an endometrial microbiota that differs from that in the vagina, assess its hormonal regulation, and analyze the impact of the endometrial microbial community on reproductive outcome in infertile patients undergoing in vitro fertilization. STUDY DESIGN: To identify the existence of an endometrial microbiota, paired samples of endometrial fluid and vaginal aspirates were obtained simultaneously from 13 fertile women in prereceptive and receptive phases within the same menstrual cycle (total samples analyzed n = 52). To investigate the hormonal regulation of the endometrial microbiota during the acquisition of endometrial receptivity, endometrial fluid was collected at prereceptive and receptive phases within the same cycle from 22 fertile women (n = 44). Finally, the reproductive impact of an altered endometrial microbiota in endometrial fluid was assessed by implantation, ongoing pregnancy, and live birth rates in 35 infertile patients undergoing in vitro fertilization (total samples n = 41) with a receptive endometrium diagnosed using the endometrial receptivity array. Genomic DNA was obtained either from endometrial fluid or vaginal aspirate and sequenced by 454 pyrosequencing of the V3-V5 region of the 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene; the resulting sequences were taxonomically assigned using QIIME. Data analysis was performed using R packages. The χ2 test, Student t test, and analysis of variance were used for statistical analyses. RESULTS: When bacterial communities from paired endometrial fluid and vaginal aspirate samples within the same subjects were interrogated, different bacterial communities were detected between the uterine cavity and the vagina of some subjects. Based on its composition, the microbiota in the endometrial fluid, comprising up to 191 operational taxonomic units, was defined as a Lactobacillus-dominated microbiota (>90% Lactobacillus spp.) or a non-Lactobacillus-dominated microbiota (<90% Lactobacillus spp. with >10% of other bacteria). Although the endometrial microbiota was not hormonally regulated during the acquisition of endometrial receptivity, the presence of a non-Lactobacillus-dominated microbiota in a receptive endometrium was associated with significant decreases in implantation [60.7% vs 23.1% (P = .02)], pregnancy [70.6% vs 33.3% (P = .03)], ongoing pregnancy [58.8% vs 13.3% (P = .02)], and live birth [58.8% vs 6.7% (P = .002)] rates. CONCLUSION: Our results demonstrate the existence of an endometrial microbiota that is highly stable during the acquisition of endometrial receptivity. However, pathological modification of its profile is associated with poor reproductive outcomes for in vitro fertilization patients. This finding adds a novel microbiological dimension to the reproductive process.

Coffee Silverskin Extract Protects against Accelerated Aging Caused by Oxidative Agents.

Nowadays, coffee beans are almost exclusively used for the preparation of the beverage. The sustainability of coffee production can be achieved introducing new applications for the valorization of coffee by-products. Coffee silverskin is the by-product generated during roasting, and because of its powerful antioxidant capacity, coffee silverskin aqueous extract (CSE) may be used for other applications, such as antiaging cosmetics and dermaceutics. This study aims to contribute to the coffee sector's sustainability through the application of CSE to preserve skin health. Preclinical data regarding the antiaging properties of CSE employing human keratinocytes and Caenorhabditis elegans are collected during the present study. Accelerated aging was induced by tert-butyl hydroperoxide (t-BOOH) in HaCaT cells and by ultraviolet radiation C (UVC) in C. elegans. Results suggest that the tested concentrations of coffee extracts were not cytotoxic, and CSE 1 mg/mL gave resistance to skin cells when oxidative damage was induced by t-BOOH. On the other hand, nematodes treated with CSE (1 mg/mL) showed a significant increased longevity compared to those cultured on a standard diet. In conclusion, our results support the antiaging properties of the CSE and its great potential for improving skin health due to its antioxidant character associated with phenols among other bioactive compounds present in the botanical material.

Probiotic Strain Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis CECT 8145 Reduces Fat Content and Modulates Lipid Metabolism and Antioxidant Response in Caenorhabditis elegans.

Recently, microbial changes in the human gut have been proposed as a possible cause of obesity. Therefore, modulation of microbiota through probiotic supplements is of great interest to support obesity therapeutics. The present study examines the functional effect and metabolic targets of a bacterial strain, Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis CECT 8145, selected from a screening in Caenorhabditis elegans. This strain significantly reduced total lipids (40.5% ± 2.4) and triglycerides (27.6% ± 0.5), exerting antioxidant effects in the nematode (30% ± 2.8 increase in survival vs control); activities were also preserved in a final food matrix (milk). Furthermore, transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses in nematodes fed with strain CECT 8145 revealed modulation of the energy and lipid metabolism, as well as the tryptophan metabolism (satiety), as the main metabolic targets of the probiotic. In conclusion, our study describes for the first time a new B. animalis subsp. lactis strain, CECT 8145, as a promising probiotic for obesity disorders. Furthermore, the data support future studies in obesity murine models.

A novel antioxidant beverage for body weight control based on coffee silverskin.

The present research aimed to add value to coffee silverskin by looking for new innovative applications. Formulation of novel beverages based on coffee silverskin for body fat reduction and body weight control was proposed. Conditions for beverage preparation were optimised. Data on chemical composition and sensorial quality of the new drink were acquired. Health benefits were evaluated in vitro and in vivo employing as animal model Caenorhabditis elegans. An antioxidant beverage containing physiological active concentrations of caffeine and chlorogenic acid for prevention body fat accumulation and possessing acceptable sensorial properties was obtained. Our findings support that the use of coffee silverskin for obtaining bioactive extract is an innovative way for revalorisation of coffee by-product.

Beyond Criteria and Definitions: Outcome of a Standardized Antibody-Mediated Rejection Protocol with a Diagnostic Schema Different from the Banff 2009 Criteria.

A new clinical diagnostic schema is needed for the diagnosis of antibody-mediated rejection (AMR) in kidney transplant recipients due to the limited utility of C4d staining, lack of standardized quantitative tests for donor specific antibodies, and potential new diagnostic markers. The treatment of AMR remains controversial because previous studies included heterogeneous treatment modalities, small sample sizes, and short follow-up time. At the University of Michigan Transplant Center, 26 patients were diagnosed with AMR based on our diagnostic protocol including C4d-negative AMR in thesetting of graft dysfunction and Banff tissue injury type II (capillaritis) or type III (arteritis). After diagnosis, these patients received six sessions of plasmapheresis (PP) and IVIG (100 mg/kg after the first to fifth PP and 500 mg/kg with the last PP). Our novel finding in this analysis was the association between persistent C1q detection and graft loss. We confirmed that C4d positivity at diagnosis is associated with worse outcomes. Also, we found that response to our treatment protocol is dependent on C4d staining and Banff tissue injury type.

Description of Bacillus toyonensis sp. nov., a novel species of the Bacillus cereus group, and pairwise genome comparisons of the species of the group by means of ANI calculations.

Strain BCT-7112(T) was isolated in 1966 in Japan from a survey designed to obtain naturally occurring microorganisms as pure cultures in the laboratory for use as probiotics in animal nutrition. This strain, which was primarily identified as Bacillus cereus var toyoi, has been in use for more than 30 years as the active ingredient of the preparation TOYOCERIN(®), an additive for use in animal nutrition (e.g. swine, poultry, cattle, rabbits and aquaculture). Despite the fact that the strain was initially classified as B. cereus, it showed significant genomic differences from the type strains of the B. cereus group that were large enough (ANI values below 92%) to allow it to be considered as a different species within the group. The polyphasic taxonomic study presented here provides sufficient discriminative parameters to classify BCT-7112(T) as a new species for which the name Bacillus toyonensis sp. nov. is proposed, with BCT-7112(T) (=CECT 876(T); =NCIMB 14858(T)) being designated as the type strain. In addition, a pairwise comparison between the available genomes of the whole B. cereus group by means of average nucleotide identity (ANI) calculations indicated that besides the eight classified species (including B. toyonensis), additional genomospecies could be detected, and most of them also had ANI values below 94%. ANI values were on the borderline of a species definition only in the cases of representatives of B. cereus versus B. thuringiensis, and B. mycoides and B. weihenstephanensis.

A cocoa peptide protects Caenorhabditis elegans from oxidative stress and ß-amyloid peptide toxicity.

BACKGROUND: Cocoa and cocoa-based products contain different compounds with beneficial properties for human health. Polyphenols are the most frequently studied, and display antioxidant properties. Moreover, protein content is a very interesting source of antioxidant bioactive peptides, which can be used therapeutically for the prevention of age-related diseases. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: A bioactive peptide, 13L (DNYDNSAGKWWVT), was obtained from a hydrolyzed cocoa by-product by chromatography. The in vitro inhibition of prolyl endopeptidase (PEP) was used as screening method to select the suitable fraction for peptide identification. Functional analysis of 13L peptide was achieved using the transgenic Caenorhabditis elegans strain CL4176 expressing the human Aß1₋42 peptide as a pre-clinical in vivo model for Alzheimer's disease. Among the peptides isolated, peptide 13L (1 µg/mL) showed the highest antioxidant activity (P≤0.001) in the wild-type strain (N2). Furthermore, 13L produced a significant delay in body paralysis in strain CL4176, especially in the 24-47 h period after Aß1₋42 peptide induction (P≤0.0001). This observation is in accordance with the reduction of Aß deposits in CL4176 by western blot. Finally, transcriptomic analysis in wild-type nematodes treated with 13L revealed modulation of the proteosomal and synaptic functions as the main metabolic targets of the peptide. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: These findings suggest that the cocoa 13L peptide has antioxidant activity and may reduce Aß deposition in a C. elegans model of Alzheimer's disease; and therefore has a putative therapeutic potential for prevention of age-related diseases. Further studies in murine models and humans will be essential to analyze the effectiveness of the 13L peptide in higher animals.

Effectiveness of glycyrrhizinic Acid (glizigen) and an immunostimulant (viusid) to treat anogenital warts.

Genital warts are benign proliferations of skin and mucosa caused by the human papillomavirus infection (hereinafter referred to as HPV). It is one of the most common sexually transmitted diseases in the world, whose incidence rate has increased in the last three decades. Current treatment involves the physical destruction of the infected cells. The fact that there are many different types of treatment goes to show that none of them are uniformly effective or directly antiviral. Objective. Demonstrate the efficacy of Glizigen in the III-phase clinical trial combined with a food supplement (VIUSID) formulated to boost the immune system when treating external anogenital warts. Design. 100 patients clinically diagnosed with anogenital lesions were included in the trial and assigned to two groups of 50 individuals. Those from one group where treated with Glizigen and Viusid and those from the other group with 25% podophyllin in alcohol, the results from each were then compared. Results. The combined Glizigen-Viusid treatment was seen to have an 87.5% efficacy rate, which was slightly more than that of the treatment with podophyllin, and there were hardly any adverse reactions reported during the treatment. Conclusions. the combined Glizigen-Viusid treatment was effective in treating genital warts.

Use of Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Caenorhabditis elegans as model organisms to study the effect of cocoa polyphenols in the resistance to oxidative stress.

Developing functional foods to improve the quality of life for elderly people has great economic and social impact. Searching for and validating ingredients with in vivo antioxidant effects is one of the key steps in developing this kind of food. Here we describe the combined use of simple biological models and transcriptomics to define the functional intracellular molecular targets of a polyphenol-enriched cocoa powder. Cocoa powder supplemented culture medium led to increased resistance to oxidative stress, in both the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae and the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, and, in the latter, lifespan was also increased. These effects are fully dependent on the polyphenols present in the cocoa powder and on the sirtuins Hst3 (yeast) and SIR-2.1 (worm). The transcription factor DAF-16 also plays an important role in the case of the nematode, indicating that the insulin/IGF-1 (insulin-like growth factor) signaling pathway is related with the antioxidative effect of cocoa polyphenols. All in all, these results confirm that this polyphenol-enriched cocoa powder, with antioxidant activity, has great potential use as a functional food ingredient for elderly people. Furthermore, this work reveals the value of using simple biological models to screen for compounds that are of interest for the food and pharmacological industry.

Food biotechnology and education

It is clear that the future of our children will be marked by the development of two scientific disciplines: computing and biotechnology. Regarding the first, during recent years considerable progress have been done in many countries around the globe aimed at enhancing the teaching in these subjects and, at the same time, encouraging the use of computers in classrooms. On the contrary, training in biotechnology is absent in many secondary schools of the planet. This formative deficiency generates citizens whose opinion on the marketing of biotechnological products is easily manipulated by both defenders and opposers of biotechnology. This situation is of particular relevance when the item in question is food biotechnological applications that provoke an intense social debate and more specifically the so-called genetically modified foods (GM foods). In this article we report a survey carried out with 500 young Spanish consumers in order to discover their attitudes to GM foods. The work has been focused on the study of the perception of GM foods and their labelling. The results indicate that they are moderately receptive to GM foods but like to be informed through labelling. However, the most important conclusion of the survey is the lack of sufficient knowledge about food biotechnology and genetic engineering on the part of young Spaniards. It is therefore very important that an unbiased presentation of the scientific basis of biotechnology should be introduced in secondary education. In this sense, the project BIOEDUCAR is an important tool to introduce unbiased information about food biotechnology in the Latin America and Spanish secondary schools.