Detrimental Effects of Induced Antibodies on Aedes aegypti Reproduction.

Aedes aegypti (Linnaeus) (Diptera: Culicidae) is the main vector of viruses causing dengue, chikungunya, Zika, and yellow fever, worldwide. This report focuses on immuno-blocking four critical proteins in the female mosquito when fed on blood containing antibodies against ferritin, transferrin, one amino acid transporter (NAAT1), and acetylcholinesterase (AchE). Peptides from these proteins were selected, synthetized, conjugated to carrier proteins, and used as antigens to immunize New Zealand rabbits. After rabbits were immunized, a minimum of 20 female mosquitos were fed on each rabbit, per replicate. No effect in their viability was observed after blood-feeding; however, the number of infertile females was 20% higher than the control when fed on AchE-immunized rabbits. The oviposition period was significantly longer in females fed on immunized rabbits than those fed on control (non-immunized) rabbits. Fecundity (eggs/female) of treated mosquitoes was significantly reduced (about 50%) in all four treatments, as compared with the control. Fertility (hatched larvae) was also significantly reduced in all four treatments, as compared with the control, being the effect on AchE and transferrin the highest, by reducing hatching between 70 and 80%. Survival to the adult stage of the hatched larvae showed no significant effect, as more than 95% survival was observed in all treatments, including the control. In conclusion, immuno-blocking of these four proteins caused detrimental effects on the mosquito reproduction, being the effect on AchE the most significant.

Trichomonas vaginalis exosome-like vesicles modify the cytokine profile and reduce inflammation in parasite-infected mice.

Trichomonas vaginalis (Tv) is a flagellated parasite commonly spread through sexual transmission. This protozoan initiates a severe inflammatory process, inducing nitric oxide, interleukin-6 (IL-6), IL-8, IL-10, IL-17 and IL-22 production by host immune cells. The parasites elicit these responses by releasing surface lipophosphoglycan, small extracellular vesicles (exosomes) and other factors. Tv exosomes are similar to mammalian exosomes and have been implicated in the modulation of IL-8 secretion by epithelial cells. Here, we report that exosome-like vesicles from T. vaginalis (Tv-ELVs) induced a more than 15-fold increase in IL-10 expression in RAW264.7 macrophages but only a two fold increase in IL-6 and TNF-α expression levels measured by RT-PCR. Because Tv-ELVs modulated the macrophage response, we also explored the effect of Tv-ELVs in a murine model of infection. Pretreatment with Tv-ELVs significantly increased IL-10 production as measured in vaginal washes by days 8 and 16 post-infection. Remarkably, Tv-ELVs-pretreated mice exhibited a decrease in IL-17 production and a significant decrease in vulvar inflammation. In addition, IL-6 and IL-13 were decreased during infection. Our results suggest that Tv-ELVs have an immunomodulatory role on the cytokine profile induced by the parasite and promote a decrease in the inflammatory process in mice infected with T. vaginalis.

Effect of recombinant prophenin 2 on the integrity and viability of Trichomonas vaginalis.

Trichomonas vaginalis is the causal agent of trichomoniasis, which is associated with preterm child delivery, low birth weight, and an increased risk of infection by human papilloma virus and human immunodeficiency virus following exposure. Several reports have established increasing numbers of trichomoniasis cases resistant to metronidazole, the agent used for treatment, and it is therefore important to identify new therapeutic alternatives. Previously, our group reported the effect of tritrpticin, a synthetic peptide derived from porcine prophenin, on T. vaginalis; however, the hemolytic activity of this small peptide complicates its possible use as a therapeutic agent. In this study, we report that the propeptide and the processed peptide of prophenin 2 (cleaved with hydroxylamine) affected the integrity and growth of T. vaginalis and that pro-prophenin 2 displays some resistance to proteolysis by T. vaginalis proteinases at 1 h. Its effect on T. vaginalis as well as its low hemolytic activity and short-time stability to parasite proteinases makes prophenin 2 an interesting candidate for synergistic or alternative treatment against T. vaginalis.

A PCR procedure for the detection of Giardia intestinalis cysts and Escherichia coli in lettuce.

Giardia intestinalis is a pathogen associated with foodborne outbreaks and Escherichia coli is commonly used as a marker of faecal contamination. Implementation of routine identification methods of G. intestinalis is difficult for the analysis of vegetables and the microbiological detection of E. coli requires several days. This study proposes a PCR-based assay for the detection of E. coli and G. intestinalis cysts using crude DNA isolated from artificially contaminated lettuce. The G. intestinalis and E. coli PCR assays targeted the ß-giardin and uidA genes, respectively, and were 100% specific. Forty lettuces from local markets were analysed by both PCR and light microscopy and no cysts were detected, the calculated detection limit was 20 cysts per gram of lettuce; however, by PCR, E. coli was detected in eight of ten randomly selected samples of lettuce. These data highlight the need to validate procedures for routine quality assurance. These PCR-based assays can be employed as alternative methods for the detection of G. intestinalis and E. coli and have the potential to allow for the automation and simultaneous detection of protozoa and bacterial pathogens in multiple samples. Significance and impact of the study: There are few studies for Giardia intestinalis detection in food because methods for its identification are difficult for routine implementation. Here, we developed a PCR-based method as an alternative to the direct observation of cysts in lettuce by light microscopy. Additionally, Escherichia coli was detected by PCR and the sanitary quality of lettuce was evaluated using molecular and standard microbiological methods. Using PCR, the detection probability of Giardia cysts inoculated onto samples of lettuce was improved compared to light microscopy, with the advantage of easy automation. These methods may be employed to perform timely and affordable detection of foodborne pathogens.

[Hereditary and acquired angioedema: clinical characteristics in 8 patients and review of the literature]. / Angioedema hereditario y adquirido: características clínicas de ocho pacientes y revisión de la literatura.

C1 inhibitor disorders are a group of rare conditions in which the C1 inhibitor is deficient or defective. We present the clinical characteristics of 8 patients and a review of the literature. These are characterized by recurrent episodes of angioedema, which most often affect the skin or mucosal tissues of the upper respiratory and gastrointestinal tract. Laryngeal involvement may cause fatal asphyxiation. These disorders may be divided into two broad categories: hereditary angioedema (HAE) and acquired C1 inhibitor disorders. Indications for screening for HAE include: recurrent angioedema, episodic abdominal pain, laryngeal, a family background of angioedema, and a low C4 level. Acquired C1 inhibitor disorders are similar, but lack a family background. Treatment is divided into short and long-term prophylaxis with androgens, antifibrinolytics and C1 inhibitor replacement. First line therapy of acute attacks is C1 inhibitor.

Revisión de 11 casos de eritema indurado en un hospital de segundo nivel / Review of eleven cases of erythema induratum at a second level hospital

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On the uptake of ammonia by the water/vapor interface.

The passage of a single ammonia molecule from an infinitely dilute gas through the water/vapor interface is studied by constrained molecular dynamics simulations. The free energy of the system as a function of the distance between the ammonia and the interface has a minimum in the interfacial region. It is found that the preference of the ammonia for the interface is mainly due the disruption of the solvent structure caused by the ammonia in the bulk region, which results in an increase of the solvent internal energy.

Entamoeba histolytica: ADP-ribosylation of secreted glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase.

In addition to its classic glycolytic role, glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) has been implicated in many activities unrelated to glycolysis, such as membrane fusion, binding to host proteins and signal transduction. GAPDH can be the target of several modifications that allow incorporation to membranes and possible regulation of its activity; among these modifications is mono-ADP-ribosylation. This post-translational modification is important for the regulation of many cellular processes and is the mechanism of action of several bacterial toxins. In a previous study, we observed the extracellular ADP-ribosylation of a 37-kDa ameba protein. We report here that GAPDH and cysteine synthase A are the main ADP-ribosylated proteins in Entamoeba histolytica extracellular medium, GAPDH is secreted from ameba at 37 degrees C in a time-dependent manner, and its enzymatic activity is not inhibited by ADP-ribosylation. Extracellular GAPDH from ameba may play an important role in the survival of this human pathogen or in interaction with host molecules, as occurs in other organisms.

Entamoeba histolytica: surface proteolytic activity and its relationship with in vitro virulence.

We determined the surface-associated proteolytic activity in three Entamoeba histolytica Schaudinn, 1903 strains (monoxenic HM1, axenic HM1, and HK9) of known virulence and its relationship with collagenase activity. Both activities were also determined in axenic HM1 amoebae trophozoites which were sensitive and resistant to complement-mediated lysis. Surface proteolytic activity was determined in glutaraldehyde-fixed E. histolytica trophozoites, which degraded the insoluble substrate, hide powder azure, and cleaved the human immunoglobulin G heavy chain in a time-dependent fashion, at neutral pH, in presence of 2-mercaptoethanol as cysteine protease activator. Surface proteolytic activity was strain dependent: monoxenic HM1 > axenic HM1 > axenic HK9. This activity correlated with collagenolytic activity (p < 0.05). Acquisition of resistance to complement-mediated lysis by axenic HM1 strain did not modify either surface proteases or collagenase expression. Our results suggest that this surface proteolytic activity could be used as an in vitro virulence marker for E. histolytica.

The cost-effectiveness of fine-needle aspiration cytology and 14-gauge core needle biopsy compared with open surgical biopsy in the diagnosis of breast carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: Judicious utilization of fine-needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) and 14-gauge core needle biopsy (CB) theoretically should result in greater accuracy in breast carcinoma diagnosis and fewer unnecessary open surgical biopsies (OSBs), thus lowering health care costs. METHODS: In 1995 in Rochester, New York, the ratio of open surgical breast biopsies per each verified breast carcinoma (OSB/Ca) in a freestanding breast clinic (EWBC) was compared with the OSB/Ca ratio of all physicians in the remainder of the city. The EWBC differs from all other diagnostic facilities in Rochester in that it routinely performs FNAC and CB. RESULTS: The EWBC recommended 462 OSBs resulting in 310 verified carcinomas, for a OSB/Ca ratio of 1.5. The physicians in the remainder of the city recommended 2036 OSBs resulting in 513 verified carcinomas, for a OSB/Ca ratio of 4.0. If the EWBC OSB/Ca ratio had been identical to the remainder of the city, the number of extra OSBs recommended by the clinic would have been 778, resulting in an additional cost of $1,712,082. When the added cost of the 2594 FNACs ($256,285) and 403 CBs ($252,278) performed by the clinic was subtracted from the $1,712,082, the freestanding breast clinic cost savings was $1,203,519. The lymph node metastasis rate of 19% for the breast carcinomas diagnosed in clinic patients was identical to that of the women with breast carcinoma in the remainder of the city. CONCLUSIONS: Utilization of FNAC and CB allows radiologists to lower their OSB/Ca ratio without sacrificing early detection. In this study, these less expensive procedures result in lowered medical costs for the health care system.

Inhibition of Entamoeba histolytica proteolytic activity by human salivary IgA antibodies.

Entamoeba histolytica is a protozoan parasite that causes amoebiasis in humans; as the infection occurs mainly in the intestinal epithelium, the secretory immune response of the host could have an influence on the outcome. Secretory IgA antibodies against E. histolytica have been detected in asymptomatic and symptomatic patients, but little is known about their protective role. E. histolytica cysteine proteases seem to be involved in the pathogenesis of amoebiasis; therefore, it is important to evaluate the human IgA response against these proteases and its effect on their enzymatic activity. When human saliva samples with and without antibodies against E. histolytica were tested by Western blot against one purified 70 kDa amoebic cysteine protease, 84% of anti-amoeba-positive samples recognized it. The secretory IgA purified from a pool of anti-protease-positive samples had a strong in vitro inhibitory effect on the E. histolytica proteolytic activity. These results suggest that this effect, if it occurs in vivo, could be an important protective factor against this parasite.

Entamoeba histolytica trophozoites: a surface-associated cysteine protease.

The purpose of this work was to define cell surface proteases on Entamoeba histolytica trophozoites. Molecular sizes of 2-mercaptoethanol-activated proteases were determined in several ameba cell fractions. Inhibited proteases were resolved in SDS-polyacrylamide gels and then defined by their ability to digest bovine albumin during electrophoretic migration of ameba bands through a stacking gel containing albumin. This second gel revealed nine gaps of digestion along the horizontal albumin line corresponding to proteases with molecular weights of 195, 175, 150, 124, 102, 70, 45, 36, and 28 kDa. The 70-kDa protease proved to be the most active in plasma membrane, in whole membrane fractions, and in total extracts of ameba. This protease appears to be an integral membrane component as it was reconstituted in an artificial membrane system in its active form, as well as because it was present on the surface of glutaraldehyde-fixed amebas. These results demonstrate that amebic trophozoites contain on their surface a very active protease, which may play a role in the digestion of host components.

Immunoreactivities for Entamoeba histolytica in patients with amebic liver abscesses.

We defined the major specificities of antibodies present in sera from patients with amebic liver abscesses, diagnosed by gamagrafia. These immune reactivities were analyzed against plasma membrane and extract antigens of Entamoeba histolytica, resolved by electrophoresis and blotted to nitrocellulose scheets. We observed that each of the 26 patients revealed a distinct pattern in the plasma membrane and in the total extract preparations. Most of these sera detected a prominent plasma membrane polypeptide of 166 kDa. We also observed that the same pattern of specificities persisted in the patients sera for six months after treatment.

Species-specific and cross-reactive antigens of Entamoeba.

Specific and cross-reactive antigens were defined in four species of Entamoeba: invadens, moshkovskii, Laredo and histolytica strains HM1, HM3, HM38 and HK9. Among these species extensive common reactivities were observed by immunoblot. Eight E. histolytica antigenic markers were revealed after blocking common specificities with antigens of other Entamoeba species. A monoclonal antibody (mAb) defined two protein markers of E. histolytica, Mr29 and 25 kDa. The four strains of E. histolytica, which varied in virulence as determined by the development of liver abscesses in hamsters, showed the same antigenic patterns with the mAb and with polyclonal antibodies.

Antibody-induced caps in Entamoeba histolytica: isolation and electrophoretic analysis.

Polyspecific antibodies bound to the cell surface of Entamoeba histolytica are polarized toward the uroid region and spontaneously released by the amoeba as supramolecular aggregate or cap. We purified these exfoliated structures and analyzed them by electron microscopy and sodium dodecyl sulfate electrophoresis. Isolated caps were mainly composed of membranes and contained five major [35S]methionine-labeled bands; many more bands appeared (together with immunoglobulins) after silver staining. Surface immunoprecipitates contained about twelve major [35S]methionine-labeled polypeptides, five of which had molecular weights similar to those of radiolabeled polypeptides in the cap. Some proteins in the caps had the same electrophoretic migration pattern as that from iodinated cell-surface proteins and polypeptides from isolated plasma membranes. Results suggest that only half of the surface-immunoprecipitated antigens are enriched in the cap.

Entamoeba histolytica and E. invadens: sulfhydryl-dependent proteolytic activity.

Sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and 2-mercaptoethanol (2-ME) activated proteolytic enzymes present in extracts of Entamoeba histolytica and E. invadens; SDS (0.5%) and 2-ME (1.4 and 715 mM) doubled the enzymatic activity when assayed on a stained insoluble substrate. Urea (4 M) did not reduce this activity, suggesting that amebic proteases are stable in the above denaturant conditions. Specific reagents for sulfhydryl (-SH) groups completely inhibited proteolytic activity regardless of pH. Inhibition with alkylating agents, such as N-ethylmaleimide and iodoacetamide, was reversed with 715 mM 2-ME as was also observed with papain. We conclude from these results that the main proteolytic enzymes contained in extracts of E. histolytica and E. invadens are dependent on free thiol groups.