Allele and haplotype distribution for 16 Y-STRs (AmpFlSTR Y-filer kit) in the state of Chihuahua at North Center of Mexico.

The AmpFlSTR Y-filer kit, including 16 Y-STRs was analyzed in 326 males from Chihuahua, at North Central, Mexico. Allele frequencies and gene diversity for each locus were estimated. Four allele duplications, namely DYS389II, DYS390, DYS391 and DYS439; and one allele null at DYS448 were observed in the sample. The haplotype diversity was 99.97+/-0.3%. The AMOVA results, including a previous report from West of Mexico (Jalisco), showed that most of the genetic variability between these Mexican populations is attributable to intrapopulational differences (99.87%). This result supports a low-genetic differentiation between males from North and West regions of Mexico.

Entamoeba histolytica: inflammatory process during amoebic liver abscess formation involves cyclooxygenase-2 expression in macrophages and trophozoites.

It has been demonstrated that expression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) isoform is induced by Entamoeba histolytica in macrophages and polymorphonuclear cells during amoebic liver abscess (ALA) formation in hamsters. Trophozoites present in the lesion were also positive for COX-2 signal. However, no cross reactivity of the anti-COX-2 antibody with protein extract of cultivated trophozoites was found. To clarify if trophozoites are involved in PGE(2) production during ALA development, COX-2 expression was detected by in situ hybridization and RT-PCR in liver tissue from intrahepatically infected hamsters. COX-2 mRNA was in polymorphonuclear cells since 4h postinfection, and subsequently, local macrophages expressed COX-2 mRNA in a similar way. Additionally, a positive signal for COX-2 mRNA expression was detected in E. histolytica trophozoites, suggesting that, in vivo, parasite COX expression may be an important mechanism to promote inflammation.