Phylogenetic and evolutionary analysis of dengue virus serotypes circulating at the Colombian-Venezuelan border during 2015-2016 and 2018-2019.

Dengue is an endemic disease in Colombia. Norte de Santander is a region on the border of Colombia and Venezuela and has reported the co-circulation and simultaneous co-infection of different serotypes of the dengue virus (DENV). This study aimed to conduct a phylogenetic analysis on the origin and genetic diversity of DENV strains circulating in this bordering region. Serum samples were collected from patients who were clinically diagnosed with febrile syndrome associated with dengue during two periods. These samples were tested for DENV and serotyping was performed using reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. Subsequently, positive samples were amplified and the envelope protein gene of DENV was sequenced. Phylogenetic and phylogeographic analyses were performed using the sequences obtained. Basic local alignment search tool analysis confirmed that six and eight sequences belonged to DENV-1 and DENV-2, respectively. The phylogenetic analysis of DENV-1 showed that the sequences belonged to genotype V and clade I; they formed two groups: in the first group, two sequences showed a close phylogenetic relationship with strains from Ecuador and Panama, whereas the other four sequences were grouped with strains from Venezuela and Colombia. In the case of DENV-2, the analysis revealed that the sequences belonged to the Asian-American genotype and clade III. Furthermore, they formed two groups; in the first group, three sequences were grouped with strains from Colombia and Venezuela, whereas the other five were grouped with strains from Venezuela, Colombia and Honduras. This phylogenetic analysis suggests that the geographical proximity between Colombia and Venezuela is favourable for the export and import of different strains among serotypes or clades of the same DENV serotype, which could favour the spread of new outbreaks caused by new strains or genetic variants of this arbovirus. Therefore, this information highlights the importance of monitoring the transmission of DENV at border regions.

Perfil fitoquímico, actividad anti-Leishmania, hemolítica y toxicológica de Cordia dentata Poir. y Heliotropium indicum L. / Phytochemical profile and antileishmanial, hemolytic and toxicological activity of Cordia dentata Poir. and Heliotropium indicum L.

Introducción: la leishmaniasis constituye un grave problema de salud pública a nivel mundial. En Colombia, la forma clínica cutánea tiene la mayor incidencia y es causada principalmente por especies de Leishmania (Viannia) panamensis. Dado que los tratamientos disponibles para esta enfermedad resultan ineficaces, es necesaria la búsqueda de nuevos agentes terapéuticos en especies vegetales utilizadas por la medicina popular. Objetivo: evaluar el perfil fitoquímico, la actividad hemolítica, citotóxica y anti-Leishmania in vitro de extractos y fracciones provenientes de hojas de Cordia dentata y Heliotropium indicum. Métodos: al extracto etanólico total y fracciones obtenidas de hojas de C. dentata y H. indicum, se les realizó perfil fitoquímico, determinación de actividad hemolítica, efecto tóxico en larvas de Artemia salina y sobre la línea celular promonocítica humana U937 (CRL-1593.2™), así como también, la actividad anti-Leishmania sobre amastigotes intracelulares de L. (V.) panamensis (MHOM/CO/87/UA140) transfectados con Green Fluoresence Protein. Resultados: los extractos y fracciones de ambas especies no exhibieron actividad hemolítica en las condiciones evaluadas. Las fracciones de H. indicum fueron más tóxicas que las de C. dentata frente a larvas de A. salina y células U937. La actividad de la fracción de diclorometano de H. indicum (Hi-I-5B) sobre los amastigotes intracelulares está fuertemente relacionada con la presencia de alcaloides. Conclusiones: el extracto etanólico de las hojas de H. indicum exhibe propiedades antileishmaniales, a diferencia de la especie C. dentata, por lo que se podría pensar que la primera especie vegetal, representa una fuente potencial de moléculas útiles en el tratamiento de leishmaniasis cutánea.

Introduction: leishmaniasis is a serious public health problem worldwide. In Colombia, its cutaneous clinical form has the greatest incidence, and is mainly caused by species of Leishmania (Viannia) panamensis. Given the ineffectiveness of the available treatments, it is necessary to find new therapeutic agents in plant species used in folk medicine. Objective: evaluate the phytochemical profile and the hemolytic, cytotoxic and antileishmanial in vitro activity of extracts and fractions from leaves of Cordia dentata and Heliotropium indicum. Methods: the total ethanolic extract and fractions obtained from leaves of C. dentata and H. indicum underwent phytochemical profiling and determination of their hemolytic activity, toxic effect on Artemia salina larvae and on human promonocytic cell line U937 (CRL-1593.2™), as well as their antileishmanial activity against intracellular amastigotes of L. (V.) panamensis (MHOM/CO/87/UA140) transfected with Green Fluorescence Protein. Results: hemolytic activity was not observed in the extracts and fractions from either species under the study conditions. H. indicum fractions were more toxic than C. dentata fractions against A. salina larvae and U937 cells. Activity of the H. indicum dichloromethane fraction (Hi-I-5B) on intracellular amastigotes is closely related to the presence of alkaloids. Conclusions: the ethanolic extract from H. indicum leaves has antileishmanial properties, unlike the extract from the species C. dentata. This suggests that the former plant species is a rich potential source of molecules useful for the treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis.

Leishmaniasis / No disponible

La leishmaniasis es una enfermedad parasitaria causada por parásitos protozoarios del género Leishmania, transmitidos por la picadura de insectos flebotomineos hematófagos que se han alimentado previamente en un hospedero reservorio infectado. Existen dos presentaciones clínicas básicas: leishmaniasis visceral (LV) o “kala-azar” y leishmaniasis cutánea (LC). VL es el más grave y es mortal en casi todos los casos si no se tratan oportunamente, mientras que CL se asocia con una fuerte tendencia hacia la resolución espontánea, pero causa estigma social y psicológico importante en las personas afectadas. La leishmaniasis es una problema de salud pública importante en muchos regiones del mundo. A pesar de los avances de la ciencia básica, la leishmaniasis sigue siendo prevalente (y de aparición reciente) en muchas partes del mundo y el tratamiento eficaz y la prevención de la enfermedad sigue siendo un desafío. Se requieren nuevos tratamientos farmacológicos, especialmente aquellos que pueden ser de fácil administración y bajo costo. Así mismo, se requiere que la investigación en vacunas avance lo más rápidamente posible desde los estudios pre-clínicos a los estudios clínicos. Esta revisión destaca los aspectos más importantes en el estudio del parásito de la leishmaniasis en relación con la biología y la taxonomía, el ciclo de la vida y la patogénesis de la enfermedad, la respuesta inmune, las formas clínicas de la leishmaniasis, el diagnóstico, el tratamiento y las medidas de prevención (AU)

Leishmaniasis is a parasitic disease caused by protozoan parasites of the genus Leishmania, transmitted by the bite of blood suckling insects, sandflies, which have previously fe don an infected reservoir host. There are two basic clinical presentations: visceral leishmaniasis (VL) or “kala-azar” and cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL). VL is the most severe and is fatal in almost all cases if left untreated, while CL is associated with a strong tendency toward spontaneous resolutionbut causes important social and psychological stigma. The leishmaniaiss is a significant remains prevalent (and newly emerging) in many parts of the world, and the effective treatment and prevention of disease continues to be a challenge. New drug therapies, especially those that can be easily and inexpensively administered are needed. Vaccine research must move as quickly as possible form pre-clinical to clinical studies. This review highlights the most important aspects in the study of leishmaniasis related to parasite biology and taxonomy , life cycle and disease pathogenesis, immune response, clinical aspects, diagnosis treatment and prevention (AU)