Regulatory and metabolic adaptations in the nitrogen assimilation of marine picocyanobacteria.

Prochlorococcus and Synechococcus are the two most abundant photosynthetic organisms on Earth, with a strong influence on the biogeochemical carbon and nitrogen cycles. Early reports demonstrated the streamlining of regulatory mechanisms in nitrogen metabolism and the removal of genes not strictly essential. The availability of a large series of genomes, and the utilization of latest generation molecular techniques have allowed elucidating the main mechanisms developed by marine picocyanobacteria to adapt to the environments where they thrive, with a particular interest in the strains inhabiting oligotrophic oceans. Given that nitrogen is often limited in those environments, a series of studies have explored the strategies utilized by Prochlorococcus and Synechococcus to exploit the low concentrations of nitrogen-containing molecules available in large areas of the oceans. These strategies include the reduction in the GC and the cellular protein contents; the utilization of truncated proteins; a reduced average amount of N in the proteome; the development of metabolic mechanisms to perceive and utilize nanomolar nitrate concentrations; and the reduced responsiveness of key molecular regulatory systems such as NtcA to 2-oxoglutarate. These findings are in sharp contrast with the large body of knowledge obtained in freshwater cyanobacteria. We will outline the main discoveries, stressing their relevance to the ecological success of these important microorganisms.

Improved Magneto-Microfluidic Separation of Nanoparticles through Formation of the ß-Cyclodextrin-Curcumin Inclusion Complex.

Molecular adsorption to the nanoparticle surface may switch the colloidal interactions from repulsive to attractive and promote nanoparticle agglomeration. If the nanoparticles are magnetic, then their agglomerates exhibit a much stronger response to external magnetic fields than individual nanoparticles. Coupling between adsorption, agglomeration, and magnetism allows a synergy between the high specific area of nanoparticles (∼100 m2/g) and their easy guidance or separation by magnetic fields. This yet poorly explored concept is believed to overcome severe restrictions for several biomedical applications of magnetic nanoparticles related to their poor magnetic remote control. In this paper, we test this concept using curcumin (CUR) binding (adsorption) to ß-cyclodextrin (ßCD)-coated iron oxide nanoparticles (IONP). CUR adsorption is governed by host-guest hydrophobic interactions with ßCD through the formation of 1:1 and, possibly, 2:1 ßCD:CUR inclusion complexes on the IONP surface. A 2:1 stoichiometry is supposed to promote IONP primary agglomeration, facilitating the formation of the secondary needle-like agglomerates under external magnetic fields and their magneto-microfluidic separation. The efficiency of these field-induced processes increases with CUR concentration and ßCD surface density, while their relatively short timescale (<5 min) is compatible with magnetic drug delivery application.

Mixotrophy in marine picocyanobacteria: use of organic compounds by Prochlorococcus and Synechococcus.

Marine picocyanobacteria of the Prochlorococcus and Synechococcus genera have been longtime considered as autotrophic organisms. However, compelling evidence published over the last 15 years shows that these organisms can use different organic compounds containing key elements to survive in oligotrophic oceans, such as N (amino acids, amino sugars), S (dimethylsulfoniopropionate, DMSP), or P (ATP). Furthermore, marine picocyanobacteria can also take up glucose and use it as a source of carbon and energy, despite the fact that this compound is devoid of limiting elements and can also be synthesized by using standard metabolic pathways. This review will outline the main findings suggesting mixotrophy in the marine picocyanobacteria Prochlorococcus and Synechococcus, and its ecological relevance for these important primary producers.

Mannose-coated polydiacetylene (PDA)-based nanomicelles: synthesis, interaction with concanavalin A and application in the water solubilization and delivery of hydrophobic molecules.

Carbohydrate-lectin interactions are involved in a number of relevant biological events including fertilization, immune response, cell adhesion, tumour cell metastasis, and pathogen infection. Lectins are also tissue specific, making carbohydrates not only promising drug candidates but also excellent low molecular weight ligands for active drug delivery system decorations. In order for these interactions to be effective multivalency is essential, as the interaction of a lectin with its cognate monovalent carbohydrate epitope usually takes place with low affinity. Unlike the covalent approach, supramolecular self-assembly of glyco-monomers mediated by non-covalent forces allows accessing multivalent systems with diverse topology, composition, and assembly dynamics in a single step. In order to fine-tune the size and sugar adaptability of spherical micelles at the nanoscale for an optimal glycoside cluster effect, herein we report the synthesis of mannose-coated static micelles from diacetylene-based mannopyranosyl glycolipids differing in the length of the poly(ethyleneglycol) (PEG) chains and the oxidation state of the anomeric sulfur atom. The reported shot-gun like synthetic approach for the synthesis of dilution-insensitive micelles is based on the ability of diacetylenic-based neoglycolipids to self-assemble into micelles in water and to undergo an easy photopolymerization by a simple irradiation at 254 nm. The affinity of the obtained 6 nanosystems was assessed by enzyme-linked lectin assay (ELLA) using the mannose-specific concanavalin A lectin as a model receptor. Relative binding potency enhancements, compared to methyl α-d-mannopyranoside used as control, from 20-, to 29- to 300-fold on a sugar molar basis were observed for micelles derived from sulfonyl-, sulfinyl- and thioglycoside monomers with a tatraethyleneglycol spacer, respectively, indicative of a significant cluster glycoside effect. Moreover, pMic1 micelles are able to solubilize and slowly liberate lipophilic clinically relevant drugs, and show the enhanced cytotoxic effect of docetaxel toward prostate cancer cells. These findings highlight the potential of mannose-coated photopolymerized micelles pMic1 as an efficient nanovector for active delivery of cytotoxic hydrophobic molecules.

Biophysics and protein corona analysis of Janus cyclodextrin-DNA nanocomplexes. Efficient cellular transfection on cancer cells.

The self-assembling processes underlining the capabilities of facially differentiated ("Janus") polycationic amphiphilic cyclodextrins (paCDs) as non-viral gene nanocarriers have been investigated by a pluridisciplinary approach. Three representative Janus paCDs bearing a common tetradecahexanoyl multitail domain at the secondary face and differing in the topology of the cluster of amino groups at the primary side were selected for this study. All of them compact pEGFP-C3 plasmid DNA and promote transfection in HeLa and MCF-7 cells, both in absence and in presence of human serum. The electrochemical and structural characteristics of the paCD-pDNA complexes (CDplexes) have been studied by using zeta potential, DLS, SAXS, and cryo-TEM. paCDs and pDNA, when assembled in CDplexes, render effective charges that are lower than the nominal ones. The CDplexes show a self-assembling pattern corresponding to multilamellar lyotropic liquid crystal phases, characterized by a lamellar stacking of bilayers of the CD-based vectors with anionic pDNA sandwiched among them. When exposed to human serum, either in the absence or in the presence of pDNA, the surface of the cationic CD-based vector becomes coated by a protein corona (PC) whose composition has been analyzed by nanoLC-MS/MS. Some of the CDplexes herein studied showed moderate-to-high transfection levels in HeLa and MCF-7 cancer cells combined with moderate-to-high cell viabilities, as determined by FACS and MTT reduction assays. The ensemble of data provides a detail picture of the paCD-pDNA-PC association processes and a rational base to exploit the protein corona for targeted gene delivery on future in vivo applications.

Trehalose-based Janus cyclooligosaccharides: the "Click" synthesis and DNA-directed assembly into pH-sensitive transfectious nanoparticles.

The convergent preparation of Janus molecular nanoparticles by thiourea-"clicking" of α,α'-trehalose halves has been implemented; the strategy allows access to macrocyclic derivatives with seggregated cationic and lipophilic domains that in the presence of DNA undergo pH-dependent self-assembly into lamellar superstructures, as established by electrochemical, structural (SAXS), microscopical (TEM) and computational techniques, that mediate transfection in vitro and in vivo.

Conformationally-locked C-glycosides: tuning aglycone interactions for optimal chaperone behaviour in Gaucher fibroblasts.

A series of conformationally locked C-glycosides based on the 3-aminopyrano[3,2-b]pyrrol-2(1H)-one (APP) scaffold has been synthesized. The key step involved a totally stereocontrolled C-Michael addition of a serine-equivalent C-nucleophile to tri-O-benzyl-2-nitro-D-galactal, previously published by the authors. Stereoselective transformations of the Michael adduct allowed us the synthesis of compounds with mono- or diantennated aglycone moieties and different topologies. In vitro screening showed highly selective inhibition of bovine liver ß-glucosidase/ß-galactosidase and specific inhibition of human ß-glucocerebrosidase among lysosomal glycosidases for compounds bearing palmitoyl chains in the aglycone, with a marked dependence of the inhibition potency upon their number and location. Molecular dynamics simulations highlighted the paramount importance of an optimal orientation of the hydrophobic substituent to warrant efficient non-glycone interactions, which are critical for the binding affinity. The results provide a rationale for the strong decrease of the inhibition potency of APP compounds on going from neutral to acidic pH. The best candidate was found to behave as pharmacological chaperone in Gaucher fibroblasts with homozygous N370S and F213I mutations, with enzyme activity enhancements similar to those encountered for the reference compound Ambroxol.

Tuning of glyconanomaterial shape and size for selective bacterial cell agglutination.

Multivalent glycosystems are potential candidates for anti-adhesive therapy, a non-lethal approach against the ever increasing antibiotic resistance of pathogenic bacteria. In order to fine-tune the glyconanomaterial size and shape for selective bacterial cell agglutination, herein we report the synthesis of sugar-coated dynamic and polymeric 3D-micelles and 1D-carbon nanotubes. The reported shot-gun like synthetic approach is based on the ability of diacetylenic-based neoglycolipids to self-assemble into micelles in water and hierarchically self-assemble into hemimicelles on a single-walled carbon nanotube surface. The affinity of the nanosystems was preliminarily assessed by enzyme-linked lectin assay (ELLA) using the mannose-specific Concanavalin A lectin as a model receptor. Relative binding potency enhancements, compared to methyl α-d-mannopyranoside used as control, from 10- to 25- to 2340-folds in sugar molar basis were observed when passing from 3D dynamic micelles to static micelles, to 1D-mannose coated carbon nanotubes, respectively, indicative of a significant cluster glycoside effect. Importantly, these results were confirmed in vivo showing that the 1D-glyconanoring-coated carbon nanotubes efficiently and selectively regulate the agglutination and proliferation of the enterobacteria Escherichia coli type 1 fimbriae. These findings highlight the potential of sugar coated nano-materials as novel and effective tools in the control of bacterial pathogenesis.

Effects of feed additives on ileal mucosa-associated microbiota composition of broiler chickens.

The effects of dietary supplementation with 2 recently developed feed additives on the composition of the mucosa-associated microbiota of the ileum were studied in growing broiler chickens. A total of 48 male 1-d-old broiler chickens of the Cobb 500 strain were distributed in 4 treatments with 2 replicates of 6 birds each. The 2 additives tested were a di-d-fructose dianhydride­enriched caramel (FC) and the garlic derivative propyl propane thiosulfonate (PTS-O). Dietary treatments were a control (commercial diet with no additive), INU (20 g inulin/kg diet), CAR (20 g FC/kg diet), and GAR (90 mgPTS-O/kg diet). As a result of this study, inulin supplementation resulted in lower (P < 0.05) and FC feeding resulted in higher (P < 0.05) Blautia coccoides/Eubacterium rectale log10 number of copies respect to controls. Higher (P < 0.05) bifidobacteria log10 number of copies with respect to the controls was determined in the ileal mucosa of birds fed the PTS-O­supplemented diet. Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis and PCR analysis on Bifidobacterium spp. revealed the presence of Bifidobacterium longum, Bifidobacterium pseudolongum, and Bifidobacterium pseudocatenulatum in samples from chickens fed the control and the PTS-O­supplemented diet. Bifidobacterium longum was exclusively found in poultry fed the control diet, whereas B. pseudocatenulatum was found only in poultry fed the PTS-O­supplemented diet. This study showed that both PTS-O and FC were able to modulate the composition of the ileal mucosa-associated microbiota of growing broiler chickens. Finally, in addition to B. pseudolongum, the presence of B. longum and B. pseudocatenulatum, species not previously described in intestinal samples of broilers, was also demonstrated.

Correlations between changes in intestinal microbiota composition and performance parameters in broiler chickens.

Growing male Cobb broiler chickens were fed on diets supplemented with additives reported as able to influence intestinal microbiota composition. The diets used were a balanced commercial diet (no additive), inulin (20 g/kg), fructose caramel (FC, 20 g/kg) and the garlic derivative PTS-O (propyl propane thiosulfonate, 45 and 90 mg/kg diet). The composition of the intestinal microbiota was analysed by qPCR at different points of the intestinal tract, and a number of nutritional parameters were also determined. The relative amounts of bacteroides (bacteroides/total bacteria) in the ileal contents correlated (p < 0.05) positively with faecal NDF, ADF, hemicellulose and cellulose digestibility. The relative amounts of Escherichia-Shigella (Escherichia-Shigella/total bacteria) in the crop contents correlated (p = 0.05) negatively with weight gain of broilers. Faecal N digestibility correlated (p < 0.05) negatively with total bacteria in the ileal contents of chickens. The relative amounts of Escherichia-Shigella (Escherichia-Shigella/total bacteria) in the caecal contents correlated (p = 0.05) negatively with faecal fat digestibility of broilers. Total bacteria in ileal or caecal contents of growing chickens correlated (p < 0.05) negatively with ileal N digestibility. The results here reported suggest that positive or negative correlations can be found between performance parameters and changes in intestinal microbiota composition of growing broiler chickens.

Darkness during early postnatal development is required for normal circadian patterns in the adult rat.

Early light experience influences the brain during development. Perinatal light exposure has an important effect on the development of the circadian system, although the role of quantity versus quality of light in this process is still unclear. We tested the development of the circadian rhythm of locomotor activity under constant bright light from the day of weaning, of six groups of rats raised under different light conditions during suckling. Results indicated that when rats received daily darkness during suckling (rats reared under constant darkness or light-dark cycles with dim or bright light) became arrhythmic when exposed to continuous bright light after weaning. However, those rats reared in the absence of darkness (constant dim or bright light, or alternating dim and bright light) developed a circadian rhythm, which was stronger and had a shorter period depending on the quantity of light received during suckling. Vasointestinal polypeptide immunoreactivity in the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) was higher in those rats with weaker rhythms. However, no apparent differences among these groups were found in the melanopsin-expressing retinal ganglion cells, which provide the SCN with light input in the photoentrainment process. When bright light was shifted to dim light in three of the groups on day 57 after weaning, all of them generated a circadian rhythm with a longer period in those rats previously arrhythmic. Our results indicate the importance of the amount of light received at the early stages of life in the development of the circadian system and suggest that darkness is needed for the normal development of circadian behaviour.

Effects of inulin and di-D-fructose dianhydride-enriched caramels on intestinal microbiota composition and performance of broiler chickens.

In vitro and in vivo experiments were designed to evaluate the effectiveness of laboratory-made di-d-fructose dianhydride (DFA)-enriched caramels. The DFA-enriched caramels were obtained from d-fructose (FC), d-fructose and sucrose (FSC), or d-fructose and ß-cyclodextrin (FCDC). In the in vitro experiment, raftilose and all caramels increased (P<0.05) l-lactate concentration and decreased (P<0.05) pH. Total short-chain fatty acid concentration was higher (P<0.05) than controls in tubes containing raftilose, FSC, FCDC and commercial sucrose caramel (CSC). Raftilose, and all caramels tested except FSC and FC (1%), increased (P<0.01) lactobacilli log10 number of copies compared with the non-additive control. FSC, FCDC and CSC increased (P<0.01) the bifidobacteria number of copies as compared with controls. All additives, except FCDC, decreased (P<0.01) Clostridium coccoides/Eubacterium rectale log number of copies. Compared with controls, raftilose, FC and CSC led to lower (P<0.01) Escherichia-Shigella and enterobacteria. For the in vivo experiment, a total of 144 male 1-day-old broiler chickens of the Cobb strain were randomly assigned to one of the three dietary treatments for 21 days. Dietary treatments were control (commercial diet with no additive), inulin (20 g inulin/kg diet) and FC (20 g FC/kg diet). Final BW of birds fed FC diet was higher (P<0.01) than controls or inulin-fed birds, although feed: gain values were not different. Feed intake of chickens fed FC was higher (P<0.01) than that of inulin-fed birds but not statistically different from controls. Crop pH values were lower (P<0.01) in birds fed FC diet as compared with control diet, with inulin-fed chickens showing values not different from control- or FC-fed birds. Lower (P<0.05) lactobacilli number of copies was determined in the crop, ileum and caeca of birds fed the inulin diet compared with the control diet. Inulin supplementation also resulted in lower (P<0.05) C. coccoides/E. rectale, bacteroides and total bacteria in caecal contents. Addition of FC to broiler diets gave place to lower (P<0.05) enterobacteria and Escherichia-Shigella in crop and caecal contents compared with controls. The bacteroides number of copies increased (P<0.05) as compared with controls in the ileum, but decreased (P<0.05) in the caeca of chickens fed the FC diet. Energy, ADF, NDF and non-starch polysaccharides faecal digestibilities were greater (P<0.05) than controls in chickens fed diets containing inulin or FC. Fat digestibility was higher (P<0.05) in FC-fed birds compared with controls or inulin-fed chickens. In conclusion, DFA-enriched caramels tested here, particularly FC, may represent a type of new additives useful in poultry production.

Tuning glycosidase inhibition through aglycone interactions: pharmacological chaperones for Fabry disease and GM1 gangliosidosis.

Competitive inhibitors of either α-galactosidase (α-Gal) or ß-galactosidase (ß-Gal) with high affinity and selectivity have been accessed by exploiting aglycone interactions with conformationally locked sp(2)-iminosugars. Selected compounds were profiled as potent pharmacological chaperones for mutant lysosomal α- and ß-Gal associated with Fabry disease and GM(1) gangliosidosis.

Utilidad de la plasmaféresis en cuidados intensivos / Utility of plasmapheresis in intensive care

Presentamos las plasmaféresis (PMF) realizadas en una unidad de cuidados intensivos (UCI) polivalente de 18 camas en el quinquenio comprendido entre los años 2003-2007. El objetivo del presente artículo es comunicar nuestra experiencia en PMF realizada con monitores específicos para tratamientos continuos de reemplazo renal (TCRR) y evidenciar la versatilidad derivada del uso de estos tratamientos y de estos monitores en las UCI. La utilidad de estos procedimientos abarcan muchos escenarios de la enfermedad crítica ingresada en nuestras unidades (pacientes neurológicos, hematológicos, reumatológicos). En definitiva, nuestra experiencia en PMF nos lleva a concluir que es un tratamiento de depuración extracorpórea sencillo, que puede realizar el personal sanitario de cuidados intensivos en cualquier momento dentro de un amplio espectro de indicaciones clínicas, con monitores de TCRR y con unas complicaciones asociadas a la técnica mínimas y leves (AU)

We discuss the plasmapheresis (PE) carried out in an 18-bed polyvalent intensive care unit between the years 2003-2007. This article aims to report our experience in plasmapheresis performed with specific monitors for continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) that shows the versatility of the use of these procedures in intensive care. The utility of these procedures include many different critical disease settings in our units (neurology, hematology, and rheumatology patients). In short, our experience in PE has led us to the conclusion that plasmapheresis is a simple extracorporeal depuration treatment that can be performed by staff trained in intensive care at any moment within a wide spectrum of clinical indications, with CRRT monitors and with minimum adverse effects (AU)

[Utility of plasmapheresis in intensive care]. / Utilidad de la plasmaféresis en cuidados intensivos.

We discuss the plasmapheresis (PE) carried out in an 18-bed polyvalent intensive care unit between the years 2003-2007. This article aims to report our experience in plasmapheresis performed with specific monitors for continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) that shows the versatility of the use of these procedures in intensive care. The utility of these procedures include many different critical disease settings in our units (neurology, hematology, and rheumatology patients). In short, our experience in PE has led us to the conclusion that plasmapheresis is a simple extracorporeal depuration treatment that can be performed by staff trained in intensive care at any moment within a wide spectrum of clinical indications, with CRRT monitors and with minimum adverse effects.

[Pharmaceutical use of cyclodextrines: perspectives for drug targeting and control of membrane interactions]. / Les cyclodextrines en pharmacie: perspectives pour le ciblage d'actifs thérapeutiques et le contrôle d'interactions membranaires.

Cyclomaltooligosaccharides (cyclodextrins, CDs) comprise a family of biocompatible cage devices which have been developed during the last thirty years in order to improve the solubility, stability and the bioavailability of drugs. Chemical modification usually improves the solubility and solubilisation properties and generally alleviates the renal toxicity of native cyclodextrins. Red cell lysis, which is ascribed to membrane interactions is also monitored. Selective and commercially accessible functionalisation processes are now available which avoid the problems of heterogeneity commonly found with the existing industrial approaches. These allow a convenient access to modular structures which could fit the molecular characteristics of the host ("bouquet" and dimeric CDs). Grafting of saccharide ligands which are recognised by membrane proteins is another promising aspect for the transport and targeting of drugs and the control of cell interactions. Several topological aspects of ligand presentation toward a membrane lectin have been assessed with concanavalin A and mannosyl CD-dendrimers and the results have been extended to molecular targeting to macrophages. Advantage has been taken of the autoassociation properties of amphiphilic derivatives of cyclodextrins for the preparation of stable nanoparticles of interest for the transport and targeting of drugs and macromolecular systems.

Structure and serological analysis of the Hafnia alvei 481-L O-specific polysaccharide containing phosphate in the backbone chain.

The lipopolysaccharide was extracted from cells of Hafnia alvei 481-L bacterial strain and, after mild acid hydrolysis, the O-specific polysaccharide was isolated and characterised. On the basis of chemical analyses and NMR spectroscopic studies of the polysaccharide and oligosaccharides obtained after Smith degradation, or hydrogen fluoride treatment, it was found that the repeating unit of the O-specific polysaccharide is a phosphorylated hexasaccharide: [see text]. The biological repeating unit of the H. alvei 481-L O-antigen has galactose phosphate at the nonreducing terminus. Serological tests indicate that this strain represents an individual serotype in the H. alvei genus.

The mPer1 clock gene expression in the rd mouse suprachiasmatic nucleus is affected by the retinal degeneration.

Endogenous rhythms of mammals are controlled by the clock located in the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN). The molecular mechanism of a clock involves transcription/translation-based feedback loops in which the expression of the so called "clock genes" is suppressed periodically by their protein products. Previous studies reported influence of the eye itself on the circadian oscillation of the SCN, apart from the well-known photic readjustment of the central clock. With this in mind, we decided to analyze the mPer1 clock gene expression in the retinally degenerate (rd) mouse SCN by means of immunohistochemical techniques. Our objective was to detect possible alterations of the daily endogenous oscillation of PER1 protein in the SCN of these rd mice, as well as to make clear whether or not this protein was involved in the resetting of the central clock in a manner similar to wild-type animals. We found that the endogenous levels of PER1 protein were reduced in the SCN of rd mice throughout the 24-h cycle, which suggests that loss of classic photoreceptors influences somehow the main mechanism of the SCN clock. Light stimulation induced a parallel increase of Per1 expression at the subjective night, but not at the subjective day, in both rd and wild-type mice. Therefore, SCN readjustment by light in the rd mice occurs with a pattern similar to wild-type controls, despite the reduced PER1 protein levels detected. The effect of retinal degeneration on the circadian system and the possible interactions between the retinal and the SCN clocks are discussed.

Identification of extraretinal photoreceptors in the teleost Phoxinus phoxinus.

The existence of cells capable of detecting changes of the photoperiod within the deep brain, the so-called deep brain photoreceptors, was proposed in the early years of the twentieth century. By using immunocytochemistry with antisera against phototransductory proteins on paraffin and vibratome sections, we have localized several positive areas in the brain of the teleost Phoxinus phoxinus. These areas were restricted to two encephalic regions: the epithalamus and the hypothalamus. Immunopositive (rod-opsin- and a-transducin-like) pinealocytes and parapinealocytes, as well as some sparse neurons in the habenula, were seen in the epithalamus. The immunoreaction of the hypothalamus was represented by a-transducin-like positive (magnocellular and parvicellular) neurons of the Nucleus Preopticus, as well as by a-transducin- and arrestin-like positive fibers corresponding to the hypothalamic-hypophyseal tract and a few fibers running towards the basal telencephalon. These findings corroborate the data published on other teleost fish and fully support the hypothesis of the presence of photosensitive cells in the encephalon of lower vertebrates. The labelling with antisera against different components of the phototransductory cascade also strengthens the idea that such cells employ a biochemical mechanism similar to that in the retinal visual photoreceptor cells, rods and cones. Although the function is still unclear, the detection of the photoperiod seems to be the most likely role for these extraretinal photoreceptors.

Strongyloides stercoralis en el sur de Galicia / Strongyloides Stercoralis in the South of Galicia (Spain)

Strongyloides stercoralis es el único parásito que puede producir enfermedad crónica en el ser humano perpetuándose por autoinfección. Este nematodo, además, puede condicionar la muerte cuando se deteriora el estado inmunológico de paciente produciendo una hiperinfección masiva. Se describe el primer paciente afecto de strongiloidiasis siempre residente en el área sur de Galicia. El cuadro clínico cursó con lesiones cutáneas inespecíficas y dolor abdominal con intensa eosinofilia periférica (>20.000/ml). El diagnóstico se realizó mediante la objetivación de larvas en heces, confirmada mediante cultivo. El tratamiento con albendazol fracasó, consiguiéndose la curación mediante ivermectina. Debemos aumentar nuestro índice de sospecha sobre todo por la posibilidad de diagnosticar a estos pacientes como gastroenteritis eosinofílica, con el riesgo de "hiperinfección" que conllevaría el tratamiento con cortisona (AU)

Strongyloides stercoralis is the only parasite which can produce a chronic illness in humans, being through autoinfection. This nematode can also provoke death when patient’s immunologic state deteriorates producing a massive hyper infection. The first patient with strongyloidiasis who has always lived in the Galician South area is described. The clinical picture consisted of unspecific cutaneous lesions and abdominal pain with severe peripheral eosinophilia (>20.000/ml. The diagnosis was carried out observing the larvae in the fecal examination and was confirmed with a culture. Treatment with albendazole failed and the healing was reached with ivermectin. We must consider the possibility of strongyloidiasis because misdiagnosing these patients as eosinophilic gastroenteritis there would be a higher risk of hyperinfection if they are treated with corticosteroids (AU)