The Entrapment and Concentration of SARS-CoV-2 Particles with Graphene Oxide: An In Vitro Assay.

Previous studies have suggested that graphene oxide (GO) has some antiviral capacity against some enveloped viruses, including SARS-CoV-2. Given this background, we wanted to test the in vitro antiviral ability to GO using the viral plaque assay technique. Two-dimensional graphene oxide (GO) nanoparticles were synthesized using the modified Hummers method, varying the oxidation conditions to achieve nanoparticles between 390 and 718 nm. The antiviral activity of GO was evaluated by experimental infection and plaque formation units assay of the SARS-CoV-2 virus in VERO cells using a titrated viral clinical isolate. It was found that GO at concentrations of 400 µg/mL, 100 µg/mL, 40 µg/mL, and 4 µg/mL was not toxic to cell culture and also did not inhibit the infection of VERO cells by SARS-CoV-2. However, it was evident that GO generated a novel virus entrapment phenomenon directly proportional to its concentration in the suspension. Similarly, this effect of GO was maintained in assays performed with the Zika virus. A new application for GO nanoparticles is proposed as part of a system to trap viruses in surgical mask filters, air conditioning equipment filters, and air purifier filters, complemented with the use of viricidal agents that can destroy the trapped viruses, an application of broad interest for human beings.

Guillain-Barré Syndrome Following Zika Virus Infection Is Associated With a Diverse Spectrum of Peripheral Nerve Reactive Antibodies.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Recent outbreaks of Zika virus (ZIKV) in South and Central America have highlighted significant neurologic side effects. Concurrence with the inflammatory neuropathy Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) is observed in 1:4,000 ZIKV cases. Whether the neurologic symptoms of ZIKV infection are immune mediated is unclear. We used rodent and human live cellular models to screen for anti-peripheral nerve reactive IgG and IgM autoantibodies in the sera of patients with ZIKV with and without GBS. METHODS: In this study, 52 patients with ZIKV-GBS were compared with 134 ZIKV-infected patients without GBS and 91 non-ZIKV controls. Positive sera were taken forward for target identification by immunoprecipitation and mass spectrometry, and candidate antigens were validated by ELISA and cell-based assays. Autoantibody reactions against glycolipid antigens were also screened on an array. RESULTS: Overall, IgG antibody reactivities to rat Schwann cells (SCs) (6.5%) and myelinated cocultures (9.6%) were significantly higher, albeit infrequent, in the ZIKV-GBS group compared with all controls. IgM antibody immunoreactivity to dorsal root ganglia neurones (32.3%) and SCs (19.4%) was more frequently observed in the ZIKV-GBS group compared with other controls, whereas IgM reactivity to cocultures was as common in ZIKV and non-ZIKV sera. Strong axonal-binding ZIKV-GBS serum IgG antibodies from 1 patient were confirmed to react with neurofascin 155 and 186. Serum from a ZIKV-infected patient without GBS displayed strong myelin-binding and putative antilipid antigen reaction characteristics. There was, however, no significant association of ZIKV-GBS with any known antiglycolipid antibodies. DISCUSSION: Autoantibody responses in ZIKV-GBS target heterogeneous peripheral nerve antigens suggesting heterogeneity of the humoral immune response despite a common prodromal infection.

PredictION: a predictive model to establish the performance of Oxford sequencing reads of SARS-CoV-2.

The optimization of resources for research in developing countries forces us to consider strategies in the wet lab that allow the reuse of molecular biology reagents to reduce costs. In this study, we used linear regression as a method for predictive modeling of coverage depth given the number of MinION reads sequenced to define the optimum number of reads necessary to obtain >200X coverage depth with a good lineage-clade assignment of SARS-CoV-2 genomes. The research aimed to create and implement a model based on machine learning algorithms to predict different variables (e.g., coverage depth) given the number of MinION reads produced by Nanopore sequencing to maximize the yield of high-quality SARS-CoV-2 genomes, determine the best sequencing runtime, and to be able to reuse the flow cell with the remaining nanopores available for sequencing in a new run. The best accuracy was -0.98 according to the R squared performance metric of the models. A demo version is available at https://genomicdashboard.herokuapp.com/.

Antibody deficiencies with normal IgG in adults with Non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis or recurrent pneumonia: Cross-sectional study.

Background: Inborn errors of immunity, mainly Predominantly Antibody deficiencies with normal IgG levels are unrecognized in adults with lung diseases such as bronchiectasis or recurrent pneumonia. Objective: To determine IgM, IgA, IgG2 subclass deficiencies, and Specific antibody deficiency (anti-pneumococcal polysaccharide antibodies) in adults with non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis or recurrent pneumonia. Methods: Cross-sectional study. Consecutive patients with non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis or recurrent pneumonia were recruited in Cali, Colombia. IgG, IgA, IgM, and IgE, IgG2subclass and IgG anti-pneumococcal serum levels were measured. Results: Among the 110 participants enrolled, Antibody deficiencies with normal serum IgG levels were found in 11(10%) cases. IgA deficiency (3 cases), IgM deficiency (2 cases) and IgG2 deficiency (2 cases) were the most frequent primary immunodeficiencies. In addition, IgG2+IgA deficiency, Ataxia-telangiectasia, Hyper-IgE syndrome and Specific Antibody Deficiency(anti-polysaccharides) were found in one case each. Conclusions: Predominantly antibody deficiencies with normal IgG levels are an important etiology of non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis and recurrent pneumonia in adults.

Antecedentes: Los Errores Innatos de la Inmunidad principalmente las Deficiencias Predominantemente de anticuerpos con niveles normales de IgG no se conocen en adultos con enfermedades pulmonares como las bronquiectasias o la neumonía recurrente. Objetivo: Determinar las deficiencias de IgM, IgA y de subclase de IgG2 y la Deficiencia Específica de Anticuerpos (anticuerpos antineumocócicos de polisacáridos) en adultos con Bronquiectasias no Fibrosis Quística (BQnoFQ) o neumonía recurrente. Métodos: Estudio observacional prospectivo. Se reclutaron 110 pacientes consecutivos con BQnoFQ o neumonía recurrente en Cali, Colombia. Se midieron los niveles séricos de IgG, IgA, IgM e IgE, subclase IgG2 y anticuerpos anti-neumococo. Resultados: Se encontraron deficiencias de anticuerpos con niveles normales de IgG en el 10% de los sujetos; Cuatro casos con IgG2 baja, incluido 1 caso de deficiencia de IgG2 + IgA, 1 caso de ataxia-telangiectasia, 3 deficiencias de IgA (IgAD), 2 deficiencias selectiva de IgM (IgMD), 1 síndrome de Hiper-IgE (HIES-AR) y 1 deficiencia específica de anticuerpos. Ocho pacientes fueron diagnosticados con enfermedades relacionadas con la hipogammaglobulinemia IgG. Conclusiones: Las deficiencias predominantemente de anticuerpos con niveles normales de IgG son una etiología importante de BQnoFQ y neumonía recurrente en adultos. Los sujetos con bronquiectasias o neumonía recurrente requieren una evaluación exhaustiva de la respuesta inmune humoral y clínica.

Neolignans isolated from Saururus cernuus L. (Saururaceae) exhibit efficacy against Schistosoma mansoni.

Schistosomiasis, a parasitic disease caused by the blood fluke of the genus Schistosoma, affects over 230 million people, especially in developing countries. Despite the significant economic and public health consequences, only one drug is currently available for treatment of schistosomiasis, praziquantel. Thus, there is an urgent demand for new anthelmintic agents. Based on our continuous studies involving the chemical prospection of floristic biodiversity aiming to discover new bioactive compounds, this work reports the in vitro antiparasitic activity against Schistosoma mansoni adult worms of neolignans threo-austrobailignan-6 and verrucosin, both isolated from Saururus cernuus L. (Saururaceae). These neolignans showed a significant in vitro schistosomicidal activity, with EC50 values of 12.6-28.1 µM. Further analysis revealed a pronounced reduction in the number of S. mansoni eggs. Scanning electron microscopy analysis revealed morphological alterations when schistosomes were exposed to either threo-austrobailignan-6 or verrucosin. These relevant antischistosomal properties were accompanied by low cytotoxicity potential against the animal (Vero) and human (HaCaT) cell lines, resulting in a high selectivity index. Considering the promising chemical and biological properties of threo-austrobailignan-6 and verrucosin, this research should be of interest to those in the area of neglected diseases and in particular antischistosomal drug discovery.

Causes of Sow Mortality and Risks to Post-Mortem Findings in a Brazilian Intensive Swine Production System.

The present study was conducted to investigate the risk factors for post-mortem findings and causes of sow mortality. A post-mortem examination and microbiological investigation were conducted on 123 sows from a breeding herd with 15,000 dams. The mortality of spontaneous death in sows occurred mostly in the peripartum period (53%; p < 0.05). The spontaneous deaths were associated with heart failures, hemorrhagic and perforating gastric ulcers, and liver torsion, while in the euthanized sows, the post-mortem findings were associated with locomotor disorders. A higher body condition score (BCS ≥ 3.5) increased (p < 0.05) heart failure on the post-mortem examination. The excessive use of manual obstetric interventions increased sow deaths resulting from cervix/uterus ruptures and increased the odds of death (p < 0.05) due to metritis. Sow mortality had a multifactorial etiology. Infections were polymicrobial. The main microbial agents identified from a septic lesion in locomotor, genitourinary, and respiratory systems were Trueperella pyogenes, Escherichia coli, and Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae, respectively. In conclusion, sow mortality involved multiple risk factors and several bacterial agents. These results indicate that better management practices can reduce sow mortality in swine production and increase sow welfare.

The Indole-3-Acetamide-Induced Arabidopsis Transcription Factor MYB74 Decreases Plant Growth and Contributes to the Control of Osmotic Stress Responses.

The accumulation of the auxin precursor indole-3-acetamide (IAM) in the ami1 mutant has recently been reported to reduce plant growth and to trigger abiotic stress responses in Arabidopsis thaliana. The observed response includes the induction of abscisic acid (ABA) biosynthesis through the promotion of NCED3 expression. The mechanism by which plant growth is limited, however, remained largely unclear. Here, we investigated the transcriptional responses evoked by the exogenous application of IAM using comprehensive RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq) and reverse genetics approaches. The RNA-seq results highlighted the induction of a small number of genes, including the R2R3 MYB transcription factor genes MYB74 and MYB102. The two MYB factors are known to respond to various stress cues and to ABA. Consistent with a role as negative plant growth regulator, conditional MYB74 overexpressor lines showed a considerable growth reduction. RNA-seq analysis of MYB74 mutants indicated an association of MYB74 with responses to osmotic stress, water deprivation, and seed development, which further linked MYB74 with the observed ami1 osmotic stress and seed phenotype. Collectively, our findings point toward a role for MYB74 in plant growth control and in responses to abiotic stress stimuli.

Antibody deficiencies with normal IgG in adults with Non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis or recurrent pneumonia: Cross-sectional study / Deficiencias Predominantemente de Anticuerpos con niveles normales de IgG en adultos con bronquiectasias no fibrosis quística o neumonía recurrente en Colombia

Abstract Background: Inborn errors of immunity, mainly Predominantly Antibody deficiencies with normal IgG levels are unrecognized in adults with lung diseases such as bronchiectasis or recurrent pneumonia. Objective: To determine IgM, IgA, IgG2 subclass deficiencies, and Specific antibody deficiency (anti-pneumococcal polysaccharide antibodies) in adults with non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis or recurrent pneumonia. Methods: Cross-sectional study. Consecutive patients with non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis or recurrent pneumonia were recruited in Cali, Colombia. IgG, IgA, IgM, and IgE, IgG2subclass and IgG anti-pneumococcal serum levels were measured. Results: Among the 110 participants enrolled, Antibody deficiencies with normal serum IgG levels were found in 11(10%) cases. IgA deficiency (3 cases), IgM deficiency (2 cases) and IgG2 deficiency (2 cases) were the most frequent primary immunodeficiencies. In addition, IgG2+IgA deficiency, Ataxia-telangiectasia, Hyper-IgE syndrome and Specific Antibody Deficiency(anti-polysaccharides) were found in one case each. Conclusions: Predominantly antibody deficiencies with normal IgG levels are an important etiology of non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis and recurrent pneumonia in adults.

Resumen Antecedentes: Los Errores Innatos de la Inmunidad principalmente las Deficiencias Predominantemente de anticuerpos con niveles normales de IgG no se conocen en adultos con enfermedades pulmonares como las bronquiectasias o la neumonía recurrente. Objetivo: Determinar las deficiencias de IgM, IgA y de subclase de IgG2 y la Deficiencia Específica de Anticuerpos (anticuerpos antineumocócicos de polisacáridos) en adultos con Bronquiectasias no Fibrosis Quística (BQnoFQ) o neumonía recurrente. Métodos: Estudio observacional prospectivo. Se reclutaron 110 pacientes consecutivos con BQnoFQ o neumonía recurrente en Cali, Colombia. Se midieron los niveles séricos de IgG, IgA, IgM e IgE, subclase IgG2 y anticuerpos anti-neumococo. Resultados: Se encontraron deficiencias de anticuerpos con niveles normales de IgG en el 10% de los sujetos; Cuatro casos con IgG2 baja, incluido 1 caso de deficiencia de IgG2 + IgA, 1 caso de ataxia-telangiectasia, 3 deficiencias de IgA (IgAD), 2 deficiencias selectiva de IgM (IgMD), 1 síndrome de Hiper-IgE (HIES-AR) y 1 deficiencia específica de anticuerpos. Ocho pacientes fueron diagnosticados con enfermedades relacionadas con la hipogammaglobulinemia IgG. Conclusiones: Las deficiencias predominantemente de anticuerpos con niveles normales de IgG son una etiología importante de BQnoFQ y neumonía recurrente en adultos. Los sujetos con bronquiectasias o neumonía recurrente requieren una evaluación exhaustiva de la respuesta inmune humoral y clínica.

A Rapid RT-LAMP Assay for SARS-CoV-2 with Colorimetric Detection Assisted by a Mobile Application.

Loop-mediated amplification has been promoted for SARS-CoV-2 screening, however, antigen tests are preferred in low-income countries and remote zones. Poor training in molecular biology, plus the need for RNA purification or reading instruments to overcome issues of sensitivity in colorimetric detection, are some of the reasons limiting the use of this technique. In this study, nasopharyngeal swabs, aspirates and saliva were amplified in an in-house LAMP assay and subject to colorimetric detection, achieved by the naked eye and by image analysis with a mobile application. Accuracy of detection by the naked eye ranged from 61-74% but improved to 75-86% when using the application. Sensitivity of the digital approach was 81% and specificity 83%, with poor positive predictive value, and acceptable negative predictive value. Additionally to the reported effect of some transport media's pH, the presence of mucus and warming up of reagents while setting up the reaction critically affected performance. Accuracy per type of sample was 55, 70 and 80%, for swabs, aspirates and saliva, respectively, suggesting potential to improve the test in saliva. This assay, carried out in a closed tube, reduces contamination, has few pipetting steps and requires minimal equipment. Strategies to improve performance and implications of the use this sort of colorimetric LAMP for massive testing are discussed.

Análisis y conclusiones en torno a la evaluación de menores con trastorno de espectro autista / Analysis and Conclusions around the Evaluationof Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Esta investigación que presentamos pretende profundizar en las señales de alarma más frecuentes de los niños y las niñas diagnosticados con TEA, atendiendo a su nivel de desarrollo lingüístico. Para ello, analizamos los resultados obtenidos de una muestra de 142 niños y niñas evaluados en los cinco últimos años en el Servicio de Psicomotricidad de la Universidad de La Laguna. El instrumento utilizado es el ADOS-2 y para realizar el análisis estadístico hacemos uso del SPSS. Las conclusiones obtenidas hacen referencia a la ausencia de lenguaje durante los 3 primeros años de vida y a un aumento del porcentaje de sujetos con lenguaje adquirido a partir de esta edad; al escaso uso de la mirada, poco uso de la expresividad facial y gestualidad limitada en la interacción social; o la falta de respuesta cuando se les llama por su nombre solo en sujetos carentes de lenguaje, como algunas de las características más evidentes en las personas con TEA. En general, las variables en interacción social están más estrechamente relacionadas entre sí que en el resto de los ámbitos evaluados. (AU)

This research aims to deepen the most frequent warning signs of children diagnosed with ASD, taking into account their level of linguistic development. We ana-lyze the results obtained from a sample of 142 children evaluated in the last five years in the Servicio de Psicomotricidad, Universidad de La Laguna. The instrument we use is the ADOS-2, and to perform the statistical analysis, we make use of the SPSS. The conclusions obtained refer to the absence of language during the first 3 years and an increase in the percentage of subjects with language acquired from this age; the limited use of the gaze, little use of facial expressiveness and limited gesture in social interaction; or the lack of response when called by name only in subjects lacking language, such as some of the most obvious characteristics in people with ASD. In general, variables in social interaction are more closely related to each other than in the other evaluated areas. (AU)

Jasmonic Acid-Dependent MYC Transcription Factors Bind to a Tandem G-Box Motif in the YUCCA8 and YUCCA9 Promoters to Regulate Biotic Stress Responses.

The indole-3-pyruvic acid pathway is the main route for auxin biosynthesis in higher plants. Tryptophan aminotransferases (TAA1/TAR) and members of the YUCCA family of flavin-containing monooxygenases catalyze the conversion of l-tryptophan via indole-3-pyruvic acid to indole-3-acetic acid (IAA). It has been described that jasmonic acid (JA) locally produced in response to mechanical wounding triggers the de novo formation of IAA through the induction of two YUCCA genes, YUC8 and YUC9. Here, we report the direct involvement of a small number of basic helix-loop-helix transcription factors of the MYC family in this process. We show that the JA-mediated regulation of the expression of the YUC8 and YUC9 genes depends on the abundance of MYC2, MYC3, and MYC4. In support of this observation, seedlings of myc knockout mutants displayed a strongly reduced response to JA-mediated IAA formation. Furthermore, transactivation assays provided experimental evidence for the binding of MYC transcription factors to a particular tandem G-box motif abundant in the promoter regions of YUC8 and YUC9, but not in the promoters of the other YUCCA isogenes. Moreover, we demonstrate that plants that constitutively overexpress YUC8 and YUC9 show less damage after spider mite infestation, thereby underlining the role of auxin in plant responses to biotic stress signals.

A case-control study of factors associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection among healthcare workers in Colombia.

BACKGROUND: Healthcare Workers (HCW) are repeatedly exposed to SARS-CoV-2 infection. The aim of this study was to identify factors associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection among HCW in one of the largest cities in Colombia. METHODS: We conducted a case-control study, where cases had a positive reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and controls had a negative result. Participants were randomly selected and interviewed by phone. Analyses were performed using logistic regression models. RESULTS: A total of 110 cases and 113 controls were included. Men (AdjOR 4.13 95% CI 1.70-10.05), Nurses (AdjOR 11.24 95% CI 1.05-119.63), not using a high-performance filtering mask (AdjOR 2.27 95% CI 1.02-5.05) and inadequate use of personal protective equipment (AdjOR 4.82 95% CI 1.18-19.65) were identified as risk factors. Conversely, graduate (AdjOR 0.06 95% CI 0.01-0.53) and postgraduate (AdjOR 0.05 95% CI 0.005-0.7) education, feeling scared or nervous (AdjOR 0.45 95% CI 0.22-0.91), not always wearing any gloves, caps and goggles/face shields (AdjOR 0.10 95% CI 0.02-0.41), and the use of high-performance filtering or a combination of fabric plus surgical mask (AdjOR 0.27 95% CI 0.09-0.80) outside the workplace were protective factors. CONCLUSION: This study highlights the protection provided by high-performance filtering masks or double masking among HCW. Modifiable and non-modifiable factors and the difficulty of wearing other protective equipment needs to be considered in designing, implementing and monitoring COVID-19 biosafety protocols for HCW.

Accumulation of the Auxin Precursor Indole-3-Acetamide Curtails Growth through the Repression of Ribosome-Biogenesis and Development-Related Transcriptional Networks.

The major auxin, indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), is associated with a plethora of growth and developmental processes including embryo development, expansion growth, cambial activity, and the induction of lateral root growth. Accumulation of the auxin precursor indole-3-acetamide (IAM) induces stress related processes by stimulating abscisic acid (ABA) biosynthesis. How IAM signaling is controlled is, at present, unclear. Here, we characterize the ami1rooty double mutant, that we initially generated to study the metabolic and phenotypic consequences of a simultaneous genetic blockade of the indole glucosinolate and IAM pathways in Arabidopsisthaliana. Our mass spectrometric analyses of the mutant revealed that the combination of the two mutations is not sufficient to fully prevent the conversion of IAM to IAA. The detected strong accumulation of IAM was, however, recognized to substantially impair seed development. We further show by genome-wide expression studies that the double mutant is broadly affected in its translational capacity, and that a small number of plant growth regulating transcriptional circuits are repressed by the high IAM content in the seed. In accordance with the previously described growth reduction in response to elevated IAM levels, our data support the hypothesis that IAM is a growth repressing counterpart to IAA.

Effect of Ivermectin on Time to Resolution of Symptoms Among Adults With Mild COVID-19: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: Ivermectin is widely prescribed as a potential treatment for COVID-19 despite uncertainty about its clinical benefit. Objective: To determine whether ivermectin is an efficacious treatment for mild COVID-19. Design, Setting, and Participants: Double-blind, randomized trial conducted at a single site in Cali, Colombia. Potential study participants were identified by simple random sampling from the state's health department electronic database of patients with symptomatic, laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 during the study period. A total of 476 adult patients with mild disease and symptoms for 7 days or fewer (at home or hospitalized) were enrolled between July 15 and November 30, 2020, and followed up through December 21, 2020. Intervention: Patients were randomized to receive ivermectin, 300 µg/kg of body weight per day for 5 days (n = 200) or placebo (n = 200). Main Outcomes and Measures: Primary outcome was time to resolution of symptoms within a 21-day follow-up period. Solicited adverse events and serious adverse events were also collected. Results: Among 400 patients who were randomized in the primary analysis population (median age, 37 years [interquartile range {IQR}, 29-48]; 231 women [58%]), 398 (99.5%) completed the trial. The median time to resolution of symptoms was 10 days (IQR, 9-13) in the ivermectin group compared with 12 days (IQR, 9-13) in the placebo group (hazard ratio for resolution of symptoms, 1.07 [95% CI, 0.87 to 1.32]; P = .53 by log-rank test). By day 21, 82% in the ivermectin group and 79% in the placebo group had resolved symptoms. The most common solicited adverse event was headache, reported by 104 patients (52%) given ivermectin and 111 (56%) who received placebo. The most common serious adverse event was multiorgan failure, occurring in 4 patients (2 in each group). Conclusion and Relevance: Among adults with mild COVID-19, a 5-day course of ivermectin, compared with placebo, did not significantly improve the time to resolution of symptoms. The findings do not support the use of ivermectin for treatment of mild COVID-19, although larger trials may be needed to understand the effects of ivermectin on other clinically relevant outcomes. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04405843.

The legacy of ZikaPLAN: a transnational research consortium addressing Zika.

Global health research partnerships with institutions from high-income countries and low- and middle-income countries are one of the European Commission's flagship programmes. Here, we report on the ZikaPLAN research consortium funded by the European Commission with the primary goal of addressing the urgent knowledge gaps related to the Zika epidemic and the secondary goal of building up research capacity and establishing a Latin American-European research network for emerging vector-borne diseases. Five years of collaborative research effort have led to a better understanding of the full clinical spectrum of congenital Zika syndrome in children and the neurological complications of Zika virus infections in adults and helped explore the origins and trajectory of Zika virus transmission. Individual-level data from ZikaPLAN`s cohort studies were shared for joint analyses as part of the Zika Brazilian Cohorts Consortium, the European Commission-funded Zika Cohorts Vertical Transmission Study Group, and the World Health Organization-led Zika Virus Individual Participant Data Consortium. Furthermore, the legacy of ZikaPLAN includes new tools for birth defect surveillance and a Latin American birth defect surveillance network, an enhanced Guillain-Barre Syndrome research collaboration, a de-centralized evaluation platform for diagnostic assays, a global vector control hub, and the REDe network with freely available training resources to enhance global research capacity in vector-borne diseases.

Endogenous indole-3-acetamide levels contribute to the crosstalk between auxin and abscisic acid, and trigger plant stress responses in Arabidopsis.

The evolutionary success of plants relies to a large extent on their extraordinary ability to adapt to changes in their environment. These adaptations require that plants balance their growth with their stress responses. Plant hormones are crucial mediators orchestrating the underlying adaptive processes. However, whether and how the growth-related hormone auxin and the stress-related hormones jasmonic acid, salicylic acid, and abscisic acid (ABA) are coordinated remains largely elusive. Here, we analyse the physiological role of AMIDASE 1 (AMI1) in Arabidopsis plant growth and its possible connection to plant adaptations to abiotic stresses. AMI1 contributes to cellular auxin homeostasis by catalysing the conversion of indole-acetamide into the major plant auxin indole-3-acetic acid. Functional impairment of AMI1 increases the plant's stress status rendering mutant plants more susceptible to abiotic stresses. Transcriptomic analysis of ami1 mutants disclosed the reprogramming of a considerable number of stress-related genes, including jasmonic acid and ABA biosynthesis genes. The ami1 mutants exhibit only moderately repressed growth but an enhanced ABA accumulation, which suggests a role for AMI1 in the crosstalk between auxin and ABA. Altogether, our results suggest that AMI1 is involved in coordinating the trade-off between plant growth and stress responses, balancing auxin and ABA homeostasis.

Influence of seasonality on the aerosol microbiome of the Amazon rainforest.

The Amazon rainforest is the world's largest tropical forest, and this biome may be a significant contributor to primary biological aerosol (PBA) emissions on a global scale. These aerosols also play a pivotal role in modulating ecosystem dynamics, dispersing biological material over geographic barriers and influencing climate through radiation absorption, light scattering, or acting as cloud condensation nuclei. Despite their importance, there are limited studies investigating the effect of environmental variables on the bioaerosol composition in the Amazon rainforest. Here we present a 16S rRNA gene-based amplicon sequencing approach to investigate the bacterial microbiome in aerosols of the Amazon rainforest during distinct seasons and at different heights above the ground. Our data revealed that seasonal changes in temperature, relative humidity, and precipitation are the primary drivers of compositional changes in the Amazon rainforest aerosol microbiome. Interestingly, no significant differences were observed in the bacterial community composition of aerosols collected at ground and canopy levels. The core airborne bacterial families present in Amazon aerosol were Enterobacteriaceae, Beijerinckiaceae, Polyangiaceae, Bacillaceae and Ktedonobacteraceae. By correlating the bacterial taxa identified in the aerosol with literature data, we speculate that the phyllosphere may be one possible source of airborne bacteria in the Amazon rainforest. Results of this study indicate that the aerosol microbiota of the Amazon Rainforest are fairly diverse and principally impacted by seasonal changes in temperature and humidity.

Relationship between the polymorphism in the interleukin 1-ß and the treatment time of patients subjected to a modified piezocision technique.

AIM: We aimed to evaluate the correlation between the polymorphism of the interleukin 1-Beta (IL1-ß, +3954 C>T) and tooth movement, in a group of Colombian patients undergoing surgically accelerated orthodontic tooth movement. METHODS: The study was nested to a controlled clinical trial. Blood samples were taken from 11 women and 29 healthy Colombian male volunteers between 18 and 40 years old, after 1 year of starting orthodontic treatment. The patients presented malocclusion class I, with grade II or III. To detect the genetic polymorphism of the nucleotide +3954 C to T in the IL-1ß gene, we used a real-time PCR assay. RESULTS: Eleven individuals presented the allele 2 (T) heterozygous with the allele 1 (T/C) and 19 individuals were homozygous for the allele 1 (C/C). When analyzing the presence of the SNP, no significant differences were found in any of the variables. The best treatment was reflected in Group 3 (selective upper and lower alveolar decortication and 3D collagen matrix) and Group 4 (only selective alveolar decortication in the upper arch, with 3D collagen matrix), with 27% and 35% more speed respectively than in the control group. CONCLUSIONS: Our analyses indicated that a reduction in the total treatment time can be mostly potentiated by using decortication and collagen matrices and not for the presence of the allele 2 in the IL-1ß. Nevertheless, it is important that further studies investigate if the polymorphism could be associated with the speed of tooth movement and analyze the baseline protein levels.

OBJETIVO: Evaluar la correlación entre el polimorfismo de la interleucina 1-Beta (IL1-ß, +3954 C> T) y el movimiento de los dientes, en un grupo de pacientes colombianos sometidos a un movimiento dental ortodóncico acelerado quirúrgicamente. MÉTODOS: Este fue un estudio secundario derivado de un ensayo clínico aleatorio controlado. Se tomaron muestras de sangre de 11 mujeres y 29 voluntarios varones colombianos sanos entre 18 y 40 años, después de 1 año de comenzar el tratamiento de ortodoncia. Los pacientes presentaron maloclusión clase I, con grado II o III. Para detectar el polimorfismo genético del nucleótido +3954 C a T en el gen IL-1ß, se usó un ensayo de PCR en tiempo real. RESULTADOS: 11 individuos presentaron el alelo 2 (T) heterocigoto con el alelo 1 (T / C) y 19 individuos fueron homocigotos para el alelo 1 (C / C). Al analizar la presencia del SNP, no se encontraron diferencias significativas en ninguna de las variables. El mejor tratamiento se reflejó en el Grupo 3 (decorticación alveolar superior e inferior selectiva y matriz de colágeno 3D) y el Grupo 4 (solo decorticación alveolar selectiva en el arco superior, con matriz de colágeno 3D), con un 27% y un 35% más de velocidad, respectivamente, que en el grupo de control. CONCLUSIONES: Los análisis indicaron que una reducción en el tiempo total de tratamiento puede potenciarse principalmente mediante el uso de decorticación y matrices de colágeno y no por la presencia del alelo 2 en la IL-1ß. Sin embargo, es importante que otros estudios investiguen si el polimorfismo podría estar asociado con la velocidad del movimiento de los dientes y analizar los niveles de proteína de referencia.

Genome Sequence of SARS-CoV-2 Isolate Cali-01, from Colombia, Obtained Using Oxford Nanopore MinION Sequencing.

We report the genome sequence of a severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) isolate obtained from a patient with symptoms of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) who was infected in Cali, Colombia. The patient had no recent travel record and did not require hospitalization. The virus genome was obtained using Oxford Nanopore MinION sequencing.

Development and Performance of Dengue Diagnostic Clinical Algorithms in Colombia.

Diagnosing dengue in endemic areas remains problematic because of the low specificity of the symptoms and lack of accurate diagnostic tests. This study aimed to develop and prospectively validate, under routine care, dengue diagnostic clinical algorithms. The study was carried out in two phases. First, diagnostic algorithms were developed using a database of 1,130 dengue and 918 non-dengue patients, expert opinion, and literature review. Algorithms with > 70% sensitivity were prospectively validated in a single-group quasi-experimental trial with an adaptive Bayesian design. In the first phase, the algorithms that were developed with the continuous Bayes formula and included leukocytes and platelet counts, in addition to selected signs and symptoms, showed the highest sensitivities (> 80%). In the second phase, the algorithms were applied on admission to 1,039 consecutive febrile subjects in three endemic areas in Colombia of whom 25 were laboratory-confirmed dengue, 307 non-dengue, 514 probable dengue, and 193 undetermined. Including parameters of the hemogram consistently improved specificity without affecting sensitivity. In the final analysis, considering only confirmed dengue and non-dengue cases, an algorithm with a sensitivity and specificity of 65.4% (95% credibility interval 50-83) and 40.1% (34.7-45.7) was identified. All tested algorithms had likelihood ratios close to 1, and hence, they are not useful to confirm or rule out dengue in endemic areas. The findings support the use of hemograms to aid dengue diagnosis and highlight the challenges of clinical diagnosis of dengue.