Fractal analysis highlights analogies in arenaceous tubes of Sabellaria alveolata (Metazoa, Polychaeta) and agglutinated tests of foraminifera (Protista).

Bioconstructions of Sabellaria alveolata (Polychaeta Sabellariidae) from southern Sicily (Central Mediterranean) were sampled and analysed through a multidisciplinary approach in order to unravel the construction pattern of arenaceous tubes and explore possible analogies existing between the worm tubes and the agglutinated tests of benthic foraminifera (Protista). Scanning Electron Microscopy and Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy analyses were carried out on entire tubes as well as sectioned ones. Results show that arenaceous tubes are built following a rigorous architectural framework, based on selection and methodical arrangement of the agglutinated grains, and show surprising analogies with the test microstructure previously observed in agglutinated foraminifera. The grain distribution detected in both model species bioconstructions was analysed using a fractal numerical model (Hausdorff fractal dimension). Collected data show that in both organisms the grains were distributed according to a fractal model, indicating that the evolutionary process may have led to finding the same optimal constructive strategy across organisms with an independent evolutionary history, notwithstanding different geometrical scales. Furthermore, in sectioned tubes we observed microplastic fragments agglutinated within the arenaceous wall and in the inter-tube area. This unexpected finding shows that marine animals can be affected by microplastic pollution not only in soft tissues, but also engineered hard structures, and suggests the problem is more pervasive than estimated so far.

Vertical transmission of the hepatitis C virus to infants of anti-human immunodeficiency virus-negative mothers: molecular evolution of hypervariable region 1 in prenatal and perinatal or postnatal infections.

In a prospective study of 33 infants born to hepatitis C virus (HCV)-positive human immunodeficiency virus-negative mothers the vertical transmission of HCV occurred in 6.8%. The evolution of HCV infection in two babies was studied from birth up to 5 or 6 years of age, and the sequencing of the hypervariable region (HVR) of the putative envelope-encoding E2 region of the HCV genome was performed. The HVR1 sequence variability and the different serological profiles during follow-up could reflect the differences in HCV transmission routes, HCV genotypes, and clinical evolution of infection.

Molecular evolution of HCV genotype 2c persistent infection following mother-to-infant transmission.

The molecular evolution of HCV 2c in a case of vertical transmission was studied by comparing the virus quasispecies in the sera from the mother and from the child in a two-year follow-up. The positivity of HCV-RNA since the delivery accounted for an in-utero infection. The Core-E1 genome region (nt 928-1225) was amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) from serum samples collected at delivery and at 3, 9, 18 and 24 months after birth. The RIBA pattern was characterised by isolated anti-c22 positivity in the serum from mother and in sera from the child during the first 9 months. Additional presence of anti-c33 was observed afterwards. Genetic relatedness among isolates and with a mother minor variant serum (Mo1. 13) was found (mean variability ranged between 0.79% and 1.20%). From phylogenetic analysis this variant was identified as the origin of one of the two main lineages that included all isolates from child sera at 9, 18 and 24 months. The variability analysis has shown that high viral heterogeneity is present in the child serum collected at birth (3.16%). In this phase the dn/ds index (1.26%) indicates the presence of strong selective pressures. The development of child specific immune response at 9th month was concurrent with the disappearance of two mutants at positions 11 and 104 of E1. This rare case of in-utero mother-to-infant transmission can be considered as a model to elucidate the HCV quasispecies diversification during the first stage of infection.

[Incidence and prevalence of anti-HVC antibodies and HBV markers in patients undergoing extracorporeal hemodialysis]. / Incidenza e prevalenza degli anticorpi anti-HCV e dei marcatori di HBV nei pazienti sottoposti ad emodialisi extracorporea.

OBJECT: To assess the prevalence and the incidence of the anti-HCV and HBV markers in extracorporeal dialysis patients. METHOD: From 1990 to 1993, every six months, anti-HCV and anti-HBV markers were determined in 88 dialyzed patients, in 24 health workers from the Nephrology and Dialysis Departments and checked with 4143 blood donors. ALT values were also checked monthly. RESULTS: A 13.6 prevalence of anti-HCV was found while no new anti-HCV case was seen in the three-year observation period. Data referring to HBV infection were affected by vaccination. Statistical survey has shown a significant relation between anti-HCV and blood transfusions and between anti-HBV infection and duration of dialysis. The incidence of HCV infection was 4.1% among health workers who were all HBV vaccinated in the year before the research. COMMENT: We strongly recommend the observance of such rules as hygiene and prophylaxis, disinfection, sterilization and the use of disposable material. Also, a reduction of the number of transfusions seems to cut down the incidence of hematic infections.