Concurrent circulation of dengue serotype 1, 2 and 3 among acute febrile patients in Cameroon

Acute febrile patients presenting at hospitals in Douala, Cameroon between July and December 2020, were screened for dengue infections using real time RT-PCR on fragments of the 5’ and 3’ UTR genomic regions. In total, 12.8% (41/320) of cases examined were positive for dengue. Dengue virus 3 (DENV-3) was the most common serotype found (68.3%), followed by DENV-2 (19.5%) and DENV-1 (4.9%). Co-infections of DENV-3 and DENV-2 were found in 3 cases. Jaundice and headache were the most frequent clinical signs associated with infection and 56% (23/41) of the cases were co-infections with malaria. Phylogenetic analysis of the envelope gene identified DENV-1 as belonging to genotype V, DENV-2 to genotype II and DENV-3 to genotype III. The simultaneous occurrence of three serotypes in Douala reveals dengue as a serious public health threat for Cameroon and highlights the need for further epidemiological studies in the major cities of this region.     

Modulation of taurine release in ischemia by glutamate receptors in mouse brain stem slices

Glutamate is the main excitatory transmitter in the brain stem, regulating many vital sensory and visceral processes. Taurine is inhibitory and functions as a neuromodulator and regulator of cell volumes in the brain, being especially important in the developing brain. Taurine release is markedly enhanced under ischemic conditions in many brain areas, providing protection against excitotoxicity. The involvement of glutamate receptors in the release of preloaded [³H]taurine was now characterized under ischemic conditions in slices prepared from the mouse brain stem from developing (7-day-old) and young adult (3-month-old) mice. The ionotropic glutamate receptor agonists N-methyl-d-aspartate, kainate, and 2-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionate had no effect on ischemic taurine release in the immature brain stem, whereas in adults the release was enhanced in a receptor-mediated manner. The metabotropic receptor agonists of group I, (1±)-1-aminocyclopentane-trans-1,3-dicarboxylate and (S)-3,5-dihydroxyphenylglycine, potentiated both basal and K⁺-stimulated release in both age groups. The group III agonist l(+)-2-amino-4-phosphonobutyrate also enhanced the release. In both cases the effects were receptor-mediated, being reduced by the respective antagonists. The results show that activation of glutamate receptors in the ischemic brain stem generally enhances the release of taurine. This is beneficial to neurons in ischemia, offering protection against excitotoxicity and preventing neuronal damage.     

Human parainfluenza virus type 2 (HPIV2) induced host ADAM8 expression in human salivary adenocarcinoma cell line (HSY) during cell fusion

Background  

The aim of the study was to investigate expression of ADAMs (A Disintegrin and A Metalloproteinase) of host cell origin during cell-cell fusion induced by human parainfluenza virus type 2 (HPIV2).     

Effect of growth temperature on the fatty acid composition of Mycobacterium phlei

In Mycobacterium phlei, fatty acid unsaturation increased with decreasing temperature. The 10-hexadecenoic acid content increased as the temperature was reduced from 35°C to 26–20°C. At lower temperatures tuberculostearic acid decreased while oleic and linoleic acids increased, the latter being found in M. phlei for the first time. Concomitantly palmitic acid content decreased, and the 6- and 9-hexadecenoic acids increased slightly on reducing the temperature from 35 to 10°C. Thus, down to 26–20°C palmitic acid was mainly replaced by 10-hexadecenoic acid. From this range down to 10°C, palmitic and tuberculostearic acids were replaced by oleic and linoleic acids. Consequently, fatty acid branching decreased and mean chain length increased, as the temperature was reduced. These observations support the view that regulation of membrane fatty acid composition is part of microbial temperature adaptation, and that themechanism behind the responses might be more complex than generally believed.Abbreviations ACP acyl carrier protein - FAS I (Type I) fatty acid synthetase I - FAS II (Type II) fatty acid synthetase II - MGLP methylglucose containing lipopolysaccharide - MMP methylmannose containning polysaccharide