The finding of Enterobius vermicularis eggs in pre-Columbian human coprolites

Enterobius vermicularis eggs were found in human coprolites collected in the archaeological site of Caserones, Tarapaca Valley, Chile, dating from 400 BC to 800 AD. The human pinworm had already been found in other pre-historic archaeological sites in America, and its introduction in this continent is discussed.     

Redox treatment ameliorates diabetes mellitus-induced skin flap necrosis via inhibiting apoptosis and promoting neoangiogenesis

Intractable wound healing is the habitual problem of diabetes mellitus. High blood glucose limits wound healing by interrupting inflammatory responses and inhibiting neoangiogenesis. Oxidative stress is commonly thought to be a major pathogenic cause of diabetic complications. Edaravone (3-methyl-1-phenyl-2-pyrazolin-5-one, EDV) is a free radical scavenger which suppress oxidative stress. This study investigates whether EDV can reduce oxidative stress in wound healing HaCaT/human dermal fibroblasts cells (HDFs) in vitro and in vivo animal model. Cell viability and wound healing assays, FACS flow cytometry, and Hoechst 33342 staining were performed to confirm apoptosis and cytotoxicity in H₂O₂ and EDV-treated HaCaT and HDFs. A streptozotocin-induced hyperglycemic animal model was made in adult C57BL6 mice. Full-thickness skin flap was made on dorsomedial back and re-sutured to evaluate the wound healing process. EDV was delivered slowly in the skin flap with degradable fibrin glue. The flap was monitored and analyzed on postoperative days 1, 3, and 5. CD31/DAPI staining was done to detect newly formed blood vessels. The expression levels of NF-κB, bcl-2, NOX3, and STAT3 proteins in C57BL6 mouse tissues were also examined. The wound healing process in hyper- and normoglycemic mice showed a difference in protein expression, especially in oxidative stress management and angiogenesis. Exogenous H₂O₂ reduced cell viability in a proportion to the concentration via apoptosis. EDV protected HaCaT cells and HDFs from H₂O₂ induced reactive oxygen species cell damage and apoptosis. In the mouse model, EDV with fibrin resulted in less necrotic areas and increased angiogenesis on postoperative day 5, compared to sham-treated mice. Our results indicate that EDV could protect H₂O₂-induced cellular injury via inhibiting early apoptosis and inflammation and also increasing angiogenesis. EDV might be valuable in the treatment of diabetic wounds that oxidative stress has been implicated.     

Microresonator mass sensors for detection of Bacillus anthracis Sterne spores in air and water

Towards the goal of developing a real-time monitoring device for microorganisms, we demonstrate the use of microcantilevers as resonant mass sensors for detection of Bacillus anthracis Sterne spores in air and liquid. The detection scheme was based on measuring resonant frequency decrease driven by thermally induced oscillations, as a result of the added mass of the spores with the use of a laser Doppler vibrometer (LDV). Viscous effects were investigated by comparing measurements in air and deionized (DI) water along with theoretical values. Moreover, biological experiments were performed which involved suspending spores onto the cantilevers and performing mass detection in air and water. For detection of spores in water, the cantilevers were functionalized with antibodies in order to fix the spores onto the surface. We demonstrate that as few as 50 spores on the cantilever can be detected in water using the thermal noise as excitation source. Measurement sensitivity of 9.23 Hz/fg for air and 0.1 Hz/fg for water were obtained. These measurements were compared with theoretical values and sources of improvement in cantilever sensitivity in a viscous medium were also discussed. It is expected that by driving the cantilevers and using higher order modes, detection of a single spore in liquids should be achievable.     

Cell-Associated and Extracellular Proteinases in Blastocrithidia culicis: Influence of Growth Conditions

The proteinase profile of Blastocrithidia culicis was analyzed, as well as how different growth conditions influenced its expression by gelatin-SDS-PAGE and the use of specific proteinase inhibitors. Multiple cell-associated proteinases with molecular masses corresponding to 33, 55, 60 kDa (cysteine proteinases) and 77, 80, 90, and 108 kDa (metalloproteinases) were detected using these methods. All the metalloproteinases identified were partitioned into the detergent phase after Triton X-114 extract, suggesting that they are membrane-bound, while all cysteine proteinases were partitioned into the aqueous phase. The proteolytic zymograms were similar when three different media were used for variable times of incubation. However, few quantitative and qualitative changes were observed. The secreted proteinase profile showed an heterogeneous pattern of enzymatic activities whose expression was dependent on time of growth and medium composition. However, the extracellular proteinase activities were abolished by 1,10-phenanthroline, suggesting that all of them are zinc-metalloproteinases. Received: 25 October 2000 / Accepted: 10 January 2001     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Helicobacter pylori</Emphasis> outer membrane protein,HomC, shows geographic dependent polymorphism that is influenced by the Bab family

The array of outer membrane proteins (OMPs) found in Helicobacter pylori provides a crucial component for persistent colonization within the gastric niche. Not only does H. pylori harbor a wide number of OMPs, but these OMPs often vary across strains; this likely contributes to immune evasion, adaptation during long term colonization, and potentially differential disease progression. Previous work from our group described OMP differences among the Bab family (babA, babB, and babC) and Hom family (homA and homB) from 80 American H. pylori clinical isolates (AH) and 80 South Korean H. pylori clinical isolates (KH). In the current study, we expanded our investigation to include the less well characterized Hom family member, HomC.     

Detection of Mycobacterium leprae DNA in clinical and environmental samples using serological analysis and PCR

Molecular Biology Reports - Leprosy is a chronic infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium leprae and persists as a serious public health problem in Brazil. This microorganism is inculturable,...     

Thymidylate synthase polymorphisms are associated to therapeutic outcome of advanced non-small cell lung cancer patients treated with platinum-based chemotherapy

Thymidylate synthase (TYMS) has three polymorphisms that may modulate thymidylate synthase (TS) expression levels: (1) 28 base pairs (bp) variable number tandem repeat (VNTR) (rs34743033); (2) single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) C>G at the twelfth nucleotide of the second repeat of 3R allele (rs2853542); and (3) 6 bp sequence deletion (1494del6, rs34489327). This study was conducted to evaluate the influence of TYMS polymorphisms on the survival of Portuguese patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) undergoing platinum-based chemotherapy. Our results showed no statistically significant differences between VNTR genotypes; although, considering the SNP C>G, homozygotes 3RG presented a better prognostic at 36 months (p = 0.004) and overall survival (p = 0.003) when compared to 2R3RG patients. Patients with “median/high expression genotypes” demonstrated a better survival at 12 months (p = 0.041) when compared to “low expression genotypes”. Furthermore, 6 bp? carriers (p = 0.006) showed a better survival at 12 months when compared to 6 bp+ homozygotes patients. When analyzing TYMS haplotypes, better survival at 12 months was observed for patients carrying haplotypes with the 6 bp? allele (2R6 bp?; p = 0.026 and 3RG6 bp?; p = 0.045). This is the first report that evaluates the three major TYMS polymorphisms in the therapeutic outcome of NSCLC in Portugal. According to our results, the TYMS polymorphisms may be useful tools to predict which advanced NSCLC patients could benefit more from platinum-based chemotherapy regimens.     

Kidney proteome responses in the teleost fish Paralichthys olivaceus indicate a putative immune response against Streptococcus parauberis

The proteomic response to bacterial infection in a teleost fish (Paralichthys olivaceus) infected with Streptococcus parauberis was analyzed using label-free protein quantitation coupled with LC-MS(E) tandem mass spectrometry. A total of 82 proteins from whole kidney, a major lymphoid organ in this fish, were found to be differentially expressed between healthy and diseased fish analyzed 6, 24, 72 and 120 h post-infection. Among the differentially expressed proteins, those involved in mediating immune responses (e.g., heat shock proteins, cathepsins, goose-type lysozyme and complement components) were most significantly up-regulated by infection. In addition, cell division cycle 48 (CDC48) and calreticulin, which are associated with cellular recovery and glycoprotein synthesis, were up-regulated in the universal protein group, whereas the other proteins in that group were down-regulated. There was continuous activation of expression of immune-associated proteins during infection, but there was also loss of expression of proteins not involved in immune function. We expect that our findings regarding immune response at the protein level would offer new insight into the systemic response to bacterial infection of a major immune organ in teleost fish.