Humoral immune responses induced by Kudoa sp. (Myxosporea: Multivalvulida) antigens in BALB/c mice

The majority of Kudoa species infect the somatic muscle of fish establishing cysts. As there is no effective method to detect infected fish without destroying them these parasited fish reach the consumer. This work was developed to determine whether this parasite contains antigenic compounds capable of provoking an immune response in laboratory animals, in order to consider the possible immunopathological effects in man by the ingestion of Kudoa infected fish. BALB/c mice were injected by the subcutaneous route with the following extracts suspended in aluminium hydroxide: group 1 (black Kudoa sp. pseudocyst extract), group 2 (white Kudoa sp. pseudocyst extract), and group 3 (non-infected hake meat extract). Specific antibody levels were measured by ELISA against homologous and heterologous antigens. The highest responses were obtained from the black Kudoa sp. pseudocyst extract (group 1).The low optic density levels detected in group 3 proved that the results obtained in groups 1 and 2 were a consequence of the parasitic extract injection. The IgG1 was the predominant subclass. IgE detected in groups 1 and 2 showed the possible allergenic nature of some of the components of the parasitic extract. High IgA levels and medium IgG2a and IgG3 levels were obtained in groups 1 and 2. Low IgG2b responses were shown. No cross-reactions between Kudoa sp. pseudocyst extracts and the non-infected hake meat extract were observed.     

Evaluation by the skin prick test of Anisakis simplex antigen purified by affinity chromatography in patients clinically diagnosed with Anisakis sensitization

Anisakis simplex crude extracts (CE) (IPI, ASAC and ALK-ABELLO), A. simplex larval antigens purified using a column of IgG anti-A. simplex (PAK) or a column of IgG anti-Ascaris suum (PAS), antigen eluted from columns of IgG anti-A. suum (EAS) and an A. suum adult CE were assayed by the skin prick test. Thirty percent of assayed patients showed a negative reaction in the Anisakis skin prick test. Of 70% positives, two patients had a weal greater than that produced by histamine with the A. simplex extract from ABELLO and IPI. The A. suum skin prick test was positive in 35% of patients, with a lower reaction than that observed with the A. simplex extract from IPI in 57% of the sera and a higher reaction in 28% of the sera. All patients with positive reactions with the crude extract also showed positive weals with the two purified antigens, PAK and PAS. All patients, except three, with a reaction to A. suum antigen, were positive to the EAS antigen. In five patients the weal size produced by PAS was greater than that observed with PAK, whereas in another six patients the contrary was observed. Only one of these six patients did not react to EAS antigen, coincident with the patient showing only a slight increase (7%) in the weal size induced by PAK vs. PAS. When the EAS antigen was tested on patients positive to both PAK and PAS, six patients presented a weal size of >30% and only three patients who were positive to PAS did not react to the EAS antigen. These three patients were also negative against the A. suum CE. Purification by affinity chromatography eliminates from the PAS antigen the proteins responsible for producing cross-reactions with Ascaris (present in the EAS antigen).     

Genetic structure of the Iberian pig breed using microsatellites

An analysis of 25 microsatellite loci in 210 animals has been used to define the genetic structure of the Iberian pig, traditionally classified into several varieties. In addition, a sample of 20 Duroc pigs was used as an outgroup for topology trees. Inter-variety genetic variation was estimated by unbiased average heterozygosity and the number of alleles observed. Significant deviations from the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (HWE) were shown for 19 loci across the whole population. By contrast, equilibrium deviation within varieties was much lower. Genetic variation measures, genetic distance values and a neighbour-joining tree were used to estimate subdivision. In addition, an individual tree was constructed to contrast the assignation of animals into varieties. Despite the low bootstrap values obtained in the varieties neighbour-joining tree, the degree of genetic variation found was sufficient to support the division of the Iberian pig into varieties, although in some cases the traditional classification cannot be accepted. These results have shown the value of this marker panel in the study of intra-breed genetic structures.     

The Anisakis allergy debate: does an evolutionary approach help?

Allergic phenomena share common pathways with the immune response against helminth parasites. The definitions regarding allergens and their related concepts have their roots in the area of allergy research. The experience with the fish parasite Anisakis simplex-associated allergic features still nurtures an open debate on the necessity of larvae being alive to induce allergic reactions such as urticaria or anaphylaxis. Conceptual definitions of allergen, major allergen, as well as putatively crossreacting antibodies, as are used in food allergy, depend on the clinical relevance of specific IgE and deserve careful interpretation in the various forms of A. simplex-associated allergic features. Conversely, an evolutionary based interpretation of the presence of specific IgE depends on the viability of A. simplex.     

Tinea capitis. Experiencia de 2 años en un hospital de pediatría de Buenos Aires,Argentina

Tinea capitis is an infection caused by dermatophytes of the genera Microsporum and Trichophyton, and constitutes a major health problem in Argentina. The aim of the present study was to find out the incidence of those etiological agents and the therapeutic response in patients attending a High-Complexity Paediatric Hospital within a two-year period. A total of 98 tinea capitis were diagnosed, 13 of which were Celsus kerion. Microsporum canis was isolated in 61.28%. The range of values for minimum inhibitory concentrations were >32, 0,06–4; <0,015–2; <0,015–0.25; 0.13–8; 0.06–128 μg/mL for fluconazole itraconazole, voriconazole, terbinafine, ketoconazole and griseofulvin, respectively.     

Genetic markers in the blood of Spanish goat breeds

Biochemical variation of four genetic markers (Hb, Al, Tf, 'X' protein) in the blood of four Spanish goat breeds was analysed with starch gel electrophoresis. The frequencies at all of these loci have been calculated for the Spanish goats and compared with some of the goat breeds studied so far by other authors.     

Genetic polymorphism in Spanish Merino sheep

A Spanish Merino sheep population is characterized, for the first time, according to its frequencies for a total of nine polymorphic loci: three blood group factor systems, A, B and C, and the following red cell or serum polymorphisms: haemoglobin (Hb), carbonic anhydrase (CA), 'X protein', transferrin (Tf), arylesterase (EsA) and albumin (Al). Another locus, amylase (Am), did not show polymorphism.     

Liquid crystal precursor system as a vehicle for curcumin-mediated photodynamic inactivation of oral biofilms

Curcumin has great potential as a photosensitizer, but it has low solubility in aqueous solutions. This study reports the antimicrobial efficacy of photodynamic inactivation (PDI) mediated by a curcumin-loaded liquid crystal precursor (LCP) on in situ dental biofilms. Thirty volunteers used intraoral devices containing enamel samples for 48 hours for biofilm formation. The samples were then removed from the device and treated either with LCP with 160 μM of curcumin plus illumination at 18 J/cm² (C + L+ group) or with LCP without curcumin in the dark (C – L − group). Following this, the biofilm from the samples was plated for quantifying the viable colonies at 37°C for 48 hours. Specific and nonspecific media were used for the presumptive isolation of Streptococcus mutans, Lactobacillus species/aciduric microorganisms, Candida species, and total microbiota. The C + L+ group showed a highly significant (P < .001) reduction in the log₁₀ (colony forming units/mL) values as compared to the C − L − group for all culture media. Hierarchical linear regression indicated that there may be predictors at individual volunteer level explaining the difference in the PDI efficacy among different individuals (P = .001). The LCP system retained curcumin and released it slowly and continuously, thus protecting the drug from photodegradation. LCP with curcumin is considered effective for the photoinactivation of dental biofilms, but the PDI efficacy may differ based on the host's individual characteristics.     

Annual variation of enzyme polymorphism in four natural populations ofDrosophila melanogaster occupying different niches

Gene and gametic frequencies of theAdh, Aox, α-Gpdh andEst-6 loci (map position: II-50.I, III-56.6, II-20.5 and III-36.0 respectively) have been studied in two wine cellar populations at 40 km distance from each other, and two field populations, one near each of the wine cellars. Only one locus,Aox was polymorphic for more than two electromorphs. TheAdh locus seems to follow a different mode of change in genic frequencies in wine cellars, than in the field, while the other loci exhibit a similar pattern of polymorphism in the field and in the wine cellar. Linkage disequilibrium in the gameteAdh/α-Gpdh is affected by different phenomena in the field than in the wine cellar. A stronger linkage disequilibrium in theAdh/gametes observed in the field, may be a consequence of a mixture of subpopulations subjected to differential selection at theAdh locus. TheAdh locus is the only one in which selection is detected in one environment. It is neutral in other environments. Theα-Gpdh, Aox andEst-6 polymorphisms, however, behave as though they were neutral both in the wine cellar and in the field.     

Linking statistical shape models and simulated function in the healthy adult human heart

Cardiac anatomy plays a crucial role in determining cardiac function. However, there is a poor understanding of how specific and localised anatomical changes affect different cardiac functional outputs. In this work, we test the hypothesis that in a statistical shape model (SSM), the modes that are most relevant for describing anatomy are also most important for determining the output of cardiac electromechanics simulations. We made patient-specific four-chamber heart meshes (n = 20) from cardiac CT images in asymptomatic subjects and created a SSM from 19 cases. Nine modes captured 90% of the anatomical variation in the SSM. Functional simulation outputs correlated best with modes 2, 3 and 9 on average (R = 0.49 ± 0.17, 0.37 ± 0.23 and 0.34 ± 0.17 respectively). We performed a global sensitivity analysis to identify the different modes responsible for different simulated electrical and mechanical measures of cardiac function. Modes 2 and 9 were the most important for determining simulated left ventricular mechanics and pressure-derived phenotypes. Mode 2 explained 28.56 ± 16.48% and 25.5 ± 20.85, and mode 9 explained 12.1 ± 8.74% and 13.54 ± 16.91% of the variances of mechanics and pressure-derived phenotypes, respectively. Electrophysiological biomarkers were explained by the interaction of 3 ± 1 modes. In the healthy adult human heart, shape modes that explain large portions of anatomical variance do not explain equivalent levels of electromechanical functional variation. As a result, in cardiac models, representing patient anatomy using a limited number of modes of anatomical variation can cause a loss in accuracy of simulated electromechanical function.