Leishmania braziliensis prostaglandin F2α synthase impacts host infection

BACKGROUND: Prostaglandins (PG) are lipid mediators derived from arachidonic acid metabolism. They are involved in cellular processes such as inflammation and tissue homeostasis. PG production is not restricted to multicellular organisms. Trypanosomatids also synthesize several metabolites of arachidonic acid. Nevertheless, their biological role in these early-branching parasites and their role in host-parasite interaction are not well elucidated. Prostaglandin F2α synthase (PGF2S) has been observed in the Leishmania braziliensis secreted proteome and in L. donovani extracellular vesicles. Furthermore, we previously reported a positive correlation between L. braziliensis PGF2S (LbrPGF2S) expression and pathogenicity in mice. METHODS: LbrPGF2S gene expression and PGF2α synthesis in promastigotes were detected and quantified by western blotting and EIA assay kit, respectively. To investigate LbrPGF2S localization in amastigotes during bone marrow-derived macrophage infection, parasites expressing mCherry-LbrPGF2S were generated and followed by time-lapse imaging for 48 h post-infection. PGF2S homolog sequences from Leishmania and humans were analyzed in silico using ClustalW on Geneious v6 and EMBOSS Needle. RESULTS: Leishmania braziliensis promastigotes synthesize prostaglandin F2α in the presence of arachidonic acid, with peak production in the stationary growth phase under heat stress. LbrPGF2S is a cytoplasmic protein enriched in the secretory site of the parasite cell body, the flagellar pocket. It is an enzyme constitutively expressed throughout promastigote development, but overexpression of LbrPGF2S leads to an increase of infectivity in vitro. The data suggest that LbrPGF2S may be released from intracellular amastigotes into the cytoplasm of bone marrow-derived macrophages over a 48-hour infection period, using time-lapse microscopy and mCherry-PGF2S (mChPGF2S)-expressing parasites. CONCLUSIONS: LbrPGF2S, a parasite-derived protein, is targeted to the host cell cytoplasm. The putative transfer of this enzyme, involved in pro-inflammatory lipid mediator synthesis, to the host cell suggests a potential role in host-parasite interaction and may partially explain the increased pathogenicity associated with overexpression of LbrPGF2S in L. braziliensis. Our data provide valuable insights to help understand the importance of parasite-derived lipid mediators in pathogenesis

ASPECTOS EPIDEMIOLÓGICOS E PREVALÊNCIA DE ENTEROPARASITOSES EM CRIANÇAS DO BAIRRO JAMBEIRO, SÃO LUÍS, MA

A carência de condições básicas de higiene e saneamento, aliadas à falta de limpeza dos reservatórios de água e a não utilização de água fltrada ou fervida, intensifcam a ocorrência de problemas de saúde pública. Com o intuito de contribuir para a conscientização da população acerca dos problemas de saúde decorrentes da contaminação da água, realizou-se no Bairro do Jambeiro, localizado nas mediações da Universidade Federal do Maranhão, um projeto interdisciplinar que visou, pela divulgação dos dados da pesquisa científca, avaliar a água utilizada pelos moradores através de análise físico-química, microbiológica e parasitológica, de modo que os resultados permitissem a conscientização, através de atividades educacionais dos moradores. Os resultados endossam a precariedade de condições sanitárias encontradas nessa comunidade. Os poços, as torneiras e o córrego apresentam níveis de contaminação acima do recomendável pela Resolução CONAMA e ANVISA, sendo, portanto, impróprias para o consumo. Os exames parasitológicos revelaram alta prevalência (91%) de enteroparasitoses nas crianças. A partir desses resultados os integrantes do projeto e seus parceiros realizaram palestras destinadas à comunidade sobre os meios de tratamento da água, biologia dos parasitas e medidas profláticas das principais verminoses. Concomitante, ocorreu a entrega e esclarecimentos dos laudos da análise físico-química, microbiológica e parasitológica, onde houve a distribuição de remédios às crianças que estavam infectadas.Descritores:  Enteroparasitos; Epidemiologia; Prevalência.Abstract: The lack of basic conditions hygiene and sanitation, allied to grubbiness of water reservoirs and no use of fltered or boiled water, enhance the occurrence of health public problems. With the aim of contribute to awareness of the population about the health problems resulting from the water contamination, was held in the District of the Jambeiro, located near the Federal University of Maranhão, an interdisciplinary project the aimed, by disclosure of scientifc research, to evaluate the water used by population through physico-chemical, microbiological and parasitological analyses, so that the results allow awareness through educational activities of population. The results comproved the precarious sanitary conditions found in this community. The level contamination of the wells, taps and stream is higher than recommended by Resolution CONAMA and ANVISA, therefore, unft for consumption. The parasitological revealed a high prevalence (91%) of intestinal parasites in children. Based on these results the members of the project and its partners held talks for the community about the water treatment, biology of parasites and worms and of the main prophylactic measures. Concomitantly, there was the delivery and clarifcation of reports of physico-chemical, microbiological and parasitological, where there was the distribution of drugs to children who were infected.Descriptors: Enteroparasites; Epidemiology; Prevalence

International Nosocomial Infection Control Consortiu (INICC) report, data summary of 43 countries for 2007-2012. Device-associated module

We report the results of an International Nosocomial Infection Control Consortium (INICC) surveillance study from January 2007-December 2012 in 503 intensive care units (ICUs) in Latin America, Asia, Africa, and Europe. During the 6-year study using the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) U.S. National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) definitions for device-associated health care–associated infection (DA-HAI), we collected prospective data from 605,310 patients hospitalized in the INICC's ICUs for an aggregate of 3,338,396 days. Although device utilization in the INICC's ICUs was similar to that reported from ICUs in the U.S. in the CDC's NHSN, rates of device-associated nosocomial infection were higher in the ICUs of the INICC hospitals: the pooled rate of central line–associated bloodstream infection in the INICC's ICUs, 4.9 per 1,000 central line days, is nearly 5-fold higher than the 0.9 per 1,000 central line days reported from comparable U.S. ICUs. The overall rate of ventilator-associated pneumonia was also higher (16.8 vs 1.1 per 1,000 ventilator days) as was the rate of catheter-associated urinary tract infection (5.5 vs 1.3 per 1,000 catheter days). Frequencies of resistance of Pseudomonas isolates to amikacin (42.8% vs 10%) and imipenem (42.4% vs 26.1%) and Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates to ceftazidime (71.2% vs 28.8%) and imipenem (19.6% vs 12.8%) were also higher in the INICC's ICUs compared with the ICUs of the CDC's NHSN

Measurement of the charge ratio of atmospheric muons with the CMS detector

We present a measurement of the ratio of positive to negative muon fluxes from cosmic ray interactions in the atmosphere, using data collected by the CMS detector both at ground level and in the underground experimental cavern at the CERN LHC. Muons were detected in the momentum range from 5 GeV/ c to 1 TeV/ c . The surface flux ratio is measured to be 1.2766±0.0032(stat.)±0.0032(syst.) , independent of the muon momentum, below 100 GeV/ c . This is the most precise measurement to date. At higher momenta the data are consistent with an increase of the charge ratio, in agreement with cosmic ray shower models and compatible with previous measurements by deep-underground experiments.We present a measurement of the ratio of positive to negative muon fluxes from cosmic ray interactions in the atmosphere, using data collected by the CMS detector both at ground level and in the underground experimental cavern at the CERN LHC. Muons were detected in the momentum range from 5 GeV/c to 1 TeV/c. The surface flux ratio is measured to be 1.2766 \pm 0.0032(stat.) \pm 0.0032 (syst.), independent of the muon momentum, below 100 GeV/c. This is the most precise measurement to date. At higher momenta the data are consistent with an increase of the charge ratio, in agreement with cosmic ray shower models and compatible with previous measurements by deep-underground experiments