Diseño, implementación y actualización de la página web, para efectos de información y comunicación de la sub-línea de investigación Educación Física en ámbitos disformales.

El diseño implementación y actualización de la página Web para efectos de información y comunicación en la sub-línea de investigación Educación Física EN AMBITOS DIS-FORMALES es primordial. Ya que de no ser así, se estaría privando de dar a conocer este tema. La rápida evolución tecnológica, específicamente en elementos de difusión de información y comunicación de las denominadas TIC, ha obligado a sustituir algunas herramientas, creando nuevas e innovadoras tendencias a nivel virtual. Es fácil evidenciar la necesidad de inclusión a los avances tecnológicos comunicativos, recompilando información y elementos, que permitan encontrar la relación con una posible sociedad de consumo. La necesidad de utilizar esta ola de nuevas tecnologías para una mejor producción pedagógica y social en los estudiantes y cualquier tipo de comunidad interesada en esta nueva era comunicativa. De cierta manera, la tecnología, el diseño, implementación y la actualización de una página web se ha convertido en un desarrollo fundamental y funcional del mundo, ya que ha llegado a revolucionar las tendencias educativas aportándole al estudiante un grado alto de interacción con el medio

Babesia Bovis Ligand-Receptor Interaction: AMA-1 Contains Small Regions Governing Bovine Erythrocyte Binding

Apical membrane antigen 1 is a microneme protein which plays an indispensable role during Apicomplexa parasite invasion. The detailed mechanism of AMA-1 molecular interaction with its receptor on bovine erythrocytes has not been completely defined in Babesia bovis. This study was focused on identifying the minimum B. bovis AMA-1-derived regions governing specific and high-affinity binding to its target cells. Different approaches were used for detecting ama-1 locus genetic variability and natural selection signatures. The binding properties of twelve highly conserved 20-residue-long peptides were evaluated using a sensitive and specific binding assay based on radio-iodination. B. bovis AMA-1 ectodomain structure was modelled and refined using molecular modelling software. NetMHCIIpan software was used for calculating B-and T-cell epitopes. The B. bovis ama-1 gene had regions under functional constraint, having the highest negative selective pressure intensity in the Domain I encoding region. Interestingly, B. bovis AMA-1-DI (100YMQKFDIPRNHGSGIYVDLG119 and120GYESVGSKSYRMPVGKCPVV139 ) and DII (302CPMHPVRDAIFGKWSGGSCV321 )-derived peptides had high specificity interaction with erythrocytes and bound to a chymotrypsin and neuraminidase-treatment sensitive receptor. DI-derived peptides appear to be exposed on the protein’s surface and contain predicted B-and T-cell epitopes. These findings provide data (for the first-time) concerning B. bovis AMA-1 functional subunits which are important for establishing receptor-ligand interactions which could be used in synthetic vaccine development

Identification of Plasmodium vivax Proteins with Potential Role in Invasion Using Sequence Redundancy Reduction and Profile Hidden Markov Models

BACKGROUND: This study describes a bioinformatics approach designed to identify Plasmodium vivax proteins potentially involved in reticulocyte invasion. Specifically, different protein training sets were built and tuned based on different biological parameters, such as experimental evidence of secretion and/or involvement in invasion-related processes. A profile-based sequence method supported by hidden Markov models (HMMs) was then used to build classifiers to search for biologically-related proteins. The transcriptional profile of the P. vivax intra-erythrocyte developmental cycle was then screened using these classifiers. RESULTS: A bioinformatics methodology for identifying potentially secreted P. vivax proteins was designed using sequence redundancy reduction and probabilistic profiles. This methodology led to identifying a set of 45 proteins that are potentially secreted during the P. vivax intra-erythrocyte development cycle and could be involved in cell invasion. Thirteen of the 45 proteins have already been described as vaccine candidates; there is experimental evidence of protein expression for 7 of the 32 remaining ones, while no previous studies of expression, function or immunology have been carried out for the additional 25. CONCLUSIONS: The results support the idea that probabilistic techniques like profile HMMs improve similarity searches. Also, different adjustments such as sequence redundancy reduction using Pisces or Cd-Hit allowed data clustering based on rational reproducible measurements. This kind of approach for selecting proteins with specific functions is highly important for supporting large-scale analyses that could aid in the identification of genes encoding potential new target antigens for vaccine development and drug design. The present study has led to targeting 32 proteins for further testing regarding their ability to induce protective immune responses against P. vivax malaria

How to combat gram-negative bacteria using antimicrobial peptides: A challenge or an unattainable goal?

Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) represent a promising and effective alternative for combating pathogens, having some advantages compared to conventional antibiotics. However, AMPs must also contend with complex and specialised Gram-negative bacteria envelops. The variety of lipopolysaccharide and phospholipid composition in Gram-negative bacteria strains and species are decisive characteristics regarding their susceptibility or resistance to AMPs. Such biological and structural barriers have created delays in tuning AMPs to deal with Gram-negative bacteria. This becomes even more acute because little is known about the interaction AMP–Gram-negative bacteria and/or AMPs’ physicochemical characteristics, which could lead to obtaining selective molecules against Gram-negative bacteria. As a consequence, available AMPs usually have highly associated haemolytic and/or cytotoxic activity. Only one AMP has so far been FDA approved and another two are currently in clinical trials against Gram-negative bacteria. Such a pessimistic panorama suggests that efforts should be concentrated on the search for new molecules, designs and strategies for combating infection caused by this type of microorganism. This review has therefore been aimed at describing the currently available AMPs for combating Gram-negative bacteria, exploring the characteristics of these bacteria’s cell envelop hampering the development of new AMPs, and offers a perspective regarding the challenges for designing new AMPs against Gram-negative bacteriaIncluye referencias bibliográfica

La movilidad urbana de las mujeres en dos ciudades colombianas: entre el trabajo de cuidado y la violencia sexual

Experiences of some women in terms of mobility in Cali and Barranquilla (Colombia) are analyzed based on information collected on field, using ethnographic tools such as exploratory observation and focus groups. The findings are illustrated in standard narratives that express the way in which women´s experiences take place, resignify themselves and exert resistance in the public space, which contradicts the traditional notions associated with women in terms of mobility. In their experiences, job insecurity and the role of the care economy are determining factors in their relationship with mobility. For this reason, some adjustments are proposed in public policy regarding mobility and care in search of greater equity for women.A partir de información recolectada en campo mediante herramientas etnográficas, como observación exploratoria y grupos focales, se analizan algunas experiencias en cuanto a la movilidad de mujeres en Cali y Barranquilla (Colombia). Los hallazgos se ilustran en narraciones tipo que expresan la forma en que ellas se hacen lugar, se resignifican y ejercen resistencia en el espacio público, lo cual controvierte las nociones tradicionales asociadas a las mujeres en cuanto a movilidad. En sus experiencias, la precarización laboral y el papel de la economía de cuidado son determinantes en su relación con la movilidad. Por ello, se proponen algunos ajustes en la política pública en torno a la movilidad y el cuidado en busca de mayor equidad para las mujeres

Plasmodium vivax ligand-receptor interaction: PvAMA-1 domain I contains the minimal regions for specific interaction with CD71+reticulocytes

The malarial parasite's invasion is complex, active and coordinated, involving many low and high affinity interactions with receptors on target cell membrane. Proteomics analysis has described around 40 proteins in P. vivax which could be involved in reticulocyte invasion; few have been studied with the aim of elucidating how many of them establish specific interactions with their respective host cells. Given the importance of knowing which of the parasite's protein regions are functionally important for invasion, minimum regions mediating specific interaction between Plasmodium vivax apical membrane antigen 1 (PvAMA-1) and its host cell were here elucidated. The region covering PvAMA-1 domains I and II (PvAMA-DI-II) specifically bound to the CD71(+) red blood cell subpopulation. A 20 residue-long region ((81)EVENAKYRIPAGRCPVFGKG(100)) located in domain I was capable of inhibiting PvAMA-DI-II recombinant protein binding to young reticulocytes (CD71(+) CD45(-)) and rosette formation. This conserved peptide specifically interacted with high affinity with reticulocytes (CD71(+)) through a neuraminidase-and chymotrypsin-treatment sensitive receptor. Such results showed that, despite AMA-1 having universal functions during late Plasmodium invasion stages, PvAMA-1 had reticulocyte-preferring binding regions, suggesting that P. vivax target cell selection is not just restricted to initial interactions but maintained throughout the erythrocyte invasion cycle, having important implications for designing a specific anti-P. vivax vaccine

Vaccination with recombinant Plasmodium vivax MSP-10 formulated in different adjuvants induces strong immunogenicity but no protection

Although largely considered benign, Plasmodium vivax causes disease in nearly 75 million people each year and the available strategies are not sufficient to reduce the burden of disease, therefore pointing to vaccine development as a cost-effective control measure. In this study, the P. vivax merozoite surface protein 10 (MSP-10) was expressed as a recombinant protein in Escherichia coli and purified by affinity chromatography. High antigenicity was observed since sera from P. vivax-infected patients strongly recognized rPvMSP10. The immunogenicity of rPvMSP10 was tested in Aotus monkeys, comparing responses induced by formulations with Freund's adjuvant, Montanide ISA720 or aluminum hydroxide. All formulations produced high antibody titers recognizing the native protein in late schizonts. Despite inducing strong antibody production, none of the formulations protected immunized Aotus monkeys upon experimental challenge. © 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

Vaccination with recombinant Plasmodium vivax MSP-10 formulated in different adjuvants induces strong immunogenicity but no protection

Although largely considered benign, Plasmodium vivax causes disease in nearly 75 million people each year and the available strategies are not sufficient to reduce the burden of disease, therefore pointing to vaccine development as a cost-effective control measure. In this study, the P. vivax merozoite surface protein 10 (MSP-10) was expressed as a recombinant protein in Escherichia coli and purified by affinity chromatography. High antigenicity was observed since sera from P. vivax-infected patients strongly recognized rPvMSP10. The immunogenicity of rPvMSP10 was tested in Aotus monkeys, comparing responses induced by formulations with Freund's adjuvant, Montanide ISA720 or aluminum hydroxide. All formulations produced high antibody titers recognizing the native protein in late schizonts. Despite inducing strong antibody production, none of the formulations protected immunized Aotus monkeys upon experimental challenge. © 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

Fine mapping of Plasmodium falciparum ribosomal phosphoprotein PfP0 revealed sequences with highly specific binding activity to human red blood cells

The Plasmodium falciparum P0 ribosomal phosphoprotein (PfP0) was identified for the first time by screening a cDNA expression library of P. falciparum parasites with sera from malaria-immune individuals. Due to its localization on the surface of different parasite life-cycle stages (merozoites and gametocytes) and its recognition by invasion-blocking antibodies, PfP0 has been considered a potential malaria-vaccine component. In this study, 16 20-mer-long synthetic peptides spanning the entire PfP0 sequence were evaluated by means of receptor-ligand assays with human red blood cells (RBCs) in order to determine the role played by these peptides in the invasion process. Four RBC high-activity binding peptides (HABPs), located mostly toward the N-terminal region, were identified: HABP 33898 (1MAKLSKQQKKQMYIEKLSSL 20), HABP 33900 (41ASVRKSLRGKATILMGKNTRY60), HABP 33901 (61IRTALKKNLQAVPQIEKLLPY 80), and HABP 33906 (161LIKQGEKVTASSATLLRKFNY180). The binding pattern of HABPs 33898 and 33906 to enzyme-treated RBCs suggests receptors of protein nature for these two HABPs, one of which could correspond to a common 58-kDa RBC membrane protein, as indicated by results of cross-linking assays. Both HABPs exhibited high content of ?-helical features and prevented P. falciparum merozoite invasion to RBCs in vitro by up to 91%. The invasion-blocking ability reported here for these PfP0 HABPs supports their inclusion in immunological studies with the aim of assessing their potential as candidates for a vaccine against P. falciparum malaria. © 2009 Springer-Verlag