Axenic interspecies and intraclonal hybrid formation in Leishmania: Successful crossings between visceral and cutaneous strains

[EN] Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) represent a serious threat to humans, especially for those living in poor or developing countries. Leishmanianiosis is considered a zoonotic NTD transmitted by the bite of female phlebotomine sandflies, and is manifested mainly as a visceral form (caused by L. infantum and L. donovani) and a cutaneous form (caused by many species including L. major, L. tropica and L. braziliensis). Although it is now known that sexual reproduction occurs in these parasites, more studies are necessary to characterize the ability of Leishmania to generate hybrids, which may represent an important mechanism for virulence, drug resistance or adaptation to the host immune system. Therefore, several experiments were conducted to generate either intraclonal or interspecies hybrids in vitro. Results demonstrated that hybrids can be formed even with outcrosses between parasites causing visceral and cutaneous forms of the disease. Characterization of hybrids in terms of ploidy, kDNA content, growth rate and infection capacity provide important information about sexual reproduction in these parasites.SI: C.G.C (LE255-16) and B.D.A (LE208-17) are recipients of Junta de Castilla y Leo´n (JCyL) and European Social Found (ESF)’s Fellowships Scheme for Doctoral Training Programs. This research was funded by MINECO; SAF2017- 83575-R to RMR. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscrip

Detection of high mobility group A2 specific mRNA in the plasma of patients affected by epithelial ovarian cancer

Ovarian cancer is the most lethal gynecological malignancy and the high mortality rate is associated with advanced-stage disease at the time of the diagnosis. In order to find new tools to make diagnosis of Epithelial Ovarian Cancer (EOC) at early stages we have analyzed the presence of specific HMGA2 mRNA in the plasma of patients affected by this neoplasm. HMGA2 overexpression represents a feature of several malignances including ovarian carcinomas. Notably, we detected HMGA2 specific mRNA in the plasma of 40 out 47 patients with EOC, but not in the plasma of healthy donors. All cases found positive for HMGA2 mRNA in the plasma showed HMGA2 protein expression in EOC tissues. Therefore, on the basis of these results, the analysis of circulating HMGA2 specific mRNA might be considered a very promising tool for the early diagnosis of EOC

Metadolomitos talcificados do Grupo Itaiacoca, Paraná: regime de fluidos e implicações genéticas

Brazil's largest talc deposits occur in the Itaiacoca Group, which is a low-grade metasedimentary belt composed mainly of dolomitic rocks. Fluid inclusions from three geological settings in which talc was formed differently were analysed. Talc schist ore occur along transcurrent shear zones. These talc schists are host to quartz veins, which indicates prolonged circulation of hydrothermal fluids at high water:rock ratios. The fluid inclusions in the quartz veins contain predominantly low-salinity (< 5 wt % NaCl equiv.) and CO2-free aqueous inclusions. The wide range of Thtot values in the primary fluid inclusions in the veins, mainly from 110 to 230ºC, is related to several episodes of fluid percolation during the shear zone evolution. As a contrast, outward of the shear zones, fractured metadolomites with lower concentrations of talc contain quartz veins with CO2-rich fluid inclusions (X CO2 from 0.17 to 0.81) and Thtot ranging mainly from 250 to 300ºC, which indicates restricted fluid circulation during the trapping of these inclusions, shortly after the peak of talcification, in a later brittle stage. Density-salinity relationships for these inclusions suggest supersolvus mixing in variable proportions of aqueous-carbonic fluids. In the contact aureole between the metadolomites and the Cunhaporanga granite complex, where talc was formed in minor amounts by retrometamorphism of high temperature magnesium silicates, fluid inclusions are mainly carbonic to aqueous-carbonic, suggesting restricted fluid circulation. Fluid inclusions in this setting show a wide range of measured and calculated parameters, such as salinity (0 to 20 wt % NaCl equiv.), dCO2 (0.13 to 1.0 g/cm³), dtot (0.2 to 1.0 g/cm³), and Thtot (between 130 and 574ºC). Results obtained in this study did not allow precise determination of the talc-ore forming conditions, considering that the inclusions contain fluids which were trapped after the peak of talcification. Conditions similar to those of talcification are suggested by the Thtot values obtained for the inclusions in quartz-veins from fractured metadolomites, although from a later, brittle stage.As maiores reservas de talco no Brasil estão localizadas em metadolomitos proterozoicos de baixo grau do Grupo Itaiacoca. Foram analisadas inclusões fluidas em três contextos diferentes de formação de talco. Ao longo de zonas de cisalhamento transcorrente ocorrem jazidas de talco xistos, em cujos veios de quartzo as inclusões fluidas são aquosas de baixa salinidade (< 5% em peso de NaCl equivalente) e desprovidas de CO2, indicando elevada razão água:rocha e prolongada percolação de soluções hidrotermais. A variação de Thtot nas inclusões primárias, principalmente de 110 a 230°C, é consequência de diversos episódios de percolação de fluidos durante a evolução das zonas de cisalhamento. Na periferia das zonas de cisalhamento, os veios em metadolomitos fraturados e incipientemente talcificados contêm inclusões ricas em CO2 (XCO2 de 0,17 a 0,81), indicando circulação mais restrita de fluidos, e Thtot, situada principalmente entre 250 e 300°C. As relações entre densidade e salinidade sugerem mistura supersolvus em proporções variáveis entre fluidos aquosos e carbônicos. No contato dos metadolomitos com o Complexo Granítico Cunhaporanga, as inclusões são carbônicas e aquocarbônicas, indicando circulação restrita de fluidos aquosos; apresentam um amplo intervalo de variação em salinidade (0 a 20% em peso de NaCl equivalente), dCO2 (0,13 a 1,0 g/cm³), dtot (0,2 a 1,0 g/cm³), com Thtot entre 130 e 574°C. Nesse ambiente houve formação restrita de talco por retrometamorfismo de silicatos magnesianos de alta temperatura, tendo o sistema preservado situações de desequilíbrio, com reações retrometamórficas incompletas. Os resultados não permitiram a determinação precisa das condições de talcificação, pois as inclusões contêm fluidos posteriores ao pico térmico dos sistemas de mineralização. No entanto, no caso dos veios em metadolomito fraturado as Thtot indicam as condições mais próximas às de talcificação, porém num estágio mais tardio, sob regime rúptil

Expression of MyHC isoforms mRNA transcripts in different regions of the masseter and medial pterygoid muscles in chimpanzees

Objective The aim of this study is to examine the expression pattern of the different myosin heavy chain (MyHC) isoforms in the masseter and medial pterygoid muscles by real time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) to obtain information at molecular level which can be related to the functional characteristics of these two muscles. Design The masseter, deep and superficial portion, and medial pterygoid muscles of five adult Pan troglodytes were dissected in order to obtain samples of the anterior and posterior regions of each portion of the masseter and of the medial pterygoid. The expression of MyHC isoforms mRNA transcripts was analyzed by RT-qPCR. Results No significant differences in expression of MyHC isoforms between the masseter and the medial pterygoid were found. In contrast, when comparing the superficial and the deep portion of the masseter, we found that the MyHC-IIM isoform was expressed at a significantly higher level in the superficial portion. Conclusions The superficial portion of the masseter and the medial pterygoid muscle have the same expression pattern regarding the different MyHC isoforms. On the other hand, the deep portion of the masseter, which is activated mainly during lateral and repositioning movements of the mandible, has a lower MyHC-IIM isoform expression than the superficial portion. Our findings provide new data on functional aspects of the masseter and medial pterygoid that can complement results obtained by other techniques

DETECÇÃO DE DNA DE MYCOBACTERIUM TUBERCULOSIS EM LÂMINAS DE BACILOSCOPIA

A tuberculose é uma grave doença infectocontagiosa que infecta uma boa parcela da população mundial, fazendo comque medidas emergenciais de combate e controle da doença sejam tomadas. O presente estudo teve como objetivo detectar oDNA de Mycobacterium tuberculosis de amostra clínica fixada em lâmina de baciloscopia. Foram analisadas 113 amostrasde DNA extraído diretamente do material fixado na lâmina utilizando fenol/clorofórmio. Os resultados foram comparadoscom os obtidos na baciloscopia. A sensibilidade encontrada foi 100% e a especificidade foi 97%. Estes resultados indicama possibilidade do uso desta metodologia como um auxílio no diagnóstico ou ainda um método de obtenção de DNA paraestudos moleculares acerca deste agente

Quantification of Myosin Heavy Chain Isoform mRNA Transcripts in the Supraspinatus Muscle of Vertical Clinger Primates

Vertical clinging is a specialized form of locomotion characteristic of the primate family Callitrichidae. Vertical clinging requires these pronograde primates to maintain a vertical posture, so the protraction of their forelimbs must resist gravity. Since pronograde primates usually move as horizontal quadrupeds, we hypothesized that the supraspinatus muscle of vertical clingers would present specific characteristics related to the functional requirements imposed on the shoulder area by vertical clinging. To test this hypothesis, we quantified by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction the mRNA transcripts of myosin heavy chain (MHC) isoforms in the supraspinatus muscle of 15 species of pronograde primates, including vertical clingers. Our results indicate that the supraspinatus of vertical clingers has a specific expression pattern of the MHC isoforms, with a low expression of the transcripts of the slow MHC-I isoform and a high expression of the transcripts of the fast MHC-II isoforms. We conclude that these differences can be related to the particular functional characteristics of the shoulder in vertical clingers, but also to other anatomical adaptations of these primates, such as their small body size

Expression of myosin heavy chain isoforms mRNA transcripts in the temporalis muscle of common chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes)

Purpose The common chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes) is the primate that is phylogenetically most closely related to humans (Homo sapiens). In order to shed light on the anatomy and function of the temporalis muscle in the chimpanzee, we have analyzed the expression patterns of the mRNA transcripts of the myosin heavy chain (MyHC) isoforms in different parts of the muscle. Basic procedures We dissected the superficial, deep and sphenomandibularis portions of the temporalis muscle in five adult P. troglodytes and quantified the expression of the mRNA transcripts of the MyHC isoforms in each portion using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Main findings We observed significant differences in the patterns of expression of the mRNA transcripts of the MyHC-IIM isoform between the sphenomandibularis portion and the anterior superficial temporalis (33.6% vs 47.0%; P = 0.032) and between the sphenomandibularis portion and the anterior deep temporalis (33.6% vs 43.0; P = 0.016). We also observed non-significant differences between the patterns of expression in the anterior and posterior superficial temporalis. Principal conclusions The differential expression patterns of the mRNA transcripts of the MyHC isoforms in the temporalis muscle in P. troglodytes may be related to the functional differences that have been observed in electromyographic studies in other species of primates. Our findings can be applicable to the fields of comparative anatomy, evolutionary anatomy, and anthropology

Glutathione influences c-Myc-induced apoptosis in M14 human melanoma cells

The objective of this article is to dissect the mechanisms by which the down-regulation of c-Myc induces programmed cell death in melanoma cells. In stable and doxycycline-inducible M14 melanoma cells, down-regulation of c-Myc induced apoptosis subsequent to a decrease in the intracellular reduced glutathione content and a concomitant accumulation of its oxidized form. This redox alteration was associated with a decrease of the enzyme activities of γ-glutamyl-cysteine synthetase and NADPH-dependent GSSG reductase, as well as a consequent glutathione release in the extracellular medium. Cytochrome c was released into the cytosol at very early stages of apoptosis induction, long before detectable production of reactive oxygen species and activation of caspase-9 and -3. Macroarray analysis revealed that down-regulation of c-Myc produced striking changes in gene expression in the section related to metabolism, where the expression of γ-glutamyl-cysteine synthetase and GSSG reductase was found to be significantly reduced. The addition of N-acetyl-L-cysteine or glutathione ethyl ester inhibited the apoptotic process, thus confirming the key role of glutathione in programmed cell death induced by c-Myc

Aportaciones a los estudios económico-administrativos. Reflexiones teóricas y evidencias empíricas

La economía y la administración están inmersas en el universo de las ciencias sociales, áreas del conocimiento que comprenden dominios diferentes, pero también convergen y se intersectan en un objeto de estudio: las organizacienones y sus agregados (industrias o sectores). Desde una perspectiva social, los estudios económico-administrativos informan sobre cómo hacer eficientes a las organizaciones y competitivos a los sectores con la finalidad de impactar positivamente en la justicia social (por ejemplo: mediante productos de mejor calidad a mejores precios). El auge de este tipo de estudios está extendido a fenómenos clave en el mundo de hoy, tales como: la ventaja competitiva, la innovación, la administración de la cadena de suministros y la administración verde, entre otros.El objetivo de este libro es difundir las aportaciones hechas a los estudios económico-administrativos, ya sea como reflexiones teóricas o a modo de evidencia empírica, pues la conjunción de varias ciencias ayuda a comprender fenómenos complejos mejor que una disciplina en forma aislada. Más que la homogeneidad de teorías o hegemonía de unas sobre otras, la investigación interdisciplinaria construye un acercamiento a la diversidad de puntos de vista: se buscan factores, métodos o lenguajes comunes alrededor de un objeto de estudio (Fernández, 2009; Martínez, 1997), llegándose a conformar una comunidad científica con antecedentes disciplinarios diferentes, pero con cierta unidad, relaciones y acciones recíprocas (Kuhn, 1995). Así, en este texto el objeto de estudio es el funcionamiento e interacción de las organizaciones, como integrantes de los sectores económicos, en los mercados locales y globales. La comunidad científica está conformada por investigadores y egresados del Doctorado en Ciencias Económico-Administrativas, el cual nace en 2006 en la Universidad Autónoma del Estado de México, a cargo de la Dependencia de Educación Superior (DES) Económico-Administrativa