Prevalence and phylogenetic analysis of haemoplasmas from cats infected with multiple species

AbstractMycoplasma haemofelis (Mhf), ‘Candidatus Mycoplasma haemominutum’ (CMhm) and ‘Candidatus Mycoplasma turicensis’ (CMt) are agents of feline haemoplasmosis and can induce anaemia in cats. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and phylogeny of haemoplasma species in cats from Brazil's capital and surrounding areas, and whether correlation with haematological abnormalities existed. Feline haemoplasmas were found in 13.8% of 432 cats. CMhm was the most prevalent species (in 13.8% of cats), followed by Mhf (11.1%) and CMt (4.4%). Over 80% of haemoplasma-infected cats harboured two or more feline haemoplasma species: 7.1% of cats were co-infected with Mhf/CMhm, 0.4% with CMhm/CMt and 3.9% with Mhf/CMhm/CMt. Male gender was significantly associated with haemoplasma infections. No association was found between qPCR haemoplasma status and haematological variables, however CMhm relative copy numbers were correlated with red blood cell (RBC) numbers and packed cell volume (PCV). Haemoplasma 16S rRNA gene sequences (>1Kb) were derived from co-infected cats using novel haemoplasma species-specific primers. This allowed 16S rRNA gene sequences to be obtained despite the high level of co-infection, which precluded the use of universal 16S rRNA gene primers. Within each species, the Mhf, CMhm and CMt sequences showed >99.8%, >98.5% and >98.8% identity, respectively. The Mhf, CMhm and CMt sequences showed >99.2%, >98.4% and >97.8% identity, respectively, with GenBank sequences. Phylogenetic analysis showed all Mhf sequences to reside in a single clade, whereas the CMhm and CMt sequences each grouped into three distinct subclades. These phylogeny findings suggest the existence of different CMhm and CMt strains

Nemaline Myopathy in Brazilian Patients: Molecular and Clinical Characterization

Nemaline myopathy (NM), a structural congenital myopathy, presents a significant clinical and genetic heterogeneity. Here, we compiled molecular and clinical data of 30 Brazilian patients from 25 unrelated families. Next-generation sequencing was able to genetically classify all patients: sixteen families (64%) with mutation in NEB, five (20%) in ACTA1, two (8%) in KLHL40, and one in TPM2 (4%) and TPM3 (4%). In the NEB-related families, 25 different variants, 11 of them novel, were identified; splice site (10/25) and frame shift (9/25) mutations were the most common. Mutation c.24579 G>C was recurrent in three unrelated patients from the same region, suggesting a common ancestor. Clinically, the “typical” form was the more frequent and caused by mutations in the different NM genes. Phenotypic heterogeneity was observed among patients with mutations in the same gene. Respiratory involvement was very common and often out of proportion with limb weakness. Muscle MRI patterns showed variability within the forms and genes, which was related to the severity of the weakness. Considering the high frequency of NEB mutations and the complexity of this gene, NGS tools should be combined with CNV identification, especially in patients with a likely non-identified second mutation

Nemaline Myopathy in Brazilian Patients: Molecular and Clinical Characterization

Nemaline myopathy (NM), a structural congenital myopathy, presents a significant clinical and genetic heterogeneity. Here, we compiled molecular and clinical data of 30 Brazilian patients from 25 unrelated families. Next-generation sequencing was able to genetically classify all patients: sixteen families (64%) with mutation in NEB, five (20%) in ACTA1, two (8%) in KLHL40, and one in TPM2 (4%) and TPM3 (4%). In the NEB-related families, 25 different variants, 11 of them novel, were identified; splice site (10/25) and frame shift (9/25) mutations were the most common. Mutation c.24579 G>C was recurrent in three unrelated patients from the same region, suggesting a common ancestor. Clinically, the “typical” form was the more frequent and caused by mutations in the different NM genes. Phenotypic heterogeneity was observed among patients with mutations in the same gene. Respiratory involvement was very common and often out of proportion with limb weakness. Muscle MRI patterns showed variability within the forms and genes, which was related to the severity of the weakness. Considering the high frequency of NEB mutations and the complexity of this gene, NGS tools should be combined with CNV identification, especially in patients with a likely non-identified second mutation

Ancient genomics

The past decade has witnessed a revolution in ancient DNA (aDNA) research. Although the field's focus was previously limited to mitochondrial DNA and a few nuclear markers, whole genome sequences from the deep past can now be retrieved. This breakthrough is tightly connected to the massive sequence throughput of next generation sequencing platforms and the ability to target short and degraded DNA molecules. Many ancient specimens previously unsuitable for DNA analyses because of extensive degradation can now successfully be used as source materials. Additionally, the analytical power obtained by increasing the number of sequence reads to billions effectively means that contamination issues that have haunted aDNA research for decades, particularly in human studies, can now be efficiently and confidently quantified. At present, whole genomes have been sequenced from ancient anatomically modern humans, archaic hominins, ancient pathogens and megafaunal species. Those have revealed important functional and phenotypic information, as well as unexpected adaptation, migration and admixture patterns. As such, the field of aDNA has entered the new era of genomics and has provided valuable information when testing specific hypotheses related to the past.No Full Tex

Empoderamiento y feminismo comunitario en la conservación del maíz en México

Articulo científico para revista indizada.El objetivo es analizar, desde una perspectiva basada en el feminismo comunitario, el proceso de empoderamiento de las mujeres que conforman un grupo de ocho integrantes matlatzincas de la comunidad de San Francisco Oxtotilpan, México, a través de prácticas productivas, alimentarias y culturales en torno al maíz nativo. Los datos fueron recogidos durante 2014 y 2015 con técnicas etnográficas que incluyen: observación participante, historias de vida, grupos focales, entrevistas semiestructuradas y a profundidad. Son mujeres que muestran cinco dimensiones de poder (social, corporal, material, simbólico y cognitivo) que repercuten en la preservación del maíz nativo, al generar la masa crítica necesaria para incorporar a otras mujeres en acciones favorables para la soberanía alimentaria

Genomics of the Argentinian cholera epidemic elucidate the contrasting dynamics of epidemic and endemic Vibrio cholerae

Funder: U.S. Department of Health & Human Services | National Institutes of Health (NIH)Abstract: In order to control and eradicate epidemic cholera, we need to understand how epidemics begin, how they spread, and how they decline and eventually end. This requires extensive sampling of epidemic disease over time, alongside the background of endemic disease that may exist concurrently with the epidemic. The unique circumstances surrounding the Argentinian cholera epidemic of 1992–1998 presented an opportunity to do this. Here, we use 490 Argentinian V. cholerae genome sequences to characterise the variation within, and between, epidemic and endemic V. cholerae. We show that, during the 1992–1998 cholera epidemic, the invariant epidemic clone co-existed alongside highly diverse members of the Vibrio cholerae species in Argentina, and we contrast the clonality of epidemic V. cholerae with the background diversity of local endemic bacteria. Our findings refine and add nuance to our genomic definitions of epidemic and endemic cholera, and are of direct relevance to controlling current and future cholera epidemics

Host immunity in the protective response to nasal immunization with a pneumococcal antigen associated to live and heat-killed Lactobacillus casei

Background: At present, available pneumococcal vaccines have failed to eradicate infections caused by S. pneumoniae. Search for effective vaccine continues and some serotype independent pneumococcal proteins are considered as candidates for the design of new vaccines, especially a mucosal vaccine, since pneumococci enter the body through mucosal surfaces. Selection of the appropriate adjuvant is important for mucosal vaccines, and lactic acid bacteria (LAB) with immunostimulant properties are promissory candidates. In this work, we assessed the adjuvant effect of a probiotic strain, Lactobacillus casei (L. casei), when nasally administered with a pneumococcal antigen (pneumococcal protective protein A: PppA) for the prevention of pneumococcal infection. Adjuvanticity of both live (LcV) and heat-killed (LcM) was evaluated and humoral and cellular antigen-specific immune response was assessed in mucosal and systemic compartments. The potential mechanisms induced by nasal immunization were discussed.Results: Nasal immunization of young mice with PppA+LcV and PppA+LcM induced anti-PppA IgA and IgG antibodies in mucosal and systemic compartments and levels of these specific antibodies remained high even at day 45 after the 3rd Immunization (3rd I). These results were correlated with IL-4 induction by the mixture of antigen plus LcV and LcM. Also, PppA+Lc (V and M) induced stimulation of Th1 and Th17 cells involved in the defence against pneumococci. The protection against pneumococcal respiratory challenge at day 30 after the 3rd I showed that PppA+LcV and PppA+LcM immunizations significantly reduced pathogen counts in nasal lavages while prventing their passage into lung and blood. Survival of mice immunized with the co-application of PppA plus LcV and LcM was significantly higher than in mice immunized with PppA alone and control mice when intraperitoneal challenge was performed. No significant differences between the treatments involving LcV and LcM were found.Conclusions: Live and heat-killed L. casei enhanced the antigen-specific immune response when administered nasally with a pneumococcal antigen. Considering the potential risk associated with live bacteria, the design of a nasal vaccine based on pneumococcal antigens and heat-killed L. casei emerges as a safe and effective strategy for the prevention of pneumococcal infections and opens new possibilities of application of dead LAB as adjuvants in vaccine formulations against other pathogens.Fil: Vintiñi, Elisa Ofelia. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Agronomía y Zootecnia; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán. Centro de Referencia para Lactobacilos; ArgentinaFil: Medina, Marcela Susana. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán. Centro de Referencia para Lactobacilos; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Bioquímica, Química y Farmacia; Argentin