Dermatite pustular bacteriana em Python molurus

Descrição de um caso clínico de dermatite pustular numa cobra pito

Naturally-acquired and vaccine-induced human monoclonal antibodies to plasmodium vivax Duffy binding protein inhibit invasion of Plasmodium knowlesi (pvdbpor) transgenic parasites

The Duffy antigen receptor for chemokines (DARC) expressed on erythrocytes is central to Plasmodium vivax (Pv) invasion of reticulocytes. Pv expresses a Duffy binding protein (PvDBP) on merozoites, a DARC ligand, and their protein-protein interaction is central to vivax blood stage malaria. Here we compared the functional activity of humAbs derived from naturally exposed and vaccinated individuals for the first time using easily cultured P. knowlesi (Pk) that had been genetically modified to replace its endogenous PkDBP orthologue with PvDBP to create a transgenic parasite, PkPvDBPOR. This transgenic parasite requires DARC to invade human erythrocytes but is not reticulocyte restricted. Using this model, we evaluated the invasion inhibition potential of 12 humAbs (9 naturally acquired; 3 vaccine-induced) targeting PvDBP individually and in combinations using growth inhibition assays (GIAs). The PvDBP-specific humAbs demonstrated 70-100% inhibition of PkPvDBPOR invasion with the IC50 values ranging from 51 to 338 μg/mL for the 9 naturally acquired (NA) humAbs and 33 to 99 μg/ml for the 3 vaccine-induced (VI) humAbs. To evaluate antagonistic, additive, or synergistic effects, six pairwise combinations were performed using select humAbs. Of these combinations tested, one NA/NA (099100/094083) combination demonstrated relatively strong additive inhibition between 10-100 μg/mL; all combinations of NA and VI humAbs showed additive inhibition at concentrations below 25 μg/mL and antagonism at higher concentrations. None of the humAb combinations showed synergy. This PkPvDBPOR model system enables efficient assessment of NA and VI humAbs individually and in combination

Beyond the 'Field of Dreams' model in smallholder forestry: building viable timber value chains for smallholder tree growers in developing countries

Many smallholder tree growers in developing countries and those advising them, hold a view that if they plant trees a market will materialize when the time is right. However, despite strong international demand for timber and potential for smallholders to supply this demand, this ‘Field of Dreams’ approach, i.e. if you grow it, buyers will come, is not generally a sound strategy. In this study, we aimed to identify the conditions that enable the development of viable timber value chains around smallholder tree growers in developing countries. We reviewed literature on the integration of small-scale producers into value chains, smallholder tree growing, and smallholder commercial forestry to identify conditions, and used four case studies in the Asia-Pacific Region to understand how these influence outcomes for smallholder tree growers in different settings. This analysis provided a basis for recommendations for policymakers and advising agencies on how to support timber value chains for smallholder tree growers. These included deeper understanding of biophysical suitability of locations for tree growing, smallholder capabilities and interests, and provision of clear land tenure, infrastructure, and streamlined regulations sympathetic to smallscale timber operations. Tree growing can generate financial value for smallholders in regions with high human population density, quality road networks and proximity to processing markets and ports. Careful policy design is required to make it ‘fit for purpose’ at local levels, as conditions vary widely even within a single country. This can identify catalytic interventions and work with existing or near-term market drivers and simplified regulations in the value chain to generate benefits for smallholders

Effects Of Length, Complexity, And Grammatical Correctness On Stuttering In Spanish-Speaking Preschool Children

Purpose: To explore the effects of utterance length, syntactic complexity, and grammatical correctness on stuttering in the spontaneous speech of young, monolingual Spanish-speaking children. Method: Spontaneous speech samples of 11 monolingual Spanish-speaking children who stuttered, ages 35 to 70 months, were examined. Mean number of syllables, total number of clauses, utterance complexity (i.e., containing no clauses, simple clauses, or subordinate and/or conjoined clauses), and grammatical correctness (i.e., the presence or absence of morphological and syntactical errors) in stuttered and fluent utterances were compared. Results: Findings revealed that stuttered utterances in Spanish tended to be longer and more often grammatically incorrect, and contain more clauses, including more subordinate and/or conjoined clauses. However, when controlling for the interrelatedness of syllable number and clause number and complexity, only utterance length and grammatical incorrectness were significant predictors of stuttering in the spontaneous speech of these Spanish-speaking children. Use of complex utterances did not appear to contribute to the prediction of stuttering when controlling for utterance length. Conclusions: Results from the present study were consistent with many earlier reports of English-speaking children. Both length and grammatical factors appear to affect stuttering in Spanish-speaking children. Grammatical errors, however, served as the greatest predictor of stuttering.Communication Sciences and Disorder

Human monoclonal antibodies inhibit invasion of transgenic Plasmodium knowlesi expressing Plasmodium vivax Duffy binding protein

Background: Plasmodium vivax has been more resistant to various control measures than Plasmodium falciparum malaria because of its greater transmissibility and ability to produce latent parasite forms. Therefore, developing P. vivax vaccines and therapeutic monoclonal antibodies (humAbs) remains a high priority. The Duffy antigen receptor for chemokines (DARC) expressed on erythrocytes is central to P. vivax invasion of reticulocytes. P. vivax expresses a Duffy binding protein (PvDBP) on merozoites, a DARC ligand, and the DARC: PvDBP interaction is critical for P. vivax blood stage malaria. Therefore, PvDBP is a leading vaccine candidate for P. vivax and a target for therapeutic human monoclonal antibodies (humAbs). Methods: Here, the functional activity of humAbs derived from naturally exposed and vaccinated individuals are compared for the first time using easily cultured Plasmodium knowlesi (P. knowlesi) that had been genetically modified to replace its endogenous PkDBP orthologue with PvDBP to create a transgenic parasite, PkPvDBPOR. This transgenic parasite requires DARC to invade human erythrocytes but is not reticulocyte restricted. This model was used to evaluate the invasion inhibition potential of 12 humAbs (9 naturally acquired; 3 vaccine-induced) targeting PvDBP individually and in combinations using growth inhibition assays (GIAs). Results: The PvDBP-specific humAbs demonstrated 70–100% inhibition of PkPvDBPOR invasion with the IC50 values ranging from 51 to 338 µg/mL for the 9 naturally acquired (NA) humAbs and 33 to 99 µg/ml for the 3 vaccine-induced (VI) humAbs. To evaluate antagonistic, additive, or synergistic effects, six pairwise combinations were performed using select humAbs. Of these combinations tested, one NA/NA (099100/094083) combination demonstrated relatively strong additive inhibition between 10 and 100 µg/mL; all combinations of NA and VI humAbs showed additive inhibition at concentrations below 25 µg/mL and antagonism at higher concentrations. None of the humAb combinations showed synergy. Invasion inhibition efficacy by some mAbs shown with PkPvDBPOR was closely replicated using P. vivax clinical isolates. Conclusion: The PkPvDBPOR transgenic model is a robust surrogate of P. vivax to assess invasion and growth inhibition of human monoclonal Abs recognizing PvDBP individually and in combination. There was no synergistic interaction for growth inhibition with the humAbs tested here that target different epitopes or subdomains of PvDBP, suggesting little benefit in clinical trials using combinations of these humAbs

Avaliação da resistência de genótipos de Pennisetum purpureum às cigarrinhas-das-pastagens.

Resumo: Objetivou-se avaliar a resistência (antibiose e tolerância) de genótipos de Pennisetum purpureum à cigarrinha das pastagens, Mahanarva spectabilis. Foram avaliados seis genótipos de capim elefante (1815-AV, 1810-AV, 1817-AR, 1813-AV, 1829-AV e 1834-IV) provenientes do programa de melhoramento genético da Embrapa. No teste de antibiose, adotou-se o delineamento experimental em blocos casualizados com 30 repetições. Após 40 dias, a porcentagem de sobrevivência ninfal foi avaliada. Para a avaliação da tolerância, adotou-se o delineamento em blocos casualizados em esquema fatorial (genótipo x inseto) com 20 repetições. Utilizou-se 10 adultos por planta atacada. Avaliou-se o teor de clorofila, nota de dano, porcentagem de materia seca, capacidade de rebrota e perda funcional. Os dados foram submetidos à analise de variância (ANOVA). Todos os genótipos foram suscetíveis ao ataque de M. spectabilis, tanto pelo mecanimos de antibiose, quanto pelo de tolerância.Editor Técnico: Leônidas Paixão Passos, Embrapa Gado de Leite