96 research outputs found
"Toxoplasma gondii" and women of reproductive age : an analysis of data from the Chair of Microbiology, Jagiellonian University Medical College in Cracow
The aim of the study is to determine the seroprevalence and risk factors for Toxoplasma gondii infection
in women of reproductive age within the MaĆopolska province who were examined in the Laboratory of Microbiological
Diagnostics, Chair of Microbiology in Cracow in 2013â2014. Seventy-eight questionnaires completed by women of
reproductive age (mean age 29.91±6.56) were analysed. In total, 82% of respondents signed up for serological testing
while already pregnant (33 patients in the age group 18â29 years and 30 patients in the age group 30â39 years). Twentyseven
percent had no previous contact with the parasite. A statistically significant (chi-square=7.722, p=0.005)
correlation between permanent residence in the countryside and the presence of anti-T. gondii antibodies was found. A
significant correlation was shown in the studied group between a lack of contact with soil and negative results of
serological tests for toxoplasmosis (chi-square=4.116, p=0.042). The majority of the surveyed women had already
encountered this parasite. It seems that special attention should be given to rural women. Implementation of more
precise testing in the diagnosis of toxoplasmosis is also essential
A pluralistic view of holobionts in the context of process ontology
Developing precise definitions and fine categories is an important part of the scientific endeavour, enabling fidelity of transfers of knowledge and the progress of science. Currently, as a result of research on symbiotic microorganisms, science has been flooded with discoveries which appear to undermine many commonly accepted concepts and to introduce new ones that often require updated conceptualisations. One question currently being debated concerns whether or not a holobiont can be considered an organism. Based on which concept, physiology or evolutionary, of the organism is chosen, the verdict differs. We attempt here to show how a change in perspective, from that of substance ontology into that of process ontology, is capable of reconciling opposing positions within the existing discussion and enabling the implementation of conceptual pluralism
Role of gut microbiota in pathogenesis of selected chronic diseases
The human digestive system is colonized by a huge number of microorganisms, that are referred to collectively as the gut microbiota. The composition of intestinal microorganisms are shaped from an early life and undergoes constant changes depending on the influence of external factors, such as: type of delivery, feeding the young child, diet in subsequent years of life, pharmaceuticals use, stress, lifestyle or infections and previous inflammation within the digestive tract. Despite transient changes in microbiota composition, the intestinal ecosystem is constantly striving to maintain homeostasis, both qualitative and quantitative, which is fundamental to human health and human development. Microbes present in the intestines are responsible for sealing the intestinal barrier, mucin production, stimulation of the angiogenesis process, supporting digestive processes by fermentation and decomposition of undigested food residues, vitamin production or protection from pathogenic microorganisms. As shown by numerous studies carried out in recent years, intestinal dysbiosis plays a fundamental role in the development of many chronic diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease, diabetes, obesity, celiac disease, connective tissue diseases and others. Insightful understanding of the interactions between microorganisms and the host organisms can provide new information about pathogenesis of diseases as well as new ways to prevent and treat intestinal or systemic disorders. The aim of this work is to review the latest reports on the role of the gastrointestinal microbiome in selected chronic diseases
Generation of stable, non-aggregating Saccharomyces cerevisiae wild isolates
Cellular aggregates observed during growth of Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains derived from various natural environments makes most laboratory techniques optimized for non-aggregating laboratory strains inappropriate. We describe a method to reduce the size and percentage of the aggregates. This is achieved by replacing the native allele of the AMN1 gene with an allele found in the W303 laboratory strain. The reduction in aggregates is consistent across various environments and generations, with no change in maximum population density or strain viability, and only minor changes in maximum growth rate and colony morphology
The level of knowledge about parasitic diseases and the threats resulting from their presence in the environment evaluated in a group of parents of preschool children
Despite a significant civilization advancement, parasitic diseases still pose a serious diagnostic and
therapeutic problem. Childrenâs susceptibility to these infections stems from their immature immune system and lack
of basic hygiene routines. The objective of the study was to evaluate the level of knowledge which parents of preschool
childrenâs possess about parasitic diseases in their childrenâs environment. The study was carried out in the group of
151 parents of preschool children living both in the city and in the country. The survey was carried out by means of a
diagnostic poll with the application of a self-designed research questionnaire. To make the evaluation even more
objective, a special scale was created in which parents could score points for their answers (0 â wrong answer, 1 â
correct answer). The total number of points ranging from 0 to 9 indicated an unsatisfactory level of knowledge, from
10 to 13 â satisfactory level, from 14 to 16 â good level and from 17 to 20 â very good level of parentsâ awareness. The
results of the study reveal that the level of parentsâ knowledge about parasitic diseases is only satisfactory. A statistically
significant relationship was observed between the variables such as education and sex. The higher education, the higher
level of knowledge. Moreover, women were more knowledgeable in the field of parasitic diseases than men were.
Financial status of the family did not influence the level of parentsâ awareness. Well-planned educational programmes
might have a positive influence on developing proper hygiene routines in families, which, in turn, will limit the risk of
spreading parasitoses in the population of children
Adaptive roles of SSY1 and SIR3 during cycles of growth and starvation in Saccharomyces cerevisiae populations enriched for quiescent or nonquiescent cells
Over its evolutionary history, Saccharomyces cerevisiae has evolved to be well-adapted to fluctuating nutrient availability. In the presence of sufficient nutrients, yeast cells continue to proliferate, but upon starvation haploid yeast cells enter stationary phase and differentiate into nonquiescent (NQ) and quiescent (Q) cells. Q cells survive stress better than NQ cells and show greater viability when nutrient-rich conditions are restored. To investigate the genes that may be involved in the differentiation of Q and NQ cells, we serially propagated yeast populations that were enriched for either only Q or only NQ cell types over many repeated growthâstarvation cycles. After 30 cycles (equivalent to 300 generations), each enriched population produced a higher proportion of the enriched cell type compared to the starting population, suggestive of adaptive change. We also observed differences in each populationâs fitness suggesting possible tradeoffs: clones from NQ lines were better adapted to logarithmic growth, while clones from Q lines were better adapted to starvation. Whole-genome sequencing of clones from Q- and NQ-enriched lines revealed mutations in genes involved in the stress response and survival in limiting nutrients (ECM21, RSP5, MSN1, SIR4, and IRA2) in both Q and NQ lines, but also differences between the two lines: NQ line clones had recurrent independent mutations affecting the Ssy1p-Ptr3p-Ssy5p (SPS) amino acid sensing pathway, while Q line clones had recurrent, independent mutations in SIR3 and FAS1. Our results suggest that both sets of enriched-cell type lines responded to common, as well as distinct, selective pressures
Forest Saccharomyces paradoxus are robust to seasonal biotic and abiotic changes
Microorganisms are famous for adapting quickly to new environments. However, most evidence for rapid microbial adaptation comes from laboratory experiments or domesticated environments, and it is unclear how rates of adaptation scale from humanâinfluenced environments to the great diversity of wild microorganisms. We examined potential monthlyâscale selective pressures in the model forest yeast Saccharomyces paradoxus. Contrary to expectations of seasonal adaptation, the S. paradoxus population was stable over four seasons in the face of abiotic and biotic environmental changes. While the S. paradoxus population was diverse, including 41 unique genotypes among 192 sampled isolates, there was no correlation between S. paradoxus genotypes and seasonal environments. Consistent with observations from other S. paradoxus populations, the forest population was highly clonal and inbred. This lack of recombination, paired with population stability, implies that selection is not acting on the forest S. paradoxus population on a seasonal timescale. Saccharomyces paradoxus may instead have evolved generalism or phenotypic plasticity with regard to seasonal environmental changes long ago. Similarly, while the forest population included diversity among phenotypes related to intraspecific interference competition, there was no evidence for active coevolution among these phenotypes. At least ten percent of the forest S. paradoxus individuals produced âkiller toxins,â which kill sensitive Saccharomyces cells, but the presence of a toxinâproducing isolate did not predict resistance to the toxin among nearby isolates. How forest yeasts acclimate to changing environments remains an open question, and future studies should investigate the physiological responses that allow microbial cells to cope with environmental fluctuations in their native habitats
Quantitative evaluation of fungi of the genus Candida in the feces of adult patients with type 1 and 2 diabetes : a pilot study
BACKGROUND: Gastrointestinal tract microbiota, particularly bacterial microflora, seem to have a different qualitative and quantitative composition in both type 1 (T1DM) and type 2 diabetes (T2DM) mellitus cases as compared to non-diabetic individuals. So far, there are no data from diabetes research concerning the prevalence of fungi, particularly the most common genus, i.e. Candida, which are important components of human colon microflora. We aimed to examine whether there are quantitative changes of Candida fungi in the feces of patients with T1DM and T2DM as compared to healthy controls. FINDINGS: Overall, we included 44 diabetic patients (27 patients with T1DM and 17 with T2DM) as well as 17 healthy, non-diabetic controls. Feces and blood samples were collected from all study individuals. DNA was isolated from fecal samples and quantitative real time PCR (qPCR) was applied in order to determine the number of fungal cells. Statistical association with selected clinical and biochemical features was examined. There was a difference in the amount of Candida in the feces among the three examined groups (pâ=â0.007). Candida spp. populations in T1DM and T2DM subjects were larger as compared to controls (pâ=â0.017 and pâ=â0.037, respectively). However, no difference was found between T1DM and T2DM. No association was identified between the quantity of fungi and examined patientsâ characteristics, except for negative correlation with blood lipid parameters in T2DM group. CONCLUSIONS: Candida fungi appear to be more prevalent in the feces of patients with T1DM and T2DM. Their amount seems to be associated with serum lipids in T2DM patients. This initial finding requires further confirmation
- âŠ