Molecular characterization, expression and localization of a peroxiredoxin from the sheep scab mite, Psoroptes ovis

The sheep scab mite, Psoroptes ovis, induces an intensely pruritic exudative dermatitis which is responsible for restlessness, loss of appetite and weight loss. Within the first 24 h of infection, there is a rapid inflammatory influx of eosinophils and apoptosis of the keratinocytes at the site of infection. The former cell type is capable of a sustained respiratory burst, toxic products of which may directly damage the mite and also contribute to lesion formation. Analysis of a P. ovis expressed sequence tag (EST) database identified a number of antioxidant enzyme-encoding sequences, including peroxiredoxin (thioredoxin peroxidase EC 1.11.1.15), all of which may help the mite endure the potentially toxic skin environment. A full length sequence encoding Po-TPx, a protein of 206 amino acids which showed high homology to a peroxiredoxin from the salivary gland of the tick Ixodes scapularis, was amplified from P. ovis cDNA. Recombinant Po-TPx was expressed in bacteria and antiserum to this protein was used to localize native Po-TPx in mite sections. Peroxiredoxin was localized, amongst other sites, to a subpharyngeal region in mite sections. The recombinant protein was recognized by sera from sheep infested with the mite suggesting that it may be secreted or excreted by the mite and interact with the host immune response

Full-Exon Pyrosequencing Screening of BRCA Germline Mutations in Mexican Women with Inherited Breast and Ovarian Cancer

Hereditary breast cancer comprises 10% of all breast cancers. The most prevalent genes causing this pathology are BRCA1 and BRCA2 (breast cancer early onset 1 and 2), which also predispose to other cancers. Despite the outstanding relevance of genetic screening of BRCA deleterious variants in patients with a history of familial cancer, this practice is not common in Latin American public institutions. In this work we assessed mutations in the entire exonic and splice-site regions of BRCA in 39 patients with breast and ovarian cancer and with familial history of breast cancer or with clinical features suggestive for BRCA mutations by massive parallel pyrosequencing. First we evaluated the method with controls and found 41–485 reads per sequence in BRCA pathogenic mutations. Negative controls did not show deleterious variants, confirming the suitability of the approach. In patients diagnosed with cancer we found 4 novel deleterious mutations (c.2805_2808delAGAT and c.3124_3133delAGCAATATTA in BRCA1; c.2639_2640delTG and c.5114_5117delTAAA in BRCA2). The prevalence of BRCA mutations in these patients was 10.2%. Moreover, we discovered 16 variants with unknown clinical significance (11 in exons and 5 in introns); 4 were predicted as possibly pathogenic by in silico analyses, and 3 have not been described previously. This study illustrates how massive pyrosequencing technology can be applied to screen for BRCA mutations in the whole exonic and splice regions in patients with suspected BRCA-related cancers. This is the first effort to analyse the mutational status of BRCA genes on a Mexican-mestizo population by means of pyrosequencing

First insights into the fecal bacterial microbiota of the black–tailed prairie dog (Cynomys ludovicianus) in Janos, Mexico

Primeros datos sobre la microbiota bacteriana fecal del perrito de las praderas de cola negra (Cynomys ludovicianus) en Janos, México Las bacterias intestinales son un indicador importante de la salud de su hospedero y la incorporación de una evaluación periódica de la composición taxonómica de estos microorganismos en los planes de gestión y conservación puede ser una herramienta valiosa para detectar cambios que puedan poner en peligro la supervivencia de las poblaciones amenazadas. En este estudio describimos la diversidad y abundancia de las bacterias fecales de una especie amenazada, el perrito de la pradera de cola negra (Cynomys ludovicianus), en la Reserva de la Biosfera de Janos, en Chihuahua, México. Se analizaron muestras fecales mediante secuenciación masiva de siguiente generación y se amplificó la región V3–V4 del gen que codifica el ARNr 16S utilizando la tecnología Illumina. Los resultados se analizaron con QIIME a partir de la referencia EzBioCloud. Se identificaron 12 filos, 22 clases, 33 órdenes, 54 familias y 263 géneros. Los filos Firmicutes y Bacteroidetes, que fueron los grupos más abundantes, se asocian con comunidades intestinales saludables y una alta eficiencia en la dieta energética. La mayoría de los géneros bacterianos detectados en este estudio para C. ludovicianus no son patógenos y se encuentran habitualmente en las heces de mamíferos. Algunas de las otras bacterias están asociadas al suelo, el agua y las plantas, posiblemente en relación con el hábitat del perrito de las praderas de cola negra. Este es el primer estudio que reporta las bacterias fecales de C. ludovicianus en México y que proporciona un punto de referencia para determinar la salud de esta especie con vistas a utilizar esta información en estrategias de conservación a largo plazo.Intestinal bacteria are an important indicator of the health of their host. Incorporating periodic assessment of the taxonomic composition of these microorganisms into management and conservation plans can be a valuable tool to detect changes that may jeopardize the survival of threatened populations. Here we describe the diversity and abundance of fecal bacteria for the black–tailed prairie dog (Cynomys ludovicianus), a threatened species, in the Janos Biosphere Reserve, Chihuahua, Mexico. We analyzed fecal samples through next generation massive sequencing and amplified the V3–V4 region of the 16S rRNA gene using Illumina technology. The results were analyzed with QIIME based on the EzBioCloud reference. We identified 12 phyla, 22 classes, 33 orders, 54 families and 263 genera. The phyla Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes were the most abundant groups and are associated with healthy intestinal communities and high efficiency in the energy diet. Most of the bacterial genera reported here for C. ludovicianus are not pathogenic and are normally found in mammalian feces. Some of the other bacteria are associated with soil, water and plants, possibly in relation to the habitat of the black– tailed prairie dog. This is the first study to report the fecal bacteria of C. ludovicianus in Mexico and it provides a baseline for determining this species’ health for use in long–term conservation strategies.Primeros datos sobre la microbiota bacteriana fecal del perrito de las praderas de cola negra (Cynomys ludovicianus) en Janos, México Las bacterias intestinales son un indicador importante de la salud de su hospedero y la incorporación de una evaluación periódica de la composición taxonómica de estos microorganismos en los planes de gestión y conservación puede ser una herramienta valiosa para detectar cambios que puedan poner en peligro la supervivencia de las poblaciones amenazadas. En este estudio describimos la diversidad y abundancia de las bacterias fecales de una especie amenazada, el perrito de la pradera de cola negra (Cynomys ludovicianus), en la Reserva de la Biosfera de Janos, en Chihuahua, México. Se analizaron muestras fecales mediante secuenciación masiva de siguiente generación y se amplificó la región V3–V4 del gen que codifica el ARNr 16S utilizando la tecnología Illumina. Los resultados se analizaron con QIIME a partir de la referencia EzBioCloud. Se identificaron 12 filos, 22 clases, 33 órdenes, 54 familias y 263 géneros. Los filos Firmicutes y Bacteroidetes, que fueron los grupos más abundantes, se asocian con comunidades intestinales saludables y una alta eficiencia en la dieta energética. La mayoría de los géneros bacterianos detectados en este estudio para C. ludovicianus no son patógenos y se encuentran habitualmente en las heces de mamíferos. Algunas de las otras bacterias están asociadas al suelo, el agua y las plantas, posiblemente en relación con el hábitat del perrito de las praderas de cola negra. Este es el primer estudio que reporta las bacterias fecales de C. ludovicianus en México y que proporciona un punto de referencia para determinar la salud de esta especie con vistas a utilizar esta información en estrategias de conservación a largo plazo

Supplementary Material for: Cancer Genomic Resources and Present Needs in the Latin American Region

In Latin America (LA), cancer is the second leading cause of death, and little is known about the capacities and needs for the development of research in the field of cancer genomics. In order to evaluate the current capacity for and development of cancer genomics in LA, we collected the available information on genomics, including the number of next-generation sequencing (NGS) platforms, the number of cancer research institutions and research groups, publications in the last 10 years, educational programs, and related national cancer control policies. Currently, there are 221 NGS platforms and 118 research groups in LA developing cancer genomics projects. A total of 272 articles in the field of cancer genetics/genomics were published by authors affiliated to Latin American institutions. Educational programs in genomics are scarce, almost exclusive of graduate programs, and only few are concerning cancer. Only 14 countries have national cancer control plans, but all of them consider secondary prevention strategies for early diagnosis, opportune treatment, and decreasing mortality, where genomic analyses could be implemented. Despite recent advances in introducing knowledge about cancer genomics and its application to LA, the region lacks development of integrated genomic research projects, improved use of NGS platforms, implementation of associated educational programs, and health policies that could have an impact on cancer care