Interleukin-17A Facilitates Chikungunya Virus Infection by Inhibiting IFN-α2 Expression

Interferons (IFNs) are the key components of innate immunity and are crucial for host defense against viral infections. Here, we report a novel role of interleukin-17A (IL-17A) in inhibiting IFN-α2 expression thus promoting chikungunya virus (CHIKV) infection. CHIKV infected IL-17A deficient (Il17a−/−) mice expressed a higher level of IFN-α2 and developed diminished viremia and milder footpad swelling in comparison to wild-type (WT) control mice, which was also recapitulated in IL-17A receptor-deficient (Il17ra−/−) mice. Interestingly, IL-17A selectively blocked IFN-α2 production during CHIKV, but not West Nile virus (WNV) or Zika virus (ZIKV), infections. Recombinant IL-17A treatment inhibited CHIKV-induced IFN-α2 expression and enhanced CHIKV replication in both human and mouse cells. We further found that IL-17A inhibited IFN-α2 production by modulating the expression of Interferon Regulatory Factor-5 (IRF-5), IRF-7, IFN-stimulated gene 49 (ISG-49), and Mx1 expression during CHIKV infection. Neutralization of IL-17A in vitro leads to the increase of the expression of these antiviral molecules and decrease of CHIKV replication. Collectively, these results suggest a novel function of IL-17A in inhibiting IFN-α2–mediated antiviral responses during CHIKV infection, which may have broad implications in viral infections and other inflammatory diseases

Evolution, Metabolism and Molecular Mechanisms Underlying Extreme Adaptation of Euryarchaeota and Its Biotechnological Potential

Archaeal organisms harbor many unique genotypic and phenotypic properties, testifying their peculiar evolutionary status. Thus, the so‐called extremophiles must be adequately adapted to cope with many extreme environments with regard to metabolic processes, biological functions, genomes, and transcriptomes to overcome the challenges of life. This chapter will illustrate recent progress in the research on extremophiles from the phylum Euryarchaeota and compile their evolutive history, metabolic strategies, lipid composition, the structural adaptations of their enzymes to temperature, salinity, and pH and their biotechnological applications. Archaeal organisms have evolved to deal with one or more extreme conditions, and over the evolution, they have accumulated changes in order to optimize protein structure and enzyme activity. The structural basis of these adaptations resulted in the construction of a vast repertoire of macromolecules with particular features not found in other organisms. This repertoire can be explored as an inexhaustible source of biological molecules for industrial or biotechnological applications. We hope that the information compiled herein will open new research lines that will shed light on various aspects of these extremophilic microorganisms. In addition, this information will be a valuable resource for future studies looking for archaeal enzymes with particular properties

AMÉRICA LATINA E INICIATIVA DO CINTURÃO E ROTA DA CHINA: DESAFIOS E PROPOSTAS DESDE UMA PERSPECTIVA LATINO-AMERICANA

Despite the divergent perspectives that address the presence of China in the Global South through the Belt and Road Initiative, scarce approaches identify how Latin America could face that challenge to reverse its historical dependency and promote economic development. We address this question by recovering and updating structuralist, dependentist, and autonomist contributions developed in Latin America combined with an arrighiean version of the world system. We compare the Latin American and Chinese trajectories regarding regional integration, productive and technological constitutions, spatial asymmetries, and state capacities. Finally, we propose how to forge a relationship with China that enhances Latin American autonomy.A pesar de las perspectivas divergentes que abordan la presencia de China en el Sur Global a través de la Iniciativa de la Franja y la Ruta, pocos enfoques identifican cómo América Latina podría enfrentar este desafío para revertir su dependencia histórica y promover el desarrollo económico. Abordamos este tema recuperando y actualizando los aportes estructuralistas, dependientes y autonomistas desarrollados en América Latina, combinados con una versión arrighiana del sistema mundo. Comparamos las trayectorias latinoamericana y china en relación con la integración regional, las constituciones productivas y tecnológicas, las asimetrías espaciales y las capacidades estatales. Finalmente, proponemos cómo forjar una relación con China que fortalezca la autonomía latinoamericana.Apesar das perspectivas divergentes sobre a presença da China no Sul Global por meio da Iniciativa do Cinturão e Rota, poucas abordagens identificam como a América Latina podería  enfrentar esse desafio para reverter sua dependência histórica e promover o desenvolvimento econômico. Abordamos essa questão recuperando e atualizando as contribuições estruturalistas, dependentes e autonomistas desenvolvidas na América Latina, combinadas com uma versão arrighiana do sistema mundial. Comparamos as trajetórias latino-americana e chinesa em relação à integração regional, constituições produtivas e tecnológicas, assimetrias espaciais e capacidades estatais. Finalmente, propomos como forjar uma relação com a China que fortaleça a autonomia latino-americana

Congenital Zika Virus Infection in Immunocompetent Mice Causes Postnatal Growth Impediment and Neurobehavioral Deficits

A small percentage of babies born to Zika virus (ZIKV)-infected mothers\u27 manifest severe defects at birth, including microcephaly. Among those who appeared healthy at birth, there are increasing reports of postnatal growth or developmental defects. However, the impact of congenital ZIKV infection in postnatal development is poorly understood. Here, we report that a mild congenital ZIKV-infection in pups born to immunocompetent pregnant mice did not display apparent defects at birth, but manifested postnatal growth impediments and neurobehavioral deficits, which include reduced locomotor and cognitive deficits that persisted into adulthood. We found that the brains of these pups were smaller, had a thinner cortical layer 1, displayed increased astrogliosis, decreased expression of microcephaly- and neuron development- related genes, and increased pathology as compared to mock-infected controls. In summary, our results showed that even a mild congenital ZIKV infection in immunocompetent mice could lead to postnatal deficits, providing definitive experimental evidence for a necessity to closely monitor postnatal growth and development of presumably healthy human infants, whose mothers were exposed to ZIKV infection during pregnancy

Developing a comparative marine socio-economic framework for the European Atlantic Area

Availability and easy access to a wide range of natural and human-activity data on the oceans and coastal regions of Europe is the basis for strategic decision-making on coastal and marine policy. Strategies within Europe’s Integrated Maritime Policy, including the Maritime Strategy for the Atlantic Area, Blue Growth, Maritime Spatial Planning and Marine Data and Knowledge, require coherent and comparable socio-economic data across European countries. Similarly, the Marine Strategy Framework Directive requires member states to carry out economic and social analysis of their waters and the reformed Common Fisheries Policy includes a social dimension requiring socio-economic data. However, the availability of consistent, accessible marine socio-economic data for the European Atlantic Arc regions is limited. Ocean economy studies have been undertaken in some countries (for example, Ireland, France, and UK) but timescales and methodologies are not necessarily comparable. Marnet is an EU transnational co-operation project involving eight partners from five member states of the Atlantic Area (Ireland, Spain, UK, France and Portugal). Marnet has developed a methodology to collate comparable marine socio-economic data across the Atlantic regions. The comparative marine socio-economic information system developed by Marnet could provide a template for other European States to follow that could potentially facilitate the construction of a Europe-wide marine economic information system as envisaged under the EU Integrated Maritime Policy

Congenital Zika Virus Infection in Immunocompetent Mice Causes Postnatal Growth Impediment and Neurobehavioral Deficits

A small percentage of babies born to Zika virus (ZIKV)-infected mothers manifest severe defects at birth, including microcephaly. Among those who appeared healthy at birth, there are increasing reports of postnatal growth or developmental defects. However, the impact of congenital ZIKV infection in postnatal development is poorly understood. Here, we report that a mild congenital ZIKV-infection in pups born to immunocompetent pregnant mice did not display apparent defects at birth, but manifested postnatal growth impediments and neurobehavioral deficits, which include reduced locomotor and cognitive deficits that persisted into adulthood. We found that the brains of these pups were smaller, had a thinner cortical layer 1, displayed increased astrogliosis, decreased expression of microcephaly- and neuron development- related genes, and increased pathology as compared to mock-infected controls. In summary, our results showed that even a mild congenital ZIKV infection in immunocompetent mice could lead to postnatal deficits, providing definitive experimental evidence for a necessity to closely monitor postnatal growth and development of presumably healthy human infants, whose mothers were exposed to ZIKV infection during pregnancy

Descripción de la Pandemia por COVID-19 en las Parroquias Samborondón, Daule y Durán

In Ecuador, the highest number of daily infections due to SARS-CoV-2 occurred in Guayaquil between April 4th and May 3th. The objective of this study is to perform a descriptive analysis of the quantitative PCR tests in real-time in Samborondón, Daule, and Durán during the months of April to August in the UEESBiolab laboratory. The results according to gender indicated that men register a greater number of positive cases compared to the female gender. People with an age within the Economically Active Population (EAP) were the ones who attended the test the most and who were positive in 13.9%. Additionally, for positive results, it was found that there is no statistically significant difference between groups for variables gender, age, canton, and parish. Finally, an increase in positive patients is observed in rural areas during this first wave of infection, with the rural population of Samborondón with the highest number of infections.En Ecuador, el mayor número de contagios diarios  por SARS-CoV-2 ocurrió en Guayaquil entre el 4 de abril al 3 de mayo. Este estudio, tiene como objetivo realizar un análisis descriptivo de las pruebas PCR cuantitativa en tiempo real en las parroquias de Samborondón, Daule y Durán durante los meses de abril a agosto en el laboratorio UEESBiolab. Los resultados en función del género indicaron que, los hombres registran un mayor número de casos positivos en comparación al género femenino. Las personas con una edad dentro de la Población Económicamente Activa (PEA) fueron los que más acudieron a realizarse la prueba y que resultaron positivos en un 13,9 %.  Adicionalmente, para los resultados positivos se comprobó que no existe diferencia estadística significativa entre grupos para variables género, edad, cantón y parroquia. Finalmente, se observa un incremento de los pacientes positivos en zonas rurales durante esta primera ola de infección, siendo con mayor número de contagios la población rural de Samborondón

T-cell epitopes of the major peach allergen, Pru p 3: Identification and differential T-cell response of peach-allergic and non-allergic subjects

Lipid transfer proteins (LTPs), particularly peach Pru p 3, are the most relevant plant food allergens in the South of Europe, and, therefore, their allergic properties have been extensively studied. However, neither T-cell epitopes nor their effect on the patients’ T-cell response has been investigated in any member of the LTP panallergen family. The objective of the present study was to map the major T-cell epitopes of Pru p 3, as well as to evaluate their induced T-cell response in peach-allergic versus control subjects. Thus, peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from 18 peach-allergic patients and Pru p 3-specific T-cell lines (TCLs) from 9 of them were cultured with Pru p 3 and with a panel of 17 derived peptides (10-mer overlapping in 5 amino acids representing the full sequence of Pru p 3). Proliferation in 5-day assays was carried out via tritiated-thymidine incorporation, while IL4 and IFNγ production was assessed via sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent tests (ELISA) of TCL culture supernatants. The results were compared to those obtained from 10 non-peach allergic control volunteers. Two consecutive peptides showed the highest activation capacity. About 74% of PBMCs and TCLs recognized them, forming a single T-epitope: Pru p 365–80. Additionally, other specific T-cell epitopes were observed. Pru p 325–35 was detected by more than 60% of TCLs from peach-allergic patients, and Pru p 345–55 only activated PBMCs from control subjects. Interestingly, TCLs from patients were associated with a Th2-type, whereas control TCLs presented a Th1-type cytokine response. The major immunogenic T-cell epitope identified in Pru p 3, Pru p 365–80, is a good candidate to develop new vaccines for hypersensitivity reactions associated with LTP allergens from Rosaceae fruits

Analysis of TNFAIP3, a feedback inhibitor of nuclear factor-κB and the neighbor intergenic 6q23 region in rheumatoid arthritis susceptibility

Introduction Genome-wide association studies of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) have identified an association of the disease with a 6q23 region devoid of genes. TNFAIP3, an RA candidate gene, flanks this region, and polymorphisms in both the TNFAIP3 gene and the intergenic region are associated with systemic lupus erythematosus. We hypothesized that there is a similar association with RA, including polymorphisms in TNFAIP3 and the intergenic region. Methods To test this hypothesis, we selected tag-single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in both loci. They were analyzed in 1,651 patients with RA and 1,619 control individuals of Spanish ancestry. Results Weak evidence of association was found both in the 6q23 intergenic region and in the TNFAIP3 locus. The rs582757 SNP and a common haplotype in the TNFAIP3 locus exhibited association with RA. In the intergenic region, two SNPs were associated, namely rs609438 and rs13207033. The latter was only associated in patients with anti-citrullinated peptide antibodies. Overall, statistical association was best explained by the interdependent contribution of SNPs from the two loci TNFAIP3 and the 6q23 intergenic region. Conclusions Our data are consistent with the hypothesis that several RA genetic factors exist in the 6q23 region, including polymorphisms in the TNFAIP3 gene, like that previously described for systemic lupus erythematosus

Desnutrición infantil: un problema de salud pública en Pichincha -Ecuador

In the present investigation, the interest has been to carry out an analysis of a health problem that affects worldwide, which is child malnutrition, which in Ecuador affects 1 in 4 children under 2 years of age, the main affected being children living in rural areas thus affecting their physical condition and cognitive development. The objective of this study was: was to interpret child malnutrition as a public health problem in Ecuador. The method used was the bibliographic review, for which several investigations by various authors interested in the subject were investigated, obtaining a total of 22 bibliographic references. The results show the magnitude of the problem in question. Statistical data about child malnutrition worldwide and regionally are disclosed, the causes of child malnutrition and the factors that affect nutritional status in childhood. It is shown because child malnutrition is a public health problem in Ecuador.En la presente investigación se ha tenido el interés de realizar un análisis de una problemática de salud que afecta a nivel mundial que es la desnutrición infantil, la cual en el Ecuador afecta a 1 de cada 4 niños menores de 2 años siendo los principales afectados los niños que viven en áreas rurales afectando así su condición física y desarrollo cognitivo. El objetivo de este estudio fue interpretar la desnutrición infantil como un problema de salud pública en Ecuador. El método utilizado fue la revisión bibliográfica para lo cual se investigó varias publicaciones de diversos autores interesados en el tema obteniendo un total de 22 referencias bibliográficas. En los resultados se muestra la magnitud de la problemática en cuestión. Se dan a conocer los datos estadísticos acerca de la desnutrición infantil a nivel mundial y a nivel regional, se manifestó cuáles son las causas de la desnutrición infantil y los factores que afectan el estado nutricional en la niñez. se muestra porque la desnutrición infantil es un problema de salud pública en el Ecuador