Characterization of herpesvirus infection in cervico-vaginal samples : role in cervical cancer

Introdução: O cancro do cólo do útero é o terceiro cancro mais comum no sexo feminino em todo o mundo. A infeção persistente por HPV de alto risco é considerado o agente etiológico necessário, mas não suficiente, para o seu desenvolvimento. Vários estudos sugerem a interação de outros agentes patogénicos, como o vírus de Epstein-Barr (EBV) e o Citomegalovírus (CMV). Objectivos: O objectivo deste estudo consistiu em caracterizar a prevalência/frequência de infeção por EBV e CMV em amostras cervico-vaginais e tentar estabelecer uma correlação entre estes vírus e o desenvolvimento de cancro do cólo do útero. Material e Métodos: Este estudo foi realizado em 89 amostras cervico-vaginais de mulheres com diferentes lesões, recolhidas no Serviço de Ginecologia do Instituto Português de Oncologia do Porto. A frequência das infecções por CMV e EBV foi avaliada por PCR em tempo real com sondas específicas para genes virais. Resultados: O nosso estudo revelou uma frequência de 10.1% para a infeção por EBV e de 5.20% para o CMV. O DNA de CMV foi detetado em: normais (1.20%), lesão de baixo grau (8.20%), lesão de alto grau (6.80%), carcinoma in situ/carcinoma cervical invasor (13.3%); a infeção por EBV foi detetada em todos os tipos de lesões: normais (16.7%), com inflamação (5.26%), lesão de baixo grau (9.52%), lesão de alto grau (4.50%) e com carcinoma in situ/carcinoma cervical invasor (22.2%). Tanto na infeção por CMV como EBV a infeção encontrava-se em todas as faixas etárias, sem predominância em nenhuma destas. Na análise de risco, apenas a infeção por CMV revelou um aumento do risco para o desenvolvimento de carcinoma lesões de baixo grau (OR=7.73, =0.043) e todo o tipo de lesões e in situ/carcinoma invasor (OR=7.73, p=0.021). Na correlação entre a infeção por CMV/ EBV e HPV não se obtiveram resultados estatisticamente significativos que indiciassem um aumento do risco no desenvolvimento de lesões. Conclusão: O estudo realizado demonstrou uma prevalência baixa para ambos os vírus em estudo (EBV e CMV) relativamente a estudos realizados anteriormente. Os resultados revelaram: 1) distribuição ubíqua de CMV e EBV em mulheres com diferentes lesões; e 2) A infeção por CMV deve representar um risco aumentado no desenvolvimento de carcinoma in situ/carcinoma cervical invasor.Introduction: Cervical cancer is the third most common cancer in women worldwide. A persistent infection by high-risk HPV is considered the etiological agent necessary but not sufficient for its development. Several studies suggest an interaction of other pathogens, such as Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and Cytomegalovirus (CMV). Aims of the study: The aim of this study was to establish a correlation between EBV and CMV infection in the development of cervical cancer by studying its prevalence in different lesions. Materials and Methods: This study was performed in 89 cervico-vaginal samples of women with different cervical lesions, who attended the Department of Gynecology at the Portuguese Institute of Oncology of Porto. The frequency of EBV and CMV infections was evaluated by real time PCR with specific probes for the viral genes. Results: Our study revealed a frequency of 10.1% women with EBV infection and 5.20% with CMV infection. The CMV DNA was detected on: normal (1.20%), low-grade lesion (8.20%), high-grade lesion (6.80%), in situ/invasive cervical carcinoma (13.3%); EBV infection was detected in all types of lesions: normal (16.7%), with inflammation (5.26%), low-grade lesion (9.52%), high-grade lesion (4.50%) and in situ/invasive cervical carcinoma (22.2%). Both CMV and EBV infection were present in all age groups, with no predominance in any of these. In risk analysis, only CMV infection revealed an increased risk for the development of low-grade lesions (OR=7.73, p=0.043) and all kinds of lesions plus in situ/invasive carcinoma (OR=7.73, p= 0.021). In the correlation between CMV/EBV and HPV infection no statistically significant results were obtained that would indicate an increased risk in the development of lesions. Conclusion: This study demonstrated a low prevalence for both viruses under study (EBV and CMV) relative to previous studies. The results showed: 1) ubiquitous distribution of CMV and EBV in women with different lesions; and 2) CMV infection should indicate an increased risk in the development of carcinoma in situ/invasive cervical carcinoma

Characterisation of microbial attack on archaeological bone

As part of an EU funded project to investigate the factors influencing bone preservation in the archaeological record, more than 250 bones from 41 archaeological sites in five countries spanning four climatic regions were studied for diagenetic alteration. Sites were selected to cover a range of environmental conditions and archaeological contexts. Microscopic and physical (mercury intrusion porosimetry) analyses of these bones revealed that the majority (68%) had suffered microbial attack. Furthermore, significant differences were found between animal and human bone in both the state of preservation and the type of microbial attack present. These differences in preservation might result from differences in early taphonomy of the bones. © 2003 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved

NEOTROPICAL ALIEN MAMMALS: a data set of occurrence and abundance of alien mammals in the Neotropics

Biological invasion is one of the main threats to native biodiversity. For a species to become invasive, it must be voluntarily or involuntarily introduced by humans into a nonnative habitat. Mammals were among first taxa to be introduced worldwide for game, meat, and labor, yet the number of species introduced in the Neotropics remains unknown. In this data set, we make available occurrence and abundance data on mammal species that (1) transposed a geographical barrier and (2) were voluntarily or involuntarily introduced by humans into the Neotropics. Our data set is composed of 73,738 historical and current georeferenced records on alien mammal species of which around 96% correspond to occurrence data on 77 species belonging to eight orders and 26 families. Data cover 26 continental countries in the Neotropics, ranging from Mexico and its frontier regions (southern Florida and coastal-central Florida in the southeast United States) to Argentina, Paraguay, Chile, and Uruguay, and the 13 countries of Caribbean islands. Our data set also includes neotropical species (e.g., Callithrix sp., Myocastor coypus, Nasua nasua) considered alien in particular areas of Neotropics. The most numerous species in terms of records are from Bos sp. (n = 37,782), Sus scrofa (n = 6,730), and Canis familiaris (n = 10,084); 17 species were represented by only one record (e.g., Syncerus caffer, Cervus timorensis, Cervus unicolor, Canis latrans). Primates have the highest number of species in the data set (n = 20 species), partly because of uncertainties regarding taxonomic identification of the genera Callithrix, which includes the species Callithrix aurita, Callithrix flaviceps, Callithrix geoffroyi, Callithrix jacchus, Callithrix kuhlii, Callithrix penicillata, and their hybrids. This unique data set will be a valuable source of information on invasion risk assessments, biodiversity redistribution and conservation-related research. There are no copyright restrictions. Please cite this data paper when using the data in publications. We also request that researchers and teachers inform us on how they are using the data

NEOTROPICAL XENARTHRANS: a data set of occurrence of xenarthran species in the Neotropics

Xenarthrans—anteaters, sloths, and armadillos—have essential functions for ecosystem maintenance, such as insect control and nutrient cycling, playing key roles as ecosystem engineers. Because of habitat loss and fragmentation, hunting pressure, and conflicts with domestic dogs, these species have been threatened locally, regionally, or even across their full distribution ranges. The Neotropics harbor 21 species of armadillos, 10 anteaters, and 6 sloths. Our data set includes the families Chlamyphoridae (13), Dasypodidae (7), Myrmecophagidae (3), Bradypodidae (4), and Megalonychidae (2). We have no occurrence data on Dasypus pilosus (Dasypodidae). Regarding Cyclopedidae, until recently, only one species was recognized, but new genetic studies have revealed that the group is represented by seven species. In this data paper, we compiled a total of 42,528 records of 31 species, represented by occurrence and quantitative data, totaling 24,847 unique georeferenced records. The geographic range is from the southern United States, Mexico, and Caribbean countries at the northern portion of the Neotropics, to the austral distribution in Argentina, Paraguay, Chile, and Uruguay. Regarding anteaters, Myrmecophaga tridactyla has the most records (n = 5,941), and Cyclopes sp. have the fewest (n = 240). The armadillo species with the most data is Dasypus novemcinctus (n = 11,588), and the fewest data are recorded for Calyptophractus retusus (n = 33). With regard to sloth species, Bradypus variegatus has the most records (n = 962), and Bradypus pygmaeus has the fewest (n = 12). Our main objective with Neotropical Xenarthrans is to make occurrence and quantitative data available to facilitate more ecological research, particularly if we integrate the xenarthran data with other data sets of Neotropical Series that will become available very soon (i.e., Neotropical Carnivores, Neotropical Invasive Mammals, and Neotropical Hunters and Dogs). Therefore, studies on trophic cascades, hunting pressure, habitat loss, fragmentation effects, species invasion, and climate change effects will be possible with the Neotropical Xenarthrans data set. Please cite this data paper when using its data in publications. We also request that researchers and teachers inform us of how they are using these data

NEOTROPICAL CARNIVORES: a data set on carnivore distribution in the Neotropics

Mammalian carnivores are considered a key group in maintaining ecological health and can indicate potential ecological integrity in landscapes where they occur. Carnivores also hold high conservation value and their habitat requirements can guide management and conservation plans. The order Carnivora has 84 species from 8 families in the Neotropical region: Canidae; Felidae; Mephitidae; Mustelidae; Otariidae; Phocidae; Procyonidae; and Ursidae. Herein, we include published and unpublished data on native terrestrial Neotropical carnivores (Canidae; Felidae; Mephitidae; Mustelidae; Procyonidae; and Ursidae). NEOTROPICAL CARNIVORES is a publicly available data set that includes 99,605 data entries from 35,511 unique georeferenced coordinates. Detection/non-detection and quantitative data were obtained from 1818 to 2018 by researchers, governmental agencies, non-governmental organizations, and private consultants. Data were collected using several methods including camera trapping, museum collections, roadkill, line transect, and opportunistic records. Literature (peer-reviewed and grey literature) from Portuguese, Spanish and English were incorporated in this compilation. Most of the data set consists of detection data entries (n = 79,343; 79.7%) but also includes non-detection data (n = 20,262; 20.3%). Of those, 43.3% also include count data (n = 43,151). The information available in NEOTROPICAL CARNIVORES will contribute to macroecological, ecological, and conservation questions in multiple spatio-temporal perspectives. As carnivores play key roles in trophic interactions, a better understanding of their distribution and habitat requirements are essential to establish conservation management plans and safeguard the future ecological health of Neotropical ecosystems. Our data paper, combined with other large-scale data sets, has great potential to clarify species distribution and related ecological processes within the Neotropics. There are no copyright restrictions and no restriction for using data from this data paper, as long as the data paper is cited as the source of the information used. We also request that users inform us of how they intend to use the data