Genotyping of Leptospira interrogans isolates from Mexican patients

The aim of this study was genotypically characterize Leptospira sp. clinical isolates from Mexico which were previously identified as Leptospira interrogans serovar Pomona (POM) by phenotypic methods. The Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) method was used for DNA amplification with five oligonucleotides. A dendrogram was constructed using the Unweighted Pair Group Method Analysis (UPGMA). During the genotypic characterization, the studied isolates constituted a group which was associated with the reference strain L. interrogans serovar Pomona. The Minimum Spanning Networks (MST) analysis revealed the same cluster between Mexican isolates and the reference strain POM. Clinical isolates identified as L. interrogans serovar POM have a clonal reproduction type, suggesting that this clone is distributed in different regions of Mexico

Molecular Diagnosis of Invasive Aspergillosis

Invasive aspergillosis (IA) is a disease that is difficult to manage and is associated with a significantly high morbidity and mortality, caused by different species of the genus Aspergillus, and closely related to immunocompromised patients; thus, it is important to understand the distribution and molecular epidemiology of the species causing this disease. Even though Aspergillus fumigatus sensu stricto is the most common species that cause IA, in recent years, there has been an increase in the number of species in the different sections which makes the diagnosis of this invasive fungal disease a great challenge. Conventional tests for the diagnosis of IA present limitations in sensitivity and specificity, while molecular tests have the potential to improve diagnosis by offering a more sensitive and rapid identification, but they are not yet standardized for reliable use in clinic. Nevertheless, there are some tests for the presumptive diagnosis of aspergillosis which, although are not specific for the identification of species, have been decisive in the case of IA. Among these are the Galactomannan test (GM), the Beta-D-glucan assay and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) testing. In this chapter, the recent advances and challenges in the molecular diagnosis of IA are revised

Usefulness of a multiplex PCR for the rapid identification of Candida glabrata species complex in Mexican clinical isolates

Candida glabrata complex includes three species identified through molecular biology methods: C. glabrata sensu stricto, C. nivariensis and C. bracarensis. In Mexico, the phenotypic methods are still used in the diagnosis; therefore, the presence of C. nivariensis and C. bracarensis among clinical isolates is still unknown. The aim of this study was to evaluate the utility of a multiplex PCR for the identification of the C. glabrata species complex. DNA samples from 92 clinical isolates that were previously identified through phenotypic characteristics as C. glabrata were amplified by four oligonucleotides (UNI-5.8S, GLA-f, BRA-f, and NIV-f) that generate amplicons of 397, 293 and 223-bp corresponding to C. glabrata sensu stricto, C. nivariensis, and C. bracarensis, respectively. The amplicon sequences were used to perform a phylogenetic analysis through the Maximum Likelihood method (MEGA6), including strains and reference sequences of species belonging to C. glabrata complex. In addition, recombination and linkage disequilibrium were estimated (DnaSP version 5.0) for C. glabrata sensu stricto isolates. Eighty-eight isolates generated a 397-bp fragment and only in one isolate a 223-bp amplicon was observed. In the phylogenetic tree, the sequences of 397-bp were grouped with C. glabrata reference sequences, and the sequence of 223-bp was grouped with C. bracarensis reference sequences, corroborating the PCR identification. The number of recombination events for the isolates of C. glabrata sensu stricto was zero, suggesting a clonal population structure. Three isolates that did not amplify any of the expected fragments were identified as Saccharomyces cerevisiae through the sequencing of the D1/D2 domain region within the 28S rDNA gene. The multiplex PCR is a fast, cost-effective and reliable tool that can be used in clinical laboratories to identify C. glabrata complex species

Targeted Metabolomics Revealed a Sex-Dependent Signature for Metabolic Syndrome in the Mexican Population

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a group of several metabolic conditions predisposing to chronic diseases. Individuals diagnosed with MetS are physiologically heterogeneous, with significant sex-specific differences. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the potential sex-specific serum modifications of amino acids and acylcarnitines (ACs) and their relationship with MetS in the Mexican population. This study included 602 participants from the Health Workers Cohort Study. Forty serum metabolites were analyzed using a targeted metabolomics approach. Multivariate regression models were used to test associations of clinical and biochemical parameters with metabolomic profiles. Our findings showed a serum amino acid signature (citrulline and glycine) and medium-chain ACs (AC14:1, AC10, and AC18:10H) associated with MetS. Glycine and AC10 were specific metabolites representative of discrimination according to sex-dependent MetS. In addition, we found that glycine and short-chain ACs (AC2, AC3, and AC8:1) are associated with age-dependent MetS. We also reported a significant correlation between body fat and metabolites associated with sex-age-dependent MetS. In conclusion, the metabolic profile varies by MetS status, and these differences are sex-age-dependent in the Mexican population

Different Statistical Approaches to Characterization of Adipocyte Size in Offspring of Obese Rats: Effects of Maternal or Offspring Exercise Intervention

Adipocyte size (AS) shows asymmetric distribution related to current metabolic state, e.g., adipogenesis or lipolysis. We profiled AS distribution using different statistical approaches in offspring (F1) of control (C) and obese (MO) mothers (F0) with and without F0 or F1 exercise. Offspring from F0 exercise were designated CF0ex and MOF0ex. Exercised F1 of sedentary mothers were designated CF1ex and MOF1ex. F1 retroperitoneal fat cross-sectional AS was measured by median, cumulative distributions, data dispersion and extreme values based on gamma distribution modeling. F1 metabolic parameters: body weight, retroperitoneal fat, adiposity index (AI), serum leptin, triglycerides (TG) and insulin resistance index (IRI) were measured. Male and female F1 AS showed different cumulative distribution between C and MO (p < 0.0001) therefore comparisons were performed among C, CF0ex and CF1ex groups and MO, MOF0ex and MOF1ex groups. MO AI was higher than C (p < 0.05) and male MOF1ex AI lower than MO (p < 0.05). Median AS was higher in male and female MO vs. C (p < 0.05). Male and female MOF0ex and MOF1ex reduced median AS (p < 0.05). Lower AS dispersion was observed in male CF1ex and MOF1ex vs. CF0ex and MOF0ex, respectively. MO reduced small and increased large adipocyte proportions vs. C (p < 0.05); MOF0ex increased small and MOF1ex the proportion of large adipocytes vs. MO (p < 0.05). MOF0ex reduced male IRI and female TG vs. MO (p < 0.05). MOF1ex reduced male and female leptin (p < 0.05); CF1ex reduced male leptin (p < 0.05). Conclusions: several factors, diet, physical activity and gender modify AS distribution. Conventional AS distribution methods normally do not include analyzes of extreme, large and small adipocytes, which characterize different phenotypes. Maternal high fat diet affects F1 AS distribution, which was programmed during development. F0ex and F1ex have gender specific F1 beneficial effects. AS distribution characterization helps explain adipose tissue metabolic changes in different physiological conditions and will aid design of efficacious interventions to prevent and/or recuperate adverse developmental programming outcomes. Finally, precise identification of effects of specific interventions as exercise of F0 and/or F1 are needed to improve outcomes in obese women and their obesity prone offspring

Comportamiento epidemiológico de los factores de riesgo asociados a enfermedades crónicas no transmisibles en estudiantes universitarios

Describir el comportamiento epidemiológico de los factores de riesgo relacionados a enfermedades crónicas no transmisibles asociados a hipertrigliceridemia presentes en los estudiantes del primer año de la carrera de Médico y Cirujano de la Universidad de San Carlos de Guatemala. Estudio descriptivo transversal realizado en 1097 estudiantes, en los cuales se aplicó el cuestionario del método paso a paso para la vigilancia de factores de riesgo de enfermedades crónicas (STEPS) modificado. Se encontró 610 (56%) estudiantes sexo femenino, la media de edad fue de 19 años (±1.56); en relación a los factores de riesgo modificables: 219 (20%) consumen cigarrillo, 274 (25%) consumen alcohol nocivamente, 838 (76%) se alimentan de forma inadecuada, 887 (81%) no practica actividad física significativa; se identificó que 405 (37%) presentaron un índice cintura – cadera considerado de riesgo. En cuanto a los factores asociados a la presencia de hipertrigliceridemia: obesidad se identificó en 147 (13%) estudiantes (X2 de 104.98 y OR de 7), obesidad central en 204 (19%) (X2 de 55.74 y OR de 3), el sobrepeso en 330 (30%) (X2 de 53.4727 y OR de 3), presión arterial alta en 397 (36%) (X2 de 18.63 y OR de 2), y glucemia alterada en ayunas alta en 198 (18%) (X2 de 8.3 y OR de 2). La hipertrigliceridemia se presentó en 411 estudiantes (37%), siendo la edad más afectada la de 19 años. La mayoría de estudiantes estudiados es de sexo femenino. Existe una alta prevalencia de factores de riesgo modificables asociados a enfermedades crónicas no transmisibles, de estos se identificó que factores como obesidad, obesidad central, sobrepeso, presión arterial alta y glucemia alterada en ayunas alta tienen una significativa asociación al desarrollo de hipertrigliceridemia, con un aumento del riesgo de 7, 3, 3, 2 y 2, respectivamente

AFLP analysis reveals high genetic diversity but low population structure in Coccidioides posadasiiisolates from Mexico and Argentina

BACKGROUND: Coccidioides immitis and C. posadasii cause coccidioidomycosis, a disease that is endemic to North and South America, but for Central America, the incidence of coccidioidomycosis has not been clearly established. Several studies suggest genetic variability in these fungi; however, little definitive information has been discovered about the variability of Coccidioides fungi in Mexico (MX) and Argentina (AR). Thus, the goals for this work were to study 32 Coccidioides spp. isolates from MX and AR, identify the species of these Coccidioides spp. isolates, analyse their phenotypic variability, examine their genetic variability and investigate the Coccidioides reproductive system and its level of genetic differentiation. METHODS: Coccidioides spp. isolates from MX and AR were taxonomically identified by phylogenetic inference analysis using partial sequences of the Ag2/PRA gene and their phenotypic characteristics analysed. The genetic variability, reproductive system and level of differentiation were estimated using AFLP markers. The level of genetic variability was assessed measuring the percentage of polymorphic loci, number of effective allele, expected heterocygosity and Index of Association (I(A)). The degree of genetic differentiation was determined by AMOVA. Genetic similarities among isolates were estimated using Jaccard index. The UPGMA was used to contsruct the corresponding dendrogram. Finally, a network of haplotypes was built to evaluate the genealogical relationships among AFLP haplotypes. RESULTS: All isolates of Coccidioides spp. from MX and AR were identified as C. posadasii. No phenotypic variability was observed among the C. posadasii isolates from MX and AR. Analyses of genetic diversity and population structure were conducted using AFLP markers. Different estimators of genetic variability indicated that the C. posadasii isolates from MX and AR had high genetic variability. Furthermore, AMOVA, dendrogram and haplotype network showed a small genetic differentiation among the C. posadasii populations analysed from MX and AR. Additionally, the I(A) calculated for the isolates suggested that the species has a recombinant reproductive system. CONCLUSIONS: No phenotypic variability was observed among the C. posadasii isolates from MX and AR. The high genetic variability observed in the isolates from MX and AR and the small genetic differentiation observed among the C. posadasii isolates analysed, suggest that this species could be distributed as a single genetic population in Latin America

Retos actuales de la farmacia

Retos actuales de la farmacia es un proyecto que está coordinado por Leobargo Manuel Gómez Oliván y un equipo de investigadores que forman parte del claustro de la Facultad de Química en el área de posgrado, ellos han incentivado el espíritu investigador y científico de los estudiantes adscritos al programa para adentrarse en el ámbito farmacéutico. Los capítulos que conforman esta edición son el reflejo de la actividad académica desarrollada en este posgrado en las diferentes áreas de acentuación que lo conforman: farmacia molecular, farmacia social y tecnología farmacéutica

Zoonosis, cambio climático y sociedad

La sociedad contemporánea se enfrenta a uno de los retos más grandes de la historia humana, el calentamiento global, mismo que acarrea enormes consecuencias, tales como los disturbios climáticos, así como los patrones de las enfermedades de origen animal transmisibles al hombre. Precisamente ante este escenario las instituciones educativas de nivel superior deben dar cumplimiento a su responsabilidad y ser las generadoras de alternativas de solución mediante el trabajo especializado de investigación; y para ello, la pesquisa científica es la mejor de las alternativas a nuestro alcance para comprender y encarar estos desafíos.Universidad Autónoma del Estado de México y Ediciones y Gráficos Eón, S.A. de C.V