Caracterización molecular de Corona virus (CoV) detectados en crías de alpacas (Vicugna pacos)

Publicación a texto completo no autorizada por el autorBusca detectar y caracterizar molecularmente a coronavirus a partir de muestras de heces diarreicas y tejido pulmonar con lesiones neumónicas en crías de alpacas de 1-6 semanas de edad procedentes de un centro de crianza ubicado en el departamento de Puno. Se detectó el virus mediante la prueba de RT-PCR anidada, usando cebadores externos específicos a los 3 géneros de Coronavirus (alfa, beta y gammacoronavirus) y cebadores internos específicos sólo para betacoronavirus. Se detectaron secuencias del género betacoronavirus en el 67% (10/15) de muestras diarreicas y en el 50% (8/16) de muestras de tejido pulmonar. Para la realización del análisis molecular de las secuencias virales detectadas, se procedió a amplificar mediante PCR fragmentos del gen codificante de la espícula (S), usando para ello 8 pares de cebadores derivados de secuencias consenso en Coronavirus bovino (BCoV). Se observó amplificación de fragmentos del gen S sólo en 3 muestras procedentes de heces diarreicas, de estas, 2 amplificaron para todos los cebadores y 1 amplificó para un par de cebadores que se alineaban a nivel del dominio S2 del gen S. No se logró obtener ningún fragmento en las muestras restantes (7 de heces y 8 de tejido pulmonar). Las secuencias del fragmento común obtenidos en estas 3 muestras fueron similares, y el análisis filogenético reveló una mayor identidad genética (99.7%) principalmente hacia cepas BCoV diarreicas aisladas en Estados Unidos respecto al aislado norteamericano de CoV de alpaca (98.3%). El presente trabajo constituye la primera evidencia de betacoronavirus presente en casos de neumonía en crías de alpacas y la cercana identidad genética de cepas de CoV de alpacas peruanas con cepas norteamericanas

Primer design for complete sequencing of the Avastrovirus ORF2 gene

Avastrovirus infection is associated with enteric disease, nephritis, and hepatitis in birds. In this study, we present a protocol for the complete sequencing of the ORF2 gene of avian nephritis virus (ANV), chicken astrovirus (CAstV), and turkey astrovirus type 1 (TAstV-1) using a conventional Sanger technique. Previously and newly designed primer pairs targeting both the conserved flanking and internal regions of the ORF2 gene of these three viruses were used. The information derived from the astroviral sequences obtained in this study is fundamental for characterizing this virus and providing data regarding several aspects of disease epidemiology and prevention

Evidence of spatial clustering of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia cases in Greater Mexico City: report from the Mexican Inter-Institutional Group for the identification of the causes of childhood leukemia

BackgroundA heterogeneous geographic distribution of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) cases has been described, possibly, related to the presence of different environmental factors. The aim of the present study was to explore the geographical distribution of childhood ALL cases in Greater Mexico City (GMC).MethodsA population-based case-control study was conducted. Children <18 years old, newly diagnosed with ALL and residents of GMC were included. Controls were patients without leukemia recruited from second-level public hospitals, frequency-matched by sex, age, and health institution with the cases. The residence address where the patients lived during the last year before diagnosis (cases) or the interview (controls) was used for geolocation. Kulldorff’s spatial scan statistic was used to detect spatial clusters (SCs). Relative risks (RR), associated p-value and number of cases included for each cluster were obtained.ResultsA total of 1054 cases with ALL were analyzed. Of these, 408 (38.7%) were distributed across eight SCs detected. A relative risk of 1.61 (p<0.0001) was observed for the main cluster. Similar results were noted for the remaining seven ones. Additionally, a proximity between SCs, electrical installations and petrochemical facilities was observed.ConclusionsThe identification of SCs in certain regions of GMC suggest the possible role of environmental factors in the etiology of childhood ALL

5to. Congreso Internacional de Ciencia, Tecnología e Innovación para la Sociedad. Memoria académica

El V Congreso Internacional de Ciencia, Tecnología e Innovación para la Sociedad, CITIS 2019, realizado del 6 al 8 de febrero de 2019 y organizado por la Universidad Politécnica Salesiana, ofreció a la comunidad académica nacional e internacional una plataforma de comunicación unificada, dirigida a cubrir los problemas teóricos y prácticos de mayor impacto en la sociedad moderna desde la ingeniería. En esta edición, dedicada a los 25 años de vida de la UPS, los ejes temáticos estuvieron relacionados con la aplicación de la ciencia, el desarrollo tecnológico y la innovación en cinco pilares fundamentales de nuestra sociedad: la industria, la movilidad, la sostenibilidad ambiental, la información y las telecomunicaciones. El comité científico estuvo conformado formado por 48 investigadores procedentes de diez países: España, Reino Unido, Italia, Bélgica, México, Venezuela, Colombia, Brasil, Estados Unidos y Ecuador. Fueron recibidas un centenar de contribuciones, de las cuales 39 fueron aprobadas en forma de ponencias y 15 en formato poster. Estas contribuciones fueron presentadas de forma oral ante toda la comunidad académica que se dio cita en el Congreso, quienes desde el aula magna, el auditorio y la sala de usos múltiples de la Universidad Politécnica Salesiana, cumplieron respetuosamente la responsabilidad de representar a toda la sociedad en la revisión, aceptación y validación del conocimiento nuevo que fue presentado en cada exposición por los investigadores. Paralelo a las sesiones técnicas, el Congreso contó con espacios de presentación de posters científicos y cinco workshops en temáticas de vanguardia que cautivaron la atención de nuestros docentes y estudiantes. También en el marco del evento se impartieron un total de ocho conferencias magistrales en temas tan actuales como la gestión del conocimiento en la universidad-ecosistema, los retos y oportunidades de la industria 4.0, los avances de la investigación básica y aplicada en mecatrónica para el estudio de robots de nueva generación, la optimización en ingeniería con técnicas multi-objetivo, el desarrollo de las redes avanzadas en Latinoamérica y los mundos, la contaminación del aire debido al tránsito vehicular, el radón y los riesgos que representa este gas radiactivo para la salud humana, entre otros

Detection and genotyping of astrovirus in fecal samples of production poultry from different Brazilian comercial fams

Os astrovírus são agentes virais associados com enteropatias e infecções extra-intestinais em aves, ocasionando prejuízos no desenvolvimento produtivo e saúde animal. Porém, são escassos os estudos no Brasil que visem a detecção e caracterização deste vírus com maior amplitude. Nesse contexto, detectaram-se e caracterizaram-se cepas de astrovírus a partir de 60 amostras fecais de aves procedentes de diferentes criações comerciais brasileiras (postura, corte e matrizes), mediante o emprego de uma reação PanAstrovírus como triagem inicial, que consistiu numa reação de RT-hemi-nested-PCR, visando a amplificação e posterior sequenciamento de um segmento parcial do gene RdRp (RNA polimerase dependente de RNA) do gene ORF1b, uma região gênica conservada entre todos os astrovírus. Subsequentemente, nas amostras positivas na triagem, realizou-se a amplificação, clonagem e sequenciamento do gene ORF2 codificante do capsídeo viral, analisado mediante análise filogenética. Os dados obtidos demonstraram uma frequência de infecção por astrovírus em 48,3% (29/60) das amostras analisadas. As espécies virais detectadas foram as seguintes: Avastrovírus 2 (Avian Nephritis Virus, ANV) em 72,4% (21/29), Chicken Astrovírus (CAstV) em 6,8% (2/29) e Avastrovírus 1 (Turkey Astrovírus tipo 1, TAstV-1) em 20,8% (6/29) das amostras positivas. O sequenciamento total do gene ORF2 foi possível em oito amostras (8/21) positivas a ANV, em uma amostra (1/6) positiva a TAstV-1 e uma amostra (1/2) positiva para CAstV. A análise deste gene revelou, nas sequências ANV, a presença de três genótipos bem diferenciados, segundo critérios do Astroviridae Study Group, sendo que um deles, agrupou-se dentro do genótipo 5. Além disso, quando analisado com sequências procedentes de outras regiões, as sequências deste estudo formaram seis clusters, dois deles, relacionados com sequências procedentes de Austrália e Reino Unido. O análise do ORF2 em CAstV, revelou também um agrupamento com cepas procedentes do Reino Unido. Já o análise da ORF2 de TAstV-1, revelou divergência genética com cepas isoladas em Estados Unidos, que foram as únicas sequências disponíveis no GenBank. O presente estudo traz a luz vários dados epidemiológicos concernentes aos astrovírus aviário de origem brasileira o que permitirá a realização de outros estudos relacionados a epidemiologia deste vírus, seus possíveis riscos potenciais em saúde pública e a adoção de medidas de controle direcionadas a este agenteThe astroviruses are viral agents associated with enteropathy and extraintestinal infections in poultry, causing injuries to the productive development and animal health. However, are scarce the studies in the Brazil that aimed to detection and characterization of this virus with greater scale. In this context, were detected and characterized astrovirus strains from 60 fecal samples of poultry from differents Brazilian commercial flocks (laying hens, broilers and breeders) by using of the Pan-Astrovirus reaction as initial screening, consisting of RT-Hemi-nested PCR reaction, aiming the amplification and subsequent sequencing of a partial segment of the RdRp gene (RNA polymerase RNA dependent) of the ORF1b gene, a genic conserved region among all of the astroviruses. Thereafter, in the positive samples in the screening, amplification, cloning and sequencing of the ORF2 gene, codificant of the viral capsid, was performed, and analyzed by phylogenetic analysis. The data obtained demonstrated a astroviruses frequency infection in 48,3% (29/60) of the analyzed samples. The viral species detected were the following: Avastroviruses 2 (Avian Nephritis Virus, ANV) in 72,4 % (21/29), Chicken Astrovirus (CAstV) in 6,8% (2/29) and Avastrovirus 1 (Turkey Astrovirus type 1, TAstV-1) in 20,8% (6/29) of the positive samples. The total sequencing of the ORF2 gene was possible in eight positive samples (8/21) to ANV, in one positive sample (1/6) to TAstV-1 and a one positive sample (1/2) to CAstV. The analyze of this gene showed, in the ANV sequences, the presence of three distinct genotypes, according to the Astroviridae Study Group criteria, being one of them, was grouped within of the genotype 5. Furthermore, when analyzed with sequences from other regions, the sequences of this study, formed six clusters, two of them, related with sequences from Australia and United Kingdom. The ORF2 analyze in CAstV showed likewise a grouping with strains from United Kingdom. And the analyze of TAstV-1 ORF2, showed genetic divergence with strains isolated in United States of America, that were the only sequences available in the GenBank. The present study brings to light several data concerning to the Brazilian avian astroviruses, allowing to realization of the others studies related to the epidemiology of this virus, theirs potential public health risks and the adoption of the control measures targeted to this agen

Development of primers for sequencing the NSP1, NSP3, and VP6 genes of the group A porcine rotavirus

Rotavírus é responsável pela ocorrência de diarreia em humanos e em várias espécies animais. Oito pares de oligonucleotídeos iniciadores (primers) foram desenvolvidos e utilizados como estratégia para o sequenciamento do tipo Sanger da região codificadora dos genes NSP1, NSP3 e VP6 com base nas áreas conservadas do genoma dos rotavírus do grupo A de suínos. Um total de 3 amostras previamente triadas como positivas para rotavírus do grupo A, tiveram os respectivos genes amplificados e seqüenciados por estes oligonucleotídeos iniciadores, possibilitando a caracterização das amostras circulantes, cujo conhecimento é essencial para a compreensão da epidemiologia da doença.Rotavirus is the causative pathogen of diarrhea in humans and in several animal species. Eight pairs of primers were developed and used for Sanger sequencing of the coding region of the NSP1, NSP3, and VP6 genes based on the conserved regions of the genome of the group A porcine rotavirus. Three samples previously screened as positive for group A rotaviruses were subjected to gene amplification and sequencing to characterize the pathogen. The information generated from this study is crucial for the understanding of the epidemiology of the disease

Table_1_Evidence of spatial clustering of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia cases in Greater Mexico City: report from the Mexican Inter-Institutional Group for the identification of the causes of childhood leukemia.xlsx

BackgroundA heterogeneous geographic distribution of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) cases has been described, possibly, related to the presence of different environmental factors. The aim of the present study was to explore the geographical distribution of childhood ALL cases in Greater Mexico City (GMC).MethodsA population-based case-control study was conducted. Children ResultsA total of 1054 cases with ALL were analyzed. Of these, 408 (38.7%) were distributed across eight SCs detected. A relative risk of 1.61 (pConclusionsThe identification of SCs in certain regions of GMC suggest the possible role of environmental factors in the etiology of childhood ALL.</p

Combined dark matter searches towards dwarf spheroidal galaxies with Fermi-LAT, HAWC, H.E.S.S., MAGIC, and VERITAS

Cosmological and astrophysical observations suggest that 85\% of the total matter of the Universe is made of Dark Matter (DM). However, its nature remains one of the most challenging and fundamental open questions of particle physics. Assuming particle DM, this exotic form of matter cannot consist of Standard Model (SM) particles. Many models have been developed to attempt unraveling the nature of DM such as Weakly Interacting Massive Particles (WIMPs), the most favored particle candidates. WIMP annihilations and decay could produce SM particles which in turn hadronize and decay to give SM secondaries such as high energy $\gamma$ rays. In the framework of indirect DM search, observations of promising targets are used to search for signatures of DM annihilation. Among these, the dwarf spheroidal galaxies (dSphs) are commonly favored owing to their expected high DM content and negligible astrophysical background. In this work, we present the very first combination of 20 dSph observations, performed by the Fermi-LAT, HAWC, H.E.S.S., MAGIC, and VERITAS collaborations in order to maximize the sensitivity of DM searches and improve the current results. We use a joint maximum likelihood approach combining each experiment's individual analysis to derive more constraining upper limits on the WIMP DM self-annihilation cross-section as a function of DM particle mass. We present new DM constraints over the widest mass range ever reported, extending from 5 GeV to 100 TeV thanks to the combination of these five different $\gamma$-ray instruments