Schistosoma mansoni Adult Worm Protective and Diagnostic Proteins in n-Butanol Extracts Revealed by Proteomic Analysis

The S. mansoni adult worm n-butanol extract (Sm-AWBE) has been previously shown to contain specific S. mansoni antigens that have been used for immunodiagnosis of schistosomiasis in solid phase alkaline phosphatase immunoassay (APIA) and western blot (WB) analyses. Sm-AWBE was also used in immunoprotection studies against a fatal live-cercariae challenge in experimental mouse vaccination (~43% protection). The Sm-AWBE fraction was prepared by mixing adult worm membranous suspensions with aqueous-saturated n-butanol, centrifuging and recovering n-butanol-resistant proteins in the aqueous phase. Here we report a preliminary identification of Sm-AWBE protein components as revealed from a qualitative proteomic study after processing Sm-AWBE by 1D-gel electrophoresis, in-gel and in-solution tryptic digestions, and mass spectrometry analyses. We identified 33 proteins in Sm-AWBE, all previously known S. mansoni proteins and antigens; among them, immunomodulatory proteins and proteins mostly involved in host–parasite interactions. About 81.8% of the identified Sm-AWBE proteins are antigenic. STRING analysis showed a set of Sm-AWBE proteins configuring a small network of interactive proteins and a group of proteins without interactions. Functional groups of proteins included muscle contraction, antioxidant, GPI-anchored phosphoesterases, regulatory 14-3-3, various enzymes and stress proteins. The results widen the possibilities to design novel antigen combinations for better diagnostic and immunoprotective strategies for schistosomiasis control

Understanding Suicide and Help-seeking in Urban and Rural Areas in Northern Ireland

Funded by HSC R&D Division, Public Health Agency Why did we start? Most people who complete suicide are in contact with their family doctors or other services in the months prior to death. A better understanding of the nature of these contacts and the various pathways experienced by suicidal people should reveal the gaps and barriers to effective service provision. We also need better information about the difficulties experienced by family carers, both prior to the death and afterwards. Of particular interest to policy makers in Northern Ireland was a concern that people from rural areas may be at increasing risk of suicide. We were commissioned by the Health and Social Care R&D Division of the Northern Ireland Public Health Agency to address the gaps in our understanding of suicide in NI. What did we do? We undertook a mixed methods study in which we examined the records of 403 people who took their own lives over a two-year period between March 2007 and February 2009. We linked these data to GP records and then examined help-seeking pathways of people and their contacts with services. We did in-depth face-to-face interviews with 72 bereaved relatives and friends who discussed their understanding of the events and circumstances surrounding the death, the experience of seeking help for the family member, the personal impact of the suicide, and use of support services. Additionally, we interviewed 19 General Practitioners about their experiences of managing people who died by suicide.          

Isolation and characterization of mineral phosphate-solubilizing bacteria naturally colonizing a limonitic crust in the south-eastern Venezuelan region

With the aim to explore the possible role of mineral phosphate-solubilizing bacteria (PSB) in phosphorus (P) cycling in iron-rich, acidic soils, we conducted a survey of PSB naturally colonizing a limonitic crust in the south-east region of Venezuela (Bolívar State). A total of 130 heterotrophic bacterial isolates showing different degrees of mineral tri-calcium phosphate (Ca3(PO4)2)-solubilizing activities were isolated from NBRIP plates. In contrast, no isolates showing iron phosphate (FePO4)- or aluminum phosphate (AlPO4)-solubilizing activities were detected by this experimental approach. The 10 best Ca3(PO4)2-solubilizers were selected for further characterization. These isolates were shown to belong to the genera Burkholderia, Serratia, Ralstonia and Pantoea by partial sequencing analysis of their respective 16S rRNA genes. All the PSB isolates were able to mediate almost complete solubilization of Ca3(PO4)2 in liquid cultures; in contrast, the PSB isolates were less effective when solubilizing FePO4. Two groups of PSB isolates were clearly differentiated on the basis of their Ca3(PO4)2 solubilization kinetics. Acidi.cation of culture supernatants seemed to be the main mechanism for P solubilization. Indeed, gluconic acid was shown to be present in the supernatant of .ve isolates. Furthermore, detection of genes involved in the production of this organic acid was possible in three isolates by means of a PCR protocol.2905–[email protected], [email protected]@[email protected]

Dinámica no lineal para caracterizar la variabilidad del ritmo cardíaco en pacientes chagásicos.

Dinámica no lineal para caracterizar la variabilidad del ritmo cardíaco en pacientes chagásicos. (Guillén Rondón, Pablo) Resumen La enfermedad de Chagas es una enfermedad tropical con un ciclo evolutivo complejo, cuyo principal factor de pronóstico es la presencia y extensión del daño miocárdico durante los estadios de la enfermedad. El objetivo de este estudio es la aplicación de métodos de la dinámica no lineal para detectar diferencias en la variabilidad del ritmo cardíaco (HRV) de pacientes chagásicos, de tacogramas (intervalos consecutivos RR) obtenidos de electrocardiografía de alta resolución, ECGAR. Los tacogramas de cada sujeto contienen alrededor de 300 intervalos. Nuevas medidas de HRV fueron calculadas de métodos de la dinámica no lineal para caracterizar estos pequeños conjuntos de datos. Diferencias significativas fueron obtenidas con las medidas de complejidad cuando un grupo de pacientes chagásicos y un grupo de sujetos de control fueron comparados al aplicar la prueba estadística U Mann-Whitney, ([email protected], [email protected]@[email protected],[email protected]@ula.veNivel monográfic

Immunoprotection of Mice against Schistosomiasis Mansoni Using Solubilized Membrane Antigens

<div><p>Background</p><p>Schistosomiasis continues to be one of the most prevalent parasitic diseases in the world. Despite the existence of a highly effective antischistosome drug, the disease is spreading into new areas, and national control programs do not arrive to complete their tasks particularly in low endemic areas. The availability of a vaccine could represent an additional component to chemotherapy. Experimental vaccination studies are however necessary to identify parasite molecules that would serve as vaccine candidates. In the present work, C57BL/6 female mice were subcutaneously immunized with an <i>n</i>-butanol extract of the adult worm particulate membranous fraction (AWBE) and its protective effect against a <i>S. mansoni</i> challenge infection was evaluated.</p><p>Methodology and Findings</p><p>Water-saturated <i>n</i>-butanol release into the aqueous phase a set of membrane-associated (glyco)proteins that are variably recognized by antibodies in schistosome-infected patients; among the previously identified AWBE antigens there is Alkaline Phosphatase (SmAP) which has been associated with resistance to the infection in mice. As compared to control, a significantly lower number of perfuse parasites was obtained in the immunized/challenged mouse group (P<0.05, <i>t</i> test); and consequently, a lower number of eggs and granulomas (with reduced sizes), overall decreasing pathology. Immunized mice produced high levels of sera anti-AWBE IgG recognizing antigens of ∼190-, 130-, 98-, 47-, 28-23, 14-, and 9-kDa. The ∼130-kDa band (the AP dimer) exhibited <i>in situ</i> SmAP activity after addition of AP substrate and the activity was not apparently inhibited by host antibodies. A preliminary proteomic analysis of the 25-, 27-, and 28-kDa bands in the immunodominant 28–23 kDa region suggested that they are composed of actin.</p><p>Conclusions</p><p>Immunization with AWBE induced the production of specific antibodies to various adult worm membrane molecules (including AP) and a partial (43%) protection against a challenging <i>S. mansoni</i> infection by mechanism(s) that still has to be elucidated.</p></div

Potential use of some extracts bark of Pinus caribaea and Pterocarpus officinalis for controling bacteria and fungi in the pulp and paper industry.

CONTENIDO Editorial. El papel de la agroforestería en la Facultad de Ciencias Forestales y Ambientales. The role of Agroforestry in the Faculty of Forestry and Environmental Sciences. Noguera L., Oscar E. y Plonczak Ratschiller, Miguel Andrés Artículos Producción y descomposición de la hojarasca en tres agroecosistemas de café en el estado Trujillo, Venezuela. Production and descomposition of litter in three coffee agroecosystems in the Trujillo State, Venezuela. Arellano G., Rosalva; Paolini, Jorge; Vasquez, L. y Mora de Pinto, Elba Marina Caracterización papelera de la especie Schizolobium parahybum. Caracterization wastebasket of the Schizolobium parahybum species. Mogollón, Gladys M.; Aguilera, Antonio V.; Gutiérrez G. Ilvania; Adams, Rubén y Ruiz, Sandra Uso potencial de algunos extractos de corteza de Pinus caribaea y Pterocarpus officinalis, en el control de bacterias y hongos en la industria de pulpa y papel. Potential use of some extracts bark of Pinus caribaea and Pterocarpus officinalis for controling bacteria and fungi in the pulp and paper industry. Gutiérrez G. Ilvania; Mogollón, Gladys M.; Nieves Blanco, Beatriz; Encinas, Osvaldo; Carrero Sulbarán, Sarelie; Chille, Angela y Ramos, Eduardo Caracterización de huertos caseros como sistemas agroforestales en el estado Mérida, Venezuela. Characterization of homegardens as agroforestry systems in Mérida State, Venezuela. Petit, Judith; Padilla, Adriana; Suniaga Q., José; Rincón Toledo, Angel; Padilla, Delfina; Betancourt, Arquímedes Análisis del error tipo I en las pruebas de bondad de ajuste de independencia, utilizando el muestreo de parcelas de área fija. Analysis of the type I error in the tests of goodness of fit and independence in forest inventories, using fixed-area plot. Quintero M., Maria Alejandra y Durán, Mariano J. Anatomía de la madera de ocho especies útiles en carpintería y ebanistería. Wood anatomy of eight species used in carpentry and ebanisteria. León Hernández, Williams J. Capacidad de retención de humedad de un inseptisol de los Andes venezolanos y su afectación por la pérdida de suelo superficial y la acción de abono orgánico. Impact of topsoil loss and organic fertilizer applicaton on water storage capacity in an inceptisol of the Venezuelan Andes. Ferrer, Gilberto y López, Roberto A. Especies del género Helicotylenchus (Nemátoda) en plantaciones de Teca y bosques naturales de Venezuela. Species of Helicotylenchus (Nemátoda) in Teak plantations and natural forest of Venezuela. Bracamonte, Lilian; Maggiorani, Alfredo; Holmquist, Otón; Cadenas, Aurora; Briceño, Elizabeth y Renaud, Juan Identificación de especies del género Helicotylenchus (Nematoda) en Venezuela. Parte I. Identification of species of Helicotylenchus (Nematoda) in Venezuela. Part I. Bracamonte, Lilian; Maggiorani, Alfredo; Holmquist, Otón; Cadenas, Aurora; Briceño, Elizabeth y Renaud, Juan Propiedades físico-mecánicas y usos posibles de la especie forestal Erotheca globosa (Aublet) A. robyns (Ceiba Roja) proveniente del lote boscoso San Pedro, estado Bolívar, Venezuela. Physical-mechanical and possible uses of the wood Erotheca globosa (Aublet) A. robyns (Ceiba roja) from the lote boscoso San Pedro, Bolívar State, Venezuela. Merlo P., Julio C.; Reyes C., Elio C.; Garay J., Dario A. y Valero, Styles W. Insectos del orden Coleóptera de importancia forestal en Venezuela. Coleoptera forest insects from Venezuela. Briceño Vergara, Armando J. y Hernández, Fraternidad Insectos del orden Lepidóptera de importancia forestal en Venezuela. Lepidoptera forest insects from Venezuela. Briceño Vergara, Armando J. y Hernández, Fraternidad Efectos de la densidad de plantación y tratamientos de poda sobre la producción de Pinus taeda L. a los seis años de edad. Stand density and prune treatments effects over six year old yield plantation of Pinus taeda L. Costas, Rubén; Mac Donagh, Patricio; Weber, Elizabeth; Irschick, Pedro y Palavecino, José Tesis Elaboración de tableros de Partículas con costaneras de la especie Erisma uncinatum (Mureillo) de la Guayana venezolana. Particleboards made from Erisma uncinatum (Mureillo) sawmill slabs Venezuela-Guayana. Esquerre I., Grace; Garay J., Dario A. y Durán P., Jorge A. Uso potencial de algunos extractos de corteza de Pinus caribaea var. hondurensis y Pterocarpus officinalis, en el control de bacterias y mohos en la industria de pulpa y papel. Potential use of some extracts bark of Pinus caribaea and Pterocarpus officinalis for controling bacteria and fungi in the pulp and paper industry. Gutiérrez G., Ilvania; Mogollón, Gladys M.; Nieves Blanco, Beatriz; Encinas, Osvaldo; Carrero Sulbarán, Sarelie; Chille, Angela y Ramos, [email protected]@[email protected]@[email protected] analíticosemestra