31 research outputs found

    Differential protein expression analysis of several assemblages of giardia intestinalis

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    Synthesis and antileishmanial activity of C7-and C12-functionalized dehydroabietylamine derivatives

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    Abietane-type diterpenoids, either naturally occurring or synthetic, have shown a wide range of pharmacological actions, including antiprotozoal properties. In this study, we report on the antileishmanial evaluation of a series of (+)-dehydroabietylamine derivatives functionalized at C7 and/or C12. Thus, the activity in vitro against Leishmania infantum, Leishmania donovani, Leishmania amazonensis and Leishmania guyanensis, was studied. Most of the benzamide derivatives showed activities at low micromolar concentration against cultured promastigotes of Leishmania spp. (IC50 = 2.2-46.8 mu M), without cytotoxicity on J774 macrophage cells. Compound 15, an acetamide, was found to be the most active leishmanicidal agent, though it presented some cytotoxicity on J774 cells. Among the benzamide derivatives, compounds 8 and 10, were also active against L. infantum intracellular amastigotes, being 18- and 23-fold more potent than the reference compound miltefosine, respectively. Some structure-activity relationships have been identified for the antileishmanial activity in these dehydroabietylamine derivatives. (C) 2016 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.Financial support by the Spanish Government MINECO is gratefully acknowledged.Dea-Ayuela, MA.; Bilbao-Ramos, P.; Bol谩s-Fern谩ndez, F.; Gonz谩lez-Cardenete, MA. (2016). Synthesis and antileishmanial activity of C7-and C12-functionalized dehydroabietylamine derivatives. European Journal of Medicinal Chemistry. 121:445-450. doi:10.1016/j.ejmech.2016.06.004S44545012

    Applying loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) in the diagnosis of malaria, leishmaniasis and trypanosomiasis as point-of-care tests (POCTs)

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    One of the main objectives of the WHO is controlling transmission of parasitic protozoa vector- borne diseases. A quick and precise diagnosis is critical in selecting the optimal therapeutic regime that avoids unnecessary treatments and the emergence of resistance. Molecular assays based on Loop- Mediated Isothermal Amplification (LAMP) techniques are a good alternative to light microscopy and antigen-based rapid diagnostic tests in developing countries, since they allow for a large amount of genetic material generated from a few copies of DNA, and use primers that lead to high sensitivity and specificity, while the amplification process can be performed in isothermal conditions without the need of sophisticated equipment to interpret the results. In this review, the main advances in the development of LAMP assays for the diagnosis of malaria, leishmaniasis and Chagas' disease are discussed as well as the feasibility of their implementation in developing countries and use as point- of-care diagnostic tests

    Potential Risk of Three Zoonotic Protozoa (Cryptosporidium spp., Giardia duodenalis, and Toxoplasma gondii) Transmission from Fish Consumption

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    In recent decades, worldwide fish consumption has increased notably worldwide. Despite the health benefits of fish consumption, it also can suppose a risk because of fishborne diseases, including parasitic infections. Global changes are leading to the emergence of parasites in new locations and to the appearance of new sources of transmission. That is the case of the zoonotic protozoa Cryptosporidium spp., Giardia duodenalis, and Toxoplasma gondii ; all of them reach aquatic environments and have been found in shellfish. Similarly, these protozoa can be present in other aquatic animals, such as fish. The present review gives an overview on these three zoonotic protozoa in order to understand their potential presence in fish and to comprehensively revise all the evidences of fish as a new potential source of Cryptosporidium spp., Giardia duodenalis, and Toxoplasma gondii transmission. All of them have been found in both marine and freshwater fishes. Until now, it has not been possible to demonstrate that fish are natural hosts for these protozoa; otherwise, they would merely act as mechanical transporters. Nevertheless, even if fish only accumulate and transport these protozoa, they could be a "new" source of infection for people

    Synthesis and Biological Studies of (+)-Liquiditerpenoic Acid A (Abietopinoic Acid) and Representative Analogues: SAR Studies

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    [EN] The first semisynthesis and biological profiling of the new abietane diterpenoid (+)-liquiditerpenoic acid A (abietopinoic acid) (7) along with several analogues are reported. The compounds were obtained from readily available methyl dehydroabietate (8), which was derived from (-)-abietic acid (1). Biological comparison was conducted according to the different functional groups, leading to some basic structure-activity relationships (SAR). In particular, the ferruginol and sugiol analogues 7 and 10-16 were characterized by the presence of an acetylated phenolic moiety, an oxidized C-7 as a carbonyl, and a different functional group at C-18 (methoxycarbonyl, carboxylic acid, and hydroxymethyl). The biological properties of these compounds were investigated against a panel of six representative human tumor solid cells (A549, HBL-100, HeLa, SWI573, T-47D, and WiDr), five leukemia cellular models (NALM-06, KOPN-8, SUP-B15, UoCB1, and BCR-ABL), and four Leishmania species (L. infantum, L. donovani, L. amazonensis, and L. guyanensis). A molecular docking study pointed out some targets in these Leishmania species. In addition, the ability of the compounds to modulate GABA(A) receptors (alpha(1)beta(2)gamma(2s)) is also reported. The combined findings indicate that these abietane diterpenoids offer a source of novel bioactive molecules with promising pharmacological properties from cheap chiral-pool building blocks.Financial support by the Spanish Government [Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cientificas (2016801008)] is gratefully acknowledged. M.S. thanks the support by the doctoral program "Molecular Drug Targets" (Austrian Science Fund FWF W 1232). F.R thanks the American Lebanese Syrian Associated Charities (ALSAC). M.A.D.-A. thanks the Santander Bank for the support for her project in consolidable groups of CEU-UCH.Hamulic, D.; Stadler, M.; Hering, S.; Padron, JM.; Bassett, R.; Rivas, F.; Loza-Mejia, M.... (2019). Synthesis and Biological Studies of (+)-Liquiditerpenoic Acid A (Abietopinoic Acid) and Representative Analogues: SAR Studies. Journal of Natural Products. 82(4):823-831. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jnatprod.8b00884S82383182

    Molecular Characterization of Cryptosporidium spp. in Cultivated and Wild Marine Fishes from Western Mediterranean with the First Detection of Zoonotic Cryptosporidium ubiquitum

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    Altres ajuts: Ministerio para la transici贸n ecol贸gica y el reto demogr谩fico 2019/1476 i 2020/792Cryptosporidium is a widespread pathogen that infects a broad range of vertebrates, including humans, in which it is one of the main causes of diarrhea worldwide. Marine fishes also harbor Cryptosporidium species, including zoonotic ones. The goal of this study is to evaluate the presence of Cryptosporidium species in edible marine fishes using molecular tools. The area of study, located in the Western Mediterranean, is an important area for marine fish production and capture. The following three groups were studied: cultivated fish, wild fish that aggregate in the surroundings of marine fish farms and wild fish from extractive fisheries. Results show that the most affected group is the group of wild fish from the vicinity of fish farms. Two species were mainly identified, C. molnari (fish specific) and zoonotic C. ubiquitum. The presence of zoonotic C. ubiquitum in two European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) highlights a potential risk for fish consumers. Fish not only harbor host-specific species/genotypes of Cryptosporidium, but also species like zoonotic C. parvum or anthroponotic C. hominis, which can pose a risk for fish consumers. This study aims to investigate fish cryptosporidiosis in an important aquaculture and fishery area of the Western Mediterranean (Comunidad Valenciana, Spain). We analyzed 404 specimens belonging to the following three groups: cultivated fish (N = 147), wild synanthropic fish (N = 147) and wild fish from extractive fisheries (N = 110). Nested PCR targeting the 18S rRNA gene, followed by sequencing and phylogenetic analysis, were performed. Positive isolates were also amplified at the actin gene locus. An overall prevalence of 4.2% was detected, with the highest prevalence in the synanthropic group (6.1%). C. molnari was identified in thirteen specimens from seven different host species. Zoonotic C. ubiquitum was detected in two European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax). One isolate similar to C. scophthalmi was detected in a cultivated meagre (Argyrosomus regius), and one isolate, highly divergent from all the Cryptosporidium species/genotypes described, was identified from a synanthropic round sardinella (Sardinella aurita). This study contributes to increasing the molecular data on fish cryptosporidiosis, expanding the range of known hosts for C. molnari and identifying, for the first time, zoonotic C. ubiquitum in edible marine fishes, pointing out a potential health risk
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