Serological Survey of Antibodies to Mannheimia haemolytica and Pasteurella multocida in Camelids from Argentina

South American camelids are a source of livestock wealth in Andean countries. In Argentina,there is little information about camelid pathogens, and most of the literature data available areseroprevalence works against virus. Besides, little is known about the immunological status againstbacterial agents affecting these animals. In an effort to explore the serological status of Argentineancamelids, we evaluated the presence of serum antibodies against bacterial pathogens involved inpneumonic diseases (Pasteurella multocida and Mannheimia haemolytica) in llamas from differentregions of the country. By ELISA, a high seroprevalence for both pathogens was found in the serumsamples; higher optical density (OD) values were obtained when the sera were incubated with heatkilledP. multocida as coating antigen compared to M. haemolytica. In addition, a large number ofsera analyzed presented high OD values for both microorganisms independently of their originregion. Serum avidity was also evaluated, by means of an assay based on antibody desorption byurea. No correlation was found between the high ODs obtained for P. multocida and the serumavidity. On the other hand, samples reacting with M. haemolytica had lower OD values but higheravidity index. The antigenic recognition pattern for both microorganisms was determined bywestern blot. Unlike P. multocida, the antigenic recognition pattern of M. haemolytica did not differamong serum samples obtained from animals living in different areas. In summary, we found thatcamelids can synthetize antibodies that recognize M. haemolytica with high avidity for differentantigens of the bacterium, suggesting that Argentinean camelids are in contact with M. haemolyticawhich is probably a causative agent of subclinical infections. Conversely, specific antibodies forP. multocida were also found, but these sera presented low avidity that is probably the result of acolonization process by this bacterium, or else, to be a consequence of cross-reactivity phenomenaFil: Díaz, Ailén Magalí. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Estudios de la Inmunidad Humoral Prof. Ricardo A. Margni. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica. Instituto de Estudios de la Inmunidad Humoral Prof. Ricardo A. Margni; ArgentinaFil: Ledesma, Martin Manuel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Estudios de la Inmunidad Humoral Prof. Ricardo A. Margni. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica. Instituto de Estudios de la Inmunidad Humoral Prof. Ricardo A. Margni; ArgentinaFil: Calcagno, M. L.. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica. Departamento de Físico Matemática. Cátedra de Matemáticas; ArgentinaFil: Leoni, Juliana. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Estudios de la Inmunidad Humoral Prof. Ricardo A. Margni. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica. Instituto de Estudios de la Inmunidad Humoral Prof. Ricardo A. Margni; ArgentinaFil: Manghi, Marcela Alejandra. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Estudios de la Inmunidad Humoral Prof. Ricardo A. Margni. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica. Instituto de Estudios de la Inmunidad Humoral Prof. Ricardo A. Margni; ArgentinaFil: Canellada, Andrea Mercedes. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Estudios de la Inmunidad Humoral Prof. Ricardo A. Margni. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica. Instituto de Estudios de la Inmunidad Humoral Prof. Ricardo A. Margni; ArgentinaFil: Castro, Marisa Silvia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Estudios de la Inmunidad Humoral Prof. Ricardo A. Margni. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica. Instituto de Estudios de la Inmunidad Humoral Prof. Ricardo A. Margni; Argentin

A possible explanation for the discrepancy between ELISA and neutralising antibodies to tetanus toxin

The structure and protective activity of tetanus antibodies elicited in rabbits after whole-cell pertussis diphtheria-tetanus vaccine (DTPw) vaccination was studied. ELISA antibody levels and toxin neutralisation activity (TNT) were measured in individual serum samples. The ratio of symmetric and asymmetric (functionally monovalent) IgG molecules was determined by concanavalin A (Con A) chromatography. This test is based on the fact that the carbohydrate group responsible for the molecular asymmetry has high affinity for the lectin Con A. Asymmetric molecule ratio was observed to increase with immunisation time, as well as differences between TNT and ELISA levels. All serum samples were overestimated by ELISA as compared to TNT assay, in line with the markedly higher proportion of asymmetric molecules which have lower toxin neutralising activity. Protective levels could not be predicted reasonably from ELISA results below 0.222 IU/ml, because this methodology fails to discriminate between both types of antibodies and only an in vivo serum neutralisation procedure (TNT) reflects the true neutralising serum activity. Copyright (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd.Fil: Dokmetjian, Jose Christian. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Estudios de la Inmunidad Humoral Prof. Ricardo A. Margni. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica. Instituto de Estudios de la Inmunidad Humoral Prof. Ricardo A. Margni; ArgentinaFil: Della Valle, C.. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Estudios de la Inmunidad Humoral Prof. Ricardo A. Margni. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica. Instituto de Estudios de la Inmunidad Humoral Prof. Ricardo A. Margni; ArgentinaFil: Lavigne, V.. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Estudios de la Inmunidad Humoral Prof. Ricardo A. Margni. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica. Instituto de Estudios de la Inmunidad Humoral Prof. Ricardo A. Margni; ArgentinaFil: De Luján, Calcagno M.. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica. Departamento de Físico Matemática; ArgentinaFil: Manghi, Marcela Alejandra. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Estudios de la Inmunidad Humoral Prof. Ricardo A. Margni. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica. Instituto de Estudios de la Inmunidad Humoral Prof. Ricardo A. Margni; Argentin

Treatment with Enterococcus faecalis CECT7121 Is Not Effective as Therapy in Mice with an Established Allergy Status

In allergies, an unbalanced immune response towards a T helper (Th) 2 profile with high levels of Immunoglobulin (Ig) E is produced. We have demonstrated that the pre-administration of Enterococcus faecalis CECT7121 prevents the development of allergy in ovalbumin-immunized mice. In this work, we evaluated whether this bacterium can also revert an established allergic status. Mice were immunized with ovalbumin (OVA) and after that, were inoculated with an E. faecalis CECT7121 suspension. In immunized animals, serum specific immune response, proliferative activity of memory splenocytes, and levels of Th2 cytokines were assessed. The in vivo active cutaneous anaphylaxis test was also performed. The treatment with E. faecalis CECT7121 only increased anti-OVA IgG2a levels. No differences were observed in other specific immunological parameters. Probiotic-treatment did not prove to have any desensitizing effect on mice. These results, together with those recently published, can be concluded that this bacterium would not be appropriate for the treatment of allergic symptoms.Fil: Díaz, Ailén Magalí. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Estudios de la Inmunidad Humoral Prof. Ricardo A. Margni. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica. Instituto de Estudios de la Inmunidad Humoral Prof. Ricardo A. Margni; ArgentinaFil: Molina, Matías Alejandro. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Estudios de la Inmunidad Humoral Prof. Ricardo A. Margni. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica. Instituto de Estudios de la Inmunidad Humoral Prof. Ricardo A. Margni; ArgentinaFil: Nuñez, Guillermo G.. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Estudios de la Inmunidad Humoral Prof. Ricardo A. Margni. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica. Instituto de Estudios de la Inmunidad Humoral Prof. Ricardo A. Margni; ArgentinaFil: Mourelle, Ana Carolina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Estudios de la Inmunidad Humoral Prof. Ricardo A. Margni. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica. Instituto de Estudios de la Inmunidad Humoral Prof. Ricardo A. Margni; ArgentinaFil: Sparo, Mónica Delfina. Universidad Nacional de la Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Médicas; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Manghi, Marcela Alejandra. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Estudios de la Inmunidad Humoral Prof. Ricardo A. Margni. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica. Instituto de Estudios de la Inmunidad Humoral Prof. Ricardo A. Margni; ArgentinaFil: Castro, Marisa Silvia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Estudios de la Inmunidad Humoral Prof. Ricardo A. Margni. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica. Instituto de Estudios de la Inmunidad Humoral Prof. Ricardo A. Margni; Argentin

Momentos transmodales durante el proceso de enseñanza de la escritura en educación remota de emergencia: prácticas culturales y semióticas

Profesoras/es y aprendices recrean significados constantemente, condicionados por los medios digitales usados en la enseñanza remota durante la pandemia. Los profesores diseñan significados como juegos de aprendizaje e involucran a los estudiantes en la simulación de prácticas culturales, en las cuales las secuencias didácticas de escritura se materializan en cadenas que desplazan los significados entre diversos modos semióticos, dando origen a momentos transmodales. Este estudio integra tres enfoques teóricos: socio-semiótico, antropológico-didáctico y didáctico-disciplinar. Nuestro objetivo es explorar la semiosis en los momentos transmodales ocurridos en la interacción virtual durante una secuencia didáctica. Desde lo cualitativo, este estudio de caso profundiza en la simulación de prácticas culturales de una estudiante de 4o año de educación básica mediante el análisis integrado de cadenas semióticas y SHTIS (Sistema-Híbrido-Texto-Imagen-Sonido). Los hallazgos ofrecen una descripción de los juegos de aprendizaje vinculados con dos prácticas culturales cuyos núcleos de significado se desplazan entre seis eslabones. El rastreo de núcleos refleja la tensión entre la agencia de ambos creadores, que se materializa en ensamblajes semióticos de la enseñanza y aprendizaje mediados a través de una plataforma digital, en la que destaca el reciclaje de videos y documentos. No obstante, la retroalimentación revela que los significados visuales siguen invisibilizados

Treatment with Enterococcus faecalis CECT7121 Is Not Effective as Therapy in Mice with an Established Allergy Status

In allergies, an unbalanced immune response towards a T helper (Th) 2 profile with high levels of Immunoglobulin (Ig) E is produced. We have demonstrated that the pre-administration of Enterococcus faecalis CECT7121 prevents the development of allergy in ovalbumin-immunized mice. In this work, we evaluated whether this bacterium can also revert an established allergic status. Mice were immunized with ovalbumin (OVA) and after that, were inoculated with an E. faecalis CECT7121 suspension. In immunized animals, serum specific immune response, proliferative activity of memory splenocytes, and levels of Th2 cytokines were assessed. The in vivo active cutaneous anaphylaxis test was also performed. The treatment with E. faecalis CECT7121 only increased anti-OVA IgG2a levels. No differences were observed in other specific immunological parameters. Probiotic-treatment did not prove to have any desensitizing effect on mice. These results, together with those recently published, can be concluded that this bacterium would not be appropriate for the treatment of allergic symptoms.Facultad de Ciencias Médicas (FCM

A genetic study of autism in Costa Rica: multiple variables affecting IQ scores observed in a preliminary sample of autistic cases

BACKGROUND: Autism is a heritable developmental disorder of communication and socialization that has not been well studied in Hispanic populations. Therefore, we are collecting and evaluating all possible cases of autism from a population isolate in the Central Valley of Costa Rica (CVCR) for a clinical and genetic study. METHODS: We are assessing all subjects and parents, as appropriate, using the newly translated Spanish versions of the Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised (ADI-R) and the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS) as well as tests of intelligence and adaptive behavior. Detailed obstetric and family medical/psychiatric histories are taken. All cases are tested for Fragile X and will be extensively evaluated for cytogenetic abnormalities. RESULTS: To date we have obtained clinical evaluations on over 76 cases of possible autism referred to our study and report data for the initial 35 complete cases. The mean age of the probands is 6.7 years, and 31 of the 35 cases are male. Twenty-one of the cases have IQs <50 and only 6 cases have IQs ≥ 70. Over half of the mothers had complications during pregnancy and/or delivery. No cases have tested positively for Fragile X or PKU. Chromosomal G-banding is not yet complete for all cases. CONCLUSION: Diagnostic data gathered on cases of autism in the CVCR using Spanish versions of the ADI-R and ADOS look similar to that generated by studies of English-speaking cases. However, only 17% of our cases have IQs within the normal range, compared to the figure of 25% seen in most studies. This result reflects an ascertainment bias in that only severe cases of autism come to treatment in the CVCR because there are no government-sponsored support programs or early intervention programs providing an incentive to diagnose autism. The severity of mental retardation seen in most of our cases may also be exaggerated by the lack of early intervention programs and the use of IQ tests without Costa Rican norms. Still, we must formally train healthcare providers and teachers to recognize and refer autistic cases with normal or near normal IQs that are not seen in treatment

Probiotic activity of <i>Enterococcus faecalis</i> CECT7121: effects on mucosal immunity and intestinal epithelial cells

Aims: To analyse the effect of Enterococcus faecalis CECT7121 on intestinalepithelial cells (IECs) and its effects on the mucosal immune response. Methods and Results: Enterococcus faecalis CECT7121 showed a high adhesioncapacity to completely and heterogeneously differentiated human intestinalepithelial cell line (Caco-2 cells). In addition, the contact of this bacteriumwith Caco-2 cells did not induce inflammatory chemokines (IL-8 and CCL-20). The presence of IgA⁺ and IL-6⁺ cells in the small intestine, as well as theproduction of inflammatory cytokines (TNFa, IL-6 and IL-12) in the gut, wasdetermined after intragastric inoculation of Ent. faecalis CECT7121 in BALB/cmice. The administration of Ent. faecalis CECT7121 increased the number ofIgA⁺ cells in the intestinal lamina propria without modifying the percentage ofIL-6⁺ cells. No differences were observed in the cytokines measured in theintestinal extracts between probiotic-treated and control mice. Conclusions: Enterococcus faecalis CECT7121 stimulates local mucosalimmunity and adheres to IECs without inducing inflammatory signals. Significance and Impact of the Study: Our results indicate that, apart from itsalready reported systemic immune activity, Ent. faecalis CECT7121 has amodulatory effect at a local level.Centro Universitario de Estudios Microbiológicos y Parasitológico

Treatment with Enterococcus faecalis CECT7121 Is Not Effective as Therapy in Mice with an Established Allergy Status

In allergies, an unbalanced immune response towards a T helper (Th) 2 profile with high levels of Immunoglobulin (Ig) E is produced. We have demonstrated that the pre-administration of Enterococcus faecalis CECT7121 prevents the development of allergy in ovalbumin-immunized mice. In this work, we evaluated whether this bacterium can also revert an established allergic status. Mice were immunized with ovalbumin (OVA) and after that, were inoculated with an E. faecalis CECT7121 suspension. In immunized animals, serum specific immune response, proliferative activity of memory splenocytes, and levels of Th2 cytokines were assessed. The in vivo active cutaneous anaphylaxis test was also performed. The treatment with E. faecalis CECT7121 only increased anti-OVA IgG2a levels. No differences were observed in other specific immunological parameters. Probiotic-treatment did not prove to have any desensitizing effect on mice. These results, together with those recently published, can be concluded that this bacterium would not be appropriate for the treatment of allergic symptoms.Facultad de Ciencias Médicas (FCM

The NRG1 exon 11 missense variant is not associated with autism in the Central Valley of Costa Rica

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>We are conducting a genetic study of autism in the isolated population of the Central Valley of Costa Rica (CVCR). A novel Neuregulin 1 (NRG1) missense variant (exon 11 G>T) was recently associated with psychosis and schizophrenia (SCZ) in the same population isolate.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We genotyped the NRG1 exon 11 missense variant in 146 cases with autism, or autism spectrum disorder, with CVCR ancestry, and both parents when available (N = 267 parents) from 143 independent families. Additional microsatellites were genotyped to examine haplotypes bearing the exon 11 variant.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The NRG1 exon 11 G>T variant was found in 4/146 cases including one de novo occurrence. The frequency of the variant in case chromosomes was 0.014 and 0.045 in the parental non-transmitted chromosomes. At least 6 haplotypes extending 0.229 Mb were associated with the T allele. Three independent individuals, with no personal or family history of psychiatric disorder, shared at least a 1 megabase haplotype 5' to the T allele.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The NRG1 exon 11 missense variant is not associated with autism in the CVCR.</p

Antiinflammatory Therapy with Canakinumab for Atherosclerotic Disease

Background: Experimental and clinical data suggest that reducing inflammation without affecting lipid levels may reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. Yet, the inflammatory hypothesis of atherothrombosis has remained unproved. Methods: We conducted a randomized, double-blind trial of canakinumab, a therapeutic monoclonal antibody targeting interleukin-1β, involving 10,061 patients with previous myocardial infarction and a high-sensitivity C-reactive protein level of 2 mg or more per liter. The trial compared three doses of canakinumab (50 mg, 150 mg, and 300 mg, administered subcutaneously every 3 months) with placebo. The primary efficacy end point was nonfatal myocardial infarction, nonfatal stroke, or cardiovascular death. RESULTS: At 48 months, the median reduction from baseline in the high-sensitivity C-reactive protein level was 26 percentage points greater in the group that received the 50-mg dose of canakinumab, 37 percentage points greater in the 150-mg group, and 41 percentage points greater in the 300-mg group than in the placebo group. Canakinumab did not reduce lipid levels from baseline. At a median follow-up of 3.7 years, the incidence rate for the primary end point was 4.50 events per 100 person-years in the placebo group, 4.11 events per 100 person-years in the 50-mg group, 3.86 events per 100 person-years in the 150-mg group, and 3.90 events per 100 person-years in the 300-mg group. The hazard ratios as compared with placebo were as follows: in the 50-mg group, 0.93 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.80 to 1.07; P = 0.30); in the 150-mg group, 0.85 (95% CI, 0.74 to 0.98; P = 0.021); and in the 300-mg group, 0.86 (95% CI, 0.75 to 0.99; P = 0.031). The 150-mg dose, but not the other doses, met the prespecified multiplicity-adjusted threshold for statistical significance for the primary end point and the secondary end point that additionally included hospitalization for unstable angina that led to urgent revascularization (hazard ratio vs. placebo, 0.83; 95% CI, 0.73 to 0.95; P = 0.005). Canakinumab was associated with a higher incidence of fatal infection than was placebo. There was no significant difference in all-cause mortality (hazard ratio for all canakinumab doses vs. placebo, 0.94; 95% CI, 0.83 to 1.06; P = 0.31). Conclusions: Antiinflammatory therapy targeting the interleukin-1β innate immunity pathway with canakinumab at a dose of 150 mg every 3 months led to a significantly lower rate of recurrent cardiovascular events than placebo, independent of lipid-level lowering. (Funded by Novartis; CANTOS ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT01327846.