Seroepidemiology of Human Bocavirus Infection in Jamaica

Human bocavirus (HBoV) is a newly identified human parvovirus. HBoV is associated with upper and lower respiratory tract infections and gastroenteritis in children. Little is known about the seroepidemiology of HBoV in populations in the Caribbean.In a cross-sectional study conducted at the University Hospital of the West Indies in Kingston, Jamaica, 287 blood samples were collected from pediatric patients and tested for the presence of HBoV-specific antibody using a virus-like-particle based enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).HBoV-specific antibodies were found to be present in 220/287 (76.7%) of samples collected from the pediatric population. Seroprevalence of HBoV was highest in those ≥2 years old. The seroepidemiological profile suggests that most children are exposed to HBoV during the first two years of life in Jamaica.HBoV infection is common in children in Jamaica. HBoV seroprevalence rates in the Caribbean are similar to those previously reported in other areas of the world

Supporting mental health, wellbeing and study skills in Higher Education:an online intervention system

Abstract Background Dealing with psychological and study skill difficulties can present a challenge for both Higher Education (HE) students, who suffer from them, but also for HE Institutions and their support services. Alternative means of support, such as online interventions, have been identified as cost-effective and efficient ways to provide inclusive support to HE students, removing many of the barriers to help-seeking as well as promoting mental health and wellbeing. Case presentation The current case study initially outlines the rigorous approach in the development of one such online intervention system, MePlusMe. It further highlights key features that constitute innovative delivery of evidence-based psychological and educational practice in the areas of mental health, promotion of wellbeing, support of mood and everyday functioning, and study-skills enhancement. Conclusions This case study aims to present the innovative features of MePlusMe in relation to current needs and evidence-basis. Finally, it presents future directions in the evaluation, assessment, and evidence of the fitness-for-purpose process

A cellular deficiency of gangliosides causes hypersensitivity to Clostridium perfringens phospholipase C

Clostridium perfringens phospholipase C (Cp-PLC), also called alpha-toxin, is the major virulence factor in the pathogenesis of gas gangrene. Previously, a cellular UDP-Glc deficiency was related with a hypersensitivity to the cytotoxic effect of Cp-PLC. Because UDP-Glc is required in the synthesis of proteoglycans, N-linked glycoproteins, and glycosphingolipids, the role of these gly-coconjugates in the cellular sensitivity to Cp-PLC was studied. The cellular sensitivity to Cp-PLC was significantly enhanced by glycosphingolipid synthesis inhibitors, and a mutant cell line deficient in gangliosides was found to be hypersensitive to Cp-PLC. Gangliosides protected hypersensitive cells from the cytotoxic effect of Cp-PLC and prevented its membrane-disrupting effect on artificial membranes. Removal of sialic acids by C. perfringens sialidase increases the sensitivity of cultured cells to Cp-PLC and intramuscular co-injection of C. perfringens sialidase, and Cp-PLC in mice potentiates the myotoxic effect of the latter. This work demonstrated that a reduction in gangliosides renders cells more susceptible to the membrane damage caused by Cp-PLC and revealed a previously unrecognized synergism between Cp-PLC and C. perfringens sialidase, providing new insights toward understanding the pathogenesis of clostridial myonecrosis.UCR::Vicerrectoría de Investigación::Unidades de Investigación::Ciencias de la Salud::Instituto Clodomiro Picado (ICP

Seroepidemiology of HBoV shown by age group.

<p>The no. of serum samples screened and the percentage of seropositive individuals are shown for each age group; bars indicate standard errors.</p

The fully-active and structurally-stable form of the mitochondrial ATP synthase of Polytomella sp is dimeric

Mitochondrial F1FO-ATP synthase of chlorophycean algae is a stable dimeric complex of 1,600 kDa. It lacks the classic subunits that constitute the peripheral stator-stalk and the orthodox polypeptides involved in the dimerization of the complex. Instead, it contains nine polypeptides of unknown evolutionary origin named ASA1 to ASA9. The isolated enzyme exhibited a very low ATPase activity (0.03 Units/mg), that increased upon heat treatment, due to the release of the F-1 sector. Oligomycin was found to stabilize the dimeric structure of the enzyme, providing partial resistance to heat dissociation. Incubation in the presence of low concentrations of several non-ionic detergents increased the oligomycin-sensitive ATPase activity up to 7.0-9.0 Units/mg. Incubation with 3% (w/v) taurodeoxycholate monomerized the enzyme. The monomeric form of the enzyme exhibited diminished activity in the presence of detergents and diminished oligomycin sensitivity. Cross-linking experiments carried out with the dimeric and monomeric forms of the ATP synthase suggested the participation of the ASA6 subunit in the dimerization of the enzyme. The dimeric enzyme was more resistant to heat treatment, high hydrostatic pressures, and protease digestion than the monomeric enzyme, which was readily disrupted by these treatments. We conclude that the fully-active algal mitochondrial ATP synthase is a stable catalytically active dimer; the monomeric form is less active and less stable. Monomer-monomer interactions could be mediated by the membrane-bound subunits ASA6 and ASA9, and may be further stabilized by other polypeptides such as ASA1 and ASA5