Precision Health for Chagas Disease: Integrating Parasite and Host Factors to Predict Outcome of Infection and Response to Therapy

Chagas disease, caused by the infection with the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, is clinically manifested in approximately one-third of infected people by inflammatory heart disease (cardiomyopathy) and, to a minor degree, gastrointestinal tract disorders (megaesophagus or megacolon). Chagas disease is a zoonosis transmitted among animals and people through the contact with triatomine bugs, which are found in much of the western hemisphere, including most countries of North, Central and South America, between parallels 45° north (Minneapolis, USA) and south (Chubut Province, Argentina). Despite much research on drug discovery for T. cruzi, there remain only two related agents in widespread use. Likewise, treatment is not always indicated due to the serious side effects of these drugs. On the other hand, the epidemiology and pathogenesis of Chagas disease are both highly complex, and much is known about both. However, it is still impossible to predict what will happen in an individual person infected with T. cruzi, because of the highly variability of parasite virulence and human susceptibility to infection, with no definitive molecular predictors of outcome from either side of the host-parasite equation. In this Minireview we briefly discuss the current state of T. cruzi infection and prognosis and look forward to the day when it will be possible to employ precision health to predict disease outcome and determine whether and when treatment of infection may be necessary.Fil: Martinez, Santiago Jose. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mendoza. Instituto de Histología y Embriología de Mendoza Dr. Mario H. Burgos. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Facultad de Ciencias Médicas. Instituto de Histología y Embriología de Mendoza Dr. Mario H. Burgos; ArgentinaFil: Romano, Patricia Silvia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mendoza. Instituto de Histología y Embriología de Mendoza Dr. Mario H. Burgos. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Facultad de Ciencias Médicas. Instituto de Histología y Embriología de Mendoza Dr. Mario H. Burgos; ArgentinaFil: Engman, David M.. Cedars Sinai Medical Center; Estados Unidos. Northwestern University; Estados Unidos. University of California at Los Angeles; Estados Unido

Understanding pseudo-albinism in sole (Solea senegalensis): a transcriptomics and metagenomics approach

Pseudo-albinism is a pigmentation disorder observed in flatfish aquaculture with a complex, multi-factor aetiology. We tested the hypothesis that pigmentation abnormalities are an overt signal of more generalised modifications in tissue structure and function, using as a model the Senegalese sole and two important innate immune barriers, the skin and intestine, and their microbiomes. Stereological analyses in pseudo-albino sole revealed a significantly increased mucous cell number in skin (P < 0.001) and a significantly thicker muscle layer and lamina propria in gut (P < 0.001). RNA-seq transcriptome analysis of the skin and gut identified 573 differentially expressed transcripts (DETs, FDR < 0.05) between pseudo-albino and pigmented soles (one pool/tissue from 4 individuals/phenotype). DETs were mainly linked to pigment production, skin structure and regeneration and smooth muscle contraction. The microbiome (16 S rRNA analysis) was highly diverse in pigmented and pseudo-albino skin but in gut had low complexity and diverged between the two pigmentation phenotypes. Quantitative PCR revealed significantly lower loads of Mycoplasma (P < 0.05) and Vibrio bacteria (P < 0.01) in pseudo-albino compared to the control. The study revealed that pseudo-albinism in addition to pigmentation changes was associated with generalised changes in the skin and gut structure and a modification in the gut microbiome.Agência financiadora H2020 European Funds MSCA-RISE project 691102 Portuguese national funds from FCT - Foundation for Science and Technology UID/Multi/04326/2019 Portuguese national funds from the operational programme CRESC Algarve 2020 EMBRC. PT ALG-01-0145-FEDER-022121 Portuguese national funds from the operational programme COMPETE 2020 EMBRC. PT ALG-01-0145-FEDER-022121 European Union (EU) 654008 Fundacao para a Ciencia e a Tecnologia (FCT) SFRH/BPD/84033/2012 Portuguese Institute for Employment and Vocational Training 0068/ET/18info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Transcriptome changes in grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.) cv. Malbec leaves induced by ultraviolet-B radiation

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Ultraviolet-B radiation (UV-B, 280-315 nm) is a natural component of sunlight, which has numerous regulatory effects on plant physiology. The nature of the response to UV-B is dependent on fluence rate, dose, duration and wavelength of the UV-B treatment. Some reports have analyzed the changes in gene expression caused by UV-B light on several plant species using microarray technology. However, there is no information on the transcriptome response triggered by UV-B in grapevine. In this paper we investigate the gene expression responses of leaves from <it>in vitro </it>cultured <it>Vitis vinifera </it>cv. Malbec plants subjected to the same dose of biologically effective UV-B radiation (4.75 kJ m^-2d^-1) administered at two different fluence rates (16 h at ≅ 8.25 μW cm^-2, 4 h at ≅ 33 μW cm^-2) using a new custom made GrapeGen Affymetrix GeneChip^®.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The number of genes modulated by high fluence rate UV-B doubled the number of genes modulated by low fluence UV-B. Their functional analyses revealed several functional categories commonly regulated by both UV-B treatments as well as categories more specifically modulated depending on UV-B fluence rate. General protective responses, namely the induction of pathways regulating synthesis of UV-B absorbing compounds such as the Phenylpropanoid pathway, the induction of different antioxidant defense systems and the activation of pathways commonly associated with pathogen defense and abiotic stress responses seem to play critical roles in grapevine responses against UV-B radiation. Furthermore, high fluence rate UV-B seemed to specifically modulate additional pathways and processes in order to protect grapevine plantlets against UV-B-induced oxidative stress, stop the cell cycle progression, and control protein degradation. On the other hand, low fluence rate UV-B regulated the expression of specific responses in the metabolism of auxin and abscisic acid as well as in the modification of cell walls that could be involved in UV-B acclimation-like processes.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Our results show the UV-B radiation effects on the leaf transcriptome of grapevine (<it>Vitis vinifera </it>cv. Malbec) plantlets. Functional categories commonly modulated under both UV-B treatments as well as transcripts specifically regulated in an UV-B-intensity dependent way were identified. While high fluence rate UV-B had regulatory effects mainly on defense or general multiple-stress responses pathways, low fluence rate UV-B promoted the expression of genes that could be involved in UV-B protection or the amelioration of the UV-B-induced damage. This study also provides an extensive list of genes regulating multiple metabolic pathways involved in the response of grapevine to UV-B that can be used for future researches.</p

Social perception on Science and Technology in the northeastern provinces of Argentina.

Se presentan datos de la percepción social  de  la  Ciencia  y  la  Tecnología  de  los habitantes  de  la  región  nordeste  de  Argentina  que  reflejan  una  sociedad  con moderada  cultura  científica  y  tecnológica. La  cuestión  "que  imagen  tiene  de  la  ciencia"   se  utilizó  para  realizar  una valoración general donde más de la mitad de  los  encuestados  tuvo  una  opinión positiva.  Sin  embargo,  solo  el  14%  de  la muestra  considera  que  la  Ciencia  y  la Tecnología  mejoran  la  calidad  de  la  vida  humana.  Se  propone  la  generación  de cultura  científica  a  través  de  la  participación  de  los  actores  sociales involucrados,  estimulados  por  los  organismos  públicos  responsables  del desarrollo  científico  y  tecnológico.  Los  resultados  pueden  ser  utilizados  para  la toma  de  decisiones  bien informadas en  el  desenvolvimiento  social  y  la  participación ciudadana;  además,  para  orientar  la  política científica y tecnológica.This paper presents data related to the social perception of science and technology to the people of the northeast of Argentina of the country that reflect a society with moderate scientific and technological culture. The question "what image has of science" was used to make a general assessment where more than half of surveyed had a positive opinion. However, only 14% of the sample believes that science and technology improve the quality of human life.We propose the generation of scientific culture through the participation of the social actors involved, stimulated by public agencies responsible for the scientific and technological development. The results can be used for making informed decisions in the social development and citizen participation, in addition to guide scientific and technological policy.Fil: Juarez, Rolando Pablo. Universidad Nacional del Nordeste. Facultad de Odontologia. Secretaria de Investigacion. Gabinete de Inv.interd.de Prevencion Salud y Epidemologia; Argentina;Fil: Martinez, Sandra Edda. Universidad Nacional del Nordeste. Facultad de Odontologia. Departamento de Clinicas Integradas;Fil: Dho, María Silvina. Universidad Nacional del Nordeste. Facultad de Odontologia. Secretaria de Investigacion. Gabinete de Inv.interd.de Prevencion Salud y Epidemologia;Fil: Vaculik, Patricia. Universidad Nacional del Nordeste. Facultad de Odontologia. Secretaria de Investigacion. Gabinete de Inv.interd.de Prevencion Salud y Epidemologia;Fil: Llarens, Adriana N.. Universidad Nacional del Nordeste. Facultad de Odontologia. Secretaria de Investigacion. Gabinete de Inv.interd.de Prevencion Salud y Epidemologia;Fil: Cúndom, Juan M.. Universidad Nacional del Nordeste. Facultad de Odontologia. Secretaria de Investigacion. Gabinete de Inv.interd.de Prevencion Salud y Epidemologia;Fil: Almirón, María. Universidad Nacional del Nordeste. Facultad de Odontologia. Secretaria de Investigacion. Gabinete de Inv.interd.de Prevencion Salud y Epidemologia

Direct measurements of the correlation between reentrant ferromagnetism and lattice expansion in FeCuZr alloys

Amorphous metastable alloy of nominal composition [Fe_(0.5)Cu_(0.5)]_(87)Zr_(13) has been synthesized by high-energy ball milling. The alloy exhibit a ferromagnetic behavior with a Curie Temperature of T_(C)=255 K, as determined from low-field measurements whereas no transition to a paramagnetic state is observed under high- enough applied magnetic fields. The evolution of hysteresis loops with temperature as well as thermoremanence measurements indicate an anomalous magnetic behavior characterized by a spontaneous increase in the magnetization values as well as by a magnetic hardening when the temperature is increased above T_(C). These effects are strongly correlated with a dilation of the Fe-Fe nearest-neighbor distances, as determined from extended x-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) studies. EXAFS results indicate an almost negligible thermal expansion at temperatures below T_(C) while normal thermal expansion takes place at higher temperatures. Such expansion seems to promote a reinforcement of the ferromagnetic interactions among Fe-Fe atoms that would account for the observed spontaneous increase in the magnetization as well as for the evolution of the coercive field

Stated benefits from urban afforestation in an arid city: a contingent valuation in Mexicali, Baja California, Mexico

The pervasiveness of particulate matter in arid cities has yet to be discussed and tackled. Given that urban trees have been documented to provide air-filtering and dry deposition services, this study documents the stated benefits from an urban afforestation scenario in Mexicali –an arid city located northwest Mexico at the US-Mexico border. Our doublebounded dichotomous contingent valuation protocol yields an estimated average annual willingness to pay (WTP) of USD 88 per household. Variations in the WTP are associated with perception of air quality and presence of respiratory symptoms in the respondent’s household. The smallest WTP (USD 75) is reported by respondents perceiving poor air quality in their neighborhood and with no household members affected by respiratory symptoms. In contrast, respondents perceiving good air quality and with at least one household member facing respiratory symptoms reported a WTP of USD 99. The average stated benefits represent around 0.8% of the annual household income

Stated benefits from air quality improvement through urban afforestation in an arid city – A contingent valuation in Mexicali, Baja California, Mexico

Cities in drylands are expected to experience increasing challenges when it comes to air pollution. Currently, concentrations of particulate matter in these cities frequently reach dangerous levels. Urban afforestation represents an alternative to increase human health in arid cities via air-filtering and dry deposition. By simulating a non-existing market through a contingent valuation protocol, this study estimates the willingness to contribute monetarily to an urban afforestation scenario in Mexicali -an arid city located at the US-Mexico border. We estimate an average annual willingness to pay (WTP) of (2019) USD 88 per household. Variations in WTP are associated with the respondent's perception of air quality and the presence of respiratory symptoms in the respondent's household. The smallest WTP (USD 75) is reported by those perceiving poor air quality in their neighborhood and with no household members affected by respiratory symptoms. Respondents perceiving good air quality and with at least one household member facing respiratory symptoms report a WTP of USD 99. The highest WTP represents around 0.8 % of the annual household income. This WTP, when extrapolated to and aggregated over the total number of households in Mexicali, justifies the implementation of an urban afforestation program supplying 30 thousand tree seedlings annually