Mycobacterium marinum infection in Caviar fishes and fisherman's in a Caspian Sea Province in North of Iran

Mycobacterium marinum is the etiologic agent of fish tank granuloma in human. Determination of the fish tank granuloma in Fishermen and Mycobacterium marinum infection in Caviar fishes in Ashorade, in south east Caspian Sea were our objectives. Any suspected lesions in 387 subjects of Fishermen and 113 autopsy samples from gills of fish of Caviar were obtained and culture in Lowenstein Jensen media. The mycobacterial species were determined by conventional biochemical tests. No fish tank granuloma was proved in human, but 11 (9.73%) strains of Mycobacteria were isolated from Caviar fishes, that only 2 strains (1.76%) belong to M. marinum. © 2006 Asian Network for Scientific Information

Collection, genotyping and virus elimination of cassava landraces from Tanzania and documentation of farmer knowledge

Open Access Journal; Published online: 17 Aug 2021Cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz.) has been a vital staple and food security crop in Tanzania for several centuries, and it is likely that its resilience will play a key role in mitigating livelihood insecurities arising from climate change. The sector is dominated by smallholder farmers growing traditional landrace varieties. A recent surge in virus diseases and awareness in the commercial potential of cassava has prompted a drive to disseminate improved varieties in the country. These factors however also threaten the existence of landraces and associated farmer knowledge. It is important that the landraces are conserved and utilized as the adaptive gene complexes they harbor can drive breeding for improved varieties that meet agro-ecological adaptation as well as farmer and consumer needs, thereby improving adoption rates. Here we report on cassava germplasm collection missions and documentation of farmer knowledge in seven zones of Tanzania. A total of 277 unique landraces are identified through high-density genotyping. The large number of landraces is attributable to a mixed clonal/sexual reproductive system in which the soil seed bank and incorporation of seedlings plays an important role. A striking divergence in genetic relationships between the coastal regions and western regions is evident and explained by (i) independent introductions of cassava into the country, (ii) adaptation to prevailing agro-ecological conditions and (iii) farmer selections according to the intended use or market demands. The main uses of cassava with different product profiles are evident, including fresh consumption, flour production, dual purpose incorporating both these uses and longer-term food security. Each of these products have different trait requirements. Individual landraces were not widely distributed across the country with limited farmer-to-farmer diffusion with implications for seed systems

The in-Human Host and in-Mosquito Dynamics of Malaria Parasites With Immune Responses

Research Article published by New Trends in Mathematical SciencesIn this study, a mathematical model for the in-human host and in-mosquito dynamics of malaria parasite with immune responses was formualeted and analyzed. A positive invariant region of the model was established, and a basic reproduction number R0, of the model was computed. Existence and stability of two non-negative equilibrium points: malaria free equilibrium (MFE) and malaria infection equlibrium (MIE) were established. We, also proved that MFE is locally asymptotically stable if R0 < 1 and globally asymptotically stable (GAS) if R0 ≤ 1. Numerical simulations prove that MIE exists and is GAS. Moreover, our results revealed that immunity has significant influence on lowering malaria infection at blood and mosquito stages. However, an insignificant effect of immunity on both cells and parasites at liver stage infection was observed. Furthermore, the model depicts that infection decreases as lifespan of immune cells increases. The impact of immune cells to suppress production of merozoites is noted to be higher than that of antibodies to block invasion of sporozoites and merozoites

CdCl3− vs CdCl42− in Hybrid Materials

International audienceThe synthesis and the structural of tetrachlorocadmate(II) and trichlorocadmate(II) systems, with perovskite-like structures, are described. The countercations are diprotonated amines, such as the benzidine; monoprotoned amines, the case of Creatinine or amino acids like Histidine. The structural model of the compounds consists of extending organic layers. The holes between these layers are occupied by CdCl4 monomer, Cd2X6 dimer, CdX6 in chain and CdX6 [(CdCl42−) n, (CdCl3−) n] layer, stabilizing the structure through hydrogen bonding. The obtained complexes are: Creatininium tetrachlorocadmate(II), Histidinium trichlorocadmate (II), Hydroxonim trichlorocadmate (II) and Benzidinium tetrachlorocadmate(II)

Enhanced photocurrent generation from UV-laser-synthesized-single-wallcarbon- nanotubes/n-silicon hybrid planar devices

We report on the significant generation of photocurrent PC from planar devices built from the drop casting of UV-laser-synthesized single-wall-carbon-nanotubes SWCNTs onto n-Si substrate. These SWCNTs/n-Si hybrid devices are shown to generate PC with external quantum efficiencies EQE reaching up to 10%. Their EQE has been optimized by controlling the amount of deposited SWCNTs, and is shown to be significantly enhanced over all the spectral range with a pronounced boost up to 25 times around 460 nm. The extension of the photoresponse of these devices toward UV correlates well with the absorbance of SWCNTs

Ergotism with acute limb ischemia, provoked by HIV protease inhibitors interaction with ergotamine, rescued by multisite transluminal balloon angioplasty

International audienceAcute limb ischemia induced by arterial vasospasm remains an exceptional situation, favoured by the use of arterial vasoconstrictors. The risk of these substances is largely underestimated in the general population, especially with the co-administration of strong cytochrome inhibitors like human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) protease inhibitors. A 33-year-old woman, who used to take dihydroergotamine for orthostatic hypotension, was prescribed a post-exposure HIV prophylaxis including lopinavir and ritonavir. One day later, she presented an acute bilateral limb ischemia with a sudden pain in both calves, initially while walking and then at rest with bilateral ischemic toes. Angiography confirmed diffuse arterial vasospasm of the lower limb arteries. A first-line therapy with isosorbide dinitrate and amlodipine was ineffective, with rapid clinical worsening. A combination of intra-arterial injections and intra-venous infusions of vasodilators, transluminal balloon angioplasty and bilateral 4-Compartment fasciotomies permitted rapid improvement and finally resulted in both lower limbs rescue. This case and literature review illustrate ergotism due to ergotamine overdose after taking HIV protease inhibitors. It also demonstrates the benefit of an interventional procedure besides medical therapy with vasodilators in severe arterial vasospasm. All along the lower limb arterial tree, transluminal balloon angioplasty restored the blood flow, without vasospasm recurrence. CONCLUSION: In case of ergotism with acute lower limbs ischemia, combining medical vasodilator therapy with interventional procedure can restore the arterial blood flow, thus allowing to save lower limbs

Cleavage of Fibulin-2 by the aggrecanases ADAMTS-4 and ADAMTS-5 contributes to the tumorigenic potential of breast cancer cells

Fibulin-2 participates in the assembly of extracellular matrix components through interactions with multiple ligands and promotes contacts between cells and their surrounding environment. Consequently, identification of processes that could lead to an altered Fibulin-2 could have a major impact not only in the maintenance of tissue architecture and morphogenesis but also in pathological situations including cancer. Herein, we have investigated the ability of the secreted metalloproteases ADAMTS-4 and ADAMTS-5 to digest Fibulin-2. Using in vitro approaches and cultured breast cancer cell lines we demonstrate that Fibulin-2 is a better substrate for ADAMTS-5 than it is for ADAMTS-4. Moreover, Fibulin-2 degradation is associated to an enhancement of the invasive potential of T47D, MCF-7 and SK-BR-3 cells. We have also found that conditioned medium from MCF-7 cells that simultaneously overexpress Fibulin-2 and ADAMTS-5 significantly induced the migratory and invasive ability of normal breast fibroblasts using 3D collagen matrices. Immunohistochemical analysis highlights the close proximity or partial overlap of both Fibulin-2 and ADAMTS-5 in breast tumor samples. Additionally, proteolytic products derived from a potential degradation of Fibulin-2 by ADAMTS-5 were also identified in these samples. Finally, we also show that the cleavage of Fibulin-2 by ADAMTS-5 is counteracted by ADAMTS-12, a metalloprotease that interacts with Fibulin-2. Overall, our results provide direct evidence indicating that Fibulin-2 is a novel substrate of ADAMTS-5 and that this proteolysis could alter the cellular microenvironment affecting the balance between protumor and antitumor effects associated to both Fibulin-2 and the ADAMTSs metalloproteases

Cleavage of Fibulin-2 by the aggrecanases ADAMTS-4 and ADAMTS-5 contributes to the tumorigenic potential of breast cancer cells

Fibulin-2 participates in the assembly of extracellular matrix components through interactions with multiple ligands and promotes contacts between cells and their surrounding environment. Consequently, identification of processes that could lead to an altered Fibulin-2 could have a major impact not only in the maintenance of tissue architecture and morphogenesis but also in pathological situations including cancer. Herein, we have investigated the ability of the secreted metalloproteases ADAMTS-4 and ADAMTS-5 to digest Fibulin-2. Using in vitro approaches and cultured breast cancer cell lines we demonstrate that Fibulin-2 is a better substrate for ADAMTS-5 than it is for ADAMTS-4. Moreover, Fibulin-2 degradation is associated to an enhancement of the invasive potential of T47D, MCF-7 and SK-BR-3 cells. We have also found that conditioned medium from MCF-7 cells that simultaneously overexpress Fibulin-2 and ADAMTS-5 significantly induced the migratory and invasive ability of normal breast fibroblasts using 3D collagen matrices. Immunohistochemical analysis highlights the close proximity or partial overlap of both Fibulin-2 and ADAMTS-5 in breast tumor samples. Additionally, proteolytic products derived from a potential degradation of Fibulin-2 by ADAMTS-5 were also identified in these samples. Finally, we also show that the cleavage of Fibulin-2 by ADAMTS-5 is counteracted by ADAMTS-12, a metalloprotease that interacts with Fibulin-2. Overall, our results provide direct evidence indicating that Fibulin-2 is a novel substrate of ADAMTS-5 and that this proteolysis could alter the cellular microenvironment affecting the balance between protumor and antitumor effects associated to both Fibulin-2 and the ADAMTSs metalloproteases