The unknown consequences of COVID-19 in people with Autism Spectrum Disorders

Las alteraciones en el sistema inmunitario se encuentran a menudo en niños con trastornos del espectro autista [TEA], lo que conduce a una respuesta inmune aberrante que compromete la defensa del huésped. Menos células T reguladoras, elevación en las células inflamatorias y citoquinas proinflamatorias han sido muy reportados en esta población y se ha visto recientemente como un trastorno neuroinflamatorio crónico. Las citocinas a menudo están desreguladas en el TEA, especialmente la IL-6, que es una de las mayores preocupaciones durante la pandemia actual del COVID-19, así como otras desregulaciones inmunes. Creemos firmemente que este entorno proinflamatorio en TEA podría aumentar la vulnerabilidad de un resultado clínico pobre para la infección por COVID-19.Alterations in the immune system are often found in children with Autism Spectrum Disorders [ASD], leading to an aberrant immune response which compromises host defense. Fewer regulatory T-cells, elevation in inflammatory cells and proinflammatory cytokines have been highly reported in this population and it has been recently seen as a chronic neuroinflammatory disorder. Cytokines are often dysregulated in ASD especially IL-6, which is one of the biggest concerns during the current COVID-19 pandemic, as well as other immune dysregulations. We strongly believe that this proinflammatory environment in ASD could increase the vulnerability of a poor clinical outcome for COVID-19 infection

A strategy to obtain axenic cultures of Arthrospira spp. cyanobacteria

A strategy to obtain axenic cultures of the cyanobacterium Arthrospira sp. (‘platensis’) Lefevre 1963/M-132-1 strain, consisting of a series of physical and chemical procedures, and the application of an optimized pool of antibiotics, is described in this paper. This strategy, which is an inexpensive and fast way to obtain axenic cultures, can be applied to Arthrospira spp. from culture collections or samples from their natural habitats to eliminate a wide spectrum of contaminants. A high alkaline treatment (pH 12, using KOH) of 72 h is a determinant initial procedure applied to eliminate protozoa and Microcystis sp. Bacteria were eliminated by an optimal antibiotic pool treatment, and Chroococcus sp. residuals were discarded by serial dilution. Optimal concentrations of the antibiotics composing the pool were obtained by a 24 factorial central composite rotatable design (CCRD) and Response Surface Methodology (RSM), resulting in: ampicillin 61.6 μg/ml, penicillin 85.8 μg/ml, cefoxitin 76.9 μg/ml, and meropenem 38.9 μg/ml. The results also indicate that cefoxitin was the most effective antibiotic of this pool. After obtaining the axenic culture, identification of Lefevre 1963/M-132-1 strain was performed using amplification and sequencing of the ITS region (including part of 16S rRNA, tRNA Ile, ITS, tRNA Ala and part of 23S rRNA region) and fatty acid composition data. Data base comparison revealed that Lefevre strain is closely related to A. platensis species (99% identity), while fatty acid composition data suggested A. maxima. These seemingly contradictory results are discussed