PCR-based identification of Trypanosoma lewisi and Trypanosoma musculi using maxicircle kinetoplast DNA

Fil: Hong, Xiao-Kun. Sun Yat-Sen University. School of Life Sciences. State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol. Center for Parasitic Organisms, Cantón; China.Fil: Zhang, Xuan. Sun Yat-Sen University. School of Life Sciences. State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol. Center for Parasitic Organisms, Cantón; China.Fil: Fusco, Octavio Alejandro. ANLIS Dr.C.G.Malbrán. Instituto Nacional de Parasitología; Argentina.Fil: Lan, You-Gen. Sun Yat-Sen University. School of Life Sciences. State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol. Center for Parasitic Organisms, Cantón; China.Fil: Lun, Zhao-Rong. Sun Yat-Sen University. School of Life Sciences. State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol. Center for Parasitic Organisms, Cantón; China.Fil: Lai, De-Hua. Sun Yat-Sen University. School of Life Sciences. State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol. Center for Parasitic Organisms, Cantón; China.Trypanosoma lewisi, transmitted by rat fleas, is a widespread pathogen specific to rats with records of human infection cases. Its closely related species with global distribution, Trypanosoma musculi, is transmitted between mice by ingestion of infected fleas. These trypanosomes are of similar morphology, making it difficult to distinguish them by microscopy. In this study, we have developed a rapid, sensitive and reliable PCR method for the diagnosis of T. lewisi and T. musculi. The T. lewisi-specific amplicons were not produced by other Trypanosoma, such as T. musculi, T. brucei complex or T. cruzi, neither by an outgroup of Leishmania amazonensis. The detection limits of the three pairs of T. lewisi-specific primers were 50ng, 1ng and 10ng of total DNA, respectively. The primers designed for T. musculi primers showed specifically that amplicon strictly in T. musculi and their detection limits were 10ng and 1ng of total DNA. To simplify the detection process, we managed to apply our method directly on tail blood samples without complicated DNA purification. In conclusion, PCR with our primers could be a highly sensitive, specific protocol to detect and distinguish T. lewisi and T. musculi from other trypanosomes

Fine-scale genetic structure in populations of the Chagas’ disease vector Triatoma infestans (Hemiptera, Reduvidae)

Fine scale patterns of genetic structure and dispersal in Triatoma infestans populations from Argentina was analysed. A total of 314 insects from 22 domestic and peridomestic sites from the locality of San Martín (Capayán department, Catamarca province) were typed for 10 polymorphic microsatellite loci. The results confirm subdivision of T. infestans populations with restricted dispersal among sampling sites and suggest inbreeding and/or stratification within the different domestic and peridomestic structures. Spatial correlation analysis showed that the scale of structuring is approximately of 400 m, indicating that active dispersal would occur within this distance range. It was detected difference in scale of structuring among sexes, with females dispersing over greater distances than males. This study suggests that insecticide treatment and surveillance should be extended within a radius of 400 m around the infested area, which would help to reduce the probability of reinfestation by covering an area of active dispersal. The inferences made from fine-scale spatial genetic structure analyses of T. infestans populations has demonstrated to be important for community-wide control programs, providing a complementary approach to help improve vector control strategies.Fil: Perez de Rosas, Alicia Raquel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientificas y Tecnicas. Centro Cientifico Tecnologico Cordoba. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Salud; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Médicas; ArgentinaFil: Segura, Elsa Leonor. Dirección Nacional de Instituto de Investigación. Administración Nacional de Laboratorio e Instituto de Salud. Instituto Nacional de Parasitología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Fusco, Octavio. Dirección Nacional de Instituto de Investigación. Administración Nacional de Laboratorio e Instituto de Salud. Instituto Nacional de Parasitología; ArgentinaFil: Bareiro Guiñazú, Adolfo L.. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientificas y Tecnicas. Centro Cientifico Tecnologico Cordoba. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Salud; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Médicas; ArgentinaFil: Garcia, Beatriz Alicia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientificas y Tecnicas. Centro Cientifico Tecnologico Cordoba. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencias de la Salud; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Médicas; Argentin

Anti-Candida and anti-Cryptococcus evaluation of 15 non-alkaloidal compounds from Pterogyne nitens

Objective: To evaluate anti-Candida and anti-Cryptococcus activities of 15 non-alkaloidal compounds from Pterogyne nitens Tulasne (Leguminosae), a South American medicinal plant. Methods: Compounds were submitted to antifungal assays, using microdilution method described by Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute document, with minor modifications. Five species of Candida and two species of Cryptococcus, including clinical isolates were screened. Antifungal activity was expressed by minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC). Amphotericin B and fluconazole were used as standard antifungal drugs. Results: Among tested compounds, six substances presented fungal growth inhibition (MIC < 31.2 μg/mL) [three flavone derivatives (1–3), a glycosylated flavonol derivative (5) and two phenolic acids (10 and 12)]. Sorbifolin (1), exhibited potent antifungal activity, demonstrating MIC value of 3.90 μg/mL against Candida glabrata ATCC 90030, Cryptococcus gattii 118 and fluconazole-resistant clinical isolate of Cryptococcus neoformans var. grubii. Pedalin (2) and nitensoside B (3), two glycosylated flavone derivatives, were active against Cryptococcus neoformans ATCC 90012 (MIC = 7.80 μg/mL). Conclusions: Flavone derivatives from Pterogyne nitens can serve as prototypes for the design and development of innovative anti-Candida and anti-Cryptococcus hits

Efecto tripanocida del aceturato de diminazeno por administración intranasal: Comparación entre formulaciones

The standard treatment for nagana and surra, vector–born parasite diseases, is a single intramuscular (i.m.) dose of diminazene aceturate (DA), an aromatic diamidine. Due to discontinuity of public provision of veteri-nary services or to lack of access to remote areas, low income farmers inject livestock and other domestic animals by themselves. We tested a not explored administration route for drugs against parasitological infections: the intranasal one. DA dissolved in water did not reach an effective drug concentration. Methods: Mice were infected with Trypa-nosoma brucei brucei or Trypanosoma evansi and treated with different formulations of DA. Survival, parasitemia, body weight and behavior were recorded. Results: DA formulated with chitosan reached a lethal concentration for bloodstream parasites. Residual parasites were absent, as demonstrated by immunosuppression. Conclusion: The intranasal route is an effective, safer, and easier way to perform antiparasitic treatments in animals.Antecedentes: El tratamiento standard para nagana y surra, enfermedades parasitarias transmitidas por vec- tores, es una única dosis intramuscular (i.m.) de diminazene diaceturato (Berenil), una diamidina aromática. Debido a la interrupción de la provisión pública de servicios veterinarios en varios países africanos, o a la falta de acceso a áreas remotas, granjeros de bajos recursos empezaron a inyectar al ganado por sí mismos. En este trabajo probamos una ruta de administración de drogas no explorada para infecciones parasitarias: la in- tranasal. Berenil disuelto en agua, sin aditivos, no alcanzó una concentración efectiva de droga. Métodos: Se infectó a ratones con Trypanosoma brucei brucei o Trypanosoma evansi y se los trató con diferentes formu- laciones de Berenil. Se registró la supervivencia, parasitemia, peso corporal y comportamiento. Resultados: Berenil formulado con quitosan alcanzó una concentración letal para parásitos en el torrente sanguíneo. Por posterior inmunosupresión se demostró la ausencia de parásitos residuales. Conclusión: La ruta intranasal es una manera más efectiva, segura y fácil para efectuar el tratamiento antiparasitario en animales.Fil: Fuchs, Alicia Graciela. Dirección Nacional de Instituto de Investigación. Administración Nacional de Laboratorio e Instituto de Salud "Dr. C.G. Malbrán". Instituto Nacional de Parasitología "Dr. M. Fatala Chabén"; ArgentinaFil: Soraires Santacruz, Maria Cristina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Química y Metabolismo del Fármaco. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica. Instituto de Química y Metabolismo del Fármaco; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica. Departamento de Farmacología. Cátedra de Química Medicinal; ArgentinaFil: Fusco, Octavio A.. Dirección Nacional de Instituto de Investigación. Administración Nacional de Laboratorio e Instituto de Salud "Dr. C.G. Malbrán". Instituto Nacional de Parasitología "Dr. M. Fatala Chabén"; ArgentinaFil: Hoffer, Alicia M.. Dirección Nacional de Instituto de Investigación. Administración Nacional de Laboratorio e Instituto de Salud "Dr. C.G. Malbrán". Instituto Nacional de Parasitología "Dr. M. Fatala Chabén"; ArgentinaFil: Zhang, Cong Xi. Sun Yat-Sen University; ChinaFil: Zhang, Fan. Sun Yat-Sen University; ChinaFil: Esteva, Mónica Inés. Dirección Nacional de Instituto de Investigación. Administración Nacional de Laboratorio e Instituto de Salud "Dr. C.G. Malbrán". Instituto Nacional de Parasitología "Dr. M. Fatala Chabén"; ArgentinaFil: Rial, Marcela Silvina. Dirección Nacional de Instituto de Investigación. Administración Nacional de Laboratorio e Instituto de Salud "Dr. C.G. Malbrán". Instituto Nacional de Parasitología "Dr. M. Fatala Chabén"; ArgentinaFil: Fichera, Laura Edith. Dirección Nacional de Instituto de Investigación. Administración Nacional de Laboratorio e Instituto de Salud "Dr. C.G. Malbrán". Instituto Nacional de Parasitología "Dr. M. Fatala Chabén"; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Cid, Nicolás Gonzalo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Nanobiotecnología. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica. Instituto de Nanobiotecnología; ArgentinaFil: Glisoni, Romina Julieta. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Nanobiotecnología. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica. Instituto de Nanobiotecnología; ArgentinaFil: Lai, De Hua. Sun Yat-Sen University; ChinaFil: Bontempi, Esteban José. Dirección Nacional de Instituto de Investigación. Administración Nacional de Laboratorio e Instituto de Salud "Dr. C.G. Malbrán". Instituto Nacional de Parasitología "Dr. M. Fatala Chabén"; Argentin

Anti-Trichophyton Activity of Protocatechuates and Their Synergism with Fluconazole

Dermatophytosis and superficial mycosis are a major global public health problem that affects 20-25% of the world's population. The increase in fungal resistance to the commercially available antifungal agents, in conjunction with the limited spectrum of action of such drugs, emphasises the need to develop new antifungal agents. Natural products are attractive prototypes for antifungal agents due to their broad spectrum of biological activities. This study aimed to verify the antifungal activity of protocatechuic acid, 3,4-diacetoxybenzoic, and fourteen alkyl protocatechuates (3,4-dihydroxybenzoates) against Trichophyton rubrum and Trichophyton mentagrophytes and to further assess their activities when combined with fluconazole. Susceptibility and synergism assays were conducted as described in M38-A2 (CLSI), with modifications. Three strains of Trichophyton rubrum and three strains of Trichophyton mentagrophytes were used in this work. The pentyl, hexyl, heptyl, octyl, nonyl, and decyl protocatechuates showed great fungicidal effects, with minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values ranging from 0.97 to 7.8 mg/L. Heptyl showed a synergistic activity (FIC index = 0.49), reducing the MIC of fluconazole by fourfold. All substances tested were safe, especially the hexyl, heptyl, octyl, and nonyl compounds, all of which showed a high selectivity index, particularly in combination with fluconazole. These ester associations with fluconazole may represent a promising source of prototypes in the search for anti-Trichophyton therapeutic agents.Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES

NEOTROPICAL CARNIVORES: a data set on carnivore distribution in the Neotropics

Mammalian carnivores are considered a key group in maintaining ecological health and can indicate potential ecological integrity in landscapes where they occur. Carnivores also hold high conservation value and their habitat requirements can guide management and conservation plans. The order Carnivora has 84 species from 8 families in the Neotropical region: Canidae; Felidae; Mephitidae; Mustelidae; Otariidae; Phocidae; Procyonidae; and Ursidae. Herein, we include published and unpublished data on native terrestrial Neotropical carnivores (Canidae; Felidae; Mephitidae; Mustelidae; Procyonidae; and Ursidae). NEOTROPICAL CARNIVORES is a publicly available data set that includes 99,605 data entries from 35,511 unique georeferenced coordinates. Detection/non-detection and quantitative data were obtained from 1818 to 2018 by researchers, governmental agencies, non-governmental organizations, and private consultants. Data were collected using several methods including camera trapping, museum collections, roadkill, line transect, and opportunistic records. Literature (peer-reviewed and grey literature) from Portuguese, Spanish and English were incorporated in this compilation. Most of the data set consists of detection data entries (n = 79,343; 79.7%) but also includes non-detection data (n = 20,262; 20.3%). Of those, 43.3% also include count data (n = 43,151). The information available in NEOTROPICAL CARNIVORES will contribute to macroecological, ecological, and conservation questions in multiple spatio-temporal perspectives. As carnivores play key roles in trophic interactions, a better understanding of their distribution and habitat requirements are essential to establish conservation management plans and safeguard the future ecological health of Neotropical ecosystems. Our data paper, combined with other large-scale data sets, has great potential to clarify species distribution and related ecological processes within the Neotropics. There are no copyright restrictions and no restriction for using data from this data paper, as long as the data paper is cited as the source of the information used. We also request that users inform us of how they intend to use the data