An Unusual Cause of Inflammatory Optic Neuropathy

Inflammatory optic neuropathies can be caused by different etiologies. Optic neuritis due to infectious sinusitis is a rare cause (1). It is associated to a greater extent with inflammation of ethmoid and sphenoid rather than other paranasal sinuses. (2) This condition occurs acutely and is caused by bacterial infections (3)

Host association of spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) corn and rice strains in Argentina, Brazil, and Paraguay

Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith) is composed of two genetically distinct strains, the so-called corn strain and the rice strain. Whether the two strains differ in their host use is unclear, because laboratory experiments have not been able to show consistent host performance or preference differences between them, and field studies showed high rates of hybridization, as well as some degree asymmetric host use. To determine the distribution of the two strains and their association with host plants, we collected fall armyworm larvae from different crops (corn, rice, alfalfa, and sorghum) and grasses in 15 different localities over 4 yr in Argentina, Brazil, and Paraguay. The strain identity was analyzed using two polymorphisms in the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit I gene. We identified the corn and rice haplotypes and three types of populations were characterized based on the frequencies of the individuals that belonged to any of these haplotypes: in 44% of populations the corn haplotype predominated, in 44% of populations the rice haplotype was the most frequent, and 11% of populations showed both haplotypes at similar proportions. In total, eight populations (47%) showed the expected pattern, two populations (12%) were polymorphic within the same field, and seven populations (41%) showed the inverse pattern. Taken together, there was no consistent pattern of host association between the two sympatric genotypes and their respective host plants. This investigation supports the need for additional studies to determine which other forces keep the genotypes separate, and what is the degree of genetic differentiation between these populations.Fil: Juárez, María Laura. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán; Argentina. Gobierno de Tucumán. Ministerio de Desarrollo Productivo. Estación Experimental Agroindustrial Obispo Colombres; ArgentinaFil: Murúa, María Gabriela. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán; Argentina. Gobierno de Tucumán. Ministerio de Desarrollo Productivo. Estación Experimental Agroindustrial Obispo Colombres; ArgentinaFil: Garcia, Maria Gabriela. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán; Argentina. Gobierno de Tucumán. Ministerio de Desarrollo Productivo. Estación Experimental Agroindustrial Obispo Colombres; ArgentinaFil: Ontivero, Marta. Gobierno de Tucumán. Ministerio de Desarrollo Productivo. Estación Experimental Agroindustrial Obispo Colombres; ArgentinaFil: Vera, María Teresa. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Agronomía y Zootecnia; ArgentinaFil: Vilardi, Juan Cesar. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Ecología, Genética y Evolución de Buenos Aires. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Ecología, Genética y Evolución de Buenos Aires; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Cs.exactas y Naturales. Departamento de Ecología, Genética y Evolución. Genética de Población Aplicadas; ArgentinaFil: Groot, Astrid T.. University of Amsterdam; Países BajosFil: Castagnaro, Atilio Pedro. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán; Argentina. Gobierno de Tucumán. Ministerio de Desarrollo Productivo. Estación Experimental Agroindustrial Obispo Colombres; ArgentinaFil: Gastaminza, Gerardo Alfredo. Gobierno de Tucumán. Ministerio de Desarrollo Productivo. Estación Experimental Agroindustrial Obispo Colombres; ArgentinaFil: Willink, Eduardo. Gobierno de Tucumán. Ministerio de Desarrollo Productivo. Estación Experimental Agroindustrial Obispo Colombres; Argentin

Open-label phase I/II clinical trial of SARS-CoV-2 receptor binding domain-tetanus toxoid conjugate vaccine (FINLAY-FR-2) in combination with receptor binding domain-protein vaccine (FINLAY-FR-1A) in children

Objectives: To evaluate a heterologous vaccination scheme in children 3-18 years old (y/o) combining two SARS-CoV-2r- receptor binding domain (RBD)protein vaccines. Methods: A phase I/II open-label, adaptive, and multicenter trial evaluated the safety and immunogenicity of two doses of FINLAY-FR-2 (subsequently called SOBERANA 02) and the third heterologous dose of FINLAY-FR-1A (subsequently called SOBERANA Plus) in 350 children 3-18 y/o in Havana Cuba. Primary outcomes were safety (phase I) and safety/immunogenicity (phase II) measured by anti-RBD immunoglobulin (Ig)G enzyme-linked immunoassay (ELISA), molecular and live-virus neutralization titers, and specific T-cells response. A comparison with adult immunogenicity and predictions of efficacy were made based on immunological results. Results: Local pain was the unique adverse event with frequency >10%, and none was serious neither severe. Two doses of FINLAY-FR-2 elicited a humoral immune response similar to natural infection; the third dose with FINLAY-FR-1A increased the response in all children, similar to that achieved in vaccinated young adults. The geometric mean (GMT) neutralizing titer was 173.8 (95% confidence interval [CI] 131.7; 229.5) vs Alpha, 142 (95% CI 101.3; 198.9) vs Delta, 24.8 (95% CI 16.8; 36.6) vs Beta and 99.2 (95% CI 67.8; 145.4) vs Omicron. Conclusion: The heterologous scheme was safe and immunogenic in children 3-18 y/o. Trial registry: https://rpcec.sld.cu/trials/RPCEC0000037