Micropropagación de Salix viminalis en medio líquido

El Salix viminalis o mimbre blanco es un arbusto o árbol de pequeño tamaño que suele crecer cerca de corrientes de agua y lugares húmedos. Utilizado en cestería, en la actualidad es un candidato para la producción de bioenergía y programas de fitorremediación. En este trabajo se ha investigado su micropropagación en medio líquido, tanto en sistemas de inmersión temporal como de inmersión continua, así como su capacidad de crecimiento en condiciones fotoautotróficasPeer reviewe

CMV latent infection improves CD8+T response to SEB due to expansion of polyfunctional CD57+cells in young individuals

La infección latente por citomegalovirus (CMV) tiene un efecto perjudicial sobre la eficacia de la vacunación contra la influenza en los ancianos, lo que sugiere que el CMV restringe la diversidad inmunológica que afecta la funcionalidad del sistema inmune en la vejez. Las células T polifuncionales producen citoquinas múltiples y cantidades más altas que las células T monofuncionales. El alto número de células T polifuncionales se correlaciona con un mejor pronóstico durante la infección. Por lo tanto, la eficacia de la respuesta de células T se asocia con la calidad (polifuncionalidad) en lugar de con la cantidad (porcentaje de células T). Analizamos el efecto de la infección por CMV en la polifuncionalidad de las células T CD8 +: la desgranulación (CD107a), la producción de IFN-gamma y TNF-alfa ---, de seropositivos jóvenes CMV y seronegativos CMV y en donantes seropositivos CMV de edad media , En respuesta a los productores de enterotoxina B estafilocócica, principalmente TNF-alfa o TNF-alfa / IFN-gamma, mientras que el porcentaje de células polifuncionales (IFN-gamma / TNFalfa / CD107a) es similar a los porcentajes encontrados en los jóvenes seropositivos al CMV. Por lo tanto, mientras que se ha demostrado que la infección latente por CMV puede ser perjudicial para la respuesta inmune en los ancianos, nuestros resultados indican que la seropositividad a CMV se asocia a niveles más altos de células T CD8 + polifuncionales en donantes jóvenes y de mediana edad. Este aumento de la polifuncionalidad, que puede proporcionar una ventaja inmunológica en la respuesta a otros patógenos, se debe a una expansión de células T CD8 + CD57 + en individuos seropositivos para CMV y es independiente de la edad. Por el contrario, la edad podría contribuir a la inflamación que se encuentra en los individuos de edad mediante el aumento del porcentaje de células que producen citocinas pro-inflamatorias. Estos hallazgos destacan la necesidad de nuevos estudios sobre los beneficios / efectos perjudiciales de la infección por CMV en la respuesta a la vacunación y otras infecciones.Cytomegalovirus (CMV) latent infection has a deleterious effect on the efficacy of influenza vaccination in the elderly, suggesting that CMV restricts immunological diversity impairing the immune system functionality in old age. Polyfunctional T cells produce multiple cytokines and higher amounts than mono-functional T cells. High number of polyfunctional T cells correlates with better prognosis during infection. Thus, the efficiency of T cell response associates with quality (polyfunctionality) rather than with quantity (percentage of T cells). We analyze the effect of CMV infection on CD8+ T cells polyfunctionality ---degranulation (CD107a), IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha production---, from young CMV-seropositive and CMV-seronegative individuals and in middle age CMV-seropositive donors, in response to Staphylococcal Enterotoxin B mainly TNF-alpha or TNF-alpha/IFN-gamma producers, whereas the percentage of polyfunctional cells (IFN-gamma/TNFalpha/ CD107a) is similar to the percentages found in young CMV-seropositive. Therefore, whereas it has been shown that CMV latent infection can be detrimental for immune response in old individuals, our results indicate that CMV-seropositivity is associated to higher levels of polyfunctional CD8+ T cells in young and middle age donors. This increase in polyfunctionality, which can provide an immunological advantage in the response to other pathogens, is due to a CD8+CD57+ T cell expansion in CMV-seropositive individuals and it is independent of age. Conversely, age could contribute to the inflammation found in old individuals by increasing the percentage of cells producing pro-inflammatory cytokines. These findings highlight the necessity of further studies on the benefits/detrimental effects of CMV infection in the response to vaccination and other infections.Trabajo financiado por: • Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad. Instituto Carlos III: FIS Ref PS09/00723 • Ministerio de Educación y Ciencia: SAF2009-09711 • Junta de Extremadura: GRU10104 • Universidad de Extremadura. Ayuda a INPATT, grupo de investigación “Inmunopatología tumoral”, cofinanciado por la European Regional Development Fund (Fondos FEDER)peerReviewe

Nimotuzumab in patients with COVID-19 in Pinar del Río.

Introducción: la COVID-19 es una enfermedad respiratoria viral emergente del siglo XXI, que puede presentarse en formas graves por el estado de hiperinflamación sistémica generado por la misma, para lo cual se ha usado en Cuba varios tratamientos que respondan a mejorar la ventilación respiratoria, evitar la hiperinflamación y evitar secuelas como la fibrosis pulmonar, donde uno de estos fármacos ha sido el anticuerpo monoclonal Nimotuzumab; por jugar un rol importante ante el receptor del factor de crecimiento epidérmico.Objetivo: caracterizar el uso del Nimotuzumab en pacientes con COVID-19 en el Hospital Clínico Quirúrgico Docente “León Cuervo Rubio”de Pinar del Río, entre julio a octubre del 2021.Métodos: se realizó un estudio observacional, descriptivo y transversal, en pacientes con COVID-19 tratados en el Hospital Clínico Quirúrgico Docente “León Cuervo Rubio”.  Se estudiaron 419 pacientes, seleccionados mediante un muestreo aleatorio simple, donde se revisaron las historias clínicas de los mismos.Resultados: el 53,59 % fueron del sexo masculino, entre 60 a 79 años (45,82 %). Los factores de riesgos con mayor incidencia fueron la hipertensión arterial (71,36 %) y la diabetes mellitus (21,96 %). Se reportó un paciente con reacciones adversas con escalofríos y fiebre y se recuperaron el 79,47 %, con el 20,53 % fallecido.Conclusiones: predominó el sexo masculino, entre 60 a 79 años, con factores de riesgos de hipertensión arterial y diabetes mellitus; donde la recuperación tanto clínica como radiológica fue excelente y con una alta inocuidad al fármaco.Introduction: COVID-19 is an emerging viral disease of the XXI century, being a respiratory disease that can present in severe forms due to the state of systemic hyperinflammation generated by it, for which several treatments have been used in Cuba to improve respiratory ventilation, avoid hyperinflammation and prevent sequelae such as pulmonary fibrosis, where one of these drugs has been the monoclonal antibody Nimotuzumab; for playing an important role against the epidermal growth factor receptor.Objective: to characterize the use of Nimotuzumab in patients with COVID-19 in the Clinical Surgical Teaching Hospital "León Cuervo Rubio" of Pinar del Río, from July to October 2021.Methods: an observational, descriptive and transversal study was carried out in patients with COVID-19 treated at the "León Cuervo Rubio" Clinical Surgical Teaching Hospital.  A total of 419 patients were studied, selected by simple random sampling, where their clinical histories were reviewed.Results: 53,59 % were male, between 60 and 79 years old (45,82 %). The risk factors with the highest incidence were arterial hypertension (71,36 %) and diabetes mellitus (21,96 %). One patient was reported with adverse reactions with chills and fever and 79,47 % recovered, with 20,53 % dying.Conclusions: the predominant sex was male, between 60 and 79 years old, with risk factors of arterial hypertension and diabetes mellitus; where both clinical and radiological recovery was excellent and with high drug safety

Effect of Cytomegalovirus (CMV) and Ageing on T-Bet and Eomes Expression on T-Cell Subsets

The differential impact of ageing and cytomegalovirus (CMV) latent infection on human T-cell subsets remains to some extent controversial. The purpose of this study was to analyse the expression of the transcription factors T-bet and Eomes and CD57 on CD4+, CD4hiCD8lo and CD8+ T-cell subsets in healthy individuals, stratified by age and CMV serostatus. The percentage of CD4+ T-cells expressing T-bet or Eomes was very low, in particular in CD4+ T-cells from young CMV-seronegative individuals, and were higher in CMV-seropositive older individuals, in both CD57− and CD57+ CD4+ T-cells. The study of the minor peripheral blood double-positive CD4hiCD8lo T-cells showed that the percentage of these T-cells expressing both Eomes and T-bet was higher compared to CD4+ T-cells. The percentage of CD4hiCD8lo T-cells expressing T-bet was also associated with CMV seropositivity and the coexpression of Eomes, T-bet and CD57 on CD4hiCD8lo T-cells was only observed in CMV-seropositive donors, supporting the hypothesis that these cells are mature effector memory cells. The percentage of T-cells expressing Eomes and T-bet was higher in CD8+ T-cells than in CD4+ T-cells. The percentages of CD8+ T-cells expressing Eomes and T-bet increased with age in CMV-seronegative and -seropositive individuals and the percentages of CD57− CD8+ and CD57+ CD8+ T-cells coexpressing both transcription factors were similar in the different groups studied. These results support that CMV chronic infection and/or ageing are associated to the expansion of highly differentiated CD4+, CD4hiCD8lo and CD8+ T-cells that differentially express T-bet and Eomes suggesting that the expression of these transcription factors is essential for the generation and development of an effector-memory and effector T lymphocytes involved in conferring protection against chronic CMV infection

DNAM-1 and the TIGIT/PVRIG/TACTILE Axis: Novel Immune Checkpoints for Natural Killer Cell-Based Cancer Immunotherapy

Natural killer (NK) cells are lymphocytes of the innate immune response characterized by their role in the destruction of tumor cells. Activation of NK cells depend on a fine balance between activating and inhibitory signals mediated by different receptors. In recent years, a family of paired receptors that interact with ligands of the Nectin/Nectin-like (Necl) family has attracted great interest. Two of these ligands, Necl-5 (usually termed CD155 or PVR) and Nectin-2 (CD112), frequently expressed on different types of tumor cells, are recognized by a group of receptors expressed on T and NK cells that exert opposite functions after interacting with their ligands. These receptors include DNAM-1 (CD226), TIGIT, TACTILE (CD96) and the recently described PVRIG. Whereas activation through DNAM-1 after recognition of CD155 or CD112 enhances NK cell-mediated cytotoxicity against a wide range of tumor cells, TIGIT recognition of these ligands exerts an inhibitory effect on NK cells by diminishing IFN-γ production, as well as NK cell-mediated cytotoxicity. PVRIG has also been identified as an inhibitory receptor that recognizes CD112 but not CD155. However, little is known about the role of TACTILE as modulator of immune responses in humans. TACTILE control of tumor growth and metastases has been reported in murine models, and it has been suggested that it negatively regulates the anti-tumor functions mediated by DNAM-1. In NK cells from patients with solid cancer and leukemia, it has been observed a decreased expression of DNAM-1 that may shift the balance in favor to the inhibitory receptors TIGIT or PVRIG, further contributing to the diminished NK cell-mediated cytotoxic capacity observed in these patients. Analysis of DNAM-1, TIGIT, TACTILE and PVRIG on human NK cells from solid cancer or leukemia patients will clarify the role of these receptors in cancer surveillance. Overall, it can be speculated that in cancer patients the TIGIT/PVRIG pathways are upregulated and represent novel targets for checkpoint blockade immunotherapy

Protección del Medio Ambiente en alojamientos rurales del Departamento del Quindío

Good environmental practices are conceived as actions taken to prevent or reduce the environmental damage generated by activities that man performs. The identification of the practices mentioned requires an in-house search of the sites dedicated to the activity of rural tourism, such as rural accommodation. The socialization of the findings, allows to incentivize social responsibility with the replica of actions of prevention and recovery of natural wealth. Good environmental practices contribute to the control of the pressure on the environment, ecosystems and natural resources by the aforementioned tourism activities, reducing exploitation purposes, which only pursue economic profit. The identification of good environmental practices in rural accommodation was carried out through observation visits and application of the questionnaire to owners and employees, information that is systematized for their respective analysis. The objectives of the work that enabled the elaboration of the article presented were: to identify good environmental practices carried out in rural accommodation in the Quindío department, to characterize the accounting management, or recognition of the costs that these practices generate, as well as to recognize the impact that cost knowledge has on the realization of them. The research is exploratory-descriptive and was conducted in rural accommodation in the Quindío department, selected from the database of COTELCO Quindío and the Chamber of Commerce of Armenia and Quindío. The responses obtained showed good environmental practices in the accommodation under study and it was found that operators recognize and apply regulations related to the above-mentioned good practices.Las buenas prácticas ambientales son concebidas como acciones realizadas por el hombre, para evitar o disminuir daño ambiental. Identificar dichas prácticas, precisa indagar en sitios dedicados a actividades del turismo rural. Socializar los hallazgos, permite incentivar la responsabilidad social con la réplica de acciones de prevención y recuperación de la riqueza natural. Las buenas prácticas ambientales contribuyen al control de la presión que ejercen las actividades turísticas, sobre el medio ambiente, reduciendo propósitos de explotación. La identificación de buenas prácticas ambientales en alojamientos rurales fue realizada mediante visitas de observación y aplicación de cuestionario, información que fue sistematizada para su análisis. Los objetivos que permitieron la elaboración del presente artículo fueron: identificar buenas prácticas ambientales realizadas en alojamientos rurales del Quindío, caracterizar el manejo contable o reconocimiento de costos que dichas prácticas generan y reconocer la incidencia de conocimientos de costos sobre la realización de buenas prácticas. La investigación es de tipo exploratorio-descriptivo, realizada en alojamientos rurales del Quindío, seleccionados de la base de datos de COTELCO Quindío y la Cámara de Comercio de Armenia. Las respuestas permitieron evidenciar la realización de buenas prácticas ambientales en alojamientos rurales encontrando que los operadores, reconocen y aplican normativa relacionada con dichas prácticas

Characterization of the DNAM-1, TIGIT and TACTILE Axis on Circulating NK, NKT-Like and T Cell Subsets in Patients with Acute Myeloid Leukemia

Background: Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) remains a major clinical challenge due to poor overall survival, which is even more dramatic in elderly patients. TIGIT, an inhibitory receptor that interacts with CD155 and CD112 molecules, is considered as a checkpoint in T and NK cell activation. This receptor shares ligands with the co-stimulatory receptor DNAM-1 and with TACTILE. The aim of this work was to analyze the expression of DNAM-1, TIGIT and TACTILE in NK cells and T cell subsets in AML patients. Methods: We have studied 36 patients at the time of diagnosis of AML and 20 healthy volunteers. The expression of DNAM-1, TIGIT and TACTILE in NK cells and T cells, according to the expression of CD3 and CD56, was performed by flow cytometry. Results: NK cells, CD56− T cells and CD56+ T (NKT-like) cells from AML patients presented a reduced expression of DNAM-1 compared with healthy volunteers. An increased expression of TIGIT was observed in mainstream CD56− T cells. No differences were observed in the expression of TACTILE. Simplified presentation of incredibly complex evaluations (SPICE) analysis of the co-expression of DNAM-1, TIGIT and TACTILE showed an increase in NK and T cells lacking DNAM-1 and co-expressing TIGIT and TACTILE. Low percentages of DNAM-1−TIGIT+TACTILE+ NK cells and DNAM-1− TIGIT+TACTILE+ CD56− T cells were associated with a better survival of AML patients. Conclusions: The expression of DNAM-1 is reduced in NK cells and in CD4+ and CD8+ T cells from AML patients compared with those from healthy volunteers. An increased percentage of NK and T cells lacking DNAM-1 and co-expressing TIGIT and TACTILE is associated with patient survival, supporting the role of TIGIT as a novel candidate for checkpoint blockade

Polymeric Nanocapsules for Vaccine Delivery: Influence of the Polymeric Shell on the Interaction With the Immune System

The use of biomaterials and nanosystems in antigen delivery has played a major role in the development of novel vaccine formulations in the last few decades. In an effort to gain a deeper understanding of the interactions between these systems and immunocompetent cells, we describe here a systematic in vitro and in vivo study on three types of polymeric nanocapsules (NCs). These carriers, which contained protamine (PR), polyarginine (PARG), or chitosan (CS) in the external shell, and their corresponding nanoemulsion were prepared, and their main physicochemical properties were characterized. The particles had a mean particle size in the range 250–450 nm and a positive zeta potential (~30–40 mV). The interaction of the nanosystems with different components of the immune system were investigated by measuring cellular uptake, reactive oxygen species production, activation of the complement cascade, cytokine secretion profile, and MAP kinases/nuclear factor κB activation. The results of these in vitro cell experiments showed that the NC formulations that included the arginine-rich polymers (PR and PARG) showed a superior ability to trigger different immune processes. Considering this finding, protamine and polyarginine nanocapsules (PR and PARG NCs) were selected to assess the association of the recombinant hepatitis B surface antigen (rHBsAg) as a model antigen to evaluate their ability to produce a protective immune response in mice. In this case, the results showed that PR NCs elicited higher IgG levels than PARG NCs and that this IgG response was a combination of anti-rHBsAg IgG1/IgG2a. This work highlights the potential of PR NCs for antigen delivery as an alternative to other positively charged nanocarriersThis work was supported by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (SAF2011-30337-C02-02 and BIO2014-53091-C3-1-R). Financial support from the Xunta de Galicia (Centro singular de investigación de Galicia 2016–2019 and Grupo de referencia competitiva, ED431C 2016041) and the European Union (European Regional Development Fund—ERDF) is gratefully acknowledged. MP acknowledges fellowships from the Spanish Ministry of Education (FPU predoctoral grants program)S

Polymeric nanocapsules for vaccine delivery: influence of the polymeric shell on the interaction with the immune system

The use of biomaterials and nanosystems in antigen delivery has played a major role in the development of novel vaccine formulations in the last few decades. In an effort to gain a deeper understanding of the interactions between these systems and immunocompetent cells, we describe here a systematic in vitro and in vivo study on three types of polymeric nanocapsules (NCs). These carriers, which contained protamine (PR), polyarginine (PARG), or chitosan (CS) in the external shell, and their corresponding nanoemulsion were prepared, and their main physicochemical properties were characterized. The particles had a mean particle size in the range 250-450 nm and a positive zeta potential (~30-40 mV). The interaction of the nanosystems with different components of the immune system were investigated by measuring cellular uptake, reactive oxygen species production, activation of the complement cascade, cytokine secretion profile, and MAP kinases/nuclear factor κB activation. The results of these in vitro cell experiments showed that the NC formulations that included the arginine-rich polymers (PR and PARG) showed a superior ability to trigger different immune processes. Considering this finding, protamine and polyarginine nanocapsules (PR and PARG NCs) were selected to assess the association of the recombinant hepatitis B surface antigen (rHBsAg) as a model antigen to evaluate their ability to produce a protective immune response in mice. In this case, the results showed that PR NCs elicited higher IgG levels than PARG NCs and that this IgG response was a combination of anti-rHBsAg IgG1/IgG2a. This work highlights the potential of PR NCs for antigen delivery as an alternative to other positively charged nanocarriers.Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación | Ref. SAF2011-30337-C02-02Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad | Ref. BIO2014-53091-C3-1-RXunta de Galicia | Ref. ED431C 201604

Detection of Hemoglobinopathies in Cuban Pregnant Women from the Program: Sickle Cell Anemias in Cuba

Foundation: prenatal detection of hemoglobinopathies in Cuba is performed on all pregnant women in Pri-mary Health Care, through hemoglobin electrophoresis to identify high-risk couples. The program provides genetic counseling, molecular prenatal diagnosis and selective interruptions of affected fetuses, at the re-quest of couples. Objective: determine the type and frequency of hemoglobinopathies in Cuban pregnant women. Method: a descriptive, retrospective and cross-sectional study was carried out to determine the type of hemoglobinopathies in 1,342,917 pregnant women recruited over a period of ten years. The research meth-od was hemoglobin electrophoresis in agarose gels at alkaline pH. Confirmation by electrophoresis of hemo-globin in agarose gel at acidic pH, both methods using the Hydrasys 2 equipment. Results: the overall frequency of pregnant women with hemoglobinopathies was 3.5 %. Hemoglobinopa-thies were detected in 47,465 women; 38,698 with heterozygous S variant, 8,706 hemoglobin C variants and 158 other variants. 44,283 husbands with hemoglobinopathies were detected, 3,099 high-risk couples were detected, and 2,689 molecular prenatal diagnoses were performed. 522 affected fetuses were confirmed and 382 couples requested termination of pregnancy. The program reached 99.24 % coverage in the country. Conclusions: the detection of hemoglobinopathies in pregnant women residing in Cuba allowed us to know the type of hemoglobinopathy and the frequency of abnormal hemoglobins and new variants, hence the in-terest in continuing the research program to prevent the appearance of severe forms of the disease