Agricultural Homoeopathy: A New Insight into Organics

At present, agricultural homoeopathy is being increasingly implemented worldwide to mitigate the negative effects caused by the indiscriminate use of chemical products in conventional agricultural practices. It is a viable alternative to improve organic agriculture, since homoeopathic medicines are innocuous substances with a capability to activate measurable response mechanisms when used in plants, animals and humans. Experimental research results allow us to conclude in this chapter that agricultural homoeopathy is able to stimulate favourable biological and even genetic responses in plants (basil Ocimum basilicum L., bean Phaseolus vulgaris L., cucumber Cucumis sativus L., tomato Solanum lycopersicum L.), which shows a novelty insight for organic agriculture

Serogroups, K1 antigen, and antimicrobial resistance patterns of Aeromonas spp. strains isolated from different sources in Mexico

A total of 221 strains of Aeromonas species isolated in Mexico from clinical (161), environmental (40), and food (20) samples were identified using the automated system bioMérieux-Vitek®. Antisera for serogroups O1 to 044 were tested using the Shimada and Sakazaki scheme. The K1 antigen was examined using as antiserum the O7:K1C of Escherichia coli . Besides, we studied the antimicrobial patterns according to Vitek AutoMicrobic system. Among the 161 clinical strains 60% were identified as A. hydrophila, 20.4% as A. caviae, and 19.25% as A. veronii biovar sobria. Only A. hydrophila and A. veronii biovar sobria were found in food (55 and 90% respectively) and environmental sources (45 and 10% respectively). Using "O" antisera, only 42.5% (94/221) of the strains were serologically identified, 55% (121/221) were non-typable, and 2.5% (6/221) were rough strains. Twenty-two different serogroups were found, O14, O16, O19, O22, and O34 represented 60% of the serotyped strains. More than 50% of Aeromonas strain examined (112/221) expressed K1 encapsulating antigen; this characteristic was predominant among Aeromonas strains of clinical origin. Resistance to ampicillin/sulbactam and cephazolin was detected in 100 and 67% of Aeromonas strain tested for their susceptibility to antibiotics. In conclusion, antibiotic-resistant Aeromonas species that possess the K1 encapsulating antigen and represent serogroups associated with clinical syndrome in man are not uncommon among Aeromonas strains isolated from clinical, food and environmental sources in Mexico

Schwann Cell Autophagy and Necrosis as Mechanisms of Cell Death by Acanthamoeba

Amoebae of the genus Acanthamoeba are etiological agents of granulomatous amoebic encephalitis (GAE). Recently, through an in vivo GAE model, Acanthamoeba trophozoites were immunolocalized in contact with the peripheral nervous system (PNS) cells—Schwann cells (SC). In this study, we analyzed in greater detail the in vitro early morphological events (1, 2, 3, and 4 h) during the interaction of A. culbertsoni trophozoites (ATCC 30171) with SC from Rattus norvegicus (ATCC CRL-2941). Samples were processed for scanning and transmission electron microscopy as well as confocal microscopy. After 1 h of interaction, amoebae were observed to be adhered to the SC cultures, emitting sucker-like structures associated with micro-phagocytic channels. In addition, evidence of necrosis was identified since edematous organelles as well as multivesicular and multilamellar bodies characteristics of autophagy were detected. At 2 h, trophozoites migrated beneath the SC culture in which necrosis and autophagy persisted. By 3 and 4 h, extensive lytic zones were observed. SC necrosis was confirmed by confocal microscopy. We reported for the first time the induction of autophagic and necrotic processes in PNS cells, associated in part with the contact-dependent pathogenic mechanisms of A. culbertsoni trophozoites

Mycobacterium tuberculosis Infection Induces BCSFB Disruption but No BBB Disruption In Vivo: Implications in the Pathophysiology of Tuberculous Meningitis

Central nervous system (CNS) tuberculosis is the most lethal and devastating form among the diseases caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The mechanisms by which M. tuberculosis bacilli enter the CNS are still unclear. However, the BBB and the BCSFB have been proposed as possible routes of access into the brain. We previously reported that certain strains of M. tuberculosis possess an enhanced ability to cause secondary CNS infection in a mouse model of progressive pulmonary tuberculosis. Here, we evaluated the morphostructural and molecular integrity of CNS barriers. For this purpose, we analyzed through transmission electron microscopy the ultrastructure of brain parenchymal microvessels and choroid plexus epithelium from animals infected with two mycobacterial strains. Additionally, we determined the expression of junctional proteins and cytokines by immunological techniques. The results showed that the presence of M. tuberculosis induced disruption of the BCSFB but no disruption of the BBB, and that the severity of such damage was related to the strain used, suggesting that variations in the ability to cause CNS disease among distinct strains of bacteria may also be linked to their capacity to cause direct or indirect disruption of these barriers. Understanding the pathophysiological mechanisms involved in CNS tuberculosis may facilitate the establishment of new biomarkers and therapeutic targets

<i>Mycobacterium tuberculosis</i> Cell Wall Antigens Induce the Formation of Immune Complexes and the Development of Vasculitis in an Experimental Murine Model

Tuberculosis (TB) of the central nervous system (CNS) presents high mortality due to brain damage and inflammation events. The formation and deposition of immune complexes (ICs) in the brain microvasculature during Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) infection are crucial for its pathobiology. The relevance of ICs to Mtb antigens in the pathogenesis of CNS-TB has been poorly explored. Here, we aimed to establish a murine experimental model of ICs-mediated brain vasculitis induced by cell wall antigens of Mtb. We administered a cell wall extract of the prototype pathogenic Mtb strain H37Rv to male BALB/c mice by subcutaneous and intravenous routes. Serum concentration and deposition of ICs onto blood vessels were determined by polyethylene glycol precipitation, ELISA, and immunofluorescence. Histopathological changes in the brain, lung, spleen, liver, and kidney were evaluated by hematoxylin and eosin staining. Our results evidenced that vasculitis developed in the studied tissues. High serum levels of ICs and vascular deposition were evident in the brain, lung, and kidneys early after the last cell wall antigen administration. Cell wall Mtb antigens induce strong type III hypersensitivity reactions and the development of systemic vasculitis with brain vascular changes and meningitis, supporting a role for ICs in the pathogenesis of TB

Ecología política de la minería en América Latina : aspectos socioeconómicos, legales y ambientales de la mega minería

La evaluación que ofrece este volumen permite dar cuenta si no de todos los casos de mega-minería existentes de la región sí de la lógica que esos comparten y que están bien identificados por los autores. Desde una lectura interdisciplinaria, se revisa el papel que tiene Latinoamérica como reserva estratégica minera al tiempo que se indagan algunos casos contemporáneos conflictivos y sus implicaciones con México, Centroamérica y algunos países del Cono Sur. Asimismo se bosquejan ciertos planteamientos de prospectiva; se valoran casos de resistencias sociales y se discuten algunas herramientas jurídico-legales que pueden y deberían acompañar toda lucha social de resistencia, en particular aquellas relacionadas con la defensa de los derechos humanos