B Cell Subsets in Colombian Adults with Predominantly Antibody Deficiencies, Bronchiectasis or Recurrent Pneumonia

Aim: To evaluate and describe lymphocyte populations’ and B cell subsets’ frequencies in patients presenting with Predominantly antibody deficiencies (PAD) and diagnosed with bronchiectasis or recurrent pneumonia seen in Cali (Colombian Southwest region). Materials and Methods: 16 subjects with PAD, 20 subjects with pulmonary complications (bronchiectasis or recurrent pneumonia) and 20 healthy donors (HD). Controls and probands between 14 and 64 years old, regardless of gender were included. Lymphocyte populations (T, B and NK cells) and B cell subsets were evaluated in peripheral blood mononuclear cells using flow cytometry, T/B/NK reagent and the pre-germinal center antibody panel proposed by the EUROflow consortium were used. EUROclass and the classification proposed by Driessen et al. were implemented. Results: CVID patients exhibited increase absolute numbers of CD8+ T cells and reduce NK cells as compare with HD, other PAD cases or pulmonary complications. PAD B cell subsets were disturbed when compared to the age range-matched healthy donors. Among B cell subsets, the memory B cell compartment was the most affected, especially switched memory B cells. Four participants were classified as B- and two CVID as smB-Trnorm and smB-21low groups according to EUROclass classification. The most frequent patterns proposed by Driessen et al. were B cell production and germinal center defect. Conclusions: B cell subsets, especially memory B cells, are disturbed in PAD patients from Southwestern Colombia. To the best of our knowledge this is the most comprehensive study of B cell subsets in Colombian adults

Perception of giant African snail (Achatina fulica) in urban community from Colombia

In Colombia, the control of giant African snail populations (Achatina fulica) has been enforced for the past eight years according to the Environmental, Housing, and Territorial Development Ministry (MAVDT from its initials in Spanish). During this period, the environmental authorities have carried out a series of campaigns for snail eradication and to raise awareness in the general community to involve it in the control of this invasive species. In order to inquire about the perception of the citizens of Cali, Colombia, have of the giant African snail and their role as primary stakeholders in the local control programs, a structured survey was done, and the dependency on the sociodemographic characteristics was established through Fisher’s exact test. 316 people took part in the survey; over 80% of the individuals recognized the giant African snail and their form of control, but over 90% of them did not participate in the control campaigns. The perception of the giant African snail varied noticeably with the respondents’ age and was independent of socio-economic and educational level. In conclusion, it was detected a solid dissociation between people and the actions carried out by the environmental authority. It is recommended to take into account people’s concept of invasive species control in other cities as a fundamental instrument in the construction of a more dynamic and inclusive control model