Evaluation of the protective capacity of the novel vaccine strain Delta-pgm in bovines

La brucelosis bovina es una zoonosis ampliamente distribuida en el mundo y que continúa produciendo importantes pérdidas económicas y problemas de salud en humanos. Si bien existen varias vacunas que inducen diversos grados de protección, cada una de ellas posee una o más desventajas, que van desde una baja capacidad para inducir un nivel adecuado de inmunidad hasta interferencias con los métodos de diagnóstico de rutina actualmente utilizados en la lucha contra la enfermedad. Por estos motivos sigue siendo importante el desarrollo de nuevas vacunas que posean ventajas con respecto a las que se encuentran disponibles en el mercado. En este trabajo se presentan los resultados de una prueba de potencia en bovinos en la que se compara la capacidad protectiva de la cepa Delta-pgm con la de la S-19, cepa empleada en la Argentina, en la actualidad. Se analizaron diversos parámetros de protección sobre 32 animales vacunados con las dos cepas sujetas a comparación o no vacunados: serología de los animales durante toda la experiencia, bacteremia por hemocultivo de las madres, tiempo de gestación, estado de los terneros al parto (vivos, muertos, prematuros) y excreción en leche. Los resultados mostraron que la cepa Delta-pgm aplicada en dos dosis (una antes de los 6 meses de edad y un refuerzo de adultos) no genera interferencia con los actuales métodos diagnósticos de la enfermedad e induce un grado de protección al menos equivalente al generado por la cepa S-19. Nuestros resultados indican que Delta-pgm podría ser una potencial nueva herramienta para la vacunación de animales adultos.Fil: Comerci, Diego José. Ministerio de Agricultura, Ganadería, Pesca y Alimento. Servicio Nacional de Sanidad y Calidad Agroalimentaria; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de San Martín; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Rey Serantes, Diego. Ministerio de Agricultura, Ganadería, Pesca y Alimento. Servicio Nacional de Sanidad y Calidad Agroalimentaria; ArgentinaFil: Carballo, Ezequiel. Ministerio de Agricultura, Ganadería, Pesca y Alimento. Servicio Nacional de Sanidad y Calidad Agroalimentaria; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de San Martín; ArgentinaFil: Paramidani, Eduardo. Ministerio de Agricultura, Ganadería, Pesca y Alimento. Servicio Nacional de Sanidad y Calidad Agroalimentaria; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de San Martín; ArgentinaFil: Bagnat, Eduardo. Ministerio de Agricultura, Ganadería, Pesca y Alimento. Servicio Nacional de Sanidad y Calidad Agroalimentaria; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de San Martín; ArgentinaFil: Ugalde, Juan Esteban. Universidad Nacional de San Martín; Argentina. Ministerio de Agricultura, Ganadería, Pesca y Alimento. Servicio Nacional de Sanidad y Calidad Agroalimentaria; Argentin

A bacterial glycoengineered antigen for improved serodiagnosis of porcine brucellosis

Brucellosis is a highly zoonotic disease that affects animals and human beings. Brucella suis is the etiological agent of porcine brucellosis and one of the major human brucellosis pathogens. Laboratory diagnosis of porcine brucellosis mainly relies on serological tests, and it has been widely demonstrated that serological assays based on the detection of anti O-polysaccharide antibodies are the most sensitive tests. Here, we validate a recombinant glycoprotein antigen, an N-formylperosamine O-polysaccharide protein conjugate (OAg-AcrA), for diagnosis of porcine brucellosis. An indirect immunoassay based on the detection of anti-O-polysaccharide IgG antibodies was developed coupling OAg-AcrA to enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay plates (glycoiELISA). To validate the assay, 563 serum samples obtained from experimentally infected and immunized pigs, as well as animals naturally infected with B. suis biovar 1 or 2, were tested. A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was performed, and based on this analysis, the optimum cutoff value was 0.56 (relative reactivity), which resulted in a diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of 100% and 99.7%, respectively. A cutoff value of 0.78 resulted in a test sensitivity of 98.4% and a test specificity of 100%. Overall, our results demonstrate that the glyco-iELISA is highly accurate for diagnosis of porcine brucellosis, improving the diagnostic performance of current serological tests. The recombinant glycoprotein OAg-AcrA can be produced in large homogeneous batches in a standardized way, making it an ideal candidate for further validation as a universal antigen for diagnosis of "smooth" brucellosis in animals and humans.Fil: Cortina, María Eugenia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas. Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas ; ArgentinaFil: Balzano, Rodrigo E.. Ministerio de Agricultura, Ganadería, Pesca y Alimento. Servicio Nacional de Sanidad y Calidad Agroalimentaria; ArgentinaFil: Rey Serantes, Diego A. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas. Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas ; ArgentinaFil: Caillava, Ana Josefina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas. Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas ; ArgentinaFil: Elena, Sebastian. Ministerio de Agricultura, Ganadería, Pesca y Alimento. Servicio Nacional de Sanidad y Calidad Agroalimentaria; ArgentinaFil: Ferreira, A. C.. Instituto Nacional de Investigação Agrária e Veterinária; PortugalFil: Nicola, Ana M.. Ministerio de Agricultura, Ganadería, Pesca y Alimento. Servicio Nacional de Sanidad y Calidad Agroalimentaria; ArgentinaFil: Ugalde, Juan Esteban. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas. Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas ; ArgentinaFil: Comerci, Diego José. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas. Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas ; Argentina. Comisión Nacional de Energía Atómica; ArgentinaFil: Ciocchini, Andres Eduardo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas. Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas ; Argentin

Globalidad y conflicto: Estados Unidos y la crisis de septiembre

Introducción. Comarca herida; El impacto; Violencia y discurso; Estados Unidos en tiempos de crisis: la experiencia de los atentados del 11 de septiembre; Estados Unidos y el sistema internacional después del 11 de septiembre. Algunas reflexiones desde México; El sistema internacional: viejos dilemas y nuevos retos. La crisis de septiembre de Estados Unidos y su gran oportunidad; Implicaciones para América Latina del ataque terrorista; El terror del terrorismo: cambios sustanciales en el debate migratorio estadunidense. Consecuencias para México; Seguridad; El nuevo desorden mundial; La seguridad mundial y los riesgos de la democracia ante el terrorismo internacional; El dilema de Hobbes: ¿libertad o seguridad?; Globalidad; La seguridad mundial luego del macroterrorismo del 11 de septiembre de 2001: repercusiones y reflexiones; El sistema internacional: límites; Reflexión histórica; El impacto de los ataques terroristas del 11 de septiembre en la naturaleza y conducta del sistema internacional; Terrorismo y globalización a principios del siglo XXI: dilemas para la seguridad internacional; Derecho internacional; El derecho; El 11 de septiembre y el derecho internacional; Reglas para la “legítima defensa”; Economía; Crónica de una recesión largamente anunciada; Algunos efectos de los actos terroristas del 11 de septiembre sobre el mercado petrolero internacional y la geopolítica de los hidrocarburos; Repercusiones del atentado de septiembre en Estados Unidos sobre las economías estadunidense y mexicana; Cronología de los sucesos mundiales después del 11 de septiembre de 200

An Atypical Riboflavin Pathway Is Essential for Brucella abortus Virulence

Brucellosis is a worldwide zoonosis that affects livestock and humans and is caused by closely related Brucella spp., which are adapted to intracellular life within cells of a large variety of mammals. Brucella can be considered a furtive pathogen that infects professional and non-professional phagocytes. In these cells Brucella survives in a replicative niche, which is characterized for having a very low oxygen tension and being deprived from nutrients such as amino acids and vitamins. Among these vitamins, we have focused on riboflavin (vitamin B2). Flavin metabolism has been barely implicated in bacterial virulence. We have recently described that Brucella and other Rhizobiales bear an atypical riboflavin metabolic pathway. In the present work we analyze the role of the flavin metabolism on Brucella virulence. Mutants on the two lumazine synthases (LS) isoenzymes RibH1 and RibH2 and a double RibH mutant were generated. These mutants and different complemented strains were tested for viability and virulence in cells and in mice. In this fashion we have established that at least one LS must be present for B. abortus survival and that RibH2 and not RibH1 is essential for intracellular survival due to its LS activity in vivo. In summary, we show that riboflavin biosynthesis is essential for Brucella survival inside cells or in mice. These results highlight the potential use of flavin biosynthetic pathway enzymes as targets for the chemotherapy of brucellosis

Development and Validation of a Novel Diagnostic Test for Human Brucellosis Using a Glyco-engineered Antigen Coupled to Magnetic Beads.

Brucellosis is a highly contagious zoonosis and still a major human health problem in endemic areas of the world. Although several diagnostic tools are available, most of them are difficult to implement especially in developing countries where complex health facilities are limited. Taking advantage of the identical structure and composition of the Brucella spp. and Yersinia enterocolitica O:9 O-polysaccharide, we explored the application of a recombinant Y. enterocolitica O:9-polysaccharide-protein conjugate (OAg-AcrA) as a novel antigen for diagnosis of human brucellosis. We have developed and validated an indirect immunoassay using OAg-AcrA coupled to magnetic beads. OAg-AcrA was produced and purified with high yields in Y. enterocolitica O:9 cells co-expressing the oligosaccharyltransferase PglB and the protein acceptor AcrA of Campylobacter jejuni without the need for culturing Brucella. Expression of PglB and AcrA in Y. enterocolitica resulted in the transfer of the host O-polysaccharide from its lipid carrier to AcrA. To validate the assay and determine the cutoff values a receiver-operating characteristic analysis was performed using a panel of characterized serum samples obtained from healthy individuals and patients of different clinical groups. Our results indicate that, using this assay, it is possible to detect infection caused by the three main human brucellosis agents (B. abortus, B. melitensis and B. suis) and select different cutoff points to adjust sensitivity and specificity levels as needed. A cutoff value of 13.20% gave a sensitivity of 100% and a specificity of 98.57%, and a cutoff value of 16.15% resulted in a test sensitivity and specificity of 93.48% and 100%, respectively. The high diagnostic accuracy, low cost, reduced assay time and simplicity of this new glycoconjugate-magnetic beads assay makes it an attractive diagnostic tool for using not only in clinics and brucellosis reference laboratories but also in locations with limited laboratory infrastructure and/or minimally trained community health workers.Fil: Ciocchini, Andres Eduardo. Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas - Instituto Tecnológico Chascomús (San Martin); Argentina;Fil: Rey Serantes, Diego A.. Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas - Instituto Tecnológico Chascomús (San Martin); Argentina;Fil: Melli, Luciano Jorge. Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas - Instituto Tecnológico Chascomús (San Martin); Argentina;Fil: Iwashkiw, Jeremy A.. University of Alberta . Department of Biological Sciences . Alberta Glycomics Centre; Estados Unidos de América;Fil: Deodato, Bettina. Hospital Múñiz. Unidad de Enfermedades Infecciosas; Argentina;Fil: Wallach, Jorge. Hospital Múñiz. Unidad de Enfermedades Infecciosas; Argentina;Fil: Feldman, Mario F. University of Alberta . Department of Biological Sciences . Alberta Glycomics Centre; Estados Unidos de América;Fil: Ugalde, Juan E. Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas - Instituto Tecnológico Chascomús (San Martin); Argentina;Fil: Comerci, Diego J. Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas - Instituto Tecnológico Chascomús (San Martin); Argentina

Registros recientes de la ardilla voladora del sur Glaucomys volans (Rodentia: Sciuridae) en la mixteca alta oaxaqueña, México

Currently, records of southern flying squirrel in Mexico barely reach 41 locations (Castillo-Meza et al., 1997; Ceballos et al., 2010; Hernández-Flores et al., 2010; Cruz-Espinoza et al., 2012) , of which nine are in Oaxaca (Figure 1), being the ones registered by Goodwin in 1961 and 1969 on the Yucuyacua Hill the oldest (Goodwin, 1969). In this note we present visual records that show the persistence of G. volans after 54 years in the Yucuyacua Hill in the Oaxaca MixtecaActualmente, los registros de ardilla voladora del sur en México apenas alcanzan 41 localidades (Castillo-Meza et al., 1997; Ceballos et al., 2010; Hernández-Flores et al., 2010; Cruz-Espinoza et al., 2012), de las cuales nueve están en Oaxaca (Figura 1), siendo las registradas por Goodwin en 1961 y 1969 en el Cerro Yucuyacua las más antiguas (Goodwin, 1969). En esta nota presentamos registros visuales que evidencian la persistencia de G. volans después de 54 años en el Cerro Yucuyacua en la mixteca oaxaqueñ

Genomic analysis of Campylobacter fetus subspecies: identification of candidate virulence determinants and diagnostic assay targets

Background: Campylobacter fetus subspecies venerealis is the causative agent of bovine genital campylobacteriosis, asymptomatic in bulls the disease is spread to female cattle causing extensive reproductive loss. The microbiological and molecular differentiation of C. fetus subsp. venerealis from C. fetus subsp. fetus is extremely difficult. This study describes the analysis of the available C. fetus subsp. venerealis AZUL-94 strain genome (~75–80%) to identify elements exclusively found in C. fetus subsp. venerealis strains as potential diagnostic targets and the characterisation of subspecies virulence genes. Results: Eighty Kb of genomic sequence (22 contigs) was identified as unique to C. fetus subsp. venerealis AZUL-94 and consisted of type IV secretory pathway components, putative plasmid genes and hypothetical proteins. Of the 9 PCR assays developed to target C. fetus subsp. venerealis type IV secretion system genes, 4 of these were specific for C. fetus subsp. venerealis biovar venerealis and did not detect C. fetus subsp. venerealis biovar intermedius. Two assays were specific for C. fetus subsp. venerealis AZUL-94 strain, with a further single assay specific for the AZUL-94 strain and C. fetus subsp. venerealis biovar intermedius (and not the remaining C. fetus subsp. venerealis biovar venerealis strains tested). C. fetus subsp. fetus and C. fetus subsp. venerealis were found to share most common Campylobacter virulence factors such as SAP, chemotaxis, flagellar biosynthesis, 2-component systems and cytolethal distending toxin subunits (A, B, C). We did not however, identify in C. fetus the full complement of bacterial adherence candidates commonly found in other Campylobacter spp. Conclusion: The comparison of the available C. fetus subsp. venerealis genome sequence with the C. fetus subsp. fetus genome identified 80 kb of unique C. fetus subsp. venerealis AZUL94 sequence, with subsequent PCR confirmation demonstrating inconsistent amplification of these targets in all other C. fetus subsp. venerealis strains and biovars tested. The assays developed here highlight the complexity of targeting strain specific virulence genes for field studies for the molecular identification and epidemiology of C. fetus

Demonstration of Converter Control Interactions in MMC-HVDC Systems

Although the control of modular multi-level converters (MMCs) in high-voltage direct-current (HVDC) networks has become a mature subject these days, the potential for adverse interactions between different converter controls remains an under-researched challenge attracting the attention from both academia and industry. Even for point-to-point HVDC links (i.e., simple HVDC systems), converter control interactions may result in the shifting of system operating voltages, increased power losses, and unintended power imbalances at converter stations. To bridge this research gap, the risk of multiple cross-over of control characteristics of MMCs is assessed in this paper through mathematical analysis, computational simulation, and experimental validation. Specifically, the following point-to-point HVDC link configurations are examined: (1) one MMC station equipped with a current versus voltage droop control and the other station equipped with a constant power control; and (2) one MMC station equipped with a power versus voltage droop control and the other station equipped with a constant current control. Design guidelines for droop coefficients are provided to prevent adverse control interactions. A 60-kW MMC test-rig is used to experimentally verify the impact of multiple crossing of control characteristics of the DC system configurations, with results verified through software simulation in MATLAB/Simulink using an open access toolbox. Results show that in operating conditions of 650 V and 50 A (DC voltage and DC current), drifts of 7.7% in the DC voltage and of 10% in the DC current occur due to adverse control interactions under the current versus voltage droop and power control scheme. Similarly, drifts of 7.7% both in the DC voltage and power occur under the power versus voltage droop and current control scheme.This work was supported by the EU FP7 program, through the project “BEyond State of the art Technologies for re-Powering AC corridors and multi-Terminal HVDC Systems” (BEST-PATHS), grant agreement 612748. The simulation toolbox can be downloaded from the project website at www.bestpaths-project.eu (accessed on 10 December 2021)

DLGS97/SAP97 is developmentally upregulated and is required for complex adult behaviors and synapse morphology and function

The synaptic membrane-associated guanylate kinase (MAGUK) scaffolding protein family is thought to play key roles in synapse assembly and synaptic plasticity. Evidence supporting these roles in vivo is scarce, as a consequence of gene redundancy in mammals. The genome of Drosophila contains only one MAGUK gene, discs large (dlg), from which two major proteins originate: DLGA [PSD95 (postsynaptic density 95)-like] and DLGS97 [SAP97 (synapse-associated protein)-like]. These differ only by the inclusion in DLGS97 of an L27 domain, important for the formation of supramolecular assemblies. Known dlg mutations affect both forms and are lethal at larval stages attributable to tumoral overgrowth of epithelia. We generated independent null mutations for each, dlgA and dlgS97. These allowed unveiling of a shift in expression during the development of the nervous system: predominant expression of DLGA in the embryo, balanced expression of both during larval stages, and almost exclusive DLGS97 expression in the adult brain. Loss of embryonic DLGS97 does not alter the development of the nervous system. At larval stages, DLGA and DLGS97 fulfill both unique and partially redundant functions in the neuromuscular junction. Contrary to dlg and dlgA mutants, dlgS97 mutants are viable to adulthood, but they exhibit marked alterations in complex behaviors such as phototaxis, circadian activity, and courtship, whereas simpler behaviors like locomotion and odor and light perception are spared. We propose that the increased repertoire of associations of a synaptic scaffold protein given by an additional domain of protein-protein interaction underlies its ability to integrate molecular networks required for complex functions in adult synapses

Integrabilidad y ecosistemas digitales: problemática, fundamentos y normalización

Uno de los mayores desafíos que presenta la utilización de diversas aplicaciones o sistemas informáticos a nivel multiorganizacional, es salvar la dificultad para integrarse con otros sistemas. La integrabilidad de los sistemas informáticos es la capacidad de un componente digital para interoperar con otros en entornos ecosistémicos. Un ecosistema digital de integrabilidad (EDI) genera un entorno informático en el cual conviven diversos sistemas y aplicaciones. Un EDI es una plataforma de intercambio de alta seguridad, basada en una arquitectura distribuida, altamente resistente a fallas, independiente de la tecnología, arquitectura y software con los que están desarrollados los sistemas que se interconectan. Este trabajo analiza la problemática de los ecosistemas digitales y presenta un proyecto de normalización que establezca las características y requisitos de un EDI.Track «Gobierno Digital y Ciudades Inteligentes»Red de Universidades con Carreras en Informátic