Hybridization in parasites: consequences for adaptive evolution, pathogenesis and public health in a changing world

[No abstract available

Multilocus Microsatellite Typing (MLMT) of Strains from Turkey and Cyprus Reveals a Novel Monophyletic L. donovani Sensu Lato Group

In eastern Mediterranean, leishmaniasis represents a major public health problem with considerable impact on morbidity and potential to spread. Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) caused by L. major or L. tropica accounts for most cases in this region although visceral leishmaniasis (VL) caused by L. infantum is also common. New foci of human CL caused by L. donovani complex strains were recently described in Cyprus and Turkey. Herein we analyzed Turkish strains from human CL foci in Çukurova region (north of Cyprus) and a human VL case in Kuşadasi. These were compared to Cypriot strains that were previously typed by Multilocus Enzyme Electrophoresis (MLEE) as L. donovani MON-37. Nevertheless, they were found genetically distinct from MON-37 strains of other regions and therefore their origin remained enigmatic. A population study was performed by Multilocus Microsatellite Typing (MLMT) and the profile of the Turkish strains was compared to previously analyzed L. donovani complex strains. Our results revealed close genetic relationship between Turkish and Cypriot strains, which form a genetically distinct L. infantum monophyletic group, suggesting that Cypriot strains may originate from Turkey. Our analysis indicates that the epidemiology of leishmaniasis in this region is more complicated than originally thought

Genome of <i>Leptomonas pyrrhocoris</i>:a high-quality reference for monoxenous trypanosomatids and new insights into evolution of <i>Leishmania</i>

Many high-quality genomes are available for dixenous (two hosts) trypanosomatid species of the genera Trypanosoma, Leishmania, and Phytomonas, but only fragmentary information is available for monoxenous (single-host) trypanosomatids. In trypanosomatids, monoxeny is ancestral to dixeny, thus it is anticipated that the genome sequences of the key monoxenous parasites will be instrumental for both understanding the origin of parasitism and the evolution of dixeny. Here, we present a high-quality genome for Leptomonas pyrrhocoris, which is closely related to the dixenous genus Leishmania. The L. pyrrhocoris genome (30.4 Mbp in 60 scaffolds) encodes 10,148 genes. Using the L. pyrrhocoris genome, we pinpointed genes gained in Leishmania. Among those genes, 20 genes with unknown function had expression patterns in the Leishmania mexicana life cycle suggesting their involvement in virulence. By combining differential expression data for L. mexicana, L. major and Leptomonas seymouri, we have identified several additional proteins potentially involved in virulence, including SpoU methylase and U3 small nucleolar ribonucleoprotein IMP3. The population genetics of L. pyrrhocoris was also addressed by sequencing thirteen strains of different geographic origin, allowing the identification of 1,318 genes under positive selection. This set of genes was significantly enriched in components of the cytoskeleton and the flagellum

A historical overview of the classification, evolution, and dispersion of Leishmania parasites and sandflies

Background The aim of this study is to describe the major evolutionary historical events among Leishmania, sandflies, and the associated animal reservoirs in detail, in accordance with the geographical evolution of the Earth, which has not been previously discussed on a large scale. Methodology and Principal Findings Leishmania and sandfly classification has always been a controversial matter, and the increasing number of species currently described further complicates this issue. Despite several hypotheses on the origin, evolution, and distribution of Leishmania and sandflies in the Old and New World, no consistent agreement exists regarding dissemination of the actors that play roles in leishmaniasis. For this purpose, we present here three centuries of research on sandflies and Leishmania descriptions, as well as a complete description of Leishmania and sandfly fossils and the emergence date of each Leishmania and sandfly group during different geographical periods, from 550 million years ago until now. We discuss critically the different approaches that were used for Leishmana and sandfly classification and their synonymies, proposing an updated classification for each species of Leishmania and sandfly. We update information on the current distribution and dispersion of different species of Leishmania (53), sandflies (more than 800 at genus or subgenus level), and animal reservoirs in each of the following geographical ecozones: Palearctic, Nearctic, Neotropic, Afrotropical, Oriental, Malagasy, and Australian. We propose an updated list of the potential and proven sandfly vectors for each Leishmania species in the Old and New World. Finally, we address a classical question about digenetic Leishmania evolution: which was the first host, a vertebrate or an invertebrate? Conclusions and Significance We propose an updated view of events that have played important roles in the geographical dispersion of sandflies, in relation to both the Leishmania species they transmit and the animal reservoirs of the parasites

Processing technologies for sealing glasses and glass-ceramics

[EN] This paper embraces two different approaches for the joining of materials through glass sealants. First, the conventional method of furnace sealing in which paste technology is normally employed. The glass sealant is applied in powder form mixed with agglomerant and with the help of dispenser robots, tape casting, or screen printing. Glass-ceramics for sealing of solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC) are described as an example of this type of processing. Glass composition, thermal properties, particle size of the glass powder, sintering and crystallization competition, and final crystalline phases together with a suitable chemical compatibility with the metallic and ceramic elements to be sealed need to be carefully adjusted for this specific application. Second, laser welding is presented as an alternative sealing technology. A general overview about laser welding through glass sealants is presented. Particularly, the welding of sapphire and fused silica glass through a BTS.2SiO2 thin film glass sealant by employment of a nanosecond-pulsed laser is detailed. Laser parameters (frequency, power, scan speed, and number of passes) were optimized to get the best molten conditions of the BTS thin film, while allowing its crystallization. BTS crystallization upon laser welding leads to a strong blue emission upon UV excitation. Finally, both processing technologies were compared.MJ Pascual thanks the European project FP7-JTI-CP-FCH, Working toward Mass Manufactured, Low Cost, and Robust SOFC stacks (MMLRC = SOFC), project reference: 278525 and the project CNPq/PVE 400590/2013. A. de Pablos-Martín acknowledges financial support of FhG Internal Programs under Grant No. Attract 692 280. She is deeply grateful to Prof. T. Höche from Fraunhofer Institute IMWS for the opportunity to be involved in the project and his great support, to Prof. C. Rüssel of Friedrich Schiller University Jena-Otto Schott Institute, for providing fresnoite bulk glasses, to Prof. M. Lorenz's and Prof. Grundmann's group at the Leipzig University for preparation of the fresnoite thin films by PLD,and to Sebastian Tismer and M. Mittag from Fraunhofer Institute IMWS, for the SAM measurements and for the tensile test measurements, respectively. The authors thank Prof. Alicia Durán for her continuous support and teaching.Peer reviewe

Model of Drawing Thin Glass Sheet From A Rectangular Preform and Its Applications

Glass sheets of uniform thickness, thinner than lmm, are commonly used, for example, in microelectronics, as small parts of electronic devices, and components in light microscopes, etc. Drawing glass from rectangular preforms into thin sheets is one of the manufacturing possibilities. In this paper the advantages of using a previously developed mathematical model 1–3in the investigation and improvement of the process of drawing thin glass sheets from rectangular preforms are presented.Proceedings of the Ninth World Round Table Conference on Sintering (IX WRTCS), held in Belgrade, Yugoslavia, September 1-4 199