Differential Response of Primary and Immortalized CD4+ T Cells to Neisseria gonorrhoeae-Induced Cytokines Determines the Effect on HIV-1 Replication

To compare the effect of gonococcal co-infection on immortalized versus primary CD4+ T cells the Jurkat cell line or freshly isolated human CD4+ T cells were infected with the HIV-1 X4 strain NL4-3. These cells were exposed to whole gonococci, supernatants from gonococcal-infected PBMCs, or N. gonorrhoeae-induced cytokines at varying levels. Supernatants from gonococcal-infected PBMCs stimulated HIV-1 replication in Jurkat cells while effectively inhibiting HIV-1 replication in primary CD4+ T cells. ELISA-based analyses revealed that the gonococcal-induced supernatants contained high levels of proinflammatory cytokines that promote HIV-1 replication, as well as the HIV-inhibitory IFNα. While all the T cells responded to the HIV-stimulatory cytokines, albeit to differing degrees, the Jurkat cells were refractory to IFNα. Combined, these results indicate that N. gonorrhoeae elicits immune-modulating cytokines that both activate and inhibit HIV-production; the outcome of co-infection depending upon the balance between these opposing signals

A first AFLP-based genetic linkage map for brine shrimp Artemia franciscana and its application in mapping the sex locus

We report on the construction of sex-specific linkage maps, the identification of sex-linked markers and the genome size estimation for the brine shrimp Artemia franciscana. Overall, from the analysis of 433 AFLP markers segregating in a 112 full-sib family we identified 21 male and 22 female linkage groups (2n = 42), covering 1,041 and 1,313 cM respectively. Fifteen putatively homologous linkage groups, including the sex linkage groups, were identified between the female and male linkage map. Eight sex-linked AFLP marker alleles were inherited from the female parent, supporting the hypothesis of a WZ-ZZ sex-determining system. The haploid Artemia genome size was estimated to 0.93 Gb by flow cytometry. The produced Artemia linkage maps provide the basis for further fine mapping and exploring of the sex-determining region and are a possible marker resource for mapping genomic loci underlying phenotypic differences among Artemia species

Stomach cancer and occupational exposure to asbestos: a meta-analysis of occupational cohort studies

BACKGROUND: A recent Monographs Working Group of the International Agency for Research on Cancer concluded that there is limited evidence for a causal association between exposure to asbestos and stomach cancer. METHODS: We performed a meta-analysis to quantitatively evaluate this association. Random effects models were used to summarise the relative risks across studies. Sources of heterogeneity were explored through subgroup analyses and meta-regression. RESULTS: We identified 40 mortality cohort studies from 37 separate papers, and cancer incidence data were extracted for 15 separate cohorts from 14 papers. The overall meta-SMR for stomach cancer for total cohort was 1.15 (95% confidence interval 1.03–1.27), with heterogeneous results across studies. Statistically significant excesses were observed in North America and Australia but not in Europe, and for generic asbestos workers and insulators. Meta-SMRs were larger for cohorts reporting a SMR for lung cancer above 2 and cohort sizes below 1000. CONCLUSIONS: Our results support the conclusion by IARC that exposure to asbestos is associated with a moderate increased risk of stomach cancer

Preliminary genetic data on some Caribbean Artemia franciscana strains based on RAPD's

A total of fourteen Artemia samples from Colombia, Venezuela, Curacao (Netherlands Antilles), Puerto Rico, and reference samples from U.S.A. (San Francisco Bay, SFB) belonging to the superspecies Artemia franciscana, and Argentina (A. persimilis), were analysed with the RAPD technique in order to demonstrate genetic dissimilarities. Pearson's correlation coefficients between the DNA banding patterns were calculated. They served as input values for the construction of UPGMA dendrograms. The results indicate that, within the collection of Colombian, Venezuelan and the two Netherlands Antilles Artemia cyst samples examined, two different groups seem to exist. Geographically, the mountainous area of Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta separates these two groups (lower Caribbean to the South and middle Caribbean to the North). Although the Caribbean, North and South American populations belong to A. franciscana, genetic discontinuities are to be expected due to habitat differences and geographic isolation. The Sierra Nevada (with an altitude of about 5800 m) emerges as the barrier very likely to explain the observed RAPD differences. Little genetic variability was present in the Colombian samples from Manaure that were collected almost every ten years, nor in the samples from Galerazamba collected almost two decades apart, although these samples were more likely subjected to different prevailing environmental conditions. The SFB population did not show a very close relation with all Caribbean populations analyzed, including the Puerto Rican. All A. franciscana populations analyzed were divergent from A. persimilis (Argentina)

Toxoplasma gondii antibodies sheep in Lages, Santa Catarina, Brazil, and comparison using IFA and ELISA Anticorpos toxoplásmicos em ovinos de Lages, Santa Catarina, Brasil, e comparação utilizando RIFI e ELISA

Toxoplasmosis in sheep is a disease of great importance in veterinary medicine, which causes economic losses in livestock and has a great impact on human health, since consumption of infected meat facilitates transmission of zoonotic infections. Blood samples from sheep (n = 360) were collected from 13 farm properties in the municipality of Lages, Santa Catarina, to estimate the prevalence of toxoplasmosis and identify risk factors associated with Toxoplasma gondii infection. T. gondii, antibodies were investigated by means of the indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Animals infected with T. gondii were found on 100% of the farms. IFA detected 56.9% (205/360) and ELISA 42.5% of the infected sheep. Breed was the only risk factor associated with the presence of T. gondii antibodies. ELISA showed sensitivity of 61%, specificity of 82% and kappa of 0.41, which was considered moderate. This allows use of ELISA as an alternative technique for diagnosing T. gondii in sheep.<br>A toxoplasmose ovina é uma doença parasitária de elevada importância em medicina veterinária e em saúde pública, acarretando prejuízos na produção animal, gerados pelas perdas reprodutivas e econômicas, além de sua implicação na saúde humana, já que o consumo de carne infectada facilita a transmissão zoonótica. Para determinar a prevalência e identificar fatores de risco para a infecção por T. gondii em ovinos de Lages, Santa Catarina, amostras de sangue (n = 360) foram coletadas em 13 propriedades. Cada criador respondeu a um questionário para permitir a identificação dos fatores de risco da infecção. A pesquisa de anticorpos foi realizada por meio da Reação de Imunofluorescência Indireta (RIFI > 64) e do Ensaio Imunoenzimático Indireto (ELISA). Em 100% das propriedades foram encontrados animais positivos. Pela RIFI, 205 (56,94%) ovinos apresentaram anticorpos contra T. gondii e pelo ELISA, 153 (42,50%). Considerando-se as técnicas sorológicas e a análise estatística, foram fatores de risco pelo ELISA: a idade, a fonte de água e a categoria animal; e pela RIFI, o tipo racial. Foi constatada sensibilidade de 61%, especificidade de 82% e concordância Kappa de 0,41 entre o ELISA e a RIFI (1:64), considerada moderada, permitindo indicar o ELISA como técnica adequada para o diagnóstico de T. gondii na espécie ovina