Membrane vesicles derived from Bordetella bronchiseptica: Active constituent of a new vaccine against infections caused by this pathogen

Bordetella bronchiseptica, a Gram-negative bacterium, causes chronic respiratory tract infections in a wide variety of mammalian hosts, including humans (albeit rarely). We recently designed Bordetella pertussis and Bordetella parapertussis experimental vaccines based on outer membrane vesicles (OMVs) derived from each pathogen, and we obtained protection against the respective infections in mice. Here, we demonstrated that OMVs derived from virulent-phase B. bronchiseptica (OMVBbvir+) protected mice against sublethal infections with different B. bronchiseptica strains, two isolated from farm animals and one isolated from a human patient. In all infections, we observed that the B. bronchiseptica loads were significantly reduced in the lungs of vaccinated animals; the lung-recovered CFU were decreased by ≥4 log units, compared with those detected in the lungs of nonimmunized animals (P < 0.001). In the OMVBbvir+-immunized mice, we detected IgG antibody titers against B. bronchiseptica whole-cell lysates, along with an immune serum having bacterial killing activity that both recognized B. bronchiseptica lipopolysaccharides and polypeptides such as GroEL and outer membrane protein C (OMPc) and demonstrated an essential protective capacity against B. bronchiseptica infection, as detected by passive in vivo transfer experiments. Stimulation of cultured splenocytes from immunized mice with OMVBbvir+ resulted in interleukin 5 (IL-5), gamma interferon (IFN-γ), and IL-17 production, indicating that the vesicles induced mixed Th2, Th1, and Th17 T-cell immune responses. We detected, by adoptive transfer assays, that spleen cells from OMVBbvir+-immunized mice also contributed to the observed protection against B. bronchiseptica infection. OMVs from avirulent-phase B. bronchiseptica and the resulting induced immune sera were also able to protect mice against B. bronchiseptica infection.Fil: Bottero, Daniela. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Instituto de Biotecnología y Biología Molecular. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas. Instituto de Biotecnología y Biología Molecular; ArgentinaFil: Zurita, Maria Eugenia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Instituto de Biotecnología y Biología Molecular. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas. Instituto de Biotecnología y Biología Molecular; ArgentinaFil: Gaillard, María Emilia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Instituto de Biotecnología y Biología Molecular. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas. Instituto de Biotecnología y Biología Molecular; ArgentinaFil: Bartel, Erika Belén. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Instituto de Biotecnología y Biología Molecular. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas. Instituto de Biotecnología y Biología Molecular; ArgentinaFil: Vercellini, María Clara. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Instituto de Estudios Inmunológicos y Fisiopatológicos. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas. Instituto de Estudios Inmunológicos y Fisiopatológicos; ArgentinaFil: Hozbor, Daniela Flavia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Instituto de Biotecnología y Biología Molecular. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas. Instituto de Biotecnología y Biología Molecular; Argentin

SCD5 restored expression favors differentiation and epithelial-mesenchymal reversion in advanced melanoma

Our previous data supported a role for the Stearoyl-CoA desaturase (SCD5) in protection against malignancy, whereby it appears to functionally modify tumor stroma impairing tumor spread. SCD5 is significantly expressed in primary melanoma, but becomes barely detectable at tumor advanced stages. Looking for the regulatory mechanisms underlying SCD5 reduced expression during melanoma progression, we demonstrated a significantly lower stability of SCD5 protein as well as the direct targeting of SCD5 mRNA by the oncogenic miR-221 & 222 in metastatic cell lines. Moreover, our results indicated the existence of a negative feedback loop between SCD5 and miR-221 & 222, in good agreement with their opposite functions. Also, we showed how SCD5 re-expression and the direct supplementation of its main product oleic acid (OA) can drive advanced melanoma cell lines toward differentiation and reversion of the epithelial-mesenchymal (EMT)-like process, eventually inducing a less malignant phenotype. Indeed, SCD5 re-established the sensitivity to all-trans retinoic acid in A375M metastatic melanoma, associated with increased levels of Tyrosinase, melanin production and reduced proliferation. As evidenced by the correct modulation of some key transcription factors, SCD5 managed by favoring a partial mesenchymal-to-epithelial (MET) transition in in vitro studies. Interestingly, a more complete MET, including E-cadherin re-expression correctly localized at cell membranes, was obtained in in vivo xenograft models, thus indicating the requirement of direct contacts between tumor cells and the surrounding microenvironment as well as the presence of some essential factors for SCD5 complete function

Spotted fever group rickettsiae in Amblyomma ticks likely to infest humans in rural areas from northwestern Argentina

This work was performed to detect Rickettsia species of the spotted fever group in Amblyomma ticks likely to infest humans in rural areas from northwestern Argentina. Free-living ticks were collected and determined as Amblyomma tigrinum, Amblyomma neumanni and Amblyomma tonelliae. Rickettsia infection was determined by polymerase chain reactions which amplify fragments of the rickettsial genes gltA and ompA. A high frequency (35/44, 79.5%) of Candidatus “Rickettsia andeanae” was observed in A. tigrinum ticks, and Candidatus “Rickettsia amblyommii” was found in three out of 14 nymphs of A. neumanni. All 14 Amblyomma tonelliae ticks were negative for rikettsiae. The infection with spotted fever group rickettsiae in ticks aggressive for humans reveals the potential risk of exposure to tick-borne pathogens of people inhabiting rural areas of northwestern Argentina.El objetivo de este trabajo fue detectar rickettsias del grupo de las fiebres manchadas en garrapatas del género Amblyomma capaces de infestar humanos, en áreas rurales del noroeste de Argentina. Se colectaron garrapatas en su fase de vida libre que fueron determinadas como Amblyomma tigrinum, Amblyomma neumanni y Amblyomma tonelliae. La infección con Rickettsia fue determinada utilizando la reacción en cadena de la polimerasa para amplificar los genes gltA y ompA. Candidatus “Rickettsia andeanae” fue detectada en A. tigrinum con alta frecuencia (35/44, 79.5%), mientras que Candidatus “Rickettsia amblyommii” fue encontrada en tres de las 14 ninfas de A. neumanni. Los 14 especímenes de A. tonelliae fueron negativos. La infección de garrapatas capaces de infestar humanos con rickettsias del grupo de las fiebres manchadas evidencia el riesgo potencial al que están expuestos los humanos que habitan o frecuentan áreas rurales del noroeste argentino.EEA RafaelaFil: Saracho Bottero, Maria Noelia. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Rafaela; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Tarragona, Evelina Luisa. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Rafaela; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Nava, Santiago. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Rafaela; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentin

Mycobiota composition of robiola di roccaverano cheese along the production chain

Robiola di Roccaverano is a Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) cheese from the Piedmont region of Italy. In this study, the mycobiota occurring during Robiola di Roccaverano production was elucidated. Samples of milk, Natural Milk Cultures (NMC), curd, 5- and 15-days ripened cheese were collected from one dairy plant and the mycobiota was analyzed by the metataxonomic approach. Milk samples showed a high diversity and Cladosporium, Kluyveromyces marxianus, Geotrichum candidum and Debaryomyces hansenii were found with higher relative abundance. This mycobiota remains quite stable in NMC and curd matrices although the relative abundance of K. marxianus and G. candidum yeasts increased significantly and shaped the fungal composition of 5- and 15-day ripened cheese

Dominance-based rough set approach and analytic network process for assessing urban transformation scenarios

For half a century, the significant development of intensive farming has led to a massive use of products such as pesticides. The excessive use of these substances has contaminated surface water and groundwater. Drinking water extraction points have also had to be abandoned. Some thirty years ago, in the southwest of France, a group of farmers decided to improve their farming methods, as well as developing new Best Environmental Practices, such as grass strips along streams and riparian forests. By combining the use of ELECTRE TRI-C multi-criteria model with a GIS, we were able to characterise the contribution of each farming area to the risk of surface water contamination with pesticides. We also assessed the effectiveness of different environmental practices. We found that the use of Best Environmental Practices led to a reduction in the risk of pesticides transfer. This methodology re-enforces decision support tools for water resource managers and agricultural and environmental stakeholders