Simultaneous infection of Ixodes ricinus nymphs by two Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato species: possible implications for clinical manifestations.

info:eu-repo/semantics/publishe

Highly specific and sensitive non-radioactive molecular identification of Phytophthora cinnamomi

In response to the need for a faster, more reliable method for identifying Phytophthora cinnamomi in cork oak soils in Portugal, a simple, fast, sensitive molecular identification method is described. It is based on a colorimetric assay which involves an oligonucleotide capture probe covalently immobilised on microtitration wells, a multi-biotinylated oligonucleotide detection probe and the PCR-amplified target DNA. The target DNA is a 349 bp DNA fragment partially covering the 3'-translated and 3'- untranslated regions of the cinnamomin gene. When the specificity of the PCR reaction was evaluated in vitro using isolates of P. cinnamomi and eight other Phytophthora species, including the related P. cambivora, it was specific to P. cinnamomi. When 30 isolates of P. cinnamomi from oak roots in southern Portugal were assayed, 26 gave a strong positive response. The assay has a sensitivity of about 2±5 genome equivalents of P. cinnamomi. The reason for the negative response of four isolates remains unclear

MLVA-16 typing of 295 marine mammal <i>Brucella</i> isolates from different animal and geographic origins identifies 7 major groups within <i>Brucella ceti</i> and <i>Brucella pinnipedialis</i>

BackgroundSince 1994, Brucella strains have been isolated from a wide range of marine mammals. They are currently recognized as two new Brucella species, B. pinnipedialis for the pinniped isolates and B. ceti for the cetacean isolates in agreement with host preference and specific phenotypic and molecular markers. In order to investigate the genetic relationships within the marine mammal Brucella isolates and with reference to terrestrial mammal Brucella isolates, we applied in this study the Multiple Loci VNTR (Variable Number of Tandem Repeats) Analysis (MLVA) approach. A previously published assay comprising 16 loci (MLVA-16) that has been shown to be highly relevant and efficient for typing and clustering Brucella strains from animal and human origin was used.Results294 marine mammal Brucella strains collected in European waters from 173 animals and a human isolate from New Zealand presumably from marine origin were investigated by MLVA-16. Marine mammal Brucella isolates were shown to be different from the recognized terrestrial mammal Brucella species and biovars and corresponded to 3 major related groups, one specific of the B. ceti strains, one of the B. pinnipedialis strains and the last composed of the human isolate. In the B. ceti group, 3 subclusters were identified, distinguishing a cluster of dolphin, minke whale and porpoise isolates and two clusters mostly composed of dolphin isolates. These results were in accordance with published analyses using other phenotypic or molecular approaches, or different panels of VNTR loci. The B. pinnipedialis group could be similarly subdivided in 3 subclusters, one composed exclusively of isolates from hooded seals (Cystophora cristata) and the two others comprising other seal species isolates.ConclusionThe clustering analysis of a large collection of marine mammal Brucella isolates from European waters significantly strengthens the current view of the population structure of these two species, and their relative position with respect to the rest of the Brucella genus. MLVA-16 is confirmed as being a rapid, highly discriminatory and reproducible method to classify Brucella strains including the marine mammal isolates. The Brucella2009 MLVA-16 genotyping database available at http://mlva.u-psud.fr is providing a detailed coverage of all 9 currently recognized Brucella species

Functionalization of carbon nanotubes by atomic nitrogen formed in a microwave plasma Ar+N2

peer reviewedMulti-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) are placed under atomic nitrogen flow formed through an Ar + N2 microwave plasma in order to functionalize covalently their side walls with nitrogen-containing groups. The MWNT surface analyzed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy shows the presence of amides, oximes and mainly amine and nitrile functions grafted in this way. In order to highlight the actual location of the amine functions grafted on MWNTs, they were considered as initiation species in ring-opening polymerization of £-caprolactone using triethylaluminium as activator. The so-generated poly(e-caprolactone) chains remain grafted on the MWNTs via amide bonds and form polyester islets along the nanotubes surface. TEM images of these MWNT surfaces grafted with poly(e-caprolactone) show a good amino-sidewall distribution. This work demonstrates the side-wall amino-functionalization of carbon nanotubes readily achieved by microwave plasma with the possibility to reach within a short time period very high contents in nitrogen-based functions (~10 at.%)

Design and synthesis of imidazoline derivatives active on glucose homeostasis in a rat model of type II diabetes.2. Syntheses and biological activities of 1,4-dialkyl-,1,4-dibenzyl and 1-benzyl-4-alkyl-2-(4',5'-dihydro-1' H-imidazol-2'yl)piperazines and isosteric analogues of imidazoline

International audienc

Brucellosis remains a neglected disease inthe developing world: a call forinterdisciplinary action

Brucellosis places significant burdens on the human healthcare system and limits the economic growth of individuals, communities, and nations where such development is especially important to diminish the prevalence of poverty. The implementation of public policy focused on mitigating the socioeconomic effects of brucellosis in human and animal populations is desperately needed. When developing a plan to mitigate the associated consequences, it is vital to consider both the abstract and quantifiable effects. This requires an interdisciplinary and collaborative, or One Health, approach that consists of public education, the development of an infrastructure for disease surveillance and reporting in both veterinary and medical fields, and campaigns for control in livestock and wildlife species

OspA heterogeneity of Borrelia valaisiana confirmed by phenotypic and genotypic analyses

BACKGROUND: Although European Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato isolates have been divided into five genospecies, specific tools for the serotype characterization of only three genospecies are available. Monoclonals antibodies (mAbs) H3TS, D6 and I17.3 identify B. burgdorferi sensu stricto (ss.), B. garinii and B. afzelii respectively, but no mAbs are available to identify B. valaisiana. In the same way, specific primers exist to amplify the OspA gene of B. burgdorferi ss., B. garinii and B. afzelii. The aim of the study was to develop species-specific mAb and PCR primers for the phenotypic and genetic identification of B. valaisiana. RESULTS: This study describes a mAb that targets OspA of B. valaisiana and primers targeting the OspA gene of this species. As the monoclonal antibody A116k did not react with strains NE231, M7, M53 and Frank and no amplification was observed with strains NE231, M7 and M53, the existence of two subgroups among European B. valaisiana species was confirmed. CONCLUSIONS: The association of both monoclonal antibody A116k and primers Bval 1F and Bval 1R allows to specific identification of the B. valaisiana isolates belonging to subgroup 1

Incidence of human brucellosis in a rural area in Western Greece after the implementation of a vaccination programme against animal brucellosis

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Brucellosis continues to be an important source of morbidity in several countries, particularly among agricultural and pastoral populations. The purpose of this study was to examine if there is an effect on the incidence of human brucellosis after the implementation of an animal brucellosis control programme.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The study was conducted in the Municipality of Tritaia in the Prefecture of Achaia in Western Greece during the periods 1997–1998 and 2000–2002. Health education efforts were made during 1997–1998 to make the public take preventive measures. In the time period from January 1999 to August 2002 a vaccination programme against animal brucellosis was realised in the specific region. The vaccine used was the <it>B. melitensis </it>Rev-1 administered by the conjuctival route. Comparisons were performed between the incidence rates of the two studied periods.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>There was a great fall in the incidence rate between 1997–1998 (10.3 per 1,000 population) and the period 2000–2002 after the vaccination (0.3 per 1,000 population). The considerable decrease of the human incidence rate is also observed in the period 2000–2002 among persons whose herds were not as yet vaccinated (1.4 vs. 10.3 per 1,000 population), indicating a possible role of health education in the decline of human brucellosis.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The study reveals a statistically significant decline in the incidence of human brucellosis after the vaccination programme and underlines the importance of an ongoing control of animal brucellosis in the prevention of human brucellosis. The reduction of human brucellosis can be best achieved by a combination of health education and mass animal vaccination.</p

Antigenic, Immunologic and Genetic Characterization of Rough Strains B.abortus RB51, B.melitensis B115 and B.melitensis B18

The lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is considered the major virulent factor in Brucella spp. Several genes have been identified involved in the synthesis of the three LPS components: lipid A, core and O-PS. Usually, Brucella strains devoid of O-PS (rough mutants) are less virulent than the wild type and do not induce undesirable interfering antibodies. Such of them proved to be protective against brucellosis in mice. Because of these favorable features, rough strains have been considered potential brucellosis vaccines. In this study, we evaluated the antigenic, immunologic and genetic characteristics of rough strains B.abortus RB51, B.melitensis B115 and B.melitensis B18. RB51 derived from B.abortus 2308 virulent strain and B115 is a natural rough strain in which the O-PS is present in the cytoplasm. B18 is a rough rifampin-resistan mutant isolated in our laboratory