Genome-Based Vaccinology Applied to Bovine Babesiosis

Genomics approaches in veterinary research have been a very useful tool to identify candidates with potential to be used in prevention of animal diseases. In Babesia, genome information analysis has elucidated a wide variety of protein families and some members are described in this chapter. Here, we present some of the most recent studies about B. bovis and B. bigemina genomes where some proteins have been identified with potential to prevent infections by these parasites

An upgraded lab-based method to determine natural γ-ray emitters in NORM samples by using Ge detectors

The regulation existing on NORM activities requires the accurate and quick measurement of natural radionuclides in a wide range of matrices by gamma spectrometry. The aim of this work has been to develop a comprehensive and accurate methodology to determine natural long-lived radionuclides (210Pb, 228,226Ra, 234,228Th and 40K) by gamma spectrometry with Ge detectors in NORM samples. An exhaustive calibration method to obtain the full-energy peak efficiency (FEPE), for each gamma emission energy, as a function of the thickness, apparent density and matrix composition of the cylindrical sample, has been developed. The selected certified calibration standards contain only natural radionuclides belonging to the 238U- and 232Th-series as well as 40K (codes RGU-1, RGTh-1 and RGK-1 from IAEA). Then, the obtained FEPE curves were validated using Genie 2000 simulations and Certified Reference Materials, for which the self-attenuation corrections were considered. Finally, a study on 222Rn losses was done for several samples.Funding for open access charge: Universidad de Huelva / CBU

Occupational, Public and Environmental Radiological Impact Caused by the Phosphoric Acid Industry: The Case of Huelva (Spain)

The production of phosphate fertilizers usually uses as raw material sedimentary phosphate rock, which contains enhanced concentrations from U‐series radionuclides about 10–100 times higher than unperturbed soils. This fact implies the need for evaluating the radiological implications of this activity. In our case, the study has been performed in a large fertilizer industrial complex located at Huelva town (SW of Spain), where sedimentary phosphate rock has been processed since 1965 to 2010, generating annually an average of about 2.5 million tons of a by‐product called phosphogypsum (PG), which has been stored in big stacks 1 km away from Huelva city, covering 1000 ha. The fluxes of the radionuclides of interest along the production process and the effective doses received by the workers have been determined. In addition, the radioecological impact associated to the waste management strategy followed has been evaluated

Characterization of ‘Wonderful’ pomegranate in the state of Chihuahua, México

The consumption of fruits rich in antioxidants has increased in recent years, a clear example of this is the pomegranate (Punica granatum L.). The cultivation of the pomegranate shows great expectations due to its profitability and its adaptability to development in arid zones. In this research, ‘Wonderful’ pomegranate fruits from Coyame Chihuahua, México were used. Quality parameters and bioactive compounds were evaluated to characterize the pomegranate produced in the state of Chihuahua, six different lots from local producers were used. The results showed significance between the different treatments, lot 5 (L5) presented the best quality characteristics such as: weight, diameter, lower percentage of shell and cartilage, as well as one of the highest percentages of arils, in addition, it had a high Total Soluble Solids (TSS) content, a high Titratable Acidity (TA) and a low sugar-acidity ratio, however, lot 3 (L3) showed the highest antioxidant capacity. In general, the qualities and attributes of the Chihuahua pomegranates, obtained higher values ​​in most of the evaluated variables in comparison with other reported results. On the other hand, as a result of this research, the implementation of the color index in the peel is proposed as a tool for the prediction of the maturity index of the pomegranate. This study contributes to the producers of this fruit tree because there is little information on the production and characterization of the pomegranate

Value of the toluidine blue test as an aid to determine the biopsy site in actinic prurigo cheilitis

Actinic prurigo (AP) is a type of photodermatosis that primarily affects the Latin American mestizo population. Histologically, AP cheilitis exhibits acanthosis with spongiosis and vacuolation of the basal cell layer overlying a dense lymphocytic inflammatory infiltrate that forms well-defined lymphoid follicles. Toluidine blue is a thiazide, acidophilic, and metachromatic dye used in vivo to selectively stain the acidic components of tissues such as sulfates, carboxylates, and phosphate radicals that are incorporated into DNA and RNA. It is necessary to develop a method that allows detecting, on clinical grounds the area of the lesion in which it is more feasible to find such structures. Thus to increase the sensitivity of the biopsy, in AP cheilitis to accurately identify where the lymphoid follicles reside, based on the higher concentration of DNA in such structures and thus confirm the diagnosis. In this study, staining was positive in 85% of patients with AP cheilitis, in 14 of whom 82% lymphoid follicles were observed by histopathology. One of the pathologist’s problems in establishing the diagnosis of AP is that the main histopathological characteristics are not always identified in the submitted samples because it is not easy to clinically identify the most representative site of the lesion selected for performing a biopsy. Based on our results, we propose using toluidine blue as an auxiliary method to choose a tissue sample to facilitate the diagnosis and allow clinicians to make clinical correlations between the histopathological and therapeutic findings

Autonomus Motivation as a Mediator Between an Empowering Climate and Enjoyment in MAle Volleyball Players

The objective of this work was to analyze a mediation model concerning the perception ofan empowering climate generated by a coach and enjoyment through the autonomous motivation ofathletes. The sample consisted of 71 elite male volleyball players from six countries. The age rangewas 14 to 18 years (M=16.5, SD=0.96). The relationships between the perception of an empoweringclimate, autonomous motivation, and enjoyment were positive and significant. The mediation modelshowed that autonomous motivation acts as a mediator in the relationship between the perception ofan empowering climate generated by the coach and the enjoyment reported by the athletes

Nutritional standards through Integrated Differential Diagnosis (IDD) in pomegranate (Punica granatum L.)

The foliar analysis is a useful tool to detect the nutritional status of plants, predict future problems in the reproductive cycles of fruit production and implement preventive and corrective measures to achieve a mineral balance in fruit trees, obtaining higher productivity. There is little information available on nutrient sufficiency ranges in pomegranate leaf and the literature reported differs due to diverse cultivation practices, cultivars, and agroecological conditions. Therefore, the objective of this work was to determine the mineral content of ‘Wonderful’ pomegranate leaves for each the nutritional elements and the cation balance, and to establish the nutritional standards using Integrated Differential Diagnosis (IDD). The mineral content of the pomegranate leaves was determined and based on the results, nutritional standards for macro elements, cation balance and microelements were generated through the IDD, which evaluate whether there are mineral and/or physiological imbalances. The macro elements in the cultivation of the pomegranate were the following: NO3 3747.5 µg g-1, Total Nitrogen 1.35%, P 0.14%, K 0.88%, Ca 1.65%, Mg 0.19%, Na 0.006%. For the cation balance, the optimal values ​​were: (Ca+Mg)/K 4.48 mEq 100 g-1, Ca/(K+Mg) 2.13 mEq 100 g-1, Mg/(K+Ca) 0.16 mEq 100 g-1, Ca/Mg 5.06 mEq 100 g-1, K/Mg 1.36 mEq 100 g-1. Finally, the optimal values ​​for the microelements were: Fe 59.5 µg g-1, Mn 31.4 µg g-1, Zn 6.3 µg g-1, Cu 6.1 µg g-1. The values ​​obtained for the micro and macro elements were like those reported. In the case of cation balance and foliar nitrate content, they have not been previously reported. The IDD is a promising and effective auxiliary tool to characterize the nutritional status of pomegranate trees and, in turn, an alternative to conventional methods of nutritional diagnosis with the advantage of establishing a nutritional deficiency (soil-plant relationship) or a physiological imbalance (relation plant - climate) for this crop

Utilization of phosphogypsum and red mud in alfalfa cultivation

In this work, the utilization of phosphogypsum (PG), a waste coming from the manufacture of phosphate fertilizers, as fertilizer for alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) crops was investigated using pot experiments. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of both phosphogypsum and red mud (RM) in two soils representative of the pasture production area in Southern Spain. The morpho-physiological parameters of biomass, plant height, number of stems and number of leaves, as well as the chemical parameters of soil content, were measured. High doses of PG inhibited seed germination in some treatments. In addition, the treatment substrate (2550 g soil + 50 g kg-1 PG + 100 g kg-1 RM) also affected seed germination, possibly due to the large amount of RM. The application of PG and RM to the soil increased the availability of important nutrients for alfalfa, such as phosphorus (P), calcium (Ca2+) and magnesium (Mg2+). The results demonstrate that the treatment with PG significantly improved the uptake of P in alfalfa.This work has been partially funded by: 1) Operative FEDER Program-Andalucía 2014-2020 (Ref.: UHU-202020); 2) PID2020-116461RB-C21/AEI/10.13039/501100011033; 3) TED2021-130361B-I00/AEI/10.13039/501100011033/Unión Europea NextGenerationEU/PRTR; 4) European Union Next Generation EU grant to Professor Dr. Pedro Palencia (BDNS (Identif.): 571952) and the Margarita Salas research grant funded from the Spanish Ministry of Universities to Professor Dr. José Luis Guerrero.Departamento de Física Aplicad

Ulcera lingual como signo único de infección recurrente por micobacteria en un paciente con VIH/SIDA

Se describe un paciente con VIH/SIDA en el que se identificó una infección por micobacteria en la mucosa bucal, probablemente tuberculosis, en un centro de referencia para VIH/SIDA de la Ciudad de México. El propósito del presente informe es describir los hallazgos clínicos e histológicos en un paciente con VIH/SIDA, quien después de haber sido tratado exitosamente para tuberculosis ganglionar 4 años antes, presentó una úlcera lingual como único signo que sugirió recurrencia de infección por micobacteria, probablemente tuberculosis. Hombre de 39 años de edad, atendido desde 1991 en el Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición 'Salvador Zubirán', por el diagnóstico de infección con VIH. En 1999, el paciente presentó tuberculosis ganglionar, recibiendo tratamiento antifímico con involución de las adenopatías y desaparición de los síntomas sistémicos. En mayo del 2003 acudió a consulta por presentar una úlcera superficial en lengua, dolorosa, de 4 meses de evolución, de 0.7 cm. de diámetro, bien circunscrita, crateriforme, con bordes ligeramente elevados, irregulares e indurados. El estudio histopatológico mostró inflamación granulomatosa crónica con células gigantes multinucleadas sugestivas de infección por mi-cobacteria, lo cual hizo pensar en recurrencia de tuberculosis, por lo que se indicó rifampicina, pirazinamida, etambutol y estreptomicina. En junio del 2003 el paciente inició TARAA, que incluyó dos ITRAN y un ITRNN. La lesión lingual evolucionó favorablemente, con cicatrización parcial a la primera semana y remisión total a los 45 días del inicio del tratamiento antifímico; a los 7 meses de seguimiento permanece sin lesión. El presente caso tiene la particularidad de que la úlcera lingual fue la única manifestación de infección por micobacteria, sugestiva de tuberculosis, en un paciente con VIH/SIDA, que pudo ocurrir como resultado de la recurrencia del episodio previo de TB ganglionar.The report describes an HIV/AIDS patient seen at a referral center in Mexico City, in whom a mycobacterial infection in the oral mucosa, probably tuberculosis (TB) was identified. The purpose is to describe the clinical and histological findings in an HIV-infected patient, who after being treated successfully for tuberculous lymphangitis 4 years ago, presented with a lingual ulcer as the only suggestive sign of recurrence of mycobacterial infection, probably M. tuberculosis. A 39-year-old man seen inthe HIV clinic of the Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición 'Salvador Zubirán' in Mexico City since 1991 for HIV infection. In 1999 the patient developed tuberculous lymphangitis; he was managed with a 4-drug regimen for 12 months, with improvement of local and systemic symptoms. In May of 2003, the patient presented a painful superficial lingual ulcer, 0.7 cm in diameter, well circumscribed, crateriform with slightly elevated, irregular and indurated borders, of 4 months duration. The histopathological examination showed chronic granulomatous inflammation with giant multinucleated cells, suggestive of mycobacterial infection, and recurrence of TB was considered. Rifampin, isoniazide, pyrazinamide, ethambutol and streptomycin were administered. The lingual lesion improved with partial healing at the first week and total remission at 45 days after the beginning of the antituberculous treatment. In June, 2003, the patient began highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) that included two NRTIs and one NNRTI. At 7 months of follow-up, the patient remains free of lingual lesions. The particularity of the present case is that the lingual ulcer was the only sign of infection by mycobacteria, suggestive of TB, in an HIV/AIDS patient that probably represented a recurrence of a previous episode

Bovipain-2, the falcipain-2 ortholog, is expressed in intraerythrocytic stages of the tick-transmitted hemoparasite Babesia bovis

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Cysteine proteases have been shown to be highly relevant for Apicomplexan parasites. In the case of <it>Babesia bovis</it>, a tick-transmitted hemoparasite of cattle, inhibitors of these enzymes were shown to hamper intraerythrocytic replication of the parasite, underscoring their importance for survival.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Four papain-like cysteine proteases were found to be encoded by the <it>B. bovis </it>genome using the MEROPS database. One of them, the ortholog of <it>Plasmodium falciparum </it>falcipain-2, here named bovipain-2, was further characterized. Bovipain-2 is encoded in <it>B. bovis </it>chromosome 4 by an ORF of 1.3 kb, has a predicted molecular weight of 42 kDa, and is hydrophilic with the exception of a transmembrane region. It has orthologs in several other apicomplexans, and its predicted amino acid sequence shows a high degree of conservation among several <it>B. bovis </it>isolates from North and South America. Synteny studies demonstrated that the <it>bovipain-2 </it>gene has expanded in the genomes of two related piroplasmids, <it>Theileria parva </it>and <it>T. annulata</it>, into families of 6 and 7 clustered genes respectively. The <it>bovipain-2 g</it>ene is transcribed in <it>in vitro </it>cultured intra-erythrocyte forms of a virulent and an attenuated <it>B. bovis </it>strain from Argentina, and has no introns, as shown by RT-PCR followed by sequencing. Antibodies against a recombinant form of bovipain-2 recognized two parasite protein bands of 34 and 26 kDa, which coincide with the predicted sizes of the pro-peptidase and mature peptidase, respectively. Immunofluorescence studies showed an intracellular localization of bovipain-2 in the middle-rear region of <it>in vitro </it>cultured merozoites, as well as diffused in the cytoplasm of infected erythrocytes. Anti-bovipain-2 antibodies also reacted with <it>B. bigemina</it>-infected erythrocytes giving a similar pattern, which suggests cross-reactivity among these species. Antibodies in sera of two out of six <it>B. bovis</it>-experimentally infected bovines tested, reacted specifically with recombinant bovipain-2 in immunoblots, thus demonstrating expression and immunogenicity during bovine-infecting stages.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Overall, we present the characterization of bovipain-2 and demonstrate its <it>in vitro </it>and <it>in vivo </it>expression in virulent and attenuated strains. Given the involvement of apicomplexan cysteine proteases in essential parasite functions, bovipain-2 constitutes a new vaccine candidate and potential drug target for bovine babesiosis.</p