Identification of Potential New Protein Vaccine Candidates through Pan-Surfomic Analysis of Pneumococcal Clinical Isolates from Adults

Purified polysaccharide and conjugate vaccines are widely used for preventing infections in adults and in children against the Gram-positive bacterium Streptococcus pneumoniae, a pathogen responsible for high morbidity and mortality rates, especially in developing countries. However, these polysaccharide-based vaccines have some important limitations, such as being serotype-dependent, being subjected to losing efficacy because of serotype replacement and high manufacturing complexity and cost. It is expected that protein-based vaccines will overcome these issues by conferring a broad coverage independent of serotype and lowering production costs. In this study, we have applied the ‘‘shaving’’ proteomic approach, consisting of the LC/MS/MS analysis of peptides generated by protease treatment of live cells, to a collection of 16 pneumococcal clinical isolates from adults, representing the most prevalent strains circulating in Spain during the last years. The set of unique proteins identified in all the isolates, called ‘‘pan-surfome’’, consisted of 254 proteins, which included most of the protective protein antigens reported so far. In search of new candidates with vaccine potential, we identified 32 that were present in at least 50% of the clinical isolates analyzed. We selected four of them (Spr0012, Spr0328, Spr0561 and SP670_2141), whose protection capacity has not yet been tested, for assaying immunogenicity in human sera. All of them induced the production of IgM antibodies in infected patients, thus indicating that they could enter the pipeline for vaccine studies. The pan-surfomic approach shows its utility in the discovery of new proteins that can elicit protection against infectious microorganisms

Trastornos menores de salud como factores asociados al desempeño académico de estudiantes de enfermería

Evidence shows that minor health disorders are a relevant factor to be researched among students at universities. This is an issue not only related to individual characteristics, but also might be associated to academic performance. This problem could be influenced by requirements imposed by the educational system, such as a change in students‟ roles and organization of their own time, among others. These elements must be made compatible with adolescent habits, their attitudes and biologic changes. To gauge this problem, we have used a survey designed at the University of Barcelona, and modified it for our own purposes. The sample is composed of 62 first year students of a nursing program in a private university in Chile. 94% of the sample was female. On average, participants answered affirmatively to 7.5 of the problems presented on the list, and negatively to 12.5 (Total = 18). Musculoskeletal pain, headache and sleep disorders are the most common disorders present in over half of the students surveyed. We found correlations between some disorders: Intermediate correlation between “Difficulties in maintaining sleep” and “Eating fewer calories than the body needs.” This second variable is associated to some other disorders. There was a low negative correlation between “Difficulties in maintaining sleep” and “Eating more calories than the body needs.” Similar results related to sleep hygiene were obtained from other researchers. Excessive Calorie Intake is higher than results reported in other studies.La evidencia muestra los trastornos menores en salud en estudiantes universitarios como un factor relevante de ser estudiado. Una variable asociada al rendimiento académico, no tan sólo por las características individuales de ellos, sino también por lo que significa el integrarse a un sistema que impone una serie de exigencias y demandas, por ejemplo un cambio en el desempeño de roles, organización del tiempo, entre otras, que deben compatibilizar con sus hábitos de adolescentes, actitudes y cambios orgánicos. De modo de dimensionar el problema, aplicamos un cuestionario diseñado en la Universidad de Barcelona, adaptado por nosotros, a una muestra de estudiantes que ingresaron en primer año de enfermería en una universidad privada en Chile. 62 personas participaron voluntariamente del estudio. 94% corresponde a mujeres. De los 18 problemas presentados en el instrumento, los participantes contestaron en promedio afirmativamente a 7,5 de ellos y negativamente a 12,5. Dolor osteomuscular, cefalea y trastornos del sueño son los trastornos más frecuentes, presentes en más de la mitad de los estudiantes encuestados. Encontramos algunas correlaciones entre los trastornos: correlación positiva intermedia entre „dificultades para mantener el sueño‟ e „ingerir menos calorías que las necesarias‟; esta última variable tiene asociaciones débiles con varios otros trastornos menores. Se obtuvo una correlación negativa, aunque baja, con ingerir más calorías que las necesarias. Resultados similares encontramos en lo relativo a la higiene del sueño. La ingesta calórica superior a los requerimientos es mayor en la muestra estudiada que en otras investigaciones

Antimicrobial Potential Of Some Plant Extracts Against Candida Species.

The increase in the resistance to antimicrobial drugs in use has attracted the attention of the scientific community, and medicinal plants have been extensively studied as alternative agents for the prevention of infections. The Candida genus yeast can become an opportunistic pathogen causing disease in immunosuppressive hosts. The purpose of this study was to evaluate dichloromethane and methanol extracts from Mentha piperita, Rosmarinus officinalis, Arrabidaea chica, Tabebuia avellanedae, Punica granatum and Syzygium cumini against Candida species through the analysis of Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC). Results presented activity of these extracts against Candida species, especially the methanol extract.701065-

Comportamiento productivo y reproductivo de tres hatos de ganado Cebú del Magdalena Medio

Se estudia el comportamiento productivo y reproductivo de 3 hatos de ganado Cebú-Brahman puros, localizados en Sabana de Torres, Girón y Lebrija al noroccidente de Santander, con alturas de 118 a 160 m.s.n.m., temperaturas de 25 a 27 grados centígrados, humedad relativa de 65 a 80 por ciento y topografía plana con ondulaciones y suelo ácido. El sistema de explotación evolucionó desde el pastoreo continuo en praderas nativas al rotacional con praderas mejoradas y suplementación mineral. El sistema de monta fue continuo y osciló entre 35 vacas/toro al comienzo y 25-30 vacas/toro al final. Debido a la ubicación y manejo diferentes, los 3 hatos fueron analizados independientemente. En el hato 1 se analizaron 1843 observaciones para medir el intervalo entre partos y 478 para el peso al nacimiento y al desdete (270 días). Se utilizó un análisis por cuadrados mínimos con subclases desiguales. El peso al destete se ajustó por covarianza, debido a la dispersión de la edad al destete. Para tasa de natalidad se procesaron y analizaron por X elevado a la 2 3175 hatos

Harina de larva de Hermetia illucens (Diptera: Stratiomyidae) como ingrediente proteico de reemplazo parcial de harina de soja en la alimentación de Cavia porcellus (Cuy): efecto en el consumo, ganancia de peso y conversión alimenticia

One way to address food safety and feed production is through the rearing of insects that exhibit a small ecological footprint, high growth and reproduction rates, high levels of protein, fat and minerals. Forty growing guinea pigs were fed to evaluate the effects of isonitrogenated and isoenergetic diets in which different proportions of soybean meal (0%, 16%, 32% and 50%) were replaced with Hermetia illucens meal, evaluating feed consumption/day (g/day), total feed intake (g), final body weight (g), total weight gain (g) and feed conversion index. The trial was conducted in a repeated measures Analysis of Variance with Greennhouse-Geisser correction. Crude Protein in Hermetia illucens larva meal was 42.16 ± 3.67% (dry matter), replacing soybean meal did not show statistically significant difference between daily weight gain and body weight. The 32% replacement presented a higher daily consumption: 49.05 ± 0.69 g, total consumption: 1717 ± 24.32 g and food conversion: 3.22 ± 0.07. Incorporating Hermetia illucens larva meal at 16% of the protein requirement in Cavia porcellus feeding showed a feed intake per day of 34.57 ± 0.56 and better feed conversion, 2.50 ± 0.04. Hermetia illucens larval meal is an excellent high-quality protein substitute that satisfies the nutritional requirements with less feed in guinea pigs. These findings provide information on the potential of Hermetia illucens meal as a suitable alternative source of soybean meal for guinea pig feed.Una vía para abordar la seguridad alimentaria y producción de piensos es a través de la cría de insectos que exhiben una pequeña huella ecológica, tasas elevadas de crecimiento y reproducción, niveles altos de proteínas, grasas y minerales. Cuarenta cuyes en crecimiento se alimentaron para evaluar los efectos de dietas isonitrogenadas e isoenergéticas en las que se sustituyeron diferentes proporciones de harina de soja (0%, 16%, 32% y 50%) con Harina de Hermetia illucens evaluando consumo de alimento/día (g/día), consumo total de alimento (g), peso corporal final (g), aumento de peso total (g) e índice de conversión alimenticia. El ensayo se condujo en un Análisis de Varianza de medidas repetidas con corrección de Greennhouse-Geisser. La Proteína Cruda en harina de larva de Hermetia illucens fue de 42,16 ± 3,67% (materia seca), en reemplazo de harina de soja no mostró diferencia estadísticamente significativa entre la ganancia de peso diaria y el peso corporal. El remplazo de 32% presentó un mayor consumo diario: 49,05 ± 0,69 g, consumo total: 1717 ± 24,32 g y conversión alimenticia 3,22 ± 0,07. Incorporar harina de larva de Hermetia illucens al 16% del requerimiento proteico en alimentación de Cavia porcellus mostró una ingesta de alimento por día de 34,57 ± 0,56 y mejor conversión alimenticia, 2,50 ± 0,04. La harina de larva de Hermetia illucens es un excelente sustituto proteico de alta calidad que satisface los requerimientos nutricionales con menor cantidad de alimento en cuyes. Estos hallazgos brindan información sobre el potencial de la harina de Hermetia illucens como una fuente alternativa adecuada de harina de soja para la alimentación de cuyes

Action of Coriandrum sativum L. Essential Oil upon Oral Candida albicans Biofilm Formation

The efficacy of extracts and essential oils from Allium tuberosum, Coriandrum sativum, Cymbopogon martini, Cymbopogon winterianus, and Santolina chamaecyparissus was evaluated against Candida spp. isolates from the oral cavity of patients with periodontal disease. The most active oil was fractionated and tested against C. albicans biofilm formation. The oils were obtained by water-distillation and the extracts were prepared with macerated dried plant material. The Minimal Inhibitory Concentration—MIC was determined by the microdilution method. Chemical characterization of oil constituents was performed using Gas Chromatography and Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS). C. sativum activity oil upon cell and biofilm morphology was evaluated by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). The best activities against planktonic Candida spp. were observed for the essential oil and the grouped F8–10 fractions from C. sativum. The crude oil also affected the biofilm formation in C. albicans causing a decrease in the biofilm growth. Chemical analysis of the F8–10 fractions detected as major active compounds, 2-hexen-1-ol, 3-hexen-1-ol and cyclodecane. Standards of these compounds tested grouped provided a stronger activity than the oil suggesting a synergistic action from the major oil constituents. The activity of C. sativum oil demonstrates its potential for a new natural antifungal formulation

Spleen rupture in a case of untreated Plasmodium vivax infection

We report the unique case of a 19-yearold nonimmune patient with Plasmodium vivax monoinfection, confirmed by PCR in the peripheral blood and in the spleen section, who was splenectomized due to spleen rupture two days prior to the diagnosis and treatment of the malarial infection. Microscopic analyses evidenced white pulp expansion and a diffuse hypercellularity in the splenic red pulp, with intense proliferating plasmablasts in the subcapsular and perivascular compartments as well as large numbers of intact P. vivax-infected reticulocytes in the cords, in the absence of other concomitant infectious diseases. To our knowledge, this is the first full detailed immunohistopathological characterization of a nontreated P. vivax-infected spleen

SARS-CoV-2 Seroprevalence Study in Pediatric Patients and Health Care Workers Using Multiplex Antibody Immunoassays

SARS-CoV-2 infection has become a global health problem specially exacerbated with the continuous appearance of new variants. Healthcare workers (HCW) have been one of the most affected sectors. Children have also been affected, and although infection generally presents as a mild disease, some have developed the Pediatric Inflammatory Multisystem Syndrome Temporally Associated with SARS-CoV-2 (PIMS-TS). We recruited 190 adults (HCW and cohabitants, April to June 2020) and 57 children (April 2020 to September 2021), of whom 12 developed PIMS-TS, in a hospital-based study in Spain. Using an in-house Luminex assay previously validated, antibody levels were measured against different spike and nucleocapsid SARS-CoV-2 proteins, including the receptor-binding domain (RBD) of the Alpha, Beta, Gamma, and Delta variants of concern (VoC). Seropositivity rates obtained from children and adults, respectively, were: 49.1% and 11% for IgG, 45.6% and 5.8% for IgA, and 35.1% and 7.3% for IgM. Higher antibody levels were detected in children who developed PIMS-TS compared to those who did not. Using the COVID-19 IgM/IgA ELISA (Vircell, S.L.) kit, widely implemented in Spanish hospitals, a high number of false positives and lower seroprevalences compared with the Luminex estimates were found, indicating a significantly lower specificity and sensitivity. Comparison of antibody levels against RBD-Wuhan versus RBD-VoCs indicated that the strongest positive correlations for all three isotypes were with RBD-Alpha, while the lowest correlations were with RBD-Delta for IgG, RBD-Gamma for IgM, and RBD-Beta for IgA. This study highlights the differences in antibody levels between groups with different demographic and clinical characteristics, as well as reporting the IgG, IgM, and IgA response to RBD VoC circulating at the study period