Search results for "INFECTIOUS"
showing 10 items of 2953 documents
Heterophyid trematodes (Digenea) from penguins: A new species of Ascocotyle Looss, 1899, first description of metacercaria of Ascocotyle (A.) patagon…
2019
Two species of heterophyid trematodes were found in the Magellanic penguin, Spheniscus magellanicus (Forster), from Patagonia, Argentina. Ascocotyle (Ascocotyle) patagoniensis Hernández-Orts et al. (2012) is re-described based on new, properly fixed specimens (original material from South American sea lion, Otaria flavescens Shaw, was from frozen hosts). Metacercariae of this species are reported and described for the first time from the heart of the silversides, Odontesthes argentinensis (Valenciennes) and O. smitti (Lahille), from Patagonia. Ascocotyle (Phagicola) cameliae n. sp. is described from the intestine of S. magellanicus. The new species is placed into the subgenus Phagicola Faus…
Expanding role of cytomegalovirus as a human pathogen
2016
Cytomegalovirus (CMV) continues to be a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in transplant recipients, despite major advancements in preventative strategies. Antiviral prophylaxis and pre-emptive antiviral therapeutic regimens are associated with a high incidence of late-onset end-organ disease and cause drug-related toxicity when overused. Therefore, the identification of risk factors for CMV replication is required. Genetic and immunological factors that predispose individuals to CMV-related clinical complications have been identified and may be instrumental for optimizing CMV treatment in the future. Evidence suggests a causal pathogenetic link between CMV-related complications and i…
Bacterial Vegetative Insecticidal Proteins (Vip) from Entomopathogenic Bacteria
2016
SUMMARY Entomopathogenic bacteria produce insecticidal proteins that accumulate in inclusion bodies or parasporal crystals (such as the Cry and Cyt proteins) as well as insecticidal proteins that are secreted into the culture medium. Among the latter are the Vip proteins, which are divided into four families according to their amino acid identity. The Vip1 and Vip2 proteins act as binary toxins and are toxic to some members of the Coleoptera and Hemiptera. The Vip1 component is thought to bind to receptors in the membrane of the insect midgut, and the Vip2 component enters the cell, where it displays its ADP-ribosyltransferase activity against actin, preventing microfilament formation. Vip3…
A Weaning Reaction to Microbiota Is Required for Resistance to Immunopathologies in the Adult.
2019
International audience; Microbes colonize all body surfaces at birth and participate in the development of the immune system. In newborn mammals, the intestinal microbiota is first shaped by the dietary and immunological components of milk and then changes upon the introduction of solid food during weaning. Here, we explored the reactivity of the mouse intestinal immune system during the first weeks after birth and into adulthood. At weaning, the intestinal microbiota induced a vigorous immune response—a “weaning reaction”—that was programmed in time. Inhibition of the weaning reaction led to pathological imprinting and increased susceptibility to colitis, allergic inflammation, and cancer …
Trematode cercariae as prey for zooplankton: effect on fitness traits of predators.
2019
AbstractRemoval of parasite free-living stages by predators has previously been suggested an important factor controlling parasite transmission in aquatic habitats. Experimental studies of zooplankton predation on macroparasite larvae are, however, scarce. We tested whether trematode cercariae, which are often numerous in shallow waters, are suitable prey for syntopic zooplankters. Feeding rates and survival of freshwater cyclopoids (Megacyclops viridis, Macrocyclops distinctus), calanoids (Arctodiaptomus paulseni), cladocerans (Sida crystallina) and rotifers Asplanchna spp., fed with cercariae of Diplostomum pseudospathaceum, a common fish trematode, were studied. In additional long-term e…
Mortality in COVID-19 disease patients: Correlating Association of Major histocompatibility complex (MHC) with severe acute respiratory syndrome 2 (S…
2020
Highlights • In addition to ethnicity, socio-economic factors, prior vaccinations and exposure to other coronaviruses, other factors need to be considered to explain geographical and regional variations in susceptibility, severity of clinical expression of COVID-19 disease and outcomes. • Differences in peptide binding of SARS-CoV-2 variants to MHC class II, but not to MHC class I alleles frequent in individuals with African, Asian or Caucasian descent could be identified. • Single mutations in the wildtype of SARS-CoV-2, the so called B strain or L strain impact on MHC presentation • Most likely there is selective pressure from MHC class II alleles in regard to binding of the ORF8 (L84S) v…
Cytomegalovirus infection management in solid organ transplant recipients across European centers in the time of molecular diagnostics: An ESGICH sur…
2017
Background Scant information is available about how transplant centers are managing their use of quantitative molecular testing (QNAT) assays for active cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection monitoring in solid organ transplant (SOT) recipients. The current study was aimed at gathering information on current practices in the management of CMV infection across European centers in the era of molecular testing assays. Methods A questionnaire-based cross-sectional survey study was conducted by the European Study Group of Infections in Immunocompromised Hosts (ESGICH) of the Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ESCMID). The invitation and a weekly reminder with a personal link to …
Virological response and retention in care according to time of starting ART in Italy: data from the Icona Foundation Study cohort
2020
Abstract Objectives To describe: (i) factors associated with rapid and delayed ART initiation; (ii) rates of 12 week virological response; and (iii) virologically controlled retention in care by 1 year from ART initiation according to timing of start in a real-life setting. Methods All individuals in the Icona cohort diagnosed with HIV in 2016–17 who initiated ART were grouped according to the time between HIV diagnosis and ART initiation: Group 1, ≤7 days; Group 2, 8–14 days; Group 3, 15–30 days; Group 4, 31–120 days; and Group 5, >120 days. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to identify factors associated with: (i) the probability of rapid (Group 1) and very delayed…
2016
One of the key immunological characteristics of active visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is a profound immunosuppression and impaired production of Interferon-γ (IFN-γ). However, recent studies from Bihar in India showed using a whole blood assay, that whole blood cells have maintained the capacity to produce IFN-γ. Here we tested the hypothesis that a population of low-density granulocytes (LDG) might contribute to T cell responses hyporesponsiveness via the release of arginase. Our results show that this population is affected by the anticoagulant used to collect blood: the frequency of LDGs is significantly lower when the blood is collected with heparin as compared to EDTA; however, the antico…
Optimized production and purification of Coxsackievirus B1 vaccine and its preclinical evaluation in a mouse model.
2017
Coxsackie B viruses are among the most common enteroviruses, causing a wide range of diseases. Recent studies have also suggested that they may contribute to the development of type 1 diabetes. Vaccination would provide an effective way to prevent CVB infections, and the objective of this study was to develop an efficient vaccine production protocol for the generation of novel CVB vaccines. Various steps in the production of a formalin-inactivated Coxsackievirus B1 (CVB1) vaccine were optimized including the Multiplicity Of Infection (MOI) used for virus amplification, virus cultivation time, type of cell growth medium, virus purification method and formulation of the purified virus. Safety…