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Santos-Betancourt A, Santos-Ceballos JC, Alouani MA, Malik SB, Romero A, Ramírez JL, Vilanova X, Llobet E. ZnO Decorated Graphene-Based NFC Tag for Personal NO 2 Exposure Monitoring during a Workday. Sensors (Basel) 2024; 24:1431. [PMID: 38474967 DOI: 10.3390/s24051431] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2024] [Revised: 01/24/2024] [Accepted: 02/19/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024]
Abstract
This paper presents the integration of a sensing layer over interdigitated electrodes and an electronic circuit on the same flexible printed circuit board. This integration provides an effective technique to use this design as a wearable gas measuring system in a target application, exhibiting high performance, low power consumption, and being lightweight for on-site monitoring. The wearable system proves the concept of using an NFC tag combined with a chemoresistive gas sensor as a cumulative gas sensor, having the possibility of holding the data for a working day, and completely capturing the exposure of a person to NO2 concentrations. Three different types of sensors were tested, depositing the sensing layers on gold electrodes over Kapton substrate: bare graphene, graphene decorated with 5 wt.% zinc oxide nanoflowers, or nanopillars. The deposited layers were characterized using FESEM, EDX, XRD, and Raman spectroscopy to determine their crystalline structure, morphological and chemical compositions. The gas sensing performance of the sensors was analyzed against NO2 (dry and humid conditions) and other interfering species (dry conditions) to check their sensitivity and selectivity. The resultant-built wearable NFC tag system accumulates the data in a non-volatile memory every minute and has an average low power consumption of 24.9 µW in dynamic operation. Also, it can be easily attached to a work vest.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alejandro Santos-Betancourt
- Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Microsystems Nanotechnologies for Chemical Analysis (MINOS), Departament d'Enginyeria Electronica, Països Catalans, 26, 43007 Tarragona, Catalunya, Spain
| | - José Carlos Santos-Ceballos
- Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Microsystems Nanotechnologies for Chemical Analysis (MINOS), Departament d'Enginyeria Electronica, Països Catalans, 26, 43007 Tarragona, Catalunya, Spain
| | - Mohamed Ayoub Alouani
- Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Microsystems Nanotechnologies for Chemical Analysis (MINOS), Departament d'Enginyeria Electronica, Països Catalans, 26, 43007 Tarragona, Catalunya, Spain
| | - Shuja Bashir Malik
- Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Microsystems Nanotechnologies for Chemical Analysis (MINOS), Departament d'Enginyeria Electronica, Països Catalans, 26, 43007 Tarragona, Catalunya, Spain
| | - Alfonso Romero
- Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Microsystems Nanotechnologies for Chemical Analysis (MINOS), Departament d'Enginyeria Electronica, Països Catalans, 26, 43007 Tarragona, Catalunya, Spain
| | - José Luis Ramírez
- Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Microsystems Nanotechnologies for Chemical Analysis (MINOS), Departament d'Enginyeria Electronica, Països Catalans, 26, 43007 Tarragona, Catalunya, Spain
| | - Xavier Vilanova
- Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Microsystems Nanotechnologies for Chemical Analysis (MINOS), Departament d'Enginyeria Electronica, Països Catalans, 26, 43007 Tarragona, Catalunya, Spain
| | - Eduard Llobet
- Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Microsystems Nanotechnologies for Chemical Analysis (MINOS), Departament d'Enginyeria Electronica, Països Catalans, 26, 43007 Tarragona, Catalunya, Spain
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Muñoz-Calderón A, Ramírez JL, Díaz-Bello Z, Alarcón de Noya B, Noya O, Schijman AG. Genetic Characterization of Trypanosoma cruzi I Populations from an Oral Chagas Disease Outbreak in Venezuela: Natural Resistance to Nitroheterocyclic Drugs. ACS Infect Dis 2023; 9:582-592. [PMID: 36780430 DOI: 10.1021/acsinfecdis.2c00569] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/15/2023]
Abstract
The oral transmission of Chagas disease (oCD) in Venezuela announced its appearance in 2007. Different from other populations affected by oCD and despite close supervision during treatment with nitroheterocyclic drugs, the result was treatment failure. We studied genetic features of natural bloodstream parasite populations and populations after treatment of nine patients of this outbreak. In total, we studied six hemoculture isolates, eight Pre-Tx blood samples, and 17 samples collected at two or three Post-Tx time-points between 2007 and 2015. Parasitic loads were determined by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR), and discrete typing units (DTU), minicircle signatures, and Tcntr-1 gene sequences were searched from blood samples and hemocultures. Half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) values were measured from the hemocultures. All patients were infected by TcI. Significant decrease in parasitic loads was observed between Pre-Tx and Post-Tx samples, suggesting the evolution from acute to chronic phase of Chagas disease. 60% of intra-DTU-I variability was observed between Pre-Tx and Post-Tx minicircle signatures in the general population, and 43 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were detected in a total of 12 Tcntr-1 gene sequences, indicative of a polyclonal source of infection. SNPs in three post-Tx samples produced stop codons giving rise to putative truncated proteins or displaced open reading frames, which would render resistance genes. IC50 values varied from 5.301 ± 1.973 to 104.731 ± 4.556 μM, demonstrating a wide range of susceptibility. The poor drug response in the Pre-Tx parasite populations may be associated with the presence of naturally resistant parasite clones. Therefore, any information that can be obtained on drug susceptibility from in vitro assays, in vivo assays, or molecular characterization of natural populations of Trypanosoma cruzi becomes essential when therapeutic guidelines are designed in a given geographical area.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arturo Muñoz-Calderón
- Laboratorio de Biología Molecular de la Enfermedad de Chagas, Instituto de Ingeniería Genética y Biología Molecular "Dr. Héctor Torres", Buenos Aires CP1428ADN, Argentina
| | - José Luis Ramírez
- Centro de Biotecnología, Fundación Instituto de Estudios Avanzados, Caracas CP1080, Venezuela
| | - Zoraida Díaz-Bello
- Instituto de Medicina Tropical "Dr. Félix Pifano", Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Central de Venezuela, Caracas CP1050, Venezuela
| | - Belkisyolé Alarcón de Noya
- Instituto de Medicina Tropical "Dr. Félix Pifano", Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Central de Venezuela, Caracas CP1050, Venezuela
| | - Oscar Noya
- Instituto de Medicina Tropical "Dr. Félix Pifano", Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Central de Venezuela, Caracas CP1050, Venezuela.,Centro de Estudios sobre Malaria, Instituto de Altos Estudios, Ministerio del Poder Popular para la Salud, Caracas CP1050, Venezuela
| | - Alejandro G Schijman
- Laboratorio de Biología Molecular de la Enfermedad de Chagas, Instituto de Ingeniería Genética y Biología Molecular "Dr. Héctor Torres", Buenos Aires CP1428ADN, Argentina
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3
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Karachaliou N, Codony-Servat J, Teixidó C, Pilotto S, Drozdowskyj A, Codony-Servat C, Giménez-Capitán A, Molina-Vila MA, Bertrán-Alamillo J, Gervais R, Massuti B, Morán T, Majem M, Felip E, Carcereny E, García-Campelo R, Viteri S, González-Cao M, Morales-Espinosa D, Verlicchi A, Crisetti E, Chaib I, Santarpia M, Luis Ramírez J, Bosch-Barrera J, Felipe Cardona A, de Marinis F, López-Vivanco G, Miguel Sánchez J, Vergnenegre A, Sánchez Hernández JJ, Sperduti I, Bria E, Rosell R. Author Correction: BIM and mTOR expression levels predict outcome to erlotinib in EGFR-mutant non-small-cell lung cancer. Sci Rep 2023; 13:3620. [PMID: 36869103 PMCID: PMC9984426 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-30374-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/05/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Niki Karachaliou
- grid.440085.d0000 0004 0615 254XInstituto Oncológico Dr Rosell, Quiron-Dexeus University Hospital, Barcelona, Spain
| | | | | | - Sara Pilotto
- Department of Medical Oncology, University of Verona, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Integrata, Verona, Italy
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Radj Gervais
- grid.418189.d0000 0001 2175 1768Centre François Baclesse, Caen, France
| | - Bartomeu Massuti
- grid.411086.a0000 0000 8875 8879Hospital General de Alicante, Alicante, Spain
| | - Teresa Morán
- Catalan Institute of Oncology, Hospital Germans Trias i Pujol, Badalona, Spain
| | - Margarita Majem
- grid.413396.a0000 0004 1768 8905Hospital de Sant Pau, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Enriqueta Felip
- grid.411083.f0000 0001 0675 8654Hospital Vall d’Hebron, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Enric Carcereny
- Catalan Institute of Oncology, Hospital Germans Trias i Pujol, Badalona, Spain
| | - Rosario García-Campelo
- grid.411066.40000 0004 1771 0279Complexo Hospitalario Universitario La Coruña, La Coruña, Spain
| | - Santiago Viteri
- grid.440085.d0000 0004 0615 254XInstituto Oncológico Dr Rosell, Quiron-Dexeus University Hospital, Barcelona, Spain
| | - María González-Cao
- grid.440085.d0000 0004 0615 254XInstituto Oncológico Dr Rosell, Quiron-Dexeus University Hospital, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Daniela Morales-Espinosa
- grid.440085.d0000 0004 0615 254XInstituto Oncológico Dr Rosell, Quiron-Dexeus University Hospital, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Alberto Verlicchi
- grid.415207.50000 0004 1760 3756Ospedale Santa Maria delle Croci, Ravenna, Italy
| | - Elisabetta Crisetti
- grid.10796.390000000121049995Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Institute of Respiratory Diseases, University of Foggia, Foggia, Italy
| | - Imane Chaib
- Catalan Institute of Oncology, Hospital Germans Trias i Pujol, Badalona, Spain
| | - Mariacarmela Santarpia
- grid.10438.3e0000 0001 2178 8421Human Pathology Department, Medical Oncology Unit, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - José Luis Ramírez
- Catalan Institute of Oncology, Hospital Germans Trias i Pujol, Badalona, Spain
| | - Joaquim Bosch-Barrera
- grid.411295.a0000 0001 1837 4818Catalan Institute of Oncology, Hospital Josep Trueta, Girona, Spain
| | - Andrés Felipe Cardona
- Clinical and Traslational Oncology Group, Institute of Oncology, Clínica del Country, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Filippo de Marinis
- grid.15667.330000 0004 1757 0843Divisione di Oncologica Toracica, Direttore, Istituto Europeo di Oncologia—IEO, Milano, Italy
| | - Guillermo López-Vivanco
- grid.411232.70000 0004 1767 5135Chief, Medical Oncology Service, Hospital de Cruces, Barakaldo, Vizcaya Spain
| | - José Miguel Sánchez
- grid.411251.20000 0004 1767 647XMedical Oncology Service, Hospital de la Princesa, Madrid, Spain
| | | | | | - Isabella Sperduti
- grid.417520.50000 0004 1760 5276Biostatistics, Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
| | - Emilio Bria
- Department of Medical Oncology, University of Verona, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Integrata, Verona, Italy
| | - Rafael Rosell
- Instituto Oncológico Dr Rosell, Quiron-Dexeus University Hospital, Barcelona, Spain. .,Pangaea Biotech, Barcelona, Spain. .,Catalan Institute of Oncology, Hospital Germans Trias i Pujol, Badalona, Spain. .,Molecular Oncology Research (MORe) Foundation, Barcelona, Spain. .,Germans Trias i Pujol Health Sciences Institute and Hospital, Campus Can Ruti, Barcelona, Spain.
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Ramírez JL. The Elusive Trypanosoma cruzi Disperse Gene Protein Family (DGF-1). Pathogens 2023; 12:pathogens12020292. [PMID: 36839564 PMCID: PMC9967923 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens12020292] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2023] [Revised: 01/31/2023] [Accepted: 02/04/2023] [Indexed: 02/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Chagas disease, caused by Trypanosoma cruzi infections, is included in the group of neglected diseases, and efforts to develop new therapeutic or immunoprevention approaches have not been successful. After the publication of the T. cruzi genome, the number of molecular and biochemical studies on this parasite has increased considerably, many of which are focused on families of variant surface proteins, especially trans-sialidases, mucins, and mucin-associated proteins. The disperse gene protein 1 family (DGF-1) is one of the most abundant families in the T. cruzi genome; however, the large gene size, high copy numbers, and low antibody titers detected in infected humans make it an unattractive study target. However, here we argue that given the ubiquitous presence in all T. cruzi species, and physicochemical characteristics, the DGF-1 gene family may play and important role in host-parasite interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- José Luis Ramírez
- Instituto de Estudios Avanzados, Caracas, Venezuela and Universidad Central de Venezuela, Caracas 1080, Venezuela
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5
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Casique L, De Lucca M, Mahfoud A, Luis Ramírez J. MELAS a clinically and genetically heterogeneous syndrome. Clin Biochem 2023; 112:75-76. [PMID: 36402172 DOI: 10.1016/j.clinbiochem.2022.11.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2022] [Accepted: 11/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Liliana Casique
- Biotechnology Center, Fundación Instituto de Estudios Avanzados IDEA, Caracas, Venezuela; Laboratory of Human Metabolism, Department of Cell Biology, Universidad Simón Bolívar, Caracas, Venezuela
| | - Marisel De Lucca
- Inborn Errors of Metabolism Unit, Bioscience Center, Fundación Instituto de Estudios Avanzados IDEA, Caracas, Venezuela; Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universidad Técnica de Manabí, Portoviejo, Ecuador.
| | - Antonieta Mahfoud
- Inborn Errors of Metabolism Unit, Bioscience Center, Fundación Instituto de Estudios Avanzados IDEA, Caracas, Venezuela
| | - José Luis Ramírez
- Biotechnology Center, Fundación Instituto de Estudios Avanzados IDEA, Caracas, Venezuela
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6
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Florez I, Pirrone I, Casique L, Domínguez CL, Mahfoud A, Rodríguez T, Rodríguez D, De Lucca M, Ramírez JL. Independent origin for m.3243A>G mitochondrial mutation in three Venezuelan cases of MELAS syndrome. Clin Biochem 2022; 109-110:98-101. [PMID: 36130631 DOI: 10.1016/j.clinbiochem.2022.09.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2022] [Revised: 09/01/2022] [Accepted: 09/14/2022] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Mitochondrial myopathy, encephalopathy, lactic acidosis, and stroke-like episodes (MELAS) is a multisystem and progressive neurodegenerative mitochondrial disease, caused by point nucleotide changes in the mtDNA where 80 % of cases have the mutation m.3243A>G in the MT-TL1 gene. In this work, we described the clinical, biochemical and molecular analysis of three Venezuelan patients affected with MELAS syndrome. All cases showed lactic acidosis, cortical cerebral atrophy on magnetic resonance imaging and muscular system deficit, and in two of the cases alteration of urine organic acid levels was also registered. A screening for the mutation m.3243A>G in different patients' body samples confirmed the presence of this mutation with variable degrees of heteroplasmy (blood = 7-41 %, buccal mucosa = 14-53 %, urine = 58-94 %). The mitochondrial haplogroups for the three patients were different (H, C1b, and A2), indicating an independent origin for the mutation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ingrid Florez
- Biotechnology Center, Fundación Instituto de Estudios Avanzados IDEA, Caracas, Venezuela
| | - Irune Pirrone
- Biotechnology Center, Fundación Instituto de Estudios Avanzados IDEA, Caracas, Venezuela; Laboratory of Human Metabolism, Department of Cell Biology, Universidad Simón Bolívar, Caracas, Venezuela
| | - Liliana Casique
- Biotechnology Center, Fundación Instituto de Estudios Avanzados IDEA, Caracas, Venezuela; Laboratory of Human Metabolism, Department of Cell Biology, Universidad Simón Bolívar, Caracas, Venezuela.
| | - Carmen Luisa Domínguez
- Inborn Errors of Metabolism Unit, Bioscience Center, Fundación Instituto de Estudios Avanzados IDEA, Caracas, Venezuela
| | - Antonieta Mahfoud
- Inborn Errors of Metabolism Unit, Bioscience Center, Fundación Instituto de Estudios Avanzados IDEA, Caracas, Venezuela
| | - Tania Rodríguez
- Inborn Errors of Metabolism Unit, Bioscience Center, Fundación Instituto de Estudios Avanzados IDEA, Caracas, Venezuela
| | - Daniel Rodríguez
- Inborn Errors of Metabolism Unit, Bioscience Center, Fundación Instituto de Estudios Avanzados IDEA, Caracas, Venezuela
| | - Marisel De Lucca
- Inborn Errors of Metabolism Unit, Bioscience Center, Fundación Instituto de Estudios Avanzados IDEA, Caracas, Venezuela; Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universidad Técnica de Manabí, Portoviejo, Ecuador.
| | - José Luis Ramírez
- Biotechnology Center, Fundación Instituto de Estudios Avanzados IDEA, Caracas, Venezuela
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Russo C, Ramírez JL, Fernández‐Francos X, De la Flor S. Electro‐responsive shape‐memory composites obtained via dual‐curing processing. POLYM ADVAN TECHNOL 2022. [DOI: 10.1002/pat.5634] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Claudio Russo
- Department of Mechanical Engineering Universitat Rovira i Virgili Tarragona Spain
| | - José Luis Ramírez
- Department of Electrical, Electronic, Engineering and Automation Universitat Rovira i Virgili Tarragona Spain
| | | | - Silvia De la Flor
- Department of Mechanical Engineering Universitat Rovira i Virgili Tarragona Spain
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8
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Iakab SA, Baquer G, Lafuente M, Pina MP, Ramírez JL, Ràfols P, Correig-Blanchar X, García-Altares M. SALDI-MS and SERS Multimodal Imaging: One Nanostructured Substrate to Rule Them Both. Anal Chem 2022; 94:2785-2793. [PMID: 35102738 PMCID: PMC8851428 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.1c04118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
![]()
Imaging techniques
based on mass spectrometry or spectroscopy methods
inform in situ about the chemical composition of
biological tissues or organisms, but they are sometimes limited by
their specificity, sensitivity, or spatial resolution. Multimodal
imaging addresses these limitations by combining several imaging modalities;
however, measuring the same sample with the same preparation using
multiple imaging techniques is still uncommon due to the incompatibility
between substrates, sample preparation protocols, and data formats.
We present a multimodal imaging approach that employs a gold-coated
nanostructured silicon substrate to couple surface-assisted laser
desorption/ionization mass spectrometry (SALDI-MS) and surface-enhanced
Raman spectroscopy (SERS). Our approach integrates both imaging modalities
by using the same substrate, sample preparation, and data analysis
software on the same sample, allowing the coregistration of both images.
We transferred molecules from clean fingertips and fingertips covered
with plasticine modeling clay onto our nanostructure and analyzed
their chemical composition and distribution by SALDI-MS and SERS.
Multimodal analysis located the traces of plasticine on fingermarks
and provided chemical information on the composition of the clay.
Our multimodal approach effectively combines the advantages of mass
spectrometry and vibrational spectroscopy with the signal enhancing
abilities of our nanostructured substrate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefania-Alexandra Iakab
- Department of Electronic Engineering, Rovira i Virgili University, Tarragona 43007, Spain.,Spanish Biomedical Research Centre in Diabetes and Associated Metabolic Disorders (CIBERDEM), Madrid 28029, Spain
| | - Gerard Baquer
- Department of Electronic Engineering, Rovira i Virgili University, Tarragona 43007, Spain
| | - Marta Lafuente
- Instituto de Nanociencia y Materiales de Aragón (INMA), CSIC-Universidad de Zaragoza, Zaragoza 50009, Spain.,Departamento de Ingeniería Química y Tecnologías del Medio Ambiente, Universidad de Zaragoza, Campus Río Ebro-Edificio I+D+i, C/Mariano Esquillor s/n, Zaragoza 50018, Spain
| | - Maria Pilar Pina
- Instituto de Nanociencia y Materiales de Aragón (INMA), CSIC-Universidad de Zaragoza, Zaragoza 50009, Spain.,Departamento de Ingeniería Química y Tecnologías del Medio Ambiente, Universidad de Zaragoza, Campus Río Ebro-Edificio I+D+i, C/Mariano Esquillor s/n, Zaragoza 50018, Spain.,Networking Research Center on Bioengineering, Biomaterials and Nanomedicine, CIBER-BBN, Madrid 28029, Spain
| | - José Luis Ramírez
- Department of Electronic Engineering, Rovira i Virgili University, Tarragona 43007, Spain
| | - Pere Ràfols
- Department of Electronic Engineering, Rovira i Virgili University, Tarragona 43007, Spain.,Spanish Biomedical Research Centre in Diabetes and Associated Metabolic Disorders (CIBERDEM), Madrid 28029, Spain
| | - Xavier Correig-Blanchar
- Department of Electronic Engineering, Rovira i Virgili University, Tarragona 43007, Spain.,Spanish Biomedical Research Centre in Diabetes and Associated Metabolic Disorders (CIBERDEM), Madrid 28029, Spain.,Institut d'Investigació Sanitària Pere Virgili (IISPV), Reus 43204, Spain
| | - María García-Altares
- Department of Electronic Engineering, Rovira i Virgili University, Tarragona 43007, Spain.,Spanish Biomedical Research Centre in Diabetes and Associated Metabolic Disorders (CIBERDEM), Madrid 28029, Spain
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Díaz-Bello Z, de Noya BA, Muñoz-Calderón A, Ruiz-Guevara R, Mauriello L, Colmenares C, Moronta E, Aponte M, Ramírez JL, Noya-González O. Ten-year follow-up of the largest oral Chagas disease outbreak. Laboratory biomarkers of infection as indicators of therapeutic failure. Acta Trop 2021; 222:106034. [PMID: 34224715 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2021.106034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2020] [Revised: 06/17/2021] [Accepted: 06/28/2021] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Trypanosoma cruzi uses various mechanisms of infection to access humans. Since 1967, food contaminated with metacyclic trypomastigotes has triggered several outbreaks of acute infection of Chagas disease by oral transmission. Follow-up studies to assess the effectiveness of anti-parasitic treatment of oral outbreaks are rather scarce. Here, we report a 10-year laboratory follow-up using parasitological, serological, and molecular tests of 106 individuals infected in 2007 of the largest known outbreak of orally transmitted Chagas disease, which occurred in Caracas city, Venezuela. Before treatment (2007), specific IgA, IgM and IgG, were found in 71% (75/106), 90% (95/106) and 100% (106/106), respectively, in addition to 21% (9/43) parasitemia, Complement Mediated Lysis (CML) in 98% (104/106) and 79% (34/43) parasitic DNA for PCR. Blood culture detected parasitemia up to 18 months post-treatment in 6% (6/106) of the patients. In 2017, the original number of cases in the follow-up decreased by 46% and due to the country's economic situation, not all the trials could be carried out in the entire population. During follow-up, IgA and IgM disappeared promptly, with IgM persisting in 19% (20/104) of the patients three years after treatment. The anti-T. cruzi IgG remained positive 10 years later in 41% (20/49) of the individuals evaluated. CML remained positive seven years later in 79% (65/82) of the cases. PCR positive cases decreased after treatment but progressively recovered, being positive in 69% (32/46) of the individuals evaluated in 2017. The group of children (under 18 years of age) showed the highest PCR positivity with 76% (26/34) of the cases, but their parasitic load tended to diminish, while in adults the parasitic load regained their initial values. The simultaneous evaluation of serological tests and PCR of the patients allowed us to separate patients among responders and non-responders to the anti-parasitic treatment, and this information prompted us to apply a second anti-parasitic treatment in the group of non-responders. In this population not subjected to the like lihood of re-infection, adult patients were more likely to be non-responders when compared to children. These results suggest that rigorous laboratory follow-up with T. cruzi infectious biomarkers is essential to detect cases of parasite persistence.
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Munoz-Calderon A, Díaz-Bello Z, Ramírez JL, Noya O, de Noya BA. Nifurtimox response of Trypanosoma cruzi isolates from an outbreak of Chagas disease in Caracas, Venezuela. J Vector Borne Dis 2020; 56:237-243. [PMID: 32655073 DOI: 10.4103/0972-9062.289397] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVES In Venezuela, Chagas disease (ChD) is considered a serious health problem, with about 6 million people at risk; and acute outbreaks due to oral transmission of Chagas Disease (OChD) are becoming increasingly important. In 2007 there was a major outbreak of OChD and although patients from this episode were treated with nifurtimox (Lampit®-Bayer), about 70% therapeutic failure was registered. These results led us to examine whether parasite's drug susceptibility was related to this therapeutic failure. METHODS The Trypanosoma cruzi parasites were isolated by haemoculture of the peripheral blood drawn from the pre- and post-nifurtimox treated patients infected in the 2007 OChD outbreak at Caracas, Venezuela. The in vitro assays for drug testing were performed by the MTT methodology followed by calculation of inhibitory concentration-50 (IC50) values. RESULTS Parasite isolates obtained from the infected patients prior and after nifurtimox treatment when subjected to variable concentrations of the drug showed great heterogeneity in susceptibility with IC50 values ranging from 4.07 ± 1.82 to 94.92 ± 7.24 μM. INTERPRETATION & CONCLUSION The high heterogeneity in nifurtimox IC50 values in the isolates and clones from the OChD patients, suggests that the therapeutic failure to nifurtimox could be due in part to a phenotypic variability that existed in the wild parasite population at the original source of contamination. Though, further pharmacological studies are needed to confirm the existence of natural nifurtimox resistance in the parasite.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arturo Munoz-Calderon
- Sección de Inmunología, Instituto de Medicina Tropical, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Central de Venezuela (IMT-FM-UCV), Caracas, Venezuela
| | - Zoraida Díaz-Bello
- Sección de Inmunología, Instituto de Medicina Tropical, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Central de Venezuela (IMT-FM-UCV), Caracas, Venezuela
| | - José Luis Ramírez
- Centro de Biotecnología, Fundación Instituto de Estudios Avanzados, Caracas, Venezuela
| | - Oscar Noya
- Sección de Biohelmintiasis, IMT-FM-UCV; Centro para Estudios sobre Malaria, Instituto de Altos Estudios "Dr. Arnoldo Gabaldón", Instituto Nacional de Higiene 'Rafael Rangel, Ministerio del Poder Popular para la Salud, Caracas, Venezuela
| | - Belkisyolé Alarcón de Noya
- Sección de Inmunología, Instituto de Medicina Tropical, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Central de Venezuela (IMT-FM-UCV), Caracas, Venezuela
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11
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Cruz-Bustos T, Ibarrola-Vannucci AK, Díaz-Lozano I, Ramírez JL, Osuna A. Characterization and functionality of two members of the SPFH protein superfamily, prohibitin 1 and 2 in Leishmania major. Parasit Vectors 2018; 11:622. [PMID: 30514373 PMCID: PMC6278115 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-018-3195-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2018] [Accepted: 11/09/2018] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Leishmaniasis, a disease caused by parasites of the genus Leishmania, infects roughly 12 million people worldwide, with about two million new cases per year. Prohibitins (PHBs) are highly conserved proteins belonging to the stomatin-prohibitin flotillin-HflC/K (SPFH) protein superfamily. In this study, we examine the potential functions of two proteins of Leishmania major, PHB1 and PHB2, as well as how they might help protect the protozoan against oxidative stress. Results By immunolocalization in the parasite cells, PHB1 appeared in the mitochondria and plasma membrane, whereas PHB2 was grouped in the nucleus. When Leishmania cells were under oxidative stress, PHB1 migrates towards the plasma membrane and the paraxial rod, while PHB2 remained in the nucleus and near the kinetoplast. PHB1 presented higher mRNA levels than PHB2 in the amastigotes and the infective metacyclic forms. The mRNA expression of both prohibitins was affected by the presence of the Fe3+ ion. PHBs inhibited the Fenton reaction, where reactive oxygen species could nick DNA, implying that they play a crucial role in controlling oxidative stress. Conclusions Here, we propose that PHBs may help to protect membranes and DNA against superoxide ions, thus enhancing the survival capacity of the protozoan by controlling the ROS within the phagosome of the macrophages where the parasite multiplies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Teresa Cruz-Bustos
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Science, University of Granada, Granada, Spain
| | | | - Isabel Díaz-Lozano
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Science, University of Granada, Granada, Spain.,Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - José Luis Ramírez
- Instituto de Estudios Avanzados, (IDEA), Caracas, Venezuela.,Instituto de Biología Experimental, Universidad Central de Venezuela, Caracas, Venezuela
| | - A Osuna
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Science, University of Granada, Granada, Spain. .,Molecular Parasitology Research Group (CTS-183), Institute of Biotechnology, University of Granada, Granada, Spain.
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12
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Cirauqui B, Margelí M, Quiroga V, Quer A, Karachaliou N, Chaib I, Ramírez JL, Muñoz A, Pollán C, Planas I, Drozdowsky A, Rosell R. DNA repair pathways to regulate response to chemoradiotherapy in patients with locally advanced head and neck cancer. Tumour Biol 2016; 37:13435-13443. [PMID: 27465548 DOI: 10.1007/s13277-016-5149-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2016] [Accepted: 07/11/2016] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Platinum-based chemoradiotherapy (CRT) is a preferred standard of care for locally advanced head and neck cancer (HNC). However, survival benefit is small, with substantial toxicity and biomarkers of CRT resistance that could guide treatment selection and spare morbidity. Increased DNA repair in solid tumors may contribute to cancer cells' ability to survive in genotoxic stress environments afforded by therapy. We assessed mRNA expression levels of DNA repair-related genes BRCA1, RAP80, 53 binding protein 1 (53BP1), mediator of DNA damage checkpoint 1 (MDC1), and RNF8. We correlated our findings with response and overall survival in 72 head and neck patients treated with weekly carboplatin AUC 2 and radiotherapy. Complete response (CR) to CRT was 50 % in patients with low levels of 53BP1 compared to 6.3 % in patients with high levels (p = 0.0059). Of high BRCA1 mRNA expressors, 41.2 % had CR compared to 29.4 % of low expressors (p = 0.72). For a small group of patients with low 53BP1 and either high BRCA1 or RAP80, CRs were 66.7 and 71.4 %, respectively. A trend for better overall survival (OS) was found for patients with low 53BP1 (15 vs 8 m; p = 0.056). Our findings highlight the potential usefulness of 53BP1 mRNA as a predictive biomarker of response and overall survival in HNC patients treated with chemoradiotherapy. Those with high 53BP1 expression could derive only a meager benefit from treatment. Analysis of BRCA1 and RAP80 could further reinforce the predictive value of 53BP1. Although this was a retrospective study with small sample size, it could inform larger translational studies in HNC.
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Affiliation(s)
- B Cirauqui
- Medical Oncology, Institut Català d'Oncologia Badalona-HU Germans Trias i Pujol, Autonomous University of Barcelona, Badalona, Barcelona, Spain.
| | - M Margelí
- Medical Oncology, Institut Català d'Oncologia Badalona-HU Germans Trias i Pujol, Autonomous University of Barcelona, Badalona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - V Quiroga
- Medical Oncology, Institut Català d'Oncologia Badalona-HU Germans Trias i Pujol, Autonomous University of Barcelona, Badalona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - A Quer
- Pathological Anatomy, HU Germans Trias i Pujol, Badalona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - N Karachaliou
- Quirón Dexeus University Institute, Barcelona, Spain
| | - I Chaib
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Institut Català d'Oncologia Badalona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - J L Ramírez
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Institut Català d'Oncologia Badalona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - A Muñoz
- Pathological Anatomy, HU Germans Trias i Pujol, Badalona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - C Pollán
- Otolaryngology, HU Germans Trias i Pujol, Badalona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - I Planas
- Radiation Oncology, Institut Català d'Oncologia Badalona-HU Germans Trias i Pujol, Badalona, Barcelona, Spain
| | | | - R Rosell
- Quirón Dexeus University Institute, Barcelona, Spain
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Institut Català d'Oncologia Badalona, Barcelona, Spain
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13
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Karachaliou N, Chaib I, Pilotto S, Codony J, Cai X, Li X, Drozdowskyj A, Codony C, Cardona AF, López-Vivanco G, Vergnenègre A, Sánchez JM, Provencio M, de Marinis F, Carcereny E, Reguart N, García-Campelo R, Marin S, Teixido C, Sperduti I, Rodríguez S, Estrada R, Puig de la Bellacasa R, Ramírez JL, Molina-Vila MA, Zhou C, Cao P, Ma P, Bivona T, Rosell R. Abstract 265: Cotargeting EGFR, STAT3 and Src-Notch pathways: a promising approach to improve the efficacy of EGFR-TKIs in the treatment of NSCLC patients. Cancer Res 2016. [DOI: 10.1158/1538-7445.am2016-265] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Intrinsic or acquired resistance limits the clinical effectiveness of EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients (p) with EGFR mutations. One of the signaling mediators downstream of activated EGFR is signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3). Not only does gefitinib not inhibit STAT3, but it also augments STAT3 tyrosine phosphorylation. EGFR blockade enriches lung cancer stem cells (CSCs) through NOTCH3-dependent signaling. A co-receptor of IL-6 (gp130) associates with Src and triggers activation of YAP and NOTCH. Our study is designed with three parallel objectives: firstly, to demonstrate that single EGFR TKI treatment cannot abrogate STAT3 and Src in EGFR mutant NSCLC cell lines; secondly, to examine whether the combination of gefitinib with compounds that target STAT3, (TPCA-1) and Src (saracatinib), suppresses the mechanisms of resistance; thirdly, to identify biomarkers in clinical tumor samples that may help us predict the outcome of EGFR TKIs and design effective combination therapies. Cell viability assay (MTT), western blotting, quantitative-real time PCR (qRT-PCR) and aldefluor assay-flow cytometry were used. We found that gefitinib increases pSTAT3 Y705 in PC-9 cells (that harbor the exon 19 deletion) in a time- and dose-dependent manner. Nine days after gefitinib treatment STAT3 mRNA level was significantly elevated. PC-9 cells showed dramatic increase in the fraction of ALDH+ cells upon treatment with gefitinib. TPCA-1 increased sensitivity to gefitinib in the PC-9 cells. Combination of gefitinib with TPCA-1 abrogated pSTAT3 Y705 but neither inhibited pPaxillin Y118 (Src induced) and pYAP S127 nor prevented the increment in the ALDH+ CSCs subpopulation. The triple combination of gefitinib, TPCA-1 and saracatinib was highly synergistic and abrogated pSTAT3 Y705, pPaxillin Y118 and pYAP S127. We performed qRT-PCR at baseline tumor samples of 64 EGFR mutant NSCLC p treated with first line EGFR TKIs and found that high expression of STAT3 and YAP were significantly correlated with shorter median progression-free survival (mPFS). mPFS was 9.6 months (m) (95% CI, 5.9 to 14.1) for p with low STAT3 and 18.4m (95% CI, 8.8 to 30.2) for p with high STAT3 mRNA expression (P<0.001). mPFS was 9.6 months (95% CI, 7.7 to 15.2) for p with low YAP and 23.4 months (95% CI, 13.0 to 28.1) for p with high YAP mRNA expression (P = 0.005). A combined STAT3 and YAP risk group model was constructed since the mRNA expression of the 2 transcripts was weakly correlated (r = .0.15; P = 0.305). mPFS was 25.7 months for p with low STAT3 and YAP mRNA (95% CI, 8.5 to 60.9), 9.4 months for p with high STAT3 and YAP mRNA (95% CI, 2.8 to 15.2), and 14.1 months for others (95% CI, 8.2 to 23.4) (P = 0.004). Single EGFR TKI treatment can no longer be considered adequate for p with EGFR mutant lung cancer and a clinical trial co-targeting STAT3 and Src is warranted.
Citation Format: Niki Karachaliou, Imane Chaib, Sara Pilotto, Jordi Codony, Xueting Cai, Xuefei Li, Ana Drozdowskyj, Carles Codony, Andrés Felipe Cardona, Guillermo López-Vivanco, Alain Vergnenègre, José Miguel Sánchez, Mariano Provencio, Filippo de Marinis, Enric Carcereny, Noemí Reguart, Rosario García-Campelo, Silvia Marin, Cristina Teixido, Isabella Sperduti, Sonia Rodríguez, Roger Estrada, Raimon Puig de la Bellacasa, José Luis Ramírez, Miguel Angel Molina-Vila, Caicun Zhou, Peng Cao, Patrick Ma, Trever Bivona, Rafael Rosell. Cotargeting EGFR, STAT3 and Src-Notch pathways: a promising approach to improve the efficacy of EGFR-TKIs in the treatment of NSCLC patients. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 107th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2016 Apr 16-20; New Orleans, LA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(14 Suppl):Abstract nr 265.
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Affiliation(s)
- Niki Karachaliou
- 1Instituto Oncológico Dr Rosell (IOR), Quirón-Dexeus University Institute, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Imane Chaib
- 2Institut Catala d’Oncologia. Hospital Germans Trias i Pujol, Badalona, Spain
| | - Sara Pilotto
- 3Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Integrata, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Jordi Codony
- 4Pangaea Biotech, Quirón-Dexeus University Institute, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Xueting Cai
- 5Hospital of integrated traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Nanjing, China
| | - Xuefei Li
- 6Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital, Tongji University Medical School Cancer Institute, Shangai, China
| | | | - Carles Codony
- 4Pangaea Biotech, Quirón-Dexeus University Institute, Barcelona, Spain
| | | | | | - Alain Vergnenègre
- 10Service de Pathologie Respiratoire et d’Allergologie, CHU, Limoges, France
| | | | | | | | - Enric Carcereny
- 2Institut Catala d’Oncologia. Hospital Germans Trias i Pujol, Badalona, Spain
| | | | | | - Silvia Marin
- 2Institut Catala d’Oncologia. Hospital Germans Trias i Pujol, Badalona, Spain
| | - Cristina Teixido
- 4Pangaea Biotech, Quirón-Dexeus University Institute, Barcelona, Spain
| | | | - Sonia Rodríguez
- 4Pangaea Biotech, Quirón-Dexeus University Institute, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Roger Estrada
- 17Institut Químic de Sarrià, Universitat Ramon Llull, Barcelona, Spain
| | | | - José Luis Ramírez
- 18Institut Catala d’Oncologia, Univ. Hospital Germans Trias i Pujol, Badalona, Spain
| | | | - Caicun Zhou
- 6Shanghai Pulmonary Hospital, Tongji University Medical School Cancer Institute, Shangai, China
| | - Peng Cao
- 5Hospital of integrated traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Nanjing, China
| | - Patrick Ma
- 19West Virginia University, Lung Cancer Research, VA
| | - Trever Bivona
- 20UCSF Helen Diller Familiy Comprehensive Cancer Center, San Francisco, CA
| | - Rafael Rosell
- 18Institut Catala d’Oncologia, Univ. Hospital Germans Trias i Pujol, Badalona, Spain
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14
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Rosell A, Rodríguez N, Monsó E, Taron M, Millares L, Ramírez JL, López-Lisbona R, Cubero N, Andreo F, Sanz J, Llatjós M, Llatjós R, Fernández-Figueras MT, Mate JL, Català I, Setó L, Roset M, Díez-Ferrer M, Dorca J. Aberrant gene methylation and bronchial dysplasia in high risk lung cancer patients. Lung Cancer 2016; 94:102-7. [PMID: 26973214 DOI: 10.1016/j.lungcan.2016.02.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2015] [Revised: 12/29/2015] [Accepted: 02/02/2016] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The risk for lung cancer is incremented in high degree dysplasia (HGD) and in subjects with hypermethylation of multiple genes. We sought to establish the association between them, as well as to analyze the DNA aberrant methylation in sputum and in bronchial washings (BW). METHODS Cross sectional study of high risk patients for lung cancer in whom induced sputum and autofluorescence bronchoscopy were performed. The molecular analysis was determined on DAPK1, RASSF1A and p16 genes using Methylation-specific PCR. RESULTS A total of 128 patients were enrolled in the study. Dysplasia lesions were found in 79 patients (61.7%) and high grade dysplasia in 20 (15.6%). Ninety eight patients out of 128 underwent molecular analysis. Methylation was observed in bronchial secretions (sputum or BW) in 60 patients (61.2%), 51 of them (52%) for DAPK1, in 20 (20.4%) for p16 and in three (3.1%) for RASSF1A. Methylated genes only found in sputum accounted for 38.3% and only in BW in 41.7%, and in both 20.0%. In the 11.2% of the patients studied, HGD and a hypermethylated gene were present, while for the 55.1% of the sample only one of both was detected and for the rest of the subjects (33.6%), none of the risk factors were observed. CONCLUSIONS Our data determines DNA aberrant methylation panel in bronchial secretions is present in a 61.2% and HGD is found in 15.6%. Although both parameters have previously been identified as risk factors for lung cancer, the current study does not find a significative association between them. The study also highlights the importance of BW as a complementary sample to induced sputum when analyzing gene aberrant methylation.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Rosell
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Hospital Universitari de Bellvitge-IDIBELL, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain; Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain; CIBER de Enfermedades Respiratorias, CIBERES, Bunyola, Mallorca, Spain.
| | - N Rodríguez
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Hospital Comarcal de l'Alt Penedès, Vilafranca, Barcelona, Spain; CIBER de Enfermedades Respiratorias, CIBERES, Bunyola, Mallorca, Spain
| | - E Monsó
- Deparment of Respiratory Medicine, Fundació Parc Taulí, Sabadell, Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain; CIBER de Enfermedades Respiratorias, CIBERES, Bunyola, Mallorca, Spain
| | - M Taron
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Institut Català d'Oncologia, Hospital Universitari Germans Trias i Pujol, Badalona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - L Millares
- Fundació Parc Taulí, Sabadell, Barcelona, Spain
| | - J L Ramírez
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Institut Català d'Oncologia, Hospital Universitari Germans Trias i Pujol, Badalona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - R López-Lisbona
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Hospital Universitari de Bellvitge-IDIBELL, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain; CIBER de Enfermedades Respiratorias, CIBERES, Bunyola, Mallorca, Spain
| | - N Cubero
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Hospital Universitari de Bellvitge-IDIBELL, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain; CIBER de Enfermedades Respiratorias, CIBERES, Bunyola, Mallorca, Spain
| | - F Andreo
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Hospital Universitari Germans Trias i Pujol, Badalona, Barcelona, Spain; CIBER de Enfermedades Respiratorias, CIBERES, Bunyola, Mallorca, Spain
| | - J Sanz
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Hospital Universitari Germans Trias i Pujol, Badalona, Barcelona, Spain; CIBER de Enfermedades Respiratorias, CIBERES, Bunyola, Mallorca, Spain
| | - M Llatjós
- Department of Pathology, Hospital Universitari Germans Trias i Pujol, Badalona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - R Llatjós
- Department of Pathology, Hospital Universitari de Bellvitge-IDIBELL, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
| | - M T Fernández-Figueras
- Department of Pathology, Hospital Universitari Germans Trias i Pujol, Badalona, Barcelona, Spain; Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - J L Mate
- Department of Pathology, Hospital Universitari Germans Trias i Pujol, Badalona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - I Català
- Department of Pathology, Hospital Universitari de Bellvitge-IDIBELL, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
| | - L Setó
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Hospital Universitari de Bellvitge-IDIBELL, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
| | - M Roset
- IMS Health, Barcelona, Spain
| | - M Díez-Ferrer
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Hospital Universitari de Bellvitge-IDIBELL, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain; CIBER de Enfermedades Respiratorias, CIBERES, Bunyola, Mallorca, Spain
| | - J Dorca
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Hospital Universitari de Bellvitge-IDIBELL, L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain; Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain; CIBER de Enfermedades Respiratorias, CIBERES, Bunyola, Mallorca, Spain
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15
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Torres K, Valderrama E, Sayegh M, Ramírez JL, Chiurillo MA. Study of the oipA genetic diversity and EPIYA motif patterns in cagA-positive Helicobacter pylori strains from Venezuelan patients with chronic gastritis. Microb Pathog 2014; 76:26-32. [PMID: 25223715 DOI: 10.1016/j.micpath.2014.09.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2014] [Revised: 07/20/2014] [Accepted: 09/11/2014] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
CagA and OipA are involved, among other virulence factors, in the ability of Helicobacter pylori to colonize the gastric mucosa and to modulate the host environment during the establishment of chronic infection. The number and type of EPIYA phosphorylation motifs and the presence and functional status of oipA have been involved in the induction of cellular transformations playing an important role in the development of H. pylori associated gastric diseases. This work determined the prevalence of the oipA virulence factor and EPIYA motif patterns in cagA-positive H. pylori gastric biopsies from chronic gastritis patients from the Central-Western region of Venezuela. DNA was extracted directly from gastric biopsies collected by upper endoscopy from 113 patients. The EPIYA motif genotyping and oipA gene functional status was determined by PCR and sequencing. Phylogenetic analysis with the 3' variable region of cagA sequences was performed. Only Western-type EPIYA variants were detected: ABC (68.14%), ABCC (29.20%) and ABCCC (2.66%). High prevalence of strains with the oipA gene (93.8%) and its functional status "ON" (83%) was observed. No significant association between EPIYA motif patterns or oipA functional status with the histological changes in the gastric mucosa was found. Our study demonstrated the absolute predominance of the Western-type cagA gene in a Venezuelan admixed population. This is the first report showing oipA status of H. pylori strains in Venezuela. Further studies with a larger number of samples and including other pathologies are necessary to continue evaluating the role of the H. pylori virulence factors in the prevalence of gastric diseases in our country.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keila Torres
- Laboratorio de Genética Molecular "Dr. Jorge Yunis-Turbay", Decanato de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Centroccidental Lisandro Alvarado (UCLA), Barquisimeto, Venezuela.
| | - Elvis Valderrama
- Departamento de Anatomía Patológica, Hospital Antonio María Pineda-UCLA, Barquisimeto, Venezuela.
| | - Marjorie Sayegh
- Centro de Biotecnología, Instituto de Estudios Avanzados, Caracas, Venezuela.
| | - José Luis Ramírez
- Centro de Biotecnología, Instituto de Estudios Avanzados, Caracas, Venezuela.
| | - Miguel Angel Chiurillo
- Laboratorio de Genética Molecular "Dr. Jorge Yunis-Turbay", Decanato de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Centroccidental Lisandro Alvarado (UCLA), Barquisimeto, Venezuela.
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16
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Sánchez-Rovira P, Antón A, Barnadas A, Velasco A, Lomas M, Rodríguez-Pinilla M, Ramírez JL, Ramírez C, Ríos MJ, Castellá E, García-Andrade C, San Antonio B, Carrasco E, Palacios JL. Classical markers like ER and ki-67, but also survivin and pERK, could be involved in the pathological response to gemcitabine, adriamycin and paclitaxel (GAT) in locally advanced breast cancer patients: results from the GEICAM/2002-01 phase II study. Clin Transl Oncol 2013; 14:430-6. [PMID: 22634531 DOI: 10.1007/s12094-012-0820-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The identification and validation of biomarkers of chemotherapy sensitivity is critical in order to individualise therapy in breast cancer. We evaluated pathological complete response (pCR) to GAT, and its correlation with tumour biomarkers before and after neoadjuvant chemotherapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS Stage III (and stage II with T≥5 cm) breast cancer patients were included. Treatment consisted of adriamycin (40 mg/m(2)) day 1, and paclitaxel (150 mg/ m(2)) followed by gemcitabine (2000 mg/m(2)) day 2, every 14 days for six cycles. Tissue from pre-treatment biopsy and surgery was evaluated for biologic markers by immunohistochemistry. Two XPD single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) were also analysed. RESULTS Forty-six patients entered the trial. Median age was 49.5 years (range 31-72); 25 patients (54%) were pre-menopausal; 12 (26%) were ER-PgR-negative; pCR was observed in 17% (95% CI: 6.4-28.4) of patients. Significant differences in marker expression (mean±SD) in correlation to pathological response were only found in Ki- 67. After treatment, tumours showed lower Ki-67-, surviving- and pERK-positive cells. No correlation between XPD polymorphisms and pCR was found. The overall response rate was 89% (95% CI: 80.1-98.1). Fifteen patients (33%) underwent breast-conserving surgery. The most frequent grade 3 or 4 toxicities were neutropenia (with one febrile neutropenia) and asthenia. CONCLUSION These results show an effective regimen with acceptable tolerability. Our data suggest that not only classical markers (ER, Ki-67), but also survivin and pERK could be involved in the response to GAT, which may contribute to therapy individualisation in future study designs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pedro Sánchez-Rovira
- Medical Oncology Department, Jaén Hospital Complex, Avda. del Ejército Español, 10, ES-23007 Jaén, Spain.
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17
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Chiurillo MA, Moran Y, Cañas M, Valderrama E, Granda N, Sayegh M, Ramírez JL. Genotyping of Helicobacter pylori virulence-associated genes shows high diversity of strains infecting patients in western Venezuela. Int J Infect Dis 2013; 17:e750-6. [PMID: 23611633 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijid.2013.03.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2012] [Revised: 02/09/2013] [Accepted: 03/01/2013] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Helicobacter pylori is a major cause of chronic gastritis and an established risk factor for gastric adenocarcinoma. This bacterium also exhibits an extraordinarily high genetic diversity. METHODS The genetic diversity of H. pylori strains from Venezuelan patients with chronic gastritis was evaluated by PCR-typing of vacA, cagA, iceA, and babA2 virulence-associated genes using DNA extracted directly from biopsies. The nucleotide sequence and prevalence of size variants of iceA1, iceA2, and babA2 PCR products were introduced in this analysis. RESULTS The frequency of vacA s1 was associated (p<0.01) with moderate/severe grades of atrophic gastritis. The cagA, iceA1, iceA2, and babA2 genotypes were found in 70.6%, 66.4%, 33.6%, and 92.3% of strains, respectively. The frequency of iceA2 and its subtype iceA2_D were higher (p<0.015) in cases with moderate/severe granulocytic inflammation. The most prevalent combined genotypes were vacA s1m1/cagA/iceA1/babA2 (26.3%), vacA s2m2/iceA1/babA2 (19.5%), and vacA s1m1/cagA/iceA2/babA2 (18.8%). Sequence analysis of iceA1, iceA2, and babA2 PCR-amplified fragments allowed us to define allelic variants and to increase the number of genotypes detected (from 19 to 62). A phylogenetic tree made with iceA1 sequences showed that the H. pylori strains analyzed here were grouped with those of Western origin. CONCLUSIONS Our results show that patients from the western region of Venezuela have an elevated prevalence of infection with H. pylori strains carrying known virulence genotypes with high genetic diversity. This highlights the importance of identifying gene variants for an early detection of virulent genotypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miguel Angel Chiurillo
- Laboratorio de Genética Molecular Dr. Jorge Yunis-Turbay, Decanato de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Centroccidental Lisandro Alvarado (UCLA), Barquisimeto, Venezuela.
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Provencio M, Camps C, Cobo M, De las Peñas R, Massuti B, Blanco R, Alberola V, Jimenez U, Delgado JR, Cardenal F, Tarón M, Ramírez JL, Sanchez A, Rosell R. Prospective assessment of XRCC3, XPD and Aurora kinase A single-nucleotide polymorphisms in advanced lung cancer. Cancer Chemother Pharmacol 2012; 70:883-90. [PMID: 23053267 DOI: 10.1007/s00280-012-1985-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2012] [Accepted: 09/17/2012] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE New therapeutic approaches are being developed based on findings that several genetic abnormalities underlying non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) can influence chemosensitivity. The identification of molecular markers, useful for therapeutic decisions in lung cancer, is thus crucial for disease management. The present study evaluated single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in XRCC3, XPD and Aurora kinase A in NSCLC patients in order to assess whether these biomarkers were able to predict the outcomes of the patients. METHODS The Spanish Lung Cancer Group prospectively assessed this clinical study. Eligible patients had histologically confirmed stage IV or IIIB (with malignant pleural effusion) NSCLC, which had not previously been treated with chemotherapy, and a World Health Organization performance status (PS) of 0-1. Patients received intravenous doses of vinorelbine 25 mg/m(2) on days 1 and 8, and cisplatin 75 mg/m(2) on day 1, every 21 days for a maximum of 6 cycles. Venous blood was collected from each, and genomic DNA was isolated. SNPs in XRCC3 T241M, XPD K751Q, XPD D312N, AURORA 91, AURORA 169 were assessed. RESULTS The study included 180 patients. Median age was 62 years; 87 % were male; 34 % had PS 0; and 83 % had stage IV disease. The median number of cycles was 4. Time to progression was 5.1 months (95 % CI, 4.2-5.9). Overall median survival was 8.6 months (95 % CI, 7.1-10.1). There was no significant association between SNPs in XRCC3 T241M, XPD K751Q, XPD D312N, AURORA 91, AURORA 169 in outcome or toxicity. CONCLUSIONS Our findings indicate that SNPs in XRCC3, XPD or Aurora kinase A cannot predict outcomes in advanced NSCLC patients treated with platinum-based chemotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Provencio
- Servicio de Oncología Médica, Hospital Universitario Puerta de Hierro, Majadahonda, Madrid, Spain.
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Balañá C, Carrato C, Ramírez JL, Cardona AF, Berdiel M, Sánchez JJ, Tarón M, Hostalot C, Musulen E, Ariza A, Rosell R. Tumour and serum MGMT promoter methylation and protein expression in glioblastoma patients. Clin Transl Oncol 2011; 13:677-85. [DOI: 10.1007/s12094-011-0714-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
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Herrera JC, Isaza LF, Ramírez JL, Vásquez G, Muñetón CM. [Detection of chromosome 17 aneuplody and TP53 gene deletion in a broad variety of solid tumors by dual-color fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH)]. Biomedica 2010; 30:390-400. [PMID: 21713341] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2009] [Accepted: 04/27/2010] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION TP53 is a tumor suppressor gene located on chromosome 17p13.1. This gene is essential for the control of cell cycle and has been found altered in about 50% of all tumor types. OBJECTIVE The presence of aneuploidy of chromosome 17 and TP53 gene deletion at 17p13.1 locus was determined in primary solid tumors using the dual-color FISH (fluorescence in situ hybridization). MATERIALS AND METHODS Thirty-eight samples consisted of several types of primary solid tumors. All samples were mechanically and enzymatically disaggregated with 0.2% collagenase prior to obtaining interphase nuclei. The dual-color FISH was performed using direct fluorescent labeling probes for the chromosome 17 centromere (green signal) and for the TP53 gene locus-specific (orange signal). RESULTS Characteristic aneuploidy on chromosome 17 was found in 63% (24/38) of the samples. Monosomy occurred most frequently (75%, 18/24), followed by trisomy (17%, 4/24); nullisomy and tetrasomy were less frequent. TP53 gene deletion was found in 89.5% (34/38) of cases. Only four tumors were normal for copy number of chromosome 17 and TP53 gene. The histopathologic study showed that most of the samples were malignant tumors. CONCLUSIONS Aneuploidy of chromosome 17 and deletion at 17p13.1 locus of TP53 gene were genetic alterations found to be very frequent in solid tumors. The dual-color FISH was able to detect both numerical and structural chromosomal abnormalities in interphase nuclei.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan Carlos Herrera
- Unidad de Genética Médica, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia
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Isea R, Ramírez JL, Hoebeke J. Assessing protein stability of the dimeric DNA-binding domain of E2 human papillomavirus 18 with molecular dynamics. Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz 2010; 105:123-6. [DOI: 10.1590/s0074-02762010000200002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2009] [Accepted: 02/25/2010] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
| | - José Luis Ramírez
- Instituto de Estudios Avanzados Carretera Nacional Hoyo de la Puerta, Venezuela
| | - Johan Hoebeke
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, France
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Peña CP, Lander N, Rodríguez E, Crisante G, Añez N, Ramírez JL, Chiurillo MA. Molecular analysis of surface glycoprotein multigene family TrGP expressed on the plasma membrane of Trypanosoma rangeli epimastigotes forms. Acta Trop 2009; 111:255-62. [PMID: 19433050 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2009.05.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2009] [Revised: 04/12/2009] [Accepted: 05/05/2009] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Trypanosoma rangeli, a non-pathogenic hemoflagelate that in Central and South America infects humans, shares with Trypanosoma cruzi reservoirs and triatomine vectors, as well as geographical distribution. Recently, we have described in T. rangeli a truncated gene copy belonging to the group II of the trans-sialidase superfamily (TrGP). This superfamily, collectively known in T. cruzi as gp85/TS, includes members that are involved in host cell invasion and infectivity. To confirm the presence of this superfamily in the genome of T. rangeli and obtain a better knowledge of its characteristics, we designed a PCR and RT-PCR cloning strategy to allow sequence analysis of both genomic and transcribed copies. We identified two full-length copies of TrGP, some pseudogenes, and N- and C-terminal sequences of several genes. We also analyzed the expression and cellular localization of these proteins in epimastigote forms of a Venezuelan T. rangeli isolate using polyclonal antibodies made against a recombinant peptide from the N-terminal region of a TrGP member. We confirmed that TrGP is a multigenic family that shares many features with T. cruzi gp85/TS, including the telomeric location of some of its members, and by immunofluorescence analysis that its location is at the surface of the parasite.
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Affiliation(s)
- C P Peña
- Laboratorio de Genética Molecular Dr. Yunis-Turbay, Decanato de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Centroccidental Lisandro Alvarado, Barquisimeto, Venezuela
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van Asch B, Albarran C, Alonso A, Angulo R, Alves C, Betancor E, Catanesi CI, Corach D, Crespillo M, Doutremepuich C, Estonba A, Fernandes AT, Fernandez E, Garcia AM, Garcia MA, Gilardi P, Gonçalves R, Hernández A, Lima G, Nascimento E, de Pancorbo MM, Parra D, Pinheiro MDF, Prat E, Puente J, Ramírez JL, Rendo F, Rey I, Di Rocco F, Rodríguez A, Sala A, Salla J, Sanchez JJ, Solá D, Silva S, Pestano Brito JJ, Amorim A. Forensic analysis of dog (Canis lupus familiaris) mitochondrial DNA sequences: an inter-laboratory study of the GEP-ISFG working group. Forensic Sci Int Genet 2009; 4:49-54. [PMID: 19948334 DOI: 10.1016/j.fsigen.2009.04.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2009] [Revised: 04/20/2009] [Accepted: 04/20/2009] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
A voluntary collaborative exercise aiming at the mitochondrial analysis of canine biological samples was carried out in 2006-2008 by the Non-Human Forensic Genetics Commission of the Spanish and Portuguese Working Group (GEP) of the International Society for Forensic Genetics (ISFG). The participating laboratories were asked to sequence two dog samples (one bloodstain and one hair sample) for the mitochondrial D-loop region comprised between positions 15,372 and 16,083 using suggested primers and PCR conditions, and to compare their results against a reference sequence. Twenty-one participating laboratories reported a total of 67.5% concordant results, 15% non-concordant results, and 17.5% no results. The hair sample analysis presented more difficulty to the participants than the bloodstain analysis, with a high percentage (29%) failing to obtain a result. The high level of participation showed the interest of the community in the analysis of dog forensic samples but the results reveal that crucial methodological issues need to be addressed and further training is required in order to respond proficiently to the demands of forensic casework.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barbara van Asch
- Instituto de Patologia e Imunologia Molecular da Universidade do Porto (IPATIMUP), Rua Dr. Roberto Frias s/n, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal.
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El Barbri N, Duran C, Brezmes J, Cañellas N, Ramírez JL, Bouchikhi B, Llobet E. Selectivity Enhancement in Multisensor Systems Using Flow Modulation Techniques. Sensors (Basel) 2008; 8:7369-7379. [PMID: 27873934 PMCID: PMC3787450 DOI: 10.3390/s8117369] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2008] [Revised: 11/11/2008] [Accepted: 11/11/2008] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
In this paper, the use of a new technique to obtain transient sensor information is introduced and its usefulness to improve the selectivity of metal oxide gas sensors is discussed. The method is based on modulating the flow of the carrier gas that brings the species to be measured into the sensor chamber. In such a way, the analytes' concentration at the surface of the sensors is altered. As a result, reproducible patterns in the sensor response develop, which carry important information for helping the sensor system, not only to discriminate among the volatiles considered but also to semi-quantify them. This has been proved by extracting features from sensor dynamics using the discrete wavelet transform (DWT) and by building and validating support vector machine (SVM) classification models. The good results obtained (100% correct identification among 5 volatile compounds and nearly a 89% correct simultaneous identification and quantification of these volatiles), which clearly outperform those obtained when the steady-state response is used, prove the concept behind flow modulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noureddine El Barbri
- Sensor Electronic & Instrumentation Group, Faculty of Sciences, Physics Department, Moulay Ismaïl University, Meekness, Morocco.
| | - Cristhian Duran
- Department of Electronic Engineering, University of Pamplona, Pamplona, Colombia.
- MINOS, Department of Electronic Engineering, University Rovira i Virgili, Tarragona, Spain.
| | - Jesús Brezmes
- MINOS, Department of Electronic Engineering, University Rovira i Virgili, Tarragona, Spain.
| | - Nicolau Cañellas
- MINOS, Department of Electronic Engineering, University Rovira i Virgili, Tarragona, Spain.
| | - José Luis Ramírez
- MINOS, Department of Electronic Engineering, University Rovira i Virgili, Tarragona, Spain.
| | - Benachir Bouchikhi
- Sensor Electronic & Instrumentation Group, Faculty of Sciences, Physics Department, Moulay Ismaïl University, Meekness, Morocco.
| | - Eduard Llobet
- MINOS, Department of Electronic Engineering, University Rovira i Virgili, Tarragona, Spain.
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Lander N, Rojas MG, Chiurillo MA, Ramírez JL. Haplotype diversity in human mitochondrial DNA hypervariable regions I-III in the city of Caracas (Venezuela). Forensic Sci Int Genet 2008; 2:e61-4. [PMID: 19083830 DOI: 10.1016/j.fsigen.2007.12.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2007] [Revised: 11/14/2007] [Accepted: 12/21/2007] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
In order to expand the database of variable DNA for forensic identification purposes in Venezuela, we analyzed the sequence polymorphisms of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) hypervariable regions (HVR) I-III from 100 unrelated individuals from the city of Caracas, using PCR amplification and fluorescent-based capillary electrophoresis sequencing method. Dominant haplogroups corresponded to Native Americans followed by African ones. The inclusion of HVR III although useful for sub-haplogroup assignation, added little to the discrimination capacity of our database.
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Affiliation(s)
- N Lander
- Centro de Biotecnología, Fundación Instituto de Estudios Avanzados (IDEA), Caracas, Venezuela
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Cordero EM, Gentil LG, Crisante G, Ramírez JL, Yoshida N, Añez N, Franco da Silveira J. Expression of GP82 and GP90 surface glycoprotein genes of Trypanosoma cruzi during in vivo metacyclogenesis in the insect vector Rhodnius prolixus. Acta Trop 2008; 105:87-91. [PMID: 17889817 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2007.08.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2007] [Accepted: 08/14/2007] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
Trypanosoma cruzi, the parasite causing Chagas' disease, relies on triatomines for its transmission. T. cruzi metacyclic trypomastigotes express GP82 and GP90, which are developmentally regulated surface proteins that have been implicated in host cell invasion. We used quantitative RT-PCR to quantify GP90 and GP82 mRNA levels expressed by T. cruzi in the digestive tract of experimentally infected Rhodnius prolixus at different times post infection. Translation of these transcripts was assessed by immunofluorescence using specific monoclonal antibodies against GP90 and GP82. We found that although GP82 and GP90 proteins were not detected in epimastigote cells by immunofluorescence, transcripts were present at lower levels. Increased levels of GP90 and GP82 transcripts and the appearance of these proteins on the parasite surface were accompanied by morphological differentiation from epimastigotes into metacyclic forms. Our data suggest that during in vivo metacyclogenesis there is a coordinated mechanism that links stabilization of GP90 and GP82 mRNAs with their translation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Esteban M Cordero
- Departamento de Microbiologia, Imunologia e Parasitologia, Escola Paulista de Medicina, UNIFESP, Rua Botucatu 862, CEP 04023-062, São Paulo, Brazil
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Prieto L, Alonso A, Alves C, Crespillo M, Montesino M, Picornell A, Brehm A, Ramírez JL, Whittle MR, Anjos MJ, Boschi I, Buj J, Cerezo M, Cardoso S, Cicarelli R, Comas D, Corach D, Doutremepuich C, Espinheira RM, Fernández-Fernández I, Filippini S, Garcia-Hirschfeld J, González A, Heinrichs B, Hernández A, Leite FPN, Lizarazo RP, López-Parra AM, López-Soto M, Lorente JA, Mechoso B, Navarro I, Pagano S, Pestano JJ, Puente J, Raimondi E, Rodríguez-Quesada A, Terra-Pinheiro MF, Vidal-Rioja L, Vullo C, Salas A. 2006 GEP-ISFG collaborative exercise on mtDNA: reflections about interpretation, artefacts, and DNA mixtures. Forensic Sci Int Genet 2007; 2:126-33. [PMID: 19083807 DOI: 10.1016/j.fsigen.2007.10.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2007] [Revised: 09/11/2007] [Accepted: 10/02/2007] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
We report the results of the seventh edition of the GEP-ISFG mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) collaborative exercise. The samples submitted to the participant laboratories were blood stains from a maternity case and simulated forensic samples, including a case of mixture. The success rate for the blood stains was moderate ( approximately 77%); even though four inexperienced laboratories concentrated about one-third of the total errors. A similar success was obtained for the analysis of mixed samples (78.8% for a hair-saliva mixture and 69.2% for a saliva-saliva mixture). Two laboratories also dissected the haplotypes contributing to the saliva-saliva mixture. Most of the errors were due to reading problems and misinterpretation of electropherograms, demonstrating once more that the lack of a solid devised experimental approach is the main cause of error in mtDNA testing.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Prieto
- Comisaría General de Policía Científica, DNA Laboratory, Madrid, Spain.
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Ramírez JL, Salazar MF, Gupta J, Sánchez JM, Taron M, Sanchez-Ronco M, Alberola V, De las Peñas R. Methylation patterns and chemosensitivity in NSCLC. Adv Exp Med Biol 2007; 587:195-209. [PMID: 17163167 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4020-5133-3_17] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
Survival in advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients treated with platinum-based chemotherapy is rather variable. Methylation-dependent transcriptional silencing of 14-3-3sigma, a major G2/M checkpoint control gene, could be a predictor of longer survival. A sensitive methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction assay was used to evaluate 14-3-3sigma methylation status in pretreatment serum DNA obtained from 115 cisplatin-plus-gemcitabine-treated advanced NSCLC patients. 14-3-3sigma methylation was observed in all histologic types in 39 patients (34%). After a median follow-up of 9.8 months, median survival was significantly longer in the methylation-positive group (15.1 vs 9.8 months; P = 0.004). Median time to progression was 8 months in the methylation-positive group, and 6.3 months in the methylation-negative group (P = 0.027 by the log-rank test). A multivariate Cox regression model identified only 14-3-3sigma methylation status and ECOG performance status (PS) as independent prognostic factors for survival. In an exploratory analysis, median survival for 22 methylation-positive responders has not been reached, while it was 11.3 months for 29 methylation-negative responders (P = 0.001). Methylation of 14-3-3sigma is a new independent prognostic factor for survival in NSCLC patients receiving platinum-based chemotherapy. It can be reliably and conveniently detected in the serum, thus obviating the need for tumor tissue analysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- José Luis Ramírez
- Catalan Institute of Oncology, Hospital Germans Trias i Pujol, Badalona, Spain
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Bernal LP, Borjas L, Zabala W, Portillo MG, Fernández E, Delgado W, Tovar F, Lander N, Chiurillo MA, Ramírez JL, García O. Genetic variation of 15 STR autosomal loci in the Maracaibo population from Venezuela. Forensic Sci Int 2006; 161:60-3. [PMID: 16143477 DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2005.07.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2005] [Revised: 07/23/2005] [Accepted: 07/25/2005] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Allele frequencies for 15 short tandem repeats (STRs) autosomal loci (D8S1179, D21S11, D7S820, CSF1PO, D3S1358, TH01, D13S317, D16S539, D2S1338, D19S433, vWA, TPOX, D18S51, D5S818 and FGA, included in the AmpFLSTR Identifiler, Applied Biosystems) were studied in the city of Maracaibo, Venezuela and were compared with other published Latin-American populations for the same loci. Population and forensic parameters were estimated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lennie Pineda Bernal
- Laboratorio de Genética Molecular, Unidad de Genética Médica, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad del Zulia, Maracaibo 4007, Venezuela.
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Lander N, Tovar F, Chiurillo MA, Ramírez JL. A New Allele of the Short Tandem Repeat Locus D21S11 in a Venezuelan Population*. J Forensic Sci 2006; 51:695. [PMID: 16696726 DOI: 10.1111/j.1556-4029.2006.00139.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Noelia Lander
- Centro de Biotecnología, Fundación Instituto de Estudios Avanzados (IDEA) MCT, Caracas 1080, Venezuela
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Gavaldà J, Martín T, López P, Gomis X, Ramírez JL, Rodríguez D, Len O, Puigfel Y, Ruiz I, Pahissa A. Efficacy of high loading doses of liposomal amphotericin B in the treatment of experimental invasive pulmonary aspergillosis. Clin Microbiol Infect 2006; 11:999-1004. [PMID: 16307554 DOI: 10.1111/j.1469-0691.2005.01262.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
This study aimed to investigate whether initial treatment of experimental pulmonary aspergillosis with high loading doses can be used as an alternative to standard therapeutic regimens. Steroid-immunosuppressed rats, infected intratracheally with Aspergillus fumigatus, received either amphotericin B deoxycholate (d-AmB) 1 mg/kg/day, liposomal amphotericin B (L-AmB) 5 mg/kg/day, or underwent a 3-day course of L-AmB 10 mg/kg, or 10 mg/kg for the first 3 or 4 days of treatment, followed by 3 mg/kg until the end of treatment. Therapy started 24 h after fungal challenge and lasted for 7 days. Compared to controls, survival was improved significantly in animals receiving any L-AmB regimen (p <or= 0.003), but not d-AmB. Compared with d-AmB, L-AmB at initial doses of 10 mg/kg followed by 3 mg/kg/day was consistently more effective, but only when measured in terms of survival, lung weight and glucosamine levels, and not log CFU. Despite the absence of significant differences between any of the L-AmB regimens, a trend towards better response rates with the higher loading dose was observed.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Gavaldà
- Servei de Malalties Infeccioses, Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
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Premoli G, Galindo-Castro I, Ramírez JL. A system for the detection and typing of human papillomavirus of the lower genital tract: in situ hybridization screening and polymerase chain reaction confirmation. Invest Clin 2005; 46:369-79. [PMID: 16353544] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
We developed a simplified and non-isotopic in situ hybridization procedure for the detection of Human Papillomavirus (HPV) in routine Papanicolaou cervical smears. The assay involves one oligonucleotide (malignant probe) which recognizes high risk HPV 16 and 18, and another which detects HPV 6 and 11 (benign probe). We adapted the system to fulfill the requirements of gynecologists and cytologists, assimilating their protocols and simplifying the in situ hybridization assay. When we compared the detection levels reached by the in situ hybridization versus a ladder PCR assay in 156 clinical samples, original designed for this work, the kappa coefficient between both methods is 0.945, indicating a strong agreement between the ISH and the PCR assays.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gloria Premoli
- Centro de Investigaciones Odontológicas, Facultad de Odontología, Edificio el Rectorado, Universidad de Los Andes, Apartado postal 64. Calle 23 entre Av. 2 y 3, La Hechicera, Mérida 5101, Venezuela.
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Ramírez JL, Santana MA, Galindo-Castro I, Gonzalez A. The role of biotechnology in art preservation. Trends Biotechnol 2005; 23:584-8. [PMID: 16243408 DOI: 10.1016/j.tibtech.2005.10.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2005] [Revised: 07/21/2005] [Accepted: 10/07/2005] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
Biotechnology has played a key role in medicine, agriculture and industry for over 30 years and has advanced our understanding of the biological sciences. Furthermore, the tools of biotechnology have a great and largely untapped potential for the preservation and restoration of our cultural heritage. It is possible that these tools are not often applied in this context because of the inherent separation of the worlds of art and science; however, it is encouraging to see that during the past six years important biotechnological applications to artwork preservation have emerged and advances in biotechnology predict further innovation. In this article we describe and reflect upon a unique example of a group of scientists and art restoration technicians working together to study and treat of a piece of colonial art, and review some of the new applications in biotechnology for the preservation of mankind's cultural heritage. We predict an expansion in this field and the further development of biotechnological techniques, which will open up new opportunities to both biologists and artwork preservers.
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Affiliation(s)
- José Luis Ramírez
- Centro de Biotecnología, Instituto de Estudios Avanzados, MCT, Carretera Nacional Hoyo de la Puerta, Caracas, Venezuela.
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Kim D, Chiurillo MA, El-Sayed N, Jones K, Santos MRM, Porcile PE, Andersson B, Myler P, da Silveira JF, Ramírez JL. Telomere and subtelomere of Trypanosoma cruzi chromosomes are enriched in (pseudo)genes of retrotransposon hot spot and trans-sialidase-like gene families: the origins of T. cruzi telomeres. Gene 2005; 346:153-61. [PMID: 15716016 DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2004.10.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2004] [Revised: 09/06/2004] [Accepted: 10/14/2004] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Here, we sequenced two large telomeric regions obtained from the pathogen protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi. These sequences, together with in silico assembled contigs, allowed us to establish the general features of telomeres and subtelomeres of this parasite. Our findings can be summarized as follows: We confirmed the presence of two types of telomeric ends; subtelomeric regions appeared to be enriched in (pseudo)genes of RHS (retrotransposon hot spot), TS (trans-sialidase)-like proteins, and putative surface protein DGF-1 (dispersed gene family-1). Sequence analysis of the ts-like genes located at the telomeres suggested that T. cruzi chromosomal ends could have been the site for generation of new gp85 variants, an important adhesin molecule involved in the invasion of mammalian cells by T. cruzi. Finally, a mechanism for generation of T. cruzi telomere by chromosome breakage and telomere healing is proposed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dong Kim
- Departamento de Microbiologia, Imunologia e Parasitologia, Escola Paulista de Medicina, UNIFESP, Rua Botucatu, 862, CEP 04023-062, S. Paulo, Brazil
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Morales A, Pérez P, Mendoza R, Compagnone R, Suarez AI, Arvelo F, Ramírez JL, Galindo-Castro I. Cytotoxic and proapoptotic activity of ent-16β-17α-dihydroxykaurane on human mammary carcinoma cell line MCF-7. Cancer Lett 2005; 218:109-16. [PMID: 15639346 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2004.07.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2004] [Revised: 07/01/2004] [Accepted: 07/12/2004] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
Here we describe the cytotoxic and proapoptotic effect of an ent-kaurane (ent-16beta-17alpha-dihydroxykaurane), compound isolated from Croton malambo barks, on malignant cell growth. When MCF-7 mammary carcinoma cells were treated with increasing concentrations of the ent-kauranoid, its cytotoxic activity showed an IC50 of 12.5microg/ml, dose that is 2.66-fold lower than the corresponding value for non-malignant cells. At this growth inhibitory dose, both mRNA and protein levels for Bcl-2 as well as mRNA for hTERT were significantly reduced. The observed preapoptotic activity seemed to be triggered by a mechanism that is not directly affecting NF-(kappa)B binding ability. The potential use of this plant-derived compound as a cancer chemotherapy agent is discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alvaro Morales
- Centro de Biotecnología, Fundación IDEA, Carretera Hoyo de La Puerta-Baruta, Valle de Sartenejas, Baruta, Caracas, Venezuela
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Chiurillo MA, Morales A, Mendes AM, Lander N, Tovar F, Fuentes A, Ramírez JL. Genetic profiling of a central Venezuelan population using 15 STR markers that may be of forensic importance. Forensic Sci Int 2003; 136:99-101. [PMID: 12969630 DOI: 10.1016/s0379-0738(03)00259-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
The AmpFlSTR Identifiler kit has recently been accepted for use in DNA databasing of forensic samples in the FBI's National DNA Index System. In the present study, we used this kit to analyze the allele distribution of 15 short tandem repeat markers (STR) in individuals living in Caracas city, Venezuela. The allele frequencies of two of these STR, D2S1338 and D19S433, have not previously been reported for this or any other Latin American population. The results indicate that for the population here studied, the 15 STR tested are useful markers for paternity testing and forensic casework.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miguel Angel Chiurillo
- Decanato de Medicina, Universidad Centro Occidental Lisandro Alvarado, Barquisimeto, Venezuela
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Chiurillo MA, Crisante G, Rojas A, Peralta A, Dias M, Guevara P, Añez N, Ramírez JL. Detection of Trypanosoma cruzi and Trypanosoma rangeli infection by duplex PCR assay based on telomeric sequences. Clin Diagn Lab Immunol 2003; 10:775-9. [PMID: 12965903 PMCID: PMC193880 DOI: 10.1128/cdli.10.5.775-779.2003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
We used the species specificity and repetitious nature of subtelomeric kinetoplastida sequences to generate a duplex PCR assay for the simultaneous detection of Trypanosoma cruzi and Trypanosoma rangeli in experimentally and naturally infected triatomine (Reduviid) bugs and in infected human subjects. The assay was species specific and was capable of detecting 1/20th of T. cruzi and 1/4th of T. rangeli cell equivalents without complementary hybridization. In addition, the PCR-based assay was robust enough for direct application to difficult biological samples such as Reduviid feces or guts and was capable of recognizing all T. cruzi and T. rangeli strains and lineages. Because the assay primers amplify entirely different target sequences, no reaction interference was observed, facilitating future adaptation of this assay to an automated format.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miguel Angel Chiurillo
- Decanato de Medicina, Universidad Centroccidental Lisandro Alvarado, Barquisimeto 3001, Venezuela
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Gavaldá J, Onrubia PL, Gómez MTM, Gomis X, Ramírez JL, Len O, Rodríguez D, Crespo M, Ruíz I, Pahissa A. Efficacy of ampicillin combined with ceftriaxone and gentamicin in the treatment of experimental endocarditis due to Enterococcus faecalis with no high-level resistance to aminoglycosides. J Antimicrob Chemother 2003; 52:514-7. [PMID: 12917251 DOI: 10.1093/jac/dkg360] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE This study tests the usefulness of ceftriaxone combined with ampicillin as an alternative to ampicillin plus gentamicin for the treatment of experimental endocarditis due to Enterococcus faecalis without high-level resistance to aminoglycosides. It also determines whether adding ceftriaxone to ampicillin and gentamicin increases the effectiveness against experimental enterococcal endocarditis resulting from E. faecalis. METHODS Animals with catheter-induced endocarditis were infected intravenously with 108 cfu of the EF91 strain of E. faecalis and were treated for 3 days with ampicillin 2 g every 4 h administered as 'human-like' (H-L) pharmacokinetics, plus gentamicin 1 mg/kg every 8 h H-L, or ceftriaxone 2 g every 12 h H-L alone or combined with gentamicin 6 mg/kg every 24 h administered subcutaneously. RESULTS The results of therapy for experimental endocarditis resulting from EF91 showed that the combination of ampicillin plus ceftriaxone was as effective as ampicillin plus gentamicin. The triple combination did not improve on the overall efficacies of the two-drug combinations. CONCLUSIONS Because of its lower nephrotoxicity, ampicillin plus ceftriaxone may be a useful alternative therapy for E. faecalis endocarditis in selected patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joan Gavaldá
- Infectious Diseases Research Laboratory, Infectious Diseases Division, Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Avda. Vall d'Hebron, 119-129, 08035 Barcelona, Spain.
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Ramírez JL. International workshop: building (Bio) pharmaceutical systems in developing countries, United Nations University Institute for New Technologies (INTECH), Maastricht: 26-27 February 2003. Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz 2003; 98:573-5. [PMID: 12937777 DOI: 10.1590/s0074-02762003000400028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
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Abstract
Here we have characterized Leishmania major (Friedlin) telomeric terminus (the very end) using recombinants obtained by a vector-adaptor cloning protocol. As in L. donovani, the last nine nucleotides of L. major terminus are 5'-GGTTAGGGT-OH 3', differing from Trypanosoma cruzi and T. brucei terminus 5'GGGTTAGGG-OH 3', thus indicating that these sequences are genus specific. We have also made a comparative analysis between L. major and L. donovani telomere-associated sequences, and described a novel non-repeated telomeric associated sequence common to L. major low molecular weight chromosomal bands.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miguel Angel Chiurillo
- Laboratorio de Genetica Molecular, Instituto de Biología Experimental, Universidad Central de Venezuela, Caracas, Venezuela
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Gavaldà J, López P, Martín T, Gomis X, Ramírez JL, Azuaje C, Almirante B, Pahissa A. Efficacy of ceftriaxone and gentamicin given once a day by using human-like pharmacokinetics in treatment of experimental staphylococcal endocarditis. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2002; 46:378-84. [PMID: 11796345 PMCID: PMC127055 DOI: 10.1128/aac.46.2.378-384.2002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
We compared the efficacy of ceftriaxone combined with gentamicin, both given once a day, with that of cloxacillin given every 4 h plus gentamicin given once a day or in three daily doses (t.i.d.) for the treatment of experimental methicillin-susceptible staphylococcal endocarditis. The antibiotics were administered by using human-like (H-L) pharmacokinetics that simulated the profiles of these drugs in human serum. Animals with catheter-induced endocarditis were infected intravenously with 10(5) CFU of Staphylococcus aureus S5 (MICs and minimal bactericidal concentrations of cloxacillin, ceftriaxone, and gentamicin, 0.5 and 2 microg/ml, 4 and 8 microg/ml, and 0.5 and 1 microg/ml, respectively). The animals were then treated for 24 h with cloxacillin at a dose of 2 g that simulated H-L pharmacokinetics (H-L 2 g) every 4 h alone or combined with gentamicin (administered at doses of H-L 1 mg/kg of body weight every 8 h or H-L 4.5 mg/kg every 24 h) or with ceftriaxone at H-L 2 g every 24 h alone or combined with gentamicin (administered at doses of H-L 1 mg/kg every 8 h or H-L 4.5 mg/kg every 24 h). The results of therapy for experimental endocarditis due to the S5 strain showed that (i) cloxacillin alone is more effective than ceftriaxone alone in reducing the bacterial load (P < 0.01), (ii) the combination of cloxacillin or ceftriaxone with gentamicin is more effective than each of these drugs alone (P < 0.01), and (iii) Ceftriaxone H-L plus gentamicin H-L 4.5 mg/kg, both administered every 24 h, showed efficacy similar to that of the "gold standard," cloxacillin H-L plus gentamicin H-L 1 mg/kg t.i.d. (P > 0.05). An increase in the interval of administration of gentamicin to once daily resulted in a reduction in the numbers of bacteria in the vegetations equivalent to that achieved with the recommended regimen of cloxacillin plus gentamicin t.i.d. in the treatment of experimental endocarditis due to methicillin-susceptible S. aureus. Ceftriaxone plus gentamicin, both administered once a day, may be useful for home-based therapy for selected cases of staphylococcal endocarditis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joan Gavaldà
- Infectious Diseases Research Laboratory, Infectious Diseases Division, Hospital Vall d'Hebron, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
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Chiurillo MA, Sachdeva M, Dole VS, Yepes Y, Miliani E, Vazquez L, Rojas A, Crisante G, Guevara P, Añez N, Madhubala R, Ramírez JL. Detection of Leishmania causing visceral leishmaniasis in the Old and New Worlds by a polymerase chain reaction assay based on telomeric sequences. Am J Trop Med Hyg 2001; 65:573-82. [PMID: 11716117 DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.2001.65.573] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
We present a new polymerase chain reaction assay based on telomeric sequences of Leishmania donovani. When this assay was used in dilutions of purified L. donovani DNA, a strong amplification signal was observed with 1 fg of DNA. In a specificity test that used purified DNA from Old World and New World Leishmania, the assay recognized all parasites isolated from patients with visceral leishmaniasis, except for 2 isolates of Leishmania colombiensis from Venezuela and 1 isolate from Brazil. All Leishmania major and Leishmania tropica isolates tested were negative, except for one isolate in each species. We also used the assay on fresh and archive bone marrow samples recovered from Giemsa-stained slides and from dried blood stains.
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Affiliation(s)
- M A Chiurillo
- Instituto de Biologia Experimental, Universidad Central de Venezuela, Caracas
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Ramírez JL, Cevallos-Ferriz SR. Leaves of Berberidaceae (Berberis and Mahonia) from Oligocene sediments, near Tepexi de Rodríguez, Puebla. Rev Palaeobot Palynol 2000; 110:247-257. [PMID: 10930608 DOI: 10.1016/s0034-6667(00)00015-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
From the Oligocene Los Ahuehuetes locality, near Tepexi de Rodríguez, Puebla, Mexico, five new plant species are described based on their leaf architecture. The presence of brochidodromous or acrodromous venation, and secondary veins forming angular (versus rounded) arcs, are well defined characters in the fossil material that relate it to Berberidaceae. Comparison with the leaves and leaflets of extant and fossil plants allow the recognition of one Mahonia and four Berberis new species. The lack of detailed information on leaf architecture in Berberidaceae limits the evaluation of the taxonomic relationships that can be suggested between fossil and extant plants. However, from a biogeographic point of view the presence of these new fossil plants supports the hypothesis of a North American origin of the Orientalis Groups of Mahonia, to which a lineage of Berberis may be added. Furthermore, two of the new species suggest the dispersal, some time during the Tertiary, of a lineage that today forms the Australis Group of Berberis from low latitude North America to South America. The movement of the Chortis Block is proposed as an alternative to explain the dispersal of a growing list of plants from north to south in the Americas. Only through future geological and palaeobotanical work can this hypothesis be corroborated.
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Affiliation(s)
- JL Ramírez
- Department de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, UNAM, Ciudad Universitaria, Circuito Exterior, 04510, DF, Del. Coyoacan, Mexico
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Ramírez JL, Cevallos-Ferriz SR. Leaves of Salicaceae (Salix and Populus) from Oligocene Sediments Near Tepexi de Rodríguez, Puebla, Mexico. Int J Plant Sci 2000; 161:521-534. [PMID: 10817985 DOI: 10.1086/314260] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/1999] [Revised: 11/01/1999] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
Eleven new salicaceous taxa based on fossil leaves, seven Salix and four Populus species, are described from the Oligocene Los Ahuehuetes locality, Pie de Vaca Formation, near Tepexi de Rodríguez in Puebla, Mexico. They are characterized by the presence of typical salicoid teeth, camptodromous secondary venation, and elliptic or lanceolate shape. Morphological differences between these new fossil plants and those reported previously from the United States and elsewhere indicate that diversification among these taxa occurred early during their differentiation. Furthermore, the limited morphological similarities of the fossil and extant plants growing naturally in Mexico also indicate a high rate of evolution. Documenting the expansion of high-latitude North American taxa into lower latitudes at the time of deposition of the Pie de Vaca Formation confirms that at least some of the typical boreal taxa were part of dry tropical communities in low-latitude North America and underscores the need to reevaluate the origin of this southern vegetation.
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Ramírez JL, Cevallos-Ferriz SR, Silva-Pineda A. Reconstruction of the Leaves of Two New Species of Pseudosmodingium (Anacardiaceae) from Oligocene Strata of Puebla, Mexico. Int J Plant Sci 2000; 161:509-519. [PMID: 10817984 DOI: 10.1086/314261] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/1999] [Revised: 11/01/1999] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
Leaves of two new plants are reconstructed from their isolated leaflets collected from the Oligocene Los Ahuehuetes locality near Tepexi de Rodríguez in Puebla, Mexico. The leaves of Pseudosmodingium mirandae Ramírez-Garduño et al. are compound imparipinnate with leaflets of variable morphology. The leaflets of five leaf morphotypes vary from narrow elliptic to lanceolate or lorate; they are symmetrical to slightly asymmetrical, with acute to attenuate apex, acute to cuneate base, and entire to serrate margin. Venation is simple pinnate craspedodromous, with secondary veins slightly curved near their base; secondary veins may dichotomize near the margin to become tertiary veins, and intersecondary veins are small and oblique to the secondary veins. A small number of leaflets assigned to Pseudosmodingium terrazasiae Ramírez-Garduño et al. are distinguished from P. mirandae by the leaflet shape, length&rcolon;width ratio, base shape, and apex angle. Morphological comparison of the fossil leaves with leaves of extant species of Anacardiaceae based on numerical analyses indicates a close similarity between P. mirandae and Pseudosmodingium multifolium Rose, while P. terrazasiae is more similar to Pseudosmodingium perniciosum (HBK) Engl. The presence of fossil species with extant relatives that are endemic to Mexico, along with previous reports, indicates that by the Oligocene, some lineages were already in place, although today they form part of the more xeric communities in southern North America.
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Ramírez JL, Castaño JP, Torronteras R, Martínez-Fuentes AJ, Frawley LS, García-Navarro S, Gracia-Navarro F. Growth hormone (GH)-releasing factor differentially activates cyclic adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate- and inositol phosphate-dependent pathways to stimulate GH release in two porcine somatotrope subpopulations. Endocrinology 1999; 140:1752-9. [PMID: 10098512 DOI: 10.1210/endo.140.4.6613] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Somatotropes comprise two morphologically and functionally distinct subpopulations of low (LD) and high (HD) density cells. We recently reported that GRF induces different patterns of increase in the cytosolic free Ca2+ concentration in single porcine LD and HD somatotropes, which for LD cells required not only Ca2+ influx but also intracellular Ca2+ mobilization. This suggested that GRF may activate multiple signaling pathways in pig LD and HD somatotropes to stimulate GH secretion. To address this question, we first assessed the direct GRF effect on second messenger activation in cultures of LD and HD cells by measuring cAMP levels and [3H]myo-inositol incorporation. Secondly, to determine the relative importance of cAMP- and inositol phosphate (IP)-dependent pathways, and of intra- and extracellular Ca2+, GRF-induced GH release from cultured LD and HD somatotropes was measured in the presence of specific blockers. GRF increased cAMP levels in both subpopulations, whereas it only augmented IP turnover in LD cells. Accordingly, adenylate cyclase inhibition by MDL-12,330A abolished GRF-stimulated GH release in both subpopulations, whereas phospholipase C inhibition by U-73122 only reduced this effect partially in LD cells. Likewise, blockade of Ca2+ influx with Cl2Co reduced GRF-stimulated GH secretion in both LD and HD somatotropes, whereas depletion of thapsigargin-sensitive intracellular Ca2+ stores only decreased the secretory response to GRF in LD cells. These results demonstrate that GRF specifically and differentially activates multiple signaling pathways in two somatotrope subpopulations to stimulate GH release. Thus, although the prevailing signaling cascade employed by GRF in both subpopulations is adenylate cyclase/cAMP/extracellular Ca2+, the peptide also requires activation of the phospholipase C/IP/intracellular Ca2+ pathway to exert its full effect in porcine LD somatotropes.
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Affiliation(s)
- J L Ramírez
- Department of Cell Biology, University of Córdoba, Spain
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Sánchez-Hormigo A, Castaño JP, Torronteras R, Malagón MM, Ramírez JL, Gracia-Navarro F. Direct effects of growth hormone (GH)-releasing hexapeptide (GHRP-6) and GH-releasing factor (GRF) on GH secretion from cultured porcine somatotropes. Life Sci 1998; 63:2079-88. [PMID: 9839531 DOI: 10.1016/s0024-3205(99)80004-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/09/2023]
Abstract
Growth hormone (GH)-releasing hexapeptide (GHRP-6) belongs to the expanding family of synthetic GH secretagogues (GHSs). Previous studies have shown that non-peptidyl GHRP-6 analogues stimulate GH release in vivo in pigs, and interact synergistically with GH-releasing factor (GRF), but its direct effects on porcine somatotropes have not been addressed hitherto. In the present study, we have evaluated the response of cultured porcine pituitary cells to GHRP-6, and its interaction with GRF and somatostatin (SRIF). Secretory response of somatotropes was assessed by using two distinct techniques. GH released by monolayer cell cultures was evaluated by enzyme immunoassay, whereas that secreted by individual somatotropes was measured by immunodensitometry using a cell blotting assay. Our results demonstrate that both GHRP-6 and GRF stimulated GH release from monolayer cultures at doses equal to or above 10(-9) M. Use of cell immunoblot assay demonstrated that, like GRF, the hexapeptide acts directly upon porcine somatotropes to exert its action. Moreover, regardless of the technique applied, combined administration of GHRP-6 (10(-6) or 10(-9) M) and GRF (10(-8) M) resulted in an additive, but not synergistic, stimulatory GH response. Finally, SRIF (10(-7) M) inhibited the stimulatory effect of GHRP-6 alone or in combination with GRF. These results indicate that GHRP-6 directly and effectively stimulates GH secretion from porcine somatotropes in vitro, and acts additively when coadministered with GRF. Therefore, the synergistic stimulatory effect of GHSs and GRF reported in vivo in this species might require additional factors that are lacking in the in vitro situation.
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Premoli-De-Percoco G, Ramírez JL, Galindo I. Correlation between HPV types associated with oral squamous cell carcinoma and cervicovaginal cytology: An in situ hybridization study. Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol Endod 1998; 86:77-81. [PMID: 9690249 DOI: 10.1016/s1079-2104(98)90153-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Epidemiologic and clinical evidence suggests a possible relationship between the human papillomavirus types found in oral squamous cell carcinoma and cervicovaginal cancer. To try to address this question, we analyzed by in situ hybridization 50 paraffin-embedded biopsies of oral squamous cell carcinomas and their corresponding Papanicolaou smears using nonradioactive DNA probes for human papillomavirus type 6/11 and 16/18. This analysis revealed that 70% (35 of 50) of oral squamous cell carcinomas and 56% (28 of 50) of Papanicolaou smears were positive for one or both of these human papillomavirus DNA probes. In 23 of the 28 patients who were positive for human papillomavirus sequences in the cervicovaginal tract, we found the same human papillomavirus type in the oral cavity. Five of the positive in situ hybridization Papanicolaou smears were associated with negative in situ hybridization oral squamous cell carcinomas. Our data suggest that after a primary infection by human papillomavirus, other mucosal sites may eventually become infected. Local environmental factors may contribute to the pathogenesis of lesions such as oral squamous cell carcinoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- G Premoli-De-Percoco
- Centro de Investigaciones Odontológicas, Facultad de Odontología, Universidad de los Andes, Mérida, Venezuela
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Ramírez JL, Torronteras R, García-Navarro S, Castaño JP, Gracia-Navarro F. Differences in second messengers (Ca2+ and cAMP) suggest a dual role for SRIF in regulating GH release from porcine somatotropes. Ann N Y Acad Sci 1998; 839:375-7. [PMID: 9629180 DOI: 10.1111/j.1749-6632.1998.tb10802.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- J L Ramírez
- Department of Cell Biology, University of Córdoba, Spain
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