Endoparasitism and risk factors in horses from ethnic communities in Andean areas of southern Chile.

Parasitic infections are among the most important causes of morbidity and mortality in horses worldwide. In the Andean mountainous regions of Chile, horses are a highly valued specie, playing a key role as working animals also providing support in cattle transhumance grazing into high mountainous areas during dry season. The breeding and maintenance of horses in the mountainous region of La Araucanía in Chile is a key issue allowing to the subsistence economy of communities with a strong ethnic component represented by Mapuche-Pehuenche origin families.

Pulmonary infection by Lophomonas spp. and Aspergillus spp. in a B-cell acute lymphocytic leukemia patient from Chile.

The flagellated protozoan Lophomonas spp. is a commensal microorganism found in the intestinal tracts of cockroaches, termites, mites, and certain birds. It is the causative agent of a rare infection in humans called lophomoniasis, primarily affecting the lungs and mainly immunocompromised individuals.

Transcriptional regulator MarT negatively regulates MarT-regulated motility gene I, a new gene involved in invasion and virulence of .

The speciation of occurred by acquisition of genomic islands from other bacterial species and continued to diverge into subspecies and serovars with diferent range of host. serovar Typhimurium (STM) is a generalist pathogen infecting hosts that include birds, mice, and humans, whilst serovar Typhi (STY) is a restricted-host pathogen, infecting only humans. Despite their ranges of hosts, STM and STY possess 97-98% identity.

Enhancing Maturation and Translatability of Human Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Cardiomyocytes through a Novel Medium Containing Acetyl-CoA Carboxylase 2 Inhibitor.

Human pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (hPSC-CMs) constitute an appealing tool for drug discovery, disease modeling, and cardiotoxicity screening. However, their physiological immaturity, resembling CMs in the late fetal stage, limits their utility. Herein, we have developed a novel, scalable cell culture medium designed to enhance the maturation of hPSC-CMs.

Design of a New Vaccine Prototype against Porcine Circovirus Type 2 (PCV2), and Based on Multiple Antigens Microencapsulation with Sulfated Chitosan.

This work evaluated in vivo an experimental-multivalent-vaccine (EMV) based on three Porcine Respiratory Complex (PRC)-associated antigens: Porcine Circovirus Type 2 (PCV2), (Mhyop) and (Mhyor), microencapsulated with sulfated chitosan (M- ChS + PRC-antigens), postulating chitosan sulphate (ChS) as a mimetic of the heparan sulfate receptor used by these pathogens for cell invasion. The EMV was evaluated physicochemically by SEM (Scanning-Electron-Microscopy), EDS (Energy-Dispersive-Spectroscopy), Pdi (Polydispersity-Index) and zeta potential. Twenty weaned pigs, distributed in four groups, were evaluated for 12 weeks.

Antimicrobial Activity and Phytochemical Characterization of Pers., a Native Plant of the Central Chilean Coast.

Few sclerophyllous plants from the central coast of Chile have been systematically studied. This work describes the phytochemical composition and antimicrobial properties of Pers. (sin.

Biological evolution and human cognition are analogous information processing systems.

The mechanisms that govern biological evolution and human cognition are analogous, as both follow the same principles of natural information processing systems. In this article, we describe the following five principles that provide an analogy between biological evolution and human cognition: (a) Randomness as Genesis Principle and (b) Borrowing and Reorganizing Principle, which indicate how natural information processing systems obtain information; (c) Narrow Limits of Change Principle and (d) Information Store Principle, which indicate how information is processed and stored; and (e) Environmental Organizing and Linking Principle, which indicate how stored information is used to generate actions appropriate to an environment. In human cognition, these analogs only apply to cognitive processes associated with biologically secondary knowledge, the knowledge typically taught in educational institutions.

Parasitic findings on threatened pudu deer from Central Chile accounts first genetic characterization of lice parasitizing in Chile and the first molecular report of metacestodes in this species.

Southern pudu () is a threatened endemic deer of the temperate forests of Chile. In recent years pudu populations rates have decreased mainly due to anthropogenic causes including forest loss and landscape fragmentation. In this context, the parasitic fauna of Chilean pudu has been scarcely investigated.

Comparative transcriptomic analysis of chemoreceptors in two sympatric scarab beetles, Hylamorpha elegans and Brachysternus prasinus.

Chemoreception through odorant receptors (ORs), ionotropic receptors (IRs) and gustatory receptors (GRs) represents the functions of key proteins in the chemical ecology of insects. Recent studies have identified chemoreceptors in coleopterans, facilitating the evolutionary analysis of not only ORs but also IRs and GRs. Thus, Cerambycidae, Tenebrionidae and Curculionidae have received increased attention.

Human pluripotent stem cell-derived macrophages host Mycobacterium abscessus infection.

Human macrophages are a natural host of many mycobacterium species, including Mycobacterium abscessus (M. abscessus), an emerging pathogen affecting immunocompromised and cystic fibrosis patients with few available treatments. The search for an effective treatment is hindered by the lack of a tractable in vitro intracellular infection model.

Blocking phospholamban with VHH intrabodies enhances contractility and relaxation in heart failure.

The dysregulated physical interaction between two intracellular membrane proteins, the sarco/endoplasmic reticulum Ca ATPase and its reversible inhibitor phospholamban, induces heart failure by inhibiting calcium cycling. While phospholamban is a bona-fide therapeutic target, approaches to selectively inhibit this protein remain elusive. Here, we report the in vivo application of intracellular acting antibodies (intrabodies), derived from the variable domain of camelid heavy-chain antibodies, to modulate the function of phospholamban.

Low molecular weight sulfated chitosan efficiently reduces infection capacity of porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) in PK15 cells.

Background: Porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2)-associated diseases are a major problem for the swine industry worldwide. In addition to vaccines, the availability of antiviral polymers provides an efficient and safe option for reducing the impact of these diseases. By virtue of their molecular weight and repetitious structure, polymers possess properties not found in small-molecule drugs.

Biological Effects of Quinolones: A Family of Broad-Spectrum Antimicrobial Agents.

Broad antibacterial spectrum, high oral bioavailability and excellent tissue penetration combined with safety and few, yet rare, unwanted effects, have made the quinolones class of antimicrobials one of the most used in inpatients and outpatients. Initially discovered during the search for improved chloroquine-derivative molecules with increased anti-malarial activity, today the quinolones, intended as antimicrobials, comprehend four generations that progressively have been extending antimicrobial spectrum and clinical use. The quinolone class of antimicrobials exerts its antimicrobial actions through inhibiting DNA gyrase and Topoisomerase IV that in turn inhibits synthesis of DNA and RNA.

Genetic Characterization of Infantis with Multiple Drug Resistance Profiles Isolated from a Poultry-Farm in Chile.

comprises over 2500 serotypes and foodborne contamination associated with this pathogen remains an important health concern worldwide. During the last decade, a shift in serotype prevalence has occurred as traditionally less prevalent serotypes are increasing in frequency of infections, especially those related to poultry meat contamination. Infantis is one of the major emerging serotypes, and these strains commonly display antimicrobial resistance and can persist despite cleaning protocols.

Phospholamban antisense oligonucleotides improve cardiac function in murine cardiomyopathy.

Heart failure (HF) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, highlighting an urgent need for novel treatment options, despite recent improvements. Aberrant Ca handling is a key feature of HF pathophysiology. Restoring the Ca regulating machinery is an attractive therapeutic strategy supported by genetic and pharmacological proof of concept studies.

Sex-Specific Control of Human Heart Maturation by the Progesterone Receptor.

Background: Despite in-depth knowledge of the molecular mechanisms controlling embryonic heart development, little is known about the signals governing postnatal maturation of the human heart.

Methods: Single-nucleus RNA sequencing of 54 140 nuclei from 9 human donors was used to profile transcriptional changes in diverse cardiac cell types during maturation from fetal stages to adulthood. Bulk RNA sequencing and the Assay for Transposase-Accessible Chromatin using sequencing were used to further validate transcriptional changes and to profile alterations in the chromatin accessibility landscape in purified cardiomyocyte nuclei from 21 human donors.

First Molecular Characterization of Trichostrongylus colubriformis Infection in Rural Patients from Chile.

Purpose: The aim was to characterize the infection by Trichostrongylus spp. in patients from Chile using a combination of molecular detection techniques and phylogenetic analysis relating the findings to clinical and epidemiological reports of the patients METHODS: Strongylid eggs were detected in seven patients by coproparasitological techniques. From each sample a fragment of the ITS-2 ribosomal gene was amplified by PCR, sequenced and analyzed by the Neighbor-Joining method.

Inactivation of Glutamine Synthetase-Coding Gene Increases Susceptibility to Quinolones Through Increasing Outer Membrane Protein F in Serovar Typhi.

Ciprofloxacin is the choice treatment for infections caused by Typhi, however, reduced susceptibility to ciprofloxacin has been reported for this pathogen. Considering the decreased approbation of new antimicrobials and the crisis of resistance, one strategy to combat this problem is to find new targets that enhances the antimicrobial activity for approved antimicrobials. In search of mutants with increased susceptibility to ciprofloxacin; 3,216 EZ-Tn transposon mutants of .

Multivariate patterning of human pluripotent cells under perfusion reveals critical roles of induced paracrine factors in kidney organoid development.

Creating complex multicellular kidney organoids from pluripotent stem cells shows great promise. Further improvements in differentiation outcomes, patterning, and maturation of specific cell types are, however, intrinsically limited by standard tissue culture approaches. We describe a novel full factorial microbioreactor array-based methodology to achieve rapid interrogation and optimization of this complex multicellular differentiation process in a facile manner.

The Transcription Factor ArcA Modulates 's Metabolism in Response to Neutrophil Hypochlorous Acid-Mediated Stress.

Typhimurium, a bacterial pathogen with high metabolic plasticity, can adapt to different environmental conditions; these traits enhance its virulence by enabling bacterial survival. Neutrophils play important roles in the innate immune response, including the production of microbicidal reactive oxygen species (ROS). In addition, the myeloperoxidase in neutrophils catalyzes the formation of hypochlorous acid (HOCl), a highly toxic molecule that reacts with essential biomolecules, causing oxidative damage including lipid peroxidation and protein carbonylation.

Cysteine auxotrophy drives reduced susceptibility to quinolones and paraquat by inducing the expression of efflux-pump systems and detoxifying enzymes in S. Typhimurium.

Currently, Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium (S. Typhimurium), is a major global public health problem, which has caused food-borne illnesses in many countries. Today, with the extensive use of antimicrobials, antimicrobial resistance is increasing at a serious rate in S.

A PCR-RFLP assay for discrimination of Echinococcus granulosus sensu stricto and Taenia spp. in dogs stool.

In order to develop a method of identification and discrimination of Echinococcus granulosus sensu stricto from faecal samples of dogs infected with taeniid eggs (Echinococcus spp., Taenia spp.), a combined strategy of Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) and Restriction Fragments of Lenght Polymorphisms (RFLP) was proposed.

Correction: The ArcAB two-component regulatory system promotes resistance to reactive oxygen species and systemic infection by Salmonella Typhimurium.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.

Infecting Wild Boars in Southern Chile: Evidence of an Underrated Risk.

Trichinellosis in Chilean wild animals has scarcely been documented. The introduction of wild boars into the wild environment represents a viable new host with a potential risk of infection for human health. The aim of this study was to determine the presence and prevalence of in wild boars.