Theoretical Study of Sphingomyelinases from and Sheds Light on the Evolution of Enzymes Needed for Survival and Colonization.

The path to survival for pathogenic organisms is not straightforward. Pathogens require a set of enzymes for tissue damage generation and to obtain nourishment, as well as a toolbox full of alternatives to bypass host defense mechanisms. Our group has shown that the parasitic protist encodes for 14 sphingomyelinases (SMases); one of them (acid sphingomyelinase 6, aSMase6) is involved in repairing membrane damage and exhibits hemolytic activity.

Attenuation of In Vitro and In Vivo Virulence Is Associated with Repression of Gene Expression of AIG1 Gene in .

virulence results from complex host-parasite interactions implicating multiple amoebic components (e.g., Gal/GalNAc lectin, cysteine proteinases, and amoebapores) and host factors (microbiota and immune response).

Self-treatment with herbal products for weight-loss among overweight and obese subjects from central Mexico.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Mexico ranks second in the world for obesity prevalence. In Mexico, obese and overweight subjects commonly seek alternative treatments for weight-loss, including the use of herbal products.

Aim Of The Study: The main objective of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of self-medication with herbal products for weight-loss among overweight and obese subjects residing in four states (Guanajuato, San Luis Potosi, State of Mexico, and Mexico City) from central Mexico.

Contribution of neutral sphingomyelinases to in vitro virulence of Entamoeba histolytica.

Amoebiasis is a worldwide health problem caused by the pathogen Entamoeba histolytica. Several virulence factors have been implicated in host invasion, immune evasion, and tissue damage. There are still new factors that remain to be elucidated and characterized.

Development of an oxidative stress sensor in live bacteria using the optimized HyPer2 protein.

Oxidative stress is a key regulator in many cellular processes but also an important burden for living organisms. The source of oxidative damage usually is difficult to measure and assess with analytical tools or chemical indicators. One major limitation is to discriminate the presence of secondary oxidant molecules derived from the cellular metabolism after exposure to the oxidant or the scavenging capacity of reactive oxygen species by cells.

Chemical characterization, pharmacological effects, and toxicity of an ethanol extract of Celtis pallida Torr. (Cannabaceae) aerial parts.

Ethnopharmacological Relevance: Celtis pallida Torr (Cannabaceae) is employed as a folk medicine for the treatment of inflammation, pain, skin infections, and diarrhea, among other diseases.

Aim Of The Study: The purpose of this work was to assess the chemical composition, the in vitro and in vivo toxicity, the antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antidiarrheal, antinociceptive, locomotor, and sedative effects of an ethanolic extract obtained from Celtis pallida aerial parts (CPE).

Materials And Methods: The composition of CPE was carried out by GC-MS.

Entamoeba histolytica: molecular cloning and characterization of a novel neutral sphingomyelinase.

A novel neutral sphingomyelinase (nSMase) was characterized in Entamoeba histolytica trophozoites. SMase, a sphingomyelin-specific form of phospholipase C, catalyzes the hydrolysis of sphingomyelin to ceramide and phosphorylcholine. Three amebic putative nSMase genes were found to be actively transcribed.

Entamoeba histolytica: effect on virulence, growth and gene expression in response to monoxenic culture with Escherichia coli 055.

Monoxenic cultivation of pathogenic Entamoeba histolytica trophozoites with Escherichia coli serotype 055 which binds strongly to the Gal/GalNAc amoebic lectin, markedly improved the growth of E. histolytica and produced a significant decrease in cysteine proteinase activity and a lower cytopathic activity on monolayer cells after 3 months of monoxenic culture. However, after long term monoxenic culture (12 months) the proteolytic and cytopathic activities were recovered and the amoebic growth reached the maximum yield.