Recognition of laminin by Paracoccidioides brasiliensis conidia: a possible mechanism of adherence to human type II alveolar cells.

This study addresses the recognition of laminin by Paracoccidioides brasiliensis conidia, as well as its possible role in the adherence of conidia to A549 cells. Adherence of conidia to immobilized laminin was shown to be specific, as anti-laminin antibodies, soluble laminin or the laminin-derived peptides IKVAV and CDPGYIGSR inhibited this interaction. RGD containing peptides and various monosaccharides had no effect on adherence, with the exception of N-acetylneuraminic acid.

Paracoccidioides brasiliensis conidia recognize fibronectin and fibrinogen which subsequently participate in adherence to human type II alveolar cells: involvement of a specific adhesin.

We examined the ability of Paracoccidioides brasiliensis conidia to interact with fibronectin, fibrinogen and with A549 cells, in order to establish the nature of the molecules involved. Conidia bound to immobilized proteins in a concentration-dependent manner. Antibodies against fibronectin and fibrinogen inhibited the fungal adherence to the corresponding proteins; as did laminin and fibronectin, but not fibrinogen when added in soluble form; however, the fibrinogen fragment D interfered with adhesion in a significant manner.

Complications of Bothrops, Porthidium, and Bothriechis snakebites in Colombia. A clinical and epidemiological study of 39 cases attended in a university hospital.

The clinical and epidemiological features, as well as complications presented by 39 patients with Bothrops, Porthidium and Bothriechis snakebites, are described. Patients were admitted during 1 year in 25 hospitals of Antioquia and Chocó and then, they were transferred to the Hospital Universitario San Vicente de Paúl in Medellín, 30 of them because of the presence of complications, eight because of lack of antivenoms and another one because of the desire of his relatives. Thirty--one (79.