Molecular Evidence of Leptospira spp. Infection Among Household Dogs From 15 Municipalities of the Department of Caldas, Colombia.

Introduction: Leptospira spp. is a bacterial genus which includes pathogenic species that causes leptospirosis. Several animal species can harbour, shed and disseminate the bacteria through their urine.

Deciphering "Immaturity-Stemness" in Human Epidermal Stem Cells at the Levels of Protein-Coding and Non-Coding Genomes: A Prospective Computational Approach.

The epidermis hosts populations of epithelial stem cells endowed with well-documented renewal and regenerative functions. This tissue thus constitutes a model for exploring the molecular characteristics of stem cells, which remain to date partially characterized at the molecular level in human skin. Our group has investigated the regulatory functions of the KLF4/TGFB1 and the MAD4/MAX/MYC signaling pathways in the control of the immaturity-stemness versus differentiation fate of keratinocyte stem and precursor cells from human interfollicular epidermis.

Generation of heterozygous and homozygous NF1 lines from human-induced pluripotent stem cells using CRISPR/Cas9 to investigate bone defects associated with neurofibromatosis type 1.

Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) is one of the most common genetic disorders caused by heterozygous germline mutations. NF1 affects many systems, including the skeletal system. To date, no curative therapies are available for skeletal manifestations such as scoliosis and tibial dysplasia, mainly due to the lack of knowledge about the mechanisms that underlie this process.

Generating Functional and Highly Proliferative Melanocytes Derived from Human Pluripotent Stem Cells: A Promising Tool for Biotherapeutic Approaches to Treat Skin Pigmentation Disorders.

Melanocytes are essential for skin homeostasis and protection, and their loss or misfunction leads to a wide spectrum of diseases. Cell therapy utilizing autologous melanocytes has been used for years as an adjunct treatment for hypopigmentary disorders such as vitiligo. However, these approaches are hindered by the poor proliferative capacity of melanocytes obtained from skin biopsies.

MXD4/MAD4 Regulates Human Keratinocyte Precursor Fate.

Deciphering the pathways that regulate human epidermal precursor cell fate is necessary for future developments in skin repair and graft bioengineering. Among them, characterization of pathways regulating the keratinocyte (KC) precursor immaturity versus differentiation balance is required for improving the efficiency of KC precursor ex vivo expansion. In this study, we show that the transcription factor MXD4/MAD4 is expressed at a higher level in quiescent KC stem/progenitor cells located in the basal layer of human epidermis than in cycling progenitors.