Validation of a universal set of primers to study animal-associated microeukaryotic communities.

The application of metabarcoding to study animal-associated microeukaryotes has been restricted because the universal barcode used to study microeukaryotic ecology and distribution in the environment, the Small Subunit of the Ribosomal RNA gene (18S rRNA), is also present in the host. As a result, when host-associated microbial eukaryotes are analysed by metabarcoding, the reads tend to be dominated by host sequences. We have done an in silico validation against the SILVA 18S rRNA database of a non-metazoan primer set (primers that are biased against the metazoan 18S rRNA) that recovers only 2.

Glucose homeostasis in the euryhaline crab Cytograpsus angulatus: Effects of the salinity in the amylase, maltase and sucrase activities in the hepatopancreas and in the carbohydrate reserves in different tissues.

We studied the existence, biochemical characteristics and response to different environmental salinities of amylase, maltase and sucrase activity in the intertidal euryhaline crab Cyrtograpsus angulatus (Dana, 1852) along with the response to distinct salinities of glycogen and free glucose content in storage organs. Amylase, maltase and sucrase activities were kept over a broad range of pH and temperature and exhibited Michaelis-Menten kinetics. Zymography showed the existence of two amylase forms in crabs exposed to 35 (osmoconformation) and low (6-10psu; hyper-regulation) or high (40psu) (hypo-regulation) salinities.

Trypsin and N-aminopeptidase (APN) activities in the hepatopancreas of an intertidal euryhaline crab: Biochemical characteristics and differential modulation by histamine and salinity.

No studies are available about biochemical characteristics and modulation (i.e. by endogenous and/or environmental cues) of trypsin (a key digestive endoprotease) in hepatopancreas of intertidal euryhaline crabs neither on the possible concomitant modulation of key ectoproteases such as aminopeptidase-N (APN) involved in final steps of protein digestion.

Evaluation of PCR Approaches for Detection of Bartonella bacilliformis in Blood Samples.

Background: The lack of an effective diagnostic tool for Carrion's disease leads to misdiagnosis, wrong treatments and perpetuation of asymptomatic carriers living in endemic areas. Conventional PCR approaches have been reported as a diagnostic technique. However, the detection limit of these techniques is not clear as well as if its usefulness in low bacteriemia cases.

Possible vertical transmission of Bartonella bacilliformis in Peru.

A 22-day-old male was admitted with a 2-day history of irritability, dyspnea, jaundice, fever, and gastrointestinal bleeding. A thin blood smear was performed, which showed the presence of intraerythrocyte bacteria identified as Bartonella bacilliformis, and subsequently, the child was diagnosed with Carrion's disease. The diagnosis was confirmed by specific polymerase chain reaction.

Digestive flexibility in females of the subterranean rodent ctenomys talarum in their natural habitat.

We studied the occurrence of digestive strategies at different levels in females of the subterranean herbivorous rodent Ctenomys talarum living in their natural habitat. We determined the dimensions of different parts of the gastrointestinal tract and organs along as the activity of key digestive enzymes(sucrase, maltase and N-aminopeptidase) in small intestine in females seasonally caught. Females of C.

Digestive strategies in the South American subterranean rodent Ctenomys talarum.

Ctenomys talarum is a subterranean herbivorous rodent which due to its particular life style is frequently exposed to variations in surface environmental conditions (i.e. food quality and availability, temperature).

Phenotypic plasticity in response to low quality diet in the South American omnivorous rodent Akodon azarae (Rodentia: Sigmodontinae).

We studied the responses in the omnivorous rodent A. azarae submitted to a low quality diet at morphological, physiological and biochemical levels. At short term, a decrease in body mass occurred.

Seasonal changes in body composition of Ctenomys talarum (Rodentia: Octodontidae): an herbivore subterranean rodent.

Ctenomys talarum is a subterranean herbivorous rodent whose burrow systems exhibit particular characteristics, distinct from other subterranean environments. We studied seasonal variation in body composition of C. talarum in relation to energetic requirements.

The adaptor protein 3BP2 binds human CD244 and links this receptor to Vav signaling, ERK activation, and NK cell killing.

Adaptor proteins, molecules that mediate intermolecular interactions, are crucial for cellular activation. The adaptor 3BP2 has been shown to positively regulate NK cell-mediated cytotoxicity. In this study we present evidence for a physical interaction between 3BP2 and the CD244 receptor.

Identification of Grb2 as a novel binding partner of the signaling lymphocytic activation molecule-associated protein binding receptor CD229.

Ag recognition by the TCR determines the subsequent fate of the T cell and is regulated by the involvement of other cell surface molecules, termed coreceptors. CD229 is a lymphocyte cell surface molecule that belongs to the CD150 family of receptors. Upon tyrosine phosphorylation, CD229 recruits various signaling molecules to the membrane.

Phenotypic flexibility of digestive morphology and physiology of the South American omnivorous rodent Akodon azarae (Rodentia: Sigmodontinae).

We have determined the occurrence of responses at different levels (morphological, physiological and biochemical) in the omnivorous rodent Akodon azarae upon cold acclimation (15 degrees C). A short-term enhancement in food consumption appeared to account for the maintenance of both mass and body composition. At the morphological level, the main response was an increase in the dimensions of small intestine, which constitutes the section of the gut where absorption and secretion take place.

The cell surface expression of SAP-binding receptor CD229 is regulated via its interaction with clathrin-associated adaptor complex 2 (AP-2).

CD229 (Ly9) is a cell surface receptor selectively expressed on T and B lymphocytes, and it belongs to the CD150 receptor family. Like other receptors of this family, CD229 interacts with SAP/SH2D1a protein, mutation of which is responsible for the fatal X-linked lymphoproliferative disease. Receptors of the CD150 family function as costimulatory molecules, regulating cytokine production and cytotoxicity.

Mouse novel Ly9: a new member of the expanding CD150 (SLAM) family of leukocyte cell-surface receptors.

Human CS1, also known as novel Ly9, 19A24, or CRACC, is a member of the immunoglobulin gene superfamily (IgSF) expressed on natural killer cells and other leukocytes. Here we describe the cloning of the mouse homologue of this gene. The mouse novel Ly9 gene is shown to encode a transmembrane protein composed of two extracellular immunoglobulin-like domains, a transmembrane region and an 88-amino acid cytoplasmic domain.