Current developments of SELEX technologies and prospects in the aptamer selection with clinical applications.

Aptamers are single-stranded oligonucleotide sequences capable of binding to specific ligands with high affinity. In this manner, they are like antibodies but have advantages such as lower manufacturing costs, lower immunogenicity, fewer batch-to-batch differences, a longer shelf life, high tolerance to different molecular milieus, and a greater number of potential targets. Due to their special features, they have been used in drug delivery, biosensor technology, therapy, and diagnostics.

Leishmania spp. diagnosis and therapeutic management in a cat from urban area in Ibagué (Colombia).

Background: Leishmania spp., a protozoan transmitted by sandflies, widely affects humans and dogs in Colombia, nevertheless feline leishmaniasis (FeL) remains understudied.

Objective: This study reports a case of feline leishmaniasis in Colombia and its therapeutic management.

Virulence genes identification in isolates from humans, crocodiles, and poultry farms from two regions in Colombia.

Background And Aim: spp. is frequently found in the digestive tract of birds and reptiles and transmitted to humans through food. Salmonellosis is a public health problem because of pathogenicity variability in strains for virulence factors.

High prevalence of Leishmania spp. in dogs from Central West Colombia.

Leishmaniasis is a widespread disease caused by species of the genus Leishmania. In Colombia, this zoonosis is endemic in rural areas with a high prevalence in the departments of Antioquia, Santander, Meta, Tolima and Nariño. Dogs are the most important domestic reservoirs of the pathogen, given the epidemiological importance of dogs in the control of leishmaniasis is needed to determine the prevalence of Leishmania spp.

First study on microscopic and molecular detection of and coinfection in dogs in Southwest Colombia.

Background And Aim: Canine vector-borne diseases represent an important issue for the welfare and health of animals, but also have great zoonotic potential. These diseases are caused by bacteria, nematodes such as filariae, and other parasites such as spp. Given the difficulty in differentiating common microfilariae in dogs by microscopy and serological methods, molecular techniques such as polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and sequencing should be valuable for reaching a reliable diagnosis.

Gene Expression of Aquaporins (AQPs) in Cumulus Oocytes Complex and Embryo of Cattle.

Aquaporins () are proteins with various functions related to proper cell function and early development in mammals. The aim of this study was to evaluate the presence of and determine their mRNA levels in the cumulus oocyte complex (COC) of four bovine breeds and in blastocysts of five bovine crosses. Grade I, II and III COCs were collected by ovum pick up from non-lactating heifers of the Brahaman, Holstein, Gir and Romosinuano breeds.

Molecular characterization of HEPCIDIN-1 (HAMP1) gene in red-bellied pacu (Piaractus brachypomus).

Hepcidins are cysteine-rich peptides, which participate in iron metabolism regulation, the inflammatory and antimicrobial response. This study characterizes the hepcidin-1 (HAMP1) gene, its transcript expression in different tissues, as well as its regulation in a model of brain injury in Piaractus brachypomus. Bioinformatic analysis was carried out to determine conserved domains, glycosylation sites and protein structure of HAMP1, and probability that HAMP1 corresponds to an antimicrobial peptide (AMP).