Rotaxanes with a photoresponsive macrocycle modulate the lipid bilayers of large and giant unilamellar vesicles.

Rotaxanes equipped with actuators hold great potential for developing highly functional molecular machines. Such systems could significantly enhance our ability to study and manipulate biological and artificial membranes. Here, we introduce a rotaxane with a ring featuring two azobenzene photoswitches, which retain their photoreversibility and can be stochastically shuttled along the axle in solution.

[Prevalence of respiratory symptomatic in health institutions of Bogotá, Colombia].

Introduction: One of the greatest challenges in tuberculosis control is the early detection of cases. Detection is hindered by low level of active search for respiratory symptoms by health consultants and the small number of tubercular smear tests ordered by health personnel.

Objective: The prevalence of individuals with respiratory symptoms was estimated in Bogotá Health Service Institutions, along with the proportion of those receiving diagnostic baciloscopies (smear or culture tests).

First case of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis caused by a rare "Beijing-like" genotype of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in Bogotá, Colombia.

This report describes a first case due to a genetically distinct and relatively rare "Beijing-like" strain of Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolated from a 15 years old female patient who died shortly after the initiation of antituberculous therapy with second-line drugs. Positive cultures obtained from lung, kidney and adrenal glands upon autopsy were identified as Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex characterized by an identical 15-banded IS6110-RFLP pattern, and were found to be resistant to all the 4 first-line antituberculous drugs tested (rifampin, isoniazid, ethambutol and streptomycin). Spoligotyping followed by comparison with the SITVIT2 database revealed that the isolate belonged to a rare pattern identified as Spoligotype International Type SIT190, which represents only 1.

Evidence of recombination in Hepatitis C Virus populations infecting a hemophiliac patient.

Background/aim: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is an important cause of morbidity and mortality in patients affected by hereditary bleeding disorders. HCV, as others RNA virus, exploit all possible mechanisms of genetic variation to ensure their survival, such as recombination and mutation. In order to gain insight into the genetic variability of HCV virus strains circulating in hemophiliac patients, we have performed a phylogenetic analysis of HCV strains isolated from 10 patients with this kind of pathology.

Evolution of naturally occurring 5'non-coding region variants of Hepatitis C virus in human populations of the South American region.

Background: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) has been the subject of intense research and clinical investigation as its major role in human disease has emerged. Previous and recent studies have suggested a diversification of type 1 HCV in the South American region. The degree of genetic variation among HCV strains circulating in Bolivia and Colombia is currently unknown.

Evidence of recombination in quasispecies populations of a Hepatitis C Virus patient undergoing anti-viral therapy.

Background/aim: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) has been the subject of intense research and clinical investigation as its major role in human disease has emerged. HCV circulates in vivo as a complex population of different but closely related viral variants, commonly referred to as a quasispecies. The extent to which recombination plays a role in the evolution of HCV quasispecies when patients are undergoing anti-viral therapy is currently unknown.

Risk factors for hepatitis B and C in multi-transfused patients in Uruguay.

Background: In spite of the progress made in the prevention of transfusion-transmitted infections over the last years, these still occur. It was considered that infection by hepatitis B (HBV) and C (HCV) viruses could be a major problem in Uruguay, especially among high-risk individuals, such as multi-transfused patients.

Objectives: To assess the prevalence of HBV and HCV infection among multi-transfused Uruguayan patients and the impact of serological screening; to evaluate the role of number of transfusions and other potential risk factors for the acquisition of HBV and HCV infection.

Hepatitis C virus F protein sequence reveals a lack of functional constraints and a variable pattern of amino acid substitution.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is an important human pathogen that affects 170 million people worldwide. The HCV genome is an RNA molecule that is approximately 9.6 kb in length and encodes a polyprotein that is cleaved proteolytically to generate at least 10 mature viral proteins.

[Overview of the HIV/tuberculosis coinfection in Bogotá, Colombia, 2001].

The magnitude and characteristics of the co-infection of TB-AIDS was evaluated in cases reported in Bogotá, 2001. A cross sectional study was carried out using the epidemiological registry of TBC-AIDS cases from the Health Secretariat of Bogotá. Only TB cases with a positive HIV test were included in.