Role of the apical and basolateral domains of the enterocyte in the regulation of cholesterol transport by a high glucose concentration.

We have recently shown that a high glucose (HG) concentration raised intestinal cholesterol (CHOL) transport and metabolism in intestinal epithelial cells. The objective of the present work is to determine whether the stimulus for increased CHOL absorption by glucose originates from the apical site (corresponding to the intestinal lumen) or from the basolateral site (related to blood circulation). We tackled this issue by using differentiated Caco-2/15 cells.

CFTR knockdown stimulates lipid synthesis and transport in intestinal Caco-2/15 cells.

Cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) is a chloride channel highly expressed in epithelial cells of the gastrointestinal tract. Mutations in the CFTR gene cause cystic fibrosis (CF), a disease characterized by pancreatic insufficiency, fat malabsorption, and steatorrhea. Despite the administration of pancreatic enzymes to normalize malabsorption, CF patients still experienced lipid fecal loss, nutritional deficiencies, and abnormalities in serum lipid profile, suggesting the presence of intrinsic defects in the intestinal handling of nutrients.

Genetic diversity of Giardia intestinalis populations in Colombia.

Introduction: Giardia intestinalis is a protozoan parasite that causes a gastrointestinal infection known as giardiosis, which is transmitted primarily through fecal-oral contamination. Genetic studies of axenically cultivated Giardia isolates have identified two major genetic groups distributed throughout the world. In the present study 24 native strains of the parasite were analyzed by the RAPD technique (Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA).

[Genotyping of the Plasmodium falciparum msp1 (block 2) and dhfr (codon 108) genes in field samples collected in four endemic Colombian localities].

Introduction: Plasmodium falciparum is a highly polymorphic parasite, which allows it to evade the host's immune response, spread drug resistance and favours transmission.

Objectives: To analyse the genetic diversity of P. falciparum populations in samples from four endemic localities in Colombia.