Both human immunodeficiency virus-infected and human immunodeficiency virus-exposed, uninfected children living in Brazil, Argentina, and Mexico have similar rates of low concentrations of retinol, beta-carotene, and vitamin E

Our objective was to describe the prevalence of low concentrations of retinol, beta-carotene, and vitamin E in a group of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected Latin American children and a comparison group of HIV-exposed, uninfected children. Our hypothesis was that the rates of low concentrations of these micronutrients would be higher in the HIV-infected group than those in the HIV-exposed, uninfected group. This was a cross-sectional substudy of a larger cohort study at clinical pediatric HIV centers in Latin America. Serum levels of micronutrients were measured in the first stored sample obtained after each child`s first birthday by high-performance liquid chromatography. Low concentrations of retinol, beta-carotene, and vitamin E were defined as serum levels below 0.70, 0.35, and 18.0 mu mol/L, respectively. The Population for this analysis was 336 children (124 HIV-infected, 212 HIV-exposed, uninfected) aged I year or older to younger than 4 years. Rates of low concentrations were 74% for retinol, 27% for beta-carotene, and 89% for vitamin E. These rates were not affected by HIV status. Among the HIV-infected children, those treated with anti retrovirals were less likely to have retinol deficiency, but no other HIV-related factors correlated with micronutrient low serum levels. Low concentrations of retinol, beta-carotene, and vitamin E are very common in children exposed to HIV living in Brazil, Argentina, and Mexico, regardless of HIV-infection status. Published by Elsevier Inc.

Microsatellite diversity and effective population size in a germplasm bank of Hymenaea courbaril var. stilbocarpa (Leguminosae), an endangered tropical tree: recommendations for conservation

Deforestation in southeast Brazil has led to the extinction of Hymenaea courbaril var. stilbocarpa and ex situ conservation has been established. In this study, the levels of genetic diversity and the effective population size of H. courbaril in a germplasm bank were investigated using six nuclear microsatellite loci. A total of 79 and 91 alleles were found in 65 seed-trees and their 176 offspring, respectively. Offspring have a higher average number of alleles per locus (A = 15.2) than seed-trees (A = 13.2), but lower observed heterozygosity (offspring: H (o) = 0.566; seed-trees: H (o) = 0.607). The estimate of outcrossing rate shows that the study population is perfectly outcrossed (t (m) = 0.978, P > 0.05). Significant deviations from random mating were detected through mating among relatives and correlated matings. The average variance in effective population size for each family was 2.63, with a total effective population size retained in the bank of 170.1. These results confirm that the preserved population of H. courbaril retains substantial genetic variability.

Molecular characteristics of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing Escherichia coli from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Twenty-five extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Escherichia coli clinical isolates from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil were characterized by isoelectric focusing, PCR and sequencing of bla(ESBL) genes, plasmid-mediated quinolone resistance determinants, phylogenetic groups, replicon typing, pulsed-field electrophoresis, and multilocus sequencing typing. Twenty-three (92%) ESBL-producing E. coli isolates were positive for bla(CTX-M) genes, aac(6`)-lb-cr, and qnrB. Genetic relatedness of ESBL producers clustered seven (28%) CTX-M-15-producing isolates as sequence type (ST) 410, clonal complex (CC) 23, and two (8%) as clone O25-ST131. Our results illustrate the predominance of phylo-group A (52%), ST410 (CC 23) and CTX-M-15 among ESBL-producing E. coli isolates from hospitals in Rio de Janeiro.

MTA-induced neutrophil recruitment: a mechanism dependent on IL-1 beta, MIP-2, and LTB(4)

Objective. The objective of this study was to investigate the mediators and the resident peritoneal cells involved in the neutrophil migration (NM) induced by mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) in mice. Study design. MTA (25 mg/cavity) was injected into normal and pretreated peritoneal cavities (PC) with indomethacin (IND), dexamethasone (DEX), BWA4C, U75302, antimacrophage inflammatory protein-2 (MIP-2), and anti-interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta) antibodies and the NM was determined. The role of macrophage (MO) and mast cells (MAST) was determined by administration of thioglycollate 3% or 48/80 compound, respectively. The concentration of IL-1 beta and MIP-2 exudates was measured by ELISA. Results. MTA induced dose-and time-dependent NM into mice PC, with the participation of MO and MAST. NM was inhibited by DEX, BWA4C, and U75302, as well as anti-MIP-2 and anti-IL-1 beta antibodies. In the exudates, IL-1 beta and MIP-2 were detected. Conclusions. This study suggests that MTA induces NM via a mechanism dependent on MAST and MO mediated by IL-1 beta, MIP-2, and LTB(4).

Septic shock caused by Plesiomonas shigelloides in a patient with sickle beta-zero thalassemia

Invasive infection and extraintestinal complications are rarely caused by Plesiomonas shigelloides, a water-borne bacterium belonging to the Vibrionaceae family. We report a case of a 16-year-old female patient with sickle beta-zero thalassemia who survived septic shock caused by P. shigelloides associated with secondary acute respiratory distress syndrome and disseminated intravascular coagulation. Treatment with a carbapenem was successful, and the patient recovered without any sequelae. The previous reports of P. shigelloides sepsis are cited, and possible pathogenic mechanisms are discussed. (Heart Lung (R) 2010;39:335-339.)

Effect of beta-lactoglobulin polymorphism and seasonality on bovine milk composition

The objective was to evaluate the effect of beta-lactoglobulin (beta-lg) polymorphism and seasonality on milk composition (fat, lactose, total solids, milk urea nitrogen, total protein, true protein, casein and somatic cell counts) of Holstein and Girolando cows. Milk and blood samples from 278 Holsteins cows and 156 Girolando cows were taken during two dry seasons and two rainy seasons, for milk composition analysis and to determine beta-lg genotypes, respectively. BB genotype was the most frequent for both breeds, followed by AA genotype for Holstein (BB>AA>AB) and by AB for Girolando cows (BB>AB>AA). No differences were found in milk compositional characteristics among genetic variants of beta-lg (AA, AB and BB) either between Holstein or Girolando cows. No association between milk composition and beta-lg genetic polymorphism was observed. During the dry season, independently of the breed considered, higher contents of lactose, true protein, casein and casein :true protein ratio were found.

Molecular diversity of Brazilian strains of porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV-2)

Porcine circovirus 2 (PCV-2) is associated with a broad range of syndromes. In this study, eight pig tissue samples from two Brazilian states were analyzed using six PCR primer pairs amplifying a 1705-bp fragment of the PCV-2 genome. The NJ distance-based method was used for the phylogenetic analysis with the eight field strains herein, 15 GenBank sequences and using PCV-1 as an out-group. This yielded two major clusters (A and B) for this viral species, with the Brazilian strains segregating with European and Asian sequences. Nucleotide identity was 99.7 to 100% among the sequences. This information can be used in further studies of pathogenesis related to PCV-2 in Brazil. (C) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Rabies virus in insectivorous bats: Implications of the diversity of the nucleoprotein and glycoprotein genes for molecular epidemiology

Insectivorous bats are the main reservoirs of rabies virus (RABV) in various regions of the world. The aims of this study were to (a) establish genealogies for RABV strains from different species of Brazilian insectivorous bats based on the nucleoprotein (N) and glycoprotein (G) genes, (b) investigate specific RABV lineages associated with certain genera of bats and (c) identify molecular markers that can distinguish between these lineages. The genealogic analysis of N and G from 57 RABV strains revealed seven genus-specific clusters related to the insectivorous bats Myotis, Eptesicus, Nyctinomops, Molossus, Tadarida, Histiotus and Lasiurus. Molecular markers in the amino acid sequences were identified which were specific to the seven clusters. These results, which constitute a novel finding for this pathogen, show that there are at least seven independent epidemiological rabies cycles maintained by seven genera of insectivorous bats in Brazil. (C) 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Genetic diversity among Toxoplasma gondii isolates of small ruminants from Brazil: Novel genotypes revealed

Recent studies indicated that Toxoplasma gondii isolates of many domestic animal hosts from Brazil are genetically and biologically different from those in USA and Europe. Despite of high pathogenicity of this parasite to small ruminants, the epidemiology and genetic diversity of T. gondii in these animals are not well understood in Brazil. In this study, a total of 28 T. gondii samples (16 isolates from sheep in Sao Paulo state, and 12 isolates from goats in the states of Sao Paulo and Rio Grande do Norte) were genotyped using genetic markers SAG1, SAG2, SAG3, BTUB, CRAG, c22-8, c29-2, L358, PK1, Apico and CS3. Eleven genotypes were identified from these T. gondii isolates. Eight isolates (4 from sheep and 4 from goats) were grouped into the common clonal type Brl lineage. One sheep isolate was grouped to the type BrIII lineage. Five isolates grouped to three previously identified genotypes in Brazil, and 13 isolates grouped to six novel genotypes. Mixed genotype was found in one isolate from goat in Sao Paulo. No classical clonal Type I. II or III isolates were found, confirming previous reports that these clonal lineages are rare in Brazil. The allele types at the CS3 locus are strongly linked to mouse virulence of the parasite. The results of this study indicate that even though a large number of T. gondii genotypes have been identified from a variety of animal hosts in Brazil, high percentage of new genotypes are continuously identified from different animal species, suggesting extremely high diversity of T. gondii in the population. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Genetic diversity of Brazilian isolates of feline immunodeficiency virus

FAPESP (the Sao Paulo State research funding foundation)