Comparación de la flora microbiana a partir de dos metodologías para el tratamiento de residuos sólidos domiciliarios en Garagoa, Boyacá / Comparing between microorganisms from two domiciliary solid remainder methodology, for treatment in Garagoa, Boyacá

El objetivo de esta investigación consistió en comparar la flora microbiana a partir de la metodología convencional implementada en Garagoa, Boyacá, para el tratamiento de residuos sólidos domiciliarios con una metodología experimental que consistió en humectar los residuos con agua en lugar de lixiviado, y no mezclar el material por tratar con otro de distintos tiempos de compostaje; para tal fin, se caracterizaron y determinaron los tamaños poblacionales de heterótrofas totales, pseudomonas, hongos y actinomicetos a partir de muestras tomadas en distintas etapas del proceso. De las distintas muestras analizadas se identificaron hongos de los géneros Cladosporium y Aspergillus, propios del proceso de compostaje, Fusarium, Scopulariopsis, Moniliella, Curvularia y levaduras del género Rhodothorula.En el agar ISP2 (para el aislamiento de actinomicetos) se identificaron diversos morfotipos: bacilos esporulados, bacilos gramnegativos, cocobacilos, cocos grampositivos y una bacteria del género Streptomyces. De acuerdo con los resultados de los tamaños poblacionales de los grupos de microorganismos estudiados no se presentaron diferencias significativas entre los tratamientos evaluados; sin embargo, el mayor promedio de los recuentos se presentó en el tratamiento experimental.

This research was aimed at comparing microorganisms from conventional household solid waste treatment in Garagoa, Boyacá, using an experimental methodology consisting of moistening waste with water instead of lixiviate and not mixing the material to be treated with other material having different composting times (i.e. organic fertilizer). Complete heterotopous, pseudomona, fungi and actinomycete population size were thus characterised from samples taken from different stages of the process. Fungi from the Cladosporium and Aspergillus genera (from composting) were identified from this analysis, as well as Fusarium, Scopulariopsis, Moniliella, Curvularia and yeasts from the Rhodothorula genera. Some morphotypes were identified in the ISP2 agar (for the actinomycete isolate): sporulated bacilli, gram-negative bacilli, cocobacilli, gram-positive coci and one bacterium from the Streptomyces genus. According to the results regarding the population sizes of the microorganism groups studied, no meaningful differences were presented between the treatments being tested; however, the experimental treatment presented the highest average count.

Generation of anti-teliospores antibodies for immunolocalization and characterization of antigenic epitopes of teliospores of Karnal bunt (Tilletia indica) of wheat.

Polyclonal antibodies raised against intact teliospores of T. indica in New Zealand albino rabbits were used for the development of indirect immunofluorescence tests. Specificity of anti-teliospore antibodies was evaluated by cross reactivity studies on other bunt, smut and related pathogens. The characteristic reactivity pattern indicated that the antibodies reacted with Tilletia species only. Chemical modifications, heat and enzyme treatments followed by indirect immunofluorescence tests were employed to delineate the molecular nature of the surface antigens. There was partial or no loss in immunoreactivity by methanol, periodate, heat or trypsin treatments. Extensive periodate treatment altered the fluorescence pattern due to changes in configuration of carbohydrate antigen present in episporium. Sequential treatment of periodate and trypsin showed diminished fluorescence due to access of proteolytic enzyme into inner site of episporium thereby cleaving peptide epitope(s) after reorientation of carbohydrate moietiesby periodate treatment. It indicated glycoprotein nature or peptide nature of epitopes on the teliospore surface.

Partial chemical characterization of antigenic preparations of chromoblastomycosis agents

Antigenic preparations (saline, methylic, metabolic and exoantigens) of four agents of chromoblastomycosis, Fonsecaea pedrosoi, Phialophora verrucosa, Cladophialophora (Cladosporium) carrionii and Rhinocladiella aquaspersa were obtained. Partial chemical characterization of these antigenic preparations was obtained by determination of the levels of total lipids, protein, and carbohydrates, and identification of the main sterols and carbohydrates. Methylic antigens presented the highest lipid contents, whereas metabolic antigens showed the highest carbohydrate content. Total lipid, protein, and carbohydrate levels were in the range of 2.33 to 2.00 mg/ml, 0.04 to 0.02 mg/ml and 0.10 to 0.02 mg/ml, respectively, in the methylic antigens and in the range of 0. 53 to 0.18 mg/ml, 0.44 to 0.26 mg/ml, and 1.82 to 1.02 mg/ml, respectively, in saline antigens. Total lipid, protein, and carbohydrate contents were in the range of 0.55 to 0.20 mg/ml, 0.69 to 0.57 mg/ml and 10.73 to 5.93 mg/ml, respectively, in the metabolic antigens, and in the range of 0.55 to 0.15 mg/ml, 0.62 to 0.20 mg/ml and 3.55 to 0.42 mg/ml, respectively, in the exoantigens. Phospholipids were not detected in the preparations. Saline and metabolic antigens and exoantigens presented hexose and the methylic antigen revealed additional pentose units in their composition. The UV light absorption spectra of the sterols revealed squalene and an ergosterol fraction in the antigens. The characterization of these antigenic preparations may be useful for serological evaluation of patients of chromoblastomycosis.

Producción de antígenos fúngicos autóctonos en el inmunodiagnóstico de micosis en México / Production of fungal antigens from local strains for the immunodiagnosis of mycoses in Mexico

La elaboración de antígenos fúngicos con buena reactividad y especificidad son indispensables para las pruebas inmunológicas que son útiles en el diagnóstico y pronóstico de las enfermedades micóticas. Las diferencias antigénicas de cepas provenientes de diversas regiones plantean la conveniencia de conocer las características morfológicas, antigénicas y moleculares. Este documento presenta datos de antígenos crudos y purificados de Histoplasma capsulatum, Coccidioidis immitis y paracoccidioides brasiliensis que son los de mayor patología en México. Los antígenos crudos de histoplasmina, coccidioidina y paracoccidioidina, constituidos principalmente por moléculas glicoproteínicas, muestran buena reactividad en pruebas de precipitación e intradérmicas. Los purificados (CCPD: complejo polisacárido-proteína desproteinizado) exhiben mayor grado de especificidad que los crudos en pruebas de alta sensibilidad como ELISA y fijación de complemento. Los antígenos crudos son de bajo costo, fácil manejo y rápida detección y son ideales para estudios epidemiológicos; los purificados son ideales para precisar mejor un diagnóstico de micosis