Molecular characterization and expression analysis of cathepsin C in Chinese giant salamander (Andrias davidianus) after Aeromonas hydrophila infection

Background: Cathepsin C (CTSC) (dipeptidyl peptidase I, DPPI), is a member of the papain superfamily of cysteine proteases and involves in a variety of host reactions. However, the information of CTST in Chinese giant salamander (Andrias davidianus), an amphibian species with important evolutionary position and economic values, remained unclear. Results: The full-length salamander CTSC cDNA contained a 96 bp of 5'-UTR, a 1392 bp of ORF encoding 463 amino acids, and a 95 bp of 3'-UTR. The salamander CTSC possessed several sequence features similar to other reported CTSCs such as a signal peptide, a propeptide and a mature peptide. The active site triad of Cys, His and Asn were also found existing in salamander CTSC. Salamander CTSC mRNA was constitutively expressed in all the examined tissues with significantly variant expression level. The highest expression of CTSC was in intestine, followed with stomach, spleen, lung and brain. Following Aeromonas hydrophila infection for 12 h, salamander CTSC was significantly up-regulated in several tissues including lung, spleen, brain, kidney, heart, stomach and skin. Conclusion: CTSC plays roles in the immune response to bacterial infection, which provided valuable information for further studying the functions of CTSC in salamander.

Septic arthritis by Sphingobacterium multivorum in immunocompromised pediatric patient / Artrite séptica por Sphingobacterium multivorum em paciente pediátrico imunossuprimido

Abstract Objective: To report a case septic arthritis with a rare pathogen in a immunosuppressed child. Case description: Male patient, 6 years old, had liver transplant five and half years ago due to biliary atresia. Patient was using tacrolimus 1mg q.12h. This patient started to have pain in left foot and ankle and had one episode of fever 3 days before hospital admission. Physical examination showed weight 17kg, height 109cm, temperature 36.4°C, with pain, swelling and heat in the left ankle, without other clinical signs. Initial tests: hemoglobin 11.7g/dL hematocrit 36.4%, leukocyte count 17,600µL-1 (7% banded neutrophils, 70% segmented neutrophils, 2% eosinophils, basophils 1%, 13% lymphocytes, 7% monocytes) C-reactive protein 170.88mg/L. Joint ultrasound showed moderate effusion in the site. Patient was submitted to surgical procedure and Sphingobacterium multivorum was isolated from the effusion. The germ was susceptible to broad spectrum cephalosporins (ceftriaxone and cefepime) and fluoroquinolones (ciprofloxacin and levofloxacin), and it was resistant to carbapenemic antibiotics and aminoglycosides. He was treated intravenously with oxacillin for 15 days and ceftriaxone for 13 days, and orally with ciprofloxacin for 15 days, with good outcome. Comments: The S. multivorum is a gram negative bacillus that belongs to Flavobacteriaceae family and it is considered non-pathogenic. It has rarely been described as a cause of infections in humans, especially in hospital environment and in immunosuppressed patients. This case report is relevant for its unusual etiology and for the site affected, which may be the first case of septic arthritis described.

Resumo Objetivo: Relatar um caso de artrite séptica de etiologia rara em uma criança imunossuprimida. Descrição do caso: Paciente masculino, seis anos, transplantado hepático havia cinco anos e meio devido à atresia de vias biliares, em uso de tacrolimus 1 mg de 12/12 horas, iniciou dor em pé e tornozelo esquerdo e um episódio de febre três dias antes da internação. Ao exame físico, peso 17kg, estatura 109cm, temperatura de 36,4°C, com dor, edema e calor no tornozelo esquerdo e sem outras alterações. Exames da entrada: hemoglobina 11,7g/dL, hematócrito 36,4%, leucócitos, 17.600/uL (7% bastões, 70% segmentados, 2% eosinófilos, 1% basófilo, 13% linfócitos, 7% monócitos), proteína C reativa 170,88mg/L. Ultrassonografia articular evidenciou moderado derrame no recesso tíbio talar anterior esquerdo. Feita limpeza cirúrgica com o isolamento do S. multivorum na cultura do líquido articular, suscetível a um amplo espectro de cefalosporinas (cefepime e ceftriaxone) e fluoroquinolonas (ciprofloxacino e levofloxacino), esistente a carbapenêmicos e aminoglicosídeos. Tratado com oxacilina por 15 dias e ceftriaxone 13 dias intravenoso e ciprofloxacina via oral por mais 15 dias com boa evolução. Comentários: O Sphingobacterium multivorum é um bacilo gram negativo, pertencente à família Flavobacteriaceae, considerado não patogênico, tem sido raramente descrito como etiologia de infecções em seres humanos principalmente em ambientes hospitalares e em imunossuprimidos. O relato deste caso é relevante por sua etiologia incomum e pelo sítio acometido, pode ser este o primeiro caso de artrite séptica descrito.

Disease resistance of pacu Piaractus mesopotamicus (Holmberg, 1887) fed with β-glucan / Resistência à doença em pacu, Piaractus mesopotamicus (Holmberg, 1887), alimentados com β-glucana

Effects of β-glucan on innate immune responses and survival were studied in pacu experimentally infected with Aeromonas hydrophila. Fish fed diets containing 0, 0.1% and 1% β-glucan were injected with A. hydrophila. β-glucan enhanced fish survival in both treated groups (26.7% and 21.2% of the control, respectively). Leukocyte respiratory burst and alternative complement pathway activities were elevated after bacterial challenge regardless the β-glucan concentration. Lysozyme activity was higher after infection and showed a gradual increase as β-glucan concentration increased. A significant elevation in WBC count was observed either after bacterial challenge or by influence of β-glucan separately. The same response was observed in the number of thrombocytes, lymphocytes, eosinophils, LG-PAS positive cell and monocytes. It can be concluded that feeding pacu with β-glucan can increase protection against A. hydrophila, due to changes in non-specific immune responses.

Os efeitos da β-glucana sobre as respostas imunes inatas e a sobrevivência foram estudados em pacu experimentalmente infectado com Aeromonas hydrophila. Peixes alimentados com dietas contendo 0,1% e 1% de β-glucana foram injetados com 1 × 108 CFU de A. hydrophila após 7 dias de alimentação. A sobrevivência de peixes foi maior nos dois grupos tratados em comparação ao grupo controle (26,7% e 21,2%, respectivamente). A atividade respiratória de leucócitos e a atividade hemolítica do complemento – via alternativa estavam elevadas após desafio bacteriano independentemente da concentração de β-glucana. A atividade de lisozima foi maior após a infecção e mostrou um aumento gradual de acordo com a concentração do imunoestimulante. Observou-se um aumento significativo na contagem de leucócitos totais após o desafio bacteriano e influência de β-glucana. A mesma resposta foi observada para trombócitos, linfócitos, eosinófilos, leucócito PAS positivo e monócitos. Com exceção de neutrófilos, que diminuíram frente ao mais alto nível do imunoestimulante e não se alteraram após a infecção, as outras células aumentaram após a exposição à A. hydrophila. A β-glucana não afetou os níveis de proteína total do soro, que aumentaram após o desafio bacteriano. Conclui-se que a administração de β-glucana em pacu pode aumentar a proteção contra A. hydrophila, por alterações nas respostas imunes de não-específicas.

Autoimmunity as a possible predisposing factor for Stenotrophomonas maltophilia endocarditis / Autoinmunidad como posible factor predisponente para endocarditis por Stenotrophomonas maltophilia

Only 40 cases of Stenotrophomonas maltophilia (S. maltophilia) endocarditis have been reported to date, and there is no description in patients with underlying autoimmunity. A 23-year-old woman with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) overlapping rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and no risk factors for endocarditis was admitted in our hospital because of community-acquired tricuspid valve endocarditis. During hospitalization, she was complicated with pulmonary thromboembolism and pneumonia. Laboratory showed autoimmune diathesis featured by anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (anti-CCP), anti-Sm, anti-Ro/SSA, anti-cardiolipin, anti-(β2 glycoprotein 1, and antinuclear antibodies, rheumatoid factor (RF), low complement, lymphopenia and C-reactive protein (CRP) of 425 mg/L. S. maltophilia grew in serial blood culture sets. Empirical broad-spectrum antimicrobials were ineffective until trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (TMP/SMX) was added to therapy. One month after admission, the patient underwent successful surgical replacement of the tricuspid valve and the subsequent course was satisfactory, allowing her to be discharged 14 days after. Nowadays, she remains free of complaints and her cardiac, renal and pulmonary functioning is stable. Noteworthy is that all auto-antibodies have been persistently raised over time. Here, we present a compilation of the available information about S. maltophilia endocarditis, and suggest that autoimmunity could be included as a novel predisposing factor for S. maltophilia endocarditis.

Actualmente sólo existen 40 casos descritos de endocarditis por Stenotrophomonas maltophilia (S. maltophilia), ninguno de los cuales tenía una enfermedad autoinmune subyacente. Una mujer de 23 años con imbricación de lupus eritematoso sistémico (LES) y artritis reuma-Artritis reumatoide; toide (AR), ingresó a nuestro Instituto por endocarditis de la válvula tricúspide adquirida en México comunidad. La paciente presentó como complicaciones tromboembolia pulmonar y neumonía, se encontraron anticuerpos contra péptidos cíclicos citrulinados (anti-CCP), antinucleares, anti-Sm, anti-Ro/SSA, anti-cardiolipina y anti-(β2 glucoproteína 1, factor reumatoide (FR), complementopenia, linfopenia y proteína C reactiva (PCR) de 425 mg/L. Se observó crecimiento de S. maltophilia en hemocultivos seriados y el tratamiento antimicrobiano empírico no fue efectivo, sino hasta que se incluyó trimetoprim/sulfametoxazol (TMP/SMX). Después de un mes de hospitalización, la paciente fue sometida a remplazo quirúrgico de la válvula tricúspide y la evolución clínica subsecuente fue satisfactoria, permitiendo su egreso 14 días después. Actualmente, la paciente se encuentra asintomática y su función cardiaca, renal y pulmonar es estable. Llama la atención que todos los autoanticuerpos han permanecido elevados a través del tiempo. Presentamos una recopilación de la información disponible acerca de la endocarditis por S. maltophilia, y proponemos que la autoinmunidad podría ser incluida como un nuevo factor de predisposición para esta entidad.

Immunostimulatory effect of Tinospora cordifolia Miers leaf extract in Oreochromis mossambicus.

Immunostimulatory effect of leaf extract of T. cordifolia on (i) specific immunity (antibody response), (ii) non-specific immunity (neutrophil activity) and (iii) disease resistance against Aeromonas hydrophila was investigated in O. mossambicus. Ethanol and petroleum ether extracts of the leaves were used. Both ethanol and petroleum ether extracts administered at doses of 0.8, 8 or 80 mg/kg body weight, prolonged the peak primary antibody titres upto one to three weeks. Ethanol extract at the dose of 8 mg/kg and petroleum ether extract at the doses of 0.8 or 8 mg/kg enhanced the secondary antibody response. All the doses of ethanol extract significantly enhanced neutrophil activity. Fish injected with petroleum ether or ethanol extract at a dose of 8 mg/kg were protected against experimental infection with virulent A. hydrophila. The results indicates the potential of T. cordifolia leaf extracts for use as an immunoprophylactic to prevent diseases in finfish aquaculture.

Estudo comparativo da atividade in vitro da apicilina/sulbactam e outros agentes antimicrobianos frente a bactérias isoladas de diversos materiais clínicos / Comparative study of in vitro activity of ampicillin/sulbactam and other antimicrobics aginst bacteria isolated from several clinical specimens

Um total de 4.813 amostras bacterians, recentemente isoladas de diferentes materiais clínicos, foram testadas frente a 33 diferentes antimicrobianos, pelo método da difusão e disco e analisados de acordo com os padrões estabelecidos pelo National Commitee for Clinical Laboratory Standards (NCCLS). Os resultados mostraram que a Ampicilina/Sulbactam apresentou uma ação extremamente eficaz frente à grande maioria das bactérias estudadas, 92,16 por cento de amostras sensíveis, quando comparado com a Ampicilina (54,63 por cento) e com os demais antimicrobianos testados. A Ampiclilina/Sulbactam mostrou-se também bastante eficiente frente a microorganismos fastidiosos, como o H. influenzae e N. gonorrhoeae, com 100 por cento das amostras testadas sensíveis. Concluímos que a Ampicilina/Sulbactam é um antibiótico com potente atividade "in vitro" frente às bactérias mais comumente isoladas de processos infecciosos.