Duffy blood group system and the malaria adaptation process in humans

Malaria is an acute infectious disease caused by the protozoa of the genus Plasmodium. The antigens of the Duffy Blood Group System, in addition to incompatibilities in transfusions and hemolytic disease of the newborn, are of great interest in medicine due to their association with the invasion of red blood cells by the parasite Plasmodium vivax. For invasions to occur an interaction between the parasites and antigens of the Duffy Blood Group System is necessary. In Caucasians six antigens are produced by the Duffy locus (Fya, Fyb, F3, F4, F5 and F6). It has been observed that Fy(a-b-) individuals are resistant to Plasmodium knowlesi and P. vivax infection, because the invasion requires at least one of these antigens. The P. vivax Duffy Binding Protein (PvDBP) is functionally important in the invasion process of these parasites in Duffy / DARC positive humans. The proteins or fractions may be considered, therefore, an important and potential inoculum to be used in immunization against malaria.

Búsqueda de nuevos agentes antiprotozoarios selectivos / In search of new selective antiprotozoal agents

Se da la información general sobre los fármacos antiprotozoarios que están usándose en clínica, se discuten nuevas dianas de los parásitos protozoarios útiles en la búsqueda de nuevos agentes antiprotozoarios, enfocando la atención al rol biológico de las proteasas de los parásitos protozoarios. Esta información importante será útil para los estudiantes e investigadores que se interesen a los problemas de química medicinal (un área naciente en Colombia) cuál aporta mucho al desarrollo de ciencias médicas. [Kouznetsov V, Meléndez C. Búsqueda de nueveos agentes antiprotozoarios selectivos. MedUNAB 2009; 12:33-45].

The information is given on the antiprotozoal drugs used in clinic, new useful targets of the parasites protozoa in the search of new antiprotozoal agents are discussed, focusing the attention to the biological role of proteasas of the parasites protozoa. This important information will be useful for students and researchers, which are interested in the problems of medicinal chemistry (an appearing area in Colombia) that gives much to the development of medicine sciences. [Kouznetsov V, Meléndez C. In search of new selective antiprotozoal agents. MedUNAB 2009; 12:33-45].

Construction, identification and sequence analysis of eukaryotic expression reco mbinant plasmid contai-ning dense granules protein 8 gene from Toxoplasma gondii in BALB/c mice / 中华传染病杂志

Objective To clone the coding dense granules protein 8(GRA8) from Toxoplasma gondii RH isolate for the potential use in the development of DNA vaccination. Methods Amplifing gene fragment coding GRA8 from the genomic DNA of Toxoplasma gondii RH isolate by means of ploymerase chain reaction (PCR), the gene is inserted into cloning vector pUC-19 digesting with restrictive enzymes and linking react ions. The positive colon is screed on LB plates containing ampicilline and IPTG, Xgal identified by blue-white and restrictive enzyme digestion. The inserted GR A8 gene was recombined with pcDNA3.1(+) eukaryotic expression vector by digestion with restrictive enzyme and linking reactions. The positive coloe is screene d o n LB plates containing ampicillin and identified by restrictive enzymes and link ing reactions. Results The GRA8 gene with about 804 base is specifically amplified from genomic DNA of Toxoplasma GRA8/RH and pcDNA3.1(+)-GRA8 recombinant is successfull y constructed. The sequencing results showed that GRA8 gene of isolate RH and R H from genebank shares quite high homology. Conclusion The gene encoding GRA8 is amplified from genomic DNA of Toxoplasma gene isolate GRA8/RH and pcDNA3.1 (+)-GRA8 recombinant is successfully constructed.