Brazilian spotted fever prevention through a nonlethal capybara population control strategy

Abstract INTRODUCTION: Brazilian spotted fever (BSF), a lethal tick-borne Rickettsioses (2000 - 2018 >600 human deaths) involving synanthropic capybara as host. METHODS: We introduced an alternative to mitigate human-capybara conflicts and epidemiologic concerns of BSF. Complex aspects like transmission dynamics, risk areas, host mobility, and birth rate control, were considered to develop a prevention strategy using an anti-GnRH vaccine. RESULTS: The propositioned immunocontraceptive potentially remove and prevent the spread of BSF from endemic areas. CONCLUSIONS: We propose the anti-GnRH vaccine as a BSF prevention strategy based on these favorable results.

Contracepção injetável trimestral / Progestin-only injectable contraception

Os contraceptivos injetáveis trimestrais representam métodos de longo prazo muito utilizados, sendo acessíveis a grande contingente de pacientes. São altamente eficazes e com fácil posologia, colaborando com eficiente planejamento familiar. Suas taxas de gravidez oscilam entre 0,0 e 0,7/100 mulheres por ano. É método contraceptivo interessante para pacientes que não desejam ingestão de comprimidos, que apresentam contraindicações ao uso de estrogênios, que optam por amenorreia e para as adolescentes. No Brasil, é comercializado com a formulação de 150 mg de Acetato de Medroxiprogesterona de depósito (AMPD). Injeções intramusculares são capazes de inibir a ovulação e, também, alterarem o muco cervical e o endométrio. Seus efeitos adversos são reduzidos, destacando-se ganho de peso, dor abdominal, cefaleia, mudança de humor e diminuição do desejo sexual. Estudos atuais não demonstram maior risco de fraturas, apesar de haver discreta diminuição na densidade óssea. Apresenta benefícios relevantes como diminuição no risco de câncer endometrial, de câncer ovariano, de doença inflamatória pélvica e pode apresentar efeito benéfico nos sintomas da endometriose. Os autores realizaram revisão sobre o contraceptivo injetável trimestral priorizando seu modo de uso, efeitos benéficos, efeitos adversos e critérios de elegibilidade para sua prescrição.(AU)

The progestin-only injectable contraceptives are long-term methods widely used. They are accessible to large numbers of patients and are highly effective and easy to use. This collaborate with effective family planning. The pregnancy rates range between 0.0 and 0.7/100 women per years. They are a good alternative for contraception to patients who do not wish intake of pills, have contraindications to the use of estrogens, choose to amenorrhea and are adolescents. In Brazil it is marketed with the formulation of 150 mg of medroxyprogesterone acetate depot (DMPA). Intramuscular injections are able to inhibit ovulation and also modifies the cervical mucus and endometrium. Its adverse effects are few, especially weight gain, abdominal pain, headache, mood swings and decreased sexual desire. Current studies show no increased risk of fractures, although there is a slight decrease in bone density. It offers significant benefits such as reduced risk of endometrial cancer, ovarian cancer, pelvic inflammatory disease and may have beneficial effect on the symptoms of endometriosis. The authors conducted a review of the progestin-only injectable contraceptive focusing on its manner of use, benefits, side effects and eligibility criteria for prescription.(AU)

Soluble expression, purification and immunoreactive identification of mouse zona pellucida 3 fusion protein / 生物工程学报

Mammalian zona pellucida 3(ZP3) plays an important role in the induction of capacitating sperm acrosome reaction. In this study, we obtained the soluble mZP3 fusion protein and identified its immunoreactivity. mZP3 cDNA was cloned into plasmid pMAL-p2x, and the recombinant plasmid was transformed into Escherichia coli BL21. To get the soluble mZP3 fusion protein, we tried to optimize the expression conditions, including additives, IPTG concentrations, temperatures and induction duration. Then, Western blotting and ELISA were used to identify the immunoreactivity of the purified protein. Based on the optimization experiments, we concluded that the best soluble expression conditions for the mZP3 fusion protein involved incubation to an A600 of 0.6, addition of glucose to a final concentration of 0.02 mol/L, addition of IPTG to a final concentration of 0.6 mmol/L and then further incubation for 4 h at 25 degrees C. Western blotting and ELISA showed that the mZP3 fusion protein retained immunoreactivity. The fusion protein can be used as solubility antigens for developing the immunocontraception vaccines of mZP3 and detecting the immune effects of the vaccine.

The antibody against a nuclear autoantigenic sperm protein can result in reproductive failure / 亚洲男科学杂志(英文版)

To study whether the antibody against the testis form of the nuclear autoantigenic sperm protein (tNASP) could result in reproductive failure, we successfully cloned and expressed a 339-bp cDNA fragment of mouse tNASP (mtNASP). Using mouse as a model, recombinant mtNASP (rmtNASP) and a synthetic peptide, human tNASP(393-408) (htNASP(393-408)), were investigated for their antifertility effect. Active immunization with rmtNASP or the synthesized peptide raised high antibody titers in the immunized mice. Sperm-egg binding and fusion assay were carried out in 8-10-week-old BALB/c mice. Sperm-egg binding and in vitro fertilization of mouse oocytes were inhibited by co-incubation of zona-free mouse oocytes with capacitated mouse spermatozoa in the presence of varying concentrations of the antisera against rmtNASP. There was a significant antifertility effect in animals immunized with rmtNASP or the synthesized peptide. The effect on fertility in the mice immunized with the synthesized peptide was reversible. Our data indicate that active immunization with rmtNASP antigen may induce a strong antibody response that causes an inhibition of fertility.

Estrogenic and Pregnancy Interceptory Effects of Achyranthes Aspera Linn. Root

Achyranthes aspera Linn. (Amaranthaceae) is an abundant indigenous herb in India. It is traditionally being used as an abortifacient. Four successive solvent extracts of the root were screened for antifertility activity in female albino rats. The chloroform and ethanol extracts exhibited 100anti-implantation activity when given orally at 200 mg/kg body weight. Both the extracts at the dose of 200 mg/kg body weight also exhibited estrogenic activity. Histological studies of the uterus were carried out to confirm this estrogenic activity

Advances in the studies of epididymal protease inhibitor--Eppin / 中华男科学杂志

The epididymal protease inhibitor (Eppin) abounds in human semen and on the surface of human spermatozoa, specifically produced by the testis and epididymis. Recombinant Eppin has effected infertility in the immunized monkey and promises to be an effective vaccine for human immunocontraception. This article reviews the advances in the studies of Eppin gene and protein construction and its molecular mechanism of causing immunologic infertility and regulating PSA hydrolysis of Semenogelin.

Induction of castration by immunization of male dogs with recombinant gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH)-canine distemper virus (CDV) T helper cell epitope p35

Immunocastration is a considerable alternative to a surgical castration method especially in male animal species for alleviating unwanted male behaviors and characteristics. Induction of high titer of antibody specific for gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) correlates with the regression of testes. Fusion proteins composed of canine GnRH and T helper (Th) cell epitope p35 originated from canine distemper virus (CDV) F protein and goat rotavirus VP6 protein were produced in E. coli. When these fusion proteins were injected to male dogs which were previously immunized with CDV vaccine, the fusion protein of GnRH-CDV Th cell epitope p35 induced much higher antibody than that of GnRH-rotavirus VP6 protein or GnRH alone. The degeneration of spermatogenesis was also verified in the male dogs immunized with the fusion protein of GnRH-CDV Th cell epitope p35. These results indicate that canine GnRH conjugated to CDV Th cell epitope p35 acted as a strong immunogen and the antibody to GnRH specifically neutralized GnRH in the testes. This study also implies a potential application of GnRH-based vaccines for immunocastration of male pets.

Zona pellucida glycoproteins based immunocontraceptive vaccines: strategies for development and their applications.

The mammalian oocyte is surrounded by an extra-cellular matrix, the zona pellucida (ZP), composed of three major glycoproteins (ZP1, ZP2 and ZP3). The ZP glycoproteins, by virtue of their tissue specificity and critical role during mammalian fertilization, have emerged as potential candidate antigens for the development of an immunocontraceptive vaccine. Molecular characterization of ZP glycoproteins from several species, reveals a variable degree of homology among the deduced primary amino acid sequences, which provided an opportunity to undertake active immunization studies in heterologous animal models. Active immunization of various animal species with either native ZP glycoproteins or those obtained by recombinant DNA technology led to the inhibition of fertility. Thus ZP glycoproteins based immunocontraceptive vaccines offer an attractive proposition for controlling wild life population. To make it a practical proposition, additional research inputs are required to optimize and devise novel strategies for vaccine delivery. Observed ovarian dysfunction, often associated with immunization by ZP glycoproteins is one of the major stumbling blocks for their use in humans. Ongoing studies to delineate appropriate B cell epitopes of ZP glycoproteins that are devoid of oophoritogenic T-cell epitopes, which will inhibit fertility without concomitant oophoritis, will be critical to determine their feasibility for human use.

Advances in researches on lactate dehydrogenase-C4 isozyme / 中华男科学杂志

Lactate dehydrogenase-C4 isozyme has been widely studied as the sperm-specific antigen in the research of the contraceptive vaccine. Developmental and testis-specific expression of the LDH-C gene requires mechanisms for activation in germ cells and repression in somatic cells. LDH-C promoter, several transcription factors and methylation of CpG dinucleotides have been proved of governing action on LDH-C gene transcription. The strategy is to induce antibodies in the female reproductive tract against LDH-C antigens at a sufficient level to block fertilization. Chemically modified LDH-C4 offers a potential application in the induction of infertility of homologous species in marked contrast to native LDH-C4. In addition, advances are being made in researches on the male contraceptive vaccine and synthetic peptide immunocontraceptive.

Advances in sperm membrane antigens / 中华男科学杂志

A series of sperm membrane antigens, the important molecular markers associated with the program of spermatogenesis and maturation of sperm, which also are for attachment of the physiological mechanism of the sperm-egg interaction and fusion and the pathological changes in the infertility, were reviewed. Some traditional crucial sperm membrane proteins, such as FA-1, PH-20, fertilin, have been cloned and sequenced, and some novel gene which encode new proteins associated with the sperm membrane also have been screened out successively. All of these provided a basement for lucubration of these proteins and the research of the contraception vaccine.