ABSTRACT
Aliarcobacter butzleri (formerly known as Arcobacter butzleri) is an emerging food-borne zoonotic pathogen that establishes in vitro endosymbiotic relationships with Acanthamoeba castellanii, a free-living amoeba. Previously, we described that this bacterium acts as an endocytobiont of A. castellanii, surviving for at least 10 days in absence of bacterial replication. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate the ability of A. butzleri to survive as a long-term endosymbiont of A. castellanii for 30 days in two models of symbiotic interaction with A. castellanii: (i) endosymbiotic culture followed by gentamicin protection assay and (ii) transwell co-culture assay. The results allow us to conclude that A. butzleri is capable of surviving as an endosymbiont of A. castellanii for at least 30 days, without multiplying, under controlled laboratory conditions. In addition, in the absence of nutrients and as both microorganisms remain in the same culture, separated by semi-permeable membranes, A. castellanii does not promote the survival of A. butzleri, nor does it multiply. Our findings suggest that the greater survival capacity of A. butzleri is associated with their endosymbiont status inside A. castellanii, pointing out the complexity of this type of symbiotic relationship.
Subject(s)
Acanthamoeba castellanii , Arcobacter , Acanthamoeba castellanii/microbiology , SymbiosisABSTRACT
Controversies still exist regarding the humoral response to the virus SARS-CoV-2 in convalescent patients and seroconversion in patients with autoimmune diseases. There are few reports on the clinical and evolution of COVID-19 in the latter group. The objective was to examine the clinical and evolutionary characteristics associated with COVID-19 and the percentage of seroconversion in people with rheumatic diseases. Fifty-three patients were included, mainly with rheumatoid arthritis and lupus. The majority were female and average age 48 ± 14 years. Symptoms: fever (56%), anosmia (35.8%), dyspnea (34%), headache (30.2%) and cough (30.2%). Duration of infection 12 ± 7 days. Almost half of the patients were hospitalized (23, 43.4%), 5 in critical care units (9.4%) and 3 died (5.6%). The prevalence of steroid use was 56.6% (30), with an average dose of 8 mg/d, and 17 (32%) used immunosuppressive biopharmaceuticals. There was a correlation between age and the need for hospitalization with a risk of 9.4% per year. There were no differences with other variables. The presence in serum of IgG immunoglobulin against SARS-CoV-2 protein S was determined in 23/53 patients (43.4%), with detectable levels in 15 (62.2%), and in the 23 without autoimmune connective tissue diseases who suffered from COVID-19, 12 had detectable antibodies. Death in this group of rheumatic diseases was low, similar to the general population. More than half had specific antibodies against the virus regardless of the medication used.
Existen controversias sobre la respuesta humoral al virus SARS-CoV-2 y la seroconversión en pacientes con enfermedades autoinmunes. Hay pocas publicaciones sobre la clínica y la evolución de COVID-19 en este último grupo. El objetivo fue examinar las características clínicas y evolutivas asociadas a COVID-19 y el porcentaje de seroconversión en personas con enfermedades reumáticas. Se incluyeron 53 pacientes principalmente con artritis reumatoide y lupus. La mayoría de sexo femenino y edad promedio 48 ± 14 años. La sintomatología fue fiebre (56%), anosmia (35.8%), disnea (34%), cefalea (30.2%) y tos (30.2%). Duración de infección 12 ± 7 días. Casi la mitad de los pacientes fueron hospitalizados (23, 43.4%), 5 en unidad de cuidados críticos (9.4%) y 3 murieron (5.6%). La prevalencia de uso de esteroides fue de 56.6% (30), con una dosis media 8 mg/d, y 17 (32%) usaban biofármacos inmunosupresores. Hubo correlación entre edad y la necesidad de internación con un riesgo de 9.4% por año. No hubo diferencias con otras variables. Se determinó la presencia en suero de inmunoglobulina IgG contra la proteína S del SARS-CoV-2 en 23/53 pacientes (43.4%), con niveles detectables en 15 (62.2%). Se evaluaron 23 sin enfermedades autoinmunes del tejido conectivo que padecieron COVID-19, 12 tuvieron anticuerpos detectables. La muerte en este grupo de enfermedades reumatológicas fue baja, similar a la comunicada en la población general. Más de la mitad presentó anticuerpos específicos contra el virus independientemente de la medicación utilizada.
Subject(s)
COVID-19 , Rheumatic Diseases , Adult , Antibodies, Viral , Female , Humans , Immunoglobulin G , Male , Middle Aged , Rheumatic Diseases/drug therapy , SARS-CoV-2ABSTRACT
Resumen Existen controversias sobre la respuesta humoral al virus SARS-CoV-2 y la seroconversión en pacientes con enfermedades autoinmunes. Hay pocas publicaciones sobre la clínica y la evolución de COVID-19 en este último grupo. El objetivo fue examinar las características clínicas y evolutivas asociadas a COVID-19 y el porcentaje de seroconversión en personas con enfermedades reumáticas. Se incluyeron 53 pacientes principalmente con artritis reumatoide y lupus. La mayoría de sexo femenino y edad promedio 48 ± 14 años. La sintomatología fue fiebre (56%), anosmia (35.8%), disnea (34%), cefalea (30.2%) y tos (30.2%). Duración de infección 12 ± 7 días. Casi la mitad de los pacientes fueron hospitalizados (23, 43.4%), 5 en unidad de cuida dos críticos (9.4%) y 3 murieron (5.6%). La prevalencia de uso de esteroides fue de 56.6% (30), con una dosis media 8 mg/d, y 17 (32%) usaban biofármacos inmunosupresores. Hubo correlación entre edad y la necesidad de internación con un riesgo de 9.4% por año. No hubo diferencias con otras variables. Se determinó la presencia en suero de inmunoglobulina IgG contra la proteína S del SARS-CoV-2 en 23/53 pacientes (43.4%), con niveles detectables en 15 (62.2%). Se evaluaron 23 sin enfermedades autoinmunes del tejido conectivo que padecieron COVID-19, 12 tuvieron anticuerpos detectables. La muerte en este grupo de enfermedades reumatológicas fue baja, similar a la comunicada en la población general. Más de la mitad presentó anticuerpos específicos contra el virus independientemente de la medicación utilizada.
Abstract Controversies still exist regarding the humoral response to the virus SARS-CoV-2 in convalescent patients and seroconversion in patients with autoimmune diseases. There are few reports on the clinical and evo lution of COVID-19 in the latter group. The objective was to examine the clinical and evolutionary characteristics associated with COVID-19 and the percentage of seroconversion in people with rheumatic diseases. Fifty-three patients were included, mainly with rheumatoid arthritis and lupus. The majority were female and average age 48 ± 14 years. Symptoms: fever (56%), anosmia (35.8%), dyspnea (34%), headache (30.2%) and cough (30.2%). Duration of infection 12 ± 7 days. Almost half of the patients were hospitalized (23, 43.4%), 5 in critical care units (9.4%) and 3 died (5.6%). The prevalence of steroid use was 56.6% (30), with an average dose of 8 mg/d, and 17 (32%) used immunosuppressive biopharmaceuticals. There was a correlation between age and the need for hospitalization with a risk of 9.4% per year. There were no differences with other variables. The presence in serum of IgG immunoglobulin against SARS-CoV-2 protein S was determined in 23/53 patients (43.4%), with detectable levels in 15 (62.2%), and in the 23 without autoimmune connective tissue diseases who suffered from COVID-19, 12 had detectable antibodies. Death in this group of rheumatic diseases was low, similar to the general population. More than half had specific antibodies against the virus regardless of the medication used.
