Gut microbiome and anti-viral immunity in COVID-19.

SARS-CoV-2 mainly affects the respiratory system, but the gastrointestinal tract is also a target. Prolonged gut disorders, in COVID-19 patients, were correlated with decreased richness and diversity of the gut microbiota, immune deregulation and delayed viral clearance. Although there are no definitive conclusions, ample evidence would suggest that the gut microbiome composition and function play a role in COVID-19 progression. Microbiome modulation strategies for population stratification and management of COVID-19 infection are under investigation, representing an area of interest in the ongoing pandemic. In this review, we present the existing data related to the interaction between gut microbes and the host's immune response to SARS-CoV-2 and discuss the implications for current disease management and readiness to face future pandemics.

Evaluation of Digestible lysine levels in diets with high energy density for finishing pigs / Evaluación de niveles de lisina digestible en dietas con alta densidad energética para cerdos en finalización

Objective. To evaluate the effects of different levels of digestible lysine in diets with high energy density on productive performance and carcass characteristics of finishing pigs. Materials and Methods. Seventy crossbred barrows (initial body weight of 83.36 kg) were used and allotted in a randomized block design with five treatments, seven replications and two pigs per experimental unit. Pigs were fed ad libitum with diets containing 3.5 kcal/kg of ME and five levels of digestible lysine (0.46, 0.52, 0.58, 0.64 and 0.70%) during four weeks. Final live weight (FLW), daily feed intake (DFI), daily weight gain (DWG), feed conversion (FC), daily lysine intake (DLI), and the amount of lysine per body weight gain (DLI/DWG), were evaluated. At the end of the experiment, blood samples were taken from each pig to determine urea nitrogen concentration (UN) in serum and slaughtered to evaluate quantitative and qualitative carcass characteristics. Results. The FLW increased linearly (p<0.05).There were no differences among treatments for DFI, DWG, FC, carcass characteristics and UN. The DLI and DLI/DWG varied significantly (p<0.001) and increased linearly (p<0.001) with each lysine level. Pigs that consumed the limiting diet in lysine (0.46%) showed less DLI and DLI/DWG (p<0.001) than pigs fed the other diets. Conclusions. The amount of DLI/DWG increased with the evaluated levels of digestible lysine in diets with high energy density, without effects on productive performance and carcass characteristics of finishing pigs.

Objetivo. Evaluar los efectos de diferentes niveles de lisina digestible en dietas con alta densidad energética sobre el desempeño productivo y características de la canal de cerdos en finalización. Materiales y métodos. Se utilizaron 70 cerdos (peso inicial de 83.36 kg) mestizos castrados, distribuidos en un diseño de bloques al azar con cinco tratamientos, siete repeticiones y dos cerdos por unidad experimental. Los cerdos fueron alimentados ad libitum con dietas que contenían 3.5 Mcal/kg de energía metabolizable y cinco niveles de lisina digestible (0.46, 0.52, 0.58, 0.64 y 0.70%) durante cuatro semanas. Se evaluaron: peso vivo final (PVF), consumo diario de alimento (CDA), ganancia diaria de peso (GDP), conversión de alimento (CA), consumo diario de lisina (CDLis) y la cantidad de lisina por peso ganado (CDLis/GDP). Al final de experimento, se extrajeron muestras de sangre de todos los cerdos para determinar la concentración de nitrógeno ureico (NU) en suero sanguíneo y luego se sacrificaron para evaluar las características cualitativas y cuantitativas de la canal. Resultados. No se observaron diferencias significativas entre tratamientos para CDA, GDP, CA, características de la canal y NU. El PVF incrementó linealmente (p<0.05). El CDLis y la CDLis/GDP variaron significativamente (p<0.001) e incrementaron linealmente (p<0.001) con cada nivel de lisina. Los cerdos que consumieron la dieta limitante en lisina (0.46%) mostraron menor consumo y CDLis/GDP (p<0.001) que los cerdos alimentados con las otras dietas. Conclusiones. Los niveles de lisina digestible evaluados en dietas con alta densidad energética aumentan la CDLis/GDP, sin efectos sobre el desempeño productivo y las características de la canal de los cerdos en finalización.

CX3CR1⁺ cells facilitate the activation of CD4 T cells in the colonic lamina propria during antigen-driven colitis.

Dendritic cells (DCs) and macrophages populate the intestinal lamina propria to initiate immune responses required for the maintenance of intestinal homeostasis. To investigate whether CX3CR1(+) phagocytes communicate with CD4 T cells during the development of transfer colitis, we established an antigen-driven colitis model induced by the adoptive transfer of DsRed OT-II cells in CX3CR1(GFP/+) × RAG(-/-) recipients challenged with Escherichia coli expressing ovalbumin (OVA) fused to a cyan fluorescent protein (CFP). After colonization of CX3CR1(GFP/+) × RAG(-/-) animals with red fluorescent E. coli pCherry-OVA, colonic CX3CR1(+) cells but not CD103(+) DCs phagocytosed E. coli pCherry-OVA. Degraded bacterial-derived antigens are transported by CD103(+) DCs to mesenteric lymph nodes (MLNs), where CD103(+) DCs prime naive T cells. In RAG(-/-) recipients reconstituted with OT II cells and gavaged with OVA-expressing E. coli, colonic CX3CR1(+) phagocytes are in close contact with CD4 T cells and presented bacterial-derived antigens to CD4 T cells to activate and expand effector T cells.

Intraperitoneal nebulization of ropivacaine for pain control after laparoscopic cholecystectomy: a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Intraperitoneal local anaesthetic nebulization is a relatively novel approach to pain management after laparoscopic surgery. This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial evaluated the effects of intraperitoneal ropivacaine nebulization on pain control after laparoscopic cholecystectomy. METHODS: Patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy were randomized to receive intraperitoneal nebulization of ropivacaine 1% (3 ml) before surgical dissection and normal saline 3 ml at the end of surgery (preoperative nebulization group); intraperitoneal nebulization of normal saline 3 ml before surgical dissection and ropivacaine 1% (3 ml) at the end of surgery (postoperative nebulization group); or intraperitoneal nebulization of normal saline 3 ml before surgical dissection and at the end of surgery (placebo group). Intraperitoneal nebulization of ropivacaine or saline was performed using the Aeroneb Pro(®) device. Anaesthetic and surgical techniques were standardized. The degree of pain on deep breath or movement, incidence of shoulder pain, morphine consumption, and postoperative nausea and vomiting were collected in the post-anaesthesia care unit and at 6, 24, and 48 h after surgery. RESULTS: Compared with placebo, ropivacaine nebulization significantly reduced postoperative pain (-33%; Cohen's d 0.64), referred shoulder pain (absolute reduction -98%), morphine requirements (-41% to -56% Cohen's d 1.16), and time to unassisted walking (up to -44% Cohen's d 0.9) (P<0.01). There were no differences in pain scores between ropivacaine nebulization groups. CONCLUSIONS: Ropivacaine nebulization before or after surgery reduced postoperative pain and referred shoulder pain after laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Furthermore, ropivacaine nebulization reduced morphine requirements and allowed earlier mobility.

CX(3)CR1(+) macrophages support IL-22 production by innate lymphoid cells during infection with Citrobacter rodentium.

Innate immune cells, such as intestinal epithelial cells, dendritic cells (DCs), macrophages, granulocytes, and innate lymphoid cells provide a first line of defence to enteric pathogens. To study the role of CX(3)CR1(+) DCs and macrophages in host defence, we infected CX(3)CR1-GFP animals with Citrobacter rodentium. When transgenic CX(3)CR1-GFP animals are infected with the natural mouse pathogen C. rodentium, CX(3)CR1(-/-) animals showed a delayed clearance of C. rodentium as compared with (age- and sex-matched) wild-type B6 animals. The delayed clearance of C. rodentium is associated with reduced interleukin (IL)-22 expression. In C. rodentium-infected CX(3)CR1-GFP animals, IL-22 producing lymphoid-tissue inducer cells (LTi cells) were selectively reduced in the absence of CX(3)CR1. The reduced IL-22 expression correlates with decreased expression of the antimicrobial peptides RegIIIß and RegIIIγ. The depletion of CX(3)CR1(+) cells by diphtheria toxin injection in CX(3)CR1-GFP × CD11c.DOG animals confirmed the role of CX(3)CR1(+) phagocytes in establishing IL-22 production, supporting the clearance of a C. rodentium infection.

Evaluación del desarrollo de babas (Caiman crocodilus crocodilus) alimentadas con una dieta medicada con antibiótico / Evaluation of development of the spectacle caiman (Caiman crocodilus crocodilus) fed with an antibiotic medicated diet

La baba, Caiman crocodilus crocodilus, criada en cautiverio puede sufrir estrés, que unido a otros factores, promueve el retraso y mortalidad en la época crítica de crecimiento, por lo que algunos algunos autores reportan el uso de antibióticos para contrarrestar estos efectos. Se evaluó el crecimiento de babas en cautiverio alimentadas con una dieta medicada con antibiótico (virginiamicina) y poblaciones con dieta no medicada, tomando como indicadores: medidas del largo total, grosor del cuello y grosor de la base de la cola y el peso de los animales. Se utilizaron 600 babas nacidas por incubación en el zoocriadero Kiubo (La Suareña, estado Aragua). Estos animales fueron medidos, pesados y evaluados clínicamente antes del inicio del ensayo y distribuidos al azar en un tanque tipo australiano (4 secciones). Las dietas fueron: Tratamiento 1: alimento comercial + proteína animal fresca, y Tratamiento 2: alimento comercial + antibiótico + proteína animal fresca. El análisis estadístico fue un diseño completamente aleatorizado, con evaluaciones en tres etapas o fases: Inicial, Intermedia y Final. En la fase inicial se encontraron diferencias significativas (P≤ 0,05) para todas las variables, siendo el tratamiento 1 el que resultó con mayores promedios. En la fase intermedia se observaron diferencias significativas (P≤0,05) para grosor de la base de la cola, largo total y peso; el grosor del cuello no presentó diferencia significativa. En la fase final se, detectaron diferencias significativas (P≤0,05) entre los tratamientos para la base de la cola y largo total; para el grosor del cuello y peso no hubo diferencias significativas. Se observó que el tratamiento 1 fue mejor que el tratamiento 2, para algunas variables, pero ambas dietas contribuyeron al incremento de la tasa de crecimiento, concluyéndose que no se recomienda el uso de antibióticos adicionados a la dieta, ya que incrementa los costos de producción y puede contribuir con la resistencia bacteriana en el hombre, mientras la cría en cautiverio de esta especie, depende principalmente del buen manejo de los mismos.

The spectacled caiman (Caiman crocodilus crocodilus) is a species raised in captivity that can suffer from stress, which, along with other factors, promotes growth delay and mortality during the critical time of growth. Some investigators report the use of antibiotics to counteract those effects. The growth of a population of spectacle caimans raised in captivity and fed with a diet supplemented with antibiotic (virginiamycin) was compared with the growth of the spectacle caiman population fed with a control diet was assessed. A total of 600 animals born through incubation at the Kiubo farm were used. Before the onset of the experiment, the animals were measured, weighed, clinically evaluated, and randomly distributed in four sections in an Australian tank. The following variables were measured using a metric tape: total length (TL), neck thickness (NT), base of the tail thickness (BTT). The weight was recorded with an electronic balance. The animals were submitted to the following treatments (T): Treatment 1 (T1): commercial diet + fresh animal protein; Treatment 2 (T2): commercial diet + fresh animal protein + antibiotic. The evaluations were carried out in three phases: Initial phase, Intermediate phase, and Final Phase. A totally randomized design with a covariance analysis was performed to analyze the data. The results show that during the initial phase, all variables showed statistically significant (P≤0.05) differences, reaching T1 the highest averages. During the intermediate phase, significant differences (P≤0.05) were found for BTT, TL, and weight. The NT was not significant. During the final stage, statistical differences (P≤0.05) were recorded among T for BTT and TL, but no differences were found for NT and weight. For some variables, T1 was better than T2, but both diets contributed to the increment of growth rate. It is concluded that the use of antibiotics supplemented in the diet, increases production costs and that breeding in captivity depends more on good handling.

Lípidos sanguíneos en cerdos alimentados con pijiguao (Bactris gasipaes Kunth) y lisina sintética / Blood lipids of pigs fed peach palm (Bactris gasipaes Kunth) and synthetic lysine

Objetivo. Evaluar el efecto de la harina de pijiguao y lisina sintética sobre los lípidos sanguíneos de cerdos en crecimiento y engorde. Materiales y métodos. El estudio se realizó en dos etapas. En la primera etapa se utilizaron 72 cerdos castrados en crecimiento de 30 ± 0.5 kg, en un arreglo factorial 2x3: dos niveles de lisina sintética (0 y 2.70 g/kg) y tres niveles de harina de pijiguao (0, 160 y 320 g/kg). En la segunda etapa se utilizaron 16 cerdos en engorde de 67.25 ± 1.17 kg, en un arreglo factorial 2x2: dos niveles de lisina sintética (0 y 2.70 g/kg) y dos niveles de pijiguao (0 y 175 g/kg). Se determinaron las concentraciones séricas de triacilgliceroles, colesterol total y ácidos grasos. Resultados. Los cerdos en crecimiento que consumieron pijiguao presentaron menores (p<0.001) concentraciones de colesterol que el grupo control (2.27 y 2.23 mmol/l vs 2.56 mmol/l) y triacilgliceroles (0.34 y 0.28 mmol/l vs 0.42 mmol/l). El ácido oleico incrementó (p<0.01) con el mayor nivel de pijiguao (20.78% a 28.84%), y la lisina aumentó (p<0.05) el ácido linoleico (27.83% a 31.29%). Los cerdos alimentados con pijiguao y lisina mostraron menor (p<0.001) ácido palmítico que el grupo con pijiguao sin lisina (0.23 y 0.19% vs 0.45 y 0.62%, respectivamente). En la etapa de engorde los triacilgliceroles disminuyeron (p<0.05) en los cerdos alimentados con pijiguao y lisina (0.46 a 0.36 mmol/l). Los cerdos alimentados con pijiguao mostraron menor ácido linoleico y mayor ácido oleico (p<0.001). Conclusiones. Las dietas con pijiguao y lisina sintética no causaron efectos negativos sobre los lípidos sanguíneos de cerdos.

Múltiple resistencia antibacterial en aislados de equinos Pura Sangre de carreras en el hipódromo "La Rinconada", Caracas, Venezuela / Multiple antibacterial resistance in isolates from thoroughbred horses in the racecourse La Rinconada, Caracas, Venezuela

Se determinó la resistencia múltiple a los antibióticos en aislados bacteriales de caballos Pura Sangre en el Hipódromo «La Rinconada¼, Caracas, Venezuela durante el 2009. Se trabajó con una población de 128 caballos, donde 12 no respondieron al tratamiento contra infecciones adquiridas, pese a ser tratados durante 7 días con gentamicina (6 mg/kg), penicilina (22.000 UI/kg) y ceftiofur sódico (4 mg/kg). Se practicó la necropsia y se tomaron muestras de tejido de abscesos en artritis séptica (4), endocarditis con abscesos (1), esofagitis supurada (2), granuloma laríngeo (1), neumonía (2), pielonefritis (1) y dermatitis (1). Las muestras se colocaron en medio de transporte Stuart y fueron cultivadas. Los aislados fueron sometidos a una prueba de susceptibilidad antibacterial. La bacteria E. colifue aislada en 12 casos (75%), Proteus mirabilis en 2 (12.5%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa en 1 (6.25%) y Streptococcus equisubespecie zooepidemicus en 1 (6.25%). Los antibiogramas de los aislados bacterianos evidenciaron resistencia a gentamicina, ciprofloxacina, acido nalidixico, trimetropin, ampicilina y amikacina.

Multiple resistance to antibiotics was determined in bacterial isolates from Thoroughbred horses at the National Race Track «La Rinconada¼, Caracas, Venezuela. From a population of 128 horses in 2009, 12 did not respond to antibacterial treatment despite being treated for 7 days with gentamicin (6 mg/kg), penicillin (22,000 IU/kg) and ceftiofur (4 mg/kg). Necropsy was conducted and tissue samples were collected from abscesses in septic arthritis (4), abscess in endocardium (1), suppurative esophagitis (2), laryngeal granuloma (1), pneumonia (2), pyelonephritis (1) and dermatitis (1). Samples were placed in Stuart transport medium and cultured. The bacterial isolates were tested for antibiotic susceptibility. E. coliwas isolated in 12 cases (75%), Proteus mirabilisin 2 (12.5%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa in 1 (6.25%), and Streptococcus equi subspecies zooepidemicus in 1 (6.25%). The bacterial isolates showed resistance to gentamicin, ciprofloxacin, nalidixic acid, trimethoprim, ampicillin and amikacin.

Descripción morfológica de las células sanguíneas de la Baba / Morphologycal Description of Blood Cells of the Baba

La “baba”, Caiman crocodilus crocodilus, es una especie que ha existido desde hace mas de 200 millones de años y manteniéndose sin variaciones durante el tiempo. El estudio de la morfología y las dimensiones celulares es de gran utilidad al comparar e interpretar los hemogramas desde el punto de vista clínico patológico. Con el objetivo de estudiar las dimensiones y morfología de las células sanguíneas, se tomaron 100 animales del medio ambiente en la zona de Guaritico, estado Apure, con edades comprendidas entre 2 a 5 años, de los cuales se obtuvieron muestras de sangre completa en tubos con EDTA, para ser procesadas en el laboratorio. Se realizaron frotis de las muestras que fueron teñidos con Giemsa, para analizar las características morfológicas de cada grupo celular. Se utilizaron para la medición, plantillas de acetato con agujeros al azar y se tomaron fotos de los campos para ser sometidas al programa morfométrico Sigma Scan Pro 5, el cual discrimina el tamaño celular de la siguiente manera: eritrocitos: 12,5-19,5 µm; heterófilos: 11,3-18,5mm; eosinófilos: 11,5-14,9mm; basófilos: 12,7-16,0 mm; linfocitos: 6,5- 8,9mm; monocitos: 9,4-14,6 mm, respectivamente. En el caso de los trombocitos, el tamaño fue 9,3-12,0 mm. La morfología de las diferentes células coincide con la descrita para el Alligator mississippiensis, Caiman crocodilus yacare, Caiman crocodilus lacostris, la Agrionemys horsfieldi y en otros reptiles.

The Caiman crocodilus crocodiles is a species that has existed in nature for over 200 million years and has practically remained unchanged during this time. From the clinical pathological point of view, the morphological studies as well as the cellular dimensions are of great usefulness when describing and comparing hemograms. The aim of this investigation was to study the dimensions and morphology of blood cells. A sample of 100 animals from a wildlife reserve in Guaritico region, in the State of Apure, aged 2 to 5 years, was taken. Samples of whole blood using EDTA tubes were obtained and processed in the laboratory. Blood smears were stained with Giemsa and the morphological characteristics of each cellular group were analyzed. For measuring cell dimensions, randomly distributed holes were punched to acetate templates. Subsequently, photographs of the fields were taken and analysed using the Sigma Scan Pro 5 morphometric program. Results show the size of the different cells: erythrocytes: 12,5-19,5 µm; heterophils: 11,3-18,5 mm; eosinophils: 11,5-14,9mm; basophils: 12,7-16,0 mm; lymphocyte: 6,5- 8,9 mm; monocytes: 9,4-14,6 mm, respectively and thrombocytes 9,3-12,0 mm. The morphology of these different blood cells coincides with that described for the Alligator mississippiensis, Caiman crocodilus yacare, Caiman crocodilus lacostris, the Agrionemys horsfieldi and other reptile species.

Changing patterns in HIV-1 non-B clade prevalence and diversity in Italy over three decades.

BACKGROUND: HIV-1 non-B subtypes have recently entered Western Europe following immigration from other regions. The distribution of non-B clades and their association with demographic factors, over the entire course of the HIV-1 epidemic, have not been fully investigated in Italy. METHODS: We carried out a phylogenetic analysis of HIV-1 pol sequences derived from 3670 patients followed at 50 Italian clinical centres over nearly three decades. RESULTS: Overall, 417 patients (11.4%) carried non-B subtypes. The prevalence of non-B strains increased from 2.6% in 1980-1992 to 18.9% in 1993-2008 (P<0.0001) in a subset of 2479 subjects with a known year of diagnosis. A multivariate analysis on a subset of 1364 patients for whom relevant demographic data were available indicated that African ethnicity, heterosexual route of infection and year of diagnosis were independently associated with non-B HIV-1 infection (P ≤ 0.0001). All pure subtypes, except for clade K, and seven circulating recombinant forms were detected, accounting for 56.6 and 34.1% of the non-B infections, respectively. The F1 subtype was the most prevalent non-B clade among Europeans and was acquired heterosexually in half of this patient population. Unique recombinant forms accounted for 9.4% of the non-B sequences and showed a B/F1 recombination pattern in one-third of cases. CONCLUSIONS: The circulation of non-B clades has significantly increased in Italy in association with demographic changes. Spread of the F1 subtype and B/F recombinants appears to predominate, which may result in a redistribution of the relative proportions of the different strains, and this could lead to overlapping epidemics. Thus, the HIV-1 landscape in Italy may in future be distinct from that of the rest of Europe.