Molecular Prevalence and Subtypes Distribution of Blastocystis spp. in Humans of Latin America: A Systematic Review.

Blastocystis spp. are among the few enteric parasites with a prevalence that can reach up to approximately 80% in communities of developing countries. This systematic review updates and summarizes available literature on the molecular prevalence and subtype distribution of Blastocystis spp. in Latin American people. This work follows the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines. The literature revised covers from 1 January 2015 to 6 October 2023 in seven different scientific databases, and the material was selected through inclusion and exclusion criteria. According to data found in the 36 selected articles, the prevalence of Blastocystis spp. in Latin America ranged between 5.8% (Bolivian rural communities) and 94.0% (Colombian general public). Generally, genomic DNA was extracted from approximately 200 mg fecal sediments using commercial kits, such as the QIAamp Stool Mini Kit (QIAGEN, Hilden, Germany) or the Norgen Stool DNA Isolation Kit (Norgen Biotek Corporation, Thorold, ON, Canada). Subtype-specific primers (such as the couple of primers BhRDr-RD5) developed from unique sequences of the SSU rRNA gene were applied to Blastocystis subtyping. Ten specific subtypes (STs) were found as well as various mixed infections, and the most circulating Blastocystis STs were in the order ST3, ST1, ST2, and ST4. The most recent data about Blastocystis spp. molecular epidemiology and the STs in communities of Latin America are limited to studies from specific countries. Novel scientific data from the other countries are required to obtain a complete picture and truly understand the distribution and prevalence of Blastocystis spp. and the STs.

Description of extraintestinal pathogenic Escherichia coli based on phylogenetic grouping, virulence factors, and antimicrobial susceptibility.

Background and Objectives: Extraintestinal pathogenic Escherichia coli (ExPEC) is a recently recognized and highly diverse pathotype of E. coli. Its significance as a pathogen has increased due to the emergence of hypervirulent and multidrug-resistant (MDR) strains. The aim of this study was to characterize ExPEC isolates from humans based on their phylogenetic group, virulence factor profile, and antimicrobial susceptibility. Materials and Methods: The isolates were collected from patients with extraintestinal infections caused by E. coli, including urinary tract infections, bacteremia, and surgical site infections. The E. coli phylogenetic groups were determined using multiplex PCR. Additionally, the isolates were evaluated for their biofilm-forming abilities, susceptibility to antimicrobial agents, and presence of virulence genes. Results: In this study, the isolates were classified into four phylogenetic groups: A (48.3%), B2 (25.8%), D (19.35%), and B1 (6.45%). All isolates exhibited at least one of the ten analyzed virulence factors. However, there was no direct evidence linking a specific phylogenetic group to a particular virulence factor. Nevertheless, the presence of the fimH, fyuA, ompT, traT, and kpsMTII virulence genes was correlated with the production of strong biofilms, multidrug resistance (MDR), and the production of alpha hemolysin. Conclusion: This study provides a description of the phylogenetic groups in ExPEC and their potential association with virulence factor profiles and antimicrobial susceptibility.

Identification of the nasopharyngeal carriage of Neisseria meningitidis by 16S rRNA Gene sequencing in asymptomatic adolescents and young adults in Cartagena, Colombia (2019-2020).

The bacterium Neisseria meningitidis, a strictly human pathogen, can cause meningitis, meningococcemia, sepsis, and death; repeatedly it scause outbreaks around the world. The frequency of asymptomatic carriage is often high in adolescents and young adults, increasing the invasive meningococcal disease risk and likelihood of transmission. However, detailed analyses of meningococcal carriage in this population in Colombia, particularly in coastal areas, are lacking. In this study, the prevalence and characteristics of Neisseria meningitidis carriage were evaluated in asymptomatic adolescents and young adults (11-25 years old) in Cartagena, Colombia. Oropharynx samples were collected from participants between August and December 2019. The phenotypic identification of bacteria was performed by conventional methods and biochemical testing. Molecular identification to the species level was performed by 16S rRNA gene sequencing. In total, 12 of 648 samples were positive for Neisseria meningitidis by 16S rRNA sequencing, indicating a prevalence of 1.9%. Isolates were classified into four invasive serogroups (A, B, C, and W) by a comparative sequence analysis of the ribosomal gene. Despite the occurrence of meningococcal disease in Cartagena city in the last several years, the frequency of oropharyngeal carriage in adolescents and young adults was low. Serogroup A had not been previously reported in nasopharyngeal samples in Colombia. This is the first report of Neisseria meningitidis on the Colombian Caribbean coast based on 16S rRNA sequencing and is expected to guide the development of vaccination and follow-up strategies.

Identification of the nasopharyngeal carriage of Neisseria meningitidis by 16S rRNA Gene sequencing in asymptomatic adolescents and young adults in Cartagena, Colombia (2019-2020)

Abstract The bacterium Neisseria meningitidis, a strictly human pathogen, can cause meningitis, meningococcemia, sepsis, and death; repeatedly it scause outbreaks around the world. The frequency of asymptomatic carriage is often high in adolescents and young adults, increasing the invasive meningococcal disease risk and likelihood of transmission. However, detailed analyses of meningococcal carriage in this population in Colombia, particularly in coastal areas, are lacking. In this study, the prevalence and characteristics of Neisseria meningitidis carriage were evaluated in asymptomatic adolescents and young adults (11-25 years old) in Cartagena, Colombia. Oropharynx samples were collected from participants between August and December 2019. The phenotypic identification of bacteria was performed by conventional methods and biochemical testing. Molecular identification to the species level was performed by 16S rRNA gene sequencing. In total, 12 of 648 samples were positive for Neisseria meningitidis by 16S rRNA sequencing, indicating a prevalence of 1.9%. Isolates were classified into four invasive serogroups (A, B, C, and W) by a comparative sequence analysis of the ribosomal gene. Despite the occurrence of meningococcal disease in Cartagena city in the last several years, the frequency of oropharyngeal carriage in adolescents and young adults was low. Serogroup A had not been previously reported in nasopharyngeal samples in Colombia. This is the first report of Neisseria meningitidis on the Colombian Caribbean coast based on 16S rRNA sequencing and is expected to guide the development of vaccination and follow-up strategies.

D-Mannoside FimH Inhibitors as Non-Antibiotic Alternatives for Uropathogenic Escherichia coli.

FimH is a type I fimbria of uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC), recognized for its ability to adhere and infect epithelial urinary tissue. Due to its role in the virulence of UPEC, several therapeutic strategies have focused on the study of FimH, including vaccines, mannosides, and molecules that inhibit their assembly. This work has focused on the ability of a set of monosubstituted and disubstituted phenyl mannosides to inhibit FimH. To determine the 3D structure of FimH for our in silico studies, we obtained fifteen sequences by PCR amplification of the fimH gene from 102 UPEC isolates. The fimH sequences in BLAST had a high homology (97-100%) to our UPEC fimH sequences. A search for the three-dimensional crystallographic structure of FimH proteins in the PDB server showed that proteins 4X5P and 4XO9 were found in 10 of the 15 isolates, presenting a 67% influx among our UPEC isolates. We focused on these two proteins to study the stability, free energy, and the interactions with different mannoside ligands. We found that the interactions with the residues of aspartic acid (ASP 54) and glutamine (GLN 133) were significant to the binding stability. The ligands assessed demonstrated high binding affinity and stability with the lectin domain of FimH proteins during the molecular dynamic simulations, based on MM-PBSA analysis. Therefore, our results suggest the potential utility of phenyl mannoside derivatives as FimH inhibitors to mitigate urinary tract infections produced by UPEC; thus, decreasing colonization, disease burden, and the costs of medical care.

Franconibacter sp., 1MS: A New Strain in Decolorization and Degradation of Azo Dyes Ponceau S Red and Methyl Orange.

The aim of the present study is focused on the decolorization and degradation of azo dyes Ponceau S Red and Methyl Orange by a bacterial strain isolated from the gold mining district of San Martin de Loba, South of Bolivar (Colombia) sediment samples and identified as Franconibacter sp. 1MS (GenBank: MT568543) based on phenotypic and genotypic methods. A higher percentage of decolorization at 100 mg/L concentration, 37 °C, and pH 7 was recorded at 120 h of incubation period for both dyes. The UV-vis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis of the original dyes and their degraded metabolites confirmed that the decolorization was due to degradation. The proposed metabolic pathways for biodegradation of both dyes have been elucidated, which showed the formation of five intermediate metabolites, namely, N,N-dimethylbenzyl-1,4-diamine, sulfonamide, 1,4-diaminobenzene, 2,5-diaminobenzenesulfonic acid, and 1-amino-2-naphthol, which are not only highly toxic but also be able to be converted through metabolic activation into mutagenic, carcinogenic, and/or teratogenic species. The phytotoxicity studies of the original dye and degraded metabolites were tested on Phaseolus vulgaris and divulged that the degraded metabolites have toxic effects. An effective phytostimulation was observed in Ponceau S Red, which could be attributed to its capacity for enrichment of the culture medium with essential nutrients, a favorable environment for the growth of the plant.

Phylogenetic Classification, Biofilm-Forming Capacity, Virulence Factors, and Antimicrobial Resistance in Uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC).

Uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) is the main cause of urinary tract infections; in recent years, its importance as a pathogen has increased due to the emergence of hypervirulent and multiresistant strains. In this study, 190 urinary isolates of E. coli were assigned into the seven phylogenetic groups A (11.1%), B1 (4.7%), B2 (46.8%), C (5.8%) D (25.3%) F (2.6%), and Clade I (2.1%), and various virulence genes were examined with polymerase chain reaction methods. All isolates had at least one virulence factor of the 9 analyzed fyuA (81.1%), fimH (96.8%), iutA (74.7%), ompT (66.8%), kpsMTII (66.8%), traT (58.9%), PAI (43.6%), PapAH (26.3%), and usp (3.2%). The results showed a direct relationship between the virulence factors and phylogenetic group A and B2. Further, virulence genetic profiles fimH, fyuA, ompT, traT, and kpsMTII correlated with the production of strong biofilm, multidrug resistance, and the production of moderate hemolysin. These results suggest that these strains may become reservoirs of genes that encode virulence factors, which could be transferred horizontally enhancing their genomic background and high possibility of acquiring new genetic information for possible dissemination. This study provides the first description of phylogroups in UPEC in the Colombian Caribbean and the association with virulence factor profile, antimicrobial susceptibility, and their possible role in the epidemiology in Colombia.

Papiloma bucal producido por VPH y su relación con carcinoma / Oral papiloma caused by HPV and its relation to carcinoma

El virus del papiloma humano (VPH) es el responsable de múltiples manifestaciones en boca, las cuales generalmente se caracterizan por lesiones vegetantes, verrugosidades o lesiones papulares. La incidencia de la enfermedad en boca ha aumentado ya que el contagio por vía sexual es una de las principales vías de contagio, lo que también permite que cada vez exista un mayor número de diagnósticos de VPH oncogénico en cavidad bucal(AU)

The human papiloma virus (HPV) is responsible for multiple mouth disorders, which are generally characterized by fungating lesions, verrucosity or papular lesions. The incidence of oral disease has increased since sexual transmission is one of the main channels of infection, which also allows there to be an increasingly higher number of diagnoses of oncogenic HPV in the oral cavity(AU)

Human and crab exposure to mercury in the Caribbean coastal shoreline of Colombia: impact from an abandoned chlor-alkali plant.

Human hair samples from male and female people aged 6-85 years, as well as muscle of crabs (Callinectes sapidus and Callinectes bocourti) were collected from different fishing places along the Caribbean coastal shoreline of Colombia and analyzed for total mercury (T-Hg) in order to establish the impact of mercury-polluted sediments in Cartagena bay on the ecosystem. Hair T-Hg in inhabitants varied between 0.1 and 21.8 microg/g, with average and median of 1.52 microg/g and 1.1 microg/g, respectively. Differences between sampling locations were significant (P<0.01) and median values decreased in the order: Caño del Oro (1.5 microg/g)

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and their hydroxylated metabolites in fish bile and sediments from coastal waters of Colombia.

Sediments and fish bile collected from the Atlantic coastal waters of Colombia were analyzed for 16 parent polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and 23 hydroxylated PAHs (OH-PAHs), respectively. Sediments contained overall mean SigmaPAH concentrations of 2090, 234 and 170 ng/g, dry wt, for Cartagena Bay, Caimanera Marsh, and Totumo Marsh, respectively. The mean concentration of the summed OH-PAHs in fish bile was 1250, 180 and 64.1 ng/g bile wt for Cartagena Bay, Caimanera Marsh, and Totumo Marsh, respectively. The results suggest that Cartagena Bay is heavily polluted by PAHs, and that exposure to high concentrations of PAHs together with other factors could contribute to the decreased health of fish living in this ecosystem. This is one of the first studies to describe the analysis of 23 individual OH-PAHs in fish bile, using authentic standards.

Contracaecum sp. infection in Hoplias malabaricus (moncholo) from rivers and marshes of Colombia.

Nematode infection indices were recorded in Hoplias malabaricus captured in six different rivers and a marsh belonging to the North Coast Basin of Colombia, and from the Amazon River, during February 2003-December 2004. Preliminary morphological analysis of nematodes indicated the presence of Contracaecum sp. Parasites were mostly found in the intestinal mesenteries and a very low percentage in muscle. Parasite prevalence in all sampling locations at the north of Colombia was 100%, whereas in the Amazon River it was 6.12%. The mean intensity in the different stations were as follows: Magdalena River at the City of Magangué (58.92+/-7.59), Magdalena river at the city of Zambrano (128.9+/-7.08), Sinú River (53.88+/-4.92), Dique Channel (207.3+/-59.52), Cauca River (77.26+/-9.35), Atrato River (21.11+/-2.6), San Jorge River (39.5+/-7.13), and Totumo Marsh (62.5+/-6.38). In average, all specimens of Hoplias malabaricus from the north coast basin of Colombia were infected with a mean intensity of 77.82+/-4.81 (1-466 parasites per host) whereas in fish from the Amazon River this value was significantly lower (intensity 1.0+/-0.0). Size and weight correlated significantly with parasite intensity in fish collected from sampling locations at the north of Colombia (R=0.240, P<0.001 and R=0.199, P=0.008, respectively). Moreover, a significant, but low and negative correlation was found between condition factor and parasite intensity (R=-0.159, P=0.034), suggesting a possible impact of parasites on fish health. These results suggest, for the first time, that the parasitism in Moncholo is a widespread phenomenon in Colombian rivers and could represent a risk factor for human consumers.

Perfluorooctanesulfonate and related fluorochemicals in biological samples from the north coast of Colombia.

Perfluorinated compounds are widespread pollutants of toxicological importance that have been detected in environmental matrices. However, little is known on their distribution in South America. In this study, distribution of perfluorooctanesulfonate (PFOS), perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorohexanesulfonate (PFHxS), and perfluorooctanesulfonamide (PFOSA) was determined in the bile of mullet, Mugil incilis, and in tissues of pelicans (Pelecanus occidentalis) collected from North Colombia. Analysis was performed by HPLC mass spectrometry after ion-pair extraction. PFOS was found in all bile samples and PFOA and PFHxS were detected at lower frequency. Average concentrations of PFOS, PFOA, and PFHxS in bile of fish from Cartagena Bay, an industrialized site, and Totumo marsh, a reference site, were 3673, 370, 489 and 713, 47.4, 1.27 ng/mL, respectively. PFOS concentrations in pelican organs decreased in the order of spleen>liver>lung>kidney>brain>heart>muscle. These results suggest, for the first time, that perfluorinated compounds are also found in wildlife from Latin American countries.

Nematode infection in Mugil incilis (Lisa) from Cartagena Bay and Totumo Marsh, north of Colombia.

Nematode infection indices were recorded in Lisa, Mugil incilis, from Cartagena Bay and Totumo Marsh, north of Colombia, during an 8-mo period (February to September 2002). Parasite prevalence (74.67% vs. 53.48%), intensity (9.73 +/- 2.98 vs. 2.73 +/- 1.07), and abundance (7.49 +/- 2.21 vs. 2.04 +/- 1.17) were significantly greater in Cartagena Bay, an estuary polluted by domestic sewage and industrial discharge, compared with those of Totumo Marsh, a body of water with low levels of contamination. Parasites were found below the spine, within the liver and the intestinal mesenteries, and a small percentage in muscle. Morphological analysis of nematodes indicated the presence of the third larval stage of several species belonging to the Anisakidae. Size correlated moderately and significantly with parasite intensity in fish collected from Totumo Marsh (R = 0.336; P < 0.001); in Cartagena Bay the correlation was also significant, but low and negative (R = -0.212; P = 0.003), clearly showing differences in host-parasite ecology. Fish health status, as represented by condition factor and hepatosomatic index, did not show any correlation with the parasite prevalence in fishes collected in either sampling areas. These results suggest, for the first time, that the consumption of Lisa from the Atlantic coast of Colombia could represent a risk for human infection.