Legionella feeleii: Ubiquitous Pathogen in the Environment and Causative Agent of Pneumonia.

L. feeleii is one of the most frequent Legionella species isolated from natural pools of the central region of Spain. This study aimed to evaluate its ecology and to identify this Legionella species as a respiratory pathogen. A PCR assay for detecting the L. feeleii mip gene was developed to identify it in clinical and environmental samples. Culture and PCR were performed in environmental samples from four drinking water treatment plants (DWTPs). Free L. feeleii was only detected in raw water samples (3.4%), while L. feeleii as an Acanthamoeba endosymbiont was found in 30.7% of raw water, 11.5% of decanter biofilm, and 32% of finished water samples. Therefore, Acanthamoeba spp. plays an essential role in the multiplication, persistence, and spread of Legionella species in the environment. The first case of Legionnaires' disease caused by L. feeleii in Spain is described in this study. The case was diagnosed in an older woman through PCR and sequencing from urine and sputum samples. A respiratory infection could be linked with health care procedures, and the patient presented several risk factors (age, insulin-dependent diabetes, and heart disease). The detection of non-L. pneumophila, such as L. feeleii, is a factor that must be considered when establishing or reviewing measures for the control and prevention of legionellosis.

Two outer membrane lipoproteins from Histophilus somni are immunogenic in rabbits and sheep and induce protection against bacterial challenge in mice.

Histophilus somni is an economically important pathogen of cattle and other ruminants and is considered one of the key components of the bovine respiratory disease (BRD) complex, the leading cause of economic loss in the livestock industry. BRD is a multifactorial syndrome, in which a triad of agents, including bacteria, viruses, and predisposing factors or "stressors," combines to induce disease. Although vaccines against H. somni have been used for many decades, traditional bacterins have failed to demonstrate effective protection in vaccinated animals. Hence, the BRD complex continues to produce strong adverse effects on the health and well-being of stock and feeder cattle. The generation of recombinant proteins may facilitate the development of more effective vaccines against H. somni, which could confer better protection against BRD. In the present study, primers were designed to amplify, clone, express, and purify two recombinant lipoproteins from H. somni, p31 (Plp4) and p40 (LppB), which are structural proteins of the outer bacterial membrane. The results presented here demonstrate, to our knowledge for the first time, that when formulated, an experimental vaccine enriched with these two recombinant lipoproteins generates high antibody titers in rabbits and sheep and exerts a protective effect in mice against septicemia induced by H. somni bacterial challenge.

LKTA and PlpE small fragments fusion protein protect against Mannheimia haemolytica challenge.

Bovine respiratory disease (BRD) complex is a major cause of economic losses for the cattle backgrounding and feedlot industries. Mannheimia haemolytica is considered the most important pathogen associated with this disease. Vaccines against M. haemolytica have been prepared and used for many decades, but traditional bacterins have failed to demonstrate effective protection and their use has often exacerbated disease in vaccinated animals. Thus, the BRD complex continues to exert a strong adverse effect on the health and wellbeing of stocker and feeder cattle. Therefore, generation of recombinant proteins has been helpful in formulating enhanced vaccines against M. haemolytica, which could confer better protection against BRD. In the present study, we formulated a vaccine preparation enriched with recombinant small fragments of leukotoxin A (LKTA) and outer-membrane lipoprotein (PlpE) proteins, and demonstrated its ability to generate high antibody titers in rabbits and sheep, which protected against M. haemolytica bacterial challenge in mice.

P2Y12 platelet reactivity after thrombolytic therapy for ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction.

INTRODUCTION: Thrombolysis, as reperfusion therapy for ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), induces a pro-thrombotic status with enhanced platelet activity; this study aims to evaluate P2Y12 platelet reactivity and response to clopidogrel in the post-thrombolysis scenario. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Observational, prospective study, including consecutive patients with elective angiography after thrombolytic therapy for STEMI. Every patient received antiplatelet therapy with loading doses of 250 mg aspirin and 300 mg clopidogrel on admission followed by 100mg aspirin and 75 mg clopidogrel daily. P2Y12-dependent platelet reactivity (expressed in P2Y12-Reaction Units, PRU) was assessed with VerifyNow® device on admission, daily after thrombolysis and pre-angiography. RESULTS: 41 patients fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Median time between thrombolysis and angiography was 2,5 days (IQR 1,8-4,1). Post-treatment platelet reactivity (PPR) showed poor correlation with time on clopidogrel treatment (r2=0.04) and reached a maximum value of 274 ± 84 PRU during the first 24h after thrombolysis (Day +1 determination). After this, values showed a progressive reduction until the point of angiography (249 ± 82 PRU), without significant differences between consecutive time-points (p=0,549). Inhibition of platelet aggregation (IPA) assessed as a percentage of P2Y12 receptor blockage was poor, increasing gradually from 0 ± 4% on admission to 11 ± 6% the day of the angiography (p=0,001). 71,4% of patients showed PPR ≥ 208 PRU during angiography. CONCLUSIONS: Platelet reactivity, as assessed by post-treatment P2Y12 mediated reactivity, is heightened after thrombolytic therapy during STEMI management. In this scenario, standard doses of clopidogrel did not achieve significant inhibition of ADP-mediated platelet reactivity.

Angiomiolipoma: a propósito de un caso / Angiomyolipoma of the hypopharynx: a case report

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Genotypification of bovine group A rotavirus in México.

Bovine scours, frequently provoked by rotavirus infection, causes significant economic losses. Nevertheless, no information exists about the bovine rotavirus genotypes present in Mexico. This information is necessary for designing efficient vaccines. In this work, 128 samples from diarrheic calves were collected between 2005 and 2006 in 26 dairy and/or beef cattle herds located in 10 regions of Mexico, and analyzed for the presence of group A rotavirus. G and P genotypes were determined by PCR in rotavirus-positive samples (12/128). Three different genotype combinations were found, G10, P[11]; G6, P[5]; and G10, P[5]; in 67, 25 and 8% of the positive samples, respectively. Some rotavirus-positive animals had been vaccinated with an inactivated rotavirus strain of a different genotype.

Influence of platelet reactivity and response to clopidogrel on myocardial damage following percutaneous coronary intervention in patients with non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndrome.

INTRODUCTION: A wide variability in the response to clopidogrel and magnitude of post-treatment platelet reactivity has been described. However, this has been demonstrated by light transmittance aggregometry, a method too laborious for daily practice. Point-of-care devices may overcome this limitation, but little is known on the predictive value of such measurements. Our objective was to determine the relationship between platelet reactivity and the incidence of myocardial damage following percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in patients with Non-ST-segment Elevation Acute Coronary Syndrome (NSTEACS). MATERIALS AND METHODS: This prospective study included 93 patients with NSTEACS and PCI. All patients received a loading dose of 300 mg of clopidogrel and 250 mg of aspirin. Myocardial damage was defined as any elevation above upper limit of normal or previous levels of troponin T, assessed every 6 h for at least 24 h following PCI. Platelet reactivity not related to clopidogrel (BASE reactivity), related to P2Y12 inhibition (P2Y12 reactivity) and inhibition of platelet aggregation (IPA) were assessed immediately pre-PCI with the VerifyNow device. RESULTS: Myocardial damage was detected in 60 patients (64.5%). Higher BASE reactivity was associated with myocardial damage (287.8+/-62.6 vs. 260+/-55.9 units, p=0.043) while a trend was found for P2Y12 reactivity (173.4+/-70.3 vs. 149.2+/-58.4 units, p=0.109). No relationship was detected for IPA. Multivariate logistic regression analysis confirmed that BASE reactivity (p=0.04) and P2Y12 reactivity (p=0.03) were independent predictors of myocardial damage. CONCLUSIONS: Platelet reactivity before PCI appears to be better predictor of myocardial damage than does response to clopidogrel.