DNA aptamers for the recognition of HMGB1 from Plasmodium falciparum.

Rapid Diagnostic Tests (RDTs) for malaria are restricted to a few biomarkers and antibody-mediated detection. However, the expression of commonly used biomarkers varies geographically and the sensibility of immunodetection can be affected by batch-to-batch differences or limited thermal stability. In this study we aimed to overcome these limitations by identifying a potential biomarker and by developing molecular sensors based on aptamer technology. Using gene expression databases, ribosome profiling analysis, and structural modeling, we find that the High Mobility Group Box 1 protein (HMGB1) of Plasmodium falciparum is highly expressed, structurally stable, and present along all blood-stages of P. falciparum infection. To develop biosensors, we used in vitro evolution techniques to produce DNA aptamers for the recombinantly expressed HMG-box, the conserved domain of HMGB1. An evolutionary approach for evaluating the dynamics of aptamer populations suggested three predominant aptamer motifs. Representatives of the aptamer families were tested for binding parameters to the HMG-box domain using microscale thermophoresis and rapid kinetics. Dissociation constants of the aptamers varied over two orders of magnitude between nano- and micromolar ranges while the aptamer-HMG-box interaction occurred in a few seconds. The specificity of aptamer binding to the HMG-box of P. falciparum compared to its human homolog depended on pH conditions. Altogether, our study proposes HMGB1 as a candidate biomarker and a set of sensing aptamers that can be further developed into rapid diagnostic tests for P. falciparum detection.

Adaptación cultural de la versión peruana de la Muscle Appearance Satisfaction Scale (MASS) para dismorfia muscular / Cultural Adaptation of the Peruvian Version of the Muscle Appearance Satisfaction Scale (MASS) for Muscle Dysmorphia

La dismorfia muscular (DM) es una forma de trastorno dismórfico corporal considerado como un trastorno obsesivo compulsivo, caracterizado por la preocupación de tener una musculatura insuficiente, lo que lleva a realizar una actividad física intensa y prolongada y al consumo de suplementos proteicos y esteroides anabólicos. Afecta principalmente a varones jóvenes de 18 a 30 años, que optan por dietas hipo-calóricas e hiperproteicas, lo que genera efectos perjudiciales como problemas renales y hepáticos a largo plazo1. Según el Instituto Nacional de Salud del Perú, los problemas de salud mental son una de las prioridades de investigación del país, porque representan una importante carga de enfermedad para la sociedad y hay escasez de información científica local2. La DM no es la excepción y, como se la ha descrito en tiempos recientes, no se ha encontrado estudios peruanos sobre su frecuencia y los factores asociados; una de las causas es que no existe un instrumento validado para este contexto cultural.

Muscle dysmorphia (DM) is a form of body dysmorphic disorder considered as an obsessive compulsive disorder, characterized by the concern of having insufficient muscles, which leads to intense and prolonged physical activity and the consumption of protein supplements and anabolic steroids . It mainly affects young men between the ages of 18 and 30, who choose hypocaloric and hyperprotein diets, which generates harmful effects such as kidney and liver problems in the long term1. According to the National Institute of Health of Peru, mental health problems are one of the country's research priorities, because they represent a significant burden of disease for society and there is a shortage of local scientific information2. DM is no exception and, as it has been described in recent times, no Peruvian studies have been found on its frequency and associated factors; one of the causes is that there is no validated instrument for this cultural context.