Late Cretaceous-early Paleocene magmatism at Southern Central Andes is represented by incomplete and not well-preserved outcrops. A recent U-Pb age from a volcano-sedimentary sequence in the southern ...Andes of Mendoza province (35°30′S) led to identify Late Mesozoic-Early Cenozoic magmatism, which was not previously registered. We focus on the petrological and geochemical characterization of this sequence, informally named as Los Ángeles Unit (67 Ma). This magmatic association comprises basaltic and andesitic lava flows interbedded with volcanic breccias and lithic sandstones; all of them intruded by subvertical basaltic dykes. Geochemically, the volcanic rocks are mainly tholeiitic with an arc-like signature and high LILE relative to HFSE content. A general enrichment in incompatible elements is seen towards the upper and younger lava flows, associated with a more alkaline character in the youngest ones. A regional comparison among Los Ángeles Unit and other Late Cretaceous-Paleocene arc magmatic series along the Southern Central Andes (35°-41°S) shows that the studied sequence has a weaker arc-like signature and less slab-fluid influence than in coeval southern units. This contrasting geochemical behavior is proposed to be a consequence of the subduction of the Farallon-Aluk spreading ridge beneath the studied latitudes (35°30′S) at ∼70 Ma. Thus, the enrichment seen along the volcanic sequence together with the alkaline-like signature seen in the younger volcanic levels of Los Ángeles Unit would be related to the subduction of anhydrous oceanic crust and potentially the incipient development of a slab window. Similar geochemical features are seen to the south in the magmatic expressions of the northern Eocene Pilcaniyeu Belt outcrops (∼40°S; 44 Ma), as they show a limited arc-like signature and an intraplate-like composition. The segmented geometry of the Farallon-Aluk spreading ridge and its progressive migration from north to south is considered to be the main cause of the development of contrasting magmatic associations during time and space.
•Late Cretaceous-early Paleocene volcanism crops out at Southern Central Andes (∼35°S).•This volcanism shows arc-like signature that decreases towards the upper lava levels.•Magmatic sources gradually change from a tholeiitic to a more enriched composition.•An incipient slab-window would have affected the genesis of this magmatism.
Infections by the pathogen
currently represent one of the most serious threats to human health worldwide, especially due to the production of enterotoxins and the ability to form biofilms. These ...structures and the acquisition of antibiotic resistance limit the action of antibiotics and disinfectants used to combat this microorganism in the industry and the clinic.
This work reports a comparative phenotypic and genotypic study of 18
strains from different origins: clinical samples, milk from mastitic cows and food industry surfaces, most of which were isolated in Northern Spain.
Genetically, the strains were very diverse but, in most cases, a closer proximity was observed for those from the same source. Notably, the average number of virulence genes was not significantly different in strains from the food sector. Of the 18 strains, 10 coded for at least one enterotoxin, and four of them carried 6 or 7 enterotoxin genes. The latter were all veterinary or clinical isolates. Most strains carried prophages, plasmids and/or pathogenicity islands. Regarding antibiotic resistance, although phenotypically all strains showed resistance to at least one antibiotic, resistance genes were only identified in 44.5% of strains, being mastitis isolates those with the lowest prevalence. Virulence-related phenotypic properties such as haemolytic activity, staphyloxanthin production, biofilm-forming capacity and spreading ability were widely distributed amongst the isolates.
Our results indicate that production of virulence factors, antibiotic resistance and biofilm formation can be found in
isolates from diverse environments, including the food industry, although some of these traits are more prevalent in strains isolated from infections in cows or humans. This emphasizes on the importance of monitoring the spread of these determinants not only in samples from the clinical environment, but also along the food chain, a strategy that falls under the prism of a one-health approach.
Mozambique has historically been one of the countries with the highest malaria burden in the world. Starting in the 1960s, malaria control efforts were intensified in the southern region of the ...country, especially in Maputo city and Maputo province, to aid regional initiatives aimed to eliminate malaria in South Africa and eSwatini. Despite significant reductions in malaria prevalence, elimination was never achieved. Following the World Health Organization's renewed vision of a malaria-free-world, and considering the achievements from the past, the Mozambican National Malaria Control Programme (NMCP) embarked on the development and implementation of a strategic plan to accelerate from malaria control to malaria elimination in southern Mozambique. An initial partnership, supported by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the La Caixa Foundation, led to the creation of the Mozambican Alliance Towards the Elimination of Malaria (MALTEM) and the Malaria Technical and Advisory Committee (MTAC) to promote national ownership and partner coordination to work towards the goal of malaria elimination in local and cross-border initiatives. Surveillance systems to generate epidemiological and entomological intelligence to inform the malaria control strategies were strengthened, and an impact and feasibility assessment of various interventions aimed to interrupt malaria transmission were conducted in Magude district (Maputo Province) through the "Magude Project". The primary aim of this project was to generate evidence to inform malaria elimination strategies for southern Mozambique. The goal of malaria elimination in areas of low transmission intensity is now included in the national malaria strategic plan for 2017-22 and the NMCP and its partners have started to work towards this goal while evidence continues to be generated to move the national elimination agenda forward.
DNA methylation is an epigenetic mechanism by which methyl groups are added to DNA, playing a crucial role in gene expression regulation. The aim of the present study is to compare methylation status ...of healthy subjects with that of patients with Alzheimer's, Parkinson's or Cerebrovascular diseases. We also analyze methylation status of a transgenic Alzheimer's disease mouse model (3xTg-AD). Our results show that both global methylation (
= 141) and hydroxymethylation (
= 131) levels are reduced in DNA samples from buffy coats of patients with neurodegenerative disorders and age-related cerebrovascular disease. The importance of methylation and hydroxymethylation reduction is stressed by the finding that DNMT3a mRNA levels are also downregulated in buffy coats of patients with Dementia (
= 25). Global methylation is also reduced in brain, liver and serum samples of 3xTg-AD vs. wild type mice, such as DNMT3a mRNA levels that are also decreased in the brain of 3xTg-AD (
= 10). These results suggest that the use of global methylation and hydroxymethylation levels, together with the study of DNMT3a expression, could be useful as a new diagnostic biomarker for these prevalent disorders.
Abstract Objectives To estimate the incidence of severe infection and investigate the associated factors and clinical impact in a large Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) retrospective cohort. ...Methods All patients in the Spanish Rheumatology Society Lupus Registry (RELESSER) who meet ≥ 4 ACR-97 SLE criteria were retrospectively investigated for severe infections. Patients with and without infections were compared in terms of SLE severity, damage, comorbidities and demographic characteristics. A multivariable Cox regression model was built to calculate hazard ratios (HRs) for the first infection. Results A total of 3,658 SLE patients were included: 90% female, median age 32.9 years (DQ 9.7) and mean follow-up (months) 120.2 (±87.6). A total of 705 (19.3%) patients suffered ≥ 1 severe infection. Total severe infections recorded in these patients numbered 1,227. The incidence rate was 29.2 (95% CI:27.6–30.9) infections per 1,000 patient years. Time from first infection to second infection was significantly shorter than time from diagnosis to first infection (p<0.000). Although respiratory infections were the most common (35.5%), bloodstream infections were the most frequent cause of mortality by infection (42.0%). In the Cox regression analysis, the following were all associated with infection: age at diagnosis (HR 1.016; 95% CI:1.009–1.023), Latin-American (Amerindian-Mestizo) ethnicity (HR 2.151; 95% CI:1.539–3.005), corticosteroids (≥10 mg/day) (HR 1.271; 95% CI: 1.034–1.561), immunosuppressors (HR 1.348; 95% CI:1.079–1.684), hospitalization by SLE (HR 2.567; 95% CI:1.905–3.459) , Katz severity index (HR 1.160; 95% CI:1.105–1.217), SLICC/ACR damage index (HR 1.069; 95% CI:1.031–1.108) and smoking (HR1.332; 95% CI:1.121–1.583). Duration of antimalarial use (months) proved protective (HR 0.998; 95% CI: 0.997–0.999). Conclusions Severe infection constitutes a predictor of poor prognosis in SLE patients, is more common in Latin Americans and is associated with age, previous infection and smoking. Antimalarials exerted a protective effect.
Milk contamination with Staphylococcus aureus can lead to food poisoning in consumers. One strategy to minimize this risk is the use of phage-derived lysins, which are innocuous for humans and do not ...readily select for resistant variants. However, it remains necessary to find new candidate lysins and define the conditions for their utilization. This study compares the potential of LysRODI and its derivative LysRODIΔAmi (lacking the amidase domain), which displays high activity and storage stability, to successfully decrease staphylococcal contamination in milk under different conditions. Our results show that the engineered protein is more efficacious than the parent endolysin in practically all cases. For instance, while LysRODI only decreased the number of cells by 1–2 log units in different types of commercial milk and contamination levels, the chimeric lysin eliminated them below detection. Also, LysRODIΔAmi was more active against four strains with varying degrees of susceptibility. Regarding incubation temperature, both proteins were faster at 32 °C and 37 °C. Significantly, the engineered lysin eliminated detectable contamination in just 15 min. Finally, LysRODIΔAmi proved very successful at reducing staphylococcal contamination below detection during lab-scale fresh cheese production by enzymatic coagulation. Our data show that LysRODIΔAmi is a promising candidate for biocontrol in milk.
•LysRODIΔAmi is much more active in milk against S. aureus than its parent LysRODI.•This chimeric lysin successfully eliminates S. aureus in different types of milk.•The enzyme is faster at 32 °C and 37 °C than 25 °C (15 vs 60 min).•Milk must be refrigerated post-treatment to prevent regrowth.•LysRODIΔAmi is also effective during lab-scale fresh cheese coagulation.
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