RESUMEN
Waveguide QED simulators are analog quantum simulators made by quantum emitters interacting with one-dimensional photonic band gap materials. One of their remarkable features is that they can be used to engineer tunable-range emitter interactions. Here, we demonstrate how these interactions can be a resource to develop more efficient variational quantum algorithms for certain problems. In particular, we illustrate their power in creating wave function Ansätze that capture accurately the ground state of quantum critical spin models (XXZ and Ising) with fewer gates and optimization parameters than other variational Ansätze based on nearest-neighbor or infinite-range entangling gates. Finally, we study the potential advantages of these waveguide Ansätze in the presence of noise. Overall, these results evidence the potential of using the interaction range as a variational parameter and place waveguide QED simulators as a promising platform for variational quantum algorithms.
RESUMEN
Salmonid fish viruses, such as infectious haematopoietic necrosis virus (IHNV), are responsible for serious losses in the rainbow trout and salmon-farming industries, and they have been the subject of intense research in the field of aquaculture. Thus, the aim of this work is to study the antiviral effect of milk-derived proteins as bovine caseins or casein-derived peptides at different stages during the course of IHNV infection. The results indicate that the 3-h fraction of casein and α(S2) -casein hydrolysates reduced the yield of infectious IHNV in a dose-dependent manner and impaired the production of IHNV-specific antigens. Hydrolysates of total casein and α(S2) -casein target the initial and later stages of viral infection, as demonstrated by the reduction in the infective titre observed throughout multiple stages and cycles. In vivo, more than 50% protection was observed in the casein-treated fish, and the kidney sections exhibited none of the histopathological characteristics of IHNV infection. The active fractions from casein were identified, as well as one of the individual IHNV-inhibiting peptides. Further studies will be required to determine which other peptides possess this activity. These findings provide a basis for future investigations on the efficacy of these compounds in treating other viral diseases in farmed fish and to elucidate the underlying molecular mechanisms of action. However, the present results provide convincing evidence in support of a role for several milk casein fractions as suitable candidates to prevent and treat some fish viral infections.
Asunto(s)
Antivirales/farmacología , Caseínas/farmacología , Enfermedades de los Peces/prevención & control , Virus de la Necrosis Hematopoyética Infecciosa/efectos de los fármacos , Infecciones por Rhabdoviridae/veterinaria , Trucha , Animales , Bovinos , Línea Celular , Cromatografía Líquida de Alta Presión , Enfermedades de los Peces/inmunología , Enfermedades de los Peces/virología , Virus de la Necrosis Hematopoyética Infecciosa/inmunología , Perciformes , Infecciones por Rhabdoviridae/inmunología , Infecciones por Rhabdoviridae/prevención & control , Infecciones por Rhabdoviridae/virología , Espectrometría de Masa por Ionización de Electrospray , Espectrometría de Masas en TándemRESUMEN
Cytokine secretion is one of the main mechanisms by which the immune system is regulated in response to pathogens. Therefore, the measurement of cytokine expression is fundamental to characterizing the immune response to infections. Real-time quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) is widely used to measure cytokine mRNA levels, but assay conditions should be properly evaluated before analyzing important equine infections through relative quantification of gene expression. The aim of this study was to develop and evaluate a set of RT-qPCR assays for a panel of the most common cytokines in horses involved in innate and adaptive immune responses. Eight cytokines (interleukin (IL)-1ß, IL-2, IL-4, IL-10, IL-12, TNFα, IFNß and IFNγ) and a housekeeping gene (ß-actin) were detected and amplified with the same annealing temperature in a SYBR Green RT-qPCR assay of samples of mitogen-stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells from a healthy horse and whole blood from a horse infected with African horse sickness virus. The method gave good efficiency for all genes tested, allowing quantification of relative expression levels. These SYBR Green RT-qPCR assays may be useful for examining cytokine gene expression in horses in response to exposure to economically important pathogens.
Asunto(s)
Actinas/análisis , Enfermedad Equina Africana/sangre , Citocinas/análisis , Leucocitos Mononucleares/metabolismo , Reacción en Cadena de la Polimerasa de Transcriptasa Inversa/métodos , Enfermedad Equina Africana/diagnóstico , Virus de la Enfermedad Equina Africana , Animales , Benzotiazoles , Citocinas/biosíntesis , Citocinas/genética , Diaminas , Expresión Génica , Caballos , Mitógenos , Compuestos Orgánicos/química , QuinolinasRESUMEN
Schwannomas are benign neoplastic lesions which originate from Schwann cells. A rare variant is the melanotic schwannoma. Accurate discrimination of this entity may be difficult due to differential diagnosis with malignant tumors, especially with metastatic melanoma, which has a potential ominous prognosis and a radically different treatment. We report the case of a 60-year-old woman with neurological sensorimotor involvement, presenting progressive caudo-cranial involvement more pronounced on the right side. MRI showed an intradural extramedullary mass with hyperintense signal intensity on T1 and T2 images, whereas no significant increase in signal intensity of the spinal cord was observed. Tumor was resected and sent for anatomopathological analysis which revealed a non-psammomatous melanotic schwannoma.
Los schwannomas son lesiones neoplásicas benignas derivadas de las células de Schwann. Una variante poco frecuente es el schwannoma melanótico. El diagnóstico de esta entidad reviste complejidad debido al diagnóstico diferencial con tumores malignos, especialmente el melanoma metastásico, teniendo este último un potencial pronóstico ominoso y un tratamiento radicalmente distinto. Se realizó una revisión de literatura en relación a un caso clínico de una mujer de 60 años con compromiso neurológico de tipo sensitivo-motor, progresivo caudo-craneal mayor a derecha. La RM demostró una masa intradural extramedular, con hiperintensidad en secuencias T1 e hiposeñal en T2, sin aumento de señal significativo de la médula espinal. El tumor fue resecado revelando en el estudio anatomopatológico un schwannoma melanótico, no psammomatoso. En relación al caso clínico, pudimos observar la importancia del estudio imaginológico con RM y su confirmación anatomopatológica. Recalcamos además, la necesidad del seguimiento a largo plazo.
Asunto(s)
Humanos , Femenino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Imagen por Resonancia Magnética , Neoplasias de la Médula Espinal/diagnóstico , Neurilemoma/diagnóstico , Diagnóstico Diferencial , Neoplasias de la Médula Espinal/cirugía , Neoplasias de la Médula Espinal/patología , Neurilemoma/cirugía , Neurilemoma/patologíaRESUMEN
The diagnostic performance of an ELISA for the detection of antibodies to the small ruminant lentiviruses (SRLVs) maedi-visna virus and caprine arthritis-encephalitis virus in milk and corresponding blood samples was evaluated in 50 sheep. The agreement between ELISA results in blood and milk was 90 per cent, and the κ value was 0.79. In addition, a serological survey in the central zone of Spain was performed using milk samples from 413 animals (250 sheep and 163 goats) from 12 flocks/herds. All flocks/herds had some animals that were positive for SRLV. Among the animals, 60.0 per cent of the sheep and 8.0 per cent of the goats tested were seropositive. Each sample was also tested using a PCR technique, which increased the percentage of positive animals detected. Using a combination of ELISA and PCR gave a total of 72.2 per cent of sheep and 28.8 per cent of goats positive for SRLV.
Asunto(s)
Enfermedades de las Cabras/diagnóstico , Infecciones por Lentivirus/veterinaria , Leche/virología , Enfermedades de las Ovejas/diagnóstico , Animales , Anticuerpos Antivirales/análisis , Virus de la Artritis-Encefalitis Caprina/inmunología , Virus de la Artritis-Encefalitis Caprina/aislamiento & purificación , Ensayo de Inmunoadsorción Enzimática/veterinaria , Femenino , Enfermedades de las Cabras/sangre , Cabras , Lentivirus/inmunología , Lentivirus/aislamiento & purificación , Infecciones por Lentivirus/sangre , Infecciones por Lentivirus/diagnóstico , Neumonía Intersticial Progresiva de los Ovinos/sangre , Neumonía Intersticial Progresiva de los Ovinos/diagnóstico , Reacción en Cadena de la Polimerasa/veterinaria , Ovinos , Enfermedades de las Ovejas/sangre , España , Virus Visna-Maedi/inmunología , Virus Visna-Maedi/aislamiento & purificaciónRESUMEN
Although there are some commercial vaccines available against infectious pancreatic necrosis virus (IPNV), the disease still continues to be a major problem for aquaculture development worldwide. In the current work, we constructed a DNA vaccine against IPNV (pIPNV-PP) by cloning the long open reading frame of the polyprotein encoded by the viral RNA segment A. In vitro, the vaccine is properly translated giving the functional IPNV polyprotein since preVP2, VP2 and VP3 proteins were detected because of the VP4-protease cleavage. EPC cells transfected with the vaccine plasmid expressed the viral proteins and induced the expression of type I interferon (IFN)-induced Mx genes. Furthermore, IPNV synthesized proteins seemed to assemble in virus-like particles as evidenced by electron microscopy. In vivo, rainbow trout specimens were intramuscularly injected with the vaccine and expression of immune-relevant genes, the presence of neutralizing antibodies and effect on viral load was determined. The pIPNV-PP vaccine was expressed at the injection site and up-regulated MHC Ialpha, MHC IIalpha, type-I interferon (IFN), Mx, CD4 and CD8alpha gene expression in the muscle, head kidney or spleen, although to a much lower extent than the up-regulations observed in response to an effective DNA vaccine against viral hemorrhagic septicaemia virus (VHSV). However, the IPNV vaccine was also very effective in terms of acquired immunity since it elicited neutralizing antibodies (in 6 out of 8 trout fingerlings) and decreased 665-fold the viral load after IPNV infection. The effectiveness of this new IPNV DNA vaccine and its possible mechanism of action are discussed and compared to other viral vaccines.
Asunto(s)
Infecciones por Birnaviridae/prevención & control , Enfermedades de los Peces/prevención & control , Virus de la Necrosis Pancreática Infecciosa/inmunología , Vacunas de ADN/inmunología , Vacunas Virales/inmunología , Estructuras Animales/inmunología , Animales , Anticuerpos Neutralizantes/sangre , Anticuerpos Antivirales/sangre , Infecciones por Birnaviridae/inmunología , Antígenos CD4/biosíntesis , Antígenos CD8/biosíntesis , Línea Celular , Enfermedades de los Peces/inmunología , Antígenos de Histocompatibilidad Clase I/biosíntesis , Antígenos de Histocompatibilidad Clase II/biosíntesis , Virus de la Necrosis Pancreática Infecciosa/genética , Inyecciones Intramusculares , Interferón Tipo I/biosíntesis , Oncorhynchus mykiss , Poliproteínas/biosíntesis , Rhabdoviridae/genética , Rhabdoviridae/inmunología , Vacunas de ADN/administración & dosificación , Vacunas de ADN/genética , Proteínas Virales/biosíntesis , Vacunas Virales/administración & dosificación , Vacunas Virales/genéticaRESUMEN
A flow cytometric virus-binding assay that directly visualizes the binding and entry of infectious pancreatic necrosis virus (IPNV), infectious haematopoietic necrosis virus (IHNV) and virus haemorrhagic septicaemia virus (VHSV) to several cell lines was established. The highest efficiency of binding was shown by the BF-2 cell line and this was used to study, at the attachment level, the interactions of these cells with salmonid fish viruses in coinfections, and to further determine if the earliest stage of the viral growth cycle could explain the previously described loss of infectivity of IHNV when IPNV is present. Our results demonstrated that IPNV binds to around 88% of cells either in single or dual infections, whereas IHNV attachment always decreased in the presence of any of the other viruses. VHSV binding was not affected by IPNV, but coinfection with IHNV reduced the percentage of virus-binding cells, which suggests competition for viral receptors or co-receptors. Internalization of the adsorbed IHNV was not decreased by coinfection with IPNV, so the hypothetical competence could be restricted to the binding step. Treatment of the cells with antiviral agents, such as amantadine or chloroquine, did not affect the binding of IPNV and VHSV, but reduced IHNV binding by more than 30%. Tributylamine affected viral binding of the three viruses to different degrees and inhibited IPNV or IHNV entry in a large percentage of cells treated for 30 min. Tributylamine also inhibited IHNV cytopathic effects in a dose-dependent manner, decreasing the virus yield by 4 log of the 50% endpoint titre, at 10 mm concentration. IPNV was also inhibited, but at a lower level. The results of this study support the hypothesis that IHNV, in contrast to VHSV or IPNV, is less efficient at completing its growth cycle in cells with a simultaneous infection with IPNV. It can be affected at several stages of viral infection and is more sensitive to the action of antiviral compounds.
Asunto(s)
Infecciones por Virus ARN/veterinaria , Virus ARN/fisiología , Salmonidae/virología , Animales , Línea Celular , Hidrolasas/farmacología , Virus de la Necrosis Hematopoyética Infecciosa/efectos de los fármacos , Virus de la Necrosis Hematopoyética Infecciosa/fisiología , Virus de la Necrosis Pancreática Infecciosa/efectos de los fármacos , Virus de la Necrosis Pancreática Infecciosa/fisiología , Novirhabdovirus/efectos de los fármacos , Novirhabdovirus/fisiología , Infecciones por Virus ARN/patología , Infecciones por Virus ARN/virología , Virus ARN/efectos de los fármacos , Acoplamiento Viral/efectos de los fármacosRESUMEN
Recent studies have demonstrated that the rat adipose tissue expresses some of the components necessary for the production of angiotensin II (Ang II) and the receptors mediating its actions. The aim of this work is to characterize the expression of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) components in perivascular adipose tissue and to assess differences in the expression pattern depending on the vascular bed and type of adipose tissue. We analyzed Ang I and Ang II levels as well as mRNA levels of RAS components by a quantitative RT-PCR method in periaortic (PAT) and mesenteric adipose tissue (MAT) of 3-month-old male Wistar-Kyoto rats. PAT was identified as brown adipose tissue expressing uncoupling protein-1 (UCP-1). It had smaller adipocytes than those from MAT, which was identified as white adipose tissue. All RAS components, except renin, were detected in both PAT and MAT. Levels of expression of angiotensinogen, Ang-converting enzyme (ACE), and ACE2 were similar between PAT and MAT. Renin receptor expression was five times higher, whereas expression of chymase, AT(1a), and AT(2) receptors were significantly lower in PAT compared with MAT respectively. In addition, three isoforms of the AT(1a) receptor were found in perivascular adipose tissue. The AT(1b) receptor was found at very a low expression level. Ang II levels were higher in MAT with no differences between tissues in Ang I. The results show that the RAS is differentially expressed in white and brown perivascular adipose tissues implicating a different role for the system depending on the vascular bed and the type of adipose tissue.
Asunto(s)
Tejido Adiposo Pardo/química , Tejido Adiposo Blanco/química , Sistema Renina-Angiotensina , Angiotensina I/análisis , Angiotensina II/análisis , Animales , Canales Iónicos/análisis , Masculino , Proteínas Mitocondriales/análisis , Peptidil-Dipeptidasa A/análisis , Peptidil-Dipeptidasa A/genética , ARN Mensajero/análisis , Ratas , Ratas Endogámicas WKY , Receptor de Angiotensina Tipo 2/análisis , Receptor de Angiotensina Tipo 2/genética , Receptores de Superficie Celular/análisis , Receptores de Superficie Celular/genética , Proteína Desacopladora 1 , Receptor de ProreninaRESUMEN
The electrophoretogram of 89 cats, including those infected by feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV+), feline leukaemia virus (FeLV+) and non-infected, showed statistically significant differences in several of the fractions. FIV+ cats had very high protein values (mean, 8.10 g/dl), mostly because of hypergammaglobulinemia (mean, 2.81 g/dl) as compared with non-infected animals and FeLV+. In addition, in these FIV+ animals, the albumin/globulins ratio (A/G) was very low (mean, 0.72). Statistically significant differences in A/G and alpha2-globulin fraction were observed in FeLV+ group (A/G mean, 0.88 +/- 0.08; alpha2-globulin, mean, 0.84 +/- 0.07 g/dl) when compared with non-infected group (A/G mean, 1.06 +/- 0.08; alpha2-globulin mean, 0.68 +/- 0.04 g/dl). The alpha1-globulin fraction was higher in double infected animals (FIV and FeLV positive, F-F) (3.55 g/dl), than in FeLV+ or FIV+ cats (3.10 and 3.07 g/dl respectively), but no statistical conclusions may be drawn from this fact because of the low number of F-F animals. This technique may help to assess the initial clinical status of retrovirus-infected cats, and the clinical course of these chronic diseases, specifically during and after suitable therapy.
Asunto(s)
Electroforesis de las Proteínas Sanguíneas/veterinaria , Síndrome de Inmunodeficiencia Adquirida del Felino/sangre , Leucemia Felina/sangre , Animales , Biomarcadores/sangre , Electroforesis de las Proteínas Sanguíneas/métodos , Electroforesis de las Proteínas Sanguíneas/normas , Estudios de Casos y Controles , Gatos , Diagnóstico Diferencial , Femenino , Virus de la Inmunodeficiencia Felina , Virus de la Leucemia Felina , Masculino , Valores de ReferenciaRESUMEN
AIMS: In this work, we report the isolation, characterization and expression pattern in in vitro cultures of an EXOPG encoding gene (pgx2), a novel EXOPG encoding gene of Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. radicis lycopersici, responsible for foot crown and root rot disease in tomato plants. The gene was compared with other fungal polygalacturonases (PGs) previously reported. METHODS AND RESULTS: Partial sequences of the purified EXOPG native protein were used to design primers that amplified a genomic fragment by PCR. The amplified genomic fragment was used as a probe to screen a genomic library. One isolated clone was analysed. The complete genomic, cDNA and the deduced amino acid sequences were compared with other fungal EXOPGs and ENDOPGs. Regulation of pgx2 expression was analysed by Northern blot in in vitro cultures supplemented with different carbon sources. CONCLUSIONS: Pgx2 was present as single copy in the haploid genome of several Fusarium species. PGX2 showed the conserved amino acid motifs typical of PGs and those reported for fungal EXOPGs. Pgx2 was regulated at transcriptional level showing similar expression pattern to other EXOPG encoding gene (pgx1) when the fungus was cultured on different carbon sources suggesting a coordinate expression of both genes. This similarity would be supported by the presence of common putative regulatory motifs in the upstream regions of both genes. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: This study reports the analysis of a novel EXOPG gene of the tomato pathogen F. oxysporum f.sp. radicis lycopersici, a contribution to the understanding of the role of cell-wall-degrading enzymes produced by fungi during pathogenesis.
Asunto(s)
Fusarium/genética , Regulación Enzimológica de la Expresión Génica , Regulación Fúngica de la Expresión Génica , Genes Fúngicos , Glicósido Hidrolasas/genética , Secuencia de Aminoácidos , Northern Blotting , Southern Blotting , ADN de Hongos/genética , Fusarium/enzimología , Glicósido Hidrolasas/metabolismo , Solanum lycopersicum/microbiología , Datos de Secuencia Molecular , Reacción en Cadena de la Polimerasa/métodos , Alineación de SecuenciaAsunto(s)
ADN Bacteriano/genética , Electroforesis en Gel de Campo Pulsado/veterinaria , Mastitis/veterinaria , Infecciones por Pseudomonas/veterinaria , Pseudomonas aeruginosa/genética , Enfermedades de las Ovejas/microbiología , Animales , Análisis por Conglomerados , Electroforesis en Gel de Campo Pulsado/métodos , Femenino , Genoma Bacteriano , Mastitis/microbiología , Infecciones por Pseudomonas/microbiología , Pseudomonas aeruginosa/clasificación , Mapeo Restrictivo , OvinosRESUMEN
The antimicrobial susceptibility of 50 coryneform isolates from subclinical mastitis in sheep was evaluated. Arcanobacterium pyogenes (five isolates) had a susceptibility pattern distinct from the Corynebacterium species tested. The Corynebacterium isolates could be divided in two groups according to the MIC values for ciprofloxacin. Their antimicrobial susceptibility was usually unpredictable and consequently antimicrobial susceptibility tests are necessary for clinical and epidemiological purposes.
Asunto(s)
Antibacterianos/farmacología , Infecciones por Corynebacterium/veterinaria , Corynebacterium/efectos de los fármacos , Mastitis/veterinaria , Enfermedades de las Ovejas/microbiología , Animales , Femenino , Pruebas de Sensibilidad Microbiana , OvinosRESUMEN
La relación entre las unidades y servicios de Cocina y Dietética en el medio hospitalario es relevante a la hora de alcanzar un alto grado en la calidad del servicio y en la alimentación de los pacientes, tanto nutricional como clínicamente.Material y Métodos. La Comisión de Dietética y Cocina del Hospital Virgen del Camino, en la que participa el equipo multidisciplinar encargado de la nutrición hospitalaria, se reúne semanalmente desde el año 1990, con el fin de estudiar y solucionar los problemas relacionados con el trabajo en cocina. En el acta de cada sesión, quedan reflejadas todas las incidencias de la cinta de emplatado, maquinaria y las medidas correctoras acontecidas desde la reunión de la Comisión anterior entre las que se incluyen el análisis de alimentos (aceite, leche y huevo pasterizado), así como la valoración cuantitativa de diversos indicadores de calidad por evaluadores externos.Resultados. Las incidencias negativas sobre carne y pescado, dentro de los grupos de alimentos valorados, eran las más elevadas en el año 1995. Todos estos grupos tienen una tendencia descendente en cuanto a las observaciones negativas, así como los análisis microbiológicos de la leche, el huevo pasteurizado y el aceite, de tal forma que a partir del año 1998, están de acuerdo al 100 por ciento con la legislación vigente. En el sistema de emplatado y maquinaria todos los parámetros fueron mejorando progresivamente, así como en los índices objetivos de valoración.Conclusiones. Prácticamente todos los marcadores utilizados en la valoración del servicio han seguido una clara mejoría, aumentando de esta forma la calidad, el ahorro y la eficiencia en el Servicio de Alimentación, la Unidad de Nutrición Clínica y Dietética y la Cocina. La Comisión de Dietética y Cocina constituye una herramienta eficaz en la interacción de todos los servicios y la pronta resolución de problemas así como un sistema personalizado de análisis de riesgos y control de puntos críticos (AU)
Asunto(s)
Humanos , Servicio de Alimentación en Hospital/normas , Control de Calidad , Organización y Administración , Hospitales con más de 500 Camas , EspañaAsunto(s)
Aspergilosis/veterinaria , Aspergillus fumigatus/aislamiento & purificación , Mastitis/veterinaria , Penicilinas/administración & dosificación , Enfermedades de las Ovejas/microbiología , Animales , Aspergilosis/patología , Cloxacilina/administración & dosificación , Femenino , Mastitis/etiología , Mastitis/patología , Ovinos , Enfermedades de las Ovejas/patologíaRESUMEN
Thirty lambs displayed symptoms of meningoencephalitis. An unusual gram-positive coccus was isolated in pure culture from the blood and brain samples from one of the affected animals, and phenotypic and phylogenetic characterization showed this to be Globicatella sanguinis. This is the first report of the isolation of G. sanguinis in pure culture from an animal infection.
Asunto(s)
Infecciones por Bacterias Grampositivas/veterinaria , Cocos Grampositivos/clasificación , Cocos Grampositivos/aislamiento & purificación , Meningoencefalitis/veterinaria , Enfermedades de las Ovejas/microbiología , Animales , Sangre/microbiología , Encéfalo/microbiología , Infecciones por Bacterias Grampositivas/microbiología , Cocos Grampositivos/genética , Meningoencefalitis/microbiología , OvinosAsunto(s)
Brotes de Enfermedades/veterinaria , Mastitis/veterinaria , Infecciones por Pseudomonas/veterinaria , Pseudomonas aeruginosa , Enfermedades de las Ovejas/microbiología , Enfermedad Aguda , Animales , Femenino , Mastitis/etiología , Mastitis/microbiología , Infecciones por Pseudomonas/patología , Ovinos , Enfermedades de las Ovejas/patologíaRESUMEN
We describe two unusual cases in sheep of subclinical mastitis caused by Streptococcus parasanguinis. This bacterium has been associated with the development of experimental endocarditis; its presence at relatively high concentrations in apparently healthy sheep milk may pose a health risk in persons with predisposing heart lesions.