Receptor transporter protein 4 (RTP4)-mediated repression of hepatitis C virus replication in mouse cells.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) exhibits a narrow species tropism, causing robust infections only in humans and experimentally inoculated chimpanzees. While many host factors and restriction factors are known, many more likely remain unknown, which has limited the development of mouse or other small animal models for HCV. One putative restriction factor, the black flying fox orthologue of receptor transporter protein 4 (RTP4), was previously shown to potently inhibit viral genome replication of several ER-replicating RNA viruses.

Determinants of Anemia in Schoolchildren in the Highland Bolivia.

Anemia is a health problem of concern among schoolchildren in underprivileged rural regions, where recurrent parasitic infections are common. A cross-sectional study was conducted in 229 schoolchildren in rural highland Bolivia in the department of La Paz, an area with a high prevalence of protozoan and helminth infections, to determine the types and mechanisms of anemia. A substantial proportion of children (40.

Parasitic Effects on the Congenital Transmission of in Mother-Newborn Pairs.

Maternal parasitemia and placental parasite load were examined in mother-newborn pairs to determine their effect on the congenital transmission of . Parasitemia was qualitatively assessed in mothers and newborns by the microhematocrit test; parasite load was determined in the placental tissues of transmitting and non-transmitting mothers by the detection of DNA and by histology. Compared to transmitter mothers, the frequency and prevalence of parasitemia were found to be increased in non-transmitter mothers; however, the frequency and prevalence of parasite load were higher among the transmitter mothers than among their non-transmitter counterparts.

Frequency of Gastrointestinal Parasites, Anemia, and Nutritional Status among Children from Different Geographical Regions of Bolivia.

The study aimed to measure the frequency of occurrence of infections with helminths, protozoa, and risk factors of undernutrition and anemia among schoolchildren from the Bolivian highland (altiplano) and lowland (subtropical) rural regions, with a high frequency of gastrointestinal parasite infections. Cross-sectional data were collected from 790 children, 5-13 years old. Microscopic examination of stool using the Ritchie technique, hemoglobin testing using the HemoCue analyzer, and anthropometric measurements were performed.

Roles of SlETR7, a newly discovered ethylene receptor, in tomato plant and fruit development.

Ethylene regulates many aspects of plant growth and development. It is perceived by a family of ethylene receptors (ETRs) that have been well described. However, a full understanding of ETR function is complicated by functional redundancy between the receptor isoforms.

A beetle antifreeze protein protects lactate dehydrogenase under freeze-thawing.

Effects of a beetle antifreeze proteins (AFP) from Dendroides canadensis (DAFP-1) on a model freeze-labile enzyme, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), were investigated under freezing and thawing conditions. The presence of DAFP-1 can effectively protect the enzymatic activity of LDH upon repeated freezing and thawing and the protective role of DAFP-1 is more significant than that of bovine serum albumin (BSA), a common protectant for freeze-labile proteins. The results of circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy suggest that the presence of DAFP-1 provides protection to the denaturation of LDH under freezing and thawing.

Differences in Nutritional and Health Status in School Children from the Highlands and Lowlands of Bolivia.

Children in the Bolivian Andes are exposed to endemic infections and meager nourishment, and live under poor hygienic conditions. The prevention of children malnutrition is a priority in many countries including Bolivia. In this study, the health status of schoolchildren in Taraco, a Puna district, at 4,000 meters above sea level (masl) and in Caranavi, at 650 masl in the wealthier subtropical valleys, was compared.

DNA-induced unfolding of the thyroid hormone receptor α A/B domain through allostery.

The A/B domains of nuclear receptors such as thyroid receptor α (TRα) are considered to be conformationally flexible and can potentially adopt multiple structural conformations. We used intrinsic tryptophan fluorescence quenching and circular dichroism spectroscopy to characterize the unfolding of this A/B domain upon DNA binding to the contiguous DNA-binding domain (DBD). We propose that this allosteric change in A/B domain conformation can allow it to make the multiple interactions with distinct molecular factors of the transcriptional preinitiation complex.

IgG Autoantibodies Induced by T. cruzi During Pregnancy: Correlation with Gravidity Complications and Early Outcome Assessment of the Newborns.

Objective The aim of the present research was to evaluate the correlation of vertically transmitted IgG antibodies induced by T. cruzi and newborn early outcome assessment, mainly birth weight and gestational age. Methods We performed a cross-sectional study with 183 pregnant women (64 with asymptomatic Chagas disease) and their newborns.

Pro-inflammatory cytokine production in chagasic mothers and their uninfected newborns.

The levels of IFN-gamma, TNF-alpha, IL-10, and TGF-beta1 cytokines associated with Trypanosoma cruzi during pregnancy were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in serum samples from peripheral, placental, and cord blood of chronic infected mothers with detectable and undetectable parasitemia, and in their uninfected newborns. Compared to uninfected pregnant women and mothers with undetectable parasitemia, the concentrations of IFN-gamma were higher at the 3 sites in mothers with detectable parasitemia. In these mothers and their newborns, the TNF-alpha concentrations were higher in the periphery and cord in comparison to serum samples from non-chagasic pregnant women.

Enhancement of a TH1 immune response in amphotericin B-treated mucocutaneous leishmaniasis.

In an attempt to investigate the effects of treatment of human leishmaniasis, the cytokines produced by peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of patients with cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) and mucocutaneous leishmaniasis (MCL) under treatment with amphotericin B were determined during the active disease from cocultures of cells and Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis antigens. PBMC of these patients exhibited a nonsignificant marginal increased production of TNF-alpha upon antigen stimulation. However, under the same antigenic stimulus, patients with active MCL presented higher IFN-gamma production compared to patients with CL.