Angel Ramos-ligonio - Academia.edu (original) (raw)
Papers by Angel Ramos-ligonio
Tropical Medicine & International Health, Mar 13, 2023
ObjectiveTo evaluate the presence of cross‐reactivity by anti‐severe acute respiratory syndrome c... more ObjectiveTo evaluate the presence of cross‐reactivity by anti‐severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 antibodies induced by the Pfizer‐BioNTech vaccine against Trypanosoma cruzi proteins in a screening test.MethodsForty‐three serum samples were obtained from personnel at the Hospital General Naval de Alta Especialidad in Mexico City who received one or two doses of the vaccine and were tested for T. cruzi infection using four tests: two ‘in house’ enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs), a commercial ELISA diagnostic kit and an immunoblot test.ResultsIgG antibodies against the T. cruzi proteins were present in the serum of unvaccinated subjects and subjects who had received one or two doses of the vaccine. The positivity of the samples against T. cruzi was ruled out by means of a Western Blot assay, where all samples were negative for T. cruzi.ConclusionThe data suggest that people convalescing from coronavirus disease 2019 and those who received the Pfizer‐BioNTech vaccine exhibit cross‐reactive antibodies against T. cruzi antigens in ELISA assays.
Acta Parasitologica, Sep 30, 2019
Purpose The state of Puebla has the social marginalization and ecological conditions for the tran... more Purpose The state of Puebla has the social marginalization and ecological conditions for the transmission of infectious agents to be effective. Until a few years ago, the state of Puebla was considered non-endemic to the presence of Trypanosoma cruzi as there are no official reports of chronic cases. The objective of this work was to carry out a preliminary study on the prevalence of anti-T. cruzi antibodies in rural areas of the Huatlatlauca municipality in the Mixtec sierra of the state of Puebla. Methods A total of 196 serum samples from 12 rural localities were tested by using four tests: two enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays, an xenodiagnoses and PCR assay. Results Overall, 28 (14.2%) of 196 samples were positive for T. cruzi by ≥ 2 tests (95% CI 6.6-20.8%). Our results suggested that the municipality of Huatlatlauca in the Mixteca Sierra of the state of Puebla is an area with endemic potential for the disease with a high prevalence rate in the adult population and with cases in newborns, these high transmission rates are probably associated with problems of congenital and vector transmission. Conclusion Additional studies should be conducted to generate adequate campaigns for the control of Chagas disease in this area.
Southwestern Entomologist, Mar 24, 2022
Abstract. Until recently, the State of Puebla, Mexico had no official reported chronic cases of T... more Abstract. Until recently, the State of Puebla, Mexico had no official reported chronic cases of Trypanosoma cruzi Chagas. The State has conditions of social and ecological marginalization for transmission of infectious agents to be effective. Entomological indices and triatomines at the municipality of Xayacatlán de Bravo, Puebla were analyzed, as well as the DTU of circulating T. cruzi. In total, 117 triatomines were collected. The isolated strains of T. cruzi were molecularly characterized using the 24Sa rRNA and miniexon markers. Results indicated Meccus pallidipennis Stål and Triatoma bassolsae are at the municipality of Xayacatlán de Bravo. We found natural infection rate of 33.3%, and the circulating DTU was TcI. Data indicated the need to study biological and bionomic aspects associated with triatomines that are adapting to human dwelling.
PubMed, 2020
Triatoma dimidiata is considered one of the most important vectors in the spread of Chagas diseas... more Triatoma dimidiata is considered one of the most important vectors in the spread of Chagas disease in Mesoamerica. Hematophagous insects may deposit faeces contaminated or not with Trypanosoma cruzi on the surface of the skin during the feeding process. In endemic areas humans can be in contact several times to this fluid before get infection. Due to limited work on the of immune response to insect's fluids in mammals. In this work, we explored the early response of chemokine and cytokines of skin tissue at the inoculation site against faeces from T. dimidiata contaminated or not with T. cruzi in murine model, also we explored the in vitro response of epitheloid cells line "HeLa cells" to this fluid. Mice were exposed intradermically to faeces free of metacyclic trypomastigotes, oneor multiple times along the experiment before challenged with faeces contaminated with metacyclic trypomastigotes, mimicking natural conditions. In in vitro assay with HeLa cells only one exposure was carried out. It was observed that mice multiexposed to faeces, induced the strong response of TNF-α and CXCL3 expression at the inoculation site; but faeces contaminated with metacyclic trypomastigotes lower the response of TNF-α, and CXCL3. In in vitro assay with HeLa cell line, the faeces induced a strong response of CXCL8 and IL-6, but the presence of faeces contaminated with metacyclic trypomastigotes lower the response of CXCL8. In contrast, to in vivo model null response of TNF α and IL-1-α was observed in HeLa cells. In conclusion, Triatoma dimidiata faeces induces at the inoculation site chemokines that mediate preferentially chemotaxis of neutrophils and macrophages but the presence of metacyclic trypomastigotes moderate their induction. Epithelial cells act as efficient sentinels producing chemokines that may recruit neutrophils and monocytes.
Acta Parasitologica, Aug 27, 2022
International Journal of Medicinal Mushrooms, 2015
The aim of the present study was to evaluate different biological activities of Trichoderma virid... more The aim of the present study was to evaluate different biological activities of Trichoderma viride fungus (Family Hypocreaceae). Trichoderma viride isolated for the first time from the cucumber soil (rhizosphere). It was tested as antimicrobial, antioxidant and anticancer agent. Trichoderma viride from the cucumber soil (rhizosphere) caused inhibition of the mycelial growth of Fusarium solani, Rhizoctonia solani and Sclerotium rolfsii. Also, the alcoholic extract of the fungal mycelia proved a potent antibacterial activity against Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas fluorescens. In addition, it exhibited a significant antifungal activity against Candida albicans, Fusarium solani, Fusarium oxysporium, Rhizoctonia solani and Pythium ultimum at 100 µg/disc. Study of the antimicrobial and antioxidant activities of the volatile constituents had been done. The in vitro antioxidant, anticancer and antiviral activities of the isolated proteins, and carbohydrates were determined. Furthermore, the volatile constituents were isolated from fresh mycelia of Trichoderma viride and subjected to GC/MS analysis. Total protein (10%), carbohydrate (19.57%), steroidal (13.95%) and triterpenoidal content (38.34%) were determined in the alcoholic extract of Trichoderma viride mycelia. In conclusion, this fungus showed antioxidant, anticancer, antiviral and antibacterial effects. Further studies must be done to identify the molecules responsible for its effect and to consider its application in the pharmacological and medicinal purposes.
Zoonoses and Public Health
Acta Tropica, 2021
Cutaneous leishmaniasis is the most common form of leishmaniasis in humans, factors such as pover... more Cutaneous leishmaniasis is the most common form of leishmaniasis in humans, factors such as poverty, poor housing, inadequate domestic hygiene, malnutrition, mobility, and occupational exposure are risk factors associated with the condition, however, there are few studies focused on determining the immune mechanism involved in the resolution of cutaneous leishmaniasis caused by the species Leishmania mexicana, as well as possible environmental factors such as solar radiation, which could contribute to its establishment. through mechanisms immunosuppressants, of which to date is unknown. In this study, the effect of UV-B light was evaluated as a risk factor affecting components of the innate immune response 3 days after infection with L. mexicana. A delayed-type hypersensitivity reaction (DTH) was used to evaluate immunosuppression induced by UV-B light. Through a histological analysis, the skin lesions of the mice (Hematoxylin & Eosin) were evaluated, the presence of mast cells and their level of degranulation (toluidine blue staining), the presence of IL-10+ and MOMA2+ cells were analyzed by immunohistochemistry and finally, the cytokine profile was evaluated by qPCR in the skin lesions tissue. An alteration in the architecture of the tissue was observed, as well as a greater number of mast cells, both complete and degranulated, as well as an increase in IL-10+ and MOMA2+ cells in the skin lesions of the mice that were irradiated and subsequently infected, when compared with the lesions of infected mice (P> 0.0001), immunomodulation was also observed in the profile of cytokines expressed between both groups analyzed. This is the first study to demonstrate the effects of UV-B radiation on components of the innate immune response at short times of infection by L. mexicana.
Current Topics in Neglected Tropical Diseases, 2019
Chagas disease, or American trypanosomiasis, is a parasitic disease of the Americas. In nature, T... more Chagas disease, or American trypanosomiasis, is a parasitic disease of the Americas. In nature, Trypanosoma cruzi is transmitted through various species of triatomine bugs. However, non-vectorial transmission can also occur, such as transmission through blood products or by transplanting infected organs, by vertical transmission, and lately by oral route. Currently, Chagas disease affects approximately 6-7 million people worldwide, and the process of urbanization in Latin America and migratory movements from endemic countries have led to Chagas disease being diagnosed in areas where the infection is not endemic. There are several methods for diagnosing Chagas disease. Some of these are mostly used for research purposes, while others are used in routine diagnostic laboratories. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), chronic Chagas disease diagnosis is based on two serological techniques. To establish a definitive diagnosis, the results must be concordant. In the case of discordances, the WHO proposes repeating serology in a new sample, and if results remain inconclusive, a confirmatory test should be performed. This chapter shows aspects of the diagnosis of Chagas disease, which varies in its sensitivity and specificity, and its use depends on the geographical location, the available resources, and the purpose of the diagnosis.
Infection, Genetics and Evolution, 2021
Triatoma dimidiata is the main vector of Trypanosoma cruzi parasites in Veracruz, Mexico, and its... more Triatoma dimidiata is the main vector of Trypanosoma cruzi parasites in Veracruz, Mexico, and its association with human housing appears variable. Also, in spite of a high seroprevalence of T. cruzi infection in humans, parasite transmission remains poorly understood. Therefore, we aimed to identify T. dimidiata blood feeding sources and its parasite and microbial diversity to reconstruct T. cruzi parasite transmission ecology in central Veracruz, Mexico, within a One Health/Ecohealth framework. We used a metabarcoding and deep sequencing approach of specific markers for the simultaneous identification of T. dimidiata haplogroup (ITS-2), vertebrate blood meals (12 s gene), T. cruzi parasites (mini-exon gene), and gut microbiota (bacterial 16 s). Twelve species of domestic/synanthropic animals and humans were identified as blood sources, with multiple feeding on 4.2 ± 0.4 hosts per bug. The feeding/parasite transmission network was strongly centered on humans, emphasizing a significant risk of infection. We also unambiguously confirmed the presence of TcI, TcII, TcV and TcVI DTUs in T. dimidiata, and sequences from Veracruz tended to cluster apart from parasites from other regions, suggesting some level of local differentiation. Analysis of T. dimidiata microbiota suggested that several bacterial families may be associated with the presence/absence of T. cruzi, and some of these associations may also be parasite DTU-specific. Such integrative approaches within the EcoHealth/One Health framework provide key insights on T. cruzi transmission and potential novel strategies for disease control.
Acta Parasitologica, 2021
PURPOSE Leishmaniasis is an infectious disease transmitted by insects that proliferate mainly in ... more PURPOSE Leishmaniasis is an infectious disease transmitted by insects that proliferate mainly in impoverished environments of tropical climates. In the absence of an effective vaccine, pharmacological treatment is the main tool to combat this disease. The objective of this work was to analyze the anti-leishmanial activity of 2-chloro-N-[4-(4-chlorophenyl)-2-thiazolyl] acetamide (AT) in promastigotes of Leishmania mexicana. METHODS The biological activity of the compound was evaluated using a sulphorhodamine B cytotoxicity test and the integrity of the erythrocytes was evaluated by a lysis test. The anti-trypanosomatid activity was evaluated in vitro, a cell death assay was performed by flow cytometry (IP/Annexin V stain) and a parasite growth recovery assay was performed. RESULTS The AT showed a CC50 value of 0.031 µM for HeLa cells after 24 h of exposure, which did not induce erythrocyte lysis. On the other hand, the AT showed an IC50 value of 0.086 µM for L. mexicana (promastigote form) after 24 h of interaction. The compound was capable of inducing apoptosis in the parasites and did not allow recovery after 24 h of exposure. CONCLUSION This study provides valuable information with the objective of developing new drugs for the treatment of this disease, although more research on this molecule is needed to improve its biological activity.
Tropical Medicine & International Health, 2021
ObjectiveTo analyse the ecological and social factors involved in infestation of houses by Triato... more ObjectiveTo analyse the ecological and social factors involved in infestation of houses by Triatoma dimidiata in a rural locality of Veracruz, Mexico, where active transmission of the parasite is occurring.MethodsA survey was applied to the households of the locality to obtain sociodemographic data. In parallel, T. dimidiata insects were collected during one year through community participation. Using PCR, the insects were genotyped, their infection status was assessed, and parasite genotypes infecting the insects were identified. The vector’s blood meal sources were identified using a polymerase–heteroduplex chain reaction assay.ResultsSeasonal variations in the patterns of infestation by T. dimidiata were observed. An overall infestation rate of 19.46%, a colonisation index of 9.09%, a dispersion rate of 22.15% and a synanthropy index of 80.6% were found. The collected insects were identified as ITS‐2 group 2 insects, and a natural infection with T. cruzi of 54.35% was found. TcI ...
Acta Tropica, 2021
The mechanisms of infection and dispersion of Trypanosoma cruzi among animals, especially in the ... more The mechanisms of infection and dispersion of Trypanosoma cruzi among animals, especially in the sylvatic environment, are still not entirely clear. Therefore, various aspects of the transmission dynamics of this parasite in the sylvatic environment are still unknown. T. cruzi is a parasite with a great biological and genetic diversity that infects a wide variety of hosts, therefore, the transmission cycles of this parasite are complex. The objective of this study was to determine T. cruzi infection rate and analyze the genetic variability of the discrete typing units (DTU) of the parasite in three non-human primate species (Alouatta palliata, Alouatta pigra, and Ateles geoffroyi) in southeastern Mexico. A total of one hundred sixty-four serum samples (42 samples of A. pigra, 41 samples of A. palliata (free-ranging) and 81 samples of A. geoffroyi (in managed care)) were analyzed for the detection of anti-T. cruzi antibodies by ELISA assays. Infection rate was 23.39% for A. palliata, 21.40% for A. pigra and 16.27% in A. geoffroyi. The presence of infection and the molecular characterization of the strains were analyzed by PCR, and the identification of DTUs was performed by real-time PCR coupled to high resolution fusion (qPCR-HRM). Different DTUs (TcI, TcII, TcIII, TcV and TcVI) were found in the analyzed monkeys. In addition, infection of monkeys was not associated with age or gender, but it was associated with the species. This study makes it clear that the risk of infection is present in the study area and that the different DTUs of the parasite can coexist in the same habitat, indicating that T. cruzi infection in the study area is very complex and involves many ecological factors. However; there is a need for long-term studies of host-parasite interactions to provide a solid understanding of the ecology of these species and to understand the dispersion strategies of T. cruzi.
Revista Argentina de Microbiología, 2018
Female sex workers (FSWs) have been considered a key population for sexually transmitted infectio... more Female sex workers (FSWs) have been considered a key population for sexually transmitted infections (STIs); therefore, they are periodically screened as a requirement to obtain a work card. However, there is insufficient epidemiological data on STIs among FSWs in Mexico. The detection of Trichomonas vaginalis is limited to microscopic studies and the molecular screening of Human papillomavirus (HPV) is only done to women 35 years of age and older. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of T. vaginalis and HPV infections in FSWs in the city of Orizaba, Veracruz, Mexico. Samples from 105 FSWs were obtained by cervical swab and analyzed. The identification of T. vaginalis and HPV was performed by molecular methods. HPV DNA was identified in 5.71% of the samples with the presence of HPV16, HPV18, and HPV58. A percentage of 25.7% samples were positive for T. vaginalis for optical microscopy and 23.8% for PCR. The results of the study indicate the need to incorporate more sensitive methods for the timely diagnosis of STIs as well as comprehensive health promotion programs directed to the most vulnerable groups among FSWs.
Current Drug Delivery, 2020
Background:Adjuvants have been obtained empirically by trial and error experiments and today, the... more Background:Adjuvants have been obtained empirically by trial and error experiments and today, there is a tendency to the rational design of adjuvants candidates, which will increasingly achieve effective and safe products. The aim of this work was to design and evaluate the compound IMR-23 derived from nitroimidazole as an immunomodulatory molecule.Material and Methods:The IMR-23 molecule was obtained by a condensation reaction, cytotoxicity was tested by the sulforhodamine B assay. Adjuvanticity was evaluated in vivo and in vitro in J774A.1 cells and in the mouse model, respectively.Results:IMR-23 that did not show cytotoxicity on HeLa, Vero cells and macrophages J774A.1, was able to induce the production of molecules involved in the inflammatory process, such as cytokines and chemokines determined by ELISA, to induce the production of antibodies and to generate antigenspecific cells to ovalbumin and against the antigen GST-L1b.Conclusions:These results open the possibility of furt...
Iranian Journal of Parasitology, 2020
Background: Chagas disease caused by the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi is considered a neglected dis... more Background: Chagas disease caused by the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi is considered a neglected disease in several countries. One of the main problems about this disease is the lack of an effective treatment and the absence of adverse effects. T. cruzi, like most pathogenic fungi and yeasts, require specific sterols to maintain viability and proliferative capacity during their life cycle. However, the oxidation of this molecule to ergosterol peroxide has shown several biological effects, including its trypanocidal activity. Methods: We have synthesized MOFs nanoparticles as carrier system coupled to ergosterol peroxide (MOFs-EP) and we have studied its effect on the circulating forms of the T. cruzi parasite. Results: MOFs-EP possess an efficient trypanocidal activity at much lower inhibitory concentrations (ng/mL) that the concentrations shown by ergosterol peroxide (g/mL) when administered unconjugated form. Conclusion: Our results open a new possibility in the biomedical applicati...
Journal of Infectiology, 2019
Biomolecules, 2019
Trypanosoma cruzi, which causes Chagas disease, is a significant health threat in many countries ... more Trypanosoma cruzi, which causes Chagas disease, is a significant health threat in many countries and affects millions of people. Given the magnitude of this disease, a broader understanding of trypanocidal mechanisms is needed to prevent and treat infection. Natural endoperoxides, such as ergosterol peroxide, have been shown to be toxic to parasites without causing harm to human cells or tissues. Although prior studies have demonstrated the trypanocidal activity of ergosterol peroxide, the cellular and molecular mechanisms remain unknown. The results of this study indicate that a free-radical reaction occurs in T. cruzi following ergosterol peroxide exposure, leading to cell death. Using a combination of biochemical, microscopic and in silico experimental approaches, we have identified, for the first time, the cellular and molecular cytotoxic mechanism of an ergosterol peroxide obtained from Pleurotus ostreatus (Jacq) P. Kumm. f. sp. Florida.
International Journal of Medicinal Mushrooms, 2017
Compounds showing pharmacological activity on the immune system are of interest because of their ... more Compounds showing pharmacological activity on the immune system are of interest because of their therapeutic potential in the treatment of many diseases. However, data from primary human immune cells and in vivo studies are limited. The aim of this study was to analyze the ability to induce the expression of Toll-like receptors (TLRs) and proinflammatory molecules on cells involved in the immune system using the compound ergosta-7,22-dien-3- one, isolated from a wild Mexican strain of Ganoderma oerstedii. According to our study, ergosta-7,22-dien-3-one did not present any cytotoxic effect on HeLa or J774A.1 cells, and it was able to stimulate nitric oxide production, induce the expression of genes, and induce the production of TLRs, cytokines, chemokines, and cellular adhesion molecules in J774A.1 cells, based on reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Here we report a new pro-inflammatory property of ergosta-7,22-dien-3-one, which should be considered as a possible adjuvant property in view of its biological activity.
Journal of biomedical science, 2016
The dengue non-structural 3 (NS3) is a multifunctional protein, containing a serine-protease doma... more The dengue non-structural 3 (NS3) is a multifunctional protein, containing a serine-protease domain, located at the N-terminal portion, and helicase, NTPase and RTPase domains present in the C-terminal region. This protein is considered the main target for CD4+ and CD8+ T cell responses during dengue infection, which may be involved in protection. However, few studies have been undertaken evaluating the use of this protein as a protective antigen against dengue, as well as other flavivirus. In the present work we evaluated the potential of the NS3 (protease domain) as a protective antigen by comparing the administration of a recombinant protein versus a DNA vaccine in the mouse model. BALB/c mice were immunized with the recombinant protein NS3-DEN3 via intraperitoneal and with plasmid pcDNA3/NS3-DEN3 intramuscularly and the immune response was evaluated. The activity of T lymphocytes was analyzed by the MTT assay, and cells of mice immunized with the recombinant protein showed no ac...
Tropical Medicine & International Health, Mar 13, 2023
ObjectiveTo evaluate the presence of cross‐reactivity by anti‐severe acute respiratory syndrome c... more ObjectiveTo evaluate the presence of cross‐reactivity by anti‐severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 antibodies induced by the Pfizer‐BioNTech vaccine against Trypanosoma cruzi proteins in a screening test.MethodsForty‐three serum samples were obtained from personnel at the Hospital General Naval de Alta Especialidad in Mexico City who received one or two doses of the vaccine and were tested for T. cruzi infection using four tests: two ‘in house’ enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs), a commercial ELISA diagnostic kit and an immunoblot test.ResultsIgG antibodies against the T. cruzi proteins were present in the serum of unvaccinated subjects and subjects who had received one or two doses of the vaccine. The positivity of the samples against T. cruzi was ruled out by means of a Western Blot assay, where all samples were negative for T. cruzi.ConclusionThe data suggest that people convalescing from coronavirus disease 2019 and those who received the Pfizer‐BioNTech vaccine exhibit cross‐reactive antibodies against T. cruzi antigens in ELISA assays.
Acta Parasitologica, Sep 30, 2019
Purpose The state of Puebla has the social marginalization and ecological conditions for the tran... more Purpose The state of Puebla has the social marginalization and ecological conditions for the transmission of infectious agents to be effective. Until a few years ago, the state of Puebla was considered non-endemic to the presence of Trypanosoma cruzi as there are no official reports of chronic cases. The objective of this work was to carry out a preliminary study on the prevalence of anti-T. cruzi antibodies in rural areas of the Huatlatlauca municipality in the Mixtec sierra of the state of Puebla. Methods A total of 196 serum samples from 12 rural localities were tested by using four tests: two enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays, an xenodiagnoses and PCR assay. Results Overall, 28 (14.2%) of 196 samples were positive for T. cruzi by ≥ 2 tests (95% CI 6.6-20.8%). Our results suggested that the municipality of Huatlatlauca in the Mixteca Sierra of the state of Puebla is an area with endemic potential for the disease with a high prevalence rate in the adult population and with cases in newborns, these high transmission rates are probably associated with problems of congenital and vector transmission. Conclusion Additional studies should be conducted to generate adequate campaigns for the control of Chagas disease in this area.
Southwestern Entomologist, Mar 24, 2022
Abstract. Until recently, the State of Puebla, Mexico had no official reported chronic cases of T... more Abstract. Until recently, the State of Puebla, Mexico had no official reported chronic cases of Trypanosoma cruzi Chagas. The State has conditions of social and ecological marginalization for transmission of infectious agents to be effective. Entomological indices and triatomines at the municipality of Xayacatlán de Bravo, Puebla were analyzed, as well as the DTU of circulating T. cruzi. In total, 117 triatomines were collected. The isolated strains of T. cruzi were molecularly characterized using the 24Sa rRNA and miniexon markers. Results indicated Meccus pallidipennis Stål and Triatoma bassolsae are at the municipality of Xayacatlán de Bravo. We found natural infection rate of 33.3%, and the circulating DTU was TcI. Data indicated the need to study biological and bionomic aspects associated with triatomines that are adapting to human dwelling.
PubMed, 2020
Triatoma dimidiata is considered one of the most important vectors in the spread of Chagas diseas... more Triatoma dimidiata is considered one of the most important vectors in the spread of Chagas disease in Mesoamerica. Hematophagous insects may deposit faeces contaminated or not with Trypanosoma cruzi on the surface of the skin during the feeding process. In endemic areas humans can be in contact several times to this fluid before get infection. Due to limited work on the of immune response to insect's fluids in mammals. In this work, we explored the early response of chemokine and cytokines of skin tissue at the inoculation site against faeces from T. dimidiata contaminated or not with T. cruzi in murine model, also we explored the in vitro response of epitheloid cells line "HeLa cells" to this fluid. Mice were exposed intradermically to faeces free of metacyclic trypomastigotes, oneor multiple times along the experiment before challenged with faeces contaminated with metacyclic trypomastigotes, mimicking natural conditions. In in vitro assay with HeLa cells only one exposure was carried out. It was observed that mice multiexposed to faeces, induced the strong response of TNF-α and CXCL3 expression at the inoculation site; but faeces contaminated with metacyclic trypomastigotes lower the response of TNF-α, and CXCL3. In in vitro assay with HeLa cell line, the faeces induced a strong response of CXCL8 and IL-6, but the presence of faeces contaminated with metacyclic trypomastigotes lower the response of CXCL8. In contrast, to in vivo model null response of TNF α and IL-1-α was observed in HeLa cells. In conclusion, Triatoma dimidiata faeces induces at the inoculation site chemokines that mediate preferentially chemotaxis of neutrophils and macrophages but the presence of metacyclic trypomastigotes moderate their induction. Epithelial cells act as efficient sentinels producing chemokines that may recruit neutrophils and monocytes.
Acta Parasitologica, Aug 27, 2022
International Journal of Medicinal Mushrooms, 2015
The aim of the present study was to evaluate different biological activities of Trichoderma virid... more The aim of the present study was to evaluate different biological activities of Trichoderma viride fungus (Family Hypocreaceae). Trichoderma viride isolated for the first time from the cucumber soil (rhizosphere). It was tested as antimicrobial, antioxidant and anticancer agent. Trichoderma viride from the cucumber soil (rhizosphere) caused inhibition of the mycelial growth of Fusarium solani, Rhizoctonia solani and Sclerotium rolfsii. Also, the alcoholic extract of the fungal mycelia proved a potent antibacterial activity against Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas fluorescens. In addition, it exhibited a significant antifungal activity against Candida albicans, Fusarium solani, Fusarium oxysporium, Rhizoctonia solani and Pythium ultimum at 100 µg/disc. Study of the antimicrobial and antioxidant activities of the volatile constituents had been done. The in vitro antioxidant, anticancer and antiviral activities of the isolated proteins, and carbohydrates were determined. Furthermore, the volatile constituents were isolated from fresh mycelia of Trichoderma viride and subjected to GC/MS analysis. Total protein (10%), carbohydrate (19.57%), steroidal (13.95%) and triterpenoidal content (38.34%) were determined in the alcoholic extract of Trichoderma viride mycelia. In conclusion, this fungus showed antioxidant, anticancer, antiviral and antibacterial effects. Further studies must be done to identify the molecules responsible for its effect and to consider its application in the pharmacological and medicinal purposes.
Zoonoses and Public Health
Acta Tropica, 2021
Cutaneous leishmaniasis is the most common form of leishmaniasis in humans, factors such as pover... more Cutaneous leishmaniasis is the most common form of leishmaniasis in humans, factors such as poverty, poor housing, inadequate domestic hygiene, malnutrition, mobility, and occupational exposure are risk factors associated with the condition, however, there are few studies focused on determining the immune mechanism involved in the resolution of cutaneous leishmaniasis caused by the species Leishmania mexicana, as well as possible environmental factors such as solar radiation, which could contribute to its establishment. through mechanisms immunosuppressants, of which to date is unknown. In this study, the effect of UV-B light was evaluated as a risk factor affecting components of the innate immune response 3 days after infection with L. mexicana. A delayed-type hypersensitivity reaction (DTH) was used to evaluate immunosuppression induced by UV-B light. Through a histological analysis, the skin lesions of the mice (Hematoxylin & Eosin) were evaluated, the presence of mast cells and their level of degranulation (toluidine blue staining), the presence of IL-10+ and MOMA2+ cells were analyzed by immunohistochemistry and finally, the cytokine profile was evaluated by qPCR in the skin lesions tissue. An alteration in the architecture of the tissue was observed, as well as a greater number of mast cells, both complete and degranulated, as well as an increase in IL-10+ and MOMA2+ cells in the skin lesions of the mice that were irradiated and subsequently infected, when compared with the lesions of infected mice (P> 0.0001), immunomodulation was also observed in the profile of cytokines expressed between both groups analyzed. This is the first study to demonstrate the effects of UV-B radiation on components of the innate immune response at short times of infection by L. mexicana.
Current Topics in Neglected Tropical Diseases, 2019
Chagas disease, or American trypanosomiasis, is a parasitic disease of the Americas. In nature, T... more Chagas disease, or American trypanosomiasis, is a parasitic disease of the Americas. In nature, Trypanosoma cruzi is transmitted through various species of triatomine bugs. However, non-vectorial transmission can also occur, such as transmission through blood products or by transplanting infected organs, by vertical transmission, and lately by oral route. Currently, Chagas disease affects approximately 6-7 million people worldwide, and the process of urbanization in Latin America and migratory movements from endemic countries have led to Chagas disease being diagnosed in areas where the infection is not endemic. There are several methods for diagnosing Chagas disease. Some of these are mostly used for research purposes, while others are used in routine diagnostic laboratories. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), chronic Chagas disease diagnosis is based on two serological techniques. To establish a definitive diagnosis, the results must be concordant. In the case of discordances, the WHO proposes repeating serology in a new sample, and if results remain inconclusive, a confirmatory test should be performed. This chapter shows aspects of the diagnosis of Chagas disease, which varies in its sensitivity and specificity, and its use depends on the geographical location, the available resources, and the purpose of the diagnosis.
Infection, Genetics and Evolution, 2021
Triatoma dimidiata is the main vector of Trypanosoma cruzi parasites in Veracruz, Mexico, and its... more Triatoma dimidiata is the main vector of Trypanosoma cruzi parasites in Veracruz, Mexico, and its association with human housing appears variable. Also, in spite of a high seroprevalence of T. cruzi infection in humans, parasite transmission remains poorly understood. Therefore, we aimed to identify T. dimidiata blood feeding sources and its parasite and microbial diversity to reconstruct T. cruzi parasite transmission ecology in central Veracruz, Mexico, within a One Health/Ecohealth framework. We used a metabarcoding and deep sequencing approach of specific markers for the simultaneous identification of T. dimidiata haplogroup (ITS-2), vertebrate blood meals (12 s gene), T. cruzi parasites (mini-exon gene), and gut microbiota (bacterial 16 s). Twelve species of domestic/synanthropic animals and humans were identified as blood sources, with multiple feeding on 4.2 ± 0.4 hosts per bug. The feeding/parasite transmission network was strongly centered on humans, emphasizing a significant risk of infection. We also unambiguously confirmed the presence of TcI, TcII, TcV and TcVI DTUs in T. dimidiata, and sequences from Veracruz tended to cluster apart from parasites from other regions, suggesting some level of local differentiation. Analysis of T. dimidiata microbiota suggested that several bacterial families may be associated with the presence/absence of T. cruzi, and some of these associations may also be parasite DTU-specific. Such integrative approaches within the EcoHealth/One Health framework provide key insights on T. cruzi transmission and potential novel strategies for disease control.
Acta Parasitologica, 2021
PURPOSE Leishmaniasis is an infectious disease transmitted by insects that proliferate mainly in ... more PURPOSE Leishmaniasis is an infectious disease transmitted by insects that proliferate mainly in impoverished environments of tropical climates. In the absence of an effective vaccine, pharmacological treatment is the main tool to combat this disease. The objective of this work was to analyze the anti-leishmanial activity of 2-chloro-N-[4-(4-chlorophenyl)-2-thiazolyl] acetamide (AT) in promastigotes of Leishmania mexicana. METHODS The biological activity of the compound was evaluated using a sulphorhodamine B cytotoxicity test and the integrity of the erythrocytes was evaluated by a lysis test. The anti-trypanosomatid activity was evaluated in vitro, a cell death assay was performed by flow cytometry (IP/Annexin V stain) and a parasite growth recovery assay was performed. RESULTS The AT showed a CC50 value of 0.031 µM for HeLa cells after 24 h of exposure, which did not induce erythrocyte lysis. On the other hand, the AT showed an IC50 value of 0.086 µM for L. mexicana (promastigote form) after 24 h of interaction. The compound was capable of inducing apoptosis in the parasites and did not allow recovery after 24 h of exposure. CONCLUSION This study provides valuable information with the objective of developing new drugs for the treatment of this disease, although more research on this molecule is needed to improve its biological activity.
Tropical Medicine & International Health, 2021
ObjectiveTo analyse the ecological and social factors involved in infestation of houses by Triato... more ObjectiveTo analyse the ecological and social factors involved in infestation of houses by Triatoma dimidiata in a rural locality of Veracruz, Mexico, where active transmission of the parasite is occurring.MethodsA survey was applied to the households of the locality to obtain sociodemographic data. In parallel, T. dimidiata insects were collected during one year through community participation. Using PCR, the insects were genotyped, their infection status was assessed, and parasite genotypes infecting the insects were identified. The vector’s blood meal sources were identified using a polymerase–heteroduplex chain reaction assay.ResultsSeasonal variations in the patterns of infestation by T. dimidiata were observed. An overall infestation rate of 19.46%, a colonisation index of 9.09%, a dispersion rate of 22.15% and a synanthropy index of 80.6% were found. The collected insects were identified as ITS‐2 group 2 insects, and a natural infection with T. cruzi of 54.35% was found. TcI ...
Acta Tropica, 2021
The mechanisms of infection and dispersion of Trypanosoma cruzi among animals, especially in the ... more The mechanisms of infection and dispersion of Trypanosoma cruzi among animals, especially in the sylvatic environment, are still not entirely clear. Therefore, various aspects of the transmission dynamics of this parasite in the sylvatic environment are still unknown. T. cruzi is a parasite with a great biological and genetic diversity that infects a wide variety of hosts, therefore, the transmission cycles of this parasite are complex. The objective of this study was to determine T. cruzi infection rate and analyze the genetic variability of the discrete typing units (DTU) of the parasite in three non-human primate species (Alouatta palliata, Alouatta pigra, and Ateles geoffroyi) in southeastern Mexico. A total of one hundred sixty-four serum samples (42 samples of A. pigra, 41 samples of A. palliata (free-ranging) and 81 samples of A. geoffroyi (in managed care)) were analyzed for the detection of anti-T. cruzi antibodies by ELISA assays. Infection rate was 23.39% for A. palliata, 21.40% for A. pigra and 16.27% in A. geoffroyi. The presence of infection and the molecular characterization of the strains were analyzed by PCR, and the identification of DTUs was performed by real-time PCR coupled to high resolution fusion (qPCR-HRM). Different DTUs (TcI, TcII, TcIII, TcV and TcVI) were found in the analyzed monkeys. In addition, infection of monkeys was not associated with age or gender, but it was associated with the species. This study makes it clear that the risk of infection is present in the study area and that the different DTUs of the parasite can coexist in the same habitat, indicating that T. cruzi infection in the study area is very complex and involves many ecological factors. However; there is a need for long-term studies of host-parasite interactions to provide a solid understanding of the ecology of these species and to understand the dispersion strategies of T. cruzi.
Revista Argentina de Microbiología, 2018
Female sex workers (FSWs) have been considered a key population for sexually transmitted infectio... more Female sex workers (FSWs) have been considered a key population for sexually transmitted infections (STIs); therefore, they are periodically screened as a requirement to obtain a work card. However, there is insufficient epidemiological data on STIs among FSWs in Mexico. The detection of Trichomonas vaginalis is limited to microscopic studies and the molecular screening of Human papillomavirus (HPV) is only done to women 35 years of age and older. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of T. vaginalis and HPV infections in FSWs in the city of Orizaba, Veracruz, Mexico. Samples from 105 FSWs were obtained by cervical swab and analyzed. The identification of T. vaginalis and HPV was performed by molecular methods. HPV DNA was identified in 5.71% of the samples with the presence of HPV16, HPV18, and HPV58. A percentage of 25.7% samples were positive for T. vaginalis for optical microscopy and 23.8% for PCR. The results of the study indicate the need to incorporate more sensitive methods for the timely diagnosis of STIs as well as comprehensive health promotion programs directed to the most vulnerable groups among FSWs.
Current Drug Delivery, 2020
Background:Adjuvants have been obtained empirically by trial and error experiments and today, the... more Background:Adjuvants have been obtained empirically by trial and error experiments and today, there is a tendency to the rational design of adjuvants candidates, which will increasingly achieve effective and safe products. The aim of this work was to design and evaluate the compound IMR-23 derived from nitroimidazole as an immunomodulatory molecule.Material and Methods:The IMR-23 molecule was obtained by a condensation reaction, cytotoxicity was tested by the sulforhodamine B assay. Adjuvanticity was evaluated in vivo and in vitro in J774A.1 cells and in the mouse model, respectively.Results:IMR-23 that did not show cytotoxicity on HeLa, Vero cells and macrophages J774A.1, was able to induce the production of molecules involved in the inflammatory process, such as cytokines and chemokines determined by ELISA, to induce the production of antibodies and to generate antigenspecific cells to ovalbumin and against the antigen GST-L1b.Conclusions:These results open the possibility of furt...
Iranian Journal of Parasitology, 2020
Background: Chagas disease caused by the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi is considered a neglected dis... more Background: Chagas disease caused by the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi is considered a neglected disease in several countries. One of the main problems about this disease is the lack of an effective treatment and the absence of adverse effects. T. cruzi, like most pathogenic fungi and yeasts, require specific sterols to maintain viability and proliferative capacity during their life cycle. However, the oxidation of this molecule to ergosterol peroxide has shown several biological effects, including its trypanocidal activity. Methods: We have synthesized MOFs nanoparticles as carrier system coupled to ergosterol peroxide (MOFs-EP) and we have studied its effect on the circulating forms of the T. cruzi parasite. Results: MOFs-EP possess an efficient trypanocidal activity at much lower inhibitory concentrations (ng/mL) that the concentrations shown by ergosterol peroxide (g/mL) when administered unconjugated form. Conclusion: Our results open a new possibility in the biomedical applicati...
Journal of Infectiology, 2019
Biomolecules, 2019
Trypanosoma cruzi, which causes Chagas disease, is a significant health threat in many countries ... more Trypanosoma cruzi, which causes Chagas disease, is a significant health threat in many countries and affects millions of people. Given the magnitude of this disease, a broader understanding of trypanocidal mechanisms is needed to prevent and treat infection. Natural endoperoxides, such as ergosterol peroxide, have been shown to be toxic to parasites without causing harm to human cells or tissues. Although prior studies have demonstrated the trypanocidal activity of ergosterol peroxide, the cellular and molecular mechanisms remain unknown. The results of this study indicate that a free-radical reaction occurs in T. cruzi following ergosterol peroxide exposure, leading to cell death. Using a combination of biochemical, microscopic and in silico experimental approaches, we have identified, for the first time, the cellular and molecular cytotoxic mechanism of an ergosterol peroxide obtained from Pleurotus ostreatus (Jacq) P. Kumm. f. sp. Florida.
International Journal of Medicinal Mushrooms, 2017
Compounds showing pharmacological activity on the immune system are of interest because of their ... more Compounds showing pharmacological activity on the immune system are of interest because of their therapeutic potential in the treatment of many diseases. However, data from primary human immune cells and in vivo studies are limited. The aim of this study was to analyze the ability to induce the expression of Toll-like receptors (TLRs) and proinflammatory molecules on cells involved in the immune system using the compound ergosta-7,22-dien-3- one, isolated from a wild Mexican strain of Ganoderma oerstedii. According to our study, ergosta-7,22-dien-3-one did not present any cytotoxic effect on HeLa or J774A.1 cells, and it was able to stimulate nitric oxide production, induce the expression of genes, and induce the production of TLRs, cytokines, chemokines, and cellular adhesion molecules in J774A.1 cells, based on reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Here we report a new pro-inflammatory property of ergosta-7,22-dien-3-one, which should be considered as a possible adjuvant property in view of its biological activity.
Journal of biomedical science, 2016
The dengue non-structural 3 (NS3) is a multifunctional protein, containing a serine-protease doma... more The dengue non-structural 3 (NS3) is a multifunctional protein, containing a serine-protease domain, located at the N-terminal portion, and helicase, NTPase and RTPase domains present in the C-terminal region. This protein is considered the main target for CD4+ and CD8+ T cell responses during dengue infection, which may be involved in protection. However, few studies have been undertaken evaluating the use of this protein as a protective antigen against dengue, as well as other flavivirus. In the present work we evaluated the potential of the NS3 (protease domain) as a protective antigen by comparing the administration of a recombinant protein versus a DNA vaccine in the mouse model. BALB/c mice were immunized with the recombinant protein NS3-DEN3 via intraperitoneal and with plasmid pcDNA3/NS3-DEN3 intramuscularly and the immune response was evaluated. The activity of T lymphocytes was analyzed by the MTT assay, and cells of mice immunized with the recombinant protein showed no ac...