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August 2015 - December 2016
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Publications (75)
Two cell lines derived from a single Trypanosoma cruzi clone by long-term passaging generated a highly virulent (C8C3hvir) and a low virulent (C8C3lvir) cell line. The C8C3hvir cell line was highly infective and lethal to Balb/c mice, and the C8C3lvir cell line was three- to five-fold less infective to mouse cardiomyocytes than C8C3hvir. The highly...
Parasitological cure for Chagas disease is considered extremely difficult to achieve because of the lack of effective chemotherapeutic agents against Trypanosoma cruzi at different stages of infection. There are currently only two drugs available. These have several limitations and can produce serious side effects. Thus, new chemotherapeutic target...
In this work, evidence for a critical role of Trichomonas vaginalis protein phosphatase 1 gamma (TvPP1γ) in proliferation and attachment of the parasite to the mammalian cell is provided. Firstly, proliferation and attachment of T. vaginalis parasites to HeLa cells was blocked by calyculin A (CA), a potent PP1 inhibitor. Secondly, it was demonstrat...
The bioassay-guided phytochemical investigation of the leaf extract of Serjania yucatanensis, a woody climbing plant endemic to the Yucatan peninsula, led to the identification of a mixture of a triterpene [lup-20(29)-en-3-one] and an oxygenated sesquiterpene (β-caryophyllene oxide), as that responsible for the originally detected trypanocidal acti...
Toxin phospholipases-D present in the venom of Loxosceles spiders is the principal responsible for local and systemic effects observed in the loxoscelism. In this study, we describe the cloning, expression, functional evaluation, and potential biotechnological application of cDNAs, which code for two new phospholipase D isoforms, LIPLD1 and LIPLD2,...
Ethanol extracts of Senna villosa, Serjania yucatanensis, Byrsonima bucidaefolia, and Bourreria pulchra were evaluated for their in vitro activity against epimastigotes and trypomastigotes of Trypanosoma cruzi. Results showed that the leaf extracts of S. yucatanensis and B. pulchra were the most active against epimastigotes (IC(100) = 100 μg/mL) an...
The venom of Loxosceles spiders produces severe dermonecrotic damage, intravascular hemolysis, systemic alterations and risk of death. Clostridium perfringens is present in the microbial flora of the fangs and venom glands of Loxosceles intermedia. Its inoculation with the venom may infect the wound site and exacerbate the dermonecrotic damage. Thi...
Diphyllobothriasis caused by the infection of adult Diphyllobothrium tapeworms sporadically occurs in Chile. The occurrence of the disease is closely linked to the consumption of raw or undercooked freshwater and marine fishes. Diagnosis of diphyllobothriasis has been based on laboratory examinations of the morphological characteristics of proglott...
Three different monoclonal antibodies were produced against Trypanosona cruzi proteasomes. These antibodies were shown to react with a single 27-kDa band on immunoblots of purified proteasomes. Using a 7E5 monoclonal antibody (IgG1) that recognized the alpha5 subunit of protozoan protease we have studied the intracellular distribution of the T. cru...
Loxoscelism is a severe reaction to the bite of the spider Loxosceles laeta. In recent years, a paint with repellent properties has been promoted in the commerce. However, there are no reports of experiments evaluating its effectiveness.
To evaluate experimentally the repellent properties of a paint against Loxosceles laeta.
Males, females and nymp...
Background: Loxoscelism is a severe reaction to the bite of the spider Loxosceles laeta. In recent years, a paint with repellent properties has been promoted in the commerce. However, there are no reports of experiments evaluating its effectiveness. Aim: To evaluate experimentally the repellent properties of a paint against Loxosceles laeta. Materi...
During Trypanosoma cruzi cell invasion, signal transduction pathways are triggered in parasite and host cells, leading to a rise in intracellular Ca2+ concentration. We posed the question whether calcineurin (CaN), in particular the functional regulatory subunit CaNB, a Ca2+-binding EF-hand protein, was expressed in T. cruzi and whether it played a...
Publications in electronic format using Web sites facilitates and extends the access to information from any place in the world. Nevertheless, the use of electronic references still lacks the rigor with which the printed reference is handled.
To analyze the citation of electronic references in Revista Médica de Chile.
Twelve issues of volume 132 we...
Background: Publications in electronic format using Web sites facilitates and extends the access to information from any place in the world. Nevertheless, the use of electronic references still lacks the rigor with which the printed reference is handled. Aim: To analyze the citation of electronic references in Revista Médica de Chile. Material and...
Aqueous or ethanol infusions of Azorella compacta (llareta) in common with many other plants have been used as antidiabetic in the popular medicine in the altiplanic region of Chile. In order to determine if the diterpenic compounds chemically elucidated and isolated from this plant are responsible for this effect, streptozotocin diabetic rats (507...
Here we provide evidence for a critical role of PP2As (protein phosphatase 2As) in the transformation of Trypanosoma cruzi. In axenic medium at pH 5.0, trypomastigotes rapidly transform into amastigotes, a process blocked by okadaic acid, a potent PP2A inhibitor, at concentrations as low as 0.1 microM. 1-Norokadaone, an inactive okadaic acid analog...
The anti-Trypanosoma cruzi activity of natural products isolated from Azorella compacta was evaluated, with particular emphasis on their effect against intracellular amastigotes. Five diterpenoids from A. compacta derived from mulinane and azorellane were isolated and identified. Only two products, named azorellanol (Y-2) and mulin-11,3-dien-20-oic...
ChemInform is a weekly Abstracting Service, delivering concise information at a glance that was extracted from about 100 leading journals. To access a ChemInform Abstract of an article which was published elsewhere, please select a “Full Text” option. The original article is trackable via the “References” option.
In addition to azorellanol a new diterpenoid 7-deacetylazorellanol, has been isolated from the aerial parts oiLaretia acaulis (Cav.) Gill et Hook (Umbelliferae). Its structure was based on spectroscopic comparison with azorellanol and chemical grounds. Azorellanol and 7-deacetylazorellanol showed marked inhibitor activity against trophozoites of pr...
Diterpenoids with trichomonicidal activity were isolated from the aerial parts of Azorella yareta Hauman. One was 13beta-hydroxyazorellane, together with the known constituents mulinolic acid, mulin-11,13-dien-20-oic acid, azorellanol and 13alpha-hydroxyazorellane. Their structures were determined by spectroscopic and chemical methods.
The effect of El Niño/ENSO on terrestrial atmosphere appears to be extremely clear. However there are outstanding evidences showing its effect on humans and their activities. In fact, prevalence of some parasitic infections have increased during El Niño phenomenon. The reasons for that are the migrations of sylvatic mammals, fishes and birds as wel...
The effect of El Niño/ENSO on terrestrial atmosphere appears to be extremelly clear. However there are outstanding evidences showing its effect on humans and their activities. In fact, prevalence of some parasitic infections have increased during El Niño phenomenon. The reasons for that are the migrations of sylvatic mammals, fishes and birds as we...
Diphyllobothriosis is a zoonosis related to the consumption of crude or inadequately cooked sea or freshwater fish. We report a case of diphyllobothriosis caused by D. pacificum diagnosed in a 3 year old boy in the city port of Antofagasta in the north of Chile. The patient expelled one strobile of 55cm from which a morphometric study of proglotids...
In a field collection performed at Pan de Azúcar Island in Northern Chile, 95 specimens representing all instars of Mepraia spinolai were collected. The intestinal contents of 55 specimens were examined for Trypanosoma cruzi infection and were found to be negative. This is the first record of an insular habitat for M. spinolai, where the insects ha...
We report a 26 years old asymptomatic female that expelled spontaneously a 39 proglottid strobila. The taxonomic study of proglottids and eggs found in the stool examination concluded that the patient was infected by Diphyllobothrium pacificum. This infection was probably acquired by the ingestion of raw fish (Sciaena deliciosa) with lemon in a tra...
TRICHOMONOSIS IN PREGNANT ADOLESCENT FROM ANTOFAGASTA, CHILE A large psychosocial load and a relatively lower impact in terms of morbidity and mortality characterize adolescences health problems. For adolescents, however, a decrease in the average for the first menstruation and an early start in sexual activity, are two risk factors for both pregn...
We report a 26 years old asymptomatic female that expelled spontaneously a 39 proglottid strobila. The taxonomic study of proglottids and eggs found in the stool examination concluded that the patient was infected by Diphyllobothrium pacificum. This infection was probably acquired by the ingestion of raw fish (Sciaena deliciosa) with lemon in a tra...
The trypanocidad activity against amastigote forms of SPA-14, Tulahuen and G strains and CL Brener clone of Trypanosoma cruzi of diterpenoids isolated from Azorella compacta, Phil. (Llareta), a plant with ethnomedicinal prestige from prespanish age, was investigated. Amastigocidal activity was shown in azorellanol (2), diterpene isolated by first t...
Among collections of Triatoma spinolai from various sites in northern Chile, adults from coastal populations are invariably wingless, whereas inland populations show balanced alary polymorphism between wingless females and males that are either winged or wingless. Laboratory crosses showed that male offspring from normal-winged parents were always...
In order to contribute to a better knowledge of the pediculosis capitis and scabies during March-December 1995, 1122 primary schoolchildren under 14 years of age in the city-port of Antofagasta in northern Chile (20 degrees South lat.), were examined. A total of 285 (25.4%) were found to be infested with Pediculus humanus capitis and only 20 (1.8%)...
In order to assess the impact of a control program against Triatoma infestans launched in 1988, based on insecticide spraying of dwellings, a serological survey for chagasic infection was carried out during 1995 in three localities from San Pedro de Atacama County (22 degrees 55' South lat., 68 degrees 12' West long.), II Region of Antofagasta in n...
In the present work we have investigated the serum antibody spectrum to parasite antigens involved in human T. cruzi infection. Analysis was performed by conventional serology (IHA, IFAT and ELISA), complement-mediated lysis, anti-gal antibody assay and reactivity against recombinant and synthetic peptides and metacyclic antigens by immunowestern-b...
Twenty-one Trypanosoma cruzi stocks isolated from Triatoma infestans and humans of the Chilean Andean highlands were studied at the genotypic level by schizodeme and molecular karyotype analyses, which allowed a clear distinction of the parasites from those hosts. A phenotypical characterization was performed by proteolytic activity after electroph...
Antibodies levels against Gal alpha 1,3 Gal epitopes were studied in 407 human sera (92 chagasic and 315 non-chagasic), by means of hemagglutination with rabbit erytrocytes reactivity of serum having high titres of anti-Gal antibodies in presence of Escherichia coli and Serratia marcescens antigen was studied by immunoelectrotransference. Finally,...
Antofagasta, the big city-port in North Chile is a triatomines free locality. Chagas infection was serologically diagnosed in 44 out of 2063 (2.1%) pregnant women from Antofagasta, studied by means of an indirect immunoflourescence test (IIFT), during 1991-1993. Out of the 44 seropositive mothers, 31 and 10 were born in the II (moderate endemic are...
In order to contribute to a better knowledge of the chronic chagasic myocardiopathy, a post-mortem serological and anatomopathological study of Chagas' disease was carried out in 40 corpses. Between november 1987 and august 1988, autopsies were performed at the Pathological Anatomy Service of Antofagasta Regional Hospital and the Legal Medicine Sec...
In January 1989--December 1991 period we verified 35 cases of symptomatic intestinal amebiasis in Antofagasta, the main city of the North of Chile. Out of the total number of studied patients 23 were adults (77.1% males and 22.9% females) and all of them were permanent residents of Antofagasta. E.histolytica was frequently detected in association w...
The activities of isolated compounds and crude extracts from species of the autochthonous flora of the North of Chile, were evaluated against Trypanosoma cruzi trypomastigotes in vitro. A marked trypanocidal activity was observed for the chloroform, ethanol and methanol-aqueous extracts of Gelidium pusilum (Gelidiacea). Similar activity was found i...
A seroepidemiological study for chagasic infection in blood donors from a hospital in the city of Calama (22°27' South lat.) was carried out from September 29 to November 7, 1981. In a total of 214 blood samples an indirect hemagglutination test for T. cruzi infection was performed. Twenty six donors (20 out of 167 males and 6 out of 26 females) pr...
During an outbreak of enteritis which occurred in the City of Antofagasta (23° 40' South Lat.) from May to June 1977 (Autum and Winter months, normally with a low incidence of diarrhea), a total of 90 cases of isosporosis were diagnosed by the identification of the oocysts in the stools, using a modified Telemann method. The sex distribution of the...
Ninety (80.4%) of 112 boys (5-18 years of age) from two boarding schools were found to be infected with E. vermicularis. The infection was detected by the combined results of the perianal swab scotch tape (Graham's) method and a modification of the same technique. For the first method 5 microscope slides with a 4.5 x 1.2 cm piece of scotch cellulos...
A comparative analysis was made based on 340 stool samples which were examined by 2 methods: PAFS (phenol alcohol formalin sedimentation) and PVA (polyvinyl alcohol fixative). The PAFS method had greater yield in the detection of helminth eggs (A. lumbricoides 43%, T. trichiura 45%, H. nana 5%) and cysts (E. histolytica 16%, G. lamblia 25%). The PV...
