Cydnidae (Hemiptera: Heteroptera) del Centro de Investigaciones Costeras La Mancha, Actopan, Veracruz, México Cydnidae (Hemiptera: Heteroptera) from the Centro de Investigaciones Costeras La Mancha, Actopan, Veracruz, México
Se citan 10 especies de Cydnidae (Hemiptera:Heteroptera) presentes en el área del Centro de Investigaciones Costeras La Mancha (CICOLMA) perteneciente al Instituto de Ecología, A.C. en la costa del estado de Veracruz. Se registran 5 géneros: Amnestus, Cyrtomenus, Dallasiellus, Melanaethus y Pangaeus y se describen 2 especies nuevas, Dallasiellus rugosus sp. nov. y Melanaethus dunensis sp. nov. La mayoría de las especies fueron recolectadas bajo la copa de árboles de Ficus spp., alimentándose de los frutos y semillas. Se redescriben brevemente las especies ya descritas, y se reúnen notas acerca de su biología y distribución en el área de estudio y en el país; se incluye una ilustración de cada especie y una clave para su identificación.Ten species of Cydnidae (Hemiptera: Heteroptera) from the area of the Centro de Investigaciones Costeras La Mancha (CICOLMA), which belongs to Instituto de Ecología, A.C. on the coast of Veracruz are cited. Five genera are registered: Amnestus, Cyrtomenus, Dallasiellus, Melanaethus y Pangaeus and 2 new species are described, Dallasiellus rugosus sp. nov., and Melanaethus dunensis sp. nov. Most of the species were collected under the crown of Ficus spp. trees, feeding on fruits and seeds. A brief redescription of each species, and notes of their biology and distribution in the study area and in the country are included; each species is illustrated and an identification key is also provided.
Cristina Mayorga-Martínez, Luis Cervantes-Peredo
Cynomolgus macaque as an animal model for severe acute respiratory syndrome.
The emergence of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) in 2002 and 2003 affected global health and caused major economic disruption. Adequate animal models are required to study the underlying pathogenesis of SARS-associated coronavirus (SARS-CoV) infection and to develop effective vaccines and therapeutics. We report the first findings of measurable clinical disease in nonhuman primates (NHPs) infected with SARS-CoV.In order to characterize clinically relevant parameters of SARS-CoV infection in NHPs, we infected cynomolgus macaques with SARS-CoV in three groups: Group I was infected in the nares and bronchus, group II in the nares and conjunctiva, and group III intravenously. Nonhuman primates in groups I and II developed mild to moderate symptomatic illness. All NHPs demonstrated evidence of viral replication and developed neutralizing antibodies. Chest radiographs from several animals in groups I and II revealed unifocal or multifocal pneumonia that peaked between days 8 and 10 postinfection. Clinical laboratory tests were not significantly changed. Overall, inoculation by a mucosal route produced more prominent disease than did intravenous inoculation. Half of the group I animals were infected with a recombinant infectious clone SARS-CoV derived from the SARS-CoV Urbani strain. This infectious clone produced disease indistinguishable from wild-type Urbani strain.SARS-CoV infection of cynomolgus macaques did not reproduce the severe illness seen in the majority of adult human cases of SARS; however, our results suggest similarities to the milder syndrome of SARS-CoV infection characteristically seen in young children.
James V. Lawler, Timothy P Endy, Lisa E. Hensley, Aura Garrison, Elizabeth A. Fritz, May Lesar, Ralph S. Baric, David A Kulesh, David A. Norwood, Leonard P Wasieloski, Melanie P Ulrich, Tom R Slezak, Elizabeth Vitalis, John W. Huggins, Peter B. Jahrling, Jason Paragas
Cystic Fibrosis: Fighting Together Against Coronavirus Infection
Cystic fibrosis, coronavirus, recommandation, SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19
Sara Manti, Salvatore Leonardi, Giuseppe Fabio Parisi, Maria Papale, Novella Rotolo, Enza Mulè, Donatella Aloisio
Cytisus scoparius (Fam. Fabaceae) in southern Brazil - first step of an invasion process?
Especies exóticas, campos, detecção precoce, ecología, giesta-brava
The occurrence of Scotch broom Cytisus scoparius (L.) Link (Fabaceae), is reported for the first time in Brazil. The species has been registered in the species-rich Campos Sulinos grasslands, in the Campos de Cima da Serra, and in the Serra do Sudeste. Naturalizing populations were frequently formed in natural habitats near to human settlements, where prevailing land uses and disturbances facilitate dispersal and establishment. The plant is an invasive species that has globally caused significant damage to biodiversity and economic losses. In Brazil, the species has a strong potential for spreading into a wide range of ecosystems. The Atlantic Forest biome and part of the Pampa biome, together known as the Campos Sulinos, represent optimal areas for the species. Features of the observed populations and recommendations for management are presented.
Rodrigo León Cordero, Fábio P. Torchelsen, Gerhard E. Overbeck, Madhur Anand
Anais da Academia Brasileira de Ciências
Cytokine Release Syndrome (CRS) and Nicotine in COVID-19 Patients: Trying to Calm the Storm
Nicotine, lung, cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway, COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2 virus, Cytokine Release Syndrom (CRS)
SARS-CoV-2 is a new coronavirus that has caused a worldwide pandemic. It causes severe acute respiratory syndrome (COVID-19), which is fatal in many cases, and is characterized by a cytokine release syndrome (CRS). Great efforts are currently being made to block the signal transduction pathway of pro-inflammatory cytokines in order to control this “cytokine storm” and rescue severely affected patients. Consequently, possible treatments for cytokine-mediated hyperinflammation, preferably within approved safe therapies, are urgently being researched to reduce rising mortality. One approach to inhibit proinflammatory cytokine release is to activate the cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway through nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (α7nAchR). Nicotine, an exogenous α7nAchR agonist, is clinically used in ulcerative colitis to counteract inflammation. We have found epidemiological evidence, based on recent clinical SARS-CoV-2 studies in China, that suggest that smokers are statistically less likely to be hospitalized. In conclusion, our hypothesis proposes that nicotine could constitute a novel potential CRS therapy in severe SARS-CoV-2 patients.
Juan D. Navarro-Lopez, Lydia Jiménez-Díaz, Jesus Gonzalez-Rubio, Alberto Nájera, Carmen Navarro-Lopez, Elena Lopez-Najera, Ana Lopez-Najera
Cytokine Release Syndrome in COVID-19 Patients, A New Scenario for an Old Concern: The Fragile Balance between Infections and Autoimmunity
rheumatoid arthritis, autoimmunity, Immunomodulation, Cytokine release syndrome, SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19
On 7 January 2020, researchers isolated and sequenced in China from patients with severe pneumonitis a novel coronavirus, then called SARS-CoV-2, which rapidly spread worldwide, becoming a global health emergency. Typical manifestations consist of flu-like symptoms such as fever, cough, fatigue, and dyspnea. However, in about 20% of patients, the infection progresses to severe interstitial pneumonia and can induce an uncontrolled host-immune response, leading to a life-threatening condition called cytokine release syndrome (CRS). CRS represents an emergency scenario of a frequent challenge, which is the complex and interwoven link between infections and autoimmunity. Indeed, treatment of CRS involves the use of both antivirals to control the underlying infection and immunosuppressive agents to dampen the aberrant pro-inflammatory response of the host. Several trials, evaluating the safety and effectiveness of immunosuppressants commonly used in rheumatic diseases, are ongoing in patients with COVID-19 and CRS, some of which are achieving promising results. However, such a use should follow a multidisciplinary approach, be accompanied by close monitoring, be tailored to patient’s clinical and serological features, and be initiated at the right time to reach the best results. Autoimmune patients receiving immunosuppressants could be prone to SARS-CoV-2 infections; however, suspension of the ongoing therapy is contraindicated to avoid disease flares and a consequent increase in the infection risk.
Bruno Laganà, Andrea Picchianti-Diamanti, Giorgio Sesti, Maria Manuela Rosado, Claudio Pioli
International Journal of Molecular Sciences
covid-19, SARS-CoV-2, Immunomodulation, Cytokine release syndrome, autoimmunity, rheumatoid arthritis
Andrea Picchianti Diamanti, Maria Manuela Rosado, Claudio Pioli, Giorgio Sesti, Bruno Laganà
Cytokine storm and colchicine potential role fighting SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia
immunology, infection, cytokine, Colchicine, SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19
For some patients with SARS-CoV-2, the worst clinical damage is not caused by the virus itself, but by an overactive inflammatory state. In fact, in some people the immune system goes into overdrive and launches a large-scale assault on the tissue known as cytokine storm. This excessive inflammatory/immune reaction can damage tissue and eventually kill people. Evidence shows that blocking such cytokine storms can be effective and trials are underway to test drugs that act by reducing cytokine response, such as tocilizumab and sarilumab which bind interleukin 6 (IL-6), or anikinra which is the interleukin 1 receptor antagonist (IL-1). However, other drugs that block the cytokine cascade can also be considered. In this article we describe the scientific and molecular motivation for the use of drugs that act by modulating the hyperactive inflammatory system in severe patients suffering from SARS-CoV-2, considering in particular an old drug that has been in use for many years for other therapeutic indications such as colchicine, and that could be favourable to its use, with low cost and good tolerability.
Francesco Ferrara, Giovanni Granata, Antonio Vitiello, Raffaele Laporta, Chiara Pelliccia
Cytokine storm modulation in COVID-19: a proposed role for vitamin D and DPP-4 inhibitor combination therapy (VIDPP-4i).
covid-19, SARS-CoV-2, drug repurposing, Immunomodulation, cytokine storm, vitamin D, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, DPP-4 inhibitors, VIDPP-4i
A dysregulated immune response characterized by the hyperproduction of several pro-inflammatory cytokines (a.k.a. 'cytokine storm') plays a central role in the pathophysiology of severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). In this Perspective article we discuss the evidence for synergistic anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory properties exerted by vitamin D and dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitors, the latter being a class of antihyperglycemic agents used for the treatment of Type 2 diabetes, which have also been reported as immunomodulators. Then, we provide the rationale for investigation of vitamin D and DPP-4 inhibitor combination therapy (VIDPP-4i) as an immunomodulation strategy to ratchet down the virulence of SARS-CoV-2, prevent disease progression and modulate the cytokine storm in COVID-19.
Marco Infante, Andrea Fabbri, Marcelo Maia Pinheiro
Cytotoxicity of Agaricus sylvaticus in non-tumor cells (NTH/3T3) and tumor (OSCC-3) using tetrazolium (MTT) assay
Agaricus sylvaticus, seguridad alimentaria, toxicidad
The purpose of this study was to assess the cytotoxic effect of the non-fractionated aqueous extract of A. sylvaticus mushroom in cultures of non-tumor cells (NIH3T3) and tumor cells (OSCC-3). The cells were maintained in DMEN cell culture medium added of 10% of fetal bovine serum and 1% antibiotic. For the cytotoxicity test we prepared the aqueous mushroom extract at concentrations of 0.01 mg.ml-1, 0.02 mg.ml-1, 0.04 mg.ml-1, 0.08 mg.ml-1, 0.16 mg.ml-1, and 0.32 mg.ml-1. For the culture, 2 x 10(5) cells/ml was deposited in 96-well microplates during 24 hour incubation with subsequent exchange of medium by another containing the mushroom concentrations. After 24 hour incubation the medium was discarded and 100 ml of tetrazolium blue (MTT) was added at a concentration of 5 mg.ml-1. The microplates were incubated for 2 h at 37º C. Spectrophotometric analysis was performed using 570 nm wavelength. From the values of the optical densities we determined the drug concentration capable of reducing cell viability by 50%. Therefore, the mushroom A. sylvaticus, at all concentrations tested, did not show cytotoxic effects, once the inhibitory concentration (IC50) obtained for tumor cells OSCC-3 was 0.06194 mg.ml-1, and the IC50 checked for non-tumor cells NIH3T3 was 0,06468 mg.ml-1. This test made it possible to determine that A. sylvaticus mushroom has no cytotoxic effects, suggesting its use safe for human consumption.
Joice Vinhal Costa Orsine, Luíssa Marques Brito, Renata Carvalho Silva, Maria de Fátima Menezes Santos Almeida, Maria Rita Carvalho Garbi Novaes
Nutritional diseases. Deficiency diseases