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Despite notable scientific and medical advances, broader political, socioeconomic and behavioural factors continue to undercut the response to the COVID-19 pandemic1,2. Here we convened, as part of this Delphi study, a diverse, multidisciplinary panel of 386 academic, health, non-governmental organization, government and other experts in COVID-19 response from 112 countries and territories to recommend specific actions to end this persistent global threat to public health. The panel developed a set of 41 consensus statements and 57 recommendations to governments, health systems, industry and other key stakeholders across six domains: communication; health systems; vaccination; prevention; treatment and care; and inequities. In the wake of nearly three years of fragmented global and national responses, it is instructive to note that three of the highest-ranked recommendations call for the adoption of whole-of-society and whole-of-government approaches1, while maintaining proven prevention measures using a vaccines-plus approach2 that employs a range of public health and financial support measures to complement vaccination. Other recommendations with at least 99% combined agreement advise governments and other stakeholders to improve communication, rebuild public trust and engage communities3 in the management of pandemic responses. The findings of the study, which have been further endorsed by 184 organizations globally, include points of unanimous agreement, as well as six recommendations with >5% disagreement, that provide health and social policy actions to address inadequacies in the pandemic response and help to bring this public health threat to an end.

Powdery mildews are notorious fungal plant pathogens but only limited information exists on their genomes. Here we present the mitochondrial genome of the grape powdery mildew fungus Erysiphe necator and a high-quality mitochondrial gene annotation generated through cloning and Sanger sequencing of full-length cDNA clones. The E. necator mitochondrial genome consists of a circular DNA sequence of 188,577 bp that harbors a core set of 14 protein-coding genes that are typically present in fungal mitochondrial genomes, along with genes encoding the small and large ribosomal subunits, a ribosomal protein S3, and 25 mitochondrial-encoded transfer RNAs (mt-tRNAs). Interestingly, it also exhibits a distinct gene organization with atypical bicistronic-like expression of the nad4L/nad5 and atp6/nad3 gene pairs, and contains a large number of 70 introns, making it one of the richest in introns mitochondrial genomes among fungi. Sixty-four intronic ORFs were also found, most of which encoded homing endonucleases of the LAGLIDADG or GIY-YIG families. Further comparative analysis of five E. necator isolates revealed 203 polymorphic sites, but only five were located within exons of the core mitochondrial genes. These results provide insights into the organization of mitochondrial genomes of powdery mildews and represent valuable resources for population genetic and evolutionary studies.

Powdery mildews are notorious fungal plant pathogens but only limited information exists on their genomes. Here we present the mitochondrial genome of the grape powdery mildew fungus Erysiphe necator and a high-quality mitochondrial gene annotation generated through cloning and Sanger sequencing of full-length cDNA clones. The E. necator mitochondrial genome consists of a circular DNA sequence of 188,577 bp that harbors a core set of 14 protein-coding genes that are typically present in fungal mitochondrial genomes, along with genes encoding the small and large ribosomal subunits, a ribosomal protein S3, and 25 mitochondrial-encoded transfer RNAs (mt-tRNAs). Interestingly, it also exhibits a distinct gene organization with atypical bicistronic-like expression of the nad4L/nad5 and atp6/nad3 gene pairs, and contains a large number of 70 introns, making it one of the richest in introns mitochondrial genomes among fungi. Sixty-four intronic ORFs were also found, most of which encoded homing endonucleases of the LAGLIDADG or GIY-YIG families. Further comparative analysis of five E. necator isolates revealed 203 polymorphic sites, but only five were located within exons of the core mitochondrial genes. These results provide insights into the organization of mitochondrial genomes of powdery mildews and represent valuable resources for population genetic and evolutionary studies.

Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) is a development approach aiming to build correct-by-construction systems, provided the use of clear, unambiguous and complete models to describe them along the design process. The approach is supported by several engineering tools that automate the development steps, for example the production of code, documentation, test cases and more. TASTE [1] is pragmatic MBSE toolset supported by ESA that encapsulates several technologies to design a system (data modelling, architecture modelling, behaviour modelling/implementation), to automatically generate the binary application(s), and to validate it. One topic left open in TASTE is the formal verification of a system design with respect to specified properties. In this paper we describe our approach based on the IF model-checker [4] to enable the formal verification of properties on TASTE designs. The approach is currently under development in the ESA MoC4Space project.

The operation of distributed systems requires that process groups must make decisions based on agreements regarding access to resources. These decisions may relate to share or not share resources and to the level of consensus or agreement required. The creation of a new decision model is an interesting proposal, with the functionality to adapt to different requirements and that the processes have the possibility to access shared resources through mutual exclusion with strict consensus requirements to allocate resources consecutively when they are requested by a process or group of processes. In each node a interface is defined between the applications and the operating system, by executing a runtime included in the mentioned interface, manages both the processes and the shared resources and defines the corresponding scenario. For the exchange of information, the runtimes interact with each other and where in one of the nodes there is a global coordinating runtime whose function is to evaluate and execute the decision model and the corresponding aggregation operator. In this document, an aggregation operator is proposed that is intended to favor the assignment of resources to processes. The aggregation operator enables decision making in process group management. This is done through self-regulation and the use of language tags that allow the classification of system status data, as well as nodes, resources and processes., El funcionamiento de los sistemas distribuidos obliga a que los grupos de procesos deban tomar decisiones en base a acuerdos en relación con el acceso a los recursos. Esas decisiones pueden estar relacionadas al hecho de compartir o no recursos y con el nivel de consenso o acuerdo necesario. La creación de un nuevo modelo de decisión es una propuesta interesante, con la funcionalidad de adaptarse a distintos requerimientos y que los procesos tengan la posibilidad de acceder a los recursos compartidos mediante la exclusión mutua con exigencias estrictas de consenso para asignar los recursos de manera consecutiva cuando son solicitados por un proceso o grupo de procesos. En cada nodo es definida una interfaz entre las aplicaciones y el sistema operativo, que mediante un runtime (software en tiempo de ejecución) incluido en la interfaz mencionada, gestiona tanto los procesos como los recursos compartidos y define el escenario correspondiente. Para el intercambio de información, los runtime interactúan entre sí y donde en uno de los nodos existe un runtime coordinador global cuya función es evaluar y ejecutar el modelo de decisión y el operador de agregación correspondiente. En el presente documento, se propone un operador de agregación que tiene como fin favorecer la asignación de los recursos a los procesos. El operador de agregación permite la toma de decisiones en la gestión de grupos de procesos. Esto se realiza mediante la autorregulación y la utilización de etiquetas lingüísticas que permitan clasificar los datos del estado del sistema, además de nodos, recursos y procesos.

The operation of distributed systems requires that process groups must make decisions based on agreements regarding access to resources. These decisions may relate to share or not share resources and to the level of consensus or agreement required. The creation of a new decision model is an interesting proposal, with the functionality to adapt to different requirements and that the processes have the possibility to access shared resources through mutual exclusion with strict consensus requirements to allocate resources consecutively when they are requested by a process or group of processes. In each node a interface is defined between the applications and the operating system, by executing a runtime included in the mentioned interface, manages both the processes and the shared resources and defines the corresponding scenario. For the exchange of information, the runtimes interact with each other and where in one of the nodes there is a global coordinating runtime whose function is to evaluate and execute the decision model and the corresponding aggregation operator. In this document, an aggregation operator is proposed that is intended to favor the assignment of resources to processes. The aggregation operator enables decision making in process group management. This is done through self-regulation and the use of language tags that allow the classification of system status data, as well as nodes, resources and processes., El funcionamiento de los sistemas distribuidos obliga a que los grupos de procesos deban tomar decisiones en base a acuerdos en relación con el acceso a los recursos. Esas decisiones pueden estar relacionadas al hecho de compartir o no recursos y con el nivel de consenso o acuerdo necesario. La creación de un nuevo modelo de decisión es una propuesta interesante, con la funcionalidad de adaptarse a distintos requerimientos y que los procesos tengan la posibilidad de acceder a los recursos compartidos mediante la exclusión mutua con exigencias estrictas de consenso para asignar los recursos de manera consecutiva cuando son solicitados por un proceso o grupo de procesos. En cada nodo es definida una interfaz entre las aplicaciones y el sistema operativo, que mediante un runtime (software en tiempo de ejecución) incluido en la interfaz mencionada, gestiona tanto los procesos como los recursos compartidos y define el escenario correspondiente. Para el intercambio de información, los runtime interactúan entre sí y donde en uno de los nodos existe un runtime coordinador global cuya función es evaluar y ejecutar el modelo de decisión y el operador de agregación correspondiente. En el presente documento, se propone un operador de agregación que tiene como fin favorecer la asignación de los recursos a los procesos. El operador de agregación permite la toma de decisiones en la gestión de grupos de procesos. Esto se realiza mediante la autorregulación y la utilización de etiquetas lingüísticas que permitan clasificar los datos del estado del sistema, además de nodos, recursos y procesos.

Antidepressants such as amitryptiline and fluoxetine are on the list of modern essential medicines of the World Health Organization. However, there are growing concerns regarding the ecological impact of these pharmaceuticals, leading to a great need to improve current wastewater treatment procedures. In this contribution, we will report on the use of molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) for the extraction of antidepressants in water samples. MIPs were developed for fluoxetine and duloxetine, antidepressants belonging to the class of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). The binding capacity of these microparticles was evaluated using ultraviolet–visible (UV–Vis) spectroscopy. A new high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) procedure coupled to UV detection was developed, which enabled the study of mixtures of fluoxetine and duloxetine with other nitrogen-containing compounds. These results indicate that it is possible to selectively extract SSRIs from complex samples. Therefore, these versatile polymers are a promising analytical tool for the clean-up of water samples, which will benefit aquatic life and reduce the ecological impact of pharmaceuticals.

Antidepressants such as amitryptiline and fluoxetine are on the list of modern essential medicines of the World Health Organization. However, there are growing concerns regarding the ecological impact of these pharmaceuticals, leading to a great need to improve current wastewater treatment procedures. In this contribution, we will report on the use of molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) for the extraction of antidepressants in water samples. MIPs were developed for fluoxetine and duloxetine, antidepressants belonging to the class of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). The binding capacity of these microparticles was evaluated using ultraviolet–visible (UV–Vis) spectroscopy. A new high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) procedure coupled to UV detection was developed, which enabled the study of mixtures of fluoxetine and duloxetine with other nitrogen-containing compounds. These results indicate that it is possible to selectively extract SSRIs from complex samples. Therefore, these versatile polymers are a promising analytical tool for the clean-up of water samples, which will benefit aquatic life and reduce the ecological impact of pharmaceuticals.

In the Methods section of this Article references 18 to 22 are incorrectly cited. The correct references were omitted from the reference list and appear below as references 1-5. References 18 to 22 are correctly cited in Introduction and Results and Discussion sections. "AuNPs of 10 nm in diameter were prepared following the protocol described by Bastus et al.18." should read: "AuNPs of 10 nm in diameter were prepared following the protocol described by Bastus et al.1." "AgNPs of 90 nm in diameter were prepared following the protocol described by Rivero et al.19." should read: "AgNPs of 90 nm in diameter were prepared following the protocol described by Rivero et al.2" "The size was determined by UV-Vis spectroscopy according to the AgNPs size theory demonstrated by Malynych20." should read: "The size was determined by UV-Vis spectroscopy according to the AgNPs size theory demonstrated by Malynych3." "The coupling of antibody to the NPs was prepared following a modified version of a protocol previously reported by Puertas et al.21." should read: "The coupling of antibody to the NPs was prepared following a modified version of a protocol previously reported by Puertas et al.4." "Microarrays were prepared as previously reported by our group22." should read: "Microarrays were prepared as previously reported by our group5., QC 20180615

The introduction of nanomaterials as detection reagents has enabled improved sensitivity and facilitated detection in a variety of bioanalytical assays. However, high nanoprobe densities are typically needed for colorimetric detection and to circumvent this limitation several enhancement protocols have been reported. Nevertheless, there is currently a lack of universal, enzyme-free and versatile methods that can be readily applied to existing as well as new biosensing strategies. The novel method presented here is shown to enhance the signal of gold nanoparticles enabling visual detection of a spot containing < 10 nanoparticles. Detection of Protein G on paper arrays was improved by a 100-fold amplification factor in under five minutes of assay time, using IgG-labelled gold, silver, silica and iron oxide nanoprobes. Furthermore, we show that the presented protocol can be applied to a commercial allergen microarray assay, ImmunoCAP ISAC sIgE 112, attaining a good agreement with fluorescent detection when analysing human clinical samples., QC 20170823

Highly multiplexed immunoassays could allow convenient screening of hundreds or thousands of protein biomarkers simultaneously in a clinical sample such as serum or plasma, potentially allowing improved diagnostic accuracy and clinical management of many conditions such as autoimmune disorders, infections, and several cancers. Currently, antibody microarray-based tests are limited in part due to cross reactivity from detection antibody reagents. Here we present a strategy that reduces the cross-reactivity between nanoparticle-bound reporter antibodies through the application of ultrasound energy. By this concept, it was possible to achieve a sensitivity 10(3)-fold (5 pg mL(-1)) lower than when no ultrasound was applied (50 ng mL(-1)) for the simultaneous detection of three different antigens. The detection limits and variability achieved with this technique rival those obtained with other types of multiplex sandwich assays., QC 20160513

Magnetic nanoparticles (NPs) hold great promise for biomedical applications. The core composition and small size of these particles produce superparamagnetic behavior, thus facilitating their use in magnetic resonance imaging and magnetically induced therapeutic hyperthermia. However, the development and control of safe in vivo applications for NPs call for the study of cell-NP interactions and cell viability. Furthermore, as for most biotechnological applications, it is desirable to prevent unspecific cell internalization of these particles. It is also crucial to understand how the surface composition of the NPs affects their internalization capacity. Here, through accurate control over unspecific protein adsorption, size distribution, grafting density, and an extensive physicochemical characterization, we correlated the cytotoxicity and cellular uptake mechanism of 6 nm magnetic NPs coated with several types and various densities of biomolecules, such as glucose, galactose, and poly(ethylene glycol). We found that the density of the grafted molecule was crucial to prevent unspecific uptake of NPs by Vero cells. Surprisingly, the glucose-coated NPs described here showed cellular uptake as a result of lipid raft instead of clathrin-mediated cellular internalization. Moreover, these glucose-functionalized NPs could be one of the first examples of NPs being endocytosed by caveolae that finally end up in the lysosomes. These results reinforce the use of simple carbohydrates as an alternative to PEG molecules for NPs functionalization when cellular uptake is required. © 2012 American Chemical Society.

The soilborne pathogens Rhizoctonia solani, Pythium ultimum, and Meloidogyne incognita can cause severe economic losses to field- and greenhouse-grown cucumber. A collection of bacterial isolates and isolates GL3 and GL21 of Trichoderma virens were screened for suppression of diseases caused by these pathogens. T. virens isolates GL3 and GL21 provided the most effective suppression of damping-off caused by R. solani in greenhouse bioassays. Burkholderia ambifaria BC-F, B. cepacia BC-1, and Serratia marcescens N1-14 also provided significant suppression of R. solani relative to the pathogen check in some experiments. T. virens isolates GL3 and GL21 and S. marcescens isolates N1-6, N1-14, and N2-4 provided the most consistent and effective suppression of damping-off of cucumber caused by P. ultimum in growth chamber experiments. No microbial treatment containing individual or combined microbes significantly suppressed populations of M. incognita on cucumber or improved plant vigor in greenhouse bioassays. T. virens GL21 applied as a granular formulation, in combination with B. cepacia BC-1 or B. ambifaria BC-F applied as a seed treatment, significantly improved suppression of damping-off caused by R. solani over individual applications of these microbes in at least one experiment. Treatments combining B. cepacia BC-1, B. ambifaria BC-F, or S. marcescens isolates N1- 14 or N2-4 with T. virens GL21 in R. solani biocontrol assays always resulted in plant stands that were similar or greater than treatments containing individual applications of these microbes. B. ambifaria BC-F combined with T. virens GL21 in seed treatments resulted in significantly improved suppression of damping-off caused by P. ultimum in two of three experiments. Populations of T. virens GL3 and GL21 were both substantially reduced after coincubation with B. cepacia BC-1, or S. marcescens isolates N1-14 or N2-4 for 10 to 12 d in cucumber rhizospheres. Populations of T. virens GL21 were slightly reduce

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Frorn l987 to 1990, in the city of Iquique, Chile, efficacy tests were carried out on a group B anti-meningococcal vaccine, which had been prepared by a group headed by Dr. Wendell Zollinger in the W.R.A.I.R in Washington D.C. This study, as was informed in previous reports, showed a 51% efficacy for all age groups under study (1 to 21 years of age) In children of 1 to 4 years of age the vaccine provided no protection with an efficacy of -23% after 30 months of follow-up; but in the volunteers aged 5 to 21 the efficacy was found to be 7O% during that same period. These results, which are not by any means satisfactory, were promising and allowed investigation to be continued in the search for a more effective vaccine. For this reason, it was decided to keep the research laboratory in Iquigue going for the period 1991 through 1994.

In order to study the role of Fc gamma Rs in Trypanosoma cruzi infection in mice, the 2.4G2 monoclonal antibody (MAb), specific to the extracellular domains of Fc gamma RII and Fc gamma RIII, was injected intraperitoneally into mice. Flow cytometry studies of uninfected mice showed that 2.4G2 MAb bound to peritoneal and lymph node cells, respectively, on days 2 and 6 after injection. Repeating 2.4G2 injections every 3 to 4 days decreased the availability of Fc gamma Rs on peritoneal, lymph node, and spleen cells. Injections of 2.4G2 MAb into T. cruzi-infected mice, at days -1, 3, 7, 11, 16, 20, and 24 relative to infection, reduced mortality in comparison with that in infected animals injected with an unrelated MAb (50 versus 93.3% mortality; P < 0.01). Parasitemia in 2.4G2-treated mice was significantly (three times) lower than in control animals on days 21 and 24 postinfection (P < 0.05), before parasite-specific antibodies were detectable at significant levels. Immunoglobulin and T. cruzi-specific antibody levels were similar in all groups of mice. These results indicate that repeated injections of 2.4G2 MAb administered to acutely infected mice reduce the in vivo infection level, suggesting that Fc gamma Rs play a role in the early host invasion by T. cruzi parasites., Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't, SCOPUS: no.j, info:eu-repo/semantics/published

The membrane expression of low-affinity Fc receptors for IgG (Fc gamma RII/III) on cells and the number of Fc gamma RII/III(+) cells were studied by flow cytometry, using the 2.4G2 MoAb, in mice infected by Trypanosoma cruzi. Cells from spleen, mesenteric lymph nodes and peritoneum were collected on days 10, 20, 30 and 40 post infection (p.i.). The in vivo serum level of soluble Fc gamma RII/III, as well as its in vitro release by cells from infected mice were studied. Parasitaemia and IgG1, IgG2a and IgG2b T. cruzi-specific antibody titres were also recorded. Both the expression of Fc gamma R on cell membrane and the absolute number of Fc gamma R(+) cells increased in spleen and in mesenteric lymph nodes, but not in peritoneum. The modifications in spleen occurred in the early and late parasitaemic phase of infection, i.e. before and after detection of T. cruzi-specific antibodies (from day 10 to 40 p.i.). In mesenteric lymph nodes, the variations were observed only in the early acute infection, when antibodies were not yet detectable at significant levels (on days 10 and 20 p.i.). Higher levels of soluble Fc gamma R were detected in sera and in culture supernatants of spleen and lymph node cells from day 20 to 40 p.i. These results show that T. cruzi infection in mice upregulates the expression and the release of Fc gamma RII/III, in the acute phase of infection, before as well as after the rise of antibody response., Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't, SCOPUS: ar.j, FLWNA, info:eu-repo/semantics/published

The membrane expression of low-affinity Fc receptors for IgG (Fc gamma RII/III) on cells and the number of Fc gamma RII/III(+) cells were studied by flow cytometry, using the 2.4G2 MoAb, in mice infected by Trypanosoma cruzi. Cells from spleen, mesenteric lymph nodes and peritoneum were collected on days 10, 20, 30 and 40 post infection (p.i.). The in vivo serum level of soluble Fc gamma RII/III, as well as its in vitro release by cells from infected mice were studied. Parasitaemia and IgG1, IgG2a and IgG2b T. cruzi-specific antibody titres were also recorded. Both the expression of Fc gamma R on cell membrane and the absolute number of Fc gamma R(+) cells increased in spleen and in mesenteric lymph nodes, but not in peritoneum. The modifications in spleen occurred in the early and late parasitaemic phase of infection, i.e. before and after detection of T. cruzi-specific antibodies (from day 10 to 40 p.i.). In mesenteric lymph nodes, the variations were observed only in the early acute infection, when antibodies were not yet detectable at significant levels (on days 10 and 20 p.i.). Higher levels of soluble Fc gamma R were detected in sera and in culture supernatants of spleen and lymph node cells from day 20 to 40 p.i. These results show that T. cruzi infection in mice upregulates the expression and the release of Fc gamma RII/III, in the acute phase of infection, before as well as after the rise of antibody response., Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't, SCOPUS: ar.j, FLWNA, info:eu-repo/semantics/published

In order to study the role of Fc gamma Rs in Trypanosoma cruzi infection in mice, the 2.4G2 monoclonal antibody (MAb), specific to the extracellular domains of Fc gamma RII and Fc gamma RIII, was injected intraperitoneally into mice. Flow cytometry studies of uninfected mice showed that 2.4G2 MAb bound to peritoneal and lymph node cells, respectively, on days 2 and 6 after injection. Repeating 2.4G2 injections every 3 to 4 days decreased the availability of Fc gamma Rs on peritoneal, lymph node, and spleen cells. Injections of 2.4G2 MAb into T. cruzi-infected mice, at days -1, 3, 7, 11, 16, 20, and 24 relative to infection, reduced mortality in comparison with that in infected animals injected with an unrelated MAb (50 versus 93.3% mortality; P < 0.01). Parasitemia in 2.4G2-treated mice was significantly (three times) lower than in control animals on days 21 and 24 postinfection (P < 0.05), before parasite-specific antibodies were detectable at significant levels. Immunoglobulin and T. cruzi-specific antibody levels were similar in all groups of mice. These results indicate that repeated injections of 2.4G2 MAb administered to acutely infected mice reduce the in vivo infection level, suggesting that Fc gamma Rs play a role in the early host invasion by T. cruzi parasites., Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't, SCOPUS: no.j, info:eu-repo/semantics/published

Trypanosoma cruzi proteinases are very likely involved in host-cell invasion. Physiological plasma-proteinase inhibitors from the macroglobulin (MG) family, among them alpha-2-macroglobulin (A2M), are found in tissues and in the plasma of mammals. By complexing to all classes of proteinases, MGs inhibit their action on high-molecular-weight substrates. In vitro studies have shown that A2M impairs T. cruzi proteases and, consequently, the parasite's ability to invade host cells and enhances the phagocytic and microbicidal actions of resident macrophages against T. cruzi. To test the hypothesis of a putative "protective" effect for MG, we quantified it in BALB/cj mice during the course of an experimental T. cruzi infection, comparing a posteriori the levels in mice that died with those in animals that survived, which were considered as being susceptible and resistant to the infection, respectively. The results showed that surviving mice showed an increase in plasma concentrations of MG during the first few weeks after the infection, whereas the levels in mice that died during the acute phase did not differ significantly from those in non-infected mice. These findings and the previous in vitro data indicate a role for physiological proteinase inhibitors, particularly alpha-macroglobulins, in resistance to T. cruzi infection, whereby a balance between parasite proteases and host protease inhibitors may be crucial. MG may thus participate in the complex network of reactions involved in the early acute phase of the disease and contribute by conferring to the host an ability to survive the infection., Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't, SCOPUS: ar.j, info:eu-repo/semantics/published

Trypanosoma cruzi proteinases are very likely involved in host-cell invasion. Physiological plasma-proteinase inhibitors from the macroglobulin (MG) family, among them alpha-2-macroglobulin (A2M), are found in tissues and in the plasma of mammals. By complexing to all classes of proteinases, MGs inhibit their action on high-molecular-weight substrates. In vitro studies have shown that A2M impairs T. cruzi proteases and, consequently, the parasite's ability to invade host cells and enhances the phagocytic and microbicidal actions of resident macrophages against T. cruzi. To test the hypothesis of a putative "protective" effect for MG, we quantified it in BALB/cj mice during the course of an experimental T. cruzi infection, comparing a posteriori the levels in mice that died with those in animals that survived, which were considered as being susceptible and resistant to the infection, respectively. The results showed that surviving mice showed an increase in plasma concentrations of MG during the first few weeks after the infection, whereas the levels in mice that died during the acute phase did not differ significantly from those in non-infected mice. These findings and the previous in vitro data indicate a role for physiological proteinase inhibitors, particularly alpha-macroglobulins, in resistance to T. cruzi infection, whereby a balance between parasite proteases and host protease inhibitors may be crucial. MG may thus participate in the complex network of reactions involved in the early acute phase of the disease and contribute by conferring to the host an ability to survive the infection., Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't, SCOPUS: ar.j, info:eu-repo/semantics/published

Cardiac troponin T (cTnT) is a biomarker for heart muscle damage such as in acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Its rapid assessment is needed to detect changes in the cTnT levels in blood for a quicker diagnosis of AMI. The sensitivity limit required to detect elevated levels of cTnT is 10 pg/mL, where the levels in the healthy population are 0.5-10 pg/mL. In this paper the detection of cardiac troponin T with a point-of-care lateral flow assay was investigated for the rapid diagnosis of AMI. It was studied by using different gold nanoparticle conjugation methods and colorimetric signal enhancement of detection gold nanoparticle conjugates could increase the sensitivity of a troponin T lateral flow microarray assay. The results indicate the same sensitivity range for the detection with gold nanoparticles functionalized with antibody by two different methods, and that the troponin T sandwich pair used might be essential for achieving a higher sensitivity. The signal enhancement increased the intensity signal of the detected cTnT on the array. The limit of detection of the assay changed from 10 μg/mL to 1 μg/mL for one conjugation method after signal enhancement but remained unchanged at 1 μg/mL for the other method., QC 20170913