61 results on '"Pacheco SE"'
Search Results
2. Age-Dependent Respiratory Illness and Surfactant Protein-A (SP-A) Homeostasis in the Mouse Model of RSV Infection.
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Pepiak, DL, primary, Atkins, CL, additional, Mosquera, RA, additional, Jon, C, additional, Pacheco, SE, additional, Bruce, SR, additional, Khan, AM, additional, Colasurdo, GN, additional, and Alcorn, JL, additional
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- 2009
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3. Use of interferon-γ in a patient with severe molluscum contagiosum, severe atopic dermatitis and undefined T-cell deficiency
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Pastore, Fabienne Dayer, primary, Chinen, Javier, additional, Shearer, WT, additional, and Pacheco, SE, additional
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- 2002
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4. Severe fungal and bacterial infections in chronic granulomatous disease (CGD) patients on prophylaxis
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Chinen, Javier, primary, Abramson, SL, additional, Paul, ME, additional, Rosenblatt, HM, additional, Pacheco, SE, additional, Noroski, LM, additional, and Shearer, WT, additional
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- 2002
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5. Chronic granulomatous disease—An emerging fungal pathogen in neutrophil-deficient patients
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Moylett, EH, primary, Chinen, Javier, additional, Rosenblatt, HM, additional, Paul, ME, additional, Pacheco, SE, additional, Abramson, SL, additional, Noroski, LM, additional, and Shearer, WT, additional
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- 2002
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6. Incontinentia pigmenti associated with a severe form of immune deficiency
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Seeborg, FO, primary, Rosenblatt, HM, additional, Shearer, WT, additional, Noroski, LM, additional, and Pacheco, SE, additional
- Published
- 2002
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7. Effect of perinatal antiretroviral drug exposure on hematologic values in HIV-uninfected children: an analysis of the Women and Infants Transmission Study.
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Pacheco SE, McIntosh K, Lu M, Mofenson LM, Diaz C, Foca M, Frederick M, Handelsman E, Hayani K, Shearer WT, and Women and Infants Transmission Study
- Abstract
Background. With the increasing use of antiretroviral (ARV) drugs to prevent mother-to-child transmission of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), large numbers of infants are exposed, with possible consequent toxicity. Methods. Hematologic values in 1820 uninfected HIV- and ARV-exposed children were compared with those in 351 ARV-unexposed children from the Women and Infants Transmission Study. Hemoglobin concentrations and platelet, neutrophil, lymphocyte, and CD4(+) and CD8(+) cell counts were analyzed at birth and ages 2, 6, 12, 18, and 24 months. Multivariate analysis was conducted age 0-2 and 6-24 months, with adjustment for multiple cofactors. Results. Hemoglobin concentrations and neutrophil, lymphocyte, and CD4(+) cell counts were significantly lower at age 0-2 months in infants exposed to ARV drugs than in those who were not. At 6-24 months, differences in hemoglobin concentrations and neutrophil counts were no longer significant, whereas differences in platelet, lymphocyte, and CD4(+) cell counts persisted and CD8(+) cell counts became significantly lower. In comparison with ARV monotherapy, combination therapy was associated with larger decreases in neutrophil, lymphocyte, and CD8(+) cell counts at age 0-2 months but with only differences in CD8(+) cell counts at age 6-24 months. Clinically significant abnormalities were rare and did not differ by exposure to ARV drugs. Conclusion. Infants exposed to ARV drugs have small but significant differences in several hematologic parameters for the first 24 months of life. These results indicate the need for long-term follow-up of uninfected infants with ARV exposure. Copyright © 2006 Infectious Diseases Society of America [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2006
8. The Impact of Bioactive Molecules from Probiotics on Child Health: A Comprehensive Review.
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Guamán LP, Carrera-Pacheco SE, Zúñiga-Miranda J, Teran E, Erazo C, and Barba-Ostria C
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- Humans, Child, Child, Preschool, Child Development, Gastrointestinal Diseases prevention & control, Probiotics, Gastrointestinal Microbiome drug effects, Child Health
- Abstract
Background : This review investigates the impact of bioactive molecules produced by probiotics on child health, focusing on their roles in modulating gut microbiota, enhancing immune function, and supporting overall development. Key metabolites, including short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), bacteriocins, exopolysaccharides (EPSs), vitamins, and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), are highlighted for their ability to maintain gut health, regulate inflammation, and support neurodevelopment. Objectives : The aim of this review is to examine the mechanisms of action and clinical evidence supporting the use of probiotics and postbiotics in pediatric healthcare, with a focus on promoting optimal growth, development, and overall health in children. Methods : The review synthesizes findings from clinical studies that investigate the effects of probiotics and their metabolites on pediatric health. The focus is on specific probiotics and their ability to influence gut health, immune responses, and developmental outcomes. Results : Clinical studies demonstrate that specific probiotics and their metabolites can reduce gastrointestinal disorders, enhance immune responses, and decrease the incidence of allergies and respiratory infections in pediatric populations. Additionally, postbiotics-bioactive compounds from probiotic fermentation-offer promising benefits, such as improved gut barrier function, reduced inflammation, and enhanced nutrient absorption, while presenting fewer safety concerns compared to live probiotics. Conclusions : By examining the mechanisms of action and clinical evidence, this review underscores the potential of integrating probiotics and postbiotics into pediatric healthcare strategies to promote optimal growth, development, and overall health in children.
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- 2024
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9. Bacteriophage-mediated approaches for biofilm control.
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Mayorga-Ramos A, Carrera-Pacheco SE, Barba-Ostria C, and Guamán LP
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- Humans, Anti-Bacterial Agents pharmacology, Bacteria virology, Bacteria genetics, Biofilms growth & development, Bacteriophages physiology, Bacteriophages genetics, Phage Therapy methods
- Abstract
Biofilms are complex microbial communities in which planktonic and dormant bacteria are enveloped in extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) such as exopolysaccharides, proteins, lipids, and DNA. These multicellular structures present resistance to conventional antimicrobial treatments, including antibiotics. The formation of biofilms raises considerable concern in healthcare settings, biofilms can exacerbate infections in patients and compromise the integrity of medical devices employed during treatment. Similarly, certain bacterial species contribute to bulking, foaming, and biofilm development in water environments such as wastewater treatment plants, water reservoirs, and aquaculture facilities. Additionally, food production facilities provide ideal conditions for establishing bacterial biofilms, which can serve as reservoirs for foodborne pathogens. Efforts to combat antibiotic resistance involve exploring various strategies, including bacteriophage therapy. Research has been conducted on the effects of phages and their individual proteins to assess their potential for biofilm removal. However, challenges persist, prompting the examination of refined approaches such as drug-phage combination therapies, phage cocktails, and genetically modified phages for clinical applications. This review aims to highlight the progress regarding bacteriophage-based approaches for biofilm eradication in different settings., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Mayorga-Ramos, Carrera-Pacheco, Barba-Ostria and Guamán.)
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- 2024
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10. Phytosynthesis of Silver Nanoparticles Using Mansoa alliacea (Lam.) A.H. Gentry (Bignoniaceae) Leaf Extract: Characterization and Their Biological Activities.
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Zuñiga-Miranda J, Carrera-Pacheco SE, Gonzalez-Pastor R, Mayorga-Ramos A, Rodríguez-Pólit C, Heredia-Moya J, Vizuete K, Debut A, Barba-Ostria C, Coyago-Cruz E, and Guamán LP
- Abstract
Background . Mansoa alliacea is a native plant renowned for its medicinal properties in traditional healing in the Amazon Region. This plant is rich in polyphenols, flavonoids, anthocyanins, phenolic acids, tannins, ketones, triterpenes, as well as other bioactive compounds. Objectives . This study aims to develop an innovative, eco-friendly method for synthesizing silver nanoparticles using an aqueous extract of M. alliacea (Ma-AgNPs), enhancing the biological activities of AgNPs by leveraging the therapeutic potential of the plant's bioactive compounds. Methods . Silver nanoparticles were synthesized using the aqueous extract of M. alliacea . The biological activities of Ma-AgNPs were assessed, including antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antitumor, and anti-biofilm effects, along with evaluating their hemolytic activity. Results . Quantitative analysis revealed that Ma-AgNPs exhibit potent antibacterial activity against multidrug and non-multidrug-resistant bacteria, with MIC values ranging from 1.3 to 10.0 µg/mL. The Ma-AgNPs significantly reduced NO production by 86.9% at 4 µg/mL, indicating strong anti-inflammatory effects. They demonstrated robust antioxidant activity with an IC50 of 5.54 ± 1.48 µg/mL and minimal hemolytic activity, with no hemolysis observed up to 20 µg/mL and only 4.5% at 40 µg/mL. Their antitumor properties were notable, with IC50 values between 2.9 and 5.4 µg/mL across various cell lines, and they achieved over 50% biofilm inhibition at concentrations of 30-40 µg/mL. Conclusions . These findings underscore the potential of Ma-AgNPs for biomedical applications, particularly in developing new antimicrobial agents and bioactive coatings with reduced toxicity. This research highlights a sustainable approach that not only preserves but also amplifies the inherent biological activities of plant extracts, paving the way for innovative therapeutic solutions.
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- 2024
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11. Exploring the Multifaceted Biological Activities of Anthocyanins Isolated from Two Andean Berries.
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Barba-Ostria C, Carrera-Pacheco SE, Gonzalez-Pastor R, Zuñiga-Miranda J, Mayorga-Ramos A, Tejera E, and Guamán LP
- Abstract
Natural pigments extracted from plant species are used in foods, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals. This study evaluates the comprehensive biological activities of anthocyanins isolated from Andean blueberry ( Vaccinium floribundum Kunth) and Andean blackberry ( Rubus glaucus Benth), focusing on their antimicrobial, antioxidant, antitumoral, anti-inflammatory, and hemolytic properties. Chemical characterization revealed significant anthocyanin content with complex mass spectrometric profiles indicating diverse glycosylation patterns that may influence their bioactivity. The antimicrobial assays showed that the extracts were particularly effective against Gram-positive bacteria, with minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) as low as 1 mg/mL for Rubus glaucus , indicating strong potential for therapeutic use. The antioxidant capacity of the berries was substantial, albeit slightly lower than that of ascorbic acid. The extracts also exhibited notable antitumoral activity in various cancer cell lines, showing promise as adjunctive or preventive treatments. The anti-inflammatory effects were confirmed by inhibiting nitric oxide production in macrophage cells, highlighting their potential in managing inflammatory diseases. In terms of hemolytic activity, Rubus glaucus exhibited dose-dependent effects, potentially attributable to anthocyanins and phenolics, while Vaccinium floribundum demonstrated no significant hemolytic activity, underscoring its safety. These findings suggest that anthocyanins from Andean berries possess potent biological activities, which could be leveraged for health benefits in pharmaceutical and nutraceutical applications. Further studies are needed to isolate specific bioactive compounds and investigate their synergistic effects in clinical and real-world contexts.
- Published
- 2024
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12. Volunteerism Addressing Environmental Disparities in Allergy (VAEDIA): The presidential initiative to combat environmental injustice in allergy and immunology-a Work Group Report of the AAAAI VAEDIA task force.
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Mahdavinia M, Poole JA, Apter AJ, Pacheco SE, Pappalardo AA, Matsui EC, Davis CM, and Bernstein JA
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- Humans, Advisory Committees, Climate Change, Environmental Exposure adverse effects, Social Justice, United States, Allergy and Immunology education, Hypersensitivity immunology, Volunteers
- Abstract
Many vulnerable people lose their health or lives each year as a result of unhealthy environmental conditions that perpetuate medical conditions within the scope of allergy and immunology specialists' expertise. While detrimental environmental factors impact all humans globally, the effect is disproportionately more profound in impoverished neighborhoods. Environmental injustice is the inequitable exposure of disadvantaged populations to environmental hazards. Professional medical organizations such as the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI) are well positioned to engage and encourage community outreach volunteer programs to combat environmental justice. Here we discuss how environmental injustices and climate change impacts allergic diseases among vulnerable populations. We discuss pathways allergists/immunologists can use to contribute to addressing environmental determinants by providing volunteer clinical service, education, and advocacy. Furthermore, allergists/immunologists can play a role in building trust within these communities, partnering with other patient advocacy nonprofit stakeholders, and engaging with local, state, national, and international nongovernmental organizations, faith-based organizations, and governments. The AAAAI's Volunteerism Addressing Environmental Disparities in Allergy (VAEDIA) is the presidential task force aiming to promote volunteer initiatives by creating platforms for discussion and collaboration and by funding community-based projects to address environmental injustice., Competing Interests: Disclosure statement Disclosure of potential conflict of interest: M. Mahdavinia reports research support from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), Food Allergy Research and Education (FARE), Optinose Foundation, Brinson Foundation, and Institute for Translation Medicine in Chicago. J. A. Poole receives funding from the Department of Defense and the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health; has received research regents from AstraZeneca; and acts as site principal investigator (PI) for clinical studies for asthma, sinus disease, and urticaria involving GlaxoSmithKline, AstraZeneca, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, and CellDex Therapeutics. A. J. Apter receives research support from the NIH and the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute. A. A. Pappalardo has served on the medical advisory board for Takeda, Eli Lilly, and Sanofi Regeneron; has received grant funding from the NIH, Agency for Health Research and Quality, and FARE; and has acted as a consultant for Optum/United Health Group. E. C. Matsui has received research support from the NIH. J. A. Bernstein is site PI and consultant for Sanofi Regeneron, AstraZeneca, GSK, Novartis, Genentech, Biocryst, Pharming, Takeda, CSL Behring, Ionis, Biomarin, Blueprint Medicine, Cogent, Celldex, Escient, Jasper Pharmaceuticals, Amgen, Kalvista, and Pharvaris; is president of American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI), World Allergy Organization, and Interasma; and Hereditory Angioedema medical advisory board. The rest of the authors declare that they have no relevant conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2024 American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)
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- 2024
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13. A latent classes analysis to detect cognitive and emotional profiles in cancer patients.
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Sierra-Murguía MA, Mazatán-Orozco R, Jiménez-Pacheco SE, and Padrós-Blázquez F
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Thought style has been described as a mediator between cancer diagnosis and the emotional response to cancer. Describe the latent profiles related to thought style (rumination, cognitive engagement, and cognitive avoidance) and emotional response in a sample of cancer patients. 159 cancer patients were assessed prior to starting treatment. Measurement instruments used were HADS, Cancer response thought style inventory, distress thermometer, and PTGI. Analysis of latent classes to explore profiles of who share the same thought style. The solution had 4 subgroups: first group was avoidance, the means for anxiety, depression and post-traumatic growth were the lowest of the four groups. The second group was rumination, presenting highest scores for anxiety, depression and post-traumatic growth. The third group was indeterminate, this group presented low anxiety and depression. The fourth group, with cognitive engagement presented low anxiety and depression and post-traumatic growth was high., Competing Interests: Declaration of conflicting interestsThe authors declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.
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- 2024
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14. Designing cytochrome P450 enzymes for use in cancer gene therapy.
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Carrera-Pacheco SE, Mueller A, Puente-Pineda JA, Zúñiga-Miranda J, and Guamán LP
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Cancer is a significant global socioeconomic burden, as millions of new cases and deaths occur annually. In 2020, almost 10 million cancer deaths were recorded worldwide. Advancements in cancer gene therapy have revolutionized the landscape of cancer treatment. An approach with promising potential for cancer gene therapy is introducing genes to cancer cells that encode for chemotherapy prodrug metabolizing enzymes, such as Cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes, which can contribute to the effective elimination of cancer cells. This can be achieved through gene-directed enzyme prodrug therapy (GDEPT). CYP enzymes can be genetically engineered to improve anticancer prodrug conversion to its active metabolites and to minimize chemotherapy side effects by reducing the prodrug dosage. Rational design, directed evolution, and phylogenetic methods are some approaches to developing tailored CYP enzymes for cancer therapy. Here, we provide a compilation of genetic modifications performed on CYP enzymes aiming to build highly efficient therapeutic genes capable of bio-activating different chemotherapeutic prodrugs. Additionally, this review summarizes promising preclinical and clinical trials highlighting engineered CYP enzymes' potential in GDEPT. Finally, the challenges, limitations, and future directions of using CYP enzymes for GDEPT in cancer gene therapy are discussed., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Carrera-Pacheco, Mueller, Puente-Pineda, Zúñiga-Miranda and Guamán.)
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- 2024
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15. Potential Antidiabetic Activity of Apis mellifera Propolis Extraction Obtained with Ultrasound.
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Hernández-Martínez JA, Zepeda-Bastida A, Morales-Rodríguez I, Fernández-Luqueño F, Campos-Montiel R, Hereira-Pacheco SE, and Medina-Pérez G
- Abstract
Recent studies have linked phenolic compounds to the inhibition of digestive enzymes. Propolis extract is consumed or applied as a traditional treatment for some diseases. More than 500 chemical compounds have been identified in propolis composition worldwide. This research aimed to determine Mexican propolis extracts' total phenolic content, total flavonoid content, antioxidant activity, and digestive enzyme inhibitory activity (ɑ-amylase and ɑ-glucosidase). In vitro assays measured the possible effect on bioactive compounds after digestion. Four samples of propolis from different regions of the state of Oaxaca (Mexico) were tested (Eloxochitlán (PE), Teotitlán (PT), San Pedro (PSP), and San Jerónimo (PSJ)). Ethanol extractions were performed using ultrasound. The extract with the highest phenolic content was PE with 15,362.4 ± 225 mg GAE/100 g. Regarding the flavonoid content, the highest amount was found in PT with 8084.6 ± 19 mg QE/100 g. ABTS
•+ and DPPH• radicals were evaluated. The extract with the best inhibition concentration was PE with 33,307.1 ± 567 mg ET/100 g. After simulated digestion, phenolics, flavonoids, and antioxidant activity decreased by 96%. In contrast, antidiabetic activity, quantified as inhibition of ɑ-amylase and ɑ-glucosidase, showed a mean decrease in enzyme activity of approximately 50% after the intestinal phase. Therefore, it is concluded that propolis extracts could be a natural alternative for treating diabetes, and it would be necessary to develop a protective mechanism to incorporate them into foods.- Published
- 2024
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16. Chemical Properties and Biological Activity of Bee Pollen.
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Rodríguez-Pólit C, Gonzalez-Pastor R, Heredia-Moya J, Carrera-Pacheco SE, Castillo-Solis F, Vallejo-Imbaquingo R, Barba-Ostria C, and Guamán LP
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- Bees, Animals, Pollen chemistry, Oxidative Stress, Anti-Inflammatory Agents pharmacology, Anti-Inflammatory Agents analysis, Antioxidants chemistry, Anti-Infective Agents analysis
- Abstract
Pollen, a remarkably versatile natural compound collected by bees for its abundant source of proteins and nutrients, represents a rich reservoir of diverse bioactive compounds with noteworthy chemical and therapeutic potential. Its extensive biological effects have been known and exploited since ancient times. Today, there is an increased interest in finding natural compounds against oxidative stress, a factor that contributes to various diseases. Recent research has unraveled a multitude of biological activities associated with bee pollen, ranging from antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and antifungal properties to potential antiviral and anticancer applications. Comprehending the extensive repertoire of biological properties across various pollen sources remains challenging. By investigating a spectrum of pollen types and their chemical composition, this review produces an updated analysis of the bioactive constituents and the therapeutic prospects they offer. This review emphasizes the necessity for further exploration and standardization of diverse pollen sources and bioactive compounds that could contribute to the development of innovative therapies.
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- 2023
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17. Iron Oxide Nanoparticles: Green Synthesis and Their Antimicrobial Activity.
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Zúñiga-Miranda J, Guerra J, Mueller A, Mayorga-Ramos A, Carrera-Pacheco SE, Barba-Ostria C, Heredia-Moya J, and Guamán LP
- Abstract
The rise of antimicrobial resistance caused by inappropriate use of these agents in various settings has become a global health threat. Nanotechnology offers the potential for the synthesis of nanoparticles (NPs) with antimicrobial activity, such as iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs). The use of IONPs is a promising way to overcome antimicrobial resistance or pathogenicity because of their ability to interact with several biological molecules and to inhibit microbial growth. In this review, we outline the pivotal findings over the past decade concerning methods for the green synthesis of IONPs using bacteria, fungi, plants, and organic waste. Subsequently, we delve into the primary challenges encountered in green synthesis utilizing diverse organisms and organic materials. Furthermore, we compile the most common methods employed for the characterization of these IONPs. To conclude, we highlight the applications of these IONPs as promising antibacterial, antifungal, antiparasitic, and antiviral agents.
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- 2023
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18. Crystal Structure, Hirshfeld Surface Analysis, and Biological Activities of Schiff-Base Derivatives of 4-Aminoantipyrine.
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Aguilar-Llanos E, Carrera-Pacheco SE, González-Pastor R, Zúñiga-Miranda J, Rodríguez-Pólit C, Mayorga-Ramos A, Carrillo-Naranjo O, Guamán LP, Romero-Benavides JC, Cevallos-Morillo C, Echeverría GA, Piro OE, Alcívar-León CD, and Heredia-Moya J
- Abstract
Eight Schiff bases, synthesized by the reaction of 4-aminoantipyrine with different cinnamaldehydes, were studied in the solid state by using vibrational spectroscopy (IR) and X-ray diffraction techniques. The analysis was extended to the solution phase through ultraviolet-vis, fluorescence spectroscopy, and cyclic voltammetry. Finally, the crystal structures of four compounds ( 3b , 3d , 3g , and 3h ) were determined and studied. In addition to the experimental study, theoretical calculations using the semiempirical method PM6/ZDO were performed to understand better the compound's molecular properties, UV-vis, and infrared spectra. The primary difference is the angular conformation of the terminal phenyl rings around the corresponding linking C-N and C-C σ-bonds. Furthermore, as a result of extended bonding, the > C=N- azomethine group-containing C
pyr -N=(CH)-(CR)=(CH)-Cbz chain (with R=H for 3b , 3d , and 3h , and R=CH3 for 3g ) is planar, nearly coplanar, with the mean plane of the pyrazole ring. Hirshfeld surface (HS) analysis was used to investigate the crystal packing and intermolecular interactions, which revealed that intermolecular C-H···O and C-H···N hydrogen bonds, π···π stacking, and C-H···π and C=O···π interactions stabilize the compounds. The energy contributions to the lattice energies of potential hydrogen bonds were primarily dispersive and repulsive. All derivatives were tested in vitro on LPS-stimulated mouse macrophages to assess their ability to suppress the LPS-induced inflammatory responses. Only a slight reduction in the level of NO production was found in activated macrophages treated with 3h . Additionally, the derivatives were tested for antimicrobial activity against several clinical bacteria and fungi strains, including three biofilm-forming microorganisms. Nevertheless, only Schiff base 3f showed interesting antibacterial activities with minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values as low as 15.6 μM against Enterobacter gergoviae . On the other hand, Schiff base 3f and, to a lesser extent, 3b and 3h showed antifungal activity against clinical isolates of Candida . The lowest MIC value was for 3f against Candida albicans (15.6 μM). It is interesting to note that the same Schiff bases exhibit the highest activity in both biological evaluations., Competing Interests: The authors declare no competing financial interest., (© 2023 The Authors. Published by American Chemical Society.)- Published
- 2023
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19. Environmental and nuclear influences on microalgal chloroplast gene expression.
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Carrera-Pacheco SE, Hankamer B, and Oey M
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- Humans, Genes, Chloroplast, Biotechnology, Recombinant Proteins genetics, Recombinant Proteins metabolism, Chloroplasts genetics, Chloroplasts metabolism, Microalgae genetics, Microalgae metabolism, Chlamydomonas reinhardtii genetics, Chlamydomonas reinhardtii metabolism
- Abstract
Microalgal chloroplasts, such as those of the model organism Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, are emerging as a new platform to produce recombinant proteins, including industrial enzymes, diagnostics, as well as animal and human therapeutics. Improving transgene expression and final recombinant protein yields, at laboratory and industrial scales, require optimization of both environmental and cellular factors. Most studies on C. reinhardtii have focused on optimization of cellular factors. Here, we review the regulatory influences of environmental factors, including light (cycle time, intensity, and quality), carbon source (CO
2 and organic), and temperature. In particular, we summarize their influence via the redox state, cis-elements, and trans-factors on biomass and recombinant protein production to support the advancement of emerging large-scale light-driven biotechnology applications., Competing Interests: Declaration of interests No interests are declared., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)- Published
- 2023
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20. CRISPR-Cas-Based Antimicrobials: Design, Challenges, and Bacterial Mechanisms of Resistance.
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Mayorga-Ramos A, Zúñiga-Miranda J, Carrera-Pacheco SE, Barba-Ostria C, and Guamán LP
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- Bacteria genetics, Plasmids genetics, Anti-Bacterial Agents pharmacology, CRISPR-Cas Systems, Anti-Infective Agents pharmacology
- Abstract
The emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacterial strains is a source of public health concern across the globe. As the discovery of new conventional antibiotics has stalled significantly over the past decade, there is an urgency to develop novel approaches to address drug resistance in infectious diseases. The use of a CRISPR-Cas-based system for the precise elimination of targeted bacterial populations holds promise as an innovative approach for new antimicrobial agent design. The CRISPR-Cas targeting system is celebrated for its high versatility and specificity, offering an excellent opportunity to fight antibiotic resistance in pathogens by selectively inactivating genes involved in antibiotic resistance, biofilm formation, pathogenicity, virulence, or bacterial viability. The CRISPR-Cas strategy can enact antimicrobial effects by two approaches: inactivation of chromosomal genes or curing of plasmids encoding antibiotic resistance. In this Review, we provide an overview of the main CRISPR-Cas systems utilized for the creation of these antimicrobials, as well as highlighting promising studies in the field. We also offer a detailed discussion about the most commonly used mechanisms for CRISPR-Cas delivery: bacteriophages, nanoparticles, and conjugative plasmids. Lastly, we address possible mechanisms of interference that should be considered during the intelligent design of these novel approaches.
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- 2023
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21. Prebirth effects of climate change on children's respiratory health.
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Yadav A and Pacheco SE
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- Child, Humans, Female, Pregnancy, Climate Change, Placenta, Pregnancy Outcome, Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects epidemiology, Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects etiology, Air Pollution adverse effects
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Purpose of Review: To date, there is no evidence that humanity will implement appropriate mitigation measures to avoid the catastrophic impact of climate change on the planet and human health. Vulnerable populations such as pregnant women and children will be the most affected. This review highlights epidemiologic data on climate change-related prenatal environmental exposures affecting the fetus and children's respiratory health., Recent Findings: Research on outcomes of prenatal exposure to climate change-related environmental changes and pediatric pulmonary health is limited. In addition to adverse pregnancy outcomes known to affect lung development, changes in lung function, increased prevalence of wheezing, atopy, and respiratory infections have been associated with prenatal exposure to increased temperatures, air pollution, and maternal stress. The mechanisms behind these changes are ill-defined, although oxidative stress, impaired placental functioning, and epigenetic modifications have been observed. However, the long-term impact of these changes remains unknown., Summary: The detrimental impact of the climate crisis on pediatric respiratory health begins before birth, highlighting the inherent vulnerability of pregnant women and children. Research and advocacy, along with mitigation and adaptation measures, must be implemented to protect pregnant women and children, the most affected but the least responsible for the climate crisis., (Copyright © 2023 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.)
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- 2023
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22. Current Landscape of Methods to Evaluate Antimicrobial Activity of Natural Extracts.
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Gonzalez-Pastor R, Carrera-Pacheco SE, Zúñiga-Miranda J, Rodríguez-Pólit C, Mayorga-Ramos A, Guamán LP, and Barba-Ostria C
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- Animals, Humans, Reproducibility of Results, Plants, Anti-Infective Agents pharmacology, Anti-Infective Agents chemistry, Biological Products pharmacology, Biological Products chemistry
- Abstract
Natural extracts have been and continue to be used to treat a wide range of medical conditions, from infectious diseases to cancer, based on their convenience and therapeutic potential. Natural products derived from microbes, plants, and animals offer a broad variety of molecules and chemical compounds. Natural products are not only one of the most important sources for innovative drug development for animal and human health, but they are also an inspiration for synthetic biology and chemistry scientists towards the discovery of new bioactive compounds and pharmaceuticals. This is particularly relevant in the current context, where antimicrobial resistance has risen as a global health problem. Thus, efforts are being directed toward studying natural compounds' chemical composition and bioactive potential to generate drugs with better efficacy and lower toxicity than existing molecules. Currently, a wide range of methodologies are used to analyze the in vitro activity of natural extracts to determine their suitability as antimicrobial agents. Despite traditional technologies being the most employed, technological advances have contributed to the implementation of methods able to circumvent issues related to analysis capacity, time, sensitivity, and reproducibility. This review produces an updated analysis of the conventional and current methods to evaluate the antimicrobial activity of natural compounds.
- Published
- 2023
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23. Engineering functional thermostable proteins using ancestral sequence reconstruction.
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Thomson RES, Carrera-Pacheco SE, and Gillam EMJ
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- Enzyme Stability, Phylogeny, Protein Stability, Temperature, Protein Engineering methods, Proteins chemistry, Proteins classification, Proteins genetics, Directed Molecular Evolution methods, Enzymes chemistry, Enzymes classification, Enzymes genetics
- Abstract
Natural proteins are often only slightly more stable in the native state than the denatured state, and an increase in environmental temperature can easily shift the balance toward unfolding. Therefore, the engineering of proteins to improve protein stability is an area of intensive research. Thermostable proteins are required to withstand industrial process conditions, for increased shelf-life of protein therapeutics, for developing robust 'biobricks' for synthetic biology applications, and for research purposes (e.g., structure determination). In addition, thermostability buffers the often destabilizing effects of mutations introduced to improve other properties. Rational design approaches to engineering thermostability require structural information, but even with advanced computational methods, it is challenging to predict or parameterize all the relevant structural factors with sufficient precision to anticipate the results of a given mutation. Directed evolution is an alternative when structures are unavailable but requires extensive screening of mutant libraries. Recently, however, bioinspired approaches based on phylogenetic analyses have shown great promise. Leveraging the rapid expansion in sequence data and bioinformatic tools, ancestral sequence reconstruction can generate highly stable folds for novel applications in industrial chemistry, medicine, and synthetic biology. This review provides an overview of the factors important for successful inference of thermostable proteins by ancestral sequence reconstruction and what it can reveal about the determinants of stability in proteins., Competing Interests: Conflict of interest The authors are engaged in directed evolution efforts to produce thermostable cytochrome P450 enzymes for biocatalysis and synthetic biology applications, some of which have been licensed for application in pharmaceutical and fine chemical production under the tradename “CYPerior.” The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest with the contents of this article., (Copyright © 2022 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)
- Published
- 2022
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24. Evaluation of Biological Activity of Natural Compounds: Current Trends and Methods.
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Barba-Ostria C, Carrera-Pacheco SE, Gonzalez-Pastor R, Heredia-Moya J, Mayorga-Ramos A, Rodríguez-Pólit C, Zúñiga-Miranda J, Arias-Almeida B, and Guamán LP
- Subjects
- Antioxidants chemistry, Bacteria, Tannins pharmacology, Alkaloids pharmacology, Anthocyanins
- Abstract
Natural compounds have diverse structures and are present in different forms of life. Metabolites such as tannins, anthocyanins, and alkaloids, among others, serve as a defense mechanism in live organisms and are undoubtedly compounds of interest for the food, cosmetic, and pharmaceutical industries. Plants, bacteria, and insects represent sources of biomolecules with diverse activities, which are in many cases poorly studied. To use these molecules for different applications, it is essential to know their structure, concentrations, and biological activity potential. In vitro techniques that evaluate the biological activity of the molecules of interest have been developed since the 1950s. Currently, different methodologies have emerged to overcome some of the limitations of these traditional techniques, mainly via reductions in time and costs. These emerging technologies continue to appear due to the urgent need to expand the analysis capacity of a growing number of reported biomolecules. This review presents an updated summary of the conventional and relevant methods to evaluate the natural compounds' biological activity in vitro.
- Published
- 2022
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25. Ancestral Sequence Reconstruction of a Cytochrome P450 Family Involved in Chemical Defense Reveals the Functional Evolution of a Promiscuous, Xenobiotic-Metabolizing Enzyme in Vertebrates.
- Author
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Harris KL, Thomson RES, Gumulya Y, Foley G, Carrera-Pacheco SE, Syed P, Janosik T, Sandinge AS, Andersson S, Jurva U, Bodén M, and Gillam EMJ
- Subjects
- Animals, Cytochrome P-450 CYP1A1 genetics, Cytochrome P-450 CYP1A1 metabolism, Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System genetics, Mammals metabolism, Vertebrates genetics, Vertebrates metabolism, Caffeine, Xenobiotics
- Abstract
The cytochrome P450 family 1 enzymes (CYP1s) are a diverse family of hemoprotein monooxygenases, which metabolize many xenobiotics including numerous environmental carcinogens. However, their historical function and evolution remain largely unstudied. Here we investigate CYP1 evolution via the reconstruction and characterization of the vertebrate CYP1 ancestors. Younger ancestors and extant forms generally demonstrated higher activity toward typical CYP1 xenobiotic and steroid substrates than older ancestors, suggesting significant diversification away from the original CYP1 function. Caffeine metabolism appears to be a recently evolved trait of the CYP1A subfamily, observed in the mammalian CYP1A lineage, and may parallel the recent evolution of caffeine synthesis in multiple separate plant species. Likewise, the aryl hydrocarbon receptor agonist, 6-formylindolo[3,2-b]carbazole (FICZ) was metabolized to a greater extent by certain younger ancestors and extant forms, suggesting that activity toward FICZ increased in specific CYP1 evolutionary branches, a process that may have occurred in parallel to the exploitation of land where UV-exposure was higher than in aquatic environments. As observed with previous reconstructions of P450 enzymes, thermostability correlated with evolutionary age; the oldest ancestor was up to 35 °C more thermostable than the extant forms, with a 10T50 (temperature at which 50% of the hemoprotein remains intact after 10 min) of 71 °C. This robustness may have facilitated evolutionary diversification of the CYP1s by buffering the destabilizing effects of mutations that conferred novel functions, a phenomenon which may also be useful in exploiting the catalytic versatility of these ancestral enzymes for commercial application as biocatalysts., (© The Author(s) 2022. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Society for Molecular Biology and Evolution.)
- Published
- 2022
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26. An Examination of the Intersection of Climate Change, the Physician Specialty Workforce, and Graduate Medical Education in the U.S.
- Author
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Colbert CY, French JC, Brateanu A, Pacheco SE, Khatri SB, Sapatnekar S, Vacharathit V, Pien LC, Prelosky-Leeson A, LaRocque R, Mark B, and Salas RN
- Subjects
- Climate Change, Education, Medical, Graduate, Humans, United States, Workforce, Internship and Residency, Medicine, Physicians
- Abstract
Issue: As U.S. healthcare systems plan for future physician workforce needs, the systemic impacts of climate change, a worldwide environmental and health crisis, have not been factored in. The current focus on increasing the number of trained physicians and optimizing efficiencies in healthcare delivery may be insufficient. Graduate medical education (GME) priorities and training should be considered in order to prepare a climate-educated physician workforce. Evidence: We used a holistic lens to explore the available literature regarding the intersection of future physician workforce needs, GME program priorities, and resident education within the larger context of climate change. Our interinstitutional, transdisciplinary team brought perspectives from their own fields, including climate science, climate and health research, and medical education to provide recommendations for building a climate-educated physician workforce. Implications: Acknowledging and preparing for the effects of climate change on the physician workforce will require identification of workforce gaps, changes to GME program priorities, and education of trainees on the health and societal impacts of climate change. Alignment of GME training with workforce considerations and climate action and adaptation initiatives will be critical in ensuring the U.S. has a climate-educated physician workforce capable of addressing health and healthcare system challenges. This article offers a number of recommendations for physician workforce priorities, resident education, and system-level changes to better prepare for the health and health system impacts of climate change.
- Published
- 2022
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27. Is Habitat More Important than Phylogenetic Relatedness for Elucidating the Gut Bacterial Composition in Sister Lizard Species?
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Hernández M, Ancona S, Díaz De La Vega-Pérez AH, Muñoz-Arenas LC, Hereira-Pacheco SE, and Navarro-Noya YE
- Subjects
- Animals, Bacteria genetics, Phylogeny, RNA, Ribosomal, 16S genetics, Gastrointestinal Microbiome genetics, Lizards genetics, Lizards microbiology, Microbiota
- Abstract
The gut microbiota influences the phenotype and fitness of a host; however, limited information is currently available on the diversity and functions of the gut microbiota in wild animals. Therefore, we herein examined the diversity, composition, and potential functions of the gut microbiota in three Sceloporus lizards: Sceloporus aeneus, S. bicanthalis, and S. grammicus, inhabiting different habitats in a mountainous ecosystem. The gut bacterial community of S. bicanthalis from alpine grasslands at 4,150 m a.s.l. exhibited greater taxonomic, phylogenetic, and functional alpha diversities than its sister species S. aeneus from cornfields and human-induced grasslands at 2,600 m a.s.l. Bacteria of the genus Blautia and metabolic functions related to the degradation of aromatic compounds were more abundant in S. bicanthalis than in S. aeneus, whereas Oscillibacter and predicted functions related to amino acid metabolism and fermentation were more abundant in S. aeneus. The structure of the dominant and most prevalent bacteria, i.e., the core microbiota, was similar between the sister species from different habitats, but differed between S. grammicus and S. aeneus cohabiting at 2,600 m a.s.l. and between S. grammicus and S. bicanthalis cohabiting at 4,150 m a.s.l. These results suggest that phylogenetic relatedness defines the core microbiota, while the transient, i.e., non-core, microbiota is influenced by environmental differences in the habitats. Our comparisons between phylogenetically close species provide further evidence for the specialized and complex associations between hosts and the gut microbiota as well as insights into the roles of phylogeny and ecological factors as drivers of the gut microbiota in wild vertebrates.
- Published
- 2022
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28. Climate change and global issues in allergy and immunology.
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Pacheco SE, Guidos-Fogelbach G, Annesi-Maesano I, Pawankar R, D' Amato G, Latour-Staffeld P, Urrutia-Pereira M, Kesic MJ, and Hernandez ML
- Subjects
- Air Pollution, Animals, Asthma epidemiology, Climate Change, Ecosystem, Fossil Fuels, Global Health, Global Warming, Greenhouse Gases adverse effects, Humans, Rhinitis, Allergic epidemiology, Allergy and Immunology, Asthma immunology, Rhinitis, Allergic immunology
- Abstract
The steady increase in global temperatures, resulting from the combustion of fossil fuels and the accumulation of greenhouse gases (GHGs), continues to destabilize all ecosystems worldwide. Although annual emissions must be halved by 2030 and reach net zero by 2050 to limit some of the most catastrophic impacts associated with a warming planet, the world's efforts to curb GHG emissions fall short of the commitments made in the 2015 Paris Agreement. To this effect, July 2021 was recently declared the hottest month ever recorded in 142 years. The ramifications of these changes for global temperatures are complex and further promote outdoor air pollution, pollen exposure, and extreme weather events. Besides worsening respiratory health, air pollution promotes atopy and susceptibility to infections. The effects of GHGs on pollen affect the frequency and severity of asthma and allergic rhinitis. Changes in temperature, air pollution, and extreme weather events exert adverse multisystemic health effects and disproportionally affect disadvantaged and vulnerable populations. This review article is an update for allergists and immunologists about the health impacts of climate change that are already evident in our daily practices. It is also a call to action and advocacy, including to integrate climate change-related mitigation, education, and adaptation measures to protect our patients and avert further injury to our planet., (Copyright © 2021. Published by Elsevier Inc.)
- Published
- 2021
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29. Pulmonary Manifestations of Immunodeficiency and Immunosuppressive Diseases Other than Human Immunodeficiency Virus.
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Pacheco SE and Stark JM
- Subjects
- Child, Humans, Immunity, Humoral, Immunity, Innate, Immunologic Deficiency Syndromes diagnosis, Immunologic Deficiency Syndromes therapy, Immunosuppressive Agents adverse effects, Lung Diseases diagnosis, Lung Diseases therapy, Organ Transplantation adverse effects, Immunologic Deficiency Syndromes complications, Lung Diseases etiology, Lung Diseases immunology
- Abstract
Immune deficiencies may alter normal lung function and protective mechanisms, resulting in a myriad of pulmonary manifestations. Primary immunodeficiencies involve multiple branches of the immune system, and defects may predispose to recurrent upper and lower respiratory infections by common pathogens; opportunistic infections; and autoimmune, inflammatory, and malignant processes that may result in interstitial pneumonias. Secondary immunodeficiencies may result from neoplasms or their treatment, organ transplant and immunosuppression, and from autoimmune diseases and their treatments. Primary and secondary immunodeficiencies and their pulmonary manifestations may be difficult to diagnose and treat. A multidisciplinary approach to evaluation is essential., Competing Interests: Disclosure The authors have nothing to disclose., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)
- Published
- 2021
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30. The root endophytic bacterial community of Ricinus communis L. resembles the seeds community more than the rhizosphere bacteria independent of soil water content.
- Author
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Hereira-Pacheco SE, Navarro-Noya YE, and Dendooven L
- Subjects
- Biodiversity, Phylogeny, Principal Component Analysis, Ricinus growth & development, Bacteria metabolism, Endophytes physiology, Plant Roots microbiology, Rhizosphere, Ricinus microbiology, Seeds microbiology, Soil chemistry, Water chemistry
- Abstract
Rhizosphere and root endophytic bacteria are crucial for plant development, but the question remains if their composition is similar and how environmental conditions, such as water content, affect their resemblance. Ricinus communis L., a highly drought resistant plant, was used to study how varying soil water content affected the bacterial community in uncultivated, non-rhizosphere and rhizosphere soil, and in its roots. Additionally, the bacterial community structure was determined in the seeds of R. communis at the onset of the experiment. Plants were cultivated in soil at three different watering regimes, i.e. 50% water holding capacity (WHC) or adjusted to 50% WHC every two weeks or every month. Reducing the soil water content strongly reduced plant and root dry biomass and plant development, but had little effect on the bacterial community structure. The bacterial community structure was affected significantly by cultivation of R. communis and showed large variations over time. After 6 months, the root endophytic bacterial community resembled that in the seeds more than in the rhizosphere. It was found that water content had only a limited effect on the bacterial community structure and the different bacterial groups, but R. communis affected the bacterial community profoundly.
- Published
- 2021
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31. Catastrophic effects of climate change on children's health start before birth.
- Author
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Pacheco SE
- Subjects
- Child, Female, Humans, Pregnancy, Child Health, Climate Change, Maternal Exposure adverse effects, Parturition
- Published
- 2020
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32. Vulnerability of pediatric patients with mitochondrial disease to vaccine-preventable diseases.
- Author
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Kruk SK, Pacheco SE, Koenig MK, Bergerson JRE, Gordon-Lipkin E, and McGuire PJ
- Subjects
- Adolescent, Child, Female, Humans, Infection Control, Male, Vaccination, Immunologic Deficiency Syndromes etiology, Infections etiology, Mitochondrial Diseases complications, Vaccine-Preventable Diseases etiology
- Published
- 2019
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33. The emerging role of immune dysfunction in mitochondrial diseases as a paradigm for understanding immunometabolism.
- Author
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Kapnick SM, Pacheco SE, and McGuire PJ
- Subjects
- Animals, Calcium metabolism, Cell Fusion, DNA, Mitochondrial physiology, Disease Models, Animal, Humans, Mice, Oxidative Phosphorylation, Immune System physiology, Mitochondrial Diseases immunology
- Abstract
Immunometabolism aims to define the role of intermediary metabolism in immune cell function, with bioenergetics and the mitochondria recently taking center stage. To date, the medical literature on mitochondria and immune function extols the virtues of mouse models in exploring this biologic intersection. While the laboratory mouse has become a standard for studying mammalian biology, this model comprises part of a comprehensive approach. Humans, with their broad array of inherited phenotypes, serve as a starting point for studying immunometabolism; specifically, patients with mitochondrial disease. Using this top-down approach, the mouse as a model organism facilitates further exploration of the consequences of mutations involved in mitochondrial maintenance and function. In this review, we will discuss the emerging phenotype of immune dysfunction in mitochondrial disease as a model for understanding the role of the mitochondria in immune function in available mouse models., (Published by Elsevier Inc.)
- Published
- 2018
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34. Hurricane Harvey and climate change: the need for policy to protect children.
- Author
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Pacheco SE
- Subjects
- Adolescent, Child, Child, Preschool, Disasters, Health Policy, Health Status, Healthcare Disparities, Humans, Poverty, Stress, Psychological, Texas, Vulnerable Populations, Climate Change, Cyclonic Storms
- Published
- 2018
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35. Cytochrome c Oxidase Activity Is a Metabolic Checkpoint that Regulates Cell Fate Decisions During T Cell Activation and Differentiation.
- Author
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Tarasenko TN, Pacheco SE, Koenig MK, Gomez-Rodriguez J, Kapnick SM, Diaz F, Zerfas PM, Barca E, Sudderth J, DeBerardinis RJ, Covian R, Balaban RS, DiMauro S, and McGuire PJ
- Subjects
- Alkyl and Aryl Transferases genetics, Animals, Electron Transport Complex IV genetics, Female, Humans, Male, Membrane Proteins genetics, Mice, Mice, Knockout, Mitochondrial Diseases genetics, Alkyl and Aryl Transferases immunology, Cell Differentiation immunology, Electron Transport Complex IV immunology, Lymphocyte Activation, Membrane Proteins immunology, Mitochondrial Diseases immunology, T-Lymphocytes immunology
- Abstract
T cells undergo metabolic reprogramming with major changes in cellular energy metabolism during activation. In patients with mitochondrial disease, clinical data were marked by frequent infections and immunodeficiency, prompting us to explore the consequences of oxidative phosphorylation dysfunction in T cells. Since cytochrome c oxidase (COX) is a critical regulator of OXPHOS, we created a mouse model with isolated dysfunction in T cells by targeting a gene, COX10, that produces mitochondrial disease in humans. COX dysfunction resulted in increased apoptosis following activation in vitro and immunodeficiency in vivo. Select T cell effector subsets were particularly affected; this could be traced to their bioenergetic requirements. In summary, the findings presented herein emphasize the role of COX particularly in T cells as a metabolic checkpoint for cell fate decisions following T cell activation, with heterogeneous effects in T cell subsets. In addition, our studies highlight the utility of translational models that recapitulate human mitochondrial disease for understanding immunometabolism., (Published by Elsevier Inc.)
- Published
- 2017
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36. Differential epigenetic effects of chlorpyrifos and arsenic in proliferating and differentiating human neural progenitor cells.
- Author
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Kim HY, Wegner SH, Van Ness KP, Park JJ, Pacheco SE, Workman T, Hong S, Griffith W, and Faustman EM
- Subjects
- Acetylation drug effects, Arsenic toxicity, Cell Differentiation drug effects, Cell Differentiation genetics, Cell Proliferation drug effects, Cell Proliferation genetics, Cells, Cultured, Cholinesterase Inhibitors toxicity, Histones metabolism, Humans, Insecticides toxicity, Methylation drug effects, Neural Stem Cells metabolism, Phosphorylation drug effects, Arsenites toxicity, Chlorpyrifos toxicity, Epigenesis, Genetic, Neural Stem Cells drug effects, Sodium Compounds toxicity
- Abstract
Understanding the underlying temporal and mechanistic responses to neurotoxicant exposures during sensitive periods of neuronal development are critical for assessing the impact of these exposures on developmental processes. To investigate the importance of timing of neurotoxicant exposure for perturbation of epigenetic regulation, we exposed human neuronal progenitor cells (hNPCs) to chlorpyrifos (CP) and sodium arsenite (As; positive control) during proliferation and differentiation. CP or As treatment effects on hNPCs morphology, cell viability, and changes in protein expression levels of neural differentiation and cell stress markers, and histone H3 modifications were examined. Cell viability, proliferation/differentiation status, and epigenetic results suggest that hNPCs cultures respond to CP and As treatment with different degrees of sensitivity. Histone modifications, as measured by changes in histone H3 phosphorylation, acetylation and methylation, varied for each toxicant and growth condition, suggesting that differentiation status can influence the epigenetic effects of CP and As exposures., Competing Interests: statement The author has no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)
- Published
- 2016
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37. Could Mycobacterium leprae Infection Be an Occupational Disease? A Survey in Healthcare Workers From an Endemic Area in the Amazonian Region.
- Author
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Pacheco SE, Bührer-Sékula S, de Moura RS, Stefani MM, Oliveira ML, Saraceni V, and Cordeiro-Santos M
- Subjects
- Adult, Brazil epidemiology, Cross Infection transmission, Endemic Diseases, Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay, Female, Health Personnel, Health Surveys, Hospitals, Teaching, Humans, Immunoglobulin M, Leprosy blood, Male, Middle Aged, Mycobacterium leprae immunology, Occupational Diseases blood, Prevalence, Cross Infection epidemiology, Cross Infection microbiology, Leprosy epidemiology, Leprosy transmission, Occupational Diseases epidemiology, Occupational Diseases microbiology
- Abstract
A serologic survey was conducted to evaluate the prevalence of Mycobacterium leprae infection among healthcare workers and associated factors. Of 280 workers, 26 (9.3%) were positive using immunoglobulin M serology for PGL-I M. leprae antigen. Exposure to leprosy patients in the workplace was significantly associated with seropositivity (P=.044).
- Published
- 2015
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38. Global Climate Change and Children's Health.
- Author
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Ahdoot S and Pacheco SE
- Subjects
- Child, Humans, Child Health, Climate Change
- Abstract
Rising global temperature is causing major physical, chemical, and ecological changes across the planet. There is wide consensus among scientific organizations and climatologists that these broad effects, known as climate change, are the result of contemporary human activity. Climate change poses threats to human health, safety, and security. Children are uniquely vulnerable to these threats. The effects of climate change on child health include physical and psychological sequelae of weather disasters, increased heat stress, decreased air quality, altered disease patterns of some climate-sensitive infections, and food, water, and nutrient insecurity in vulnerable regions. Prompt implementation of mitigation and adaptation strategies will protect children against worsening of the problem and its associated health effects. This technical report reviews the nature of climate change and its associated child health effects and supports the recommendations in the accompanying policy statement on climate change and children's health., (Copyright © 2015 by the American Academy of Pediatrics.)
- Published
- 2015
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- View/download PDF
39. Sleep disordered breathing in children with mitochondrial disease.
- Author
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Mosquera RA, Koenig MK, Adejumo RB, Chevallier J, Hashmi SS, Mitchell SE, Pacheco SE, and Jon C
- Subjects
- Adolescent, Child, Child, Preschool, Disorders of Excessive Somnolence etiology, Female, Humans, Infant, Male, Polysomnography, Retrospective Studies, Sleep Apnea Syndromes diagnosis, Sleep Apnea, Obstructive etiology, Snoring etiology, Mitochondrial Diseases complications, Sleep Apnea Syndromes etiology
- Abstract
A retrospective chart review study was performed to determine the presence of sleep disordered breathing (SDB) in children with primary mitochondrial disease (MD). The symptoms, sleep-related breathing, and movement abnormalities are described for 18 subjects (ages 1.5 to 18 years, 61% male) with MD who underwent polysomnography in our pediatric sleep center from 2007 to 2012. Of the 18 subjects with MD, the common indications for polysomnography were excessive somnolence or fatigue (61%, N = 11), snoring (44%, N = 8), and sleep movement complaints (17%, N = 3). Polysomnographic measurements showed SDB in 56% (N = 10) (obstructive sleep apnea in 60% (N = 6), hypoxemia in 40% (N = 4), and sleep hypoventilation in 20% (N = 2)). There was a significant association between decreased muscle tone and SDB (P: 0.043) as well as obese and overweight status with SDB (P = 0.036). SDB is common in subjects with MD. Early detection of SDB, utilizing polysomnography, should be considered to assist in identification of MD patients who may benefit from sleep-related interventions.
- Published
- 2014
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40. Dysanaptic growth of lung and airway in children with post-infectious bronchiolitis obliterans.
- Author
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Mosquera RA, Hashmi SS, Pacheco SE, Reverdin A, Chevallier J, and Colasurdo GN
- Subjects
- Adolescent, Bronchiolitis Obliterans diagnostic imaging, Bronchiolitis Obliterans etiology, Child, Disease Progression, Female, Forced Expiratory Volume, Humans, Inflammation pathology, Inflammation physiopathology, Lung pathology, Lung physiopathology, Male, Respiratory Function Tests, Respiratory Tract Infections complications, Tomography, X-Ray Computed methods, Vital Capacity, Bronchiolitis Obliterans pathology, Bronchiolitis Obliterans physiopathology
- Abstract
Rationale: Post-infectious bronchiolitis obliterans (PBO) is a rare form of chronic obstructive lung disease associated with small airway fibrosis following a severe insult to the lower respiratory tract. It has been suggested that PBO is a non-progressive disease. However, evidence supporting this statement is limited. In this case series, we sought to determine the changes of pulmonary function tests (PFT) over time in children with PBO., Methods: Seven children with PBO, ages 6-15 years old, were retrospectively studied between 1994 and 2012. Spirometry and lung volumes tests were performed in accordance with American Thoracic Society (ATS) guidelines and were monitored over time. The average rate of change was calculated using generalized linear mixed models., Results: The median baseline values for forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1), the FEV1/FVC ratio and forced expiratory flow 25%-75% (FEF25%-75%) were 57%, 50%, 87% and 29%, respectively. FVC increased at a rate of 1.8% per year (P = 0.008). There was no significant change in FEV1 over time (P = 0.112). However, the FEV1/FVC ratio decreased by 2.6% per year (P < 0.001)., Conclusion: PFT in childhood PBO was characterized by significant airway obstruction. Over time, FVC (lung parenchyma) increased and FEV1 (airway) remained stable, but FEV1/FVC ratio declined more than expected, suggesting a mismatch in the growth of the airway and lung parenchyma (dysanaptic growth). Further studies in larger populations are needed to validate these observations., (© 2013 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)
- Published
- 2014
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41. Terrestrial activity in pitheciins (Cacajao, Chiropotes, and Pithecia).
- Author
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Barnett AA, Boyle SA, Norconk MM, Palminteri S, Santos RR, Veiga LM, Alvim TH, Bowler M, Chism J, DI Fiore A, Fernandez-Duque E, Guimarães AC, Harrison-Levine A, Haugaasen T, Lehman S, Mackinnon KC, DE Melo FR, Moreira LS, Moura VS, Phillips CR, Pinto LP, Port-Carvalho M, Setz EZ, Shaffer C, DA Silva LR, DA Silva SD, Soares RF, Thompson CL, Vieira TM, Vreedzaam A, Walker-Pacheco SE, Spironello WR, Maclarnon A, and Ferrari SF
- Subjects
- Animals, Female, Male, Predatory Behavior, Seasons, South America, Behavior, Animal, Ecosystem, Pitheciidae
- Abstract
Neotropical monkeys of the genera Cacajao, Chiropotes, and Pithecia (Pitheciidae) are considered to be highly arboreal, spending most of their time feeding and traveling in the upper canopy. Until now, the use of terrestrial substrates has not been analyzed in detail in this group. Here, we review the frequency of terrestrial use among pitheciin taxa to determine the ecological and social conditions that might lead to such behavior. We collated published and unpublished data from 14 taxa in the three genera. Data were gleaned from 53 published studies (including five on multiple pitheciin genera) and personal communications of unpublished data distributed across 31 localities. Terrestrial activity was reported in 61% of Pithecia field studies (11 of 18), in 34% of Chiropotes studies (10 of 29), and 36% of Cacajao studies (4 of 11). Within Pithecia, terrestrial behavior was more frequently reported in smaller species (e.g. P. pithecia) that are vertical clingers and leapers and make extensive use of the understory than in in the larger bodied canopy dwellers of the western Amazon (e.g. P. irrorata). Terrestrial behavior in Pithecia also occurred more frequently and lasted longer than in Cacajao or Chiropotes. An apparent association was found between flooded habitats and terrestrial activity and there is evidence of the development of a "local pattern" of terrestrial use in some populations. Seasonal fruit availability also may stimulate terrestrial behavior. Individuals also descended to the ground when visiting mineral licks, escaping predators, and responding to accidents such as a dropped infant. Overall, the results of this review emphasize that terrestrial use is rare among the pitheciins in general and is usually associated with the exploitation of specific resources or habitat types., (© 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)
- Published
- 2012
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42. Optimization of a filter-lysis protocol to purify rat testicular homogenates for automated spermatid counting.
- Author
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Pacheco SE, Anderson LM, and Boekelheide K
- Subjects
- Analysis of Variance, Animals, Automation, Laboratory, Cell Extracts, Detergents pharmacology, Hexanones toxicity, Male, Observer Variation, Organ Size drug effects, Rats, Rats, Inbred F344, Reproducibility of Results, Sperm Head drug effects, Surface-Active Agents pharmacology, Testis drug effects, Time Factors, Filtration, Sperm Count methods, Sperm Head pathology, Spermatogenesis drug effects, Testis pathology
- Abstract
Quantifying testicular homogenization-resistant spermatid heads (HRSH) is a powerful indicator of spermatogenesis. These counts have traditionally been performed manually using a hemocytometer, but this method can be time consuming and biased. We aimed to develop a protocol to reduce debris for the application of automated counting, which would allow for efficient and unbiased quantification of rat HRSH. We developed a filter-lysis protocol that effectively removes debris from rat testicular homogenates. After filtering and lysing the homogenates, we found no statistical differences between manual (classic and filter-lysis) and automated (filter-lysis) counts using 1-way analysis of variance with Bonferroni's multiple comparison test. In addition, Pearson's correlation coefficients were calculated to compare the counting methods, and there was a strong correlation between the classic manual counts and the filter-lysis manual (r = 0.85, P = .002) and the filter-lysis automated (r = 0.89, P = .0005) counts. We also tested the utility of the automated method in a low-dose exposure model known to decrease HRSH. Adult Fischer 344 rats exposed to 0.33% 2,5-hexanedione in the drinking water for 12 weeks demonstrated decreased body (P = .02) and testes (P = .002) weights. In addition, there was a significant reduction in the number of HRSH per testis (P = .002) when compared to controls. A filterlysis protocol was optimized to purify rat testicular homogenates for automated HRSH counts. Automated counting systems yield unbiased data and can be applied to detect changes in the testis after low-dose toxicant exposure.
- Published
- 2012
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
43. Sperm mRNA transcripts are indicators of sub-chronic low dose testicular injury in the Fischer 344 rat.
- Author
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Pacheco SE, Anderson LM, Sandrof MA, Vantangoli MM, Hall SJ, and Boekelheide K
- Subjects
- Animals, Cluster Analysis, Gene Expression Profiling, Gene Expression Regulation drug effects, Humans, Male, Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis, Organ Size drug effects, Organ Size genetics, RNA, Messenger genetics, RNA, Messenger metabolism, Rats, Rats, Inbred F344, Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction, Spermatozoa drug effects, Testis drug effects, Time Factors, Benzimidazoles administration & dosage, Benzimidazoles toxicity, Carbamates administration & dosage, Carbamates toxicity, Hexanones administration & dosage, Hexanones toxicity, Spermatozoa metabolism, Testis metabolism, Testis pathology
- Abstract
Current human reproductive risk assessment methods rely on semen and serum hormone analyses, which are not easily comparable to the histopathological endpoints and mating studies used in animal testing. Because of these limitations, there is a need to develop universal evaluations that reliably reflect male reproductive function. We hypothesized that toxicant-induced testicular injury can be detected in sperm using mRNA transcripts as indicators of insult. To test this, we exposed adult male Fischer 344 rats to low doses of model testicular toxicants and classically characterized the testicular injury while simultaneously evaluating sperm mRNA transcripts from the same animals. Overall, this study aimed to: 1) identify sperm transcripts altered after exposure to the model testicular toxicant, 2,5-hexanedione (HD) using microarrays; 2) expand on the HD-induced transcript changes in a comprehensive time course experiment using qRT-PCR arrays; and 3) test these injury indicators after exposure to another model testicular toxicant, carbendazim (CBZ). Microarray analysis of HD-treated adult Fischer 344 rats identified 128 altered sperm mRNA transcripts when compared to control using linear models of microarray analysis (q<0.05). All transcript alterations disappeared after 3 months of post-exposure recovery. In the time course experiment, time-dependent alterations were observed for 12 candidate transcripts selected from the microarray data based upon fold change and biological relevance, and 8 of these transcripts remained significantly altered after the 3-month recovery period (p<0.05). In the last experiment, 8 candidate transcripts changed after exposure to CBZ (p<0.05). The two testicular toxicants produced distinct molecular signatures with only 4 overlapping transcripts between them, each occurring in opposite directions. Overall, these results suggest that sperm mRNA transcripts are indicators of low dose toxicant-induced testicular injury in the rat.
- Published
- 2012
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
44. Male reprotoxicity and endocrine disruption.
- Author
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Campion S, Catlin N, Heger N, McDonnell EV, Pacheco SE, Saffarini C, Sandrof MA, and Boekelheide K
- Subjects
- Aging physiology, Animals, Environmental Exposure adverse effects, Genitalia, Male physiology, Humans, Male, Neoplasms, Germ Cell and Embryonal etiology, Prostatic Diseases etiology, Puberty physiology, Testicular Neoplasms etiology, Endocrine Disruptors toxicity, Environmental Pollutants toxicity, Genitalia, Male drug effects, Reproduction drug effects
- Abstract
Mammalian reproductive tract development is a tightly regulated process that can be disrupted following exposure to drugs, toxicants, endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs), or other compounds via alterations to gene and protein expression or epigenetic regulation. Indeed, the impacts of developmental exposure to certain toxicants may not be fully realized until puberty or adulthood when the reproductive tract becomes sexually mature and altered functionality is manifested. Exposures that occur later in life, once development is complete, can also disrupt the intricate hormonal and paracrine interactions responsible for adult functions, such as spermatogenesis. In this chapter, the biology and toxicology of the male reproductive tract is explored, proceeding through the various life stages including in utero development, puberty, adulthood, and senescence. Special attention is given to the discussion of EDCs, chemical mixtures, low-dose effects, transgenerational effects, and potential exposure-related causes of male reproductive tract cancers.
- Published
- 2012
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45. Integrative DNA methylation and gene expression analyses identify DNA packaging and epigenetic regulatory genes associated with low motility sperm.
- Author
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Pacheco SE, Houseman EA, Christensen BC, Marsit CJ, Kelsey KT, Sigman M, and Boekelheide K
- Subjects
- Cluster Analysis, CpG Islands genetics, Genetic Loci genetics, Humans, Male, Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis, RNA, Messenger genetics, RNA, Messenger metabolism, Spermatozoa metabolism, DNA Methylation genetics, DNA Packaging genetics, Epigenesis, Genetic genetics, Gene Expression Profiling, Sperm Motility genetics, Spermatozoa cytology, Systems Integration
- Abstract
Background: In previous studies using candidate gene approaches, low sperm count (oligospermia) has been associated with altered sperm mRNA content and DNA methylation in both imprinted and non-imprinted genes. We performed a genome-wide analysis of sperm DNA methylation and mRNA content to test for associations with sperm function., Methods and Results: Sperm DNA and mRNA were isolated from 21 men with a range of semen parameters presenting to a tertiary male reproductive health clinic. DNA methylation was measured with the Illumina Infinium array at 27,578 CpG loci. Unsupervised clustering of methylation data differentiated the 21 sperm samples by their motility values. Recursively partitioned mixture modeling (RPMM) of methylation data resulted in four distinct methylation profiles that were significantly associated with sperm motility (P = 0.01). Linear models of microarray analysis (LIMMA) was performed based on motility and identified 9,189 CpG loci with significantly altered methylation (Q<0.05) in the low motility samples. In addition, the majority of these disrupted CpG loci (80%) were hypomethylated. Of the aberrantly methylated CpGs, 194 were associated with imprinted genes and were almost equally distributed into hypermethylated (predominantly paternally expressed) and hypomethylated (predominantly maternally expressed) groups. Sperm mRNA was measured with the Human Gene 1.0 ST Affymetrix GeneChip Array. LIMMA analysis identified 20 candidate transcripts as differentially present in low motility sperm, including HDAC1 (NCBI 3065), SIRT3 (NCBI 23410), and DNMT3A (NCBI 1788). There was a trend among altered expression of these epigenetic regulatory genes and RPMM DNA methylation class., Conclusions: Using integrative genome-wide approaches we identified CpG methylation profiles and mRNA alterations associated with low sperm motility.
- Published
- 2011
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46. Changes in intestinal Toll-like receptors and cytokines precede histological injury in a rat model of necrotizing enterocolitis.
- Author
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Liu Y, Zhu L, Fatheree NY, Liu X, Pacheco SE, Tatevian N, and Rhoads JM
- Subjects
- Animals, Animals, Newborn, Blotting, Western, Disease Models, Animal, Enterocolitis, Necrotizing pathology, Humans, Hypoxia complications, Hypoxia immunology, Ileum pathology, Immunohistochemistry, Infant Formula, Infant, Newborn, RNA, Messenger metabolism, Rats, Rats, Sprague-Dawley, Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction, Signal Transduction, Th1 Cells immunology, Th2 Cells immunology, Time Factors, Toll-Like Receptors genetics, Up-Regulation, Cytokines metabolism, Enterocolitis, Necrotizing immunology, Ileum immunology, Toll-Like Receptors metabolism
- Abstract
It is unclear whether the broad inflammatory response shown in neonatal necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is the cause or the effect of tissue injury. Toll-like receptors (TLRs) on intestinal dendritic, mononuclear, and epithelial cells recognize bacterial ligands and damaged tissues, thus activating the inflammatory response. The present study aimed to determine whether active TLR signaling would precede histological injury in NEC. Newborn rat pups were divided into four groups: dam fed, dam fed-hypoxic, formula fed, and formula fed-hypoxic (NEC). The ileal tissues were evaluated for NEC scores at 24, 48, 72, and 120 h. Quantitative real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and immunohistochemistry were used to measure and localize intestinal TLRs. Cytokines were assessed by a multispot cytokine array. Among the four groups, ileal injury was seen only after 72 h of formula feeding and hypoxia. We found selective induction of mRNA levels in NEC compared with dam-fed controls for TLR2 > TLR4 > TLR1 = TLR3, TLR7, and TLR9 > TLR6 (P < 0.01); TLR5 was downregulated (P < 0.01). All TLR changes started at 48 h, before any histological evidence of NEC. Both Th1-type cytokines (IFN-gamma, IL-1beta, TNF-alpha, and KC/GRO) and Th2-type cytokines (IL-4, IL-5 and IL-13) were significantly increased in NEC but also in nondamaged formula-fed rat ileum. In conclusion, the intestinal expression of TLRs and cytokines precedes histological injury in the experimental NEC.
- Published
- 2009
- Full Text
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47. Chronic active Epstein-Barr virus infection of natural killer cells presenting as severe skin reaction to mosquito bites.
- Author
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Pacheco SE, Gottschalk SM, Gresik MV, Dishop MK, Okmaura T, and McCormick TG
- Subjects
- Animals, Child, Chronic Disease, Humans, Male, Culicidae, Epstein-Barr Virus Infections pathology, Insect Bites and Stings pathology, Killer Cells, Natural virology, Skin pathology
- Published
- 2005
- Full Text
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48. Clinical experience with linezolid for the treatment of nocardia infection.
- Author
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Moylett EH, Pacheco SE, Brown-Elliott BA, Perry TR, Buescher ES, Birmingham MC, Schentag JJ, Gimbel JF, Apodaca A, Schwartz MA, Rakita RM, and Wallace RJ Jr
- Subjects
- Child, Female, Humans, Linezolid, Male, Middle Aged, Treatment Outcome, Acetamides therapeutic use, Anti-Bacterial Agents therapeutic use, Nocardia drug effects, Nocardia Infections drug therapy, Oxazolidinones therapeutic use
- Abstract
Linezolid is an oxazolidinone that has activity against most gram-positive bacteria, including in vitro activity against all Nocardia species and strains. We describe 6 clinical cases of nocardiosis that were successfully treated with linezolid. Two patients had underlying X-linked chronic granulomatous disease, and 2 patients were receiving chronic corticosteroid therapy. Four of 6 patients had disseminated disease, and 2 of these 4 patients had multiple brain abscesses. Four patients primarily received monotherapy; for the fifth patient, linezolid was added to a failing multiple-drug regimen, and, for the sixth patient, it was used as part of combination therapy. All 6 patients were successfully treated, although 1 patient had a presumed relapse of central nervous system infection after premature discontinuation of the drug. Linezolid appears to be an effective alternative for the treatment of nocardiosis.
- Published
- 2003
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49. Recombinant Norwalk virus-like particles administered intranasally to mice induce systemic and mucosal (fecal and vaginal) immune responses.
- Author
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Guerrero RA, Ball JM, Krater SS, Pacheco SE, Clements JD, and Estes MK
- Subjects
- Adjuvants, Immunologic administration & dosage, Administration, Intranasal, Administration, Oral, Animals, Bacterial Toxins administration & dosage, Dose-Response Relationship, Immunologic, Enterotoxins administration & dosage, Escherichia coli, Feces chemistry, Feces virology, Female, Hemocyanins immunology, Immunoglobulin A analysis, Immunoglobulin G blood, Mice, Mice, Inbred BALB C, Norwalk virus chemistry, Ovalbumin immunology, Vagina immunology, Vagina virology, Virion immunology, Antibodies, Viral analysis, Caliciviridae Infections prevention & control, Escherichia coli Proteins, Gastroenteritis prevention & control, Norwalk virus immunology, Vaccination, Viral Vaccines administration & dosage
- Abstract
Recombinant Norwalk virus-like particles (rNV VLPs) were administered to BALB/c mice by the intranasal (i.n.) route to evaluate the induction of mucosal antibody responses. The results were compared to systemic and mucosal responses observed in new and previous studies (J. M. Ball, M. E. Hardy, R. L. Atmar, M. E. Connor, and M. K. Estes, J. Virol. 72:1345-1353, 1998) after oral administration of rNV VLPs. Immunizations were given in the presence or absence of a mucosal adjuvant, mutant Escherichia coli heat-labile toxin LT(R192G). rNV-specific immunoglobulin G (IgG) and fecal IgA were evaluated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The i.n. delivery of rNV VLPs was more effective than the oral route at inducing serum IgG and fecal IgA responses to low doses of rNV particles. Vaginal responses of female mice given VLPs by the i.n. and oral routes were also examined. All mice that received two immunizations with low doses i.n. (10 or 25 microg) of rNV VLPs and the majority of mice that received two high doses orally (200 microg) in the absence of adjuvant had rNV-specific serum IgG, fecal, and vaginal responses. Additional experiments evaluated whether rNV VLPs can function as a mucosal adjuvant by evaluating the immune responses to two soluble proteins, keyhole limpet hemocyanin and chicken egg albumin. Under the conditions tested, rNV VLPs did not enhance the serum IgG or fecal IgA response to these soluble proteins when coadministered by the i.n. or oral route. Low doses of nonreplicating rNV VLPs are immunogenic when administered i.n. in the absence of adjuvant, and addition of adjuvant enhanced the magnitude and duration of these responses. Recombinant NV VLPs represent a candidate mucosal vaccine for NV infections in humans.
- Published
- 2001
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50. Intranasal immunization with HIV reverse transcriptase: effect of dose in the induction of helper T cell type 1 and 2 immunity.
- Author
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Pacheco SE, Gibbs RA, Ansari-Lari A, and Rogers P
- Subjects
- AIDS Vaccines genetics, Administration, Intranasal, Animals, Cytokines biosynthesis, Dose-Response Relationship, Immunologic, Female, HIV Antibodies blood, HIV Reverse Transcriptase genetics, Immunization, Immunoglobulin G blood, Immunoglobulin G classification, Lymph Nodes immunology, Lymphocyte Activation, Mice, Recombinant Proteins immunology, Salivary Glands immunology, Spleen immunology, AIDS Vaccines administration & dosage, AIDS Vaccines immunology, HIV Reverse Transcriptase immunology, Th1 Cells immunology, Th2 Cells immunology
- Abstract
HIV reverse transcriptase (RT) is immunologically recognized by the host after natural infection with HIV. To study the immune response to this nonenvelope protein and the effect of the antigen dose and the immunization route on the differential induction of cellular or humoral responses, CB6F1 mice were immunized intranasally with various doses of recombinant RT (0.025-25 microg/dose) in the presence of the mucosal adjuvant cholera toxin (CT). An antigen-specific, dose-dependent, in vitro proliferative response was observed in splenic cells from all mouse groups immunized with RT and CT. Proliferative responses in salivary gland-associated lymph node (SGALN) cells from the same mice were detected only with higher antigen dose immunizations (2.5, 25 microg/dose). IFN-gamma, a Th1-type cytokine, was detected in RT-stimulated culture supernatants from splenic and SGALN cells from all groups of mice immunized with RT and CT in a dose-dependent fashion. IL-4, a Th2-type cytokine, was detected in RT-stimulated culture supernatants from splenic and SGALN cells from mice immunized with higher doses of RT and CT. RT-specific IgG2a, a Th1-type-related antibody, was detected consistently in sera from all animals immunized with RT and CT and was predominant in mice immunized with lower antigen doses (0.025, 0.25 microg/dose). RT-specific IgG1, a Th2-type-related antibody, was detected consistently in mice immunized with higher antigen doses and was predominant in these groups. These studies demonstrate the immunogenicity of recombinant RT and the effect of the antigen dose in the induction of Th1-type and Th2-type immune responses after mucosal immunization.
- Published
- 2000
- Full Text
- View/download PDF
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