Development of a Chlamydia suis‐specific antibody enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay based on the use of a B‐cell epitope of the polymorphic membrane protein C

Chlamydia suis infections lead to economic loss in the pork industry. Chlamydia suis infections could be successfully treated with tetracyclines until the appearance of a tetracycline resistant phenotype, which was acquired via horizontal gene transfer of the tet (C) gene. Given the importance of C. suis as a swine pathogen and as a recently emerged tetracycline resistant pathogen with zoonotic potential, our aim was to develop a sensitive C. suis ‐specific antibody ELISA based on the polymorphic membrane proteins (Pmps). Chlamydia Pmps are important virulence factors and candidate antigens for serodiagnosis. We identified nine Pmps (PmpA to I) in C. suis strain MD 56 using a recently developed Hidden‐Markov model. PmpC was the most promising candidate for the development of a C. suis ‐specific antibody ELISA as the protein was absent in C. abortus , C. pecorum and C. psittaci which also infect pigs and as the protein contained C. suis ‐specific amino acid regions, absent in C. trachomatis PmpC. We identified an immunodominant B‐cell epitope in C. suis PmpC using experimental porcine sera. The sensitivity and specificity of the PmpC ELISA was compared to the complement fixation test (CFT ) and to a recombinant MOMP ELISA using experimental sera. The PmpC ELISA detected all positive control sera and was in contrast to CFT and the rMOMP ELISA 100% C. suis specific as positive control sera against other Chlamydia species did not react in the PmpC ELISA . The test was successfully validated using slaughterhouse sera and sera from clinically affected pigs. The PmpC ELISA could assist in diminishing the spread of C. suis infections in the pork industry.     

Sequencing and phylogenetic characterization of Brucella canis isolates,Ohio, 2016

Brucella canis is one of zoonotic pathogens causing infection in human. In this study, we isolated and sequenced 38 B. canis strains from 11 cases. Core genome multilocus sequence typing analysis classified all B. canis isolates into two genogroups, GI and GII . All 38 isolates cluster together forming a 2016 Ohio cluster, in which they form five subclusters reflecting their geographical differences. Unlike GI , the isolates of the GII are from diverse geographical locations including Asia, America, Africa, and Europe and form Asia and South America clusters. Overall, our findings could be useful to investigate and track B. canis of future outbreaks.     

Antidepressant Drugs in the Elderly — Rôle of the Cytochrome P450 2D6

Depression, the most common mental health problem of the elderly, is often under-diagnosed and under-treated. As patients age, antidepressant pharmacological treatment becomes more complicated due to an increased risk of adverse drug events. These risks are associated with age-related physiological changes and individual variability in drug metabolism related to several factors, the most frequent of which is polymedication as a result of coexisting chronic illnesses.

Comedications induce drug interactions that depend on the patient's metabolic capacity, linked to the genetically determined cytochrome P450 enzyme (CYP450) function. The effect of some isoenzyme polymorphisms on the pharmacokinetics of many antidepressants and other psychotropic drugs is well characterized.

The author approaches successively the notions of the cytochrome P450 (2D6), its role in drug biotransformation, and the importance of knowing its substrates, inhibitors and inducers in order to predict drug interactions. The clinical significance of this notion, and the help that could be given by genotyping, and phenotyping are also explained. The author's experience on the relationship between drug side effects and patient metabolic status, and on the antidepressant interactions with fluoxetine, fluvoxamine and citalopram, is given in order to rationalize and individualize antidepressant choice in elderly.     

Quality Assessment of Mixed and Ceramic Recycled Aggregates from Construction and Demolition Wastes in the Concrete Manufacture According to the Spanish Standard ?

Construction and demolition waste (CDW) constitutes an increasingly significant problem in society due to the volume generated, rendering sustainable management and disposal problematic. The aim of this study is to identify a possible reuse option in the concrete manufacturing for recycled aggregates with a significant ceramic content: mixed recycled aggregates (MixRA) and ceramic recycled aggregates (CerRA). In order to do so, several tests are conducted in accordance with the Spanish Code on Structural Concrete (EHE-08) to determine the composition in weight and physic-mechanical characteristics (particle size distributions, fine content, sand equivalent, density, water absorption, flakiness index, and resistance to fragmentation) of the samples for the partial inclusion of the recycled aggregates in concrete mixes. The results of these tests clearly support the hypothesis that this type of material may be suitable for such partial replacements if simple pretreatment is carried out. Furthermore, this measure of reuse is in line with European, national, and regional policies on sustainable development, and presents a solution to the environmental problem caused by the generation of CDW.