Microsatellite markers from the Chagas disease vector, Rhodnius prolixus (Hemiptera, Reduviidae), and their applicability to Rhodnius species

Ten microsatellites were isolated and characterized from a partial genomic library of Rhodnius prolixus, the principal Chagas disease vector in Venezuela, Colombia and Central America. These polymorphic molecular markers could be particularly useful in Chagas disease control initiatives. A wider applicability of the primer-pairs isolated was shown, from 6 to 10 loci being amplifiable in five out of the ten Rhodnius species tested, namely R. domesticus, R. nasutus, R. neglectus, R. neivai and R. robustus. Interestingly, all the loci were amplified in the latter. These markers may be of interest to trace the colonization of human dwellings from triatomine sylvatic populations in order to better define epidemiological risk patterns.     

N-terminal sequence polymorphism in the coagulase gene of Staphylococcus aureus and its potential use as an epidemiological marker

N-terminal DNA sequences of the coagulase gene were amplified from Staphylococcus aureus strain ISP8 (NCTC 8325-4) DNA using the polymerase chain reaction. The amplified DNA product (984 bp) was used to probe SmaI and DraI digested total DNA of methicillin- and multi-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) type strains, methicillin-sensitive S. aureus (MSSA) clinical isolates, and community (commensal) isolates. A SmaI fragment of a similar size in all the isolates examined hybridized with the coagulase gene fragment probe. All MRSA isolates, representing closely related (clonal) types, revealed identical coagulase hybridization patterns with DraI digested DNA. MSSA and community isolates closely related to ISP8 by SmaI fragment analysis shared closely related DraI/coagulase hybridization patterns, differing from that identified for the MRSAs. In contrast, the community and MSSA isolates not related to ISP8 as judged by total SmaI fragment polymorphisms, were also diverse in their DraI/ coagulase hybridization patterns. In addition, the intensity of the hybridization signal obtained with the MRSA isolates varied significantly (less than) from the other isolates, indicating the presence of multiple and probably different coagulase genes between the isolates. The findings reported here indicate that hybridization analysis using single genes as DNA probes is less discriminant than restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis of the total genome of different isolates.     

Effects of genetic factors and infection status on wing morphology of Triatoma dimidiata species complex in the Yucatán peninsula, Mexico

Triatoma dimidiata is one of the main vectors of Chagas disease, and it has been shown to be a species complex. In the Yucatán peninsula, Mexico, vector populations are non-domiciliated, and the transmission of Trypanosoma cruzi thus critically relies on vector dispersal. This leads us to study the morphologic variations in T. dimidiata wings with respect to genetic factors (sex and genotype at the ITS-2 locus), geographic location, and T. cruzi-infection status. Females were found to have larger and more symmetrical wings than males. Wing shape was influenced by ITS-2 genotypes, although differences are unlikely sufficient to allow taxonomic discrimination of the sibling species. Hybrids were shown to have similar fluctuating asymmetries in wing size and shape as parental species, but the level of asymmetry in shape varied slightly between villages. The two later findings are consistent with a high level of gene flow between parental species, and the high dispersal potential of these non-domiciliated vectors. More surprisingly, individuals infected with T. cruzi were found to have larger wings than non-infected ones. This effect, which was consistently observed across sexes, genotypes and villages, is likely to be due to a direct impact of T. cruzi on insect development. Sex and infection status are thus likely to be key factors influencing vector dispersal with important impacts on disease transmission, since dispersal directly controls the domestic abundance of these vectors. These aspects should be investigated further to fully capture the ecology and evolution of Chagas disease transmission by non-domiciliated vectors.     

对氧磷酶1 55 Met/Leu、对氧磷酶2 148 Ala/Gly和锰超氧化物歧化酶9 Ala/Val基因多态性与冠心病

目的 探讨对氧磷酶155 Met/Leu(PON1 55 Met/Leu)、对氧磷酶2148 Ala/Gly(PON2148 Ala/Gly)和锰超氧化物歧化酶9 Ala/Val(MnSOD 9 Ala/Val)基因多态性与冠心病(CHD)、血浆对氧磷酶(PON)、总超氧化物歧化酶(T-SOD)和锰超氧化物歧化酶(MnSOD)活性以及丙二醛(MDA)浓度的关系.方法 采用聚合酶链反应-限制性片段长度多态性(PCR-RFLP)方法检测262例CHD患者和100名对照组的PON1 55 Met/Leu、PON2 148 Ala/Gly和MnSOD 9 Ala/Val基因多态性的基因型,采用比色法测定血浆PON、T-SOD和MnSOD活性以及MDA浓度.结果 与对照组比较,CHD患者的血浆PON[(349.27±138.36 vs 454.75±166.00)nmol·min-1·ml-1,P＜0.001]、T-SOD[(23.61±16.51 vs.44.01±22.68)U/ml,P＜0.001]和MnSOD活性[(21.56±13.11 vs.28.79±8.65)U/ml,P＜0.001]明显降低,MDA浓度显著增高[(2.47±0.73 vs.2.15±0.55)nmol/ml,P＜0.01];CHD患者的PON1 55 LM杂合子基因型、M等位基因频率,PON2 148 GG纯合子基因型和AG杂合子基因型、G等位基因频率和MnSOD 9 AA基因型、A等位基因频率较对照组明显增多;PON1 55 LM杂合子基因型的PON和T-SOD活性较LL纯合子基因型明显降低;PON2 148GG基因型和AG基因型的PON活性较AA基因型明显降低;MnSOD AA基因型的PON和MnSOD活性较VV基因型明显降低;logistic回归分析显示PON1 55 LM杂合子基因型、M等位基因、PON2148 GG/AG基因型、G等位基因是CHD的危险因子.结论 CHD患者的抗氧化能力明显降低,脂质过氧化物显著增高;PON1 55 Met/Leu、PON2 148 Ala/Gly和MnSOD 9 Ala/Val基因多态性通过影响血浆PON和MnSOD活性而参与CHD的发病.     

Mutation scanning-coupled tools for the analysis of genetic variation in Taenia and diagnosis – Status and prospects

Cestodes of the genus Taenia occur as adult tapeworms in the small intestine of carnivorous definitive hosts and are transmitted to particular mammalian intermediate hosts, in which they develop as fluid-filled larvae in tissues, causing the disease cysticercosis or coenuriasis. A number of species are of medical importance and/or cause losses to the meat and livestock industry mainly due to the condemnation of infected muscle and offal. The control of taeniid cestodes relies upon epidemiological data, including the precise identification and characterization of the causative agents. Traditional, phenetic techniques have limitations for specific diagnosis. Although there has been progress in the establishment of molecular tools, there has been relatively limited application of mutation scanning approaches to species of Taenia. In the present article, we briefly review key genetic markers used for the specific identification of taeniids and tools for the analysis of genetic variation within and among populations and the diagnosis of taeniasis and cysticercosis/coenuriasis. We also discuss the advantages and disadvantages of selected techniques and emphasize the benefits of utilizing mutation scanning-based approaches in achieving detailed insights into the population genetics and epidemiology of Taenia species.     

Association between Fathers’ and Mothers’ Parenting Styles and the Risk of Overweight/Obesity among Adolescents in San José Province,Costa Rica

Parenting styles are a risk factor for adolescents overweight/obesity worldwide, but this association is not well understood in the context of Latin America. This study examines the association between the parenting styles of mothers and fathers and the risk of overweight/obesity among Costa Rican adolescents. Data are cross-sectional from a sample of adolescents (13–18 years old) enrolled in ten urban and eight rural schools (n = 18) in the province of San José, Costa Rica, in 2017. Hierarchical logistic regression analyses were performed to assess the likelihood of adolescents being overweight according to the mothers’ and fathers’ parenting styles. A significant association was found between the risk of adolescent overweight/obesity and the paternal authoritarian style only in rural areas (B = 0.622, SE = 0.317, Wald = 3.864, ExpB = 1.863, p = 0.04), and between said risk and the paternal permissive style only in male adolescents (B = 0.901, SE = 0.435, Wald = 4.286, ExpB = 2.461, p = 0.038). For maternal parenting styles, no associations reached significant levels once logistic regression models were adjusted for the fathers’ parenting styles. These findings underscore the importance of further studying the role of fathers’ paternal parenting styles on Latin American adolescent weight outcomes. Expanding our understanding of the parenting styles of fathers has important implications for the design and implementation of culturally- and gender-appropriate family interventions.     

“Bird biting” mosquitoes and human disease: A review of the role of Culex pipiens complex mosquitoes in epidemiology

The transmission of vector-borne pathogens is greatly influenced by the ecology of their vector, which is in turn shaped by genetic ancestry, the environment, and the hosts that are fed on. One group of vectors, the mosquitoes in the Culex pipiens complex, play key roles in the transmission of a range of pathogens including several viruses such as West Nile and St. Louis encephalitis viruses, avian malaria (Plasmodium spp.), and filarial worms. The Cx. pipiens complex includes Culex pipiens pipiens with two forms, pipiens and molestus, Culex pipiens pallens, Culex quinquefasciatus, Culex australicus, and Culex globocoxitus. While several members of the complex have limited geographic distributions, Cx. pipienspipiens and Cx. quinquefasciatus are found in all known urban and sub-urban temperate and tropical regions, respectively, across the world, where they are often principal disease vectors. In addition, hybrids are common in areas of overlap. Although gaps in our knowledge still remain, the advent of genetic tools has greatly enhanced our understanding of the history of speciation, domestication, dispersal, and hybridization. We review the taxonomy, genetics, evolution, behavior, and ecology of members of the Cx. pipiens complex and their role in the transmission of medically important pathogens. The adaptation of Cx. pipiens complex mosquitoes to human-altered environments led to their global distribution through dispersal via humans and, combined with their mixed feeding patterns on birds and mammals (including humans), increased the transmission of several avian pathogens to humans. We highlight several unanswered questions that will increase our ability to control diseases transmitted by these mosquitoes.