Horizontal gene transfer (HGT) is a key driver in the evolution of bacterial genomes. The acquisition of genes mediated by HGT may enable bacteria to adapt to ever-changing environmental conditions. Long-term application of antibiotics in intensive agriculture is associated with the dissemination of antibiotic resistance genes among bacteria with the consequences causing public health concern. Commensal farm-animal-associated gut microbiota are considered the reservoir of the resistance genes. Therefore, in this study, we identified known and not-yet characterized mobilized genes originating from chicken and porcine fecal samples using our innovative pipeline followed by network analysis to provide appropriate visualization to support proper interpretation.
- MeSH
- antibakteriální látky MeSH
- Bacteria genetika MeSH
- bakteriální geny MeSH
- genom bakteriální MeSH
- mikrobiota * MeSH
- prasata MeSH
- přenos genů horizontální * MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Check Tag
- zvířata MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
OBJECTIVES: Submental fullness has been associated with being perceived as unattractive. Technology combining radiofrequency and muscle stimulation offers submental contouring through fat reduction, muscle stimulation, and skin tightening. This study aims to demonstrate the effectiveness and safety of fat reduction aspect with a novel submentum applicator delivering HIFES and synchronized radiofrequency+ (RF+) energies. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Six white pigs (sus scrofa domesticus, n = 6, 60-80 kg) were recruited for this study, five in the active group (n = 5) received four treatments on the abdominal area, one sow served as a control (n = 1). Ultrasound, histological, and RT-qPCR methods were used as evaluation methods. RESULTS: Fat thickness decreased at 1 month by -17.35% and at 2 month by 31.40%. Proapoptotic caspase-9 gene expression increased (at 1 h, 6 h, 24 h to +43.45%, +21.22%, -8.36%), as well as caspase-3 (+15.28%, +21.77%, -6.71%), while bcl2l1 activity decreased (-11.46% at 1 h, -17.02% at 6 h, -3.9% at 24 h). While the AI in the control animal had minimal change (at 1 h -0.08%, at 6 h -0.09%, and at 24 h -0.025%), the active group's AI increased from the baseline of 9.14 to 44.85 at 1 h (+391%), peaked at 6 h to 53.50 (+485%), and at 24 h to 38.17 (+318%). CONCLUSION: The study results indicate the efficacy and safety of subcutaneous fat reduction following the novel technology combining HIFES and RF+ energies, designed to target small localized areas.
- Publikační typ
- abstrakt z konference MeSH
Flaviviruses such as dengue virus (DENV), Zika virus (ZIKV), and yellow fever virus (YFV) are spread by mosquitoes and cause human disease and mortality in tropical areas. In contrast, Powassan virus (POWV), which causes severe neurologic illness, is a flavivirus transmitted by ticks in temperate regions of the Northern hemisphere. We find serologic neutralizing activity against POWV in individuals living in Mexico and Brazil. Monoclonal antibodies P002 and P003, which were derived from a resident of Mexico (where POWV is not reported), neutralize POWV lineage I by recognizing an epitope on the virus envelope domain III (EDIII) that is shared with a broad range of tick- and mosquito-borne flaviviruses. Our findings raise the possibility that POWV, or a flavivirus closely related to it, infects humans in the tropics.
- MeSH
- epitopy imunologie MeSH
- Flavivirus imunologie MeSH
- klíšťata virologie imunologie MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- monoklonální protilátky imunologie MeSH
- neutralizující protilátky * imunologie MeSH
- protilátky virové imunologie MeSH
- viry klíšťové encefalitidy imunologie MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Check Tag
- lidé MeSH
- mužské pohlaví MeSH
- ženské pohlaví MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- Geografické názvy
- Brazílie MeSH
- Mexiko MeSH
Celiac disease is a common gastroenterological illness. Current diagnostics of the disease are based on serological markers and histology of duodenal biopsies. Hitherto, a strict gluten-free diet is the only effective treatment and is necessary for good control of the disease. Serological tests in current use have very high specificity and sensitivity for diagnostics, but in follow-up they have some limitations. Their levels do not accurately reflect mucosal healing, and they are unable to detect minimal transgressions in the diet. This problem is significant in patients with IgA deficiency, and there exist no robust follow-up tools for monitoring these patients' adherence to treatment. For their follow-up, we currently use IgG-based tests, and these antibodies persist for a long time even when a patient has stopped consuming gluten. More accurate and specific biomarkers are definitely needed. Adherence to a gluten-free diet is essential not only for intestinal mucosa healing and alleviation of symptoms but also for preventing complications associated with celiac disease. Here, we summarize current evidence regarding noninvasive biomarkers potentially useful for follow-up not only of patients with IgA deficiency but for all patients with celiac disease. We describe several very promising biomarkers with potential to be part of clinical practice in the near future.
- MeSH
- bezlepková dieta MeSH
- biologické markery MeSH
- celiakie * MeSH
- deficience IgA * MeSH
- gluteny MeSH
- imunoglobulin A MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- následné studie MeSH
- Check Tag
- lidé MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- přehledy MeSH
Tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) is a flavivirus that causes human neuroinfections and represents a growing health problem. The human monoclonal antibody T025 targets envelope protein domain III (EDIII) of TBEV and related tick-borne flaviviruses, potently neutralizing TBEV in vitro and in preclinical models, representing a promising candidate for clinical development. We demonstrate that TBEV escape in the presence of T025 or T028 (another EDIII-targeting human monoclonal antibody) results in virus variants of reduced pathogenicity, characterized by distinct sets of amino acid changes in EDII and EDIII that are jointly needed to confer resistance. EDIII substitution K311N impairs formation of a salt bridge critical for T025-epitope interaction. EDII substitution E230K is not on the T025 epitope but likely induces quaternary rearrangements of the virus surface because of repulsion of positively charged residues on the adjacent EDI. A combination of T025 and T028 prevents virus escape and improves neutralization.
Salmonella spp. is a common zoonotic pathogen, causing gastrointestinal infections in people. Pigs and pig meat are a major source of infection. Although farm biosecurity is believed to be important for controlling Salmonella transmission, robust evidence is lacking on which measures are most effective. This study enrolled 250 pig farms across nine European countries. From each farm, 20 pooled faecal samples (or similar information) were collected and analysed for Salmonella presence. Based on the proportion of positive results, farms were categorised as at higher or lower Salmonella risk, and associations with variables from a comprehensive questionnaire investigated. Multivariable analysis indicated that farms were less likely to be in the higher-risk category if they had '<400 sows'; used rodent baits close to pig enclosures; isolated stay-behind (sick) pigs; did not answer that the hygiene lock/ anteroom was easy to clean; did not have a full perimeter fence; did apply downtime of at least 3 days between farrowing batches; and had fully slatted flooring in all fattener buildings. A principal components analysis assessed the sources of variation between farms, and correlation between variables. The study results suggest simple control measures that could be prioritised on European pig farms to control Salmonella.
- MeSH
- biologická bezpečnost MeSH
- chov zvířat metody MeSH
- farmy MeSH
- nemoci prasat * epidemiologie prevence a kontrola MeSH
- prasata MeSH
- Salmonella MeSH
- salmonelová infekce u zvířat * epidemiologie prevence a kontrola MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Check Tag
- ženské pohlaví MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- práce podpořená grantem MeSH
- Geografické názvy
- Evropa MeSH
Emergence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) variants diminishes the efficacy of vaccines and antiviral monoclonal antibodies. Continued development of immunotherapies and vaccine immunogens resilient to viral evolution is therefore necessary. Using coldspot-guided antibody discovery, a screening approach that focuses on portions of the virus spike glycoprotein that are both functionally relevant and averse to change, we identified human neutralizing antibodies to highly conserved viral epitopes. Antibody fp.006 binds the fusion peptide and cross-reacts against coronaviruses of the four genera, including the nine human coronaviruses, through recognition of a conserved motif that includes the S2' site of proteolytic cleavage. Antibody hr2.016 targets the stem helix and neutralizes SARS-CoV-2 variants. Antibody sd1.040 binds to subdomain 1, synergizes with antibody rbd.042 for neutralization, and, similar to fp.006 and hr2.016, protects mice expressing human angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 against infection when present as a bispecific antibody. Thus, coldspot-guided antibody discovery reveals donor-derived neutralizing antibodies that are cross-reactive with Orthocoronavirinae, including SARS-CoV-2 variants.
- MeSH
- COVID-19 * MeSH
- epitopy MeSH
- glykoprotein S, koronavirus MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- myši MeSH
- neutralizační testy MeSH
- neutralizující protilátky * MeSH
- protilátky virové MeSH
- SARS-CoV-2 MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Check Tag
- lidé MeSH
- myši MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
- práce podpořená grantem MeSH
- Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural MeSH
Introduction: The majority of hepatitis E (HE) reports come from Western Europe. The aim of the study was to describe the typical epidemiological and clinical characteristics of HE in the Czech Republic. Methods: A retrospective analysis of 173 patients with HE. Results: At least 90% of cases were autochthonous (HEV-3 genotype). Seventeen patients were treated with ribavirin. Five underwent liver transplants because of fulminant HE. We noted neurological symptomatology in 9 cases. Six patients developed chronic HE. Conclusions: There is a possibility of severe health complications caused by the hepatitis E virus in the Czech Republic.
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
Campylobacter (C.) spp. represent one of the most important causes for food-borne bacterial pathogen in humans worldwide. The aim of this study was to investigate metabolic requirements of two Campylobacter strains of different species based on substrate utilisation (in vitro). Based on these results, a correlation between the colonisation and the available substrates in different intestinal sections was recorded using an animal model. Campylobacter coli (ST-5777) and C. jejuni (ST-122) were used to inoculate 16 pigs, respectively, and one group of 16 pigs was used as control. The strains differed significantly in substrate utilisation - C. coli was able to metabolise various substrates (acetate, asparagine, serine, fucose, and propionate), while C. jejuni only utilised serine. Metabolomic analysis of intestinal content from different gut sections showed the presence of all previously tested metabolites, except for fucose. A significantly larger amount of glucose was found in the jejunum of those pigs infected with C. coli, while neither strain utilised it in vitro. The analysis of the intestinal contents revealed a very low proportion of Campylobacterales in the total microbiome, suggesting that the small percentage of the inoculated Campylobacter strains in the gut microflora of the animals is too low to cause differences between the control and infected groups in the composition of the metabolome. Nevertheless, knowledge of specific nutritional requirements of the pathogens combined with proof of different metabolites in the intestinal segments may provide clues about the site of colonisation in the host and improve our understanding of this zoonotic germ.
- MeSH
- Campylobacter coli * MeSH
- Campylobacter jejuni * MeSH
- Campylobacter * MeSH
- fukosa MeSH
- kampylobakterové infekce * mikrobiologie veterinární MeSH
- lidé MeSH
- nemoci prasat * MeSH
- prasata MeSH
- serin MeSH
- střeva MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Check Tag
- lidé MeSH
- zvířata MeSH
- Publikační typ
- časopisecké články MeSH
