151
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Diaz MA, Alegre A, Villa M, Benito A, Bernardo MR, Lopez-Botet M, Madero L. Allogeneic peripheral blood progenitor cell (PBPC) transplantation in children with haematological malignancies. Br J Haematol 1997; 96:161-4. [PMID: 9012702 DOI: 10.1046/j.1365-2141.1997.8512479.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
We report on five children with haematological malignancies who underwent allogeneic peripheral blood progenitor cell (PBPC) transplantation. PBPC were harvested from HLA-identical sibling donors after G-CSF (10 micrograms/kg/d s.c.) mobilization. Aphereses were carried out on day 5 after G-CSF using a Cobe Spectra blood cell separator. All PBPC allografts were cryopreserved before transplantation. The median of CD34+ cells and CD3+ cells infused were 14.1 x 10(6)/kg recipient body weight (range 4.92-22.3) and 2.40 x 10(8)/kg recipient body weight (range 0.54 4.82), respectively. Engraftment occurred in all cases. The median time to a neutrophil count > 0.5 x 10(9)/l and a platelet count > 20 x 10(9)/l were 15 and 14 d, respectively. The incidence of severe acute graft-versus-host disease was 20%. These data suggest that allogeneic PBPC transplantation might be an alternative to bone marrow transplantation in children.
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Affiliation(s)
- M A Diaz
- Department of Paediatric Haematology and Oncology, Hospital Niño Jesús, Autonomous University of Madrid, Spain
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152
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Carrió R, López-Hoyos M, Jimeno J, Benedict MA, Merino R, Benito A, Fernández-Luna JL, Núñez G, García-Porrero JA, Merino J. A1 demonstrates restricted tissue distribution during embryonic development and functions to protect against cell death. Am J Pathol 1996; 149:2133-42. [PMID: 8952545 PMCID: PMC1865360] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
Members of the bcl-2 gene family are essential regulators of cell survival in a wide range of biological processes. A1, a member of the family, is known to be expressed in certain adult tissues. However, the precise tissue distribution and function of A1 remains poorly understood. We show here that A1 is expressed in multiple tissues during murine embryonic development. In the embryo, A1 was detected first at embryonic day 11.5 in liver, brain, and limbs. At day 13.5 of gestation, A1 expression was observed in the central nervous system, liver, perichondrium, and digital zones of developing limbs in a pattern different from that of bcl-X. In the central nervous system of 15.5-day embryos, A1 was expressed at high levels in the ventricular zone and cortical plate of brain cortex. Significantly, the interdigital zones of limbs and the intermediate region of the developing brain cortex, two sites associated with extensive cell death, were devoid of A1 and bcl-X. The expression of A1 was retained in many adult tissues. To assess the ability of A1 to modulate cell death, stable transfectants expressing different amounts of A1 protein were generated in K562 cells. Expression of A1 was associated with retardation of apoptotic cell death induced by actinomycin D and cycloheximide as well as by okadaic acid. Confocal microscopy showed that the A1 protein was localized to the cytoplasm in a pattern similar to that of Bcl-2. These results demonstrate that the expression of A1 is wider than previously reported in adult tissues. Furthermore, its distribution in multiple tissues of the embryo suggests that A1 plays a role in the regulation of physiological cell death during embryonic development.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Carrió
- Servicio de Inmunología, H. U. Marqués de Valdecilla, Instituto Nacional de la Salud, Santander, Spain
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153
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Villaverde A, Feliu JX, Harbottle RP, Benito A, Coutelle C. A recombinant, arginine-glycine-aspartic acid (RGD) motif from foot-and-mouth disease virus binds mammalian cells through vitronectin and, to a lower extent, fibronectin receptors. Gene 1996; 180:101-6. [PMID: 8973352 DOI: 10.1016/s0378-1119(96)00413-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
The cell-binding abilities of a recombinant, RGD-containing peptide from foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) have been characterized in HeLa and BHK cells. This peptide represents the aa sequence of the solvent-exposed G-H loop of protein VP1 which is involved in cell recognition and infection. The efficiency of the viral motif in promoting cell attachment and spreading is comparable to that shown by fibronectin or vitronectin. Cell binding is inhibited by a monoclonal antibody directed against a viral, RGD-involving B-cell epitope and also by sera against vitronectin (alpha V beta 3/beta 5) and fibronectin (alpha 5 beta 1) receptors. In addition, a synthetic RGD peptide, which is a ligand for both integrins, prevents the cell binding mediated by the FMDV domain. These data demonstrate that the FMDV RGD motif is a potent ligand for cell-receptor integrins and sufficient to promote cell attachment to susceptible cells mainly through the vitronectin receptor.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Villaverde
- Institut de Biologia Fonamental, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Spain.
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154
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Carbonell X, Benito A, Villaverde A. Converging antigenic structure of a recombinant viral peptide displayed on different frameworks of carrier proteins. FEBS Lett 1996; 397:169-72. [PMID: 8955340 DOI: 10.1016/s0014-5793(96)01169-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
A peptide reproducing the G-H loop amino acid sequence of foot-and-mouth disease virus VP1 protein was fused to the solvent-exposed C-terminus of the bacteriophage P22 tailspike protein [Carbonell and Villaverde (1996) Gene, in press], a homotrimeric polypeptide with a strong beta-helical structure. This fusion does not interfere with the biological activities of the phage tail. The antigenic profile of the complex antigenic site A within the G-H loop has been determined by competitive ELISA with a panel of monoclonal antibodies directed against different overlapping B-cell epitopes. The antigenic data have been compared with those obtained with a set of 12 chimeric beta-galactosidases displaying the G-H loop on different exposed regions. A high coincidence has been evidenced between the antigenicity of the viral peptide fused to the phage protein and that of some peptides inserted in an exposed loop of the activating interface of beta-galactosidase. This indicates that completely different structural frameworks of carrier proteins can provide similar constraints that allow the recombinant peptide to successfully mimic the antigenicity, and probably conformational features, of the natural peptide on the virion surface.
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Affiliation(s)
- X Carbonell
- Institut de Biologia Fonamental and Departament de Genètica i Microbiologia, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Spain
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155
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Villa M, Madero L, Diaz MA, Alegre A, Benito A, Velasco M. Successful collection and transplantation of allogeneic peripheral blood progenitor cells from a very low-weight donor. Bone Marrow Transplant 1996; 18:1025-6. [PMID: 8932863] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
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156
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Silva M, Grillot D, Benito A, Richard C, Nuñez G, Fernández-Luna JL. Erythropoietin can promote erythroid progenitor survival by repressing apoptosis through Bcl-XL and Bcl-2. Blood 1996; 88:1576-82. [PMID: 8781412] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Erythropoietin (Epo), the hormone that is the principal regulator of red blood cell production, interacts with high-affinity receptors on the surface of erythroid progenitor cells and maintains their survival. Epo has been shown to promote cell viability by repressing apoptosis; however, the molecular mechanism involved is unclear. In the present studies we have examined whether Epo acts as a survival factor through the regulation of the bcl-2 family of apoptosis-regulatory genes. We addressed this issue in HCD-57, a murine erythroid progenitor cell line that requires Epo for proliferation and survival. When HCD-57 cells were cultured in the absence of Epo, Bcl-2 and Bcl-XL but not Bax were downregulated, and the cells underwent apoptotic cell death. HCD-57 cells infected with a retroviral vector encoding human Bcl-XL or Bcl-2 rapidly stopped proliferating but remained viable in the absence of Epo. Furthermore, endogenous levels of bcl-2 and bcl-XL were downregulated after Epo withdrawal in HCD-57 cells that remained viable through ectopic expression of human Bcl-XL, further indicating that Epo specifically maintains the expression of bcl-2 and bcl-XL. We also show that HCD-57 rescued from apoptosis by ectopic expression of Bcl-XL can undergo erythroid differentiation in the absence of Epo, demonstrating that a survival signal but not Epo itself is necessary for erythroid differentiation of HCD-57 progenitor cells. Thus, we propose a model whereby Epo functions as a survival factor by repressing apoptosis through Bcl-XL and Bcl-2 during proliferation and differentiation of erythroid progenitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Silva
- Servicio de Inmunologia, Hospital Universitario Marques de Valdecilla, Santander, Spain
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157
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Abstract
The main antigenic region of foot-and-mouth disease virus serotype C1, also called site A, has been inserted in zones of the beta-galactosidase important for the stabilization of the active site, causing important changes in the Km and the specific activity of the resulting enzymes. The peptide is displayed at the surface of the recombinant proteins and, in all the cases, presents a good antigenicity. Among the recombinant proteins constructed, in proteins M278VP1 and M275SVP1 the peptide is inserted in a large loop of the beta-galactosidase (amino acids 272-288) involved in the formation of the activating interface. In these constructs, the binding of the specific antibodies directed to the foreign peptide causes an increase of the beta-galactosidase activity up to about 200%. This phenomenon has been proved using monoclonal antibodies and also using polyclonal sera generated against the peptide. Different hypothesis of the mechanism of modulation upon antibody binding are discussed. This insertion site seems to be sensitive enough to enzymatic modulation mediated by antibody binding. We propose further exploring this insertion site as a tool for a rapid detection of specific antibodies in a quick and simple homogeneous assay based on the colorimetric determination of beta-galactosidase activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Benito
- Institut de Biologia Fonamental, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, 08193 Barcelona, Spain
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158
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Corchero JL, Viaplana E, Benito A, Villaverde A. The position of the heterologous domain can influence the solubility and proteolysis of beta-galactosidase fusion proteins in E. coli. J Biotechnol 1996; 48:191-200. [PMID: 8861998 DOI: 10.1016/0168-1656(96)01508-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
The VP1 protein (23 kDa) of the foot-and-mouth disease virus has been produced in MC1061 and BL21 E. coli strains as beta-galactosidase fusion proteins, joined to either the amino and/or the carboxy termini of the bacterial enzyme. In BL21, devoid of La protease, all the recombinant fusion proteins are produced at higher yields than in MC1061, and occur mainly as inclusion bodies. The fusion of VP1 at the carboxy terminus yields a protease-sensitive protein whose degradation releases a stable, enzymatically active polypeptide indistinguishable from the native beta-galactosidase. On the contrary, when the same viral domain is fused to the amino terminus, the resulting chimeric protein is resistant to proteolysis even in the soluble form. These data demonstrate that the position of the heterologous domain in beta-galactosidase fusion proteins would not be irrelevant since it can dramatically influence properties of biotechnological interest such as solubility and proteolytic resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- J L Corchero
- Institut de Biologia Fonamental, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Spain
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159
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Benito A, Silva M, Grillot D, Nuñez G, Fernández-Luna JL. Apoptosis induced by erythroid differentiation of human leukemia cell lines is inhibited by Bcl-XL. Blood 1996; 87:3837-43. [PMID: 8611710] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
The induction of tumor cell differentiation represents an attractive strategy for the treatment of a wide range of malignancies. Differentiation of HL-60 promyelocytic leukemia cells towards neutrophils or monocytes has been shown to induce apoptotic cell death, which is inhibited by bcl-2 over-expression. However, the role of the bcl-2 gene family during erythroid differentiation of human leukemia cells remains unknown. We found that human erythroleukemia (HEL) and K562, two leukemia cell lines that undergo erythroid differentiation do not express Bcl-2, but express Bcl-XL, a related protein that functions as an inhibitor of apoptosis. Differentiation of HEL or K562 cells with inducers of erythroid differentiation (hemin, retinoic acid, or transforming growth factor-beta) was accompanied by progressive cell death and degradation of genomic DNA into oligonucleosomal fragments. The loss of cellular viability was associated with downregulation of bcl-xL mRNA and protein. In contrast, the levels of Bax, another Bcl-2 family member implicated in apoptosis remained unaltered. Constitutive expression of Bcl-XL by gene transfer inhibited apoptosis triggered by erythroid differentiation of HEL K562 cells. Yet, Bcl-XL did not alter the expression of epsilon-globin, which is induced during erythoid differentiation of HEL and K562 cells, arguing that apoptosis and differentiation can be uncoupled by Bcl-XL. These results indicate that Bcl-XL acts as an antiapoptosis protein in leukemia cells that undergo erythroid differentiation and that downregulation of bcl-x is a component of the apoptotic response that is coupled to differentiation in human leukemia cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Benito
- Servicio de Inmunología, Hospital Universitario Marques de Valdecilla, Santander, Spain
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160
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Abstract
Huelva province is situated in southwestern Spain; its historic and geographic characteristics contribute to the existence of erythrocyte genetic anomalies, such as beta thalassaemia. We have carried out a prenatal study of microcytosis, with a preliminary beta-gene analysis. Our findings show a beta-thalassaemia trait prevalence of 0.81%. In the molecular research there was a high frequency of G-->A (IVS I-1) injury: 55%. By comparing the rates of this mutation neighbouring Cáceres province in western Spain (47%) and Algarve in south Portugal (32%), it demonstrates that this beta-gene defect has a high frequency in the southwest of the Iberian Peninsula.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Benito
- Unidad de Hematología, Hospital Infanta Elena, Huelva, Spain
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161
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Ortí-Pareja M, Jiménez-Jiménez FJ, Miquel J, Montero E, Cabrera-Valdivia F, Benito A, García-Albea E. Reversible myoclonus, tremor, and ataxia in a patient exposed to methyl ethyl ketone. Neurology 1996; 46:272. [PMID: 8559401 DOI: 10.1212/wnl.46.1.272] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- M Ortí-Pareja
- Department of Neurology, Hospital Universitario Principe de Asturias, Madrid, Spain
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162
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Benito A, Roche J, Molina R, Amela C, Alvar J. In vitro susceptibility of Plasmodium falciparum to chloroquine, amodiaquine, quinine, mefloquine, and sulfadoxine/pyrimethamine in Equatorial Guinea. Am J Trop Med Hyg 1995; 53:526-31. [PMID: 7485712 DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.1995.53.526] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Between March 1990 and June 1992, a study was carried out in Equatorial Guinea on the in vitro response of Plasmodium falciparum to different antimalarial drugs. Field work for the study was conducted both in the country's island region as well as on the mainland, and resistant isolates were found to exhibit interregional differences. On the island of Bioko, 204 tests were performed with 16% (11 of 69) resistant to chloroquine, 9% (4 of 46) resistant to quinine, 14% (6 of 43) resistant to a combination of sulfadoxine/pyrimethamine, and 6.5% (3 of 46) resistant to amodiaquine. In the mainland area of Bata, the same antimalarial drugs and mefloquine were tested with the following results: 9% (5 of 58) resistant to chloroquine; 2% (1 of 58) resistant to amodiaquine, and 3% (2 of 58) resistant to a combination of sulfadoxine/pyrimethamine. No isolates resistant to quinine or mefloquine were found. Effective concentrations (EC50, EC90, and EC99) and regression lines (log dose/response) for each antimalarial drug were calculated to establish a surveillance system for antimalarial drug chemosensitivity in Equatorial Guinea. Finally, 12 isolates from 12 patients previously treated with chloroquine were studied to compare both tests (in vivo-in vitro) and obtain a correlation between the RII and RIII types of in vivo and in vitro resistances. No correlation for the RI type was found between the two methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Benito
- Department of Parasitology, Instituto de Salud Carlos 3rd, Ministry of Health, Madrid, Spain
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163
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Benito A, Mateu MG, Villaverde A. Improved mimicry of a foot-and-mouth disease virus antigenic site by a viral peptide displayed on beta-galactosidase surface. Biotechnology (N Y) 1995; 13:801-4. [PMID: 9634810 DOI: 10.1038/nbt0895-801] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
A major antigenic site (site A) of foot-and-mouth disease virus includes multiple overlapping epitopes located within the flexible G-H loop of capsid protein VP1. We have studied the antigenicity of several recombinant E. coli beta-galactosidases displaying the site A from a serotype C virus in different surface regions of the bacterial enzyme. In each one of the explored insertion sites, the recombinant peptide shows different specificity with a set of anti-virus monoclonal antibodies directed to site A. In some of them, the inserted stretch mimics better than free or haemocyanin-coupled peptide the antigenicity of site A in the intact virus. In particular, an insertion within an exposed loop involved in the activating interface of beta-galactosidase (amino acids 272 to 287) led to a significant improvement of the overall reactivity. Since insertions at this site renders proteins enzymatically active, the activating interface could be an adequate place for the presentation of foreign antigens in correctly assembled beta-galactosidase tetramers. These results also suggest that anti-virus antibodies directed against the major antigenic site of FMDV recognize different conformations of the G-H loop, which are better reproduced in some of the recombinant proteins because of the dissimilar restrictions imposed by each particular insertion site.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Benito
- Institut de Biologia Fonamental, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Spain
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164
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Benito A, Viaplana E, Corchero JL, Carbonell X, Villaverde A. A recombinant foot-and-mouth disease virus antigen inhibits DNA replication and triggers the SOS response in Escherichia coli. FEMS Microbiol Lett 1995; 129:157-62. [PMID: 7607396 DOI: 10.1111/j.1574-6968.1995.tb07573.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
The 3D gene of foot-and-mouth disease virus encodes the viral RNA dependent RNA polymerase, also called virus infection associated (VIA) antigen, which is the most important serological marker of virus infection. This 3D gene from a serotype C1 virus has been cloned and overexpressed in Escherichia coli under the control of the strong lambda lytic promoters. The resulting 51 kDa recombinant protein has been shown to be immunoreactive with sera from infected animals. After induction of gene expression, an immediate and dramatic arrest of cell DNA synthesis occurs, similar to that produced by genotoxic doses of the drug mitomycin C. This effect does not occur during the production of either a truncated VIA antigen or other related and non-related viral proteins. The inhibition of DNA replication results in a subsequent induction of the host SOS DNA-repair response and in an increase of the mutation frequency in the surviving cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Benito
- Institut de Biologia Fonamental, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Spain
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165
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Saiz-Hervas E, Jimenez-Jimenez FJ, Vaquero A, Tejeiro J, Orti-Pareja M, Benito A. [Peripheral neuropathy, first manifestation of hepatitis B virus infection]. Presse Med 1995; 24:548. [PMID: 7770398] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
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166
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Corchero JL, Carbonell X, Benito A, Villaverde A. Mitomycin C stimulates thermally induced recombinant gene expression in Escherichia coli MC strains. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 1995; 42:890-4. [PMID: 7766090 DOI: 10.1007/bf00191187] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
The effects of mitomycin C on C1857-controlled recombinant gene expression have been explored in E. coli cultures when the drug was added simultaneously to the thermal induction. A significantly improved yield of homologous, heterologous and chimeric fusion proteins was observed in E. coli MC1061 and GE864 (a MC4100 derivative) thermoinduced cells. This feature was not detected in other E. coli strains and does not involve a gene dosage mechanism but a strain-dependent stimulation of gene expression unrelated to the RecA protease activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- J L Corchero
- Department de Genètica i Microbiologia, Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Spain
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167
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Benito A, Grillot D, Nuñez G, Fernández-Luna JL. Regulation and function of Bcl-2 during differentiation-induced cell death in HL-60 promyelocytic cells. Am J Pathol 1995; 146:481-90. [PMID: 7856757 PMCID: PMC1869853] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
Polymorphonuclear leukocytes are generated by differentiation of early myeloid precursors. Once fully differentiated, blood neutrophils are programmed to die rapidly and are removed by tissue macrophages. In normal myeloid cells, the death mechanism seems to be coupled to the differentiation pathway and is accomplished by a process termed apoptosis. In the present study, we have examined the role of Bcl-2 in the differentiation pathways of the promyelocytic cell line HL-60. Treatment of HL-60 with retinoic acid or phorbol ester, which induced neutrophil or macrophage-like cell differentiation, respectively, resulted in progressive loss of cellular viability and internucleosomal DNA degradation. In HL-60, differentiation and apoptosis were coupled to down-regulation of the Bcl-2 protein. Overexpression of Bcl-2 by gene transfer inhibited apoptosis triggered by terminal differentiation of HL-60. Yet, Bcl-2 did not alter the expression of surface markers or other phenotypic changes that are induced upon myeloid differentiation. In contrast to HL-60, another immature myeloid cell line, K562, did not produce Bcl-2 but expressed a related protein, Bcl-xL, that functions as a repressor of apoptotic cell death. K562 has been shown to be relatively resistant to a variety of apoptotic stimuli. Incubation of HL-60 and K562 with inhibitors of macromolecular synthesis induced apoptosis, which appeared earlier in HL-60 than in K562. Interestingly, Bcl-2 overexpression protected K562 cells from apoptosis induced by inhibitor of macromolecular synthesis but it had little or no effect on HL-60 cells. We conclude that although differentiation and apoptosis proceed simultaneously, they can be uncoupled by expression of Bcl-2. Down-regulation of Bcl-2 appears to be part of the differentiation pathway and may serve to facilitate the apoptotic response.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Benito
- Servicio de Inmunología, Hospital Universitario Marques de Valdecilla, Santander, Spain
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168
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Vila P, Corchero JL, Benito A, Villaverde A. Ammonium-mediated reduction of plasmid copy number and recombinant gene expression in Escherichia coli. Biotechnol Prog 1994; 10:648-51. [PMID: 7765700 DOI: 10.1021/bp00030a010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
The effect of ammonium as a medium supplement on plasmid-encoded recombinant beta-galactosidase synthesis was explored in Escherichia coli cells during aerobic growth in complex medium. After induction, only doses of ammonium chloride below 1 g/L are able to transiently enhance the yield. However, the presence of nontoxic ammonium chloride concentrations of up to 10 g/L results in lower values of beta-galactosidase in a concentration-dependent fashion. A significant reduction in plasmid DNA content explains the decrease in the yield by a gene-dosage-involving mechanism.
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Affiliation(s)
- P Vila
- Institut de Biologia Fonamental, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Spain
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169
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Benito A, Roche J, Molina R, Amela C, Alvar J. Application and evaluation of QBC malaria diagnosis in a holoendemic area. Appl Parasitol 1994; 35:266-72. [PMID: 7812314] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
Quantitative Buffy Coat Analysis was used in practical diagnosis situations. In the first place, sensitivity and specificity was measured in an active search survey (720 schoolchildren under 10 years of age, in nine field trips) under unfavourable laboratory conditions (onsite school diagnosis being conducted with electricity supplied by a diesel-powered generator). In this group, the QBC-based study revealed sensitivity and specificity ratings of 99.6% and 81.7% respectively. QBC proved 5.5% more sensitive than the thick-film method, but specificity was greater with the latter. QBC returned good results when used in adverse situations, viz., in the absence of air conditioning and with a diesel generator as the only power supply. QBC was used in a passive search survey (hospital group, 618 children) under good laboratory conditions (air conditioning) with patients enrolled in a trial to measure resistance to antimalarial drugs. In this survey we targeted at assessing the efficacy of chloroquine treatment at dose of 25 mg/kg/3 days. QBC proved more sensitive than the thick-film method, detecting - on day 14 of the in vivo test - low parasitaemias that had gone undetected by thick film. Lastly, this study reports on the conversion of QBC readings (parasitaemia per field) into thick-field terms (number of parasites per microliter of blood), with the aim of measuring the degree of recurring parasitaemia.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Benito
- Servicio de Parasitología, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Majadahonda, Madrid, Spain
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170
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Benito A, Villaverde A. Insertion of a 27 amino acid viral peptide in different zones of Escherichia coli beta-galactosidase: effects on the enzyme activity. FEMS Microbiol Lett 1994; 123:107-12. [PMID: 7988875 DOI: 10.1111/j.1574-6968.1994.tb07208.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Seven internal, putatively exposed regions of Escherichia coli beta-galactosidase have been explored regarding their tolerance to insertions of large foreign peptides. Small sequence modifications, including amino acid substitutions and small deletions, were introduced into the lacZ gene to generate unique BamHI restriction sites. By using these mutant genes, a 27 amino acid stretch reproducing the hypervariable loop of foot-and-mouth disease virus VP1 protein (site A) was further inserted in predefined regions of the enzyme. Among the 13 resulting engineered proteins only three, carrying sequence modifications within a short region, are active, with only moderate reduction of their specific activities. The identified permissive region, which involves amino acids 275 to 279, seems to be a flexible area that could be appropriate to incorporate and study biological properties of heterologous peptides in correctly folded beta-galactosidase chimeric proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Benito
- Institut de Biologia Fondamental, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Spain
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171
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Ropero P, Sánchez J, González FA, Armada B, Benito A, Caldeira A, Martín G, Villegas A. [Molecular heterogeneity of beta thalassemia]. Sangre (Barc) 1994; 39:365-368. [PMID: 7754441] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE To check out the incidence of beta-thalassaemia in different regions of Spain and to demonstrate its heterogeneity. PATIENTS AND METHODS The study was performed on 60 peripheral blood samples from patients diagnosed of beta-thalassaemia by conventional methods, namely, microcytosis, HbA2 over 3.5%, increased HbF. DNA was isolated with phenol-chloroform and amplified by ARMS technique, and in one case its sequence was established according to Sanger's method. RESULTS The mutations found in the 67 alleles studied showed similar incidence, although NT1 (IVS 1) mutation was increased and NT110 (IVS 1) mutation was decreased when compared with the findings in other Mediterranean populations. CONCLUSION Due to historical reasons, the racial characteristics of Spanish people are the product of different ethnic groups, so hereditary disorders are here usually heterogeneous. This study appears to confirm such fact with respect to beta-thalassaemia.
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Affiliation(s)
- P Ropero
- Hospital Infanta Elena de Huelva, Portugal
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172
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Vallejo A, Benito A, Varela JM, Casado C, Roche J, Alvar J, García-Sáiz A. Human T-cell leukaemia virus-I/II infection in Equatorial Guinea. AIDS 1994; 8:1501-3. [PMID: 7818825] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
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173
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Villaverde A, Benito A, Viaplana E, Cubarsi R. Fine regulation of cI857-controlled gene expression in continuous culture of recombinant Escherichia coli by temperature. Appl Environ Microbiol 1993; 59:3485-7. [PMID: 8250569 PMCID: PMC182479 DOI: 10.1128/aem.59.10.3485-3487.1993] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The expression at different temperatures of the lacZ gene, which is controlled by the lambda pL and pR tandem promoters and the cI857 temperature-sensitive repressor, was studied in Escherichia coli continuous cultures. At temperatures between 30 and 42 degrees C, beta-galactosidase activity behaved according to an exponential equation. By inducing a culture at a temperature within this range, predefined, nearly constant submaximal levels of gene expression and recombinant product yield can be obtained.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Villaverde
- Institut de Biologia Fonamental, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Spain
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174
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Roche J, Benito A, Ayecaba S, Amela C, Molina R, Alvar J. Resistance of Plasmodium falciparum to antimalarial drugs in Equatorial Guinea. Ann Trop Med Parasitol 1993; 87:443-9. [PMID: 8311568 DOI: 10.1080/00034983.1993.11812794] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
One hundred and sixty-six children from Equatorial Guinea, all under 10 years of age and with acute uncomplicated falciparum malaria, were randomly allocated to four groups and treated with one of the following regimens: chloroquine or amodiaquine (25 mg base/kg body weight over 3 days), quinine (8 mg/kg every 8 h for 3 or 5 days), and sulphadoxine-pyrimethamine (25-1.25 mg/kg, in one dose). The parasite clearance rates up to day 14 were 28% with chloroquine, 74% with amodiaquine, and 95% with quinine or sulphadoxine-pyrimethamine. The times required to clear asexual blood forms of Plasmodium falciparum in sensitive cases were 64, 70, 73 and 65 h, respectively. Although quinine and sulphadoxine-pyrimethamine are equally effective, quinine is recommended for treatment of multidrug-resistant malaria in paediatric patients, essentially because of the risk of serious reactions to sulpha drugs. Health providers are, however, encouraged to keep supplies of sulphadoxine-pyrimethamine as an option and to refer patients quickly, if required.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Roche
- Agencia Española de Cooperación International, Malabo, Equatorial Guinea
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175
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Gutiérrez-Marcos F, Rodríguez A, Benito A, Montero E. [Community acquired Escherichia coli pneumonia in a patient with an asymptomatic colon adenocarcinoma]. Rev Clin Esp 1993; 193:346. [PMID: 8259466] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
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176
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Benito A, Cano J, Martínez-Mañez R, Soto J, Tendero M, Payá J, Sinn E. Ferrocene containing chelating ligands Part 2. Synthesis, characterization, electrochemical behaviour and crystal structure of 2-ferrocenylmethylamino-benzoic acid. Inorganica Chim Acta 1993. [DOI: 10.1016/s0020-1693(00)83332-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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177
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Abstract
Overexpression of pL-controlled foot-and-mouth disease virus recombinant proteins was studied in Escherichia coli RecA+ strains and in a recA mutant. Higher protein yield and extractable plasmid DNA amounts were found in wild type cells, in absence of detectable RecA proteolytic activity. Minor but still significant differences in pBR322 DNA amounts were also detected between RecA+ and its recA13 and lexA1 derivatives. These data should be seriously considered to select expression systems and to design production processes for recombinant proteins, specially if they are expected to be toxic for Escherichia coli cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Benito
- Institut de Biologia Fonamental and Departament de Genètica i Microbiologia, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Spain
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178
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Molina R, Benito A, Roche J, Blanca F, Amela C, Sanchez A, Alvar J. Baseline entomological data for a pilot malaria control program in Equatorial Guinea. J Med Entomol 1993; 30:622-624. [PMID: 8510123 DOI: 10.1093/jmedent/30.3.622] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
Entomological studies conducted on the island of Bioko and the mainland province, Río Muni, in Equatorial Guinea provided baseline data for a pilot malaria control program. The main species collected resting in houses at low density were Anopheles gambiae s.l. Giles and Anopheles funestus Giles. An. gambiae s.l. density increased during the rainy season, whereas An. funestus populations remained stable during both dry and wet seasons. Both species tended to be endophilic and were not collected resting or biting outdoors. Overall, delayed sporozoite rates were about 10% for both species and were highest in the dry season. An. gambiae s.l. from the mainland showed resistance to 4% DDT, but the island population was still susceptible. All populations were completely susceptible to 5% malathion and 0.025% deltamethrin.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Molina
- Centro Hispano-Guineano de Enfermedades Tropicales, Malabo, Equatorial Guinea
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179
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Benito A, Valero F, Lafuente J, Vidal M, Cairo J, Solà C, Villaverde A. Uses of beta-galactosidase tag in on-line monitoring production of fusion proteins and gene expression in Escherichia coli. Enzyme Microb Technol 1993; 15:66-71. [PMID: 7764038 DOI: 10.1016/0141-0229(93)90118-l] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
A simple method for monitoring and quantifying automatically the production by fermentation of beta-galactosidase fusion proteins, making use of the remaining activity of the beta-galactosidase part, is considered. A hybrid protein carrying the major antigenic domain of foot-and-mouth disease virus C1 joined at the N-terminus of beta-galactosidase has been expressed in Escherichia coli. The yield of the chimeric protein has been monitored by flow injection analysis (FIA) during batch fermentations at laboratory scale, and a high correlation between values of product concentration from FIA and from immunological quantizations has been obtained. Because of the possibility of employing FIA in large-scale experiments, and the high sampling frequency, versatility, and reproducibility offered by this method, we propose FIA as a general, simple, quick, flexible, and reliable instrument for both monitoring the yield of recombinant proteins produced industrially, and performing basic research at laboratory scale.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Benito
- Institut de Biologia Fonamental, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Spain
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180
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Valero F, Lafuente FJ, Solà C, Benito A, Vidal M, Cairó J, Villaverde A. Simultaneous on line monitoring of intracellular β-galactosidase activity and biomass using flow injection analysis inEscherichia coli batch fermentations. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 1992. [DOI: 10.1007/bf02439346] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
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181
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Cubars� R, Benito A, Vidal M, Cair� J, Villaverde A. A model for continuous production of thermally induced recombinant proteins. Biotechnol Lett 1991. [DOI: 10.1007/bf01041479] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
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182
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Alvar J, Ballesteros JA, Soler R, Benito A, van Eys GJ, Schoone GJ, Cabrer B. Mucocutaneous leishmaniasis due to Leishmania (Leishmania) infantum: biochemical characterization. Am J Trop Med Hyg 1990; 43:614-8. [PMID: 2267965 DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.1990.43.614] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
A vegetative mass in the right nasal cavity of a 62-year-old man from Palma de Mallorca, Spain, was found to be due to Leishmania. The organism was isolated in culture and characterized by in situ hybridization, Southern blot hybridization, and isoenzyme analysis; it was thus demonstrated to be the most common enzyme variant 1 (MON 1) of Leishmania (Leishmania) infantum.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Alvar
- Centro Nacional de Microbiologia, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
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183
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Sánchez Bayle M, Estepa Soto MR, López Verde L, Benito A, Hernández Lorca MA, García Santiago M, Zancada B. [Normal blood pressure values in Spanish children]. An Esp Pediatr 1984; 20:1-7. [PMID: 6703531] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Authors study 2,953 children with a range of age between 2 and 14 years, of both sexes, from schools in Madrid, Zaragoza, Lugo, Andújar, Archena and in rural areas of Guadalajara and Segovia. Blood pressure was measures three times in every child according to recommendations of the Expert Committee of WHO in respect to the method. Results are expressed in percentiles according to age and sex. Their findings indicate that both diastolic and systolic blood pressures were lower than those reported by Task Force (USA), Cassimos (Greece) and Andre (France) (p less than 0.001) with higher differences being present in the diastolic blood pressure.
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184
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Gutiérrez N, Vallés A, Benito A, Roldán R. [Lobar agenesis simulating a mediastinal process]. Rev Esp Tuberc 1965; 34:257-61. [PMID: 5854646] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
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