No association between TLR4 Asp299Gly and pulmonary TB was found. CD14 -159TT is a risk factor for development of pulmonary TB, whereas mCD14/sCD14 and mTLR4 are possible biomarkers for the prognosis for TB disease. CLINICAL TRIAL PROTOCOL ID: SA1168-05.

Human placental lactogen (HPL) is produced in large amounts in normal pregnancies. We report a pregnancy with complete lack of HPL and the placental variant of the human growth hormone HGH-V. The pregnancy resulted in a severely growth-retarded but otherwise normal male baby. PCR analysis of DNA extracted from the placenta showed that the HPL encoding genes hPL-4 and hPL-3 were deleted along with the human growth hormone variant gene (hGH-V), which is located between these two active hPL genes and also expressed in the normal placenta. Of the five members of this multigene family, hGH-N, which is expressed in the pituitary gland, and hPL-1, a presumed pseudogene, were left intact. The latter (hPL-1) was expressed as RNA transcripts only at very low levels as is usually reported in normal pregnancies. Analysis of the parents' DNA showed that both of them carried a different heterozygous deletion at the 3' end of the hGH/hPL locus.

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A series of five experiments were carried out to find an alternative to eyestalk ablation for inducing and controlling vitellogenesis in penaeid shrimps. Several extracts from squid were tested as supplements to a basal diet. Polar components of hydro‐alcohol (ethanol/dicloromethane/water, 2:2:1:8) soluble and lipid squid fractions (Bligh & Dyer), when incorporated in formulated feed at low doses, trigger secondary vitellogenesis in 15–35 g female Penaeus vannamei, showing maturations of the same order of magnitude as the eyestalk‐ablated controls. Achievement of vitellogenesis was estimated by a homologous ELISA‐vitellogenin test. Even though the nature of the active molecules was not completely elucidated, the results obtained indicate that they may probably be steroid‐like molecules of cephalopods, acting in a heterologous way.

Alligator gar (Atractosteus spatula) is a non-teleost bony ¢sh distributed in North America. Gar populations have drastically declined as a consequence of habitat deterioration and the lack of regulation for their capture. Control of reproduction is critical for recovering their natural populations. The impossibility to distinguish genders and the determination of sexual maturity have hindered their successful reproduction. This research was aimed at developing an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for the quantitative estimation of vitellogenin (VTG), a female-speci¢c protein. Plasmatic VTG from 17bestradiol (E2)-induced juveniles and ovary vitellin from adult females were puri¢ed and characterized. Polyclonal antibodies against both proteins were produced to develop an ELISA. The immunoassay was validated by quality tests such as sensitivity, parallelism, recovery, reproducibility and speci¢city. Vitellogenin was determined in di¡erent tissues (plasma, mucus, liver and gills) of alligator gar. Vitellogenin and E2 concentrations in female breeders were found to be higher in November, before the spring spawning season. This approach represents a quick, reliable and non-invasive practical alternative to distinguish genders and evaluate gonad maturation.

The results make possible the use of a PCR test for Brucella detection and differentiation without relying on the measurement of the antibodies or microorganism culture. Our first results showed that the PCR test can confirm the presence of Brucella in blood samples of infected patients.

Nocardia brasiliensis is the main agent of actinomycetoma in Mexico, but little is known about its virulence and molecular pathogenic pathways. These facultative intracellular bacteria are able to survive and divide within the host phagocytic cells, in part by neutralizing the reactive oxygen intermediates. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) participates in the intracellular survival of several bacterial species and, in particular, constitutes one of Nocardia asteroides virulence factors. To clarify SOD participation in the N. brasiliensis early infective process, we report its isolation and the consequent comparison of its transcript level. A 630 bp polymerase chain reaction fragment that included most of the coding sequence of N. brasiliensis sodA was cloned. A competitive assay was developed, allowing comparison of bacterial sod expression in exponential culture and 1 h after infecting peritoneal macrophages from BALB/c mice. At that time, there were viable bacteria in the macrophages. The intracellular bacteria presented a clear decrease in their sod transcript amount, although their 16S rRNA (used as an internal control) and hsp levels were maintained or slightly increased, respectively. These results indicate that sodA transcription is not maintained within the SOS bacterial response induced by phagosomal conditions. Further kinetics will be necessary to precisely define sod transcriptional regulation during N. brasiliensis intra-macrophage growth.