Biology subjects

Reyes, J. I. L.

Publications and source records attributed to Reyes, J. I. L..

2 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2022

Discovery of prevalent natural Wolbachia in Aedes aegypti in Metropolitan Manila, Philippines using locally designed primers: bacterial density is influenced by strain and host sex

Wolbachia are maternally transmitted bacteria that are utilized for arboviral disease prevention. Cytoplasmic incompatibility (CI) and viral blocking, two characteristics that make Wolbachia suitable for vector control, both depend on bacterial infection prevalence and density. Although numerous mosquito species naturally harbor Wolbachia, the prevalence of Wolbachia in Aedes aegypti varies from minimal to absent. The absence of natural Wolbachia in Ae. aegypti is considered advantageous for novel Wolbachia transinfection because interference caused by incompatible Wolbachia strains will not occur. In this study, we screened for Wolbachia density in 429 individual Ae. aegypti collected from Metropolitan Manila, Philippines using locally designed primers to determine whether primer compatibility improves Wolbachia detection in naturally infected Ae. aegypti. We also investigated the effects of host sex and Wolbachia strain on Wolbachia density. We found a high Wolbachia prevalence for 16S rRNA (40%) and wsp (62%) markers. Relative Wolbachia densities ranged from -3.840 to 2.710 for 16S rRNA and from -4.020 to 1.810 for wsp, and these relative densities were higher among male mosquitoes than female mosquitoes. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that most of the Ae. aegypti were clustered into supergroup B, with 63% (142/226) of these sequences representing a unique strain referred to here as "wAegML," which exhibited a significantly lower density in Ae. aegypti than the other two Wolbachia strains detected (wAegB/wAlbB and wAlbA) as well as a higher density in male Ae. aegypti than in females. Overall, locally designed primers improved Wolbachia detection in naturally infected Ae. aegypti. The unique strain wAegML occurs at a low density and is related to the use of wAlbB in mass-release programs; therefore, it is unlikely to interfere with such programs. Further studies on natural Wolbachia infection in Ae. aegypti combining methodological and biological factors are warranted to help resolve current conflicts in the field.

microbiology↗

bioRxiv2021

Inhibition of Lipopolysaccharide E. coli-induced acute lung injury by extracted Antidesma bunius (L.) Spreng fruits as compared to Fluticasone Propionate, a corticosteroid

The hallmark of Acute Lung Injury/Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ALI/ARDS) is inflammation-induced alveolar-vascular barrier destruction and neutrophilic infiltration that leads to the formation of cytokines and oxygen radicals. The objective of the study is to investigate the protective and toxicological effects of Antidesma bunius (L.) Spreng [Bignay] in murine model of Lipopolysaccharide E. coli (LPS)-induced ALI and compared with Fluticasone Propionate (FP), a synthetic corticosteroid. We showed that extracted Bignay fruits have high amount of phenols, steroids and flavonoids but insignificant amount of heavy metals and aflatoxins. BALB/c mice of either sex were divided into 4 groups in the ALI mouse model; Group 1: vehicle control; Group 2: LPS alone; Group 3: Bignay + LPS; and Group 4: FP + LPS. Bignay and FP were administered via intraperitoneal injection while LPS was given intra-tracheally. Biomarkers of ALI such as total lung inflammatory cell count, total lung protein content, lung edema and interleukin-6 (IL-6) secretion were measured 24 hrs after vehicle control or LPS treatment. Compared to vehicle controls, LPS caused significant increased in all measured biomarkers of ALI in samples collected from bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and were significantly attenuated by Bignay fruit extract or FP. Pulmonary vascular leakage caused by LPS was also evaluated after injection with Evans blue dye, an indication of lung injury. Extracted Bignay fruits or FP when given to mice 2 hrs after LPS administration substantially decreased the pulmonary vascular leak. Our findings are the first evidence demonstrating the preventive and non-toxic effects of extracted Bignay fruits in a murine model of LPS-induced ALI. The results could be attributed to the presence of active secondary metabolites such as flavonoids, phenols and steroids. It is also evident that extracted Bignay fruits are as effective as FP, well-established steroid, in blocking the biomarkers of ALI caused by LPS.

pharmacology and toxicology↗