Javier Ventura-Juárez
Autonomous University of Aguascalientes
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Publication
Featured researches published by Javier Ventura-Juárez.
Journal of Eukaryotic Microbiology | 1998
Patricia Talamás-Rohana; Verónica Ivonne Hernández-Ramírez; Javier N. Perez-García; Javier Ventura-Juárez
Entamoeba histolytica trophozoites do interact with extracellular matrix components in order to invade and finally destroy tissue. An important step in this interaction involves the binding of a 140‐kDa membrane protein that binds to fibronectin. The similarity of this amoebic receptor to fibronectin receptors from higher eukaryotic cells was defined by indirect immunofluorescence, western blot and immunohistochemistry. using polyclonal monospecific antibodies raised against the amoebic protein. These results suggest that lower eukaryotic cells have and use a β1 integrin‐like molecule as well as mechanisms similar to those present in higher eukaryotic cells during interaction with extracellular matrix components.
Infection and Immunity | 2006
Rafael Campos-Rodríguez; Andrés Quintanar-Stephano; Rosa Adriana Jarillo-Luna; Gabriela Oliver-Aguillón; Javier Ventura-Juárez; Víctor Rivera-Aguilar; Istvan Berczi; Kalman Kovacs
ABSTRACT The influence of anterior pituitary hormones on the gastrointestinal tract of humans and animals has been reported. Hypophysectomy (HYPOX) in the rat causes atrophy of the intestinal mucosa, reduction of gastric secretion and intestinal absorption, and increased susceptibility to infections. To our knowledge, there are no studies on the humoral immune response of the gut-associated lymphoid tissue after HYPOX. We have reported that decreased secretion of vasopressin and oxytocin due to neurointermediate pituitary lobectomy (NIL) diminishes humoral and cell-mediated immune responses. However, no data have been published on whether NIL can affect intestinal immune responses. We analyzed the effects of HYPOX and NIL on bacterial colonization of the intestinal lumen, Peyers patches, and spleen as well as the serum immunoglobulin G (IgG) and IgM and specific intestinal IgA levels in response to Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium oral infection. Results showed the following: (i) Salmonella serovar Typhimurium was eliminated from the intestinal lumen at the same rate in rats that underwent a sham operation, HYPOX, and NIL; (ii) Salmonella serovar Typhimurium colonization of Peyers patches and spleen was significantly higher in both HYPOX and NIL rats than in sham-operated rats; (iii) serum IgG and IgM and intestinal IgA against surface proteins of Salmonella serovar Typhimurium were significantly lower in HYPOX and NIL rats than in sham-operated rats; and (iv) compared to NIL rats, higher Peyers patch and spleen bacterial colonization and decreased IgG, IgM, and IgA production were observed in HYPOX rats. We conclude that hormones from each pituitary lobe affect the systemic and gastrointestinal humoral immune responses through different mechanisms.
Parasitology Research | 2012
Cinthya A. Maldonado-Barrera; María del Rosario Campos-Esparza; Luis Muñoz-Fernández; Joaquin A. Victoria-Hernández; Rafael Campos-Rodríguez; Patricia Talamás-Rohana; Javier Ventura-Juárez
Although amebic brain abscess is a rare form of invasive amebiasis, when present, it is frequently lethal. This disorder always begins with the infection of the colon by Entamoeba histolytica trophozoites, which then travel to extra-intestinal tissues through the bloodstream. Amebic brain abscesses are produced when trophozoites invade the central nervous system. Computerized axial tomography scans can be used to diagnose the presence or absence of a brain abscess with a certainty of 100%. However, this diagnostic tool does not reveal the etiological agent of disease. By analyzing the clinical case of a patient that died due to untimely treatment of this malady, the present study aims to identify a diagnostic tool that can give a precise determination of the etiological agent and therefore permit adequate and opportune treatment. Currently, diagnosis of amebic brain abscess is often done by identification of the ameba in a biopsy or autopsy. By immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence with specific antibodies, we identified the existence of E. histolytica, which presents proteins similar to Naegleria fowleri in its membrane.
Parasitology Research | 2009
Javier Ventura-Juárez; Rafael Campos-Rodríguez; R. A. Jarillo-Luna; L. Muñoz-Fernández; J. A. Escario-G-Trevijano; J. Pérez-Serrano; J. L. Quintanar; Eva Salinas; F. R. Villalobos-Gómez
In vitro studies have proved the presence of epitopes of CD59 in the surface of trophozoites of Entamoeba histolytica (E. histolytica). However, it has not been proved if CD59 molecules are expressed in the surface during the trophozoites’ tissue invasion. The aim of the present study was to determine whether the complement-regulatory protein CD59 is present on trophozoites of E. histolytica in human colon. Eleven specimens of amoebic colitis were studied by immunohistochemistry and electron microscopy techniques with a monoclonal antibody against human CD59 molecule. Our results show that a CD59-like molecule is expressed in trophozoites of E. histolytica found in colonic amebic lesions. Also, a CD59-like molecule was detected by western blot analysis in whole lysate of E. histolytica as well as on the plasma membrane by immunocytochemistry. These results suggest that E. histolytica can use CD59-like protein against the lytic action of membrane attack complex.
Experimental Parasitology | 2010
Pilar Carranza-Rosales; María Guadalupe Santiago-Mauricio; Nancy Elena Guzmán-Delgado; Javier Vargas-Villarreal; Gerardo Lozano-Garza; Javier Ventura-Juárez; Isaías Balderas-Rentería; Javier Morán-Martínez; A. Jay Gandolfi
Entamoeba histolytica is the etiological agent of amoebiasis, the second cause of global morbidity and mortality due to parasitic diseases in humans. In approximately 1% of the cases, amoebas penetrate the intestinal mucosa and spread to other organs, producing extra-intestinal lesions, among which amoebic liver abscess (ALA) is the most common. To study ALA, in vivo and in vitro models are used. However, animal models may pose ethical issues, and are time-consuming and costly; and cell cultures represent isolated cellular lineages. The present study reports the infection of precision-cut hamster liver slices with Entamoeba histolytica trophozoites. The infection time-course, including tissue damage, parallels findings previously reported in the animal model. At the same time amoebic virulence factors were detected in the infected slices. This new model to study ALA is simple and reproducible, and employs less than 1/3 of the hamsters required for in vivo analyses.
Parasite Immunology | 2007
Javier Ventura-Juárez; L. F. Barba-Gallardo; L. Muñoz-Fernández; L. Martínez-Medina; F. Márquez-Díaz; S. J. Sosa-Díaz; M. Gerardo-Rodríguez; R. González-Romo; Rafael Campos-Rodríguez
In cases of fulminant amoebic colitis we have determined the interactions between Entamoeba histolytica trophozoites and immune cells in order to better understand the pathophysiology of amoebic colitis. Eleven specimens of amoebic colitis and five specimens of colon without amoebic lesions were studied. Trophozoites and immune cells were located by topographic stains, histochemistry and immunohistochemistry. Trophozoites were seen in both damaged and undamaged areas of the colonic mucosa. Specimens of fulminant amoebic colitis showed: (a) an increase in IgA+, IgG+ B cells and neutrophils; (b) a reduction in IgM+ B cells, CD8+ T cells, macrophages, eosinophils and mast cells; and (c) no change in the number of NK and CD4+ T cells. The cellular infiltrate in amoebic colitis may represent the combined effects of amoebic monocyte locomotion inhibitory factor and switching of IgM+ B cells to IgG+ and IgA+ plasma cells, induced by amoebic antigens. Tissue damage in the absence of trophozoites may result from ischaemia or host immune responses.
Journal of Physiology and Biochemistry | 2010
Andrés Quintanar-Stephano; Edgar Abarca-Rojano; Rosa Adriana Jarillo-Luna; Víctor Rivera-Aguilar; Javier Ventura-Juárez; Istvan Berczi; Kalman Kovacs; Rafael Campos-Rodríguez
In rats, hypophysectomy (HYPOX) or neurointermediate pituitary lobectomy (NIL) reduce humoral and cell-mediated immune responses. However, to our knowledge, the differences in the effects of anterior versus posterior pituitary hormones on the immune responses have not been studied to date. We compared in rats, the effects of sham surgery (SHAM), HYPOX, and NIL on humoral immune responses to T cell-independent (TI) type 1 antigen DNP-LPS and to TI type 2 antigen DNP-FICOLL, as well as to T cell-dependent (TD) antigens ovalbumin (OVA) and bovine serum albumin (BSA). The results showed that: (1) both HYPOX and NIL induced a similar and significant decrease in IgM responses towards TI-1 antigens, (2) NIL but not HYPOX induced a decreased IgM response to TI-2 antigens, and (3) both HYPOX and NIL induced similar and significant decrease in IgG responses to TI-2 antigens. Compared with the SHAM group, IgM responses to both TD antigens did not change in HYPOX and NIL animals, whereas the IgG responses to OVA and BSA significantly decreased in HYPOX and NIL animals. These results indicate that hormones of the anterior and posterior pituitary play their own role in the regulation of humoral immune responses.
Aquatic Toxicology | 2012
Jesús Alvarado-Flores; Roberto Rico-Martínez; Javier Ventura-Juárez; Marcelo Silva-Briano; Isidoro Rubio-Franchini
We studied how lead is bioconcentrated and distributed in the rotifer Brachionus calyciflorus using metal histochemistry to locate lead granules, Leadmium Green® analysis to establish the route of uptake, atomic absorption to determined the bioconcentration factor (BCF), and detected the presence of microelements in the cuticle by X-ray microanalysis with scanning electron microscopy. Our results indicate: (a) the digestive system is the main route of lead uptake in the rotifer B. calyciflorus, (b) after 24-h lead is deposited in granules in the mastax and vitellarium, (c) our energy-dispersive X-ray microanalysis indicates decalcification taking place in the cuticle of the rotifer after a 24-h lead exposure, and (d) we determined a BCF = 115 for lead after a 24 h exposure. However, the route of mobilization and storage of intracellular lead are still not fully understood in B. calyciflorus.
Neuroimmunomodulation | 2015
Esperanza Sánchez-Alemán; Andrés Quintanar-Stephano; Galileo Escobedo; María del Rosario Campos-Esparza; Rafael Campos-Rodríguez; Javier Ventura-Juárez
Background: The parasympathetic nervous system modulates the immune response in the abdominal-pelvic gut through the vagus nerve, which releases acetylcholine. This endogenous ligand acts on a7 nicotinic receptors expressed on immune cells. Objective: To study the mechanism of the production and regulation of cytokines in parasympathectomized and control hamsters during the development of amoebic liver abscesses (ALA) caused by Entamoeba histolytica.Methodology: Six- to 8-week-old male hamsters with and without vagotomy were used in a model of ALA. The animals were infected with trophozoites (350,000; HM1:IMSS strain) via the intrahepatic route and sacrificed at 6, 12, and 24 h and at 2, 4, and 7 days postinfection. Immune parameters were recorded at each time point using morphometric techniques including immunofluorescence and immunohistochemistry assays. These parameters included signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) levels, pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokine levels, and nuclear factor-γB (NFγB) activation in neutrophils and macrophages. Results: Compared to the control groups, the vagotomized (VAG) hamsters showed a significant increase in NFγB activation in neutrophils and macrophages, and higher levels of interleukin (IL)-1ß, IL-6, interferon-γ, and tumor necrosis factor-a. VAG hamsters showed an increase in the expression of IL-8 and phosphorylated STAT3 during the first 24 h postinfection as well as slightly increased levels of transforming growth factor-ß on days 2-7 postinfection. No significant differences were demonstrated in the levels of IL-10. Conclusions: These results suggest that the vagus nerve plays an important role in the regulation of inflammation during ALA formation.
Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine | 2014
Manuel Enrique Ávila-Blanco; Martín Gerardo Rodríguez; José Luis Moreno Duque; Martín Humberto Muñoz-Ortega; Javier Ventura-Juárez
Amebiasis is a parasitic disease that extends worldwide and is a public health problem in developing countries. Metronidazole is the drug recommended in the treatment of amebiasis, but its contralateral effects and lack of continuity of treatment induce low efficiency, coupled with the appearance of resistant amoebic strains. Therefore, the search of new compounds with amoebicidal activity is urgent and important. In this study, we evaluated the in vitro and in vivo antiamoebic activity of the essential oil Dysphania ambrosioides (L.) Mosyakin & Clemants. It exhibited an IC50 = 0.7 mg/mL against trophozoites. The oral administration of essential oil (8 mg/kg and 80 mg/kg) to hamster infected with Entamoeba histolytica reverted the infection. Ascaridole was identified as the main component of essential oil of D. ambrosioides. The identification of amoebicidal activity of Ascaridole gives support to the traditional use. Further studies with Ascaridole will be carried out to understand the mechanism involved.
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María del Rosario Campos-Esparza
Autonomous University of Aguascalientes
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