The aim of this study was to determine the antiviral activity of four probiotic metabolites (Lactobacillus and Bifidobacetrium species) against rotavirus in vitro infection monitored by the NSP4 protein production and Ca²⁺ release. The antiviral effect of the metabolites was performed due a comparison between a blocking model and an intracelullar model on MA104 cells, with the response of NSP4 production and Ca²⁺ liberation measured by flow cytometry. Significant results were obtained with the metabolites of L. casei, and B. adolescentis in the reduction of the protein production (P=0.04 and P=0.014) and Ca²⁺ liberation (P=0.094 and P=0.020) in the intracellular model, which suggests a successful antiviral activity against RV infection. This study demonstrates that probiotic metabolites were able to interfere with the final amount of intracellular NSP4 protein and a successful Ca²⁺ regulation, which suggests a new approach to the mechanism exerted by probiotics against the rotavirus infection. A novel anti-rotaviral effect exerted by probiotic metabolites monitored by the NSP4 protein during the RV in vitro infection and the effect on the Ca²⁺ release is reported; suggesting a reduction on the impact of the infection by decreasing the damage of the cells preventing the electrolyte loss.

SUMMARY: Bovine leukaemia virus (BLV) is the causative agent of enzootic bovine leucosis, which has been reported worldwide. BLV has been found recently in human tissue and it could have a significant impact on human health. A possible hypothesis regarding viral entry to humans is through the consumption of infected foodstuffs. This study was aimed at detecting the presence of BLV DNA in raw beef and fresh milk for human consumption. Nested PCR directed at the BLVgaggene (272 bp) was used as a diagnostic test. PCR products were confirmed by Sanger sequencing. Forty-nine per cent of the samples proved positive for the presence of proviral DNA. This is the first study highlighting the presence of the BLVgaggene in meat products for human consumption and confirms the presence of the viral DNA in raw milk, as in previous reports. The presence of viral DNA in food products could suggest that viral particles may also be found. Further studies are needed to confirm the presence of infected viral particles, even though the present findings could represent a first approach to BLV transmission to humans through foodstuff consumption.

Rotavirus is the leading worldwide cause of gastroenteritis in children under five years of age. Even though there are some available vaccines to prevent the disease, there are limited strategies for challenging diarrhea induced by rotavirus infection. For this reason, researchers are constantly searching for other approaches to control diarrhea by means of probiotics. In order to demonstrate the ability of some probiotic bacteria to interfere with the in vitro rotavirus infection in MA104 cells, strains of Lactobacillus sp. and Bifidobacterium sp. were tested in MA104 cells before the viral infection. As a preliminary assay, a blocking effect treatment was performed with viable bacteria. In this screening assay, four of initial ten bacteria showed a slight reduction of the viral infection (measured by percentage of infection). L. casei (Lafti L26-DSL), L. fermentum(ATCC 9338), B. adolescentis (DSM 20083), and B. bifidum (ATCC 11863) were used in further experiments. Three different treatments were tested in order to evaluate protein-based metabolites obtained from mentioned bacteria: (i) cell exposure to the protein-based metabolites before viral infection, (ii) exposure to protein-based metabolites after viral infection, and (iii) co-incubation of the virus and protein-based metabolites before viral infection to the cell culture. The best effect performed by protein-based metabolites was observed during the co-incubation assay of the virus and protein-based metabolites before adding them into the cell culture. The results showed 25 and 37% of infection in the presence of L. casei and B. adolescentis respectively. These results suggest that the antiviral effect may be occurring directly with the viral particle instead of making a blocking effect of the cellular receptors that are needed for the viral entrance.

Bovine leukemia virus (BLV) is one of the five agents considered most significant for cattle. It is important to determine the prevalence and molecular epidemiology of BLV throughout the country in order to gain a more thorough understanding of the current situation of BLV and to reveal the possibility of masked genotypes that the primers used by OIE are unable to identify. Blood samples were collected at random from 289 cows distributed in 75 farms across the country. PCR amplification of env, gag and tax gene segments was performed. The obtained amplicons were sequenced and then subjected to phylogenetic analyses. A total of 62% of the cows present at 92% of the farms were BLV-positive for gag fragment. Genotype 1 was exclusively detected by env gene segment when analyzed using previously reported primers. However, tax gene analysis revealed circulation of genotype 6 variants, which were also detected based on env gene analysis with newly designed primers. These results indicate that current genotyping approaches based on partial env sequencing may bias BLV genetic variability approaches and underestimate the diversity of the detected BLV genotypes. This report is one of the first molecular and epidemiological studies of BLV conducted in Colombia, which contributes to the global epidemiology of the virus; it also highlights the substantial impact of BLV on the country's livestock and thus is a useful resource for farmers and government entities.

Viruses have been implicated in cancer development in both humans and animals. The role of viruses in cancer is typically to initiate cellular transformation through cellular DNA damage, although specific mechanisms remain unknown. Silent and long-term viral infections need to be present, in order to initiate cancer disease. In efforts to establish a causative role of viruses, first is needed to demonstrate the strength and consistency of associations in different populations. The aim of this study was to determine the association of bovine leukemia virus (BLV), a causative agent of leukemia in cattle, with breast cancer and its biomarkers used as prognosis of the severity of the disease (Ki67, HER2, hormonal receptors) in Colombian women. An unmatched, observational case–control study was conducted among women undergoing breast surgery between 2016–2018. Malignant samples (n = 75) were considered as cases and benign samples (n = 83) as controls. Nested-liquid PCR, in-situ PCR and immunohistochemistry were used for viral detection in blood and breast tissues. For the risk assessment, only BLV positive samples from breast tissues were included in the analysis. BLV was higher in cases group (61.3%) compared with controls (48.2%), with a statistically significant association between the virus and breast cancer in the unconditional logistic regression (adjusted-OR = 2.450,95%CI:1.088–5.517, p = 0.031). In this study, BLV was found in both blood and breast tissues of participants and an association between breast cancer and the virus was confirmed in Colombia, as an intermediate risk factor.