Papers by Avelina Espinosa
Isolation and Purification of Entamoeba histolytica Alcohol Dehydrogenase 2 (EhADH2) Enzymatic Activities and Inhibition by Pyrazoline Derivatives
The FASEB Journal, 2015
The bifunctional alcohol/ aldehyde dehydrogenase enzyme in Entamoeba histolytica (EhADH2) belongs... more The bifunctional alcohol/ aldehyde dehydrogenase enzyme in Entamoeba histolytica (EhADH2) belongs to the ADHE iron dependent family, and is essential for trophozoite growth and survival. EhADH2 catalyzes the conversion of acetyl Co-A to acetaldehyde and the final reduction of acetaldehyde to ethanol by its separate ADH and ALDH domains respectively. The primary focus of research was to determine the effect of alternative treatments for amebiasis through inhibition by pyrazoline inhibitors on the EhADH2 enzyme. Series 1a (1,3-diphenyl-1-carbamoyl-2-pyrazoline), series 1b (3-diphenyl-1-propylcarbamoyl-2-pyrazoline), series 2 (1,3,4-triphenyl-1-carbamoyl-2-pyrazoline), pyrazoline derivatives showed capabilities to inhibit EhADH2 activities. A kinetic assay was performed to calculate the Ki value for inhibitor [3-(4-chlorophenyl)-1-(bromophenylcarboxamide)-2-pyrazoline], inhibitor [3-4(-chlorophenyl)-1-N-propylcarboxamide-2-pyrazoline], and inhibitor [3-(4-cholorphenyl)-4-phenyl-1-(4-chlorophenyl carboxamide)...
The Many Shapes of Microbial Detection of Kin and Kind
The International Journal of Science in Society, 2015
The incompatibility between science and the belief in supernatural causation helps us understand ... more The incompatibility between science and the belief in supernatural causation helps us understand why people do not accept evolution. Belief disrupts, distorts, delays, or stops (3Ds + S) the acceptance of scientific evidence. Here we examine the evolution controversy under three predictions of the incompatibility hypothesis. First, chronological-conflict-and-accommodation, which explains the historical re-emergence of antagonism between evolution and religion when advances in science continue to threaten the belief in supernatural causation; in such situations, creationists' rejection of and subsequent partial acceptance of the new scientific discoveries are expected. Second, change in evolution's acceptance as function of educational attainment, which explains the positive association between acceptance of evolution and level of education. And third, change in evolution's acceptance as function of religiosity, which explains the negative association between acceptance of evolution and level of religious beliefs. We rely on an ample assessment of the attitudes toward evolution by highly-educated audiences (i.e. research faculty, educators of prospective teachers, and college students in the United States) to characterize the associations among the understanding of science and evolution, personal religious convictions, and conservative ideology. We emphasize that harmonious coexistence between science and religion is illusory. If co-persisting in society, their relationship will fluctuate from moderate to intense antagonism.
The Journal of eukaryotic microbiology, Jan 28, 2018
Entamoeba histolytica is one of the least understood protists in terms of taxa-, clone- and kin-d... more Entamoeba histolytica is one of the least understood protists in terms of taxa-, clone- and kin-discrimination/recognition ability. Yet, the capacity to tell apart same or self (clone/kin) from different or non-self (non-clone/non-kin) has long been demonstrated in pathogenic eukaryotes like Trypanosoma and Plasmodium, free-living social amebas (Dictyostelium, Polysphondylium), budding yeast (Saccharomyces), and in numerous bacteria and archaea (prokaryotes). Kin discrimination/recognition is explained under inclusive fitness theory; that is, the reproductive advantage that genetically closely related organisms (kin) can gain by cooperating preferably with one another (rather than with distantly related or unrelated individuals), minimizing antagonism and competition with kin, and excluding genetic strangers (or cheaters = non-cooperators that benefit from others' investments in altruistic cooperation). In this review, we rely on the outcomes of in vitro pairwise discrimination/...
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Papers by Avelina Espinosa