MedWorm.com provides a medical RSS filtering service. Over 6000 RSS medical sources are combined and output via different filters. This feed contains the latest items from the 'Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz' source. Sat, 20 Mar 2010 14:28:02 +0100 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3332088&cid=s_33094_20_f&fid=33094&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fsites%2Fentrez%3Fcmd%3DSearch%26db%3Dpubmed%26term%3D%28%28%28Mem%2520Inst%2520Oswaldo%2520Cruz%29%2520AND%2520%25222010%252F02%252F21%252020.26%2522%255BMHDA%255D%253A%25222010%252F03%252F05%252002.20%2522%255BMHDA%255D%29%29%2520NOT%2520%28%28%2520%28%28%28%2522Mem%2520Inst%2520Oswaldo%2520Cruz%2522%255BTIAB%255D%2520OR%2520%28%2522mem%2522%255BTIAB%255D%2520AND%2520%2522inst%2522%255BTIAB%255D%2520AND%2520%2522oswaldo%2522%255BTIAB%255D%2520AND%2520%2522cruz%2522%255BTIAB%255D%29%2520OR%2520%2522mem%2520inst%2520oswaldo%2520cruz%2522%255BTIAB%255D%29%29%29%2520AND%2520%25220001%2522%255BEDAT%255D%253A%25222010%252F02%252F21%252020.26%2522%255BEDAT%255D%29%29 112 new pubmed citations were retrieved for your search. Click on the search hyperlink below to display the complete search results: Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz These pubmed results were generated on 2010/03/05PubMed, a service of the National Library of Medicine, includes over 15 million citations for biomedical articles back to the 1950's. These citations are from MEDLINE and additional life science journals. PubMed includes links to many sites providing full text articles and other related resources. (Source: Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz) Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3332088 Fri, 05 Mar 2010 07:20:02 +0100 3332088 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3292252&cid=s_33094_20_f&fid=33094&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20169363%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Del Rosario Robles M, Navone GT Syphacia venteli Travassos, Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz 32:607-613, 1937 is redescribed on the basis of specimens recovered from the type host, Nectomys squamipes (Brants 1827), from Brazil and Argentina. Specimens determined by Quentin (Bull Mus Natl Hist Nat 2:909-925, 1969) as S. venteli from Melanomys caliginosus (Tomes 1860) in Colombia were re-studied and assigned to a new species. In both species, structures such as the shape of the cephalic plate, details and distribution of the submedian papillae and amphids, presence and absence of the lateral and cervical alae, and shape and structure of the accessory hook of the gubernaculum were studied with the light microscope and scanning electron microscope. The present survey is the first detailed st... Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3292252 Fri, 19 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0100 3292252 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3259449&cid=s_33094_20_f&fid=33094&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20140365%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Coutinho L, Ferreira MA, Cosson A, Batista MM, Batista Dda G, Minoprio P, Degrave WM, Berneman A, Soeiro Mde N Proline racemase is an important enzyme of Trypanosoma cruzi and has been shown to be an effective mitogen for B cells, thus contributing to the parasite's immune evasion and persistence in the human host. Recombinant epimastigote parasites overexpressing TcPRAC genes coding for proline racemase present an augmented ability to differentiate into metacyclic infective forms and subsequently penetrate host-cells in vitro. Here we demonstrate that both anti T. cruzi proline racemase antibodies and the specific proline racemase inhibitor pyrrole-2-carboxylic acid significantly affect parasite infection of Vero cells in vitro. This inhibitor also hampers T. cruzi intracellu... Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3259449 Tue, 01 Dec 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3259449 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3259448&cid=s_33094_20_f&fid=33094&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20140366%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Oliveira GM, Masuda MO, Rocha NN, Schor N, Hooper CS, Araújo-Jorge TC, Henriques-Pons A Trypanosoma cruzi infection induces diverse alterations in immunocompetent cells and organs, myocarditis and congestive heart failure. However, the physiological network of disturbances imposed by the infection has not been addressed thoroughly. Regarding myocarditis induced by the infection, we observed in our previous work that Fas-L-/- mice (gld/gld) have very mild inflammatory infiltration when compared to BALB/c mice. However, all mice from both lineages die in the early acute phase. Therefore, in this work we studied the physiological connection relating arterial pressure, renal function/damage and cardiac insufficiency as causes of death. Our results show that a broader set of d... Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3259448 Tue, 01 Dec 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3259448 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3259447&cid=s_33094_20_f&fid=33094&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20140367%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Mello F, Jurberg J, Grazia J Eggs and nymphs of Triatoma dimidiata were described using both light and scanning electron microscopy. The egg body and operculum have an exochorion formed by irregular juxtaposed polygonal cells; these cells are without sculpture and the majority of them are hexagonal in shape. The five instars of T. dimidiatacan be distinguished from each other by characteristics of the pre, meso and metanotum. The number of setiferous tubercles increases progressively among instars. The sulcus stridulatorium of 1st instar nymphs is amorphous, showing median parallel grooves; from the 2nd instar on the sulcus is, progressively, elongate, deep and posteriorly pointed with stretched parallel grooves. All instars have a trichobothrium on the apical 1/3 of segment I... Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3259447 Tue, 01 Dec 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3259447 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3259446&cid=s_33094_20_f&fid=33094&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20140368%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Waghabi MC, Coutinho-Silva R, Feige JJ, Higuchi Mde L, Becker D, Burnstock G, Araújo-Jorge TC Gap junction connexin-43 (Cx43) molecules are responsible for electrical impulse conduction in the heart and are affected by transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta). This cytokine increases during Trypanosoma cruzi infection, modulating fibrosis and the parasite cell cycle. We studied Cx43 expression in cardiomyocytes exposed or not to TGF-beta T. cruzi, or SB-431542, an inhibitor of TGF-beta receptor type I (ALK-5). Cx43 expression was also examined in hearts with dilated cardiopathy from chronic Chagas disease patients, in which TGF-beta signalling had been shown previously to be highly activated. We demonstrated that TGF-beta treatment induced disorganised gap junctions in ... Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3259446 Tue, 01 Dec 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3259446 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3259445&cid=s_33094_20_f&fid=33094&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20140369%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Torrentes-Carvalho A, Azeredo EL, Reis SR, Miranda AS, Gandini M, Barbosa LS, Kubelka CF Monocytes/macrophages are important targets for dengue virus (DENV) replication; they induce inflammatory mediators and are sources of viral dissemination in the initial phase of the disease. Apoptosis is an active process of cellular destruction genetically regulated, in which a complex enzymatic pathway is activated and may be trigged by many viral infections. Since the mechanisms of apoptotic induction in DENV-infected target cells are not yet defined, we investigated the virus-cell interaction using a model of primary human monocyte infection with DENV-2 with the aim of identifying apoptotic markers. Cultures analyzed by flow cytometry and confocal microscopy yielded DENV antigen posit... Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3259445 Tue, 01 Dec 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3259445 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3259444&cid=s_33094_20_f&fid=33094&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20140370%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Alves-Ferreira M, Guimarães AC, Capriles PV, Dardenne LE, Degrave WM The current drug options for the treatment of chronic Chagas disease have not been sufficient and high hopes have been placed on the use of genomic data from the human parasite Trypanosoma cruzi to identify new drug targets and develop appropriate treatments for both acute and chronic Chagas disease. However, the lack of a complete assembly of the genomic sequence and the presence of many predicted proteins with unknown or unsure functions has hampered our complete view of the parasite's metabolic pathways. Moreover, pinpointing new drug targets has proven to be more complex than anticipated and has revealed large holes in our understanding of metabolic pathways and their integrated regulation, not only ... Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3259444 Tue, 01 Dec 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3259444 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3259443&cid=s_33094_20_f&fid=33094&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20140371%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Bérenger JM, Pluot-Sigwalt D, Pagès F, Blanchet D, Aznar C An annotated list of the triatomine species present in French Guiana is given. It is based on field collections carried out between 1993-2008, museum collections and a literature review. Fourteen species, representing four tribes and six genera, are now known in this country and are illustrated (habitus). Three species are recorded from French Guiana for the first time: Cavernicola pilosa, Microtriatoma trinidadensis and Rhodnius paraensis. The two most common and widely distributed species are Panstrongylus geniculatus and Rhodnius pictipes. The presence of two species (Panstrongylus megistus and Triatoma maculata) could be fortuitous and requires confirmation. Also, the presence of Rhodnius prolixus is doub... Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3259443 Tue, 01 Dec 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3259443 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3259442&cid=s_33094_20_f&fid=33094&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20140372%26dopt%3DAbstract Species composition and natural infectivity of anthropophilic Anopheles (Diptera: Culicidae) in the states of Córdoba and Antioquia, Northwestern Colombia. Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz. 2009 Dec;104(8):1117-24 Authors: Gutiérrez LA, González JJ, Gómez GF, Castro MI, Rosero DA, Luckhart S, Conn JE, Correa MM Malaria is a serious health problem in the states of Córdoba and Antioquia, Northwestern Colombia, where 64.4% of total Colombian cases were reported in 2007. Because little entomological information is available in this region, the aim of this work was to identify the Anopheles species composition and natural infectivity of mosquitoes distributed in seven localities with highest malaria transmission. A total of 1,768 Anopheles mosquitoes were collected usi... Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3259442 Tue, 01 Dec 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3259442 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3259441&cid=s_33094_20_f&fid=33094&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20140373%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Martínez-Ibarra JA, Salazar-Schettino PM, Nogueda-Torres B, Vences MO, Tapia-González JM, Espinoza-Gutiérrez B In seven studied communities of Western Mexico, triatomine specimens were sympatrically collected, some with atypical morphological characteristics in contrast to pure specimens, which were presumed to be hybrids. More than 200 specimens of Meccus pallidipennis and Meccus longipennis with brown-yellow markings on dorsal connexival segments were collected in Ahuacapán and Quitupan. In La Mesa, more than 60 specimens similar to Meccus picturatus in most morphological characteristics (including size) were collected, although they presented a largely yellowish corium like M. pallidipennis. Interfertility was proven between all of the studied wild hybri... Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3259441 Tue, 01 Dec 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3259441 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3259440&cid=s_33094_20_f&fid=33094&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20140374%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Ribeiro-Guimarães ML, Marengo EB, Tempone AJ, Amaral JJ, Klitzke CF, Silveira EK, Portaro FC, Pessolani MC Members of the high temperature requirement A (HtrA) family of chaperone proteases have been shown to play a role in bacterial pathogenesis. In a recent report, we demonstrated that the gene ML0176, which codes for a predicted HtrA-like protease, a gene conserved in other species of mycobacteria, is transcribed by Mycobacterium leprae in human leprosy lesions. In the present study, the recombinant ML0176 protein was produced and its enzymatic properties investigated. M. lepraerecombinant ML0176 was able to hydrolyse a variety of synthetic and natural peptides. Similar to other HtrA proteins, this enzyme displayed maximum proteolytic activity at temperatures above 40 ... Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3259440 Tue, 01 Dec 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3259440 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3259439&cid=s_33094_20_f&fid=33094&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20140375%26dopt%3DAbstract This study was retrospective in nature, had a low number of samples and lacked an intrinsic control group, but the data corroborate other results found in the literature. The data also demonstrate that, even though a cure has not been detected in the none-treated patients, the benefits for clinical evolution were selectively observed in the group of INDt patients and did not occur for CARD/DIGt patients. PMID: 20140375 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz) Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3259439 Tue, 01 Dec 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3259439 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3259438&cid=s_33094_20_f&fid=33094&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20140376%26dopt%3DAbstract Dispersal and survival of Nyssomyia intermedia and Nyssomyia neivai (Diptera: Psychodidae: Phlebotominae) in a cutaneous leishmaniasis endemic area of the speleological province of the Ribeira Valley, state of São Paulo, Brazil. Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz. 2009 Dec;104(8):1148-58 Authors: Galati EA, Fonseca MB, Marassá AM, Bueno EF The dispersal and survival of the phlebotomines Nyssomyia intermedia and Nyssomyia neivai (both implicated as vectors of the cutaneous leishmaniasis agent) in an endemic area was investigated using a capture-mark-release technique in five experiments from August-December 2003 in municipality of Iporanga, state of São Paulo, Brazil. A total of 1,749 males and 1,262 females of Ny. intermedia and 915 males and 411 females of Ny. neivai were ma... Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3259438 Tue, 01 Dec 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3259438 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3259437&cid=s_33094_20_f&fid=33094&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20140377%26dopt%3DAbstract Surveillance of Chagas disease vectors in municipalities of the state of Ceará, Brazil. Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz. 2009 Dec;104(8):1159-64 Authors: Gonçalves TC, Freitas AL, Freitas SP The present study aimed to analyse the dwelling infestation rates and the distribution and natural Trypanosoma cruzi infection rates, among triatomines captured in the 13 municipalities of the state of Ceará. The records relating to the capture of intradomicile and peridomicile triatomines during the Chagas disease control program of 1998-2008 were available. Among the triatomines captured and in all of the municipalities studied, Triatoma brasiliensis presented the highest incidence in intradomicile and Triatoma pseudomaculata in peridomicile and some were positive for infection by T.... Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3259437 Tue, 01 Dec 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3259437 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3259436&cid=s_33094_20_f&fid=33094&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20140378%26dopt%3DAbstract Ecological niche modelling and differentiation between Rhodnius neglectus Lent, 1954 and Rhodnius nasutus Stål, 1859 (Hemiptera: Reduviidae: Triatominae) in Brazil. Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz. 2009 Dec;104(8):1165-70 Authors: Batista TA, Gurgel-Gonçalves R Ecological niche modelling was used to predict the potential geographical distribution of Rhodnius nasutus Stål and Rhodnius neglectus Lent, in Brazil and to investigate the niche divergence between these morphologically similar triatomine species. The distribution of R. neglectus covered mainly the cerrado of Central Brazil, but the prediction maps also revealed its occurrence in transitional areas within the caatinga, Pantanal and Amazon biomes. The potential distribution of R. nasutus covered the Northeastern Reg... Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3259436 Tue, 01 Dec 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3259436 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3259435&cid=s_33094_20_f&fid=33094&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20140379%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Mocellin MG, Simões TC, Nascimento TF, Teixeira ML, Lounibos LP, Oliveira RL Immatures of both Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus have been found in water-holding bromeliad axils in Brazil. Removal of these plants or their treatment with insecticides in public and private gardens have been undertaken during dengue outbreaks in Brazil despite uncertainty as to their importance as productive habitats for dengue vectors. From March 2005-February 2006, we sampled 120 randomly selected bromeliads belonging to 10 species in a public garden less than 200 m from houses in a dengue-endemic neighborhood in Rio de Janeiro. A total of 2,816 mosquito larvae and pupae was collected, with an average of 5.87 immatures per plant per collection. Culex (Microculex) pleuristriatus and Culex ... Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3259435 Tue, 01 Dec 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3259435 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3259434&cid=s_33094_20_f&fid=33094&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20140380%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Fugassa MH, Beltrame MO, Bayer MS, Sardella NH Feline coprolites were examined for parasites with the aim of studying ancient infections that occurred in the Patagonian region during the Holocene period. Eggs compatible to Trichuris sp., Calodium sp., Eucoleus sp., Nematodirus sp., Oesophagostomum sp. (Nematoda), Monoecocestus sp. (Cestoda) and Eimeria macusaniensis (Coccidia) were recovered from faecal samples. The results obtained from the analysis provide evidence of consumption by felids of the viscera of both rodents and camelids. This knowledge allows for improved explanations as to the distribution of parasitism and its significance to the health of humans and animals inhabiting the area under study during the Middle Holocene. PMID: 20140380 [PubMed - in process] (S... Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3259434 Tue, 01 Dec 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3259434 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3259433&cid=s_33094_20_f&fid=33094&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20140381%26dopt%3DAbstract The first report of the main vector of visceral leishmaniasis in America, Lutzomyia longipalpis (Lutz & Neiva) (Diptera: Psychodidae: Phlebotominae), in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz. 2009 Dec;104(8):1181-2 Authors: Souza GD, Santos ED, Andrade Filho JD Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is a widespread zoonosis in Brazil and, up to now, there has been no record of the main vector of its agent, Lutzomyia longipalpis, in the Southern Region. Due to the diagnosis of VL in a dog in October 2008 in the city of São Borja, in the southernmost Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul, a collection of phlebotomines was undertaken to detect the presence of the vector Lu. longipalpis. The captures were carried out with CDC light traps on three consecutive ni... Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3259433 Tue, 01 Dec 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3259433 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3259432&cid=s_33094_20_f&fid=33094&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20140382%26dopt%3DAbstract In this study, we evaluated the effect of untreated nets on the blood feeding rates of Phlebotomus argentipes as well as the human blood index (HBI) in VL endemic villages in India and Nepal. The study had a 'before and after intervention' design in 58 households in six clusters. The use of untreated nets reduced the blood feeding rate by 85% (95% CI 76.5-91.1%) and the HBI by 42.2% (95% CI 11.1-62.5%). These results provide circumstantial evidence that untreated nets may provide some degree of personal protection against sand fly bites. PMID: 20140382 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz) Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3259432 Tue, 01 Dec 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3259432 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3259431&cid=s_33094_20_f&fid=33094&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20140383%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Peixoto-Rangel AL, Miller EN, Castellucci L, Jamieson SE, Peixe RG, Elias Lde S, Correa-Oliveira R, Bahia-Oliveira LM, Blackwell JM Toxoplasma gondii infection is an important mediator of ocular disease in Brazil more frequently than reported from elsewhere. Infection and pathology are characterized by a strong proinflammatory response which in mice is triggered by interaction of the parasite with the toll-like receptor (TLR)/MyD88 pathway. A powerful way to identify the role of TLRs in humans is to determine whether polymorphisms at these loci influence susceptibility to T. gondii-mediated pathologies. Here we report on a small family-based study (60 families; 68 affected offspring) undertaken in Brazil which was powered for large effect sizes using single nucleotide polymorp... Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3259431 Tue, 01 Dec 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3259431 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3259430&cid=s_33094_20_f&fid=33094&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20140384%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Michalsky EM, Fortes-Dias CL, França-Silva JC, Rocha MF, Barata RA, Dias ES In the present paper, we evaluate the relationship between climate variables and population density of Lutzomyia longipalpis in Montes Claros, an area of active transmission of American visceral leishmaniasis (AVL) in Brazil. Entomological captures were performed in 10 selected districts of the city, between September 2002-August 2003. A total of 773 specimens of L. longipalpiswere captured in the period and the population density could be associated with local climate variables (cumulative rainfall, average temperature and relative humidity) through a mathematical linear model with a determination coefficient (Rsqr) of 0.752. Although based on an oversimplified statistical analysis, as far as the... Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3259430 Tue, 01 Dec 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3259430 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3259429&cid=s_33094_20_f&fid=33094&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20140385%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Gomes LI, Marques LH, Enk MJ, Coelho PM, Rabello A A previously reported sensitive PCR assay for the detection of Schistosoma mansoni DNA was updated and evaluated. Changes in the DNA extraction method, including the use of a worldwide available commercial kit and the inclusion of additional quality control measures, increased the robustness of the test, as confirmed by the analysis of 67 faecal samples from an endemic area in Brazil. The PCR assay is at hand as a proven, reliable diagnostic test for the control of schistosomiasis in specific settings. PMID: 20140385 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz) Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3259429 Tue, 01 Dec 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3259429 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3259428&cid=s_33094_20_f&fid=33094&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20140386%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Brandão-Filho SP, Balbino VQ, Marcondes CB, Brazil RP, Hamilton JG, Shaw JJ A group of 18 research workers involved in different aspects of the biology of Lutzomyia longipalpis discussed whether or not it is important to give taxonomically valid names to populations that have been defined by biological, biochemical and molecular methods to be reproductively isolated. The type material of this medically important species has been lost and because of this it was recommended that a colony should be established from insects captured in the region of the type area and that their description should serve as the basis for future descriptions. It was pointed out that there is a lack of uniformity in the naming of closely related American sand flies and that some of the difference... Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3259428 Tue, 01 Dec 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3259428 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3115944&cid=s_33094_20_f&fid=33094&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20027458%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Rangel EF, Lainson R The aim of the present review is to give relevant information on aspects of the biology and ecology, including the vectorial competence of Lutzomyia sand fly species suggested as vectors of American cutaneous leishmaniasis in Brazil. The disease, due to Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis, has been registered in most municipalities in all the Brazilian states and its transmission is associated with more than one sand fly species in each geographical region. A variety of Leishmania species can be found in the Amazon basin, where different epidemiological chains have been detected with the participation of different phlebotomine vectors. Finally, a discussion is presented on some sand fly species found naturally infected by Leishmania, but for which there is a... Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3115944 Sun, 01 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3115944 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3115943&cid=s_33094_20_f&fid=33094&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20027459%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Gil LH, Araújo Mda S, Villalobos JM, Camargo LM, Ozaki LS, Fontes CJ, Ribolla PE, Katsuragawa TH, Cruz RM, Silva Ade A, Silva LH We surveyed areas of the state of Rondônia in western Amazon for phlebotomine, which are potential vectors of leishmaniasis. A total of 5,998 specimens were captured, resulting in the identification of 48 species within the Lutzomyia (99.98%) and Brumptomyia (0.02%) genera. The predominant species was Lutzomyia davisi, followed by Lutzomyia umbratilis, Lutzomyia llanosmartinsi, Lutzomyia c. carrerai, Lutzomyia dendrophyla, Lutzomyia nevesi and Lutzomyia whitmani. All sand flies identified as vectors for cutaneous leishmaniasis in Brazil, i.e., Lu. davisi, Lu. umbratilis, Lu. c. carrerai and Lu. whitmani, were found in the surveyed areas. ... Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3115943 Sun, 01 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3115943 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3115942&cid=s_33094_20_f&fid=33094&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20027460%26dopt%3DAbstract Seroprevalence of HBV, HCV and HIV co-infection in selected individuals from state of São Paulo, Brazil. Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz. 2009 Nov;104(7):960-3 Authors: Portelinha Filho AM, Nascimento CU, Tannouri TN, Troiani C, Ascêncio EL, Bonfim R, D'Andrea LA, Prestes-Carneiro LE Few studies are available on hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) co-infection in populations living in small and medium-sized Brazilian cities. We evaluated the seroprevalence of these viruses in selected individuals from a clinic of infectology, who were referred to the University Regional Hospital of the West Region of state of São Paulo, Brazil. Among a total of 7,021 individuals seen in the clinic following receipt of preliminary ELISA re... Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3115942 Sun, 01 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3115942 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3115941&cid=s_33094_20_f&fid=33094&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20027461%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Santos CP, Tomás Timi J Absonifibula estuarina sp. n. (Diclidophoridae, Absonifibulinae), is described from the gills of juvenile striped weakfish, Cynoscion guatucupa (Cuvier), from the southwestern Atlantic, Argentinean coast. This marine fish migrates to estuarine areas to spawn where exclusively juveniles are found parasitized; adult fish in marine water were never found to be parasitized by this monogenean. A. estuarina sp. n. is characterized mainly by the pedunculate clamps dissimilar in size, the shape of anterior jaw with sclerite 'a' attached to a sub-trapezoidal lamellate extension and fused to sclerites 'c' and 'd'. It differs from Absonifibula bychowskyi Lawler & Overstreet, 1976, the only known species of the genus, in the shape and arrangement of the ge... Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3115941 Sun, 01 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3115941 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3115940&cid=s_33094_20_f&fid=33094&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20027462%26dopt%3DAbstract In conclusion, these results suggest that the HA negatively charged membranes vary their efficiency for recovery of viral concentration depending upon the types of both enteric viruses and water matrices. PMID: 20027462 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz) Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3115940 Sun, 01 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3115940 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3115939&cid=s_33094_20_f&fid=33094&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20027463%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Azevedo C, Casal G, Mendonça I, Matos E A fish-infecting myxosporean, Henneguya hemiodopsis sp. n., found infecting the gills of Hemiodopsis microlepis and collected from the Poty River near the city of Teresina, Brazil, was described based on ultrastructural studies. The parasite occurred within large whitish polysporic plasmodia (up to 200 mum in diameter) containing asynchronous developmental sporogonic stages, mainly mature spores. The spores measured 19.7 +/- 0.9 mum in total length (n = 30) and the ellipsoidal spore body was 10.8 +/- 0.5 mum long, 3.3 +/- 0.4 mum wide and 2.5 +/- 0.5 mum thick. The spores were composed of two equal shell valves adhering together along the straight suture line, with each valve having equal-sized caudal tapering tails measuring 8.7 +/... Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3115939 Sun, 01 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3115939 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3115938&cid=s_33094_20_f&fid=33094&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20027464%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Herrera C, Vallejos GA, Loaiza R, Zeledón R, Urbina A, Sepúlveda-Boza S The in vitro activity of four 2-nitropropene derivatives, 1-(3-benzothienyl)-2-nitropropene (N1), 1-(3-thienyl)-2-nitropropene (N2), 1-(5-bromo-2-thienyl)-2-nitropropene (N3) and 1-(4-bromo-2-thienyl)-2-nitropropene (N4), were tested against cultures of the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi. Cytotoxicity studies were performed using Vero cells. The blood trypomastigotes, amastigotes and epimastigotes showed differential degrees of sensitivity towards the four tested compounds; the highest activity against the epimastigotes and blood tripomastigotes was exhibited by N1, followed by N3, N4 and finally N2. In contrast, whereas the compounds N1, N3 and N4 exerted similar magnitudes of activity against amast... Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3115938 Sun, 01 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3115938 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3115937&cid=s_33094_20_f&fid=33094&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20027465%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Escribà JM, Ponce E, Romero Ade D, Viñas PA, Marchiol A, Bassets G, Palma PP, Lima MA, Zúniga C, Ponce C Between 1999-2002, Médécins Sans Frontières-Spain implemented a project seeking to determine the efficacy and safety of benznidazole in the treatment of recent chronic Chagas disease in a cohort of seropositive children in the Yoro Department, Honduras. A total of 24,471 children were screened for Trypanosoma cruzi IgG antibodies through conventional enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) on filter paper. Recombinant ELISA (0.93% seroprevalence) showed 256 initially reactive cases, including 232 confirmed positive cases. Of these, 231 individuals were treated with benznidazole (7.5 mg/kg/day) for 60 days and were followed with a strict week... Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3115937 Sun, 01 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3115937 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3115936&cid=s_33094_20_f&fid=33094&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20027466%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Ampuero J, Rios AP, Carranza-Tamayo CO, Romero GA The positivities of two methods for the diagnosis of localised cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) were estimated in 280 patients enrolled in a clinical trial. The trial was conducted in an endemic area of Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis and trial participants were patients with skin ulcers and positive leishmanin skin tests. Patients underwent aspirative skin punctures of the ulcerated lesions and lymph nodes for in vitro cultures, which were processed under field conditions at the local health centre. Skin lesion biopsies were tested at a reference laboratory using kinetoplastid DNA (kDNA)-PCR to detect DNA. The median time required to obtain a positive culture from the skin samples was seven days and the contamination rate of the... Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3115936 Sun, 01 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3115936 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3115935&cid=s_33094_20_f&fid=33094&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20027467%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Ramos CA, Araújo FR, Souza II, Oliveira RH, Elisei C, Soares CO, Sacco AM, Rosinha GM, Alves LC Babesia bovis is a tick-borne pathogen that remains an important constraint for the development of cattle industries in tropical and subtropical regions of the world. Effective control can be achieved by vaccination with live attenuated phenotypes of the parasite. However, these phenotypes have a number of drawbacks, which justifies the search for new, more efficient immunogens based mainly on recombinant protein technology. In the present paper, ribosomal phosphoprotein P0 from a Brazilian isolate of B. bovis was produced and evaluated with regard to conservation and antigenicity. The protein sequence displayed high conservation between different Brazilian isolates of B. bovis... Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3115935 Sun, 01 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3115935 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3115934&cid=s_33094_20_f&fid=33094&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20027468%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Scheidegger E, Fracalanzza S, Teixeira L, Cardarelli-Leite P Restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis of a PCR-amplified fragment of the 16S rRNA gene was performed on reference strains belonging to 21 different enterococcal species and on 75 Enterococcus isolates recovered from poultry meat, pasteurised milk and fresh cheese. PCR amplification generated a 275 bp fragment, which was digested with three restriction endonucleases (DdeI, HaeIII, HinfI). The strains were divided into five groups (groups A-E) on the basis of their restriction patterns. Five biochemical tests (arabinose, arginine, manitol, methyl-beta-D-glucopyranoside and raffinose) were then performed in addition to RFLP analysis to narrow the identification of enterococcal strains to the species l... Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3115934 Sun, 01 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3115934 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3115933&cid=s_33094_20_f&fid=33094&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20027469%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Gama BE, Oliveira NK, Souza JM, Daniel-Ribeiro CT, Ferreira-da-Cruz Mde F Plasmodium vivax control is now being hampered by drug resistance. Orthologous Plasmodium falciparum genes linked to chloroquine or sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine chemoresistance have been identified in P. vivax parasites, but few studies have been performed. The goal of the present work is to characterise pvmdr1 and pvdhfr genes in parasite isolates from a Brazilian endemic area where no molecular investigation had been previously conducted. The pvmdr1 analysis revealed the existence of single (85.7%) and double (14.3%) mutant haplotypes, while the pvdhfr examination showed the presence of double (57.2%) and triple (42.8%) mutant haplotypes. The implications of these findings are discussed. PMID: 2002746... Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3115933 Sun, 01 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3115933 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3115932&cid=s_33094_20_f&fid=33094&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20027470%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Santos CM, Jurberg J, Galvão C, Rosa JA, C Júnior W, Barata JM, Obara MT The authors describe and compare the morphological and ultrastructural characteristics of eggs from the three most recent described species of the genus Rhodnius Stål, 1859, which have not previously been studied. These species are Rhodnius colombiensis (Mejia, Galvão & Jurberg 1999), Rhodnius milesi (Carcavallo, Rocha, Galvão & Jurberg 2001) and Rhodnius stali (Lent, Jurberg & Galvão 1993). The results revealed that there are similarities in the exochorial architecture of optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy; these include the predominance of hexagonal cells that are common to all Rhodnius species and variable degrees of lateral flattening, which i... Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3115932 Sun, 01 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3115932 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3115931&cid=s_33094_20_f&fid=33094&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20027471%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Kumar V, Kesari S, Kumar A, Dinesh D, Ranjan A, Prasad M, Sinha N, Kumar R, Das P Bihar, India has been in the grip of kala-azar for many years. Its rampant and severe spread has made life miserable in most parts of the state. Such conditions require a comprehensive understanding of this affliction. The numbers coming out of the districts prone to the disease in the north and south Ganges have provided us with several startling revelations, as there are striking uniformities on both sides, including similar vegetation, water storage facilities, house construction and little change in risk factors. The northern areas have been regularly sprayed with DDT since 1977, but eradication of the disease appears to be a distant dream. In 2007 alone, there were as many as 37,738 cases in... Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3115931 Sun, 01 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3115931 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3115930&cid=s_33094_20_f&fid=33094&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20027472%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Portella RS, Andrade SG We investigated whether sequestered Trypanosoma cruzi antigens found in heart interstitial dendritic cells (IDCs) contribute to the residual myocarditis found in mice following treatment with benznidazole, a specific chemotherapeutic drug. IDCs are antigen-presenting cells that are MHC-II-receptor dependent. Swiss mice were divided into two experimental groups: the 1st group was infected with the Colombian strain of T. cruzi, which is resistant to treatment with benznidazole, and the 2nd group was infected with clone 21SF-C 3, which has a medium susceptibility to the drug. Treatment of the Colombian strain group started on the 120th day post-infection and for the 21SF-C3 strain group treatment was started on the 90th day. In both groups, treatment laste... Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3115930 Sun, 01 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3115930 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3115929&cid=s_33094_20_f&fid=33094&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20027473%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Daflon-Teixeira NF, Carvalho-Costa FA, Chiang RG, Lima MM The influence of blood meal and mating on Triatoma brasiliensis (Neiva) female fecundity, fertility, life-span and the preoviposition period were investigated under laboratory conditions. Nourishment increased fecundity, fertility and adult lifespan, whereas mating increased fecundity, fertility and decreased the preoviposition period. Females also required more than one mating to reach their full reproductive potential. Results indicate that both nourishment and mating are important in T. brasiliensis proliferation. Such information will help towards developing effective control strategies of this vector of Chagas disease. PMID: 20027473 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz) Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3115929 Sun, 01 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3115929 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3115928&cid=s_33094_20_f&fid=33094&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20027474%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Mezghani-Jarraya R, Hammami H, Ayadi A, Damak M The molluscicidal activity of Hammada scoparia leaf extracts and the principal alkaloids isolated from them (carnegine and N-methylisosalsoline) were tested against the mollusc gastropod, Galba truncatula, the intermediate host of Fasciola hepatica in Tunisia. The results indicated that the molluscicidal activity was correlated with the presence of alkaloids. A significant molluscicidal value, according to the World Health Organization, was found with the methanol extract (LC50 = 28.93 ppm). Further fractionation of the methanolic extract led to the isolation of two principal alkaloids: carnegine and N-methylisosalsoline. These alkaloids are isoquinolines that have not previously been characterised for their molluscicidal activit... Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3115928 Sun, 01 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3115928 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3115927&cid=s_33094_20_f&fid=33094&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20027475%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Almeida Cde S, Abramo C, Alves CC, Mazzoccoli L, Ferreira AP, Teixeira HC Chemokines recruit and activate leukocytes, assisting granuloma formation. Herein, we evaluated plasma chemokines in patients with active tuberculosis (ATB) and after completing treatment (TTB) and compared them to BCG-vaccinated healthy controls (HC). Levels of chemokines were measured by cytometric bead array. Levels of CXCL8, CXCL9 and CXCL10 were higher in ATB patients compared to HC, but they decreased in TTB. Levels of CCL2 and CCL5 in ATB patients were similar to those observed in HC. Thus, the high levels of CXC-chemokines detected during ATB, which can modulate the trafficking of immune cells from the periphery to the site of infection, were reversed by anti-mycobacterial treatment. PMID: 20... Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3115927 Sun, 01 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3115927 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3115926&cid=s_33094_20_f&fid=33094&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20027476%26dopt%3DAbstract Tracing lineage by phenotypic and genotypic markers in Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar 1,4,[5],12:i:- and Salmonella Typhimurium isolated in state of São Paulo, Brazil. Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz. 2009 Nov;104(7):1042-6 Authors: Tavechio AT, Fernandes SA, Ghilardi AC, Soule G, Ahmed R, Melles CE Fifty-three Salmonella 1,4,[5],12:i:- and 45 Salmonella Typhimurium strains were characterised using phage typing, plasmid profiles and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) for comparison. The majority of the strains were subdivided into definitive type (DT) 41 (22.6%) and DT 193 (18%) and the 60-MDa plasmid was detected in 94.3% and 84.4% of strains, respectively. Genetic diversity was observed among all strains and 90% presented a > 70% similarity through PFGE analys... Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3115926 Sun, 01 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3115926 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3115925&cid=s_33094_20_f&fid=33094&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20027477%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Rodrigues RA, Azeredo-Espin AM, Torres TT The investigation of the genetic variation and population structure of Chrysomya species is of great interest for both basic and applied research. However, very limited genetic information is available for this genus across its geographical distribution. Here, we describe 12 polymorphic microsatellite loci isolated from Chrysomya putoria with expected heterozygosities ranging from 0.1402-0.8312. These markers are of potential applied interest for forensic entomologists and for the characterisation of the genetic structure of C. putoria from recently colonised regions, with great promise for understanding the colonisation dynamics and spread of the genus Chrysomya in the New World. PMID: 20027477 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Memor... Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3115925 Sun, 01 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3115925 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3115924&cid=s_33094_20_f&fid=33094&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D20027478%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Zingales B, Andrade S, Briones M, Campbell D, Chiari E, Fernandes O, Guhl F, Lages-Silva E, Macedo A, Machado C, Miles M, Romanha A, Sturm N, Tibayrenc M, Schijman A In an effort to unify the nomenclature of Trypanosoma cruzi, the causative agent of Chagas disease, an updated system was agreed upon at the Second Satellite Meeting. A consensus was reached that T. cruzi strains should be referred to by six discrete typing units (T. cruzi I-VI). The goal of a unified nomenclature is to improve communication within the scientific community involved in T. cruzi research. The justification and implications will be presented in a subsequent detailed report. PMID: 20027478 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz) Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3115924 Sun, 01 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +0100 3115924 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2947187&cid=s_33094_20_f&fid=33094&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19876551%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Ramos MV, Pereira DA, Souza DP, Araújo ES, Freitas CD, Cavalheiro MG, Matos MP, Carvalho AF It has been shown previously that the laticifer fluid of Calotropis procera (Ait.) R.Br. is highly toxic to the egg hatching and larval development of Aedes aegypti L. In the present study, the larvicidal potential of other laticifer fluids obtained from Cryptostegia grandiflora R.Br., Plumeria rubra L. and Euphorbia tirucalli L. was evaluated. We attempted to correlate larvicidal activity with the presence of endogenous proteolytic activity in the protein fraction of the fluids. After collection, the fluids were processed by centrifugation and dialysis to obtain the soluble laticifer protein (LP) fractions and eliminate water insoluble and low molecular mass molecules. LP did not ... Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2947187 Tue, 01 Sep 2009 00:00:00 +0100 2947187 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2947186&cid=s_33094_20_f&fid=33094&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19876552%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Maniafu BM, Wilber L, Ndiege IO, Wanjala CC, Akenga TA Three Plumbago spp have been tested for mosquito larvicidal activity. The crude extracts exhibiting the highest larvicidal activity against Anopheles gambiae were hexane (LC50 = 6.4 microg/mL) and chloroform (LC50 = 6.7 microg/mL) extracts from Plumbago zeylanica Linn, chloroform (LC50 = 6.7 ug/mL) extract from Plumbago stenophylla Bull and ethyl acetate (LC50 = 4.1 microg/mL) extract from Plumbago dawei Rolfe. These LC50 values were within 95% confidence limits. 5-hydroxy-2-methyl-1,4-naphthoquinone (plumbagin) 1 (LC50 = 1.9 microg/mL) and beta-sitosterol 2 were characterised from ethyl acetate extract of root bark of P. dawei, a native medicinal plant growing in Kenya, based on spectral analysis and comparisons with data... Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2947186 Tue, 01 Sep 2009 00:00:00 +0100 2947186 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2947185&cid=s_33094_20_f&fid=33094&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19876553%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Lynch MI, Malagueño E, Lynch LF, Ferreira S, Stheling R, Oréfice F Toxoplasma gondii causes posterior uveitis and the specific diagnosis is based on clinical criteria. The presence of anti-T. gondii secretory IgA (sIgA) antibodies in patients' tears has been reported and an association was found between ocular toxoplasmosis and the anti-T. gondii sIgA isotype in Brazilian patients. The purpose of this study was to provide an objective validation of the published ELISA test for determining the presence of anti-T. gondii sIgA in the tears of individuals with ocular toxoplasmosis. Tears from 156 patients with active posterior uveitis were analysed; 82 of them presented characteristics of ocular toxoplasmosis (standard lesion) and 74 patients presented uveitis due to oth... Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2947185 Tue, 01 Sep 2009 00:00:00 +0100 2947185 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2947184&cid=s_33094_20_f&fid=33094&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19876554%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Motoki MT, Wilkerson RC, Sallum MA The Anopheles (Nyssorhynchus) albitarsis complex includes six species: An. albitarsis, Anopheles oryzalimnetes Wilkerson and Motoki, n. sp., Anopheles marajoara, Anopheles deaneorum, Anopheles janconnae Wilkerson and Sallum, n. sp. and An. albitarsis F. Except for An. deaneorum, species of the complex are indistinguishable when only using morphology. The problematic distinction among species of the complex has made study of malaria transmission and ecology of An. albitarsis s.l. difficult. Consequently, involvement of species of the An. albitarsis complex in human Plasmodium transmission is not clear throughout its distribution range. With the aim of clarifying the taxonomy of the above species, with the exception of An. albitarsis F, we pres... Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2947184 Tue, 01 Sep 2009 00:00:00 +0100 2947184 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2947183&cid=s_33094_20_f&fid=33094&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19876555%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Felippe-Bauer ML, Damasceno CP, Py-Daniel V, Spinelli GR A new species of the Culicoides (Hoffmania) hylas species group, Culicoides baniwa Felippe-Bauer is described and illustrated based on a female specimen from the state of Amazonas, Brazil. A systematic key, wing photographs, diagramme of the legs pattern, table with numerical characters of females and a synopsis of the 11 species of the C. hylas group are presented. This paper further presents a new record of Culicoides pseudoheliconiae Felippe-Bauer out of the previously defined geographic distribution of the hylas species group, in the province of Misiones, Argentina. PMID: 19876555 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz) Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2947183 Tue, 01 Sep 2009 00:00:00 +0100 2947183 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2947182&cid=s_33094_20_f&fid=33094&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19876556%26dopt%3DAbstract This study confirms the ability of C. albicans to induce apoptosis in myocardial tissue. PMID: 19876556 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz) Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2947182 Tue, 01 Sep 2009 00:00:00 +0100 2947182 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2947181&cid=s_33094_20_f&fid=33094&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19876557%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Moura Mde A, Amendoeira MR, Barbosa HS The primary culture of intestinal epithelial cells from domestic cats is an efficient cellular model to study the enteric cycle of Toxoplasma gondii in a definitive host. The parasite-host cell ratio can be pointed out as a decisive factor that determines the intracellular fate of bradyzoites forms. The development of the syncytial-like forms of T. gondii was observed using the 1:20 bradyzoite-host cell ratio, resulting in similar forms described in in vivo systems. This alternative study potentially opens up the field for investigation into the molecular aspects of this interaction. This can contribute to the development of new strategies for intervention of a main route by which toxoplasmosis spreads. PMID: 19876557 [PubMed - in pro... Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2947181 Tue, 01 Sep 2009 00:00:00 +0100 2947181 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2947180&cid=s_33094_20_f&fid=33094&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19876558%26dopt%3DAbstract In conclusion, IQ could be a candidate for further studies in malaria research interfering with the oxidative status in Plasmodium berghei infection. PMID: 19876558 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz) Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2947180 Tue, 01 Sep 2009 00:00:00 +0100 2947180 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2947179&cid=s_33094_20_f&fid=33094&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19876559%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Gómez-Sucerquia LJ, Triana-Chávez O, Jaramillo-Ocampo N Previous studies have reported genetic differences between wild-caught sylvatic, domestic and laboratory pop-ulations of several Triatominae species. The differences between sylvatic and laboratory colonies parallel are similar to the differences observed between sylvatic and domestic populations. Laboratory colonies are frequently used as references for field populations, but the consequences of founder events on the genetic makeup of laboratory or domestic populations are rarely quantified. Our goal was to quantify the genetic change in Rhodnius pallescens populations artificially submitted to founder effects via laboratory colonization. We compared the genetic makeup of two sylvatic populations and their labo... Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2947179 Tue, 01 Sep 2009 00:00:00 +0100 2947179 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2947178&cid=s_33094_20_f&fid=33094&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19876560%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Mesa-Arango AC, Montiel-Ramos J, Zapata B, Durán C, Betancur-Galvis L, Stashenko E Two essential oils of Lippia alba (Mill.) N.E. Brown (Verbenacea), the carvone and citral chemotypes and 15 of their compounds were evaluated to determine cytotoxicity and antifungal activity. Cytotoxicity assays for both the citral and carvone chemotypes were carried out with tetrazolium-dye, which showed a dose-dependent cytotoxic effect against HeLa cells. Interestingly, this effect on the evaluated cells (HeLa and the non-tumoural cell line, Vero) was lower than that of commercial citral alone. Commercial citral showed the highest cytotoxic activity on HeLa cells. The antifungal activity was evaluated against Candida parapsilosis, Candida krusei, Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus fumig... Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2947178 Tue, 01 Sep 2009 00:00:00 +0100 2947178 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2947177&cid=s_33094_20_f&fid=33094&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19876561%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Silva KC, Rosa ML, Moyse N, Afonso LA, Oliveira LH, Cavalcanti SM We investigated human papillomavirus (HPV) infection in two female populations from diverse socio-economic strata from the state of Rio de Janeiro and we also investigated the possible co-factors related to infection and the progression to cancer. In Group I, the reference group of this study, 10.7% of the patients presented HPV infection, as detected by generic PCR, while in Group II (low socio-demographic conditions) HPV was detected in 31.1% of the samples. HPV16 was the most prevalent virus type found in both Groups I and II (5.3% and 10%, respectively), followed by HPV 18 (1.3% and 4.7%, respectively). Although only a small sample was analysed, we detected differences among the groups regarding the rates of... Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2947177 Tue, 01 Sep 2009 00:00:00 +0100 2947177 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2947176&cid=s_33094_20_f&fid=33094&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19876562%26dopt%3DAbstract Prevalence of hepatitis C virus infection and associated factors among male illicit drug users in Cuiabá, Mato Grosso, Brazil. Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz. 2009 Sep;104(6):892-6 Authors: Novais AC, Lopes CL, Reis NR, Silva AM, Martins RM, Souto FJ Intravenous drug injection has been reported as the main risk factor for hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. The aim of the present study was to describe the prevalence and the epidemiological profile of HCV infection among abusers of illegal injected and non-injected drugs in Cuiabá, state of Mato Grosso, Central Brazil. A cross-sectional study including 314 male drug users from eight detoxification centres was performed. Out of 314 subjects studied, 48 (15.2%) were intravenous drug users. Participants were interviewed and had blo... Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2947176 Tue, 01 Sep 2009 00:00:00 +0100 2947176 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2947175&cid=s_33094_20_f&fid=33094&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19876563%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Amaku M, Azevedo RS, Castro RM, Massad E, Coutinho FA Epidemiological parameters, such as age-dependent force of infection and average age at infection (<IMG SRC='../img/13s1.gif' WIDTH=9 HEIGHT=12>) were estimated for rubella, varicella, rotavirus A, respiratory syncytial virus, hepatitis A and parvovirus B19 infections for a non-immunized Brazilian community, using the same sera samples. The for the aforementioned diseases were 8.45 years (yr) [95% CI: (7.23, 9.48) yr], 3.90 yr [95% CI: (3.51, 4.28) yr], 1.03 yr [95% CI: (0.96, 1.09) yr], 1.58 yr [95% CI: (1.39, 1.79) yr], 7.17 yr [95% CI: (6.48, 7.80) yr] and 7.43 yr [95% CI: (5.68, 9.59) yr], respectively. The differences between average ages could be explained by factors such as differences in the effectiveness of t... Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2947175 Tue, 01 Sep 2009 00:00:00 +0100 2947175 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2947174&cid=s_33094_20_f&fid=33094&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19876564%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Azevedo KM, Setúbal S, Camacho LA, Velarde LG, Oliveira SA Parvovirus B19 (B-19) may cause chronic anaemia in immunosuppressed patients, including those infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). We studied single serum samples from 261 consecutive HIV-infected patients using an enzyme immunoassay to detect IgG antibodies to B-19. The seroprevalence of B-19-IgG was 62.8%. The differences in seroprevalence across gender, age, educational categories, year of collection of the serum samples, clinical and antiretroviral therapy characteristics, CD4+ count, CD4+ and CD8+ percentage and CD4+/CD8+ ratios were neither substantial nor statistically significant. There was a non-significant, inverse association between B-19 seropositivity and plasma HIV load and haemoglobin l... Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2947174 Tue, 01 Sep 2009 00:00:00 +0100 2947174 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2947173&cid=s_33094_20_f&fid=33094&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19876565%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Martins C, Faria L, Souza M, Camello T, Velasco E, Hirata R, Thuler L, Mattos-Guaraldi A During a five-year period, 932 clinical isolates from cancer patients treated in a Brazilian reference centre were identified as corynebacteria; 86% of the cultures came from patients who had been clinically and microbiologically classified as infected and 77.1% of these patients had been hospitalised (71.1% from surgical wards). The adult solid tumour was the most common underlying malignant disease (66.7%). The univariate and multivariate analyses showed that hospitalised patients had a six-fold greater risk (OR = 5.5, 95% CI = 1.15-26.30 p = 0.033) related to 30-day mortality. The predominant species were Corynebacterium amycolatum (44.7%), Corynebacterium minutissimum (18.3%) and Coryn... Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2947173 Tue, 01 Sep 2009 00:00:00 +0100 2947173 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2947172&cid=s_33094_20_f&fid=33094&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19876566%26dopt%3DAbstract In conclusion, autoclaving epimastigotes of T. cruzi, after nutrient stress, allowed us to obtain an antigen that could be used in the serological diagnosis of Chagas disease. PMID: 19876566 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz) Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2947172 Tue, 01 Sep 2009 00:00:00 +0100 2947172 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2947171&cid=s_33094_20_f&fid=33094&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19876567%26dopt%3DAbstract We describe the relationship between lesion outcome and histopathological hallmarks in susceptible (BALB/c) and resistant (C57BL/6 and IL-4-deficient BALB/c) mouse strains over the course of a 12-week-infection with Leishmania major in the ear. The infiltration of mononuclear cells and polymorphonuclear cells occurred within 6 h and mononuclear cells predominated one week post-infection. Permissive intracellular growth of the pathogen was associated with non-healing lesions. In contrast, tissue damage and clearance of the parasite was observed in healing lesions and was associated with inducible nitric oxide synthase expression. The identification of the structural components of tissue reaction to the parasite in this study furthers our understanding of subjacent immune effector mechanisms... Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2947171 Tue, 01 Sep 2009 00:00:00 +0100 2947171 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2947170&cid=s_33094_20_f&fid=33094&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19876568%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Barbosa RR, Mello-Patiu CA, Mello RP, Queiroz MM The calyptrate dipterans are the most important decomposers of human cadavers. Knowledge of their species and distribution are of great importance to forensic entomology, especially because of the enormous diversity in Brazil. Carcasses of domestic pigs (Sus scrofa, L) were the experimental models used to attract calyptrates of forensic interest during the winters of 2006 and 2007 and the summers of 2006 and 2008. A total of 24,423 specimens from 44 species were collected (19 Muscidae, 2 Fanniidae and 23 Sarcophagidae), three of which were new records of occurrence and 20 of which were new forensic records for the state of Rio de Janeiro. Fourteen of these species were newly identified as forensically important in Brazil. PM... Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2947170 Tue, 01 Sep 2009 00:00:00 +0100 2947170 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2947169&cid=s_33094_20_f&fid=33094&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19876569%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: David MR, Lourenço-de-Oliveira R, Freitas RM Different urban structures might affect the life history parameters of Aedes aegypti and, consequently, dengue transmission. Container productivity, probability of daily survival (PDS) and dispersal rates were estimated for mosquito populations in a high income neighbourhood of Rio de Janeiro. Results were contrasted with those previously found in a suburban district, as well as those recorded in a slum. After inspecting 1,041 premises, domestic drains and discarded plastic pots were identified as the most productive containers, collectively holding up to 80% of the total pupae. In addition, three cohorts of dust-marked Ae. aegypti females were released and recaptured daily using BGS-Traps, sticky ovitraps and backpack aspirato... Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2947169 Tue, 01 Sep 2009 00:00:00 +0100 2947169 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2947168&cid=s_33094_20_f&fid=33094&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19876570%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Santos SV, Lescano SZ, Castro JM, Chieffi PP Toxocara cati is a common feline parasite transmitted by the ingestion of embryonated eggs, by the transmammary route or by predation of paratenic hosts harbouring third-stage larvae in their bodies. In the present study, the larval distribution of T. cati in tissues and organs of Rattus norvegicus experimentally infected with 300 embryonated eggs was analysed. Third-stage larvae were recovered from livers, lungs, kidneys, eyes, brains and carcasses of infected rats, following tissue digestion with HCl 0.5% for 24 h at 37 degrees C. Some differences from the known larval distribution of Toxocara canisin the same rodent species were found. PMID: 19876570 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz) Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2947168 Tue, 01 Sep 2009 00:00:00 +0100 2947168 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2947167&cid=s_33094_20_f&fid=33094&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19876571%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Cardona-Castro N, Beltrán-Alzate JC, Romero-Montoya M Follow-up of the household contacts (HHC) of leprosy patients is still the best strategy for early detection of leprosy. HHC from a post-elimination region of Colombia studied in 2001-2002 were re-contacted in 2007. They were tested at both times by clinical examination, bacillary index (BI), PCR from a slit skin smear (SSS) and anti PGL-1 IgM titres. Thirty-two of 61 HHC (52%) were re-contacted. Nine HHC (28%) showed sero-conversion and one had a skin lesion (BI negative, nested PCR positive). Periodic evaluation of HHC can contribute to the detection of infected HHC as well as new and early leprosy cases. PMID: 19876571 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz) Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2947167 Tue, 01 Sep 2009 00:00:00 +0100 2947167 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2891642&cid=s_33094_20_f&fid=33094&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19820823%26dopt%3DAbstract The objective of this study was to establish a deltamethrin-resistant colony to develop a research programme that will study the evolution of physiological resistance patterns and stage-specific resistance responses in Cx. quinquefasciatus larvae and adults under laboratory conditions. An approximately 298-fold increase in resistance was recorded after 10 generations, as evidenced by the resistance ratio (RR50). The progress and effect of the selection pressure in the adult stage was monitored with the World Health Organisation (WHO) diagnostic test. The mortality, as observed using the WHO diagnostic test, declined significantly from the F5 generation (85%) onwards and the highest rate of survival (65%) was observed in the F10 generation. PMID: 19820823 [PubMed - in process] (Source: ... Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2891642 Fri, 31 Jul 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2891642 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2891641&cid=s_33094_20_f&fid=33094&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19820824%26dopt%3DAbstract We report a new Pseudomonas putida strain (designated P. putida Mm3) isolated from the sponge Mycale microsigmatosa that produces a powerful antimicrobial substance active against multidrug-resistant bacteria. P. putida Mm3 was identified on the basis of 16S rRNA gene sequencing and phenotypic tests. Molecular typing for Mm3 was performed by RAPD-PCR and comparison of the results to other Pseudomonas strains. Our results contribute to the search for new antimicrobial agents, an important strategy for developing alternative therapies to treat infections caused by multidrug-resistant bacteria. PMID: 19820824 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz) Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2891641 Fri, 31 Jul 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2891641 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2891640&cid=s_33094_20_f&fid=33094&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19820825%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: López ML, Blair S, Sáez J, Segura C Steroids from Solanum nudum (SNs) have demonstrated antiplasmodial activity against erythrocytic stages of the Plasmodium falciparum strain FCB-2. It is well known that steroids can alter the membrane function of erythrocytes. Thus, we assessed alterations in the membranes of uninfected red blood cells, the parasite invasiveness and the solute-induced lysis of parasitised red blood cells (pRBCs). induced by SNs. We found that most merozoites were unable to invade SN-treated erythrocytes. However, transmission electron microscopy revealed no effect on the morphology of uninfected erythrocytes treated with either SN2 or diosgenone and neither SN induced haemolysis of uninfected erythrocytes. SN2 and SN4 inhibited isosmotic sorbitol a... Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2891640 Fri, 31 Jul 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2891640 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2891639&cid=s_33094_20_f&fid=33094&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19820826%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Ayuko TA, Njau RN, Cornelius W, Leah N, Ndiege IO As part of our program screening the flora of the Lake Victoria Region, a total of 54 organic extracts from seven plant families (8 species) were individually tested for antiplasmodial activity against chloroquine-sensitive [Sierra Leone (D-6)] and chloroquine-resistant [Vietnam (W-2)] strains. Only 22% of these extracts exhibited very high in vitro antiplasmodial activity. Six methanol (MeOH) extracts and one chloroform extract showed in vitro antiplasmodial activity against the D-6 Plasmodium falciparum strain, while only three MeOH extracts were active against the W-2 strain. All of the ethyl acetate extracts proved to be inactive against both strains of P. falciparum. A brine shrimp cytotoxicity assay was used to predict th... Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2891639 Fri, 31 Jul 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2891639 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2891638&cid=s_33094_20_f&fid=33094&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19820827%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Dorval ME, Cristaldo G, Rocha HC, Alves TP, Alves MA, Oshiro ET, Oliveira AG, Brazil RP, Galati EA, Cunha RV The occurrence of an outbreak of cutaneous leishmaniasis associated with Leishmania (Leishmania) amazonensis in the municipality of Bela Vista, state of Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil, and the absence of information on its vectors in this area led the authors to undertake captures of phlebotomine sand flies, using Shannon traps and automatic CDC light traps, in domiciles, forested areas and animal shelters from February 2004-January 2006. A total of 808 specimens belonging to 18 sandfly species have been identified: Bichromomyia flaviscutellata,Brumptomyia avellari, Brumptomyia brumpti, Brumptomyia sp, Evandromyia aldafalcaoae, Evandromyia cortelezzii, Evandromyia evandroi,... Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2891638 Fri, 31 Jul 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2891638 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2891637&cid=s_33094_20_f&fid=33094&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19820828%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Or Júnior C, Le Hyaric M, Costa CF, Corrêa TA, Taveira AF, Araújo DP, Reis EF, Lourenço MC, Vicente FR, Almeida MV A series of diamines and amino alcohols derived from 1-dodecanol, 1-tetradecanol, 1,2-dodecanediol and 1,2-tetradecanediol were synthesized and tested for their antitubercular activity. Compounds 3, 8 and 9 were found to be the most active (MIC of 6.25 (1/4)g/mL). Nine other compounds displayed activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis, with a MIC of 12.5 (1/4)g/mL. PMID: 19820828 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz) Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2891637 Fri, 31 Jul 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2891637 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2891636&cid=s_33094_20_f&fid=33094&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19820829%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Lemgruber L, Kloetzel JA, Souza W, Vommaro RC The association of the pellicle with cytoskeletal elements in Toxoplasma gondii allows this parasite to maintain its mechanical integrity and makes possible its gliding motility and cell invasion. The inner membrane complex (IMC) resembles the flattened membrane sacs observed in free-living protozoa and these sacs have been found to associate with cytoskeletal proteins such as articulins. We used immunofluorescence microscopy to characterise the presence and distribution of plateins, a sub-family of articulins, in T. gondii tachyzoites. A dispersed labelling of the whole protozoan body was observed. Electron microscopy of detergent-extracted cells revealed the presence of a network of 10 nm filaments distributed throughout the para... Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2891636 Fri, 31 Jul 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2891636 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2891635&cid=s_33094_20_f&fid=33094&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19820830%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Verza M, Maschmann Rde A, Silva MS, Dalla Costa ER, Ribeiro MO, Rosso F, Suffys PN, Tortoli E, Marcelli F, Zaha A, Rossetti ML Mutations in the katG gene have been identified and correlated with isoniazid (INH) resistance in Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates. The mutation AGC-->ACC (Ser-->Thr) at katG315 has been reported to be the most frequent and is associated with transmission and multidrug resistance. Rapid detection of this mutation could therefore improve the choice of an adequate anti-tuberculosis regimen, the epidemiological monitoring of INH resistance and, possibly, the tracking of transmission of resistant strains. An in house reverse hybridisation assay was designed in our laboratory and evaluated with 180 isolates of M. tuberculosis. It could successfully... Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2891635 Fri, 31 Jul 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2891635 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2891634&cid=s_33094_20_f&fid=33094&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19820831%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Aguirre KL, Alves JB, Silva GA, Cardoso JE, Murta SM, Ferreira AJ It has been demonstrated that parotid glands of rats infected with Trypanosoma cruzi present severe histological alterations; changes include reduction in density and volume of the acini and duct systems and an increase in connective tissue. We evaluated the association between morphological changes in parotid glands, circulating testosterone levels and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGF-R) expression in experimental Chagas disease in rats. Animals at 18 days of infection (acute phase) showed a significant decrease in body weight, serum testosterone levels and EGF-R expression in the parotid gland compared with a control group. Since decreases in body weight could lead to a reduction in circulating testostero... Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2891634 Fri, 31 Jul 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2891634 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2891633&cid=s_33094_20_f&fid=33094&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19820832%26dopt%3DAbstract In this study, a new technique for diagnosis of schistosomiasis mansoni is proposed based on the differential sedimentation of eggs when subjected to a slow continuous flux of 3% saline solution through a porous plaque. This influx suspends low-density faecal material, effectively cleaning the sample. The remaining sediment covering the porous plaque surface is then transferred to a glass slide and examined under a bright field microscope. Twelve Kato-Katz slides were used for comparison in the present study. Our results suggest that the saline gradient method detects a signifi-cantly higher number of eggs than the 12 Kato-Katz slides (p < 0.0001). We also found microscopic inspection to be quicker and easier with our newly described method. After cleaning the sample, the obtained sedim... Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2891633 Fri, 31 Jul 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2891633 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2891632&cid=s_33094_20_f&fid=33094&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19820833%26dopt%3DAbstract In this study, we identify Blastocystis subtypes found in patients presenting with IBS, IBD, chronic diarrhoea and asymptomatic patients in Ankara, Turkey. Blastocystis was detected in 11 symptomatic patients by microscopy and 19 by stool culture. Stool culture was more sensitive than microscopy in identifying Blastocystis. Using standard nomenclature adopted in 2007, Blastocystis sp. subtype 3 was the most common in all groups, followed by Blastocystis sp. subtype 2. Identical subtypes of Blastocystis are found in patients with IBS, IBD and chronic diarrhoea. These particular subtypes show low host specificity and are carried by humans and some farm animals. The subtypes of Blastocystis that are commonly found in rodents and certain wild birds were not found in these patients. We suggest ... Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2891632 Fri, 31 Jul 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2891632 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2891631&cid=s_33094_20_f&fid=33094&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19820834%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Pepinelli M, Hamada N, Currie DC A new species of black fly, Simulium (Inaequalium) marins (Diptera: Simuliidae), is described based on the male, female, pupa and larva. This new species was collected from two localities: a small stream on the Pico dos Marins, a high mountain with granite outcrops in Piquete County, state of São Paulo, and in a small stream in the Serra dos Orgãos National Park, state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. PMID: 19820834 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz) Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2891631 Fri, 31 Jul 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2891631 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2891630&cid=s_33094_20_f&fid=33094&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19820835%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Siqueira-Silva J, Yeda FP, Favier AL, Mezin P, Silva ML, Barrella KM, Mehnert DU, Fender P, Hársi CM The purpose of this work was to acquire an overview of the infectious cycle of HAdV-41 in permissive HEK 293 cells and compare it to that observed with the prototype of the genus, Human adenovirus C HAdV-2. HEK 293 cells were infected with each virus separately and were harvested every 12 h for seven days. Infection kinetics were analysed using confocal and electronic microscopy. The results show that, when properly cultivated, HAdV-41 was not fastidious. It had a longer multiplication cycle, which resulted in the release of complete viral particles and viral stocks reached high titres. After 60 h of infection, the export of viral proteins from the infected cell to the ext... Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2891630 Fri, 31 Jul 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2891630 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2891629&cid=s_33094_20_f&fid=33094&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19820836%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Rodríguez E, Lander N, Ramirez JL The characterisation of the gene encoding Trypanosoma cruzi CL Brener phosphofructokinase (PFK) and the biochemical properties of the expressed enzyme are reported here. In contradiction with previous reports, the PFK genes of CL Brener and YBM strain T. cruzi were found to be similar to their Leishmania mexicana and Trypanosoma brucei homologs in terms of both kinetic properties and size, with open reading frames encoding polypeptides with a deduced molecular mass of 53,483. The predicted amino acid sequence contains the C-terminal glycosome-targeting tripeptide SKL; this localisation was confirmed by immunofluorescence assays. In sequence comparisons with the genes of other eukaryotes, it was found that, despite being an adenosine triph... Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2891629 Fri, 31 Jul 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2891629 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2891628&cid=s_33094_20_f&fid=33094&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19820837%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Del Vecchio A, Silva Jde F, Silva JL, Andreotti PF, Soares CP, Benard G, Giannini MJ Paracoccidioidomycosis presents a variety of clinical manifestations and Paracoccidioides brasiliensis can reach many tissues, most importantly the lungs. The ability of the pathogen to interact with host surface structures is essential to its virulence. The interaction between P. brasiliensis and epithelial cells has been studied, with particular emphasis on the induction of apoptosis. To investigate the expression of different apoptosis-inducing pathways in human A549 cells, we infected these cells with P. brasiliensis Pb18SP (subcultured) and 18R (recently isolated from cell culture and showing a high adhesion pattern) samples in vitro. The expressions of Bcl-2, Bak and caspase 3 were analy... Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2891628 Fri, 31 Jul 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2891628 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2891627&cid=s_33094_20_f&fid=33094&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19820838%26dopt%3DAbstract This study identified high-risk HPV types in all three groups examined (HIV-positive pregnant women, HIV-negative pregnant women and HIV-positive not pregnant), characterising its distribution in this setting. PMID: 19820838 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz) Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2891627 Fri, 31 Jul 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2891627 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2891626&cid=s_33094_20_f&fid=33094&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19820839%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Moreno JE, Rubio-Palis Y, Páez E, Pérez E, Sánchez V, Vaccari E A longitudinal study of malaria vectors aiming to describe the intensity of transmission was carried out in five villages of Southern Venezuela between January 1999-April 2000. The man-biting, sporozoite and entomological inoculation rates (EIR) were calculated based on 121 all-night collections of anophelines landing on humans, CDC light traps and ultra violet up-draft traps. A total of 6,027 female mosquitoes representing seven species were collected. The most abundant species were Anopheles marajoara Galvão & Damasceno (56.7%) and Anopheles darlingi Root (33%), which together accounted for 89.7% of the total anophelines collected. The mean biting rate for An. marajoara was 1.27 (SD + 0.8... Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2891626 Fri, 31 Jul 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2891626 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2891625&cid=s_33094_20_f&fid=33094&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19820840%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Reis RS, Almeida-Paes R, Muniz Mde M, Tavares PM, Monteiro PC, Schubach TM, Gutierrez-Galhardo MC, Zancopé-Oliveira RM An epidemic of sporotrichosis, a subcutaneous mycosis caused by the fungus Sporothrix schenckii, is ongoing in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in which cases of human infection are related to exposure to cats. In an attempt to demonstrate the zoonotic character of this epidemic using molecular methodology, we characterised by DNA-based typing methods 19 human and 25 animal S. schenckii isolates from the epidemic, as well as two control strains. To analyse the isolates, the random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) technique was performed using three different primers, together with DNA fingerprinting using the minisatellite derived from the wild-type phage M13 core... Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2891625 Fri, 31 Jul 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2891625 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2891624&cid=s_33094_20_f&fid=33094&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19820841%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Lavaniegos-Sobrino MT, Ramírez-Zavaleta CY, Ponce de León A, Sifuentes-Osornio J, Bobadilla-Del Valle M, Rangel-Cordero A, De Las Peñas A, Castaño I The opportunistic fungal pathogen Candida glabrata is the second most common isolate from bloodstream infections worldwide and is naturally less susceptible to the antifungal drug fluconazole than other Candida species. C. glabrata is a haploid yeast that contains three mating-type like loci (MTL), although no sexual cycle has been described. Strains containing both types of mating information at the MTL1 locus are found in clinical isolates, but it is thought that strains containing type a information are more common. Here we investigated if a particular combination of mating type information at each MTLlocus ... Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2891624 Fri, 31 Jul 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2891624 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2891623&cid=s_33094_20_f&fid=33094&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19820842%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Pepe MS, Caldeira RL, Carvalho Odos S, Muller G, Jannotti-Passos LK, Rodrigues AP, Amaral HL, Berne ME The present study was aimed at characterising Biomphalaria species using both morphological and molecular (PCR-RFLP) approaches. The specimens were collected in 15 localities in 12 municipalities of the southern region of the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. The following species were found and identified: Biomphalaria tenagophila guaibensis, Biomphalaria oligoza and Biomphalaria peregrina. Specimens of the latter species were experimentally challenged with the LE Schistosoma mansoni strain, which showed to be refractory to infection. PMID: 19820842 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz) Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2891623 Fri, 31 Jul 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2891623 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2891622&cid=s_33094_20_f&fid=33094&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19820843%26dopt%3DAbstract This study provides the first description of healthcare-associated infections with Escherichia coli clonal group A (CgA) isolates in Latin America. Isolates were typed by enterobacterial repetitive intergenic consensus-PCR, pulsed-field gel electrophoresis, E. coli phylogenetic grouping, multilocus sequence typing and fimH single nucleotide polymorphism analysis. Out of 42 E. coli hospital isolates studied, three belonged to E. coli phylogenetic group D and ST69 and had fimH sequences identical to that of the CgA reference strain ATCC BAA-457. E. coli CgA is another potential source of resistant infections in hospitals. PMID: 19820843 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz) Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2891622 Fri, 31 Jul 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2891622 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2891621&cid=s_33094_20_f&fid=33094&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19820844%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Pointier J, Noya O, Alarcón de Noya B, Théron A An extensive malacological survey was carried out between 2005-2009 in order to clarify the exact number of lymnaeid species which may be intermediate hosts of Fasciola hepatica in Venezuela. Four species were discovered during this survey, including two local species: Lymnaea cubensis and Lymnaea cousini and two exotic species: Lymnaea truncatula and Lymnaea columella. The most common local species was L. cubensis which was found at 16 out of the 298 sampling sites. This species has a large distribution area throughout the Northern part of Venezuela and was encountered from sea level to an altitude of 1,802 m in state of Trujillo. The second local species L. cousini was collected at only two sites of the Andean Region ... Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2891621 Fri, 31 Jul 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2891621 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2891620&cid=s_33094_20_f&fid=33094&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19820845%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Luquetti AO, Espinoza B, Martínez I, Hernández-Becerril N, Ponce C, Ponce E, Reyes PA, Hernández O, López R, Monteón V In nearly all of the previous multicentre studies evaluating serological tests for Trypanosoma cruzi infection, sera samples from Central or South American countries have been used preferentially. In this work we compared the reliability of the serological tests using Mexican sera samples that were evaluated in four independent laboratories. This included a reference laboratory in Brazil and three participant laboratories, including one in Central America and two in Mexico. The kappa index between Brazilian and Honduran laboratories reached 1.0 and the index for the Mexican laboratories reached 0.94. Another finding of this study was t... Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2891620 Fri, 31 Jul 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2891620 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2891619&cid=s_33094_20_f&fid=33094&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19820846%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Salomón OD, Quintana MG, Bruno MR, Quiriconi RV, Cabral V Three years after the first report of Lutzomyia longipalpis in Clorinda, Argentina, a border city near Asunción, Paraguay, the city was surveyed again. Lu. longipalpis was found clustered in the same neighbourhoods in 2007 as in 2004, even though the scattered distribution of canine visceral leishmaniasis was more related to the traffic of dogs through the border. PMID: 19820846 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz) Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2891619 Fri, 31 Jul 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2891619 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2825444&cid=s_33094_20_f&fid=33094&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19753452%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Lannes-Vieira J, Soeiro Mde N, Corrêa-Oliveira R, de Araújo-Jorge TC PMID: 19753452 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz) Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2825444 Tue, 30 Jun 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2825444 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2825443&cid=s_33094_20_f&fid=33094&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19753453%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Araújo A, Jansen AM, Reinhard K, Ferreira LF One hundred years since the discovery of Chagas disease associated with Trypanosoma cruzi infection, growing attention has focused on understanding the evolution in parasite-human host interaction. This interest has featured studies and results from paleoparasitology, not only the description of lesions in mummified bodies, but also the recovery of genetic material from the parasite and the possibility of analyzing such material over time. The present study reviews the evidence of Chagas disease in organic remains excavated from archeological sites and discusses two findings in greater detail, both with lesions suggestive of chagasic megacolon and confirmed by molecular biology techniques. One of these sites is located in the U... Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2825443 Tue, 30 Jun 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2825443 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2825442&cid=s_33094_20_f&fid=33094&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19753454%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Moncayo A, Silveira AC Chagas disease, named after Carlos Chagas, who first described it in 1909, exists only on the American Continent. It is caused by a parasite, Trypanosoma cruzi, which is transmitted to humans by blood-sucking triatomine bugs and via blood transfusion. Chagas disease has two successive phases: acute and chronic. The acute phase lasts six-eight weeks. Several years after entering the chronic phase, 20-35% of infected individuals, depending on the geographical area, will develop irreversible lesions of the autonomous nervous system in the heart, oesophagus and colon, and of the peripheral nervous system. Data on the prevalence and distribution of Chagas disease improved in quality during the 1980s as a result of the demographically representative cross-sect... Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2825442 Tue, 30 Jun 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2825442 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2825441&cid=s_33094_20_f&fid=33094&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19753455%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Coura JR, Dias JC Chagas disease originated millions of years ago as an enzootic infection of wild animals and began to be transmitted to humans as an anthropozoonosis when man invaded wild ecotopes. While evidence of human infection has been found in mummies up to 9,000 years old, endemic Chagas disease became established as a zoonosis only in the last 200-300 years, as triatomines adapted to domestic environments. It is estimated that 15-16 million people are infected with Trypanosoma cruzi in Latin America, and 75-90 million are exposed to infection. Control of Chagas disease must be undertaken by interrupting its transmission by vectors and blood transfusions, improving housing and areas surrounding dwellings, providing sanitation education for exposed populations and trea... Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2825441 Tue, 30 Jun 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2825441 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2825440&cid=s_33094_20_f&fid=33094&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19753456%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Dias JC One hundred years after its discovery by Carlos Chagas, American trypanosomiasis, or Chagas disease, remains an epidemiologic challenge. Neither a vaccine nor an ideal specific treatment is available for most chronic cases. Therefore, the current strategy for countering Chagas disease consists of preventive actions against the vector and transfusion-transmitted disease. Here, the present challenges, including congenital and oral transmission of Trypanosoma cruzi infections, as well as the future potential for Chagas disease elimination are discussed in light of the current epidemiological picture. Finally, a list of challenging open questions is presented about Chagas disease control, patient management, programme planning and priority definitions faced by researchers ... Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2825440 Tue, 30 Jun 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2825440 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2825439&cid=s_33094_20_f&fid=33094&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19753457%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Costa J, Lorenzo M Despite the relevant achievements in the control of the main Chagas disease vectors Triatoma infestans and Rhodnius prolixus, several factors still promote the risk of infection. The disease is a real threat to the poor rural regions of several countries in Latin America. The current situation in Brazil requires renewed attention due to its high diversity of triatomine species and to the rapid and drastic environmental changes that are occurring. Using the biology, behaviour and diversity of triatomines as a basis for new strategies for monitoring and controlling the vectorial transmission are discussed here. The importance of ongoing long-term monitoring activities for house infestations by T. infestans, Triatoma brasiliensis, Panstrongylus megistus, Triato... Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2825439 Tue, 30 Jun 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2825439 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2825438&cid=s_33094_20_f&fid=33094&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19753458%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Gürtler RE Sustainability has become a focal point of the international agenda. At the heart of its range of distribution in the Gran Chaco Region, the elimination of Triatoma infestans has failed, even in areas subject to intensive professional vector control efforts. Chagas disease control programs traditionally have been composed of two divorced entities: a vector control program in charge of routine field operations (bug detection and insecticide spraying) and a disease control program in charge of screening blood donors, diagnosis, etiologic treatment and providing medical care to chronic patients. The challenge of sustainable suppression of bug infestation and Trypanosoma cruzi transmission can be met through integrated disease management, in which vector control is... Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2825438 Tue, 30 Jun 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2825438 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2825437&cid=s_33094_20_f&fid=33094&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19753459%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Noireau F The current persistence of Triatoma infestans, and therefore of Chagas disease transmission, in the Andean valleys of Bolivia and the Gran Chaco (precisely where wild populations of the vector are widespread), indicates a possible relationship between these two occurrences. This paper provides an overview of the current knowledge regarding wild T. infestans in Bolivia. The different morphs of the wild vector, their known distributions and some traits of their biology and ecology are presented. Particularly interesting is the considerable behavioural and chromatic plasticity that is displayed by wild T. infestans. According to the biogeographic region, different morphs of the vector occur in rupicolous habitats (common form and Mataral morph in Andean wild T. infestan... Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2825437 Tue, 30 Jun 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2825437 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2825436&cid=s_33094_20_f&fid=33094&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19753460%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Lazzari CR, Lorenzo MG Living in close association with a vertebrate host and feeding on its blood requires different types of adaptations, including behavioural adjustments. Triatomines exhibit particular traits associated with the exploitation of their habitat and food sources and these traits have been the subject of intense analysis. Many aspects of triatomine behaviour have been relatively well characterised and some attempts to exploit the behaviours have been undertaken. Baited traps based on host-associated cues, artificial refuges and light-traps are some of the tools used. Here we discuss how our knowledge of the biology of Chagas disease vectors may help us sample and detect these insects and even increase the efficiency of control measures. PMID: 19753460 [PubM... Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2825436 Tue, 30 Jun 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2825436 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2825435&cid=s_33094_20_f&fid=33094&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19753461%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Guhl F, Pinto N, Aguilera G Over the last 10 years, Uruguay, Chile and Brazil have been certified as being free from disease transmission by Triatoma infestans, the main domiciliated vector for Chagas disease in the Southern Cone countries. This demonstrates that programmes addressing the vector for the disease's transmission are effective. These programmes have resulted in a dramatic decrease in the incidence of Chagas disease in Latin America. Guatemala was certified a few months ago as being free from disease transmission by Rhodnius prolixus, the main domiciliated vector for Chagas disease in Central American countries. However, the main concern for different countries' current control programmes is the continuity and sustainability of future vector control actions. The pr... Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2825435 Tue, 30 Jun 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2825435 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2825434&cid=s_33094_20_f&fid=33094&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19753462%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Alves MJ, Mortara RA Since the discovery of Trypanosoma cruzi and the brilliant description of the then-referred to 'new tripanosomiasis' by Carlos Chagas 100 years ago, a great deal of scientific effort and curiosity has been devoted to understanding how this parasite invades and colonises mammalian host cells. This is a key step in the survival of the parasite within the vertebrate host, and although much has been learned over this century, differences in strains or isolates used by different laboratories may have led to conclusions that are not as universal as originally interpreted. Molecular genotyping of the CL-Brener clone confirmed a genetic heterogeneity in the parasite that had been detected previously by other techniques, including zymodeme or schizodeme (kDNA) anal... Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2825434 Tue, 30 Jun 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2825434 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2825433&cid=s_33094_20_f&fid=33094&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19753463%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: de Souza W Since the initial description of Trypanosoma cruzi by Carlos Chagas in 1909, several research groups have used different microscopic techniques to obtain detailed information about the various developmental stages found in the life cycle of this intracellular parasite. This review describes the present knowledge on the organization of the most important structures and organelles found in the protozoan, such as the cell surface, flagellum, cytoskeleton, kinetoplast-mitochondrion complex, glycosome, acidocalcisome, contractile vacuole, lipid inclusions, the secretory pathway, endocytic pathway and the nucleus. PMID: 19753463 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz) Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2825433 Tue, 30 Jun 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2825433 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2825432&cid=s_33094_20_f&fid=33094&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19753464%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Yoshida N Frequent reports on outbreaks of acute Chagas' disease by ingestion of food contaminated with parasites from triatomine insects illustrate the importance of this mode of transmission. Studies on oral Trypanosoma cruzi infection in mice have indicated that metacyclic trypomastigotes invade the gastric mucosal epithelium. A key molecule in this process is gp82, a stage-specific surface glycoprotein that binds to both gastric mucin and to target epithelial cells. By triggering Ca2+ signalling, gp82 promotes parasite internalisation. Gp82 is relatively resistant to peptic digestion at acidic pH, thus preserving the properties critical for oral infection. The infection process is also influenced by gp90, a metacyclic stage-specific molecule that negatively regulates the i... Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2825432 Tue, 30 Jun 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2825432 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2825431&cid=s_33094_20_f&fid=33094&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19753465%26dopt%3DAbstract We describe new and important aspects of the population structure of the parasite, and unequivocally characterise a third ancestral lineage that we propose to name T. cruzi III. Through a careful analysis of haplotypes (blocks of genes that are stably transmitted from generation to generation of the parasite), we inferred at least two hybridisation events between the parental lineages T. cruzi II and T. cruzi III. The strain CL Brener, whose genome was sequenced, is one such hybrid. Based on these results, we propose a simple evolutionary model based on three ancestral genomes, T. cruzi I, T. cruzi II and T. cruzi III. At least two hybridisation events produced evolutionarily viable progeny, and T. cruzi III was the cytoplasmic donor for the resulting offspring (as identified by the mitoch... Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2825431 Tue, 30 Jun 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2825431 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2825430&cid=s_33094_20_f&fid=33094&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19753466%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Gomes YM, Lorena VM, Luquetti AO In the acute phase and in the chronic forms of Chagas disease, the etiological diagnosis may be performed by detection of the parasite using direct or indirect parasitological methods and by the presence of antibodies in the serum by way of serological tests. Several techniques are easily available, ranging from the simplest wet smear preparation to immuno-enzymatic assays with recombinant antigens that will meet most diagnostic needs. Other tests under evaluation include a molecular test using polymerase chain reaction, which has shown promising results and may be used as a confirmatory test both in the acute and chronic phases of the disease. Better rapid tests are needed for diagnosis, some of which are already under evaluation. Additionally... Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2825430 Tue, 30 Jun 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2825430 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2825429&cid=s_33094_20_f&fid=33094&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19753467%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Britto CC One major goal of research on Chagas disease is the development of effective chemotherapy to eliminate the infection from individuals who have not yet developed cardiac and/or digestive disease manifestations. Cure evaluation is the more complex aspect of its treatment, often leading to diverse and controversial results. The absence of reliable methods or a diagnostic gold standard to assess etiologic treatment efficacy still constitutes a major challenge. In an effort to develop more sensitive tools, polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based assays were introduced to detect low amounts of Trypanosoma cruzi DNA in blood samples from chagasic patients, thus improving the diagnosis and follow-up evaluation after chemotherapy. In this article, I review the main problems con... Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2825429 Tue, 30 Jun 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2825429 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2825428&cid=s_33094_20_f&fid=33094&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19753468%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Foti L, Fonseca Bde P, Nascimento LD, Marques Cde F, da Silva ED, Duarte CA, Probst CM, Goldenberg S, Pinto AG, Krieger MA A new multiplex assay platform was evaluated to detect Trypanosoma cruzi infection using the recombinant antigens CRA, FRA, CRAFRA fusion and parasite lysate. The antigens presented different sensitivity and specificity in a singleplex test when compared to a serial dilution of two pools comprising 10 positive serum samples and one pool of 10 negative samples. The recombinant protein CRA presented lower sensitivity (55%) in contrast to the 100% specificity and sensitivity of FRA, CRAFRA and T. cruzi lysate. These antigens also showed good results in a duplex test and the duplex test with CRAFRA/T. cruzi lysate showed better performance with 100% specificit... Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2825428 Tue, 30 Jun 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2825428 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2825427&cid=s_33094_20_f&fid=33094&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19753469%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Krettli AU In previous work, we proposed alternative protocols for following patients with treated Chagas disease and these are reviewed herein. Evidence was provided to support the following: (i) functional anti-trypomastigote antibodies are indicative of ongoing chronic Trypanosoma cruzi infections; (ii) specific antibodies detected by conventional serology (CS) with epimastigote extracts, fixed trypomastigotes or other parasite antigens may circulate years after parasite elimination; (iii) functional antibodies are evidenced by complement-mediated lysis of freshly isolated trypomastigotes, a test which is 100% specific, highly sensitive, and the first to revert after T. cruzi elimination and (iv) the parasite target for the lytic antibodies is a glycoprotein of high molecul... Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2825427 Tue, 30 Jun 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2825427 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2825426&cid=s_33094_20_f&fid=33094&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19753470%26dopt%3DAbstract This article reviews the pathophysiology of myocardial damage, discusses the value of current risk stratification models and proposes an algorithm to guide mortality risk assessment and therapeutic decision-making in patients with CHD. PMID: 19753470 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz) Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2825426 Tue, 30 Jun 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2825426 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2825425&cid=s_33094_20_f&fid=33094&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19753471%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Rocha MO, Nunes MC, Ribeiro AL Chagas disease is a pleomorphic clinical entity that has several unique features. The aim of this study is to summarise some of the recent contributions from our research group to knowledge of the morbidity and prognostic factors in Chagas heart disease. A retrospective study suggested that ischaemic stroke associated with left ventricular (LV) apical thrombi is the first clinical manifestation of Chagas disease observed in a large proportion of patients. LV function and left atrial volume (LAV) are independent risk factors for ischaemic cerebrovascular events during follow-up of Chagas heart disease patients. Pulmonary congestion in Chagas-related dilated cardiomyopathy is common but usually mild. Although early right ventricular (RV) involvemen... Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2825425 Tue, 30 Jun 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2825425 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2825424&cid=s_33094_20_f&fid=33094&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19753472%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Sosa-Estani S, Viotti R, Segura EL The purpose of this review is to describe research findings regarding chronic Chagas disease in Argentina that have changed the standards of care for patients with Trypanosoma cruzi infection. Indirect techniques (serological tests) are still the main tools for the primary diagnosis of infection in the chronic phase, but polymerase chain reaction has been shown to be promising. The prognosis of patients with heart failure or advanced stages of chagasic cardiomyopathy is poor, but a timely diagnosis during the initial stages of the disease would allow for prescription of appropriate therapies to offer a better quality of life. Treatment of T. cruzi infection is beneficial as secondary prevention to successfully cure the infection or to delay, ... Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2825424 Tue, 30 Jun 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2825424 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2825423&cid=s_33094_20_f&fid=33094&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19753473%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: de Oliveira W In 1987, the University of Pernambuco's Oswaldo Cruz Hospital in Recife, Brazil opened its Chagas Disease and Heart Failure Outpatient Clinic with the aim of providing its patients all-around care through adoption of a biopsychosocial model of care. All-around care involves caring for the patient as a whole human being in the context of the biological, psychological and social factors present, which are an inherent part of the human condition. One prerequisite for the proposed model of care is the participation of a multidisciplinary team of trained technical staff committed to this framework. Although the main focus of the service is on care, teaching and research are also an important part of its work. The Pernambuco Association of Chagas Disease Patients is gu... Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2825423 Tue, 30 Jun 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2825423 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2825422&cid=s_33094_20_f&fid=33094&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19753474%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Scharfstein J, Gomes Jde A, Correa-Oliveira R Despite the wealth of information generated by trans-disciplinary research in Chagas disease, knowledge about its multifaceted pathogenesis is still fragmented. Here we review the body of experimental studies in animal models supporting the concept that persistent infection by Trypanosoma cruzi is crucial for the development of chronic myocarditis. Complementing this review, we will make an effort to reconcile seemingly contradictory results concerning the immune profiles of chronic patients from Argentina and Brazil. Finally, we will review the results of molecular studies suggesting that parasite-induced inflammation and tissue damage is, at least in part, mediated by the activities of trans-sialidase, mucin-linked lipid anchors ... Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2825422 Tue, 30 Jun 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2825422 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2825421&cid=s_33094_20_f&fid=33094&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19753475%26dopt%3DAbstract In conclusion, different amounts of Mycoplasma, Chlamydia and archaeal organisms may be implicated in complement activation and may have a role in Chagas disease outcome. PMID: 19753475 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz) Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2825421 Tue, 30 Jun 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2825421 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2825420&cid=s_33094_20_f&fid=33094&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19753476%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Dutra WO, Menezes CA, Villani FN, da Costa GC, da Silveira AB, Reis D, Gollob KJ Perhaps one of the most intriguing aspects of human Chagas disease is the complex network of events that underlie the generation of protective versus pathogenic immune responses during the chronic phase of the disease. While most individuals do not develop patent disease, a large percentage may develop severe forms that eventually lead to death. Although many efforts have been devoted to deciphering these mechanisms, there is still much to be learned before we can fully understand the pathogenesis of Chagas disease. It is clear that the host's immune response is decisive in this process. While characteristics of the parasite influence the immune response, it is becoming evident that the host genet... Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2825420 Tue, 30 Jun 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2825420 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2825419&cid=s_33094_20_f&fid=33094&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19753477%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Nagajyothi F, Desruisseaux MS, Weiss LM, Chua S, Albanese C, Machado FS, Esper L, Lisanti MP, Teixeira MM, Scherer PE, Tanowitz HB Trypanosoma cruzi infection of the adipose tissue of mice triggers the local expression of inflammatory mediators and a reduction in the expression of the adipokine adiponectin. T. cruzi can be detected in adipose tissue by PCR 300 days post-infection. Infection of cultured adipocytes results in increased expression of cytokines and chemokines and a reduction in the expression of adiponectin and the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma, both of which are negative regulators of inflammation. Infection also results in the upregulation of cyclin D1, the Notch pathway, and extracellular signal-regulated kinase and a reduction in the express... Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2825419 Tue, 30 Jun 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2825419 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2825418&cid=s_33094_20_f&fid=33094&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19753478%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Lannes-Vieira J, Silverio JC, Pereira IR, Vinagre NF, Carvalho CM, Paiva CN, da Silva AA One hundred years ago, Carlos Chagas discovered a new disease, the American trypanosomiasis. Chagas and co-workers later characterised the disease's common manifestation, chronic cardiomyopathy, and suggested that parasitic persistence coupled with inflammation was the key underlying pathogenic mechanism. Better comprehension of the molecular mechanisms leading to clinical heart afflictions is a prerequisite to developing new therapies that ameliorate inflammation and improve heart function without hampering parasite control. Here, we review recent data showing that distinct cell adhesion molecules, chemokines and chemokine receptors participate in anti-parasite immunity and/or detrimental... Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2825418 Tue, 30 Jun 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2825418 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2825417&cid=s_33094_20_f&fid=33094&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19753479%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Gutierrez FR, Mineo TW, Pavanelli WR, Guedes PM, Silva JS Trypanosoma cruzi infection triggers substantial production of nitric oxide (NO), which has been shown to have protective and toxic effects on the host's immune system. Sensing of trypomastigotes by phagocytes activates the inducible NO-synthase (NOS2) pathway, which produces NO and is largely responsible for macrophage-mediated killing of T. cruzi. NO is also responsible for modulating virtually all steps of innate and adaptive immunity. However, NO can also cause oxidative stress, which is especially damaging to the host due to increased tissue damage. The cytokines IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha, as well as chemokines, are strong inducers of NOS2 and are produced in large amounts during T. cruzi acute infection. Conversely,... Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2825417 Tue, 30 Jun 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2825417 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2825416&cid=s_33094_20_f&fid=33094&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19753480%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Sathler-Avelar R, Vitelli-Avelar DM, Teixeira-Carvalho A, Martins-Filho OA There is a general consensus that during chronic Trypanosoma cruzi infection, the host immune system induces complex processes to ensure the control of parasite growth while preserving the potential to mount and maintain a life-long controlled humoral and cellular immune response against the invading pathogen. This review summarises evidence in an attempt to elucidate 'what must be understood' to further clarify the role of innate immunity in the development/maintenance of clinical Chagas disease and the impact of etiological treatment on host immunity, highlighting the contributions of the innate immunity and regulatory T (Treg) cells. Recently, increasing focus on innate immunity suggest that chronic ... Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2825416 Tue, 30 Jun 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2825416 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2825415&cid=s_33094_20_f&fid=33094&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19753481%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Cunha-Neto E, Nogueira LG, Teixeira PC, Ramasawmy R, Drigo SA, Goldberg AC, Fonseca SG, Bilate AM, Kalil J The pathogenesis of Chagas disease cardiomyopathy (CCC) is not well understood. Since studies show that myocarditis is more frequent during the advanced stages of the disease, and the prognosis of CCC is worse than that of other dilated cardiomyopathies of non-inflammatory aetiology, which suggest that the inflammatory infiltrate plays a major role in myocardial damage. In the last decade, increasing evidence has shown that inflammatory cytokines and chemokines play a role in the generation of the inflammatory infiltrate and tissue damage. CCC patients have an increased peripheral production of the inflammatory Th1 cytokines IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha when compared to patien... Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2825415 Tue, 30 Jun 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2825415 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2825414&cid=s_33094_20_f&fid=33094&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19753482%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: DosReis GA, Lopes MF Host cell apoptosis plays an important immune regulatory role in parasitic infections. Infection of mice with Trypanosoma cruzi, the causative agent of Chagas disease, induces lymphocyte apoptosis. In addition, phagocytosis of apoptotic cells stimulates the growth of T. cruzi inside host macrophages. In spite of progress made in this area, the importance of apoptosis in the pathogenesis of Chagas disease remains unclear. Here we review the evidence of apoptosis in mice and humans infected with T. cruzi. We also discuss the mechanisms by which apoptosis can influence underlying host responses and tissue damage during Chagas disease progression. PMID: 19753482 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz) Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2825414 Tue, 30 Jun 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2825414 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2825413&cid=s_33094_20_f&fid=33094&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19753483%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: McKerrow JH, Doyle PS, Engel JC, Podust LM, Robertson SA, Ferreira R, Saxton T, Arkin M, Kerr ID, Brinen LS, Craik CS This review will focus on two general approaches carried out at the Sandler Center, University of California, San Francisco, to address the challenge of developing new drugs for the treatment of Chagas disease. The first approach is target-based drug discovery, and two specific targets, cytochrome P450 CYP51 and cruzain (aka cruzipain), are discussed. A 'proof of concept' molecule, the vinyl sulfone inhibitor K777, is now a clinical candidate. The preclinical assessment compliance for filing as an Investigational New Drug with the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is presented, and an outline of potential clinical trials is given. The second appr... Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2825413 Tue, 30 Jun 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2825413 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2825412&cid=s_33094_20_f&fid=33094&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19753484%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Todeschini AR, de Almeida EG, Agrellos OA, Jones C, Previato JO, Mendonça-Previato L Trypanosoma cruzi sialoglycoproteins (Tc-mucins) are mucin-like molecules linked to a parasite membrane via a glycosylphosphatidylinositol anchor. We previously determined the structures of Tc-mucin O-glycan domains from several T. cruzi strains and observed significant differences among them. We now report the amino acid content and structure of Tc-mucin O-glycan chains from T. cruzi Colombiana, a strain resistant to common trypanocidal drugs. Amino acid analysis demonstrated the predominance of threonine residues (42%) and helped to identify the O-glycans as belonging to a Tc-mucin family that contain a beta-galactofuranose (beta-Galf) residue attached to an alpha-N-acetylglucosamine (a... Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2825412 Tue, 30 Jun 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2825412 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2825411&cid=s_33094_20_f&fid=33094&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19753485%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Camargo EP The perspectives for a Chagas Disease vaccine 30 years ago and today are compared. Antigens and adjuvants have improved, but logistic problems remain the same. Sterilizing vaccines have not been produced and animal models for chronic Chagas have not been developed. Vector control has been successful and Chagas incidence has come to a halt. We do not have a population candidate to vaccination now in Brazil. And if we had, we would not know how to evaluate the success of vaccination in a short time period. A vaccine may not seem important at the moment. However, scientific reasons and incertitudes about the future recommend that a search for a vaccine be continued. PMID: 19753485 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz) Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2825411 Tue, 30 Jun 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2825411 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2825410&cid=s_33094_20_f&fid=33094&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19753486%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Rodrigues MM, de Alencar BC, Claser C, Tzelepis F, Silveira EL, Haolla FA, Dominguez MR, Vasconcelos JR Vaccines have had an unquestionable impact on public health during the last century. The most likely reason for the success of vaccines is the robust protective properties of specific antibodies. However, antibodies exert a strong selective pressure and many microorganisms, such as the obligatory intracellular parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, have been selected to survive in their presence. Although the host develops a strong immune response to T. cruzi, they do not clear the infection and instead progress to the chronic phase of the disease. Parasite persistence during the chronic phase of infection is now considered the main factor contributing to the chronic symptoms of the di... Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2825410 Tue, 30 Jun 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2825410 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2825409&cid=s_33094_20_f&fid=33094&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19753487%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Parodi C, Padilla AM, Basombrío MA Upon infection, Trypanosoma cruzi triggers a strong immune response that has both protective and pathological consequences. In this work, several important questions regarding protective immunity are reviewed. Emphasis is placed on recent studies of the important protective role of CD8+ T cells and on previous studies of immunisation of domestic T. cruzi reservoirs that sought to address practical vaccination problems. Research on the maturation of memory cells and studies indicating that the prevalence of T. cruzi-specific T-cell responses and a high frequency of committed CD8+ T cells are associated with better clinical outcomes are also reviewed. Additionally, animal models in which protection was achieved without immunopathological c... Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2825409 Tue, 30 Jun 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2825409 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2825408&cid=s_33094_20_f&fid=33094&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19753488%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Coatnoan N, Berneman A, Chamond N, Minoprio P Trypanosoma cruzi proline racemases (TcPRAC) are homodimeric enzymes that interconvert the L and D-enantiomers of proline. At least two paralogous copies of proline racemase (PR) genes are present per parasite haploid genome and they are differentially expressed during T. cruzi development. Non-infective epimastigote forms that overexpress PR genes differentiate more readily into metacyclic infective forms that are more invasive to host cells, indicating that PR participates in mechanisms of virulence acquisition. Using a combination of biochemical and enzymatic methods, we show here that, in addition to free D-amino acids, non-infective epimastigote and infective metacyclic parasite extracts possess peptides composed notably of D-... Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2825408 Tue, 30 Jun 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2825408 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2825407&cid=s_33094_20_f&fid=33094&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19753489%26dopt%3DAbstract In this report, we present an overview of these in vitro and in vivo studies, focusing on the most promising classes of compounds with the aim of contributing to the current knowledge of the treatment of Chagas disease and aiding in the development of a new arsenal of candidates with anti-T. cruzi efficacy. PMID: 19753489 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz) Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2825407 Tue, 30 Jun 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2825407 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2825406&cid=s_33094_20_f&fid=33094&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19753490%26dopt%3DAbstract This article presents an overview of the currently available drugs nifurtimox (NFX) and benznidazole (BZN) used against Trypanosoma cruzi, the aetiological agent of Chagas disease; herein we discuss their limitations along with potential alternatives with a focus on ergosterol biosynthesis inhibitors (EBI). These compounds are currently the most advanced candidates for new anti-T. cruzi agents given that they block de novo production of 24-alkyl-sterols, which are essential for parasite survival and cannot be replaced by a host's own cholesterol. Among these compounds, new triazole derivatives that inhibit the parasite's C14alpha sterol demethylase are the most promising, as they have been shown to have curative activity in murine models of acute and chronic Chagas disease and are active a... Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2825406 Tue, 30 Jun 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2825406 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2825405&cid=s_33094_20_f&fid=33094&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19753491%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Marin-Neto JA, Rassi A, Avezum A, Mattos AC, Rassi A Among the pathophysiological derangements operating in the chronic phase of Chagas disease, parasite persistence is likely to constitute the main mechanism of myocardial injury in patients with chronic chagasic cardiomyopathy. The presence of Trypanosoma cruzi in the heart causes a low-grade, but relentless, inflammatory process and induces myocardial autoimmune injury. These facts suggest that trypanocidal therapy may positively impact the clinical course of patients with chronic Chagas heart disease. However, the experimental and clinical evidence currently available is insufficient to support the routine use of etiologic treatment in these patients. The BENEFIT project--Benznidazole Evaluation for Interrupting Trypanosomi... Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2825405 Tue, 30 Jun 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2825405 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2825404&cid=s_33094_20_f&fid=33094&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19753492%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Soares MB, dos Santos RR One century after its discovery, Chagas disease, caused by the protozoan, Trypanosoma cruzi, remains a major health problem in Latin America. Mortality and morbidity are mainly due to chronic processes that lead to dysfunction of the cardiac and digestive systems. About one third of the chronic chagasic individuals have or will develop the symptomatic forms of the disease, with cardiomyopathy being the most common chronic form. This is a progressively debilitating disease for which there are no currently available effective treatments other than heart transplantation. Like in other cardiac diseases, tissue engineering and cell therapy have been investigated in the past few years as a means of recovering the heart function lost as a consequence of chron... Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2825404 Tue, 30 Jun 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2825404 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2753270&cid=s_33094_20_f&fid=33094&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19722073%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Japiassú AM, Salluh JI, Bozza PT, Bozza FA, Castro-Faria-Neto HC Corticosteroids are widely used to treat a diversity of pathological conditions including allergic, autoimmune and some infectious diseases. These drugs have complex mechanisms of action involving both genomic and non-genomic mechanisms and interfere with different signal transduction pathways in the cell. The use of corticosteroids to treat critically ill patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome and severe infections, such as sepsis and pneumonia, is still a matter of intense debate in the scientific and medical community with evidence both for and against its use in these patients. Here, we review the basic molecular mechanisms important for corticosteroid action as well as current evidence for th... Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2753270 Tue, 30 Jun 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2753270 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2753269&cid=s_33094_20_f&fid=33094&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19722074%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Coura JR Treatments for Chagas disease have been administered since the first attempts by Mayer & Rocha Lima (1912, 1914) and up to the drugs currently in use (nifurtimox and benznidazole), along with potential drugs such as allopurinol and first, second and third-generation antifungal agents (imidazoles and triazoles), in separate form. Several diseases such as tuberculosis, leprosy and AIDS only came under control after they were treated with associations of drugs with different mechanisms of action. This not only boosts the action of the different compounds, but also may avoid the development of parasite resistance .To this end, over the short term, we propose experimental studies on laboratory animals and clinical trials with the following associations: (i) nifurtimox ... Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2753269 Tue, 30 Jun 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2753269 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2753268&cid=s_33094_20_f&fid=33094&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19722075%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Vanin S, Caenazzo L, Arseni A, Cecchetto G, Cattaneo C, Turchetto M Knowledge of the carrion-breeding insects present at a local level is important and necessary for defining the post-mortem interval. Climate changes and globalisation are affecting species ranges and population dynamics. In this note, we report the incidence of Chrysomya albiceps (Diptera: Calliphoridae) on dead human bodies and carrion in Northern Italy. These data confirm the spread of this species in the Northern regions. The partial sequencing of a 583-bp region of the cytochrome oxidase subunit 1 gene of an Adriatic population did not reveal any difference compared to the same genomic region in the African and South American populations of this species. PMID: 19722075 [PubMed - as supplied by publishe... Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2753268 Tue, 30 Jun 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2753268 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2753267&cid=s_33094_20_f&fid=33094&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19722076%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Thongsahuan S, Baimai V, Otsuka Y, Saeung A, Tuetun B, Jariyapan N, Suwannamit S, Somboon P, Jitpakdi A, Takaoka H, Choochote W Seventy-one isolines of Anopheles campestris-like were established from wild-caught females collected from human-biting and animal-biting traps at 12 locations in Thailand. All isolines had an average branch summation of seta 2-VI pupal skins ranging from 20.3-30.0 branches, which is in the range of An. campestris (17-58 branches). They showed three different karyotypes based on the amount of extra heterochromatin in the sex chromosomes, namely Forms B (X2, Y2), E (X1, X2, X3, Y5) and a new karyotypic Form F (X2, X3, Y6). Form B has been found only in Chaing Mai and Kamphaeng Phet populations, while Forms E and F are widely distributed throughout the ... Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2753267 Tue, 30 Jun 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2753267 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2753266&cid=s_33094_20_f&fid=33094&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19722077%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Luz JL, Costa LD, Gomes LA, Esbérard CE In the present study, we investigated the prevalence and intensity of Hectopsylla pulex infection in Molossus rufus and Molossus molossus, the parasite's choice of attachment site, and whether this host-parasite system varies with host size. Twenty-four bats were captured by hand from the roof of a house in Southeastern Brazil. M. rufus exhibited a prevalence of 71.4% and the mean intensity averaged 5 ectoparasites per bat. M. molossus exhibited a prevalence of 90%, and the average mean intensity was 2.11 ectoparasites. The attachment sites were: ear, tragus, shoulder blade and tibia, anus, wing, axilla, mouth and dactylopatagium. A positive correlation was observed between the bats' weight and the number of fleas. PMID: 1972207... Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2753266 Tue, 30 Jun 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2753266 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2753265&cid=s_33094_20_f&fid=33094&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19722078%26dopt%3DAbstract The objective of this study was to use geoprocessing to define the areas at risk of introduced malaria transmission and evaluate the vectorial importance of species of anophelines in ES. Anophelines were sampled from 1997-2005 in 297 rural localities identified or not identified as foci of malaria during the last 20 years. The geoclimatic variables temperature, relief and marine influence were obtained from a database of the ES Natural Units. The 14,663 anophelines captured belonged to 22 species. A significant association was found between the occurrence of malaria foci and the presence of hot, low-lying areas or gently undulating to undulating relief. The occurrence of the disease was associated with the presence of Anopheles darlingi and Anopheles aquasalis. Geoprocessing was determined... Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2753265 Tue, 30 Jun 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2753265 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2753264&cid=s_33094_20_f&fid=33094&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19722079%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Schlindwein A, Simões C, Barardi C The aim of this study was to compare two nucleic acid extraction methods for the recovery of enteric viruses from activated sludge. Test samples were inoculated with human adenovirus (AdV), hepatitis A virus (HAV), poliovirus (PV) and rotavirus (RV) and were then processed by an adsorption-elution-precipitation method. Two extraction methods were used: an organic solvent-based method and a silica method. The organic-based method was able to recoup 20% of the AdV, 90% of the RV and 100% of both the PV and HAV from seeded samples. The silica method was able to recoup 1.8% of the AdV and 90% of the RV. These results indicate that the organic-based method is more suitable for detecting viruses in sewage sludge. PMID: 19722079 [PubMed - a... Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2753264 Tue, 30 Jun 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2753264 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2753263&cid=s_33094_20_f&fid=33094&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19722080%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Silva JL, Mesquita AR, Ximenes EA Nontuberculous mycobacteria are ubiquitous and saprophytic organisms that have been implicated in a wide spectrum of diseases due to an increasing number of immunocompromised patients. The natural resistance of atypical mycobacteria to classical antituberculous drugs has encouraged research into new chemotherapeutic agents and drug combinations. The aim of this study was to determine the in vitro antimycobacterial activities of (2)-lapachone alone and in combination with isoniazid against Mycobacterium fortuitum and Mycobacterium smegmatis via the Time-Kill Curve method. A 2 log10 CFU/mL reduction in the M. smegmatis culture was observed 72 h after adding (2)-lapachone at its minimum inhibitory concentration. This drug sterilised the culture i... Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2753263 Tue, 30 Jun 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2753263 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2753262&cid=s_33094_20_f&fid=33094&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19722081%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Rodas JD, Cairo C, Djavani M, Zapata JC, Ruckwardt T, Bryant J, Pauza CD, Lukashevich IS, Salvato MS Rhesus macaques infected with the WE strain of lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV-WE) serve as a model for human infection with Lassa fever virus. To identify the earliest events of acute infection, rhesus macaques were monitored immediately after lethal infection for changes in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). Changes in CD3, CD4, CD8 and CD20 subsets did not vary outside the normal fluctuations of these blood cell populations; however, natural killer (NK) and gammadelta T cells increased slightly on day 1 and then decreased significantly after two days. The NK subsets responsible for the decrease were primarily CD3-CD8+ or CD3-CD16+ and not the NKT (primarily... Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2753262 Tue, 30 Jun 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2753262 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2753261&cid=s_33094_20_f&fid=33094&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19722082%26dopt%3DAbstract This study was conducted in a meteorological tower located in the Caxiuanã Forest (municipality of Melgaço, Pará, Brazil) with the aim of assessing the vertical stratification of species of Haemagogus and Sabethes, potential vectors of the yellow fever virus. To investigate the role of microclimates in mosquito stratification, bimonthly collections were conducted at ground level (0 m), 8 m, 16 m and 30 m (canopy level), with the aid of entomological nets and suction tubes, from July 2005-April 2006. A total of 25,498 mosquitoes were collected; specimens of Sabethes sp. and Haemagogus janthinomyswere found mostly at heights of 16 m and 30 m while Hg. leucocelaenus was most frequently observed at ground level. The largest number of vector species was collected during the raini... Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2753261 Tue, 30 Jun 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2753261 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2753260&cid=s_33094_20_f&fid=33094&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19722083%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Corrêa AB, Oliveira IC, Pinto TD, Mattos MC, Benchetrit LC Group B streptococci (GBS) infections occur worldwide. Although serotyping has been used for epidemiologic purposes, this does not accurately characterize enough members of a genetically heterogeneous bacterial population. The aims of this work were to evaluate the genetic diversity of 45 type Ia GBS strains isolated in Brazil by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis as well as to evaluate antimicrobial susceptibility profiles and identify virulence genes. Twenty-four strains were assigned to cluster A. All strains under study contained the hylB and scpB genes. The bca gene was detected in only 10 strains and none of the streptococci carried the bac gene. Thirty-nine strains were resistant to tetracycline. PMID: 19... Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2753260 Tue, 30 Jun 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2753260 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2753259&cid=s_33094_20_f&fid=33094&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19722084%26dopt%3DAbstract Description of Evandromyia grimaldii sp. nov. (Diptera: Psychodidae), a new phlebotomine species from the state of Espírito Santo, Southeast Brazil. Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz. 2009 Jul;104(4):604-607 Authors: Andrade Filho JD, Pinto ID, Santos CB, Carvalho GM Phlebotomine sand flies present great species diversity, especially in Brazil, where there are about 300 known species. This work describes a new species of sand fly found in the Brazilian state of Espírito Santo, in the Reserva Biológica de Duas Bocas, municipality of Cariacica. Spermathecae with superficial striations and the common duct longer than the genital fork permit the inclusion of the new species in the subgenus Evandromyia s. str., series rupicola. The new species resemble Ev. rupicola from which it ... Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2753259 Tue, 30 Jun 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2753259 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2753258&cid=s_33094_20_f&fid=33094&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19722085%26dopt%3DAbstract This study investigated whether a long-term high-fat diet has an effect on the outcome of chronic murine schistosomiasis mansoni compared to a standard diet. Swiss Webster female mice (3 weeks old) were fed each diet for up to six months and were then infected with 50 Schistosoma mansoni cercariae. Their nutritional status was assessed by monitoring total serum cholesterol and body mass. Infected mice were examined 6-17 weeks post infection to estimate the number of eggs in faeces. Mice were euthanised the next day. Total serum cholesterol was lower in infected mice in comparison to uninfected controls (p = 0.0055). In contrast, body mass (p = 0.003), liver volume (p = 0.0405), spleen volume (p = 0.0124), lung volume (p = 0.0033) and faecal (p = 0.0064) and tissue egg density (p = 0.0002) ... Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2753258 Tue, 30 Jun 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2753258 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2753257&cid=s_33094_20_f&fid=33094&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19722086%26dopt%3DAbstract In this study, we report temporal and spatial variations in Ae. aegypti population density using ovitraps in two highly populated neighbourhoods; Centro and Tancredo Neves. In three out of six surveys, Ae. aegypti was present in more than 80% of the sites visited. High presence levels of this mosquito suggest ubiquitous human exposure to the vector, at least during part of the year. The highest infestation rates occurred during the peak of the rainy seasons, but a large presence was also observed during the early dry season (although with more variation among years). Spatial distribution of positive houses changed from a sparse and local pattern to a very dense pattern during the dry-wet season transition. These results suggest that the risk of dengue transmission and the potential for the... Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2753257 Tue, 30 Jun 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2753257 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2753256&cid=s_33094_20_f&fid=33094&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19722087%26dopt%3DAbstract This study aimed to identify which of these methods is the most sensitive for diagnosis of infection. A total of 256 individuals, all male and carrying microfilariae (1-15,679 MF/mL), diagnosed by nocturnal venous blood samples, were tested by all three techniques. The tests for circulating filarial antigen concurred 100% and correctly identified 246/256 (96.69%) of the positive individuals, while ultrasound detected only 186/256 (73.44%). Of the circulating antigen tests, ICT-card was the most convenient method for identification of Wuchereria bancrofti carriers. It was easy to perform, practical and quick. PMID: 19722087 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz) Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2753256 Tue, 30 Jun 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2753256 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2753255&cid=s_33094_20_f&fid=33094&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19722088%26dopt%3DAbstract Genetic structure of Aedes aegypti in the city of Córdoba (Argentina), a recently reinfested area. Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz. 2009 Jul;104(4):626-631 Authors: Julio NB, Chiappero MB, Rossi HJ, Rondan Dueñas JC, Gardenal CN To understand the transmission of a vector-borne disease, knowledge of the magnitude of dispersal among vector populations is essential because of its influence on pathogen transfer. The principal vector of dengue, the most common arboviral disease in the world, is the mosquito Aedes aegypti (L.). This tropical and subtropical species is native to Africa but has dispersed worldwide since the XV century. In Argentina, the species was declared eradicated in 1963, but has reinfested the country in recent years. In the present work, we used RAPD-PCR markers... Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2753255 Tue, 30 Jun 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2753255 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2753254&cid=s_33094_20_f&fid=33094&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19722089%26dopt%3DAbstract In this study, Ae. albopictus originating from La Réunion were orally infected with a blood-meal containing 10(8) pfu/mL of the CHIKV epidemic strain (CHIKV 06.21). Eggs from the first and second gonotrophic cycles were collected and raised to the adult stage. The infectious status of the progeny was checked (i) by immunofluorescence on head squashes of individual mosquitoes to detect the presence of viral particles or (ii) by quantitative RT-PCR on mosquito pools to detect viral RNA. We analysed a total of 1,675 specimens from the first gonotrophic cycle and 1,709 from the second gonotrophic cycle without detecting any viral particles or viral RNA. These laboratory results are compared to field records. PMID: 19722089 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Memorias do Insti... Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2753254 Tue, 30 Jun 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2753254 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2753253&cid=s_33094_20_f&fid=33094&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19722090%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Richini-Pereira VB, Bosco SD, Theodoro RC, Macoris SA, Bagagli E Medical mycology has greatly benefited from the introduction of molecular techniques. New knowledge on molecular genetics has provided both theoretical and practical frameworks, permitting important advances in our understanding of several aspects of pathogenic fungi. Considering Paracoccidioides brasiliensis in particular, important eco-epidemiological aspects, such as environmental distribution and new hosts were clarified through molecular approaches. These methodologies also contributed to a better understanding about the genetic variability of this pathogen; thus, P. brasiliensis is now assumed to represent a species complex. The present review focuses on some recent findings about the current taxonomic stat... Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2753253 Tue, 30 Jun 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2753253 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2753252&cid=s_33094_20_f&fid=33094&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov%2Fentrez%2Fquery.fcgi%3Ftmpl%3DNoSidebarfile%26db%3DPubMed%26cmd%3DRetrieve%26list_uids%3D19722091%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Silva MB, Thomaz L, Marques AF, Svidzinski AE, Nosanchuk JD, Casadevall A, Travassos LR, Taborda CP Paracoccidioides brasiliensis, a thermal dimorphic fungal pathogen, produces a melanin-like pigment in vitro and in vivo. We investigated the involvement of carbohydrates and monoclonal antibody to CD18, on phagocytosis inhibition, involving macrophage receptors and the resistance of melanized fungal cells to chemically generated nitric oxide (NO), reactive oxygen species (ROS), hypochlorite and H2O2. Our results demonstrate that melanized yeast cells were more resistant than nonmelanized yeast cells to chemically generated NO, ROS, hypochlorite and H2O2, in vitro. Phagocytosis of melanized yeast cells was virtually abolished when mannan, N-acetyl glucosamine and anti-CD18 antib... Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2753252 Tue, 30 Jun 2009 23:00:00 +0100 2753252