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. Sun, 29 Jan 2012 18:11:54 +0100 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5607442&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%3D22241108%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Galler R, Bonaldo MC, Alves AM PMID: 22241108 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz) Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5607442 Thu, 01 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100 5607442 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5607441&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%3D22241109%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Desai R, Oliveira LH, Parashar UD, Lopman B, Tate JE, Patel MM Abstract Countries in Latin America were among the first to implement routine vaccination against species A rotavirus (RVA). We evaluate data from Latin America on reductions in gastroenteritis and RVA disease burden following the introduction of RVA vaccine. Published literature was reviewed to identify case-control studies of vaccine effectiveness and population-based studies examining longitudinal trends of diarrhoeal disease reduction after RVA vaccine introduction in Latin American countries. RVA vaccine effectiveness and impact on gastroenteritis mortality and hospitalization rates and RVA hospitalization rates are described. Among middle-income Latin American countries with published data (Mexico, Brazil... Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5607441 Thu, 01 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100 5607441 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5607440&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%3D22241110%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Kumar NP, Suresh A, Vanamail P, Sabesan S, Krishnamoorthy KG, Mathew J, Jose VT, Jambulingam P Abstract India was affected by a major outbreak of chikungunya fever caused by Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) during 2006-2007. Kerala was the worst affected state during 2007 with a contribution of 55.8% suspected cases in the country. However, except for clinically reported case records, no systematic information is available on infection status of CHIKV in the region. Hence, we carried out a post-epidemic survey to estimate seroprevalence status [immunoglobulin G (IgG)] in the community using commercially available indirect immunofluorescence test. This methodology had been reported to be highly specific and sensitive for CHIKV infection. The study area selected was the worst affec... Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5607440 Thu, 01 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100 5607440 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5607439&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%3D22241111%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Autino AG, Claps GL, Barquez RM, Díaz MM Abstract Based on specimens collected from bats of different families, we add new species and extend the known ecological distribution and host associations of insect ectoparasites of bats in Peru. New information is provided for the distribution of 26 species of parasites (25 Diptera and 1 Siphonaptera: Ischnopsyllidae). Four species (Neotrichobius ectophyllae, Strebla galindoi, Strebla paramirabilis and Myodopsylla wolffsohni wolffsohni) are new for Peru and 16 represent new records for the department of Loreto. Also, we found 17 new host-ectoparasite relationships. Of note, we found remarkable new association between Neotrichobius delicatus and bat species from the families Molossidae and Noctilionidae and a novel association be... Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5607439 Thu, 01 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100 5607439 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5607438&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%3D22241112%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Medeiros AP, Souza AP, Moura AB, Lavina MS, Bellato V, Sartor AA, Nieri-Bastos FA, Richtzenhain LJ, Labruna MB Abstract During 2006-2008, a total of 260 adult ticks were collected from domestic and wild animals in different regions of the state of Santa Catarina (SC), Brazil, including areas where human cases of Brazilian spotted fever have been reported. Collected ticks belonging to nine species (Amblyomma aureolatum, Amblyomma cajennense, Amblyomma dubitatum, Amblyomma longirostre, Amblyomma ovale, Amblyomma tigrinum, Dermacentor nitens, Rhipicephalus microplus and Rhipicephalus sanguineus) were tested by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for rickettsial infection. Overall, eight (3.1%) ticks were found to be infected with Rickettsia species. After sequencing the PCR produ... Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5607438 Thu, 01 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100 5607438 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5607437&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%3D22241113%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Machado DM, Fink MC, Pannuti CS, Succi RC, Machado AA, Carmo FB, Gouvêa Ade F, Urbano PR, Beltrão SV, Santos IC, Machado CM Abstract The aim of this study was to characterize the urinary excretion of the BK (BKV) and JC (JCV) human polyomaviruses in a cohort of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected children and adolescents. One hundred and fifty-six patients were enrolled: Group I included 116 HIV-infected children and adolescents [median age = 11.4 years (y); range 1-22 y]; Group II included 40 non-HIV-infected healthy controls (median age = 11.37 y; range 7-16 y). Single urine samples from both groups were screened for the presence of JCV and BKV DNA by polymerase chain reaction at enrolment. The overall rate of JCV and BKV urinary excretion was found to be 24.4%... Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5607437 Thu, 01 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100 5607437 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5607436&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%3D22241114%26dopt%3DAbstract This study serves as a comparative analysis of infection between human and non-human primates and indicates the presence of a new species of Helicobacter. PMID: 22241114 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz) Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5607436 Thu, 01 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100 5607436 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5607435&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%3D22241115%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Fioretti JM, Ferreira MS, Victoria M, Vieira CB, Xavier Mda P, Leite JP, Miagostovich MP Abstract Norovirus (NoV) infections are a major cause of acute gastroenteritis outbreaks around the world. In Brazil, the surveillance system for acute diarrhoea does not include the diagnosis of NoV, precluding the ability to assess its impact on public health. The present study assessed the circulation of NoV genotypes in different Brazilian states by partial nucleotide sequencing analysis of the genomic region coding for the major capsid viral protein. NoV genogroup II genotype 4 (GII.4) was the prevalent (78%) followed by GII.6, GII.7, GII.12, GII.16 and GII.17, demonstrating the great diversity of NoV genotypes circulating in Brazil. Thus, this paper highlights the importance of a... Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5607435 Thu, 01 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100 5607435 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5607434&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%3D22241116%26dopt%3DAbstract We examined strains of Trypanosoma cruzi isolated from patients with acute Chagas disease that had been acquired by oral transmission in the state of Santa Catarina, Brazil (2005) and two isolates that had been obtained from a marsupial (Didelphis aurita) and a vector (Triatoma tibiamaculata). These strains were characterised through their biological behaviour and isoenzymic profiles and genotyped according to the new Taxonomy Consensus (2009) based on the discrete typing unities, that is, T. cruzi genotypes I-VI. All strains exhibited the biological behaviour of biodeme type II. In six isolates, late peaks of parasitaemia, beyond the 20th day, suggested a double infection with biodemes II + III. Isoenzymes revealed Z2 or mixed Z1 and Z2 profiles. Genotyping was performed using three polym... Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5607434 Thu, 01 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100 5607434 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5607433&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%3D22241117%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Kawano DF, Silva VB, Jorge DM, Silva CH, Carvalho I Abstract Chagas disease (CD) causes the highest burden of parasitic diseases in the Western Hemisphere and is therefore a priority for drug research and development. Platelet-activating factor (PAF) causes the CD parasite Trypanosoma cruzi to differentiate, which suggests that the parasite may express PAF receptors. Here, we explored the T. cruzi proteome for PAF receptor-like proteins. From a total of 23,000 protein sequences, we identified 29 hypothetical proteins that are predicted to have seven transmembrane domains (TMDs), which is the main characteristic of the G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), including the PAF receptor. The TMDs of these sequences were independently aligned with domains from 25 animal PAF recep... Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5607433 Thu, 01 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100 5607433 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5607432&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%3D22241118%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Castilho MC, Martins AN, Horbach IS, Perez Rde M, Figueiredo FA, Pinto Pde T, Nabuco LC, Lima DB, Tanuri A, Porto LC, Ferreira Júnior Oda C Abstract Mutations located in the 109-amino acid fragment of NS5B are typically associated with resistance to interferon (IFN) and ribavirin (RIB) and to new antiviral drugs. The prevalence of these mutations was examined in 69 drug-naïve individuals with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Mutations related to non-response to IFN/RIB were observed in all subtypes studied (1a, 1b, 2b, 3a and 4). The most common mutation was Q309R, present in all subtypes, except subtype 2b with frequency above 20%. D244N was detected only in subtype 3a and A333E was detected only in subtype 2b. We did not detect the S282T, S... Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5607432 Thu, 01 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100 5607432 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5607431&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%3D22241119%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Mattar S, Komar N, Young G, Alvarez J, Gonzalez M Abstract We prospectively sampled flavivirus-naïve horses in northern Colombia to detect West Nile virus (WNV) and St. Louis encephalitis virus (SLEV) seroconversion events, which would indicate the current circulation of these viruses. Overall, 331 (34.1%) of the 971 horses screened were positive for past infection with flaviviruses upon initial sampling in July 2006. During the 12-month study from July 2006-June 2007, 33 WNV seroconversions and 14 SLEV seroconversions were detected, most of which occurred in the department of Bolivar. The seroconversion rates of horses in Bolivar for the period of March-June 2007 reached 12.4% for WNV and 6.7% for SLEV. These results comprise the first serologic evidence of SLEV circulat... Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5607431 Thu, 01 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100 5607431 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5607430&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%3D22241120%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Jiménez JN, Ocampo AM, Vanegas JM, Rodríguez EA, Garcés CG, Patiño LA, Ospina S, Correa MM Abstract Virulence and antibiotic resistance are significant determinants of the types of infections caused by Staphylococcus aureus and paediatric groups remain among the most commonly affected populations. The goal of this study was to characterise virulence genes of methicillin-susceptible S. aureus (MSSA) and methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) strains isolated from a paediatric population of a Colombian University Hospital during 2009. Sixty MSSA and MRSA isolates were obtained from paediatric patients between zero-14 years. We identified the genes encoding virulence factors, which included Panton-Valentine leucocidine (PVL), staphylococcal enterotoxins A-E, exfoliative t... Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5607430 Thu, 01 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100 5607430 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5607429&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%3D22241121%26dopt%3DAbstract In this study, we evaluated whether human serum and lipoproteins, especially high-density lipoprotein (HDL), affected serum amyloid A (SAA)-induced cytokine release. We verified the effects of SAA on THP-1 cells in serum-free medium compared to medium containing human serum or lipoprotein-deficient serum. SAA-induced tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) production was higher in the medium containing lipoprotein-deficient serum than in the medium containing normal human serum. The addition of HDL inhibited the SAA-induced TNF-α release in a dose-dependent manner. This inhibitory effect was specific for HDL and was not affected by low-density lipoprotein or very low-density lipoprotein. In human peripheral blood mononuclear cells, the inhibitory effect of HDL on TNF-α production induced b... Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5607429 Thu, 01 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100 5607429 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5607428&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%3D22241122%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Gómez A, Seccacini E, Zerba E, Licastro S Abstract A susceptible strain of Aedes albopictus derived from the Gainesville strain (Florida, USA) was established in our laboratory. The larvicidal efficacies of the neurotoxic insecticides temephos, permethrin and the pure cis and trans-permethrin isomers and the microbial insecticide Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis (Bti) against Ae. albopictus were estimated and compared to a susceptible strain of Aedes aegypti. The larvicidal effect of insect growth regulator pyriproxyfen was also evaluated in both mosquito strains. The median lethal concentration/median emergency inhibition values for Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus, respectively, were: temephos, 3.058 and 6.632 ppb, permethrin, 3.143 and 4.933 ppb, cis-permethrin, 4.457 ... Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5607428 Thu, 01 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100 5607428 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5607427&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%3D22241123%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Antonio-Arreola GE, López-Bello R, Romero-Moreno DK, Sánchez D Abstract In this paper, we assessed the suitability of using the neonicotinoid imidacloprid with standard ovitraps by evaluating the ovicidal properties of imidacloprid and its influence on the oviposition response of gravid females of Aedes (Stegomyia) aegypti Linnaeus (Diptera: Culicidae). First, we calculated the imidacloprid lethal dose 99 (LD99) by exposing third instar larvae of the target species to different concentrations of the insecticide. Next, Ae. aegypti eggs were exposed to the imidacloprid LD99 for 24 h and hatching inhibition was recorded. Finally, we investigated any potential repellent effect of the imidacloprid solution on the oviposition response of gravid Aedes females in field and labor... Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5607427 Thu, 01 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100 5607427 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5607426&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%3D22241124%26dopt%3DAbstract In this study, we evaluate the genetic and phenotypic diversity in S. agalactiae strains from Rio de Janeiro (RJ) that were isolated from asymptomatic carriers. We analysed these S. agalactiae strains using pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE), serotyping and antimicrobial susceptibility testing, as well as by determining the macrolide resistance phenotype, and detecting the presence of the ermA/B, mefA/E and lnuB genes. The serotypes Ia, II, III and V were the most prevalent serotypes observed. The 60 strains analysed were susceptible to penicillin, vancomycin and levofloxacin. Resistance to clindamycin, chloramphenicol, erythromycin, rifampin and tetracycline was observed. Among the erythromycin and/or clindamycin resistant strains, the ermA, ermB and mefA/E genes were detected and th... Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5607426 Thu, 01 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100 5607426 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5607425&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%3D22241125%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Fierro NA, Roman S, Realpe M, Hernandez-Nazara Z, Zepeda-Carrillo EA, Panduro A Abstract A high prevalence of occult hepatitis B (OHB) genotype H infections has been observed in the native Mexican Nahua population. In addition, a low incidence of hepatitis B virus (HBV)-associated hepatocellular carcinoma has been described in Mexico. The immune response to infection among OHB-infected patients has been poorly evaluated in vivo. Therefore, we assessed the expression profiles of 23 cytokines in OHB genotype H-infected Nahua patients. A total of 41 sera samples from natives of the Nahua community were retrospectively analysed. Based on their HBV antibody profiles, patients were stratified into two groups: OHB patients (n = 21) and patients that had recovered from HBV infecti... Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5607425 Thu, 01 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100 5607425 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5607424&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%3D22241126%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Fernandes MC, Andrade LR, Andrews NW, Mortara RA Abstract It has been recently shown that Trypanosoma cruzi trypomastigotes subvert a constitutive membrane repair mechanism to invade HeLa cells. Using a membrane extraction protocol and high-resolution microscopy, the HeLa cytoskeleton and T. cruzi parasites were imaged during the invasion process after 15 min and 45 min. Parasites were initially found under cells and were later observed in the cytoplasm. At later stages, parasite-driven protrusions with parallel filaments were observed, with trypomastigotes at their tips. We conclude that T. cruzi trypomastigotes induce deformations of the cortical actin cytoskeleton shortly after invasion, leading to the formation of pseudopod-like structures. PMID: 22241126 [PubMed -... Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5607424 Thu, 01 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100 5607424 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5607423&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%3D22241127%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Jaramillo LM, Gutiérrez LA, Luckhart S, Conn JE, Correa MM Abstract To elucidate the Anopheles nuneztovari s.l. taxonomic status at a microgeographic level in four malaria endemic localities from Antioquia and Córdoba, Colombia, fragments of the cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) and the white gene were used. The COI analysis showed low genetic differentiation with fixation index (F ST) levels between -0.02-0.137 and Nm values between 3-∞, indicating the presence of high gene flow among An. nuneztovari s.l. populations from the four localities. The COI network showed a single most common haplotype, type 1 (n = 55), present in all localities, as the likely ancestral haplotype. Analysis of the white gene showed that An. nuneztovari s.l. populations from both departments ... Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5607423 Thu, 01 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100 5607423 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5607422&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%3D22241128%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Valderrama A, Tavares MG, Andrade Filho JD Abstract In Panama, species of the genus Lutzomyia are vectors of American cutaneous leishmaniasis (ACL). There is no recent ecological information that may be used to develop tools for the control of this disease. Thus, the goal of this study was to determine the composition, distribution and diversity of Lutzomyia species that serve as vectors of ACL. Sandfly sampling was conducted in forests, fragmented forests and rural environments, in locations with records of ACL. Lutzomyia gomezi, Lutzomyia panamensis and Lutzomyia trapidoi were the most widely distributed and prevalent species. Analysis of each sampling point showed that the species abundance and diversity were greatest at points located in the fragmented forest landscape... Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5607422 Thu, 01 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100 5607422 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5607421&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%3D22241129%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Reimão JQ, Tempone AG Abstract The need for drug combinations to treat visceral leishmaniasis (VL) arose because of resistance to antimonials, the toxicity of current treatments and the length of the course of therapy. Calcium channel blockers (CCBs) have shown anti-leishmanial activity; therefore their use in combination with standard drugs could provide new alternatives for the treatment of VL. In this work, in vitro isobolograms of Leishmania (Leishmania) chagasi using promastigotes or intracellular amastigotes were utilised to identify the interactions between five CCBs and the standard drugs pentamidine, amphotericin B and glucantime. The drug interactions were assessed with a fixed ratio isobologram method and the fractional inhibitory concentrations (FICs), sum of ... Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5607421 Thu, 01 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100 5607421 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5607420&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%3D22241130%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Oliveira DM, Saraiva EM, Ishikawa EA, Sousa AA, Silva EO, Silva IM Abstract The number of visceral leishmaniasis (VL) cases has increased over the past 10 years in Brazil, especially in the North and Northeast regions of the country. The aim of this study was to evaluate the urbanisation of VL vectors in Barcarena, Pará, an area in northern Brazil where VL is endemic. Sandflies were captured using Centers for Disease Control (CDC) light traps along an urban-rural gradient. The CDC traps were installed inside hen houses at a height of 150 cm. A total of 5,089 sandflies were collected and 11 species were identified. The predominant species was Lutzomyia longipalpis (rate of 95.15%), which suggests its participation in the transmission of VL. A total of 1,451 Lu. longipalpis... Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5607420 Thu, 01 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100 5607420 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5607419&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%3D22241131%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Cordeiro Rde A, Astete-Medrano DJ, Marques FJ, Andrade HT, Perdigão Neto LV, Tavares JL, Lima RA, Patoilo KK, Monteiro AJ, Brilhante RS, Rocha MF, Camargo ZP, Sidrim JJ Abstract The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of cotrimoxazole on the in vitro susceptibility of Coccidioides posadasii strains to antifungals. A total of 18 strains of C. posadasii isolated in Brazil were evaluated in this study. The assays were performed in accordance with the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute guidelines and the combinations were tested using the checkerboard method. The minimum inhibitory concentrations were reduced by 11, 2.4, 4.3 and 3.5 times for amphotericin B, itraconazole, fluconazole and voriconazole, respectively. Moreover, it was seen that cotrimoxa... Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5607419 Thu, 01 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100 5607419 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5607418&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%3D22241132%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Valderrama A, Tavares MG, Andrade Filho JD Abstract Lutzomyia longipalpis is the primary vector of the parasite responsible for visceral leishmaniasis in the Americas. In the present study, Lu. longipalpis was found in a domiciliary area in Limón, a district in Capira, a region in which cutaneous leishmaniasis is endemic in Panama. Previously, this species has been found in a humid forest in this same region. Finding Lu. longipalpis in domiciliary areas indicates that this species may be adapting to new habitats and that it may play a role in the transmission of leishmaniasis in Panama. PMID: 22241132 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz) Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5607418 Thu, 01 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100 5607418 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5607417&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%3D22241133%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Alves RC, New RR, Andrade GR, Mendonça RM, Sant'anna OA, Mancini DA, Silva-Junior SM, Domingos Mde O Abstract Vaccination is the method of choice for the prevention of influenza infection. However, the quantity of the antigen available, especially in the case of pandemics, often fails to meet the global demand. However, improved adjuvants can overcome this problem. Preliminary results obtained in this study revealed that one year after a single subcutaneous immunisation with influenza A H3N2 virus in an oil-based carrier, VaxcineTM, outbreed mice produced a high immunoglobulin G response that lasted for up to one year and exhibited less variation in titre compared with the response of the control group treated with alum. The haemagglutination-inhibition titres induced by ... Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5607417 Thu, 01 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100 5607417 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5607416&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%3D22241134%26dopt%3DAbstract In this study we prepared an inclusion complex between an iodide analogue of metronidazole (MTZ-I) and cyclodextrin (CD) to develop a safer and more effective method of treating Trypanosoma cruzi infections. According to our results, MTZ-I and MTZ-I:β-CD were 10 times more active than MTZ, demonstrating that the presence of an iodine atom on the side chain increased the trypanocidal activity while maintaining its cytotoxicity. The selective index shows that MTZ-I was 10 times more active against T. cruzi than it was against mammalian cells. The modification of MTZ side chains provides a promising avenue for the development of new drugs. PMID: 22241134 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz) Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5607416 Thu, 01 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100 5607416 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5539598&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%3D22124548%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Carvalho Odos S, Grault CE, Machado MP, Pieri O, Vicente AC, Cupolillo E PMID: 22124548 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz) Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5539598 Tue, 01 Nov 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5539598 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5539597&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%3D22124549%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Alrefaei YN, Okatcha TI, Skinner DE, Brindley PJ Abstract Genome sequences for Schistosoma japonicum and Schistosoma mansoni are now available. The schistosome genome encodes ~13,000 protein encoding genes for which the function of only a minority is understood. There is a valuable role for transgenesis in functional genomic investigations of these new schistosome gene sequences. In gain-of-function approaches, transgenesis can lead to integration of transgenes into the schistosome genome which can facilitate insertional mutagenesis screens. By contrast, transgene driven, vector-based RNA interference (RNAi) offers powerful loss-of-function manipulations. Our laboratory has focused on development of tools to facilitate schistosome transgenesis. We have investigated the uti... Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5539597 Tue, 01 Nov 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5539597 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5539596&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%3D22124550%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Pierce RJ, Dubois-Abdesselem F, Caby S, Trolet J, Lancelot J, Oger F, Bertheaume N, Roger E Abstract Only one drug is currently available for the treatment and control of schistosomiasis and the increasing risk of selecting strains of schistosome that are resistant to praziquantel means that the development of new drugs is urgent. With this objective we have chosen to target the enzymes modifying histones and in particular the histone acetyltransferases and histone deacetylases (HDAC). Inhibitors of HDACs (HDACi) are under intense study as potential anti-cancer drugs and act via the induction of cell cycle arrest and/or apoptosis. Schistosomes like other parasites can be considered as similar to tumours in that they maintain an intense metabolic activity and rate of cell d... Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5539596 Tue, 01 Nov 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5539596 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5539595&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%3D22124551%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Domingues AL, Medeiros TB, Lopes EP Abstract In this paper, the authors review the literature and share their experience of the principal biological markers of fibrosis for the evaluation of periportal fibrosis (PPF) caused by mansoni schistosomiasis. These biological markers are compared to diagnostic ultrasound (US) scans as means of grading PPF. We also review procollagen type I and III, collagen type IV, laminin, hyaluronic acid (HA), immunoglobulin G, platelets, aspartate aminotransferase to platelet ratio index (APRI) and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase as markers of the disease. Although there are several good markers for evaluating PPF and portal hypertension, such as HA, platelets or APRI, none can yet replace US. These markers may, however, be used to identify pati... Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5539595 Tue, 01 Nov 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5539595 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5539594&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%3D22124552%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Mendes RG, Gusmão MA, Maia AC, Detoni Mde L, Porcino GN, Soares TV, Juliano MA, Juliano L, Coelho PM, Lenzi HL, Faria-Pinto P, Vasconcelos EG Abstract A peptide (SmB2LJ; r175-194) that belongs to a conserved domain from Schistosoma mansoni SmATPDase 2 and is shared with potato apyrase, as predicted by in silico analysis as antigenic, was synthesised and its immunostimulatory property was analysed. When inoculated in BALB/c mice, this peptide induced high levels of SmB2LJ-specific IgG1 and IgG2a subtypes, as detected by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. In addition, dot blots were found to be positive for immune sera against potato apyrase and SmB2LJ. These results suggest that the conserved domain r175-194 from the S. mansoni SmATPDase 2 is antigenic. Western blots were ... Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5539594 Tue, 01 Nov 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5539594 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5539593&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%3D22124553%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: El-Lakkany NM, El-Din SH, Sabra AN, Hammam OA Abstract Praziquantel (PZQ) is currently the only drug widely used for the treatment of schistosomiasis, but the antimalarial drug mefloquine (Mef) possesses interesting antischistosomal properties. Combination therapy with these two drugs has been suggested as a strategy for transmission control, as PZQ is active against adult worms and Mef is active against schistosomula. To examine the efficacy of combination therapy, Schistosoma mansoni-reinfected mice were separated into seven groups: untreated (I), treated with PZQ in doses of 200 mg/kg (II) or 1,000 mg/kg (III), treated with Mef in doses of 200 mg/kg (IV) or 400 mg/kg (V); each dose was divided equally and given on two consecutive days. Group VI was treated with doses of... Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5539593 Tue, 01 Nov 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5539593 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5539592&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%3D22124554%26dopt%3DAbstract We present here an application of such an approach to study the genetic and epigenetic basis for a phenotypic trait, the compatibility of S. mansoni with its invertebrate host Biomphalaria glabrata. We have applied the ChIP procedure to two strains that are either compatible or incompatible with their intermediate host. The precipitated DNA was sequenced and aligned to a reference genome and this information was used to determine regions in which both strands differ in their genomic sequence and/or chromatin structure. This procedure allowed us to identify candidate genes that display either genetic or epigenetic difference between the two strains. PMID: 22124554 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz) Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5539592 Tue, 01 Nov 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5539592 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5539591&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%3D22124555%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Thanchomnang T, Intapan P, Sri-Aroon P, Lulitanond V, Janwan P, Sanpool O, Maleewong W Abstract A real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay with fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) hybridisation probes combined with melting curve analysis was developed to detect Schistosoma japonicum in experimentally infected snails and in faecal samples of infected mice. This procedure is based on melting curve analysis of a hybrid between an amplicon from the S. japonicum internal transcribed spacer region 2 sequence, which is a 192-bp S. japonicum-specific sequence, and fluorophore-labelled specific probes. Real-time FRET PCR could detect as little as a single cercaria artificially introduced into a pool of 10 non-infected snails and a single egg inoculated in 100 mg of... Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5539591 Tue, 01 Nov 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5539591 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5539590&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%3D22124556%26dopt%3DAbstract In this study we performed in silico analysis of the Schistosoma mansoni genome, using SchistoDB database and bioinformatic tools for screening immunogenic antigens. Based on evidence of expression in all parasite life stage within the definitive host, extracellular or plasmatic membrane localization, low similarity to human and other helminthic proteins and presence of predicted B cell epitopes, six candidates were selected: a glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchored 200 kDa protein, two putative cytochrome oxidase subunits, two expressed proteins and one hypothetical protein. The recognition in unidimensional and bidimensional Western blot of protein with similar molecular weight and isoelectric point to the selected antigens by sera from S. mansoni infected mice indicate a good correlation... Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5539590 Tue, 01 Nov 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5539590 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5539589&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%3D22124557%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Siqueira LM, Coelho PM, Oliveira AA, Massara CL, Carneiro NF, Lima AC, Enk MJ Abstract This population study, which evaluated two parasitological methods for the diagnosis of schistosomiasis mansoni, was performed in a low-transmission area in Pedra Preta, Montes Claros, Minas Gerais, Brazil. A total of 201 inhabitants of the rural area participated in this research. Four stool samples were obtained from all participants and analysed using the Kato-Katz method (18 slides) and a commercial test, the TF-Test®, which was performed quantitatively. The data were analysed to determine prevalence, the sensitivity of the diagnostic methods, the worm burden and the definition of the "gold standard", which was obtained by totalling the results of all samples examined using the Kato... Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5539589 Tue, 01 Nov 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5539589 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5539588&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%3D22124558%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Teodoro TM, Jannotti-Passos LK, Carvalho Odos S, Grijalva MJ, Baús EG, Caldeira RL Abstract Molecular techniques can aid in the classification of Biomphalaria species because morphological differentiation between these species is difficult. Previous studies using phylogeny, morphological and molecular taxonomy showed that some populations studied were Biomphalaria cousini instead of Biomphalaria amazonica. Three different molecular profiles were observed that enabled the separation of B. amazonica from B. cousini. The third profile showed an association between the two and suggested the possibility of hybrids between them. Therefore, the aim of this work was to investigate the hybridism between B. cousini and B. amazonica and to verify if the hybrids are susceptible to Sc... Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5539588 Tue, 01 Nov 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5539588 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5539587&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%3D22124559%26dopt%3DAbstract In this study, we evaluated how S. mansoni antigens altered the immune response that was induced by the soluble Leishmania antigen (SLA) from cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) patients. Cytokines were measured from the supernatants of peripheral blood mononuclear cell cultures stimulated with SLA. This was performed using the sandwich enzyme linked immunosorbent assay technique in the presence or absence of S. mansoni recombinant antigens Sm29, SmTSP-2 and PIII. The addition of S. mansoni antigens to the cultures resulted in the reduction of interferon gamma (IFN-γ) levels in 37-50% of patients. Although to a lesser extent, the antigens were also able to decrease the production of tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α). We compared patients that either had or did not have reduction in IFN-γ an... Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5539587 Tue, 01 Nov 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5539587 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5539586&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%3D22124560%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Silva LL, Marcet-Houben M, Zerlotini A, Gabaldón T, Oliveira G, Nahum LA Abstract Schistosoma mansoni is one of the three main causative agents of human schistosomiasis, a major health problem with a vast socio-economic impact. Recent advances in the proteomic analysis of schistosomes have revealed that peptidases are the main virulence factors involved in the pathogenesis of this disease. In this context, evolutionary studies can be applied to identify peptidase families that have been expanded in genomes over time in response to different selection pressures. Using a phylogenomic approach, we searched for expanded endopeptidase families in the S. mansoni predicted proteome with the aim of contributing to the knowledge of such enzymes as potential therapeutic targets. We... Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5539586 Tue, 01 Nov 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5539586 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5539585&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%3D22124561%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Barbosa CS, Leal-Neto OB, Gomes EC, Araújo KC, Domingues AL Abstract In 2000, after heavy rains and floods in Porto de Galinhas, Pernambuco, Brazil, an outbreak of schistosomiasis was recorded, of which 62.2% (412 cases) were of the acute clinical form. Between 2001-2009, occasional findings of Biomphalaria snails parasitised by Schistosoma mansoni indicated that disease transmission was still occurring. This motivated a new epidemiological survey between August-December 2010 to provide an update of the occurrence of this health hazard and to investigate the process of disease endemisation at this locality. This survey gathered parasitological, clinical and malacological data. The results of this survey, compared with data from the year 2000 survey, showed the following: ... Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5539585 Tue, 01 Nov 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5539585 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5539584&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%3D22124562%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Martins-Souza RL, Pereira CA, Rodrigues L, Araújo ES, Coelho PM, Corrêa A, Negrão-Corrêa D Abstract Lectin-carbohydrate binding may be involved in the recognition of Schistosoma mansoni sporocysts by haemocytes of Biomphalaria; therefore, we tested if this interaction is associated with snail resistance against Schistosoma infection. In vitro data showed that most of the S. mansoni sporocysts cultured with haemocytes from Biomphalaria glabrata BH, a highly susceptible snail strain, had a low number of cells that adhered to their tegument and a low mortality rate. Moreover, the addition of N-acetyl-D-glucosamine (GlcNAc) did not alter this pattern of adherence and mortality. Using haemocytes and haemolymph of Biomphalaria tenagophila Cabo Frio, we observed a high percen... Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5539584 Tue, 01 Nov 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5539584 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5539583&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%3D22124563%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Bergquist R Abstract Geographical Information Systems (GIS) facilitate access to epidemiological data through visualization and may be consulted for the development of mathematical models and analysis by spatial statistics. Variables such as land-cover, land-use, elevations, surface temperatures, rainfall etc. emanating from earth-observing satellites, complement GIS as this information allows the analysis of disease distribution based on environmental characteristics. The strength of this approach issues from the specific environmental requirements of those causative infectious agents, which depend on intermediate hosts for their transmission. The distribution of these diseases is restricted, both by the environmental requirements of their intermediate hosts/vectors and b... Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5539583 Tue, 01 Nov 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5539583 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5539582&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%3D22124564%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Dos-Santos WL, Sweet GM, Bahiense-Oliveira M, Rocha PN Abstract Distinct patterns of glomerular lesions, including membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis and focal segmental glomerulosclerosis, are associated with infection by Schistosoma mansoni or Schistosoma japonicum. Evidence suggests that immune complex deposition is the main mechanism underlying the different forms of schistosomal glomerulonephritis and that immune complex deposition may be intensified by portal hypertension. The relationship between focal segmental glomerulosclerosis and schistosomiasis remains poorly understood. A clinicopathologic classification of schistosomal glomerulopathies was proposed in 1992 by the African Association of Nephrology. In Brazil, mass treatment with oral medications has led... Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5539582 Tue, 01 Nov 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5539582 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5348893&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%3D22012216%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Coura JR, Borges-Pereira J Abstract The pathogenesis and evolutive pattern of Chagas disease suggests that the chronic phase should be more widely treated in order to (i) eliminate Trypanosoma cruzi and prevent new inflammatory foci and the extension of tissue lesions, (ii) promote tissue regeneration to prevent fibrosis, (iii) reverse existing fibrosis, (iv) prevent cardiomyopathy, megaoesophagus and megacolon and (v) reduce or eliminate cardiac block and arrhythmia. All cases of the indeterminate chronic form of Chagas disease without contraindications due to other concomitant diseases or pregnancy should be treated and not only cases involving children or recently infected cases. Patients with chronic Chagas cardiomyopathy grade II of the New York Heart Association clas... Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5348893 Thu, 01 Sep 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5348893 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5348892&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%3D22012217%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Pires RH, Santos JM, Zaia JE, Martins CH, Mendes-Giannini MJ Abstract Candida parapsilosis, currently divided into three distinct species, proliferates in glucose-rich solutions and has been associated with infections resulting from the use of medical devices made of plastic, an environment common in dialysis centres. The aims of this study were (i) to screen for Candida orthopsilosis and Candida metapsilosis (100 environmental isolates previously identified as C. parapsilosis), (ii) to test the ability of these isolates to form biofilm and (iii) to investigate the in vitro susceptibility of Candida spp biofilms to the antifungal agents, fluconazole (FLC) and amphotericin B (AMB). Isolates were obtained from a hydraulic circuit collected from a haemodialysis unit. Based on... Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5348892 Thu, 01 Sep 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5348892 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5348891&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%3D22012218%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Alves SL, Metzker FS, Araújo-Filho JA, Junqueira-Kipnis AP, Kipnis A Abstract Drug resistance is one of the major concerns regarding tuberculosis (TB) infection worldwide because it hampers control of the disease. Understanding the underlying mechanisms responsible for drug resistance development is of the highest importance. To investigate clinical data from drug-resistant TB patients at the Tropical Diseases Hospital, Goiás (GO), Brazil and to evaluate the molecular basis of rifampin (R) and isoniazid (H) resistance in Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Drug susceptibility testing was performed on 124 isolates from 100 patients and 24 isolates displayed resistance to R and/or H. Molecular analysis of drug resistance was performed by partial sequencing of the rpoB and katGgene... Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5348891 Thu, 01 Sep 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5348891 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5348890&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%3D22012219%26dopt%3DAbstract This study was designed to assess the effect of GB virus (GBV)-C on the immune response to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in chronically HIV-infected and HIV- hepatitis C virus (HCV)-co-infected patients undergoing antiretroviral therapy. A cohort of 159 HIV-seropositive patients, of whom 52 were HCV-co-infected, was included. Epidemiological data were collected and virological and immunological markers, including the production of interferon gamma (IFN-γ) and interleukin (IL)-2 by CD4, CD8 and Tγδ cells and the expression of the activation marker, CD38, were assessed. A total of 65 patients (40.8%) presented markers of GBV-C infection. The presence of GBV-C did not influence HIV and HCV replication or TCD4 and TCD8 cell counts. Immune responses, defined by IFN-γ and IL-2 productio... Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5348890 Thu, 01 Sep 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5348890 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5348889&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%3D22012220%26dopt%3DAbstract This study presents and describes a new genus and species of nematotaeniid parasite found in cane toads (Rhinella marina) from eastern Brazilian Amazonia. The cestodes were collected during the necropsy of 20 hosts captured in the urban area of Belém, Pará. The specimens were fixed and processed for light microscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and three-dimensional (3D) reconstruction. Samples were also collected for molecular analyses. The specimens presented a cylindrical body, two testes and paruterine organs. However, they could not be allocated to any of the four existing nematotaeniid genera due to the presence of two each of dorsal compact medullary testes, cirri, cirrus pouches, genital pores, ovaries and vitelline glands per mature segment. Lanfrediella amphicirrus gen. ... Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5348889 Thu, 01 Sep 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5348889 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5348888&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%3D22012221%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Rubio A, Cardo MV, Vezzani D Abstract Used vehicle tires are a source of mosquito vectors and a means of their introduction and expansion. With the aim of assessing the effects of urbanisation on the main mosquito vectors in temperate Argentina, the infestation levels of Aedes aegypti (L.) and Culex pipiens L. were studied in used tires from highly urbanised cities to low-urbanised small towns in Buenos Aires. Immatures of both species accounted for 96% of the 9,722 individuals collected; the total individuals collected represented seven species. The percentage of water-filled tires containing mosquitoes [container index (CI)] was 33% and the percentage of infested sites [site index (SI)] was 65.2%. These indexes decreased significantly from low to high urbanisation levels... Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5348888 Thu, 01 Sep 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5348888 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5348887&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%3D22012222%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Gbotosho GO, Sowunmi A, Happi CT, Okuboyejo TM Abstract The effects of artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACTs) on transmission of Plasmodium falciparum were evaluated after a policy change instituting the use of ACTs in an endemic area. P. falciparum gametocyte carriage, sex ratios and inbreeding rates were examined in 2,585 children at presentation with acute falciparum malaria during a 10-year period from 2001-2010. Asexual parasite rates were also evaluated from 2003-2010 in 10,615 children before and after the policy change. Gametocyte carriage declined significantly from 12.4% in 2001 to 3.6% in 2010 (@@χ2 for trend = 44.3, p < 0.0001), but sex ratios and inbreeding rates remained unchanged. Additionally, overall parasite rates remained unchanged before and... Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5348887 Thu, 01 Sep 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5348887 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5348886&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%3D22012223%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Lima GF, Levi JE, Geraldi MP, Sanchez MC, Segurado AA, Hristov AD, Inoue J, Costa-Nascimento Mde J, Di Santi SM Abstract Malaria diagnoses has traditionally been made using thick blood smears, but more sensitive and faster techniques are required to process large numbers of samples in clinical and epidemiological studies and in blood donor screening. Here, we evaluated molecular and serological tools to build a screening platform for pooled samples aimed at reducing both the time and the cost of these diagnoses. Positive and negative samples were analysed in individual and pooled experiments using real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR), nested PCR and an immunochromatographic test. For the individual tests, 46/49 samples were positive by real-time PCR, 46/49 were positi... Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5348886 Thu, 01 Sep 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5348886 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5348885&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%3D22012224%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Vilela RC, Benchimol M Abstract Trichomonas vaginalis and Tritrichomonas foetus are human and bovine parasites, respectively, that provoke the sexually transmitted disease trichomoniasis. These extracellular parasites adhere to the host epithelial cell surface. Although mucinases and proteases have been described as important proteins for parasite adhesion to epithelial cells, no studies have examined the role of the keratin molecules that cornify the vaginal epithelium. Here, we investigated the interaction of T. vaginalis and T. foetus with human keratin in vitro; additionally, adherence assays were performed in cattle with T. foetus to elucidate whether trichomonads were able to interact with keratin in vivo. We demonstrated that both T. vaginalisand T. foetusinteracted... Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5348885 Thu, 01 Sep 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5348885 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5348884&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%3D22012225%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Bourke BP, Nagaki SS, Bergo ES, Cardoso Jda C, Sallum MA Abstract Phylogenetic relationships among species of the Myzorhynchella Section of Anopheles (Nyssorhynchus) were investigated using the nuclear ribosomal DNA second internal transcribed spacer (ITS2), the nuclear whitegene and mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) regions. The recently described Anopheles pristinus and resurrected Anopheles guarani were also included in the study. Bayesian phylogenetic analyses found Anopheles parvus to be the most distantly related species within the Section, a finding that is consistent with morphology. An. pristinus and An. guarani were clearly resolved from Anopheles antunesi and Anopheles lutzii, respectively. An. lutzii collected in the same mountain range as the ty... Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5348884 Thu, 01 Sep 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5348884 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5348883&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%3D22012226%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Teixeira RL, Morato RG, Cabello PH, Muniz LM, Moreira Ada S, Kritski AL, Mello FC, Suffys PN, Miranda AB, Santos AR Abstract Isoniazid (INH), one of the most important drugs used in antituberculosis (anti-TB) treatment, is also the major drug involved in hepatotoxicity. Differences in INH-induced toxicity have been attributed to genetic variability at several loci, such as NAT2, CYP2E1, GSTM1 and GSTT1, that code for drug-metabolising enzymes. Our goal was to examine the polymorphisms in these enzymes as susceptibility factors to anti-TB drug-induced hepatitis in Brazilian individuals. In a case-control design, 167 unrelated active tuberculosis patients from the University Hospital of the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, were enrolled in this study. Patients w... Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5348883 Thu, 01 Sep 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5348883 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5348882&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%3D22012227%26dopt%3DAbstract In this study, the molecular types of 63 cryptococcal isolates recovered from the cerebrospinal fluid of meningitis patients diagnosed between 2008-2010 in Teresina, Piauí, Brazil, were analysed. Out of the 63 patients, 37 (58.7%) were human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive and 26 (41.3%) were HIV-negative. URA5-restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis identified 37/63 (58.7%) isolates as the C. neoformans VNI genotype, predominantly in HIV-positive patients (32/37, 86.5%), and 24/63 (38.1%) as the C. gattii VGII genotype, mostly in HIV-negative patients (21/26, 80.8%). The occurrence of C. gattii VGII in six apparently healthy children and in seven adolescents/young adults in this region reaffirms the endemic occurrence of C. gattii VGII-induced primary cryptococcosis and e... Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5348882 Thu, 01 Sep 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5348882 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5348881&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%3D22012228%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Alarcón-Elbal PM, Montoliu BG, Pinal R, Delacour-Estrella S, Ruiz-Arrondo I, Peribáñez MÁ, Blas ID, Molina R, Castillo JA, Diéguez-Fernández L, Lucientes J Abstract The sandfly Phlebotomus perniciosus is the most widespread vector of Leishmania infantum in Spain. Laboratory colonisation represents the most feasible source of information on the biology of these insects, but in conducting any study, the density of individuals in the colony may drop to such an extent that it is sometimes difficult to recover the initial population levels. A new technique was tested for the recovery of sandfly eggs in three different colonies; the recovery rate was studied by comparing the standard method of mass rearing with this new method of colony management. The results demonstrate ... Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5348881 Thu, 01 Sep 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5348881 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5348880&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%3D22012229%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Nascimento MP, Bannwart CF, Nakaira-Takahagi E, Peraçoli MT Abstract Multinucleated giant cells (MGC) are cells present in characteristic granulomatous inflammation induced by intracellular infectious agents or foreign materials. The present study evaluated the modulatory effect of granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) in association with other cytokines such as interferon-gamma (IFN-γ), tumour necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin (IL)-10 or transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β1) on the formation of MGC from human peripheral blood monocytes stimulated with Paracoccidioides brasiliensis antigen (PbAg). The generation of MGC was determined by fusion index (FI) and the fungicidal activity of these cells was evaluated after 4 h of MGC co-cultured with vi... Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5348880 Thu, 01 Sep 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5348880 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5348879&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%3D22012230%26dopt%3DAbstract This study provides a detailed comparative analysis of the fat body in five different mosquito species and represents a significant contribution towards the understanding of the structural-functional relationships associated with this organ. PMID: 22012230 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz) Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5348879 Thu, 01 Sep 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5348879 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5348878&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%3D22012231%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Silva LD, Rocha AM, Rocha GA, Moura SB, Rocha MM, Dani R, Melo FF, Guerra JB, Castro LP, Mendes GS, Ferrari TC, Lima AS, Queiroz DM Abstract The hypothesis that Helicobactermight be a risk factor for human liver diseases has arisen after the detection of Helicobacter DNA in hepatic tissue of patients with hepatobiliary diseases. Nevertheless, no explanation that justifies the presence of the bacterium in the human liver has been proposed. We evaluated the presence of Helicobacterin the liver of patients with hepatic diseases of different aetiologies. We prospectively evaluated 147 patients (106 with primary hepatic diseases and 41 with hepatic metastatic tumours) and 20 liver donors as controls. Helicobacter species were investigated in the liver by culture and specific 16... Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5348878 Thu, 01 Sep 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5348878 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5348877&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%3D22012232%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Luz PM, Lima-Camara TN, Bruno RV, Castro MG, Sorgine MH, Lourenço-de-Oliveira R, Peixoto AA Abstract Recently, we showed that infection with dengue virus increases the locomotor activity of Aedes aegypti females. We speculate that the observed increased locomotor activity could potentially increase the chances of finding a suitable host and, as a consequence, the relative biting rate of infected mosquitoes. We used a mathematical model to investigate the impact of the increased locomotor activity by assuming that this activity translated into an increased biting rate for infected mosquitoes. The results show that the increased biting rate resulted in dengue outbreaks with greater numbers of primary and secondary infections and with more severe biennial epidemics. PMID... Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5348877 Thu, 01 Sep 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5348877 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5348876&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%3D22012233%26dopt%3DAbstract In conclusion, the human thymic epithelium can be infected in vitro by HTLV-1, not only via cell-cell contact, but also via exposure to virus-containing medium. PMID: 22012233 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz) Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5348876 Thu, 01 Sep 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5348876 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5348875&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%3D22012234%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Vieira AS, Rosinha GM, Oliveira CE, Vasconcellos SA, Lima-Borges PA, Tomás WM, Mourão GM, Lacerda AC, Soares CO, Araújo FR, Piovezan U, Zucco CA, Pellegrin AO Abstract This work reports a survey of Leptospira spp in pampas deer (Ozotoceros bezoarticus) in the Pantanal wetlands of the state of Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil by serology and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Seventy pampas deer were captured in the dry season and surveyed using PCR, microscopic agglutination test (MAT) (n = 51) and by both techniques (n = 47). PCR detected infections in two pampas deer and MAT detected infections in three. Through sequencing and phylogenetic analyses, the PCR-amplified fragment detected in deer was identified as Leptospira interrogans. Serovars Pomona and Butembo were detected ... Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5348875 Thu, 01 Sep 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5348875 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5348874&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%3D22012235%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Sandoval CM, Nieves E, Angulo VM, Aldana E Abstract The cave organ is a sensory receptor in the antenna pedicel of some Reduviidae. This paper describes this organ for the first time in three species of the genus Belminus, Belminus corredori, Belminus ferroae and Belminus herreri, by optical and scanning electron microscopy. The structures presented a general pattern similar to one reported for other species of Triatominae. PMID: 22012235 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz) Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5348874 Thu, 01 Sep 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5348874 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5348873&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%3D22012236%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Albuquerque AL, Magalhães T, Ayres CF Abstract The use of Wolbachia as a tool to control insect vectors has recently been suggested. In this context, studies on the prevalence and diversity of this bacterium in wild populations are relevant. Here, we evaluated the diversity of two Wolbachiagenes (ftsZ and wsp) and the prevalence of this endosymbiont in wild Aedes albopictus. Using semi-nested polymerase chain reaction, our results showed that 99.3% of the individuals were superinfected with Wolbachia. In regards to genetic diversity, the two genes showed no variation within or among mosquito populations. An analysis of other Wolbachia markers may help to clarify the relationship between insect and endosymbiont. PMID: 22012236 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Memorias do... Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5348873 Thu, 01 Sep 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5348873 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5348872&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%3D22012237%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Toihir AH, Rasolofo V, Andrianarisoa SH, Ranjalahy GM, Ramarokoto H Abstract The performance of the immunochromatographic assay, SD BIOLINE TB Ag MPT64 RAPID®, was evaluated in Madagascar. Using mouse anti-MPT64 monoclonal antibodies for rapid discrimination between the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex and nontuberculous mycobacteria, the kit was tested on mycobacteria and other pathogens using conventional methods as the gold standard. The results presented here indicate that this kit has excellent sensitivity (100%) and specificity (100%) compared to standard biochemical detection and can be easily used for the rapid identification of M. tuberculosis complex. PMID: 22012237 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz) Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5348872 Thu, 01 Sep 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5348872 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5348871&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%3D22012238%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Marietto-Gonçalves GA, Grandi F PMID: 22012238 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz) Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5348871 Thu, 01 Sep 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5348871 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5221876&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%3D21894369%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: PMID: 21894369 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz) Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5221876 Mon, 01 Aug 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5221876 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5221875&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%3D21894370%26dopt%3DAbstract This study endeavours to delineate the suitable locations of Phlebotomus argentipes with relation to environmental characteristics between endemic and non-endemic districts in India. A cross-sectional survey was conducted on 25 villages in each district. Environmental data were obtained through remote sensing images and vector density was measured using a CDC light trap. Simple linear regression analysis was used to measure the association between climatic parameters and vector density. Using factor analysis, the relationship between land cover classes and P. argentipes density among the villages in both districts was investigated. The results of the regression analysis indicated that indoor temperature and relative humidity are the best predictors for P. argentipes distribution. Factor an... Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5221875 Mon, 01 Aug 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5221875 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5221874&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%3D21894371%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Varma-Basil M, Kumar S, Arora J, Angrup A, Zozio T, Banavaliker JN, Singh UB, Rastogi N, Bose M Abstract The aim of the present study was to compare polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based methods - spoligotyping and mycobacterial interspersed repetitive units (MIRU) typing - with the gold-standard IS6110 restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis in 101 isolates of Mycobacterium tuberculosis to determine the genetic diversity of M. tuberculosis clinical isolates from Delhi, North India. Spoligotyping resulted in 49 patterns (14 clusters); the largest cluster was composed of Spoligotype International Types (SITs)26 [Central-Asian (CAS)1-Delhi lineage], followed by SIT11 [East-African-Indian (EAI) 3-Indian lineage]. A large number of isolates (75%) belonged to g... Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5221874 Mon, 01 Aug 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5221874 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5221873&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%3D21894372%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Bazan-Furini R, Motta AC, Simão JC, Tarquínio DC, Marques W, Barbosa MH, Foss NT Abstract A cross-sectional clinical trial in which the serum anti-phenolic glycolipid (anti-PGL-1) antibodies were analysed in household contacts (HHC) of patients with leprosy as an adjunct early leprosy diagnostic marker was conducted. The families of 83 patients underwent clinical examination and serum anti-PGL1 measurement using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Of 320 HHC, 98 were contacts of lepromatous leprosy (LL), 80 were contacts of borderline lepromatous (BL), 28 were contacts of borderline (BB) leprosy, 54 were contacts of borderline tuberculoid (BT), 40 were contacts of tuberculoid (TT) and 20 were contacts of indeterminate (I) leprosy. Consanguinity with the patients was deter... Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5221873 Mon, 01 Aug 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5221873 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5221872&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%3D21894373%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: El Khoury AC, Mast TC, Ciarlet M, Markson L, Goveia MG, Munford V, Rácz ML Abstract RotaTeq® (Merck & Company, Inc, Whitehouse Station, NJ, USA) is an oral pentavalent rotavirus vaccine (RV5) that has shown high and consistent efficacy in preventing rotavirus gastroenteritis (RGE) in randomised clinical trials previously conducted in industrialised countries with high medical care resources. To date, the efficacy and effectiveness data for RV5 are available in some Latin American countries, but not Brazil. In this analysis, we projected the effectiveness of RV5 in terms of the percentage reduction in RGE-related hospitalisations among children less than five years of age in four regions of Brazil, using a previously validated mathematical model. The model inputs incl... Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5221872 Mon, 01 Aug 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5221872 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5221871&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%3D21894374%26dopt%3DAbstract We report a transient increase in the total tyrosine phosphorylation of the Aedes aegypti head during the first days after emergence from the pupal stage. This correlates with an initial reduction in total head protein tyrosine phosphatase (PTP) activity. Similarly, phosphotyrosine (pTyr)-containing bands are seen in extracts prepared from both male and female heads and are spread among a variety of structures including the antennae, proboscis and the maxillary palps combined with the proboscis. Also, mosquitoes treated with sodium orthovanadate, a classical PTP inhibitor, show reduced blood-feeding activity and higher head tyrosine phosphorylation levels. These results suggest that pTyr-mediated signalling pathways may play a role in the initial days following the emergence of the adult m... Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5221871 Mon, 01 Aug 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5221871 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5221870&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%3D21894375%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Melo Mde F, Santos JN, Giese EG, Santos EG, Santos CP Abstract Raphidascaris (Sprentascaris) lanfrediae sp. nov. is described from the intestine of the freshwater fish Satanoperca jurupari (Heckel) (Cichlidae) from the Guamá River, state of Pará, Brazil. The prevalence in fish (n = 59) was 27% with intensity of one-124 (mean 16) nematodes per fish. The new species is characterized mainly by the markedly larger size of ventricular appendix in relation to the oesophagus, presence of short male caudal alae, 14-16 subventral pairs of preanal papillae and six pairs of postanal papillae. PMID: 21894375 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz) Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5221870 Mon, 01 Aug 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5221870 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5221869&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%3D21894376%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Azevedo C, Casal G, São Clemente SC, Lopes LM, Matos P, Abdel-Baki AA, Oliveira E, Matos E Abstract Myxidium volitans sp. nov. (Myxozoa: Myxidiidae) parasitizing the hypertrophied green-brownish gallbladder of the teleost Dactylopterus volitans, collected in the Atlantic coast near Niterói, Brazil was described based on ultrastructural studies. The spores were fusiform, sometimes slightly crescent-shaped on average 21.7 ± 0.3 µm (mean ± standard deviation) (n = 50) long and 5.6 ± 0.4 µm (n = 30) wide. The spore wall was thin and smooth, comprising two equally-sized valves joined by a hardly visible sutural ridge. Spores containing two pyriform polar capsules (PC) (5.0 ± 0.4 × 2.3 ± 0.3 µm) (n = 30) are situated in each extremity of the spore. The PC wall was com... Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5221869 Mon, 01 Aug 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5221869 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5221868&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%3D21894377%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Gbotosho GO, Sowunmi A, Okuboyejo TM, Happi CT, Michael OS, Folarin OA, Adewoye EO Abstract Anaemia in falciparum malaria is associated with an increased risk of gametocyte carriage, but its effects on transmission have not been extensively evaluated in malarious children. Plasmodium falciparum gametocyte carriage, emergence, clearance, population sex ratios (SR) (defined as the proportion of gametocytes that are male), inbreeding rates and temporal changes in SR were evaluated in 840 malarious children. Gametocyte carriage pre-treatment was at a level of 8.1%. Anaemia at enrolment was an independent risk factor for gametocyte carriage post-treatment. The emergence of gametocytes seven days post-treatment was significantly more frequent in anaemic children (7/106 vs. 10/69... Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5221868 Mon, 01 Aug 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5221868 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5221867&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%3D21894378%26dopt%3DAbstract This study aims to assess the specificity of the serological test in EOM by using each condition as a control for the other. Thirty-three patients with a diagnosis of EOM were enrolled. Sera from 22 patients with a positive 29-kDa antigenic diagnostic band of A. cantonensis were tested for the 21 and 24-kDa antigenic bands of G. spinigerum. Similarly, sera of 11 gnathostomiasis patients were tested for the 29-kDa diagnostic band for A. cantonensis. Only one patient in the angiostrongyliasis group had a positive result for the 21 and 24-kDa antigenic bands of G. spinigerum, while no gnathostomiasis patients showed a positive result for the 29-kDa antigenic band of A. cantonensis. The specificity of the 21 and 24-kDa antigenic bands for gnathostomiasis and the 29-kDa antigenic band for A. ca... Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5221867 Mon, 01 Aug 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5221867 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5221866&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%3D21894379%26dopt%3DAbstract This study aimed to evaluate the mRNA expression of TLRs 2 and 4, the expression and production of the cytokines interleukin (IL)-12, interferon (IFN)-γ, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, IL-17, IL-10 and transforming growth factor (TGF)-β and the production of nitric oxide (NO) in the spleen of mice infected with Leishmania chagasi. It also aimed to evaluate any correlations between mRNA expression TLR2 and 4 and cytokines and NO production. Infection resulted in increased TLR2-4, IL-17, TNF-α and TGF-β mRNA expression during early infection, with decreased expression during late infection correlating with parasite load. IFN-γ and IL-12 mRNA expression decreased at the peak of parasitism. IL-10 mRNA expression increased throughout the entire time period analysed. Although TGF-β, TNF-�... Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5221866 Mon, 01 Aug 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5221866 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5221865&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%3D21894380%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Corrêa CL, Lisboa PC, Oliveira E, Moura EG, Oliveira RM, Gomes AC, Machado-Silva JR Abstract Maternal malnutrition during the lactation period in early development may have long-term programming effects on adult offspring. We evaluated the combined effects of parasitological behaviour and histopathological features and malnutrition during lactation. Lactating mice and their pups were divided into a control group (fed a normal diet of 23% protein), a protein-restricted group (PR) (fed a diet containing 8% protein) and a caloric-restricted group (CR) (fed according to the PR group intake). At the age of 60 days, the offspring were infected with Schistosoma mansoni cercariae and killed at nine weeks post-infection. Food intake, body and liver masses, leptinaemia, corticoster... Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5221865 Mon, 01 Aug 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5221865 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5221864&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%3D21894381%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Gandini M, Reis SR, Torrentes-Carvalho A, Azeredo EL, Freire Mda S, Galler R, Kubelka CF Abstract Flaviviruses cause severe acute febrile and haemorrhagic infections, including dengue and yellow fever and the pathogenesis of these infections is caused by an exacerbated immune response. Dendritic cells (DCs) are targets for dengue virus (DENV) and yellow fever virus (YF) replication and are the first cell population to interact with these viruses during a natural infection, which leads to an induction of protective immunity in humans. We studied the infectivity of DENV2 (strain 16681), a YF vaccine (YF17DD) and a chimeric YF17D/DENV2 vaccine in monocyte-derived DCs in vitro with regard to cell maturation, activation and cytokine production. Higher viral antigen positive cel... Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5221864 Mon, 01 Aug 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5221864 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5221863&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%3D21894382%26dopt%3DAbstract This study evaluated the bioefficacy of LLINs PermaNet® 2.0 and Olyset® under laboratory conditions with Anopheles albimanus. The laboratory strain was evaluated for insecticide susceptibility with selected insecticides used for malarial control. Regeneration time and wash resistance were evaluated with the standard bioassay cone technique following WHO guidelines. Heat assistance was used for Olyset® nets; the nets were exposed to four different temperatures to speed the regeneration process. The regeneration study of PermaNet® 2.0 showed that efficacy was fully recovered by 24 h after one and three washes and wash resistance persisted for 15 washes. Regeneration of Olyset® nets was not observed for nets washed three times, even with the different temperature exposures for up to seve... Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5221863 Mon, 01 Aug 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5221863 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5221862&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%3D21894383%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Ferreira JL, Borborema SE, Brígido LF, Oliveira MI, Paiva TM, Santos CL Abstract In this paper, we analysed the haemagglutinin (HA) gene identified by polymerase chain reaction from 90 influenza A H1N1 virus strains that circulated in Brazil from April 2009-June 2010. A World Health Organization sequencing protocol allowed us to identify amino acid mutations in the HA protein at positions S220T (71%), D239G/N/S (20%), Y247H (4.5%), E252K (3.3%), M274V (2.2%), Q310H (26.7%) and E391K (12%). A fatal outcome was associated with the D239G mutation (p < 0.0001). Brazilian HA genetic diversity, in comparison to a reference strain from California, highlights the role of influenza virus surveillance for study of viral evolution, in addition to monitoring the spread of the viru... Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5221862 Mon, 01 Aug 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5221862 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5221861&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%3D21894384%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Dias AT, Castro SB, Alves CC, Rezende AB, Rodrigues MF, Machado RR, Fernandes A, Negrão-Corrêa D, Teixeira HC, Ferreira AP Abstract The presence of intestinal helminths can down-regulate the immune response required to control mycobacterial infection. BALB/c mice infected with Mycobacterium bovis following an infection with the intestinal helminth Strongyloides venezuelensis showed reduced interleukin-17A production by lung cells and increased bacterial burden. Also, small granulomas and a high accumulation of cells expressing the inhibitory molecule CTLA-4 were observed in the lung. These data suggest that intestinal helminth infection could have a detrimental effect on the control of tuberculosis (TB) and render coinfected individuals more susceptible to the developmen... Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5221861 Mon, 01 Aug 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5221861 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5221860&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%3D21894385%26dopt%3DAbstract The objective of the current study was to compare two rapid methods, the BBL Mycobacteria Growth Indicator Tube (MGIT TM) and Biotec FASTPlaque TB TM (FPTB) assays, with the conventional Löwenstein-Jensen (LJ) media assay to diagnose mycobacterial infections from paucibacillary clinical specimens. For evaluation of the clinical utility of the BBL MGIT TM and FPTB assays, respiratory tract specimens (n = 208), with scanty bacilli or clinically evident, smear negative cases and non-respiratory tract specimens (n = 119) were analyzed and the performance of each assay was compared with LJ media. MGIT and FPTB demonstrated a greater sensitivity (95.92% and 87.68%), specificity (94.59% and 98.78%), positive predictive value (94.91% and 99.16%) and negative predictive value (96.56% and 90.92%), ... Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5221860 Mon, 01 Aug 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5221860 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5221859&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%3D21894386%26dopt%3DAbstract This study compares anti-T. gondii SIgA levels in patients' tears during the acute and inactive phases of toxoplasmic uveitis. Twenty-nine positive tear specific SIgA for T. gondii patients with acute toxoplasmic uveitis were selected and were followed-up for at least two years, when the anti-T. gondii SIgA tears levels were determined. Specific SIgA for T. gondii was negative in 22 patients (75.86%) and positive in seven patients (24.13%) of whom six (85.7%) were followed over three years. Average SIgA levels during the acute phase are 1.54 and decrease significantly to 0.72 (p = 0.0001) during the inactive phase of disease. Because anti-T. gondii SIgA in the tear is negative in 75.86% of patients after the acute phase of infection, T. gondii SIgA levels may be used as a complementary dia... Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5221859 Mon, 01 Aug 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5221859 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5221858&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%3D21894387%26dopt%3DAbstract We report two ciprofloxacin and ofloxacin-resistant Neisseria gonorrhoeae strains that were isolated from the urethral discharge of male patients at the sexually transmitted diseases outpatient clinic of the Alfredo da Matta Foundation (Manaus, state of Amazonas, Brazil). The gonococci displayed minimal inhibitory concentrations (> 32.00 µg/mL) and three mutations in the quinolone resistance-determining region (S91F and D95G in GyrA and S87R in ParC). Both isolates were genotyped using N. gonorrhoeae multi-antigen sequence typing and the analysis showed that the ST225 which represented an emerging widespread multi-resistant clone that has also been associated with reduced susceptibility to ceftriaxone. We recommend continued surveillance of this pathogen to assess the efficacy of anti-... Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5221858 Mon, 01 Aug 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5221858 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5221857&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%3D21894388%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Ramos JM, Silva AM, Martins RM, Souto FJ Abstract Leprosy and hepatitis B virus (HBV) are highly endemic in some regions of the state of Mato Grosso, in central Brazil. The association of leprosy with HBV and hepatitis C virus (HCV) was assessed using a seroprevalence study and 191 leprosy outpatients were included. Demographic data and the clinical classification of leprosy were recorded. Evidence of previous HBV infection was present in 53 patients (27.7%, 95% confidence interval: 21.9-34.5) and two (1%) were HBsAg positive. Five (2.6%) had antibodies to HCV. The prevalence of previous exposure to HBV was higher than expected for an adult population in central Brazil. In contrast, the prevalence of anti-HCV antibodies was not much higher regarding the age range of partic... Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5221857 Mon, 01 Aug 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5221857 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5221856&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%3D21894389%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Fuenzalida AD, Quintana MG, Salomón OD, Grosso MS Abstract In the present work, the hourly activity of Lutzomyia neivai was studied in the southern part of the province of Tucumán, Argentina, in an area of transmission of cutaneous leishmaniasis during two months of higher activity. In addition, the variables that influenced the abundance of Lu. neivai were evaluated. A total of 1,146 individuals belonging to Lu. neivai (97%) and Lutzomyia migonei (3%) were captured. The hourly activity of Lu. neivai was mainly nocturnal, with a bimodal pattern in both months. In January, the variable that most influenced the abundance of Lu. neivai was the temperature, whereas in April, that variable was humidity. These results may contribute to the design of anti-vectorial control meas... Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5221856 Mon, 01 Aug 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5221856 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5221855&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%3D21894390%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Alexander N PMID: 21894390 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz) Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5221855 Mon, 01 Aug 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5221855 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5221854&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%3D21881751%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Carvalho LH, Lourenço-de-Oliveira R PMID: 21881751 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz) Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5221854 Mon, 01 Aug 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5221854 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5221853&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%3D21881752%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Braga EM, Silveira P, Belo NO, Valkiūnas G Abstract Avian malaria parasites (Plasmodium) have a worldwide distribution except for Antarctica. They are transmitted exclusively by mosquito vectors (Diptera: Culicidae) and are of particular interest to health care research due to their phylogenetic relationship with human plasmodia and their ability to cause avian malaria, which is frequently lethal in non-adapted avian hosts. However, different features of avian Plasmodium spp, including their taxonomy and aspects of their life-history traits, need to be examined in more detail. Over the last 10 years, ecologists, evolutionary biologists and wildlife researchers have recognized the importance of studying avian malaria parasites and other related haemosporidians, which are t... Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5221853 Mon, 01 Aug 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5221853 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5221852&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%3D21881753%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Brito CF, Ferreira MU Abstract Enhanced understanding of the transmission dynamics and population genetics for Plasmodium vivax is crucial in predicting the emergence and spread of novel parasite phenotypes with major public health implications, such as new relapsing patterns, drug resistance and increased virulence. Suitable molecular markers are required for these population genetic studies. Here, we focus on two groups of molecular markers that are commonly used to analyse natural populations of P. vivax. We use markers under selective pressure, for instance, antigen-coding polymorphic genes, and markers that are not under strong natural selection, such as most minisatellite and microsatellite loci. First, we review data obtained using genes encoding for P. vivax antige... Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5221852 Mon, 01 Aug 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5221852 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5221851&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%3D21881754%26dopt%3DAbstract This study showed a high diversity of the PvMSP-3α gene among P. vivax isolates from the Brazilian Amazon, but also indicated that the detection performance of PCR-RFLP of the PvMSP-3α gene may not be sufficient to detect multiple clone infections. PMID: 21881754 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz) Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5221851 Mon, 01 Aug 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5221851 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5221850&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%3D21881755%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Pratt-Riccio LR, Bianco-Junior C, Totino PR, Perce-Da-Silva Dde S, Silva LA, Riccio EK, Ennes-Vidal V, Neves-Ferreira AG, Perales J, Rocha SL, Dias-Da-Silva F, Ferreira-da-Cruz Mde F, Daniel-Ribeiro CT, Oliveira-Ferreira JD, Theisen M, Carvalho LJ, Banic DM Abstract The glutamate-rich protein (GLURP) is an exoantigen expressed in all stages of the Plasmodium falciparum life cycle in humans. Anti-GLURP antibodies can inhibit parasite growth in the presence of monocytes via antibody-dependent cellular inhibition (ADCI), and a major parasite-inhibitory region has been found in the N-terminal R0 region of the protein. Herein, we describe the antiplasmodial activity of anti-GLURP antibodies present in the sera from individuals naturally exposed to malaria in a Brazilian malaria... Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5221850 Mon, 01 Aug 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5221850 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5221849&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%3D21881756%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Brahimi K, Martins YC, Zanini GM, Ferreira-da-Cruz Mde F, Daniel-Ribeiro CT Abstract The relationship between autoimmunity and malaria is not well understood. To determine whether autoimmune responses have a protective role during malaria, we studied the pattern of reactivity to plasmodial antigens of sera from 93 patients with 14 different autoimmune diseases (AID) who were not previously exposed to malaria. Sera from patients with 13 different AID reacted against Plasmodium falciparum by indirect fluorescent antibody test with frequencies varying from 33-100%. In addition, sera from 37 AID patients were tested for reactivity against Plasmodium yoelii 17XNL and the asexual blood stage forms of three different P. falciparum strains. In general, the frequency of reactive se... Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5221849 Mon, 01 Aug 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5221849 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5221848&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%3D21881757%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Lacerda MV, Mourão MP, Coelho HC, Santos JB Abstract Despite not being a criterion for severe malaria, thrombocytopenia is one of the most common complications of both Plasmodium vivax and Plasmodium falciparum malaria. In a systematic review of the literature, platelet counts under 150,000/mm³ ranged from 24-94% in patients with acute malaria and this frequency was not different between the two major species that affected humans. Minor bleeding is mentioned in case reports of patients with P. vivax infection and may be explained by medullary compensation with the release of mega platelets in the peripheral circulation by megakaryocytes, thus maintaining a good primary haemostasis. The speculated mechanisms leading to thrombocytopenia are: coagulation disturbances, splen... Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5221848 Mon, 01 Aug 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5221848 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5221847&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%3D21881758%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Duffy PE, Fried M Abstract Malaria during pregnancy can be severe in non-immune women, but in areas of stable transmission, where women are semi-immune and often asymptomatic during infection, malaria is an insidious cause of disease and death for mothers and their offspring. Sequelae, such as severe anaemia and hypertension in the mother and low birth weight and infant mortality in the offspring, are often not recognised as consequences of infection. Pregnancy malaria, caused by Plasmodium falciparum, is mediated by infected erythrocytes (IEs) that bind to chondroitin sulphate A and are sequestered in the placenta. These parasites have a unique adhesion phenotype and distinct antigenicity, which indicates that novel targets may be required for development of an effective ... Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5221847 Mon, 01 Aug 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5221847 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5221846&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%3D21881759%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Andrade BB, Barral-Netto M Abstract Malaria remains a major infectious disease that affects millions of people. Once infected with Plasmodium parasites, a host can develop a broad range of clinical presentations, which result from complex interactions between factors derived from the host, the parasite and the environment. Intense research has focused on the identification of reliable predictors for exposure, susceptibility to infection and the development of severe complications during malaria. Although most promising markers are based on the current understanding of malaria immunopathogenesis, some are also focused more broadly on mechanisms of tissue damage and inflammation. Taken together, these markers can help optimise therapeutic strategies and reduce disease burden... Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5221846 Mon, 01 Aug 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5221846 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5221845&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%3D21881760%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Costa FT, Lopes SC, Ferrer M, Leite JA, Martin-Jaular L, Bernabeu M, Nogueira PA, Mourão MP, Fernandez-Becerra C, Lacerda MV, Portillo HD Abstract It is generally accepted that Plasmodium vivax, the most widely distributed human malaria parasite, causes mild disease and that this species does not sequester in the deep capillaries of internal organs. Recent evidence, however, has demonstrated that there is severe disease, sometimes resulting in death, exclusively associated with P. vivax and that P. vivax-infected reticulocytes are able to cytoadhere in vitro to different endothelial cells and placental cryosections. Here, we review the scarce and preliminary data on cytoadherence in P. vivax, reinforcing the importance of this phenomenon in this species and highlighting t... Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5221845 Mon, 01 Aug 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5221845 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5221844&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%3D21881761%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Ghosh AK, Jacobs-Lorena M Abstract Enolase is the eighth enzyme in the glycolytic pathway, a reaction that generates ATP from phosphoenol pyruvate in cytosolic compartments. Enolase is essential, especially for organisms devoid of the Krebs cycle that depend solely on glycolysis for energy. Interestingly, enolase appears to serve a separate function in some organisms, in that it is also exported to the cell surface via a poorly understood mechanism. In these organisms, surface enolase assists in the invasion of their host cells by binding plasminogen, an abundant plasma protease precursor. Binding is mediated by the interaction between a lysine motif of enolase with Kringle domains of plasminogen. The bound plasminogen is then cleaved by specific proteases to generate acti... Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5221844 Mon, 01 Aug 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5221844 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5221843&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%3D21881762%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Quintero JP, Siqueira AM, Tobón A, Blair S, Moreno A, Arévalo-Herrera M, Lacerda MV, Valencia SH Abstract Malaria is the most important parasitic disease worldwide, responsible for an estimated 225 million clinical cases each year. It mainly affects children, pregnant women and non-immune adults who frequently die victims of cerebral manifestations and anaemia. Although the contribution of the American continent to the global malaria burden is only around 1.2 million clinical cases annually, there are 170 million inhabitants living at risk of malaria transmission in this region. On the African continent, where Plasmodium falciparum is the most prevalent human malaria parasite, anaemia is responsible for about half of the malaria-related deaths. Conversely, in Latin Ameri... Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5221843 Mon, 01 Aug 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5221843 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5221842&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%3D21881763%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Tauil PL Abstract This paper discusses malaria epidemiology and control in Brazil as well as the prospect of interrupting transmission in some areas of the country. The concepts of receptivity and vulnerability of an area to malaria transmission are analysed to predict where elimination might occur in a near future. Outside of the Amazon Region and in the oriental states of the Amazon, such as Tocantins, Maranhão and Mato Grosso, it is likely that malaria transmission can be eliminated with the development and sustained use of a good surveillance system. PMID: 21881763 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz) Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5221842 Mon, 01 Aug 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5221842 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5221841&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%3D21881764%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Mateus JC, Carrasquilla G Abstract Risk factor surveillance is a complementary tool of morbidity and mortality surveillance that improves the likelihood that public health interventions are implemented in a timely fashion. The aim of this study was to identify population predictors of malaria outbreaks in endemic municipalities of Colombia with the goal of developing an early warning system for malaria outbreaks. We conducted a multiple-group, exploratory, ecological study at the municipal level. Each of the 290 municipalities with endemic malaria that we studied was classified according to the presence or absence of outbreaks. The measurement of variables was based on historic registries and logistic regression was performed to analyse the data. Altitude above sea level [... Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5221841 Mon, 01 Aug 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5221841 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5221840&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%3D21881765%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Rodríguez JC, Uribe GÁ, Araújo RM, Narváez PC, Valencia SH Abstract Malaria is currently one of the most serious public health problems in Colombia with an endemic/epidemic transmission pattern that has maintained endemic levels and an average of 105,000 annual clinical cases being reported over the last five years. Plasmodium vivax accounts for approximately 70% of reported cases with the remainder attributed almost exclusively to Plasmodium falciparum. A limited number of severe and complicated cases have resulted in mortality, which is a downward trend that has been maintained over the last few years. More than 90% of the malaria cases in Colombia are confined to 70 municipalities (about 7% of the total municipalities of Colombia), with high predominance (85%) in ru... Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5221840 Mon, 01 Aug 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5221840 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5221839&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%3D21881766%26dopt%3DAbstract This study demonstrates that an antimalarial drug resistance surveillance network based on in vitro methods is feasible in the field with the participation of a research institute, local health institutions and universities. It could also serve as a model for a regional surveillance network. Preliminary susceptibility results showed widespread chloroquine resistance, which was consistent with previous reports for the Pacific region. However, high susceptibility to dihydroartemisinin and lumefantrine compounds, currently used for treatment in the country, was also reported. The implementation process identified critical points and opportunities for the improvement of network sustainability strategies. PMID: 21881766 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz) Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5221839 Mon, 01 Aug 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5221839 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5221838&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%3D21881767%26dopt%3DAbstract We examined the prevalence and patterns of mutations in P. vivax dihydrofolate reductase (Pvdhfr) and P. vivax dihydropteroate synthase (Pvdhps) in 103 blood samples collected from patients with P. vivax infection who had attended the malaria clinic in Mae Sot, Tak Province during 2009 and 2010. Using nested polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorfism, we examined single nucleotide polymorphisms-haplotypes at amino acid positions 13, 33, 57, 58, 61, 117 and 173 of Pvdhfr and 383 and 553 of Pvdhps. All parasite isolates carried mutant Pvdhfr alleles, of which the most common alleles were triple mutants (99%). Eight different types of Pvdhfr and combination alleles were found, as follows: 57I/58R/117T, 57I/58R/117T, 57I/58R/117T/N, 57L/58R/117T, 57L/58R/117T, 58R/61M/11... Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5221838 Mon, 01 Aug 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5221838 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5221837&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%3D21881768%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Jordão FM, Kimura EA, Katzin AM Abstract The development of new drugs is one strategy for malaria control. Biochemical pathways localised in the apicoplast of the parasite, such as the synthesis of isoprenic precursors, are excellent targets because they are different or absent in the human host. Isoprenoids are a large and highly diverse group of natural products with many functions and their synthesis is essential for the parasite's survival. During the last few years, the genes, enzymes, intermediates and mechanisms of this biosynthetic route have been elucidated. In this review, we comment on some aspects of the methylerythritol phosphate pathway and discuss the presence of diverse isoprenic products such as dolichol, ubiquinone, carotenoids, menaquinone and isoprenyl... Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5221837 Mon, 01 Aug 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5221837 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5221836&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%3D21881769%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Silva JR, Ramos Ade S, Machado M, Moura DF, Zoraima Neto , Canto-Cavalheiro MM, Figueiredo P, Rosário VE, Amaral AC, Lopes D Abstract The isolation of bioactive compounds from medicinal plants, based on traditional use or ethnomedical data, is a highly promising potential approach for identifying new and effective antimalarial drug candidates. The purpose of this review was to create a compilation of the phytochemical studies on medicinal plants used to treat malaria in traditional medicine from the Community of Portuguese-Speaking Countries (CPSC): Angola, Brazil, Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau, Mozambique and São Tomé and Príncipe. In addition, this review aimed to show that there are several medicinal plants popularly used in these countries for which few scientific stud... Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5221836 Mon, 01 Aug 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5221836 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5221835&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%3D21881770%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Gama BE, Lacerda MV, Daniel-Ribeiro CT, Ferreira-da-Cruz Mde F Abstract In Brazil, malaria still remains a clinically important febrile syndrome for local populations and travelers, occurring mostly in the Amazon Basin. This review aims to report the main efforts employed to control this disease since the 1940s and the emergence of Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax chemoresistance to chloroquine and sulphadoxine-pyrimethamine among other drugs. Additionally, in vivo, in vitro and molecular studies as well as malaria chemoresistance consequences on disease morbidity and policy treatment guidelines were commented. PMID: 21881770 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz) Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5221835 Mon, 01 Aug 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5221835 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5221834&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%3D21881771%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Camacho AG, Teixeira LH, Bargieri DY, Boscardin SB, Soares Ida S, Nussenzweig RS, Nussenzweig V, Rodrigues MM Abstract Recently, we described the improved immunogenicity of new malaria vaccine candidates based on the expression of fusion proteins containing immunodominant epitopes of merozoites and Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium flagellin (FliC) protein as an innate immune agonist. Here, we tested whether a similar strategy, based on an immunodominant B-cell epitope from malaria sporozoites, could also generate immunogenic fusion polypeptides. A recombinant His6-tagged FliC protein containing the C-terminal repeat regions of the VK210 variant of Plasmodium vivax circumsporozoite (CS) protein was constructed. This recombinant protein was successfully expressed in E... Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5221834 Mon, 01 Aug 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5221834 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5221833&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%3D21881772%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Tse SW, Radtke AJ, Zavala F Abstract CD8+ T cells against malaria liver stages represent a major protective immune mechanism against infection. Following induction in the peripheral lymph nodes by dendritic cells (DCs), these CD8+ T cells migrate to the liver and eliminate parasite infected hepatocytes. The processing and presentation of sporozoite antigen requires TAP mediated transport of major histocompatibility complex class I epitopes to the endoplasmic reticulum. Importantly, in DCs this process is also dependent on endosome-mediated cross presentation while this mechanism is not required for epitope presentation on hepatocytes. Protective CD8+ T cell responses are strongly dependent on the presence of CD4+ T cells and the capacity of sporozoite antigen to persist fo... Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5221833 Mon, 01 Aug 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5221833 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5221832&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%3D21881773%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Valencia SH, Rodríguez DC, Acero DL, Ocampo V, Arévalo-Herrera M Abstract Plasmodium vivax is the most prevalent malaria parasite on the American continent. It generates a global burden of 80-100 million cases annually and represents a tremendous public health problem, particularly in the American and Asian continents. A malaria vaccine would be considered the most cost-effective measure against this vector-borne disease and it would contribute to a reduction in malaria cases and to eventual eradication. Although significant progress has been achieved in the search for Plasmodium falciparum antigens that could be used in a vaccine, limited progress has been made in the search for P. vivax components that might be eligible for vaccine development. This is primarily due to... Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5221832 Mon, 01 Aug 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5221832 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5221831&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%3D21881774%26dopt%3DAbstract We describe here the current state-of-the-art in the field of recombinant adenovirus research for malaria vaccine development, in particular referring to their use in combination with other immunogens in heterologous prime-boost protocols, while trying to simultaneously show our contributions and point of view on this subject. PMID: 21881774 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz) Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5221831 Mon, 01 Aug 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5221831 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5221830&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%3D21881775%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Arévalo-Herrera M, Solarte Y, Marin C, Santos M, Castellanos J, Beier JC, Valencia SH Abstract Malaria is a vector-borne disease that is considered to be one of the most serious public health problems due to its high global mortality and morbidity rates. Although multiple strategies for controlling malaria have been used, many have had limited impact due to the appearance and rapid dissemination of mosquito resistance to insecticides, parasite resistance to multiple antimalarial drug, and the lack of sustainability. Individuals in endemic areas that have been permanently exposed to the parasite develop specific immune responses capable of diminishing parasite burden and the clinical manifestations of the disease, including blocking of parasite transmission to the mosquito... Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5221830 Mon, 01 Aug 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5221830 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5221829&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%3D21881776%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Walker T, Moreira LA Abstract Malaria is a mosquito-borne infectious disease caused by Plasmodium parasites transmitted by the infectious bite of Anopheles mosquitoes. Vector control of malaria has predominantly focused on targeting the adult mosquito through insecticides and bed nets. However, current vector control methods are often not sustainable for long periods so alternative methods are needed. A novel biocontrol approach for mosquito-borne diseases has recently been proposed, it uses maternally inherited endosymbiotic Wolbachia bacteria transinfected into mosquitoes in order to interfere with pathogen transmission. Transinfected Wolbachia strains in Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, the primary vector of dengue fever, directly inhibit pathogen replication, including Plasmo... Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5221829 Mon, 01 Aug 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5221829 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5221828&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%3D21881777%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Silva-do-Nascimento TF, Pitaluga LD, Peixoto AA, Lourenço-de-Oliveira R Abstract Anopheles triannulatus s.l. is a malaria vector with a wide geographic distribution, ranging from Argentina-Nicaragua and Trinidad. Here we analysed sequences of two genes, timeless and cpr, to assess the genetic variability and divergence among three sympatric cryptic species of this complex from Salobra, central-western Brazil. The timeless gene sequences did not conclusively differentiate Anopheles halophylus and An. triannulatus species "C". However, a partial separation has been observed between these species and An. triannulatus s.s. Importantly, the analysis of the cpr gene sequences revealed fixed differences, no shared polymorphisms and considerable genetic differentiation among the ... Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5221828 Mon, 01 Aug 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5221828 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5221827&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%3D21881778%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Montoya-Lerma J, Solarte YA, Giraldo-Calderón GI, Quiñones ML, Ruiz-López F, Wilkerson RC, González R Abstract Here we present a comprehensive review of the literature on the vectorial importance of the major Anopheles malaria vectors in Colombia. We provide basic information on the geographical distribution, altitudinal range, immature habitats, adult behaviour, feeding preferences and anthropophily, endophily and infectivity rates. We additionally review information on the life cycle, longevity and population fluctuation of Colombian Anopheles species. Emphasis was placed on the primary vectors that have been epidemiologically incriminated in malaria transmission: Anopheles darlingi, Anopheles albimanus and Anopheles nuneztovari. The role of a selection of local, reg... Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5221827 Mon, 01 Aug 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5221827 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5221826&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%3D21881779%26dopt%3DAbstract The objectives of the present study were to assess the spatial distribution of An. cruzii, An. bellator and An. marajoara and to associate the presence of these species with malaria cases in the municipalities of the Vale do Ribeira. Potential habitat suitability modelling was applied to determine both the spatial distribution of An. cruzii, An. bellator and An. marajoara and to establish the density of each species. Poisson regression was utilized to associate malaria cases with estimated vector densities. As a result, An. cruzii was correlated with the forested slopes of the Serra do Mar, An. bellator with the coastal plain and An. marajoara with the deforested areas. Moreover, both An. marajoara and An. cruzii were positively associated with malaria cases. Considering that An. marajoara... Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5221826 Mon, 01 Aug 2011 04:00:00 +0100 5221826 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5022375&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%3D21739023%26dopt%3DAbstract In conclusion, CrCl3 is a useful tool for marking T. brasiliensis nymphs due to its high positivity and persistence. PMID: 21739023 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz) Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5022375 Tue, 31 May 2011 23:00:00 +0100 5022375 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5022374&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%3D21739024%26dopt%3DAbstract This study assessed the performance of Angiostrongylus costaricensis eggs as the antigen in an indirect immunofluorescence assay for the determination of parasite-specific IgG and IgG1 antibodies. For prevalence studies, an IgG antibody titre > 16 was identified as the diagnostic threshold with the best performance, providing 93.7% sensitivity and 84.6% specificity. Cross reactivity was evaluated with 65 additional samples from patients with other known parasitic infections. Cross reactivity was observed only in samples from individuals infected with Strongyloides stercoralis. For clinical diagnosis, we recommend the determination of IgG only as a screening test. IgG1 determination may be used to increase the specificity of the results for patients with a positive screening test. PM... Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5022374 Tue, 31 May 2011 23:00:00 +0100 5022374 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5022373&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%3D21739025%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Ramos PL, Moreira-Filho CA, Van Trappen S, Swings J, Vos PD, Barbosa HR, Thompson CC, Vasconcelos AT, Thompson FL An online scheme to assign Stenotrophomonas isolates to genomic groups was developed using the multilocus sequence analysis (MLSA), which is based on the DNA sequencing of selected fragments of the housekeeping genes ATP synthase alpha subunit (atpA), the recombination repair protein (recA), the RNA polymerase alpha subunit (rpoA) and the excision repair beta subunit (uvrB). This MLSA-based scheme was validated using eight of the 10 Stenotrophomonas species that have been previously described. The environmental and nosocomial Stenotrophomonas strains were characterised using MLSA, 16S rRNA sequencing and DNA-DNA hybridisation (DDH) analyses. Strains of the same spe... Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5022373 Tue, 31 May 2011 23:00:00 +0100 5022373 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5022372&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%3D21739026%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Stein M, Ludueña-Almeida F, Willener JA, Almirón WR To classify mosquito species based on common features of their habitats, samples were obtained fortnightly between June 2001-October 2003 in the subtropical province of Chaco, Argentina. Data on the type of larval habitat, nature of the habitat (artificial or natural), size, depth, location related to sunlight, distance to the neighbouring houses, type of substrate, organic material, vegetation and algae type and their presence were collected. Data on the permanence, temperature, pH, turbidity, colour, odour and movement of the larval habitat's water were also collected. From the cluster analysis, three groups of species associated by their degree of habitat similarity were obtained and are listed below. Group 1 consisted o... Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5022372 Tue, 31 May 2011 23:00:00 +0100 5022372 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5022371&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%3D21739027%26dopt%3DAbstract The objective of this study was to assess the frequency of polymorphisms CCR5-Δ32, CCR2-64I, CCR5-59029A and SDF1-3'A and their role in the course of HIV infection in a Southern Brazilian population. Clinical data were obtained from 249 patients for an average period of 6.4 years and genotypes were determined by standard polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism. Survival analyses were conducted for three outcomes: CD4+ T-cell counts below 200 cells/µL, acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) or death. The frequency of the polymorphisms CCR5-Δ32, CCR2-64I, CCR5-59029A and SDF1-3'A were 0.024, 0.113, 0.487 and 0.207, respectively. CCR5-Δ32 was associated with a reduction in the risk for CD4+ T-cell depletion and with an increased risk for death ... Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5022371 Tue, 31 May 2011 23:00:00 +0100 5022371 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5022370&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%3D21739028%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Pérez AR, Bertoya AA, Revelli S, García F We have previously established that young male rats are more susceptible to the effects of Trypanosoma cruzi infection than adult rats. To explore underlying age-associated differences in disease outcome, we simultaneously assessed hormone levels and cytokine release throughout the acute infection period in young and adult rats infected with T. cruzi. Young rats were inoculated with 1 x 10(6) and adult rats with 7 x 10(6) blood trypomastigotes, according to their relative body weight. At zero, seven, 14, 21 and 28 days after infection, blood was collected for the determination of gonadal and adrenal hormones, tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-10 and specific IgM and IgG subtypes. Young animals displayed significantl... Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5022370 Tue, 31 May 2011 23:00:00 +0100 5022370 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5022369&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%3D21739029%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Mattos AC, Martins-Souza RL, Kusel JR, Coelho PM The outcome of the interaction between Biomphalaria and Schistosoma mansoni depends on the response of the host internal defence system (IDS) and the escape mechanisms of the parasite. The aim of this study was to evaluate the responsiveness of the IDS (haemocytes and soluble haemolymph factors) of resistant and susceptible Biomphalaria tenagophila lineages and Biomphalaria glabrata lineages in the presence of in vitro-transformed primary sporocysts and secondary sporocysts obtained from infected B. glabrata. To do this, we assayed the cellular adhesion index (CAI), analysed viability/mortality, used fluorescent markers to evaluate the tegumental damage and transplanted secondary sporocysts. B. tenagophila Taim was more effectiv... Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5022369 Tue, 31 May 2011 23:00:00 +0100 5022369 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5022368&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%3D21739030%26dopt%3DAbstract We describe details of the four rows of pores, which are distributed equally along the whole of the length of the body and connected with hypodermal cells, using histology and scanning electron microscopy. Other histological aspects of the internal structure of this nematode are also described. PMID: 21739030 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz) Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5022368 Tue, 31 May 2011 23:00:00 +0100 5022368 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5022367&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%3D21739031%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Jorge RS, Ferreira F, Ferreira Neto JS, Vasconcellos Sde A, Lima Ede S, Morais ZM, Souza GO Leptospirosis is a zoonotic disease affecting most mammals and is distributed throughout the world. Several species of domestic and wild animals may act as reservoirs for this disease. The purpose of this study was to assess the exposure of free-ranging wild carnivores, horses and domestic dogs on a private reserve located in the northern Pantanal (Brazil) and the surrounding areas to Leptospira spp from 2002-2006, 75 free-ranging wild carnivores were captured in the Pantanal and serum samples were collected. In addition, samples from 103 domestic dogs and 23 horses in the region were collected. Serum samples were tested for the presence of Leptospira antibodies using the microscopic ag... Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5022367 Tue, 31 May 2011 23:00:00 +0100 5022367 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5022366&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%3D21739032%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Martínez-Ibarra JA, Valencia-Navarro I, León-Saucedo S, Ibáñez-Cervantes G, Bustos-Saldaña R, Montañez-Valdez OD, Cervantes Díaz OI, Nogueda-Torres B An entomological study of triatomine species was carried out to assess their prevalence in 10 localities of the state of Michoacán, Mexico. Entomological indices were calculated to estimate the risk for vector-borne transmission of Trypanosoma cruzi to the human population in this area. Four triatomine species (Triatoma barberi, Triatoma dimidiata, Meccus pallidipennis and Meccus longipennis) were collected from the study area. This is the first report of M. longipennis and T. dimidiata in Michoacán. M. pallidipennis was significantly (p < 0.05) more abundant than any of the other species collected in the study area. ... Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5022366 Tue, 31 May 2011 23:00:00 +0100 5022366 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5022365&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%3D21739033%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Barbosa RM, Regis LN The use of attractants and larvicides in oviposition traps is of practical interest for the surveillance and control of urban mosquitoes. In addition to increasing the safety of the traps, this combination is essential for an attract-and-kill control strategy based on trapping mosquito eggs. The combination of Bacillus thuringiensis var. israelensis (Bti) and grass infusion (GI) vs. GI alone were tested for their ability to attract in paired BR-OVT traps in the backyards of 10 houses in Recife, Brazil, for a period of 45 days. Results show that females prefer to oviposit in traps containing Bti (363 compared with 251 egg rafts over 45 days). Results from a one-year trial on the efficacy of BR-OVT traps loaded with GI and Bti as a sampling tool to monitor t... Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5022365 Tue, 31 May 2011 23:00:00 +0100 5022365 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5022364&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%3D21739034%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Oliveira SD, Silva CL Schistosomiasis, classified by the World Health Organization as a neglected tropical disease, is an intravascular parasitic disease associated to a chronic inflammatory state. Evidence implicating inflammation in vascular dysfunction continues to mount, which, broadly defined, reflects a failure in the control of intracellular Ca2+ and consequently, vascular contraction. Therefore, we measured aorta contraction induced by 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) and endothelin-1 (ET-1), two important regulators of vascular contraction. Isometric aortic contractions were determined in control and Schistosoma mansoni-infected mice. In the infected animals, 5-HT induced a 50% higher contraction in relation to controls and we also observed an increased contraction in respo... Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5022364 Tue, 31 May 2011 23:00:00 +0100 5022364 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5022363&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%3D21739035%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Ortiz MI, Suárez-Rivillas A, Molina J Chagas disease is a major public health issue and is mainly spread by Triatominae insects (Hemiptera: Reduviidae). Rhodnius prolixus is the main vector species in Northern South America. Host-seeking behaviour in R. prolixus is mediated by different compounds that are produced by and emanate from the host or microbiota on the host's skin. We tested the behavioural responses of sylvatic first filial generation (F1) and colony insects to extracts of human skin with a dual choice olfactometer. In addition, we compared the antennal phenotypes in both populations. No statistical differences were found between the two populations at the behavioural level. Both showed a preference for face and feet extracts and this effect was abolished for face... Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5022363 Tue, 31 May 2011 23:00:00 +0100 5022363 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5022362&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%3D21739036%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Pauvolid-Corrêa A, Morales MA, Levis S, Figueiredo LT, Couto-Lima D, Campos Z, Nogueira MF, Silva EE, Nogueira RM, Schatzmayr HG Despite evidence of West Nile virus (WNV) activity in Colombia, Venezuela and Argentina, this virus has not been reported in most South American countries. In February 2009, we commenced an investigation for WNV in mosquitoes, horses and caimans from the Pantanal, Central-West Brazil. The sera of 168 horses and 30 caimans were initially tested using a flaviviruses-specific epitope-blocking enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (blocking ELISA) for the detection of flavivirus-reactive antibodies. The seropositive samples were further tested using a plaque-reduction neutralisation test (PRNT90) for WNV and its most closely-related flaviviruses that circul... Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5022362 Tue, 31 May 2011 23:00:00 +0100 5022362 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5022361&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%3D21739037%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Morais-Teixeira E, Damasceno QS, Galuppo MK, Romanha AJ, Rabello A The in vitro leishmanicidal activity of miltefosine® (Zentaris GmbH) was assessed against four medically relevant Leishmania species of Brazil: Leishmania (Leishmania) amazonensis, Leishmania (Viannia) braziliensis, Leishmania (Viannia) guyanensis and Leishmania (Leishmania) chagasi. The activity of miltefosine against these New World species was compared to its activity against the Old World strain, Leishmania (Leishmania) donovani, which is known to be sensitive to the effects of miltefosine. The IC50 and IC90 results suggested the New World species harboured similar in vitro susceptibilities to miltefosine; however, miltefosine was approximately 20 times more active against the Old World L. (L.) donovani th... Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5022361 Tue, 31 May 2011 23:00:00 +0100 5022361 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5022360&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%3D21739038%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Rabinovich JE, Kitron UD, Obed Y, Yoshioka M, Gottdenker N, Chaves LF Host use by vectors is important in understanding the transmission of zoonotic diseases, which can affect humans, wildlife and domestic animals. Here, a synthesis of host exploitation patterns by kissing-bugs, vectors of Chagas disease, is presented. For this synthesis, an extensive literature review restricted to feeding sources analysed by precipitin tests was conducted. Modern tools from community ecology and multivariate statistics were used to determine patterns of segregation in host use. Rather than innate preferences for host species, host use by kissing-bugs is influenced by the habitats they colonise. One of the major limitations of studies on kissing-bug foraging has been the exclusive focus on th... Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5022360 Tue, 31 May 2011 23:00:00 +0100 5022360 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5022359&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%3D21739039%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Alvarado-Mora MV, Santana RA, Sitnik R, Ferreira PR, Mangueira CL, Carrilho FJ, Pinho JR The hepatitis B virus (HBV) is among the leading causes of chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. In Brazil, genotype A is the most frequent, followed by genotypes D and F. Genotypes B and C are found in Brazil exclusively among Asian patients and their descendants. The aim of this study was to sequence the entire HBV genome of a Caucasian patient infected with HBV/C2 and to infer the origin of the virus based on sequencing analysis. The sequence of this Brazilian isolate was grouped with four other sequences described in China. The sequence of this patient is the first complete genome of HBV/C2 reported in Brazil. PMID: 21739039 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Memor... Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5022359 Tue, 31 May 2011 23:00:00 +0100 5022359 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5022358&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%3D21739040%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Borges AM, Souza MD, Fiaccadori FS, Cardoso DD The epidemiological features of rotavirus A (RVA) infection differ between children from developing and developed countries which could result in differences in vaccine efficacy around the world. To evaluate the impact of RotarixTM on RVA prevalence, we monitored RVA genotypes circulating in Goiânia by monitoring virus in faecal samples from children that had or had not been previously vaccinated. From February-November of 2008, 220 faecal samples were collected from children in seven day-care centres. RVA detection was performed by two methodologies and the results were confirmed by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. From the 220 samples, eight were RVA-positive (3.6%) and five were from children that had received either one or... Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5022358 Tue, 31 May 2011 23:00:00 +0100 5022358 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5022357&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%3D21739041%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Mendonça MC, Ferreira AM, Santos MG, Oviedo EC, Bello MS, Siqueira MM, Maceira JM, von Hubinger MG, Couceiro JN Heteroduplex mobility assay, single-stranded conformation polymorphism and nucleotide sequencing were utilised to genotype human parvovirus B19 samples from Brazil and Paraguay. Ninety-seven serum samples were collected from individuals presenting with abortion or erythema infectiosum, arthropathies, severe anaemia and transient aplastic crisis; two additional skin samples were collected by biopsy. After the procedure, all clinical samples were classified as genotype 1. PMID: 21739041 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz) Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5022357 Tue, 31 May 2011 23:00:00 +0100 5022357 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5022356&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%3D21739042%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Carvalho KR, Carvalho-Assef AP, Santos LG, Pereira MJ, Asensi MD The aim of the current study was to describe the occurrence of the blaOXA-23 gene and the ISAba1 element in imipenem-susceptible Acinetobacter baumannii strains. By performing the polymerase chain reaction mapping using combinations of ISAba1 forward primers and the blaOXA-23-like gene reverse primers, we demonstrated that the ISAba1 element did not occur upstream of the blaOXA-23 gene in five of 31 isolates, which explained the lack of resistance to imipenem despite the presence of the blaOXA-23 gene. All of the blaOXA-23-positive isolates were susceptible to imipenem and meropenem with minimal inhibitory concentration < 4 µg/mL. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis analysis revealed four genotypes among the fiv... Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5022356 Tue, 31 May 2011 23:00:00 +0100 5022356 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5022355&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%3D21739043%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Marinho Fde A, Gonçalves KC, Oliveira SS, Oliveira AC, Bellio M, d'Avila-Levy CM, Santos AL, Branquinha MH In the current study, we evaluated the mechanism of action of miltefosine, which is the first effective and safe oral treatment for visceral leishmaniasis, in Leishmania amazonensis promastigotes. Miltefosine induced a process of programmed cell death, which was determined by the externalization of phosphatidylserine, the incorporation of propidium iodide, cell-cycle arrest at the sub-G0/G1 phase and DNA fragmentation into oligonucleosome-sized fragments. Despite the intrinsic variation that is detected in Leishmania spp, our results indicate that miltefosine causes apoptosis-like death in L. amazonensis promastigote cells using a similar process that is observed in Leis... Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5022355 Tue, 31 May 2011 23:00:00 +0100 5022355 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5022354&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%3D21739044%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Santos Júnior JE, Diotaiuti L, Dias JC In 1943, the Center for the Study and Prophylaxis of Chagas Disease, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, state of Minas Gerais (MG), was created in the municipality of Bambuí to carry out studies related to Chagas disease in the mid-western region of MG. Since that time, several investigations have been conducted to determine the natural habitat of triatomines, but Panstrongylus megistus colonies have never been found in this region. This paper records the first finding of a P. megistus sylvatic colony in 69 years of research. The characteristics of this ecotope and its implications for the epidemiology of Chagas disease are discussed. PMID: 21739044 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz) Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5022354 Tue, 31 May 2011 23:00:00 +0100 5022354 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4925217&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%3D21655810%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Nogueira RM, Epping6haus AL PMID: 21655810 [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=4925217 Sat, 30 Apr 2011 23:00:00 +0100 4925217 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4925216&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%3D21655811%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Araújo PR, Teixeira SM Trypanosoma cruzi, a protozoan parasite that causes Chagas disease, exhibits unique mechanisms for gene expression such as constitutive polycistronic transcription of protein-coding genes, RNA editing and trans-splicing. In the absence of mechanism controlling transcription initiation, organized subsets of T. cruzi genes must be post-transcriptionally co-regulated in response to extracellular signals. The mechanisms that regulate stage-specific gene expression in this parasite have become much clearer through sequencing its whole genome as well as performing various proteomic and microarray analyses, which have demonstrated that at least half of the T. cruzi genes are differentially regulated during its life cycle. In this review, we attempt to highligh... Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4925216 Sat, 30 Apr 2011 23:00:00 +0100 4925216 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4925215&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%3D21655812%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Miranda SS, Carvalho Wda S, Suffys PN, Kritski AL, Oliveira M, Zarate N, Zozio T, Rastogi N, Gicquel B We performed spoligotyping on 114 strains of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) complex that had been isolated from patients in Minas Gerais Health Units during 2004. A total of 82/114 (72%) clinical isolates were clustered and 32/114 (28%) were unique. Seven shared types containing nine strains were newly created. A total of nine patterns corresponded to unreported orphan strains, as evaluated against all of the strains recorded in the SITVIT2 proprietary database in the Institut Pasteur de la Guadeloupe. The major clades were composed of isolates that belong to the following genotypes: Latin-America and Mediterranean (63/114, 55.3%) (the ill-defined T superfamily) (12/114... Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4925215 Sat, 30 Apr 2011 23:00:00 +0100 4925215 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4925214&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%3D21655813%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Eriksson A, Graciolli G, Fischer E Streblidae flies are specialised parasites of bat hosts, mainly phyllostomids. There is a high richness of streblids in the savannah-like Cerrado region; however, there is little quantitative data available in parasitological indices. Here, we describe the component community, prevalence and intensity of a streblid infestation on a phyllostomid bat assemblage in Serra da Bodoquena, a Cerrado region in Southwest Brazil. We conducted surveys by capturing and inspecting bat hosts during the seven-month period between October 2004-December 2005. All the ectoparasites found on the bats were collected in the field and then counted and identified in the laboratory. We captured 327 bats belonging to 13 species, of which eight species were parasitized... Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4925214 Sat, 30 Apr 2011 23:00:00 +0100 4925214 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4925213&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%3D21655814%26dopt%3DAbstract The objective of the present study was to evaluate the attractiveness of 1-octen-3-ol and CO2 for diurnal mosquitoes in the southeastern Atlantic forest. A Latin square experimental design was employed with four treatments: CDC-light trap (CDC-LT), CDC-LT and 1-octen-3-ol, CDC-LT and CO2 and CDC-LT with 1-octen-3-ol and CO2. Results demonstrated that both CDC-CO2 and CDC-CO2-1-octen-3-ol captured a greater number of mosquito species and specimens compared to CDC-1-octen-3-ol; CDC-LT was used as the control. Interestingly, Anopheles (Kerteszia) sp. was generally attracted to 1-octen-3-ol, whereas Aedes serratus was the most abundant species in all Latin square collections. This species was recently shown to be competent to transmit the yellow fever virus and may therefore play a role as a d... Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4925213 Sat, 30 Apr 2011 23:00:00 +0100 4925213 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4925212&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%3D21655815%26dopt%3DAbstract This study describes the first genetic and biological characterization of a mosquito densovirus that was isolated in Brazil; moreover, we examined the phylogenetic relationship between this isolate and the other brevidensoviruses. We further demonstrate that this densovirus has the potential to be used to biologically control dengue virus (DENV) infection with in vitro co-infection experiments. The present study provides evidence that this densovirus isolate is a fast-spreading virus that affects cell growth and DENV infection. PMID: 21655815 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz) Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4925212 Sat, 30 Apr 2011 23:00:00 +0100 4925212 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4925211&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%3D21655816%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Martínez-Ibarra JA, Grant-Guillén Y, Ventura-Rodríguez LV, Osorio-Pelayo PD, Macías-Amezcua MD, Meillón-Isáis K, Alejandre-Aguilar R, Rodríguez-Bataz E, Nogueda-Torres B The degree of reproductive isolation between Meccus phyllosomus and the remaining five species of the genus Meccus, as well as between Meccus bassolsae and Meccus pallidipennis, Meccus longipennis and Meccus picturatus, was examined. Fertility and the segregation of morphological characteristics were examined in two generations of hybrids from crosses between these species. The percentage of couples with offspring (fertile) was high in the vast majority of sets of crosses, with the exception of that between ♀M. phyllosomus and ♂Meccus mazzottii. In sets of crosses involving M. bassolsae specimens, n... Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4925211 Sat, 30 Apr 2011 23:00:00 +0100 4925211 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4925210&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%3D21655817%26dopt%3DAbstract Authors: Caicedo AM, Gallego G, Muñoz JE, Suárez H, Torres AG, Carvajal H, Carvajal FC, Posso AM, Maslov D, Montoya-Lerma J A new trypanosomatid species, Blastocrithidia cyrtomeni, is herein described using morphological and molecular data. It was found parasitising the alimentary tract of the insect host Cyrtomenus bergi, a polyphagous pest. The morphology of B. cyrtomeni was investigated using light and transmission microscopy and molecular phylogeny was inferred from the sequences of spliced leader RNA (SL rRNA) - 5S rRNA gene repeats and the 18S small subunit (SSU) rRNA gene. Epimastigotes of variable size with straphanger cysts adhering to the middle of the flagellum were observed in the intestinal tract, hemolymph and Malpighian tubules. Kinetoplasts were always observed anteri... Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4925210 Sat, 30 Apr 2011 23:00:00 +0100 4925210 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4925209&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%3D21655818%26dopt%3DAbstract In this study, we investigated the transcriptome of Aedes aegypti oenocytes. We constructed a cDNA library from Ae. aegypti MOYO-R strain oenocytes collected from pupae and randomly sequenced 687 clones. After sequences editing and assembly, 326 high-quality contigs were generated. The most abundant transcripts identified corresponded to the cytochrome P450 superfamily, whose members have roles primarily related to detoxification and lipid metabolism. In addition, we identified 18 other transcripts with putative functions associated with lipid metabolism. One such transcript, a fatty acid synthase, is highly represented in the cDNA library of oenocytes. Moreover, oenocytes expressed several immunity-related genes and the majority of these genes were lysozymes. The transcriptional profile s... Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4925209 Sat, 30 Apr 2011 23:00:00 +0100 4925209 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4925208&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%3D21655819%26dopt%3DAbstract In this study, 532 nasopharyngeal aspirates (NPAs) were collected over a nine-year period from children at the Clinics Hospital of Uberlândia. The collected NPAs were then tested for HRV RNA using the reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. Eighty-three specimens from children diagnosed with lower respiratory tract illness (LRTI) were positive for HRV RNA and were then tested for the presence of eight other respiratory viruses. A second virus was detected in 37.3% (31/83) of the samples. The most frequent clinical diagnosis was bronchiolitis, followed by other LRTI and then pneumonia. The frequency of severe disease in children infected with more than one virus was not significantly different from the frequency of severe disease in children infected with HRV alone. Children infec... Memorias do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz journals http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4925208 Sat, 30 Apr 2011 23:00:00 +0100 4925208