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This page shows you the latest news and research items in this category.

Drug and a syphilis test offer hope of yaws eradication
A diagnostic test targeting syphilis and an oral antibiotic could be used together to help eradicate yaws disease, a WHO meeting was told. (Source: SciDev.Net)
Source: SciDev.Net - April 24, 2013 Category: Global & Universal Source Type: news

[Seminar] Yaws
Yaws is an infectious disease caused by Treponema pallidum pertenue—a bacterium that closely resembles the causative agent of syphilis—and is spread by skin-to-skin contact in humid tropical regions. Yaws causes disfiguring, and sometimes painful lesions of the skin and bones. As with syphilis, clinical manifestations can be divided into three stages; however, unlike syphilis, mother-to-child transmission does not occur. A major campaign to eradicate yaws in the 1950s and 1960s, by mass treatment of affected communities with longacting, injectable penicillin, reduced the number of cases by 95% worldwide, but yaws has r...
Source: LANCET - March 1, 2013 Category: Journals (General) Authors: Oriol Mitjà, Kingsley Asiedu, David Mabey Tags: Seminar Source Type: research

Serologic cross-reactivity of syphilis, yaws, and pinta.
PMID: 23317070 [PubMed - in process] (Source: American Family Physician)
Source: American Family Physician - January 15, 2013 Category: Primary Care Authors: de Caprariis PJ, Della-Latta P Tags: Am Fam Physician Source Type: research

[Video] Eradicating Yaws in Congo
(Source: MSF Multimedia)
Source: MSF Multimedia - December 17, 2012 Category: Global & Universal Source Type: news

Republic of Congo: treating Pygmys for Yaws
MSF recently carried out a campaign to treat the disease known as yaws, which turned out to be both a logistical feat and a world first in medical terms. (Source: MSF News)
Source: MSF News - November 13, 2012 Category: Global & Universal Source Type: news

[Video] Congo: Yaws in the Forest
(Source: MSF Multimedia)
Source: MSF Multimedia - October 12, 2012 Category: Global & Universal Source Type: news

Ghana: Red Alert! Yaws Resurrect in Ghana
[Public Agenda]If any Ghanaian had the notion that Yaws, a long-term chronic infection that mainly affects the skin, bones, and joints of the body, was no more, then he/she would have to rescind that idea and be on the alert because the disease is in existence. (Source: AllAfrica News: Health and Medicine)
Source: AllAfrica News: Health and Medicine - October 12, 2012 Category: African Health Source Type: news

Diagnosis of treponemal co‐infection in HIV‐infected West Africans
Conclusions A high proportion of this HIV‐infected cohort showed evidence of treponemal infection. Both EIAs as well as the POCT were practical and effective at diagnosing treponemal co‐infection in this setting. RPR alone was unreliable at identifying active treponemal co‐infection, however might be useful in some settings where treponemal‐specific assays are unaffordable. (Source: Tropical Medicine and International Health)
Source: Tropical Medicine and International Health - September 20, 2012 Category: Tropical Medicine Authors: Yaasir Mamoojee, Grace Tan, Sandra Gittins, Stephen Sarfo, Lisa Stephenson, David Carrington, George Bedu‐Addo, Richard Phillips, Lambert T. Appiah, David Chadwick Source Type: research

Diagnosis of treponemal co‐infection in HIV‐infected West AfricansDiagnostic de la coinfection tréponémique chez les patients infectés par le VIH en Afrique de l’OuestDiagnóstico de coinfección con treponema en pacientes con VIH en África Occidental
Conclusions A high proportion of this HIV‐infected cohort showed evidence of treponemal infection. Both EIAs as well as the POCT were practical and effective at diagnosing treponemal co‐infection in this setting. RPR alone was unreliable at identifying active treponemal co‐infection, however might be useful in some settings where treponemal‐specific assays are unaffordable. Objectifs: Evaluer la performance de deux tests immunoenzymatiques (EIA), Murex et ICE et le test ‘Determine TP point‐of‐care (POCT)’ dans le diagnostic de l’infection tréponémique (syphilis ou pian) chez les patients fréquen...
Source: Tropical Medicine and International Health - September 20, 2012 Category: Tropical Medicine Authors: Yaasir Mamoojee, Grace Tan, Sandra Gittins, Stephen Sarfo, Lisa Stephenson, David Carrington, George Bedu‐Addo, Richard Phillips, Lambert T. Appiah, David Chadwick Source Type: research

The expansion of HIV-1 in colonial Leopoldville, 1950s: driven by STDs or STD control?
Conclusions It is plausible that the exponential amplification of HIV-1 in Léopoldville occurred mostly parenterally in the 1950s and sexually in the 1960s. (Source: Sexually Transmitted Infections)
Source: Sexually Transmitted Infections - May 12, 2012 Category: Sexual Medicine Authors: Pepin, J. Tags: Liver disease, Drugs: infectious diseases, Hepatitis and other GI infections, HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis (sexual health), HIV / AIDS, Dermatology, Syphilis, HIV infections Review Source Type: research

[World Report] WHO plans new yaws eradication campaign
A massive push to free the world from yaws failed in the 1950s and 1960s. But WHO, emboldened by new research findings, has agreed to launch a second attempt. John Maurice reports. (Source: LANCET)
Source: LANCET - April 13, 2012 Category: Journals (General) Authors: John Maurice Tags: World Report Source Type: research

Africa: Oral Antibiotics 'As Good As Penicillin' for Yaws Disease
[SciDev.Net] Jakarta - The WHO has announced that it will replace its current yaws disease strategy of using penicillin injections with administering oral antibiotics, as part of efforts to eradicate the disfiguring illness by 2020. (Source: AllAfrica News: Health and Medicine)
Source: AllAfrica News: Health and Medicine - March 23, 2012 Category: African Health Source Type: news

Oral antibiotics 'as good as penicillin' for yaws disease
The WHO has welcomed research that shows oral antibiotics are just as effective as penicillin injections in curing yaws disease. (Source: SciDev.Net)
Source: SciDev.Net - March 22, 2012 Category: Global & Universal Source Type: news

Yaws Cured With Single Dose of Oral Azithromycin Yaws Cured With Single Dose of Oral Azithromycin
A single dose of oral azithromycin is as good as intramuscularly injected benzathine benzylpenicillin for treating yaws. Medscape Medical News (Source: Medscape Today Headlines)
Source: Medscape Today Headlines - February 16, 2012 Category: Consumer Health News Tags: Infectious Diseases News Source Type: news

Global Update: Azithromycin Is Found to Treat Yaws
One pill of azithromycin was found to cure yaws, a disease that often brings painless skin sores but also sometimes swelling, pain ans disfiguration. (Source: NYT)
Source: NYT - February 16, 2012 Category: American Health Authors: By DONALD G. McNEIL Jr. Tags: Skin Medicine and Health Africa Antibiotics Lancet, The (Journal) Source Type: news

Treating Yaws [Global Health]
(Source: JAMA)
Source: JAMA - February 14, 2012 Category: Journals (General) Authors: Friedrich, M. J. Tags: Bacterial Infections, Pediatrics, Pediatrics, Other, Public Health, World Health, Drug Therapy, Drug Therapy, Other, Infectious Diseases Global Health Source Type: research

Global Update: Azithromycin Is Found to Treat Yaws
One pill of azithromycin was found to cure yaws, a disease that often brings painless skin sores but also sometimes swelling, pain ans disfiguration. (Source: NYT Health)
Source: NYT Health - February 13, 2012 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: By DONALD G. McNEIL Jr. Tags: Skin Medicine and Health Africa Source Type: news

[Articles] Single-dose azithromycin versus benzathine benzylpenicillin for treatment of yaws in children in Papua New Guinea: an open-label, non-inferiority, randomised trial
A single oral dose of azithromycin is non-inferior to benzathine benzylpenicillin and avoids the need for injection equipment and medically trained personnel. A change to the simpler azithromycin treatment regimen could enable yaws elimination through mass drug administration programmes. (Source: LANCET)
Source: LANCET - January 28, 2012 Category: Journals (General) Authors: Oriol Mitjà, Russell Hays, Anthony Ipai, Moses Penias, Raymond Paru, David Fagaho, Elisa de Lazzari, Quique Bassat Tags: Articles Source Type: research

[Comment] Oral azithromycin for treatment of yaws
Yaws—an infectious disease caused by Treponema pallidum subsp pertenue—affects children and adults in poor rural communities in tropical countries, causing disfiguring lesions of the skin and bones. The yaws elimination programme coordinated by WHO in the 1950s and 1960s screened more than 160 million people, treated more than 50 million people with intramuscular injections of benzathine benzylpenicillin, and reduced the prevalence of yaws by more than 95%; however, yaws was not eliminated. This disease is now re-emerging (largely unnoticed) in parts of Africa, southeast Asia, and the Pacific islands. (Source: LANCET)
Source: LANCET - January 28, 2012 Category: Journals (General) Authors: David Mabey Tags: Comment Source Type: research

Neglected Yaws Disease - Changing Oral Antibiotic Administration Might Help Eliminate It
A tropical bacterial disease of the skin, bones and joints called Yaws has re-emerged in rural, tropical parts of Africa, Asia, and South America. According to a study by Dr Oriol Mitja at the Lihir Medical Center in Papua New Guinea published Online First in The Lancet, a simple regimen of oral azithromycin has proven to be just as effective at clearing infection as a traditional penicillin injection... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)
Source: Health News from Medical News Today - January 12, 2012 Category: Consumer Health News Tags: Infectious Diseases / Bacteria / Viruses Source Type: news

Africa: Yaws Treatment Study Prompts WHO Review
IRIN (Nairobi)-Findings that a one-time oral treatment to cure yaws, a neglected tropical disease, is as effective as the currently recommended penicillin injection have prompted the World Health Organization (WHO) to convene a meeting on how the disease may be wiped out. (Source: AllAfrica News: Health and Medicine)
Source: AllAfrica News: Health and Medicine - January 11, 2012 Category: African Health Source Type: news

Yaws in the Western Pacific Region: A Review of the Literature
Until the middle of the 20th century, yaws was highly endemic and considered a serious public health problem in the Western Pacific Region (WPR), leading to intensive control efforts in the 1950s–1960s. Since then, little attention has been paid to its reemergence. Its current burden is unknown. This paper presents the results of an extensive literature review, focusing on yaws in the South Pacific. Available records suggest that the region remains largely free of yaws except for Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, and Vanuatu. Many clinical cases reported recently were described as “attenuated”; advanced...
Source: Infectious Diseases in Obstetrics and Gynecology - December 22, 2011 Category: OBGYN Source Type: research

Genetic diversity inTreponema pallidum: implications for pathogenesis, evolution and molecular diagnostics of syphilis and yaws
Publication year: 2011Source: Infection, Genetics and Evolution, Available online 14 December 2011David Šmajs, Steven J. Norris, George M. WeinstockPathogenic uncultivable treponemes, similar to syphilis-causingTreponemapallidumsubspeciespallidum,includeT. pallidumssp.pertenue,T.pallidumssp.endemicumandTreponemacarateum,which cause yaws, bejel and pinta, respectively. Genetic analyses of these pathogens revealed striking similarity among these bacteria and also a high degree of similarity to the rabbit pathogen,T. paraluiscuniculi, a treponeme not infectious to humans. Genome comparisons betweenpallidumand non-pallidum...
Source: Journal of Dentistry - December 15, 2011 Category: Dentistry Source Type: research

Clinical outcome of skin yaws lesions after treatment with benzathinebenzylpenicillin in a pygmy population in Lobaye, Central African Republic
Background: Yaws is a bacterial skin and bone infectious disease caused by Treponema pallidum pertenue. It is endemic, particularly among pygmies in Central African Republic. To assess the clinical cure rate after treatment with benzathinepenicillin in this population, we conducted a cohort survey of 243 patients in the Lobaye region.Findings and conclusionThe rate of healing of lesions after 5 months was 95.9%. This relatively satisfactory level of therapeutic response implies that yaws could be controlled in the Central African Republic. Thus, reinforcement of the management of new cases and of contacts is suggested. (So...
Source: BMC Research Notes - December 15, 2011 Category: Research Authors: Alexandre ManirakizaSusana BoasNarcisse BeyamGermain ZadangaFrancois KonamnaSimeon NjuimoRemi Laganier Source Type: research

Feasibility of non-coplanar tomotherapy for lung cancer stereotactic body radiation therapy.
To quantify the dosimetric gains from non-coplanar helical tomotherapy (HT) arcs for stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) of lung cancer, we created oblique helical arcs by rotating patient's CT images. Ten, 20 and 30 degrees of yaws were introduced in the treatment planning for a patient with a hypothetical lung tumor at the upper, middle and lower portion of the right lung, and the upper and middle left lung. The planning target volume (PTV) was 43 cm(3). 60 Gy was prescribed to the PTV. Dose to organs at risk (OARs), which included the lungs, heart, spinal cord and chest wall, was optimized using a 2.5 cm jaw,...
Source: Technology in Cancer Research and Treatment - July 25, 2011 Category: Cancer & Oncology Authors: Yang W, Jones R, Lu W, Geesey C, Benedict S, Read P, Larner J, Sheng K Tags: Technol Cancer Res Treat Source Type: research

Challenges in recognition and diagnosis of yaws in children in papua new Guinea.
Abstract. A global resurgence of yaws in developing countries highlights the need for reliable diagnostic criteria for this neglected infection. We conducted a clinical and serologic survey of 233 children less than 15 years of age who had clinically suspected yaws. A total of 138 (59%) cases were confirmed serologically, and 10 of 12 primary stage cases showed positive results for Treponema pallidum by a polymerase chain reaction assay that has not yet been validated for identification of yaws. A high proportion of cases (46%) were in the secondary stage; 92% of them had osteoarticular involvement, and only 24% had a ...
Source: The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene - June 30, 2011 Category: Tropical Medicine Authors: Mitjà O, Hays R, Lelngei F, Laban N, Ipai A, Pakarui S, Bassat Q Tags: Am J Trop Med Hyg Source Type: research

Etymologia: Yaws
(Source: Emerging Infectious Diseases Journal)
Source: Emerging Infectious Diseases Journal - May 20, 2011 Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: research

Outcome Predictors in Treatment of Yaws, O. Mitjà et al.
(Source: Emerging Infectious Diseases Journal)
Source: Emerging Infectious Diseases Journal - May 20, 2011 Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: research

Secondary Yaws: An Endemic Treponemal Infection
Abstract: (Source: Pediatric Dermatology)
Source: Pediatric Dermatology - June 30, 2010 Category: Dermatology Authors: Elizabeth K. SatterValerie A. Tokarz Source Type: research

Tropical STIs (excluding LGV)
Abstract: Chancroid and donovanosis are causes of genital ulceration found mainly in tropical areas. Chancroid ulcers are painful with a ragged edge and whitish base. Donovanosis ulcers are classically beefy-red and bleed to the touch. Chancroid was identified early on as a risk factor for HIV transmission amongst heterosexuals and this led to a renewed interest in genital ulcers. The incidence of both conditions has recently decreased significantly, while the incidence of genital herpes has increased. Improved control of all causes of genital ulceration should be a priority in countries where HIV and genital ulcers are pr...
Source: Medicine - May 31, 2010 Category: Internal Medicine Authors: Nigel O'Farrell Tags: Tropical STIs Source Type: research

Africa: Killer Diseases of Continent's Poor
Sleeping sickness, elephantiasis, leprosy, helminthiasis, trachoma, leishmaniasis, Buruli ulcers, schistomiaisis and yaws are among neglected diseases that still ravage lives covertly as nations publicise tuberculosis, malaria and Aids. (Source: AllAfrica News: Health and Medicine)
Source: AllAfrica News: Health and Medicine - March 31, 2010 Category: African Health Source Type: news

Resurgence of yaws in Tanna, Vanuatu: time for a new approach?
Recent reports from the island of Tanna in Vanuatu suggest that yaws has resurged. We carried out a serological and clinical survey to determine the prevalence and clinical presentation of yaws on the island. A total of 306 random serum samples were tested for rapid plasma reagin and rapid diagnostic determine syphilis: 31.04% were positive for one or both tests; 39.8% of children surveyed in three schools had skin lesions consistent with yaws; and there were only two cases of secondary yaws osteitis and no cases of tertiary yaws. These results confirm that the disease has resurged but appears to be attenuated. Intramu...
Source: Tropical Doctor - March 25, 2010 Category: Tropical Medicine Authors: Fegan D, Glennon MJ, Thami Y, Pakoa G Tags: Trop Doct Source Type: research

The prevalence of common skin infections in four districts in Timor-Leste: a cross sectional survey
We examined the skin of 1535 participants aged between four months and 97 years. The majority of participants were male, aged between 11 and 20 years and had at least one condition of interest (56.0%, 56.0%, and 63.1%, respectively). Fungal infections were the most common presentation (39.0%) and males were more commonly affected than females (42.3% vs 34.0%, respectively, pvalue (Source: BMC Infectious Diseases)
Source: BMC Infectious Diseases - March 9, 2010 Category: Infectious Diseases Authors: Milena dos SantosSalvador AmaralSonia HarmenHayley JosephJose FernandesMegan Counahan Source Type: research

Elimination of neglected tropical diseases in the South-East Asia Region of the World Health Organization.
The neglected tropical diseases (NTDs), which affect the very poor, pose a major public health problem in the South-East Asia Region of the World Health Organization (WHO). Although more than a dozen NTDs affect the region, over the past five years four of them in particular - leprosy, lymphatic filariasis, visceral leishmaniasis (kala-azar) and yaws - have been targeted for elimination. These four were selected for a number of reasons. First, they affect the WHO South-East Asia Region disproportionately. For example, every year around 67% of all new leprosy cases and 60% of all new cases of visceral leishmaniasis worl...
Source: Bulletin of the World Health Organization - February 28, 2010 Category: Global & Universal Authors: Narain JP, Dash AP, Parnell B, Bhattacharya SK, Barua S, Bhatia R, Savioli L Tags: Bull World Health Organ Source Type: research

Prevalence study of yaws in the Democratic Republic of Congo using the lot quality assurance sampling method.
Title: Prevalence study of yaws in the Democratic Republic of Congo using the lot quality assurance sampling method.Authors: Gerstl, Sibylle; Kiwila, Gédeon; Dhorda, Mehul; Lonlas, Sylvaine; Myatt, Mark; Ilunga, Benoît Kebela; Lemasson, Denis; Szumilin, Elisabeth; Guerin, Philippe J; Ferradini, LaurentAbstract: BACKGROUND: Until the 1970s the prevalence of non-venereal trepanomatosis, including yaws, was greatly reduced after worldwide mass treatment. In 2005, cases were again reported in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. We carried out a survey to estimate the village-level prevalence of yaws in the region of Equato...
Source: MSF Field Research - August 14, 2009 Category: Global & Universal Authors: search Source Type: research

[Media Watch] Books: Manson's tropical diseases
What are tropical diseases? Patrick Manson, the father of tropical medicine, grappled with this question himself when he published the first edition of Tropical Diseases: A Manual of the Diseases of Warm Climates in 1898. This text, and the creation of courses in London and Liverpool, established tropical medicine as a discipline. In Manson's words: “the title [was] more convenient than accurate. If by ‘tropical diseases’ be meant diseases peculiar to, and confined to the tropics, then half a dozen pages might have sufficed for their description…if…the expression ‘tropical diseases’ be held to include all dis...
Source: The Lancet Infectious Diseases - June 21, 2009 Category: Infectious Diseases Authors: Michael Brown Tags: Media Watch Source Type: research

Nocardial mycetoma: Diverse clinical presentations
Sharma Nand Lal, Mahajan Vikram K, Agarwal Santwana, Katoch Vishwa Mohan, Das Ram, Kashyap Meera, Gupta Poonam, Verma Ghanshyam KIndian Journal of Dermatology, Venereology and Leprology 2008 74(6):635-640Nocardia spp are gram-positive, aerobic, acid-fast bacteria which exist as saprophytes in nature. Invasive disseminated infections are particularly common in immunocompromised or debilitated hosts. Superficial infections with Nocardia spp occur as a result of local trauma and contamination of the wound. Clinically, it presents as acute infection (abscesses or cellulitis), mycetoma, or sporotrichoid infection. Differential ...
Source: Indian Journal of Dermatology, Venereology and Leprology - January 15, 2009 Category: Dermatology Authors: Sharma Nand Lal, Mahajan Vikram K, Agarwal Santwana, Katoch Vishwa Mohan, Das Ram, Kashyap Meera, Gupta Poonam, Verma Ghanshyam K Source Type: research

The return of yaws.
PMID: 18670660 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Bulletin of the World Health Organization)
Source: Bulletin of the World Health Organization - July 1, 2008 Category: Global & Universal Authors: Asiedu K Tags: Bull World Health Organ Source Type: research

Yaws eradication: past efforts and future perspectives.
PMID: 18670655 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Bulletin of the World Health Organization)
Source: Bulletin of the World Health Organization - July 1, 2008 Category: Global & Universal Authors: Asiedu K, Amouzou B, Dhariwal A, Karam M, Lobo D, Patnaik S, Meheus A Tags: Bull World Health Organ Source Type: research

The sequence of the acidic repeat protein (arp) gene differentiates venereal from nonvenereal Treponema pallidum subspecies, and the gene has evolved under strong positive selection in the subspecies that causes syphilis
This study suggests that variations in the number and sequence of repeat motifs in the arp gene have clinical, epidemiological, and evolutionary significance. (Source: FEMS Immunology and Medical Microbiology)
Source: FEMS Immunology and Medical Microbiology - June 28, 2008 Category: Microbiology Authors: Kristin N. Harper, Hsi Liu, Paolo S. Ocampo, Bret M. Steiner, Amy Martin, Keith Levert, Dongxia Wang, Madeline Sutton, George J. Armelagos Source Type: research

The sequence of the acidic repeat protein (arp) gene differentiates venereal from nonvenereal Treponema pallidum subspecies, and the gene has evolved under strong positive selection in the subspecies that causes syphilis
FEMS Immunology & Medical Microbiology, Volume 0, Issue 0, Page ???, OnlineEarly Articles. Abstract Despite the completion of the Treponema pallidum genome project, only minor genetic differences have been found between the subspecies that cause venereal syphilis (ssp. pallidum) and the nonvenereal diseases yaws (ssp. pertenue) and bejel (ssp. ... (Source: FEMS Immunology and Medical Microbiology)
Source: FEMS Immunology and Medical Microbiology - June 12, 2008 Category: Microbiology Tags: article Source Type: research

Yaws
Title: YawsCategory: Diseases and ConditionsCreated: 1/24/1999 9:48:00 AMLast Editorial Review: 5/2/2008 (Source: MedicineNet Liver General)
Source: MedicineNet Liver General - May 2, 2008 Category: Gastroenterology Source Type: news

Elimination of yaws in India.
Authors: PMID: 18404831 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] (Source: Weekly Epidemiological Record)
Source: Weekly Epidemiological Record - April 11, 2008 Category: Epidemiology Tags: Wkly Epidemiol Rec Source Type: research

Ghana: Lets Tackle the Yaws Menace Immediatelty
IT WAS all joy for the country when the World Health Organisation gave this country a clean bill as far as the eradication of the guinea worm disease was concerned. (Source: AllAfrica News: Health and Medicine)
Source: AllAfrica News: Health and Medicine - March 21, 2007 Category: African Health Source Type: news

Yaws makes a comeback
You've probably never heard of it, but yaws - a crippling disease that largely disappeared with the arrival of antibiotics - is spreading again (Source: New Scientist - Health)
Source: New Scientist - Health - February 2, 2007 Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: research

Yaws disease in a wild gorilla population and its impact on the reproductive status of males
We evaluated the prevalence of skin lesions in a gorilla population in the Republic of Congo. The observed lesions were typical of yaws, a treponematosis described in gorillas and humans living in tropical regions. Among the 377 gorillas identified, 17% presented skin lesions, mainly on their faces. The worst cases presented physical handicaps because of the deep lesions. As in humans, lesions break out when individuals are young. Lesions were more prevalent among males than females above 8 years old. This sex-bias prevalence could result from the behavioral characteristics of males through a greater exposure to wounds. Le...
Source: American Journal of Physical Anthropology - February 1, 2007 Category: Physiology Authors: Florence Levréro, Sylvain Gatti, Annie Gautier-Hion, Nelly Ménard Source Type: research

WHO revives efforts to eliminate forgotten disease
A neglected disease with a nearly forgotten name is making a comeback following a global control programme that almost eradicated it more than 40 years ago. Yaws, a disease which eats away at the skin, cartilage and bones of its victims (mostly children), is re-emerging in poor, rural and marginalized populations of Africa, Asia and South America. (Source: WHO news)
Source: WHO news - January 25, 2007 Category: Global & Universal Source Type: news

Molecular Evolution of the tprC, D, I, K, G, and J Genes in the Pathogenic Genus Treponema
We investigated the evolution of 6 genes from the Treponema pallidum repeat (tpr) gene family, which encode potential virulence factors and are assumed to have evolved through gene duplication and gene conversion events. The 6 loci (tprC, D, G, J, I, and K) were sequenced and analyzed in several members of the genus Treponema, including the 3 subspecies of human T. pallidum (T. pallidum subsp. pallidum, pertenue, and endemicum), Treponema paraluiscuniculi (rabbit syphilis), and the unclassified Fribourg-Blanc (simian) isolate. Phylogenetic methods, recombination analysis, and measures of nucleotide diversity were used to i...
Source: Molecular Biology and Evolution - September 29, 2006 Category: Molecular Biology Authors: Gray, R., Mulligan, C., Molini, B., Sun, E., Giacani, L, Godornes, C, Kitchen, A, Lukehart, S., Centurion-Lara, A Source Type: research