35 research outputs found

    Human antibodies targeting Zika virus NS1 provide protection against disease in a mouse model.

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    Zika virus is a mosquito-borne flavivirus closely related to dengue virus that can cause severe disease in humans, including microcephaly in newborns and Guillain-Barré syndrome in adults. Specific treatments and vaccines for Zika virus are not currently available. Here, we isolate and characterize four monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) from an infected patient that target the non-structural protein NS1. We show that while these antibodies are non-neutralizing, NS1-specific mAbs can engage FcγR without inducing antibody dependent enhancement (ADE) of infection in vitro. Moreover, we demonstrate that mAb AA12 has protective efficacy against lethal challenges of African and Asian lineage strains of Zika virus in Stat2-/- mice. Protection is Fc-dependent, as a mutated antibody unable to activate known Fc effector functions or complement is not protective in vivo. This study highlights the importance of the ZIKV NS1 protein as a potential vaccine antigen

    Abdominal Aortitis due to Streptococcus pneumoniae and Enterobacter aerogenes A Case Report and Review

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    Endovascular infections are 1 cause of fever of unknown origin. We describe a diagnostically challenging case of cryptogenic abdominal aortitis from Streptococcus pneumoniae and Enterobacter aerogenes. A 72-year-old male presented with epigastric pain, fevers, and chills. A computed tomography scan demonstrated enlargement and ulceration of the distal abdominal aorta, prompting urgent vascular surgery. Intraoperative tissue cultures grew S. pneumoniae and E. aerogenes and gatifloxacin was administered for 6 weeks. Spontaneous abdominal aortitis is uncommon and usually due to a single pathogen. This is the second reported case of polymicrobial infectious aortitis and to date, Enterobacter has only been reported in infected aortic grafts. Clinicians should maintain a high index of suspicion for infectious aortitis as the mortality, if only treated medically, approaches 100%

    Encefalopatia induzida por cefepime: achados clínicos e eletroencefalográficos em sete pacientes Cefepime-induced encephalopathy: clinical and electroencephalographic features in seven patients

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    Cefepime, uma cefalosporina de quarta geração, com amplo espectro de ação, é um antibiótico largamente utilizado no tratamento de infecções graves em ambientes hospitalares. O registro de segurança deste fármaco é considerado favorável. Vários casos de encefalopatia grave, associada ao uso de cefepime, reversível, foram descritos recentemente. No presente artigo, descrevemos sete casos de encefalopatia induzida por cefepime, com achados eletroencefalográficos (EEG) característicos, que apresentaram reversão do quadro com a suspensão da droga. As relações do padrão EEG encontrado nestes pacientes com estado epiléptico não-convulsivo são consideradas, bem como a possibilidade de enquadrar os pacientes estudados na entidade "encefalopatia epileptiforme".<br>Cefepime, a fourth-generation cephalosporin, with large antibacterial spectrum, is a commonly used antibiotic for the treatment of serious hospitalar infections. Its security report is considered favourable. Recently, many cases of a severe and reversible cefepime-induced encephalopathy were described. In this paper, we report seven patients with reversible cefepime-induced encephalopathy, with a peculiar EEG pattern, characterized by semiperiodic diffuse triphasic waves. We discuss the EEG abnormalities found and their association with nonconvulsive status epilepticus
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