Permeability prediction from well log data using multiple regression analysis

An accurate reservoir description is very important in reservoir evaluation, and permeability prediction is the key for a successful characterization. However, despite its importance, obtaining permeability values through the reservoir is not a trivial task. It is costly and time-consuming.;Many are the techniques available in the literature, involving correlations between core and log data that provide means to obtain permeability.;The present work describes how to predict permeability through the statistical analysis multiple regression having log data and limited core data, making it possible to expand the prediction to uncored wells. It also takes into consideration the attributes of flow unit analysis of the field, as a means to ascertain better understanding between reservoir properties and geological variations in the reservoir rock

Pervasive gaps in Amazonian ecological research

Biodiversity loss is one of the main challenges of our time,1,2 and attempts to address it require a clear un derstanding of how ecological communities respond to environmental change across time and space.3,4 While the increasing availability of global databases on ecological communities has advanced our knowledge of biodiversity sensitivity to environmental changes,5–7 vast areas of the tropics remain understudied.8–11 In the American tropics, Amazonia stands out as the world’s most diverse rainforest and the primary source of Neotropical biodiversity,12 but it remains among the least known forests in America and is often underrepre sented in biodiversity databases.13–15 To worsen this situation, human-induced modifications16,17 may elim inate pieces of the Amazon’s biodiversity puzzle before we can use them to understand how ecological com munities are responding. To increase generalization and applicability of biodiversity knowledge,18,19 it is thus crucial to reduce biases in ecological research, particularly in regions projected to face the most pronounced environmental changes. We integrate ecological community metadata of 7,694 sampling sites for multiple or ganism groups in a machine learning model framework to map the research probability across the Brazilian Amazonia, while identifying the region’s vulnerability to environmental change. 15%–18% of the most ne glected areas in ecological research are expected to experience severe climate or land use changes by 2050. This means that unless we take immediate action, we will not be able to establish their current status, much less monitor how it is changing and what is being lostinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Pervasive gaps in Amazonian ecological research

Biodiversity loss is one of the main challenges of our time,1,2 and attempts to address it require a clear understanding of how ecological communities respond to environmental change across time and space.3,4 While the increasing availability of global databases on ecological communities has advanced our knowledge of biodiversity sensitivity to environmental changes,5,6,7 vast areas of the tropics remain understudied.8,9,10,11 In the American tropics, Amazonia stands out as the world's most diverse rainforest and the primary source of Neotropical biodiversity,12 but it remains among the least known forests in America and is often underrepresented in biodiversity databases.13,14,15 To worsen this situation, human-induced modifications16,17 may eliminate pieces of the Amazon's biodiversity puzzle before we can use them to understand how ecological communities are responding. To increase generalization and applicability of biodiversity knowledge,18,19 it is thus crucial to reduce biases in ecological research, particularly in regions projected to face the most pronounced environmental changes. We integrate ecological community metadata of 7,694 sampling sites for multiple organism groups in a machine learning model framework to map the research probability across the Brazilian Amazonia, while identifying the region's vulnerability to environmental change. 15%–18% of the most neglected areas in ecological research are expected to experience severe climate or land use changes by 2050. This means that unless we take immediate action, we will not be able to establish their current status, much less monitor how it is changing and what is being lost

Antígenos naturais, recombinantes e sintéticos do Mycobacterium leprae e implicações diagnósticas na hanseníase

CHAPTER II: Objective: Our aim was to compare the performance of three serological assays in leprosy patients and their household contacts utilizing two quantitative ELISA tests using native PGL-I (PGL-1 ELISA), synthetic ND-O-HSA (ND-O-HSA ELISA), and the semi-quantitative lateral flow test (ML-Flow). Methods: Compare the performance of three immunological assays, PGL-I ELISA, ND-O-HSA ELISA, and ML-Flow were evaluated in 156 leprosy patients and 191 household contacts. Results: The sensitivity results of the PGL-1, ND-O-HSA, and ML-Flow were 68.83%, 63.65%, and 60.65%, respectively. The native and synthetic PGL-I ELISA assays detected antibodies in 22.73%, 31.82% of the paucibacillary (PB) patients, and the ML Flow test did not detect antibodies in this group. The ML-Flow test was able to discriminate patients into PB and multibacillary (MB) forms, while the native PGL-I and ND-O-HSA correlated with the bacillary load and the Ridley-Jopling clinical forms. In household contacts, the native PGL-I, ND-O-HSA, and ML-Flow assays detected seropositivity of 25%, 17%, and 10%, respectively. Conclusions: The use of ELISA and ML-Flow tests are thus recommended as additional tools in the diagnosis and classification of the clinical forms, aiding in prescribing the correct treatment regimen to prevent subsequent nerve damage and disability. CHAPTER III: Host pathogen interactions are mainly mediated by specialized molecules of the cell envelope. One of these essential mycobacterial cell wall components is the lipoarabinomannan (LAM). LAM has immunomodulatory roles, but its heterogeneity may be responsible for the differential immune response in leprosy patients and contacts. The research to structural motifs that could contribute as virulence factors and/or protective epitopes, and thereby derive effective biomarkers for diagnosis, drugs and/ or vaccines against leprosy has been very developed. Therefore, our aim was to develop specific mimetic peptides to this lipoglycan by using Phage Display of a random heptamer peptide library that may recognize a differential response in patients and contacts. We have used the anti-LAM CS-35 monoclonal antibody as a target for three rounds of selection. After sequencing and translation, peptides were pre-validated by ELISA and compared to the synthetic LAM-BSA antigen. The most reactive and repetitive peptide motif (A9) was subsequently tested against serum from 54 leprosy patients and 27 endemic controls by ELISA. The A9 phage-displayed peptide clone presented high levels of IgG antibodies in paucibacillary patients, from which 50% of them presented highly reactive sera. This reactivity has also been detected in tuberculoid, borderline-borderline and lepromatous patients. High levels of IgG1 were most frequent in endemic controls and reactional patients. On the other hand, the IgG profile and its subclasses in patients presented high levels of IgG and IgG2 and low levels of IgG1. The A9 clone presented a significant correlation with the synthetic LAM-BSA, for the IgG1 response. The highly reactive IgG response against the A9 clone was associated with the tuberculoid clinical form diagnosis, and detection of both IgG1 and IgG3 against this clone was associated with protection in endemic controls. CHAPTER IV: Heat Shock Proteins (HSPs), GroES and GroEL, are targets of strong human T-cell response, and a third of the cells responsive to M. leprae, recognize these proteins. Monoclonal antibodies mAbs CS-01 and CS-44 selected mimetic peptides that are ligands of their Fab portions, by phage display technique. Sera from 54 patients, 48 household contacts and 27 endemic controls were submitted to ELISA with B2 and A1 mimetic clones of the GroES and GroEL proteins, respectively, for detection of IgG and its subclasses. Using the mimetic clone of B2 GroES, the ELISA detected IgG antibodies present in sera of patients, contacts and endemic controls. The IgG antibodies were abundant in sera from multibacillary patients, especially in lepromatous (LL). A decline of IgG1 was found in patients and household contacts that became sick with leprosy and a raise of this subclass was present in sera of household contacts that did not develop the disease. With the mimetic clone of GroEL A1, the reactive antibodies were abundant in multibacillary patients, with a correlation with the bacillary load. In this study we observed that IgG antibodies against GroEL and GroES can be detected in the diagnosis of leprosy in serological tests produced with clones mimetics of these proteins. And the subclasses of IgG antibodies to GroES can demonstrate a targeting of antigenic molecules that induce the production of protective antibodies.Doutor em Genética e BioquímicaCAPÍTULO III: Objetivo: O objetivo do trabalho foi comparar a performance de três testes sorológicos em pacientes e seus contatos domiciliares utilizando dois testes quantitativos ELISA, um com o antígeno PGL-1 nativo (ELISA PGL-1), com o antígeno ND-O-HSA sintético (ELISA ND-O-HSA), e o teste semi-quantitativo do fluxo lateral (ML-FLow). Métodos: Os três testes imunológicos ELISA PGL-I, ELISA ND-O-HSA, e ML-Flow foram realizados utilizando soros de 156 pacientes com hanseníase e 191 contatos domiciliares. Resultados: Os resultados da sensibilidade dos testes ELISA PGL-1, ND-O-HSA e ML-FLow foram de 68.83%, 63.65%, e 60.65%, respectivamente. Os testes ELISA PGL-1 nativo e sintético detectaram anticorpos em 22,73% e 31,82% dos soros de pacientes paucibacilares (PB),e o teste ML-FLow não apresentou reatividade em nenhum soro. O ML-Flow foi capaz de discriminar entre os pacientes com as formas PB e multibacilares (MB), enquanto que o ELISA PGL-1 e ND-O-HSA correlacionaram com a carga bacilar e as formas clínicas de Ridley-Jopling. Em contatos domiciliares, os testes ELISA PGL-1 nativo, ND-O-HSA e Ml-FLow detectaram soropositividade de 25%, 17%, e 10%, respectivamente. Conclusões: O uso do teste ELISA e ML-Flow são recomendados no diagnóstico e classificação das formas clínicas, auxiliando na prescrição do tratamento correto e na prevenção do dano neural e da incapacidade. CAPÍTULO IV: Interação patógeno-hospedeiro é mediada principalmente por moléculas especializadas do envelope celular. Um dos componentes essenciais da parede celular das micobactérias é a lipoarabinomanana (LAM). A LAM tem um papel imunomodulador, mas a sua heterogeneidade pode ser responsável pela resposta imune diferenciada em pacientes com hanseníase e contatos. Espera-se que a pesquisa por motivos estruturais de M. leprae possam contribuir, como fatores de virulência ou epítopos de proteção, e assim, derivar biomarcadores eficazes para o diagnóstico, drogas e vacinas contra a hanseníase. Portanto, nosso objetivo foi desenvolver peptídeos miméticos específicos à LAM utilizando Phage Display de uma biblioteca aleatória de peptídeos heptameros que possam reconhecer uma resposta diferencial em pacientes com hanseníase e contatos. Nós utilizamos o anticorpo monoclonal anti-LAM, CS-35, como um alvo de três rodadas de seleção. Após seqüenciamento e tradução, os peptídeos foram pré-validados por ELISA e comparados com o antígeno sintético LAM-BSA. O motivo peptídeo mais reativo e repetitivo (A9) foi posteriormente testado contra o soro de 54 pacientes com hanseníase e 27 controles endêmicos por ELISA. O clone mimético A9 apresentou altos níveis de anticorpos IgG em pacientes paucibacibacilares (PB), sendo que 50% destes soros foram altamente reativos. Esta reação também ocorreu em pacientes tuberculóides, dimorfo-dimorfo e virchowiano. Controles endêmicos e pacientes reacionais apresentaram altos níveis de IgG1 no soro. Por outro lado, o perfil de IgG e suas subclasses em pacientes apresentou altos níveis de IgG e IgG2 e baixos níveis de IgG1. O clone A9 apresentou uma correlação positiva significativa com o antígeno LAM-BSA sintético para a resposta IgG1. A resposta de IgG altamente reativa contra o clone A9 foi associada com o diagnóstico da forma clínica tuberculóide, e a detecção de ambos, IgG1 e IgG3, contra esse clone foi associado à proteção nos controles endêmicos. CAPÍTULO V: Interação patógeno-hospedeiro é mediada principalmente por moléculas especializadas do envelope celular. Um dos componentes essenciais da parede celular das micobactérias é a lipoarabinomanana (LAM). A LAM tem um papel imunomodulador, mas a sua heterogeneidade pode ser responsável pela resposta imune diferenciada em pacientes com hanseníase e contatos. Espera-se que a pesquisa por motivos estruturais de M. leprae possam contribuir, como fatores de virulência ou epítopos de proteção, e assim, derivar biomarcadores eficazes para o diagnóstico, drogas e vacinas contra a hanseníase. Portanto, nosso objetivo foi desenvolver peptídeos miméticos específicos à LAM utilizando Phage Display de uma biblioteca aleatória de peptídeos heptameros que possam reconhecer uma resposta diferencial em pacientes com hanseníase e contatos. Nós utilizamos o anticorpo monoclonal anti-LAM, CS-35, como um alvo de três rodadas de seleção. Após seqüenciamento e tradução, os peptídeos foram pré-validados por ELISA e comparados com o antígeno sintético LAM-BSA. O motivo peptídeo mais reativo e repetitivo (A9) foi posteriormente testado contra o soro de 54 pacientes com hanseníase e 27 controles endêmicos por ELISA. O clone mimético A9 apresentou altos níveis de anticorpos IgG em pacientes paucibacibacilares (PB), sendo que 50% destes soros foram altamente reativos. Esta reação também ocorreu em pacientes tuberculóides, dimorfo-dimorfo e virchowiano. Controles endêmicos e pacientes reacionais apresentaram altos níveis de IgG1 no soro. Por outro lado, o perfil de IgG e suas subclasses em pacientes apresentou altos níveis de IgG e IgG2 e baixos níveis de IgG1. O clone A9 apresentou uma correlação positiva significativa com o antígeno LAM-BSA sintético para a resposta IgG1. A resposta de IgG altamente reativa contra o clone A9 foi associada com o diagnóstico da forma clínica tuberculóide, e a detecção de ambos, IgG1 e IgG3, contra esse clone foi associado à proteção nos controles endêmicos

Detecção de anticorpos IgG ANTI-Neospora caninum em diferentes grupos de pacientes imunodeprimidos

Little is known about the epidemiology of N. caninum infection in humans, particularly in populations with high T. gondii infection rates. This study aimed to investigate the presence of antibodies to N. caninum in Toxoplasma-seropositive and -seronegative individuals. Serum samples from 331 individuals were tested for the presence of IgG antibodies against N. caninum and T. gondii by indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT), enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and Western blot (WB). Serum samples were divided into 5 groups, as follows: 65 from HIV-positive patients; 62 from allograft transplantation patients; 87 from cancer patients; 53 from hemodialysis patients; and 64 from blood donors. Seroreactivity to N. caninum was confirmed by WB, and the criterion for positivity was the sera recognition of at least two out of three immunodominant antigens (17, 29 e 35 kDa) from the parasite. Seropositivity to N. caninum was predominantly seen in HIV-patients (28%), whereas significantly low seropositivity was detected in blood donors (5%). Intermediate rates were seen in cancer (13%), hemodialysis (11%), and allograft transplantation (7%) patients. Seropositivity to N. caninum in the three groups with higher seropositivity rates was significantly associated with seropositivity to T. gondii. The results of this study indicate the presence of N. caninum exposure and seroconversion in humans, particularly in HIV patients, who could have opportunistic and concurrent infections with T. gondii. These findings may bring a new concern for the unstable clinical health of HIV patients and the actual role of N. caninum infection in immunocompromised patients.Mestre em Imunologia e Parasitologia AplicadasPouco se sabe sobre a epidemiologia da infecção pelo N. caninum na espécie humana, particularmente, na população com altas taxas de infecção a T. gondii. O presente estudo teve como objetivo investigar a presença de anticorpos anti- N. caninum em pacientes imunodeprimidos. Um total de 331 amostras de soros provenientes de 5 grupos de indivíduos (65 pacientes HIV positivos, 62 pacientes transplantados, 87 pacientes apresentando neoplasias, 53 pacientes em processo de hemodiálise e 64 doadores de sangue) foi avaliado quanto a presença de anticorpos anti-N. caninum e anti-T. gondii pelos testes imunofluorescência (IFAT), imunoenzimático (ELISA) e Western blot (WB). Anticorpos IgG anti-N. caninum foram predominantemente detectados em pacientes HIV positivos (28%), enquanto que taxas de soropositividade menores foram encontradas nos demais grupos: pacientes oncológicos (13%), em hemodiálise (11%), transplantados (7%) e doadores de sangue (5%). Soropositividade para N. caninum foi significativamente associada com a soropositividade para T. gondii nos grupos de pacientes HIV positivos, oncológicos e em hemodiálise. A sororeatividade para N. caninum foi confirmada quando duas de três proteínas imunodominantes (17, 29 e 35 kDa) deste parasito foram reconhecidas nas amostras de soros pelo teste WB. Os resultados deste estudo indicaram uma maior taxa de soroconversão em pacientes imunodeprimidos quando expostos ao N. caninum, principalmente em pacientes HIV positivos. Esta soroconversão a N. caninum pode ser resultante de uma infecção oportunística e/ou recorrente, como ocorre também na infecção a T. gondii. Estes resultados revelam uma nova preocupação com pacientes imunodeprimidos que podem estar, de alguma forma, mais susceptíveis a desenvolverem infecções oportunistas por N. caninum

Inquiry of antibodies anti-Neospora caninum in dairy cattle, dogs and rural workers of the south-west region of Mato Grosso State

Considering the importance of neosporosis in the animal health and production, the frequency of antibodies to Neospora caninum was evaluated in dairy cattle of the Southwestern region of Mato Grosso State, Brazil, in addition to serum samples obtained from dogs and humans living in the farms. A total of 1036 serum samples were analyzed, from which 932 were from dairy bovine females, 37 from dogs and 67 from humans, from 24 farms and examined by the indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT). Reactive human scrum samples were retested by Western-blotting to confirm the results. Antibodies to N. caninum were found in 499 cattle sera (53.5 %), with at least one positive in each farm, 25 dog sera (67.6 %) and seven human sera (10.5 %). There was no significant difference in the number of positive cattle sera according to age group. The results indicate a wide dissemination of N caninum in the studied region

Additional file 2: Figure S1. of Longitudinal immune profiles in type 1 leprosy reactions in Bangladesh, Brazil, Ethiopia and Nepal

IFN-γ in response to M.leprae-unique protein ML2478 in 6 day cultures of PBMC (see Figure 3). Simultaneously, PBMC were cultured with proteins: ML0009, ML0121, ML0141, ML0188, ML1601, ML1976, ML1989, ML1990, ML2283, ML2478, ML2531, ML2532 and ML2567 (data not shown). Figure S2. IP-10 (A), TNF (B), IL-17 (C), VEGF (D) , IL1-β (E) and G-CSF (F) production in same cultures as described in Figure S1. Figure S3. IP-10 and IL-17 (A) after stimulation with M. leprae. IP-10/ IL-10 and IL-17/ IL-10 ratios are indicated (B, C). ROC curves were calculated for IP-10/ IL-10 and IL-17 /IL-10. Ratios for patients without reactions are shown as controls (D). Figure S4. IP-10 (A), IFN-β (B) and CCL18 (C) in sera. Figure S5. Antibodies against M.leprae protein ML2028 in sera determined by ELISA. Optical density readings were performed using a 1:200 dilution. Median values are indicated by horizontal lines. Figure S6. IFN-β in sera derived from patients developing RR in the absence of clinical signs of reactions and at least three months before reaction (before RR), at diagnosis of reaction before steroids (RR) or after MDT and RR, at least one month after end of steroids (after RR). For ROC values, timepoints at least three months before RR and at RR diagnosis before steroids were considered. IFN-β levels for controls were not detectable. (DOCX 260 kb

Longitudinal immune profiles in type 1 leprosy reactions in Bangladesh, Brazil, Ethiopia and Nepal

Immunogenetics and cellular immunology of bacterial infectious disease

Direct antiviral therapy for treatment of hepatitis C: A real-world study from Brazil

Introduction and objectives: Direct antiviral agents (DAAs) including sofosbuvir (SOF), daclatasvir (DCV), simeprevir (SIM) and ombitasvir, paritaprevir and dasabuvir were introduced 2015 in Brazil for treatment of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. The aims of this study were to assess effectiveness and safety of HCV treatment with DAA in real-life world in a highly admixed population from Brazil. Materials and methods: All Brazilian reference centers for HCV treatment were invited to take part in a web-based registry, prospectively conducted by the Brazilian Society of Hepatology, to assess outcomes of HCV treatment in Brazil with DAAs. Data to be collected included demographics, disease severity and comorbidities, genotype (GT), viral load, DAA regimens, treatment side effects and sustained virological response (SVR). Results: 3939 patients (60% males, mean age 58 ± 10 years) throughout the country were evaluated. Most had advanced fibrosis or cirrhosis, GT1 and were treated with SOF/DCV or SOF/SIM. Overall SVR rates were higher than 95%. Subjects with decompensated cirrhosis, GT2 and GT3 have lower SVR rates of 85%, 90% and 91%, respectively. Cirrhosis and decompensated cirrhosis in GT1 and male sex and decompensated cirrhosis in GT3 were significantly associated with no SVR. Adverse events (AD) and serious AD occurred in 18% and 5% of those subjects, respectively, but less than 1% of patients required treatment discontinuation. Conclusion: SOF-based DAA regimens are effective and safe in the heterogeneous highly admixed Brazilian population and could remain an option for HCV treatment at least in low-income countries