Characterization of two Achromobacter xylosoxidans isolates from patients with pertussis-like symptoms

OBJECTIVE: To characterize two Achromobacter xylosoxidans recovered from 2 patients diagnosed with pertussis during a Bordetella pertussis surveillance program. METHODS: Nasopharyngeal swabs from 2 children under 1 year of age with clinical suspicion of pertussis were analyzed by culture and PCR. RESULTS: Two Achromobacter xylosoxidans A8, closely related to Bordetella spp. were recovered from 2 patients diagnosed of pertussis, both carrying the ptxA gene and IS418 the pertussis toxin encoding gene. Subsequently, antibiotic susceptibility was evaluated by disk-diffusion method and by PCR. CONCLUSIONS: Although more detailed studies are needed, the present data highlight the possibility that Achromobacter xylosoxidans, closely related Bordetella pertusssis microorganisms and not covered under the vaccine umbrella, might also result in cases of whooping cough. Thereby further surveillance is necessary to determine the extension and relevance of their pathogenic role in order to discriminate their real public health implication

Detection of human Metapneumovirus infection in children under 18 years old hospitalized in Lima-Peru

Human Metapneumovirus (hMPV) is a negative single-stranded RNA virus. Infection by hMPV mainly affects the pediatric population and can cause upper or lower respiratory tract pathologies which can develop life threating complications. This study was carried out between 2009 and 2010 in a high complexity national hospital in Lima, Peru. The time frame corresponds to the pandemic of influenza A H1N1. Methods. A prospective study was performed between September 2009 and September 2010. Patients with a clinical diagnosis suggestive of an acute respiratory infection were included. RT-PCR was utilized to attain the amplification and identification of the hMPV. Results.A total of 539 samples were analyzed from patients with a clinical context suggestive of an acute respiratory tract infection. Of these samples 73, (13.54%) were positive for hMPV. Out of the positive cases, 63% were under one year old, and increased to nearly 80% when considering children younger than two years old. Cough was the most frequent symptom presented by our population with a number of 62 cases (84.93%). Viral seasonality was also established, noting its predominance during the months of summer in the southern hemisphere. The infection by hMPV has an important prevalence in Peru. It mainly affects children under one year old and should be considered an important differential diagnosis in a patient with an acute respiratory infection.Postprint (author's final draft

High Prevalence of Mycoplasma pneumoniae and Chlamydia pneumoniae in Children with Acute Respiratory Infections from Lima, Peru

Background Mycoplasma pneumoniae and Chlamydia pneumoniae are atypical pathogens responsible for pneumonia and a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in low income countries. The study objective is to determine the prevalence of this pathogens in Peruvian children with acute respiratory infections. Methods A consecutive cross-sectional study was conducted in Lima, Peru from May 2009 to September 2010. A total of 675 children admitted with clinical diagnoses of acute respiratory infections were tested for Mycoplasma pneumoniae and Chlamydia pneumoniae detection by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and clinical symptoms were registered by the attending physician. Results Mycoplasma pneumonia was detected in 25.19% (170/675) of nasopharyngeal samples and Chlamydia pneumonia in 10.52% (71/675). The most common symptoms in patients with these atypical pathogens were rhinorrhea, cough and fever. A higher prevalence of Mycoplasma pneumoniae cases were registered in summer, between December 2009 and March 2010. Conclusions Mycoplasma pneumoniae and Chlamydia pneumonia are a significant cause of morbidity in Peruvian children with acute respiratory infections (ARI). Further studies should evaluate the use of reliable techniques such as PCR in Peru in order to avoid underdiagnoses of these atypical pathogens

Characterization of the interaction between the R2TP subunit, Nop17, and the Fe/S cluster transfer protein Dre2 in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

O complexo R2TP está presente em eucariotos, de leveduras a humanos, e está envolvido no correto dobramento de outras proteínas e montagem de complexos multiproteicos. R2TP é formado pelas proteínas Rvb1, Rvb2, Tah1 e Pih1/Nop17 em levedura, e direciona as chaperonas à proteínas alvo durante a montagem dos complexos. Os clusters Fe/S são sintetizados nas mitocôndrias e posteriormente transferidos para o citoplasma. Dre2 é uma proteína que contém cluster Fe/S, e está envolvida na transferência desses clusterspara outras proteínas citoplasmáticas. Nosso laboratório identificou a interação entre a subunidade Nop17 do complexo R2TP e Dre2 pelo método de duplo-híbrido, mas o papel desta interação ainda não foi elucidado. O objetivo deste trabalho foi o de estudar o papel funcional da interação entre Dre2 e Nop17 e identificar seus domínios de interação. Nossos resultados mostram que a porção N-terminal de Nop17 interage com a porção C-terminal de Dre2 e esta interação é necessária para a manutenção dos níveis de Dre2 na célula, indicando que o complexo R2TP atue na montagem do complexo CIA, de proteínas citosólicas Fe/S, do qual Dre2 faz parte. Dre2 também afeta a estabilidade de Nop17, sugerindo que Dre2 possa transferir um clusterFe/S para Nop17. Os dados mostrados aqui, portanto, indicam que a interação Nop17-Dre2 seja mutuamente importante para a estabilidade das duas proteínasThe R2TP protein complex is present in eukaryotes from yeast to humans, and is involved in the correct assembly of other protein or ribonucleoprotein complexes. R2TP is formed by proteins Rvb1, Rvb2, Tah1 and Pih1/Nop17 in yeast, and directs chaperones to target proteins during complexes assembly. Fe/S clusters are synthesized in mitochondria and later transferred to the cytoplasm. Dre2 is a Fe/S cluster protein, involved in transferring of Fe/S clusters to cytoplasmic proteins. Our laboratory has identified the interaction between the R2TP subunit Nop17 and Dre2 in the two-hybrid system. The aim of this work was to study the functional role of the interaction between Dre2 and Nop17, and to identify their domains of interaction. The results show that the N-terminal portion of Nop17 interacts with the C-terminal region of Dre2, and that this interaction is necessary for maintaining the levels of Dre2 in the cell, which suggests that the R2TP complex affects the cytosolic iron-sulfur protein assembly complex (CIA), of which Dre2 is a subunit. Dre2 also affects Nop17 stability, suggesting that Dre2 may transfer a Fe/S cluster to Nop17. The data here indicate that the interaction Nop17-Dre2 is mutually important for these proteins stabilities

Characterization of two Achromobacter xylosoxidans isolates from patients with pertussis-like symptoms

OBJECTIVE: To characterize two Achromobacter xylosoxidans recovered from 2 patients diagnosed with pertussis during a Bordetella pertussis surveillance program. METHODS: Nasopharyngeal swabs from 2 children under 1 year of age with clinical suspicion of pertussis were analyzed by culture and PCR. RESULTS: Two Achromobacter xylosoxidans A8, closely related to Bordetella spp. were recovered from 2 patients diagnosed of pertussis, both carrying the ptxA gene and IS418 the pertussis toxin encoding gene. Subsequently, antibiotic susceptibility was evaluated by disk-diffusion method and by PCR. CONCLUSIONS: Although more detailed studies are needed, the present data highlight the possibility that Achromobacter xylosoxidans, closely related Bordetella pertusssis microorganisms and not covered under the vaccine umbrella, might also result in cases of whooping cough. Thereby further surveillance is necessary to determine the extension and relevance of their pathogenic role in order to discriminate their real public health implication

Detection of human Metapneumovirus infection in children under 18 years old hospitalized in Lima-Peru

Human Metapneumovirus (hMPV) is a negative single-stranded RNA virus. Infection by hMPV mainly affects the pediatric population and can cause upper or lower respiratory tract pathologies which can develop life threating complications. This study was carried out between 2009 and 2010 in a high complexity national hospital in Lima, Peru. The time frame corresponds to the pandemic of influenza A H1N1. Methods. A prospective study was performed between September 2009 and September 2010. Patients with a clinical diagnosis suggestive of an acute respiratory infection were included. RT-PCR was utilized to attain the amplification and identification of the hMPV. Results.A total of 539 samples were analyzed from patients with a clinical context suggestive of an acute respiratory tract infection. Of these samples 73, (13.54%) were positive for hMPV. Out of the positive cases, 63% were under one year old, and increased to nearly 80% when considering children younger than two years old. Cough was the most frequent symptom presented by our population with a number of 62 cases (84.93%). Viral seasonality was also established, noting its predominance during the months of summer in the southern hemisphere. The infection by hMPV has an important prevalence in Peru. It mainly affects children under one year old and should be considered an important differential diagnosis in a patient with an acute respiratory infection

Etiology, epidemiology and clinical characteristics of acute diarrhea in hospitalized children in rural Peru

Introduction: Diarrhea remains one of the main causes of morbidity and mortality in children under five years of age especially in low-income countries. In Peru, epidemiological reports about enteropathogens related to acute diarrhea are scarce in rural areas. The aim of this study was to describe the etiology, epidemiology, and clinical characteristics of the principal causes of acute infectious diarrhea in in a northern rural region of Peru. Methodology: A prospective study was conducted from January 2011 to December 2012 to describe the main pathogens causing acute diarrhea using PCR assay. Results: A total of 117 children diagnosed with acute diarrhea were included in the study. A single etiological agent was identified in 41.03% of samples, being rotavirus followed by norovirus and Shigella. Co-infections containing virus and bacteria were found in 22.22% of samples. Vomiting was most commonly found symptoms in 58.97% cases followed by fever (54.70%). Malnutrition was detected in 14.53% of the children. Conclusions: High prevalence of rotavirus, as well as adenovirus and norovirus, was observed in the present study. Shigella was the most common bacteria found in acute diarrhea in the area. The implementation of a better surveillance system is mandatory in order to identify the principal etiologies of gastroenteritis in the rural areas of Peru and to develop of better prevention strategies and reduce diarrhea-associated mortalities.Revisión por pare

Diarrhoea caused by rotavirus in a regional Peruvian hospital: Determination of circulating genotypes

Background: Gastroenteritis caused by rotavirus is responsible for approximately 810 deaths per year in children under 5 years of age in Peru and emerging rotavirus genotypes have led to concerns regarding cross-protection by the vaccines available. Moreover, there are no reports on the molecular epidemiology of rotavirus diarrhoea in Peru. Methods: A total of 131 stool samples were obtained from children under 5 years hospitalised from January 2010 to December 2012 in the Hospital Regional de Cajamarca (Peru). ELISA and RT-PCR techniques were performed for rotavirus detection. G and P typing of rotavirus-positive samples were performed by semi-nested multiplex RT-PCR, and sequencing was performed to confirm the PCR results. Results: Of the 117 samples available, 22 (18.8%) tested positive for rotavirus by ELISA and 42 (35.9%) tested positive by RT-PCR. Among the G genotypes identified, G9 (35.7%; 15/42) and G12 (33.3%; 14/42) were the most prevalent, with the most common combination being G12/P[6] (23.8%; 10/42). Conclusions: A high prevalence of the G12/P[6] genotype was detected. It is known that this genotype is not covered by the current vaccines available. More in-depth studies are needed to determine the current rotavirus genotypes presents in Peru. © The Author 2014. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. All rights reserved.Peer Reviewe

Clinical symptoms in PCR confirmed cases for <i>Chlamydia pneumoniae</i> and <i>Chlamydia pneumoniae</i>.

<p>Clinical symptoms in PCR confirmed cases for <i>Chlamydia pneumoniae</i> and <i>Chlamydia pneumoniae</i>.</p

Demographic characteristics of children with acute respiratory infections.

<p>Demographic characteristics of children with acute respiratory infections.</p