20 research outputs found
Hepatitis C virus genotypes in Southern Brazil
The prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotypes in Southern Brazil was studied in the plasma of 100 HCV-RNA-positive patients attended in Porto Alegre, South of Brazil. Reverse transcriptionpolymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) products from the 5' noncoding region were double digested with Rsal-Haeiii and BstNl-Hinfi and analyzed by restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP). Three genotypes (1, 2 and 3) were demonstrable, the most prevalent being HCV type I (55 of 100 patients, 55%), followed by HCV type 3 (37 of 100 patients, 37%) and HCVtype 2 (8 oflOO patients, 8%). There was an unusual high prevalence of genotype 3, in contrast to the majority of published data from the Southeast region
Cryptosporidium hominis Infection of the Human Respiratory Tract
Cryptosporidium oocysts, observed in a natural sputum sample of a patient with HIV, were further studied by using DNA markers to determine the species of the parasite. C. hominis was identified as the species infecting the patient’s respiratory tract, a finding that strengthens evidence regarding this pathogen’s role in human disease
Molecular analysis of pathogens in cerebrospinal fluid by the polymerase chain reaction in HIV-infected patients
Introdução: A reação em cadeia da polimerase (PCR) foi teste de grande impacto no diagnĂłstico das meningites e encefalites linfocĂticas durante a Ăşltima dĂ©cada. Esse mĂ©todo foi extensivamente usado no diagnĂłstico das infecções do sistema nervoso central (SNC), devido a sua habilidade em detectar amostras mĂnimas de DNA-alvo no lĂquido cefalorraquiano. Objetivo: O objetivo deste estudo foi identificar a prevalĂŞncia dos patĂłgenos oportunistas responsáveis por causar problemas neurolĂłgicos em pacientes infectados com o vĂrus da imunodeficiĂŞncia humana (HIV) e avaliar sua associação com os achados clĂnicos, laboratoriais e da tomografia computadorizada cerebral (TCC). Pacientes e mĂ©todos: Um estudo transversal foi realizado em 203 amostras de lĂquido cefalorraquiano (LCR) de pacientes do sul do Brasil infectados com HIV e com aparente encefalite e meningite linfocĂticas. As amostras foram analisadas para os seguintes agentes pelo mĂ©todo da reação em cadeia da polimerase “nested” ou dupla (N-PCR): citomegalovĂrus, vĂrus do Epstein-Barr, vĂrus do herpes simplex tipos 1 e 2, vĂrus da varicella zoster, vĂrus do herpes humano tipo 6, vĂrus JC, Toxoplasma gondii e micobactĂ©rias. Resultado: Pelo menos um patĂłgeno foi encontrado em 77 (38%) dos indivĂduos. O Epstein-Barr foi o mais prevalente, com 40 casos (19,7%), seguido pelo citomegalovĂvus, com 12 casos (15%) e pelo vĂrus JC, em 9 casos (4,4%). Um N-PCR positivo mostrou associação com aumento de proteĂnas e de celularidade (P=0,001), meningismo (P=0,017) e tomografia computadorizada anormal (P=0,006). ConclusĂŁo: O painel de PCR empregado foi efetivo na identificação de infecções neurolĂłgicas severas em pacientes HIV positivos.Introduction: Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) has had great impact on the diagnosis of lymphocytic meningitis and encephalitis over the last decade. It has been extensively used in the diagnosis of central nervous system (CNS) infections for its ability to detect small amounts of target DNA in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Objective: The aim of this study was to identify the prevalence of opportunistic pathogens responsible for neurological disorders in patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and to evaluate its association with clinical, laboratory and cerebral computed tomography (CCT) findings. Patients and methods: A cross-sectional study was performed on 203 cerebrospinal fluids (CSF) from HIV-infected patients from Southern Brazil, with apparent lymphocytic meningitis and encephalitis. CSF samples were analyzed with probes for cytomegalovirus, Epstein-Barr virus, herpes simplex virus types 1 and 2, varicella zoster virus, human herpes virus type 6, JC virus, Toxoplasma gondii and mycobacterium in nested polymerase chain reaction (N-PCR). Results: At least one pathogen was found in 77 (38.0%) individuals. Epstein-Barr virus was the most prevalent with 40 cases (19.7%), followed by cytomegalovirus with 12 cases (5.9%) and JC virus with 9 cases (4.4%). Positive NPCR showed association with high spinal fluid protein and cell count (P=0.001), meningism (P=0.017) and abnormal CCT (P=0.006). Conclusion: The PCR panel used was effective in screening several neurological infections in HIV positive patients
Naturally Acquired Humoral Immunity against Malaria Parasites in Non-Human Primates from the Brazilian Amazon, Cerrado and Atlantic Forest.
Plasmodium - Plasmodium brasilianum - P. malariae -
P. malariae - P. falciparum - P. vivax - Plasmodium content: -
"Non-human primates (NHPs) have been shown to be infected by
parasites of the genus " - ", the etiological agent of malaria
in humans, creating potential risks of zoonotic transmission. "
- ", a parasite species similar to " - " of humans, have been
described in NHPs from Central and South America, including
Brazil. The merozoite surface protein 1 (MSP1), besides being a
malaria vaccine candidate, is highly immunogenic. Due to such
properties, we tested this protein for the diagnosis of parasite
infection. We used recombinant proteins of " - " MSP1, as well
as of " - " and " - ", for the detection of antibodies anti-MSP1
of these parasite species, in the sera of NHPs collected in
different regions of Brazil. About 40% of the NHP sera were
confirmed as reactive to the proteins of one or more parasite
species. A relatively higher number of reactive sera was found
in animals from the Atlantic Forest than those from the Amazon
region, possibly reflecting the former more intense parasite
circulation among NHPs due to their proximity to humans at a
higher populational density. The presence of " - " positive NHPs
in the surveyed areas, being therefore potential parasite
reservoirs, needs to be considered in any malaria surveillance
program.
Non-phenolic method of dna purification from bacteria, blood samples and other biological sources for restriction enzyme assays and the polymerase chain reaction
Extrachromosomal nucleic acids in bovine babesia
Two kinds of small extrachromosomal nucleic acid elements were found in the bovine babesias, Babesia bovis and B. bigemina. One element with an apparent size of 5.5 kilobase pairs (kbp) is a double stranded RNA related to virus like particles. Another molecule is a double stranded DNA with a molecular size of about 6.2 kbp. Southern blot comparison of restriction DNA fragments of the latter molecule, which is present in both B. bovis and B. bigemina is described
Antigenic cross-reactivity of plasmodium falciparum antigens expressed in escherichia coli
Caracterização genética de diferentes cepas do carrapato (Boophilus microplus) utilizando um clone de cDNA de Bm 86 como marcador
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