Publications by authors named "Alejandro Gonzalez Praetorius"

Rickettsia sibirica mongolitimonae is an emerging cause of tickborne rickettsiosis. Since the bacterium was first documented as a human pathogen in 1996, a total of 69 patients with this infection have been reported in the literature. Because of the rising rate of R.

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Article Synopsis
  • The study investigates how the immune response to respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection may lead to severe hypoxemia in children, affecting their ability to exchange oxygen and carbon dioxide effectively.
  • Researchers analyzed blood samples from 121 RSV-infected children and discovered that a specific inflammatory gene was overexpressed in those with severe hypoxemia, while multiple antiviral genes were underexpressed.
  • The findings suggest that an imbalance between inflammation and antiviral defense mechanisms could play a significant role in the severity of RSV-related respiratory issues in children.
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Article Synopsis
  • CP-Eco isolates are a type of bacteria that can spread antibiotic resistance genes quickly and lead to infections that are hard to treat. This study aimed to analyze these isolates from Spain to learn more about their resistance and genetic makeup.
  • A total of 90 isolates from various hospitals in Spain were examined for their antibiotic susceptibility and genetic characteristics. Notably, a common strain (ST131) was identified, with many isolates demonstrating resistance to multiple antibiotic groups.
  • The research found that a significant number of isolates had complex genetic traits that contribute to their resistance, with some exhibiting virulence genes. The study underscores the concern of CP-Eco's ability to spread antibiotic resistance in both community and hospital settings.
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Background: HBe-antigen(Ag)-negative chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is characterized by little liver fibrosis progression and vigorous HBV-multispecific CD8 T-cell response.

Aims: To assess whether HBsAg level could discriminate different HBeAg-negative chronic HBV infection subtypes with dissimilar quality of HBV-specific CD8 T-cell response.

Methods: We recruited 63 HBeAg-negative chronic HBV infection patients in which indirect markers of liver inflammation/fibrosis, portal pressure, viral load (VL), and HBV-specific CD8 cell effector function were correlated with HBsAg level.

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A rebalance between energy supply and demand in HBV-specific-CD8 activated progenitor (AP) cells could restore the functionality of proliferative progeny (PP) in e-antigen(Ag)-negative chronic hepatitis B (CHBe(-)). We observed that quiescent progenitor (QP [TCF1/FSC]) HBVcore-specific-CD8 cells displayed a memory-like phenotype. Following Ag-encounter, the generated AP [TCF1/FSC] subset maintained the PD1/CD127 phenotype and gave rise to proliferative progeny (PP [ TCF1/FSC]).

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Objectives: We aimed to analyze whether the expression of inflammatory and antiviral genes in respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)-infected infants' peripheral blood is associated with bronchiolitis progression.

Methods: We conducted a prospective study on 117 infants between 2015 and 2023. The expression levels of nine genes were quantified by quantitative polymerase chain reaction.

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Background: HTLV-1 infection is a neglected disease, despite producing neurological and lymphoproliferative severe illnesses and affect over 10 million people worldwide. Roughly 5% of HTLV-1 carriers develop Adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATLL), one of the most aggressive hematological malignancies.

Methods: A national HTLV-1 register exists since 1989 in Spain, a non-endemic country with a large migrant flow from Latin America and Equatorial Africa, where HTLV-1 is endemic.

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In autumn 2022, the Spanish Influenza National Reference Laboratory (NRL) confirmed the detection of influenza A(H5N1) in samples from two asymptomatic workers linked to an outbreak in a poultry farm in Spain. Nasopharyngeal swabs were taken according to a national screening protocol for exposed workers. Absence of symptoms, low viral load and negative serology in both workers suggested environmental contamination.

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Introduction And Objectives: Hepatitis A Virus Infection (HAI) has been related to the hygienic-sanitary situation of an area, the changes in the epidemiology of HAI in the province of Guadalajara between 1991 and 2017 are analyzed.

Materials And Methods: Cases of HAI declared between 1991 and 2017 in Guadalajara were included. The variables analyzed were age, sex, environment, risk factors for HAI and need for hospitalization.

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Introduction: In Spain, like in other countries where endemic measles has been eliminated, there is a need for available diagnostic tolos for confirming any cases in order to prevent and control its transmission. We describe the different microbiological tests used for the diagnosis of measles during an outbreak that occurred in 2019 in the province of Guadalajara (Spain).

Methods: Serological and molecular tests were performed at the Microbiology laboratory of the Guadalajara University Hospital and at the National Center for Microbiology of the Carlos III Health Institute (Majadahonda, Spain).

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Bordetella pertussis not expressing pertactin has increased in countries using acellular pertussis vaccines (ACV). The deficiency is mostly caused by pertactin gene disruption by IS481. To assess the effect of the transition from whole-cell vaccine to ACV on the emergence of B.

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Background: Hepatitis B virus (HBV)-specific CD8 cell response restoration during nucleos(t)ide analogue (NUC) treatment could lead to off-treatment HBV control in e-antigen-negative chronic hepatitis B (CHBe(-)).

Aim: To predict this response with variables involved in T-cell exhaustion for use as a treatment stopping tool.

Methods: In NUC-treated CHBe(-) patients, we considered a functional response in cases with HBV-specific CD8 cells against core and polymerase HBV epitopes able to proliferate and secrete type I cytokines after antigen encounter.

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Introduction: In Spain, like in other countries where endemic measles has been eliminated, there is a need for available diagnostic tools for confirming any cases in order to prevent and control its transmission. We describe the different microbiological tests used for the diagnosis of measles during an outbreak that occurred in 2019 in the province of Guadalajara (Spain).

Methods: Serological and molecular tests were performed at the Microbiology laboratory of the Guadalajara University Hospital and at the National Center for Microbiology of the Carlos III Health Institute (Majadahonda, Spain).

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IntroductionEnterovirus A71 (EV-A71) is an emerging pathogen that causes a wide range of disorders including severe neurological manifestations. In the past 20 years, this virus has been associated with large outbreaks of hand, foot and mouth disease with neurological complications in the Asia-Pacific region, while in Europe mainly sporadic cases have been reported. In spring 2016, however, an EV-A71 outbreak associated with severe neurological cases was reported in Catalonia and spread further to other Spanish regions.

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Infectious keratitis is a serious ocular infection that can lead to loss of vision. The aim of this study was to investigate the microbiological characteristics of this infection at the University Hospital of Guadalajara (Spain). We retrospectively reviewed all cases diagnosed between January 2010 and December 2016.

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Hepatitis C virus (HCV)-specific CD8 T cells suffer a progressive exhaustion during persistent infection (PI) with HCV. This process could involve the positive immune checkpoint 4-1BB/4-1BBL through the loss of its signal transducer, TRAF1. To address this issue, peripheral HCV-specific CD8 T cells (pentamer-positive [pentamer]/CD8 T cells) from patients with PI and resolved infection (RI) after treatment were studied.

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The National Plan for the Elimination of Rubella was implemented in Spain in 2008 using the logistics of the National Plan for the Elimination of Measles that have been employed since year 2000. Molecular characterization of rubella virus (RUBV) is important for disease surveillance and for monitoring elimination of the disease throughout the world. We describe the first complete series of data regarding the circulation of RUBV genotypes in Spain.

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HDV infection may occur within a primary HBV infection (co-infection) or by sub sequent acquisition ofthe virus in patients with chronic hepatitis B (superinfection). Acute HDV infection is rarely diagnosed. Since cero conversion usually takes place about six weeks after viral infection, early diagnosis requires the use of direct diagnostic techniques, such as antigen HD V (HDAg) detection, or genomic amplification by means of molecular biology methods (RT-PCR).

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Background: Measles is a viral infection that was almost eradicated, but it is re-emerging in Spain and Europe in recent years. The aim of this study was to describe the microbiological, clinical and epidemiological characteristics of a measles outbreak that occurred in Guadalajara (Spain) from June to August 2012.

Methods: A descriptive and retrospective study was conducted.

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PD-1 molecule promotes anergy and IL-7 receptor (CD127) induces an anti-apoptotic effect on T cells. Correlation between PD-1/CD127 phenotype and hepatitis C virus (HCV)-specific CD8(+) cell reactivity in resolved infection (RI) after treatment and persistent HCV-infection (PI) was analysed. Directly ex vivo, PD-1 and CD127 expression on HCV-specific CD8(+) cells displayed a positive and negative correlation, respectively with viraemia.

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Objective: To know the evolution of susceptibility patterns of Escherichia coli in patients with community diagnosed urinary tract infections (UTIs) during last years in Castilla la Mancha (Spain).

Methods: Descriptive and retrospective study performed between january 2003 and december 2007. We studied data about frequency and susceptibility of 33.

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Gastrointestinal and wound infections are the most common clinical presentation of Aeromonas. Surgical site infections (SSIs) due to this microorganism are rare. We studied the clinical and microbiological characteristics of 9 cases that appeared at 2 Spanish hospitals and reviewed 15 cases available in the literature.

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