Publications by authors named "Barbara M S Pimentel"
Article Synopsis
- Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV) is linked to Merkel cell carcinoma and its prevalence in Brazilian blood donors was studied.
- The research analyzed 450 serum samples from donors across three regions in Brazil, finding an overall MCPyV DNA prevalence of 1.1%.
- Prevalence varied by region, with North and South Brazil at 1.33% and Central-West at 0.6%, showing generally low viral loads in positive samples, prompting the need for further studies on the virus's impact on transfusion medicine.
Human gemykibivirus-2 (HuGkV-2) belonging to the Gemykibivirus genus (Genomoviridae family) is an emerging DNA virus which has been described as a component of the virome of a wide variety of samples including clinical ones. So far, the HuGkV-2 DNA prevalence in the human population as well as its clinical impact are completely unknown. The objective of this study was to investigate the HuGkV-2 DNA prevalence among Brazilian healthy blood donors from three different geographic regions.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIntroduction: Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) is a mosquito-borne alphavirus belonging to the Togaviridae family. The symptomatic infection is characterised by acute febrile disease which generally results in severe arthralgia and myalgia, however, most of the CHIKV infections remain asymptomatic. CHIKV RNA detection in asymptomatic volunteers may be responsible for the transfusion transmission of this infection, especially during outbreaks.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFHigh seroprevalence of anti-DENV IgM in blood donors in an early outbreak in the Federal District of Brazil, 2019.
J Med Microbiol
October 2021
Article Synopsis
- - Dengue is a common disease in Brazil, leading to seasonal outbreaks that can increase the risk of transfusion-transmitted dengue (TTD) from undetected cases in blood donors.
- - A study was conducted in 2019 during a significant outbreak in the Federal District, screening 450 blood donations for dengue antibodies (anti-DENV IgM) and antigens (DENV NS1).
- - The results showed that 16% of the samples had anti-DENV IgM, but none tested positive for DENV NS1, indicating the need for ongoing screening of blood donors during dengue outbreaks.
Dengue virus (DENV) transmission by blood transfusion is an important route of viral acquisition during outbreaks. The prevalence of DENV markers (viral RNA, NS1, anti-DENV IgM, and IgG) among blood donors in Central-West Brazil has never been evaluated. Our aim was to evaluate the full set of serological and molecular markers for DENV among blood donors of the Federal District of Brazil during an extensive outbreak in 2016.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFParvovirus B19 (B19V) transmission may occur through blood transfusion as a result of asymptomatic viral persistence in blood donors. Our study evaluated the prevalence and viral load of B19V in blood donors from Brasilia, Federal District, Central-West Brazil. B19V DNA detection and quantification were performed in 477 blood donors.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFStrategies to minimize the immunogenicity and toxicity of murine anti-CD3 antibodies (e.g. OKT3) are of special interest for organ transplantation and for the treatment of autoimmune diseases.
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