Comparison of galactomannan lateral flow assay and enzyme immunoassay to identify Aspergillus spp. in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid.

Aspergillus species can colonize and infect immunocompetent and immunocompromised hosts. Conventional fungal identification depends on microscopic analysis and microorganism medium growth. Other diagnostic methods, non-growth dependent, to invasive fungal infections, are the biomarkers that detect circulating polysaccharides, for example, 1-3-β-d-Glucan and galactomannan.

Uncovering a Novel 51A Mutation and Antifungal Resistance in through Culture Collection Screening.

Background: is an important concern for immunocompromised individuals, often resulting in severe infections. With the emergence of resistance to azoles, which has been the therapeutic choice for infections, monitoring the resistance of these microorganisms becomes important, including the search for mutations in the 51A gene, which is the gene responsible for the mechanism of action of azoles. We conducted a retrospective analysis covering 478 isolates.

Does leukotriene F4 play a major role in the infection mechanism of Candida sp.?

Candidiasis is the most common fungal infection affecting hospitalized patients, especially immunocompromised and critical patients. Limitations regarding the assertive diagnosis of both Candidemia and Candidiasis not only impairs the introduction of effective treatments but also lays a heavy financial burden over the health system. Furthermore, it is still challenging to ascertain whether diagnostic methods are accurate and whether treatment is effective for patients with Candidemia.

Airborne transmission of invasive fusariosis in patients with hematologic malignancies.

From 2006 to 2013, an increasing incidence of fusariosis was observed in the hematologic patients of our University Hospital. We suspected of an environmental source, and the indoor hospital air was investigated as a potential source of the fungemia. Air samplings were performed in the hematology and bone marrow transplant (BMT) wards using an air sampler with pre-defined air volumes.

Visible DNA Microarray System as an Adjunctive Molecular Test in Identification of Pathogenic Fungi Directly from a Blood Culture Bottle.

A DNA microarray platform, based on the nucleotide sequences of the internal transcribed spacer regions (ITS1 and ITS2) of the rRNA gene, was developed to identify 32 fungal pathogens at the species level. The probe sequences were spotted onto polycarbonate slides with a mini-microarray printer, and after the hybridization, the results were visible with the naked eye. The performance of the microarray platform was evaluated against the commercial automated systems (Vitek 2 and BD Phoenix systems) and DNA sequencing (gold standard).

Immunogenicity of a prime-boost vaccine containing the circumsporozoite proteins of Plasmodium vivax in rodents.

Plasmodium vivax is the most widespread and the second most prevalent malaria-causing species in the world. Current measures used to control the transmission of this disease would benefit from the development of an efficacious vaccine. In the case of the deadly parasite P.

On the three-finger protein domain fold and CD59-like proteins in Schistosoma mansoni.

Background: It is believed that schistosomes evade complement-mediated killing by expressing regulatory proteins on their surface. Recently, six homologues of human CD59, an important inhibitor of the complement system membrane attack complex, were identified in the schistosome genome. Therefore, it is important to investigate whether these molecules could act as CD59-like complement inhibitors in schistosomes as part of an immune evasion strategy.

Immunogenicity of recombinant proteins consisting of Plasmodium vivax circumsporozoite protein allelic variant-derived epitopes fused with Salmonella enterica Serovar Typhimurium flagellin.

A Plasmodium falciparum circumsporozoite protein (CSP)-based recombinant fusion vaccine is the first malaria vaccine to reach phase III clinical trials. Resistance to infection correlated with the production of antibodies to the immunodominant central repeat region of the CSP. In contrast to P.

Relevance of long-lived CD8(+) T effector memory cells for protective immunity elicited by heterologous prime-boost vaccination.

Owing to the importance of major histocompatibility complex class Ia-restricted CD8(+) T cells for host survival following viral, bacterial, fungal, or parasitic infection, it has become largely accepted that these cells should be considered in the design of a new generation of vaccines. For the past 20 years, solid evidence has been provided that the heterologous prime-boost regimen achieves the best results in terms of induction of long-lived protective CD8(+) T cells against a variety of experimental infections. Although this regimen has often been used experimentally, as is the case for many vaccines, the mechanism behind the efficacy of this vaccination regimen is still largely unknown.

Tissue expression patterns of Schistosoma mansoni Venom Allergen-Like proteins 6 and 7.

The Schistosoma mansoni Venom Allergen-Like proteins (SmVALs) are members of the SCP/TAPS (Sperm-Coating Protein/Tpx-1/Ag5/PR-1/Sc7) protein superfamily, which may be important in host-pathogen interactions. Whole mount in situ hybridisation demonstrated a distinct expression pattern in oral and ventral suckers of adult worms for SmVAL6 and in the oesophageal gland for SmVAL7 transcripts, respectively. Additionally, immunocytochemistry analysis corroborated SmVAL7 expression in the oesophageal gland.

Screening the Schistosoma mansoni transcriptome for genes differentially expressed in the schistosomulum stage in search for vaccine candidates.

Schistosomiasis affects more than 200 million people worldwide; another 600 million are at risk of infection. The schistosomulum stage is believed to be the target of protective immunity in the attenuated cercaria vaccine model. In an attempt to identify genes up-regulated in the schistosomulum stage in relation to cercaria, we explored the Schistosoma mansoni transcriptome by looking at the relative frequency of reads in EST libraries from both stages.

Schistosoma mansoni Annexin 2: molecular characterization and immunolocalization.

We here describe the cloning and characterization of the Schistosoma mansoni Annexin 2, previously identified in the tegument by proteomic studies, and as an up-regulated gene in schistosomulum stage by microarray data. In silico analysis predicts a conserved core containing four repeat domains of Annexin (ANX) and a variable N-terminal region similar to that described for mammalian isoforms. Real-time RT-PCR and Western blot analysis determined that S.

Schistosoma mansoni Stomatin like protein-2 is located in the tegument and induces partial protection against challenge infection.

Background: Schistosomiasis affects more than 200 million individuals worldwide, with a further 650 million living at risk of infection, constituting a severe health problem in developing countries. Even though an effective treatment exists, it does not prevent re-infection, and the development of an effective vaccine still remains the most desirable means of control for this disease.

Methodology/principal Findings: Herein, we report the cloning and characterization of a S.

RNA interference in schistosomes: machinery and methodology.

RNA interference (RNAi) is a potent gene silencing process that is playing an increasingly important role in investigations of gene function in schistosomes. Here we review what is known about the process in these parasites and provide an update on the methodology and machinery of RNAi. Data are presented to demonstrate that: (1) not all schistosome genes can be suppressed to the same extent, using the methods employed here; (2) while there is variation in the level of suppression achieved for one target gene (SmAP) in adult parasites, all individuals exhibit robust (>80%) suppression; (3) short interfering RNAs (siRNAs) can effect suppression when delivered by soaking (and not just via electroporation, as reported previously); (4) Male/female adult pairs need not be separated prior to siRNA delivery by electroporation for effective gene suppression in both genders and (5) electroporation of siRNAs in medium is as efficient as in commercial electroporation buffer.

Characterization of phosphodiesterase-5 as a surface protein in the tegument of Schistosoma mansoni.

Schistosoma mansoni is a major causative agent of schistosomiasis, an important parasitic disease that constitutes a severe health problem in developing countries. Even though an effective treatment exists, it does not prevent re-infection and the development of an effective vaccine still remains the most desirable means of control for this disease. In this work we describe the cloning and characterization of a S.

Diuron lacks promoting potential in a rat liver bioassay.

The promoting activity of the herbicide Diuron was evaluated in a medium-term rat liver carcinogenesis bioassay that uses as endpoint immunohistochemically identified glutathione S-transferase positive (GST-P+) foci. Male Wistar rats were allocated to the following groups: G1 to G6 were initiated for liver carcinogenesis by a single dose of diethylnitrosamine (DEN, 200 mg/kg) while groups G7 and G8 received only 0.9% NaCl (DEN vehicle).