Publications by authors named "D P Lage"
The diagnosis of tegumentary leishmaniasis (TL) presents problems by the variable sensitivity and specificity of the tests, and the biological samples used are also invasive. Here, ELISA experiments were performed using paired TL patient urine and serum samples in reaction against the recombinant LiHyS protein, a predicted B cell epitope and parasite antigenic extract (SLA). Two hundred and five paired samples were used, which were provided by TL patients, healthy controls and patients with Chagas disease, leprosy, malaria or HIV-infected.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFVisceral leishmaniasis (VL) is a tropical disease that can be fatal if acute and untreated. Diagnosis is difficult, the treatment is toxic and prophylactic vaccines do not exist. parasites express hundreds of proteins and several of them are relevant for the host's immune system.
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- * A promising derivative was identified that not only induced cell death in the parasite but also altered cell signaling and protein profiles, suggesting it disrupts the parasite's bioenergetic system and promotes autophagic cell death.
- * Additionally, this compound demonstrated anti-inflammatory properties by reducing immune responses in host cells and showed a favorable pharmacokinetic profile in rats, supporting its potential as a lead candidate for future treatments.
Article Synopsis
- The study focuses on developing a serum- and urine-based ELISA test for diagnosing tegumentary leishmaniasis (TL) to overcome limitations of current diagnostic tests, like sensitivity and the need for blood collection.
- It uses various antigens, including a recombinant protein and a synthetic peptide, and evaluates 205 samples from different groups, showing high specificity (around 98%) but low sensitivity (ranging from 24% to 100% depending on the antigen used).
- The findings indicate that urine could be a viable alternative for diagnosing TL, with significant drops in antibody levels noted after treatment, potentially offering a new prognostic tool.
To break the cycle of "rehabbed to death" in oncology, we must focus on improving communication and care coordination.
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