Publications by authors named "Elisa Pereira"

Zoonotic infections (swine-human) caused by influenza A viruses (IAVs) have been reported and linked to close contact between these species. Here, we describe eight human IAV variant infections (6 mild and 2 severe cases, including 1 death) detected in Paraná, Brazil, during 2020-2023. Genomes recovered were closely related to Brazilian swIAVs of three major lineages (1 A.

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An immunocompromised patient was infected by the SARS-CoV-2 variant of interest named Zeta (P.2) in February 2021. More than one year later, he suffered from symptomatic COVID-19 and sequencing revealed the same variant, which accumulated 23 substitutions.

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Recombination plays a crucial role in the evolution of SARS-CoV-2. The Omicron XBB* recombinant lineages are a noteworthy example, as they have been the dominant SARS-CoV-2 variant worldwide in the first half of 2023. Since November 2023, a new recombinant lineage between Omicron subvariants XBB and BA.

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Background: Diagnosis of acute kidney injury (AKI) relies on serum creatinine (SCr) changes. This study investigated if urinary aminopeptidases are early and predictive biomarkers of cardiac surgery-associated AKI (CSA-AKI).

Methods: Glutamyl aminopeptidase (GluAp), alanyl aminopeptidase (AlaAp), dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP4), proteinuria, albuminuria, N-acetyl-β--glucosaminidase (NAG), and neutrophile gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) were measured in urine samples from 44 patients at arrival in the intensive care unit (ICU) after cardiac surgery.

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Article Synopsis
  • The formamidase (FMD) enzyme is crucial for the survival of Paracoccidioides lutzii by providing a secondary nitrogen source, especially under stressful conditions.
  • Research using Galleria mellonella larvae showed that silencing the fmd gene led to reduced fungal burden, disorganized nodules, and impaired immune response.
  • The study concludes that formamidase is a significant virulence factor for P. lutzii since its absence increased the larvae's survival rate, highlighting its role in immune stimulation.
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Spontaneous rupture of the uterine artery is a rare and life-threatening cause of hemoperitoneum in pregnancy, associated with high maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality. We present a case of a 29-year-old woman, in the 36th week of gestation, with acute abdomen due to hemoperitoneum. Ultrasound revealed free fluid in the abdominal cavity, with no signs of fetal distress, and the patient was mildly hypotensive.

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Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) is an important cause of respiratory infection in humans. Severe cases are common in children ≤2 years old, immunocompromised individuals, and the elderly. In 2020, RSV infection reduced in Rio Grande do Sul (RS), southern Brazil; however, in 2021 resurgence of RSV was observed.

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Article Synopsis
  • The study investigates the spread of the Delta variant of SARS-CoV-2 in the RS state of Brazil from June to October 2021, identifying 65.3% of samples as Delta and 34.7% as Gamma.
  • It highlights the rapid introduction of the Delta variant, which accounted for over 70% of cases within nine weeks, while 99.2% of Delta sequences belonged to a specific Brazilian lineage.
  • The research emphasizes the role of genomic surveillance in tracking viral evolution and notes that the continued stability in case numbers and deaths may be attributed to factors like vaccinations and mask mandates.
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Introduction: Farnesol, derived from farnesyl pyrophosphate in the sterols biosynthetic pathway, is a molecule with three unsaturations and four possible isomers. predominantly secretes the , -farnesol (, -FOH) isomer, known for its role in regulating the virulence of various fungi species and modulating morphological transition processes. Notably, the evolutionary divergence in sterol biosynthesis between fungi, including , and trypanosomatids resulted in the synthesis of sterols with the ergostane skeleton, distinct from cholesterol.

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An ectopic pregnancy is located outside the uterus, mostly found in the fallopian tubes. The main predisposing factors are usually related to anatomical and/or functional disturbances of the fallopian tubes. Typically, an ectopic pregnancy presents with vaginal bleeding or abdominal pain in the first trimester of pregnancy, although it may be asymptomatic.

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Article Synopsis
  • This study tracked people with COVID-19 and their household contacts in Rio de Janeiro from April 2020 to June 2022, focusing on reinfections.
  • Ninety-eight reinfections were noted, with a significant number confirmed through genomic analysis; vaccination was effective against reinfection before the Omicron variant, but not afterward.
  • The results indicate that while reinfections tended to be milder, vaccines may not effectively prevent all infections, emphasizing the need for updated vaccines and regular boosters like those used for flu.
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Gestational trophoblastic neoplasia (GTN) represents a heterogeneous group of pregnancy-related tumors that usually develop from the malignant transformation of trophoblastic tissue after molar evacuation. The first presentation as an invasive mole is particularly rare. GTN is considered the most curable gynecological malignancy as most cases are treated successfully with chemotherapy agents.

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The main objective of this study was to investigate the dynamic of SARS-CoV-2 viral excretion in rectal swab (RS), saliva, and nasopharyngeal swab (NS) samples from symptomatic patients and asymptomatic contacts. In addition, in order to evaluate the replication potential of SARS-CoV-2 in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract and the excretion of infectious SARS-CoV-2 from feces, we investigated the presence of subgenomic nucleoprotein gene (N) mRNA (sgN) in RS samples and cytopathic effects in Vero cell culture. A prospective cohort study was performed to collect samples from symptomatic patients and contacts in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from May to October 2020.

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The rapid spread of the SARS-CoV-2 Variant of Concern (VOC) Gamma in Amazonas during early 2021 fueled a second large COVID-19 epidemic wave and raised concern about the potential role of reinfections. Very few cases of reinfection associated with the VOC Gamma have been reported to date, and their potential impact on clinical, immunological, and virological parameters remains largely unexplored. Here we describe 25 cases of SARS-CoV-2 reinfection in Brazil.

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Recombination events have been described in the Coronaviridae family. Since the beginning of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, a variable degree of selection pressure has acted upon the virus, generating new strains with increased fitness in terms of viral transmission and antibody scape. Most of the SC2 variants of concern (VOC) detected so far carry a combination of key amino acid changes and indels.

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The present study investigated a SARS-CoV-2 infection in placenta and fetal samples from an early pregnancy miscarriage in Midwest Brazil. The Gamma variant was isolated and fully sequenced from the placenta sample, but not from fetal samples. Our findings highlight potential adverse perinatal outcomes caused by SARS-CoV-2 Gamma infection during pregnancy.

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Article Synopsis
  • SARS-CoV-2 has infected nearly 200 million people globally by July 2021, with varying viral lineages influencing the pandemic's progression.
  • Coinfection of individuals with different SARS-CoV-2 lineages could change how COVID-19 develops and lead to new viral variants, but has been hard to study due to low lineage diversity and limited data.
  • A study analyzed Brazilian samples over a year and revealed 9 cases of coinfection (about 0.61% of those sampled), indicating this is rare but suggests even more could exist that are difficult to detect due to similarities among lineages.
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One of the most remarkable severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) variants of concern (VOC) features is the significant number of mutations they acquired. However, the specific factors that drove the emergence of such variants since the second half of 2020 are not fully resolved. In this study, we describe a new SARS-CoV-2 P.

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Deemed a variant of concern by the World Health Organization on June 15, the Lambda variant of SARS-CoV-2 is a growing epidemiological threat in several South American countries, and initial results suggest it exhibits increased infectivity and immune escape qualities. Here, we present evidence of its multiple introductions in Brazil.

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Neobenedenia melleni, a marine fish ectoparasite, is responsible for considerable losses in the mariculture industry. In maintaining the parasite's homeostasis, sterols are structural and functional lipids that perform vital functions. Thus, understanding the mechanisms of biosynthesis and the uptake of sterols can reveal potential pharmacological targets.

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an endemic plant of Ethiopia, is traditionally used to cure various diseases and as a food ingredient. In the Ethiopian folk medicine, the decoction is orally taken as a remedy to treat diabetes and high blood pressure. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the antioxidant and antihyperglycemic effects of the aqueous extract and of the essential oil of .

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Considering the low availability of gluten-free products that are offered an affordable price and good sensory characteristics, the main objective of the study was developed a gluten-free muffin based on green banana flour and evaluate their physical-chemical and sensorial aspects. The quality of the muffin was analyzed through such moisture content, ashes, proteins, lipids, fiber, carbohydrates, total caloric content, yield mass, weight loss in the supply, antioxidant activity, protein digestibility, and hedonic scale. The results showed that the gluten-free muffin had a moisture content of 26.

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Introduction: Giardia duodenalis, a unicellular, eukaryotic, and flagellated protozoan, presents two evolutionary forms in its life cycle, namely, trophozoites and cysts. It causes diarrhea in humans, dogs, cats, rodents, and ungulates. Despite being morphologically similar, the isolates of G.

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Although many hypotheses have been proposed to explain why humans speak so many languages and why languages are unevenly distributed across the globe, the factors that shape geographical patterns of cultural and linguistic diversity remain poorly understood. Prior research has tended to focus on identifying universal predictors of language diversity, without accounting for how local factors and multiple predictors interact. Here, we use a unique combination of path analysis, mechanistic simulation modelling, and geographically weighted regression to investigate the broadly described, but poorly understood, spatial pattern of language diversity in North America.

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Protozoa parasites are responsible for several diseases in tropical countries, such as malaria, sleeping sickness, Chagas disease, leishmaniasis, amebiasis, and giardiasis, which together threaten millions of people around the world. In addition, most of the classic parasitic diseases due to protozoa are zoonotic. Understanding the biology of these organisms plays a relevant role in combating these diseases.

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