Long-term chronic infection of a young immunocompromised patient by the SARS-CoV-2 P.2 VOI.

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.

Quadrivalent HPV (4vHPV) vaccine immunogenicity and safety in women using immunosuppressive drugs due to solid organ transplant.

Introduction: Immunocompromised persons are at high risk of persistent Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) infection and associated diseases. Few studies evaluated HPV vaccines in immunocompromised persons. This study aimed to evaluate the quadrivalent HPV vaccine (4vHPV) immunogenicity and safety in solid organ transplant (SOT) recipients, in comparison to immunocompetent women (IC).

COVID-19 in hematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients during three years of the pandemic: a multicenter study in Brazil.

Hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) recipients are at -increased risk for severe COVID-19. The aim of this study was to evaluate the burden of COVID-19 in a cohort of HSCT recipients. This retrospective study evaluated a cohort of adult hospitalized HSCT recipients diagnosed with COVID-19 in two large hospitals in São Paulo, Brazil post-HSCT, from January 2020 to June 2022.

Rapid viral metagenomics using SMART-9N amplification and nanopore sequencing.

Emerging and re-emerging viruses are a global health concern. Genome sequencing as an approach for monitoring circulating viruses is currently hampered by complex and expensive methods. Untargeted, metagenomic nanopore sequencing can provide genomic information to identify pathogens, prepare for or even prevent outbreaks.

SARS-CoV-2 BA.1 and BA.2 coinfection detected by genomic surveillance in Brazil, January 2022.

In January 2022, our genomic surveillance network identified a SARS-CoV-2 BA.1 and BA.2 coinfection in a sample from a patient residing in Brazil.

Early Emergence and Dispersal of Delta SARS-CoV-2 Lineage AY.99.2 in Brazil.

The year of 2021 was marked by the emergence and dispersal of a number of SARS-CoV-2 lineages, resulting in the "third wave" of COVID-19 in several countries despite the level of vaccine coverage. Soon after the first confirmed cases of COVID-19 by the Delta variant in Brazil, at least seven Delta sub-lineages emerged, including the globally spread AY.101 and AY.

Ultrasensitive molecular tests for detection: applicability in control and elimination programs and reference laboratories.

Objective: To evaluate molecular tools to detect low-level parasitemia and the five species of that infect humans for use in control and elimination programs, and in reference laboratories.

Methods: We evaluated 145 blood samples from patients who tested positive by nested polymerase chain reaction (nPCR), from asymptomatic individuals and from the WHO Global Malaria Programme/United Kingdom National External Quality Assessment Service. Samples were assayed using the genus-specific RealStar Malaria PCR Kit 1.

Human Papillomavirus (HPV) seroprevalence, cervical HPV prevalence, genotype distribution and cytological lesions in solid organ transplant recipients and immunocompetent women in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Introduction: Solid organ transplant (SOT) recipients are at increased risk of Human Papillomavirus (HPV) persistent infection and disease. This study aimed to evaluate HPV seroprevalence, cervical HPV prevalence, genotype distribution, and frequency of HPV-related cervical lesions in SOT recipients in comparison to immunocompetent women.

Methods: Cross-sectional study including SOT and immunocompetent women aged 18 to 45 years who denied previous HPV-related lesions.

Dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 Variants of Concern in Brazil, Early 2021.

Brazil is the country with the second-largest number of deaths due to the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19). Two variants of concern (VOCs), Alpha (B.1.

Hydroxychloroquine plus azithromycin early treatment of mild COVID-19 in an outpatient setting: a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled clinical trial evaluating viral clearance.

Background: Hydroxychloroquine has shown potential to block viral replication of SARS-CoV-2 in some in vitro studies. This randomised, double-blinded, placebo controlled clinical trial evaluated the efficacy of hydroxychloroquine plus azithromycin (HCQ/AZT) in reducing viral loads in patients with early and mild SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Methods: A single-centre randomised placebo-controlled clinical trial was conducted with outpatients with early and mild SARS-CoV-2 infection.

SARS-CoV-2 saliva testing is a useful tool for Covid-19 diagnosis.

SARS-CoV-2 is the etiologic agent of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and is mainly detected by RT-PCR methods from upper respiratory specimens, as recommended by the World Health Organization. Oro/nasopharyngeal swabbing can be discomfortable to the patients, requires trained healthcare personnel and may generate aerosol, increasing the risk of nosocomial infections. In this study, we describe two SARS-CoV-2 RNA extraction-free single RT-PCR protocols on saliva samples and compared the results with the paired oro/nasopharyngeal swab specimens from 400 patients.

Zika virus RNA detection in blood donors in São Paulo, Brazil.

Introduction: The Zika Virus (ZIKV) is a single-stranded RNA genome virus, belonging to the family Flaviviridae, genus Flavivirus. Outbreaks around the world have demonstrated that the presence of asymptomatic viremic blood donors provides an increase in the risk of transfusion transmission (TT) and nucleic acid test (NAT) screening has been proposed to ensure the blood safety. This study implemented an "in-house" method to detect ZIKV RNA in blood sample donations.

High prevalence of anal high-risk HPV infection among transwomen: estimates from a Brazilian RDS study.

Introduction: As the leading sexually transmitted infection worldwide, human papillomavirus (HPV) may disproportionately affect transwomen. We aimed to estimate anal HPV prevalence, especially focusing on high-risk (hr)-HPV types and evaluate their associated factors among transwomen living in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Methods: Transwomen enrolled in a respondent-driven sampling (RDS)-based survey conducted between August 2015 and January 2016 self-collected anal samples, which were promptly stored at minus 80°C.

Performance evaluation of the fully automated molecular system Alinity m in a high-throughput central laboratory.

Background: New partially or fully automated molecular diagnostic testing platforms are being developed to address the growing demand for fast, accurate, and cost-effective testing.

Objectives: To evaluate the analytical and clinical performance of the Alinity m system compared to the Abbott RealTime m2000 assay system in a large central molecular laboratory.

Study Design: Alinity m HIV-1, HCV, and HBV assay precision, reproducibility, and sensitivity were assessed using commercial customized dilution panels.

Occult and active hepatitis B virus detection in donated blood in São Paulo, Brazil.

Background: The present study determined the HBV antigen, antibody, and DNA status in blood donations deemed to be HBV positive. Individuals with an occult HBV infection (OBI), defined as being positive for HBV DNA but negative for HBV surface antigen (HBsAg), as well as those with active infection (HBsAg-positive), were identified and characterized.

Study Design And Methods: From a total pool if 198,363 blood donations, we evaluated in a cross-sectional study, 1106 samples that were positive in screening tests for antibody to HBV core antigen (HBcAb), HBsAg, and/or HBV DNA by nucleic acid testing (NAT-HBV).

, , and polymorphisms in cervical insufficiency.

Objectives: To investigate the association between selected single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) with cervical insufficiency and its relationship with obstetric history.

Methods: Twenty-eight women with cervical insufficiency (case group) and 29 non-pregnant women (control group) were included. The SNPs sequenced included rs2586490 in collagen type I alpha 1 chain (), rs1882435 in collagen type IV alpha 3 chain (), rs2277698 in metallopeptidase inhibitor 2 (), and rs1800468 in transforming growth factor beta 1 ().

Local Transmission of SARS-CoV-2 Lineage B.1.1.7, Brazil, December 2020.

In December 2020, research surveillance detected the B.1.1.

Detection and analysis of blood donors seropositive for syphilis.

Background: The increasing incidence of syphilis worldwide has called attention to the risk of transmission by transfusion.

Aims: To determine the prevalence of active syphilis in blood donors and characterise the serological profile of syphilis-positive donors.

Methods: Samples positive for Treponema pallidum using the chemiluminescent microparticle immunoassay (CMIA) during blood donor screening from 2017 to 2018 were tested by the Venereal Disease Research Laboratory (VDRL) non-treponemal test and for anti-T.

The hidden Plasmodium malariae in blood donors: a risk coming from areas of low transmission of malaria.

Malaria is an infectious vector-borne disease with other important routes of transmission, such as blood transfusion and organ/tissue transplantation, due to asymptomatic reservoirs of Plasmodium presenting with low parasitemia. Reports of transfusion-transmitted malaria have shown that in immunosuppressed recipients, infections can be fatal if they are not diagnosed and timely treated. All Plasmodium species can survive on blood components at temperatures from 2 to 6 °C for some days or even weeks.

Attendance for diagnostic colposcopy among high-risk human papillomavirus positive women in a Brazilian feasibility study.

Objective: To investigate factors associated with colposcopy attendance in HPV-positive women in São Paulo, Brazil.

Methods: We analyzed data from a prospective cohort of women positive for high-risk HPV (hr-HPV) undergoing cervical cancer screening in primary care services in São Paulo, Brazil. Non-pregnant women attending routine screening between December 2014 and March 2016 were offered an hr-HPV test, and those testing positive and aged 25 years or older were invited for colposcopy.