In vitro anticancer effect of venom from Cuban scorpion Rhopalurus junceus against a panel of human cancer cell lines.

In Cuba the endemic species of scorpion Rhopalurus junceus has been used in traditional medicine for cancer treatment. However, there is little scientific evidence about its potential in cancer therapy. The effect of a range of scorpion venom concentrations (0.

[Biological properties of virus dengue-3 strains isolated during the epidemic ocurred in Havana, 2001-2002].

Introduction: During dengue epidemics in Cuba, an increase in clinical severity with the epidemics progression in time, particularly in secondary infections, have been frequently observed. It is considered that this increase could be related with genetic changes in the circulating virus.

Objective: To study some biological attributes related to strains isolated at different points of time during the dengue epidemic occurred in Havana city, 2001-2002.

[Dengue virus serotype 2 strains isolated from the epidemic occurred in Santiago de Cuba in 1997].

Introduction: during the Cuban epidemic that occurred in Santiago de Cuba in 1997, there was observed increasing severity in the course of time, in terms of proportion of serious dengue haemorrhagic cases and deaths that could be due to the emergence of escape mutants to neutralization with greater virulent potential.

Objective: to study some biological attributes of a group of strains isolated at different points of time during the Santiago de Cuba epidemic in 1997.

Methods: nine DENV-2 strains were studied.

[Contribution of the National Influenza Laboratory to confront the 2009 pandemic influenza in Cuba].

Introduction: Acute respiratory infections are considered the most important causes of morbidity and mortality around the world. These infections became more significant when associated to epidemics and pandemic events caused by influenza virus. The need for global surveillance of influenza viruses was recognized as early as 1947 and led to the establishment of the World Health Organization (WHO) Global Influenza Surveillance Network (GISN).

[Standarization of the plaque-reduction neutralization technique in Vero cells for dengue virus testing].

Introduction: the standard plaque reduction neutralization technique has been performed in BHK-21 cells for more than 20 years in Cuba to determine the neutralizing antibodies to dengue. At the end of 2007, the WHO implemented a program to harmonize this technique at all the laboratories worldwide.

Objectives: the present study was aimed at standardizing the plaque-reduction neutralization technique in Vero cells from the Cultural Lab of"Pedro Kouri" Tropical Medicine Institute.

[Isolates of poliovirus vaccine and immune response to different doses of oral polio vaccine].

Samples of feces and sera obtained from 3-year-old children were studied to increase the knowledge about the circulations of virus vaccines during the massive campaigns. The use of the oral polio vaccine with schemes of massive campaigns allows the circulation of the virus vaccine 2 months after their completion. The use of continual vaccination schemes makes possible the circulation of the virus vaccine for longer periods of time.

Evidence for nonpoliovirus enterovirus multiplication in L20B cells.

Stool specimens collected from 1 515 healthy children following a mass vaccination campaign in Cuba were tested for poliovirus excretion using L20B cell lines. In spite of the selectivity of this cell line for polioviruses (117/129; 90.7%) some other nonpolio enteroviruses (12/129: 9.

[Evaluation of the antiviral activity of medicinal plants against the hepatitis B virus (HBV) in PLC/PRF/5 cells].

Calendula officinalis L., Psidium guajava L., Eucaliptus spp.