Latency-associated DNA methylation patterns among HIV-1 infected individuals with distinct disease progression courses or antiretroviral virologic response.

DNA methylation is one of the epigenetic modifications that configures gene transcription programs. This study describes the DNA methylation profile of HIV-infected individuals with distinct characteristics related to natural and artificial viremia control. Sheared DNA from circulating mononuclear cells was subjected to target enrichment bisulfite sequencing designed to cover CpG-rich genomic regions.

Is Hepatitis Delta infections important in Brazil?

Background: The Hepatitis Delta Virus (HDV) can increase the incidence of fulminant hepatitis. For this infection occurs, the host must also be infected with Hepatitis B Virus. Previous studies demonstrated the endemicity and near exclusivity of this infection in the Amazon region, and as a consequence of the difficulty in accessing this area we used dried blood spots (DBS) in sample collection.

Detection of lamivudine-resistant variants and mutations related to reduced antigenicity of HBsAg in individuals from the cities of Santos and São Paulo, Brazil.

Background: Continuous long-term treatment is recommended to reduce the hepatitis B virus (HBV) viral load. However, as a consequence, resistance mutations can emerge and be transmitted to other individuals. The polymerase (POL) gene overlaps the surface (S) gene.