Publications by authors named "Maria Claudia Silva"
Drastic reduction in the notification of acute cases of Chagas disease in the Northeast region of Brazil. Epidemiological evaluation in the period 2001-2021.
Acta Trop
August 2024
Article Synopsis
- * A study analyzing the Notifiable Diseases Information System (SINAN) from 2001 to 2021 found 1,444 cases of acute CD in Northeast Brazil, with significant notification drops in the second period of the study.
- * The majority of cases involved Afro-Brazilian adults, with a shift in infection routes from mainly vector-borne transmission in the first period to oral transmission in the second, highlighting ongoing public health challenges in the region.
Article Synopsis
- Chagas disease, sleeping sickness, and malaria are serious infections caused by protozoan parasites that affect millions globally.
- In an experiment, synthetic polyalanine peptides were tested for their effectiveness against these parasites, showing that two specific peptides inhibited growth significantly.
- Structural analysis revealed that one peptide interacts more deeply with cell membranes, suggesting different mechanisms of action, which supports the idea of using these peptides as potential treatments for sleeping sickness.
Article Synopsis
- Chagas disease (ChD) is caused by the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, which has seven genetic groups; this study focused on understanding how these groups relate to chronic Chagas cardiomyopathy (CCC) in Brazilian patients.
- The research involved clinically assessing 330 patients and conducting DNA extraction and genotyping, finding that the majority of positive cases had the TcII and TcVI genotypes.
- The study highlighted that TcII is the most prevalent genotype among CCC patients in Brazil, supporting previous research on genetic variability and its potential impact on the disease's clinical forms.
Article Synopsis
- ApoE is essential for transporting lipoproteins in the liver, and its deficiency leads to atherosclerosis in mice, especially as they age.
- Infection with Trypanosoma cruzi, a protozoan that induces strong inflammation, exacerbates atherosclerosis in ApoE-knockout mice, with increased inflammation markers and cell migration to the heart observed.
- The study indicates that ApoE has a protective effect against atherosclerosis during acute T. cruzi infection, particularly with the Colombian strain, suggesting that targeted interventions could help reduce cardiovascular risks in affected individuals.
Synonymous mutation rs1129293 is associated with PIK3CG expression and PI3Kγ activation in patients with chronic Chagas cardiomyopathy.
Immunobiology
September 2022
Article Synopsis
- Synonymous mutations (sSNPs) were once thought to be functionally insignificant, but recent studies indicate they can impact protein expression by influencing transcription and mRNA stability.
- In Chagas disease, the rs1129293 sSNP in the PIK3CG gene is linked to chronic Chagas cardiomyopathy, affecting the development of this condition.
- Research showed that rs1129293 is associated with reduced PIK3CG mRNA levels and AKT phosphorylation in cardiac tissue, implicating this sSNP in the disease's underlying mechanisms.
Article Synopsis
- * A study evaluated 181 CCC patients and found that 77.3% had a preserved left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), while the rest showed LV dysfunction.
- * Results indicated a large variability in parasite load, with a higher parasite load associated with lower LVEF, suggesting a direct relation between parasite levels and heart function in CCC patients.
Article Synopsis
- Chagas disease, caused by a protozoan parasite, affects 6-7 million people, primarily in Latin America, and this study examines how different types of fat in diets impact infection in mice.
- Mice were fed either a monounsaturated (olive oil) or saturated (lard) diet before being infected with a strain of the parasite; results showed that the lard diet led to increased parasitic load and inflammation in heart and fat tissues.
- The study found that the lard diet was linked to altered liver antioxidant levels and increased inflammatory response in cardiac tissue, suggesting that the type of dietary lipids can influence parasite growth and immune response.
Article Synopsis
- The study investigates the genetic variability within the discrete typing unit (DTU) TcV of the parasite that causes Chagas disease in Bolivian patients living in Barcelona, Spain.
- It analyzes DNA extracted from 27 patients and reveals three distinct genetic groups with significant intragroup genetic diversity.
- The findings suggest that specific alleles of the parasite may be linked to the indeterminate form of Chagas disease, highlighting the importance of identifying genetic markers connected to the disease's clinical manifestations.
Article Synopsis
- Chagas disease is caused by the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, which can lead to severe heart issues in some infected individuals, particularly during the chronic phase.
- Most people infected with Chagas disease show no symptoms, but some may develop chronic chagasic cardiomyopathy, a serious form affecting the heart.
- Research has found that certain genotypes (PIK3CG CT and TT) are linked to a higher risk of developing this cardiac form, indicating that the T allele could play a role in distinguishing between types of Chagas disease manifestations.
Modulation of ERG Genes Expression in Clinical Isolates of Candida tropicalis Susceptible and Resistant to Fluconazole and Itraconazole.
Mycopathologia
August 2020
Article Synopsis
- Candida tropicalis, a type of yeast causing candidosis mainly in Brazil, shows concerning drug resistance patterns that are not well understood.* -
- This study examined clinical isolates of C. tropicalis, finding that resistance to the antifungal drugs Fluconazole and Itraconazole primarily involves up-regulation of ERG genes rather than efflux pump genes.* -
- Resistant strains maintain higher expression levels of ERG6 and ERG11 genes for extended periods after treatment with azole drugs compared to susceptible strains.*
The granulomatous lesion resulting from infection with the fungus Paracoccidioides brasiliensis is characterized by a compact aggregate of mature cells, surrounded by a fibroblast- and collagen-rich content. Granuloma formation requires signaling elicited by inflammatory molecules such as members of the interleukin-1 family. Two members of this family have been thoroughly studied, namely IL-1α and IL-1β.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPotential role of zinc in the visceromegaly regression and recovery of hematological parameters during treatment of visceral leishmaniasis in children from an endemic area.
Rev Inst Med Trop Sao Paulo
October 2018
Leishmaniasis is a disease complex with various clinical symptoms caused by different species of parasites of the genus Leishmania. The visceral form of the disease, characterized by severe symptoms is fatal, if not treated. The high toxicity of current antileishmanial drugs and the need for long-term treatment make the therapy complicated, especially in a large number of infected children.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe identification of anti-inflammatory mediators can reveal important targetable molecules capable of counterbalancing -induced myocarditis. Composed of Ebi3 and IL-27p28 subunits, IL-27 is produced by myeloid cells and is able to suppress inflammation by inducing IL-10-producing Tr1 cells, thus emerging as a potential candidate to ameliorate cardiac inflammation induced by . Although IL-27 has been extensively characterized as a suppressive cytokine that prevents liver immunopathogenesis after infection, the mechanisms underlying its effects on -induced myocarditis remain largely unknown.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFDoxycycline and Benznidazole Reduce the Profile of Th1, Th2, and Th17 Chemokines and Chemokine Receptors in Cardiac Tissue from Chronic -Infected Dogs.
Mediators Inflamm
September 2016
Chemokines (CKs) and chemokine receptors (CKR) promote leukocyte recruitment into cardiac tissue infected by the . This study investigated the long-term treatment with subantimicrobial doses of doxycycline (Dox) in association, or not, with benznidazole (Bz) on the expression of CK and CKR in cardiac tissue. Thirty mongrel dogs were infected, or not, with the Berenice-78 strain of and grouped according their treatments: (i) two months after infection, Dox (50 mg/kg) 2x/day for 12 months; (ii) nine months after infection, Bz (3,5 mg/kg) 2x/day for 60 days; (iii) Dox + Bz; and (iv) vehicle.
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