Publications by authors named "Maria R Vicente-Romero"
Whole Sequencing and Detailed Analysis of SARS-CoV-2 Genomes in Southeast Spain: Identification of Recurrent Mutations in the 20E (EU1) Variant with Some Clinical Implications.
Diseases
March 2023
Article Synopsis
- The study analyzes 88 SARS-CoV-2 genomes from COVID-19 patients at "Reina Sofía" Hospital in Spain between October 2020 and April 2021 to track emerging variants and mutations.
- It notes that the 20E (EU1) variant was predominant at 71.6%, while the Alpha variant was rising at 14.8%, with concerning mutations found in the spike protein of some 20E genomes.
- Statistical analysis indicates a significant correlation between the age of patients and the severity of COVID-19 symptoms, particularly in samples with more genetic mutations.
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV 2), is usually associated with a wide variety of clinical presentations from asymptomatic to severe cases. The use of saliva as a diagnostic and monitoring fluid has gained importance since it can be used to investigate the immune response and to direct quantification of antibodies against COVID-19. Additionally, the use of proteomics in saliva has allowed to increase our understanding of the underlying pathophysiology of diseases, bringing new perspectives on diagnostics, monitoring, and treatment.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFHigh ferritin serum levels can be found in patients with macrophage activation syndrome, and increased serum ferritin due to cytokine storm have been reported in severe COVID-19 patients. Saliva is being increasingly used in COVID-19 tests as a diagnostic sample for virus detection and quantification. This study aimed to evaluate the possible changes in ferritin in saliva in COVID-19 patients.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjectives: To evaluate four sample treatments in a safe and straightforward procedure to detect SARS-CoV-2 in saliva.
Methods: Four sample treatments were evaluated in a 3-step procedure to detect SARS-CoV-2 in saliva: 1) heating at 95 °C for 5 min for sample inactivation; 2) sample treatment; 3) analysis by reverse-transcription loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP). Saliva samples used were from infected individuals or were spiked with known quantities of viral particles.
Analytical validation of an automated assay for the measurement of adenosine deaminase (ADA) and its isoenzymes in saliva and a pilot evaluation of their changes in patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection.
Clin Chem Lab Med
August 2021
Objectives: The aim of the present study was to validate a commercially available automated assay for the measurement of total adenosine deaminase (tADA) and its isoenzymes (ADA1 and ADA2) in saliva in a fast and accurate way, and evaluate the possible changes of these analytes in individuals with SARS-CoV-2 infection.
Methods: The validation, in addition to the evaluation of precision and accuracy, included the analysis of the effects of the main procedures that are currently being used for SARS-CoV-2 inactivation in saliva and a pilot study to evaluate the possible changes in salivary tADA and isoenzymes in individuals infected with SARS-CoV-2.
Results: The automated assay proved to be accurate and precise, with intra- and inter-assay coefficients of variation below 8.