Back to Basics: Unraveling the Fundamentals of Lateral Flow Assays.

Background: Lateral flow assay (LFA) is a rapid analytical technique that has been implemented as a point-of-care approach for analyte detection. Given the rapid expansion of the use of LFA as a point-of-care testing strategy, LFA development has been subjected to extensive research, which has resulted in upgraded designs and technologies, improving levels of specificity and costs associated with manufacturing. This has allowed LFA to become an important option in rapid testing while maintaining appropriate limits of detection for accurate diagnoses.

Molecular Diagnosis as an Alternative for Public Health Surveillance of Leptospirosis in Colombia.

Leptospirosis represents a public health problem in Colombia. However, the underreporting of the disease is an unfortunate reality, with a clear trend towards a decrease in cases since 2019, when the guidelines for its confirmatory diagnosis changed with the requirement of two paired samples. The purpose of this review is to highlight the importance of leptospirosis.

Bio-SELEX: A Strategy for Biomarkers Isolation Directly from Biological Samples.

Bio-SELEX is a revolutionary method for the discovery of novel biomarkers within biological samples, offering profound insights into diagnosing both infectious and non-infectious diseases. This innovative strategy involves three crucial steps: Traditional SELEX, Pull Down, and mass spectrometry. Firstly, Traditional SELEX involves the systematic selection of specific nucleic acid sequences (aptamers) that bind to the target molecules of interest.

Biomarkers for the diagnosis, treatment follow-up, and prediction of cardiac complications in Chagas disease in chronic phase: Recent advances.

Chagas disease is caused by the Trypanosoma cruzi parasite and is transmitted by infected triatomine bugs. This infection affects approximately 8 million people in the Americas, and due to globalisation and displacement, it is becoming increasingly common to find infected patients worldwide. Diagnosis of the disease in its acute form is relatively simple, as the parasite can be detected in peripheral blood smears, and symptoms are visible.

Evaluation of three proteins involved in the adhesion process as antigens for the detection of bovine intramammary infections.

. Fast and accurate diagnosis is one of the key strategies in the successful control of intramammary infections caused by . Immunoassays are one of the diagnostic tools that have been proposed for the detection of infection because they offer an advantage in terms of cost and are fast and easy to use compared to other diagnostic tests.

Epidemiological and Molecular Characterization of Infection in Children Attending Daycare Centers in Medellín, Colombia.

Background: The present study aims to perform an epidemiological and molecular characterization of infection in a child population attending daycare centers of Medellín, Colombia.

Methods: A total of 265 children aged 0-5 years were enrolled in five children's centers in urban sectors of Medellín, northwestern Colombia. Stool samples were taken to identify intestinal parasites by direct examination, Ritchie-Frick concentration, and molecular identification of by conventional PCR and subtype (ST) identification by PCR barcoding with subsequent phylogenetic reconstruction.

Immunoproteomics characterization of Leishmania panamensis proteins for potential clinical diagnosis of mucosal Leishmaniasis.

Diagnosis of leishmaniasis based on antibodies detection represents a challenge due to cross-reaction of sera with other infectious agents, which co-exist in endemic areas of Leishmania sp, especially patients with Trypanosoma cruzi. This work is aimed at searching for immunogenic proteins in sera from patients with cutaneous and mucosal leishmaniasis that may be potential candidates for the development of diagnostic tests and/or vaccines that help control the infection. Total protein extracts of L.

Current Advances in the Development of Diagnostic Tests based on Aptamers in Parasitology: A Systematic Review.

Aptamers are single-stranded DNA or RNA sequences of 20-80 nucleotides that interact with different targets such as: proteins, ions, viruses, or toxins, through non-covalent interactions and their unique three-dimensional conformation. They are obtained in vitro by the systematic evolution of ligands by exponential enrichment (SELEX). Because of their ability of target recognition with high specificity and affinity, aptamers are usually compared to antibodies.

Biliary Tract Carcinogenesis Model Based on Bile Metaproteomics.

To analyze human and bacteria proteomic profiles in bile, exposed to a tumor vs. non-tumor microenvironment, in order to identify differences between these conditions, which may contribute to a better understanding of pancreatic carcinogenesis. Using liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry, human and bacterial proteomic profiles of a total of 20 bile samples (7 from gallstone (GS) patients, and 13 from pancreatic head ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) patients) that were collected during surgery and taken directly from the gallbladder, were compared.

Diagnosis of human and canine infection: development and evaluation of indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays using recombinant proteins.

, a Gram-negative coccobacilli belonging to the genus , is a pathogenic bacterium that can produce infections in dogs and humans. Multiple studies have been carried out to develop diagnostic techniques to detect all zoonotic . Diagnosis of infection is challenging due to the lack of highly specific and sensitive diagnostic assays.

Gallbladder microbiota variability in Colombian gallstones patients.

Introduction: Gallbladder stones are a very frequently occurring condition. Despite bile bactericidal activity, many bacteria have been detected inside the gallbladder, and gallstones facilitate their presence. Between 3% and 5% of the patients with Salmonella spp.

Detection of Salmonella human carriers in Colombian outbreak areas.

Introduction: Salmonellosis, a zoonotic and foodborne disease, is a public health problem in developing countries. With the aim of identifying human carriers of Salmonella, a survey was performed in five regions of Colombia with reported salmonellosis outbreaks.

Methodology: The general population and cholecystectomy surgical patients were included in this study.

Comparison of Brucella canis genomes isolated from different countries shows multiple variable regions.

Brucella canis is a pathogenic bacterium for dogs and its zoonotic potential has been increasing in recent years. In this study, we report the sequencing, annotation and analysis of the genome of Brucella canis strain Oliveri isolated from a dog in a breeding kennel in Medellín, Colombia, South America. Whole genome shotgun sequencing was carried out using the ROCHE 454 GS FLX Titanium technology at the National Center for Genomic Sequencing-CNSG in Medellin, Colombia.

[Factors associated with Brucella canis seropositivity in kennels of two regions of Antioquia, Colombia].

The objectives of this study were to determine Brucella canis seroprevalence in dogs and in humans living near kennels and to explore risk factors associated with seropositivity. Twenty kennels were included in a serological survey with RSAT-2ME, and samples were collected from 428 dogs and 91 humans. An interview was applied to determine risk factors, and the data were analyzed using logistic regression.

Identification of the virB operon genes encoding the type IV secretion system, in Colombian Brucella canis isolates.

Canine brucellosis is a zoonotic disease caused by Brucella canis. The establishment of intracellular replicative niches of B. canis is mediated by proteins secreted by the type IV secretion system, which is encoded by the virB operon.

Salmonella enterica in semi-aquatic turtles in Colombia.

Introduction: Turtles can be hosts of Salmonella enterica serovars which can cause disease both in the animals themselves and in people they come into contact with, especially when the turtles are kept as pets. To investigate the prevalence of Salmonella in turtles in Colombia, we studied animals at a wildlife protection centre. The turtles had either been confiscated or donated to the centre.

Distribution of pathogenicity islands among Colombian isolates of Salmonella.

Introduction: Salmonella pathogenicity islands (SPIs) are regions scattered along the bacterial chromosome, with an acknowledged pivotal role during gastrointestinal and systemic infection. The distribution of SPIs has been investigated in reference strains. However, there is a lack of studies on their presence and/or assortment within the genomes of Salmonella enterica (S.

Development and evaluation of a multiplex real-time polymerase chain reaction procedure to clinically type prevalent Salmonella enterica serovars.

A multiplex real-time polymerase chain reaction procedure was developed to identify the most prevalent clinical isolates of Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica. Genes from the rfb, fliC, fljB, and viaB groups that encode the O, H, and Vi antigens were used to design 15 primer pairs and TaqMan probes specific for the genes rfbJ, wzx, fliC, fljB, wcdB, the sdf-l sequence, and invA, which was used as an internal amplification control.

Development and evaluation of a multiplex polymerase chain reaction assay to identify Salmonella serogroups and serotypes.

To improve limitations of Salmonella serotyping, 2 multiplex polymerase chain reaction (M-PCR) were developed using a strategy that identifies first the genes encoding serogroups (rfbJ, wzx). According to the serogroup determined, a second M-PCR identifies serotype (fliC, fljB, wcdB, and sdf-I sequence). Standardization and evaluation of both M-PCRs were carried out.

[Characterization of two typhoid fever outbreaks in Apartadó, Antioquia, 2005].

Introduction: The characterization of typhoid fever outbreaks is important because it is necessary to find the source of the infection and development control measures.

Objective: A typhoid fever outbreak is described from Apartadó and the Salmonella Typhi isolates characterized by phenotypic and genotypic methods.

Materials And Methods: From 44 patients, 15 blood cultures and 7 stools cultures were recovered.