The evolving epidemiology of rotavirus A infection in Brazil a decade after the introduction of universal vaccination with Rotarix®.

Background: Brazil introduced the monovalent rotavirus vaccine (Rotarix®) in 2006. This study aimed to assess the epidemiology and genotype distribution of species-A rotavirus (RVA) in Brazil, comparing the pre- and post-vaccination periods.

Methods: Laboratory-based RVA surveillance included 866 municipalities in 22 Brazilian states, over a 21-year period.

A non-enteric adenovirus A12 gastroenteritis outbreak in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

A gastroenteritis outbreak that occurred in 2013 in a low-income community in Rio de Janeiro was investigated for the presence of enteric viruses, including species A rotavirus (RVA), norovirus (NoV), astrovirus (HAstV), bocavirus (HBoV), aichivirus (AiV), and adenovirus (HAdV). Five of nine stool samples (83%) from patients were positive for HAdV, and no other enteric viruses were detected. Polymerase chain reaction products were sequenced and subjected to phylogenetic analysis, which revealed four strains and one strain of non-enteric HAdV-A12 and HAdV-F41, respectively.

Epidemiology of rotavirus A diarrhea in Chókwè, Southern Mozambique, from February to September, 2011.

Acute diarrhea disease caused by Rotaviruses A (RVA) is still the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in children ≤5 years old in developing countries. An exploratory cross-sectional study was conducted between February and September, 2011 to determine the proportion of acute diarrhea caused by RVA. A total of 254 stool specimens were collected from children ≤5 years old with acute diarrhea, including outpatients (222 children) and inpatients (32 children), in three local health centers in Chókwè District, Gaza Province, South of Mozambique.

The role of human adenoviruses type 41 in acute diarrheal disease in Minas Gerais after rotavirus vaccination.

Human adenovirus species F (HAdV-F) type 40 and 41 are commonly associated with acute diarrheal disease (ADD) across the world. Despite being the largest state in southeastern Brazil and having the second largest number of inhabitants, there is no information in the State of Minas Gerais regarding the role of HAdV-F in the etiology of ADD. This study was performed to determine the prevalence, to verify the epidemiological aspects of infection, and to characterize the strains of human adenoviruses (HAdV) detected.

Aichi Virus Positivity in HIV-1 Seropositive Children Hospitalized with Diarrheal Disease.

Aichi viruses (AiV) have been detected in patients with diarrheal diseases (DD). The aim of this study was to assess AiV infection rates in hospitalized children with DD, including 123 HIV-1 seropositive and 125 HIV-1 seronegative patients, in two public pediatric hospitals in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. AiV was investigated by nested RT-PCR.

G1P[8] species A rotavirus over 27 years--pre- and post-vaccination eras--in Brazil: full genomic constellation analysis and no evidence for selection pressure by Rotarix® vaccine.

Epidemiological data on species A rotavirus (RVA) infections have demonstrated the genetic diversity of strains circulating worldwide. Many G and P genotype combinations have been described over the years, varying regionally and temporally, especially in developing countries. However, the most common G and P genotype combinations identified in RVA human strains worldwide are G1P[8], G2P[4], G3P[8], G4P[8] and G9P[8].

Prevalence and genomic characterization of G2P[4] group A rotavirus strains during monovalent vaccine introduction in Brazil.

This study aims to: estimate the prevalence of G2P[4] rotaviruses in Brazil between 2001-2011 from patients with acute gastroenteritis; perform phylogenetic analyses of G2P[4] Brazilian strains (from vaccinated and non-vaccinated children) based on VP7 and VP8(∗) encoding genes and analyze the antigenic regions of these proteins comparing with RV1; and assess the full genetic background of eleven selected Brazilian strains. The G2P[4] detection rate among RVA positive samples was 0/157 in 2001, 3/226 (1.3%) in 2002, 0/514 in 2003, 0/651 in 2004, 31/344 (9%)/2005, 112/227 (49%)/2006, 139/211 (66%)/2007, 240/284 (85%)/2008, 66/176 (37.

A decade of G3P[8] and G9P[8] rotaviruses in Brazil: epidemiology and evolutionary analyses.

This study aims to estimate the frequency of group A rotaviruses (RVA) infection with genotypes G3P[8] and G9P[8] in children that suffered from diarrheal disease (DD) between 2001 and 2011 in different Brazilian regions. In addition, the genetic diversity of G3P[8] and G9P[8] RVA strains recovered from vaccinated and non-vaccinated children was assessed. Laboratory-based RVA surveillance included 15,115 cases of DD, and RVA was detected by enzyme immune-assay and/or polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis in 3357 (22%) samples.

Distinct evolutionary origins of G12P[8] and G12P[9] group A rotavirus strains circulating in Brazil.

G12 group A rotavirus (RVA) are currently recognized as a globally emerging genotype and have been described in combination with several P-types. In Brazil, G12 RVA strains have been described in the Southern (2003) and Northern (2008-2010) regions, in combination with the P[9] and P[6] genotype, respectively. To date, few complete genomes of G12 RVA strains have been described (none from Brazilian strains), considering G12P[9] genotype just one strain, RVA/Human-tc/THA/T152/1998/G12P[9], has their 11 gene segments characterized.

Evidence of vaccine-related reassortment of rotavirus, Brazil, 2008-2010.

Analysis of 27 rotavirus strains from vaccinated and unvaccinated children revealed reassortment events in 3 strains: a gene derived from a vaccine; a gene acquired from a circulating strain; and reassortment between circulating strains. Data suggest that the widespread use of this monovalent rotavirus vaccine may introduce vaccine genes into circulating human rotaviruses or vice versa.

Molecular characterization of noroviruses and HBGA from infected Quilombola children in Espirito Santo State, Brazil.

Noroviruses (NoV) are the main etiological agents of gastroenteritis outbreaks worldwide and susceptibility to NoV infection has been related to the histo-blood group antigen (HBGA). This study aimed to determine the prevalence of NoV strains and to evaluate the HBGA phenotype and genotype of children from semi-isolated Quilombola communities, descendents of black slaves in Brazil. A total of 397 children up to eleven years old, with and without diarrhea, from Quilombola Communities in the Espirito Santo State, Brazil, were investigated for the presence of NoV from August 2007 to September 2009.

Phylogenetic analysis of G1P[6] group A rotavirus strains detected in Northeast Brazilian children fully vaccinated with Rotarix™.

In 2009 the World Health Organization recommended the use of group A rotavirus (RVA) vaccines in all national immunization programs (NIPs) in order to control severe RVA gastroenteritis disease. In Brazil, Rotarix™ was introduced in the NIP in March 2006, and a significant reduction in mortality rates among children ≤ 5 years old was observed, especially in the Northern and Northeastern Brazil. In the current study the 11 gene segments of six Brazilian G1P[6] RVA strains, isolated in 2009 and 2010 from vaccinated children, were analyzed in order to investigate if the genetic composition of these strains might help to elucidate why they were able to cause acute gastroenteritis in vaccinated children.

VP8*P[8] lineages of group A rotaviruses circulating over 20 years in Brazil: proposal of six different sub-lineages for P[8]-3 clade.

Group A rotaviruses (RVA) is the most important cause of severe gastroenteritis among children worldwide. Vaccination is considered the best alternative among public health measures to reduce and prevent the global burden caused by RVA infections. Rotarix™, a monovalent vaccine based on a human strain with a G1P[8]-1 specificity, was introduced in the National Brazilian Immunization Programs (NIP) in March, 2006.

Assessment of gastroenteric viruses frequency in a children's day care center in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil: a fifteen year study (1994-2008).

This 15-year study aimed to determine the role of the main viruses responsible for acute infantile gastroenteritis cases in a day care center in the city of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. From 1994 to 2008, 539 fecal samples were obtained from 23 outbreaks as well as sporadic cases that occurred in this period. The detection of Rotavirus group A (RVA), norovirus (NoV) and astrovirus (AstV) was investigated both by classical and molecular methods of viral detection.

One year environmental surveillance of rotavirus specie A (RVA) genotypes in circulation after the introduction of the Rotarix® vaccine in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Rotavirus specie A (RVA) infection is the leading cause of severe acute diarrhea among young children worldwide. To reduce this major RVA health impact, the Rotarix® vaccine (GlaxoSmithKline, Rixensart, Belgium) was introduced in the Brazilian Expanded Immunization Program in March 2006 and became available to the entire birth cohort. The aim of this study was to evaluate the spread of RVA in the environment after the introduction of Rotarix® in Brazil.

Rotavirus A genotype G1P[8]: a novel method to distinguish wild-type strains from the Rotarix vaccine strain.

Rotaviruses are important enteric pathogens for humans and animals. Group A rotaviruses (RV-A) are the most common agents of severe gastroenteritis in infants and young children and vaccination is the most effective method to reduce RV-A-associated diseases. G1P[8], the most prevalent RV-A genotype worldwide, is included in the RV-A vaccine Rotarix®.

Quantification and molecular characterization of enteric viruses detected in effluents from two hospital wastewater treatment plants.

Hospital wastewater has been described as an important source of spreading pathogenic microorganisms in the environment. However, there are few studies reporting the presence and concentrations of gastroenteric viruses and hepatitis A viruses in these environmental matrices. The aim of this study was to assess the contamination by viruses responsible for acute gastroenteritis and hepatitis derived from hospital wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs).

Starvation-induced expression of autophagy-related genes in Arabidopsis.

Background Information: Autophagy is a catabolic process for degradation of cytoplasmic components in the vacuolar apparatus. A genome-wide survey recently showed evolutionary conservation among autophagy genes in yeast, mammals and plants. To elucidate the molecular and subcellular machinery responsible for the sequestration and subsequent digestion of intracellular material in plants, we utilized a combination of morphological and molecular methods (confocal laser-scanning microscopy, transmission electron microscopy and real-time PCR respectively).