MTOR gene variants are associated with severe COVID-19 outcomes: A multicenter study.

Background: The worst outcomes linked to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection have been attributed to the cytokine storm, which contributes significantly to the immunopathogenesis of the disease. The mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway is essential for orchestrating innate immune cell defense including cytokine production and is dysregulated in severe Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) individuals. The individual genetic background might play a role in the exacerbated immune response.

Understanding and controlling asthma in Latin America: A review of recent research informed by the SCAALA programme.

Asthma is an important health concern in Latin America (LA) where it is associated with variable prevalence and disease burden between countries. High prevalence and morbidity have been observed in some regions, particularly marginalized urban populations. Research over the past 10 years from LA has shown that childhood disease is primarily non-atopic.

Impact of FOXP3 gene polymorphisms and gene-environment interactions in asthma and atopy in a Brazilian population.

Background: Polymorphisms in genes related to the activation and development of regulatory T cells (Tregs), such as FOXP3, may be associated with asthma and atopy development. Additionally, environmental factors such as exposure to infections can modify the effect of these associations. This study evaluated the impact of polymorphisms in the FOXP3 on the risk of asthma and atopy as also gene-environment interactions in these outcomes.

Zika Virus Congenital Syndrome and gene variants: insights from a family of dizygotic twins.

Congenital Zika virus syndrome (CZS) is associated with damage to neural progenitor cells by ZIKA virus infection. There are no accurate statistics on the percentage of pregnant mothers who have had babies affected by the syndrome. Few cases of discordant twins have been described in the literature and, therefore, we hypothesize that the genetic background of the progeny and/or mother may play a role in the fate of the syndrome.

and Genetic Variants Are Involved in Th2 Immune Responses to .

Genetic and epigenetic factors are considered to be critical for host-parasite interactions. There are limited data on the role of such factors during human infections with . Here, we describe the potential role of genetic factors as determinants of the Th2 immune response to in Brazilian children.

Toxoplasma gondii protects from IgE sensitization and induces Th1/Th2 immune profile.

Toxoplasma gondii (T gondii) infection has been associated with protection against allergy and autoimmune diseases. We investigated the effects of T gondii infection on cytokine and antibody responses in atopic and nonatopic Brazilian subjects. We have measured in whole-blood cultures, Th1 (IFN-γ and IL-12), Th2 (IL-5) and regulatory cytokine IL-10 in blood cells unstimulated and stimulated with pokeweed mitogen or T gondii soluble tachyzoites antigen (STAg) or Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus antigen.

Genetic variants in RORA are associated with asthma and allergy markers in an admixed population.

Asthma and allergy affect hundreds of millions of people from childhood to old age. In most of them, the inflammatory process of respiratory allergies involves the participation of type 2 cytokines, derived from T helper-2 (Th2)-cell, and Group 2 Innate Lymphoid (ILC2) Cells. An efficient memory Th2 cell response is dependent on IL-13 produced by ILC2s, causing allergic lung inflammation and elevated serum levels of immunoglobulin E.

Parasites and allergy: Observations from Brazil.

Brazil is a middle-income country undergoing the epidemiological transition. Effects of changes in daily life habits and access to clean water, sanitation and urban services on a growing urban population have contributed to a double burden of both infectious and noncommunicable chronic diseases. Studies have indicated that parasite infections may modulate the human immune system and influence the development of allergic conditions such as asthma.

Interferon-gamma release assay performance in northeastern Brazil: influence of the IFNG+874 A>T polymorphism.

Introduction: Latent tuberculosis infection diagnosis based on the release of interferon-gamma in cultures of peripheral blood cells stimulated with Mycobacterium tuberculosis antigens has replaced the tuberculin skin test in many countries with low tuberculosis prevalence. The IFN-γ production can be influenced by genetic polymorphisms, of which the IFNG+874 (rs62559044) locus is the most studied. We investigated the possible influence of the IFNG+874 A/T polymorphism on interferon-gamma test performance.

Genetic and epigenetic studies of in asthma and allergy.

Multiple factors interact to trigger allergic diseases, including individual genetic background and factors related to the environment such as exposure to allergens, air pollution and respiratory infections. The FOXP3 transcription factor is constitutively expressed in CD4CD25FOXP3 regulatory T cells (Tregs) and is critical for the maintenance of immune homeostasis. For example, FOXP3 is responsible for the suppression of the Th2 response following exposure to allergens.

Natural killer cell receptor and HLA-C gene polymorphisms among patients with hepatitis C: a comparison between sustained virological responders and non-responders.

Background/aims: Killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptors (KIR) are involved in the activation/inhibition of NK cells through an interaction with HLA class I molecules on target cells. Our study aimed to evaluate the association between KIR gene polymorphisms and the response of patients with CHC to antiviral therapy.

Methods: We compared the frequency of KIR genes, as well as that of compound KIR/HLA-C genotypes, between groups of patients with CHC who presented a sustained virological response (n=66) and who were non-responders to a combination of pegylated or standard interferon and ribavirin (n=101).