We investigated the relationship between potentially pathogenic antibodies against a Trypanosoma cruzi ribosomal protein (P2β) and the evolution of Chagas disease and the effect of trypanocidal treatment on these variables. Seventy-eight patients with chronic Chagas disease who were followed-up for more than 20 years were divided into three groups: 30 asymptomatic persons undergoing specific treatment (group A), 37 asymptomatic persons not undergoing specific treatment (group B), and 11 patients with chronic chagasic cardiomyopathy (CCC) who were not treated. Five patients in group B showed evolution to myocardial abnormalities. Among persons with CCC, six showed no changes; the remaining persons showed progression of cardiac involvement. Levels of antibodies to P2β in persons in group A decreased from their initial values. This finding was not observed in persons in groups B and C. Comparisons at the end of the follow-up showed lower amounts of antibodies to P2β in groups A and C. These findings support the benefits of specific treatment during chronic infection.
Download full-text PDF |
Source |
---|---|
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3062452 | PMC |
http://dx.doi.org/10.4269/ajtmh.2011.10-0261 | DOI Listing |
Viruses
November 2024
Laboratório de Imunofarmacologia, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz (IOC), Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz), Rio de Janeiro 21040-361, RJ, Brazil.
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) still causes death in elderly and immunocompromised individuals, for whom the sustainability of the vaccine response may be limited. Antiviral treatments, such as remdesivir or molnupiravir, have demonstrated limited clinical efficacy. Nirmatrelvir, an acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) major protease inhibitor, is clinically effective but has been associated with viral rebound and antiviral resistance.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMicroorganisms
December 2024
Laboratorio de Investigación en Patógenos Respiratorios y Producción de Biológicos, Hospital Infantil de México Federico Gómez, Ciudad de México 06720, Mexico.
(1) Background: Chagas disease is a public health problem affecting nearly 2 million women of reproductive age in Latin America. From these, 4-8% can transmit the infection to the foetus through the vertical route, whereas horizontal transmission through milk during breastfeeding remains controversial. Therefore, the presence of () DNA in the milk of women seropositive for Chagas disease was analysed to determine whether a relationship with the infection of their children can exist.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMicroorganisms
December 2024
Laboratório de Quimioterapia de Protozoários Egler Chiari, Departamento de Parasitologia-ICB, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte 31270-901, MG, Brazil.
is a protozoan, and the etiologic agent of toxoplasmosis, a disease that causes high mortality in immunocompromised individuals and newborns. Despite the medical importance of toxoplasmosis, few drugs, which are associated with side effects and parasite resistance, are available for its treatment. Here, we show a screening of molecules present in COVID-Box to discover new hits with anti- activity.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPathogens
December 2024
Departamento de Inmunología, Instituto Nacional de Cardiología Ignacio Chávez (INCICH), Mexico City 14080, Mexico.
Chronic chagasic cardiomyopathy is the most severe clinical manifestation of Chagas disease, which affects approximately seven million people worldwide. Latin American countries bear the highest burden, with the greatest morbidity and mortality rates. Currently, diagnostic methods do not provide information on the risk of progression to severe stages of the disease.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPathogens
December 2024
Laboratório de Virologia e Parasitologia Molecular, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz/FIOCRUZ, Rio de Janeiro 21040900, RJ, Brazil.
Herpes simplex virus-1 (HSV-1) can invade the central nervous system (CNS). However, antiviral drugs used to treat HSV-1 have significant toxicity and resistance. An alternative approach involves the use of the CRISPR/Cas9 complex as a viral replication inhibitor.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEnter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!