A fatal case of dengue hemorrhagic fever associated with dengue virus 4 (DENV-4) in Brazil: genomic and histopathological findings.

Dengue infection is the most prevalent arthropod-borne viral disease in subtropical and tropical regions, whose primary vector is Aedes aegypti mosquitoes. The mechanisms of dengue virus (DENV) pathogenesis are little understood because we have no good disease models. Only humans develop symptoms (dengue fever, DF, or dengue hemorrhagic fever, DHF) and research has been limited to studies involving patients.

Vaccines, adjuvants and key factors for mucosal immune response.

Vaccines are the most effective tool to control infectious diseases, which provoke significant morbidity and mortality rates. Most vaccines are administered through the parenteral route and can elicit a robust systemic humoral response, but they induce a weak T-cell-mediated immunity and are poor inducers of mucosal protection. Considering that most pathogens enter the body through mucosal surfaces, a vaccine that elicits protection in the first site of contact between the host and the pathogen is promising.

Multiplex real-time PCR using SYBR Green: Unspecific intercalating dye to detect antimicrobial resistance genes of Streptococcus pneumoniae in cerebrospinal fluid.

Meningitis caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae is still a disease of great impact on Public health, which requires immediate diagnosis and treatment. However, the culture of clinical specimens is often negative and antibiotic susceptibility testing (AST) must be performed with isolated strains. Multiplex real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) has high sensitivity and specificity, produces faster results to identify the pathogen, and it can also be an important tool to identify resistance antibiotic genes earlier than AST, especially in the absence of an isolated strain.

First report on herpesvirus in black-fronted titi (Callicebus nigrifrons) kept under human care.

Keeping Neotropical primates in captivity puts them at great risk of illness because of their susceptibility to human herpesvirus. This is the first report on herpesvirus in Callicebus nigrifrons that developed clinical disease and was confirmed by immunohistochemical and RT-PCR. Diagnosis and prevention are essential for the conservation of species.

Pathology in Practice.

In collaboration with the American College of Veterinary Pathologists.

Spatial and temporal fluctuations in COVID-19 fatality rates in Brazilian hospitals.

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) Gamma variant of concern has spread rapidly across Brazil since late 2020, causing substantial infection and death waves. Here we used individual-level patient records after hospitalization with suspected or confirmed coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) between 20 January 2020 and 26 July 2021 to document temporary, sweeping shocks in hospital fatality rates that followed the spread of Gamma across 14 state capitals, during which typically more than half of hospitalized patients aged 70 years and older died. We show that such extensive shocks in COVID-19 in-hospital fatality rates also existed before the detection of Gamma.

Seropositivity for Coxiella burnetii in suspected patients with dengue in São Paulo state, Brazil.

Q fever and brucellosis are zoonoses that cause fever and other systemic clinical signs in humans; their occurrences are neglected and the differential diagnosis for some diseases is disregarded. This study aimed to investigate the seropositivity for Coxiella burnetii and Brucella spp. antibodies in patients suspected of dengue from 38 municipalities in the state of São Paulo, Brazil.

Prevalence of chronic pulmonary aspergillosis regarding time of tuberculosis diagnosis in Brazil.

Background: Data on the prevalence of chronic pulmonary aspergillosis (CPA) in patients with active or cured tuberculosis (TB) are scarce, mainly due to diagnostic difficulties. The diagnosis of CPA is based on pulmonary symptoms and chest computed tomography (CT) scans and is considered confirmed when there is microbiological or serological evidence of Aspergillus spp.

Objectives: To estimate the prevalence of CPA in patients treated or undergoing treatment for PTB, seen in two referral hospitals in Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil.

Antimicrobial resistance and genetic background of non-typhoidal Salmonella enterica strains isolated from human infections in São Paulo, Brazil (2000-2019).

Salmonella enterica causes Salmonellosis, an important infection in humans and other animals. The number of multidrug-resistant (MDR) phenotypes associated with Salmonella spp. isolates is increasing worldwide, causing public health concern.

β-micrustoxin (Mlx-9), a PLA from snake venom: biochemical characterization and anti-proliferative effect mediated by p53.

Background: Endogenous phospholipases A (PLA) play a fundamental role in inflammation, neurodegenerative diseases, apoptosis and cellular senescence. Neurotoxins with PLA activity are found in snake venoms from the Elapidae and Viperidae families. The mechanism of action of these neurotoxins have been studied using hippocampal and cerebellar neuronal cultures showing [Ca]i increase, mitochondrial depolarization and cell death.

Linear plasmids in and other .

Linear plasmids are extrachromosomal DNA elements that have been found in a small number of bacterial species. To date, the only linear plasmids described in the family belong to , first found in Typhi. Here, we describe a collection of 12 isolates of the species complex in which we identified linear plasmids.

A lineage usually associated with pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) serotypes is the most common cause of serotype 35B invasive disease in South Africa, following routine use of PCV.

Pneumococcal serotype 35B is an important non-conjugate vaccine (non-PCV) serotype. Its continued emergence, post-PCV7 in the USA, was associated with expansion of a pre-existing 35B clone (clonal complex [CC] 558) along with post-PCV13 emergence of a non-35B clone previously associated with PCV serotypes (CC156). This study describes lineages circulating among 35B isolates in South Africa before and after PCV introduction.

Identification of Leishmania infantum and Leishmania braziliensis in captive primates from a zoo in Brazil.

Wild nonhuman primates (NHP) are considered natural hosts of a protozoan parasite from the genus Leishmania, the etiological agent of leishmaniasis. It is important to study the population of this infectious agent in zoo animals to establish surveillance and control mechanisms in Sorocaba through the application of a One Health approach, this is where human-animal-environment health and disease interface and can aid in the protection of endangered species. This study aimed to identify Leishmania infantum and Leishmania braziliensis in NHP living in a city where leishmaniasis is endemic.

Carajurin Induces Apoptosis in Promastigotes through Reactive Oxygen Species Production and Mitochondrial Dysfunction.

Carajurin is the main constituent of species with reported anti- activity. However, its mechanism of action has not been described. This study investigated the mechanisms of action of carajurin against promastigote forms of .

TNFα rs1799964 TT genotype may be a susceptibility factor for vertical transmission of Toxoplasma gondii and clinical signs in newborns from pregnant women with acute toxoplasmosis.

Background: One of the main impacts of Toxoplasma gondii infection occurs during pregnancy and is related to the vertical transmission of the parasite (congenital toxoplasmosis), which can cause severe clinical outcomes and fetal death. During acute infection, in order to control the rapid replication of tachyzoites, different host immune response genes are activated, and these include cytokine-encoding genes. Considering that polymorphisms in cytokine genes may increase susceptibility to vertical transmission of T.

Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay: An Adaptable Methodology to Study SARS-CoV-2 Humoral and Cellular Immune Responses.

The Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay is a versatile technique, which can be used for several applications. It has enormously contributed to the study of infectious diseases. This review highlights how this methodology supported the science conducted in COVID-19 pandemics, allowing scientists to better understand the immune response against SARS-CoV-2.

Toxoplasmosis in a free-ranging hairy dwarf porcupine (Sphiggurus spinosus) with a potential novel genotype.

Toxoplasmosis is a zoonotic disease caused by the ubiquitous coccidia Toxoplasma gondii. Rodents play an important role in maintaining its life cycle, as they are one of the main diet sources for felids (wild and domestic), the unique definitive hosts. However, reports of toxoplasmosis in porcupines (Order Rodentia) are uncommon, with gaps concerning its pathophysiology.

Electrochemical Biosensor for Sensitive Detection of Hepatitis B in Human Plasma.

In this work, we report the construction of a novel electrochemical device for molecular diagnosis of hepatitis B virus in the blood plasma of infected patients, using graphite electrodes functionalized with poly(4-aminophenol) and sensitized with a specific DNA probe. The recognition of genomic DNA was evaluated by electrochemical techniques (DPV and EIS) and scanning electron microscopy. The genosensor was efficient in detecting genomic DNA with a linear range from 1.

Early clinical and microbiological predictors of outcome in hospitalized patients with cryptococcal meningitis.

Background: Cryptococcal meningitis causes high mortality in immunocompromised and immunocompetent patients. The objective of this study was to identify early predictors of clinical outcome, available at the first days of hospitalization, in patients with cryptococcal meningitis in a tertiary center in Brazil.

Methods: Ninety-six cases of cryptococcal meningitis with clinical, epidemiological and laboratory data, and identification and antifungal susceptibility of the strains were analyzed.

Quality of dialysis water and dialysate in haemodialysis centres: Highlight for occurrence of non-fermenting gram-negative bacilli.

Aims: To evaluate the physicochemical and microbiological quality of dialysis water and dialysate samples from haemodialysis centres.

Methods And Results: Samples were fortnightly collected from three haemodialysis centres in Bauru City, Brazil, between July 2017 and June 2018, at the stages of post-reverse osmosis, reuse and dialysate. Analyses included determination of conductivity, fluoride, nitrate and sulphate; test for total coliform bacteria; count of heterotrophic bacteria; count and identification of non-fermenting gram-negative bacilli (NFGNB); drug susceptibility test; biofilm formation capacity; and genetic similarity among some isolated NFGNB.

Tuberculosis/COVID-19 co-infection detected in a single sputum sample using a rapid molecular test.

Tuberculosis (TB) and COVID-19 affect the lungs and are transmitted mainly by aerosols or particles of saliva from infected persons. Clinical similarities between diseases can affect correct diagnosis. Individuals belonging to the population deprived of liberty (PDL) are at increased risk of contagion due to precarious sanitary conditions and overcrowded environments.