A tetravalent dengue vaccine containing a mix of domain III-P64k and domain III-capsid proteins induces a protective response in mice.

Recombinant fusion proteins containing domain III of the dengue virus envelope protein fused to the P64k protein from Neisseria meningitidis and domain III of dengue virus type 2 (D2) fused to the capsid protein of this serotype were immunogenic and conferred protection in mice against lethal challenge, as reported previously. Combining the domain III-P64k recombinant proteins of dengue virus types 1, 3 and 4 (D1, D3, and D4) with the domain III-capsid protein from D2, we obtained a novel tetravalent formulation containing different antigens. Here, the IgG and neutralizing antibody response, the cellular immune response, and the protective capacity against lethal challenge in mice immunized with this tetravalent formulation were evaluated.

Correlation of Giardia duodenalis assemblages with clinical and epidemiological data in Cuban children.

Giardia duodenalis is one of the most frequent intestinal parasitic infections in children worldwide. To date, eight main assemblages of G. duodenalis have been described, but only A and B genetic groups are known to infect humans.

Fatal Cryptococcus gattii genotype AFLP5 infection in an immunocompetent Cuban patient.

We describe the first clinical case of cryptococcosis due C. gattii in a Cuban immunocompetent patient who had a traveling history two years before to Central America. Molecular characterization of the isolate showed it to be genotype AFLP5 of which MLST sequences clustered with clinical and environmental strains from Colombia.

Immunogenicity and protection conferred by Mycobacterium habana in a murine model of pulmonary tuberculosis.

Mycobacterium habana was isolated in Cuba in 1971. Later, was demonstrated its protection capacity in mycobacterial infection. Here we determined the level of virulence, immunogenicity and the efficacy of three different M.

Molecular and phylogenetic analysis of influenza A H1N1 pandemic viruses in Cuba, May 2009 to August 2010.

The influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 virus was detected in Cuba in May 2009. The introduction of a new virus with increased transmissibility into a population makes surveillance of the pandemic strain to the molecular level necessary. The aim of the present study was the molecular and phylogenetic analysis of pandemic influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 strains that circulated in Cuba between May 2009 and August 2010.

Diffusion of community empowerment strategies for Aedes aegypti control in Cuba: a muddling through experience.

Effective participatory strategies in dengue control have been developed and assessed as small-scale efforts. The challenge is to scale-up and institutionalize these strategies within dengue control programs. We describe and critically analyze the diffusion process of an effective empowerment strategy within the Cuban Aedes aegypti control program, focusing on decision-making at the national level, to identify ways forward to institutionalize such strategies in Cuba and elsewhere.

Variation in inflammatory/regulatory cytokines in secondary, tertiary, and quaternary challenges with dengue virus.

Secondary heterologous dengue infection is a risk factor for severe disease manifestations because of the immune-enhancement phenomenon. Succeeding clinical infections are seldom reported, and the clinical course of tertiary and quaternary dengue infections is not clear. Cuba represents a unique environment to study tertiary/quaternary dengue infections in a population with known clinical and serologic dengue markers and no dengue endemicity.

Serotype specificity of recombinant fusion protein containing domain III and capsid protein of dengue virus 2.

Recombinant fusion protein containing domain III of the dengue envelope protein fused to capsid protein from dengue 2 virus was immunogenic and conferred protection in mice against lethal challenge in previously report. Here, the antigenic specificity of this recombinant protein using anti-dengue antibodies from mice and humans and the cross-reactive humoral and cellular response induced in immunized mice were evaluated. The homologous anti-dengue antibodies showed a higher reactivity to the recombinant protein compared to the wide cross-reactivity observed for viral antigen as determined by ELISA.

Recombinant nucleocapsid-like particles from dengue-2 induce functional serotype-specific cell-mediated immunity in mice.

The interplay of different inflammatory cytokines induced during dengue virus infection plays a role in either protection or increased disease severity. In this sense, vaccine strategies incorporating whole virus are able to elicit both functional and pathological responses. Therefore, an ideal tetravalent vaccine candidate against dengue should be focused on serotype-specific sequences.

Prevalence of antibodies to Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto in humans from a Cuban village.

Unlabelled: Lyme disease has not been officially reported in Cuba. However, clinical cases have been serologically reported. Seroprevalence survey of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto antibodies in humans in the country has not been conducted.

Association of MICA and MICB alleles with symptomatic dengue infection.

Dengue viruses (DV) are one of the most important arthropod-borne viral diseases in the developing world. DV can cause syndromes that are either self-limiting or severe. Allelic variants of human leukocyte antigen (HLA) genes have been demonstrated to be associated with disease susceptibility.

Low prevalence of Helicobacter pylori among symptomatic children from a hospital in Havana, Cuba.

The aims of this study were to assess the prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection and to introduce a new algorithm to improve its diagnosis in Cuban symptomatic children. One hundred and thirty-three consecutive children with upper gastrointestinal symptoms were studied. Patients were endoscoped and antral biopsies were obtained for rapid urease test (RUT), culture and histology.

Long-term persistence of clinical symptoms in dengue-infected persons and its association with immunological disorders.

Objectives: The acute manifestations of dengue are well known. The clinical symptoms that present during the convalescent phase of infection are less well characterized, but may be autoimmune-based. This study was undertaken to determine the prevalence of persistent clinical symptoms among individuals infected during the 2006 Cuban epidemic and to evaluate the immunological and genetic factors associated with their occurrence.

Asymptomatic dengue infection in a Cuban population confirms the protective role of the RR variant of the FcgammaRIIa polymorphism.

The role of human Fcgamma receptors (FcgammaR) has been recognized considerably over the last years. These receptors vary in their affinity for IgG subclasses and the intracellular signals elicited by them. Allelic variants of FcgammaR genes may influence the biological phagocyte activity, accounting for an inherited pre-disposition to disease.

Detection of Ureaplasma urealyticum and Ureaplasma parvum in amniotic fluid: association with pregnancy outcomes.

Objective: Ureaplasma urealyticum is one of the organisms most frequently isolated from the amniotic fluid of women with adverse pregnancy. The prevalence of U. urealyticum and U.

Breteau Index threshold levels indicating risk for dengue transmission in areas with low Aedes infestation.

We used Breteau Indices to - retrospectively - predict dengue transmission. The presence of one house block (on average about 50 houses) with a Breteau Index >or=4 in a neighbourhood (a block plus the surrounding blocks in a radius of 100 m) predicted transmission at the latter level with 81.8% sensitivity and 73.

A myocarditis outbreak with fatal cases associated with adenovirus subgenera C among children from Havana City in 2005.

Background: Among multiple causes of acute myocarditis, viral infection, especially that due to enteroviruses and adenoviruses, is the leading cause. In the summer 2005 an outbreak of a febrile syndrome accompanied by acute cardiac decompensation occurred in infants and young children in Havana City. Eleven patients had a rapid evolution of disease and there were 8 fatalities from cardiac failure secondary to myocarditis.

Evaluation of a modified culture medium for Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato.

The aim of the present study was to assess the possible use of a modified medium, prepared in the laboratory using the constituents of Barbour-Stonner-Kelly (BSK) medium and medium 199 as base, for the culture of Borrelia strains, comparing the growth of individual strains in this medium and in the BSK-H medium, and the protein profile and antigenic characteristics of Borrelia proteins expressed in these media. A qualitative evaluation of growth of Borrelia species was made with acceptable results (morphology and motility), but during a quantitative evaluation using the three main genospecies of Borrelia, the better results were obtained with a B. burgdorferi sensu stricto strain.

Limitations to contact tracing and phylogenetic analysis in establishing HIV type 1 transmission networks in Cuba.

Sequence analysis can be used to evaluate transmission networks. We have used retrospective samples to examine two HIV-1 transmission networks established by contact tracing. Regions of the HIV-1 region representing segments of gag and env were amplified by RT-PCR from frozen plasma samples and the sequence of each PCR product was determined.

Genetic relatedness and antimicrobial resistance determinants among clinical isolates of enterococci from Cuba.

This study describes the genetic relationships and antimicrobial resistance determinants found among 99 clinical isolates of enterococci from 15 different hospitals in Cuba. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis SmaI analysis demonstrated a high degree of genetic diversity. A limited number of multiresistant Enterococcus faecalis clones, showing resistance to three or more families of antimicrobial agents, were detected simultaneously in different institutions, suggesting inter-hospital circulation of selected clones, and/or selection of particular clones following their introduction into the hospital environment.

West Nile Virus infection in humans and horses, Cuba.

A surveillance system to detect West Nile virus (WNV) was established in Cuba in 2002. WNV infection was confirmed by serologic assays in 4 asymptomatic horses and 3 humans with encephalitis in 2003 and 2004. These results are the first reported evidence of WNV activity in Cuba.

Safety and preliminary immunogenicity of MenC/P64k, a meningococcal serogroup C conjugate vaccine with a new recombinant carrier.

This study reports the preliminary assessment of the safety and immunogenicity of the first serogroup C conjugate vaccine candidate that includes meningococcal P64k recombinant protein as the carrier (MenC/P64k). Twenty volunteers were recruited for a double-blind, randomized, controlled phase I clinical trial, receiving a single dose of MenC/P64k (study group) and a single dose of the commercial polysaccharide vaccine AC (control group). Only mild reactions were observed.

Evaluation of the BIOCEN GC agar medium base in antimicrobial susceptibility testing of Neisseria gonorrhoeae.

Background: Since 1995, the Cuban Reference Laboratory for Neisseria has been monitoring the antibiotic susceptibility of gonococci, following the methodology of the National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards, which uses GC agar medium base supplemented with 1% Vitox. We evaluated three lots of GC agar medium base produced by BIOCEN, Cuba, in antibiotic susceptibility testing of reference and wild strains of gonococci.

Methods: The susceptibilities to five antibiotics were evaluated five times on three lots of GC agar medium base from BIOCEN.

Nasopharyngeal colonization by Moraxella catarrhalis and study of antimicrobial susceptibility in healthy children from Cuban day-care centers.

The prevalence of nasopharyngeal carriage of Moraxella catarrhalis was determined for the first time in Cuba. One-hundred fifty healthy children attending three day-care centers in the municipality of Marianao, Havana City were studied. The percentage of recovering bacteria in nasal and pharyngeal swabs was compared.