Publications

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blood meal sources of wild and domestic triatoma infestans (hemiptera: reduviidae) in bolivia: connectivity between cycles of transmission of trypanosoma cruzi.chagas disease is a major public health problem in latin america. its etiologic agent, trypanosoma cruzi, is mainly transmitted through the contaminated faeces of blood-sucking insects called triatomines. triatoma infestans is the main vector in various countries in south america and recently, several foci of wild populations of this species have been described in bolivia and other countries. these wild populations are suspected of affecting the success of insecticide control campaigns being car ...201627090297
molecular individual-based approach on triatoma brasiliensis: inferences on triatomine foci, trypanosoma cruzi natural infection prevalence, parasite diversity and feeding sources.we used an individual-based molecular multisource approach to assess the epidemiological importance of triatoma brasiliensis collected in distinct sites and ecotopes in rio grande do norte state, brazil. in the semi-arid zones of brazil, this blood sucking bug is the most important vector of trypanosoma cruzi--the parasite that causes chagas disease. first, cytochrome b (cytb) and microsatellite markers were used for inferences on the genetic structure of five populations (108 bugs). second, we ...201626891047
[chagas' disease in children and its treatment with bay 2502]. 20164983550
[gastrointestinal chagas' disease in chile]. 20164983557
[immunochemical study of experimental chagas' disease]. 20164976981
[parasympathetic denervation and myocardial hypertrophy in chronic chagas' disease]. 20164970707
[serologic routine for chagas' disease in the blood bank. appreciation of results in guanabara of 25,508 complement fixation reactions. technical appendix]. 20164969303
[indices of transmission of chagas' disease by transfusion of blood from donors in the chronic phase of the disease]. 20164957513
[studies of the epidemiology of chagas' disease in ceara. 3. region of baixo jaguaribe]. 20164957719
[control of chagas' disease in the municipality of bariri, state of são paulo]. 20164990137
hemodynamics in chagas' disease. a preliminary report. 20164983679
american trypanosomiasis in british honduras. ii. the prevalence of chagas' disease in cayo district. 20164966472
it all starts with a sandwich: identification of sialidases with trans-glycosylation activity.sialidases (3.2.1.18) may exhibit trans-sialidase activity to catalyze sialylation of lactose if the active site topology is congruent with that of the trypanosoma cruzi trans-sialidase (ec 2.4.1.-). the present work was undertaken to test the hypothesis that a particular aromatic sandwich structure of two amino acids proximal to the active site of the t. cruzi trans-sialidase infers trans-sialidase activity. on this basis, four enzymes with putative trans-sialidase activity were identified thro ...201627367145
chagas cardiomyopathy in new orleans and the southeastern united states.chagas disease (cd), caused by trypanosoma cruzi, affects 6-7 million people worldwide annually, primarily in central and south america, and >300,000 people in the united states. cd consists of acute and chronic stages. hallmarks of acute cd include fever, myalgia, diaphoresis, hepatosplenomegaly, and myocarditis. symptoms of chronic cd include pathologic involvement of the heart, esophagus, and colon. myocardial involvement is identifiable by electrocardiogram and cardiac magnetic resonance ima ...201627660581
how do biting disease vectors behaviourally respond to host availability?ecological theory predicts a diverse range of functional responses of species to resource availability; but in the context of human blood consumption by disease vectors, a simplistic, linear response is ubiquitously assumed. a simple and flexible model formulation is presented that extends the holling's types to account for a wider range of qualitatively distinct behaviours, and used to examine the impact of different vector responses to the relative availability of multiple blood-host species.201627562086
immunopathological features of canine myocarditis associated with leishmania infantum infection.myocarditis associated with infectious diseases may occur in dogs, including those caused by the protozoa neospora caninum, trypanosoma cruzi, babesia canis, and hepatozoon canis. however, although cardiac disease due to leishmania infection has also been documented, the immunopathological features of myocarditis have not been reported so far. the aim of this study was to examine the types of cellular infiltrates and expression of mhc classes i and ii in myocardial samples obtained at necropsy f ...201627413751
chagas disease screening in maternal donors of publicly banked umbilical cord blood, united states.to assess patterns of chagas disease, we reviewed results of screening umbilical cord blood from a us public cord blood bank during 2007-2014. nineteen maternal donors tested positive for trypanosoma cruzi parasites (0.04%). because perinatal transmission of chagas disease is associated with substantial illness, targeted prenatal programs should screen for this disease.201627433974
distribution of serological screening markers at a large hematology and hemotherapy center in minas gerais, southeastern brazil.to assess the distribution of serological markers in blood donors at the blood banks of the fundação centro de hematologia e hemoterapia de minas gerais (hemominas), brazil, between january 2006 and december 2012.201627521858
prevalence of chronic infections and susceptibility to measles and varicella-zoster virus in latin american immigrants.large numbers of latin american immigrants recently arrived in western europe. curative and preventive programmes need to take account of their risk of suffering and transmitting imported chronic infections and of their susceptibility to cosmopolitan infections. we aimed to assess the prevalence and co-occurrence of imported chronic infections among latin american immigrants, and their susceptibility to highly prevalent cosmopolitan infections.201627164954
trypanosoma cruzi differentiates and multiplies within chimeric parasitophorous vacuoles in macrophages coinfected with leishmania amazonensis.the trypanosomatids leishmania amazonensis and trypanosoma cruzi are excellent models for the study of the cell biology of intracellular protozoan infections. after their uptake by mammalian cells, the parasitic protozoan flagellates l. amazonensis and t. cruzi lodge within acidified parasitophorous vacuoles (pvs). however, whereas l. amazonensis develops in spacious, phagolysosome-like pvs that may enclose numerous parasites, t. cruzi is transiently hosted within smaller vacuoles from which it ...201626975994
triatoma maculata colonises urban domicilies in boa vista, roraima, brazil.during a medical entomology course in boa vista, roraima, colonies of triatoma maculata closely associated with pigeon nests were observed in concrete air-conditioner box located on the external plastered and cemented walls of a modern brick-built apartment block. in only one eight-hole ceramic brick, located inside one air-conditioner box, 127 specimens of t. maculata were collected. t. maculata is a recognised vector of trypanosoma cruzi in the surrounding area and its domiciliation increases ...201627759767
structure and ligand-binding mechanism of a cysteinyl leukotriene-binding protein from a blood-feeding disease vector.blood-feeding disease vectors mitigate the negative effects of hemostasis and inflammation through the binding of small-molecule agonists of these processes by salivary proteins. in this study, a lipocalin protein family member (ltbp1) from the saliva of rhodnius prolixus, a vector of the pathogen trypanosoma cruzi, is shown to sequester cysteinyl leukotrienes during feeding to inhibit immediate inflammatory responses. calorimetric binding experiments showed that ltbp1 binds leukotrienes c4 (ltc ...201627124118
socioeconomic inequalities in neglected tropical diseases: a systematic review.neglected tropical diseases (ntds) are generally assumed to be concentrated in poor populations, but evidence on this remains scattered. we describe within-country socioeconomic inequalities in nine ntds listed in the london declaration for intensified control and/or elimination: lymphatic filariasis (lf), onchocerciasis, schistosomiasis, soil-transmitted helminthiasis (sth), trachoma, chagas' disease, human african trypanosomiasis (hat), leprosy, and visceral leishmaniasis (vl).201627171166
bed bugs and possible transmission of human pathogens: a systematic review.the global population of bed bugs (cimex lectularius and cimex hemipterus, family cimicidae) has undergone a significant resurgence since the late 1990s. this is likely due to an increase in global travel, trade, and the number of insecticide-resistant bed bugs. the global bed bug population is estimated to be increasing by 100-500 % annually. the worldwide spread of bed bugs is concerning, because they are a significant socioeconomic burden and a major concern to public health. according to the ...201627295087
declining prevalence of disease vectors under climate change.more than half of the world population is at risk of vector-borne diseases including dengue fever, chikungunya, zika, yellow fever, leishmaniasis, chagas disease, and malaria, with highest incidences in tropical regions. in ecuador, vector-borne diseases are present from coastal and amazonian regions to the andes mountains; however, a detailed characterization of the distribution of their vectors has never been carried out. we estimate the distribution of 14 vectors of the above vector-borne dis ...201627982119
epidemiology of american tegumentary leishmaniasis and trypanosoma cruzi infection in the northwestern argentina.background. endemic areas of tegumentary leishmaniasis (tl) in salta, argentina, present some overlap zones with the geographical distribution of chagas disease, with mixed infection cases being often detected. objectives. the purpose of this study was to determine the magnitude of leishmania sp. infection and potential associated risk factors, the serologic prevalence of t. cruzi, and the presence of t. cruzi-leishmania sp. mixed infection in a region of the northwest of argentina. methods. cro ...201627777950
everybody loves sugar: first report of plant feeding in triatomines.triatomines, which are the vectors of trypanosoma cruzi, have been considered to be exclusive blood feeders for more than 100 years, since the discovery of chagas disease.201626928036
antigenicity, immunogenicity and protective efficacy of three proteins expressed in the promastigote and amastigote stages of leishmania infantum against visceral leishmaniasis.in the present study, two leishmania infantum hypothetical proteins present in the amastigote stage, lihyp1 and lihyp6, were combined with a promastigote protein, ige-dependent histamine-releasing factor (hrf); to compose a polyproteins vaccine to be evaluated against l. infantum infection. also, the antigenicity of the three proteins was analyzed, and their use for the serodiagnosis of canine visceral leishmaniasis (cvl) was evaluated. the lihyp1, lihyp6, and hrf dna coding sequences were clone ...201526367128
rhodnius prolixus life history outcomes differ when infected with different trypanosoma cruzi i strains.the effect of a parasite on the life history of its vector is important for understanding and predicting disease transmission. chagas disease agent trypanosoma cruzi is a generalist parasite that is diverse across scales from its genetic diversity to the 100s of mammal and vector species it infects. its vertebrate hosts show quite variable responses to infection, however, to date there are no studies looking at how t. cruzi variability might result in variable outcomes in its invertebrate host. ...201526078316
trypanosomes modify the behavior of their insect hosts: effects on locomotion and on the expression of a related gene.as a result of evolution, the biology of triatomines must have been significantly adapted to accommodate trypanosome infection in a complex network of vector-vertebrate-parasite interactions. arthropod-borne parasites have probably developed mechanisms, largely still unknown, to exploit the vector-vertebrate host interactions to ensure their transmission to suitable hosts. triatomines exhibit a strong negative phototaxis and nocturnal activity, believed to be important for insect survival agains ...201526291723
depletion of regulatory t cells decreases cardiac parasitosis and inflammation in experimental chagas disease.infection with the protozoan parasite trypanosoma cruzi may lead to a potentially fatal cardiomyopathy known as chagas heart disease. this disease is characterized by infiltration of the myocardium by mononuclear cells, including cd4+ t cells, together with edema, myofibrillary destruction, and fibrosis. a multifaceted systemic immune response develops that ultimately keeps parasitemia and tissue parasitosis low. t helper 1 and other pro-inflammatory t cell responses are effective at keeping lev ...201525576191
trypanosoma cruzi infection through the oral route promotes a severe infection in mice: new disease form from an old infection?oral transmission of chagas disease has been documented in latin american countries. nevertheless, significant studies on the pathophysiology of this form of infection are largely lacking. the few studies investigating oral route infection disregard that inoculation in the oral cavity (oral infection, oi) or by gavage (gastrointestinal infection, gi) represent different infection routes, yet both show clear-cut parasitemia and heart parasitism during the acute infection. herein, balb/c mice were ...201526090667
role of δ1-pyrroline-5-carboxylate dehydrogenase supports mitochondrial metabolism and host-cell invasion of trypanosoma cruzi.proline is crucial for energizing critical events throughout the life cycle of trypanosoma cruzi, the etiological agent of chagas disease. the proline breakdown pathway consists of two oxidation steps, both of which produce reducing equivalents as follows: the conversion of proline to δ(1)-pyrroline-5-carboxylate (p5c), and the subsequent conversion of p5c to glutamate. we have identified and characterized the δ(1)-pyrroline-5-carboxylate dehydrogenase from t. cruzi (tcp5cdh) and report here on ...201525623067
gut microbiome of an 11th century a.d. pre-columbian andean mummy.the process of natural mummification is a rare and unique process from which little is known about the resulting microbial community structure. in the present study, we characterized the microbiome of paleofeces, and ascending, transverse and descending colon of an 11th century a.d. pre-columbian andean mummy by 16s rrna gene high-throughput sequencing and metagenomics. firmicutes were the most abundant bacterial group, with clostridium spp. comprising up to 96.2% of the mummified gut, while tur ...201526422376
sq109, a new drug lead for chagas disease.we tested the antituberculosis drug sq109, which is currently in advanced clinical trials for the treatment of drug-susceptible and drug-resistant tuberculosis, for its in vitro activity against the trypanosomatid parasite trypanosoma cruzi, the causative agent of chagas disease. sq109 was found to be a potent inhibitor of the trypomastigote form of the parasite, with a 50% inhibitory concentration (ic50) for cell killing of 50 ± 8 nm, but it had little effect (50% effective concentration [ec50] ...201525583723
trypanosoma cruzi and its soluble antigens induce net release by stimulating toll-like receptors.neutrophils release fibrous traps of dna, histones, and granule proteins known as neutrophil extracellular traps (nets), which contribute to microbicidal killing and have been implicated in autoimmunity. the role of net formation in the host response to nonbacterial pathogens is not well-understood. in this study, we investigated the release of nets by human neutrophils upon their interaction with trypanosoma cruzi (y strain) parasites. our results showed that human neutrophils stimulated by t. ...201526431537
cd8+ t cells in trypanosoma cruzi infection.trypanosoma cruzi infection and chagas disease remains among the most neglected of the neglected tropical diseases. despite this, studies of the immune response to t. cruzi have provided new insights in immunology and guidance for approaches for prevention and treatment of the disease. t. cruzi represents one of the very best systems in which to study cd8(+) t cell biology; mice, dogs, and primates (and many other mammals) are all natural hosts for this parasite, the robust t cell responses gene ...201525921214
towards high-throughput immunomics for infectious diseases: use of next-generation peptide microarrays for rapid discovery and mapping of antigenic determinants.complete characterization of antibody specificities associated to natural infections is expected to provide a rich source of serologic biomarkers with potential applications in molecular diagnosis, follow-up of chemotherapeutic treatments, and prioritization of targets for vaccine development. here, we developed a highly-multiplexed platform based on next-generation high-density peptide microarrays to map these specificities in chagas disease, an exemplar of a human infectious disease caused by ...201525922409
screening of imported infectious diseases among asymptomatic sub-saharan african and latin american immigrants: a public health challenge.migrants from developing countries are usually young and healthy but several studies report they may harbor asymptomatic infections for prolonged periods. prevalence of infections were determined for asymptomatic immigrants from latin america and sub-saharan africa who ettended to a european tropical medicine referral center from 2000 to 2009. a systematic screening protocol for selected infections was used. data from 317 sub-saharan africans and 383 latin americans were analyzed. patients were ...201525646257
[treatment of experimental chagas' disease (study with the drug cl 71,366)]. 20154626067
[chagas' disease. general findings in 67 cases of acute chagas' disease observed by the graduate dr. emmanuel dias (oswaldo cruz institute), bambuí, mg from 1955-67]. 20154977000
induction of male sterility through manipulation of genetic mechanisms present in vector species of chagas disease. (remarks on integrating sterile-male release with insecticidal control measures against vectors of chagas disease). 20154631330
unusual frequency of negro admixture in necropsies of chagas disease cases in bahia, brazil. 20154634098
gastrointestinal aspects of chagas' disease. 20154624133
bioactive endophytic fungi isolated from caesalpinia echinata lam. (brazilwood) and identification of beauvericin as a trypanocidal metabolite from fusarium sp.aiming to identify new sources of bioactive secondary metabolites, we isolated 82 endophytic fungi from stems and barks of the native brazilian tree caesalpinia echinata lam. (fabaceae). we tested their ethyl acetate extracts in several in vitro assays. the organic extracts from three isolates showed antibacterial activity against staphylococcus aureus and escherichia coli [minimal inhibitory concentration (mic) 32-64 μg/ml]. one isolate inhibited the growth of salmonella typhimurium (mic 64 μg/ ...201525742265
frequent house invasion of trypanosoma cruzi-infected triatomines in a suburban area of brazil.the demographic transition of populations from rural areas to large urban centers often results in a disordered occupation of forest remnants and increased economic pressure to develop high-income buildings in these areas. ecological and socioeconomic factors associated with these urban transitions create conditions for the potential transmission of infectious diseases, which was demonstrated for chagas disease.201525909509
eco-epidemiological study of an endemic chagas disease region in northern colombia reveals the importance of triatoma maculata (hemiptera: reduviidae), dogs and didelphis marsupialis in trypanosoma cruzi maintenance.in colombia, rhodnius prolixus and triatoma dimidiata are the main domestic triatomine species known to transmit t. cruzi. however, there are multiple reports of t. cruzi transmission involving secondary vectors. in this work, we carried out an eco-epidemiological study on margarita island, located in the caribbean region of colombia, where chagas disease is associated with non-domiciliated vectors.201526394766
a binding hotspot in trypanosoma cruzi histidyl-trna synthetase revealed by fragment-based crystallographic cocktail screens.american trypanosomiasis, commonly known as chagas disease, is a neglected tropical disease caused by the protozoan parasite trypanosoma cruzi. the chronic form of the infection often causes debilitating morbidity and mortality. however, the current treatment for the disease is typically inadequate owing to drug toxicity and poor efficacy, necessitating a continual effort to discover and develop new antiparasitic therapeutic agents. the structure of t. cruzi histidyl-trna synthetase (hisrs), a v ...201526249349
genetically modifying the insect gut microbiota to control chagas disease vectors through systemic rnai.technologies based on rna interference may be used for insect control. sustainable strategies are needed to control vectors of chagas disease such as rhodnius prolixus. the insect microbiota can be modified to deliver molecules to the gut. here, escherichia coli ht115(de3) expressing dsrna for the rhodnius heme-binding protein (rhbp) and for catalase (cat) were fed to nymphs and adult triatomine stages. rhbp is an egg protein and cat is an antioxidant enzyme expressed in all tissues by all devel ...201525675102
a novel molecular test to diagnose canine visceral leishmaniasis at the point of care.dogs are the principal reservoir hosts of zoonotic visceral leishmaniasis (vl) but current serological methods are not sensitive enough to detect all subclinically infected animals, which is crucial to vl control programs. polymerase chain reaction (pcr) methods have greater sensitivity but require expensive equipment and trained personnel, impairing its implementation in endemic areas. we developed a diagnostic test that uses isothermal recombinase polymerase amplification (rpa) to detect leish ...201526240156
oviposition in the blood-sucking insect rhodnius prolixus is modulated by host odors.triatomine bugs are blood-sucking insects, vectors of chagas disease. despite their importance, their oviposition behavior has received relatively little attention. some triatomines including rhodnius prolixus stick their eggs to a substrate. it is known that mechanical cues stimulate oviposition in this species. however, it is not clear if chemical signals play a role in this behavior. we studied the role of host cues, including host odor, in the oviposition behavior of the triatomine r. prolix ...201525956818
phylogenetic and syntenic data support a single horizontal transference to a trypanosoma ancestor of a prokaryotic proline racemase implicated in parasite evasion from host defences.proline racemase (prac) enzymes of trypanosoma cruzi (tcprac), the agent of chagas disease, and trypanosoma vivax (tvprac), the agent of livestock trypanosomosis, have been implicated in the b-cells polyclonal activation contributing to immunosuppression and the evasion of host defences. the similarity to prokaryotic prac and the absence in trypanosoma brucei and trypanosoma congolense have raised many questions about the origin, evolution, and functions of trypanosome prac (tryprac) enzymes.201525890302
mariner transposons are sailing in the genome of the blood-sucking bug rhodnius prolixus.the triatomine bug rhodnius prolixus is a vector of trypanosoma cruzi, which causes the chagas disease in latin america. r. prolixus can also transfer transposable elements horizontally across a wide range of species. we have taken advantage of the availability of the 700 mbp complete genome sequence of r. prolixus to study the dynamics of invasion and persistence of transposable elements in this species.201526666222
genome of rhodnius prolixus, an insect vector of chagas disease, reveals unique adaptations to hematophagy and parasite infection.rhodnius prolixus not only has served as a model organism for the study of insect physiology, but also is a major vector of chagas disease, an illness that affects approximately seven million people worldwide. we sequenced the genome of r. prolixus, generated assembled sequences covering 95% of the genome (∼ 702 mb), including 15,456 putative protein-coding genes, and completed comprehensive genomic analyses of this obligate blood-feeding insect. although immune-deficiency (imd)-mediated immune ...201526627243
proliferation and differentiation of trypanosoma cruzi inside its vector have a new trigger: redox status.trypanosoma cruzi proliferate and differentiate inside different compartments of triatomines gut that is the first environment encountered by t. cruzi. due to its complex life cycle, the parasite is constantly exposed to reactive oxygen species (ros). we tested the influence of the pro-oxidant molecules h2o2 and the superoxide generator, paraquat, as well as, metabolism products of the vector, with distinct redox status, in the proliferation and metacyclogenesis. these molecules are heme, hemozo ...201525671543
expression of calpain-like proteins and effects of calpain inhibitors on the growth rate of angomonas deanei wild type and aposymbiotic strains.angomonas deanei is a trypanosomatid parasite of insects that has a bacterial endosymbiont, which supplies amino acids and other nutrients to its host. bacterium loss induced by antibiotic treatment of the protozoan leads to an aposymbiotic strain with increased need for amino acids and results in increased production of extracellular peptidases. in this work, a more detailed examination of a. deanei was conducted to determine the effects of endosymbiont loss on the host calpain-like proteins (c ...201526415499
the rising importance of triatoma rubrofasciata.the migration of invasive vector species has contributed to the worldwide extension of infectious diseases such as dengue (aedes aegypti) and chikungunya (aedes albopictus). it is probably a similar behaviour for certain vectors of chagas disease which allowed it to become a continental burden in latin america. one of them, triatoma rubrofasciata has also been spreading throughout the tropical and subtropical world. here, the recent and massive peridomestic presence of t. rubrofasciata in vietna ...201525807471
the role of dmcatd, a cathepsin d-like peptidase, and acid phosphatase in the process of follicular atresia in dipetalogaster maxima (hemiptera: reduviidae), a vector of chagas' disease.in this work, we have investigated the involvement of dmcatd, a cathepsin d-like peptidase, and acid phosphatase in the process of follicular atresia of dipetalogaster maxima, a hematophagous insect vector of chagas' disease. for the studies, fat bodies, ovaries and hemolymph were sampled from anautogenous females at representative days of the reproductive cycle: pre-vitellogenesis, vitellogenesis as well as early and late atresia. real time pcr (qpcr) and western blot assays showed that dmcatd ...201526091289
a nuclear ribosomal dna pseudogene in triatomines opens a new research field of fundamental and applied implications in chagas disease.a pseudogene, designated as "ps(5.8s+its-2)", paralogous to the 5.8s gene and internal transcribed spacer (its)-2 of the nuclear ribosomal dna (rdna), has been recently found in many triatomine species distributed throughout north america, central america and northern south america. among characteristics used as criteria for pseudogene verification, secondary structures and free energy are highlighted, showing a lower fit between minimum free energy, partition function and centroid structures, a ...201525760450
quantitative analyses and modelling to support achievement of the 2020 goals for nine neglected tropical diseases.quantitative analysis and mathematical models are useful tools in informing strategies to control or eliminate disease. currently, there is an urgent need to develop these tools to inform policy to achieve the 2020 goals for neglected tropical diseases (ntds). in this paper we give an overview of a collection of novel model-based analyses which aim to address key questions on the dynamics of transmission and control of nine ntds: chagas disease, visceral leishmaniasis, human african trypanosomia ...201526652272
bacterial, fungal and protozoan carbonic anhydrases as drug targets.the carbonic anhydrases (cas, ec 4.2.1.1), a group of ubiquitously expressed metalloenzymes, are involved in numerous physiological and pathological processes, as well as in the growth and virulence of pathogens belonging to bacteria, fungi and protozoa.201526235676
a leishmania-specific hypothetical protein expressed in both promastigote and amastigote stages of leishmania infantum employed for the serodiagnosis of, and as a vaccine candidate against, visceral leishmaniasis.lihyv is an antigenic hypothetical protein present in both promastigote and amastigote stages of leishmania infantum, which was recently identified by an immunoproteomic approach. a recombinant version of this protein (rlihyv) was evaluated as a diagnostic marker for canine vl (cvl). in addition, the prophylactic efficacy of the rlihyv protein, and two of its cd8(+) t cell epitopes, has been analyzed in a murine model of visceral leishmaniasis (vl).201526160291
the effects of the el niño southern oscillation on skin and skin-related diseases: a message from the international society of dermatology climate change task force.the el niño southern oscillation (enso) is a complex climate phenomenon occurring in the pacific ocean at intervals of 2-7 years. the term refers to fluctuations in ocean temperatures in the tropical eastern pacific ocean (el niño [the warm phase of enso] and la niña [the cool phase of enso]) and in atmospheric pressure across the pacific basin (southern oscillation). this weather pattern is attributed with causing climate change in certain parts of the world and is associated with disease outbr ...201526471012
biological control of the chagas disease vector triatoma infestans with the entomopathogenic fungus beauveria bassiana combined with an aggregation cue: field, laboratory and mathematical modeling assessment.current chagas disease vector control strategies, based on chemical insecticide spraying, are growingly threatened by the emergence of pyrethroid-resistant triatoma infestans populations in the gran chaco region of south america.201525969989
assessing gene expression during pathogenesis: use of qrt-pcr to follow toxin production in the entomopathogenic fungus beauveria bassiana during infection and immune response of the insect host triatoma infestans.entomopathogenic fungi secrete toxic secondary metabolites during the invasion of the insect hemocoel as part of the infection process. although these compounds have been frequently mentioned as virulence factors, the roles of many of them remain poorly understood, including the question of whether they are expressed during the infection process. a major hurdle to this issue remains the low sensitivity of biochemical detection techniques (e.g., hplc) within the complex samples that may contain t ...201525912088
potential for entomopathogenic fungi to control triatoma dimidiata (hemiptera: reduviidae), a vector of chagas disease in mexico.the use of entomopathogenic fungi to control disease vectors has become relevant because traditional chemical control methods have caused damage to the environment and led to the development of resistance among vectors. thus, this study assessed the pathogenicity of entomopathogenic fungi in triatoma dimidiata.201525626650
biological activity of the essential oils from cinnamodendron dinisii and siparuna guianensis.this study had analyzed the antibacterial, antifungal and trypanocidal activity of the essential oils from cinnamodendron dinisii schwacke (canellaceae) and siparuna guianensis aublet (siparunaceae). the essential oils were obtained from fresh leaves by hydrodistillation, using a modified clevenger apparatus. chemical analysis by gas-liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (gc-ms) showed that these essential oils are rich in monoterpene and sesquiterpene hydrocarbons. activity against ...201526221107
molecular identification of food sources in triatomines in the brazilian northeast: roles of goats and rodents in chagas disease epidemiology.we used the gut contents of triatomines collected from rural areas of ceará state, northeastern brazil, to identify their putative hosts via vertebrate cytb gene sequencing. successful direct sequencing was obtained for 48% of insects, comprising 50 triatoma brasiliensis, 7 triatoma pseudomaculata, and 1 rhodnius nasutus. basic local alignment search tool (blast) procedure revealed that domestic animals, such as chickens (gallus gallus) and goats (capra hircus), are the main food source, includi ...201526350453
iron superoxide dismutases in eukaryotic pathogens: new insights from apicomplexa and trypanosoma structures.prior studies have highlighted the potential of superoxide dismutases as drug targets in eukaryotic pathogens. this report presents the structures of three iron-dependent superoxide dismutases (fesods) from trypanosoma cruzi, leishmania major and babesia bovis. comparison with existing structures from plasmodium and other trypanosome isoforms shows a very conserved overall fold with subtle differences. in particular, structural data suggest that b. bovis fesod may display similar resistance to p ...201525961325
anti-infective assessment of senecio smithioides (asteraceae) and isolation of 9-oxoeuryopsin, a furanoeremophilane-type sesquiterpene with antiplasmodial activity.the search for anti-infective activity in the antipyretic plant senecio smithioides was conducted. petroleum ether (pe), dichloromethane (ch2cl2), ethyl acetate (etoac) and hydroethanolic (96% etoh) extracts, and compounds 9-oxoeuryopsin (1), epoxydecompostin (2) and senecionine (3) were obtained from the aerial parts. all extracts and 1 were tested against chloroquine-resistant strain of plasmodium falciparum (ref. chloroquine), trypanosoma cruzi (ref. nifurtimox), leishmania braziliensis, leis ...201526606687
cyclopalladated compound 7a induces apoptosis- and autophagy-like mechanisms in paracoccidioides and is a candidate for paracoccidioidomycosis treatment.paracoccidioidomycosis (pcm), caused by paracoccidioides species, is the main cause of death due to systemic mycoses in brazil and other latin american countries. therapeutic options for pcm and other systemic mycoses are limited and time-consuming, and there are high rates of noncompliance, relapses, toxic side effects, and sequelae. previous work has shown that the cyclopalladated 7a compound is effective in treating several kinds of cancer and parasitic chagas disease without significant toxi ...201526349827
evaluating the microbicidal, antiparasitic and antitumor effects of cr-laao from calloselasma rhodostoma venom.cr-laao is an l-amino acid oxidase from calloselasma rhodostoma snake venom that has been broadly studied regarding its structural and biochemical characteristics, however, few studies have investigated its pharmacological effects. the present study aimed at the evaluation of the biotechnological potential of cr-laao by determining its bactericidal, antifungal, leishmanicidal and trypanocidal activity, as well as its cytotoxicity on human tumor and non-tumor cell lines. after 24 h of preincubati ...201526162245
bioactive endophytic fungi isolated from caesalpinia echinata lam. (brazilwood) and identification of beauvericin as a trypanocidal metabolite from fusarium sp.aiming to identify new sources of bioactive secondary metabolites, we isolated 82 endophytic fungi from stems and barks of the native brazilian tree caesalpinia echinata lam. (fabaceae). we tested their ethyl acetate extracts in several in vitro assays. the organic extracts from three isolates showed antibacterial activity against staphylococcus aureus and escherichia coli [minimal inhibitory concentration (mic) 32-64 μg/ml]. one isolate inhibited the growth of salmonella typhimurium (mic 64 μg/ ...201525606862
poly(amidoamine) dendrimers show carbonic anhydrase inhibitory activity against α-, β-, γ- and η-class enzymes.four generations of poly(amidoamine) (pamam) dendrimers incorporating benzenesulfonamide moieties were investigated as inhibitors of carbonic anhydrases (cas, ec 4.2.1.1) belonging to the α-, β-, γ- and η-classes which are present in pathogenic bacteria, fungi or protozoa. the following bacterial, fungal and protozoan organisms were included in the study: vibrio cholerae, trypanosoma cruzi, leishmania donovani chagasi, porphyromonas gingivalis, cryptococcus neoformans, candida glabrata, and plas ...201526476668
[development of new vaccines].recent and important advances in the fields of immunology, genomics, functional genomics, immunogenetics, immunogenomics, bioinformatics, microbiology, genetic engineering, systems biology, synthetic biochemistry, proteomics, metabolomics and nanotechnology, among others, have led to new approaches in the development of vaccines. the better identification of ideal epitopes, the strengthening of the immune response due to new adjuvants, and the search of new routes of vaccine administration, are ...201526341041
protease inhibitors targeting coronavirus and filovirus entry.in order to gain entry into cells, diverse viruses, including ebola virus, sars-coronavirus and the emerging mers-coronavirus, depend on activation of their envelope glycoproteins by host cell proteases. the respective enzymes are thus excellent targets for antiviral intervention. in cell culture, activation of ebola virus, as well as sars- and mers-coronavirus can be accomplished by the endosomal cysteine proteases, cathepsin l (ctsl) and cathepsin b (ctsb). in addition, sars- and mers-coronavi ...201525666761
cryptococcosis presenting as a colonic ulcer in a kidney transplant recipient: a case report.we present a case of a 59-year-old woman with chagas disease who received a kidney transplant. at month 44 post-transplantation, the patient presented with diarrhea that had persisted for 2 months. colonoscopy showed a colon ulcer and differential diagnoses included cytomegalovirus, bacteria, or parasite infection; drug-related diarrhea; crohn's disease; celiac disease; and malignancy. the ulcer tissue was positive for cryptococcus neoformans. successful treatment consisted of amphotericin b for ...201526680095
gastrointestinal parasites and the neural control of gut functions.gastrointestinal motility and transport of water and electrolytes play key roles in the pathophysiology of diarrhea upon exposure to enteric parasites. these processes are actively modulated by the enteric nervous system (ens), which includes efferent, and afferent neurons, as well as interneurons. ens integrity is essential to the maintenance of homeostatic gut responses. a number of gastrointestinal parasites are known to cause disease by altering the ens. the mechanisms remain incompletely un ...201526635531
number and regulation of protozoan aquaporins reflect environmental complexity.protozoa are a diverse group of unicellular eukaryotes. evidence has accumulated that protozoan aquaporin water and solute channels (aqp) contribute to adaptation in changing environments. intracellular protozoan parasites live a well-sheltered life. plasmodium spp. express a single aqp, toxoplasma gondii two, while trypanosoma cruzi and leishamnia spp. encode up to five aqps. their aqps are thought to import metabolic precursors and simultaneously to dispose of waste and to help parasites survi ...201526338868
a novel role of rab11 in trafficking gpi-anchored trans-sialidase to the plasma membrane of trypanosoma cruzi.trypanosoma cruzi, the causative agent of chagas disease, is a unicellular parasite that possesses a contractile vacuole complex (cvc). this organelle is usually present in free-living protists and is mainly involved in osmoregulation. however, in some organisms, like for example dictyostelium discoideum, other roles include calcium homeostasis and transference of proteins to the plasma membrane. t. cruzi plasma membrane is very rich in glycosylphosphatidylinositol anchored proteins (gpi-ap) and ...201525862161
endoscopic and histopathologic gastric changes in chronic users of proton-pump inhibitors.proton-pump inhibitors have been used for at least two decades. they are among the most commonly sold drugs in the world. however, some controversy remains about the indications for their use and the consequences of their prolonged use.201526017085
histological and endoscopic features of the stomachs of patients with chagas disease in the era of helicobacter pylori.most studies that have evaluated the stomachs of patients with chagas disease were performed before the discovery of helicobacter pylori and used no control groups. this study compared the gastric features of chagasic and non-chagasic patients and assessed whether gastritis could be associated with chagas disease.201525626653
characterization of the microbiota in the guts of triatoma brasiliensis and triatoma pseudomaculata infected by trypanosoma cruzi in natural conditions using culture independent methods.chagas disease is caused by trypanosoma cruzi, which is transmitted by triatomine vectors. the northeastern region of brazil is endemic for chagas disease and has the largest diversity of triatomine species. t. cruzi development in its triatomine vector depends on diverse factors, including the composition of bacterial gut microbiota.201525903360
expression, purification, immunogenicity, and protective efficacy of a recombinant tc24 antigen as a vaccine against trypanosoma cruzi infection in mice.the tc24 calcium binding protein from the flagellar pocket of trypanosoma cruzi is under evaluation as a candidate vaccine antigen against chagas disease. previously, a dna vaccine encoding tc24 was shown to be an effective vaccine (both as a preventive and therapeutic intervention) in mice and dogs, as evidenced by reductions in t. cruzi parasitemia and cardiac amastigotes, as well as reduced cardiac inflammation and increased host survival. here we developed a suitable platform for the large s ...201526192358
characterization of trypanosoma cruzi sirtuins as possible drug targets for chagas disease.acetylation of lysine is a major posttranslational modification of proteins and is catalyzed by lysine acetyltransferases, while lysine deacetylases remove acetyl groups. among the deacetylases, the sirtuins are nad(+)-dependent enzymes, which modulate gene silencing, dna damage repair, and several metabolic processes. as sirtuin-specific inhibitors have been proposed as drugs for inhibiting the proliferation of tumor cells, in this study, we investigated the role of these inhibitors in the grow ...201526014945
inducible suicide vector systems for trypanosoma cruzi.chagas disease caused by trypanosoma cruzi is a major neglected tropical parasitic disease. the pathogenesis of this infection remains disputable. there is no suitable vaccine for the prevention. attenuated live vaccines can provide strong protection against infection; however, there are the concerns about latent infection or reversion to virulence in such attenuated strains. a method to induce t. cruzi death would provide a critical tool for research into the pathophysiological mechanisms and p ...201525899945
mother-to-child transmission of chagas disease in el salvador.to estimate the incidence (any mother to child) and rate (from seropositive mother to child) of mother-to-child transmission of trypanosoma cruzi, a serological census was conducted, targeting pregnant women and infants born to seropositive mothers, in four municipalities of el salvador. of 943 pregnant women, 36 (3.8%) were seropositive for t. cruzi. of 36, 32 proceeded to serological tests of their infants when they became 6-8 months of age. six infants seropositive at the age of 6-8 months fu ...201526123959
serological diagnosis of chagas disease in hiv-infected patients.this study assessed the rate of request for the serological diagnosis of chagas disease among human immunodeficiency virus (hiv)-infected patients treated at the specialized care service of pelotas, rio grande do sul, brazil.201526108013
serological study of trypanosoma cruzi, strongyloides stercoralis, hiv, human t cell lymphotropic virus (htlv) and syphilis infections in asymptomatic latin-american immigrants in spain.we aimed to perform a serological screening for t. cruzi, strongyloides stercoralis, hiv, human t cell lymphotropic virus (htlv) and syphilis in latin american immigrants admitted to hospital in spain.201526065661
belatacept-based, atg-fresenius-induction regimen for kidney transplant recipients: a proof-of-concept study.belatacept provides effective immunosuppression while avoiding the nephrotoxicities associated with calcineurin inhibitors (cnis). however, existing belatacept-based regimens still have high rates of acute rejection. we hypothesized that therapy with belatacept, mycophenolic acid (mma), steroids and induction therapy with rabbit anti-thymocyte globulin fresenius (atgf), rejection rate could be reduced. prospective, single center, proof-of-concept study including males and females aged ≥18years, ...201525448417
infectious agents and inflammation in donated hearts and dilated cardiomyopathies related to cardiovascular diseases, chagas' heart disease, primary and secondary dilated cardiomyopathies.clinical and experimental conflicting data have questioned the relationship between infectious agents, inflammation and dilated cardiomyopathy (dcm).201525442238
synthesis and biological evaluation of novel 2,3-disubstituted quinoxaline derivatives as antileishmanial and antitrypanosomal agents.quinoxalines belong to the n-containing heterocyclic compounds that stand out as having promising biological activity due to their privileged scaffold. in this work, we report the synthesis, antileishmanial, and antitrypanosomal properties of 46 new 2,3-disubstituted quinoxaline and 40 previously reported derivatives. among all of the compounds screened for in vitro activity against epimastigotes and trypomastigotes of trypanosoma cruzi and promastigotes of leishmania amazonensis as well as mamm ...201525461316
phylogenomic characterization of california sea lion adenovirus-1.significant adenoviral diversity has been found in humans, but in domestic and wild animals the number of identified viruses is lower. here we present the complete genome of a recently discovered mastadenovirus, california sea lion adenovirus 1 (csladv-1) isolated from california sea lions (zalophus californianus), an important pathogen associated with hepatitis in pinnipeds. the genome of this virus has the typical mastadenoviral structure with some notable differences at the carboxy-terminal e ...201525660039
cutaneous rank-rankl signaling upregulates cd8-mediated antiviral immunity during herpes simplex virus infection by preventing virus-induced langerhans cell apoptosis.herpes simplex virus-type 1 (hsv-1) causes the majority of cutaneous viral infections. viral infections are controlled by the immune system, and cd8(+) cytotoxic t-lymphocytes (ctls) have been shown to be crucial during the clearance of hsv-1 infections. although epidermal langerhans cells (lcs) are the first dendritic cells (dcs) to come into contact with the virus, it has been shown that the processing of viral antigens and the differentiation of antiviral ctls are mediated by migratory cd103( ...201526076314
[serological diagnosis of congenital infections and algorithms to improve diagnostic efficacy].congenital infection is those transmitted by the mother to the fetus before delivery. it can occur transplacentally or by direct contact with the pathogen during birth or in the immediate postnatal period. congenital infection can be due to viruses (rubella, cytomegalovirus, herpes simplex, varicella-zoster, hepatitis b and c virus, human inunodeficiencia, erythrovirus b19) as bacteria (treponema pallidum) and parasites (toxoplasma gondii and trypanosoma cruzi). serological diagnosis of congenit ...201526320992
amastin knockdown in leishmania braziliensis affects parasite-macrophage interaction and results in impaired viability of intracellular amastigotes.leishmaniasis, a human parasitic disease with manifestations ranging from cutaneous ulcerations to fatal visceral infection, is caused by several leishmania species. these protozoan parasites replicate as extracellular, flagellated promastigotes in the gut of a sandfly vector and as amastigotes inside the parasitophorous vacuole of vertebrate host macrophages. amastins are surface glycoproteins encoded by large gene families present in the genomes of several trypanosomatids and highly expressed ...201526641088
leishmania (viannia) braziliensis in dogs in brazil: epidemiology, co-infection, and clinical aspects.leishmaniasis is an endemic disease present in 98 countries. in brazil, the northeast region accounts for approximately half of the cases in humans, and has experienced an increased number of positive cases in dogs. in this study, we investigated the epidemiology of canine leishmaniasis in the city of ilhéus, bahia, using serological and molecular techniques and evaluated the possible environmental risk factors and associated clinical signs. blood samples were collected from 560 dogs in urban an ...201526505353
proteins selected in leishmania (viannia) braziliensis by an immunoproteomic approach with potential serodiagnosis applications for tegumentary leishmaniasis.the serodiagnosis of human tegumentary leishmaniasis (tl) presents some problems, such as the low level of antileishmanial antibodies found in most of the patients, as well as the cross-reactivity in subjects infected by other trypanosomatids. in the present study, an immunoproteomic approach was performed aimed at identification of antigens in total extracts of stationary-phase promastigote and amastigote-like forms of leishmania (viannia) braziliensis using sera from tl patients. with the purp ...201526376929
field validation of a leishmania (leishmania) mexicana exo-antigens elisa for diagnosing tegumentary leishmaniasis in regions of leishmania (viannia) predominance.several tests are performed to obtain better accuracy when diagnosing american tegumentary leishmaniasis (atl). it is believed that antigens released via secretion, excretion and metabolism are more specific than are antigens released by the lysis of leishmania parasites. such antigens are known as exo-antigens (exo-ag) and are formed from products released by cultured parasites in a way that is similar to that in which they cause infections in hosts.201525985901
analysis of bioactivities and chemical composition of ziziphus joazeiro mart. using hplc-dad.the aim of this study was to evaluate the chemical profile and antioxidant, antimicrobial and antiparasitic activities of the hydroalcoholic extract of the leaves of ziziphus joazeiro mart. (helzj). the antioxidant dpph and frap assays and chemical profile were determined by colorimetric methods and hplc/dad. the antiparasitic, antibiotic and antibiotic-modifying activity were evaluated by microdilution assays. the hplc-dad assay showed the presence of mostly tannins and flavonoids, such as caff ...201525976809
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