Binding Evolution of the Dengue Virus Envelope Against DC-SIGN: A Combined Approach of Phylogenetics and Molecular Dynamics Analyses Over 30 Years of Dengue Virus in Brazil.

The Red Queen Hypothesis (RQH), derived from Lewis Carroll's "Through the Looking-Glass", postulates that organisms must continually adapt in response to each other to maintain relative fitness. Within the context of host-pathogen interactions, the RQH implies an evolutionary arms race, wherein viruses evolve to exploit hosts and hosts evolve to resist viral invasion. This study delves into the dynamics of the RQH in the context of virus-cell interactions, specifically focusing on virus receptors and cell receptors. We observed multiple virus-host systems and noted patterns of co-evolution. As viruses evolved receptor-binding proteins to effectively engage with cell receptors, cells countered by altering their receptor genes. This ongoing mutual adaptation cycle has influenced the molecular intricacies of receptor-ligand interactions. Our data supports the RQH as a driving force behind the diversification and specialization of both viral and host cell receptors. Understanding this co-evolutionary dance offers insights into the unpredictability of emerging viral diseases and potential therapeutic interventions. Future research is crucial to dissect the nuanced molecular changes and the broader ecological consequences of this ever-evolving battle. Here, we combine phylogenetic inferences, structural modeling, and molecular dynamics analyses to describe the epidemiological characteristics of major Brazilian DENV strains that circulated from 1990 to 2022 from a combined perspective, thus providing us with a more detailed picture on the dynamics of such interactions over time.

Cryptic circulation of chikungunya virus in São Jose do Rio Preto, Brazil, 2015-2019.

BACKGROUND: Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) has spread across Brazil with varying incidence rates depending on the affected areas. Due to cocirculation of arboviruses and overlapping disease symptoms, CHIKV infection may be underdiagnosed. To understand the lack of CHIKV epidemics in São José do Rio Preto (SJdRP), São Paulo (SP), Brazil, we evaluated viral circulation by investigating anti-CHIKV IgG seroconversion in a prospective study of asymptomatic individuals and detecting anti-CHIKV IgM in individuals suspected of dengue infection, as well as CHIKV presence in Aedes mosquitoes. The opportunity to assess two different groups (symptomatic and asymptomatic) exposed at the same geographic region aimed to broaden the possibility of identifying the viral circulation, which had been previously considered absent. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Based on a prospective population study model and demographic characteristics (sex and age), we analyzed the anti-CHIKV IgG seroconversion rate in 341 subjects by ELISA over four years. The seroprevalence increased from 0.35% in the first year to 2.3% after 3 years of follow-up. Additionally, we investigated 497 samples from a blood panel collected from dengue-suspected individuals during the 2019 dengue outbreak in SJdRP. In total, 4.4% were positive for anti-CHIKV IgM, and 8.6% were positive for IgG. To exclude alphavirus cross-reactivity, we evaluated the presence of anti-Mayaro virus (MAYV) IgG by ELISA, and the positivity rate was 0.3% in the population study and 0.8% in the blood panel samples. In CHIKV and MAYV plaque reduction neutralization tests (PRNTs), the positivity rate for CHIKV-neutralizing antibodies in these ELISA-positive samples was 46.7%, while no MAYV-neutralizing antibodies were detected. Genomic sequencing and phylogenetic analysis revealed CHIKV genotype ECSA in São José do Rio Preto, SP. Finally, mosquitoes collected to complement human surveillance revealed CHIKV positivity of 2.76% of A. aegypti and 9.09% of A. albopictus (although it was far less abundant than A. aegypti) by RT-qPCR. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: Our data suggest cryptic CHIKV circulation in SJdRP detected by continual active surveillance. These low levels, but increasing, of viral circulation highlight the possibility of CHIKV outbreaks, as there is a large naïve population. Improved knowledge of the epidemiological situation might aid in outbreaks prevention.

Pathophysiology of chikungunya virus infection associated with fatal outcomes.

Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) is a mosquito-borne alphavirus that causes acute, subacute, and chronic human arthritogenic diseases and, in rare instances, can lead to neurological complications and death. Here, we combined epidemiological, virological, histopathological, cytokine, molecular dynamics, metabolomic, proteomic, and genomic analyses to investigate viral and host factors that contribute to chikungunya-associated (CHIK) death. Our results indicate that CHIK deaths are associated with multi-organ infection, central nervous system damage, and elevated serum levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines compared with survivors. The histopathologic, metabolite, and proteomic signatures of CHIK deaths reveal hemodynamic disorders and dysregulated immune responses. The CHIKV East-Central-South-African lineage infecting our study population causes both fatal and survival cases. Additionally, CHIKV infection impairs the integrity of the blood-brain barrier, as evidenced by an increase in permeability and altered tight junction protein expression. Overall, our findings improve the understanding of CHIK pathophysiology and the causes of fatal infections.

Coxsackievirus A6 strains causing an outbreak of hand-foot-and-mouth disease in Northeastern Brazil in 2018

ABSTRACT Hand-foot-and-mouth disease (HFMD) is a highly contagious viral disease commonly associated to Enteroviruses (EV). During 2018, Brazil faced massive HFMD outbreaks spread across the country. This study aimed to characterize the EV responsible for the HFMD outbreak that occurred in Paraiba State, Brazilian Northeastern region, in 2018, followed by a phylogenetic analysis to detail information on its genetic diversity. A total of 49 serum samples (one from each patient) collected from children ≤ 15 years old, clinically diagnosed with HFMD were tested for EV using conventional RT-PCR and RT-qPCR. EV infection was confirmed in 71.4% (35/49) of samples. The mean and median ages were 1.83 years and one year old, respectively. Twenty-two EV-positive samples were successfully sequenced and classified as EV-A species; 13 samples were also identified with the CV-A6 genotype. The phylogenetic analysis (VP1 region) of three samples revealed that the detected CV-A6 strains belonged to sub-lineage D3. The CV-A6 strains detected here clustered with strains from South America, Europe and West Asia strains that were also involved in HFMD cases during the 2017-2018 seasons, in addition to the previously detected Brazilian CV-A6 strains from 2012 to 2017, suggesting a global co-circulation of a set of different CV-A6 strains introduced in the country at different times. The growing circulation of the emerging CV-A6 associated with HFMD, together with the detection of more severe cases worldwide, suggests the need for a more intense surveillance system of HFMD in Brazil. In addition, this investigation was performed exclusively on serum samples, and the analysis of whole blood samples should be considered and could have shown advantages when employed in the diagnosis of enteroviral HFMD outbreaks.

Surto de síndrome de Guillain-Barré possivelmente relacionado à infecção prévia pelo vírus Zika, Região Metropolitana do Recife, Pernambuco, Brasil, 2015 / Brote de síndrome de Guillain-Barré potencialmente relacionado con la infección anterior por el virus Zika, en la Región Metropolitana de Recife, Pernambuco, Brasil, 2015 / Outbreak of Guillain-Barré syndrome possibly related to prior Zika virus infection, Metropolitan Region of Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil, 2015

Objetivo: investigar a ocorrência da síndrome de Guillain-Barré (SGB) na Região Metropolitana do Recife, Brasil, 2015. Métodos: estudo descritivo com dados do Sistema de Informações Hospitalares, Sistema Nacional de Gestão da Assistência Farmacêutica e entrevistas; os casos de SGB foram classificados segundo os critérios de Brighton, e a infecção prévia, segundo critérios laboratoriais e clínicos. Resultados: em 2015, houve três vezes mais internações por SGB que em 2014; investigaram-se 44 casos confirmados ou prováveis de SGB, dos quais 18 apresentaram sintomas de infecção por Zika até 35 dias antes da ocorrência da SGB, principalmente exantema; houve um caso confirmado laboratorialmente para Zika e um óbito. Conclusão: os achados reforçam possível relação da SGB com infecção por Zika, por ausência de aumento da ocorrência da SGB em anos epidêmicos de dengue, ausência de registro de transmissão de chikungunya, presença de manifestações clínicas compatíveis com infecção por Zika e uma confirmação laboratorial.

Objetivo: investigar la ocurrencia de SGB en la Región Metropolitana de Recife, Brasil, 2015. Métodos: estudio descriptivo utilizando datos del Sistema de Información Hospitalaria, Sistema Nacional de Gestión de Atención Farmacéutica y entrevistas; los casos de SGB fueron clasificados de acuerdo con criterios de Brighton y la infección anterior segundo criterios laboratoriales y clínicos. Resultados: en 2015, hubo tres veces más internaciones por SGB que 2014; se investigaron 44 casos confirmados o probables de SGB, donde 18 tenían síntomas de infección por Zika hasta 35 días antes de la SGB, especialmente erupción; hubo una confirmación laboratorial de Zika y una muerte. Conclusión: los hallazgos refuerzan la posible relación de SGB con infección por Zika, frente la ausencia de aumento de la ocurrencia de SGB en años epidémicos de dengue, ausencia de registro de transmisión de chikungunya, presencia de manifestaciones clínicas compatibles con infección previa por Zika y una confirmación laboratorial.

Objetivo: to investigate the occurrence of GBS in the Metropolitan Region of Recife, PE, Brazil, 2015. Methods: this was a descriptive study using data from the Hospital Information System, National Pharmaceutical Services Management System and interviews; GBS cases were classified according to Brighton criteria and prior infection according to laboratory and clinical criteria. Results: in 2015, the number of GBS hospitalizations had a threefold increase in comparison to 2014. We investigated 44 confirmed or probable GBS cases, of which 18 had symptoms of Zika infection up to 35 days before the occurrence of GBS, mainly rash; one case was laboratory-confirmed for Zika virus infection and one death was registered. Conclusion: the findings reinforce a possible relationship between GBS and Zika infection, given the absence of increased GBS occurrence in previous dengue epidemic years, absence of chikungunya transmission records, presence of clinical manifestations compatible with infection and a laboratory confirmation.

Outbreak of Yellow Fever among Nonhuman Primates, Espirito Santo, Brazil, 2017

In January 2017, a yellow fever outbreak occurred in Espirito Santo, Brazil, where human immunization coverage is low. Histologic, immunohistologic, and PCR examinations were performed for 22 deceased nonhuman New World primates; typical yellow fever features were found in 21. Diagnosis in nonhuman primates prompted early public health response.

Em janeiro de 2017, ocorreu um surto de febre amarela no Espírito Santo, Brasil, onde a cobertura de imunização humana é baixa. Os exames histológico, imuno-histológico e PCR foram realizados para 22 primatas não humanos do Novo Mundo falecidos; características típicas da febre amarela foram encontradas em 21. O diagnóstico em primatas não humanos levou a uma resposta precoce da saúde pública.

Descrição dos primeiros casos de febre pelo vírus Zika investigados em municípios da região Nordeste do Brasil, 2015 / Descripción de los primeros casos de fiebre por el virus Zika investigados en los municipios de la región noreste de Brasil, 2015 / Description of the first cases of Zika virus fever investigated in municipalities of the Brazilian Northeastern Region, 2015

OBJETIVO: Confirmar a circulação do vírus Zika e descartar outros agentes etiológicos em surto ocorrido no Rio Grande do Norte (RN), Maranhão (MA) e Paraíba (PB), em maio/2015. MÉTODOS: estudo descritivo de série de casos com residentes em Natal-RN, Barra do Corda-MA, São Luís-MA e João Pessoa-PB, 20 em cada estado, com exantema e ausência de febre ou febre baixa e um dos seguintes sinais/sintomas, hiperemia conjuntival, artralgia ou edema de membros; realizou-se RT-PCR/isolamento para Zika, enterovírus e vírus respiratórios, e sorologias (dengue, rubéola e parvovírus B19). RESULTADOS: os principais sintomas foram exantema (n=60), prurido (n=54) e artralgia (n=47); 51 indivíduos não apresentaram febre; identificou-se vírus Zika em 18 casos (12 na PB, quatro no MA e dois no RN) e anticorpos para dengue em 14. CONCLUSÃO: os sintomas foram compatíveis com febre pelo vírus Zika; houve confirmação laboratorial de Zika e dengue.

OBJETIVOS: confirmar la circulación del virus Zika y descartar otros agentes etiológicos en el brote ocurrido en Rio Grande do Norte (RN), Maranhão (MA) y Paraíba (PB), en mayo/2015. MÉTODOS: estudio descriptivo de serie de casos con residentes de Natal-RN, Barra do Corda-MA, São Luís-MA y João Pessoa-PB, 20 en cada estado, con exantema y ausencia de fiebre o fiebre baja y uno de los siguientes signos/síntomas, hiperemia conjuntival, artralgia o edema de miembros; se realizaron RT-PCR/aislamiento para Zika, enterovirus y virus respiratorios y serologías (dengue, rubéola y parvovirus B19). RESULTADOS: los principales síntomas fueron exantema (n=60), prurito (n=54) y artralgia (n=47); 51 individuos no presentaron fiebre, se identificó virus Zika en 18 casos (12 en PB, cuatro en MA y dos en RN) y anticuerpos para dengue en 14. CONCLUSIÓN: Los síntomas fueron compatibles con fiebre por el virus Zika; hubo confirmación por laboratorio de Zika y dengue.

OBJECTIVE: to confirm Zika virus circulation and discard other etiological agents in an outbreak occurred in the states of Rio Grande do Norte, Maranhão and Paraíba, in May, 2015. METHODS: this is a case series descriptive study with residents in Natal-RN, Barra do Corda-MA, São Luis-MA and João Pessoa-PB, with 20 cases in each state, presenting rash, absent or mild fever and one of the following signs/symptoms: conjunctival hyperemia, arthralgia or limb edema; RT-PCR/isolation tests for Zika, enterovirus and respiratory viruses, and serology tests (dengue, rubella and parvovirus B19) were performed. RESULTS: the main symptoms were rash (n=60), pruritus (n=54), and arthralgia (n=47); 51 individuals did not present fever; Zika virus was identified in 18 cases (12 in Paraíba, four in Maranhão and two in Rio Grande do Norte), and antibodies to dengue, in 14 cases. CONCLUSION: the symptoms were consistent with Zika virus fever; there was laboratory confirmation for Zika and dengue.

Perfil sociodemográfico e profissional dos enfermeiros da atenção básica à saúde de Cuiabá - Mato Grosso / Sociodemographic and professional profile of primary health care nurses in Cuiabá - Mato Grosso / Perfil sociodemográfico y profesional de enfermeros de atención básica de salud de Cuiabá - Mato Grosso

Estudo descritivo de abordagem quantitativa e delineamento transversal que objetivou traçar o perfil sociodemográfico e profissional dos enfermeiros da rede básica de saúde de Cuiabá-MT. Compuseram a amostra 79 enfermeiros das Unidades Básicas do município que responderam um instrumento fechado de coleta de dados com a contemplação de aspectos relacionados ao perfil do sujeito-enfermeiro. A análise dos dados possibilitou concluir que: 88,6% são do sexo feminino; a maioria encontra-se na faixa etária dos 26 aos 30 anos (26,6%); 57% nasceram em Mato Grosso; 49,4% estão casados e 32,9% pertencem à classe econômica B1; graduados há menos de cinco anos correspondem a 48,1%; 73,4% possuem curso de pós-graduação lato sensu e 0% realizou curso stricto sensu; 88,6% participaram de capacitações/atualizações com carga horária superior a 40 horas nos últimos cinco anos. Quanto ao vínculo empregatício, 58,2% submetiam-se a contratos temporários. O estudo aponta para a necessidade de investimentos no trabalho e na educação continuada para sanar a situação precária.

This descriptive study was performed using a quantitative approach and cross-sectional design with the objective of outlining the sociodemographic and professional profiles of the primary health care nurses in Cuiabá-Mato Grosso. The sample consisted of 79 nurses working in Basic Health Units in the referred city, who answered a closed data collection instrument addressing aspects related to the profile of the nurse-subject. The data analysis permitted the conclusion that 88.6% are women; most are aged between 26 and 30 years (26.6%); 57% were born in Mato Grosso; 49.4% are married, and 32.9% belonged to social class B1; 48.1% had graduated within the last five years; 73.4% had a lato sensu graduate degree, and none attended a stricto sensucourse. Of all the participants, 88.6% participated in training/update programs with a course load of at least 40 hours over the last five years. Regarding employment, 58.2% were working under a temporary contract. The study points at the need for investments to reduce the precariousness of employment and to support continuing education.

Estudio descriptivo, cuantitativo, transversal, que objetivó trazar perfil sociodemográfico y profesional de enfermeros de red básica de salud de Cuiabá-MT. Muestra compuesta por 79 enfermeros de Unidades Básicas municipales, que respondieron un instrumento cerrado de recolección de datos, contemplando aspectos relativos al perfil del sujeto-enfermero. El análisis de los datos permitió determinar que 88,6% son de sexo femenino; la mayoría en faja etaria de 26 a 30 años (26,6%) nació en Mato Grosso; 49,4% casados, 32,9% pertenecen a la clase económica B1; 48,1% graduados hace menos de cinco años, 73,4% con curso de posgraduación lato sensu, ninguno realizó curso stricto sensu; 88,6% participó de capacitaciones/actualizaciones con carga horaria superior a 40 horas en los últimos cinco años. Respecto al vínculo laboral, 58,2% trabajaba bajo contrato temporario. El estudio orienta a la necesidad de inversiones para mejorar la precaria calidad del vínculo laboral y la capacitación permanente.

Hérnia de Petit bilateral espontânea / Spontaneous bilateral Petit hernia

Petit's lumbar hernia is an uncommon defect of the posterior abdominal wall that represents less than 1 percent of all abdominal wall hernias. It is more often unilateral and founded in young females, rarely containing a real herniated sac. There are two different approaches to repair: laparoscopy and open surgery. The goal of this article is to report one case of spontaneous bilateral lumbar Petit's hernia treated with open surgery.